McClatchy News Service

WASHINGTON -- Democrats in the House of Representatives sent President Barack Obama a strong message Thursday: Speed up U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.

Though the House's bid to push Obama to expedite the U.S. exit failed, it lost by a surprisingly close 215-204 vote. The outcome -- and the fiery debate that preceded it -- made it clear that the president's party, as well as a growing number of Republicans, is growing impatient with the almost 10-year-old war as the 2012 election campaign approaches.

"The American people are tired and fed up," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C

"After 10 years of war, people are ready to bring troops home. It's not cutting and running, it's the longest war in the history of the United States, for goodness sake," added Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.

FRESNO, Calif. -- A California State University, Fresno, graduate is making news in England.

Bradley Hart discovered previously unseen photos of Adolf Hitler and documents that for the first time link a prominent British scientist to Nazi Germany's efforts to create a master race through its use of sterilization.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Illegal immigrants could receive college financial aid under legislation approved Thursday by the Assembly and apparently destined for the desk of a new Democratic governor who supports the concept.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Most of the expected field did not take part in the first debate of the 2012 Republican presidential race in Greenville Thursday, but South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley sure did.

Just five candidates -- in a GOP field expected to grow to twice that size -- took part in the debate, the first official event of the 2012 campaign season. The debaters were former Godfather's Pizza chief executive Herman Cain, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

With so few candidates at the debate, Haley played a supporting role as the Fox News moderators took up her challenge to presidential candidates to weigh in on a National Labor Relations Board complaint against Boeing Charleston's plant.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Donald Trump's arrival here Wednesday could not have been more dramatic had it been scripted for his television series: The black helicopter emblazoned with his name swooped out of a drizzling morning sky. He strode across the tarmac toward an airport hangar packed with reporters, the massive door rolling up slowly to reveal his presence.

WASHINGTON -- The White House released President Obama's long-form birth certificate to reporters on Wednesday, an extraordinary step in reaction to renewed questions from critics about whether he was born in Hawaii.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A leaked manuscript by one of Sarah Palin’s closest aides from her time as governor charges that Palin broke state election law in her 2006 gubernatorial campaign and was consumed by petty grievances up until she resigned.