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23 Dec 2009 19:03

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U.S.: Health care now certain to pass final vote in the Senate

  • All it needs for final passage is 51 votes tomorrow morning. It was a long road to get here, boys, but it seems we’re reaching an epic point. The Senate passed its final 60-vote hurdle today, leading the way for a simple up-down vote tomorrow on the bill. If Joe Lieberman wants to defect on this specific vote, he can. The GOP still isn’t happy and – duh – will do everything they can to derail the bill after the vote. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Dec 2009 13:33

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U.S.: With no housing boom, people are leaving Florida and other states

  • What we have is a decade of a roller coaster in terms of migration. If you look at the middle part of this decade, Florida led the country in net domestic migration. Now it’s in the negative part of the ledger.
  • Brookings Institution demographer William H. Frey • Discussing how states experiencing huge growth during the housing boom – specifically Florida, but a few others too – have had people leaving en masse after the financial crisis dried up housing. Despite this, there is some silver lining to be found – the numbers mean that these states will be eligible for more political representation after the 2010 census. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2009 20:58

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U.S.: Rudy Giuliani gives up on big dreams, keeps the little ones

Dude’s rich, dude’s forever associated with 9/11 (in a good way), dude’s famous, but dude’s given up on political office. Dude secretly regrets it, we’re sure. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2009 20:48

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U.S.: Parker Griffith goes from Democrat to GOP, and the world yawns

  • I have become increasingly concerned that the bills and policies pushed by the current Democratic leadership are not good for north Alabama or our nation. More importantly, they do not represent my values and convictions.
  • Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith • On his decision to switch parties in the wake of the health care bill’s near-passage. Griffith, a first-term congressman who nobody’s ever heard of outside of Alabama, just didn’t see his moderate politics fitting in with Nancy Pelosi’s left-leaning push. To which we say fine, but did you have to have a press conference? You’re no Arlen Specter, man, and your flip-flop is not a game-changer. (Side note: Griffith is the first Republican in his district since RECONSTRUCTION.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2009 08:47

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U.S.: Thanks to health care, the Senate’s sleep schedule is out of whack

  • late-night Early Monday, the Senate did a preliminary vote on the health care bill. Robert Byrd, who’s nearly dead, was forced to stay up.
  • dawn First thing Tuesday, the Senate did a vote to end debate on the bill. *yawn* And there are more votes to come yet. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2009 00:43

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U.S.: The seedy underbelly of Las Vegas, in the literal sense

A number of homeless people live in giant tunnels under the glitz and glamor of the bright lights. Many are addicted to drugs or in trouble with the law. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2009 21:19

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U.S.: What’s next for the health care bill? Here’s a quick round-up

  • one It (likely) passes the Senate after a couple more super-tense votes later this week.
  • two The Senate and House take their bills and try to compromise on major details.
  • three The House and Senate vote again, possibly with everyone still on board.
  • four It hits Obama’s desk, and he asks, “What do you call your act?” “The Aristocrats!” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

21 Dec 2009 20:56

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U.S.: The military’s genius new policy: Get pregnant, get court-martial

  • Whoops, the condom broke! I’m screwed! In a baffling decision clearly made by a man, soldiers under command of Gen. Anthony Cucolo in Iraq could face a court martial if they get – or get someone else – pregnant. “Anyone who leaves this fight earlier than the expected 12-month deployment creates a burden on their teammates,” Cucolo wrote. “Anyone who leaves this fight early because they made a personal choice that changed their medical status – or contributes to doing that to another – is not in keeping with a key element of our ethos.” An expert quoted in the article says the policy is legal, too, if controversial. In other news, if the Catholic Church could do this, they totally would. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2009 12:57

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U.S.: Crime’s on the decline in 2009, according to the FBI

  • 4.4% drop in violent crime in 2009’s first half source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Dec 2009 11:15

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U.S.: Feds: Leaving people stuck in grounded planes is not cool

  • Starting in April, the limit is three hours. Ever get that weird cabin fever feeling from being stuck in one place for too long? Well, after one too many incidents where people were stuck in planes on the tarmac for as many as 10 hours (holy crap!), the feds have stepped in. “Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation,” said transportation secretary Ray LaHood. Good someone remembered that. Bad someone had to say it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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