Top News Stories - January 2009:
FBI Cuts Ties With CAIR Amid Evidence of Hamas Links
A 15-year FBI investigation has ended in the severing of ties with the Muslim advocacy group CAIR. CAIR was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial that ended in the conviction of Hamas fundraisers. --- read story
Illinois Senate Votes 59-0 to Remove Governor Rod Blagojevich
"You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen," Blagojevich told the lawmakers. "How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?" --- read story
Stimulus Bill Passes - All Republicans Vote No to Pork Filled Package
All Republicans and 11 Democrats voted against the Stimulus Bill, which passed 244-188. --- read story
Republicans Object to Stimulus Dollars for ACORN
The stimulus bill moving its way through Congress provides $4.19 billion for controversial groups such as ACORN --- read story
Obama Begins Teardown of Bush Climate Policy
"My administration will not deny facts -- we will be guided by them," Barack Obama said. --- read story
Talk Radio's Michael Savage Beats CAIR on Legal Fees
CAIR's motion for reconsideration of the November 12 order has been denied. A Judge had previously found that Michael Savage's lawsuit was not frivolous, as CAIR had claimed. Savage originally filed suit, charging that CAIR infringed on his copyright by misappropriating his words and using them for fundraising. --- read story
Barack Obama's First Formal TV interview as President is with Arabic Television
President Obama has sat for his first formal Television interview with the Arabic cable TV network Al-Arabiya. --- read story
Nancy Pelosi Tells ABC News She Expects Contraception to Assist in Reviving the Economy
Nancy Pelosi's controversial comments about contraception helping the economy. -- see video
Rod Blagojevich: The Fix Is In
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich claimed that the fix was in regarding BlagoGate and claimed his political opponents wanted him out to pave the way for huge tax increases. "They know I'm against those things, and I veto them... They've even put in a date where the trial is going to end. How can you do that if you're going to be fair? If I participate in that sham impeachment . . . I will undermine the people," --- read story
Barack Obama Executive Order to Send Federal Dollars to Groups that Perform or Promote Abortions Overseas
A senior Vatican official blasted US President Barack Obama for "arrogance" for overturning a ban on funding for groups that carry out or promote abortions overseas. --- read story
Top Obama Aides Subject of Blagojevich Subpoenas
Federal subpoenas in BlagoGate include requests for records involving David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, senior advisers to Barack Obama. --- read story
New York Governor David Paterson Chooses Kirsten Gillibrand for the Senate.
Kirsten Gillibrand is Gov. David Paterson's choice to take over Hillary Clinton's vacant New York Senate Seat. Gillibrand beat out early favorites Andrew Cuomo and Caroline Kennedy. --- read story
Supreme Court Won't Revive Child Online Protection Act
A federal law intended to restrict children's access to Internet pornography died at the Supreme Court, more than 10 years after Congress overwhelmingly approved it. --- read story
Caroline Kennedy Confirms End to Senate Bid
Caroline Kennedy ends her Senate bid before New York Governor David Paterson announces his decision. --- read story
Rash Report: Ronald Reagan and 'American Idol' Top Obama Inauguration
Ronald Reagan's inauguration, as well as 'American Idol' and 'Fringe' all topped the ratings of the highly anticipated inauguration of Barack Obama. --- read story
Stocks Take Worst Inauguration Day Drop Ever
The Dow's 4 percent drop was the worst Inauguration Day slide in its 112-year history. --- read story
Full Transcript of Barack Obama's Inauguration Address
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. --- Read story
Chief Justice and Barack Obama Botch Presidential Oath
The 35-word oath of office didn't come out as planned. --- Read story
Jill Biden: Joe Had the Choice to be Secretary of State or Vice President
Jill Biden revealed on the Oprah Winfrey Show that her husband Joe was offered Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State job. Joe Biden appeared embarrassed by the revelation. --- Read story
Barry Bonds' Drug 'The Clear' Was Legal
Grand jury testimony given by drug-testing expert Dr. Donald Catlin and BALCO lead investigator Jeff Novitzky revealed that THG was not considered a steroid when Barry Bonds allegedly took it. --- read story
Obama's Pick to Run the IRS Didn't Pay His Own Taxes
Barack Obama's pick to head the Treasury Department has various blemishes on his resume, including failing to pay $34,000 in taxes covering four years and employing an illegal immigrant. --- read story
Pentagon: 61 Ex-Guantanamo Detainees Return to Terrorism
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said 18 former detainees are confirmed as "returning to the fight" and 43 are suspected of having done so. --- read story
Hillary Clinton Vows to Use Secretary of State Position to Fight Global Warming
Despite the extremely cold winter, Hillary Clinton is vowing to fight global warming as Secretary of State. She said that warmer temperatures could cause food and water shortages, which could incite new wars. --- read story
Regulator: New York Governor David Paterson's Senate Selection Process May be Illegal
Governor Paterson's Senate selection process may violate the states post-Watergate freedom of information laws. The laws were designed to ensure government officials are accountable to the public. --- read the news story
More Record Cold and Snow in the United States
40 below zero temperatures and record snowfall make life difficult for many. --- read story
Climate Data Indicates Earth on the Brink of an Ice Age
Many sources of data which provide our knowledge base of long-term climate change indicate that the warm, twelve thousand year-long Holocene period will soon be coming to an end, with the earth returning to Ice Age conditions for the next 100,000 years. --- read story
Hamas Continues to Launch Rockets Despite Israel's Warning of Escalation
Hamas/Palestinian militants fired at least 10 more rockets at Israel, in effect choosing escalation over a cease fire. Leaflets dropped in the Gaza strip said: "The IDF is not working against the people of Gaza but against Hamas and the terrorists only. Stay safe by following our orders." --- read story
Charges of Racism as Harry Reid Refuses to Seat Roland Burris
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to seat Roland Burris. Sen. Dianne Feinstein believes Burris should be seated. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said he believed Burris would have been allowed to accept the appointment if he hadn't been an African American. --- read story
ACORN Worker Indicted for Voter Registration Fraud
A worker for community activist group ACORN has been indicted for voter registration fraud. She is accused of forging voter registration cards for nursing home residents. --- read story
President Bush Exit Interview
John Gizzi interviews President George W. Bush, who will leave office on January 20th. --- the interview
Pick of Leon Panetta to Run CIA Draws Criticism
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who begins her tenure this week as head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was not consulted and indicated she might oppose it. Leon Panetta has no experience when it comes to the nation's spy services. --- read story
Global Sea Ice Levels Equal to Those Seen Back in 1979
The rate of global sea ice increase from September to the end of the year is the fastest rate of change on record. Despite predictions that the North Pole could melt entirely in 2008, Arctic ice saw a substantial recovery. --- read story
Bill Richardson withdraws as Obama's Commerce Secretary
Bill Richardson changed his mind to serve under Barack Obama as he feels the pressure of a looming federal investigation. The pay-to-play investigation comes on the heels of allegations that Obama's Senate seat was for sale in BlagoGate. --- read story
Americans Blame Palestinians for Gaza War 55% to 13%
Americans side with Israel in the Gaza battles by 55% to 13% with 32% undecided. --- read story
Israel Ground Forces Move in on Hamas Terrorists
Between 20 to 30 Hamas terrorists were killed in the early battles of the Israeli ground invasion. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said: "We will do all that is necessary to provide a different reality for southern Israel, which has been under constant attacks for the past eight years." --- see news article
Ehud Olmert Vows to Apply an Iron Fist Against Hamas
Israel appears determined to put an end to the ongoing terrorist attacks from Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "We will treat the population with silk gloves, but will apply an iron fist to Hamas." --- read story
Poll: 77% of Americans Blame Media for Making Economy Worse
A poll by the Opinion Research Corporation shows that 77% of Americans hold the media accountable for focusing and embellishing negative economic news. Richard L. Scheff, a national expert on corporate liability and white collar crime issues, warns the media that they could potentially be exposed to liability. --- read story