POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Monday, May 14, 2012
The CNN Washington Bureau’s morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Click on the headlines for more.
CNN: Senators in agreement: Senate isn't working
Two leading senators from opposing political sides agreed on Sunday that the major issues facing the upper chamber, like taxes and spending, will not be addressed before the November elections. But they disagreed on who deserves the blame.
CNN: Public hearing scheduled on Secret Service prostitution scandal
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the prostitution scandal involving U.S. military and Secret Service agents in Colombia. The hearing will take place May 23, Sen. Joe Lieberman, the committee chairman, told CNN's "State of the Union."
CNN: Priebus: Same-sex marriage isn't a civil rights issue
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Sunday said the Republican Party stands by dignity and respect for gay Americans, but that those sentiments do not change his opposition to same-sex marriage. "People in this country, no matter straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect. However, that doesn't mean it carries on to marriage," Priebus said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
CNN: Conservative leader: Obama marriage announcement comes at a cost
President Barack Obama’s support of same-sex marriage will hurt him in states he captured in 2008, the president of American Values, Gary Bauer, predicted Sunday. “I think the president this past week took six or seven states he carried in 2008 and put them in play with this ill-conceived position,” Bauer said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
CNN: General's warning to U.S. troops at upcoming NATO summit: Behave
The head of the U.S. Northern Command has a reminder for his troops supporting the upcoming NATO summit in Chicago: no alcohol, no prostitutes. It comes as the U.S. Southern Command finalizes its probe into the conduct of 12 troops assigned to security for a recent presidential trip to Colombia. Investigations continue into an alleged prostitution scandal involving military and Secret Service agents who were in the South American nation in advance of a trip last month by President Barack Obama.
CNN: New York police tout improving crime numbers to defend frisking policy
New York police on Sunday touted the impact of their much-criticized "stop, question and frisk" policy, claiming it has contributed to a spike in the number of firearms confiscated and coincided with what is shaping up to be a historically low murder rate.
CNN: Edwards defense team set to make its case
The defense for John Edwards is scheduled to start Monday morning in the former presidential candidate's corruption trial. Edwards, who faces six felony charges, is accused of conspiracy, making false statements and violating campaign contribution laws. He has pleaded not guilty.
CNN: Trustees consider fate of Florida A&M's marching band
Florida A&M University's Board of Trustees meets Monday to discuss the future of the college's popular marching band in the aftermath of the hazing-related death of a member. Band director Julian White, who had been with the prestigious band for 40 years, stepped down under pressure last week.
CNN: Huge death toll doubles in Yemen 'slaughter'
The death toll from a sophisticated attack by Islamic extremists against soldiers in Yemen jumped to 184 Tuesday, three Yemeni officials told CNN. Air raids on militant positions since the attack have left at least 42 militants dead in Abyan province, security officials said.
CNN: Contentious Greek government talks to resume Monday
The Greek president will resume talks Monday with political party leaders in a scramble to try to form a new government. President Karolos Papoulias called together the leaders of the three biggest parties Sunday, a week after indecisive elections and three failed attempts to form a government raised the possibility of new elections in the debt-stricken country.
CNN: Uganda displays captive Kony lieutenant
Uganda says it has captured a top commander of the Lord's Resistance Army, the guerrilla movement notorious for its attacks on civilians and use of child soldiers. Ugandan commanders displayed Caesar Achellam to reporters after his capture in what they said was a weekend raid in the Central African Republic. The CAR is one of several African Union countries that has committed troops to hunt down LRA chieftain Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
CNN: Merkel's party takes a loss in German state vote
Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling party took a beating in Germany's largest state Sunday in a vote its leading candidate called a "bitter" defeat. The results are likely to be seen as a blow to Merkel's leadership, although the vote won't affect the balance of power in Germany's federal parliament.
Financial Times: Greek exit from eurozone 'possible'
Greece's exit from the eurozone "would be possible," even if not in Europe's interest, and countries should have a democratic right to quit, according to a member of the ECB's governing council. The comments from Luc Coene, the central bank governor of Belgium, in a Financial Times interview highlight how eurozone policy makers are losing patience with Athens after an inconclusive election threw into doubt Greece's commitment to reforms demanded under its international bailout.
CNN Money: Wall Street is betting as big as ever
Wall Street's risk appetite is back, and the bets are as big as ever. JPMorgan's announcement last week of an expected $2 billion loss from the bank's trading activities offers a painful lesson: It's hard to limit and define what kind of trades might mitigate risks for a bank with roughly $2.3 trillion in assets.
CNN Money: Yahoo confirms CEO is out after resume scandal
Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson is out after it was found he padded his resume with an embellished college degree, ending his term at the company after just four months. Yahoo confirmed Thompson "has left the company" in a statement posted late Sunday, after two news reports. Tech blog AllThingsD was the first to report the news, and the New York Times followed up with its own article.
In case you missed it…
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I) and Rep. Peter King (R) discuss U.S. efforts to stop al Qaeda amid their "evolving" tactics.
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More killing in Yemen after a week earlier there were deaths due to a couple of terrorist blasts. The Muslims are killing each other just like they do non believers. Isn't that against their Koran? They're all a bunch of hypocrites. The word Islam in Arabic means PEACE. THAT IS AN OXYMORON. THE BIGGEST OXYMORON OF ALL TIME. Don't worry because false religion will fall on a global scale as in Revelations 14:8.
I don't condole the president announcement on same sex marriage because of my traditional way of up bringing, but I have to understand that my generation is almost over, and a new generation is emerging, which doesn't see my traditional ways. That is the generation that matters, because when we are dead and gone, they are the ones who will face the challenges of the future. These challenges will need critical thinking and less opsticles to compete against competing nations. Their arsonals must conclude every thing as an option, and my traditional generations traditional ways of thinking might be an opsticle for them in their modernized world. The next generations will have to have an open mind and beable to think out out of the box to survive a more competitive world.
There are too many things in immigrations such as bogus resumes in IT needs to be fixed. All bogus resumes, physicians of India are lobbying for immigrations, defrauding in Medicare need to be fixed than needless gay-marriages. 52% support, canada, Swiss Germany support. What is the problem. Yes, obama2012.