Nascent Deal Would Let Dissident From China Study in U.S. from the New York Times
"China and the United States reached a deal Friday that calls for the dissident Chen Guangcheng to travel to the United States with his family, in what appeared to be a resolution to an eight-day diplomatic crisis that had threatened to strain the relationship between the two countries and left the Obama administration open to attacks from human rights activists and political opponents at home."
Blame China, Not Obama or US, for the Plight of Activist Chen Guangcheng (Nicholas Burns) from the Christian Science Monitor
"Beijing, not US mishandling, is responsible for activist Chen's predicament. The US often needs to balance its concern for human rights in favor of Beijing’s cooperation on pressing global issues. This is not one of those times. Obama must stand up to China to defend Chen’s rights."
Why US and China Need a Deal on Chen (Huang Jing) from the BBC
"For the Chinese government, the case has further intensified the elite power struggle provoked by the still unfolding saga of former Chongqing leader Bo Xilai. Moreover, Mr Chen's request for protection from the US Embassy has again drawn international attention to the abuse of human rights and the lack of rule of law in China. All these have shaken the very legitimacy of China's political system."
Why this Round of Iran Nuclear Talks is Different (David Patrikarakos) from Al Haaretz [of Israel in English]
"The price Iran is now paying for its nuclear program threatens to destabilize or even destroy the regime - the one thing the mullahs fear above all else."
France’s Turn for the Worse (Yascha Mounk) from the Huffington Post
"On Sunday, France will elect a new president. But Europe’s far right has already won."
Ed Kilgore at the Washington Monthly has more commentary on this HERE.
Graduate Schools Need to Improve Career Counseling, Report Says (Stacey Patton) from the Chronicle of Higher Education
"By 2020, 2.6 million new jobs will require an advanced degree, according to a report being released today by the Council of Graduate Schools and the Educational Testing Service. And graduate schools need to do a better job, the report says, of preparing students for a range of careers and tracking where they work. The report, "Pathways Through Graduate Schools and Into Careers,"projects that the number of jobs requiring a master's degree will increase by 22 percent over the next eight years, and the number of jobs requiring a doctorate or professional degree will increase by 20 percent."
A Teen with a Job Becomes a Rarity in US Economy from NBC's Today program
"Nick Gentry will be able to celebrate two major accomplishments this month: He’s graduating from high school and, after a very long job search, he has landed his first job. That Gentry, 18, will be collecting a paycheck makes him a rarity in today's working world. Only about 25 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds currently are working, a drop of 10 percentage points from just five years ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
The War Against Youth (Stephen Marche) from Esquire Magazine
"The recession didn't gut the prospects of American young people. The Baby Boomers took care of that."
Heartland Institute Compares Belief in Global Warming to Mass Murder from the Guardian [of the UK]
"US thinktank launches poster campaign comparing Unabomber and Osama Bin Laden to those concerned about global warming."
On Sundays, Tight Obama Circle Sizes Up Election from the New York Times
"President Obama walks into the Roosevelt Room of the White House and takes his seat around a table. The West Wing, as on most Sunday evenings, is quiet except for the tight circle of advisers who gather for a confidential briefing on his re-election."
Swing State Polls For Ohio, Florida And Virginia Show Obama Running Stronger Than In 2008 from the Huffington Post
"... when combined with other recent polls, the results show Obama running slightly better now than at a comparable points in the 2008 election."
Issa’s Holder Contempt Resolution All About Politics, Say Experts from Talking Points Memo
"A year after floating the idea, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa made a big move Thursday by releasing a draft contempt resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder, claiming the Justice Department hasn’t cooperated with his congressional investigation into the flawed ATF operation known as “Fast and Furious.” But several experts in congressional contempt proceedings told TPM that Issa’s move is mostly a problem of political perception for Holder. Legal consequences, should the House pass the contempt resolution, would take years to sort out."
IN-Sen: Richard Mourdock Poised to Topple Richard Lugar in Indiana Senate GOP Primary (David Jarman) from Daily Kos
"If you're sitting there thinking to yourself, "who cares? One wingnut replaces another; life goes on," here's why it's important (and why you should be rooting for Mourdock). Previous polls in Indiana have shown that while Lugar has substantial crossover appeal and a reserve of goodwill among Democrats, Mourdock has no such thing; in fact, in matchups against presumptive Dem nominee Rep. Joe Donnelly, Lugar wins huge but Mourdock finds himself in a tossup."
TWO OBAMA HISTORY NUGGETS!!
Obama’s Military Connection (David Maraniss) from the Washington Post
"His life explains why he’s comfortable with the troops."
Obama’s Wonderful Town (Gail Collins) from the New York Times
"Who doesn’t like a good girlfriend story? We finally get to hear about Barack Obama’s love life from his years as a student at Columbia University."
No comments:
Post a Comment