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18 Jul 2011 00:56

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Politics: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Obama faces confirmation headaches

  • Until President Obama addresses our concerns by supporting a few reasonable structural changes, we will not confirm anyone to lead it. No accountability, no confirmation.
  • Sen. Richard Shelby • Offering an ultimatum about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, particularly in regards to its leadership. Obama recently chose former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as his pick — a slight over noted financial industry critic Elizabeth Warren, but one that will nonetheless face a tough Senate  confirmation battle. The GOP wants to push a five-member commission structure for the organization, but while Obama may offer concessions to please Republicans, that particular idea is off the table. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 May 2011 14:45

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U.S.: Gen. Martin Dempsey tapped as Joint Chiefs Chairman

  • Martin’s memorable Memorial Day: President Obama announced today that Army General Martin E. Dempsey is his nominee to serve as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dempsey’s nomination will go before the Senate, where Obama’s folks have been known to languish against a partisan opposition. Seeing as military issues and figures have generally become matters of bipartisan veneration, though, we reckon this very high profile job will be an exception to that political rule. Interesting tidbit: Dempsey was sworn in as the Army’s Joint Chief on April 11th, 2011, making this an impressively quick promotion. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Aug 2010 20:39

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U.S.: Get ready: Elena Kagan officially the new John Paul Stevens

  • 63 senators voted for Kagan; the rest got  screamed “NAY”
  • 111 the number of justices that have served the court; she’ll be lucky 112
  • 3 the number of women that have served; she’ll be the fourth source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Jun 2010 21:49

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Politics: Max Headroom: Blame Robert Bork for Elena Kagan’s problems


  • “Conceivable”? Really? Elena Kagan is like a puppy dog with wide eyes and a lovable smile. Yet, Sen. Jeff Sessions seems to think there might be a chance she gets filibustered. Really? Are we talking about the same Elena Kagan?

  • Blame Robert Bork Why is Kagan’s hearing so seemingly controversial? Because Robert Bork, the Reagan Supreme Court nominee, created an air of contention that every high court nominee’s hearing has had ever since.

  • One woman to anotherLate last month, Sandra Day O’Connor, who went through a painful confirmation herself, told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the process is tough for everyone, but she thought Kagan would make it.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 May 2010 09:58

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Politics: Old Elena Kagan: Supreme Court confirmations need to be tougher

  • 1995 Kagan wrote a paper while at the University of Chicago suggesting that Supreme Court nominees rarely got asked tough questions.
  • 2009 Kagan, a year before her own nomination, backed off her own tough stances. Who wants to bet they’ll come up? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 May 2010 22:24

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U.S.: Five reasons why Elena Kagan is an obvious SCOTUS pick

  • one She’s 50, exactly the right age to run for the court. She’d grow really old there.
  • two Loaded with a stellar resume he has an East Coast background, like other justices.
  • three She’s solicitor general. She already argues high court cases for Obama.
  • four She’s already faced the Senate already, meaning confirmation will be fairly easy.
  • five People have been talking about her getting the job like it’s already a given. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

02 Dec 2009 23:34

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U.S.: Ben just got Bernanke’d by Bernie Sanders. Ouch.

  • bernanke1202
  • Yeah … Our boy’s gonna have trouble getting a second term. Ben Bernanke’s first term as Federal Reserve chair was marked by a whole bunch of crazy bank failures, financial market distress, bailouts, and pissed-off tea partiers who probably want to hurt him. On the eve of a second confirmation hearing, one independent senator has said “enough.” Bernie Sanders plans to put a hold on Bernanke’s nomination, which means he might be able to filibuster easily. He’s pretty much screwed. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

04 Oct 2009 22:40

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Tech: This is what happens when you put Digg’s Kevin Rose on the spot

  • Let’s say you’re a couple of Norwegian video podcasters looking for a big get. You know, the kind of get that might get people to watch a Norwegian video podcast. How’s about this? Kevin Rose, the mastermind of Digg, nursing a beer, confirming that he has an iPhone version of his killer app coming. Sounds like you’re set for life, Norwegian video podcasters. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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