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Thursday, December 10, 2009

News Nuggets 264


A statue of Obama -- at age 10! Where can you find this item?! In his old stomping ground in Jakarta, Indonesia. From the Jakarta Globe -- see the last nugget today. I find this pretty hilarious!


Obama Shrinks the War on Terrorism (Peter Beinart) from Time Magazine

Our ON-THE_MONEY pundit of the day!

"His foreign policy in the greater Middle East amounts to an elaborate effort to peel back eight years of onion in hopes of finding the war on terrorism's lost inner core: the struggle against al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda alone. That's the subtext underlying his new Afghan strategy."


Interview with an Iraqi Translator from the New York Times

"The idea of an Iraqi knowledgeable and passionate about American literature might seem strange to some: Waleed was definitely not your average citizen, true. For me, it was a reminder of the people we cross paths with in this life and often know little about. ... In this case, I was fortunate to get a glimpse of the Iraq I served in through Waleed’s eyes. Here are a few excerpts from our conversation."


Senate Compromise on Health Care Gaining Support from the Huffington Post

"President Barack Obama as well as Democratic liberals and moderates all found something to like Wednesday in an emerging compromise to expand the role of government in the nation's health care system, raising hopes inside the party that passage of overhaul legislation might be within reach after a struggle lasting decades."


A Jaw-Dropping Political Deal (Eric Alterman) from the Daily Beast

"The health-care bill had a list of enemies thicker than Tiger Woods’ little black book. Despite it all, the majority of Americans who favor reform just might get their wish."


Reid Strikes a Good Deal (Editorial) from the Editorial Board of the Boston Globe

"SENATE MAJORITY leader Harry Reid has brokered a workable compromise on health care without sacrificing the basic goals of reform. Any national health law that requires everyone to have insurance must offer a range of affordable policies to choose from."


Howard Dean is Moving toward Reality on Reform and Other Liberals Should, Too (Jill Lawrence) from Politics Daily

"Look to Howard Dean for cues and clues to the fate of health reform. The former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and Democratic Party chairman was adamant last spring that real health reform had to include a government-run public plan. He's now supportive of a Senate compromise that's a long way from where we started, but possibly the only way to get us to the finish line."


EPA is Preparing to Regulate Emissions in Congress's Stead from the Washington Post

EXCELLENT NEWS!! THIS is why it makes a difference who is in the White House! It also showcases that who gets appointed MATTER!

"The Obama administration moved closer Monday to issuing regulations on greenhouse gases, a step that would enable it to limit emissions across the economy even if Congress does not pass climate legislation."


HERE's some commentary on this change from Derrick Z. Jackson of the Boston Globe.


And two views from Europe:

1. They Don't Come Any Greener than Obama from Der Spiegel

"As the curtains open at the global summit in Copenhagen, critics in Europe are calling US President Barack Obama a liar and a traitor in the fight to slow global warming. In truth, though, he's the greenest president America has ever seen."


2. Barack Obama Given Power to Cut Greenhouse Gases from the [London] Daily Telegraph

"Hopes that the US will pass new laws vital to limiting carbon emissions were given a major boost on the opening day of the Copenhagen climate summit."


And a blast from James Fallows at the Atlantic contrasting the NYT and the Washington Post's coverage of climate issues:

Climate 101 (James Fallows) from the Atlantic

"Not to overdramatize, but: in a way the papers are betting their reputations with these articles. The Times, that climate change is simply a matter of science versus ignorance; the Post, that this is best treated as another "-Gate" style flap where it's hard to get to the bottom of the story. While I don't claim to be a climate expert, the overwhelming balance of what I've read convinces me that the Times's approach is right."


Obama Administration Rolls Out Unprecedented Transparency Plan from Huffington Post

"On Tuesday, the Obama administration acted on a promise the president made on his first day in office -- to make government agencies more transparent, participatory and collaborative via an "Open Government Directive." Transparency-in-government advocacy groups hailed the announcement."


Tea Party Conservatives, A Political Surge from the Washington Post

""It's time to take control," conservative activist Eric Odom declares on the Web site of his new political action committee, Liberty First PAC, which will "support fellow patriots looking [to] defend our liberty." Odom, who played a central role in organizing the first tea party protests this spring, says the PAC will not support incumbents of either party."

GO FOR IT, DUDE!!


Limbaugh vs. McConnell: GOP Leader Targeted by Conservative Groups from The Hill

"Rush Limbaugh and conservative interest groups are criticizing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for not putting up a strong enough fight to stop the Democratic healthcare legislation."

"YEAH!! Take him down too while you're at it!


Tea Party Tops GOP on Three-Way Generic Ballot from Rasmussen Reports

Amazing!

"In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided."


Statue of a Young Obama to Watch Over Indonesian Capital from the Jakarta Globe

"A bronze statue of a young Barack Obama is set to stand in the Menteng neighborhood of Central Jakarta where the US president spent part of his childhood."


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