Politics

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Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is second-guessing the president's decision to seek Congress' approval before firing on Syria. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican, said, "It's troubling. These guys have been with Hillary a long time, and made critical remarks about the [Benghazi] hearings. I'd want to make sure there's a reason why [the committee] didn't pursue it further." (associated press)

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House Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., center, speaks at a news conference to introduce the American Health Care Reform Act, the group's legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013. From left are Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-NC. The Republican Study Committee works to advance a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Rep. Paul Ryan (right) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are Republicans from the same state who have been mentioned as 2016 presidential candidates. Mr. Walker has said he would not compete against his fellow Wisconsinite in a primary. (associated press)

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Divisive: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker delivered a well-received speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference this year, but he made some enemies among advocates of collective bargaining rights for state workers. (Associated Press photographs)

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In this Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 photo, a Syrian opposition fighter rests inside a cave at a rebel camp in the Idlib province countryside of Syria. The main Syrian opposition coalition urged the international community to take swift action against the regime of President Bashar Assad in response to a U.N. finding that the nerve agent sarin was used in a deadly attack near the capital last month. (AP Photo)

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**FILE** Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius addresses local health care providers and community leaders in Jacksonville, Fla., on details of the soon to be implemented Affordable Care Act during a visit to the Sulzbacher Center on Sept. 16, 2013. (Associated Press/The Florida Times-Union)

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**FILE** Rep. Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., on March 15, 2013. (Associated Press)

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington on Sept. 18, 2013. The Federal Reserve has decided against reducing its stimulus for the U.S. economy, saying it will continue to buy $85 billion a month in bonds because it thinks the economy still needs the support. (Associated Press)