Cardinal Keith O’Brien had sparked more than his fair share of controversy before stepping down as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh on Monday and announcing he wouldn’t take part in the conclave to elect the next pope. Known for his outspoken stances on abortion, same-sex marriage and flip-flopping on priestly celibacy, Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic leader raised eyebrows even before he was named cardinal in 2003. In recent years he has been noted for his blunt attacks on gay unions and abortion, which are very much in line with the Vatican position but which critics at home have said were unnecessary interventions into political life. On Monday, O’Brien recused himself from the conclave to elect the next pope after allegations that he approached three priests and a former priest in an “inappropriate” manner were published in The Observer newspaper. The Vatican is investigating the allegations.
Known for his outspoken stances on abortion, same-sex marriage and flip-flopping on priestly celibacy, Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic leader raised eyebrows even before he was named cardinal in 2003.
In recent years he has been noted for his blunt attacks on gay unions and abortion, which are very much in line with the Vatican position but which critics at home have said were unnecessary interventions into political life.
On Monday, O’Brien recused himself from the conclave to elect the next pope after allegations that he approached three priests and a former priest in an “inappropriate” manner were published in The Observer newspaper. The Vatican is investigating the allegations.
Republicans thought Joe Biden would be the weakest link in President Barack Obama's re-election campaign last year, but the gregarious Vice President proved Teflon then, and is now emerging as the Administration's unlikely, indispensable man. Mitt Romney's campaign and allies made a target of "Uncle Joe" — casting him as a bumbling hapless counterpoint to the cool president, a man who couldn't remember which state he was in or the name of the president. But by the time fiscal cliff talks rolled around late last year, a new Biden had emerged: One of the few people remaining in Washington who remembered how to do a bipartisan deal. [...] And two former Romney aides acknowledged Biden's role as one of the Democrats' most effective communicators to swing voters. Conceded one of the former Romney aides: "No matter how hard we tried, they always were laughing with him."
Mitt Romney's campaign and allies made a target of "Uncle Joe" — casting him as a bumbling hapless counterpoint to the cool president, a man who couldn't remember which state he was in or the name of the president.
But by the time fiscal cliff talks rolled around late last year, a new Biden had emerged: One of the few people remaining in Washington who remembered how to do a bipartisan deal. [...]
And two former Romney aides acknowledged Biden's role as one of the Democrats' most effective communicators to swing voters.
Conceded one of the former Romney aides: "No matter how hard we tried, they always were laughing with him."
Robert Bork says President Richard Nixon promised him the next Supreme Court vacancy after Bork complied with Nixon’s order to fire Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox in 1973. Bork’s recollection of his role in the Saturday Night Massacre that culminated in Cox’s firing is at the center of his slim memoir, “Saving Justice,” that is being published posthumously by Encounter Books. Bork died in December at age 85. Bork writes that he didn’t know if Nixon actually, though mistakenly, believed he still had the political clout to get someone confirmed to the Supreme Court or was just trying to secure Bork’s continued loyalty as his administration crumbled in the Watergate scandal.
Bork’s recollection of his role in the Saturday Night Massacre that culminated in Cox’s firing is at the center of his slim memoir, “Saving Justice,” that is being published posthumously by Encounter Books. Bork died in December at age 85.
Bork writes that he didn’t know if Nixon actually, though mistakenly, believed he still had the political clout to get someone confirmed to the Supreme Court or was just trying to secure Bork’s continued loyalty as his administration crumbled in the Watergate scandal.
Dr. C. Everett Koop, who was widely regarded as the most influential surgeon general in American history and played a crucial role in changing public attitudes about smoking, died on Monday at his home in Hanover, N.H. He was 96.