text:
(CNN) -- Roughly etched onto Brian's arm is a swastika tattoo.

Brian's sinister-looking tattoo is etched into his skin

The 11-year-old says his 10-year-old friend Temashi spent two days "scratching" the image onto his skin with a match stick.

It only hurt a little bit, said Brian, one of thousands of Zimbabwean children who have fled their ravaged homeland for what they hope will be a better life in South Africa.

For Brian and his friend, the symbol of the swastika does not represent the horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust.

Instead, they say the ominous jagged lines on their arms mean "Germans never surrender."

It is a twisted interpretation that, however misguided, gives strength to Brian, marking him as a "man" and "someone who does not surrender," he said quietly in a soft voice.  Watch the boys explain what the tattoos mean to them Â»

Brian and his young compatriots from Zimbabwe are on their own in a new country. Charities such as Save the Children and UNICEF classify them as "unaccompanied minors," but those words do not begin to describe their situation.

They endure unimaginable hardships traveling to South Africa by themselves or with small groups of friends. They hitch rides on trucks, trains and taxis.

Brian and his friends told CNN that when they got to the South African border at Beitbridge authorities let them walk through without passports or other documents.

They then made their way to the border town of Musina, where boys beg on the streets or work on farms, and girls seem to disappear into South African society.

UNICEF representative Shantha Bloemen said many Zimbabwean girls either turn to prostitution or work as domestic servants.

Nearly all of the children -- some younger than 10 -- leave Zimbabwe because they hope their life will be better in South Africa. They said hunger, non-functioning schools and poverty were the reasons they left.

Many are orphans, while some have parents, but they all dislike Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime -- a government that has left them with no choice but to abandon their homes and join the exodus south.

A quarter of Zimbabwe's population has fled the country, mostly to neighboring South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, humanitarian groups said.

The United Nations and Save the Children, which has an office based in Musina, report there has been a troubling increase in the number of children under 18 years old who are making the risky journey south from their homes in Zimbabwe to South Africa in search of work and food.

Social workers from Save the Children and UNICEF told CNN that in June, 175 Zimbabwean children came over the border illegally and alone. In November, 1,016 kids made the same perilous journey.

The boys older than 16 hang around Musina, sleeping on the sidewalk by a sports stadium along with older homeless men. Their days are spent waiting in line, jostling alongside hundreds of Zimbabwean adults, trying to apply for political asylum at a makeshift center opened by South African authorities.

A South African official who processes asylum applications says it is common for youngsters to lie about their age so they can get the papers to stay in the country legally.

Many, though, cannot get the necessary papers because they do not carry documentation or have adults who can vouch for who they are and where they come from.

So, they wander the streets, begging for money.

The younger ones like Brian are picked up by police and housed in a safe place until authorities and aid agencies can figure out what to do with them.

While they wait for a future that never seems to arrive, boys like Brian and Temashi -- a legacy of Mugabe's regime -- struggle to survive in the world they now find themselves in.

text: CNN

text: Roughly

text: etched

text: onto

text: Brian

text: 's

text: arm

text: is

text: a

text: swastika

text: tattoo

text: Brian

text: 's

text: sinister

text: looking

text: tattoo

text: is

text: etched

text: into

text: his

text: skin

text: The

text: old

text: says

text: his

text: old

text: friend

text: Temashi

text: spent

text: two

text: days

text: scratching

text: the

text: image

text: onto

text: his

text: skin

text: with

text: a

text: match

text: stick

text: It

text: only

text: hurt

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: said

text: Brian

text: one

text: of

text: thousands

text: of

text: Zimbabwean

text: children

text: who

text: have

text: fled

text: their

text: ravaged

text: homeland

text: for

text: what

text: they

text: hope

text: will

text: be

text: a

text: better

text: life

text: in

text: South

text: Africa

text: For

text: Brian

text: and

text: his

text: friend

text: the

text: symbol

text: of

text: the

text: swastika

text: does

text: not

text: represent

text: the

text: horrors

text: of

text: Hitler

text: and

text: the

text: Holocaust

text: Instead

text: they

text: say

text: the

text: ominous

text: jagged

text: lines

text: on

text: their

text: arms

text: mean

text: Germans

text: never

text: surrender

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: twisted

text: interpretation

text: that

text: however

text: misguided

text: gives

text: strength

text: to

text: Brian

text: marking

text: him

text: as

text: a

text: man

text: and

text: someone

text: who

text: does

text: not

text: surrender

text: he

text: said

text: quietly

text: in

text: a

text: soft

text: voice

text: Watch

text: the

text: boys

text: explain

text: what

text: the

text: tattoos

text: mean

text: to

text: them

text: Â

text: Brian

text: and

text: his

text: young

text: compatriots

text: from

text: Zimbabwe

text: are

text: on

text: their

text: own

text: in

text: a

text: new

text: country

text: Charities

text: such

text: as

text: Save

text: the

text: Children

text: and

text: UNICEF

text: classify

text: them

text: as

text: unaccompanied

text: minors

text: but

text: those

text: words

text: do

text: not

text: begin

text: to

text: describe

text: their

text: situation

text: They

text: endure

text: unimaginable

text: hardships

text: traveling

text: to

text: South

text: Africa

text: by

text: themselves

text: or

text: with

text: small

text: groups

text: of

text: friends

text: They

text: hitch

text: rides

text: on

text: trucks

text: trains

text: and

text: taxis

text: Brian

text: and

text: his

text: friends

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: when

text: they

text: got

text: to

text: the

text: South

text: African

text: border

text: at

text: Beitbridge

text: authorities

text: let

text: them

text: walk

text: through

text: without

text: passports

text: or

text: other

text: documents

text: They

text: then

text: made

text: their

text: way

text: to

text: the

text: border

text: town

text: of

text: Musina

text: where

text: boys

text: beg

text: on

text: the

text: streets

text: or

text: work

text: on

text: farms

text: and

text: girls

text: seem

text: to

text: disappear

text: into

text: South

text: African

text: society

text: UNICEF

text: representative

text: Shantha

text: Bloemen

text: said

text: many

text: Zimbabwean

text: girls

text: either

text: turn

text: to

text: prostitution

text: or

text: work

text: as

text: domestic

text: servants

text: Nearly

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: children

text: some

text: younger

text: than

text: leave

text: Zimbabwe

text: because

text: they

text: hope

text: their

text: life

text: will

text: be

text: better

text: in

text: South

text: Africa

text: They

text: said

text: hunger

text: non

text: functioning

text: schools

text: and

text: poverty

text: were

text: the

text: reasons

text: they

text: left

text: Many

text: are

text: orphans

text: while

text: some

text: have

text: parents

text: but

text: they

text: all

text: dislike

text: Zimbabwean

text: President

text: Robert

text: Mugabe

text: 's

text: regime

text: a

text: government

text: that

text: has

text: left

text: them

text: with

text: no

text: choice

text: but

text: to

text: abandon

text: their

text: homes

text: and

text: join

text: the

text: exodus

text: south

text: A

text: quarter

text: of

text: Zimbabwe

text: 's

text: population

text: has

text: fled

text: the

text: country

text: mostly

text: to

text: neighboring

text: South

text: Africa

text: Botswana

text: and

text: Mozambique

text: humanitarian

text: groups

text: said

text: The

text: United

text: Nations

text: and

text: Save

text: the

text: Children

text: which

text: has

text: an

text: office

text: based

text: in

text: Musina

text: report

text: there

text: has

text: been

text: a

text: troubling

text: increase

text: in

text: the

text: number

text: of

text: children

text: under

text: years

text: old

text: who

text: are

text: making

text: the

text: risky

text: journey

text: south

text: from

text: their

text: homes

text: in

text: Zimbabwe

text: to

text: South

text: Africa

text: in

text: search

text: of

text: work

text: and

text: food

text: Social

text: workers

text: from

text: Save

text: the

text: Children

text: and

text: UNICEF

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: in

text: June

text: Zimbabwean

text: children

text: came

text: over

text: the

text: border

text: illegally

text: and

text: alone

text: In

text: November

text: kids

text: made

text: the

text: same

text: perilous

text: journey

text: The

text: boys

text: older

text: than

text: hang

text: around

text: Musina

text: sleeping

text: on

text: the

text: sidewalk

text: by

text: a

text: sports

text: stadium

text: along

text: with

text: older

text: homeless

text: men

text: Their

text: days

text: are

text: spent

text: waiting

text: in

text: line

text: jostling

text: alongside

text: hundreds

text: of

text: Zimbabwean

text: adults

text: trying

text: to

text: apply

text: for

text: political

text: asylum

text: at

text: a

text: makeshift

text: center

text: opened

text: by

text: South

text: African

text: authorities

text: A

text: South

text: African

text: official

text: who

text: processes

text: asylum

text: applications

text: says

text: it

text: is

text: common

text: for

text: youngsters

text: to

text: lie

text: about

text: their

text: age

text: so

text: they

text: can

text: get

text: the

text: papers

text: to

text: stay

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: legally

text: Many

text: though

text: can

text: not

text: get

text: the

text: necessary

text: papers

text: because

text: they

text: do

text: not

text: carry

text: documentation

text: or

text: have

text: adults

text: who

text: can

text: vouch

text: for

text: who

text: they

text: are

text: and

text: where

text: they

text: come

text: from

text: So

text: they

text: wander

text: the

text: streets

text: begging

text: for

text: money

text: The

text: younger

text: ones

text: like

text: Brian

text: are

text: picked

text: up

text: by

text: police

text: and

text: housed

text: in

text: a

text: safe

text: place

text: until

text: authorities

text: and

text: aid

text: agencies

text: can

text: figure

text: out

text: what

text: to

text: do

text: with

text: them

text: While

text: they

text: wait

text: for

text: a

text: future

text: that

text: never

text: seems

text: to

text: arrive

text: boys

text: like

text: Brian

text: and

text: Temashi

text: a

text: legacy

text: of

text: Mugabe

text: 's

text: regime

text: struggle

text: to

text: survive

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: they

text: now

text: find

text: themselves

text: in

question: Where do boys work?

answer: farms,

text: farms,

question: How many kids travelled to Africa

answer: thousands of Zimbabwean children

text: thousands of Zimbabwean children

question: Where have they fled to?

answer: South Africa.

text: South Africa.

question: How many people have fled Zimbabwe in 2016?

answer: thousands of Zimbabwean children

text: thousands of Zimbabwean children


text:
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A U.S. company is offering a rare chance to holiday on a mega-yacht once used by a Hollywood star and her husband -- and thanks to the recession it's actually affordable.

The 100-foot Katania normally would attract an additional $49,500 charter fee for a week's use.

The 100-foot Katania was chartered by Hollywood star Hilary Swank and her husband, Chad Lowe.

Seattle, Washington-based mega-yacht rental business CEO Expeditions usually charges around $100,000 a week to charter their 100-plus-foot yachts, but they have introduced a deal waiving the charter fees -- meaning guests will only need to pay for the running of the vessel.

The move to make such vessels more affordable comes as the recession continues to put pressure on the luxury holiday and mega-yacht industries.

Although the costs of crew and luxury food aren't extremely cheap, it is expected this move will open up the recession-strained market to many more potential holiday-makers.

The Katania now costs less than $3,000 per day. Normally it would attract an additional $49,500 charter fee for a week's use.

At the $2,950-per-day special rate, four people can stay on the Katania -- but with the maximum six on board ($450 extra per person) the cost per person is a slightly better $642.

The price includes full crew, premium wines, gourmet food prepared by a private chef, amenities such as kayaks, hot tub, fishing/crabbing/shrimping equipment, and even a 30-foot whaler for guest use.

According to the company, Swank said of her charter holiday: "We had an absolutely enchanted time aboard the Katania. A more beautiful yacht does not exist."

There is one small catch with the deal -- the boat is based in the San Juan islands off the coast of Washington and British Columbia, and any cruises to other destinations will attract an additional charge to cover fuel costs.

The company's owner, Bruce Milne, released a statement saying the deal was largely a result of the impact of the recession.

"Travel is down, agents and brokers need deals, so rather than just a few full-price charters, we decided to stay busy, put more people to work, and help island tourism by doing charters at cost.

"Since we started chartering 10 years ago, we have been looking for a chance to provide our 'Expeditions to the Extraordinary' in the San Juan Islands at a price any luxury traveler can afford -- this recession provides that opportunity," he said.

Tim Wiltshire, director and sales broker at international yacht company Burgess Yachts, said the charter market isn't a complete disaster, so he was surprised to see such a discount.

"I wouldn't have expected to see that," he said. "We are seeing discounts on average of about 25 percent. Although some people are trying interesting gimmicks to inspire new business."

Wiltshire said CEO Expedition's fleet isn't among the biggest or most luxurious on the market, and this deal appears to be clever marketing stunt.

His opinion is that other larger vessels still warrant their greater price tags.

text: LONDON

text: England

text: CNN

text: A

text: U.S.

text: company

text: is

text: offering

text: a

text: rare

text: chance

text: to

text: holiday

text: on

text: a

text: mega

text: yacht

text: once

text: used

text: by

text: a

text: Hollywood

text: star

text: and

text: her

text: husband

text: and

text: thanks

text: to

text: the

text: recession

text: it

text: 's

text: actually

text: affordable

text: The

text: Katania

text: normally

text: would

text: attract

text: an

text: additional

text: charter

text: fee

text: for

text: a

text: week

text: 's

text: use

text: The

text: Katania

text: was

text: chartered

text: by

text: Hollywood

text: star

text: Hilary

text: Swank

text: and

text: her

text: husband

text: Chad

text: Lowe

text: Seattle

text: Washington

text: based

text: mega

text: yacht

text: rental

text: business

text: CEO

text: Expeditions

text: usually

text: charges

text: around

text: a

text: week

text: to

text: charter

text: their

text: foot

text: yachts

text: but

text: they

text: have

text: introduced

text: a

text: deal

text: waiving

text: the

text: charter

text: fees

text: meaning

text: guests

text: will

text: only

text: need

text: to

text: pay

text: for

text: the

text: running

text: of

text: the

text: vessel

text: The

text: move

text: to

text: make

text: such

text: vessels

text: more

text: affordable

text: comes

text: as

text: the

text: recession

text: continues

text: to

text: put

text: pressure

text: on

text: the

text: luxury

text: holiday

text: and

text: mega

text: yacht

text: industries

text: Although

text: the

text: costs

text: of

text: crew

text: and

text: luxury

text: food

text: are

text: n't

text: extremely

text: cheap

text: it

text: is

text: expected

text: this

text: move

text: will

text: open

text: up

text: the

text: recession

text: strained

text: market

text: to

text: many

text: more

text: potential

text: holiday

text: makers

text: The

text: Katania

text: now

text: costs

text: less

text: than

text: per

text: day

text: Normally

text: it

text: would

text: attract

text: an

text: additional

text: charter

text: fee

text: for

text: a

text: week

text: 's

text: use

text: At

text: the

text: day

text: special

text: rate

text: four

text: people

text: can

text: stay

text: on

text: the

text: Katania

text: but

text: with

text: the

text: maximum

text: six

text: on

text: board

text: extra

text: per

text: person

text: the

text: cost

text: per

text: person

text: is

text: a

text: slightly

text: better

text: The

text: price

text: includes

text: full

text: crew

text: premium

text: wines

text: gourmet

text: food

text: prepared

text: by

text: a

text: private

text: chef

text: amenities

text: such

text: as

text: kayaks

text: hot

text: tub

text: fishing

text: crabbing

text: shrimping

text: equipment

text: and

text: even

text: a

text: whaler

text: for

text: guest

text: use

text: According

text: to

text: the

text: company

text: Swank

text: said

text: of

text: her

text: charter

text: holiday

text: We

text: had

text: an

text: absolutely

text: enchanted

text: time

text: aboard

text: the

text: Katania

text: A

text: more

text: beautiful

text: yacht

text: does

text: not

text: exist

text: There

text: is

text: one

text: small

text: catch

text: with

text: the

text: deal

text: the

text: boat

text: is

text: based

text: in

text: the

text: San

text: Juan

text: islands

text: off

text: the

text: coast

text: of

text: Washington

text: and

text: British

text: Columbia

text: and

text: any

text: cruises

text: to

text: other

text: destinations

text: will

text: attract

text: an

text: additional

text: charge

text: to

text: cover

text: fuel

text: costs

text: The

text: company

text: 's

text: owner

text: Bruce

text: Milne

text: released

text: a

text: statement

text: saying

text: the

text: deal

text: was

text: largely

text: a

text: result

text: of

text: the

text: impact

text: of

text: the

text: recession

text: Travel

text: is

text: down

text: agents

text: and

text: brokers

text: need

text: deals

text: so

text: rather

text: than

text: just

text: a

text: few

text: full

text: price

text: charters

text: we

text: decided

text: to

text: stay

text: busy

text: put

text: more

text: people

text: to

text: work

text: and

text: help

text: island

text: tourism

text: by

text: doing

text: charters

text: at

text: cost

text: Since

text: we

text: started

text: chartering

text: years

text: ago

text: we

text: have

text: been

text: looking

text: for

text: a

text: chance

text: to

text: provide

text: our

text: Expeditions

text: to

text: the

text: Extraordinary

text: in

text: the

text: San

text: Juan

text: Islands

text: at

text: a

text: price

text: any

text: luxury

text: traveler

text: can

text: afford

text: this

text: recession

text: provides

text: that

text: opportunity

text: he

text: said

text: Tim

text: Wiltshire

text: director

text: and

text: sales

text: broker

text: at

text: international

text: yacht

text: company

text: Burgess

text: Yachts

text: said

text: the

text: charter

text: market

text: is

text: n't

text: a

text: complete

text: disaster

text: so

text: he

text: was

text: surprised

text: to

text: see

text: such

text: a

text: discount

text: I

text: would

text: n't

text: have

text: expected

text: to

text: see

text: that

text: he

text: said

text: We

text: are

text: seeing

text: discounts

text: on

text: average

text: of

text: about

text: percent

text: Although

text: some

text: people

text: are

text: trying

text: interesting

text: gimmicks

text: to

text: inspire

text: new

text: business

text: Wiltshire

text: said

text: CEO

text: Expedition

text: 's

text: fleet

text: is

text: n't

text: among

text: the

text: biggest

text: or

text: most

text: luxurious

text: on

text: the

text: market

text: and

text: this

text: deal

text: appears

text: to

text: be

text: clever

text: marketing

text: stunt

text: His

text: opinion

text: is

text: that

text: other

text: larger

text: vessels

text: still

text: warrant

text: their

text: greater

text: price

text: tags

question: What is the reason given for the discounted deal?

answer: the recession

text: the recession

question: What does the mega-yacht company waive?

answer: the charter fees

text: the charter fees

question: What fees have been waived?

answer: charter

text: charter

question: What reason was given for the deal?

answer: the impact of the recession.

text: the impact of the recession.

question: What is the recession reason for?

answer: a chance to provide our 'Expeditions to the Extraordinary' in the San Juan Islands at a price any luxury traveler can afford

text: a chance to provide our 'Expeditions to the Extraordinary' in the San Juan Islands at a price any luxury traveler can afford

question: Which company waives massive$50,000 charter fees?

answer: Seattle, Washington-based mega-yacht rental business CEO Expeditions

text: Seattle, Washington-based mega-yacht rental business CEO Expeditions


text:
(Mashable) -- It seems that yet another member of the animal kingdom has taken a liking to the iPad -- dolphins.

Cats love it and dogs aren't so sure, but apparently a bottlenose dolphin named Merlin is now an iPad enthusiast. Researcher Jack Kassewitz of SpeakDolphin is working on using the Apple tablet device as a language interface for marine mammals.

"We think that once the dolphins get the hang of the touch screen, we can let them choose from a wide assortment of symbols to represent objects, actions and even emotions," Kassewitz said of the project. "Merlin is quite curious, like most dolphins, and he showed complete willingness to examine the iPad."

The young two-year-old Merlin (not the first two-year-old to enjoy the device!) is reportedly able to use his snout to touch photos of objects on the iPad's touchscreen after being shown their real-world counterparts. "This is an easy task for a dolphin, but it is a necessary building block towards our goal of a complete language interface between humans and dolphins," said Kassewitz.

What do you think of the latest member of kingdom Animalia becoming a fan of the iPad? Do you think he'll be upset by AT&T's new data plan pricing?

Â© 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.

text: Mashable

text: It

text: seems

text: that

text: yet

text: another

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: animal

text: kingdom

text: has

text: taken

text: a

text: liking

text: to

text: the

text: iPad

text: dolphins

text: Cats

text: love

text: it

text: and

text: dogs

text: are

text: n't

text: so

text: sure

text: but

text: apparently

text: a

text: bottlenose

text: dolphin

text: named

text: Merlin

text: is

text: now

text: an

text: iPad

text: enthusiast

text: Researcher

text: Jack

text: Kassewitz

text: of

text: SpeakDolphin

text: is

text: working

text: on

text: using

text: the

text: Apple

text: tablet

text: device

text: as

text: a

text: language

text: interface

text: for

text: marine

text: mammals

text: We

text: think

text: that

text: once

text: the

text: dolphins

text: get

text: the

text: hang

text: of

text: the

text: touch

text: screen

text: we

text: can

text: let

text: them

text: choose

text: from

text: a

text: wide

text: assortment

text: of

text: symbols

text: to

text: represent

text: objects

text: actions

text: and

text: even

text: emotions

text: Kassewitz

text: said

text: of

text: the

text: project

text: Merlin

text: is

text: quite

text: curious

text: like

text: most

text: dolphins

text: and

text: he

text: showed

text: complete

text: willingness

text: to

text: examine

text: the

text: iPad

text: The

text: young

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text: year

text: old

text: Merlin

text: not

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text: two

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text: the

text: device

text: is

text: reportedly

text: able

text: to

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text: his

text: snout

text: to

text: touch

text: photos

text: of

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text: on

text: the

text: iPad

text: 's

text: touchscreen

text: after

text: being

text: shown

text: their

text: real

text: world

text: counterparts

text: This

text: is

text: an

text: easy

text: task

text: for

text: a

text: dolphin

text: but

text: it

text: is

text: a

text: necessary

text: building

text: block

text: towards

text: our

text: goal

text: of

text: a

text: complete

text: language

text: interface

text: between

text: humans

text: and

text: dolphins

text: said

text: Kassewitz

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: of

text: the

text: latest

text: member

text: of

text: kingdom

text: Animalia

text: becoming

text: a

text: fan

text: of

text: the

text: iPad

text: Do

text: you

text: think

text: he

text: 'll

text: be

text: upset

text: by

text: AT&T

text: 's

text: new

text: data

text: plan

text: pricing

text: Â

text: MASHABLE.com

text: All

text: rights

text: reserved

question: Who is Merlin?

answer: a bottlenose dolphin

text: a bottlenose dolphin

question: What tablet does Merlin use?

answer: iPad

text: iPad

question: What did the researchers do?

answer: using the Apple tablet device as a language interface for marine mammals.

text: using the Apple tablet device as a language interface for marine mammals.

question: Who is the reasercher working with Merlin?

answer: Jack Kassewitz

text: Jack Kassewitz

question: What was the dolphins name?

answer: Merlin

text: Merlin

question: What kind of animal is Merlin?

answer: a bottlenose dolphin

text: a bottlenose dolphin


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Promising "a new era of openness in our country," President Obama signed executive orders Wednesday relating to ethics guidelines for staff members of his administration.

Members of the National Economic Council brief President Obama on the economy Wednesday.

"Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency," Obama said.

In his first full day in office, Obama touched upon many of the major issues facing his administration, and even carved out time to retake the oath of office.

The move was aimed at dispelling any confusion that might arise from Tuesday's oath, which Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed by mixing up the order of the words.

The do-over was also intended to erase any questions regarding the legitimacy of Obama's presidency, although per the Constitution, Obama became president at noon Tuesday without taking the oath.

Earlier in the day, Obama said he would issue a pay freeze for his senior staff members.

The new president has also promised swift action on the beleaguered economy. House Democrats, at Obama's urging, have signed an $825 billion economic recovery package that the president says will save or create up to 4 million jobs and invest in health care, energy and education.  Watch Obama address his staff Â»

House Republican leaders, however, asked to meet with Obama on Thursday to offer major changes to the recovery proposal.

"The challenge as we see it is to create a plan that helps middle-class taxpayers and small businesses without wasting money or exploding our national deficit," the leaders wrote in a letter to the new president.

Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the House Budget committee, argued that the main tax provision in the Democrats' plan -- cutting payroll taxes -- was not an effective way to jump-start the economy.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence declined to say whether the Democrats' package would get any Republican support if it didn't change significantly.

Obama also moved fast to address a campaign promise to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

The administration is drafting executive orders calling for the closure of the detention facility, according to two administration officials.

Obama began the day with a moment of solitude in the Oval Office. When he arrived, he spent 10 minutes alone there, reading a note left for him on a desk by outgoing President George W. Bush.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met with the president 10 minutes later to discuss the daily schedule, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Obama called Middle East leaders, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Gibbs said.

On Sunday, Israel and Palestinian militants declared a cease-fire after 22 days of fighting in Gaza.

First lady Michelle Obama joined her husband in the Oval Office at 9:10 a.m., shortly before the first couple departed for the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral.

Later in the day, Obama and the first lady greeted those who came to the White House for a formal open house. Obama joked, "Don't break anything."

Obama also met with his economic team and top brass from the Pentagon. iReport.com: What do you think Obama should do first?

Later in the afternoon, he met with the Ambassador to Iraq, the commander in Iraq, and the "theater commander" in the region for an update on the situation in Iraq.

"The meeting was productive and I very much appreciated receiving assessments from these experienced and dedicated individuals. During the discussion, I asked the military leadership to engage in additional planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq," he said in a statement.

"In the coming days and weeks, I will also visit the Department of Defense to consult with the Joint Chiefs on these issues, and we will undertake a full review of the situation in Afghanistan in order to develop a comprehensive policy for the entire region," he said.

He plans to tell the top U.S. officers that he wants them to plan to have combat forces out of Iraq in 16 months, as he promised during his election campaign, an adviser said.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: Promising

text: a

text: new

text: era

text: of

text: openness

text: in

text: our

text: country

text: President

text: Obama

text: signed

text: executive

text: orders

text: Wednesday

text: relating

text: to

text: ethics

text: guidelines

text: for

text: staff

text: members

text: of

text: his

text: administration

text: Members

text: of

text: the

text: National

text: Economic

text: Council

text: brief

text: President

text: Obama

text: on

text: the

text: economy

text: Wednesday

text: Transparency

text: and

text: the

text: rule

text: of

text: law

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: touchstones

text: of

text: this

text: presidency

text: Obama

text: said

text: In

text: his

text: first

text: full

text: day

text: in

text: office

text: Obama

text: touched

text: upon

text: many

text: of

text: the

text: major

text: issues

text: facing

text: his

text: administration

text: and

text: even

text: carved

text: out

text: time

text: to

text: retake

text: the

text: oath

text: of

text: office

text: The

text: move

text: was

text: aimed

text: at

text: dispelling

text: any

text: confusion

text: that

text: might

text: arise

text: from

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: oath

text: which

text: Chief

text: Justice

text: John

text: Roberts

text: flubbed

text: by

text: mixing

text: up

text: the

text: order

text: of

text: the

text: words

text: The

text: do

text: over

text: was

text: also

text: intended

text: to

text: erase

text: any

text: questions

text: regarding

text: the

text: legitimacy

text: of

text: Obama

text: 's

text: presidency

text: although

text: per

text: the

text: Constitution

text: Obama

text: became

text: president

text: at

text: noon

text: Tuesday

text: without

text: taking

text: the

text: oath

text: Earlier

text: in

text: the

text: day

text: Obama

text: said

text: he

text: would

text: issue

text: a

text: pay

text: freeze

text: for

text: his

text: senior

text: staff

text: members

text: The

text: new

text: president

text: has

text: also

text: promised

text: swift

text: action

text: on

text: the

text: beleaguered

text: economy

text: House

text: Democrats

text: at

text: Obama

text: 's

text: urging

text: have

text: signed

text: an

text: billion

text: economic

text: recovery

text: package

text: that

text: the

text: president

text: says

text: will

text: save

text: or

text: create

text: up

text: to

text: million

text: jobs

text: and

text: invest

text: in

text: health

text: care

text: energy

text: and

text: education

text: Watch

text: Obama

text: address

text: his

text: staff

text: Â

text: House

text: Republican

text: leaders

text: however

text: asked

text: to

text: meet

text: with

text: Obama

text: on

text: Thursday

text: to

text: offer

text: major

text: changes

text: to

text: the

text: recovery

text: proposal

text: The

text: challenge

text: as

text: we

text: see

text: it

text: is

text: to

text: create

text: a

text: plan

text: that

text: helps

text: middle

text: class

text: taxpayers

text: and

text: small

text: businesses

text: without

text: wasting

text: money

text: or

text: exploding

text: our

text: national

text: deficit

text: the

text: leaders

text: wrote

text: in

text: a

text: letter

text: to

text: the

text: new

text: president

text: Rep.

text: Paul

text: Ryan

text: the

text: top

text: Republican

text: on

text: the

text: House

text: Budget

text: committee

text: argued

text: that

text: the

text: main

text: tax

text: provision

text: in

text: the

text: Democrats

text: plan

text: cutting

text: payroll

text: taxes

text: was

text: not

text: an

text: effective

text: way

text: to

text: jump

text: start

text: the

text: economy

text: House

text: Republican

text: Conference

text: Chairman

text: Mike

text: Pence

text: declined

text: to

text: say

text: whether

text: the

text: Democrats

text: package

text: would

text: get

text: any

text: Republican

text: support

text: if

text: it

text: did

text: n't

text: change

text: significantly

text: Obama

text: also

text: moved

text: fast

text: to

text: address

text: a

text: campaign

text: promise

text: to

text: close

text: the

text: controversial

text: Guantanamo

text: Bay

text: detention

text: facility

text: The

text: administration

text: is

text: drafting

text: executive

text: orders

text: calling

text: for

text: the

text: closure

text: of

text: the

text: detention

text: facility

text: according

text: to

text: two

text: administration

text: officials

text: Obama

text: began

text: the

text: day

text: with

text: a

text: moment

text: of

text: solitude

text: in

text: the

text: Oval

text: Office

text: When

text: he

text: arrived

text: he

text: spent

text: minutes

text: alone

text: there

text: reading

text: a

text: note

text: left

text: for

text: him

text: on

text: a

text: desk

text: by

text: outgoing

text: President

text: George

text: W.

text: Bush

text: White

text: House

text: Chief

text: of

text: Staff

text: Rahm

text: Emanuel

text: met

text: with

text: the

text: president

text: minutes

text: later

text: to

text: discuss

text: the

text: daily

text: schedule

text: White

text: House

text: spokesman

text: Robert

text: Gibbs

text: said

text: Obama

text: called

text: Middle

text: East

text: leaders

text: including

text: King

text: Abdullah

text: of

text: Jordan

text: Israeli

text: Prime

text: Minister

text: Ehud

text: Olmert

text: Palestinian

text: Authority

text: President

text: Mahmoud

text: Abbas

text: and

text: Egyptian

text: President

text: Hosni

text: Mubarak

text: Gibbs

text: said

text: On

text: Sunday

text: Israel

text: and

text: Palestinian

text: militants

text: declared

text: a

text: cease

text: fire

text: after

text: days

text: of

text: fighting

text: in

text: Gaza

text: First

text: lady

text: Michelle

text: Obama

text: joined

text: her

text: husband

text: in

text: the

text: Oval

text: Office

text: at

text: a.m.

text: shortly

text: before

text: the

text: first

text: couple

text: departed

text: for

text: the

text: National

text: Prayer

text: Service

text: at

text: Washington

text: National

text: Cathedral

text: Later

text: in

text: the

text: day

text: Obama

text: and

text: the

text: first

text: lady

text: greeted

text: those

text: who

text: came

text: to

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: for

text: a

text: formal

text: open

text: house

text: Obama

text: joked

text: Do

text: n't

text: break

text: anything

text: Obama

text: also

text: met

text: with

text: his

text: economic

text: team

text: and

text: top

text: brass

text: from

text: the

text: Pentagon

text: iReport.com

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: Obama

text: should

text: do

text: first

text: Later

text: in

text: the

text: afternoon

text: he

text: met

text: with

text: the

text: Ambassador

text: to

text: Iraq

text: the

text: commander

text: in

text: Iraq

text: and

text: the

text: theater

text: commander

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: for

text: an

text: update

text: on

text: the

text: situation

text: in

text: Iraq

text: The

text: meeting

text: was

text: productive

text: and

text: I

text: very

text: much

text: appreciated

text: receiving

text: assessments

text: from

text: these

text: experienced

text: and

text: dedicated

text: individuals

text: During

text: the

text: discussion

text: I

text: asked

text: the

text: military

text: leadership

text: to

text: engage

text: in

text: additional

text: planning

text: necessary

text: to

text: execute

text: a

text: responsible

text: military

text: drawdown

text: from

text: Iraq

text: he

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: In

text: the

text: coming

text: days

text: and

text: weeks

text: I

text: will

text: also

text: visit

text: the

text: Department

text: of

text: Defense

text: to

text: consult

text: with

text: the

text: Joint

text: Chiefs

text: on

text: these

text: issues

text: and

text: we

text: will

text: undertake

text: a

text: full

text: review

text: of

text: the

text: situation

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: develop

text: a

text: comprehensive

text: policy

text: for

text: the

text: entire

text: region

text: he

text: said

text: He

text: plans

text: to

text: tell

text: the

text: top

text: U.S.

text: officers

text: that

text: he

text: wants

text: them

text: to

text: plan

text: to

text: have

text: combat

text: forces

text: out

text: of

text: Iraq

text: in

text: months

text: as

text: he

text: promised

text: during

text: his

text: election

text: campaign

text: an

text: adviser

text: said

question: Who retakes oath of office?

answer: Obama

text: Obama

question: What closure is called for?

answer: the detention facility,

text: the detention facility,

question: What do the orders call for?

answer: the closure of the detention facility,

text: the closure of the detention facility,

question: Who will the President freeze pay for?

answer: his senior staff members.

text: his senior staff members.

question: What did Obama retake?

answer: the oath of office.

text: the oath of office.

question: Who will Obama meet with?

answer: House Republican leaders,

text: House Republican leaders,

question: What happens on Wednesday night?

answer: Members of the National Economic Council brief President Obama

text: Members of the National Economic Council brief President Obama


text:
BABAHOYO, Ecuador (CNN)  -- At least 10 people have died and thousands have been left homeless after torrential rains inundated large parts of Ecuador, officials said Thursday.

A man grabs on to a piece of wood as a boat passes him on a flooded street this week in Puerto Inca, Ecuador.

Authorities said the rains, which began a week ago, were the worst in a quarter century. Civil defense officials said more than 10,000 families have been affected.

Los RÃos -- north of Guayaquil -- was the hardest hit of nine provinces affected, civil defense officials said.

In Los RÃos province, five people died when an ambulance drove into a hole at the side of a street at dawn Thursday. A newborn boy, his parents, a doctor and a driver were killed.

Streets also were flooded in the capital of Quito.  Watch the scenes of devastation in Ecuador Â»

On Wednesday, President Rafael Correa declared a state of emergency and ordered 2,000 members of the army and the police to help rescue workers. Correa increased by $25 million the $10 million he already had allocated for the emergency efforts. He also directed another $88 million to municipalities.

Once the crisis has eased, an emergency fund will give seed and fertilizer to help farmers whose fields were washed away, Ecuador's government said. There also have been reports of livestock drowning.

Cristina Medina, a spokeswoman for the Ecuadorean Red Cross, said provinces most heavily affected were along the Pacific coast, where drinking water was often in short supply.

In some towns, high waters forced entire neighborhoods to evacuate, Medina said. E-mail to a friend

text: BABAHOYO

text: Ecuador

text: CNN

text: At

text: least

text: people

text: have

text: died

text: and

text: thousands

text: have

text: been

text: left

text: homeless

text: after

text: torrential

text: rains

text: inundated

text: large

text: parts

text: of

text: Ecuador

text: officials

text: said

text: Thursday

text: A

text: man

text: grabs

text: on

text: to

text: a

text: piece

text: of

text: wood

text: as

text: a

text: boat

text: passes

text: him

text: on

text: a

text: flooded

text: street

text: this

text: week

text: in

text: Puerto

text: Inca

text: Ecuador

text: Authorities

text: said

text: the

text: rains

text: which

text: began

text: a

text: week

text: ago

text: were

text: the

text: worst

text: in

text: a

text: quarter

text: century

text: Civil

text: defense

text: officials

text: said

text: more

text: than

text: families

text: have

text: been

text: affected

text: Los

text: RÃos

text: north

text: of

text: Guayaquil

text: was

text: the

text: hardest

text: hit

text: of

text: nine

text: provinces

text: affected

text: civil

text: defense

text: officials

text: said

text: In

text: Los

text: RÃos

text: province

text: five

text: people

text: died

text: when

text: an

text: ambulance

text: drove

text: into

text: a

text: hole

text: at

text: the

text: side

text: of

text: a

text: street

text: at

text: dawn

text: Thursday

text: A

text: newborn

text: boy

text: his

text: parents

text: a

text: doctor

text: and

text: a

text: driver

text: were

text: killed

text: Streets

text: also

text: were

text: flooded

text: in

text: the

text: capital

text: of

text: Quito

text: Watch

text: the

text: scenes

text: of

text: devastation

text: in

text: Ecuador

text: Â

text: On

text: Wednesday

text: President

text: Rafael

text: Correa

text: declared

text: a

text: state

text: of

text: emergency

text: and

text: ordered

text: members

text: of

text: the

text: army

text: and

text: the

text: police

text: to

text: help

text: rescue

text: workers

text: Correa

text: increased

text: by

text: million

text: the

text: million

text: he

text: already

text: had

text: allocated

text: for

text: the

text: emergency

text: efforts

text: He

text: also

text: directed

text: another

text: million

text: to

text: municipalities

text: Once

text: the

text: crisis

text: has

text: eased

text: an

text: emergency

text: fund

text: will

text: give

text: seed

text: and

text: fertilizer

text: to

text: help

text: farmers

text: whose

text: fields

text: were

text: washed

text: away

text: Ecuador

text: 's

text: government

text: said

text: There

text: also

text: have

text: been

text: reports

text: of

text: livestock

text: drowning

text: Cristina

text: Medina

text: a

text: spokeswoman

text: for

text: the

text: Ecuadorean

text: Red

text: Cross

text: said

text: provinces

text: most

text: heavily

text: affected

text: were

text: along

text: the

text: Pacific

text: coast

text: where

text: drinking

text: water

text: was

text: often

text: in

text: short

text: supply

text: In

text: some

text: towns

text: high

text: waters

text: forced

text: entire

text: neighborhoods

text: to

text: evacuate

text: Medina

text: said

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

question: The rains are the worst of how long?

answer: a quarter century.

text: a quarter century.

question: which country president declares state of emergency, orders army, police to help?

answer: Ecuador

text: Ecuador

question: what is the amount of people dead from torrential rains in Ecuador?

answer: At least 10

text: At least 10

question: What did people die from in Ecuador?

answer: torrential rains

text: torrential rains

question: who said  say the rains are the worst in a quarter century?

answer: Authorities

text: Authorities

question: Who said the rains were the worse in the century?

answer: Authorities

text: Authorities

question: At least how many people have died in torrential rains?

answer: 10

question: More than how many families have been affected?

answer: 10,000

question: Who declared a state of emergency?

answer: y, President Rafael Corr

text: y, President Rafael Corr


text:
Washington (CNN) -- Nearly 180 Department of Homeland Security weapons were lost -- some falling into the hands of criminals -- after officers left them in restrooms, vehicles and other public places, according to an inspector general report.

The officers, with Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "did not always sufficiently safeguard their firearms and, as a result, lost a significant number of firearms" between fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2008, the report said.

In all, 243 firearms were lost in both agencies during that period, according to the January report from Inspector General Richard Skinner. Of those, 36 were lost because of circumstances beyond officers' control -- for instance, ICE lost a firearm during an assault on an officer. Another 28 were lost even though officers had stored them in lockboxes or safes.

But 74 percent, or 179 guns, were lost "because officers did not properly secure them," the report said.

Following a review of the draft report in December, Homeland Security took steps to implement its recommendations and overhaul its property management policy, according to a response in the report. A department spokeswoman did not immediately return a call from CNN Thursday seeking comment.

The report concluded the department did not have specific procedures and policies in place regarding firearms. "Instead, DHS relied on its components to augment its general property management policies and procedures with specific guidance for safeguarding and controlling firearms," it said. "Although some component policies and procedures for safeguarding firearms were sufficient, personnel did not always follow them."

The inspector general cited several examples of "inappropriate practices." A customs officer, for instance, left a firearm in an idling vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store. The vehicle was stolen while the officer was inside. "A local law enforcement officer later recovered the firearm from a suspected gang member and drug smuggler," the report said.

In addition, an ICE officer left an M-4 rifle and a shotgun unsecured in a closet at his home. Both weapons were stolen in a burglary and later recovered from a felon, according to the report. Another officer left his firearm in the restroom of a fast-food restaurant, and it was gone when he returned.

"Other CBP and ICE officers left firearms in places such as a fast food restaurant parking lot, a bowling alley and a clothing store," the report said.

"Although our review focused on CBP and ICE, other components described similar incidents. For example, a TSA officer left a firearm in a lunch box on the front seat of an unlocked vehicle; the officer realized the firearm was stolen when he returned to the vehicle two days later," said the report. "Officers may have prevented many of these losses had they exercised reasonable care when storing their weapons."

Of the 179 lost because of laxity, 120 were reported stolen and 59 as lost, the report said. That resulted from the agencies' lack of guidance on a standard method for classifying and reporting lost firearms, as well as "a common perception among officers that reporting a stolen firearm was more acceptable than reporting a lost firearm.

"Although CBP and ICE reported 120 firearms as stolen, our analysis showed that these firearms were lost (stolen) because officers left the firearms unsecured," according to the report. "All 179 losses may have been prevented had the officers properly secured their firearms."

The department had about 188,500 weapons in its inventory as of last summer, the report said. The majority are assigned to Customs and Border Protection and ICE officers, but others are carried by agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

text: Washington

text: CNN

text: Nearly

text: Department

text: of

text: Homeland

text: Security

text: weapons

text: were

text: lost

text: some

text: falling

text: into

text: the

text: hands

text: of

text: criminals

text: after

text: officers

text: left

text: them

text: in

text: restrooms

text: vehicles

text: and

text: other

text: public

text: places

text: according

text: to

text: an

text: inspector

text: general

text: report

text: The

text: officers

text: with

text: Customs

text: and

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: and

text: Immigration

text: and

text: Customs

text: Enforcement

text: did

text: not

text: always

text: sufficiently

text: safeguard

text: their

text: firearms

text: and

text: as

text: a

text: result

text: lost

text: a

text: significant

text: number

text: of

text: firearms

text: between

text: fiscal

text: year

text: and

text: fiscal

text: year

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: In

text: all

text: firearms

text: were

text: lost

text: in

text: both

text: agencies

text: during

text: that

text: period

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: January

text: report

text: from

text: Inspector

text: General

text: Richard

text: Skinner

text: Of

text: those

text: were

text: lost

text: because

text: of

text: circumstances

text: beyond

text: officers

text: control

text: for

text: instance

text: ICE

text: lost

text: a

text: firearm

text: during

text: an

text: assault

text: on

text: an

text: officer

text: Another

text: were

text: lost

text: even

text: though

text: officers

text: had

text: stored

text: them

text: in

text: lockboxes

text: or

text: safes

text: But

text: percent

text: or

text: guns

text: were

text: lost

text: because

text: officers

text: did

text: not

text: properly

text: secure

text: them

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: Following

text: a

text: review

text: of

text: the

text: draft

text: report

text: in

text: December

text: Homeland

text: Security

text: took

text: steps

text: to

text: implement

text: its

text: recommendations

text: and

text: overhaul

text: its

text: property

text: management

text: policy

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: response

text: in

text: the

text: report

text: A

text: department

text: spokeswoman

text: did

text: not

text: immediately

text: return

text: a

text: call

text: from

text: CNN

text: Thursday

text: seeking

text: comment

text: The

text: report

text: concluded

text: the

text: department

text: did

text: not

text: have

text: specific

text: procedures

text: and

text: policies

text: in

text: place

text: regarding

text: firearms

text: Instead

text: DHS

text: relied

text: on

text: its

text: components

text: to

text: augment

text: its

text: general

text: property

text: management

text: policies

text: and

text: procedures

text: with

text: specific

text: guidance

text: for

text: safeguarding

text: and

text: controlling

text: firearms

text: it

text: said

text: Although

text: some

text: component

text: policies

text: and

text: procedures

text: for

text: safeguarding

text: firearms

text: were

text: sufficient

text: personnel

text: did

text: not

text: always

text: follow

text: them

text: The

text: inspector

text: general

text: cited

text: several

text: examples

text: of

text: inappropriate

text: practices

text: A

text: customs

text: officer

text: for

text: instance

text: left

text: a

text: firearm

text: in

text: an

text: idling

text: vehicle

text: in

text: the

text: parking

text: lot

text: of

text: a

text: convenience

text: store

text: The

text: vehicle

text: was

text: stolen

text: while

text: the

text: officer

text: was

text: inside

text: A

text: local

text: law

text: enforcement

text: officer

text: later

text: recovered

text: the

text: firearm

text: from

text: a

text: suspected

text: gang

text: member

text: and

text: drug

text: smuggler

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: In

text: addition

text: an

text: ICE

text: officer

text: left

text: an

text: rifle

text: and

text: a

text: shotgun

text: unsecured

text: in

text: a

text: closet

text: at

text: his

text: home

text: Both

text: weapons

text: were

text: stolen

text: in

text: a

text: burglary

text: and

text: later

text: recovered

text: from

text: a

text: felon

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: report

text: Another

text: officer

text: left

text: his

text: firearm

text: in

text: the

text: restroom

text: of

text: a

text: fast

text: food

text: restaurant

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: gone

text: when

text: he

text: returned

text: Other

text: CBP

text: and

text: ICE

text: officers

text: left

text: firearms

text: in

text: places

text: such

text: as

text: a

text: fast

text: food

text: restaurant

text: parking

text: lot

text: a

text: bowling

text: alley

text: and

text: a

text: clothing

text: store

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: Although

text: our

text: review

text: focused

text: on

text: CBP

text: and

text: ICE

text: other

text: components

text: described

text: similar

text: incidents

text: For

text: example

text: a

text: TSA

text: officer

text: left

text: a

text: firearm

text: in

text: a

text: lunch

text: box

text: on

text: the

text: front

text: seat

text: of

text: an

text: unlocked

text: vehicle

text: the

text: officer

text: realized

text: the

text: firearm

text: was

text: stolen

text: when

text: he

text: returned

text: to

text: the

text: vehicle

text: two

text: days

text: later

text: said

text: the

text: report

text: Officers

text: may

text: have

text: prevented

text: many

text: of

text: these

text: losses

text: had

text: they

text: exercised

text: reasonable

text: care

text: when

text: storing

text: their

text: weapons

text: Of

text: the

text: lost

text: because

text: of

text: laxity

text: were

text: reported

text: stolen

text: and

text: as

text: lost

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: That

text: resulted

text: from

text: the

text: agencies

text: lack

text: of

text: guidance

text: on

text: a

text: standard

text: method

text: for

text: classifying

text: and

text: reporting

text: lost

text: firearms

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: a

text: common

text: perception

text: among

text: officers

text: that

text: reporting

text: a

text: stolen

text: firearm

text: was

text: more

text: acceptable

text: than

text: reporting

text: a

text: lost

text: firearm

text: Although

text: CBP

text: and

text: ICE

text: reported

text: firearms

text: as

text: stolen

text: our

text: analysis

text: showed

text: that

text: these

text: firearms

text: were

text: lost

text: stolen

text: because

text: officers

text: left

text: the

text: firearms

text: unsecured

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: report

text: All

text: losses

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: prevented

text: had

text: the

text: officers

text: properly

text: secured

text: their

text: firearms

text: The

text: department

text: had

text: about

text: weapons

text: in

text: its

text: inventory

text: as

text: of

text: last

text: summer

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: The

text: majority

text: are

text: assigned

text: to

text: Customs

text: and

text: Border

text: Protection

text: and

text: ICE

text: officers

text: but

text: others

text: are

text: carried

text: by

text: agencies

text: including

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Coast

text: Guard

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Secret

text: Service

text: and

text: the

text: Federal

text: Law

text: Enforcement

text: Training

text: Center

question: What didn't the officers sufficiently safeguard?

answer: their firearms

text: their firearms

question: Where were guns left?

answer: restrooms, vehicles and other public places,

text: restrooms, vehicles and other public places,

question: What did Homeland Security do to respond?

answer: took steps to implement its recommendations and overhaul its property management policy,

text: took steps to implement its recommendations and overhaul its property management policy,

question: What did ICE officers not safeguard?

answer: firearms

text: firearms


text:
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- An elections board certified Kasim Reed on Saturday as the winner of the Atlanta mayoral runoff election by a margin of 620 votes.

Barry Garner, director of Fulton County's elections board, told CNN on Saturday that former state senator Reed was declared the winner of last Tuesday's runoff election against City Councilwoman Mary Norwood.

Garner said Reed received 42,348 votes compared with Norwood's 41,728.

Norwood has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to request a recount, Garner said. He said if a recount is requested, it will begin Wednesday morning.

In the initial vote among eight contenders, Norwood received 45 percent of the votes to Kasim Reed's 37 percent. Lisa Borders came in a distant third with 14 percent of the vote, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A candidate needs 50 percent plus one vote to avert a runoff.

CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report.

text: Atlanta

text: Georgia

text: CNN

text: An

text: elections

text: board

text: certified

text: Kasim

text: Reed

text: on

text: Saturday

text: as

text: the

text: winner

text: of

text: the

text: Atlanta

text: mayoral

text: runoff

text: election

text: by

text: a

text: margin

text: of

text: votes

text: Barry

text: Garner

text: director

text: of

text: Fulton

text: County

text: 's

text: elections

text: board

text: told

text: CNN

text: on

text: Saturday

text: that

text: former

text: state

text: senator

text: Reed

text: was

text: declared

text: the

text: winner

text: of

text: last

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: runoff

text: election

text: against

text: City

text: Councilwoman

text: Mary

text: Norwood

text: Garner

text: said

text: Reed

text: received

text: votes

text: compared

text: with

text: Norwood

text: 's

text: Norwood

text: has

text: until

text: p.m.

text: Tuesday

text: to

text: request

text: a

text: recount

text: Garner

text: said

text: He

text: said

text: if

text: a

text: recount

text: is

text: requested

text: it

text: will

text: begin

text: Wednesday

text: morning

text: In

text: the

text: initial

text: vote

text: among

text: eight

text: contenders

text: Norwood

text: received

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: votes

text: to

text: Kasim

text: Reed

text: 's

text: percent

text: Lisa

text: Borders

text: came

text: in

text: a

text: distant

text: third

text: with

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: vote

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: Atlanta

text: Journal

text: Constitution

text: A

text: candidate

text: needs

text: percent

text: plus

text: one

text: vote

text: to

text: avert

text: a

text: runoff

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Greg

text: Morrison

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: By when must Norwood ask for a recount?

answer: has until 5 p.m. Tuesday

text: has until 5 p.m. Tuesday

question: What election board is Kim Reed the winner of?

answer: Fulton County's

text: Fulton County's

question: What is the deadline to ask for recounting?

answer: until 5 p.m. Tuesday

text: until 5 p.m. Tuesday

question: By how much did Reed defeat Norwood?

answer: a margin of 620 votes.

text: a margin of 620 votes.

question: Who won the Atlanta mayoral runoff?

answer: Kasim Reed

text: Kasim Reed

question: How long will Norwood have until Tuesday?

answer: 5 p.m.

text: 5 p.m.

question: Who won for mayor of Atlanta?

answer: Kasim Reed

text: Kasim Reed

question: Who was defeated by 620 votes?

answer: Mary Norwood.

text: Mary Norwood.


text:
Washington (CNN)  -- The United States has renewed a travel alert to Mexico, citing increased violence in the country.

The alert, issued Sunday by the State Department, is in effect until August 20 and supersedes an alert issued August 20, 2009.

"Recent violent attacks have caused the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Michoacan, Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua ... and to advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution," the alert says.

"Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or whom they otherwise view as a threat to their organization. These attacks include the abduction and murder of two resident U.S. citizens in Chihuahua."

More than 16,000 people have died in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the drug cartels shortly after assuming office in December 2006. Ciudad Juarez, in Chihuahua state across the border from El Paso, Texas, is the most violent city in the nation.

"The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, is of special concern," the alert says.

"Mexican authorities report that more than 2,600 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in 2009," the report states. "Additionally, this city of 1.3 million people experienced more than 16,000 car thefts and 1,900 carjackings in 2009. U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news reports."

But the problems are not limited to Juarez, the State Department says.

"Mexican drug cartels are engaged in violent conflict -- both among themselves and with Mexican security services -- for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border," the report says. "In order to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops throughout the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

"Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in towns and cities across Mexico, but occur mostly in northern Mexico, including Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Chihuahua City, Nogales, Matamoros, Reynosa and Monterrey. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area."

A number of areas along the border continue to experience a rapid growth in crime, with robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjackings increasing during the past year nationwide, the alert says. The State Department reports notable spikes in Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and northern Baja California.

"Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues," the alert says.

"Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana. Travelers on the highways between Monterrey and other parts of Mexico to the United States (notably through Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros) have been targeted for robbery and violence and have also inadvertently been caught in incidents of gunfire between criminals and Mexican law enforcement. Such incidents are more likely to occur at night but may occur at any time," the alert says.

text: Washington

text: CNN

text: The

text: United

text: States

text: has

text: renewed

text: a

text: travel

text: alert

text: to

text: Mexico

text: citing

text: increased

text: violence

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: The

text: alert

text: issued

text: Sunday

text: by

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: is

text: in

text: effect

text: until

text: August

text: and

text: supersedes

text: an

text: alert

text: issued

text: August

text: Recent

text: violent

text: attacks

text: have

text: caused

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Embassy

text: to

text: urge

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: to

text: delay

text: unnecessary

text: travel

text: to

text: parts

text: of

text: Michoacan

text: Durango

text: Coahuila

text: and

text: Chihuahua

text: and

text: to

text: advise

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: residing

text: or

text: traveling

text: in

text: those

text: areas

text: to

text: exercise

text: extreme

text: caution

text: the

text: alert

text: says

text: Drug

text: cartels

text: and

text: associated

text: criminal

text: elements

text: have

text: retaliated

text: violently

text: against

text: individuals

text: who

text: speak

text: out

text: against

text: them

text: or

text: whom

text: they

text: otherwise

text: view

text: as

text: a

text: threat

text: to

text: their

text: organization

text: These

text: attacks

text: include

text: the

text: abduction

text: and

text: murder

text: of

text: two

text: resident

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: in

text: Chihuahua

text: More

text: than

text: people

text: have

text: died

text: in

text: Mexico

text: since

text: President

text: Felipe

text: Calderon

text: declared

text: war

text: on

text: the

text: drug

text: cartels

text: shortly

text: after

text: assuming

text: office

text: in

text: December

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: in

text: Chihuahua

text: state

text: across

text: the

text: border

text: from

text: El

text: Paso

text: Texas

text: is

text: the

text: most

text: violent

text: city

text: in

text: the

text: nation

text: The

text: situation

text: in

text: the

text: state

text: of

text: Chihuahua

text: specifically

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: is

text: of

text: special

text: concern

text: the

text: alert

text: says

text: Mexican

text: authorities

text: report

text: that

text: more

text: than

text: people

text: were

text: killed

text: in

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: in

text: the

text: report

text: states

text: Additionally

text: this

text: city

text: of

text: million

text: people

text: experienced

text: more

text: than

text: car

text: thefts

text: and

text: carjackings

text: in

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: should

text: pay

text: close

text: attention

text: to

text: their

text: surroundings

text: while

text: traveling

text: in

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: avoid

text: isolated

text: locations

text: during

text: late

text: night

text: and

text: early

text: morning

text: hours

text: and

text: remain

text: alert

text: to

text: news

text: reports

text: But

text: the

text: problems

text: are

text: not

text: limited

text: to

text: Juarez

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: says

text: Mexican

text: drug

text: cartels

text: are

text: engaged

text: in

text: violent

text: conflict

text: both

text: among

text: themselves

text: and

text: with

text: Mexican

text: security

text: services

text: for

text: control

text: of

text: narcotics

text: trafficking

text: routes

text: along

text: the

text: U.S

text: Mexico

text: border

text: the

text: report

text: says

text: In

text: order

text: to

text: combat

text: violence

text: the

text: government

text: of

text: Mexico

text: has

text: deployed

text: military

text: troops

text: throughout

text: the

text: country

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: should

text: cooperate

text: fully

text: with

text: official

text: checkpoints

text: when

text: traveling

text: on

text: Mexican

text: highways

text: Some

text: recent

text: Mexican

text: army

text: and

text: police

text: confrontations

text: with

text: drug

text: cartels

text: have

text: resembled

text: small

text: unit

text: combat

text: with

text: cartels

text: employing

text: automatic

text: weapons

text: and

text: grenades

text: Large

text: firefights

text: have

text: taken

text: place

text: in

text: towns

text: and

text: cities

text: across

text: Mexico

text: but

text: occur

text: mostly

text: in

text: northern

text: Mexico

text: including

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: Tijuana

text: Chihuahua

text: City

text: Nogales

text: Matamoros

text: Reynosa

text: and

text: Monterrey

text: During

text: some

text: of

text: these

text: incidents

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: have

text: been

text: trapped

text: and

text: temporarily

text: prevented

text: from

text: leaving

text: the

text: area

text: A

text: number

text: of

text: areas

text: along

text: the

text: border

text: continue

text: to

text: experience

text: a

text: rapid

text: growth

text: in

text: crime

text: with

text: robberies

text: homicides

text: petty

text: thefts

text: and

text: carjackings

text: increasing

text: during

text: the

text: past

text: year

text: nationwide

text: the

text: alert

text: says

text: The

text: State

text: Department

text: reports

text: notable

text: spikes

text: in

text: Chihuahua

text: Sinaloa

text: and

text: northern

text: Baja

text: California

text: Ciudad

text: Juarez

text: Tijuana

text: and

text: Nogales

text: are

text: among

text: the

text: cities

text: which

text: have

text: experienced

text: public

text: shootouts

text: during

text: daylight

text: hours

text: in

text: shopping

text: centers

text: and

text: other

text: public

text: venues

text: the

text: alert

text: says

text: Criminals

text: have

text: followed

text: and

text: harassed

text: U.S.

text: citizens

text: traveling

text: in

text: their

text: vehicles

text: in

text: border

text: areas

text: including

text: Nuevo

text: Laredo

text: Matamoros

text: and

text: Tijuana

text: Travelers

text: on

text: the

text: highways

text: between

text: Monterrey

text: and

text: other

text: parts

text: of

text: Mexico

text: to

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: notably

text: through

text: Nuevo

text: Laredo

text: and

text: Matamoros

text: have

text: been

text: targeted

text: for

text: robbery

text: and

text: violence

text: and

text: have

text: also

text: inadvertently

text: been

text: caught

text: in

text: incidents

text: of

text: gunfire

text: between

text: criminals

text: and

text: Mexican

text: law

text: enforcement

text: Such

text: incidents

text: are

text: more

text: likely

text: to

text: occur

text: at

text: night

text: but

text: may

text: occur

text: at

text: any

text: time

text: the

text: alert

text: says

question: Where have violent attacks occurred?

answer: Mexico,

text: Mexico,

question: Where are citizens urged to delay travel plans to?

answer: Mexico,

text: Mexico,

question: When is the travel alert in place until?

answer: August 20

text: August 20

question: When was the new travel alert put in place by the new State Department?

answer: Sunday

text: Sunday

question: Have there been any fatalities because of the violent attacks in Mexico?

answer: More than 16,000 people

text: More than 16,000 people


text:
Boston, Massachusetts (CNN)  -- Republican Scott Brown won a major upset victory in Tuesday's special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.

Brown defeated Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate.

Brown's victory made real the once unthinkable prospect of a Republican filling the seat held by Kennedy, known as the liberal lion, for almost 47 years until his death from brain cancer in August.

Voters across Massachusetts braved winter cold and snow for an election with high stakes -- the domestic agenda of President Obama, including his priority of health care reform.

Brown's victory strips Democrats of the 60-seat Senate supermajority needed to overcome GOP filibusters against future Senate action on a broad range of White House priorities. Senate Democrats needed all 60 votes in their caucus to pass the health care bill, and the loss of one seat imperils generating that support again for a compromise measure worked out with the House.

In a subdued concession speech, Coakley said she expected a tough assessment of her loss and lots of "Wednesday-morning quarterbacking" after losing a seat held by Democrats for more than 50 years.

"I am heartbroken at the result," Coakley said, later adding: "Although I am very disappointed, I always respect the voters' choice."

Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said last week that certifying Tuesday's election results could take more than two weeks -- potentially enough time to allow congressional Democrats to pass a final health care bill before Brown is seated.

But multiple Democratic sources said this is unlikely. Even if House and Senate Democrats could reach a deal to meld their bills and pass them in the next couple of weeks, there would be a huge outcry from not only Republicans, but also an increasingly distrustful public if they appeared to be rushing it through.

Galvin had predicted as many as 2.2 million of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would vote -- at least double the turnout from December's primary. In one sign of high interest, more than 100,000 absentee ballots were requested ahead of the election, according to Galvin's spokesman, Brian McNiff.

Coakley was initially expected to easily win the race to replace Kennedy, who made health care reform the centerpiece of his Senate career.

Until recently, Brown was underfunded and unknown statewide. In addition, no Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts since 1972, and Democrats control the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, and the state's entire congressional delegation.

However, Brown surged in the weeks preceding Tuesday's vote and led in all the final polls.

Democratic sources told CNN that Coakley called Brown on Tuesday night to concede.

In a sign of the high stakes involved, the Coakley campaign held an afternoon news conference Tuesday to complain that voters in three places received ballots already marked for Brown.

iReport: Send us your thoughts on the special election

McNiff confirmed that the secretary of state's offices received two reports of voters saying they got pre-marked ballots. The suspect ballots were invalidated and the voters received new ballots, McNiff said.

Kevin Conroy, the Coakley campaign manager, said the "disturbing incidents" raised questions about the integrity of the election. In response, the Brown campaign issued a statement criticizing Coakley's team.

"Reports that the Coakley campaign is making reckless accusations regarding the integrity of today's election is a reminder that they are a desperate campaign," Daniel B. Winslow, the counsel for the Brown campaign, said in the statement.

Obama has been both "surprised and frustrated" by the race, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.

Obama and former President Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail over the past three days in an attempt to save Coakley's campaign, which observers say was hampered by complacency and missteps.

Obama crushed Sen. John McCain in Massachusetts in 2008, beating the GOP presidential nominee by 26 points.

"If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election," Obama urged a crowd at a Coakley campaign rally on Sunday.

Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, called on state Democrats to turn out to save her husband's legacy.

"We need your help. We need your support. We need you to get out there and vote on Tuesday," Kennedy said. "We need you to bring your neighbors. We need you to bring your friends."

Brown, who has trumpeted his 30 years of service in the National Guard, hewed to traditional GOP themes at the end of the campaign. He promised at a rally Sunday that, if elected, he would back tax cuts and be tougher on terrorists than Coakley.

He also repeated a pledge to oppose Obama's health care reform effort.

"Massachusetts wants real reform and not this trillion-dollar Obama health care that is being forced on the American people," he said. "As the 41st [Republican] senator I will make sure that we do it better."

Forty-four percent of Massachusetts voters cited the economy and jobs as their top concern in a recent 7 News/Suffolk University poll. Thirty-eight percent mentioned health care as their top concern.

Voters more concerned with the economy were split almost evenly between the two candidates; voters more worried about health care narrowly supported Coakley.

Brown's surprising strength came in part because some independents and conservatives who have supported Democrats in the past were having second thoughts.

Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts, but there are more independents than Democrats and Republicans combined.

Several Democratic sources say multiple Obama advisers have told the party they believed Coakley was going to lose, despite Obama's campaign appearance for Coakley on Sunday.

Facing the possibility of Coakley's defeat, Democrats were trying to figure out if they could pass health care reform without that crucial 60th Senate vote.

The seat is currently held by former Kennedy aide and longtime friend Paul Kirk, who was appointed to the seat on an interim basis.

Two Democratic sources in close contact with the White House told CNN on Monday they've urged the administration, in the event of a Brown victory, to push House Democrats to pass the Senate's health care bill as currently written. Doing so would prevent the plan from having to be taken up by the Senate again.

"I think the Senate bill clearly is better than nothing," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Tuesday.

A third option would be for Democrats to revisit the idea of trying to push health care through the Senate with only 51 votes -- a simple majority.

But to do that Democrats would have to use a process known as reconciliation, which presents technical and procedural issues that would delay the process for a long time. A number of Democrats are eager to put the health care debate behind them and move on to economic issues such as job creation as soon as possible this election year.

Senate Democrats could also try again to get moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to vote for a compromise health reform plan. Multiple Democratic sources, however, have said they believe that is unlikely now.

CNN's Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Kevin Bohn, Ed Henry, Ed Hornick, John King, Suzanne Malveaux, Shawna Shepherd, Jessica Yellin, Alan Silverleib and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.

text: Boston

text: Massachusetts

text: CNN

text: Republican

text: Scott

text: Brown

text: won

text: a

text: major

text: upset

text: victory

text: in

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: special

text: election

text: for

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Senate

text: seat

text: formerly

text: held

text: by

text: liberal

text: Democrat

text: Ted

text: Kennedy

text: Brown

text: defeated

text: Massachusetts

text: Attorney

text: General

text: Martha

text: Coakley

text: the

text: Democratic

text: candidate

text: Brown

text: 's

text: victory

text: made

text: real

text: the

text: once

text: unthinkable

text: prospect

text: of

text: a

text: Republican

text: filling

text: the

text: seat

text: held

text: by

text: Kennedy

text: known

text: as

text: the

text: liberal

text: lion

text: for

text: almost

text: years

text: until

text: his

text: death

text: from

text: brain

text: cancer

text: in

text: August

text: Voters

text: across

text: Massachusetts

text: braved

text: winter

text: cold

text: and

text: snow

text: for

text: an

text: election

text: with

text: high

text: stakes

text: the

text: domestic

text: agenda

text: of

text: President

text: Obama

text: including

text: his

text: priority

text: of

text: health

text: care

text: reform

text: Brown

text: 's

text: victory

text: strips

text: Democrats

text: of

text: the

text: Senate

text: supermajority

text: needed

text: to

text: overcome

text: GOP

text: filibusters

text: against

text: future

text: Senate

text: action

text: on

text: a

text: broad

text: range

text: of

text: White

text: House

text: priorities

text: Senate

text: Democrats

text: needed

text: all

text: votes

text: in

text: their

text: caucus

text: to

text: pass

text: the

text: health

text: care

text: bill

text: and

text: the

text: loss

text: of

text: one

text: seat

text: imperils

text: generating

text: that

text: support

text: again

text: for

text: a

text: compromise

text: measure

text: worked

text: out

text: with

text: the

text: House

text: In

text: a

text: subdued

text: concession

text: speech

text: Coakley

text: said

text: she

text: expected

text: a

text: tough

text: assessment

text: of

text: her

text: loss

text: and

text: lots

text: of

text: Wednesday

text: morning

text: quarterbacking

text: after

text: losing

text: a

text: seat

text: held

text: by

text: Democrats

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: years

text: I

text: am

text: heartbroken

text: at

text: the

text: result

text: Coakley

text: said

text: later

text: adding

text: Although

text: I

text: am

text: very

text: disappointed

text: I

text: always

text: respect

text: the

text: voters

text: choice

text: Massachusetts

text: Secretary

text: of

text: State

text: Bill

text: Galvin

text: said

text: last

text: week

text: that

text: certifying

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: election

text: results

text: could

text: take

text: more

text: than

text: two

text: weeks

text: potentially

text: enough

text: time

text: to

text: allow

text: congressional

text: Democrats

text: to

text: pass

text: a

text: final

text: health

text: care

text: bill

text: before

text: Brown

text: is

text: seated

text: But

text: multiple

text: Democratic

text: sources

text: said

text: this

text: is

text: unlikely

text: Even

text: if

text: House

text: and

text: Senate

text: Democrats

text: could

text: reach

text: a

text: deal

text: to

text: meld

text: their

text: bills

text: and

text: pass

text: them

text: in

text: the

text: next

text: couple

text: of

text: weeks

text: there

text: would

text: be

text: a

text: huge

text: outcry

text: from

text: not

text: only

text: Republicans

text: but

text: also

text: an

text: increasingly

text: distrustful

text: public

text: if

text: they

text: appeared

text: to

text: be

text: rushing

text: it

text: through

text: Galvin

text: had

text: predicted

text: as

text: many

text: as

text: million

text: of

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: million

text: registered

text: voters

text: would

text: vote

text: at

text: least

text: double

text: the

text: turnout

text: from

text: December

text: 's

text: primary

text: In

text: one

text: sign

text: of

text: high

text: interest

text: more

text: than

text: absentee

text: ballots

text: were

text: requested

text: ahead

text: of

text: the

text: election

text: according

text: to

text: Galvin

text: 's

text: spokesman

text: Brian

text: McNiff

text: Coakley

text: was

text: initially

text: expected

text: to

text: easily

text: win

text: the

text: race

text: to

text: replace

text: Kennedy

text: who

text: made

text: health

text: care

text: reform

text: the

text: centerpiece

text: of

text: his

text: Senate

text: career

text: Until

text: recently

text: Brown

text: was

text: underfunded

text: and

text: unknown

text: statewide

text: In

text: addition

text: no

text: Republican

text: has

text: won

text: a

text: U.S.

text: Senate

text: race

text: in

text: Massachusetts

text: since

text: and

text: Democrats

text: control

text: the

text: governorship

text: both

text: houses

text: of

text: the

text: state

text: legislature

text: and

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: entire

text: congressional

text: delegation

text: However

text: Brown

text: surged

text: in

text: the

text: weeks

text: preceding

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: vote

text: and

text: led

text: in

text: all

text: the

text: final

text: polls

text: Democratic

text: sources

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: Coakley

text: called

text: Brown

text: on

text: Tuesday

text: night

text: to

text: concede

text: In

text: a

text: sign

text: of

text: the

text: high

text: stakes

text: involved

text: the

text: Coakley

text: campaign

text: held

text: an

text: afternoon

text: news

text: conference

text: Tuesday

text: to

text: complain

text: that

text: voters

text: in

text: three

text: places

text: received

text: ballots

text: already

text: marked

text: for

text: Brown

text: iReport

text: Send

text: us

text: your

text: thoughts

text: on

text: the

text: special

text: election

text: McNiff

text: confirmed

text: that

text: the

text: secretary

text: of

text: state

text: 's

text: offices

text: received

text: two

text: reports

text: of

text: voters

text: saying

text: they

text: got

text: pre

text: marked

text: ballots

text: The

text: suspect

text: ballots

text: were

text: invalidated

text: and

text: the

text: voters

text: received

text: new

text: ballots

text: McNiff

text: said

text: Kevin

text: Conroy

text: the

text: Coakley

text: campaign

text: manager

text: said

text: the

text: disturbing

text: incidents

text: raised

text: questions

text: about

text: the

text: integrity

text: of

text: the

text: election

text: In

text: response

text: the

text: Brown

text: campaign

text: issued

text: a

text: statement

text: criticizing

text: Coakley

text: 's

text: team

text: Reports

text: that

text: the

text: Coakley

text: campaign

text: is

text: making

text: reckless

text: accusations

text: regarding

text: the

text: integrity

text: of

text: today

text: 's

text: election

text: is

text: a

text: reminder

text: that

text: they

text: are

text: a

text: desperate

text: campaign

text: Daniel

text: B.

text: Winslow

text: the

text: counsel

text: for

text: the

text: Brown

text: campaign

text: said

text: in

text: the

text: statement

text: Obama

text: has

text: been

text: both

text: surprised

text: and

text: frustrated

text: by

text: the

text: race

text: White

text: House

text: Press

text: Secretary

text: Robert

text: Gibbs

text: said

text: Tuesday

text: Obama

text: and

text: former

text: President

text: Bill

text: Clinton

text: hit

text: the

text: campaign

text: trail

text: over

text: the

text: past

text: three

text: days

text: in

text: an

text: attempt

text: to

text: save

text: Coakley

text: 's

text: campaign

text: which

text: observers

text: say

text: was

text: hampered

text: by

text: complacency

text: and

text: missteps

text: Obama

text: crushed

text: Sen.

text: John

text: McCain

text: in

text: Massachusetts

text: in

text: beating

text: the

text: GOP

text: presidential

text: nominee

text: by

text: points

text: If

text: you

text: were

text: fired

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: last

text: election

text: I

text: need

text: you

text: more

text: fired

text: up

text: in

text: this

text: election

text: Obama

text: urged

text: a

text: crowd

text: at

text: a

text: Coakley

text: campaign

text: rally

text: on

text: Sunday

text: Vicki

text: Kennedy

text: the

text: late

text: senator

text: 's

text: widow

text: called

text: on

text: state

text: Democrats

text: to

text: turn

text: out

text: to

text: save

text: her

text: husband

text: 's

text: legacy

text: We

text: need

text: your

text: help

text: We

text: need

text: your

text: support

text: We

text: need

text: you

text: to

text: get

text: out

text: there

text: and

text: vote

text: on

text: Tuesday

text: Kennedy

text: said

text: We

text: need

text: you

text: to

text: bring

text: your

text: neighbors

text: We

text: need

text: you

text: to

text: bring

text: your

text: friends

text: Brown

text: who

text: has

text: trumpeted

text: his

text: years

text: of

text: service

text: in

text: the

text: National

text: Guard

text: hewed

text: to

text: traditional

text: GOP

text: themes

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: campaign

text: He

text: promised

text: at

text: a

text: rally

text: Sunday

text: that

text: if

text: elected

text: he

text: would

text: back

text: tax

text: cuts

text: and

text: be

text: tougher

text: on

text: terrorists

text: than

text: Coakley

text: He

text: also

text: repeated

text: a

text: pledge

text: to

text: oppose

text: Obama

text: 's

text: health

text: care

text: reform

text: effort

text: Massachusetts

text: wants

text: real

text: reform

text: and

text: not

text: this

text: trillion

text: dollar

text: Obama

text: health

text: care

text: that

text: is

text: being

text: forced

text: on

text: the

text: American

text: people

text: he

text: said

text: As

text: the

text: Republican

text: senator

text: I

text: will

text: make

text: sure

text: that

text: we

text: do

text: it

text: better

text: Forty

text: four

text: percent

text: of

text: Massachusetts

text: voters

text: cited

text: the

text: economy

text: and

text: jobs

text: as

text: their

text: top

text: concern

text: in

text: a

text: recent

text: News

text: Suffolk

text: University

text: poll

text: Thirty

text: eight

text: percent

text: mentioned

text: health

text: care

text: as

text: their

text: top

text: concern

text: Voters

text: more

text: concerned

text: with

text: the

text: economy

text: were

text: split

text: almost

text: evenly

text: between

text: the

text: two

text: candidates

text: voters

text: more

text: worried

text: about

text: health

text: care

text: narrowly

text: supported

text: Coakley

text: Brown

text: 's

text: surprising

text: strength

text: came

text: in

text: part

text: because

text: some

text: independents

text: and

text: conservatives

text: who

text: have

text: supported

text: Democrats

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: were

text: having

text: second

text: thoughts

text: Democrats

text: far

text: outnumber

text: Republicans

text: in

text: Massachusetts

text: but

text: there

text: are

text: more

text: independents

text: than

text: Democrats

text: and

text: Republicans

text: combined

text: Several

text: Democratic

text: sources

text: say

text: multiple

text: Obama

text: advisers

text: have

text: told

text: the

text: party

text: they

text: believed

text: Coakley

text: was

text: going

text: to

text: lose

text: despite

text: Obama

text: 's

text: campaign

text: appearance

text: for

text: Coakley

text: on

text: Sunday

text: Facing

text: the

text: possibility

text: of

text: Coakley

text: 's

text: defeat

text: Democrats

text: were

text: trying

text: to

text: figure

text: out

text: if

text: they

text: could

text: pass

text: health

text: care

text: reform

text: without

text: that

text: crucial

text: Senate

text: vote

text: The

text: seat

text: is

text: currently

text: held

text: by

text: former

text: Kennedy

text: aide

text: and

text: longtime

text: friend

text: Paul

text: Kirk

text: who

text: was

text: appointed

text: to

text: the

text: seat

text: on

text: an

text: interim

text: basis

text: Two

text: Democratic

text: sources

text: in

text: close

text: contact

text: with

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: told

text: CNN

text: on

text: Monday

text: they

text: 've

text: urged

text: the

text: administration

text: in

text: the

text: event

text: of

text: a

text: Brown

text: victory

text: to

text: push

text: House

text: Democrats

text: to

text: pass

text: the

text: Senate

text: 's

text: health

text: care

text: bill

text: as

text: currently

text: written

text: Doing

text: so

text: would

text: prevent

text: the

text: plan

text: from

text: having

text: to

text: be

text: taken

text: up

text: by

text: the

text: Senate

text: again

text: I

text: think

text: the

text: Senate

text: bill

text: clearly

text: is

text: better

text: than

text: nothing

text: House

text: Majority

text: Leader

text: Steny

text: Hoyer

text: D

text: Maryland

text: said

text: Tuesday

text: A

text: third

text: option

text: would

text: be

text: for

text: Democrats

text: to

text: revisit

text: the

text: idea

text: of

text: trying

text: to

text: push

text: health

text: care

text: through

text: the

text: Senate

text: with

text: only

text: votes

text: a

text: simple

text: majority

text: But

text: to

text: do

text: that

text: Democrats

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: use

text: a

text: process

text: known

text: as

text: reconciliation

text: which

text: presents

text: technical

text: and

text: procedural

text: issues

text: that

text: would

text: delay

text: the

text: process

text: for

text: a

text: long

text: time

text: A

text: number

text: of

text: Democrats

text: are

text: eager

text: to

text: put

text: the

text: health

text: care

text: debate

text: behind

text: them

text: and

text: move

text: on

text: to

text: economic

text: issues

text: such

text: as

text: job

text: creation

text: as

text: soon

text: as

text: possible

text: this

text: election

text: year

text: Senate

text: Democrats

text: could

text: also

text: try

text: again

text: to

text: get

text: moderate

text: GOP

text: Sen.

text: Olympia

text: Snowe

text: of

text: Maine

text: to

text: vote

text: for

text: a

text: compromise

text: health

text: reform

text: plan

text: Multiple

text: Democratic

text: sources

text: however

text: have

text: said

text: they

text: believe

text: that

text: is

text: unlikely

text: now

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Jim

text: Acosta

text: Dana

text: Bash

text: Kevin

text: Bohn

text: Ed

text: Henry

text: Ed

text: Hornick

text: John

text: King

text: Suzanne

text: Malveaux

text: Shawna

text: Shepherd

text: Jessica

text: Yellin

text: Alan

text: Silverleib

text: and

text: Tom

text: Cohen

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who conceded to Brown?

answer: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley,

text: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley,

question: what will democrats lose

answer: 60-seat Senate supermajority

text: 60-seat Senate supermajority

question: Who lost by obstructionism?

answer: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate.

text: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate.

question: Who felt frustrated by the Massachusetts Senate race?

answer: Obama

text: Obama

question: Who's seat are voters filling?

answer: liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.

text: liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.

question: for what is obama frustrated

answer: the race,

text: the race,