[poochee]

Originally Posted by xico

Why am I not surprised? Like we've never had prisoners before? Much Ado about nothing. But the wingers need to change their diapers and move on. Obama won!

The Reps continue to drum up fear as they did when in control.

[poochee]

June 22, 2009
Obama praises agreement to cut drug costs for senior citizens
Another step forward!
Posted: 12:31 PM ET
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama strongly praised a decision by the nation's pharmaceutical industry to agree to a deal cutting drug costs for elderly Americans on Monday, calling it an example of the kind of compromise required for successful national health care reform.

The agreement discounts medications for Medicare beneficiaries currently facing high out-of-pocket expenses when their benefits reach a gap in coverage.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...nior-citizens/

[poochee]

Stimulus dollars at work: Fighting forest fires
In Oregon, the Recovery Act is paying for a local small business to thin forests and protect nearby communities from wildfires.
By Emily Maltby
June 22, 2009: 8:33 AM ET

PatRick Environmental is a small business that specializes in preventing forest fires. The firm recently landed a contract, backed by stimulus cash from the Recovery Act, to torch areas of Oregon's Deschutes & Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grass Lands. This controlled burning will promote new growth and thin some trees so that unplanned wildfires don't become unmanageable.


http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/19/smal....smb/index.htm

www.recovery.gov

[poochee]

Huffpost - Obama: US "Fully Prepared" For North Korea Missile Launch
June 21, 2009 10:58 PM EST | AP

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said the United States is "prepared for any contingencies" involving North Korea _ including the regime's reported threat to launch a long-range missile toward Hawaii.

Japanese media have reported the North Koreans appear to be preparing for a long-range test near July 4. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered additional protections for Hawaii in case a missile is launched over the Pacific Ocean.

"This administration _ and our military is fully prepared for any contingencies," Obama said Friday during an interview with CBS News' Harry Smith, to be broadcast Monday on "The Early Show."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_218666.html

[poochee]

Huffpost - Obama: Cheney's Policies Made Us Less Safe (VIDEO)
The Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner
First Posted: 06-22-09 11:29 AM | Updated: 06-22-09 12:11 PM

In an interview with Harry Smith on CBS' "The Early Show," President Obama responded to criticisms from former Vice President Dick Cheney as well as those who think the U.S. should get more involved in Iran.

"He and I have a deep disagreement about what's required to keep the American people safe," Obama said. "I would argue that our policies are making the American people safer, and that some of the policies that he's promoted in the past have not." On Iran, he explained that he didn't want the U.S. to become "a foil" for justifying the crackdown on protesters.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_218922.html

[poochee]

Huffpost - Senator Refuses To Meet With Sotomayor, Late Because Of Injury
It doesn't matter, he's from TN, and probably didn't want to hear what you had to say anyway.
First Posted: 06-22-09 10:11 AM | Updated: 06-22-09 10:28 AM

Think Progress:

Last Thursday, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) was scheduled to meet with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Yet when Sotomayor was delayed because of her recent injury, Corker decided that he had more important things to do than to wait around for a potential lifetime appointee who is temporarily disabled:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_218855.html

[Sarge]

Obama to Sign FDA-Tobacco Bill Into Law

An anti-smoking bill that gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sweeping powers to regulate tobacco products will be signed into law Monday by President Barack Obama.

Under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the FDA will be able to ban labels such as "low tar" and "light," outlaw candy flavorings, and order companies to reduce nicotine in tobacco products. The law also requires large graphic warnings on cartons of cigarettes, the Associated Press reported.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/he...-22--2009.html

Many pros and cons to this bill. Just how much "regulation" will the FDA convey? Does the FDA regulate alcohol?

[poochee]

June 22, 2009
Obama signs anti-tobacco bill
Much needed regulation.
Posted: 04:00 PM ET
From CNN White House Producer Jamie Crawford

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Acknowledging his own struggle with smoking, President Obama signed a sweeping anti-tobacco bill into law Monday.

"Each day, 1,000 young people under the age of 18 become new regular, daily smokers, and almost 90 percent of all smokers began at or before their 18th birthday," Obama said. "I know; I was one of these teenagers. And so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time."

"It's something that he continues to struggle with as somebody — like millions of Americans have," Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at a briefing Monday when asked if Mr. Obama was still smoking.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...-tobacco-bill/

[poochee]

June 22, 2009
Jim Jones traveling to Afghanistan, Pakistan
Posted: 02:12 PM ET
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — National Security Adviser Jim Jones is traveling to Afghanistan and Pakistan "to follow up on the implementation of our new, comprehensive strategy," a spokesman said Monday in a news release.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...stan-pakistan/

[poochee]

June 22, 2009
Slight majority approves of Obama's handling of Iran
Obama will address the situation at a press conference Tuesday..
Posted: 07:20 PM ET
From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

(CNN) — As the aftermath of the Iranian election continues to unfold, a new national survey out Monday shows a slim majority of Americans approve of how President Obama is handling the situation there.

According to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, 52 percent give the president high marks for his response to the crisis in Iran while 36 percent disapprove. The poll is the first survey to come out in the wake of the country's disputed election just over a week ago.

Top Republicans — including Arizona Sen. John McCain — have criticized Obama for appearing to refrain from direct criticism of the disputed election result and the treatment of protesters over the last week..Bet they's like us to attack Iran.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...dling-of-iran/

[poochee]

June 22, 2009
Obama releases statement on train collision
Posted: 10:17 PM ET
CNN

"Michelle and I were saddened by the terrible accident in Northeast Washington D.C. today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends affected by this tragedy. I want to thank the brave first responders who arrived immediately to save lives. My staff has been in touch with Mayor Fenty's office and will continue to monitor the situation.

Excerpt from: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...ain-collision/

[poochee]

Obama toughens his talk on Iran
updated 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
CNN

Story Highlights
•NEW: President Obama: U.S. "appalled" by beatings, imprisonments in Iran
•Obama says Iranian allegations that U.S. behind protests "false and absurd"
•On the domestic front, Obama pushing for health care legislation this year
•President says he expects unemployment to exceed 10 percent this year

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama sharpened his language on Iran and stressed the urgency of overhauling the health care system at a news conference Tuesday.

President Obama says his tone on the Iranian election crisis has been consistent.
"The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments of the last few days," the president said, adding that he strongly condemns "these unjust actions.".

Obama's Iran policy has received intense scrutiny amid growing concerns over Tehran's violent crackdown on street protests. The Iranian demonstrators believe the country's June 12 presidential election was a sham.

Obama earlier called on Iran to stop violent and unjust steps that stifle free speech, but some Republicans have criticized him for not siding more strongly with the demonstrators...The hawks are at it again!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/...iref=polticker

[poochee]

Huffpost - Obama Administration Seeks To Join U.N. Rights Of The Child Convention
JOHN HEILPRIN | June 22, 2009 06:09 PM EST |

UNITED NATIONS — The Obama administration is reviving efforts to have the United States sign onto a global children's rights treaty ratified by every U.N. member except the U.S. and Somalia, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said Monday.

Administration officials are actively discussing "when and how it might be possible to join," Rice, a Cabinet-level official, said while visiting a school in Harlem and fielding a teenager's specific question about the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She did not provide a specific timetable for the decision and has said previously only that the administration would conduct a legal review of the treaty.

The treaty says children have basic rights to education, health care and protection from abuse. Its supporters have used it to improve child protection laws for schools and courts in places like Lebanon, South Korea, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Excerpts from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_219511.html

[poochee]

Report: US automakers to gain on new gas mandates
KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON | June 22, 2009 04:46 PM EST | AP

DETROIT — U.S. automakers have underestimated the importance of fuel efficiency to consumers, but new federal standards are expected to help the companies turn a profit, according to the results of a University of Michigan study released Monday.

Researchers at the U of M Transportation Research Institute said plans for vehicles to be 30 percent more efficient by 2016, along with federal intervention at General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group, are forcing the companies to pay closer attention to fuel efficiency when designing new cars, something the automakers failed to do in the past.

"It is standard practice to discount consumer research. It was only applied to safety and quality issues," said Walter McManus, director of the automotive analysis division for the institute and co-author of the study.

He said that people abandoned American-made vehicles in favor of fuel-efficient Japanese models, leading to the downturn of all three automakers.


Excerpts from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...-fuel-economy/

[LANMaster]

Britain, France & EU Condemn Iranian Slaughter--

Obama Serves Hotdogs

Great Britain ordered the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, signalling a new low in relations between the two nations.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana condemned on Tuesday the horrible violence that followed elections in Iran.

Great Britain, France, Germany and Canada condemned the crackdown on democracy protesters in Iran last week.

Even Egypt condemned Obama's cautious response to the situation in Iran.

But, Barack Obama is going to serve hotdogs.

Barack Obama won't cancel 4th of July celebrations with Iranian regime officials even as the mullahs continue to slaughter their own citizens on the street.
What a disgrace.

I believe that President Obama is blowing a great opportunity to advance the cause of freedom in the world.

America ..... it's the new France.