The Obama News | Popular Obama News

Obama nominates new Peace Corps director

srepen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:53:40 CDT

President Barack Obama says he will nominate a career international development specialist to be director of the Peace Corps.

Aaron Williams is the vice president for international business development with RTI International. He has helped design and manage assistance programs in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

1 Vote(s)

Obama says education a key to economic rebound

srepen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:51:56 CDT

Conceding unemployment will get worse before it shrinks, President Barack Obama on Tuesday unveiled a $12 billion plan to help community colleges prepare millions of people for a new generation of jobs. Challenging critics, he said he welcomed the task of turning around the economy.

1 Vote(s)

Obama hopes for new phase after Afghan elections

srepen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:50:29 CDT

Raising expectations for eventually curbing military operations in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he hopes U.S. involvement in the ongoing war can "transition to a different phase" after the upcoming Afghan elections.

The president said he is looking for an exit strategy where the Afghan army, police, courts and government take more responsibility for the country's security.

1 Vote(s)

Obama makes nuclear compromise to pass clean energy bill

srepen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:50:31 CDT

The Obama administration endorsed a revival of America's nuclear industry yesterday in an effort to build forward momentum for climate change legislation before the Senate.

1 Vote(s)

Obama, G-8 leaders agree on climate target

srepen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:48:35 CDT

resident Barack Obama joined other leaders of the industrialized world Wednesday in backing new targets for battling global warming. But the wealthy nations were unable to persuade leaders of developing countries to commit to reductions of their own, and their cooperation is critical to avoiding the worst effects of climate change.

1 Vote(s)

Barack Obama urges Russia not to interfere in neighbouring states

srepen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:25:22 CDT

Barack Obama today set out his vision for a new post-cold war world, and urged Russia not to interfere in neighbouring states and to move on "from old ways of thinking".

1 Vote(s)

Obama Arrives in Moscow for Arms Treaty Summit

srepen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:27:47 CDT

President Obama arrived in Moscow today for the start of a three-day summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that aides were hopeful would yield a framework for an agreement to replace an expiring nuclear arms control treaty.

1 Vote(s)

Obama's Twist on a GOP Budget Strategy

srepen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:24:49 CDT

George Bush bequeathed to President Obama a nation heading slowly but surely toward fiscal disaster. Because of an aging population and rising health-care costs, spending -- primarily on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- will steadily rise in coming years, as the nonpartisan and authoritative Congressional Budget Office explained in a report last month. Revenue is not projected to rise nearly as quickly. The result, if the government does not alter course: crushing debt that could lead

1 Vote(s)

US Marines hit Taliban heartland as part of Barack Obama's 'big surge' - Telegraph

srepen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:46:02 CDT

More than 4,000 marines and 600 Afghan soldiers backed by helicopters and jets stormed Taliban-held districts to drive out the militant fighters.

Commanders hope the offensive by thousands of newly arrived troops will be a turning point in the eight-year-battle against a stubborn Taliban-led insurgency.

1 Vote(s)

Obama: Troop pullout from Iraqi towns a milestone

srepen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:27:16 CDT

President Barack Obama on Tuesday lauded the pullout of U.S. forces from towns and cities in Iraq as an important step toward a full U.S. troop withdrawal by 2012, but warned of "difficult days" ahead.

1 Vote(s)

Barack the Magic Negro

BradenJett — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:00:48 CST

Once you think you've finished your feature article, go back and cut out at least one-third of it.If you're writing books, a blog is even more important.Writing is something that everyone can enjoy! Writing is...

1 Vote(s)

Roland Burris saga continues to play out

BradenJett — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:29:40 CST

Often you'll find that a writing project is complete with the writing you've done in your journal.However if you are really good with words you might be successful at writing for clients who need Goo...

1 Vote(s)

Now Is the Time for Lily Ledbetter and Pay Equality | Politicususa

jmeasley — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:47:54 CST

It is unfathomable in the 21st Century that we need to talk about this issue. However it seems that now is the time for legislation that would ensure equal pay for women is passed. Speaker Nancy Pelosi called this a priority of the House.

2 Vote(s)

Conservatives Cry Media Bias against Tavis Smileyâ€™s Obama Comments | Politicususa

jmeasley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:37:25 CST

Some conservatives are upset because PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley, told Harry Reid to put down the crack pipe and acknowledge that Democrats in Congress work for Barack Obama. Smiley added that, â€œWe all work for Barack Obama.â€ This little comment has brought out the liberal media bias conspiracy again.

1 Vote(s)

Obama Calls Economic Situation Dire and Deteriorating | Politicususa

jmeasley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:24:13 CST

Today President elect Barack Obama addressed the news that 524,000 jobs were lost in December, and 2.6 million jobs were lost last year by calling for the passage of his economic stimulus plan. "Clearly, the situation is dire, it is deteriorating, and it demands urgent and dramatic action,â€ Obama said.

1 Vote(s)

Top House Democrat Opposes Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General | Politicususa

jmeasley — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:10:22 CST

Democratic Rep. John Conyers has sent a letter to Democratic colleagues to rally opposition to CNN â€™s Dr. Sanjay Gupta being nominated for Surgeon General. Conyers opposes Gupta because he is against single payer universal health care and Conyers has his own candidate in mind.

1 Vote(s)

Obama Promises a New Course for the Economy | Politicususa

jmeasley — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39:59 CST

The most interesting element of president elect Obamaâ€™s speech on his stimulus plan was its focus on government accountability, a lack of earmarks, and tax cuts. Obama was trying to defuse the potential charge that he is a big government liberal by making an urgent but practical appeal, and promising to change the course of the economy.

1 Vote(s)

4 Ex Presidents that Obama Wishes He Could Have Lunch With | Politicususa

jmeasley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:57:21 CST

On a day when President Elect Barack Obama had a chance to have lunch with all the living former presidents and the current president Bush, I wondered if Obama had the chance, which former presidents would he like to talk to, and learn from, so here is my list of an alternate 4 that he could have lunch with.

1 Vote(s)

Bill Richardson: The First Casualty of the Blago Political Fallout | Politicususa

jmeasley — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:57:08 CST

In a Sunday surprise Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) withdrew his name for nomination to position of Sec. of Commerce due to a grand jury investigation into pay to play allegations in his state. It seems that Richardson has become the first casualty of the political fallout from the Blagojevich scandal.

1 Vote(s)

Obama: We Must Act Quickly and Boldly On the Economy | Politicususa

jmeasley — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:38:16 CST

n his weekly radio address president elect Barack Obama urged the quick passage of his stimulus package titled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Obama argued that without immediate action the economy could slip even deeper into recession.

4 Vote(s)

The Kennedy Double Standard | Politicususa

jmeasley — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:54:10 CST

It seems that everyone has a bone to pick with the possibility of Caroline Kennedy replacing Hillary Clinton as the junior senator in New York. Oddly enough many of the criticisms being leveled against Kennedy could have been used against Clinton when she moved to the state, but werenâ€™t.

1 Vote(s)

Obama Looking to Exploit Fractures in the GOP | Politicususa

jmeasley — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:40:46 CST

The leadership vacuum in the Republican Party is providing president elect Obama with a unique opportunity. On Monday he is holding a bi-partisan meeting with the congressional leadership, while later in that same week Republican leaders will hold a meeting without the RNC. Could Obama become a force in both parties?

1 Vote(s)

A Slew of Obama Books to Hit the Shelves in January | Politicususa

jmeasley — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:40:41 CST

There are at least 11 books coming out about Barack Obama in January. Most of these books are scheduled for release in time to take advantage of the next wave of Obamamania expected to strike around the time of his inauguration. Here are five titles that interested me.

1 Vote(s)

Top 12 Political Blunders of 2008 | Politicususa

jmeasley — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:09:36 CST

Letâ€™s turn my frown upside down, as the old clichÃ© goes, and turn the microscope on other peopleâ€™s miseries. And what better way to do so then to revisit the biggest political missteps of 2008. Itâ€™s just such a rich landscape. Not surprisingly, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, John McCain and Sarah Palin headlined the blunder class of 2008.

1 Vote(s)

Senate Democrats Have Few Legal Options with Blago Appointment | Politicususa

jmeasley — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:58:02 CST

Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is set to appoint former state attorney general Roland Burris to the Senate seat of president elect Barack Obama. Although Senate Democrats have vowed not to seat any Blago appointee, there appears to be little that they can legally do to not seat Burris.

3 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: The Great Risk Shift-back: Hacker exhorts Obama

Asp — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:33:38 CST

Jacob S. Hacker, the economist who best described the erosion of economic security for the middle class over the past thirty years in The Great Risk Shift, makes a tightly argued case (in tnr.com) that an all-out push toward universal health insurance is at once the best short-term stimulus and the best long-term investment Obama can make right now.

1 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: Obama's modest and ambitious agenda

Asp — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:48:48 CST

In an interview with Time, Obama lays out a two-year agenda that's both staggeringly ambitious and refreshingly modest. Modest, because many of the benchmarks bespeak new beginnings, tangible and positive changes of approach, rather than completely transformed institutions...The goals are huge, but the approach is incremental.

3 Vote(s)

Poll: 83% Say Obama Transition is going About/Better than Expected | Politicususa

jmeasley — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:11:53 CST

A new Marist College poll released today of registered voters found that a whopping 83% said that president elect Barack Obama is doing either about or better than expected. The poll also found that voters think Obama will move the country in the right direction, and they approve of his choice of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.

5 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: Son of Bush Sr.? Obama prepares for state-croft

Asp — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:06:41 CST

The Wall Street Journal notes that "many of the Republicans emerging as potential members of the Obama administration have professional and ideological ties to Brent Scowcroft" -- Bush Sr.'s national security adviser. And it's widely reported that Obama will keep on Robert Gates as defense secretary. Gates was deputy national security adviser under Scowcroft.

The Journal article stresses policy affinities between Scowcroft and Obama -- most notably that both opposed going to war in Iraq.

4 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: Promises to keep: The ACLU puts the heat on Obama

Asp — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:52:17 CST

Kudos to the ACLU for working from Day 1 to hold Obama to his always rather briefly expressed promises to end torture, close Guantanamo, and revisit FISA. Since November 5, when they took out full-page ads quoting those promises (the first two, anyway), they've been in congratulations-we're-waiting-for-action mode. Yesterday they sent an email to supporters linking to a segment of Obama's recent 60 Minutes interview in which he reiterates those promises (again, without elaboration), filling

4 Vote(s)

Reports: Napolitano is Obama's pick for Homeland Security

srepen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:47:06 CST

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who has fought to curb illegal immigration along her state's border with Mexico, is President-elect Barack Obama's likely choice for secretary of Homeland Security, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

4 Vote(s)

Obama selects Tom Daschle as health chief

srepen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:44:53 CST

Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle was tapped Wednesday to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration, even though he works for a Washington lobbying firm that represents health care interests.

4 Vote(s)

Clinton attorney among Obama's new staff picks

srepen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:43:38 CST

President-elect Barack Obama tapped former Clinton attorney Gregory Craig as his White House counsel on Wednesday and said campaign strategist David Axelrod will join him in Washington as a senior adviser

5 Vote(s)

YouTube - Jay-Z History Music Video

malekanoms — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:01:35 CST

Video tribute to how the election was the culmination of decades of courage and struggle.

4 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: Obama: damn the deficit, full speed ahead

Asp — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:46:22 CST

In his first weekly address as President elect, Obama echoed Paul Krugman, signaling in no uncertain terms that he's going going full-speed ahead with his economic agenda, deficits be damned:

Even as we dig ourselves out of this recession, we must also recognize that out of this economic crisis comes an opportunity to create new jobs, strengthen our middle class, and keep our economy competitive in the 21st century.

4 Vote(s)

Hillary Clinton Rumored to be Secretary of State Pick | Politicususa

jmeasley — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:29:27 CST

So Hillary Clinton, the vanquished Obama foe for the Democratic nomination was seen boarding a plane headed to Chicago today. And this act has fueled tremendous speculation that she may be under consideration by the Obama transition team for a cabinet position.

5 Vote(s)

Obama and Baucus Disagree Over Heathcare Mandate | Politicususa

jmeasley — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:54:34 CST

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus unveiled his plan to overhaul the nation â€™s healthcare system. Much of his plan is in line with the goals that Obama laid out during his presidential campaign, but the Baucus plan imposes a mandate that everyone must be covered, which Obama opposes.

4 Vote(s)

Obama Offers Rahm Emanuel Job of White House Chief of Staff

srepen — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:39:09 CST

ABC News has learned that President-elect Obama has offered the White House chief of staff job to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill

7 Vote(s)

Obama becomes first black president in landslide

srepen — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:15:25 CST

Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation's first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself.

6 Vote(s)

xpostfactoid: You must become as little children...

Asp — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:19:33 CST

Vaclav Havel, addressing the newly self-liberated Czechoslovaks at his inaugural on Jan. 1, 1990, might also have been speaking to Americans today:

Where did the young people who never knew another system get their desire for truth, their love of free thought, their political ideas, their civic courage and civic prudence? How did it happen that their parents -- the very generation that had been considered lost -- joined them?

5 Vote(s)