David R. Sands

Priebus has early lead in RNC tally

Wisconsin Republican Party chief Reince Priebus has the early momentum as Republican National Committee members gathered Friday afternoon to choose the party's next chairman.

January 14, 2011

SANDS: Indian pair share honors at Hastings

It's no longer even the strongest tournament in Britain - that honor goes to the new London Chess Classic - but the traditional year-ending chess congress held at the English seaside town of Hastings has a pedigree unmatched in annals of the game.

January 14, 2011

Hollywood ending not in script for ‘elites’

"Congress: The Sequel" is shaping up as one blockbuster that Hollywood would rather not greenlight.

November 23, 2010

Waters fires back at ethics panel

California Rep. Maxine Waters strongly condemned a decision by the House ethics committee to put off indefinitely a hearing into charges that she violated congressional rules by intervening on behalf of a minority-owned bank with ties to her family.

November 21, 2010

Waters slams ethics case delay

California Rep. Maxine Waters Friday strongly condemned a decision by the House Ethics Committee to put off indefinitely a hearing into charges that she violated congressional rules by intervening on behalf of a minority-owned bank with ties to her family.

November 19, 2010

Rangel recommended for House floor scolding

An emotional last-minute plea for leniency by Rep. Charles B. Rangel fell short Thursday as a House panel recommended that the New York Democrat face a public scolding on the floor of the House of Representatives for a string of financial and fundraising transgressions.

November 18, 2010

Strategists advise Democrats to skip the ‘tea party’

Two top Democratic strategists said Thursday that the party would be wasting its time reaching out to "tea party" voters who played a critical role in the 2010 midterm races.

November 18, 2010

Democratic pollsters: Ignore the tea party

Two top Democratic strategists said Thursday the party would be wasting its time reaching out to "tea party" voters who played a critical role in the 2010 midterm races.

November 18, 2010

House panel’s chief counsel seeks censure for Rangel

The chief counsel for the House Ethics Committee Thursday recommended that New York Democratic Rep. Charles B. Rangel be censured after the panel concluded he was guilty of 11 violations of House rules regarding financial reporting, use of official resources and fund-raising.

November 18, 2010

McConnell blasts Obama handling of terror trial

The Senate's top Republican Thursday sharply attacked the Obama administration's handling of the trial against Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Ghailani, a day after a New York City jury acquitted the Tanzanian native of all but one of some 280-plus charges related to the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Asia.

November 18, 2010

Food-safety overhaul bill clears hurdle in Senate

With a number of Republicans breaking ranks, the Senate on Wednesday voted to allow debate to go forward on what supporters say would be the biggest overhaul of the nation's food-safety laws since the Great Depression.

November 17, 2010

Recess-appointed Medicare chief gets first grilling

Senate Republicans on Tuesday took aim at President Obama's appointee to oversee a major component of his health care overhaul plan, complaining about the way the nomination was made and the lack of time given to lawmakers to question him.

November 17, 2010

Medicare chief grilled on the Hill

Senate Republicans Tuesday took aim at President Obama's choice to oversee a key component of his health care overhaul plan, complaining about the way the choice was made and the lack of time given to lawmakers to question him.

November 17, 2010

Senate breaks filibuster on food safety bill

In one of the first votes of the lame-duck session of Congress, a number of Senate Republicans crossed the aisle to allow debate to move forward on a bill to strengthen the nation's food safety laws.

November 17, 2010

Rangel sentencing set for Thursday

The full House Ethics Committee will meet Thursday to determine the punishment for New York Democratic Rep. Charles B. Rangel, who was found guilty Tuesday of 11 counts of violating congressional financial reporting and fund-raising rules.

November 17, 2010

Chamber condemns ‘regulatory tsunami’

The head of the nation's largest business lobby Tuesday announced a stepped-up plan to fight a wave of new federal regulations coming in the wake of President Obama's health care, banking and environmental reforms.

November 17, 2010

Kyl drops bomb on arms treaty prospects

President Obama's bid to win ratification of a new strategic arms pact with Russia suffered a major blow on Tuesday when a key Republican senator came out against holding a vote before the Senate adjourns at the end of the year.

November 16, 2010

House panel: Rangel found guilty of ethics violations

A House panel Tuesday found New York Democratic Rep. Charles B. Rangel guilty of 11 of 13 ethics violations, a stunning rebuke to one of Capitol Hill's most powerful black lawmakers.

November 16, 2010

Kyl opposes quick vote on missile pact

The Republican point man on a major new missile pact with Russia said that he doubted the Senate had enough time in the lame-duck session to debate and vote on the treaty.

November 16, 2010

Ethics case goes on, minus Rangel

Capitol Hill's most celebrated ethics trial in years continued Monday without the defendant after Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, walked out on the proceedings, claiming he was not given the time to prepare a defense and lacked the money to pay for an attorney to represent him.

November 15, 2010