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26 Nov 2010 15:18

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Offbeat: National emergency: Obama busted his lip playing hoops

  • 12 stitches needed; don’t miss this week’s YouTube address source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Nov 2010 11:51

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U.S.: Retired NYC fire marshal: I wanna kill Obama, then myself

  • It had been a good solid fifteen months or so. We were due for another one of these. Seems that Michael Bowden, a 77-year-old retired police officer and fire marshal who worked in NYC, had discussed a plan to kill Obama – and then himself – because he was not doing enough to help out African-Americans. (Bowden is white, by the way.) Police checked his Spartanburg, South Carolina home and found a ton of loaded semiautomatic weapons next to his bed, suggesting that he was well along with his plan. Obama has faced a handful of assassination plots like these, but generally it’s not because Obama is doing too little to help black people. So this is new. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 16:48

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U.S.: Turkeys more worthy of Obama’s mercy than humans

  • four number of turkeys Obama has pardoned since becoming president
  • zero number of people the president has pardoned so far source
  • » A fairly recent phenomenon: Although the pardoning of turkeys seems like a longstanding presidential phenomenon, it’s not. The first pardoning took place in 1989 under George H.W. Bush’s watch. And the shipping of turkeys to the White House only started in the 1940s, on Harry Truman’s watch. We’re guessing Truman killed the turkey himself.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2010 10:30

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Politics: Obama ensures us that he’s not thinking about Sarah Palin

  • I don’t think about Sarah Palin. … Obviously Sarah Palin has a strong base of support in the Republican Party and I respect those skills. But I spend most of my time right now on how I can be the best possible president.
  • President Barack Obama • Making sure to emphasize that he’s not in campaign mode for the next two years. It’s notable he mentions Sarah Palin, though, because that’s someone who probably will be. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Nov 2010 22:30

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Politics: Obama: Sorry I’ve dropped the ball on bipartisanship

  • I neglected some things that matter to a lot of people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington. I think, moving forward, I’m going to redouble my efforts to go back to some of those first principles. And the fact that we are out of crisis – although still, obviously, in a difficult time – I think will give me the capacity to do that.
  • Barack Obama • Explaining the other day how he managed to lose his grip on bipartisanship during his first two years in office, and his desire to regroup and find it again. It’s OK man, and kind of understandable. The other side wasn’t looking for bipartisanship, either. Though we do admit that we kinda hoped that you would’ve kept more of a level head going into office. Get your fresh start dude. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Nov 2010 10:40

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Politics: David Axelrod leaving White House to pump up Obama’s 2012 hopes

Rahm’s gone, off pretending to be mayor, and now Davey Boy Axelrod is leaving the White House to run Obama’s 2012 campaign. Why do things change? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Nov 2010 21:42

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Politics: Dennis Kucinich: Don’t try to expand Afghan War on MY watch

  • Expanding the timeline constitutes a de facto expansion of the war without Congressional approval.
  • Rep. Dennis Kucinich • On why he’s going to push for a vote on an end date for the Afghan War when Congress gets back in session in January. Obama reportedly plans to de-emphasize the July 2011 exit date and go with a more realistic 2014. This does not sit well with ol’ Denny boy, and he’s going to make sure the president knows it. But will the Republican House just go with the president on this one? (thanks stfuteabaggers)  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Nov 2010 09:42

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Politics: Obama: Skip the politics, let’s listen to fiscal commission’s ideas

  • Before anybody starts shooting down proposals, I think we need to listen, we need to gather up all the facts. If people are, in fact, concerned about spending, debt, deficits and the future of our country, then they’re going to need to be armed with the information about the kinds of choices that are going to be involved, and we can’t just engage in political rhetoric.
  • President Barack Obama • Offering firm – but vague – support for his fiscal commission’s work. An early version if his report was released yesterday, and it specifically made Democrats very angry (and Republicans as well, over proposed massive defense cuts). Obama’s point? Let’s look at their ideas, avoid the politics and start talking about what makes most sense. That said, though, Obama’s not offering specifics until he sees the full report, which isn’t coming along until December 1. Plus, he’s in Seoul, not DC. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Nov 2010 21:53

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Politics: Obama’s fiscal commission: Outside groups have their fingers in it

  • Taxpayers fund the commission and they should work independently of Washington lobbyists and power brokers. This is the type of shenanigans that average Americans are so upset about right now – that money talks and everyone else is left out.
  • National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare founder Barbara B. Kennelly • Explaining why she’s upset about Obama’s fiscal commission. Simply put: it has a weird staffing structure. One out of every four members of its staff don’t get a paycheck from the government and instead get paid by outside groups. This has the effect of making the committee’s staff very diverse, but angers people like Kennelly, a former Democratic congresswoman from Connecticut. Democrats have been concerned the panel leans a little too close to the conservative side and influenced by special interests, something the group disputes. Either way, when it comes to cutting stuff, expect there to be constant debate and complaining. Lots of complaining. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Nov 2010 21:34

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U.S.: Obama’s fiscal commission: Cut defense spending, lose the contractors

  • $4 billion in deficit cuts proposed over the next freaking decade
  • $3T the cost to keep the Bush tax cuts for households that make under $250,000 over the next decade
  • 3/4ths of the proposed cuts would be from the Defense Department; the rest would be from tax revenues
  • 250k number of contractors whose jobs would be eliminated under the proposal, saving $18.4 billion source
  • » How will Congress adopt these ideas? Don’t expect a wholesale adoption of these ideas pushed forward by a bipartisan team of Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, but the ideas will definitely push Congress in a fiscally mindful direction.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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