Politics

Muslims Kill 35 With Car Bombings

At Least 35 Die in Muslim Car Bombings
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Suicide bombers struck the Red Cross headquarters and three police stations across Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 35 people and injuring more than 200 in a coordinated terror spree that stunned the Iraqi capital on the first day of the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan. The string of car bombings, all within about 45 minutes, was the bloodiest attack yet in the city of 5 million by insurgents targeting the American-led occupation and those perceived as working with it.

Bush Says U.S. Aid to Muslims Should
Be in Form of Grants not Loans
WASHINGTON -- President Bush said on Monday U.S. aid to Iraq should be in the form of grants, not loans, and gave no sign of backing off a threat to veto legislation that included a loan provision. Bush told reporters, "My attitude has been and still is that the money we provide Iraq ought to be in the form of a grant."

Davis Names Allies to Jobs
In the two weeks since he was recalled on Oct. 7, Gov. Gray Davis has quietly appointed dozens of senior staff members and political supporters to state boards and commissions, some of which carry six-figure salaries. Davis made the appointments without releasing their names to the public through his press office, which has been the normal practice throughout his governorship. They came to light Thursday when the state Senate printed a list in its weekly history file.

Schwarzenegger's Sodomite-friendly Script
Gay Republicans are hoping that the political earthquake that gay-friendly Arnold Schwarzenegger set off in California will also shake up the Republican Party nationally. But the Republican actor's amazing triumph ought to trigger shock waves within the Democratic Party, as well: He's shown that Democrats can't afford to be complacent about courting gay and gay-friendly voters.

Regent holds Political Partisan Debate
For its 25th Anniversary
VIRGINIA BEACH -- They snipped, sniped and spewed. Then they shook hands. A high-profile version of ``Crossfire'' came to Regent University on Saturday, with a two-hour political debate on the role of the Supreme Court featuring three big-name advocates from each side. Nobody held back. Near the end of the frenetic match of political pingpong, liberal Barry Lynn summed up the good spirit that managed to prevail: ``In its own peculiar way, this has been a really fun afternoon.'' The debate was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Regent University, the Christian graduate school founded by Pat Robertson.

Stringent Security Expected At Awards
With the tightest security since Nelson Mandela's visit to Memphis, the National Civil Rights Museum will present its Freedom Awards Tuesday to former president Bill Clinton and local NAACP legend Maxine Smith. Museum executive director Beverly Robertson said that in addition to the Memphis Police Department TACT Unit, there will be Secret Service contingents from the Memphis office and from Clinton's security team.

PG&E Plans $9.4 Billion Debt Offering
SAN FRANCISCO -- Utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co., California's biggest utility, said on Friday it plans to sell up to $9.4 billion of debt to help it emerge from 2-1/2 years of bankruptcy. The PG&E Corp.-owned (PCG) utility will file a registration statement early next week with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the sale. Proceeds of the sale, together with cash on hand and other possible financing, will be used to pay about $12 billion in remaining creditor claims, a utility spokesman said. PG&E already has paid more than $1 billion in claims, mainly to power suppliers.

Google buys Primedia's Sprinks
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Internet search engine Google Inc. is buying online ad service Sprinks, taking over a piece of Primedia Inc.'s media empire while wiping out one of its biggest rivals for content-based advertising online. Primedia, which is in talks to sell its high-profile New York magazine, did not disclose the price in a statement announcing the sale on Friday. Posted by Editor at October 27, 2003 11:33 AM