From CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
Vice President-elect Joe Biden rides in a horse drawn carriage during Delaware’s Return Day.
GEORGETOWN, Delaware (CNN) – Wearing a long dark coat to keep the cold rain off of him, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill rode around the streets of this small town in their home state Thursday afternoon in a white horse-drawn carriage as part of the biennial 200 year-old Delaware tradition known as ‘Return Day.’
“Thank you!” Biden repeatedly called out to the cheering crowds as he drove past, ducking in and out of the carriage to wave to voters who on Tuesday elected the Delaware senator to his seventh term in the U.S. Senate. (Deleware's governor will soon name a replacement Biden.)
“No matter what office I hold, I’m still Delaware,” Biden later said to loud cheers from the shivering masses in front of Georgetown’s courthouse. “There was Joe the plumber, well, I’m Joe from Delaware. And folks, it’s been an honor, it’s been a great honor representing you as a United States Senator since the first time I stood on this platform…”
“The bad news for you is Jill and I are not leaving Delaware,” he continued. “I may be the Vice President-elect but we’re going to be home every weekend so you know where we live.
Friday, November 7, 2008
McCain sources gripe about Palin
From CNN Correspondent Dana Bash
Some McCain advisers were frustrated by Palin.
(CNN) — Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin had prepared to deliver a concession speech before John McCain’s Tuesday night — and brought her remarks with her to his Phoenix concession — but senior McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt told her she could not.
Two McCain sources say Palin clearly did not understand the protocol of a concession speech, and expected she would have the chance to deliver one of her own.
Update: Palin camp fires back
McCain advisers were also upset with the Alaska governor for setting up what she thought was a call from French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The call, which turned out to be a prank from Quebec radio hosts, was not cleared with the McCain campaign and some saw the effort to set it up as evidence of her future presidential ambitions.
A Palin ally involved in setting up the call, however, suggests McCain advisers had ample time to object given the call was on her schedule for three days.
Some McCain advisers were frustrated by Palin.
(CNN) — Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin had prepared to deliver a concession speech before John McCain’s Tuesday night — and brought her remarks with her to his Phoenix concession — but senior McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt told her she could not.
Two McCain sources say Palin clearly did not understand the protocol of a concession speech, and expected she would have the chance to deliver one of her own.
Update: Palin camp fires back
McCain advisers were also upset with the Alaska governor for setting up what she thought was a call from French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The call, which turned out to be a prank from Quebec radio hosts, was not cleared with the McCain campaign and some saw the effort to set it up as evidence of her future presidential ambitions.
A Palin ally involved in setting up the call, however, suggests McCain advisers had ample time to object given the call was on her schedule for three days.
Palin camp fires back over claims by some McCain aides
CNN) – The war of words between supporters of each half of the Republican presidential ticket escalated Thursday, as a spokeswoman for Sarah Palin called charges circulated by former campaign aides to John McCain ‘sickening,’ and the Alaska governor herself said the advisers spreading the rumors were ‘small, evidently bitter’ people.
Former McCain campaign aides have been sources for a string of embarrassing stories about Palin that have become public since GOP defeat Tuesday night, including the charge that she spent thousands of dollars more on clothing for herself and her family than the $150,000 that has been reported.
There have also been reports of a somewhat distant relationship between John McCain and his running mate.
“This is so unfortunate and, quite honestly, sickening,” said Palin aide Meghan Stapleton in a statement. “The accusations we are hearing and reading are not true and since we deny all these anonymous
Former McCain campaign aides have been sources for a string of embarrassing stories about Palin that have become public since GOP defeat Tuesday night, including the charge that she spent thousands of dollars more on clothing for herself and her family than the $150,000 that has been reported.
There have also been reports of a somewhat distant relationship between John McCain and his running mate.
“This is so unfortunate and, quite honestly, sickening,” said Palin aide Meghan Stapleton in a statement. “The accusations we are hearing and reading are not true and since we deny all these anonymous
POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Friday Nov. 7th, 2008
CNN: Official: Obama could name more administration picks FridayPresident-elect Barack Obama could name other members of his administration on Friday, a day after he named Rep. Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff, an Obama transition official said.
CNN: Emanuel pick gets mixed reactionPresident-elect Barack Obama's first major appointment received mixed reaction from Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Rahm Emanuel on Thursday accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff.
CNN: Emanuel expected to bring 'tough-minded' approach to White HouseU.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel will bring a "tough-minded" and "pragmatic" approach to the White House when he becomes President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff, according to people who know the Chicago, Illinois, native.
CNN: Lieberman may have day of reckoning with DemocratsSen. Joe Lieberman met Thursday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss Lieberman's future with the Democratic caucus.
CNN: Emanuel pick gets mixed reactionPresident-elect Barack Obama's first major appointment received mixed reaction from Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Rahm Emanuel on Thursday accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff.
CNN: Emanuel expected to bring 'tough-minded' approach to White HouseU.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel will bring a "tough-minded" and "pragmatic" approach to the White House when he becomes President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff, according to people who know the Chicago, Illinois, native.
CNN: Lieberman may have day of reckoning with DemocratsSen. Joe Lieberman met Thursday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss Lieberman's future with the Democratic caucus.
First Dog takes a bite at White House reporter
From CNN's Kathleen Koch and Erika Dimmler
A happier Barney, with President Bush.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama's daughters have been promised a puppy for the White House — President Bush's dog, Barney, demonstrated his technique for dealing with the media Thursday…sinking his teeth into Reuters TV White House correspondent Jon Decker.
Call it a case of biting the hand that covers you.
First Dog Barney and his handler were out on the front lawn for a walk when Reuters' Decker and another reporter approached.
"He looked very nice and friendly," says Decker. "I bent down to pet him and he just snapped at me."
Decker holds up his right index finger, now sporting two band aids. The First Dog's teeth punctured the skin and Decker started bleeding, so he was sent to see presidential physician, Dr. Richard Tubb. Tubb gave Decker a two- to three-day supply of antibiotics, and told him to come back Friday for a tetanus booster.
A happier Barney, with President Bush.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama's daughters have been promised a puppy for the White House — President Bush's dog, Barney, demonstrated his technique for dealing with the media Thursday…sinking his teeth into Reuters TV White House correspondent Jon Decker.
Call it a case of biting the hand that covers you.
First Dog Barney and his handler were out on the front lawn for a walk when Reuters' Decker and another reporter approached.
"He looked very nice and friendly," says Decker. "I bent down to pet him and he just snapped at me."
Decker holds up his right index finger, now sporting two band aids. The First Dog's teeth punctured the skin and Decker started bleeding, so he was sent to see presidential physician, Dr. Richard Tubb. Tubb gave Decker a two- to three-day supply of antibiotics, and told him to come back Friday for a tetanus booster.
Breaking Bonaduce -- at $16K a month
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A Los Angeles judge has signed off on the amicable end to Danny Bonaduce's nearly 18-year marriage.
Gretchen and Danny Bonaduce amicably settled their divorce.
Bonaduce will pay $16,000 a month to his ex-wife, Gretchen, for spousal and child support. The former couple will retain joint custody of their children, who are 14 and 7 years old.
Their marriage was the subject of the reality show, "Breaking Bonaduce," which also chronicled the former child star's bout with addiction. Gretchen Bonaduce filed for divorce in April 2007.
Danny Bonaduce now hosts a radio talk show in Los Angeles, as well as VH1's "I Know My Kid's a Star."
Documents signed by a judge on Thursday indicate Bonaduce isn't giving up on marriage: he's keeping the rights to sell a show called, "The Next Mrs. Bonaduce."
Gretchen and Danny Bonaduce amicably settled their divorce.
Bonaduce will pay $16,000 a month to his ex-wife, Gretchen, for spousal and child support. The former couple will retain joint custody of their children, who are 14 and 7 years old.
Their marriage was the subject of the reality show, "Breaking Bonaduce," which also chronicled the former child star's bout with addiction. Gretchen Bonaduce filed for divorce in April 2007.
Danny Bonaduce now hosts a radio talk show in Los Angeles, as well as VH1's "I Know My Kid's a Star."
Documents signed by a judge on Thursday indicate Bonaduce isn't giving up on marriage: he's keeping the rights to sell a show called, "The Next Mrs. Bonaduce."
Maher: There's gotta be something funny about Obama
(CNN) -- On Tuesday, America elected its first black president, Barack Obama. But what does Obama's sweeping victory mean for the United States?
Bill Maher is the host of "Real Time with Bill Maher," which airs on Friday nights on HBO.
Bill Maher has the answer to that, and other questions -- including why he wants President George W. Bush to stay at home for the next 76 days.
Maher, the host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" and the star of the current film "Religulous," was a guest on Wednesday's "Larry King Live." He talked with CNN's King about Sarah Palin's future, George W. Bush's past and the impact of GOP adviser Karl Rove. The following is an edited version of that interview.
Larry King: Were you ever -- I don't want to use the word scared -- were you ever worried last night?
Bill Maher: Why? What happened?
(LAUGHTER)
I think, you know, we all had this paranoid feeling like we're Charlie Brown and they're going to snatch the football away again. So, you know, until about when he won Pennsylvania, that's when it started to look pretty good for the people who were for him.
King: What does this election say to you, Bill?
Bill Maher is the host of "Real Time with Bill Maher," which airs on Friday nights on HBO.
Bill Maher has the answer to that, and other questions -- including why he wants President George W. Bush to stay at home for the next 76 days.
Maher, the host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" and the star of the current film "Religulous," was a guest on Wednesday's "Larry King Live." He talked with CNN's King about Sarah Palin's future, George W. Bush's past and the impact of GOP adviser Karl Rove. The following is an edited version of that interview.
Larry King: Were you ever -- I don't want to use the word scared -- were you ever worried last night?
Bill Maher: Why? What happened?
(LAUGHTER)
I think, you know, we all had this paranoid feeling like we're Charlie Brown and they're going to snatch the football away again. So, you know, until about when he won Pennsylvania, that's when it started to look pretty good for the people who were for him.
King: What does this election say to you, Bill?
Historians: Bush presidency 'battered,' 'incompetent,' 'unlucky'
(CNN) -- With record low approval ratings and intense criticism for his handling of the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina and the economy, the word most used to label George W. Bush's presidency will be "incompetent," historians say.
President Bush makes remarks on the presidential transition November 6.
"Right now there is not a lot of good will among historians. Most see him as a combination of many negative factors," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School.
"He is seen as incompetent in terms of how he handled domestic and foreign policy. He is seen as pushing for an agenda to the right of the nation and doing so through executive power that ignored the popular will," he added.
But like so many presidents before him, Bush's reputation could change with time.
Harvard University political history scholar Barbara Kellerman said when President-elect Barack Obama takes over in January, people may view Bush in a new light. Watch Bush address staff about transition of power »
President Bush makes remarks on the presidential transition November 6.
"Right now there is not a lot of good will among historians. Most see him as a combination of many negative factors," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School.
"He is seen as incompetent in terms of how he handled domestic and foreign policy. He is seen as pushing for an agenda to the right of the nation and doing so through executive power that ignored the popular will," he added.
But like so many presidents before him, Bush's reputation could change with time.
Harvard University political history scholar Barbara Kellerman said when President-elect Barack Obama takes over in January, people may view Bush in a new light. Watch Bush address staff about transition of power »
Stick, skateboard, Baby Doll enter Toy Hall of Fame
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- A magic wand, a fishing rod or a royal scepter?
Chris Bensch, curator of collections, shows off the newest inductees into the Toy Hall of Fame, a stick.
The lowly stick, a universal plaything powered by a child's imagination, landed in the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday along with the Baby Doll and the skateboard.
The three were chosen to join the Strong National Museum of Play's lineup of 38 classics ranging from the bicycle, the kite and Mr. Potato Head to Crayola crayons, marbles and the Atari 2600 video game system.
Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child's creativity.
"It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price -- there aren't any rules or instructions for its use," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. "It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight's sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. ... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows.
"This toy is so fantastic that it's not just for humans anymore. You can find otters, chimps and dogs -- especially dogs -- playing with it."
Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the hall, which the museum acquired in 2002 from A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in Salem, Ore. Each toy must not only be widely recognized and foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, but also endure in popularity over generations.
While dolls have been around since ancient times, the Baby Doll with its
Chris Bensch, curator of collections, shows off the newest inductees into the Toy Hall of Fame, a stick.
The lowly stick, a universal plaything powered by a child's imagination, landed in the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday along with the Baby Doll and the skateboard.
The three were chosen to join the Strong National Museum of Play's lineup of 38 classics ranging from the bicycle, the kite and Mr. Potato Head to Crayola crayons, marbles and the Atari 2600 video game system.
Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child's creativity.
"It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price -- there aren't any rules or instructions for its use," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. "It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight's sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. ... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows.
"This toy is so fantastic that it's not just for humans anymore. You can find otters, chimps and dogs -- especially dogs -- playing with it."
Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the hall, which the museum acquired in 2002 from A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in Salem, Ore. Each toy must not only be widely recognized and foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, but also endure in popularity over generations.
While dolls have been around since ancient times, the Baby Doll with its
Blizzard batters North and South Dakota
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (AP) -- A wintry blast of punishing wind and close to 4 feet of snow in places pummeled the Northern Plains on Thursday, stranding unknown numbers of motorists for a day or more and knocking out power to thousands.
Kya Olson, 3, hides her face as winds howl through her family's Rapid City, South Dakota, yard on Thursday.
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State officials said some people could be without power for days, but they had a simple message for anyone thinking of trying to drive in western South Dakota's blizzard: Don't.
"This is a dangerous storm," Gov. Mike Rounds told reporters in a telephone conference call Thursday evening. "Western South Dakota is basically under a no-travel advisory."
A long stretch of Interstate 90 was closed, and Rounds said most of the dozens of vehicles stranded along the stretch of highway had not been moved. Some have been stranded for more than 24 hours, he said, adding that search teams can't get to them because of zero visibility.
"We cannot see a thing in many areas where we're out actually searching for people," said Tom Dravland, state Public Safety secretary, who added that the top speed for some rescue crews was as little as a half-mile per hour.
Dravland said he did not know how many people are stranded. The Highway Patrol has responded to more than 400 calls for assistance, including 10 crashes. No fatalities were reported by late Thursday afternoon.
The storm has dropped 45.7 inches of snow near Deadwood, in the northern Black Hills. Reports of 10 inches to 2 feet of snow were received from many West River counties.
In some towns, residents reported drifts were blocking their doorways, and in the southwestern corner of the state, 20-foot snowdrifts were reported on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Don't Miss
Paloma becomes Caribbean hurricane
Dozens of schools, agencies, businesses and
Kya Olson, 3, hides her face as winds howl through her family's Rapid City, South Dakota, yard on Thursday.
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State officials said some people could be without power for days, but they had a simple message for anyone thinking of trying to drive in western South Dakota's blizzard: Don't.
"This is a dangerous storm," Gov. Mike Rounds told reporters in a telephone conference call Thursday evening. "Western South Dakota is basically under a no-travel advisory."
A long stretch of Interstate 90 was closed, and Rounds said most of the dozens of vehicles stranded along the stretch of highway had not been moved. Some have been stranded for more than 24 hours, he said, adding that search teams can't get to them because of zero visibility.
"We cannot see a thing in many areas where we're out actually searching for people," said Tom Dravland, state Public Safety secretary, who added that the top speed for some rescue crews was as little as a half-mile per hour.
Dravland said he did not know how many people are stranded. The Highway Patrol has responded to more than 400 calls for assistance, including 10 crashes. No fatalities were reported by late Thursday afternoon.
The storm has dropped 45.7 inches of snow near Deadwood, in the northern Black Hills. Reports of 10 inches to 2 feet of snow were received from many West River counties.
In some towns, residents reported drifts were blocking their doorways, and in the southwestern corner of the state, 20-foot snowdrifts were reported on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Don't Miss
Paloma becomes Caribbean hurricane
Dozens of schools, agencies, businesses and
Emanuel pick gets mixed reaction
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's first major appointment received mixed reaction from Democrats and Republicans.
Rahm Emanuel's appointment got mixed reaction from Republican and Democratic leaders.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel on Thursday accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff.
The Office of the Chief of Staff oversees and coordinates activities and communication among various departments of the administration. It is considered one of the top positions in Washington.
Some party leaders hailed Obama's pick, but others expressed concern that Emanuel would widen Washington's partisan divide.
Jim Manley, the senior communications adviser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Emanuel is "an excellent choice."
"Rahm knows the Hill, and he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done."
Manley said allegations that Emanuel is a true partisan are "ridiculous."
Rahm Emanuel's appointment got mixed reaction from Republican and Democratic leaders.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel on Thursday accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff.
The Office of the Chief of Staff oversees and coordinates activities and communication among various departments of the administration. It is considered one of the top positions in Washington.
Some party leaders hailed Obama's pick, but others expressed concern that Emanuel would widen Washington's partisan divide.
Jim Manley, the senior communications adviser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Emanuel is "an excellent choice."
"Rahm knows the Hill, and he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done."
Manley said allegations that Emanuel is a true partisan are "ridiculous."
Catholics, Mormons defend backing same-sex marriage ban
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints insisted Thursday that their support for a proposition to ban same-sex marriage in California did not target any group.
An LAPD officer holds back a line of protesters Thursday on Wilshire Boulevard.
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"Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society. Its sole focus is on preserving God's plan for people living upon this earth throughout time," Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, said in a statement Thursday.
"The Catholic Church understands that there are people who choose to live together in relationships other than traditional marriage. All of their spiritual, pastoral and civil rights should be respected, together with their membership in the Church," Mahony said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, carried out a vigorous campaign to get the proposition passed. Many Mormons traveled to California and
An LAPD officer holds back a line of protesters Thursday on Wilshire Boulevard.
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"Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society. Its sole focus is on preserving God's plan for people living upon this earth throughout time," Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, said in a statement Thursday.
"The Catholic Church understands that there are people who choose to live together in relationships other than traditional marriage. All of their spiritual, pastoral and civil rights should be respected, together with their membership in the Church," Mahony said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, carried out a vigorous campaign to get the proposition passed. Many Mormons traveled to California and
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Dejected McCain supporters wary of Obama
(CNN) -- As Sen. John McCain bowed out of the historic presidential election Tuesday night, he urged his supporters to bridge their differences with Sen. Barack Obama and unite for the good of the country.
Supporters of John McCain react as their candidate concedes in Phoenix, Arizona.
"Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face," he said.
Just the mention of the Democrat's name elicited boos from the sea of teary-eyed McCain supporters at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona.
Members of the dejected crowd shouted "no way!" when McCain promised to work with Obama. Watch McCain's concession speech »
As McCain graciously acknowledged defeat, it was clear that not all of his supporters were ready to rally behind the president-elect.
Kevin Neugebauer of Katy, Texas, said he was "really disappointed " and "distraught" about his party's loss.
"Being a conservative, I think the Republican Party's kind of lost some of their identity of who they are. I really don't understand how it could happen," he said. "I don't know if it's really sunk in. It's hard to understand." Watch more on McCain's loss »
Supporters of John McCain react as their candidate concedes in Phoenix, Arizona.
"Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face," he said.
Just the mention of the Democrat's name elicited boos from the sea of teary-eyed McCain supporters at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona.
Members of the dejected crowd shouted "no way!" when McCain promised to work with Obama. Watch McCain's concession speech »
As McCain graciously acknowledged defeat, it was clear that not all of his supporters were ready to rally behind the president-elect.
Kevin Neugebauer of Katy, Texas, said he was "really disappointed " and "distraught" about his party's loss.
"Being a conservative, I think the Republican Party's kind of lost some of their identity of who they are. I really don't understand how it could happen," he said. "I don't know if it's really sunk in. It's hard to understand." Watch more on McCain's loss »
Pakistan: 15 militants killed in airstrike
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) -- An airstrike killed 15 militants in northwestern Pakistan, while two rockets landed near the region's main airport, officials said Thursday.
The strike hit a compound in Airab, a village in the semiautonomous Bajur region that borders Afghanistan.
Jamil Khan, the No. 2 government representative in Bajur, said the 15 dead included a Pakistani militant commander called Wali Rehman. Khan claimed that Rehman was known to shelter foreign militants linked to al-Qaida.
Pakistan launched an offensive in Bajur three months ago to dismantle what they said was a virtual Taliban mini-state from where militants were flowing into Afghanistan.
The army claims to have killed some 1,500 insurgents. At least 73 troops and 95 civilians have also died, it says. Insecurity and government restrictions mean accounts of the fighting cannot be verified.
U.S. officials praise the operation, saying it has reduced violence on the other side of the frontier.
The strike hit a compound in Airab, a village in the semiautonomous Bajur region that borders Afghanistan.
Jamil Khan, the No. 2 government representative in Bajur, said the 15 dead included a Pakistani militant commander called Wali Rehman. Khan claimed that Rehman was known to shelter foreign militants linked to al-Qaida.
Pakistan launched an offensive in Bajur three months ago to dismantle what they said was a virtual Taliban mini-state from where militants were flowing into Afghanistan.
The army claims to have killed some 1,500 insurgents. At least 73 troops and 95 civilians have also died, it says. Insecurity and government restrictions mean accounts of the fighting cannot be verified.
U.S. officials praise the operation, saying it has reduced violence on the other side of the frontier.
International burdens await
World leaders and people around the globe have celebrated Barack Obama's election as the new U.S. president, and hopes are high he'll bring a new founded optimism to a problematic world. But will "Obamamania" survive the realities of governing after inauguration? full story
World celebrates landslide A warm welcome
Barney's out; White House gets new First Dog
Latin America reacts Obama's inheritance
Mideast hopes The challenge of China
Results: President Senate House GovernorBallot Measures Exit Polls Your Races
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World celebrates landslide A warm welcome
Barney's out; White House gets new First Dog
Latin America reacts Obama's inheritance
Mideast hopes The challenge of China
Results: President Senate House GovernorBallot Measures Exit Polls Your Races
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Obama's election redraws America's electoral divide
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Barack Obama did more than thump John McCain in the Electoral College tally; he also handily won the popular vote and redrew the great divide between red states and blue states.
Barack Obama addresses a crowd of more than 200,000 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
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Riding a Democratic tide that bolstered the party's presence in both houses of Congress, Obama snared about 63 million votes to McCain's 55.8 million, according to totals early Wednesday.
According to exit polls, Obama crushed McCain among women voters (56 percent to 43 percent); voters under 30 (66 percent to 32 percent); African-American voters (95 percent to 4 percent); Latino voters (66 percent to 32 percent); first-time voters (68 percent to 31 percent); and voters making less than $100,000 a year (55 percent to 43 percent).
"I think this is the passing of an old order," CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said as the results rolled in Tuesday night and the outcome became increasingly evident.
"I think what we see ... is a new coalition, a new order emerging. It isn't quite there, but with Barack Obama, for the first time, it's won. It is the Latino vote we just heard about. It is the bigger black vote that came out. Very importantly, it's the youth vote, the 18-to-29-year-old," said the Harvard University professor and former presidential adviser.
Barack Obama addresses a crowd of more than 200,000 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
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Riding a Democratic tide that bolstered the party's presence in both houses of Congress, Obama snared about 63 million votes to McCain's 55.8 million, according to totals early Wednesday.
According to exit polls, Obama crushed McCain among women voters (56 percent to 43 percent); voters under 30 (66 percent to 32 percent); African-American voters (95 percent to 4 percent); Latino voters (66 percent to 32 percent); first-time voters (68 percent to 31 percent); and voters making less than $100,000 a year (55 percent to 43 percent).
"I think this is the passing of an old order," CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said as the results rolled in Tuesday night and the outcome became increasingly evident.
"I think what we see ... is a new coalition, a new order emerging. It isn't quite there, but with Barack Obama, for the first time, it's won. It is the Latino vote we just heard about. It is the bigger black vote that came out. Very importantly, it's the youth vote, the 18-to-29-year-old," said the Harvard University professor and former presidential adviser.
A victory long in the making
Win caps years of struggle Barack Obama's presidential victory is being hailed as a transformative event for the U.S. But history was not made in one night. His win capped a decades-long civil rights struggle. "We seem to be evolving," said Bob Moses, who led voter registration drives in the '60s. full story
George Wallace's daughter: My dad and Obama
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Pelosi: Obama should govern from the middle
-- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday called on President-elect Barack Obama to govern from the middle, as her party sat poised to gain its widest House majority in 15 years.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, celebrates election victories Tuesday night in Washington.
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According to projections, Democrats in the House were on track Wednesday to increase their majority by at least 18 seats, a margin that would give Obama a formidable tool to push his legislative agenda after his January 20 inauguration.
Democrats took at least 22 seats from Republicans in Tuesday's election, with the GOP taking four seats from the Democrats, according to CNN projections.
With winners yet to be called for eight of the House's 435 seats, Democrats were projected to win 254 seats, with Republicans having 173.
"I don't know what the final number will be," Pelosi said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference on Capitol Hill. "But it will be well over 250. It's a signal of the change that the American people want."
Pelosi, D-California, said she hoped Obama would "bring people together to reach consensus" on issues that concern Americans. "A new president must govern from the middle," she said.
Topping her agenda, she said, would be "growing the economy, expanding health care, ending dependence on foreign oil and ending the war in Iraq."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, celebrates election victories Tuesday night in Washington.
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According to projections, Democrats in the House were on track Wednesday to increase their majority by at least 18 seats, a margin that would give Obama a formidable tool to push his legislative agenda after his January 20 inauguration.
Democrats took at least 22 seats from Republicans in Tuesday's election, with the GOP taking four seats from the Democrats, according to CNN projections.
With winners yet to be called for eight of the House's 435 seats, Democrats were projected to win 254 seats, with Republicans having 173.
"I don't know what the final number will be," Pelosi said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference on Capitol Hill. "But it will be well over 250. It's a signal of the change that the American people want."
Pelosi, D-California, said she hoped Obama would "bring people together to reach consensus" on issues that concern Americans. "A new president must govern from the middle," she said.
Topping her agenda, she said, would be "growing the economy, expanding health care, ending dependence on foreign oil and ending the war in Iraq."
Obama's victory caps struggles of previous generations
(CNN) -- At a modest stucco home in Montgomery, Alabama, an unlikely presidential victory celebration is taking place this morning.
Barack Obama's election victory represents a triumph for civil rights activists before him.
Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of the late George Wallace, the Alabama governor who once vowed to maintain segregation forever, is rejoicing.
Kennedy, 58, voted for Sen. Barack Obama. She says she was "mesmerized" when she first heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Her admiration for Obama deepened when she learned he opposed the Iraq war. She even slapped an Obama bumper sticker on her car, even though someone told her that the prospect of an African-American president would have her father "rolling over in his grave."
"I think Obama is going to be one of the best presidents we'll have," she says. "He's going to bring the freshness we need. We've just been bogged down so long. We need this shot in the arm."
President-elect Obama's victory Tuesday may be a racially transformative event. But for people like Kennedy, who came through the fires of the civil rights movement, it also represents something else -- personal triumph. Obama's win validates the risks they took years ago. iReport.com: What does Obama's victory mean to you?
Some, like Kennedy and an entire generation of white Southerners, risked social rejection for renouncing the bigotry of their parents. Others risked their lives while leading civil rights campaigns in the Deep South. Some almost lost their belief in the inherent goodness of America because they saw so many innocent
Barack Obama's election victory represents a triumph for civil rights activists before him.
Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of the late George Wallace, the Alabama governor who once vowed to maintain segregation forever, is rejoicing.
Kennedy, 58, voted for Sen. Barack Obama. She says she was "mesmerized" when she first heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Her admiration for Obama deepened when she learned he opposed the Iraq war. She even slapped an Obama bumper sticker on her car, even though someone told her that the prospect of an African-American president would have her father "rolling over in his grave."
"I think Obama is going to be one of the best presidents we'll have," she says. "He's going to bring the freshness we need. We've just been bogged down so long. We need this shot in the arm."
President-elect Obama's victory Tuesday may be a racially transformative event. But for people like Kennedy, who came through the fires of the civil rights movement, it also represents something else -- personal triumph. Obama's win validates the risks they took years ago. iReport.com: What does Obama's victory mean to you?
Some, like Kennedy and an entire generation of white Southerners, risked social rejection for renouncing the bigotry of their parents. Others risked their lives while leading civil rights campaigns in the Deep South. Some almost lost their belief in the inherent goodness of America because they saw so many innocent
Monday, November 3, 2008
CNN reveals Top 10 Heroes of 2008
(CNN) -- For Liz McCartney, selection as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 could not have come at a better time.
Anderson Cooper will host "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," to air on Thanksgiving at 9 p.m. ET.
"With the recent storms in Texas and southwest Louisiana, we have experienced a sudden drop in volunteers," said McCartney, whose St. Bernard Project helps Hurricane Katrina survivors rebuild their homes just outside New Orleans, Louisiana.
"While other areas need help, this recognition is letting the American people know that the New Orleans area still matters," McCartney said.
The diverse group of honorees includes a Cambodian activist who offers free schooling to children who work in Phnom Penh's trash dump; a Georgia prosthetist-orthotist who provides limbs and braces to hundreds of people in Mexico; and a Virginia woman who tapes video messages from incarcerated parents for their children.
CNN's Anderson Cooper announced the 10 honorees Thursday on "American Morning."
"Our Top 10 CNN Heroes are proof that you don't need superpowers -- or millions of dollars -- to change the world and even save lives," Cooper said. 
CNN launched its second annual global search for ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary deeds in February. The network has aired weekly CNN Hero profiles of those people, chosen from more than 3,700 nominations submitted by viewers in 75 countries.
A panel made up of world leaders and luminaries recognized for their own dedication to public service selected the Top 10. The Blue Ribbon Panel includes humanitarians such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Kristi Yamaguchi and Deepak Chopra.
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"What an incredible group of people and how difficult it was to select only 10," said Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a panel member.
Archbishop Tutu added, "They all deserve to win. Thanks for saluting these remarkable human beings."
Each of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes will receive $25,000 and will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," airing from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on November 27.
Hosted by Cooper, the Thanksgiving night broadcast will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public in an online poll that began Thursday morning. iReport.com: Tell us about your hero
Continuing through November 19, viewers can log on to CNN.com/Heroes to participate in the poll. The person receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.
In alphabetical order, the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 are:
Tad Agoglia, Houston, Texas --
Agoglia's First Response Team provides immediate help to areas hit by natural disasters. In a little over a year, he and his crew have aided thousands of victims at more than 15 sites across the United States, free of charge.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia --
Moved by the lack of children's books and low literacy rates in his native Ethiopia, Gebregeorgis established Ethiopia Reads, bringing free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of Ethiopian children.
Carolyn LeCroy, Norfolk, Virginia --
After serving time in prison, LeCroy started The Messages Project to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. She and volunteer camera crews have taped roughly 3,000 messages from inmates to their children.
Anne Mahlum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania --
On her daily morning jogs, Mahlum used to run past homeless men. Today, she's helping to transform lives by running with them, and others as part of her "Back On My Feet" program.
Liz McCartney, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana --
McCartney moved to New Orleans to dedicate herself to helping Hurricane Katrina survivors move back into their homes. Her nonprofit St. Bernard Project has rebuilt the homes of more than 120 families for free.
Phymean Noun, Toronto, Ontario --
Growing up in Cambodia, Noun struggled to complete high school. Today, she offers hundreds of Cambodian children who work in Phnom Penh's trash dump a way out -- through free schooling and job training.
David Puckett, Savannah, Georgia --
Puckett started Positive Image Prosthetics and Orthotics Missions -- PIPO -- to provide artificial limbs and braces and care to people in southeastern Mexico. Since November 2000 his mission has helped more than 420 people, free of charge.
Maria Ruiz, El Paso, Texas --
Several times a week, Ruiz crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico, to bring food, clothing and toys to hundreds of impoverished children and their families.
Marie Da Silva, Los Angeles, California --
Having lost 14 family members to AIDS, the Los Angeles nanny funds a school in her native Malawi -- where half a million children have been orphaned by the disease.
Viola Vaughn, Kaolack, Senegal --
The Detroit, Michigan, native moved to Senegal to retire. Instead, a group of failing schoolchildren asked her to help them pass their classes. Today, her "10,000 Girls" program is helping hundreds of girls succeed in school and run their own businesses.
Parents of trick-or-treater hope suspect in son's death is haunted
SUMTER, South Carolina (AP) -- The parents of a 12-year-old shot to death while trick-or-treating said Monday they hope the man accused of killing him is haunted for the rest of his life.
Suspect Quentin Patrick, 22, wipes away tears during a bond hearing in Sumter, South Carolina, on Monday.
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T.J. Darrisaw died Halloween night after police say a convicted felon unleashed a barrage of bullets from inside a home, pumping at least 29 shots through the closed door and front of the house.
The boy's father and brother also were wounded.
"The injury to my arm is not as bad as the injury to my heart. I've lost a piece of my heart forever," father Freddie Grinnell Jr. said as he sat in his living room Monday.
Police said the suspect, Quentin Patrick, 22, opened fire with an AK-47 because he thought he was being robbed. The family went to the home because the porch light was on, usually a signal that trick-or-treaters are welcome.
Two of three siblings who went to the door with their father were wearing ghoulish masks. Their parents said the slain boy was determined to get candy first, so he was in front when the shots were fired.
"T.J. saved us that night," Grinnell said. "He took most of the shots."
When the shooting stopped, Grinnell said, the door swung open. Patrick stood there, gun in hand, and said, "Oh, no."
"I was holding my son while he was bleeding, and he was backing out of the yard," Grinnell recalled.
Grinnell and another son who was shot were treated for minor injuries and released from a hospital.
T.J.'s mother, Daphne Grinnell, said T.J. liked to bake cakes, in part because he relished licking the batter, and constantly asked what he could do to help out around the home. The seventh-grader was on his middle school drill team and loved math and board games.
"He was always up for a challenge," his father said, recounting how his son got up early for math tutoring. "I was looking forward to his graduation, to high school, to college. I was looking forward to all of it because I know he would make it."
A bond hearing was scheduled Monday afternoon for Patrick, who is charged with murder and three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill. The public defender's office had not assigned him an attorney Monday morning.
Does Tijuana deserve the bad rap?
Tribune Media Services) -- A year ago I was excited about Tangier in Morocco and wrote in my blog, "It's no longer the Tijuana of Africa." I didn't realize my comments would understandably touch a nerve with people who like Tijuana. 
As locals know, Tijuana is more than cheap sombreros.
So recently I went to Tijuana -- a Mexican town just across the U.S. border from San Diego -- to give it a second look. OK, I admit, I'd never been there ... so I gave it a first look. Working on my upcoming book on the value of travel as a political act, I also wanted to visit a rough border town where the First World meets the Developing World.
I had a great time. While Tijuana isn't a main destination town, it's fun to visit as a side trip from San Diego or a stop while heading south. And if you want to observe the cultural and economic riptides created when two worlds collide, it's a fascinating case study.
At what locals claim is the busiest international border in the world, 24 lanes are busy with traffic -- 24/7. It's easy to get out of the United States -- and tough to get back in. A handy trolley zips tourists from San Diego right to the border for $3. It also brings Mexican workers into San Diego on a daily commute that thousands make.
Drivers can park within 100 yards of the border for $8 a day. Pedestrians step right in without showing a passport, power past the trinket stalls and aggressive cabbies, and head for the towering arch that marks the start of Revolution Avenue and all the fun.
Getting out of Mexico is different. Pedestrians shuffle fairly quickly through an officious passport check. Cars are generally stacked up for a several-hour wait. As taxis are dirt cheap, there's no reason to drive if you're just visiting Tijuana.
Tijuana, barely a century old, thrives today with 1.5 million people. A local explained to me that there's a big
Study links sexual content on TV to teen pregnancy
CNN) -- Sexual content on television is strongly associated with teen pregnancy, a new study from the RAND Corporation shows. 
New information linking sexual content on television with teen pregnancy will help develop prevention programs.
Researchers at the nonprofit organization found that adolescents with a high level of exposure to television shows with sexual content are twice as likely to get pregnant or impregnate someone as those who saw fewer programs of this kind over a period of three years. It is the first study to demonstrate this association, RAND said.
A central message from the study is that there needs to be more dialogue about sex in the media, particularly among parents and their children, said Anita Chandra, the study's lead author and a behavioral scientist at RAND.
"We know that parents are busy, but sitting down and watching shows together with their teen, talking about the character portrayals, talking about what they just witnessed, and really using it as a teachable moment is really, I think, a good recommendation from this research," Chandra said.
To measure exposure, the researchers used a method developed by another research group evaluating 23 shows for sexual content. Then, they asked teenagers how frequently they watched each of those shows, and developed a score based on exposure to the shows.
"We know that if a child is watching more than an hour of TV a day, we know there's a sexual scene in [the] content every 10 minutes, then they're getting a fair amount of sexual content," Chandra said.
The Onion is ready for a new era of satire
NEW YORK (AP) -- Days before the January 2001 inauguration of President Bush, the Onion ran a story headlined: "Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare of Peace and Prosperity Is Finally Over.' "
To prepare, the Onion has organized coverage for either a McCain win or an Obama win.
Writers at the satirical paper still speak reverentially of the story, in which Bush promises to take the country into a deep recession, worsen the environment and "end the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton."
"Wow, was that prescient," marvels Joe Garden, the Onion's features editor.
Whether or not you share that political viewpoint, the Bush era will end soon and the political comedy epicenter will shift to Barack Obama or John McCain.
At the Onion -- "America's finest news source," as it calls itself -- this change in the Oval Office is a welcome opportunity for new material after eight years of Bush and an interminable presidential campaign.
"Everyone started being like, 'Nothing is funny in politics. We're done talking about it,' " says Assistant Editor Megan Ganz.
Regardless of who's elected Tuesday, it's clear satire has won in 2008. "Saturday Night Live," "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" have all been at the top of their game, with record ratings to show for it.
But the Onion is a slower moving, more broadly social animal of satire. It is, as Editor Joe Randazzo calls it, "the satirical newspaper of record."
'Report: 60 million people you'd never talk to voting for the other guy'
Founded 20 years ago by two students from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, the Onion gradually grew under Editor Scott Dickers and went national in 1996 when it started its Web site. (The move was partially inspired by the viral spreading of the story: "Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia: Cities of Sjbvdnzv, Grzny to be first recipients.")
Past trouble spots could flare again, election analyst says
(CNN) -- Registration and absentee ballot issues topped last-minute concerns among voters in the days before Tuesday's presidential election, with one analyst predicting previous flashpoints may cause headaches again this year.
Voters wait in line in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Saturday.
Of the more than 10,000 problems reported to CNN's Voter Hotline so far, the most complaints -- about 1,400 -- come from Florida.
In nearly 8 percent of those complaints, callers said they had not received their voter registration cards, and about 15 percent said they had yet to receive the absentee ballots they requested.
Similar patterns were seen among callers nationwide.
Paul Gronke, a political scientist at Oregon's Reed College, said Florida, Ohio and New Mexico -- which also had a long count in 2004 -- are likely to be "trouble spots" again.
Colorado and New Jersey, which Gronke said loosened early voting rules this year, could see more problems this year.
"You've generally got to be a little concerned about counting in states with last-minute absentee voting," Gronke said.
He said Republicans and Democrats have been asking him questions about standards for absentee balloting, "which strikes me as an early-warning indicator."
From Cleveland, Ohio, Karen Terrance told CNN that she had not received her registration card despite calls to her local election board.
"I was born and raised here," Terrance said. "I don't understand why I'm not getting any communication. So I hope next year and years after, I won't have that problem."
Long lines at early voting stations were another top concern among Floridians, with more than 10 percent reporting lines that were too long.
More than 4.4 million Floridians have already cast ballots in the election, according to the state Division of Elections -- about 40 percent of the 11 million voters on the rolls.
Palin didn't violate ethics law, 2nd probe finds
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- Alaska's Personnel Board concluded Monday that Gov. Sarah Palin did not violate ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police, contradicting an earlier investigation's findings.
GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin campaigns in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday.
"There is no probable cause to believe that the governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters," Timothy Petumenos, the Anchorage lawyer hired to conduct the investigation, wrote in his final report.
The announcement comes a day before Palin and Republican presidential nominee John McCain face voters in Tuesday's presidential election.
Allegations that Palin fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan in July because he refused to fire her sister's ex-husband, Mike Wooten, have dogged her since before she became the GOP's vice presidential nominee in August.
An earlier investigation launched by the state Legislature concluded Palin violated state ethics law by trying to get Wooten fired. The law bars public officials from pursuing personal interest through official action.
That first inquiry -- led by legislative investigator Stephen Branchflower -- also concluded that Palin's firing of Monegan likely stemmed in part from his refusal to fire Wooten, but that Palin's firing of Monegan was within her authority as governor.
Despite the conclusions of Branchflower's October 10 report, Palin declared that she had been "cleared of any legal wrongdoing" in the matter. Her attorney, Thomas Van Flein, argued the Branchflower report had wrongly interpreted state ethics law.
Though the governor originally agreed to cooperate with the Legislature's inquiry, she tried to stop the investigation once she became McCain's running mate -- and campaign aides attacked the investigation as a partisan circus that was being manipulated by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Instead, Palin asked the Personnel Board -- an executive branch agency whose members were appointed by her predecessor -- to handle the investigation, arguing it was the proper legal venue.
In a brief statement after Monday's decision by the Personnel Board, Van Flein said Palin was pleased with Monday's report.
"The governor is grateful that this investigation has provided a fair and impartial review of this matter and upholds the governor's ability to take measures when necessary to ensure that Alaskans have the best possible team working to serve them," Van Flein said.
Petumenos said he had been "working until midnight and beyond" to complete the report before the election and had hoped to deliver it to the Personnel Board last week.
"The Alaska Personnel Board has determined in this case, because there was already in some respect the sanction of public approbation and many conclusions and opinions reached with respect to this matter, that it was critical the report be issued now and in a timely fashion," Petumenos said.
But he said he faced no "artificial deadlines" and disputed any suggestion that he was trying to affect Tuesday's election with the report.
"If you think this was done to favor the governor politically, it would have been much more favorable for her to have received this days before now," Petumenos said.
Petumenos said Branchflower had done a good job of collecting facts for the legislative inquiry. But Petumenos said Branchflower did not have access to all the evidence that he did and that Branchflower's legal analysis was "completely wrong."
Petumenos questioned Palin and her husband, Todd Palin, on October 24 about Monegan's removal from the commissioner's post, which oversees the Alaska State Troopers.
Monegan told the earlier investigation that complaints about Wooten were the "central theme" of his 17-month tenure.
Wooten had already received a five-day suspension in 2006 for using a Taser on his 11-year-old stepson "in a training capacity," illegally shooting a moose on his wife's permit and driving his patrol car with an open beer -- complaints raised during his acrimonious divorce with Palin's sister.
Monegan's deputy, John Glass, told Branchflower that he warned Todd Palin that disciplinary action already had been taken against the trooper and that the governor risked "some extreme amount of discomfort and embarrassment" if she pushed the issue. In August, Palin disclosed that members of her administration contacted Department of Public Safety officials about two dozen times about Wooten -- including one top aide whose call to a state police lieutenant had been recorded.
Bones are Fossett's, DNA testing shows
(CNN) -- Bones found last week near where Steve Fossett's plane crashed in eastern California's Sierra Nevadas are those of the adventurer, authorities said Monday.
Fossett, seen here with his wife, Peggy, disappeared after a solo flight in 2007.
Testing at California's state crime lab determined that "two large bones" recovered Wednesday matched Fossett's DNA, a spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff's Department in California said.
Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said last week that confirmation that the bones were Fossett's would allow authorities to conclude with certainty that Fossett is dead.
Fossett was last seen on the morning of September 3, 2007, when he took off from the Flying-M Ranch outside Minden, Nevada. He was scouting locations for an attempt to break the land-speed record in a rocket-propelled car.
Searchers found the bones, Fossett's driver's license, a pair of shoes and a $100 bill on Wednesday, Anderson said last week. The discovery site was a little more than a half-mile from where Fossett's plane wreckage was found on October 1 in a remote area of the Sierra Nevadas at an altitude of 10,000 feet. 
The site of Wednesday's discovery also is about a quarter-mile from where a hiker reported finding two aviation identification cards with Fossett's name and $1,000 in cash in late September, Anderson said.
Animal chew marks were found on the driver's license and the shoes, Anderson said. He said the marks indicate that "animals possibly [moved] the body."
(CNN) -- Just hours before Election Day, the McCain campaign released a summary of Gov. Sarah Palin's health -- a physician's letter saying the vice
(CNN) -- Just hours before Election Day, the McCain campaign released a summary of Gov. Sarah Palin's health -- a physician's letter saying the vice presidential candidate is in "excellent health."
Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to supporters during a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday.
Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to supporters during a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday.
Palin was the last contender on the presidential tickets to release her medical history in some form.
The November 3 letter from her physician, Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, says, "Governor Palin is in excellent health and has no known health problems that would interfere with her ability to carry out the duties and obligation of Vice President of the United States of America."
Palin has visited Baldwin-Johnson's clinic for 17 years and has been under the doctor's care since 1997. The governor's visits to her office have been related to "routine women's health care and pregnancy," the letter says.
Palin has had four term pregnancies and one pre-term pregnancy in 2008, when her son, Trig, was born with Down's syndrome at 35 weeks.
"At the time of her most recent pregnancy, Governor Palin had no health risk factors other than her age," the letter says. Video Watch Palin on the political trail Monday in Iowa »
Her hospitalizations have been for childbirth, the letter says. In 1992, Palin had a breast biopsy for what turned out to be a benign lesion. Palin's vital signs are considered normal, with a blood pressure of 96/61 and a pulse of 77 at the time of her last office visit -- though no date was given.
Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to supporters during a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday.
Gov. Sarah Palin speaks to supporters during a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday.
Palin was the last contender on the presidential tickets to release her medical history in some form.
The November 3 letter from her physician, Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, says, "Governor Palin is in excellent health and has no known health problems that would interfere with her ability to carry out the duties and obligation of Vice President of the United States of America."
Palin has visited Baldwin-Johnson's clinic for 17 years and has been under the doctor's care since 1997. The governor's visits to her office have been related to "routine women's health care and pregnancy," the letter says.
Palin has had four term pregnancies and one pre-term pregnancy in 2008, when her son, Trig, was born with Down's syndrome at 35 weeks.
"At the time of her most recent pregnancy, Governor Palin had no health risk factors other than her age," the letter says. Video Watch Palin on the political trail Monday in Iowa »
Her hospitalizations have been for childbirth, the letter says. In 1992, Palin had a breast biopsy for what turned out to be a benign lesion. Palin's vital signs are considered normal, with a blood pressure of 96/61 and a pulse of 77 at the time of her last office visit -- though no date was given.
McCain, Obama on blitz through battleground states on final day
CNN) -- Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain prepared to stump into the early morning in their last efforts to sway voters before they go to the polls hours later on Tuesday.
Sen. John McCain greets supporters in Tampa, Florida, on Monday.
Sen. John McCain greets supporters in Tampa, Florida, on Monday.
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"I only have one word for you: tomorrow," Obama said at his final rally. "After decades of broken politics, eight years of failed policies, 21 months of campaigning, we are less than one day away from bringing change."
The final major rally in Manassas, Virginia, on Monday night, marked the 20th time his campaign has stumped in Virginia.
Sen. Joe Biden will also visit the state Tuesday when the polls open. Obama will return to Chicago around 1 a.m.
McCain will campaign until 2 a.m. ET, with his final stop in Prescott, Arizona.
McCain will have a rally on the steps of the courthouse, where his hero Barry Goldwater launched his 1964 presidential bid. The site is also where McCain always makes his final stop in his Senate campaigns.
Earlier Monday, Sen. John McCain called on Pennsylvania to help him erase his deficit in the polls and score an upset over Sen. Barack Obama.
"Just one day left until we take America in a new direction. We need to win in Pennsylvania and tomorrow, with your help, we will win," McCain said, pounding his fist on the podium at an event in Moon Township.
"Volunteer, knock on doors, get your neighbors to the polls. I need your vote," he said.
Obama leads McCain by 8 percentage points in Pennsylvania, 51 percent to 43 percent, according to CNN's latest average of state polls. Video Watch McCain ask supporters for their vote »
McCain's campaign has said it is buoyed by its internal numbers not showing up in public polling.
In the past two presidential elections, pre-election polling in Pennsylvania showed strong support for Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry, but both candidates ended up carrying the state by narrow margins.
McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have visited Pennsylvania 10 times in 15 days. The state has 21 electoral votes.
In his last visit to the state before voters go to the polls, McCain said, "The pundits have written me off just like they've done four or five times in the past. ... They may not know it, but the Mac is back."
National polls show Obama leading McCain by about 7 percentage points.
Sen. John McCain greets supporters in Tampa, Florida, on Monday.
Sen. John McCain greets supporters in Tampa, Florida, on Monday.
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"I only have one word for you: tomorrow," Obama said at his final rally. "After decades of broken politics, eight years of failed policies, 21 months of campaigning, we are less than one day away from bringing change."
The final major rally in Manassas, Virginia, on Monday night, marked the 20th time his campaign has stumped in Virginia.
Sen. Joe Biden will also visit the state Tuesday when the polls open. Obama will return to Chicago around 1 a.m.
McCain will campaign until 2 a.m. ET, with his final stop in Prescott, Arizona.
McCain will have a rally on the steps of the courthouse, where his hero Barry Goldwater launched his 1964 presidential bid. The site is also where McCain always makes his final stop in his Senate campaigns.
Earlier Monday, Sen. John McCain called on Pennsylvania to help him erase his deficit in the polls and score an upset over Sen. Barack Obama.
"Just one day left until we take America in a new direction. We need to win in Pennsylvania and tomorrow, with your help, we will win," McCain said, pounding his fist on the podium at an event in Moon Township.
"Volunteer, knock on doors, get your neighbors to the polls. I need your vote," he said.
Obama leads McCain by 8 percentage points in Pennsylvania, 51 percent to 43 percent, according to CNN's latest average of state polls. Video Watch McCain ask supporters for their vote »
McCain's campaign has said it is buoyed by its internal numbers not showing up in public polling.
In the past two presidential elections, pre-election polling in Pennsylvania showed strong support for Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry, but both candidates ended up carrying the state by narrow margins.
McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have visited Pennsylvania 10 times in 15 days. The state has 21 electoral votes.
In his last visit to the state before voters go to the polls, McCain said, "The pundits have written me off just like they've done four or five times in the past. ... They may not know it, but the Mac is back."
National polls show Obama leading McCain by about 7 percentage points.
U.S. commander hears Pakistani complaints on attacks
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan complained Monday to the top U.S. military commander in the area over American attacks against suspected terrorists inside Pakistan.
U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, left, meets Monday with Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Gen. David Petraeus, making his first trip abroad as the new head of U.S. Central Command, met in Pakistan with new President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, and other government and military leaders. Asked by CNN's Reza Sayah if he heard any criticism over the U.S. attacks, Petraeus said he had.
"In fact, we got certain messages with each of those we talked today and some of those were very clear and we have to take those on-board," Petraeus said Monday, adding later, "The tone of the conversation was very frank and very forthright, as it should be."
Speaking to CNN International, the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, expressed his country's displeasure Monday in no uncertain terms.
Don't Miss
Petraeus takes helm of U.S. Central Command
"The U.S. has to stop acting unilaterally," said Ambassador Husain Haqqani.
U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan have been seeking a way to effectively battle militants who launch attacks from Pakistan's swath of tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.
The U.S. military has become frustrated with Islamabad over the years, saying it is not being proactive
U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, left, meets Monday with Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Gen. David Petraeus, making his first trip abroad as the new head of U.S. Central Command, met in Pakistan with new President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, and other government and military leaders. Asked by CNN's Reza Sayah if he heard any criticism over the U.S. attacks, Petraeus said he had.
"In fact, we got certain messages with each of those we talked today and some of those were very clear and we have to take those on-board," Petraeus said Monday, adding later, "The tone of the conversation was very frank and very forthright, as it should be."
Speaking to CNN International, the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, expressed his country's displeasure Monday in no uncertain terms.
Don't Miss
Petraeus takes helm of U.S. Central Command
"The U.S. has to stop acting unilaterally," said Ambassador Husain Haqqani.
U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan have been seeking a way to effectively battle militants who launch attacks from Pakistan's swath of tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.
The U.S. military has become frustrated with Islamabad over the years, saying it is not being proactive
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