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~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Good Friday … the News &cspan.org


Good news for everyone …It’s Friday and the job report for March is that 162thou new jobs were created and the unemployment rate 9.7 stays steady at this point; at least 123thou of those jobs are associated with the private sector. This is great news because reports are that this increase is the biggest since 2007.   The President will be in Charlotte N.C. today to not only let Americans know yes new jobs have been created, not just because of the 48thou census workers being hired; he will also explain hcr and education reform and the many accomplishments over the last 2weeks of March and how they will benefit everyone not just some.


Other News … updates when needed


**apparently something new in the terrorist movement is going on… a letter from a group called guardians of free republic have reached the offices of various Governors …at this moment the FBI states at least 30 so far; the group may be inciting violence and is considered an extremist operation

**The President agrees that performers should be paid royalties if their music is played

**After early morning reports of troubling comments made by Karzai;he now states he is surprised by the response and calls sec of state clinton to explain

**President Obama&Medvedeve are scheduled to sign the nuclear arms pact next Thurday…stay tuned;complete article go to Reuters/steve gutterman

**Iran has implied that it might get  involved with the Taliban;which could mean trouble for the us and coalition …

**This morning people who come from other countries into the US will undergo more rules, restrictions and be subjected to more scrutiny during the security screening

**An oil refinery fire in Washington State has killed 4 3injured and in critical condition

**State, Gregoire move to embrace health care reform
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday announced plans to implement health care reform in Washington state.

**Washington State is in for a huge storm coming in and will peak around 2pm Pt…part of Wtr is still making itself felt… bring in your trash cans and anything else that could get swept by the wind …

Listen to C-SPAN Radio

and what’s on CSPAN.org …live-stream

watch Energy Panel: From Earlier

watch Discussion on U.S.-Russia Security

watch Pres. Obama on Health Care Reform

March unemployment rate remains unchanged at 9.7%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today that the unemployment rate for March remained unchanged for the second month at 9.7%. The Labor Department states that “nonfarm payroll employment rose by 162,000 in March.”

OBAMA VISITS CHARLOTTE, SPEAKs ON HIS JOBS & ECONOMY AGENDA. Pres. Obama will visit Charlotte, NC, today where he is expected to speak on jobs and the economy. On his trip, he will tour Celgard, a lithium-ion battery plant and recipient of the economic stimulus program. He will also address offshore drilling on the North Carolina coastline and the new health care reform law. Tea Party members have stated their plan to stage a protest during the President’s visit.

read Charlotte Observer coverage of visit

Counter terrorism Efforts Extend Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. counterterrorism officials struggle each day with questions such as whom the U.S. should target, how to best utilize aerial drones and whether or where to detain and prosecute enemy combatants. State Dept. Counterterrorism Coordinator Daniel Benjamin will discuss these and tactical and strategic challenges in a Wilson Center Forum.

read NYT: Obama Team Divided on Anti-Terrowatch Counterterrorism Forum: From Earlierr Tactics

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Thursday thoughts and news … CSPAN.org live-stream


Just one week after getting HC and education reformed, a shift in energy needs was not a popular move but strategic and contrary to what is being stated; not drill baby drill as a McCain/Palin ticket would have you know or do if they were in office, a treaty with Russia, China is now on board possible sanctions on Iran and more; the President will be in Maine continuing to explain what health care reform will do for you, your family and your neighbor.  It’s important to get the facts, block out the Republican noise because if it’s anything like what Congress already gets we will all benefit.

I believe in freedom of speech until it becomes words of hate and promotion of violence.  The signs of hate and racial commentary about or against anyone let alone the President of the United States is a hate-crime and should be treated as such; the behavior is not funny, it’s not expressing what the President is doing to our country as reported in several interviews.  It is obvious people in the CBS13 news report are not being completely truthful; and while calls were made to the owner of the lot; which were not responded to the news reports that the question is what to call the action.  That is obvious, it’s needs to be dealt with as a hate-crime and lawmakers from Cali need to deal with it.

I wonder if anyone else found it interesting that the 14 AG’s think they can repeal the mandates; when in fact the President was constitutional lawyer and though im not; i think that aspect of the bill probably was research and determined valid; it was being touted as something Republicans would run on but repealing a mandate would again take a majority vote not to mention the President’s signature … not going to happen.

Other News …

**Shahram Amiri, an award-winning Iranian nuclear scientist, “who disappeared last year under mysterious circumstances, has defected to the CIA and been resettled in the United States.” Officials called the defection an “intelligence coup” in the CIA’s effort to spy on and undermine Iran’s nuclear program.TP

**Though the union for Garbage removers have voted no strike; talks continue seattlepi.com

**Washington DC will hold a nuclear summit later this month April 12-13

watch Discussion on the Future of Journalism

and Cspan.org live-stream

Offshore Drilling Plan Reignites Energy Debate. Pres. Obama unveiled a new offshore drilling plan yesterday that has considerably politicized his agenda on energy and climate change. The new policy seeks to reduce dependence on foreign oil, protecting natural resources while gaining GOP support for upcoming energy and climate change legislation. Today, a panel discussion on ways to move away from dependence on fossil fuels

watch Energy Independence Panel: C-SPAN2, 9am ET
read LA Times: Plan Aims to Win Climate Votes

Leaders to Sign Nuclear Arms Pact Next Week. Pres. Obama and Russian Pres. Dmitry Medvedev will meet April 8th in Prague to sign the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Today, Dr. Alexei Arbatov, the Russian member of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, shares his views on the state of U.S.-Russian security relations and how the new treaty may shape international policies.

Mail-in Census Forms Due; Agency Prepares to go Door-to-Door. Today is “Census Day,” the designated date to return 2010 Census forms and for which the official population count is measured. The Census Bureau reports that 52 percent of Americans have already returned their forms. The agency will now begin door-to-door visits to residents who failed to reply, collecting missing information and answering questions.

Census Bureau Director Robert Groves recently discussed the process on C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wednesday Hump News …cspan.org live-stream


Congress is still on break… It started out like another day of nasty weather all over the country and it does affect the mood but the sun came out and it’s warm, unlike the comments being made by right wing radio hosts, protesters, Republican Politicians and cable.  Words still matter, words hurt and this seems to have been lost on a whole lot of people on the right; some on the left as well. The blood pressure of Americans seems to have been pushed up by rhetoric that is just full of mis-information.  People need to fact-check not only the news but right-wing talk.   We the People, have new laws that will affect our lives, our children and our jobs.  The transition for people who previously were denied coverage due to an illness, people who have kids just about to turn 22, usually get dropped will now be able to stay on your insurance until age 26 and as for being a woman… def a pre-existing condition has been dealt with and while some of us didn’t have these new laws in place when we needed them it is with great pride that others will not be subjected to insurance and or health care discrimination; hopefully, all the changes will happen in a positive way; create healthier people and jobs in the future. Anyone with a mom, sister, daughter or wife should celebrate because the new law of the land will just increase her ability to live longer.

Republicans who are radio hosts, on cable news or Political tour campaigns need to know that 53% voted and it was a majority vote for President Obama.

To say politics in the country is experiencing new changes is a joke; it’s upsetting,  people seem to have forgotten how bad our economy truly was, why the steps taken were needed and maybe it was worse than what the new Administration was told, is now after months of trying to fix America with Republicans; will do the Peoples business on their own.  This includes needing Democrats to get out there to sell HCR, education reform, to promote the positive of a change that really needed to happen. Democrats need to rebut the nonsense that the Media is pushing; or dare i say what opinion news is saying but it isn’t happening much.

Other news maker(s),which, is getting more attention than the Pope and Vatican sex abuse cases, the violence from what seems to be on a new level is, who cheated on who; the politics of it because as we all know Politicians and Entertainers are cheating and in big ways, but the attention to it just seems extreme.  I am sorry for the people getting cheated on but everyday Americans go through the same thing and no one spends so much time researching, advertising and or talking about the research… come on; give them respect and privacy not …OMG … it’s offensive.  I do think that these women or men deciding to not only spill their guts but to pick up a sizable check for doing so is just as repulsive as the stories themselves; getting 75thou for telling the nastiest story about TW on a radio show was just strange and brings the Media to a whole new low on compassion toward families. We have to question the sincerity of these women; why? because TW and or JJ have been on tv, mags radio, people who know nothing about golf and or motorcycles know these guys … the advice … just say no to the married man HO… getting attorneys and trying to say i didn’t know? im thinking someone should go after these women for breaking up the marriage… there is past examples of married women suing the woman who decided to be so bold as to go after another woman’s man

Other news …

**Reports on the BillPress show that President Obama will be announcing a move to open up oil-platforms in virginia and possibly mid west;exluding most of the westcoast …stay tuned; this could be a good thing or a mis-step

what’s on Cspan.org

President, First Lady Promote Flexible Work Hours.  While congress is out on Easter recess, the Obama Administration hosts a forum on workplace flexibility. The President and First Lady will give speeches on the importance of creating workplace practices that allow America’s working men and women to meet the demands of their jobs.   Also on the Washington Journal, Katie Corrigan, Co-Director for National Advisory Commission on Workplace Flexibility will discuss today’s White House Forum.

watch Katie Corrigan on WJ: C-SPAN at 9am ET
watch First Lady Speech: C-SPAN at 1:15pm ET
watch Pres. Obama Speech: C-SPAN at 4:15pm ET
visit Workplace Flexibility

UN gathers Haiti Donors To Discuss Long-Term Relief. The international community will gather at UN Headquarters for a conference on relief efforts in Haiti. The event will focus on the longer-term recovery and reconstruction needs of the country. At the conference, non-governmental organizations along with public and private assistance will be able to pledge new financial aid to help Haiti rebuild, and to mobilize a sustained international effort.


Afghanistan Ambassador on a New Foundation for Afghanistan. Afghanistan Ambassador to the U.S. Said Tayeb Jawad will be the keynote speaker at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he will discuss the future of his country and respond to the Sunday visit to Afghanistan by President Obama.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

News on Tuesday … and education reform bill


Today, the President will sign the reconciliation part of HCR and the education reform bill into law; I am hopeful that when people actually read both bills instead of listening to the noise that Republicans are hoping will block out the facts… like, this Bill could possibly help more than 32million people because HCR is also a Jobs Bill; it’s not talked about but the number of people needed to handle all the people who will now be eligible for coverage will increase our labour force.  As far as the education reform bill ? What person would think saving money is a bad thing; the money from the educational reform bill will be re-invested and more Pell grants given instead of becoming bank merit raises.   I don’ t know anyone sane who would vote or be against that, who would be against students being covered by their parents insurance until 26, who in their right mind doesn’t want what our Congress is already getting? the plans might be a little different but ask any former state, city or federal worker and you will see that HCR is in fact similar.  There is also news that repeal/replace is just another smokescreen Republicans plan to feed Americans.  Repeal/Replace can not be done without a majority vote in Congress to help bring it down; people need to do more fact-checking for themselves before assuming leaders in the Republican Party truly are telling the … truth. Our Congress is still on Easter Break, though cable coverage of right-wing behavior toward representatives and their reactions have been in the news quite often.  Is it just me or does it appear as if cable prefers to cover not only the negative side of Democrats but it also has been questioning just exactly what is the meaning behind the protests, the nasty signs, and word or spitting and name-calling instead of doing what might seem like a common-sense approach … question is what is the common sense approach.

 

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Monday mad weather News …&cspan.org live stream


Easter break has both Chambers of Congress a little more quiet than usual.  I can’t lie the heat in both Chambers was exciting, irritating and anyone watching has to admit seeing our Political process at work or being abused was upsetting.  The crap that was done to Americans 8years ago led to a change we can all believe in and voted for.  Republicans keep saying the people don’t want this; actually, change is just what this country needs and again, 53% voted for.  It is with great pride to see Democrats finally act like Politicians trying to do the work of the people while Republicans continued to use procedural moves to block or stall the governing party and that was  sad… The process was just getting fun, what with all the fighting or debating as the Politicians like to say.  The break will be a time for Democrats to be with family and sell health care reform; as a good thing for all of us and why.  It was a good Month;there will be many more to come with the help of all Americans who so want to get back on track and be number one in the nation again.

Other News … Cspan.org live-stream

watch State Briefing on START Treaty

**Pres. Obama met with U.S. troops after an unannounced visit to Afghanistan that included a meeting with President Hamid Karzai. The two met briefly at the Presidential Palace in Kabul to discuss “benchmarks for progress” during Mr. Karzai’s second term.

watch Pres. Obama Greets Troops in Afghanistan watch Pres. Obama & Pres. Karzai Speak to Press

**reports are that female bombers kill 37 innocent people in Moscow injuring 65

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Think tanks Host Event On The Future Of Nuclear Weapons. After Friday’s announcement of a new U.S.-Russia arms reduction treaty, the Brookings Institution and American Enterprise Instit. present findings from a report examining the future of nuclear weapons. They will discuss the Administration’s goal to reduce nuclear weapons, as well as the strategies employed for their use.

Commission looks at Iraq contracting drawdown. At a hearing held by the Commission on Wartime Contracting (CWC) in Iraq and Afghanistan, witnesses will discuss plans to reduce the workforce of nearly 100,000 contractor employees in Iraq as part of the U.S. agreement to draw down its military forces. In particular, the hearing will look at Texas-based KBR, Inc, which has reported 2009 revenues of $4.8 billion from the contract with the military.watch Hearing: Panel 1 watch Hearing: Panel 2

U. S Treasury Holds Symposium On Women in Finance.  Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner speaks at a forum recognizing the contributions of women in the financial sector. The event also includes two panel discussions focusing on the economic recovery and the challenges women face in the financial community. Participants will include FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair and the heads of the Small Business Administration and Securities and Exchange Commission.