SC4Life

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig defiantly vowed to serve out his term in office on Thursday despite losing a court attempt to rescind his guilty plea in a men's room sex sting.

"I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively," Craig said in a written statement certain to disappoint fellow Republicans who have long urged him to step down. Craig said he will not run for a new term next year.

Earlier Thursday, a Minnesota judge rejected Craig’s bid to withdraw his guilty plea in the airport sex sting, a major setback in Craig’s effort to clear his name.

Saved by Senate Republicans, big oil companies dodged an attempt Tuesday to slap them with a windfall profits tax and take away billions of dollars in tax breaks in response to the record gasoline prices that have the nation fuming.

GOP senators shoved aside the Democratic proposal, arguing that punishing Big Oil won't do a thing to lower the $4-a-gallon-price of gasoline that is sending economic waves across the country. High prices at the pump are threatening everything from summer vacations to Meals on Wheels deliveries to the elderly.

A tax break for windmills that generate electricity?
A tax break to spur employers in the region hit by Hurricane Katrina to hire new workers?
A tax break for Hollywood film and television producers?

What does any of this have to do with the $700 billion bill to rescue banks and investment firms that the House is expected to vote on Friday?

Well, nothing and everything.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has admitted having an affair with a woman in Argentina, but refused to answer questions about whether he would resign from office.

The conservative Republican governor from the southeastern US state made the admission at a press conference he had called to explain his mysterious disappearance over several days last week.

After detailing his previous adventure trips, "profound frustrations" and "emotional" exhaustion following the recent legislative session, he eventually acknowledged having an extramarital affair.

A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster on Monday with critical momentum provided by the Senate's newest Republican, Scott Brown of Massachusetts.

The 62-30 tally to advance the measure to a final vote on Wednesday gives both President Barack Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats a much-needed victory — even though the measure in question is likely to have only a modest boost on hiring.