VP Stakes?

Here's a list of the most-searched vice presidential possibilities for the month of April for both Democrats and Republicans courtesy of Yahoo's The Buzz Log. There are some interesting possibilities, i.e., Antonin Scalia, as well as some of the same old tired names, i.e., John Edwards. You can read more about this story at: http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/91386

Barack Obama (D) Illinois senator and presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton (D) New York senator and presidential candidate
Condoleezza Rice (R) Secretary of State
Antonin Scalia (R) Supreme Court Justice
Mitt Romney (R) Former Massachusetts governor and recent presidential candidate
Mike Huckabee (R) Former Arkansas governor and recent presidential candidate
John Edwards (D) Former North Carolina senator and recent presidential candidate
Sarah Palin (R) Alaska governor
Bill Richardson (D) New Mexico governor
Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina senator
Sam Nunn (D) Former Georgia senator
Charlie Crist (R) Florida governor
Jim Webb (D) Virginia senator
Evan Bayh (D) Indiana senator
Bobby Jindal (R) Louisiana governor
Ted Strickland (D) Ohio governor
Tim Kaine (D) Virginia governor
Joe Lieberman (D) Connecticut senator and former vice-presidential candidate
Tim Pawlenty (R) Minnesota governor
Mark Sanford (R) South Carolina governor

Gas prices soar

In an Associated Press piece today "President Bush said that Congress is blocking his proposals to deal with high gas prices and dragging its feet on other issues to address the nation's sagging economy. He said he was open to any idea in terms of energy, including a proposal backed by John McCain and Hillary Clinton to suspend gas and diesel taxes this summer. But, he said, he favored longer-term fixes, such as encouraging new oil production in the United States and the building of new refineries. '"It's a tough time for our economy."' '"Across our country, many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook, from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills. They're looking to their elected leaders in Congress for action."' '"Unfortunately, on many of these issues, all they're getting is delay," he said.

Bush was asked about a proposal by Republican presidential contender John McCain, later endorsed by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, to suspend taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel for the summer travel season. The tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents on diesel fuel. '"I'm open to any ideas and we'll analyze anything that comes up,"' he said. But Bush also said he didn't want to inject himself into the ongoing presidential race. Of the three candidates, only Democrat Barack Obama has not backed the gas tax proposal. The average price of a gallon of gas has reached $3.60 nationwide."

Voter ID upheld

In an Associated Press release today the Supreme Court ruled this morning that states can require voters to produce photo identification without violating their constitutional rights, validating Republican-inspired voter ID laws. In a splintered 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Indiana's strict photo ID requirement, which Democrats and civil rights groups said would deter poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots. Its backers said it was needed to deter fraud. It was the most important voting rights case since the Bush v. Gore dispute that sealed the 2000 election for George W. Bush mirrored. The law "is amply justified by the valid interest in protecting 'the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,"' Justice John Paul Stevens said in an opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy. Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas also agreed with the outcome, but wrote separately. Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented. More than 20 states require some form of identification at the polls. Courts have upheld voter ID laws in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, but struck down Missouri's.