Barack Obama

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware late Friday night to be his vice presidential running mate, according to a Democratic official, balancing his ticket with an older congressional veteran well-versed in foreign and defence issues. Biden, who has twice sought the White House, is a Catholic with a generally liberal voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator. Across more than 30 years in the Senate, he has served at various times not only as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, but also as head of the Judiciary Committee, with its jurisdiction over anti-crime legislation and Constitutional issues.

Coming Thursday Historic day: Read all about Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States.

Maryland (1,719 of 1,829 precincts reporting) x-Barack Obama, Dem 1,323,714 - 60 percent John McCain, GOP 848,539 - 39 percent Ralph Nader, MIP 12,763 - 1 percent Bob Barr, Lib 8,583 - 0 percent Cynthia McKinney, Grn 3,999 - 0 percent Chuck Baldwin, CST 3,311 - 0 percent Washington County (50 of 50 precincts reporting) Barack Obama, Dem - 23,953 John McCain, GOP - 31,715 Pennsylvania (9,252 of 9,284 precincts reporting)

o Poll results as of Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. Should Roland Burris, appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, be allowed to assume the seat? Yes 222 votes (28 percent) No 558 votes (72 percent)

Who won Wednesday night's final presidential debate? John McCain 283 votes (35 percent) Barack Obama 289 votes (36 percent) Neither candidate won 68 votes (8 percent) I don't know 13 votes (2 percent) I didn't watch 156 votes (19 percent) o Votes received by 11 a.m. Monday at www.herald-mail.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009. Last year's winner was then-President-elect Barack Obama. The 2007 winner was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Other recent winners have included Bono, President George W. Bush, and Amazon.com CEO and founder Jeff Bezos On the Net: www.time.com/

Is Obama really principled and mentally balanced? To the editor: Having just read a letter to the editor from Sam Cuthbert today (Feb. 9), I felt compelled to write. As I was reading the letter, I found myself agreeing with Mr. Cuthbert, which is certainly a switch. But then I came to the paragraph, and I quote him, “As I compare the principled, mentally balanced and steady (but human) Barack Obama with the coterie of sad, wounded souls who yearn to lead the GOP back to heaven ...,” I said, “whoa!

“I want to thank the honest person who found my purple Kindle at the ... mall, and turned it in to the service desk. You don't know how much that means to me, that someone was that honest. Thank you very much, again.” - Hyattsville, Md. “Does anyone know of an initiative to show respect and appreciation for law enforcement personnel, by replacing a white porch or deck light with a blue bulb?” - Hedgesville, W.Va. “Regarding the Herald-Mail editorial of Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, the comment that $25 million is already sitting on the table: Where is it?

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Local residents will get a chance to speak their minds Sunday about the country's health-care system during a community discussion at Jumpin' Java restaurant. The discussion is part of an attempt by President-elect Barack Obama to gauge the country's feelings about the issue, according to an announcement for the event. Obama wants to hear people's ideas or thoughts on changes that need to be made in health care, according to the announcement. The purpose of the community discussion group is to draft a group submission to the "Transition Health Policy Team" regarding findings and conclusions.

Conservatives exist in an 'information bubble' To the editor: I was fascinated by Ned Garrett's conclusion (Feb. 22) that Barack Obama's re-election was the result of “voter apathy.” Garrett professes the tea party line that Obama's win cedes more control to the federal government, and he rationalizes the re-election to voters seeking handouts. He seems to overlook alternative explanations for Obama's re-election and alternative views concerning economics and human rights.

“I want to thank the honest person who found my purple Kindle at the ... mall, and turned it in to the service desk. You don't know how much that means to me, that someone was that honest. Thank you very much, again.” - Hyattsville, Md. “Does anyone know of an initiative to show respect and appreciation for law enforcement personnel, by replacing a white porch or deck light with a blue bulb?” - Hedgesville, W.Va. “Regarding the Herald-Mail editorial of Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, the comment that $25 million is already sitting on the table: Where is it?

Students in Susan Spurlock's sixth-grade social studies class at Charles Town Middle School participated in a project-based learning assignment titled “To Burn or Not to Burn.” The students analyzed the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, examined key words and rewrote the pledge in their own words. The students then collaboratively identified the symbolism within “Old Glory” and designed their own flags. After analyzing and discussing the First Amendment rights and polling community members on the question, “Do you believe there should be a First Amendment that makes it legal to burn the flag in protest?

The current economic situation of the United States could not hide behind the focus on foreign policy to area residents and local officials who watched the final presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on Monday night. “If we don't fix our financial situation and get our deficit under control, we could fall from the inside,” said Maryland Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington. “We are connected globally now more than ever.” Maryland Sen. Ronald N. Young, D-Frederick/Washington, also agreed that the economy was the most important national security issue.

“There's got to be a column in this Mail Call submission!” That is what I exclaimed to my wife and anyone who would listen on Wednesday, May 2, after I read, what in my opinion, is the greatest Mail Call item ever. Here it is, reprinted in all its glory: “Apparently, I'm supposed to be more outraged by what Mitt Romney does with his money than by what Barack Obama does with mine.” - Lappans. Please, Mr./Mrs./Ms. Lappans, contact me. I'd love to give you space in one of my future columns if you have other pearls of wisdom you wish to impart.

Well, it looks like we have ourselves a race - the 2012 presidential campaign flag is up, and with about six months until the finish line this race looks like a doozy.  Now there's a word we don't hear too often - “doozy.” Do you know what it means? Yahoo Answers explains it this way: “Etymologists are fairly sure that it (doozy) comes from the flower named daisy.  ... (daisy) was once English slang, from the 18th century on, for something that was particularly appealing or excellent.