For a fifth year, American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are partnering to hold the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members of our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season.
The process is very simple and takes no time at all – All you need is a pen and piece of paper to share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the U.S. Armed Forces make to protect our freedoms The Holiday Mail for Heroes mail box is open and ready to receive for your cards. Please send all mail to:
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Card Guidelines:
Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country.
Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process:
* All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
* Ensure that all cards are signed.
* Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
* Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
* Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
* Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
* Participants are encouraged to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.
* Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient’s recovery.
Monday, November 21 , 2011
All Times Eastern
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
The President and Vice President Biden receive the daily briefing.
Oval Office
Closed Press
11:00 AM
11:10 AM
The President delivers remarks and signs legislation into law that will provide tax credits to help put veterans back to work; The First Lady, Vice President, and Dr. Biden also attend
South Court Auditorium
Open Press
12:00 PM
12:30 PM
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
The Vice President and Dr. Biden host a Thanksgiving dinner for Wounded Warriors, veterans, service members, and their families being treated at area military hospitals
Naval Observatory
Pooled Press
4:25 PM
The President meets with Treasury Secretary Geithner.
Oval Office
Closed Press
5:00 PM
5:45 PM
President Obama speaks on the Deficit Committee
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:15 PM
The President and First Lady Michelle Obama invite contemporary artists to the White House for a celebration of country music.
East Room
Pooled Press
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
November 21, 2011
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
11:10 AM EST
The President delivers remarks and signs legislation into law. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden and Dr Jill Biden attend.
12:30 PM EST
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
3:00 PM EST
White House County Music Workshop
The White House
5:45 PM EST
President Obama speaks on the Deficit Committee
7:15 PM EST
President Obama Speaks at In Performance at the White House: Country Music
The White House
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
11:10 AM EST
The President delivers remarks and signs legislation into law. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden and Dr Jill Biden attend.
12:30 PM EST
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Egypt and Syria.
4:45 PM EST
Sec. Clinton and Sec. Geithner on Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner give remarks about Iran sanctions.
5:45 PM EST
President Obama speaks on the Deficit Committee
—-
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
10:00 AM EST
Brookings Institution: What the Super Committee Should Recommend http://www.c-span.org/Events/Scholars-Give-Deficit-Cutting-Advice-to-quotSuper-Committeequot/10737425658/
11:10 AM EST
The President delivers remarks and signs legislation into law. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden and Dr Jill Biden attend. http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-to-Sign-Veterans-Jobs-Legislation/10737425670/
12:30 PM EST
White House Press Secretary Carney briefs the press.
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Egypt and Syria.
1:00 PM EST
National Press Club: Postmaster Gen. Patrick Donahoe on USPS Financial Troubles
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Postmaster-General-on-the-Future-of-the-Postal-System/10737425634/
4:45 PM EST
Sec. Clinton and Sec. Geithner on Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner give remarks about Iran sanctions. http://www.c-span.org/Events/Clinton-and-Geithner-Discuss-Events-in-Iran/10737425703/
5:45 PM EST
President Obama speaks on the Deficit Committee
Holiday Mail for Heroes
Posted by Brad Cooper on November 04, 2011
In the Hall of the historic American Red Cross headquarters, I heard from several current and former members of the military who spoke poignantly about what it meant to receive a touch of home during the holiday season. I was inspired to sign my own card and now want to make sure to let the American people know how they can participate in the program, too.
If you’d like to make a hero feel special this holiday season, please consider sending a card to
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9.
If you’d like to help us spread the word about this program, or to find tips for getting your friends, church members, scout troops, and family together to make and send cards together, the American Red Cross encourages you to visit their blog. Over the last four years, millions of cards have been sent to support our services members. By joining forces, our military will continue to get the support we all want them to feel this holiday season and throughout the year.
Brad Cooper is the Executive Director of Joining Forces
Holiday Mail for Heroes 2011
Uploaded by AmRedCross on Nov 4, 2011
Salute our troops this holiday season.
The Unknown Citizen – FeedASoldier.com
Uploaded by FeedASoldier on Oct 26, 2011
FeedASoldier‘s mission is simple: show our appreciation to our troops . . . anytime, anywhere. Many US citizens make it commonplace to buy a soldier’s meal or beverage when given the chance — a simple gesture to say ‘thank you’ for their service and sacrifice for our country. FeedASoldier‘s goal is to simply make this even more commonplace by raising awareness of this selfless act of kindness.
Follow on Facebook: FeedASoldier
Campaign, film urge Americans to “feed a soldier” anonymously
Oct 26, 2011 By Suzi Parker – Reuters
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark (Reuters) – Actor Michael Cuomo spotted the soldier while sitting in the Atlanta airport.
Cuomo had just left Little Rock after wrapping the short film “The Unknown Citizen” about a businessman who anonymously pays for a soldier’s meal in an airport bar. Suddenly, he was confronted with the same scenario.
Life imitated art.
Cuomo paid the soldier’s bill secretly. But as Cuomo headed out of the restaurant, the waiter told him that the soldier had ordered a second meal. Did Cuomo want to pay for both?
He did. “If you are going to do it, do it all the way,” Cuomo told Reuters. “For me, it was an incredible feeling of generosity, and I hope the guy felt good that day, too.”
“The Unknown Citizen,” written and directed by Arkansan Neil Osam, 34, debuted Tuesday night in North Little Rock. The message of the four-minute film — in which Cuomo played a bartender — is simple: Show appreciation to troops, anytime, anywhere.
Osam’s first film coincides with his online movement, FeedASoldier.com, which he hopes to spread around the country. He is talking with corporate sponsors and an in-flight media company to show the film in airports and on airplanes. The film is also on YouTube.
Airports are logical spots for people to show some generosity to soldiers who may be going to training, heading abroad or coming home, Osam said.
“It lets them know that we are thinking about them regardless of your politics,” Osam said.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/campaign-film-urge-americans-feed-soldier-anonymously-233627163.html
What a great thread topic, CR!
Great things we can do to show our appreciation!
Republicans blast Occupy movement at debate
Nov 19, 2011 AFP
Republicans candidates vying for their party’s nomination lambasted the Occupy Wall Street movement on Saturday, at a debate organized by Christian groups.
“Go get a job right after you take a bath,” Newt Gingrich told the audience at the “Thanksgiving Family Forum,” when asked about activists protesting over the last two months in major US cities including New York and Washington.
The protesters seek an overhaul to what they see as major socioeconomic inequalities fostered by mainstream US politics and systems of finance.
Another frontrunner in the race, former pizza boss Herman Cain, slammed the OWS movement by claiming that “freedom without responsibility is immoral.”
The forum, organized by a number of right-wing Christian organizations, was attended by other candidates Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum, were present Saturday to this discussion.
Only Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both Mormons and more moderate candidates, did not attend.
Iowa is a key state for the Republican primary, as it holds the first in a series of primary votes on January 3, in the battle to face incumbent Barack Obama in the general election next November.
Supercommittee Scenarios: How The Debt End Game May Play Out
November 17, 2011by MARILYN GEEWAX – NPR
The congressional supercommittee — charged with developing a plan for cutting the nation’s deficits by $1.2 trillion over 10 years — is days away from its Thanksgiving deadline.
But at this point, no deal is on the table, and pessimism is growing. Economists are worried: Failure to reach a deal would add yet another cloud of uncertainty to an already-dark outlook.
The supercommittee grew out of a heated fight in August in Congress over whether to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
The group — made up of six Democrats and six Republicans from the House and Senate — was charged with finding ways to reduce deficits by $1.2 trillion over a decade. If they couldn’t agree on a plan by Nov. 23, then automatic cuts would start to lock into place to do the job that could not be accomplished through compromise.
While no one can predict exactly what will happen between now and the committee’s deadline, here are some scenarios that may play out.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/17/142421765/automatic-cuts-necessary-medicine-or-doomsday
The good and the bad of the debt supercommittee’s failure
11/20/2011 Posted by Ezra Klein – washingtonpost
So the supercommittee? Not so super, it seems. It’s ready to admit defeat. And some think that’s for the best.
Here’s their argument: A bad deal can be worse than no deal at all. And over the last few weeks, the deals offered by both sides were bad deals. They cut too deeply into some areas of government — like the education, transportation and competitiveness programs in the “non-defense discretionary spending” category — and did too little on taxes, entitlements, and defense.
Perhaps worse, a bad deal now would make it harder to reach a good deal later. Most economists think we need about $4 trillion of deficit reduction over the next decade or so. There’s a good chance, if the economy doesn’t begin to improve more rapidly, that we need a lot more. There’s little chance that we need a lot less. By the end, the supercommittee was discussing a $1.2 trillion deal. If you add in the spending cuts already agreed to in the debt-ceiling deal, that’s a $2.1 trillion deal. That would have left trillions in deficit reduction undone.
And the trillions it would have left would be in the hardest categories to reach agreement on. Taxes. Entitlements. Defense. Reaching a deal on those items is going to be difficult under the best of circumstances. It will be even harder if all the low-hanging fruit is already picked. If the supercommittee can’t reach a big deal now, better they should give up and go home rather than making it harder for Congress to reach a big deal later.
But before you celebrate the supercommittee’s failure, it’s worth hearing the other side, too.
The economy is weak. But the recovery hasn’t derailed completely. In fact, there’s some evidence that despite the troubles in Europe, we’re picking up steam. But every forecaster will tell you the same thing: These next few months will be very dangerous. If Europe doesn’t get its act together — and that looks fairly likely right now — it’s going to be very difficult for us to avoid another recession.
For the entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/so-about-that-supercommittee/2011/08/25/gIQAxQq4eN_blog.html
Grandma, Grandpa Spared From Bulk of Automatic Supercommittee Cuts
11/21/11 By Amy Bingham | ABC News – 44 mins ago
It’s crunch time for Congress, the mini-Congress-style supercommittee that is.
Less than three days remain before the 12-member committee’s midnight deadline to strike a deal on cutting $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over 10 years, but partisan divides are still shaking the foundations of a debt-reduction deal.
This race-the-clock game has already played out twice this year, but this time there is no looming government shutdown or imminent debt default. Instead, there are $1.2 trillion in automatic, across-the-board budget cuts split evenly between defense and domestic spending that will take effect in 2013 in the absence of a deal.
Unlike the last two doomsday-like failure scenarios, the automatic cuts may not be so devastating on the non-defense spending side of the equation. Both Medicaid and Social Security are spared from the funding reductions and Medicare cuts are limited to 2 percent of the entitlement program’s budget.
Budget hawks looking for significant spending reductions herald the automatic cuts as real deficit-reduction. And entitlement program defenders claim the limited cuts — which include exceptions for the poor and disabled — are less damaging than any that are likely to come out of a supercommittee deal.
“I think failure is a success,” said Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the conservative CATO Institute. “I think that a supercommittee that does not come to an agreement is more likely to achieve real cuts than one that does.”
Under the automatic cuts, or sequestration, Medicare will lose about $123 billion between 2013 and 2021. But that entire amount will come out of the pockets of doctors and hospitals, not grandma and grandpa.
“If there’s a deal, it could be much worse,” said Eric Kingson, the co-director of Social Security Works. “I’m not going to suggest that a 2 percentage point cut focused on providers may not result in tighter payments for certain kinds of procedures, but it is far less onerous than further raising deductibles on people.”
That doesn’t mean the many-billion-dollar cuts will be painless.
Tanner said that slashing the amount the federal government reimburses health care providers who care for Medicare enrollees could make it more difficult for senior citizens to find doctors that will care for them.
“About 12 percent of physicians already will not accept Medicare patients and a larger number are not accepting new patients,” Tanner said. “If you further reduce reimbursements, you’re liable to find additional physicians saying it’s just not worth it.”
Leemore Dafny, an associate professor of management and strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, said the provider-side cuts could force already cash-strapped rural and inner-city hospitals to search for alternate forms of revenue.
“Hospital margins are extremely low,” Dafny said. “Most are under 5 percent and Medicare counts for well over a third of hospital admissions. One possibility is that hospitals will pressure private insurers to pay higher prices because they have nowhere else to turn.”
Do your job
W.H. calls out Congress
11/21/11 By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN – POLITICO44
The White House won’t say whether the president is doing any outreach to the Hill today on the supercommittee. But in a statement from spokeswoman Amy Brundage, the White House called on Congress to do its job and make “tough choices.”
“The President was engaged in daily discussions throughout the summer on how to reduce the deficit in a balanced way and in September he put forward a very detailed set of recommendations to the Joint Select Committee to achieve deficit reduction well beyond the Committee’s mandate. Avoiding accountability and kicking the can down the road is how Washington got into this deficit problem in the first place, so Congress needs to do its job here and make the kind of tough choices to live within its means that American families make every day.”
Good Monday morning everyone. HOPE for a good outcome from the supercommittee.
Good morning CR and everyone. HOPE you all have a great Monday.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our beloved President, First Family and the Nation. May the Republicans attempt at a showdown on the Supercommittee fail.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Good Monday morning and thank you Jackie
What I do not understand is why the Republicans continue to push for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy when it is not popular. It is just crazy. God bless our President for dealing with this silliness every single day. I could not have maintained any civility or sanity if I had to deal with this day in and day out.
It is crazy to coddle the super wealthy 1% when the according to the U.S. Census Bureau data released on Sept. 13, 2011, the nation’s poverty rate rose to 15.1% (46.2 million) in 2010, up from 14.3% (approximately 43.6 million) in 2009 and to its highest level since 1993.
(Data Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States)
October existing home sales rise 1.4 percent
11/21/11 Reuters – 8 mins ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. existing home sales unexpectedly rose in October as low interest rates for mortgages and rising rents led more homebuyers into the market, the National Association of Realtors said on Monday.
Sales climbed 1.4 percent to an annual rate of 4.97 million units from September’s revised rate of 4.90 million, the NAR said. Forecasters in a Reuters poll had expected the annual rate to fall to 4.8 million.
Despite the modest increase in sales, the median sales price for existing homes was 4.7 percent lower in October than it was a year earlier.
Economists see modest growth next year
11/21/11 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER | AP – 2 hrs 28 mins ago
The U.S. economy will muddle through the next year without a recession, but growth will be too weak to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate, forecasters believe.
In their latest outlook, top forecasters with the National Association for Business Economics predicted the economy would grow 2.4 percent in 2012, only a slight improvement from the 1.8 percent growth they expect for all of 2011.
Both estimates were a slight 0.1 percentage point higher than the group’s September forecast but would still leave the economy growing far below the pace needed to significantly lower the high unemployment rate of 9 percent.
The new survey, released Monday, is in line with other private economists, who are slightly less worried about the country slipping into a recession than they were in the late summer.
“Despite a relatively subdued outlook, the panel estimates that the odds of a second recession remain low,” said Shawn DuBravac, the chief economist for the Consumer Electronics Association and the chairman of the NABE forecasting panel.
Only two of 42 NABE forecasters on the panel predicted that the U.S. economy would suffer a decline over the near-term. But 72 percent of the panel members characterized the economic outlook as either “somewhat” or “much” more uncertain than usual. That figure, while high, was down from 86 percent who characterized the outlook that way in the September survey.
Europe is one of the biggest downside risks facing the United States currently, said Mark Zandi, one of the panel members and chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/95IUv
Next Up…
11:10 AM EST
The President delivers remarks and signs legislation into law that will provide tax credits to help put veterans back to work; The First Lady, Vice President, and Dr. Biden also attend
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-to-Sign-Veterans-Jobs-Legislation/10737425670/
November 21, 2011
Remarks by the President and the First Lady at Bill Signing
South Court Auditorium
11:15 A.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. Thanks so much. Well, good morning, everyone. Please, rest, rest. I am thrilled to be here today, alongside the Vice President and my favorite person here, Jill Biden — (laughter) — oh, yes, you, too, honey. (Laughter.) Secretary Shinseki, members of Congress, representatives of veteran service organizations, and some of our veterans, as our nation reaffirms its commitment to the men and women who have served this country so bravely.
Over the past few years I’ve had the privilege of meeting with so many of our troops, veterans and military families. And every time I visit with them at a base, every time I sit with them at a hospital bed, every time I talk to their kids at a barbeque or a baseball game, I walk away inspired. Their strength, resilience, and commitment to this country is simply unmatched.
They leave home for months at a time, go to some of the most dangerous places on Earth and risk it all for the country they love. That courage, that unwavering dedication to a higher calling really sticks with me. It stays in my heart. And more importantly, it moves me to act. And that’s why Jill and I started our Joining Forces campaign — because Jill and I wanted to give something back.
So we have been traveling around the country, from city to city, talking with business executive, nonprofit leaders, school administrators, clergy members — pretty much anyone who will listen. And we’ve been asking them to find new ways to honor and support our veterans and their families.
And the really wonderful thing that we found is that people are actually listening. Americans are standing up to show their appreciation. Businesses have already hired more than 18,000 veterans and military families, and they’ve made commitments to hire at least 135,000 more. Schools are working with nonprofits and tech companies to improve the experience of our military children. Entertainment executives are making public service announcements. Community groups are gathering donations and putting together thousands of care packages. And truly, the list goes on and on and on.
And what I’ve been most struck by is how excited people are to get involved, and that’s what we want our military members and their families to know. People want to do something. This is something that Americans want to do. We want to give something back. We want our veterans to know that we are humbled by their sacrifice and we’re awed by their service. But sometimes, we just have to be asked. And sometimes, we need a little nudge.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/remarks-president-and-first-lady-bill-signing
Hiring Vets Is Smart Business
Posted by Jason Hansman on November 21, 2011
Today is a historic day for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. When President Obama signs the VOW to Hire Heroes Act into law, an entire generation of new vets will be provided much-needed practical support to transition from combat to careers. As an Iraq vet I am privileged to lead the membership team at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country’s first and largest nonpartisan organization committed to our newest veterans. And I speak for all of us when I thank the lawmakers who worked so hard together, putting aside party, to get this bill passed. We also thank the President for his leadership on the issue – for acting so quickly on this legislation and for bringing national attention to the veterans’ unemployment crisis.
Some 240,000 young vets were out of work in September 2011 alone, and with the Iraq War set to end in two months, a surge of troops will be returning home. And most of them will be looking for work.
There are moral and patriotic reasons to care for returning combat vets. But hiring vets is also smart business. The hundreds of combat patrols they’ve been on may not mean much to a civilian employer, but the millions of dollars of equipment, complex planning and logistic they had responsibility for should.
Take my story, for example. I served in Iraq as a proud noncommissioned officer in the Army from 2004-2005, managing hundreds of reconstruction projects in a Civil Affairs company that totaled millions of dollars. Armed with that experience and a political science degree from the University of Washington, I entered the civilian job market in 2008 with a solid resume. Yet after nine months and 375 resumes sent out, I only received one interview request – from a temp agency, looking to fill a night mall cop position.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/11/21/hiring-vets-smart-business
November 21, 2011
Fact Sheet: Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits
In August, President Obama called on Congress to enact tax credits that will help get veterans back to work. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides businesses that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers businesses that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.
These tax credits were included in the American Jobs Act and were signed into law by President Obama on November 21, 2011.
Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits
Under the Recovery Act, employers who hired certain unemployed veterans were eligible for a tax credit of up to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages, for a maximum credit of $2,400. This credit expired at the end of 2010.
On November 21, 2011, the President signed into law two new tax credits:
The Returning Heroes Tax Credit is a new hiring tax credit that will provide an incentive for businesses to hire unemployed veterans.
* Short-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks.
* Long-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $14,000 of wages (up to $5,600) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months.
The Wounded Warrior Tax Credit will double the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities.
* Maintain the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with service-connected disabilities (currently the maximum is $4,800).
* A new credit of 40 percent of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed longer than 6 months.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/fact-sheet-returning-heroes-and-wounded-warrior-tax-credits
Michelle Obama unveils program for student poets
11/21/11 Reuters – 5 hrs ago
(Reuters) – First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday launched a new arts program to pick five student poets from U.S. high schools who will spend one year promoting poetry through readings, workshops and other activities.
The National Student Poets program is backed by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, of which the first lady is honorary chair, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services through a partnership with nonprofit group, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.
“What you learn through reading and writing poetry will stay with you throughout your life,” Obama said in a statement. “It will spark your imagination and broaden your horizons and even help your performance in the classroom.”
The five National Student Poets will be chosen from a pool of teenagers who have already received a national Scholastic Art & Writing Award for poetry. The selection panel will be comprised of poet Terrance Hayes, “Ploughshares” editor David Lynn, Alice Quinn of the Poetry Society of America, and the Library of Congress’ Robert Casper.
More than 185, 000 students apply annually for the Scholastic Art & Writing Award and since 1923, winners have included teenagers such as Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath, Joyce Carol Oates and others.
The first five National Student Poets will be announced in summer 2012, and will each receive academic awards of $5,000. They will serve as literary ambassadors in their communities and encourage kids to develop writing and creative skills.
“The National Student Poets work will give greater visibility to the voice and perspective of today’s youth,” said Virginia McEnerney, executive director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.
The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities focuses on increasing creativity in schools and engaging students in being innovative. The Institute of Museum and Library Services makes federal grants aimed at creating strong libraries and museums.
November 21, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Call with Prime Minister Monti of Italy
President Obama spoke with Italian Prime Minster Mario Monti today to congratulate him on his appointment and to thank him for taking on such a significant responsibility at a critical time. The President expressed his full confidence in Italy’s strength and vibrancy and underscored America’s support for the steps that Italy is taking to advance its economic reform program. The President also reaffirmed the close alliance and friendship between the United States and Italy.
Hello CR and friends. Lots of good information here as usual, and I absolutely love the title of this thread. You sure know how to choose good threads. Thanks for all you do CR. It is much appreciated.
Hello COS! Thank YOU!
Next Up…
3:00 PM EST
White House County Music Workshop
The White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
November 21, 2011
Remarks by the First Lady at a Country Music Student Workshop
State Dining Room
2:10 P.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Hey, what’s going on? It’s good to see you guys! Well, hello, and welcome. Pretty cool, huh?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
MRS. OBAMA: Yes, pretty cool. Well, I can’t stay, because I have to go out to the garden and do a bunch of other stuff. But this is one of my favorite parts of the day, when we have Music Series and inviting you guys all here, so you get a little taste of it.
And today, in the latest edition of the White House Music Series, we are celebrating the great American art of country music. And this is our second time doing country music, and it’s one of our favorite art forms.
And I want to start by just thanking a few people before I turn it over. We have a trio of amazing stars, men who are gorgeous and talented and awesome and giving — yes, yes. Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker, and of course Kris Kristofferson, who are here with us, and Bob Santelli, who has been just a huge support for these events that we have. He’s from the GRAMMY Museum, and he helps to put all this stuff together, and oftentimes works to get young people here for these series. So I want to thank them for being here.
So in a little bit, you’re going to have an opportunity to hear from them. They’re going to tell you some stories, answer some questions, and sing. (Laughter.) They’re prepared, they’re all ready. But first, I want you guys to get a better sense of why we put on these workshops, because I want you to know why these are important to us and why we’re so excited to have students from Anacostia. Right? We got some Anacostia students! (Applause.) We’ve got teachers firing it up — firing it up. Woodrow Wilson High School is here! (Applause.) Fired up, fired up. And Newport Middle School! (Applause.) So you’re excited. You’re excited.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/remarks-first-lady-country-music-student-workshop
4:00 PM EST
The Vice President and Dr. Biden host a Thanksgiving dinner for Wounded Warriors, veterans, service members, and their families being treated at area military hospitals
Naval Observatory
Bidens Host Military Families For Thanksgiving
NOVEMBER 21, 2011 obamafoodorama.blogspot
Early celebration for Wounded Warriors at the Naval Observatory…
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host an early Thanksgiving celebration today at their Washington, DC, residence for members of the Armed Forces. The Second Couple hosted the same event last year.
“At 4:00 PM, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will host a Thanksgiving dinner at the Naval Observatory for Wounded Warriors, veterans, service members, and their families being treated at area military hospitals,” the White House said.
Dr. Biden co-chairs the Joining Forces initiative with First Lady Michelle Obama. The Bidens’ son, Captain Beau Biden, of the Delaware Army National Guard, is a veteran of the Iraq war.
Next Up…
4:45 PM EST
Sec. Clinton and Sec. Geithner on Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner give remarks about Iran sanctions.
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Clinton-and-Geithner-Discuss-Events-in-Iran/10737425703/
Measures to Increase Pressure on Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner
Treaty Room, Washington, DC
November 21, 2011
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon, everyone. I am delighted to welcome Secretary Geithner here to the Treaty Room of the State Department, and I also welcome his team and thank my team for the work that they have been doing with respect to Iran.
Recent days have brought new evidence that Iran’s leaders continue to defy their international obligations and violate international norms, including the recent plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador here in the United States and as verified by the new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that further documents Iran’s conduct of activities directly related to the development of nuclear weapons. Now, this report from the IAEA is not the United States or our European partners making accusations; this is the result of an independent review and it reflects the judgment of the international community.
There have to be consequences for such behavior. So on Friday, Iran was condemned in votes at the UN in New York and at the IAEA in Vienna. And earlier today, the UN General Assembly again strongly reprimanded Iran for continuing human rights abuses, persecution of minorities, and forcible restrictions on political freedom. The message is clear: If Iran’s intransigence continues, it will face increasing pressure and isolation.
Today the United States is taking a series of steps to sharpen this choice.
First, President Obama signed an Executive Order that, for the first time, specifically targets Iran’s petrochemical industry, a significant source of export revenues and a cover for imports for sanctioned activities. This will allow us to sanction the provision of goods, services, and technology to the petrochemical sector. To accompany this new measure, we will launch a worldwide diplomatic campaign to encourage other countries to shift any purchases of Iranian petrochemical products to other suppliers.
Second, in the same Executive Order, we are expanding sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas business. U.S. law already sanctions large-scale investments in up-stream exploration and development of oil and gas, and now it will also be sanctionable to provide goods, services, and technology for those activities as well. This will make it more difficult for Iran to work around the sanctions and will further impede efforts to maintain and modernize its oil and gas sector.
Third, under an existing Executive Order, we are designating a number of individuals and entities
for their roles in assisting Iran’s prohibited nuclear programs, including its enrichment and heavy water programs. Their assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen and American individuals and entities will be prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.
For the entire article: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/11/177610.htm
West hits Iran with new sanctions
11/21/11 By Andrew Beatty | AFP – 1 hr 10 mins ago
Western powers responded to a damning UN report about Iran’s nuclear program with a fresh batch of sanctions Monday, targeting the country’s central bank and the vital energy sector.
With UN sanctions blocked by Chinese and Russian opposition, the United States, Britain, Canada and France rolled out measures aimed at pressing Iran to abandon its alleged nuclear weapons program.
Notably, the measures would limit the West’s links with Iran’s Central Bank — which has been key in funneling the proceeds of energy sales to Iran’s government.
Iran’s energy sales are thought to account for around 70 percent of the government’s budget and are crucial to the broader Iranian economy.
According to former US Treasury official, Avi Jorisch, Tehran has become increasingly dependent on the central bank to clear payments for energy sales as other banks have faced sanctions.
Britain was the first to make the sanctions public early Monday, with finance minister George Osborne saying London was cutting links with Iranian banks.
“We are ceasing all contact between the UK financial system and the Iranian banking system,” Osborne said.
“All UK credit and financial institutions are required to cease business relationships and transactions with all Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran,” said a ministry statement.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/us-unveil-sanctions-iran-093042972.html
November 21, 2011
Statement by the President on the Announcement of Additional Sanctions on Iran
Today, my Administration has taken yet another step to further isolate and penalize Iran for its refusal to live up to its international obligations regarding its nuclear program. For years, the Iranian government has failed to abide by its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It has violated repeated UN Security Council resolutions, as well as its commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency. In the face of this intransigence, the world has spoken with one voice —at the IAEA, at the UN, and in capitals – making it clear that Iranian actions jeopardize international peace and stability, and will only further isolate the Iranian regime.
Today, my Administration has taken action to impose an additional cost on Iran for its actions. New sanctions target for the first time Iran’s petrochemical sector, prohibiting the provision of goods, services, and technology to this sector and authorizing penalties against any person or entity that engages in such activity. They expand energy sanctions, making it more difficult for Iran to operate, maintain, and modernize its oil and gas sector. They also designate 11 individuals and entities for their role in assisting Iran’s prohibited nuclear programs, including its enrichment and heavy water programs. And today we have taken the next significant step to escalate the pressure by acting under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, identifying for the first time, the entire Iranian banking sector – including the Central Bank of Iran – as a threat to governments or financial institutions that do business with Iranian banks. We are joined in this action by the United Kingdom and Canada, who have also acted to cut off Iran from their financial systems today. I welcome these steps and encourage all of our partners to do the same.
As President one of my highest national security priorities is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, including to the Iranian government. Since taking office, I have made it clear that the United States is prepared to begin a new chapter with the Islamic Republic of Iran, offering the Iranian government a clear choice. It can fulfill its international obligations and reap the benefits of greater economic and political integration with countries around the world, or it can continue to defy its responsibilities and face even more pressure and isolation. Iran has chosen the path of international isolation. As long as Iran continues down this dangerous path, the United States will continue to find ways, both in concert with our partners and through our own actions to isolate and increase the pressure upon the Iranian regime.
November 21, 2011
Fact Sheet: U.S. Pressure and Sanctions Against Iran
As part of our ongoing efforts to increase the cost of Iran’s failure to live up to its international obligations regarding its nuclear program, today the United States announced the imposition of new sanctions against Iran. These measures build upon the framework that this Administration has established, which is comprised of national and multilateral sanctions that have contributed to what Iranian President Ahmadinejad recently called “the heaviest economic onslaught on a nation in history.” Our sanctions have:
* Slowed the Iranian nuclear program
* Stymied Iran’s access to the international financial system
* Hindered Iran’s oil and gas sector
* Exposed Iran’s support for terrorism
* Demonstrated our support for universal human rights
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/fact-sheet-us-pressure-and-sanctions-against-iran
Next Up…
5:45 PM EST
President Obama to Speak on Deficit Committee
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Cmtet
November 21, 2011
Statement by the President on the Supercommittee
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
5:44 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. As you all know, last summer I signed a law that will cut nearly $1 trillion of spending over the next 10 years. Part of that law also required Congress to reduce the deficit by an additional $1.2 trillion by the end of this year.
In September, I sent them a detailed plan that would have gone above and beyond that goal. It’s a plan that would reduce the deficit by an additional $3 trillion, by cutting spending, slowing the growth of Medicare and Medicaid, and asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.
In addition to my plan, there were a number of other bipartisan plans for them to consider from both Democrats and Republicans, all of which promoted a balanced approach. This kind of balanced approach to reducing our deficit — an approach where everybody gives a little bit, and everyone does their fair share — is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans — Democrats, independents, and Republicans. It’s supported by experts and economists from all across the political spectrum. And to their credit, many Democrats in Congress were willing to put politics aside and commit to reasonable adjustments that would have reduced the cost of Medicare, as long as they were part of a balanced approach.
But despite the broad agreement that exists for such an approach, there’s still too many Republicans in Congress who have refused to listen to the voices of reason and compromise that are coming from outside of Washington. They continue to insist on protecting $100 billion worth of tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans at any cost, even if it means reducing the deficit with deep cuts to things like education and medical research. Even if it means deep cuts in Medicare.
So at this point, at least, they simply will not budge from that negotiating position. And so far, that refusal continues to be the main stumbling block that has prevented Congress from reaching an agreement to further reduce our deficit.
Now, we are not in the same situation that we were — that we were in in August. There is no imminent threat to us defaulting on the debt that we owe. There are already $1 trillion worth of spending cuts that are locked in. And part of the law that I signed this summer stated that if Congress could not reach an agreement on the deficit, there would be another $1.2 trillion of automatic cuts in 2013 -– divided equally between domestic spending and defense spending.
One way or another, we will be trimming the deficit by a total of at least $2.2 trillion over the next 10 years. That’s going to happen, one way or another. We’ve got $1 trillion locked in, and either Congress comes up with $1.2 trillion, which so far they’ve failed to do, or the sequester kicks in and these automatic spending cuts will occur that bring in an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction.
Now, the question right now is whether we can reduce the deficit in a way that helps the economy grow, that operates with a scalpel, not with a hatchet, and if not, whether Congress is willing to stick to the painful deal that we made in August for the automatic cuts. Already, some in Congress are trying to undo these automatic spending cuts.
My message to them is simple: No. I will veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts to domestic and defense spending. There will be no easy off ramps on this one.
We need to keep the pressure up to compromise — not turn off the pressure. The only way these spending cuts will not take place is if Congress gets back to work and agrees on a balanced plan to reduce the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion. That’s exactly what they need to do. That’s the job they promised to do. And they’ve still got a year to figure it out.
Although Congress has not come to an agreement yet, nothing prevents them from coming up with an agreement in the days ahead. They can still come together around a balanced plan. I believe Democrats are prepared to do so. My expectation is, is that there will be some Republicans who are still interested in preventing the automatic cuts from taking place. And, as I have from the beginning, I stand ready and willing to work with anybody that’s ready to engage in that effort to create a balanced plan for deficit reduction.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/statement-president-supercommittee
November 21, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on S. 1280
On Monday, November 21, 2011, the President signed into law:
S. 1280, the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011,” which improves the preventative measures and the response of the Peace Corps in cases of crime and sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers.
Law codifies many reforms agency has implemented
November 21, 2011 peacecorps
WASHINGTON, D.C., —President Obama signed into law the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011, codifying a number of the reforms the Peace Corps has put into place over the past two years to better protect and support Volunteers. The Act is named in honor of Kate Puzey, a Peace Corps volunteer who died while serving in Benin in 2009.
“I thank President Obama for signing this important legislation and Senators Johnny Isakson and Barbara Boxer and Representatives Ted Poe, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Howard Berman for working diligently to pass the legislation,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams.
“Kate Puzey was an outstanding Peace Corps volunteer who represented the best America has to offer with her passion for service and commitment to making the world a better place, and this law is a tribute to her legacy. I am grateful to the Puzey family and all returned Peace Corps volunteers who have worked with us to better support volunteers serving overseas. This law marks an important milestone for Peace Corps and ensures that Peace Corps volunteers will continue to receive the best support and protection.”
For the entire article: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1918&cid=rssnews
Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving. I will be out of town for the holiday but will return on Friday.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Jackie!
Next Up…
7:15 PM EST
President Obama Speaks at In Performance at the White House: Country Music
The White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
November 21, 2011
Remarks by the President at “In Performance at the White House”
East Room
7:16 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Everybody, please have a seat. Thank you so much. Well, good evening, everybody. I have been on the road a lot lately -– I know the entertainers who are here tonight can relate. Johnny Cash was really singing our song when he said, “I’ve been everywhere, man.” (Laughter.) So I appreciate you all coming out for the best welcome-home party that I’ve had in a long time. I even see some members of my Cabinet and members of Congress in the house.
Michelle and I are delighted that all of you are here for the seventh in a series of evenings we’ve hosted here at the White House to celebrate the music that has helped to shape our nation.
Over the past couple of years, some of the greatest artists from Motown, from jazz, classical, Broadway have honored us with their performances. We’ve celebrated Latin rhythms and the music that helped define the Civil Rights Movement. And tonight, we’re transforming the East Room into a bona fide country music hall. (Applause.)
As Charley Pride, who played here two years ago, once said: “There is enough room in country music for everybody.” And over the past five years, I’ve had the extraordinary opportunity to travel all across America. I’ve hopped on planes to big cities. I’ve ridden buses through small towns. And along the way, I’ve gained an appreciation for just how much country music means to so many Americans.
Tonight, we’re thrilled to welcome a couple of generations of music stars, some of whom have been singing stories of life in America since before our younger guests were born — before I was born. Artists like James Taylor, Lyle Lovett and — (applause) — and Kris Kristofferson. (Applause.) These are among the greats that helped carry country music from regional radio to national popularity. Today, artists like Mickey and Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry and Dierks Bentley aren’t just topping the charts, they’re taking country worldwide. I am so pleased to welcome back to the White House one of the enduring voices of country music, Alison Krauss. I love her. (Applause.) And we have Hootie in the house. (Laughter.) Darius Rucker is now one of the best-loved country stars around. (Applause.)
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/remarks-president-performance-white-house
November 21, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Call with Greek Prime Minister Papademos
President Obama spoke with Greek Prime Minster Lukas Papademos today to congratulate him on his appointment, to thank him for taking on such a significant responsibility at a critical moment, and to express U.S. support for Greece’s efforts to implement its commitments under its EU-IMF program. President Obama reiterated that the United States will stand steadfastly with Greece, a friend and ally, through these difficult times.
November 21, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands
President Obama will host Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands for a meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday, November 29. The United States and the Netherlands have a close economic relationship that supports jobs in both countries. The Netherlands is the ninth largest destination for U.S. exports, as well as the third largest direct investor in the United States. The President and Prime Minister will discuss the importance of these trade and investment ties, as well as the current situation in the eurozone. The President also looks forward to consulting with Prime Minister Rutte about preparations for the 2012 NATO Summit that the U.S. will host in Chicago; the United States and the Netherlands are founding members of NATO.
November 21, 2011
Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Deputy National Security Advisor McDonough’s visit to Sudan and South Sudan
At the President’s request, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough joined Special Envoy for Sudan Princeton Lyman on a visit to Sudan and South Sudan November 20-21. This follows Mr. McDonough’s short visit to Iraq with National Security Advisor to the Vice President and Deputy Assistant to the President Tony Blinken.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/statement-nsc-spokesman-tommy-vietor-deputy-national-security-advisor-mc
November 21, 2011
Readout of the President’s Call with Guatemalan President-elect Otto Perez Molina
Earlier today, President Obama called Guatemala’s President-elect Otto Perez Molina to congratulate him on his recent electoral victory and to commend the Guatemalan people for their dedication to democracy. The Presidents discussed the shared responsibility for enhancing citizen security in Guatemala and underscored the importance of institutional reforms, respect for human rights, and inclusive economic growth in advancing the well being of all Guatemalans. President Obama reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working in partnership with Guatemala, noting the deep ties between the two countries, based in part on the significant contribution of Guatemalan-Americans to both countries.
Tuesday, November 22 , 2011
All Times Eastern
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
9:10 AM
The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn
Travel Pool Coverag
9:50 AM
President Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Manchester, N.H.
Travel Pool Coverage
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
Vice President Biden chairs a meeting of senior officials to assess progress in Iraq.
Closed Press
11:00 AM
President Obama arrives in Manchester, N.H.
Manchester Airport
Open Press
12:00 PM
12:15 PM
President Obama delivers remarks on the American Jobs Act.
Manchester High School Central
Open Press
1:00 PM
1:20 PM
President Obama departs Manchester, N.H., en route to Joint Base Andrews.
Manchester Airport
Open Press
2:00 PM
2:40 PM
President Obama arrives at Joint Base Andrews.
Open Press
2:55 PM
President Obama arrives at the White House.
South Lawn
Open Press
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
November 22, 2011
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
12:00 PM EST
President Obama Speaks on the American Jobs Act
Manchester Central High School
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
10:30 AM EST
Defense Department Briefing on Operations in Afghanistan
12:00 PM EST
President Obama Speaks on the American Jobs Act
Manchester Central High School
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the reported arrests of three Americans in Egypt, as well as the situations in Libya and Syria.
—-
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
9:00 AM EST
Iran’s Nuclear Program Examined http://www.c-span.org/Events/Irans-Nuclear-Program-Examined/10737425689/
10:30 AM EST
Defense Department Briefing on Operations in Afghanistan http://www.c-span.org/Events/Defense-Department-Briefing-on-Afghanistan/10737425693/
12:00 PM EST
Center for American Progress: Demograhics Vs. Economics in 2012 Election http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/302826-1
12:00 PM EST
President Obama Speaks on the American Jobs Act
Manchester Central High School http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-Touts-American-Jobs-Act-in-New-Hampshire/10737425669/
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the reported arrests of three Americans in Egypt, as well as the situations in Libya and Syria.
Obama heading to New Hampshire
November 15, 2011 By Steve Peoples
EXETER, N.H.—President Obama is scheduled to visit New Hampshire next week to promote his stalled jobs plan.
The White House hasn’t released many details, but says the president will travel to Manchester, the state’s largest city, on Tuesday. It will be among his first stops after returning from a nine-day trip to Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia.
The Obama administration has been paying particular attention to New Hampshire recently. Vice President Joe Biden has visited the Granite State twice in the last three weeks.
New Hampshire is considered a swing state in next year’s presidential election and Republicans competing to oppose him have swarmed to the state in recent months to prepare for the Jan. 10 GOP primary.
The White House says Obama will discuss the jobs plan that’s stalled in Congress.
Retired General Wesley Clark: “Republicans have been all over the map”
November 21, 2011 Posted by Elizabeth Chan – democrats.org
Today at the National Press Club, Retired General Wesley Clark, former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, and Retired Major General Paul Eaton held a press conference on the 2012 election and national security.
Citing President Obama’s foreign policy successes—dismantling the capabilities of al-Qaeda, bringing Osama bin Laden to justice, keeping his word on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—General Clark noted that President Obama has exhibited real leadership.
Contrast that with the Republican presidential candidates, who have proved time and again that they are not ready to lead. General Clark said:
FACT CHECK: HENSARLING FALSELY CLAIMS TAX BREAKS FOR BILLIONAIRES AREN’T DRIVING DEBT
On Fox News Sunday, Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (TX-05) refused to accept that that tax breaks for billionaires were drivers of the nation’s debt. Hensarling falsely claimed that “nothing else comes close” to Medicare, Medicaid and health care.
In reality, the Washington Post found that tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires were one of the “biggest culprit[s], by far” in ballooning America’s debt. A surtax on millionaires would raise nearly $500 billion over the next ten years toward paying down the deficit, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. In fact, 1,500 millionaires paid no income taxes in 2009 according to the IRS and hundreds of top companies paid less than half of their official taxes according to a recent study by Citizens for Tax Justice.
FACT CHECK
More Debt from Bush-era tax policies. [Washington Post, 4/30/11]
Economic Downturn and Bush Era Polices Drive the Country’s Deficits.
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/10/11]
Millionaire’s Tax Would Raise $452.7 Billion Over Ten Years.. [Congressional Budget Office, 10/7/11]
1,500 Millionaires Paid No Income Taxes In 2009.. [ABC News, 8/6/11; USA Today, 8/8/11; see also: IRS Publication 1304]
Biggest Public Firms Paid Little U.S. Tax, Study Says [New York Times, 11/3/11]
Even as 40 House Republicans now Urge Revenue To Be Considered. [Associated Press, 11/2/11]
For the entire article: http://dccc.org/newsroom/entry/fact_check_hensarling_falsely_claims_tax_breaks_for_billionaires_arent_driv/
Last chance for Medicare, Medicaid reform? Nope
11/22/11 By DAVID NATHER – POLITICO
It would be easy to conclude that the supercommittee’s failure means that the big, expensive health care entitlement programs — Medicare and Medicaid — are untouchable.
It would also be wrong.
The real lesson of the supercommittee’s collapse is that the political elements have to line up just right to put the brakes on Medicare and Medicaid spending. It can be done, budget and health care analysts say.
But for the supercommittee, just about everything went wrong from the start.
The timing was off, coming too close to a presidential election. The co-chairs weren’t powerful enough. The work came too soon after a summer debt deal that Democrats hated. Republicans couldn’t give the kinds of concessions on taxes that Democrats needed.
And the alternative to a supercommittee deal on health care entitlements — the 2 percent automatic cuts in health care payments and defense funding that will now take place in 2013 — wasn’t harsh enough to force a deal on Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, it might even have been the easier way out.
All of which means Medicare and Medicaid are not off the table forever. “It certainly doesn’t mean you can never, ever touch them, because we’ll have to touch them,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. With several bipartisan deficit reduction plans already circulating, she said, “if people wanted to get to yes, there’s a yes to be had.”
Here are the elements the next deficit negotiators will need to have better outcomes:
Better timing. It was always going to be a stretch to get a deal on entitlements heading into a presidential election. Supercommittee Democrats did offer Medicare and Medicaid cuts — at one point, they suggested $350 billion in Medicare savings and $50 billion in Medicaid cuts. But they couldn’t risk accepting structural changes to the programs — and Republicans couldn’t offer the kinds of tax increases Democrats would have needed to convince their voters that the deal was worth making.
“Timing does matter. The two parties have to exhaust what political gain they expect to get in the taxes and entitlement fights before a deal can happen,” said David Kendall, a senior fellow at Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank.
For the entire article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68904.html
Amazing Ride Nears End for ‘First Brother’ Reggie Love
11/22/11 By DAVID PICKER, ESPN | ABC News – 17 hrs ago
Reggie Love walked into his windowless office late last week and surveyed the confines. It wasn’t exactly an ideal place to work, especially for someone standing 6 feet, 5 inches. A burgundy couch, desk and cabinet took up much of the floor, leaving little room to maneuver.
“The space is small,” Love said. “But the real estate is valuable.”
Nearly every day, Love takes a right turn out of his office, walks a few steps and opens a door to the most famous office in the world: the Oval Office. Whatever President Obama happens to need once inside, from a copy of a speech to a newspaper, Love gets for him. As the president’s personal assistant – a job known as a body man – Love also keeps him on schedule, often deciding who gets the president’s ear.
The 29-year-old Love hardly ever speaks on the record. But after the White House announced 12 days ago that he would be leaving his position by the end of the year to attend the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, he granted an exclusive interview to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, providing a rare glimpse inside the president’s inner circle.
Love is almost always by Obama’s side, working up to 18 hours a day and often sleeping on the burgundy couch. He carries around a bag filled with anything the president might need in a pinch, like collar stays, Tide stain remover and dental products. Obama has no qualms about flossing his teeth with Love in the room.
“If he had it his way, I think he’d floss in private,” Love said, noting how little time the president spends away from his closest aides. “I think the fact that he was comfortable with me is probably a product of, you know, he’s beaten down. I’ve been around for so long.”
Tune in Tuesday to “World News with Diane Sawyer” at 6:30 p.m. ET and “Nightline” at 11:35 p.m. ET for Rachel Nichol’s interview with Reggie Love
For the entire article:http://goo.gl/N3JAG
Good Tuesday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Egyptian Protesters Push For A ‘Second Revolution’
11/22/11 by NPR STAFF AND WIRES
Egyptians responding to a call for a mass rally began flowing into Tahrir Square on Tuesday and fresh clashes broke out elsewhere in Cairo as protests demanding that the country’s military rulers step down entered a fourth day.
Activists are hoping to increase the number of protesters in the square, which was the epicenter of the revolt that ousted Hosni Mubarak in mid-February, with a demonstration to bolster popular support for a “second revolution” despite bloodshed that has left at least 29 people dead.
Security forces stayed away from the square since Monday to avoid confrontations after several failed efforts to clear the area in downtown Cairo turned violent. But clashes broke out in streets connecting Tahrir Square to police headquarters, with black-clad security forces backed by military troops firing volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets to block groups of angry young men, who responded by hurling stones and fire bombs.
Nearly 2,000 people have been wounded in the violence that has escalated since Saturday. NPR’s Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, reporting from the scene of the protests in Cairo, said rescue and medical workers on the front lines are having a hard time keeping up with the casualty rate.
The protesters in and around Tahrir Square shout slogans against the ruling military generals as wave after wave of young men surge toward the black-clad riot police, Nelson said. But the security forces do not relent. They repeatedly fire tear gas into the crowd, which leads to a steady stream of wounded.
For the entire article: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142636502/egypt-cabinet-offers-to-resign-amid-protests
Military Blocks Egypt’s Path To Democracy
11/22/11 NPR
Audio Summary: The latest round of Egyptian protests began when the military tried to strengthen its power in any future government. Vali Nasr of Tufts University talks to Steve Inskeep about other armies that tried to gain a bigger role in a supposedly democratic country. Nasr is also the author of The Rise of Islamic Capitalism, and is a former advisor to the Obama administration.
For the audio interview of the dangers of military-ruled governments like Pakistan’s : http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142641748/can-egyptians-curtail-the-role-of-the-military
Economy grew at 2 percent rate in third quarter
11/22/11 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER | AP – 9 mins ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew a little slower over the summer than the government had earlier estimated because businesses cut back more sharply on restocking of shelves.
The Commerce Department says the economy grew at an annual rate of 2 percent in the July-September quarter, lower than an initial 2.5 percent estimate made last month. The government also said after-tax incomes fell by the largest amount in two years, reflecting the high unemployment and lower pay raises.
The downward revision was largely because of a lower estimate for inventory rebuilding. Economists believe this could lead to stronger growth in the current quarter, if businesses foresee more demand.
Economists believe growth will strengthen modestly to around 3 percent in the fourth quarter. But that could be slowed by the weaker income growth.
South Korea Passes U.S. Free-Trade Agreement Over Objections of Opposition
Nov 22, 2011 By Sungwoo Park and Eunkyung Seo – bloomberg
South Korea’s assembly passed a free-trade agreement with the U.S. over the objections of opposition lawmakers, paving the way for the accord with the world’s biggest economy to take effect as early as Jan. 1.
The ruling Grand National Party used its legislative majority to ratify the deal today in Seoul, parliament’s website said. YTN Television broadcast images of opposition lawmakers shouting and said one shot tear gas in the room where the voting took place. President Barack Obama signed the deal into law last month after Congress passed it.
The agreement may help South Korea’s economy expand by 5.7 percent within a decade and create 350,000 jobs, according to the nation’s finance ministry. The biggest deal for the U.S. since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement will boost exports as much by as $10.9 billion in its first year of full effect, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, who must sign the agreement into law, told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last month that the FTA would create “good, decent jobs” to help spur both economies.
For the entire article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-22/south-korean-parliament-passes-u-s-trade-agreement-as-opposition-objects.html
Please join me in lighting a candle for our beloved President, First Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Former GOP Congressman Says Gingrich ‘Evil’ and a Liar
N.Y. Congressman Guy Molinari Worked with Newt Gingrich in the 90s and Says He’s an Evil Person
Dec 2, 2011 By Saul Relative – Yahoo! Contributor Network
COMMENTARY | Former New York congressman Guy Molinari has a few things to say about former Speaker of the House and current presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich — none of them nice. He speaks from experience, having worked with the presidential candidate in the 80s, a few years prior to the Gingrich becoming Speaker of the House. And Molinari bluntly states that Gingrich is “evil” and a liar, according to CNN.
“Evil is a tough word, but frankly I can’t think of a better word that describes what he is all about,” said Molinari, who now works as an adviser to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign. “He is an evil person. That’s the way he is. He’ll lie; he’ll do anything to get his way.”
And there is definitely some truth to that. Take, for instance, Gingrich’s complete twisting of the truth to brand the Obama administration as reckless with taxpayer dollars just so he can become the Republican nominee for president. Politifact published a piece on Dec. 1 that parsed a Gingrich claim that not only was President Obama the “best food stamp president in history” but that food stamps could now be used for anything, like trips to Hawaii. Even millionaires were getting food stamps, according to the former Speaker. Politifact labeled Gingrich’s claims “Pants On Fire,” their worst branding for lies and misleading statements.
And what about his lobbying his fellow Republicans after leaving Congress? He says he wasn’t a lobbyist — because he was never registered as a lobbyist — but currying favor for corporations and financial institutions like Freddie Mac certainly seems like lobbying by another name.
No one has profited more from being a congressman says the 83-year-old Molinari. ” You look at the stories about how much money he’s made, lobbying really, he says it wasn’t. It sure as hell was lobbying.”
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/former-gop-congressman-says-gingrich-evil-liar-002900185.html
Shields, Brooks on Gingrich’s ‘Skeletons,’ Bill Clinton’s ‘Second Act,’ Tax Cuts
12/2/11 pbs
SUMMARY
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week’s top political news, including the likelihood of Newt Gingrich being elected president, Bill Clinton’s post-presidential work, lawmakers’ struggles over the payroll tax cut extension and Rep. Barney Frank’s legacy.
(Excerpts)
MARK SHIELDS: But Newt Gingrich’s two greatest failures in his speakership involved, directly, Bill Clinton. The first was his pout, if you will recall, coming back from Prime Minister Rabin’s funeral, and for not being able to get off the front stairs of Air Force One, and not being treated as respectfully as he wanted to be, and almost petulant.
And the second was the impeachment of Bill Clinton, in which Newt Gingrich played a major part and was exposed as a total hypocrite to be carrying — at the same time to have been carrying on an illicit affair, extramarital affair with a staffer.
But I think that there’s no question Gingrich has emerged from the dust.
JIM LEHRER: But why? Why? What has caused this?
MARK SHIELDS: Why has he done it? He’s done it for a couple of reasons.
First of all, he has used the vehicle available to him, which has been a vehicle in this campaign almost unique, and that’s been the debates. The Republican Party wants to defeat Barack Obama. But they understand — Republican voters I have talked to and listened to, they understand they need somebody who can go toe to toe with Obama on the debate forum, and that Newt Gingrich, whether it’s deserved or undeserved, has become the intellectual heft of the Republican Party.
And they see him. They like him in that sense. He has also played it very well by being — practicing Ronald Reagan’s 11th rule, which is — 11th commandment, which is you never say anything negative about other Republicans. He has smiled all the way up. His focus has been on the press and on Obama.
And I just think, in this field, he’s looked good. He’s never been scrutinized. He’s never been engaged. Now, of course, that he’s the front-runner, he will be.
JIM LEHRER: Yes.
What’s your explanation for…
DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I would take that. I would add one other thing, which is white high school-educated voters. That’s who the Republican Party is. They’re a white working class electorate.
And we have got two prominent politicians in this country who have very little pull with those voters, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. And so, if you look at who wins the white working class, decade after decade, election after election, it’s the Republicans by 25 percentage points. And so that’s the core of the party.
They don’t particularly like Mitt Romney. They just don’t relate to him. And Newt Gingrich comes in with a little edge, a little forcefulness. And he’s not your typical white working class guy either. He’s a college professor who doesn’t let you forget how much he knows.
But he happens to be doing a lot better with those people. And so they’re looking for a home, and they’re just unhappy with Romney. I still think at the end of the day, it’s going to be Romney. I still think that is much more likely. I would have said 95 percent likely two weeks ago. Now I say 80 percent. So I’m downgrading a little.
Nonetheless, I think it’s characterological. The thing with Newt Gingrich is, each successive moment is untied to the last moment or the next moment. And what he says in one moment doesn’t necessarily govern what he’s going to do the next. And so I think he’s going to be — he’s going to be unpredictable. Let’s put it that way….
MARK SHIELDS: Because it will be all about Newt Gingrich. Newt Gingrich — Newt Gingrich is such a flawed vessel and such a flawed candidate.
He has more skeletons than the Harvard Medical School lab does. And I’m telling you, it’s — it would be bad for the country…
JIM LEHRER: That’s tough stuff.
You agree with that, David?
DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I completely agree with it.
I mean, people have forgotten a lot of things that have gone on in Newt Gingrich’s life. I think he’s enjoyable to be around. I cherish his presence in our stage. But you look at his second marriage, let alone his first marriage. You look at the interview that his second wife gave to GQ magazine.
These are scathing characterological assassinations. You look at the lobbying he’s done. You look at, as I say, how he managed the speakership. I think he’s a great presence. I love listening to the guy. But the constancy one needs — and the fact that he has no organization is no accident.
It’s the same issue. And so I agree with Mark. And the question is, will Republicans say, I sort of love listening to that guy, no way he can win? And I think, at the end of the day, they will make that determination.
For the entire article and audio interview: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec11/sandb_12-02.html
Newt Gingrich’s Skeleton Closet
Adultery: Callista Bisek. Anne Manning. The unnamed “young volunteer”. Are we missing anyone?
Draft dodger
Dead-Beat Dad
Family Values? Pressing Wife for Divorce in the Hospital
House Banking Scandal: Newt Bounced 22 Checks
Book Deals: Murdoch’s $4.5 Million wasn’t the first
GOPAC sleaze: Taxpayer subsidies for his partisan campaign course.
Corporate reward: $2,500/month to Newt’s wife
Who Owns Him?
For the entire article: http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm
Revisiting Newt Gingrich’s 1997 Ethics Investigation
December 8, 2011 by PETER OVERBY – NPR
Even as Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich is riding high in the polls this week, he’s been dragged back into a debate over a problematic part of his past. In 1997, he was the first speaker of the House, ever, to be punished by the House for ethics violations.
With “Renewing American Civilization,” history-professor-turned-politician Newt Gingrich had a college course — a program that was supposed to be insulated from partisan politics and campaign cash.
The litany he used in the classroom sounds much like one he uses today.
“American civilization cannot survive with 12-year-olds having babies, 15-year-olds shooting one another, 17-year-olds dying of AIDS, and 18-year-olds graduating with diplomas they cannot read,” Gingrich lectured.
But then as now, Gingrich had several overlapping projects going on. And Democrats alleged that Gingrich used the college course to promote a political agenda.
In one instance, a restaurant-industry advocacy group gave Gingrich’s college course $25,000. One of Gingrich’s political fundraisers solicited the money and said in a memo that the group might contribute if Gingrich would teach ideas that it favored.
The chairman of the group was chain-restaurant owner Norman Brinker. Brinker was later featured in a flattering video used by Gingrich in his course to talk about business innovation: “Whether it’s his beloved game of polo or his magical success in business, Norman Brinker simply does not know how to lose.”
For nearly two years, the House ethics committee investigated this and other Democratic allegations.
In the end, the House voted overwhelmingly, 395 to 28, to reprimand Gingrich and to fine him $300,000.
“Today we conclude this case by imposing a heavy penalty on the leader of this House. It is a tough penalty, unprecedented and appropriate,” Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson, who chaired the ethics committee, said at the time on the House floor.
For the entire article and audio interview: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/08/143333594/revisiting-newt-gingrichs-1997-ethics-investigation
How and What Newt Told Marianne
August 14, 1999 By Beth Berselli and Paul Farhi – Washington Post Staff Writers
Marianne and Newt Gingrich have acknowledged pain in their marriage before. But the apparent end of their 18-year union came as a series of shocks nonetheless to the woman who had stood by her man during his stormy tenure as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Marianne Ginther Gingrich was visiting her childhood home in Ohio in early May to celebrate her mother’s 84th birthday when her husband phoned. After offering birthday wishes to his mother-in-law, Gingrich asked to speak to his wife. Virginia Ginther soon found her daughter in tears.
“I said, ‘Marianne, what’s wrong?’‚” Ginther recalled yesterday. She said Marianne replied: “He doesn’t want me as his wife anymore.”
There was a second jolt soon after. Newt Gingrich, now 56, informed his wife that he was having an affair with a congressional aide, a woman 23 years his junior, Ginther said.
“I was totally shocked,” Marianne Gingrich, 48, said yesterday in an interview from her home in Marietta, Ga. “I had no idea.”
This week, a judge in Georgia gave Marianne’s divorce attorneys permission to question Gingrich and Callista Bisek, of Arlington, about their relationship.
For the entire article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/aug99/gingrich14.htm
21 reasons Newt Gingrich won’t be the Republican nominee for president
12/09/2011 Posted by Ezra Klein – washingtonpost
(Winslow Townson – AP) Perhaps I should say a bit more about why I’m so certain Newt Gingrich will not be the Republican nominee for president. Let’s put it this way: To believe Republicans will choose Gingrich, you have to believe they will choose someone who:
- previously supported a cap-and-trade plan to reduce carbon emissions, and even filmed a commercial alongside Nancy Pelosi to that effect;
- previously supported a health-care plan with an individual mandate;
- proposed blasting North Korea with — wait for it — lasers;
- took $1.6 million from Freddie Mac;
- began the campaign with six figures in debt to Tiffany’s;
- carried on an extramarital affair with a House staffer 20-years his junior during the Clinton impeachment trial (they’re now married);
- tried to explain away said extramarital affair by saying, “There’s no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate”;
- scribbled a note describing himself as an “Advocate of civilization, defender of civilization, teacher of the rules of civilization, arouser of those who form civilization, organizer of the pro-civilization activists, and leader ‘possibly’ of the civilizing forces”;
- worked for ethanol and pharmaceutical interests;
- supported the TARP bailout;
- is loathed by almost every conservative thought leader writing today;
- and by most every member of the Republican and libertarian/conservative political establishments;
- called Paul Ryan’s budget “right-wing social engineering” and then, two days later, said, “The budget vote is one that I’m happy to say I would have voted for…So, let me say on the record: Any ad which quotes what I said Sunday is a falsehood”;
- called for “a massive new program to build a permanent lunar colony to exploit the Moon’s resources”;
- called child labor laws “truly stupid”;
- suggested that “a mirror system in space could provide the light equivalent of many full moons so that there would be no need for nighttime lighting of the highways”;
- said that “most profound insight I have read in the last six years about Barack Obama” is that “[Obama] is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece together [his actions]”;
- was fined $300,000 by the House Ethics Committee for offering “incomplete, unreliable, and inaccurate” information during an investigation of a for-profit college course he developed while serving in Congress;
- helped the GOP lose the 1995 government-shutdown showdown by saying that “part of why you ended up with us sending down a tougher continuing resolution” was that he didn’t get good enough seats on Air Force One;
- was a dues-paying member of the Sierra Club;
- supported the 1989 Global Warming Prevention Act, which included a provision encouraging the U.N. to work to control population growth through, among other methods, family-planning services;
And I don’t believe Republicans will choose someone like that.
For the entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/21-reasons-newt-gingrich-wont-be-the-republican-nominee-for-president/2011/08/25/gIQA9m5kiO_blog.html
Exclusive: Gingrich Lacks Moral Character to Be President, Ex-Wife Says
1/19/12 By BRIAN ROSS and RHONDA SCHWARTZ | ABC News – 9 mins ago
Newt Gingrich lacks the moral character to serve as President, his second ex-wife Marianne told ABC News, saying his campaign positions on the sanctity of marriage and the importance of family values do not square with what she saw during their 18 years of marriage.
In her first television interview since the 1999 divorce, to be broadcast tonight on Nightline, Marianne Gingrich, a self-described conservative Republican, said she is coming forward now so voters can know what she knows about Gingrich.
In her most provocative comments, the ex-Mrs. Gingrich said Newt sought an “open marriage” arrangement so he could have a mistress and a wife.
She said when Gingrich admitted to a six-year affair with a Congressional aide, he asked her if she would share him with the other woman, Callista, who is now married to Gingrich.
“And I just stared at him and he said, ‘Callista doesn’t care what I do,’” Marianne Gingrich told ABC News. “He wanted an open marriage and I refused.”
Marianne described her “shock” at Gingrich’s behavior, including how she says she learned he conducted his affair with Callista “in my bedroom in our apartment in Washington.”
“He always called me at night,” she recalled, “and always ended with ‘I love you.’ Well, she was listening.”
All this happened, she said, during the same time Gingrich condemned President Bill Clinton for his lack of moral leadership.
She said Newt moved for the divorce just months after she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, with her then-husband present.
“He also was advised by the doctor when I was sitting there that I was not to be under stress. He knew,” she said.
Gingrich divorced his first wife, Jackie, as she was being treated for cancer. His relationship with Marianne began while he was still married to Jackie but in divorce proceedings, Marianne said.
There was no immediate comment from Gingrich on his ex-wife’s allegations. Gingrich has said during the campaign he has “no relationship” with Marianne.
While she had been quoted earlier as saying she could end his career, Marianne Gingrich defended Newt’s ethics while he served in Congress and came under several ethics investigations.
“At the time, I believed him to be ethical,” she said in the interview.
The former Mrs. Gingrich says Newt began to plan a run for President at the time of the divorce and told her that Callista “was going to help him become President.”
In a statement to ABC News provided by the campaign, Gingrich’s two daughters from his first marriage said, “The failure of a marriage is a terrible and emotional experience for everyone involved.”
The daughters, Kathy Lubbers and Jackie Cushman said they would not say anything negative about Marianne and said their father “regrets any pain he may have caused in the past to people he loves.”
Marianne Gingrich said Newt has never expressed any such regrets or apologized to her.
Full interview tonight on ABC News’ Nightline at 11:35 p.m. ET.
“The Republican Party should not mistake his [Gingrich's] communication skills with evidence of real knowledge, or even of good reasoning. Gingrich may be a master of academic exercises—his ability to make bookish references and formulate long sentences demonstrate as much—but that does not mean he knows what he is talking about.
Gingrich’s patterns of speech are largely analytically acute, and sometimes aesthetically interesting, but substantively, they are very often lacking. Language is supposed to be a package that carries substance, but Gingrich is sometimes so pleased with his uninterrupted stream of words, that he mistakes it for an actual flow of ideas. This, sadly, is an affliction endemic in academia, where too many spend too long trying to score points in petty intellectual fights; the further the substance of the debate recedes, the faster the self-satisfaction of the participants grows.”
Source: Words, Mere Words: Newt Gingrich Speaks Well. But Is He Smart? http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/97429/newt-gingrich-smart
Here’s how much more you’ll pay (if the Middle-Class tax cuts expire)
Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on November 22, 2011\
Without a vote from Congress, taxes for nearly every American will go up on January 1, 2012. The American Jobs Act would expand existing tax cuts and put more money in your pocket. This morning, Vice President Joe Biden sent the email below to the White House email list, asking folks to check out our calculator to see how your own bottom line would be impacted. At 12:15 p.m. EDT today, President Obama will discuss the importance of the American Jobs Act and tax cuts for the middle class. Watch live at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
If you didn’t get the email, but sure to sign up for the White House email list.
I’ll cut to the chase: If Congress doesn’t act soon, middle-class Americans will see their taxes go up starting on January 1st, taking almost $1,000 out of the pockets of a typical family next year.
Last year, President Obama and members of both parties in Congress cut the payroll tax for 155 million workers, putting money in your pockets. Now, that tax cut is expiring. So in September, the President and I proposed extending that tax cut and cutting your taxes even further: giving the typical family a $1,500 tax cut. Steps like this won’t just help families feel more secure in their budgets, it’ll give them more money to spend at local businesses that will hire more people and make investments in new equipment too.
We thought the extension would win bipartisan support again.
How could Republicans in Congress, some of whom have pledged not to raise taxes by a penny, oppose extending the same tax cuts they just passed? But after years of protecting expensive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, many Republicans now say we should let this middle-class tax cut expire.
There’s a lot at stake here for you and your family, and the better folks understand how much more they may have to pay, the easier it will be to get Congress to do the right thing. We’ve put together a calculator to show how much of your money hangs in the balance.
Try it out http://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/jobsact/calculator
Last week, we finally got some good news from Capitol Hill. Congress passed another measure from our American Jobs Act, creating tax credits for companies that hire veterans – and yesterday President Obama signed the bill into law.
But folks, as important as that is, it’s not nearly enough.
There is not a single good reason – not one – why Congress should stop there. Just like that tax credit will help ensure returning service members can find a job, the American Jobs Act helps put Americans back to work by jump starting the private sector and creating an economy that’s built to last. Congress ought to pass the rest of our proposals, too.
And Congress should start with protecting your paycheck.
Let me lay out the facts: Today, because of our tax cuts, everyone who collects a paycheck contributes 4.2 percent of their wages in payroll taxes. But if Congress doesn’t act, that tax will go up two percentage points, to 6.2 percent. That might not sound like much, but to an average family, that’s a difference of almost $1,000 a year.
President Obama and I have proposed cutting the rate even further – down to 3.1 percent. That would give a tax cut to 160 million workers next year, providing a $1,500 cut to the typical middle class family.
We have 40 days for Congress to take action. That’s 40 days for Republicans in Congress to do the right thing for the country – or 40 days before they force middle-class families to pay almost $1,000 more.
Take a minute to calculate what’s at stake for you:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/jobsact/calculator
Sincerely,
Vice President Joe Biden
By the Numbers: 160 Million
Posted by Megan Slack on November 22, 2011
President Obama’s plan to create jobs would provide a tax cut for 160 million workers by expanding the payroll tax cut from 2 percent this year to 3.1 percent in 2012.
For a typical family earning $50,000 a year, this cut would translate to an extra $1500 a year in their pockets. That’s more than $125 a month for households to pay for gas, food, and other expenses. On the other hand, if Republicans block passage of the President’s payroll tax cut, the typical family making $50,000 a year would see their taxes rise by $1,000 next year.
Businesses, too, will benefit from the payroll tax cut. Approximately 98 percent of businesses will see their payroll tax bill cut in half — from 6.2 percent to 3.1 percent — on their first $5 million in wages. The President’s proposal also includes a full payroll tax holiday for firms that add workers or increase wages.
This means that a construction firm with a payroll last year of $500,000 hires two new workers and adds $80,000 in payroll would receive a tax cut of $20,460. A warehouse with a payroll last year of $7 million hires 40 new workers and adds $2 million in payroll would receive a total tax cut of $279,000.
Use our calculator to find out how your bottom line will be impacted
Next Up…
12:00 PM EST
President Obama Speaks on the American Jobs Act
Manchester Central High School
WhiteHouse.gov (Audio Only) http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-Touts-American-Jobs-Act-in-New-Hampshire/10737425669/
November 22, 2011
Remarks by the President on the American Jobs Act
Manchester Central High School
Manchester, New Hampshire
12:20 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, New Hampshire! (Applause.) It is good to be back. Hello, Little Green! (Applause.) It is good to be back in New Hampshire, although I have to say that I feel a little winter coming on around here. (Laughter.) This is what happens when you fly north.
It is wonderful to be here. I had a chance to see backstage Principal Mailhot, and he reminded me of what I said to him four years ago almost to the day that I was here. It was snowing that day; we were — surprising enough, there was a snowstorm in New Hampshire. (Laughter.) And we ended up having to leave a little bit early. And we weren’t able to do everything that we wanted, talking to some of the students. And we were worried that folks were going to be disappointed, and I promised him that I would be back. I just want to point out, we’re keeping our promise — we are back. (Applause.) We are back.
In addition to Principal Mailhot, I want to acknowledge the Superintendent, Tom Brennan, who is here with his lovely wife Wendy. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Happy Thanksgiving a little bit early, everybody. To the — I understand we got the senior class here at Central High. (Applause.)
STUDENTS: Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: All right. You guys are pretty excited about being seniors, aren’t you? (Applause.) I want to thank also somebody who is doing outstanding work each and every day, was doing it up here as a wonderful governor, is now one of your most outstanding senators in the country — Jeanne Shaheen is in the house. (Applause.)
So before I came to school today, I had coffee –
(Audience interruption.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s okay. All right, okay, guys.
STUDENTS: Obama! Obama! Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, it’s okay. That’s all right. Listen, I’m going to be talking about a whole range of things today, and I appreciate you guys making your point. Let me go ahead and make mine, all right? And I’ll listen to you, you listen to me. All right?
Now, what I was saying was, I was having some coffee with some of your neighbors. And one of them was the Corkerys. You may know, as Mr. Corkery just said, that he’s a math teacher here at Central High. And even though a visit from me tends to disrupt things a little bit — (laughter) — he did want me to remind all his students you still have homework to do. (Laughter.)
But as Chris said, he’s also a colonel, recently retired after 26 years in the military; tours of duty in Iraq, in Kuwait, in Haiti. And I couldn’t thank him enough for his service, because obviously we know our service members, our veterans, they’re the ones who keep us safe, they’re the ones who are preserving our freedom — at enormous sacrifice to themselves and their families. (Applause.) And in fact, this holiday season is going to be a season of homecomings for folks all across America, because by the end of next month, all of our troops will be out of Iraq. (Applause.)
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/22/remarks-president-american-jobs-act
Unemployment drops in three-quarters of US states
11/22/11 By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER | AP – 2 hrs 16 mins ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in three-quarters of U.S. states last month, a sign that many parts of the country are experiencing modest job gains.
Unemployment rates fell in 36 states in October and rose in only 5, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Rates were unchanged in 9 states. That’s the best showing since April, when rates fell in 39 states.
Nationally, the unemployment rate ticked down to 9 percent in October, from 9.1 percent the previous month. Employers added a modest 80,000 net jobs last month and the previous two months were revised to show much stronger gains.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/unemployment-drops-three-quarters-us-states-153634242.html
Network Outage at ProPresObama.org!
Sorry, all, but CR’s cable modem is behaving badly, and she can’t get online to moderate the blog. It should be fixed by tomorrow afternoon.
If you have comments waiting for moderation, they will be delayed.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
We, the faithful readers of ProPresObama.org, will wait as long as it takes!
In the meantime, there is much to read and watch.
And to cook.
Happy and HOPEful whatever day this ends up being, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
Oh I see, OUR comments that don’t need moderating are posted, but CR can’t get online. Sorry, it’s been a long day of pumpkin roasting.
Should say: we will wait for CR as long as it takes.
((HUG)) Hi Kat!
Don’t know what was going on the internet provider said that everything was okay on their side so I thought that it was our modem because there was no connection. But then we checked and all is okay……trolls maybe?
Yay, you’re back!!
Those trolls are jealous because we have PBO!
New Hampshire Lunch: President Obama Stops At Julien’s Corner Kitchen In Manchester
NOVEMBER 22, 2011 obamafoodorama.blogspot
Back on American soil for less than 48 hours after his whirlwind tour of the Asia Pacific, President Obama was already heading out of Washington, DC on Tuesday morning. He took part in a favorite road ritual: En route to a speech at Central High School in Manchester, New Hampshire, President Obama stopped at Julien’s Corner Kitchen for a planned lunch meeting with the Corkery family. The cozy, casual corner restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, pool reported, and is also located in Manchester.
According to a White House backgrounder about the 11:35 AM meeting, the President sat down with the Corkery family to discuss “the importance of extending and expanding the payroll tax cut that has given tax breaks to millions of families across the country this year,” the subject of his speech at the high school. Chris Corkery, the father, has taught math at Central High for twelve years, and he is a retired Colonel, serving 26 years in the US Army. His wife Kathy, a small business owner, and their two sons, Andrew and Nicholas, were also at the lunch, which looks to have been extremely low calorie.
For the entire article: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-hampshire-lunch-president-obama.html
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titled: “ Thank The Troops 2011”
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