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WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is marking Hanukkah as a story of "faith over doubt." Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden convened a Hanukkah celebration at the White House Thursday in an early celebration of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Obama said the Hanukkah story was about "right over might, faith over doubt." In the Hanukkah story, a small band of Jews rededicating a Jerusalem temple found that a one-day supply of oil kindled a flame instead for eight. The president noted "our unshakeable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel."...

At tonight's Hanukkah party at the White House, President Obama seemed to slip a little off script when he told party goers that "we never need an excuse for a good party." All his guests laughed. From the official White House transcript: So while it is not yet Hanukkah, let’s give thanks for our blessings, for being together to celebrate this wonderful holiday season. And we never need an excuse for a good party. (Laughter.)

December 1, 2011 11:19am 331 Comments Obama: My kids will succeed, even if USA doesn't byJoel Gehrke Commentary Staff Writer Follow on Twitter:Follow @jsgehrkejr President Obama believes that Republican leadership of the country would ruin the United States as a land of opportunity, but he's (justifiably) confident that his daughters will have plenty of opportunities, no matter what. "Our kids are going to be fine," Obama told supporters at a campaign event last night. "And I always tell Malia and Sasha, look, you guys, I don't worry about you . . . they’re on a path that is going to...

At a town hall meeting at the Institute of Politics at New Hampshire’s Saint Anselm’s College Tuesday, Rick Perry asked that all of the college students in the crowd who will be 21 by Nov. 12 support his bid for the presidency. Say what? The voting age in the United States is, of course, 18. And the 2012 election will be held on Nov. 6, 2012. (The New Hampshire Republican primary, which brought Perry to the state, will take place on Jan. 10). “Those who are going to be over 21 on November 12th, I ask for your support,” Perry...

The trooper’s radar had Robert Jahns going 119 mph. Not only was he well over the 70-mph speed limit, he was intoxicated and his wife and stepchildren, ages 5 and 16, were in the car, according to the Indiana State Police. The family was driving through Steuben County, heading north on Interstate 69 to Battle Creek, Mich., for a Thanksgiving Day gathering. Another motorist alerted authorities to Jahns’ driving, and trooper Chris Kinsey received a report about 5 p.m. Thursday that a vehicle was traveling at more than 100 mph on the interstate. Kinsey later spotted Jahns’ car, a 2005...

Cement Injections for Butt Enhancement Used by Fake Plastic Surgeon November 21, 2011 09:00 AM EST It doesn't pay to look for a deal when it comes to plastic surgery. A woman who paid $700 for a butt enhancement is recovering from cement injections into her rear. The unnamed woman was referred to Oneal Ron Morris by a friend and Morris pumped cement, mineral oil, and a tire sealant into several sites on her buttocks. The "doctor" was reassuring when the pain became extreme, telling the woman not to worry, "...it all works itself out." The victim went to two...

According to President Obama, his “religious faith” is what helps him continue to believe that Republican lawmakers will eventually raise taxes on wealthy Americans, who, Obama was sure to point out again, need to “pay their fair share.” Speaking to Reverend Al Sharpton following the Super Committee’s monumental failure Monday, the president stated his disappointment in Republicans for being “short-sighted” in not offering any serious revenues. “So the position they’re taking is short-sighted, but it must be my religious fait, reverend, cause hope springs eternal…”

Ron Paul with Sean Hannity discussing the economy and the election. Paul talks about the lack of attention he receives, if he is not ignored altogether. Paul says he and his staff were "annoyed" by the fact that he only received 89 seconds to speak at the last Republican debate. Paul warned his Republican colleagues in the Congress that they better keep their pledge to not raise taxes. He says if they do "capitulate" on taxes then people will make them pay. "I have no intention of doing that," Paul says of a third-party run if he doesn't get the...

<p>“We face the threats from rising powers — China, India, others — that we have to always have sufficient force protection out there in the Pacific to make sure they know we’re never going anywhere,” Mr. Panetta said during a visit to a shipyard in Groton, Conn., where he toured a submarine, the Mississippi, in the final stages of construction.</p>

It spooks you a little when the commander in chief doesn’t seem to know much about military history, or the military itself. [...] How do you, especially if you are running our armed forces, not recognize Khe Sanh and know how to pronounce it? Goodness, you need only have listened to Bruce Springsteen’s anti-America diatribe, “Born in the USA,” to have known how, since he mentions the Battle of Khe Sanh in the song. Look at the veterans at the end of the video. They almost look like they’re scratching their heads. “Key-san? Like, ‘I left my keys on the...

Annual Report to the President on Progress Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (1st) "Predictions at the outset of the Recovery Act warned of the potential for wide spread fraud. To combat this, Congress and the Administration put in place mechanisms to deter this fraud, including enhanced project reviews by agencies and the Office of Management and Budget, oversight of all spending and contracts by a team of 12 Inspectors General who make up the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, and focused work by the Justice Department’s Anti-Fraud Task Force on ‘Recovery Act activities. " " Today, we are...

Covering Rick Perry's devastating inability to recall which third agency of government he'd eliminate, Guy hits it on head in observing that it's so damaging because it crystallizes every negative meme about the Perry candidacy. But even aside from style and/or political appearance points, the gaffe is profoundly worrisome on substance. Having done live TV, I can sympathize with a glitch. But the kind of stumble Perry made last night seems symptomatic of a candidate who is trying to memorize points for debate prep, rather than an off-moment for someone trying to expound on well-integrated personal knowledge or a deeply-held...

ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry says he would eliminate three federal agencies. Just don’t ask him to name them. The Texas governor on Wednesday night struggled during a debate with his rivals and said he would nix the Commerce and Education departments. He drew a blank when the moderator asked what the third agency would be. Perry previously has called on the elimination of the Energy Department. Perry is only saying “oops” for drawing a blank on a favorite subject of criticism on the campaign trail. He has struggled at previous debates and although he’s committed...

In part two of my interview with Texas Governor Rick Perry, I asked him about his views on the Super Committee in Washington and what they may or may not do. This led into his views on energy and his position on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Governor Perry​ has some strong opinions on energy independence and some equally strong views on the Super Committee and Barack Obama's failures of leadership. ********** See this segment of the video at the linked article. There is also a link to the first part of the interview for those who are interested. VIDEO LENGTH:...

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that he does not believe that the detention center at Guantanamo Bay will close because the Obama administration has not found better options for holding enemy combatants. “I have tried to be as supportive as I know how to be in creating flexibility for the executive branch and not micromanage the war,” Graham told Attorney General Eric Holder, who was testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

VIDEO: Gov. Rick Perry (R-Tx.) on Jan Mickelson (WHO-AM) Length: 33:23

CANNES, France (AP) — Conceding a fragile global recovery and plodding job growth back home, President Barack Obama said Friday he is confident European leaders are fixing their ominous debt crisis, which threatens to undermine the United States and his own shot at a second term. A year shy of the election, Obama said the American economy is growing, but "way too slow." The president capped his role at a brisk G-20 summit essentially where he started it, offering solidarity to his European peers with none-too-subtle signals it was their responsibility to clean up the economic mess in their own...

Don't believe the Mitt Romney ads declaring that Texas is a wasteland of minimum wage jobs provided only for illegal aliens. Here is Mitt Romney endorsing Rick Perry just a little over a year ago. Key takeaway quote from Romney, "What you just saw there was a man [Rick Perry] who led this state [Texas] to greatness at a time when this nation needs models of greatness." What a difference a year makes.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says America should extend work visas to allow illegal immigrants to move freely between the U.S. and their home countries _ but opposes a path to citizenship.

Well, my dear Mr. President, you’ve been making quite a disagreeable spectacle of yourself lately. You’ve been traveling around campaigning on that big, black, foreign-made bus that looks like a harbinger of death come riding into America’s heartland. And on every stop in every hamlet, you say you want to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs, and jobs. So is this that “pivot to jobs” we’ve all been anxiously awaiting since the failed Mother-Load Stimulus to nowhere and the Auto Stimulus to Unions and the Obamacare Stimulus to Kathleen Sebelius’ queen-hood? Honestly honey, you’ve done the so-called “pivot to jobs” so...