Politics
Atlanta 911 center mistakes put lives in danger
An investigation by D.L. Bennett, Cameron McWhirter, Heather Vogell and data analysts Megan Clarke and John Perry of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has found that the apathy and negligence of workers at the Fulton County 911 call center endangered the lives of emergency workers and of those seeking emergency help. The reporters, who reviewed nearly five…
Read MoreAIG benefited from founder’s Washington connections
The Washington Post‘s Carol D. Leonnig gives readers a glimpse into the power and influence Maurice R. “Hank” Greenberg wielded as the CEO of the AIG financial firm. Under Greenberg’s leadership, AIG employees donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican and Democratic candidates who held key financial regulation positions. Additionally, Greenberg’s charisma and donations…
Read MoreHead of McCain’s transition team lobbied for Freddie Mac
Newly released Congressional documents show that the lobbying firm of William Timmons Sr., who Republicans say has been tapped to lead Sen. John McCain’s transition committee, receive $260,000 this year from Feddie Mac prior to the government’s takeover of the mortgage company, report Jonathan D. Salant and Timothy J. Burger of Bloomberg. The midyear financial-disclosure…
Read MoreGOP money buoys McCain campaign
Despite accepting $84 million in public financing for his Presidential campaign, John McCain “has found a way to work around these limits. The Republican Party — and not his campaign committee — has paid for more than half of his campaign ads and outspent Obama on television in the first week following the conventions,” reports…
Read MoreEmails reveal Palin’s interest in trooper’s penalty
Former public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan, shared emails with The Washington Post that reveal that Gov. Sarah Palin “harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed an internal affairs investigation into his conduct,” report The Post‘s James V. Grimaldi and Karl Vick. Palin has requested the investigation into possible…
Read MorePalin under investigation for improper use of influence
Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential nominee, “has been deeply involved in alerting state officials to her family’s personal turmoil” according to interviews and documents reviewed by James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy of The Washington Post. She is currently under investigation for the firing of Alaska’s state safety commissioner when he failed…
Read MoreOil industry donations poured in after McCain’s reversal on drilling
An article by Washington Post reporter Matthew Mosk revealed that the oil industry made large contributions to the McCain campaign in June following his policy statement calling for an end to the federal ban on offshore drilling. “Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month — three-quarters of which…
Read MoreCandidate cancels campaign after background questioned
Reporter John Frank and researchers at the St. Petersburg Times exposed the murky past of Congressional candidate Jim King. King, a Republican running against the incumbent in the GOP primary, fudged his professional medical credentials and biographical information for years. The investigation “found he made inaccurate claims about his professional background and his time with…
Read MoreObama got discount on home loan
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama got a discount on the $1.32 million loan for his Chicago mansion, obtaining an interest rate of 5.625 percent on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, below the average for such loans at the time in Chicago. Washington Post investigative reporter Joe Stephens found that, compared with the average terms offered…
Read MoreNonprofits work to wield influence on 2008 elections
In a joint effort by NPR and the Center for Investigative Reporting, Peter Overby and Will Evans report on the efforts of nonprofits to influence the 2008 elections. “One network of liberal activist groups, Progress Now and its eight affiliates, is trying to shape the debate with a streamlined operation of small staff, low budgets…
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