Obama readies Syria address amid shifting sands
Washington (CNN) - What the United States and its allies should do about Syria is taking shape as President Barack Obama prepares to give a prime-time address to the nation, a senior administration official involved in Syria policy said Tuesday.
Consultations are going on with France and others about how to move quickly - at the United Nations and otherwise - to test whether Russia and Syria are serious about a proposal for Damascus to have Syria hand its chemical arsenal over to international control, the official said.
FULL STORYKing: Waterman finds Chesapeake Bay 'dying daily'
CAPE CHARLES, Virginia (CNN) - It is just after first light, and Don Pierce gently eases the Bri-Steff off the pier at Cape Charles harbor.
"You're sure you want to do this?" he asks a visitor with a whimsical smile. It is the last time the word "gently" will come to mind this day.
His closest crab pot is nearly five miles out into Chesapeake Bay, and the bouncing - and rocking - starts just seconds after passing the mouth of the protected harbor.
The Bri-Steff - named after Pierce's two children - Brian and Steffanie - is the only boat braving the rough waters on this morning. On a scale of 1 to 10 - with 10 being as rough as he dare venture out in - Pierce scores this morning "about a 9½."
Pierce has been working these waters since he was a teenager. Forty-eight years now - already eight years' experience under his belt when the world marked the first Earth Day in April 1970.
King: Job counselor both teacher and painful example
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/10/art.cnn.witte.jpg caption="Don Witte's classroom is a diverse one: A former senior executive, an auto mechanic, nurse and laborer are among his students."]WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Don Witte is in command of the classroom, offering advice on how to write an attention-grabbing resume and extolling the virtue of truth-in-advertising while networking.
"Be yourself, always be yourself," he tells the crowded classroom at Forsyth Technical Community College. "Don't try to be someone you are not."
The diversity in the classroom is telling: A former senior executive sits a few feet from an auto mechanic. A middle manager chats with a nurse. A teacher and a laborer listen as Witte doles out tips.
"It's affecting everybody," Witte tells us. "Each one of them has a little different story and the common thread is they haven't looked for a job in 10 years or so."
In these tough economic times, Don Witte is both a teacher and a painful example.
Clinton's name will be put in nomination at convention
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/14/art.nomination.gi.jpg caption="Clinton will get a vote at the convention.'"](CNN) - The presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton announced Thursday that Senator Hillary Clinton’s name will be placed into nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
"Since June, Senators Obama and Clinton have been working together to ensure a Democratic victory this November," said the campaigns in a joint statement. "They are both committed to winning back the White House and to to ensuring that the voices of all 35 million people who participated in this historic primary election are respected and heard in Denver.
"To honor and celebrate these voices and votes, both Senator Obama's and Senator Clinton's names will be placed in nomination."
The release said Obama’s campaign encouraged the move to promote party unity, and recognize Clinton's status as the first woman to compete in every presidential primary.
“I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion,” said Obama in the statement, which also quoted Clinton saying that “with every voice heard and the Party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama President of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again.”
A Democratic source with knowledge of the discussions says that the process was not a negotiation – that both sides came to a mutual decision that the move was the best path.
A Democratic Party operative familiar with convention plans says the move would bring "peace in the kingdom." The source adds that the Obama campaign "always knew it would probably have to happen."
"They have known since the day she dropped out that she wanted this 'for history,'" says the operative.
The announcement follows a string of recent reports that die-hard supporters of Hillary Clinton were planning to protest in Denver if her name were not placed into nomination, and a roll call vote held that would allow the New York senator's delegates to vote for her
If this happens, Clinton will not be the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major party convention. Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith was placed in nomination at the 1964 Republican convention, and New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was placed in nomination at the 1972 Democratic convention.
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Deputy Chief of Staff to leave White House
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/03/art.hagin.ap.jpg caption="Hagin, left, with former Bush aide Karl Rove."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin will be leaving his job this month, according to White House spokesperson Dana Perino.
Perino says Hagin's last day will be July 20th.
"The President said that he thanks Joe for his service to the White House, that Joe's been a loyal friend, and that he is excited about the next chapter in Joe's life," said Perino.
Hagin sent an email to friends this morning, announcing he is leaving to take a private sector job.
Hagin, an Ohio native, has been with President Bush since the 2000 campaign.
Combined with experience during the first Bush presidency, Hagin has served 14 years in the White House.
Hagin was a behind-the-scenes player, who had a huge role in the post 9/11 reorganization of the U-S government and how terrorist responses would be reformed.
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