http://wataugawatch.org All about Watauga- Politics, Events, and More Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:44:51 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last night the proposed auto bailout bill died in the U.S. Senate after the failure of Democrats and Republicans to come together on a compromise. The possibility of federal financial assistance for the auto industry, however, may still rise like a phoenix from the ashes as President Bush has pledged ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/auto-bailout-bill-fails-in-us-senate/ This week former CEOs of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae went before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to be questioned about the role of their companies in the current credit crisis. The consensus opinion among the four horsemen of the financial apocalypse was that they and their companies ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/foxx-holds-former-ceos-of-freddie-mac-fannie-mae-accountable/ The Chicago political machine continues to suffer from the political vices that are endemic in an entity that is so corrupt. Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who has represented the Chicago area in the Illinois state legislature and the U.S. Congress, was arrested today on corruption charges. The charges seem to mainly ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/chicago-style-politics/ On Sunday Republicans in the General Assembly caucused in Greensboro to elect their legislative leaders. In the House current minority leader, Represenatative Skip Stam of Wake County, was re-elected without any opposition. Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg County was elected as the minority whip. Phil Berger, the current minority leader in the Senate, survived challenges ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/republicans-in-the-general-assembly-caucus-to-elect-leaders/ This past Saturday Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao defeated Representative William Jefferson to become the first Vietnamese-American to be elected to Congress. Jefferson, who has been plagued by scandal since federal authorities found $90,000 in his freezer three years ago, is currently facing federal indictment on charges of corruption. Cao's milestone victory ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/cao-becomes-first-vietnamese-american-elected-to-congress/ In his recent Newsweek article "A Way Out of the Wilderness," Karl Rove, former senior adviser to President Bush, mentioned Senator Richard Burr as a potential leading voice for Republicans in the U.S. Senate. Rove stated that congressional leaders will now be the face of the Republican Party and that minority ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/senator-burr-mentioned-by-rove-in-article/ After soundly beating South Carolina State in the first round of the playoffs last week, ASU will take on the University of Richmond in the quarterfinals. ASU beat Richmond in last year's semifinal round 55-35. Richmond has a record of 10-3 and ended the season ranked #7. ASU will again be playing ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/asu-to-battle-richmond-in-quarterfinal-matchup/ Senator Harry Reid had an interesting observation at the opening ceremony for the new Capitol Visitors Center. He said that in the past "because of the heat and humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol."   We guess Senator Reid does not care to be in close proximity ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/capitol-smell/ A recent News and Obeserver article listed some of the things that North Carolina politicians had to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The article pointed out that state senator and president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate Marc Basnight had a lot to be thankful for because three of his former ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/12/shadow-master/ This Saturday Appalachian State continues its quest for four consecutive national titles as they play South Carolina State in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs at Kidd Brewer Stadium. ASU is the #2 overall seed so they hold home-field advantage throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Join ... http://wataugawatch.org/2008/11/asu-going-for-four/