Crawford, Texas – In a biting rebuke, the White House on Sunday dismissed former President Carter as “increasingly irrelevant” after his harsh criticism of President Bush.
Carter was quoted Saturday as saying, “I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history.”
The Georgia Democrat said Bush had overseen an “overt reversal of America’s basic values” as expressed by previous administrations, including that of his own father, former President George H.W. Bush.
“I think it’s sad that President Carter’s reckless personal criticism is out there,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto responded Sunday from Crawford, where Bush spent the weekend.
“I think it’s unfortunate,” Fratto said. “And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments.”
Carter made the comments to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper’s Saturday editions.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Inland whales headed back toward Pacific
Two whales that took a wrong turn and swam 90 miles inland to California’s capital were heading back toward the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, according to the Coast Guard.
The humpback mother and her calf started moving southwest and were about 5 miles back down the Sacramento River late Sunday afternoon, Petty Officer Brian Leshak said.
The whales have a long way to go and face obstacles. Officials said there are sloughs that could trap the whales, which appear to have been injured by a propeller.
WASHINGTON
Gonzales might quit, Specter surmises
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Sunday that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales might resign rather than face a potential no-confidence vote in the Senate.
Senate Democrats have said they would bring a no-confidence resolution to the floor as soon as this week because of questions about Gonzales’ role in the firing of federal prosecutors last year and doubts about his leadership.
On “Face the Nation” on CBS, Specter said, “I have a sense that before the vote is taken, that Attorney General Gonzales may step down. … I think that if and when he sees that coming, that he would prefer to avoid that kind of an historical black mark.”
Justice spokesman Brian Roehr kasse said Gon zales had no intention of resigning.
AUSTIN, Texas
19-month-old boy dies after life-support fight
A 19-month-old boy whose illness started a debate over who decides when life-sustaining treatment should cease has died.
Emilio Gonzales died Saturday night at Children’s Hospital of Austin, attorney Jerri Ward said.
Emilio was believed to have Leigh’s disease, which destroys brain functions. His mother had fought to continue his care, while the hospital wanted to invoke a state law allowing it to stop life support after a 10-day notice for patients deemed medically futile.
In April, a judge temporarily blocked the hospital’s move. The state Senate has approved legislation to give families more time before ending treatment.
CAMARILLO, Calif.
Gas reaches record U.S. average of $3.18
The average price of self-serve regular gas hit a record of $3.18 a gallon, rising more than 11 cents in two weeks, according to a national survey released Sunday.
That topped the record of $3.07 set two weeks ago and the previous inflation-adjusted record of $3.15 in March 1981, said the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations.
The lowest average for regular fuel was $2.87 in Charleston, S.C.; the highest was $3.59 in Chicago.
MEXICO CITY
3 officers die in latest wave of drug violence
Assailants gunned down three police officers within 24 hours around the northern industrial city of Monterrey, the latest in a wave of killings of law enforcement officials across Mexico.
Commander Fidel Reyna and agent Rene Reyes were ambushed with automatic-rifle fire late Saturday, Mexican media reported. Hours earlier, Commander Mario Sanchez, 47, was killed.
Gunmen linked to drug-trafficking gangs are increasingly targeting police and soldiers as President Felipe Calderon wages an offensive against drug cartels.
