Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Lawmakers reverse bailout votes
Boosted by the tone of the angry calls to their offices, enticed by added tax breaks or just scared by Monday's stock market plunge, nearly five dozen lawmakers switched votes to pass a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street. Published October 4, 2008
Alaskan delivers folksy message
From her opening greeting to her Democratic opponent in the vice-presidential debate - "Hey, can I call you Joe?" - to her pledge to deliver "straight talk" to voters, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin never looked out of her depth. Published October 3, 2008
Biden gets veep role wrong
Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared to incorrectly outline the constitutional role of the job he's seeking in Thursday's debate. Published October 3, 2008
Illegal immigrant population down
Illegal immigration appears to have fallen last year, marking the first drop in years and coinciding with Congress' failure to pass a legalization bill and the Bush administration's stepped-up raids and enforcement. Published October 2, 2008
‘Bailout’ by another name sounds sweeter
Washington struggled Tuesday for a solution for the Wall Street mess but settled on what to blame for the failure of a $700 billion package - the word "bailout." Published October 1, 2008
Legislators factor in re-election with vote
If you want a reason as to why the financial bailout bill failed Monday, look no further than the upcoming elections: Published October 1, 2008
Bailout backers gambled on arm-twisting
Democrats and Republicans knew they didn't have the votes Monday morning to pass the Wall Street bailout bill but went ahead anyway, risking the markets on the hope that reluctant lawmakers could be steamrolled. Published September 30, 2008
Negative ads everywhere, nowhere
A lot of the nastiest, harshest ads are released to the press but aren't airing that much on regular television. Published September 30, 2008
Candidate mistakes muddy the race
While Henry A. Kissinger traveled to China twice before President Nixon's famous visit in 1972, it's tough to argue that represents the "many times" Sen. John McCain claimed during Friday night's presidential debate that the then-national security adviser visited the communist state. Published September 28, 2008
Obama, McCain spar in 1st debate
The two presidential candidates clashed Friday as Barack Obama painted his rival as a loyal supporter of failed Republican policies, while John McCain charged that Obama "doesn't understand" the world's most grave challenges. Published September 27, 2008
It’s on: McCain attends debate
UPDATED -- Republican candidate Sen. John McCain will attend the first debate at 9 p.m. EDT Friday in Oxford, Miss. Published September 26, 2008
Democrats add billions to stopgap bill
Even as Congress moves to bail out Wall Street, congressional Democrats called Thursday for billions more in taxpayer dollars to be spent on private shipyards, a new Department of Homeland Security headquarters and hybrid car batteries - all to get the economy going. Published September 26, 2008
McCain ad links Obama to corruption
John McCain lashed out at Barack Obama's political pedigree, tying his rival to notorious Chicago machine politics as McCain struggled to reclaim the advantage that slipped to Obama as the Wall Street mess has unfolded. Published September 23, 2008
House GOP ready for drilling battle
House Republicans say they have the votes to force opening up the outer continental shelf to more drilling, setting up a potential showdown with Democrats who are conflicted over how to handle the issue. Published September 23, 2008
McCain tries anti-Chavez ad to lure Hispanics
Sen. John McCain released a commercial linking Sen. Barack Obama to anti-American rants by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in the hope that Hispanics' disdain for the divisive Latin American leader will pay off at the polls. Published September 20, 2008
Market creates political turmoil
Sen. John McCain blames the current economic crisis on Washington's failure to combat greed and excess on Wall Street while Sen. Barack Obama views it as the inevitable consequences of failed Republican policies. Published September 18, 2008
Records show McCain more bipartisan
ANALYSIS -- Sen. John McCain's record of working with Democrats easily outstrips Sen. Barack Obama's efforts with Republicans, according to an analysis by The Washington Times of their legislative records. Published September 15, 2008
Sen. says Palin sank ‘Bridge to Nowhere’
Sen. Tom Coburn, the chief foe of the "Bridge to Nowhere," said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin deserves credit for killing the project, which became the symbol of Washington pork-barrel spending. Published September 13, 2008
Palin touts readiness in 1st interview
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Thursday she is ready to be vice president and warned the U.S. needs to be vigilant in the face of Russian aggression, including being ready for war if it means defending NATO allies. Published September 12, 2008
Palin takes tough stand on Russia
On the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, Gov. Sarah Palin took a hard-line approach on national security and told ABC News that war with Russia may be necessary if that nation invades another country. Published September 11, 2008
