Republican Party

Republican and Former Secretary of State Colin Powell formally announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for President this morning, during a widely-anticipated appearance on NBC's Meet the Press. Here's the interview video:

“As gifted as he is, he [McCain] is essentially going to execute the Republican agenda, the orthodoxy of the Republican agenda, with a new face and a maverick approach to it, and he’d be quite good at it,” Mr. Powell said. “But I think we need a generational change.”

"The current economic crisis demands that we understand John McCain's attitudes about economic oversight and corporate influence in federal regulation. Nothing illustrates the danger of his approach more clearly than his central role in the savings and loan scandal of the late '80s and early '90s.

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25 September 2008 -- Iraqi police have raised the death toll from an ambush in Diyala province to 35 people, most of whom were police officers.

Gunmen ambushed the group of Iraqi policemen and anti-al-Qaida fighters on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said Thursday a suicide bomber killed an American soldier Wednesday in Diyala.

In other news, Iraqi lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill that calls for provincial elections to be held by January 31, several months later than originally planned.

U.S. President George Bush and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the move, saying it will contribute to political reconciliation in Iraq.    » read more »

September 1, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Sarah and Todd Palin issued the following statement regarding today's Reuters story:

"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.    » read more »

St. Paul -- 01 September 2008 -- Thousands of people rallied outside the Republican Party national convention on Monday, protesting the war in Iraq and the policies of the Bush administration. The march was mostly peaceful, but some small groups of protesters created disturbances and confronted police, and several people were arrested.

Protesters marched from the capitol building in downtown St. Paul to the arena where the Republican Party national convention opened Monday in an abbreviated session.

Young and old, and parents with children participated in the march. They carried signs with slogans such as "Say No to War," "U.S. Out of Iraq" and "Support the Troops, End the War." Police in riot gear stood watch as demonstrators made their way through the streets.    » read more »

September 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Harris, 36,of Lexington, North Carolina, died Aug. 30 from injuries sustained while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan.

Harris was temporarily forward deployed from his assignment at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, Va.

Source: DoD

September 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Steven J. Fitzmorris, 26, of Columbia, Missouri, died on Aug. 25 of wounds suffered from enemy fire while on a dismounted patrol in Adhamiyah, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Source: DoD

September 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jorge L. Feliz Nieve, 26, of Queens Village, New York, died on Aug. 28 of injuries sustained from a vehicle incident in Mosul, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DoD

September 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Carlo E. Alfonso, 23, of Spokane, Washington, died on Aug. 26 of injuries sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Sadr City, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

Source: DoD

August 29, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Michael L. Gonzalez, 20, of Spotswood, New Jersey, died Aug. 28 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered by an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 340th Military Police Company, Fort Totten, N.Y.

Source: DoD

August 29, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. David K. Cooper, 25, of Williamsburg, Kentucky, died Aug. 27 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered in Qadasiyah, Iraq, when his dismounted patrol came under small arms fire.

He was assigned to Forward Support Company, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Source: DoD

August 28, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc Tan Q. Ngo, 20, of Beaverton, Oregon, died Aug. 27 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol received small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany.

Source: DoD

Discovered by the ever-intrepid denizens of YouTube, marvel at this vintage 1988 sportscast featuring John McCain's virtually unknown running-mate, Sarah Palin:

August 26, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL -- John McCain's presidential campaign today announced its John McCain for President Tennessee Statewide Leadership. This distinguished team of leaders will direct Tennessee's growing grassroots organization and communicate John McCain's message of peace, prosperity and reform.

"I first met John McCain when he became the Navy's liaison to the United States Senate when I was Republican Leader," said former Senator and McCain Honorary State Chair Howard Baker. "He traveled abroad with me on many occasions, and I had the opportunity to observe first-hand his ability to relate with foreign leaders. I have a high regard, respect and confidence in his unique ability to lead our country as our next president."    » read more »

27 August 2008 -- The U.S. Defense Department says it wants to turn over security responsibility to Iraqi forces as quickly as possible, but that the timing should be based on conditions. A spokesman repeated the position Tuesday in response to a statement by Iraq's prime minister calling for a full U.S. withdrawal by 2011.

Iraqi policemen and US soldier: Iraqi policemen gather around U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ian Putansu of Camden, MN, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, as he instructs tactical maneuvers at the Hammiyat police station in Taji, Iraq, August 4, 2008.    » read more »