Three million new jobs in Obama’s ARRP—will Congress agree?
Monday, January 5, 2009 at 11:39AM At Change.Gov Americans can keep up with what’s on our soon-to-be Commander in Chief’s agenda, and top of the list is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. President-Elect Barack Obama said in his weekly address delivered Saturday, “We need an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term.” So far so good. Obama said he doesn’t want the plan to just throw money at the problem. Rather, “We must make strategic investments that will serve as a down payment on our long-term economic future. We must demand vigorous oversight and strict accountability for achieving results. And we must restore fiscal responsibility and make the tough choices so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down.”
The cloud for fiscal conservatives comes in the form of a plan to create jobs. Obama wants to create a blizzard of jobs—more than 3 million —“more than eighty percent of them in the private sector.” Doing some basic math, consider the 20 percent or so that aren’t created by the private sector. Will the administration add 600,000 new government jobs to the taxpayer burden? Will those new jobs get the federal benefits package most government employees receive?
Today's expanded West Wing is very similar to the 1902 "temporary" executive office building. After 100 years, the West Wing has transformed the grounds of the White House and the presidency.
Muslim family kicked off flight raises questions about security
Friday, January 2, 2009 at 01:47PM 
Fireworks over Orlando (from City of Orlando website).Bloggers and pundits are analyzing the plight of a Muslim family booted from an AirTran flight headed to Orlando. Family members were allegedly overheard discussing the safest places to sit in an airplane. One thing led to another and the FBI investigated, ultimately deciding the passengers posed no danger. The family ended up booking flights on another airline. One family member says he may sue.
‘Dignity’ damaged en route to Gaza—mission of mercy or politics?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 01:37PM 
Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (photo from US Congress Bioguide).As usual, media is dogging the latest conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with American media doing its best to highlight Israel’s role and refrain from telling the whole story. The latest sound bite of the week stems from efforts by former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) and some like-minded activists who decided to take relief supplies directly to the center of the battle. McKinney and company sailed on the Gibraltar-based ‘Dignity, ‘ described by various media as a pleasure boat.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, “The boat, which set off from Cyprus Monday wanted to make a statement and deliver medical supplies to embattled Gaza.” Predictably, the Israeli military wasn't happy to see the Dignity.
Politics, US Media, US Friends Abroad, The Information Wars, Opinion, global news tagged hamas, Israel, Dignity, McKinney, relief Russian analyst’s words about U.S. disintegration shouldn’t be dismissed
Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:30AM (COMMENTARY)—Media outlets and blogs have had a field day with Russian analyst Igor Panarin’s bleak forecast for the United States—a disintegration of the union into sections that may be controlled by foreign countries.
Pravda reported Panarin believes the U.S. will split into six parts as follows: “The first part is the US Pacific Coast. Here is an example. The Chinese make about 53 percent of San Francisco’s population. An ethnic Chinese used to be the governor of the State of Washington, whereas its capital, Seattle, is dubbed as the gateway for Chinese emigration to the USA. The Pacific Coast gradually falls under the influence of China. The second part is the south and the Mexicans. The Spanish language is widely spread there, it has almost become a state language of the territory. Texas openly fights for its independence. The Atlantic Coast represents a different ethnos and a different mindset, which may split into two. Central depressive regions make the final group. I have to remind here that five central states of the USA, where Indians live, declared their independence. It was considered a joke, a political show, but it’s a fact. Canada’s influence is strong in the north. We can claim Alaska after all, it was granted on a lease…”
Map from U.S. Government/CDC, NOAA.
Desperation taxes in Oregon, New York tip of the ‘taxberg’ for states in 2009
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