Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Business leaders press Obama on energy
U.S. business leaders told President Obama Wednesday the country is behind on developing good jobs out of clean energy and said the government must get involved to push the country further. Published May 20, 2009
Pelosi taking ‘wrecking ball’ to CIA morale, Hoekstra says
In disparaging the CIA and accusing the agency of lying last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become a "wrecking ball" to the morale of officers risking their lives in the field, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee said Tuesday. Published May 20, 2009
House Democrats challenge CIA records
UPDATED: House Democrats on Tuesday challenged the accuracy of CIA records showing who was briefed on enhanced interrogation techniques, with Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey saying they have discovered an inaccuracy in the records. Published May 19, 2009
Climate-bill foes likely to seize on CBO’s scoring
Congress' chief scorekeeper says the global warming bill moving through Congress will either be scored as a major tax increase or a massive expansion of the federal government - and either one could give opponents substantial ammunition to complicate Democrats' efforts to pass a bill. Published May 19, 2009
Notre Dame cheers, jeers Obama
Engaging the culture war directly, President Obama made a plea Sunday at the University of Notre Dame for both sides to talk to each other with "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words" on abortion and other fiery issues. Published May 18, 2009
Obama calls for ‘open minds’ in Notre Dame speech
Engaging the culture war directly at the University of Notre Dame, President Obama made a plea for both sides to talk to each other on abortion and other fiery debates with "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words." Published May 17, 2009
Notre Dame address to touch on abortion
Protesting pro-life leaders have been arrested, Catholic bishops have objected and some students have promised a boycott when President Obama gives a commencement address today at the University of Notre Dame. Published May 17, 2009
Republicans salute Obama’s military tack
Even as congressional Democrats feuded last week with the CIA in what at times seemed to be a throwback to the 1970s, President Obama was headed in the other direction in what may have been his most active week yet as commander in chief. Published May 17, 2009
Panetta: ‘Not our policy to mislead Congress’
UPDATED: CIA Director Leon Panetta said Friday that agency officials gave a truthful account to Capitol Hill lawmakers in 2002 about harsh interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists. Published May 15, 2009
Obama: Not enough votes for labor’s ‘card check’ bill
President Obama on Thursday acknowledged there aren't the votes to pass the union-sought bill to make it easier to form labor unions, and said congressional backers will have to rewrite the bill to find common ground. Published May 14, 2009
Stimulus spending’s goal now 5% less
The White House on Wednesday moved the goalposts for judging the success of President Obama's stimulus spending bill, saying it now wants to have 70 percent of the money spent before the end of fiscal 2010 -- 5 percent less than the goal set during the congressional debate over the stimulus bill. Published May 14, 2009
Obama: Photo release would endanger troops
UPDATED: The president has reversed course and decided to fight the release of photos of apparent abuse of suspected terrorist detainees, a move driven by his newfound belief that the photos would hurt the military. Published May 13, 2009
Obama, Dems set deadlines for health reform
Saying the "stars are aligned," President Obama said Wednesday that Congress must send him a health care bill this year, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised her chamber would vote on one before August. Published May 13, 2009
Sessions offers fair fight on Supreme Court
Republicans' new top man on the Senate Judiciary Committee said even without a new Supreme Court nominee having been named, Republicans will begin looking into the shortlist of names President Obama reportedly is considering and even could warn the White House confidentially if they think a nominee is unacceptable. Published May 12, 2009
Obama move on abortion funds riles both sides
President Obama called for overturning a decade-old ban on publicly funded abortions in the District as part of his budget proposal Thursday, but did not overturn the national ban on federal funding. Published May 8, 2009
Obama reverses stance on immigration
President Obama has embraced the enforcement-first position on immigration and he now says he can't move forward with the type of comprehensive bill he wants until voters are convinced that the borders can be enforced. Published May 8, 2009
Obama trims budget, but less than Bush
President Obama on Thursday will announce fewer budget cuts and for a lesser dollar amount than President George W. Bush did in his final budget - and is counting on being able to eliminate some programs that his predecessor repeatedly tried, but failed, to slash. Published May 7, 2009
Biden: Dismantle West Bank settlements
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Tuesday called for dismantling Israeli settlements in the West Bank and repeated guarantees that the United States under President Obama will defend Israel's security. Published May 5, 2009
Hatch cites Obama assurance not to appoint ‘radical’ justice
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch on Monday said President Obama promised him he would not nominate a radical liberal to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter. Published May 5, 2009
Obama wants court pick to have ‘empathy’
President Obama said Friday he will look beyond traditional legal experience to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter — to someone who can relate to average Americans. Published May 2, 2009
