Daniel Inouye

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Senator Who Called Kirsten Gillibrand 'Chubby' Revealed

It was Daniel Inouye, sources say

(Newser) - In case you were wondering which senator called Kirsten Gillibrand "chubby," the New York Times has the answer: Daniel Inouye, the Hawaii Democrat who died in 2012 at age 88 . "People with knowledge of the incident" gave away his identity to the Times, which reminds us that...

And the Medals of Freedom Go to...

Oprah, Clinton, Steinem among this year's recipients

(Newser) - This year marks the 50th anniversary of the executive order, signed by President Kennedy, establishing the highest US civilian honor. "The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to men and women who have dedicated their own lives to enriching ours," President Obama said. "This year's honorees have...

Those We Lost in 2012
 Those We Lost in 2012 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Those We Lost in 2012

Whitney Houston, Joe Paterno, Dick Clark, Ravi Shankar

(Newser) - Neil Armstrong would always be taking that first step onto the moon, and Dick Clark was forever "the world's oldest teenager." A look at some of the notables who died in 2012:
  • Etta James, 73. Blues singer best known for her enduring classic "At Last."
...

Hawaii Gov. Picks Brian Schatz to Fill Inouye's Seat

But it goes against late senator's 'last wish'

(Newser) - The late Sen. Daniel Inouye's seat has been filled—although his replacement goes against Inouye's "last wish," the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie today chose Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, a former leader of the state Democratic Party, to take Inouye's vacant seat in...

Leahy 3rd in Line to Presidency
 Leahy 3rd in Line to Presidency 

Leahy 3rd in Line to Presidency

He is now president pro tempore of the Senate

(Newser) - The death of Daniel Inouye of Hawaii yesterday has Democrats shuffling committee posts and such, but one change in particular carries some import with the Constitution. Patrick Leahy of Vermont got sworn in as president pro tempore of the Senate, which puts him third in line to the presidency behind...

Sen. Inouye of Hawaii Dead at 88

Medal of Honor recipient died of respiratory complications

(Newser) - Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, the influential Democrat who broke racial barriers on Capitol Hill and played key roles in congressional investigations of the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals, died Monday. He was 88. Inouye, a senator since January 1963, was currently the longest-serving senator and was president pro tempore of...

Slate Presents '80 Over 80'
 Slate Presents 
 '80 Over 80' 

Slate Presents '80 Over 80'

Influential octogenarians, from politicians to celebrities

(Newser) - Thirty under 30? Pshaw. Slate offers up its annual 80 Over 80, a list of politicians, industry leaders, and other icons who also happen to be really old, ranked in order of power and importance. The top five:
  1. Thomas S. Monson: The Mormon president, 83, acts as divine prophet for
...

America's Most Powerful Octogenarians

Slate ranks the country's top old people

(Newser) - Retirement? Bah! Slate’s annual 80 for 80 list ranks America’s mightiest octogenarians, giving extra credit for post-80 achievements, and “being really, really old.” The top:
  1. Thomas Monson (82): As the head of the Mormon church, 13 million people think he’s a prophet “in the
...

Inouye Pulled Strings to Get Hawaii Bank Bailout Cash
Inouye Pulled Strings to Get Hawaii Bank Bailout Cash
investigation

Inouye Pulled Strings to Get Hawaii Bank Bailout Cash

Inouye owned shares in institution

(Newser) - A Hawaii bank got a federal bailout weeks after Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office called federal officials to check on the bank’s funding application, ProPublica and the Washington Post report. The bailout money was intended to support healthy banks, but the FDIC had decided Central Pacific Financial didn’t...

Stevens Not Likely to Recover Legacy
 Stevens Not Likely 
 to Recover Legacy  
ANALYSIS

Stevens Not Likely to Recover Legacy

Senator unlikely to restore reputation

(Newser) - Legally, Ted Stevens is off the hook. But it's unlikely he'll be able to regain his stature, or the Senate honors he might otherwise have been afforded, Laurie Kellman writes for the AP. His peers were notably restrained in response to yesterday's news that Justice is likely to void the...

10 Democrats Obama Must Watch Out For
10 Democrats
Obama Must
Watch Out For
ANALYSIS

10 Democrats Obama Must Watch Out For

Conyers, Feinstein, Biden could be pains in president's rear

(Newser) - The good vibrations can’t last forever. Sooner or later,  President Obama is bound to run afoul of members of his own party. Glenn Thrush, in Politico, scopes out the suspects:
  • John Conyers: The irrepressible House Judiciary chairman wants to investigate the US attorneys scandal and other potential Bush-era
...

Byrd, 90, Resigns as Appropriations Chairman

Senator, rumored to be under pressure from Reid, will be replaced by Hawaii's Inoyue

(Newser) - Robert Byrd resigned today as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, acquiescing to Democratic leaders who reportedly wanted him out of the job, the Hill reports. Byrd, 90, has been hospitalized three times in the past year, and said he was willing to leave the committee in younger hands—namely,...

Stevens Corruption Trial Begins
 Stevens Corruption Trial Begins 

Stevens Corruption Trial Begins

(Newser) - Jury selection began today in the corruption trial of Ted Stevens, the first US senator in over 20 years to face a criminal trial, reports WTUU of Anchorage. The list of 200-plus possible witnesses at the Alaska Republican's trial, in federal court in Washington, DC, includes Colin Powell as well...

Primary Winners and Losers— Beyond Barack and Hillary

Big gambles led to big payoffs, losses

(Newser) - Barack Obama may be the big winner, but loads of other political fortunes hung in the balance this primary season. Politico breaks down the winners and losers. Winners:
  • Claire McCaskill: Got tons of air-time and used it brilliantly for Obama
  • Nancy Pelosi: Pulled off a nifty trick by remaining neutral,
...

Hawaii Expects Record Turnout
Hawaii Expects Record Turnout

Hawaii Expects Record Turnout

Obama's sis stumps for native son; Chelsea campaigns for mom

(Newser) - It's caucus day in the Aloha state, and Hawaiian election officials are expecting a record turnout, writes the Honolulu Advertiser—due in part to interest in native son Barack Obama, as well as the competitiveness of the race for the nomination. Neither candidate left wintry Wisconsin, which also votes today,...

Senators: Vets Need New GI Bill
Senators:
Vets Need
New GI Bill

Senators: Vets Need New GI Bill

Hagel, Webb argue US owes it to today's soldiers

(Newser) - The US needs a spruced-up GI Bill for today's veterans, Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb say in an op-ed in today's New York Times. The Vietnam vets argue that the measure "was one of the most important pieces of legislation in our history" and call for a new version...

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