

Washington (CNN) - Thanks to Sen. Patty Murray, Sharon and Blake Ilstrup can have their big inauguration date night after all.
Last week, the Seattle-area couple, along with many others, were shut out of the first-come, first-served official Presidential Inaugural Ball ticket sales when a mistake by Ticketmaster, the ticket vendor, inadvertently released tickets for both the inaugural ball and parade early, as CNN first reported.
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FULL STORYWashington (CNN) - At its essence, the presidential inaugural symbolizes American democracy's peaceful transition or extension of power.
Every four years, the winner of the preceding November election swears to defend the Constitution. Cannons boom and bands play. It all unfolds outside in public, usually before a massive throng that thunders its approval.
FULL STORYWashington (CNN) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday proposed a package of measures intended to reduce gun violence in the wake of the Newtown school massacre last month.
Some of the steps have been tried before and others are expansions of laws and policies already in place. Some face high hurdles in Congress.
Will they work? Here's a look at some of the key measures:
FULL STORYWashington (CNN) - Sharon Ilstrup was looking forward to a very special date night with her husband, Blake - a chance to attend one of the Inaugural balls with the president and the first lady.
But a mistake by Ticketmaster - the online sales agent tasked with managing the ticketing process - led to the early release of all of tickets to the Inaugural balls and the Inaugural parade, derailing the plans for Ilstrup and thousands of other couples.
FULL STORY(CNN) - Days after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, demands from the public and lawmakers for tougher gun control legislation were met by President Barack Obama's call for a re-examination of the country's gun laws.
Obama announced Wednesday that Vice President Joe Biden will lead an administration effort to develop recommendations no later than January for preventing another mass shooting.
FULL STORYWashington (CNN) – At one time, Susan Rice seemed to be on a trajectory that would take her to the secretary of state's office in President Barack Obama's second term.
But that trajectory changed Thursday when the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations withdrew her name from consideration to succeed current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
FULL STORY(CNN) – The White House looked to harness the power of social media – again – to boost its public relations push on the fiscal cliff by launching the #My2K hashtag Wednesday.
The effort to popularize the Twitter subject hashtag coincided with President Barack Obama's meeting Wednesday with 85 Americans who answered a White House email sent out last week asking why extending middle class tax cuts was important for Americans.
FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – At one time, Susan Rice seemed to be on a trajectory that would take her to the secretary of state's office in President Barack Obama's second term.
But the confusing timeline that she and the Obama administration have offered around the deadly September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, might have altered that political course, begun years ago with the help of a powerful family friend.
FULL STORY(CNN) – Two weeks after President Barack Obama's re-election, the "Blue" map keeps expanding as the last few "too close to call" congressional races break for Democrats.
They have won six of the seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives that were undecided on Election Night with only Rep. Mike McIntyre's North Carolina result still subject to recount. A win there would push Democrats to 200 seats in the chamber compared with 234 for majority Republicans.
FULL STORY(CNN) – Seven of eight unresolved U.S. House races remain too close to call with votes still being counted and potential losers preparing and, in some cases, already launching court challenges.
Republicans maintained control of the House in Tuesday's election, but Democratic gains could give them 200 seats in the 435-seat chamber.
FULL STORY

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