Article Spotlight 3.5.10

Politics:
Obama signs Bill to Boost US Tourism Promotion: Breitbart
Looking for an edge in the global war for tourism dollars, US President Barack Obama Thursday signed into law moves to attract more overseas travelers. Obama signed the act "which establishes a corporation for travel promotion to encourage international travel to the United States" the White House said in a statement. The effort is to be funded through a matching program featuring up to 100 million dollars in private sector contributions and a 10-dollar fee on foreign travelers who do not pay for a visa, with no money from US taxpayers.

Feds Weigh Expansion of Internet Monitoring: CNET
Homeland Security and the National Security Agency may be taking a closer look at Internet communications in the future. The Department of Homeland Security's top cybersecurity official told CNET on Wednesday that the department may eventually extend its Einstein technology, which is designed to detect and prevent electronic attacks, to networks operated by the private sector. The technology was created for federal networks.

Spy Chips Hidden in 2.5 Million Dustbins: 60 pc rise in Electronic Bugs as Council Snoopers Plan Pay-As-You-Throw Tax: Daily Mail
The growing threat of a stealth tax on the rubbish we throw away was exposed by startling figures yesterday. More than 2.5million homes now have wheelie bins fitted with microchips to weigh their contents. Under such schemes - which are likely to be hugely unpopular - families who put out more waste will pay higher taxes to their local council.

Economy:
Payrolls fall by 36,000; U.S. jobless rate steady at 9.7%: Wall Street Journal
U.S. nonfarm payrolls declined for the 25th time in the past 26 months, falling by 36,000 in February to a seasonally adjusted 129.5 million, the Labor Department estimated Friday. The nation's jobless rate was steady at 9.7% as the number of people employed rose by 308,000, according to the household survey.

Federal Pay Ahead of Private Industry: USA Today

Federal employees earn higher average salaries than private-sector workers in more than eight out of 10 occupations, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data finds. Accountants, nurses, chemists, surveyors, cooks, clerks and janitors are among the wide range of jobs that get paid more on average in the federal government than in the private sector.

Immigration:
Obama Looking to Give New Life to Immigration Reform: LA Times
Despite steep odds, the White House has discussed prospects for reviving a major overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, a commitment that President Obama has postponed once already. Obama took up the issue privately with his staff Monday in a bid to advance a bill through Congress before lawmakers become too distracted by approaching midterm elections.

Foreign Affairs:
Indonesian Students Protest Barack Obama's Visit: AP
Scores of Islamic students staged protests outside Jakarta's parliament and in at least three other major Indonesian cities on Friday against President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to this predominantly Muslim country. The students carried banners branding Obama as an enemy of Islam and an imperialist in downtown Jakarta as well as in the provincial capitals Padang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.

Dozens Hurt in Clashes at Revered Jerusalem Mosque: Reuters
Israeli police and Palestinians clashed outside Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque on Friday and at least 35 people were injured, Israeli police and Palestinian medical workers said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israeli forces of "provocation" and "crossing red lines" in an effort to derail a resumption of peace negotiations expected shortly under U.S. mediation. In a statement, Abbas appealed to Washington to hold Israel back to prevent a "war of religion" in the Middle East.

Other:
Body Scanners Are Headed to 11 Major Airports: USA Today
Eleven major airports will begin using body scanners to screen passengers as the Transportation Security Administration launches a plan to buy 1,000 of the machines over the next two years. The scanners can look under passengers' clothing in order to detect weapons and explosives.

Parents of Pentagon Shooter Reportedly Warned Authorities About Him: Fox News
The Pentagon shooter had been behaving erratically, and his family feared in January that he had bought a gun, a law enforcement official said Friday. San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill told the AP the parents of John Patrick Bedell filed a missing persons report and were worried about his mental stability.

Controversies Big and Small Dog Oscars Contenders: Yahoo News
Anti-war, anti-imperialist, anti-semitic, anti-social, racist: this year's Oscars best picture contenders have faced a barrage of criticism from groups and commentators eager to exploit the media frenzy surrounding the Academy Awards to draw attention to their causes. While science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar" and Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" have been battling criticism on a number of fronts, controversies have also attached themselves to best picture nominees "Precious," "District 9," "An Education," "The Blind Side" and "A Serious Man."

Movie Milestone 'Avatar' Eyes Oscars Gold: Yahoo News
Win or lose at the Oscars this weekend, "Avatar" is already assured of its place in Hollywood history, a 3-D milestone to rank alongside the arrival of sound in the 1920s or color in the 1930s. Director James Cameron's science-fiction blockbuster has already redefined the art of special effects on its way to becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, raking in more than two billion dollars worldwide since its release.

Article Spotlight 3.2.10

Gun Control:
Supreme Court Weighs Chicago's Strict Gun Ban: ABC News
Otis McDonald, 76, is afraid for his life in his crime-saturated Chicago neighborhood and he is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his city's strict ban on handguns in the home.

Economy:
Winter Storms to Distort US Jobless Figures-Summers: Reuters
White House economic adviser Larry Summers said on Monday winter blizzards were likely to distort U.S. February jobless figures, which are due to be released on Friday. "The blizzards that affected much of the country during the last month are likely to distort the statistics. So it's going to be very important ... to look past whatever the next figures are to gauge the underlying trends," Summers said in an interview with CNBC, according to a transcript.

Politics:
Brooklyn ACORN Cleared Over Giving Illegal Advice on How to Hide Money From Prostitution: NY Daily News Brooklyn prosecutors on Monday cleared ACORN of criminal wrongdoing after a four-month probe that began when undercover conservative activists filmed workers giving what appeared to be illegal advice on how to hide money.

One Senator Holds Up Bill, in New Level of Gridlock: Wall Street Journal
The Senate tied itself in knots Monday as it tried to get around a single lawmaker's objection to a spending bill, a showdown that has become emblematic of capital's partisan gridlock.Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky.) again blocked a $10 billion bill that would have extended unemployment benefits and other programs after halting its progress last week. And on Monday, the impact of his blockade started biting, with the expiration of benefits to 100,000 people and the suspension of 41 transportation projects across the country.

Administration Blames Bunning's 'Political Games' for Furlongh of 2,000 Workers: FoxNews
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood blasted Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning Monday for blocking legislation to extend several federal programs, a move that triggered the furlough of 2,000 transportation workers Monday.


Harold Ford: Democrats are 'scared': Politico
Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. said Tuesday that Democrats are “scared” heading into this fall’s election and that he decided not to run for the Senate from New York because he feared his party would lose the seat after a tough primary.

Health Care:
Obama said poised to Offfer more Healthcare Changes: Reuters
President Barack Obama will offer changes to his healthcare overhaul this week, the White House said on Monday, and a leading Democrat said the president was preparing a smaller version of his broad bid to revamp the $2.5 trillion industry.

Article Spotlight 3.1.10

Politics:
Doctors tell Barack Obama to Quit Smoking: Guardian
Barack Obama is still struggling to kick smoking, according to his first medical examination since becoming president. Obama is sensitive about his cigarette habit and tetchy with reporters who raise it. But after his 90-minute medical at the Navy hospital outside Washington yesterday morning, his doctors confirmed he had not yet managed to conquer the habit and suggested he "continue smoking cessation efforts".

Pelosi's Brutal Reality Check: Politco
Asked this weekend to grade her performance as speaker, Nancy Pelosi gave herself an “A for effort.” But Pelosi knows that the real test is still to come. Pelosi is inarguably one of the strongest speakers in modern history — an authoritarian figure in an era of centralized power in the House. But the coming months are a make-or-break period for her, a brutal reality check of her ability to manage all aspects of her job — consensus-building, agenda-setting, vote-counting, fundraising and campaigning.

Pelosi: GOP has had its day; confident Dems can pull together on Health Bill: The Hill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday that Republicans have left their mark on the healthcare bill and should accept that the bill will go forward. "They've had plenty of opportunity to make their voices heard," she said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning. "Bipartisanship is a two-way street. A bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes. Republicans have left their imprint."

Democrats' Obama bounce in California disappearing: AP
Hancock's frustration is evident throughout the nation's most populous state. Just a year ago, the Democratic Party looked at California as a base for adding to its majorities in Congress. Now, it could be a the place where it loses them.

Late Night GOP Wars: Letterman Pits Romney Against Leno's Palin: Deadline.com
Jay Leno made news when he announced that Sarah Palin will be among his high-profile guests when he returns to The Tonight Show next week. Now David Letterman's lineup for next week pits Mitt Romney against Sarah Palin on Tuesday night -- and the ratings may well provide clues on which probable GOP presidential contender may be most popular.

Supreme Court scrutinizes state, local gun control: MyWay
Gun control advocates think, if not pray, they can win by losing when the Supreme Court decides whether the constitutional right to possess guns serves as a check on state and local regulation of firearms. The justices will be deciding whether the Second Amendment - like much of the rest of the Bill of Rights - applies to states as well as the federal government. It's widely believed they will say it does.

Debra Medina, New Star of America's Right, Firing up TX Gov Race: Guardian
...Until Debra Medina, that is. When Medina breezed into Lytle's community hall the locals found themselves confronted with a Texan version of Sarah Palin. She wore a sharp scarlet skirt suit, librarian-style glasses and a puffed-up hairdo. More than 60 Lytle residents had gathered to meet her, a hefty turnout on a weekday at 11am for a Republican primary election in the race to be Texas governor.

Farrakhan predicts 'white right' trouble for Obama: AP
Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, boasting his divine stature, on Sunday predicted trouble ahead for President Barack Obama and urged him to do more to improve the lives of blacks and the downtrodden. The 76-year-old leader said the "white right" was conspiring to make Obama a one-term president, and pointed to his stalled efforts to introduce health care legislation as proof. He said those opponents and lobbyists were trapping him into a future war with Iran that could lead to mass destruction.

Economy:
American Reliance on Government at All Time High: Washington Times
The so-called "Great Recession" has left Americans depending on the government dole like never before. Without record levels of welfare, unemployment and other government benefits as well as tax cuts last year, the income of U.S. households would have plunged by an astonishing $723 billion — more than four times the record $167 billion drop reported last month by the Commerce Department.

California is a greater risk than Greece, warns JP Morgan chief: Telegraph
Mr Dimon told investors at the Wall Street bank's annual meeting that "there could be contagion" if a state the size of California, the biggest of the United States, had problems making debt repayments. "Greece itself would not be an issue for this company, nor would any other country," said Mr Dimon. "We don't really foresee the European Union coming apart." The senior banker said that JP Morgan Chase and other US rivals are largely immune from the European debt crisis, as the risks have largely been hedged.

Foreign Affairs:
Putin: Russia to build new strategic bomber: Breitbart
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia will build a new strategic bomber, a move that comes as the nation tries to upgrade its aging military arsenal. Putin said in televised remarks that work on the bomber must follow the development of a prospective stealth fighter, which made its maiden flight in January and was hailed by the government as a big step in military modernization efforts.


Other:
Some Iraq, Afgan War Vets Criticize movie 'Hurt Locker' as Inaccurate: Washington Post
Time magazine called "The Hurt Locker" "a near-perfect war film," but Ryan Gallucci, an Iraq war veteran, had to turn the movie off three times, he says, "or else I would have thrown my remote through the television."

Survey: 26% of Americans get news via phones: Breitbart
Long Island Bar Fires Pregnant Bartender: ABC

Daily Key Article with Brief Excerpts by Category

Politics:
President Obama's Trip to New Orleans Draws Criticism--Before He Even Arrives: ABC
Slightly more than four years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, President Obama is traveling to New Orleans today to fulfill a campaign promise to survey first-hand the city's recovery. Obama will visit the Martin Luther King Charter School in the city's Lower 9th Ward, a neighborhood devastated by the floodwaters of Katrina after the city's levees were breached. The charter school was the first to be rebuilt following Katrina. On the second anniversary of the hurricane, former President George W. Bush visited the school and met with Louisiana education officials.

Obama Absent From Virginia Governor's Race as Democrat Trails: Bloomberg
For Virginia, it’s not easy being purple. The state had shown signs of becoming Democratic territory when Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to win Virginia since 1964. The governor and both U.S. senators are Democrats, too. That trend may be in trouble.

Majority of Nobel Jury 'Object to Obama Prize': Google News
Three of the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee had objections to the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to US President Barack Obama, the Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG) reported Thursday.

Poll: Obama Personal Popularity At New Low: Examiner
A new Gallup poll shows that the number of people who have a favorable impression of Barack Obama has fallen to its lowest point since he became president. Fifty-six percent say they have a favorable impression of Obama, versus 40 percent who say they have an unfavorable impression. (Four percent say they have no opinion.) Historically, a president's personal favorable rating has often been higher than his job approval rating; right now, Gallup has Obama's job approval at 52 percent.


Military:
U.S. Troop Funds Diverted to Pet Projects: Washington Times
Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis. Among the 778 such projects, known as earmarks, packed into the bill: $25 million for a new World War II museum at the University of New Orleans and $20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.


Health Care:
Obama calls for $250 payment to Seniors: MyWay
President Barack Obama called on Congress Wednesday to approve $250 payments to more than 50 million seniors to make up for no increase in Social Security next year. The Social Security Administration is scheduled to announce Thursday that there will be no cost of living increase next year. By law, increases are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year.

Woman Saya Flu Shot Triggered Rare Disorder: WUSA
Many of you have been lining up to get the seasonal flu shot. But there is one Ashburn woman who wants you to hear her story before you do. Desiree Jennings is trapped in her body. Intellectually she's all there, but her muscles are fighting each other. She's been diagnosed with dystonia, an extremely rare and debilitating neurological disease.

Economy:
Foreclosures: 'Worst Three Months of All Time': CNN Money
Despite concerted government-led and lender-supported efforts to prevent foreclosures, the number of filings hit a record high in the third quarter, according to a report issued Thursday.


Foreign Affairs:
Deal May Return Zelaya: The Age
Honduran negotiators have reached agreement on ending a political crisis triggered by President Manuel Zelaya's ouster in a June coup. ''We have agreed in a document on point No. 6, which relates to the restitution of the powers of state to where they were before June 28, 2009,'' Mr Zelaya's representative said.


Other:
Stockholm's Bunnies Burned to Keep Swedes Warm: The Local
The bodies of thousands of rabbits culled every year from the parks in Stockholm’s Kungsholmen neighbourhood are being used to fuel a heating plant in central Sweden.
The decision to use Stockholm’s rabbit cadavers as bioenergy to warm Swedes living in Värmland doesn't sit well with Stockholm-based animal rights activists.

Fmr Police Association Contractor Charged with Snooping on 'Joe the Plumber': Columbus Dispatch
A former contractor for the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police has been charged with rummaging through state computers to retrieve confidential information about "Joe the Plumber."

Protesters at the B.Bernice Young School- Finding a Way to Be Heard

Obama song video prompts protests at NJ school

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - Protesters brought some different songs Monday to an elementary school where students sang in praise of President Barack Obama, bringing criticism from conservative commentators who said children were being indoctrinated.

About 70 protesters stood on a sidewalk across the street from the B. Bernice Young School waving flags and homemade placards, singing "God Bless America" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and chanting slogans such as "No indoctrination" and "Free children, free minds."

A smaller group of counter-protesters watched and occasionally heckled them.

The school is in a diverse suburb 15 miles northeast of Philadelphia and landed in an uncomfortable national spotlight last month when the video, shot last school year during an author's visit, surfaced. In it, second-graders sang a medley that began, "Mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack Hussein Obama/He said that all must lend a hand/To make this country strong again."

Some critics of the president say the song was overtly political and follows a pattern of Obama being viewed as an idol rather than a politician.

Monday's 90-minute protest, held while the school was in session and attended largely by members of anti-tax organizations from around the state, was an outgrowth of that sentiment.
"We should continue protests like this to prevent this from happening again," said Robert Gordan, 66, a retiree from Middletown.

Karen Flowers, a 43-year-old state government social worker, was there to protest the protesters.

"I don't have any problem with the first African-American president, the children singing about it," Flowers said. "They're making a lot out of nothing."

Jim and Gina Pronchick, who were among the few protesters who have children in the school, said they were upset that their son was in the video without their permission—and that school officials hadn't fully explained the context of the song.

The song was performed in February during an assembly that celebrated a number of occasions, from Black History Month to Dental Health Month, the township Board of Education said in a statement Monday. The lyrics were sent home to parents in advance, the board said.

The video was made a month later when Charisse Carney-Nunes, who wrote the children's book "I Am Barack Obama," visited the school and children sang the song again, school officials said.
"There was no intention to make any political statement or promote a political agenda at all," Superintendent Christopher Manno said in the statement.

The teacher who oversaw the class has retired.

Key Articles by Category with Brief Excerpts

Health Care:
White House Tries to Strike Down Insurance Industry Criticism Ahead of Key Vote: Fox News
The White House fired back Monday at the health insurance industry for issuing a study that claims the health care reform bill working its way toward a key vote Tuesday will raise the cost of individual coverage by hundreds of dollars a year.

Read the Health Bill! Not as Easy as you Think: Yahoo News
Read the bill! It was a rallying cry at angry health care town halls this summer and has evolved into something of a political movement. Many Americans are demanding that lawmakers actually read the comprehensive legislation they've written — or at least make it publicly available — before voting on it.

CVS, Walgreen Have Spot Flu-Vaccines Shortages as Demands Surge: Bloomberg
CVS Caremark Corp. and Walgreen Co., the two largest U.S. drugstore chains, are experiencing spot shortages of seasonal-flu vaccines because of increased demand. CVS MinuteClinics in Austin, Texas, and New York ran out of the seasonal-flu vaccine within the past week before restocking, according to calls to 13 stores by Bloomberg News. Calls to eight Walgreen stores in Manhattan on Oct. 5 determined none had it at the time. There are also shortages in the South and Southeast, said James Cohn, a Walgreen spokesman.

CDC Officials Downplay Risks of Swine Flue Vaccine: MyWay
A top U.S. health official says the risks from not getting the swine flu vaccine are greater than any potential risks associated with the vaccine. Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says she's surprised by all the misinformation going around about the new vaccine. She says a good safety record from past vaccines bodes well for the swine flu vaccine now becoming available.

Economy:
Top Economist Says Unemployment Could Peak at 10.5 Percent: Fox News
Unemployment will continue to rise and could peak at 10.5 percent, one of the nation's top economists said Sunday. Mark Zandi, co-founder of Moody's Economy.com, warned on "FOX News Sunday" that the recovery will continue to be "halting" and "fragile," backing up estimates from other economists that show unemployment peaking next summer and hovering above eight percent four years down the road. New figures released last week showed unemployment rose to 9.8 percent in September, the highest since 1983.

Dollar facing 'power-shift' analysts : Breitbart
A report last week in The Independent claiming that China, Russia and Gulf States are among nations prepared to ditch the dollar for oil trades has heightened the uncertainty surrounding the US currency's future. The dollar's position as the world's leading reserve currency faces increased pressure as the financial crisis allows emerging economies greater influence on the world stage, analysts said.

Dollar Reaches Breaking Point as Banks Shift Reserves: Bloomberg
Central banks flush with record reserves are increasingly snubbing dollars in favor of euros and yen, further pressuring the greenback after its biggest two- quarter rout in almost two decades. Policy makers boosted foreign currency holdings by $413 billion last quarter, the most since at least 2003, to $7.3 trillion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Obama Fails to Win Nobel Prize in Economics: WSJ
In a decision as shocking as Friday's surprise peace prize win, President Obama failed to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences Monday. While few observers think Obama has done anything for world peace in the nearly nine months he's been in office, the same clearly can't be said for economics.

Recession-Hit Britain to Sell Off State Assets: Prime Minister: Breitbart
The government is to sell off 16 billion pounds (25.4 billion dollars, 17.2 billion euros) of assets, Brown was to say, according to extracts from a keynote speech to be given London setting out his vision for "enduring and sustainable growth." The British government will sell off a raft of state assets, Prime Minister Gordon Brown was to say Monday as he bids to reclaim the initiative on reducing recession-hit Britain's debt.


Politics:
Pelosi Key to GOP 2010 Playbook: Fox News
Republicans are stepping up attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, deciding that a major part of their 2010 electoral strategy will be linking Democratic candidates to her.

Report: Obama's White House Counsel Has 'No Plans' to Resign: Fox News
President Obama's White House counsel Gregory Craig said he has no intention of resigning from his position as the administration's top in-house lawyer -- despite widespread reports that he may step down over his role in the closing of the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, The National Law Journal reported.

Whats with all the @#%! Language?: Politico
President Barack Obama called rap star Kanye West “a jackass.” Vice President Joe Biden told a senator to “Gimme a f—-ing break!” Economic adviser Christina Romer declared that Americans had yet to have their "holy s—-” moment over the economy. Those who pay attention to political rhetoric say an unusual amount of profanity has emanated from this White House – even without counting famously colorful White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

Chavez Says Obama did "nothing" to Deserve Nobel: Reuters
Venezuela's socialist leader Hugo Chavez said on Sunday that U.S. President Barack Obama had done nothing beyond wishful thinking to earn the Nobel Peace Prize. Chavez, who has mixed praise for Obama personally with criticism of his government's "imperialist" policies, said he thought it was a mistake when he read the U.S. leader had won.

Nobel Committee Defends Obama Choice: Financial Times
Leaders of the Norwegian Nobel Committee have leapt to the defense of their choice of Barack Obama for the 2009 Peace Prize amid criticism that the award is premature and politically biased. Geir Lundestad, secretary of the committee, said the US president fulfilled the criteria set out in Alfred Nobel’s will better than most winners for his commitment to multilateral diplomacy, nuclear arms reduction and tackling climate change.


Foreign Affairs:
UK halts Business with Iran Firms on Nuclear Fears: Yahoo News
Britain froze business ties with an Iranian bank and state-run shipping firm Monday, citing fears that they were involved in helping the Islamic Republic to develop nuclear weapons. Irannuclear bombs, saying any threats or deadlines would have no impact.

US and UK Downplay Pakistan Fears: Financial Times
The US and Britain tried to bolster confidence in Pakistan’s ability to retain control of its nuclear arsenal on Sunday in the wake of an audacious weekend attack by militants on the headquarters of the country’s army – previously described as impregnable. The Taliban in Pakistan on Monday claimed responsibility for the attack.

Clinton Downplays Threat to Pakistan Nuke Arsenal: MyWay
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday the Taliban siege of Pakistan's army headquarters showed extremists are a growing threat in the nuclear-armed American ally, but she contended they don't pose a risk to the country's atomic arsenal.


Afghanistan:
Senators Escalate Call for Obama to Send More Troops to Afghanistan: Fox News
Top Republican senators escalated their call Sunday for President Obama to grant Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for more troops in Afghanistan, and one prominent Democrat warned that a failure to do so could jeopardize U.S. forces.

Key Senators Says Afghanistan Mission in Jeopardy: Yahoo News
Saying the U.S. mission in Afghanistan is in "serious jeopardy," the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says more troops are needed to combat an increasingly potent Taliban. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's views on the issue are more closely aligned with those of key Republicans than members of her own party, including Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee. He wants to hold off on new troops pending revision of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan.

Partisan Divie Persists on US Troop Surge for Afghanistan: Breitbart
US Republican Senator John McCain warned Sunday that a failure to dispatch more US troops to Afghanistan would be "an error of historic proportions" but Democrats expressed caution about any surge. "I think the great danger now is not an American pullout," McCain told CNN television. "I think the great danger now is a half-measure... trying to please all ends of the political spectrum."


Social Issues:
Gay Rights Advocates March on D.C., Demand That Obama Keep His Pledge: Fox News
Thousands of gay and lesbian activists marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Obama keep his promises to allow gays to serve openly in the military and work to end discrimination against gays.

Rep. Frank: Gays should Lobby Elected Officials: Yahoo News
Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay member of Congress, says he'd rather see gay rights supporters lobbying their elected officials than marching in Washington this weekend, calling the demonstration "a waste of time at best." Frank said in an interview with The Associated Press that he considers such demonstrations to be "an emotional release" that does little to pressure Congress.

Gays Question Obama 'don't ask, don't tell' Pledge: MyWay
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but left many in his audience of gay activists wondering when he would make good on the promise. "I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,'" Obama said Saturday night to a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000 at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group. He offered no timetable or specifics and he acknowledged some may be growing impatient.


Environment:
What happened to Global Warming?: BBC News
This headline may come as a bit of a surprise, so too might that fact that the warmest year recorded globally was not in 2008 or 2007, but in 1998. But it is true. For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures. And our climate models did not forecast it, even though man-made carbon dioxide, the gas thought to be responsible for warming our planet, has continued to rise.

Gore Upbeat On Climate Bill: Wisconsin State Journal
Former Vice President Al Gore shared his optimism about the "shifting momentum" of the climate change debate with about 500 environmental journalists Friday in Madison. "We're very close to that political tipping point," Gore said at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference at the Madison Concourse Hotel. "Never before in human history has a single generation been asked to make such difficult and consequential decisions."

Soros aims to Invest $1B in Green Tech: Reuters
Billionaire George Soros said on Saturday that he would invest $1 billion in clean energy technology as part of an effort to combat climate change. The Hungarian-born U.S. investor also announced he would form and fund a new climate policy initiative with $10 million a year for 10 years.

Energy Crisis is Postponed as New Gas Rescues The World: Telegraph
America is not going to bleed its wealth importing fuel. Russia's grip on Europe's gas will weaken. Improvident Britain may avoid paralysing blackouts by mid-decade after all. The World Gas Conference in Buenos Aires last week was one of those events that shatter assumptions. Advances in technology for extracting gas from shale and methane beds have quickened dramatically, altering the global balance of energy faster than almost anybody expected.

Other:
Obama Takes to Basketball Court With Cabinet Members, Lawmakers: Bloomberg
President Barack Obama wanted to hold court with LeBron James. He made do yesterday with Cabinet officials and lawmakers. In perhaps the most exclusive after-work, backyard basketball game ever, the president recruited players from the ranks of the executive branch and Congress to play on the converted tennis court on the White House’s South Lawn.

Director Polanski Feels Depressed in Jail Reports His Lawyer: Yahoo News
Director Roman Polanski is feeling depressed two weeks after his arrest in Switzerland to face U.S. extradition for a 1977 case involving the rape of a 13-year-old girl, his lawyer was quoted as saying on Sunday. "I found him to be tired and depressed," Herve Temime told the Sonntag newspaper, one of two newspapers he talked to after visiting the Oscar-winning director in a Zurich prison.

Articles Spotlight 9/30

Olympics:
John Boehner blasts Barack Obama's Olympic Move: Politico
House Minority Leader John Boehner torched President Barack Obama Wednesday for his European trip to pitch the Chicago Olympics bid, criticizing the president for "going to go off to Copenhagen when we've got serious issues here at home that need to be debated."

Some Chicago Residents Hoping Olympic Bid a Bust: Yahoo News
The mayor, the president and Oprah Winfrey may hope to return to Chicago from Copenhagen with the 2016 Olympic Games, but some around town hope the International Olympic Committee deems the Second City the second city.

Rivals unfazed by shadow of Obama in 2016 big: Reuters
Chicago's rivals to stage the 2016 Summer Olympics showed no sign on Tuesday of being fazed by the announcement that President Barack Obama would fly to Copenhagen on Friday to support the U.S. city's bid.

Rio Goes on Offensive Against Chicago in Olympics Bid Race: Yahoo News
The race to win the right to host the 2016 Olympics became increasingly bitter here on Tuesday as Rio de Janeiro went on the attack against bookmakers' favourites Chicago.

Obama's Olympic Pitch Draws GOP Complaint: Yahoo News
President Obama's decision to travel to Copenhagen to boost Chicago's chances of winning the 2016 Olympics has drawn criticism from some Republicans, who call it a boondoggle for Obama's hometown allies and evidence the president has blurred his priorities.

Michelle Obama arrives in Copenhagen for IOC Vote: Yahoo Sports
Michelle Obama says the Olympics have the power to transform the lives of children in Chicago and around the country, inspiring them to be the next David Robinson, Nadia Comaneci.


Health Care:
N.Y. Health Care Workers Revolt Over H1N1 Vaccine: CBS
They're upset over an ultimatum from the health department. Workers are being told to either get the swine flu vaccine or lose their jobs. New York is the first state in the country to mandate flu vaccinations for its health care workers.

Military to Get Mandatory Swine Flue Shots Soon: AP
U.S. military troops will begin getting required swine flu shots in the next week to 10 days, with active duty forces deploying to war zones and other critical areas going to the front of the vaccine line, a top military commander said Tuesday.


Politics:
Ex-Dem fundraiser sentenced in NYC to 24 years: Yahoo News
Former Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu was sentenced Tuesday to more than 24 years in prison by a judge who accused him of funding his fraud by manipulating the political process in a way that "strikes at the very core of our democracy."


Economy:
Greenspan Sees Growth Slowing as Stocks 'Flatten Out': Bloomberg
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said he sees the U.S. economy slowing next year as the surge in stocks comes to an end. “The odds are we flatten out,” Greenspan said today in a Bloomberg television interview, referring to the equity market. “That flattening out will put some sort of dull face on 2010.”

Police department gets Boot in West Texas Town: KENS San Antonio
Marfa's quiet country lifestyle and thriving art scene make this tiny west Texas town a favorite getaway. But the city won't keep its police chief and two officers when the police department shuts down October 1.

White House:
Chicago Death of Teen 'Chilling': Breitbart
The White House says cell phone video showing the fatal beating of a 16-year-old honors student in Chicago is "chilling." It came up at President Barack Obama's morning meeting in the Oval Office.


Foreign Affairs:
43 U.S. Troops Have Died in Afghanistan Since Call for Reinforcements: CNS News.com
Another American died in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the final day of September--and exactly one month after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan sent a confidential war assessment to the Obama administration, warning that more forces are needed--soon.

Indonesia quake kills 75, Thousands Trapped: Yahoo News
A powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia Wednesday, trapping thousands under collapsed buildings — including two hospitals — and triggering landslides. At least 75 people were killed on Sumatra island and the death toll was expected to climb sharply.

Iran to Propose third-party Uranium Enrichment: Ahmadinejad: Breitbart
Iran will propose that it is prepared to allow a third party to enrich uranium to the grade it requires for its nuclear reactor rather than carry out the enrichment itself, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday.

Lula faces criticism in Brazil over Honduras role: Reuters
Brazil's government is facing growing criticism at home over its handling of the Honduran crisis as senior lawmakers accuse it of allowing the ousted president to use its embassy as a political platform.


Education:
School district could Backpedal on Policy: Times Union
Seventh-grader Adam Marino is getting a firsthand lesson in civil disobedience. The 12-year-old and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, are defying Saratoga Springs school policy by biking to Maple Avenue Middle School on Route 9. The Jackson Street residents pedal more than four miles together each way to the middle school on nice days despite being told not to by school officials and police.


Other:
Empire State Building Goes Red for Communist China's Revolution: Fox News
New York is seeing red over the decision to turn the city's highest beacon — and one of America's symbols for free enterprise — into a shining monument honoring China's communist revolution Wednesday night.

Roman Polanski: Backlash as Whoopi Goldberg says Director didn't commit 'rape-rape': Telegraph
Goldberg, star of The Color Purple and Sister Act, said: "I know it wasn't rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don't believe it was rape-rape. "He pled guilty to having sex with a minor and he went to jail, and when they let him out he said 'You know what, this guy's going to give me 100 years in jail. I'm not staying'. And that's why he left." Polanski was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday and faces extradition to the United States. He fled the US in 1978 before being sentenced for the crime and has been pursued around the globe by prosecutors ever since.

Anti-Graffiti Plan Raise Stakes for Homeowners: NBC
Looking to prevent your home from becoming a tagger's canvas? The city of LA has a plan that asks homeowners to pitch in or pay -- whether they want to or not. All new buildings in Los Angeles -- including homes -- must have anti-graffiti coating under an ordinance approved unanimously by the City Council on Tuesday. Homes in the tag There is an exception if the owners promise to remove any graffiti on their property soon after it appears.

FedEx Flies Terminally Ill Girl Home: Harrison Daily
Because of caring people and a caring company, a terminally ill little Green Forest girl was flown home Friday by air ambulance from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, so she can spend her last days surrounded by the people who love her most.

Dallas Woman Fuming Over Smoking Neighbor At Complex: Dallas News
In an age when smoking has been outlawed in most public places – government buildings, bars and pool halls – a person's home is one of the few places you can puff in peace. Until now. A Dallas woman has filed a lawsuit seeking six figures from a former neighbor and landlord for damage she says was caused by cigarette smoke wafting through adjoining walls of her high-end townhome.

Articles Spotlight 9/28

Health Care/Swine Flu:
41% Support for Health Care Plan, 56% Oppose: Plan Hits New Low: Rasmussen Reports
Just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and the lowest level of support yet measured

Swine Flue Surge Closes Schools, Tests Hospitals: Washington Post
In Austin, so many parents are rushing their children to the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas with swine flu symptoms that the hospital had to set up tents in the parking lot to cope with the onslaught.

People Can Opt out of Listing STDs, Abortions in Government Mandated Electronic Health Records, Patrick Kennedy Says: CNS NewsRep.
Patrick Kennedy (D.-R.I.) says people will be able to stop doctors from including records of sexually transmitted diseases and abortions in the new national system of Electronic Health Records that was mandated by the stimulus law enacted in February.

Foreign Affairs:
Iran Conducts Third Round of Missile Tests: MyWay
Iran said it successfully completed two days of missile tests that including launching its longest-range missiles on Monday, weapons capable of carrying a warhead and striking Israel, U.S. military bases in the Middle East, and parts of Europe

Iran test-fires long-range missiles: CNN
Days before a key meeting with Western leaders, Iran test-fired two types of long-range missiles Monday in part of what the Islamic republic called routine military exercises, its state-run media reported.

Honduras restricts liberties to prevent rebellion: MyWay
interim government leaders have suspended constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties in pre-emptive strike against widespread rebellion Monday, three months to the day since they ousted President Manuel Zelaya in military-backed coup.

Honduras spurns OAS, vows to close Brazil embassy: Reuters
The de facto government of Honduras denied entry on Sunday to an Organization of American States delegation and threatened to close Brazil's embassy, where ousted President Manuel Zelaya has taken refuge.

China to display upgraded missiles in Oct 1 Parade: Yahoo News
Upgraded missiles will feature prominently in China's Oct 1 military parade which celebrates 60 years of Communist Party rule, the Xinhua news agency said, citing a commander of the service that controls nuclear weapons.

Venezuela exploring uranium deposits with Russia: Yahoo News
Venezuela's science and technology minister said his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium but withdrew an earlier denial that the country was also working with Iran.

Politics:
Bill Clinton: 'Vast right-wing conspiracy' as virulent' as ever: CNN
The "vast right-wing conspiracy" that attacked him during his presidency has been weakened, but continues to operate against President Obama, former President Clinton said Sunday.

After several tries, U.S. officials finally nab Roman Polanski in 1970s rape case: LA Times
Three decades after he fled the United States following his arrest for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, Roman Polanski was taken into custody in Zurich this morning and faces extradition to Los Angeles.

Anger in France and Poland after Polanski arrest: Reuters
France's political elite rallied to the defence of Roman Polanski on Sunday, calling on Switzerland to free the 76-year-old film director rather than extradite him to the United States. Artists and film makers also urged the release of Polanski, who faces charges of having sex with a girl of 13 in 1977, accusing Switzerland of being overzealous in pursuing the case.

Sarkozy wants 'resolution to Polanski arrest: Financial Times
President Nicolas Sarkozy said he hoped for a “speedy resolution” to the arrest in Switzerland of Roman Polanski, the film director who has French nationality.

Economy
Social Security strained by early retirement: MyWay
Big job losses and a spike in early retirement claims from laid-off seniors will force SS to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes the next two years, the first time that's happeened since the 1980s.

Education:
More school: Obama would curtail summer vacation: Yahoo News
Students beware: The summer vacation you just enjoyed could be sharply curtailed if President Barack Obama gets his way. Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.

Military:
U.S. Commander of Afghanistan only talked to Obama once: Washington Times
The military general credited for capturing Saddam Hussein and killing the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq says he has only spoken to President Obama once since taking command of Afghanistan.

Other:
Infant killed in Van Nuys Gang Shooting: LA Times
Police said the shooting that killed a 4-month-old boy and injured two others in Van Nuys early this morning was prompted by an argument between rival gang members.

Silvio Berlusconi calls Barack Obama tanned-again: Telegraph
"I bring you greetings from a person who is called...a person who is sun-tanned...Barack Obama," the smiling 72-year-old politician told a crowd of cheering supporters in Milan on Sunday.

Obama Heading to Copenhagen for Olympic Pitch: NBC
President Obama will travel to Copenhagen to make a pitch for Chicago’s Olympic bid, White House officials have confirmed to NBC News. Obama will leave for Denmark Thursday night, hours after his wife Michelle departs for the vote. The president made the final decision Saturday night after returning from the G20 summit in Pittsburgh.

For Brazil, Olympic Bid is About Global Role: NY Times
On shimmering Copacabana beach, where Rio’s body-conscious residents play volleyball and soccer, giant screens are being readied for a live broadcast of the vote that will determine whether this city will make history by becoming the first South American city ever to host the Olympic Games.

FOX-TV Chicago Ordered Not to Run Anti-Olympics Story: Drudge Report
A local TV station that reported on Chicagoans NOT wanting the Olympics has been told NOT to run the report again, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT!

Abortion Addict Confesses 15 Procedures in 16 Years

Irene Vilar worries that her self-described "abortion addiction" will be misunderstood, twisted by the pro-life movement to deny women the right to choose.

Her book, "Impossible Motherhood", which will be released by Other Press on Oct. 6, chronicles her own dark choices: 15 abortions in 16 years, much of it as a married woman.

As press on the book has begun to leak out, Vilar -- a literary agent and editor --- says she has already sensed "an inkling of hatred."

Vilar has scheduled only closed-door interviews and will not do a book tour. At the urging of her husband, they have made sure all public property records do not reflect her name, so she cannot be targeted at their home.

"I am worried about my safety and the hate mail," she told ABCNews.com in a telephone interview as her home-schooled children were at work on a painting project.

"No book like this has ever been written," she told ABCNews.com. "I just imagine the 'baby killer' and I could be a poster child for that kind of fundamentalism. And there are my little kids in all of that."

Today, at 40, the Latina author has two young children, but her troubled past continues to haunt her well into motherhood.

She grew up in the shadow of her notorious grandmother Puerto Rican nationalist Lolita Lebron, who stormed the Capitol steps with a gun in 1954. Lebron served 25 years in jail for the crime until receiving a pardon from President Carter in 1979.

Her mother committed suicide by throwing herself from a moving car when Vilar was 8 and two of her brothers were heroin addicts.

Click here to keep reading article...

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She was worried about pro-life(rs) making this a big argument against abortion...well duh! I mean c'mon this is a ridiculous story! This woman used abortion as a form of contraception, regardless of what she says. 15 abortions in 16 years is not just because "opps- the condom broke" or "I forgot to take my pill today"...it is pure irresponsibility.

The most disconcerting part is that at the end of the article you learn that she has 2 children, 5 and 3. I have to wonder if A. this woman is sane enough to have children. She self-admittedly has problems and who knows what those girls will go through given her history. B. I want to know what these girls are going to say when they find out that they had 15 brothers or sisters. Can you imagine knowing that there were 15 that came before you?? How "lucky" you must feel to be the "chosen ones".

So yes Irene, us pro-life crazies will use this as an example against the murder that is abortion.

A woman's body is her own until she shares it with another living being.

Article Spotlight 9/17

Foreign Affairs/Homeland Security:
U.S. replaces Bush plan for Europe missile shield: Reuters
Law Enforcement Agents Raid NYC Residences as Part of Terrorism Probe: Fox News
Dismay in Europe as Obama ditches missile defense(with video): Times Online
Eastern Europe grumbles about downgrade in US ties: Yahoo News
Decision of Shelved Missile Shield Will 'Empower' Russia, Say Critics in Congress: Fox News
Analysis: Demise of U.S. shield may embolden Russia hawks: KyivPost
Polish PM wouldn't take U.S. calls: Politico
China could undermine US military power in Pacific: Gates: Breitbart
Obama helps strengthen General Electric-Putin ties: Washington Examiner
Venezuela says signs new $16 billion China oil deal: Reuters
'Old friends' Cuba, China strengthen ties: McClatchy
Body bags dirupt Canada's flu-readiness message: Reuters Canada
China says will push space programme to catch up West: Breitbart

White House/Congress:
Obama Used Faulty Anecdote in Speech to Congress: Wall Street Journal

• Obama told a story about a man whose insurance was dropped during chemo because they discovered gallstones he didn't know about. Obama went on to say "They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it."
  The TRUTH was uncovered by the Wall Street Journal. Apparently, the man's insurance was reinstated within 3 weeks and he died 4 years later, after continued care including a stem cell transplant.

Health Care:
Michelle Obama turns to health care: Politico
Health Care 101: Terms and Phrases that Have Defined the Health Care Debate: Fox News
California lawmaker plans hearing on soda-obesity link: Yahoo News
FOX News Poll: Are Obama's Opponents Racists?
FOX News Poll: Americans Prefer Current System to Obama's Health Care Plan

Economy:
Tracking Your Taxes: Unnecessary Earmark Projects Linger: Fox News
Fired Inspector General Files Motion to Return His Job: Fox News

Scandal:
Filmmaker Demands ACORN Apologize for Claiming Undercover Video 'Doctored': Fox News
Senate Votes to Cut Off ACORN Housing Funding: Fox News

Other:
Media Shield Bill Sidetracked in Senate Committee: Fox News
Picture emerges of Yale suspect as controlling: Yahoo News
Nassau DA: Hofstra Student Made up Gang Rape Story: CBS
Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?: Times

• Interesting article on Beck, leans pretty far left on their portray of Beck, his followers and economic empire but interesting in some respects none the less. excerpt: "He is a gifted storyteller with a knack for stitching seemingly unrelated data points into possible conspiracies — if he believed in conspiracies, which he doesn't, necessarily; he's just asking questions. He's just sayin'."

Articles Spotlight: 9/16

Health Care:
Concerns of Black House Members Helped Spur Rebuke of Wilson: Bloomberg
Snowe falls away, leaving Senate Dems without GOP support on health care: The Hill
Baucus outlines health plan without GOP support: Brietbart
Jimmy Carter: Wilson comment 'based on racism': myway.com
Carter: Racism plays major role in opposition to Obama: CNN
Lawmaker's 'You lie' outburst draws House rebuke: Yahoo News
Sen. Jay Rockefeller Dumps on Baucus' Bill and No Snowe Yet: ABC News

White House:
Exclusive: W.H. collects Web users' data without notice: Washington Times
Obama postpones meeting with Dalai Lama: Montreal Gazette

Homeland Security/Foreign Affairs:
FBI more anti-terror raids in Queens; Fear Madrid-style subway bombing: NY Daily News
Sarkozy: Iran working on nukes today: Jerusalem Post
US, Cuba gear up for direct mail talks in Havana: Breitbart
Obama: No 'immediate' decision on more troops to Afghanistan: Breitbart

Environment/Economy:
Obama Admin: Cap and Trade Could Cost Famalies $1,761 a year: CBS
Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO: Breitbart
God Rises to Record Settlement Price on Inflation Concern: Bloomberg
House passes funding for green vehicle research: Breitbart


Unions:
Trumka Takes Helm of AFL-CIO: Breitbart
Embattled ACORN orders independent investigation: Breitbart
ACORN plans internal investigation: Breitbart

Other:
House guidelines for Presidential Put-Downs: Politico
Autopsy finds Yale graduate student was suffocated: Yahoo News
Official: Satan-Loving Teen Lights Church Fire: KCRA
Massachusetts expected to fill Kennedy Seat Soon: Reuters

Articles Spotlight: 9/9

Health Care:
Pelosi and Reid Tell President: We Have the Votes; President Wants Bill Passed Soon: ABC News
Olympia Snowe is bringing Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins along on health care reform: True/Slant
Obama's media skills face pivotal test: Politico
Obama and the Bureaucratization of Health Care: Wall Street Journal
Obama to Endorse Public Plan in Speech: WSJ
Despite Fears, Health Care Overhaul is Moving Ahead: NYT
President Obama says 'sin tax' on sodas is food for thought, despite Gov. Paterson's failed proposal: NY Daily News
'Doctors told me it was against the rules to save my premature baby': Mail Online (UK)

• I hope these people rot!! Just another terrible story from a country with the "public option" that Obama want to pass here. Because a child was born 2 days earlier than treatment is allowed according to the medical National guidelines, he was left to die by the doctors. He lived for 2 hours without medical care. before he died

Obama Pitched Universal Health Care to Students in Meeting Prior to His Speech on Education: CNS News

• How many people think Obama's orignial speech for students included something political? Oh and Obama read letters everyday from the 'ordinary people' given to him by his staff. This is so ridiculously deeming. I'm sure these letters are chosen to stroke Obama and his agenda's ego.
  

Foreign Affairs:
Obama to seal US-UN relationship: Financial Times:

• Obama chairing Security Council that is focusing on nuclear disarmament, seriously?? Like c'mon! While North Korea is over there getting all these nukes were going to be getting rid of ours? Why don't we just toss tehm over the Pacific since we like to redistribute so much!
  

UN wants new global currency to replace dollar: Telegraph

• Just another scary coincidence with the the Bible's book of Revelations? I remember a few things from studying this sections of the Bible that talks about the end of times and if I am recalling correctly a world currency is mentioned there. Did you know that there is no country mentioned that has any similarities to the U.S. No surprise since we are aren't going to be/are no longer the strongest/best country int he world.
  

Defense declines request for Guantanamo group tour: Townhall.com

Economy:
Senate must raise debt ceiling above $12 Trillion: The Hill
Investors make offer for Chicago Sun-Times: Breitbart
Raising the debt limit could be tricky: Politico
Taxpayes face heavy losses on auto bailout: MyWay
Senate's fiscal irresponsibilty is scaring the UN: Examiner

Education:
Obama tells student each has something to offer: Townhall.com