Politics

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“There’s no question in my mind by starting late and ‘Washington Monumenting’ the process, they certainly went after hot-button things. As far as I’m concerned, this is all politics.” — Gordon Adams, a senior White House budget official during the Clinton administration

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the washington times D.C. Council member David Catania calls the contract to be voted on Tuesday a “sideshow, a distraction” from the real issues facing United Medical Center.

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Sens. John McCain (left) and Lindsey Graham on Sunday indicated Chuck Hagel’s nomination as defense secretary likely will be confirmed when the Senate reconvenes. “I don’t believe he’s qualified, but I don’t believe we should hold up his confirmation any further,” Mr. McCain said. (Associated Press)

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Chairman Jim Graham comments during the Committee on Human Services public hearing on BIll 19-824 the "Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Amendment Act of 2012" on Thrusday, July 12, 2012, in Washington D.C.. (Raymond Thompson/The Washington Times)

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** FILE ** “Republicans deserve blame; I’ll take some blame for it. But the president of the United States is supposed to lead. Why doesn’t he call people over, and we sit down and prevent the sequestration from happening and fulfill the comment that he made during the campaign?” said Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican. (Associated Press)

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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, gives a speech in a mosque inside the leader's housing compound in Tehran on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader)

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President Obama speaks about strengthening the economy for the middle class and the nation's struggle with gun violence at an appearance at Hyde Park Academy on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

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Presidential candidate Nicos Anastasiades votes in Cypriot elections in the southern port city of Limassol, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Cypriots are voting for a new leader amid a financial crisis in which the country needs a rescue package from international creditors to stave off bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

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Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa casts his vote for National Assembly members in Quito, Ecuador, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Voters were electing the president, vice president and National Assembly members, with Mr. Correa highly favored to win a second re-election. His government has won broad backing from the lower classes as it leads Latin America in social spending. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)