Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the self-described "hockey mom," knows what it takes to govern the state while raising five children. Nonetheless, her ability to balance vice-presidential demands with family obligations has been called into question. Is the criticism sexist? The Takeaway talks with former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift, who gave birth while serving in office. Gov. Swift took your questions.

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The widower of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto has taken office as the country's new president this morning. He faces immediate pressure to crack down on Islamic militants and address daunting economic problems. Pakistan's top judge swore in Asif Ali Zardari at a brief ceremony in the presidential palace recently vacated by Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure last month.

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If you think Senator Hillary Clinton is going to be involved in any kind of political cat fight with Sarah Palin, you should think again. As Clinton continues to stump for the Obama campaign this week, she is making little mention of John McCain’s VP pick. The Takeaway spoke with Adam Smith, political editor for the St. Petersburg Times, after Clinton’s Tampa campaign stop.

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Angola underwent first democratic elections in 16 years, but already many feel there is something amiss. Amidst reports that people were bussed in from neighboring Congo to vote, the opposition party is calling for a recount as additional reports of voters receiving handouts of cash, alcohol and cars from the ruling party continue to circulate. Richard Howitt is the EU Observer in Angola and was monitoring the elections first hand.

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Later this morning President Bush will speak at the National Defense University about the status of troops in Iraq, and possibly Afghanistan. The speech comes on the heels of a review of Iraq plans by General David Petraeus, who has been the theater commander in Iraq since January, 2007. (General Petraeus has recently been nominated to head U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and confirmed by the Senate.) The Takeaway spoke about Iraq plans with Lt. Col. Nathan Freir (Ret), who has served in Iraq under General Ray Odierno, the man who will be assuming command of Iraqi forces once Petraeus leaves.

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The mortgage giant Fannie Mae is in the spotlight this week, but there is another Fannie May that has had its own share of business woes: The Chicago-based confectioner Fannie May. We go down the company’s rocky road with David Greising. He’s the chief business correspondent for The Chicago Tribune.

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Tomorrow, in an effort to recreate the conditions that followed the big bang, physicists will flip the switch on a gigantic particle accelerator--the Large Hadron Collider. Skeptics fear this will be the end of the earth, scientists say that planetary annihilation is unlikely. For a reality check we turn to the rock star of all things physics, Brian Greene.

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Barack Obama's campaign raised buckets of money during the primary season. That's why, unlike McCain, he turned down federal money -- so his camp could raise and spend funds without preset limits during the run-up to the election. The money chase is proving harder than the Obama campaign expected.

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Oil demand is weakening, and the price of crude oil has hit a five-month low, approaching $100 a barrel. The 149th OPEC conference runs through Wednesday, with the bulk of sessions happening today. Most ministers want to keep oil production unchanged, but if demand continues to weaken, they may have to make difficult decisions.

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Is excitement building around Gov. Sarah Palin because she is the GOP’s brightest new face or because she’s a time-tested throwback, the latest incarnation of President Ronald Reagan? Journalist Anne Taylor Fleming, author of many articles on Reagan, thinks she's seen Palin's approach before. Reagan tapped into a nostalgia for a simpler, better time, and he stuck to a simple message, repeating it over and over. Fleming discusses Reagan, Palin and what she calls Palin’s special brand of “Little House on the Prairie” feminism.

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Did anyone ask Queen Victoria about childcare, or her priorities as a mother? What about Catherine the Great? Pharaoh Hatshepsut ruled an empire 3000 years ago, building Egyptian architecture. Are Americans ahead of the curve regarding the abilities and roles of women? Or are we hopelessly out of touch with history? The Takeaway looks at past female leaders like Golda Meir, Eva Peron and Margaret Thatcher.

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Do you want to battle climate change effectively? Then put down that cheeseburger! The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that direct emissions from meat production account for about 18 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas — roughly equivalent to the amount from cars and trucks. Are there really global benefits for going meat-free?

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain has gained huge support and now leads Democrat Barack Obama among white women voters since naming Sarah Palin as his running mate, according to a survey published on Tuesday. The Washington Post/ABC News poll found that much of McCain's surge in the polls since the Republican National Convention is attributable to the shift in support among white women.

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