Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:22 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Russell Berman :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Russell+Berman istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/new-york/september-11-health-bill-stalls-one-backer-blames/86852/ Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST A leading backer of the push to secure nearly $11 billion for survivors of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is blaming the Bloomberg administration for opposing a federal bill that stalled in the House of Representatives. The mayor's office had lobbied Congress aggressively for the $10.9 billion bill but balked when Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill insisted that city taxpayers pay $500 million over 10 years to fund a share of a health care program to treat rescue workers who came... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/at-debate-biden-told-ignore-palin/86746/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST As Senator Biden prepares to face off against Governor Palin on Thursday night in the campaign's lone vice presidential debate, Democratic strategists have a few words of advice for the lawmaker of Delaware: Ignore the Alaskan. Mr. Biden's 35 years in the Senate dwarf Ms. Palin's single month of experience on the national stage, but Democrats are worried that his penchant for verbal missteps and his occasionally aggressive style could be a liability as he faces only the second woman to serve as... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/passed-by-congress-25b-automaker-loan-bill-heads/86745/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST President Bush is expected to approve $25 billion in loans for American automakers after the Senate approved the measure overwhelmingly on Saturday. The legislation, which would provide backing for investments in more fuel efficient vehicles, was included as part of a broader $630 billion spending bill that funds the federal government through March. The bill passed 78-12 after advancing in the House last week. The Big Three automakers in Detroit — Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors — lobbied... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-sets-off-a-high-stakes-gamble/86606/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator McCain's decision to suspend his campaign and call for the postponement of the first presidential debate tomorrow night is a high-stakes gamble that puts him front and center in the wrangling over a proposed $700 billion government bailout of the financial markets. The Republican nominee is bidding for a bold demonstration of nonpartisan leadership on the crisis now roiling the American economy, but analysts warned that it could backfire if voters view the move, which comes... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-to-hold-out-for-bailout/86698/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — With the campaign's first debate in doubt, the arrival here of both presidential contenders brought chaos and confusion to the capital as a $700 billion bailout deal that appeared at hand broke down amid a flurry of bitter recriminations. Lawmakers emerged from an unusual White House meeting late in the day worried that a tentative agreement on a Wall Street rescue plan had fallen apart, with House Republicans in opposition. Democratic leaders immediately blamed Senator McCain... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/miss-governor-expects-friday-night-debate/86616/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:39:16 EST WASHINGTON — The Republican governor of Mississippi said this afternoon that he expects tomorrow night's presidential debate to go on as planned in his state, despite a call from his party's nominee that the event be delayed because of the financial crisis. "I expect there to be a debate tomorrow night. I look forward to it," Governor Barbour told reporters in a televised briefing from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, the host site of the debate. Mr. Barbour, a former chairman of the... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/clintons-raise-visibility-promote-clintons/86509/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Americans turning on the television the last couple of days could be forgiven if they thought the calendars had been turned back: On every channel, it seemed, were the Clintons. President and Senator Clinton have conducted at least 10 separate television interviews since Monday morning, with most focused on their recommendations for handling the financial crisis that has rocked the markets and taken center stage in Congress. The former president offered long discourses on the... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/biden-vouches-for-obamas-support-of-israel/86434/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator Biden delivered a heartfelt endorsement of Senator Obama's commitment to Israel here yesterday, telling an audience of Jewish Democratic activists that he would not have joined the party's ticket if he were not convinced of Mr. Obama's support for the Jewish state. "My support for Israel begins in my stomach, goes to my heart, and ends up in my head," Mr. Biden told the National Jewish Democratic Council at the group's annual conference. "I promise you. I guarantee you, I... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/in-fight-for-irish-votes-a-mccain-stance-is/86378/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — With the Irish-American vote at stake in November, the Obama campaign is lashing out at Senator McCain over his opposition a decade ago to allowing into America a Northern Ireland leader linked to terrorism. A group of senior Democrats yesterday accused the Republican presidential nominee of standing on the wrong side of a move that many Irish Americans see as critical to the peace accord signed in 1998 between the British and Irish governments: President Clinton's decision to... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/bloomberg-open-to-serving-as-financial-czar-for-us/86262/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg is signaling he is open to taking on a senior federal post to help the government implement its unprecedented bailout of the financial markets. The mayor, in an appearance yesterday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press," was asked about a recommendation by the billionaire investor Warren Buffett that Mr. Bloomberg be tapped to head a new agency charged with buying up bad assets that are now dragging down the nation's top financial firms. Mr. Bloomberg cited his... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/new-york/bloomberg-praises-rangel-sidesteps-ethics-flap/86158/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg lavished praise on Rep. Charles Rangel as he testified before him yesterday on Capitol Hill, but he refused to weigh in on whether the Harlem congressman should step down from his position as chairman of a powerful House committee while he is under investigation. "That's for his committee to decide," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters here yesterday afternoon after appearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, which Mr. Rangel heads. "I've known Charlie for a long... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/bloomberg-speaks-out-against-carbon-tariff/86204/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg is warning Congress against a "retreat into protectionism" as it considers legislation to fight global warming by imposing a cap on carbon emissions. The mayor testified yesterday on climate change proposals at a House committee hearing, urging lawmakers to act quickly in an effort to curb the effects of global warming. Mr. Bloomberg has spoken out repeatedly on the issue in the last year, but yesterday he also took a stand against plans to include a "carbon tariff"... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/top-clinton-fund-raiser-backs-mccain/86064/ Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator Clinton has pleaded with her supporters to back Senator Obama, but one of her most loyal backers is refusing to follow her lead. Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a top fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton's primary candidacy and a member of the Democratic National Committee, is endorsing Senator McCain, warning that Mr. Obama would move the nation "too far to the left" and saying his Republican rival would bring the "bold, bipartisan, centrist change we need in Washington." Ms... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/bloomberg-clinton-seek-market-action/86095/ Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Clinton are urging federal officials to take action to stabilize the financial markets following the second plunge in the major stock indices this week. Mrs. Clinton, in a letter to the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, called for a temporary ban on "abusive and manipulative short sales practices" involving major financial firms, while Mr. Bloomberg plans to meet here this morning with the Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, and the SEC... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/lawyer-rangel-not-pressured-to-cede-post/85999/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — A lawyer for Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem said yesterday that the longtime New York congressman was never asked to give up his post as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The 78-year-old Democrat has come under fire from Republicans and editorial writers in recent days over the disclosure that he did not report income or pay thousands of dollars in taxes on a seaside villa he has owned for the last two decades in the Dominican Republic. The Republican leader... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/business/mccain-calls-for-panel-to-probe-wall-street-crisis/86016/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator McCain, responding to the crisis on Wall Street, is calling for a financial commission modeled on the panel that investigated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a move that Senator Obama is deriding as a "stunt." The two presidential candidates traded shots yesterday as they vied for the high ground on the economy, which sprang to the fore of the campaign amid the fallout from the collapse of the storied investment bank Lehman Brothers. Mr. McCain, in an... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/next-bailout-may-be-for-automakers/85937/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — The beneficiary of the next government bailout may not be Wall Street but Motor City. The nation's top car manufacturers are pushing Congress to act by the end of this month to guarantee $25 billion in loans to help them invest in the production of fuel-efficient vehicles. The idea is being greeted warmly by both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, who see it as a way to win votes in the swing state of Michigan while also moving America away from dependence on... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/rangel-rejects-republicans-calling-for-him/85651/ Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem is resisting calls that he resign as chairman of a powerful House tax-writing committee, but he acknowledged yesterday that his failure to pay taxes on income from a vacation home in the Dominican Republic was "irresponsible" and that he had not lived up to the standards of his high office. Mr. Rangel, head of the House Ways and Means Committee, vowed to pay thousands of dollars in back taxes to the city, state, and federal governments on $75,000 in... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/gop-calls-on-rangel-to-quit-powerful-committee/85481/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — The House Republican leadership is calling on Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem to step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee amid a series of investigations into his personal finances. The office of Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio released a letter sent yesterday afternoon to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging her to "insist" that Mr. Rangel resign his post while the inquiries are ongoing. "Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/comedian-franken-wins-primary-in-minnesota-us/85544/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — The comedian Al Franken last night easily held off a late primary challenger in his bid to win a Senate seat in Minnesota, clearing the way for a much-anticipated match-up with the incumbent Republican, Norm Coleman. The general election race will pit two transplanted New Yorkers against each another. The Associated Press called the primary for Mr. Franken shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern. With 42% of the precincts reporting, Mr. Franken led a little-known St. Paul attorney... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-palin-surging-in-the-polls/85458/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator McCain is entering the final eight weeks of the presidential campaign surging in the polls following his party's national convention, with the selection of Governor Palin as his running mate appearing to have closed a lingering gap with Senator Obama. The race now turns to the battleground states and to the four fall debates, which will take on heightened importance in a neck-and-neck campaign. A group of polls over the past few days indicate that Mr. McCain picked up a... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/business/fannie-freddie-takeover-meets-with-skepticism/85354/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — The government's takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is meeting with a skeptical reception from some onlookers who are warning that the move could leave taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars in losses. Treasury Secretary Paulson announced a four-part plan yesterday in which the government would inject capital, guarantee home loans, and buy up to $5 billion in mortgages in an attempt to stabilize the companies, which have lost $14 billion in the last year. Mr. Paulson... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-hones-message-for-conservatives/85274/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST MINNEAPOLIS — Senator McCain wasn't the only candidate reaching out to conservatives last night. While Mr. McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination, his Democratic rival, Senator Obama, was talking tough on foreign policy in a long-awaited interview with a Fox News host, Bill O'Reilly. Mr. Obama appeared on "The O'Reilly Factor" for the first time last night and told the commentator that the surge of American forces in Iraq had "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams." He also said... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/bruno-draws-tough-obama-spitzer-parallels/85247/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST MINNEAPOLIS — No longer in office, Joseph Bruno clearly feels free to speak his mind. At a New York delegation breakfast here yesterday morning, the recently retired state Senate majority leader went after his one-time nemesis, Eliot Spitzer, and even compared Senator Obama to the disgraced former governor. Mr. Bruno said Mr. Spitzer won a landslide victory in 2006 because of an effective marketing campaign and that he duped New Yorkers before showing himself to be a "despot" once in office... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/fallen-star-pataki-declares-im-back/85157/ Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST MINNEAPOLIS — It was four years ago today that Governor Pataki's career reached its pinnacle. The third-term New York governor had just delivered a soaring prime-time speech to the Republican National Convention in Manhattan, extolling President Bush, castigating Senator Kerry, and hailing the triumphant economic recovery of New York under his watch following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The speech, penned with help from the renowned Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan, thrust Mr... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/ny-republicans-grapple-with-palins-readiness/85040/ Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST MINNEAPOLIS — As New York Republicans gather here for daily breakfast meetings connected to their party's national convention, they have sounded a consistent message: The November election will turn on national security, and Senator McCain is the only candidate who can keep America safe. When it comes to the first-term Alaska governor chosen as Mr. McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, the question for the state's security hawks becomes far trickier. The selection of Mrs. Palin draws nearly... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/republicans-prepare-for-a-full-convention-schedule/84995/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST ST. PAUL, Minn. — Republicans here expect to return to an expanded, if toned-down, convention schedule this afternoon, a day after they scrapped most political activities out of concern for the Gulf Coast states pounded by Hurricane Gustav. Party leaders gaveled open the Republican National Convention for barely two hours yesterday, in a session devoted to pro forma motions and abbreviated pleas for Americans to send aid to the nation's storm-ravaged region. The shortened schedule and the... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-picks-alaska-governor-sarah-palin-as/84934/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:18:47 EST DENVER — Senator McCain's choice of a first-term governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running mate brings the Republican ticket the youth and historic aspects that Senator Obama showcased at the Democratic convention just concluded here — and also some of the inexperience. Ms. Palin, 44, became governor 20 months ago and would be the first woman ever to run on a national Republican ticket. A self-described "average hockey mom" and an opponent of abortion and gun control, she is considered... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-aiming-for-quick-shift-of-attention/84899/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST DENVER — Senator McCain will officially unveil his running mate Friday at a large rally in Dayton, Ohio, his campaign has confirmed amid intense speculation over who the soon-to-be Republican presidential nominee had picked. Top contenders include a former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney; Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota, and Senator Lieberman, an independent of Connecticut who caucuses with the Democrats. By announcing his choice Friday, Mr. McCain is aiming to turn the country's attention... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/paterson-defends-conventions-outreach-to-clinton/84843/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:41:44 EST DENVER — Governor Paterson offered up a forceful defense of the supporters of Senator Clinton here this morning in his most extensive comments on the search for party unity that has become the central storyline of this convention. Speaking to the New York convention delegates at a breakfast, the governor dismissed the notion that this week had focused too much on the Clintons and their most loyal backers. "Nothing went wrong in this process," he said. "It doesn't need any further discussion... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/drama-on-floor-as-clinton-cuts-roll-call-vote/84825/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST DENVER — Brushing aside one final fevered push from her supporters, Senator Clinton made her latest public bid for party unity yesterday with a dramatic entrance into the Democratic convention hall, moving to cut off a roll call vote and officially nominate her chief rival, Senator Obama of Illinois, for the presidency. The appearance by Mrs. Clinton capped a day of uncertainty and high emotions as Democrats here prepared for a convention floor vote that some worried would expose anew the... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/ny-delegation-cheers-as-paterson-takes-national/84732/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST DENVER — Governor Paterson drew boisterous applause from the New York faithful as he made his debut here on the national stage, reciting his compelling life story, extolling Senator Obama as a champion of disabled Americans, and attacking Senator McCain. The governor spoke shortly before 6 p.m. Eastern time to a convention hall that was mostly empty of delegates, but a New York contingent of several hundred party officials and activists greeted Mr. Paterson with an extended standing ovation and... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-uges-ny-supporters-to-back-obama/84554/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST DENVER — As New York's 361 delegates to the Democratic National Convention gathered here to hear Senator Clinton address their breakfast meeting yesterday, a palpable sense of what might have been lingered in the hall. The "Hillary for President" placards so ubiquitous on the campaign trail had been replaced by the more polite "Hillary Made History" signs, and the crowd needed a little warming up. A morning that would have served as the kickoff to a four-day victory party had instead taken on... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-drama-is-the-subplot-of-democrats/84543/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST DENVER — As Democrats from across the country converge here for a convention aimed principally at unifying their party, the most closely watched subplot will be the drama of the Clintons. Senator Clinton will address the convention in prime time tomorrow and her husband will speak on Wednesday in two of the most anticipated speeches of the four-day gathering. Their goal: to convince Mrs. Clinton's hold-out supporters and the public at large that their support for Senator Obama's candidacy is... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/census-data-will-put-economy-at-top-of-convention/84481/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator Obama will likely have another talking point at the Democratic National Convention tomorrow when the Census Bureau releases data on poverty, income, and the number of uninsured. The annual report provides grist for both parties in the high-pitched debate over the economy, and both liberal and conservative analysts predict the new data will yield little good news. The number of Americans without health insurance is expected to rise, analysts from the left-leaning Economic... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/campaign-gets-a-bit-testy-after-remark-by-mccain/84432/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — A campaign for the White House long centered on war, energy, and the economy has shifted to a fight over the candidates' personal fortunes. The presidential race took a sharply negative turn yesterday as the Obama campaign launched a multipronged attack on Mr. McCain after the presumptive Republican nominee appeared to forget how many homes his family owns. In response, the McCain campaign unleashed its file on Antoin Rezko, the convicted Chicago developer who helped Mr. Obama find... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/summers-manages-low-profile-while-advising/84343/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — When Senator Obama released his detailed tax plan, he turned for public support to one of the Democratic Party's most respected economic voices: Lawrence Summers. In one of his first appearances as a campaign surrogate, the former Treasury secretary last week touted Mr. Obama's proposals and rebutted charges from Republicans that his plan for tax and spending increases would damage the economy. Mr. Summers's participation on the conference call drew little notice, and that was fine... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/king-calls-lieberman-perfect-vp/84355/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — With social conservatives up in arms over the possibility that Senator McCain may tap a supporter of abortion rights, Senator Lieberman, as his running mate, one staunch McCain ally and abortion opponent says the Connecticut lawmaker is the perfect choice. Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican, said social conservatives are making a mistake by opposing Mr. Lieberman, arguing that the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee could help deliver Mr. McCain the election in... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-facing-attacks-from-all-sides-over-abortion/84059/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — When it comes to his abortion record in Illinois, Senator Obama is taking flak from all sides. First, Senator Clinton accused him of lacking political backbone in voting "present" on a bill that, according to abortion rights advocates, undermined the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade. Now abortion foes are targeting him from the right over the same question: They say his opposition to legislation aimed at protecting infants born alive after a botched abortion... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-aides-say-he-would-lower-taxes/83970/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator Obama, with his lead against Senator McCain narrowing in some polls, is trying to portray himself as the real tax-cutter in the presidential race. And even some conservatives are praising him for it. A senior policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, Rea Hederman Jr., praised Mr. Obama for proposing a 20% tax rate on dividends and capital gains, lower than a 28% rate he had initially floated, though still more than the current 15% rate. "That's a great step in... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/new-york-city-problem-dogs-franken-campaign/83865/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — When Democrats this spring sized up Al Franken's bid to win a Senate seat in his native Minnesota, they saw plenty of promising signs: an engaging and famously funny candidate familiar to voters, a stockpile of campaign cash, and a vulnerable incumbent Republican. Less than three months before Election Day, however, the Republican seat held by a former New Yorker, Norm Coleman, looks safer than ever, and Mr. Franken's hopes could be doomed by his own New York past. The former... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-capitalizes-on-russia-georgia-conflict/83653/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator McCain is seizing on the expanding war in the Caucasus as an opportunity to refocus the presidential campaign on foreign policy and dominate the political spotlight during a week in which his opponent, Senator Obama, is vacationing in Hawaii. The presumptive Republican nominee yesterday condemned Moscow for the third time in four days and called for a more robust response from the world community to isolate Russia and protect its battered neighbor, a former Soviet republic... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/foreign/mccain-aide-portrays-obama-as-in-sync-with-kremlin/83571/ Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — The sudden outbreak of war in Georgia presents a foreign policy challenge both for the Bush administration and the presidential candidates as they grapple with an emboldened Russia intent on re-asserting its power on the world stage. Fighting escalated dramatically over the weekend as Russian forces advanced beyond the disputed separatist region of South Ossetia and into Georgian territory, according to news reports from the region. The Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/governor-pawlenty-auditioning-for-mccain/83390/ Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — If anything is clear about Senator McCain's search for a vice president, it's that Governor Pawlenty of Minnesota has learned a thing or two about campaigning — or not campaigning — for the job. Addressing the Washington press corps here yesterday, Mr. Pawlenty was asked to name the most important qualities Mr. McCain should seek in a running mate. He flashed a small grin and offered just one: "discretion." He should know. The 47-year-old governor, now in the middle of his second... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-makes-sharp-break-from-bush-in-new-ad/83228/ Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Senator McCain is making his most abrupt break with President Bush yet, releasing a new television ad that asserts that Americans are "worse off than we were four years ago." The new 30-second spot hails the presumptive Republican nominee as "the original maverick" and criticizes Washington gridlock. "Washington's broken. John McCain knows it," a narrator says during the ad. "We're worse off than we were four years ago." The script continues: "Only McCain has taken on Big Tobacco... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-rebukes-obamas-energy-shift/83181/ Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Amid record gas prices and mounting criticism from the McCain campaign, Senator Obama is shifting his stance on key energy issues. His campaign insists the moves demonstrate his pragmatism, but Republicans say the Illinois senator is merely following the polls. RELATED: 'Drill, Drill, Drill' Is Working | The Argument for Offshore Drilling. Mr. Obama yesterday called for releasing 70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, less than one month after he voiced... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/republicans-ready-lines-of-attack-on-obamas-vice/83093/ Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Republicans preparing to pounce on Senator Obama's running mate see his choice falling into one of two categories: "inexperience," or an "insider." As Mr. Obama considers a vice presidential nominee for the Democratic ticket, he is eyeing candidates who would either underscore his message of bringing change to Washington or compensate for his perceived lack of national security seasoning or executive experience. Republicans, meanwhile, are preparing two parallel strategies to try... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/new-york/in-washington-paterson-asks-for-help/83036/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Governor Paterson is pleading for more help from the federal government as he tries to close a state budget gap projected at $26.2 billion during the next three years. In his first speech in Washington since taking office in March, the governor painted a grim portrait of the national economy and said that while Albany would tighten its belt, federal taxpayers also had to chip in. "The federal government is going to have to put more into the states that support it in the next few... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/new-york/mayor-increase-federal-support-for-9-11-workers/83021/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Mayor Bloomberg is pushing Congress to pass a bill increasing federal support for ground zero workers before lawmakers leave town for the year. Joined by Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Peter King, the mayor testified before a House subcommittee on legislation that would create a federal program to monitor and treat workers who contracted respiratory illnesses after toiling at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The bill, which could cost as... RUSSELL BERMAN http://www.nysun.com/national/rivals-ready-to-attack-vp-nominee/82973/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST WASHINGTON — Democrats are preparing to pounce on Senator McCain's running mate, whoever it is. If he selects a former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, Carleton Fiorina, Democrats will portray her as an "elitist, out of touch CEO." If it is the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, he'll be a flip-flopper. And if it is the governor of Minnesota, Timothy Pawlenty, he will be the "Godfather of No." As the Arizona senator and his top advisers scour the records and backgrounds of...