[poochee]

U.S. to send ambassador back to Syria
updated 10:58 p.m. EDT, Tue June 23, 2009
By Elise Labott
CNN State Department Producer

Story Highlights
•Obama administration move signals reconciliation between two countries
•"It's in our interests," a senior administration official tells CNN
•Official said decision is not in related to the election crisis in Iran, a Syrian ally
•Syrian ambassador to the United States reacts positively to news


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama has decided to send a U.S. ambassador back to Syria, a dramatic sign of reconciliation between the two countries, senior administration officials tell CNN. The announcement is expected to be made this week.

"It's in our interests to have an ambassador in Syria, a senior administration official told CNN Tuesday night. "We have been having more and more discussions, and we need to have someone there to engage."

The official said that the decision was not in any way related to the election crisis in Iran, although the Obama administration has maintained engaging the Syrian regime could weaken Syria's strategic alliance with Iran.

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

[poochee]

June 24, 2009
Officials: President Obama reconsidering July 4 invitations to Iran
Posted: 12:23 PM ET
From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Obama administration is seriously considering not extending invitations to Iranian diplomats for July 4 celebrations overseas, senior administration officials tell CNN.

The officials said intense discussions on the issue were taking place, but the final decision had not been made.

Late last month the State Department sent a cable to its embassies and consulates worldwide informing them they "may invite representatives from the government of Iran" to their July 4th celebrations.

The Obama administration had decided to invite Iranians to the celebrations at overseas posts as part of President Obama's policy of engaging the Iranian regime.

But officials said the violence against protesters that has ensued since the June 12 election has caused the administration to rethink the timing of such engagement.


Excerpts from: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...an/#more-57577

[poochee]

Health care battle intensifies for Obama, Congress
updated 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
CNN

Story Highlights
•Health care debate focusing on how to pay for overhauling the system
•President Obama is meeting with bipartisan group of governors
•GOP opposes government-sponsored public option
•Obama holding town-hall style meeting on health care Wednesday night

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The struggle to overhaul health care is expected to reach a fever pitch Wednesday.

President Obama says he wants Congress to send him health care legislation by fall.
President Obama, putting a chunk of his political capital on the line, will take his case for change to the airwaves while congressional negotiators tackle politically explosive proposals relating to coverage and cost control.

Republicans are confident they can deal a major blow to Obama's young administration by derailing any major health care initiative. They point to the defeat of President Clinton's health care reform plan in 1994, which helped pave the way for a GOP takeover of Congress that year...Forget about bi-partisanship Obama, there is no such thing.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/...are/index.html

[poochee]

Huffpost - Obama, Pope To Meet In Italy
VICTOR L. SIMPSON | June 24, 2009 10:08 AM EST | AP

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Wednesday the Vatican had informed the White House that Benedict is available to meet the president that afternoon. The meeting will be at the end of Obama's stay in Italy for a G-8 summit meeting in the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila and just before he leaves for Ghana.

Such meetings in the afternoon are unusual for the tradition-conscious Vatican _ most are held at midday. The Vatican clearly sought to accommodate Obama's busy schedule, a sign of Benedict's interest in meeting the American president.

Excerpts from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_220061.html

[bill.aam]

Didn't he just say yesterday that.."Iranians will have to decide whether they want to attend Fourth of July celebrations at U.S. embassies"

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Monday that Iranian diplomats are still welcome to attend Fourth of July parties at U.S. embassies around the world:

"There's no thought to rescinding the invitations to Iranian diplomats," Kelly said. "We have made a strategic decision to engage on a number of fronts with Iran. And -- and we tried many years of isolation, and we're pursuing a different path now."

Fox News's Major Garrett asked the president at the ongoing press conference if that is still the case. Obama replied:

we don't have formal diplomatic relations with Iran. I think that we have said that if Iran chooses a path that abides by international norms and principles, then we are interested in healing some of the wounds of 30 years, in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations. But that is a choice that the Iranians are going to have to make.

Q But the offer still stands?

THE PRESIDENT: That's a choice the Iranians are going to have to make.

[poochee]

June 24, 2009
First on the CNN Ticker: Barbour to head GOP’s gubernatorial election campaign
Posted: 03:03 PM ET
From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, CNN has learned.

Barbour immediately takes over as head of the national Republican campaign organization following South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s announcement he was leaving the post. Sanford acknowledged Wednesday that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[bill.aam]

Originally Posted by poochee

Obama 2009

This thread is to chronicle the progress of Obama as president.

Originally Posted by poochee

June 24, 2009
First on the CNN Ticker: Barbour to head GOP’s gubernatorial election campaign
Posted: 03:03 PM ET
From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, CNN has learned.

Barbour immediately takes over as head of the national Republican campaign organization following South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s announcement he was leaving the post. Sanford acknowledged Wednesday that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[LANMaster]

Yah .... right.

Poochee get misty.

[poochee]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

Yah .... right.

Poochee get misty.

Did you have a nice Birthday/Father's day?

[poochee]

Obama wants to trim complex college aid form
LIBBY QUAID | June 23, 2009 10:53 PM EST | AP

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to simplify the federal college aid form, which at 153 questions drives millions of families to give up before they finish it.

President Barack Obama wants to make the form much more user-friendly as part of a sweeping plan to put higher education within reach of more students.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who planned to announce the changes on Wednesday afternoon at the White House, said the goal is to boost college enrollment among low- and middle-income students.

"We have to educate our way to a better economy," Duncan said in a statement.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...a-college-aid/

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by poochee

Did you have a nice Birthday/Father's day?

Yes I did. Thank you for asking.

[eggplant43]

Policies that were wrong under George W. Bush are no less wrong because Barack Obama is in the White House.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwa...ert/index.html

[poochee]

Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Obama, Congress prepare to take up immigration overhaul
By William Douglas | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — On the eve of the White House's long-delayed bipartisan meeting Thursday to kick off its drive to revamp U.S. immigration policy, lawmakers and interest groups weighed in Wednesday on what's needed in a comprehensive bill.

The senator tapped to write it, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., gave his most detailed outline to date on what he intends to include in an immigration bill that he and congressional Democratic leaders say could be written and voted on this fall.

Schumer's goal is to balance a get-tough approach to illegal immigration while still providing a path to citizenship for the nearly 12 million illegal immigrants who're already here.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/70646.html

[poochee]

Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Obama takes health care debate to the airwaves
By Margaret Talev and David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday intensified his campaign to overhaul the nation's health care system, as polls show Americans wanting but fearing change and as a divided Congress grapples over what to do.

In an unusual exclusive arrangement with ABC News that drew the ire of many Republicans, Obama planned to tape a health care town-hall meeting at the White House that the network would air at 10 p.m. EDT. Appearing earlier Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," Obama said he that "absolutely" expects Congress to pass comprehensive health care legislation by year's end.

Obama also met at the White House on Wednesday with five governors who were part of a bipartisan group of governors that recently hosted health care roundtables around the country.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/70640.html

[ekim68]

Originally Posted by eggplant43

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwa...ert/index.html

I've been concerned about this too eggplant....I just keep hoping it's an anchor being pulled up...