Expectations Low For Obama's Health Care Summit Critics call the president's plan to hold a summit between Democrats and Republicans on Feb. 25 a purely political gambit designed to give the appearance of momentum for the health bill. Even supporters of the summit see room for common ground with Republicans on only a few narrow issues.
Seeking A Kinder, Gentler Image For Israel The U.N.'s Goldstone Report accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes during last winter's conflict in the Gaza Strip. Now, some say Israel needs to launch an offensive of a different kind: a public relations drive to disassociate itself from words like "occupation" or "conflict." Congressman John Murtha Dies Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania has died. He was 77. He had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. The retired Marine Corps officer was an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. Obama Seeks Bipartisan Health Care Summit President Obama told CBS on Sunday that he wants to host a bipartisan summit meeting on health care later this month. But Republicans, who have one more Senator on their side, thanks to last month's special election in Massachusetts, have little incentive to cooperate. Ill. Democrats Seek Lieutenant Governor Candidate Democrat Scott Lee Cohen dropped out of the Illinois lieutenant governor race after facing accusations that he had abused his ex-wife and held a knife to the throat of a former girlfriend. The governor, who would have been his running mate, and one of the state's senators had called on Cohen to step aside. The party will try to fix the damage to its statewide ticket. Rep. John Murtha, Powerful Penn. Democrat, Dies Rep. John Murtha, a powerful Pennsylvania Democrat, has died at the age of 77. Rep. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, Dies At 77 U.S. Rep. John Murtha, an influential critic of the Iraq War whose congressional career was shadowed by questions about his ethics, died Monday. He was 77. The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. Democratic Congressman John Murtha Dies At 77 Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday of complications from surgery at the age of 77. Murtha was a retired Marine Corps Officer, a Vietnam veteran, one of the most outspoken critics of the U.S. war in Iraq and a strong defender of Congressional deal-making. NPR’s Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving remembers Murtha and his legacy. Why All Americans Should Thank Sen. Shelby Analysis: Alabama GOP Sen. Richard Shelby has place a blanket "hold" on 70 pending federal nominations in hopes of forcing the Senate to adopt some of his earmarks. Such shenanigans might finally prompt Americans to notice the smaller-scale hostage situations other senators conduct. Scott Lee Cohen Withdraws As Dem LG Nominee In Illinois The Democratic nominee for lt. gov. in Illinois withdraws from the race, under pressure. Obama Plans Televised Health Summit With GOP The president is looking to give health overhaul a boost with a televised meeting between Republicans and Democrats late this month. How much difference the event may have on moving stalled legislation ahead remains to be seen. 'Big Easy' Busy With Super Bowl, Mayoral Election The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl Championship Sunday and the city is celebrating big time. Some see it as a turning point for the beleaguered city which was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Also over the weekend, Mitch Landrieu won the mayor's office. He beat 10 opponents to become the first white mayor of the mostly black city since his father left the post in the late 1970s. Jenny Sanford Details Tumult In 'Staying True' Of the recent political scandals involving infidelity — John Edwards, Elliott Spitzer, James McGreevy — one stands out, not for what the politician did, but for what his wife did not do. Jenny Sanford, wife of Gov. Mark Sanford, did not stand by her man in the cameras' glare. Her new memoir explains why. Bill Would Apply Antitrust Laws To Insurance With Congress still stalled on the big health bill, it turns to smaller pieces of legislation. The House this week will vote on a bill to repeal a decades-old insurance industry exemption from antitrust laws. Some analysts say eliminating the exemption wouldn't have an impact on competition or premiums. Obama To Host Bipartisan Health Care Summit In the first major step to revive his health care agenda after his party's loss of a filibuster-proof Senate majority, President Obama on Sunday invited Republican and Democratic leaders to discuss possible compromises in a televised gathering later this month.
