Free Republic

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Former Sen. Bob Kerrey said Tuesday he will not run for the Nebraska Senate seat he gave up more than a decade ago, shutting down hopes for a bid both parties called Democrats' best chance to hold the seat but that Kerrey himself described as a longshot. The 1992 presidential candidate and former Nebraska governor had considered seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed Sen. Ben Nelson, who replaced Kerrey in the Senate in 2001. Nelson's decision not to run for a third term this year came as a boon to Republicans, who must net four seats...

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat is reporting that Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey is set to announce her retirement on Monday. The 73-year-old Democrat has publicly said for months that she was considering not seeking an eleventh term in Congress, telling reporters she would likely make a final decision in June.

The Planned Parenthood of Indiana abortion business has laid off two staff members now that the uptick in donations it received from pro-abortion supporters has run out following the news that the state had revoked its taxpayer funding.A rash of donations had been sufficient to replace the state and federal taxpayer funding the state had directed to the abortion business via Medicaid, but it was only enough to cover a few weeks. Now, Betty Cockrum, the president of the abortion business, has cut two staff members and is closing each of its centers one day a week in order to...

David Miliband: European left is fragmenting as the right is unifyingIn LSE speech, Miliband names six countries with a history of centre-left rule that are now governed by rightwing parties Allegra Stratton guardian.co.uk Tuesday 8 March 2011 20.49 GMT Social democratic parties across Europe are losing elections on an "unprecedented scale", according to former foreign secretary David Miliband. He said the parties were "fragmenting as the right is unifying". He named six countries – Britain, Sweden, Germany, France, Holland and Italy – that he said had a "good claim to represent the historic heartland of European social democracy", but that...