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30 Mar 2011 22:01

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World: Secret authorization grants aid to Libyan rebels

  • Was Libyan military aid authorized? It’s being reported that President Obama signed an order, called a “finding,” which is effectively a secret authorization to militarily support the Libyan rebellion. The process is said to generally be used for secret CIA authorizations. The administration has gone to staggering lengths to avoid the perception that the Libyan intervention was an American decision rather than an international one, for reasons of perception both domestic and worldwide. This report, however, would suggest the U.S. had decided to actively support the rebellion of their own unilateral volition. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Mar 2011 16:06

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U.S.: President Obama argues for less imported oil

  • 25% the percentage of global oil production that’s consumed by the U.S.
  • 2% the percentage of global oil reserves under the control of the U.S.
  • 1/3rd the reduction in fuel imports Obama wants for the next decade source
  • » So, how do we get there? The nitty-gritty policy proposals President Obama spoke on seemed hauntingly familiar, with emissions standards, electric car production, (safety reviewed) nuclear power and natural gas all figuring into his pitch. These are all worthwhile possible answers or supplements to reduce foreign fuel imports, but will Congress has the desire, or failing that the collective will, to act on issues they’ve to this point been pretty willing to pass on? Especially with a Republican-led House, whose leadership is demonstrably opposed to emissions standards, it’s a worrisome possibility that this effort, like so many over the last thirty years, will fall by the wayside.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 19:37

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World: Obama: Gaddafi will ultimately step down from Libyan rule

  • At this point, in addition to maintaining a no-fly zone protecting civilian populations, we also have political tools, diplomatic tools, sanctions freezing his assets — all of which continue to tighten the noose. And so our expectation is that as we continue to supply steady pressure, not only militarily but also through these other means, that Gaddafi will ultimately step down.
  • President Barack Obama • Offering a follow-up to the sentiments he made last night about the American military action in Libya. While Obama says he was reluctant to start another military campaign, here we are — Obama emphasizing that we could “save a lot of lives” in Libya. Doesn’t this contradict all the stuff he’s been saying  about this being a specific mission with a limited scope? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Mar 2011 16:40

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Politics: Obama sure looks like he’s not really handling this Libya thing

  • I’m not going to give you a time or a day.
  • White House Press Secretary Jay Carney • Reminding us why we miss Robert Gibbs so much. Carney, offering a pretty weak answer on when Obama would directly address Libya, made the administration look the fool with an answer like this. While Carney said Obama would have an address on this issue in the “very near future,” details were lacking. It’s starting to look like Obama is not top-of-mind on this issue. This is bad. Gibbs would’ve been more direct than this. Obama looks like he’s got terrible PR. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Mar 2011 13:24

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U.S.: CBO report: Obama’s deficit balloons, and tax cuts to blame

  • $9.5 trillion the size of the deficits that will be required under current policies through 2021, the CBO says
  • $2.7 trillion the increase over the previous expected budget numbers – a huge leap, to say the least source
  • » Why is this? The CBO’s report says that in regards to what’s behind all this, “Of the various initiatives that the President is proposing, tax provisions would have by far the largest budgetary impact.” In layman’s terms, tax cuts — especially those for the middle class — are the largest factor affecting deficits. While he’s pushing for tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, they won’t offset the effect of the tax cuts. You know what’s funny though? Even though the CBO’s report specifically says this, the Washington Times reported this story as if spending was the culprit.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Mar 2011 11:30

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Politics: P.J. Crowley’s exit: Obama looks REALLY REALLY bad right now

  • What exactly goes on in Obama’s mind? He’s a smart and supposedly idealistic guy who came of age during the Reagan years, who surely — those first times he dared to dream about the Oval Office — saw himself taking all the obvious hypocrisy. Instead, he is taking presidential hypocrisy to new levels. What switch got turned off, or on, that stops him from ordering a halt to the mistreatment of Bradley Manning?
  • Philadelphia Daily News columnist Will Bunch • Offering a very harsh and sobering viewpoint on the whole Obama/P.J. Crowley/Bradley Manning thing we posted about yesterday. This is what Obama’s going to have to deal with from the left now that his administration forced Crowley out. See, Obama banked his career on being not that guy. And you know what? He’s kinda acting like that guy now. Who twisted his arm so tightly that he no longer seems to be actively pushing that human rights thing he used to push? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 20:07

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U.S.: Obama completely sidesteps Bradley Manning treatment question

  • With respect to Private Manning, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are.
  • President Barack Obama • Saying something so bewildering about the treatment of Bradley Manning that he forced us to post something unrelated to Japan. “I can’t go into details about some of their concerns,” he added, “but some of this has to do with Private Manning’s safety as well.” Wow. He really said this? On the plus side, at least it’s far enough on his radar that he’s actually saying something about it. But it would’ve been nicer had he said something like this: “I don’t like our treatment of Bradley and have asked the Pentagon to adjust.” That’s what our president should’ve said about that naked guy our government is holding in Quantico brig. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

10 Mar 2011 20:17

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Politics, U.S.: Congress continues working the budget layaway circuit

  • two number of weeks the government gave itself to figure out a budget plan by putting one on layaway
  • zero number of spending resolutions that passed both chambers of Congress in that two-week period
  • three number of weeks the government will likely put a new budget on layaway to prevent a shutdown source
  • » Oh yeah: The next temporary deal could include restrictions that limit how and when the budget can be used – such as, for example, no money spent on the new health care law. Hrm.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 21:24

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U.S.: Obama’s thinking of pulling oil from our backup supply

  • problem Gas prices are rising rapidly, as a result of the drama going on in the Middle East at the moment. Oh no, $4 a gallon? Whatever shall we do? Society will fail miserably without cheap petrol in our tanks!
  • solution? Obama’s considering tapping into our strategic oil reserves, according to White House chief of staff, William Daley. Whew. All this excitement! Where is our fainting couch when we need it? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Mar 2011 10:00

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Politics: Obama meets Jeb Bush: Not as successful as it could’ve been

  • As surreal moments go, Obama chillin’ with Jeb Bush in Miami on the education tip could have been a pretty cool one. We think he probably wins some points with the moderates for being willing to give a Bush – and not the unpopular one – the time of day. Unfortunately, it was a moment with flaws – the meeting itself was a tad awkward. And a speech he gave afterwards (in which he mentioned the meeting) actually drew boos for the bipartisanship attempt. It was a calculated political move, yeah, but you have to give the man credit for trying. He’s had relatively little luck pushing through the right side of the aisle, and he made an effort yesterday. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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