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WASHINGTON (AP) — Under growing pressure, the administration refused repeatedly to state a position Tuesday on legislation formalizing President Barack Obama's oft-stated promise that people who like their existing coverage should be allowed to keep it under the new health care law. Senate Democrats spoke dismissively of the proposals, signaling they have no intention of permitting a vote on the issue that marks the latest challenge confronting supporters of "Obamacare." An earlier controversy appeared to be ebbing on a law that has generated more than its share of them. Even so, one strong supporter of the health care law, Sen....

Stepping into the national backlash over health policy cancellations, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones faulted the state's health exchange for requiring insurers to terminate coverage Dec. 31, but acknowledged that he has little power to stop it. Jones reiterated his support for President Obama's healthcare law Tuesday, but he said these cancellation notices and the resulting avalanche of consumer complaints were an unnecessary blunder. "There are areas where implementation could be done better, and this is an example of that," Jones said. "Individuals could have been allowed to stay in their plan for another year. Don't force people out arbitrarily...

Leave it to MSNBC weekend anchor Alex Witt to continue marching forward, carrying the flag of ObamaCare as the rollout phase sputters along at a crawl. On Sunday’s Weekends with Alex Witt, the host often came across as a White House publicist, defending both the president and his health care law. Witt began her show by interviewing Jonathan Gruber, one of the architects of both ObamaCare and Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan. After playing a brief compilation of President Obama insisting, “If you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan,” Witt asked Gruber, “When you...

Hello FRiends. I am going through my late father's papers from when he was in the Air Force (total of 17 years, active and reserve). I'd like to be able to decipher some of the acronyms and military terms used in duty assignments, etc. Does anyone know of a source online that would help me to decipher these things? Thank you. Examples: 2267th PerPron (CONAC) AFQT-1 I 98Mech 7 Cler 9 Tech 9

To a liberal, what's worse than smoking crack? Opposing higher taxes! Admission: I'm libertarian when it comes to drug laws. I believe the War on Drugs has been a big bust, excuse the pun, just like Prohibition was. That said, I still found hilarious Chris Hayes' statement on his MSNBC show tonight, commenting on the admission by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford that he had smoked crack cocaine, that Ford had done worse things. Among the litany of Ford's failures that were worse than getting on the pipe? Opposing higher taxes and privatizing garbage collection! View the video here.

Amnesty International has said the response to a call for submissions to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry demonstrates how much the investigation was needed. Almost 400 people have contacted the inquiry set up to examine child abuse in Catholic and state-run homes in Northern Ireland.

CAMBRIDGE — It was not a typical teen cause in the late 1970s. But when students at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School were concerned that they were not learning grammar, they knew whom to turn to: Bill de Blasio. The gangly 6-foot-5 senior huddled with administrators and teachers. Before long, students were taking a grammar class called Better Than Basics. “You went to Bill to get it done,” said Nora Burns, a fellow member of the class of 1979. These days, de Blasio is the leading candidate for mayor of New York, an outspoken liberal poised to become the city’s...

Decide Ahead of Time Today's Scripture “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever said to yourself, “I’d be happy if...”? Maybe you’re thinking, “I’d be happy if my spouse treated me better.” “I’d be happy if my boss moved to another planet.” “I’d be happy if I didn’t have to sit in traffic every day.” If you are thinking those thoughts, then you are allowing what you can’t control to sour your life. You have to change your...

What a difference a few weeks make. When congressional conservatives and Tea Party Patriots fought to delay Obamacare’s individual mandate during the debate over the partial government shutdown, Democrats engaged in some of the most incendiary name-calling Americans have heard in years. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California called opponents “arsonists.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called them “anarchists.” Other Democrats resorted to more colorful language, like “political terrorism,” and said their political foes were “guilty of murder.” That was then. Fast-forward to November and suddenly Democrats are advocating the conservative position. “Allowing extra time for consumers is critically important so...

Partakers of His Suffering ". . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . ." —1 Peter 4:13 If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why...

State Representative Martin J. Walsh has defeated City Councilor John R. Connolly in the election to replace long-standing Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Follow up-to-the-minute coverage of the first open Boston mayoral race in two decades.

Quitting Business 2013... Opting Out Word has been getting around that I am "retiring"; this is not true. I am quitting in disgust and sadness that the criminal entity I am paying taxes to is demonstrably not a legitimate government. This is the one means I have of legally striking back, by eliminating my income. This is a one-man general strike — all who wish to join me are welcome. My hope that we can stop the current lurch towards WWIII rises and falls each day. An order came in recently with the note "We will miss you". As much...

Republicans are voting at a higher rate throughout most of Colorado's counties, even in Democratic strongholds like Denver and Boulder counties. Based on data provided Tuesday morning by the Secretary of State, 83,662 more Republicans than Democrats had submitted their ballots early. That data doesn't account for any ballots dropped off Tuesday or those completed and submitted at a polling place.

The White House is asking insurance companies to explain to Americans the cancellation letters they're receiving in the mail. President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, met Tuesday with CEOs from some of the largest health insurers. The White House says McDonough updated the CEOs on fixes to healthcare.gov and problems with enrollment data sent electronically to insurers. McDonough also solicited input on whether the system is getting better....

"O.K., so I SAID I accept responsibility - what else do you want from me?" Mmmm, I don't know, maybe your resignation? Everyone's witnessed the insincere, cynical style of apology from one side of it or the other, or both. In childhood, maybe your parents caught you being rude to a brother or sister or playmate. To correct your behavior and smooth out the wrinkle in the relationship, they told you - “O.K., I want you to apologize to Johnny”. Depending on how compliant with parental authority you were, you might do it forthwith or you might respond, “Why should...

At the heart of Christianity is an invitation to the Lord’s feast. That was Pope Francis’ message at Mass this morning at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope said that the Church is “not only for good people;” the invitation to be a part of it concerns everyone. And he added that, at the Lord’s feast we must “participate fully” and with everyone; we can’t pick and choose. Christians, he said, can’t be content with simply being on the guest list – not participating fully is like not joining in. The readings of the day, the Pope said, the identity...

A Tennessee woman ran over her boyfriend multiple times with his own truck Friday after he refused to stop at McDonald’s. Crystal Brooks, 33, went into a rage after boyfriend Santiago Hernandez, 41, declined to go to the fast food chain. After Mr Hernandez went against Ms Brooks’ wishes, she demanded he pull over. He then got out of the Chevrolet S-10 and she replaced him in the driver’s seat. Ms Brooks then hit the gas – with her baby’s father standing in front of the pickup – causing him to go flying onto the hood..... ‘She then pulled forward...

It happened again. Three months after a rodeo clown mocked the president at the Missouri State Fair, fans at a Missouri-Tennessee football game Sunday booed when Barack Obama’s name was mentioned during a halftime ceremony. New members of the Missouri National Guard were being sworn in, said Chad Moller, spokesman for University of Missouri-Columbia athletics. But during part of the oath that reads “I will obey the order of the president of the United States” members of the crowd could be heard booing, according to the Missourian.

An analysis of ancient DNA from a 24,000-year-old Siberian skeleton generates a new model for the original peopling of the Western Hemisphere. Native Americans may not have descended from East Asians who crossed the Bering Land Bridge more than 15,000 years ago, according to a new genomic analysis of a millennia-old Siberian skeleton. A portion of the nuclear DNA recovered from the upper arm bone of a 4-year-old boy that was buried near the Siberian village of Mal’ta about 24,000 years ago is shared by modern Native Americans and no other group. But the boy appears to have been descended...

The polls are now closed in Virginia, and Fox News can report that Democrat Terry McAulliffe has a slight lead over Republican Ken Cuccinelli, although it is too early to call the race. According to the latest wave of Fox News exit polls, the surprising closeness of the race can be attributed - in part - to the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare. Virginia voters in general oppose ObamaCare by a margin of 53 to 45 percent, according to exit polls. Of those who oppose the law, 80 percent voted for Cuccinelli and 11 percent voted for McAuliffe.