Politics

Palin's Abrupt Resignation Sparks Debate About Governor's Political Future Sarah Palin’s abrupt announcement that she was resigning as Alaska’s governor left observers speculating about a future for her that could range from a 2012 White House bid to political oblivion.

Obama Calls for Revival of American `Spirit' in Independence Day Broadcast President Barack Obama marked Independence Day by calling for a revival of the American “spirit” to confront and resolve problems, dismissing critics who say he’s taking on too much too soon.

Kennedy Health Plan Calls for Government Insurance Option, Employer Fees Senator Edward Kennedy’s health committee released a new health-care overhaul plan that lawmakers said would lead to coverage for most Americans, in part by assessing fees on companies that don’t offer insurance.

Senate's Warner Says Obama's Consumer Agency May Become `Gotcha' Enforcer U.S. Senator Mark Warner expressed concern that President Barack Obama’s proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency, centerpiece of a rules overhaul, is “divorced” from markets and would be a “gotcha” enforcer.

Senate May Pass U.S. Climate Bill as It Spurns Global Treaty, Kerry Says The U.S. Senate may pass legislation to slow climate change and then fail to approve a global treaty that commits nations to do so, Senator John Kerry said.

Obama-Medvedev Relations `Reset' May Go No Further Than Nuclear Reductions Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev will be looking to trumpet their commitment to reducing nuclear arms when they meet in Moscow next week. Resetting U.S.- Russian relations may be harder.

Sanford Hears Republicans' Demands for Resignation Over `Abuse of Office' Governor Mark Sanford’s battles with fellow Republicans who run South Carolina’s Legislature have left him with few allies as he tries to stave off calls for his resignation after admitting to an extramarital affair.

Hyundai Is Advancing Cash to its Dealers in U.S. for `Clunkers' Trade-ins Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest carmaker, is advancing money to U.S. dealers so they can immediately take advantage of a “cash for clunkers” program.

Roberts Victory in Firefighter Case Caps Unpredictable Supreme Court Term The Connecticut firefighter case resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court this week showed the power of the court’s conservative wing to reshape the law. The rest of the nine-month term underscored the limits of that power.

U.S. Marines Strike Against Taliban in Opium-Growing Region of Afghanista Thousands of U.S. Marines drove into a major Taliban opium-growing region, opening a phase of President Barack Obama’s strategy to secure Afghanistan.

Oil Refiners Exxon, Valero Face New Curbs on Carcinogenic Gas Under Obama President Barack Obama is considering new curbs on U.S. oil refineries whose gas emissions pose a cancer risk to hundreds of thousands of people living near the plants, setting up a potential conflict with companies over the cost of new regulations.

Franken's Victory Fails to Give Democrats a Guarantee on Votes in Senate Democrat Al Franken’s victory in the Minnesota Senate race will give his party an edge in congressional battles that still may fall short of total control.

Kennedy Pushes Government-Backed Health Insurance That Pays for Itself Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s committee will propose creating a government-backed alternative to private insurance designed to pay for itself after getting federal start-up money.

Olson Joins Boies at High Court So Gays May Marry as American Civil Right Theodore Olson, the lawyer who won the 2000 Supreme Court case that made George W. Bush president, might have been the natural choice to argue in favor of California’s same-sex marriage ban.