The Obama Administration released their proposed 2012 Budget today, that would “trim or terminate more than 200 federal programs next year and make key investments in education, transportation and research.” The plan is aimed at boosting the nation’s economy while reducing record budget deficits. Among the targeted federal programs in the budget is Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as I noted here a few days ago. Following up on my earlier post about the proposed cuts to...
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Kerry Makes Emergency Trip to Pakistan in Wake of Arrest of US Embassy Worker
The Boston Globe is reporting tonight that Senator John Kerry left tonight “for an emergency trip to Pakistan to try to repair deteriorating relations in the wake of the arrest of a US embassy worker who shot two Pakistani motorcyclists dead, according to committee staff.” Since becoming the Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Kerry has traveled to Pakistan 4 times maintaining a close relationship with Pakistani leaders. This visit however, is different: The trip, which a senior US...
Groups Assail U.S. Chamber’s Sabotage
Organizations on the political left have begun pushing back against an exposed campaign by one of Washington’s most powerful pro-business lobbies that aimed to sabotage its political opponents. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s law firm, Hunton & Williams, conspired with three private security firms HBGary Federal, Berico Technologies, and Palantir Technologies–to create a multimillion dollar intelligence operation to destroy opposition groups, including unions and other organizations, according to a recent report by ThinkProgress. The plan reportedly was exposed after...
At the Mountains of Madness
But it is in the silencing of all dissenting voices that the truest danger lies -- to the silencers themselves. Dick Cheney actually believed it when he said that the Iraqis would welcome us with flowers and kisses. Because the modus operandi of that group admitted no dissenting voices. Heard no contrary debate.
Facing Steep GOP Cuts, Reid Says, ‘You Can Lose A Lot Of Weight By Cutting Off Your Arms And Legs’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is heaping scorn on the House GOP plan to cut tens of billions of dollars out of such federal domestic programs as clean energy projects, the Environmental Protection Agency, and much more. “Saying you want to cut government spending is an easy applause line. We all want a lower deficit, and we all wish America had less debt sitting in other countries’ treasuries. None of us wants to leave the most difficult decisions to...
President Obama on Mubarak’s Resignation
Earlier today, President Obama spoke on Egyptian President Mubarak’s long awaited resignation: President Obama reacted to the news Friday afternoon with effusive praise for the Egyptian people, especially its youth. “Egyptians have inspired us, and they’ve done so by putting the lie to the idea that justice is best gained through violence,” he said. Watch the clip from PBS: CNN reports: Vice President Joe Biden, speaking earlier to an audience in Kentucky, said the developments in Egypt marked a...
Capitol Idea: With Mubarak Out, Now Comes The Hard Part For Obama
With Hosni Mubarak’s long-in-coming departure as Egypt’s repressive leader on Friday, President Obama would seem to have turned around what began as a foreign policy embarrassment for his administration into a real, constructive role in helping the Egyptian people make history. Initial gaffes in which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Mubarak’s regime “stable,” and Vice President early declaration that the man whose rule has gone on for 30 years was not a “dictator,” will soon fade and likely...
Mubarak is Out, Cedes Power to Military
In an abrubt about face after yesterday’s confusing and somewhat defiant speech, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned today and ceded his power to the Egyptian military; The streets of Cairo exploded in shouts of “God is Great” moments after Mr. Mubarak’s vice president and longtime intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, announced during evening prayers that Mr. Mubarak had passed all authority to a council of military leaders. “Taking into consideration the difficult circumstances the country is going through, President Mohammed...
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