Fidel Castro said Friday that he made the right call when he called it quits, and he is exhausted and overdue for a vacation. But the old man can't put away his pen just yet, not when U.S. presidential candidates are one-upping each other to show who's toughest on Cuba. ...more

February 23, 2008

Barack Obama is wearing a wristband in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq, given to him by a mother who said she wants the Democratic presidential candidate to keep others from dying. ...more

February 17, 2008

Chelsea Clinton tells students about her mother's plans for the economy and mortgages. The former first daughter outlines Hillary Rodham Clinton's concern about Darfur and women's rights. She ticks through talking points on electability, health care and the environment. ...more

February 17, 2008

This year's historic presidential election just couldn't get any more interesting. The Republicans have basically sewn up a nominee, with Sen. John McCain holding an almost insurmountable lead. The Democrats, on the other hand, are duking it out and the fight is close. McCain is a good man and fine American. He will be an outstanding competitor against any Democrat chosen. In fact, with McCain's ability to attract independent voters, he might be the only possible candidate to win over senators Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the general election. Clinton must be frustrated that she can't emerge as the favorite after all these months on the campaign trail. Her nomination seemed like a lock just a few months ago. Obama clearly has surprised everyone, and his message is inspiring people across party lines and generations. It's exciting to watch. ...more

February 12, 2008

Tensions mounted between the two leading Democratic candidates for president Sunday, as Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a newly aggressive attack on Barack Obama, suggesting his much-vaunted opposition to the Iraq war was all talk and little action. ...more

January 14, 2008

Helicopters sent by Venezuela's president picked up two hostages freed by Colombian rebels in the jungle Thursday and flew the women across the border in a mission that could open a new path to freedom for dozens of captives. ...more

January 11, 2008

A buoyant Sen. Barack Obama, anticipating a victory in today's New Hampshire primary, told voters Monday that he is "riding a wave, and you're the wave," as presidential candidates started to look toward extended nomination fights through next month. ...more

January 8, 2008

In Jim Gulledge's letter in the Dec. 27 Highlands Today, he makes statements that are not true. When Jim suggested that Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama because he is black says more about Jim than Oprah. Using that logic, Chuck Norris's endorsement of Mike Huckabee is because Mike is white. Someone took a picture of Barack Obama standing without his hand over his heart. This photo is one out of many hundreds (maybe thousands) of pictures taken of him on the campaign trail. When he was asked about it, he said he normally does salute the flag and he does not recall and is not sure why this one time he did not. Jim, with all events where the national anthem is played, that he has attended, and with all who hate Democrats out there, they only found one situation, give me a break. ...more

December 28, 2007

Benazir Bhutto was many things: zealous guardian of her dead father's legacy, aristocratic populist, accused rogue, even one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people. ...more

December 28, 2007

With just eight days left to break a three-way deadlock in the Democratic race in Iowa, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York began delivering a closing argument Wednesday that centered around the experience she and her husband gained in the Oval Office. ...more

December 27, 2007