Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Obama says staff is clear of scandal
President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that nobody in his transition office tried to make a deal with Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on filling Illinois' vacant Senate seat, adding that he has not been contacted by federal authorities during their investigation of the governor. Published December 12, 2008
Obama says he has not been contacted by FBI
President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday morning he has not been contacted by federal authorities in the investigation of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and said nobody in his transition was involved in deal-making with the governor. Published December 11, 2008
Bush defends policy of pre-emptive strike
President Bush Tuesday said Pakistan has been told that U.S. troops will take whatever steps they deem necessary to defend themselves, as he defended his doctrine of pre-emptive strikes as part of the war on terror. Published December 10, 2008
Bush defends pre-emptive strike doctrine
President Bush on Tuesday defended his doctrine of pre-emptive strikes as a critical part of his legacy he will leave the next president in fighting the war on terror. Published December 9, 2008
EXCLUSIVE: Obama’s Web presence loses its luster
Viewership for President-elect Barack Obama's weekly YouTube "fireside chats" has tanked, dropping more than 50 percent since his initial video three weeks ago. Published December 9, 2008
Obama to air interest-group talks
President-elect Barack Obama's transition team will publicize any official meetings that staffers have with outside interest groups and will post online any policy documents the groups present during those meetings, according to rules put in place Friday. Published December 6, 2008
Obama’s transition team to go public
President-elect Barack Obama's transition team will publicize any official meetings staffers have with outside interest groups and will post online any policy documents those groups present during those meetings, according to new rules the transition team put in place Friday. Published December 5, 2008
Chertoff to hand Obama immigration successes
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff declared success Wednesday on President Bush's vow to double the size of the U.S. Border Patrol. Published December 4, 2008
Chertoff: Twice as many agents on border
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday declared success on President Bush's goal of doubling U.S. Border Patrol agents to 18,000 during his time in office, but said they will fall 10 percent short of putting barriers along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Published December 3, 2008
Obama hijacks GOP language on key issues
Borrowing a line from the Republican-revolution playbook of the 1990s, President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday told the nation's governors that he wants them to reassert states as the laboratories for solutions to the nation's big problems. Published December 3, 2008
Obama promises to help governors
The nation's governors asked President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday for federal aid to help states out of a looming budget jam, and Mr. Obama promised to invest in infrastructure, to help ease states' burdens. Published December 2, 2008
Scholar: Visitor center edits Constitution
The exhibits at the new Capitol Visitor Center being dedicated Tuesday mangle the Constitution and seem designed to advance liberal dogma, says a constitutional scholar who has toured the $621 million facility and evaluated the exhibits. Published December 2, 2008
Executive order cuts collective bargaining
President Bush on Monday issued an executive order designating 8,600 federal employees as critical to national security and taking away their collective-bargaining rights. Published December 2, 2008
Scholar: Congressional exhibits too liberal
The exhibits at the new Capitol Visitor Center being dedicated Tuesday mangle the Constitution and seem designed to advance liberal dogma, says a constitutional scholar who has toured the $621 million facility and evaluated the exhibits. Published December 1, 2008
Obama names national security team
President-elect Barack Obama unveiled his national security team today, nominating Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and choosing Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to stay on as Pentagon chief. Published December 1, 2008
ANALYSIS: Obama takes on role even before taking office
The financial crisis has forced President-elect Barack Obama to begin governing sooner than he'd otherwise hoped, giving him at least part ownership of the issue and putting him at odds with his pledge two weeks ago not to impinge on President Bush's final two months in office. Published November 26, 2008
Obama team crafts ways to ‘jolt’ economy
President-elect Barack Obama's campaign promise to cut spending has been waylaid by the reality of the economy, as he warned Monday the deficit is going to grow. Published November 25, 2008
Obama officially appoints Geithner
Barack Obama officially named Tim Geithner as his first Cabinet appointment Monday, nominating him to lead Treasury and saying he would move swiftly to detail "meaningful cuts and sacrifices" to the federal budget on Tuesday. Published November 24, 2008
EXCLUSIVE: Cantor says GOP is no longer ‘relevant’
Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, poised to ascend to House Republicans' No. 2 leader this week, said the Republican Party in Washington is no longer "relevant" to voters and must stop simply espousing principles. Published November 17, 2008
GOP’s McCain-Feingold suit looks to Supreme Court
Election lawyers say the Republican National Committee is probably banking on changes to the Supreme Court in its latest challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. Published November 14, 2008
