A Brief History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and it may conjure images of picnics, barbecues or just a lazy day off. But originally the holiday was charged with deeper meaning—and with controversy. The exact origins of Memorial Day are disputed, with at least five towns claiming to have given birth to the holiday some time near the end of the Civil War

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Analysis: Is Europe facing a threat from the right?

Does trans-national democracy work? Or is Europe about to see a wave of new Far Right politicians and mavericks marching from obscurity to national prominence thanks to an election most voters are neglecting? Between June 4 and June 7 it could happen.

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Obama says U.S. must get in front on green energy

President Obama said Wednesday the United States must take the lead on energy, citing the "enormous job creation potential that exists." Obama’s remarks came at the end of his first quarterly meeting with the Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which was created in February to provide the administration with independent, nonpartisan advice on how to promote economic growth and stability. The focus of Wednesday’s meeting, which was streamed live on the White House Web site, was job creation and green energy. Obama told the board members he’s seen “some return to normalcy” in parts of the financial markets.

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Self-Inflicted Wounds: How Pelosi Got Into the CIA Mess

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emerged from her offices with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a photo op Tuesday – her first open media event since last Thursday’s disastrous press conference on what the CIA may or may not have briefed her about regarding its interrogation techniques — she was met by a wall of dozens of cameras. There’s always been a lot of media interest in the first female speaker, but Pelosi is learning the hard way that there’s a difference between attention for being a pioneer and attention for fouling up on the job. A lot has been written about Barack Obama’s learning curve in his first 100 days in office — understandably given his rapid ascent.

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Sources: Senate Dems refuse Obama funds to shut down Gitmo

Senate Democrats will pull money to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison from a war funding bill instead of face an onslaught of criticism from Republicans, CNN has learned. Democratic leaders made the decision Tuesday morning, according to two Senate Democratic leadership sources. It is a blow to President Obama who announced, as one of his first official duties as president, that he would close the base by next January 22.

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Netanyahu presses Congress over threat of nuclear Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his concern over the potential of a nuclear-armed Iran during meetings with top congressional leaders Tuesday. He met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee first, followed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader John Boehner. An Iranian regime armed with nuclear weapons “is a great danger to all of us, to Israel specifically and to the moderate Arab regimes, [and] to America,” Netanyahu said after his meeting with Pelosi and Boehner

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