No Parole For RFK Assassin

Sirhan Sirhan, the gunman who shot Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, was denied parole Wednesday.

According to the AP, parole officials in California determined that Sirhan failed to show adequate remorse for the assassination of the former Attorney General and brother of slain President John F. Kennedy.

Sirhan has claimed for years that he does not remember the events of the evening, wherein he opened fire on Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Sirhan, of Palestinian descent, is believed to have been motivated by Kennedy’s support for Israel.

Sirhan was given a life sentence, which he is serving in California’s Pleasant Valley State Prison.

Palin Drops 2012 Hint

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin hinted Thursday that she may be considering a White House run, according to Politico.

“Nobody’s more qualified [for the] multitasking than a woman, a mom… who’s administered locally, state, with energy issues, so maybe a mayor, a governor maybe,” Palin said during an appearance before Long Island Association, a New York based business group.

Read the full story here.

Sessions: Obama's Budget Request A Guide To "Losing The Future"

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the Ranking Member on the Senate Budget Committee, claims that the White House’s recently unveiled budget proposal is a “blueprint for losing the future,” a play on the administration’s “Win the Future” initiative.

“If we follow this course it will be a national tragedy,” Sessions said in a statement. “It puts us on the road to decline. It simply spends, taxes, and borrows too much.”

The proposal’s price tag comes in at $3.73 trillion. The White House claims the plan will lower the deficit to $1.1 trillion in 2012.

Patriot Act Extension Stalled In The House

An extension of numerous provisions within the Patriot Act failed to find sufficient support in the House Tuesday night.

The legislative item failed with a 277 to 148 vote, less than the two-thirds procedurally needed to send the measure to the upper chamber. 26 Republicans opposed the extensions, an outcome that is being attributed to the Tea Party influence from November’s mid-term elections.

The measure would have granted investigators the ability to focus on individuals, or “lone wolfs,” working without the backing of large terror networks. It also permits the use of roving wiretaps and allows investigators to access the personal records of terror suspects.

The legislation was initially passed in 2001 shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks. Only 66 members of the House initially opposed it.

Pelosi: Harman Will Be Missed

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued the following statement Tuesday in response to Rep. Jane Harman’s plan to resign:

“Congresswoman Jane Harman’s career in Congress has been defined by an unyielding commitment to her constituents; an unsurpassed dedication to our national security and America’s leadership worldwide; and an undying devotion to the ideals of democracy, freedom, human rights and peace across the globe.  She is a lifelong public servant, and a leading, authoritative voice on homeland security, counterterrorism, and foreign affairs.  Her passion, her faith in American values, and her service to our home state of California will be missed.

“In her new role, Congresswoman Harman joins a distinguished roster of experts and scholars focused on translating ideas into policy and academic proposals into tangible progress around the world.  She will build on her work in Congress as an advocate for the principles cherished and advanced by the founders of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: promoting democracy abroad, sustaining strong alliances, and securing peace between nations.

“With Congresswoman Harman’s departure, the people of California’s 36^th congressional district are losing a great champion in Congress, and Members of the House are losing a great friend and colleague.  We thank Congresswoman Harman for her service, and offer our best wishes in her future endeavors.”