Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'democrats'

Waxman, Dingell Face Off Over Key House Panel

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:00 EST

On Thursday, Democrats in the House will cast a vote deciding who they want to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee. The face-off is a battle between two legislative titans in Congress: Current Chairman John Dingell, from Michigan, and California Rep. Henry Waxman.

Democrats Ask: Should Obama Go Fast Or Slow...

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

It's been only two weeks and a day since the election, and Democrats are already debating how fast President-elect Barack Obama should go in bringing change to Washington.

Daschle Accepts HHS Post, Democratic Officials Say

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:03:00 EST

If confirmed, the former Senate majority leader would fill what may be one of the most important Cabinet posts, given the emphasis the Obama campaign put on the need for affordable health care during the election.

Lieberman Gets To Keep Committee Chairmanship

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Democrats in the Senate decided Tuesday that Joe Lieberman may keep his committee chairmanship — even though he campaigned for Republican John McCain. Democrats secretly voted 42 to 13 to let him remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. His only sanction was being removed from the Environment Committee. NPR's David Welna reports.

Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens Loses Re-Election Bid

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:05:00 EST

Stevens, one of the longest serving senators in the history of the Senate, at last check trailed his Democratic rival, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, by more than 3,700 votes as absentee and overseas ballots were counted.

Lieberman To Keep Key Senate Committee Post

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his job as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Democrats decided against replacing the independent from Connecticut, but did strip him of the chairmanship of an environmental panel.

Paulson Sticks To Bailout Strategy

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson once again defends his management of the federal government's $700 billion rescue program for the financial industry. Democrats want some of the money used to help other ailing industries, as well as struggling homeowners.

Fate Of Alaska Sen. Stevens Remains Uncertain

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

At this point Republican incumbent Ted Stevens is behind Democratic challenger Mark Begich by just over a thousand votes. Even if he's able to pull off a victory, Stevens still faces an expulsion vote in the Senate. His Republican colleagues put off a preliminary step toward one Tuesday — waiting to see what happens in Alaska.

Democrats To Tussle Over Lieberman, Energy Panel

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:35:00 EST

Democratic Senate leaders will decide Tuesday whether to punish independent Sen. Joe Lieberman for backing Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. In the House, two giants wrestle for control of a committee expected to be increasingly powerful.

Lieberman Keeps Homeland Security Chairmanship

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

In a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, Sen. Joe Lieberman's colleagues voted to allow the Democrat-turned-Independent to keep his prized post as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. New Yorker reporter Ryan Lizz talks about Lieberman's political future.

With Hat In Hand, Detroit's Big 3 Go To Capitol Hill

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

The chief executives of GM, Ford and Chrysler go before the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday — ahead of this week's vote on a Democratic plan to provide their companies $25 billion in loans. Will Congress act in time before one of the Big Three has to declare bankruptcy?

Senate Debates Bailout For U.S. Automakers

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:57:00 EST

Help for the auto industry tops Democratic leaders' list of priorities, and it was the opening item of business as the U.S. Senate resumed its duties after a six-week break. But many senators appear to be feeling bailout burnout.

Americans Mixed On Bailout For Automakers

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Democrats in Congress are pushing this week for a bailout of Detroit's Big Three automakers, but there are signs they may not have enough votes. Some Americans blame the companies for their own problems. Others warn that a bankruptcy would only deepen the current recession.

Freshman Orientation For Congress' New Class

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

On Sunday, Washington welcomed the freshman class of the 111th Congress. Walt Minnick, a Democrat who will represent Idaho's 1st Congressional District, talks to host Andrea Seabrook about his particular brand of conservative liberalism.

Obama Resigns Senate Seat Sunday

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

President-Elect Barack Obama has announced he'll resign his Senate seat, effective Sunday. Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, will appoint Obama's successor. Should the governor name an African American to replace the Senate's only African-American member? Ben Calhoun of Chicago Public Radio reports.

Religious Right Weighs Next Steps

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:34:00 EST

Leaders of the religious right have tied their fortunes to the Republican Party for a generation. Now, with the Democrats in power, some conservative Christians are gearing up to fight the suddenly resurrected culture wars.

Obama Resigns Senate Seat

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:11:00 EST

President-elect Barack Obama has announced he is resigning his Senate seat, effective Sunday. Obama was the Illinois junior senator for four years. It is now up to the state's Democratic governor to fill the seat.

Dean Explains The Democrats' '50-State Strategy'

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:29:00 EST

Howard Dean, former presidential candidate and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, implemented the "50-State Strategy" to help the Democrats win big in 2008 — and it appears to have worked. This campaign approach doesn't write states off as "unwinnable."

Governors Start Thinking GOP Comeback

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Republican governors are meeting in Miami. It's a bad time for Republicans. Not only did Barack Obama rewrite the electoral map, congressional Democrats picked up more than 20 House seats. The good news: No sitting Republican governors were defeated on Election Day.

GOP Desperate To Keep Ga. Senate Seat

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:08:05 EST

The U.S. Senate race in Georgia has yet to be decided. There is a runoff election next month between incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. Neither won more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day. A Martin victory could help give Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Obama Looks To Harness Grass-Roots Support

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:39:00 EST

When President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January, he'll have expanded majorities of Democrats in both houses of Congress — and the support of a big grass-roots movement. Millions of people helped him beat Sen. John McCain, and Obama must be as innovative in utilizing their power postelection as he was during the campaign.

Congress Eyes Auto Bailout

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

House Democrats led by Barney Frank want to push through an auto company relief plan next week that would provide $25 billion in loans from the $700 billion bailout bill. Treasury Secretary Paulson objects and some House Republicans agree.

In Minn., Election Campaign Continues

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

It's more than a week after Election Day and Minnesota still doesn't know who its next U.S. senator will be. Both Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and his Democratic challenger, Al Franken, are holding almost daily news conferences, raising money for a recount fund and have hired election attorneys to guide them through what could be a monthlong recount.

Recount May Decide Franken, Coleman Senate Race

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

A tight Senate race from last week is getting even tighter. The latest numbers from Minnesota indicate incumbent Republican Norm Coleman is ahead of Democratic challenger Al Franken by slightly more than 200 votes. Franken talks with Renee Montagne about the narrow margin, which triggers an automatic recount next week.

Barber Makes House Call For Barack Obama

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Haircuts have figured prominently in Democratic presidential politics. John Edwards has never lived down his $400 do. President Clinton spawned the legend that planes were delayed at Los Angeles International Airport while a celebrity stylist snipped away on Air Force One. On Tuesday, Barack Obama's barber came to him — at a friend's apartment in Chicago. But except for the president-elect's new motorcade, there was nothing fancy about the cut.