Now it appears that the commercial hucksters and hustlers are swarming our OFA site trying to sell TVs and laptops. I just received this offensive solicitation in my e-mail box:
[PublicPolicyProfessionalsforObama] Dear!
Our webmasters must be vigilant and take steps to prohibit these kinds of posts that have nothing to do with the historic work before us now.
Invitation to join citizen journalists team at Huffington Post to investigate insurance claim denials follows. Also, do you have any leads to share? Join Our Investigation: How Often Do Health Insurers Deny Claims? Posted by Adam Clark Estes Amid all the loud arguments about the proper role for government and private companies in American health care, one point often seems lost: Exactly how well – or badly – are private insurers handling claims in the existing system? Daniellle Ivory is uncovering some answers. But we also need you to help us investigate... http://huffpostfund.org/participate/join-our-investigation-how-often-do-health-insurers-deny-claims
www.whitehouse.gov
Bernanke Is Nominated for Second Term as Fed Chief President Barack Obama nominated Ben S. Bernanke to a second four-year term starting Jan. 31. "Ben approached a financial system on the verge of collapse with calm and wisdom," Obama said. Bernanke has expanded the bank's power by the most in history to battle the worst economic slump since the Great Depression. His nomination requires Senate approval.
Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, who led the biggest expansion of the central bank’s power in its 95-year history to battle the worst economic slump since the Great Depression, was nominated to a second term today by President Barack Obama.
“Ben approached a financial system on the verge of collapse with calm and wisdom, with bold action and out-of-the box thinking that has helped put the brakes on our economic freefall,” Obama said in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, with Bernanke at his side.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&refer=top_news&sid=a3rutrLT32Jw
A glimmer of hope:
“Instead it is time for Democrats to unite and move. Pass a bill out of the House and put it before the Senate with the president behind it. Push the minority of Democrats standing in the way to join the majority. Then let Republicans try to filibuster it. Even if against parts of the bill, no Democrat with a working frontal lobe will vote for the filibuster and join Republicans to deny the president a majority vote on this critical reform. If Kennedy and Byrd are unable to vote, then we'll need two Republicans. The few that haven't gone over to pure obstruction will have to decide if they are prepared to stop a vote on reform. If the filibuster is defeated, then we just need 50 votes to pass the bill - and there is no reason why a bill with a robust public option and lower prescription drug prices can't gain 50 votes from Democrats in the Senate.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/health-care-let-the-major_b_262666.html)
Spot on!
It is simple. It comes down to conservative and moderate democrats who need to feel the heat! If they are not going to support the Democratic Party and the platform and allow an up or down vote they need to leave the party and the Democratic Party needs to remember their betrayal in 2010 and that pitbull the Whitehouse has been holding back needs to be let out today.
So! Call, Email, Fax the President, your Representatives, and everyone you know to do the same!
Dan in Alhambra
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-North-American-Leaders-Summit/
Continuing his efforts to strengthen partnerships with North American leaders, the President has been in Guadalajara, Mexico the past two days at the North American Leaders Summit. Joined by Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Obama described the spirit of the summit, "Indeed, in the 21st century, North America is defined not simply by our borders, but by our bonds."
Aug. 10 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama told his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon that he is committed to resolving a dispute over truck access to U.S. highways.
Obama said he will also address safety concerns about the trucks raised by the U.S. Congress, an administration official said after the two leaders met in Guadalajara yesterday at a summit of North American leaders. Calderon told Obama that the dispute has hurt trade, raised consumer costs and reduced job creation, according to a statement from his press office.
Removing restrictions that prevent Mexican trucks from delivering goods across the border has been a top issue for Calderon since the U.S. Congress, citing safety concerns, ended a pilot program in March that allowed some trucks access. Mexico retaliated by imposing $2.4 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods after the program ended, affecting companies such as Procter & Gamble Co., the world’s largest household-products maker.
U.S. exporters such as Appleton Papers Inc. of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Mary Kay Inc., the Dallas-based cosmetics seller, have urged Obama to reach an agreement to put Mexican trucks back on U.S. roads and end the tariffs imposed on makers of paper, batteries, toothpaste and grapes.
Closely held Appleton is a member of the Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs, a group of companies formed to fight the tariffs. Other members include Caterpillar Inc., Smithfield Foods Inc. and PepsiCo Inc.
Nafta and Trucks
As part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. agreed to allow Mexican trucks unrestricted access to deliver goods in the U.S., a pledge it has never fully honored because safety advocates and union officials say Mexico’s trucks and drivers don’t meet U.S. standards. Nafta rules would also have allowed Mexican trucks to pick up cargo to return to Mexico.
Around 4,500 Mexican trucking companies represented by the National Freight Transportation Chamber, known as Canacar, said in June they were seeking $6 billion in compensation from the U.S. because of the trucking conflict, alleging its northern neighbor wasn’t complying with Nafta.
In 2008, the U.S. and Mexico had $368 billion in trade, making Mexico the third-largest U.S. trading partner after Canada and China, according to the Commerce Department.
After their meeting, Obama and Calderon joined Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for dinner and a performance by a mariachi troupe. The three plan more meetings today before holding a joint press conference.
Drug Fight
Calderon and Obama also discussed cooperation on fighting drug cartels through the Merida Initiative, a three-year, $1.1 billion package of aid to Mexico that includes helicopters, intelligence sharing, and police training.
The U.S. is withholding 15 percent of the Merida funds until the State Department deems that Mexico has made progress on human rights. In today’s meeting, Obama underscored the importance of human rights and said Mexican progress on the issue will aid its fight against the drug cartels, the U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Obama and Calderon also discussed the importance of coordination before a possible rebound of the deadly H1N1 swine flu, the Mexican statement said. The two presidents agreed to synchronize efforts to track the spread of the disease and prepare for outbreaks, the U.S. official said.
Swine Flu
In May, the swine flu outbreak battered the Mexican economy as the government closed schools and restaurants, and foreign tourism revenue plunged. The flu may reduce Mexico’s gross domestic product 0.5 percent this year, according to central bank Governor Guillermo Ortiz.
Mexico recorded 146 deaths from swine flu among 17,416 total cases, the health ministry said Aug. 4. There were 43,771 cases worldwide of H1N1 flu and 302 deaths as of July 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Canada’s Harper told Calderon during a meeting yesterday that he won’t lift a requirement that Mexicans obtain visas before visiting the country. Canada announced the rule last month after a surge in refugee claims from Mexico.
The visa rule “has nothing to do with our bilateral relationship or broader issues; it is simply a control measure while we have problems in the refugee system,” Harper told reporters after the meeting. “It is not the fault of the government of Mexico, very clearly. This is a problem of the Canadian refugee law.”
Harper said he hopes Canadian lawmakers will work to streamline the way refugee claims are dealt with. Harper is in a minority government and needs support from opposition lawmakers to amend the immigration system.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Guadalajara at njohnston3@bloomberg.net; Jens Erik Gould in Guadalajara at jgould9@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aiVLrrhUWbiU
When the "racism fart" appears and "curls your hair" don't dwell on it like dwelling on your grandpa's farts, "crack the window", "cover it up with potpourri" ("change the subject"). - Thoughts by Stephen Colbert on 7-30-09 on the Colbert Report
Apparently the officer found it acceptable to arrest someone for asking for his name and a badge number. Their stories differ as to whether there was racial issues involved. Both Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. & Sgt. James Crowley are RIGHT in my opinion! I also fully agree that the whole situation was stupid and should never happen in that fashion. The blame however, is NOT with Gates or Crowley.
The problem is overly vague, over-used and abused, and unconstitutional Disorderly Conduct laws, as well as improper or inadequate training of officers. Under the present DC laws in America, even if you yell in an upset voice in your own home or on your own porch when DEFENDING your civil rights, the police can unbelievably state you are disorderly.
Sgt. Crowley was wrongfully taught, like all officers, that if they say anything to a citizen and the citizen doesn’t instantly comply he is disorderly or resisting arrest. Resisting arrest is also abused by the police. A natural instinct is to resist handcuffing as this really is an assault. The law should be changed and narrowed so that if one twitches one will not be charged with resisting arrest, and verbal tirades against the officer should not be considered resisting arrest. Officers are supposed to be professional, despite verbal abuse.
The Sgt. is taught to lure loud persons, even if they are simply loudly protesting violation of the law and their civil rights, out into a public area so they can claim the person is disorderly. Prof. Gates should realize that officers have the most rudimentary understanding and training in the law. This is why they over-reach and abuse DC, trespass, and resisting arrest laws. They really don’t know what they mean in detail and the laws are too over-reaching and/or vague, making them ripe for abuse.
There is a concept of “void for vagueness” in law that a criminal statute is unconstitutional because it is impermissably vague. The US Supreme Court needs to hear a case like that of Prof. Gates if he should sue for unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution, and violation of civil rights. They need to clarify these laws and narrow and define them better so the public knows what they can and cannot do and police will no longer be able to abuse these DC, trespass, and resisting arrest laws by arresting anyone who disagrees with them, twitches, or claims harassment or false arrest.
Prof. Gates is right that African-Americans are still profiled and abused by the police. However, I do not think this was Sgt. Crowley’s main issue. His main issue appears to be the fact that he is an omnipotent, all-powerful, officer with unlimited power, who has been given an inch of power and taught to take a mile of power, who must be instantly obeyed no matter what he says.
I don’t say this to criticize Sgt. Crowley – this is what he was taught and as an officer, this is constantly re-enforced in his training. He is not at fault. His training and the vague and easily abused law is at fault. This is his understanding of his DUTY under the law. He should be taught that people have rights and one can de-escalate a situation by backing off and shutting up, instead of being in a persons face and challenging them when they are upset by the wrongful or mistaken actions of others.
We should also be pleased that the police responded to the call of someone breaking in the house. Sgt. Crowley appropriately asked Gates to initially step outside because he was there alone, needed to protect himself in the open, didn’[t know if Gates was the burgler or the homeowner and if homeowner, didn’t know if a burglar was still inside. However, we should insist they receive more training so that when they come on a situation and find out it is different than what they were told, they don’t act like robots and proceed to act as if the information was true or lure someone into an arrest just because they are being verbally challenged. This is the part I consider stupid. The whole thing would have been different if the law was clarified and Crowley would have backed off and not considered Gates “disorderly.”
I urge Prof. Gates, Sgt. Crowley, and President Obama to acknowledge these facts. I would like the three of them to meet and discuss these issues and come up with a plan to solve the problem. AG Eric Holder should be part of this meeting. If Obama is truly a mediator – HE SHOULD DO THIS! I am very happy that the Pres. has decided to keep this on the front burner as a "teaching moment' and invite both gentlemen to the White House for a pow wow.
For a range of opinions on this matter see: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/24/evening-buzz-the-president-the-professor-the-cop/
Actual copy of arrest reports (Sgt. Crowley’s story) see:
http://cnnac360.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/20120754.pdf
Prof. Gate’s story at:
http://archpundit.com/blog/2009/07/22/if-hed-just-obeyed-the-police-officer/
I am getting more and more disappointed. It appears the briefing book was just a carrot to get us to vote for Obama, but never was taken seriously by the Administration. Also I don't see any evidence that the Administration has heard the complaints about our corrupt justice system or the excess control over the health care reform package by Insurance Companies and Pharmaceutical Companies.
I fell we are being betrayed, misled, and abandoned. Use us and lose us. This blog is a waste!
Barack Obama, US president, insisted on Thursday there was still time for the world to agree binding commitments to cut greenhouse emissions, in spite of stalemate at the G8 summit in L’Aquila.
Mr Obama takes centre stage in the Italian town on Thursday when he chairs a session on global warming, bringing together 17 rich and emerging economies, including China and Brazil.
US diplomats say there is no chance that the countries will agree to cut world emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 – from a still undecided baseline of 1990 or later. They are however likely to agree on an aspiration to stop temperatures rising more than 2 degrees centigrade compared with pre-industrial levels.
The early departure of Hu Jintao, China’s president of China, from the meeting made any change in position on cuts even less likely.
But Mr Obama believes an agreement on binding intermediate targets – for a deadline sometime before 2050 – can be reached before a UN climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.
Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman, said Mr Obama told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil that ”there was still time in which they could close the gap on that disagreement in time for that important [meeting]”.
Mr Obama is seen as a pivotal figure in reaching any Copenhagen agreement, but months of tense negotiations lie ahead.
India, China and other big emerging economies want to be sure the west is serious about meeting medium term targets for cutting emissions before they commit themselves. They also want money to help them clean up their industries.
The credibility of the G8 on climate change was challenged by Russia, which had earlier signed up to a communique by the group committing wealthy nations to an even more ambitious 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 – again with a still undecided baseline. The Russian delegation however has questioned whether such a long-term target is meaningful.
Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, said progress on climate change at the G8 was so far ”not enough”. He added: ”This is politically and morally [an] imperative and historic responsibility ... for the future of humanity, even for the future of the planet Earth.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2ded2ba2-6c84-11de-a6e6-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Leaders of the major industrial powers, the G8, have begun their annual summit with a working lunch in an earthquake-stricken Italian town.
L'Aquila was where nearly 300 people were killed in a quake in April, and an evacuation plan is in place in case a tremor should hit during the summit.
Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested.
The leaders' agenda includes the global financial crisis, food security, climate change and Iran.
US President Barack Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is also due, fresh from talks with Mr Obama in which they agreed a framework for new nuclear weapons cuts in Moscow.
But Hu Jintao, China's president, has cancelled plans to attend the summit and address G8 leaders, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western province of Xinjiang.
Tremors predicted
The summit is being held at the same police barracks from where the rescue operation was run after April's earthquake, when more than 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes.
The region has continued to suffer aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.1 just last week.
A top geologist predicted there would be more tremors this week - but said the summit venue should be safe.
Nevertheless, an evacuation plan is in place. Italian newspapers say it involves moving the leaders to tents and then flying them out by helicopter.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the quake victims.
He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a nearby village almost flattened by the quake, and will take Mr Obama on a tour of L'Aquila later.
He may also be hoping to use the summit to put his domestic troubles behind him. His wife has filed for divorce and he has faced myriad accusations about wild parties and relations with young women and prostitutes.
Officials will be hoping for more positive headlines than when Italy hosted the G8 in Genoa in 2001. That summit was marred by violent protests and police faced charges of brutality and misconduct.
But on Tuesday, police in Rome said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres.
On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said.
Big agenda
The first item on the agenda of the summit will be the global financial crisis. The credit crunch was not even envisaged at last year's summit, when concerns were considerably different - high oil and food prices and inflationary pressures.
Now discussion will centre on how to avoid a repeat of the credit crunch, with regulation to force banks to hold higher capital reserves a favoured option.
There will also be pressure to conclude new talks on global trade rules, and to avoid protectionist measures.
HAVE YOUR SAY The "global warming" myth has been completely debunked by many leading academics, yet many, politicians believe it for their own purposes. William Read, UK
International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in discussions.
And the leaders will try to get closer to a new deal on climate change management ahead of a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December.
African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday, to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger.
The financial crisis has had a severe impact in some developing countries and campaign groups say it makes it all the more important for the G8 to live up to earlier commitments to increase aid, the BBC's Andrew Walker in L'Aquila says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8139364.stm
TUESDAY, JULY 7TH, 2009 AT 10:54 AM
A Hopeful Reset
Posted by Jesse Lee
Yesterday the Presidents of two countries once consumed by the Cold War came together to begin putting what President Obama calls a "reset" of relations into concrete action. They hammered out agreements on a range of issues, perhaps most notably taking the first steps towards decreasing the threat of nuclear weapons to the human race. Today the President spoke at the graduation of the New Economic School and laid out his broad vision for a new relationship.He spoke of Russia’s history and heritage:I know that NES is a young school, but I speak to you today with deep respect for Russia's timeless heritage. Russian writers have helped us understand the complexity of the human experience, and recognize eternal truths. Russian painters, composers, and dancers have introduced us to new forms of beauty. Russian scientists have cured disease, sought new frontiers of progress, and helped us go to space.These are contributions that are not contained by Russia's borders, as vast as those borders are. Indeed, Russia's heritage has touched every corner of the world, and speaks to the humanity that we share. That includes my own country, which has been blessed with Russian immigrants for decades; we've been enriched by Russian culture, and enhanced by Russian cooperation. And as a resident of Washington, D.C., I continue to benefit from the contributions of Russians -- specifically, from Alexander Ovechkin. We're very pleased to have him in Washington, D.C. (Applause.)He spoke of the obvious benefits of cooperation, and the obstacles that still manage to obstruct it:Yet unfortunately, there is sometimes a sense that old assumptions must prevail, old ways of thinking; a conception of power that is rooted in the past rather than in the future. There is the 20th century view that the United States and Russia are destined to be antagonists, and that a strong Russia or a strong America can only assert themselves in opposition to one another. And there is a 19th century view that we are destined to vie for spheres of influence, and that great powers must forge competing blocs to balance one another.These assumptions are wrong. In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonizing other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over. As I said in Cairo, given our independence, any world order that -- given our interdependence, any world order that tries to elevate one nation or one group of people over another will inevitably fail. The pursuit of power is no longer a zero-sum game -- progress must be shared.That's why I have called for a "reset" in relations between the United States and Russia. This must be more than a fresh start between the Kremlin and the White House -- though that is important and I've had excellent discussions with both your President and your Prime Minister. It must be a sustained effort among the American and Russian people to identify mutual interests, and expand dialogue and cooperation that can pave the way to progress.And he spoke on that central issue of his visit, nuclear non-proliferation: This is the core of the nuclear challenge in the 21st century. The notion that prestige comes from holding these weapons, or that we can protect ourselves by picking and choosing which nations can have these weapons, is an illusion. In the short period since the end of the Cold War, we've already seen India, Pakistan, and North Korea conduct nuclear tests. Without a fundamental change, do any of us truly believe that the next two decades will not bring about the further spread of these nuclear weapons?That's why America is committed to stopping nuclear proliferation, and ultimately seeking a world without nuclear weapons. That is consistent with our commitment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That is our responsibility as the world's two leading nuclear powers. And while I know this goal won't be met soon, pursuing it provides the legal and moral foundation to prevent the proliferation and eventual use of nuclear weapons.We're already taking important steps to build this foundation. Yesterday, President Medvedev and I made progress on negotiating a new treaty that will substantially reduce our warheads and delivery systems. We renewed our commitment to clean, safe and peaceful nuclear energy, which must be a right for all nations that live up to their responsibilities under the NPT. And we agreed to increase cooperation on nuclear security, which is essential to achieving the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear material within four years.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/A-Hopeful-Reset/
Obama urges shift in Russia ties
US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to turn from the past, emphasising the common goals the US shares with its former Cold War rival.
He told young graduates in Moscow they were the "last generation" to be born in a "divided world".
Mr Obama sought to reassure the country that the US sought a "strong, peaceful and prosperous" Russia.
The speech comes on the second day of Mr Obama's visit to Moscow and followed his first meeting with Vladimir Putin.
During the breakfast talks he told the former president turned prime minister that he had done "extraordinary work" leading Russia.
'Fundamental change'
Mr Obama said in his speech: "Partnership will be stronger if Russia occupies its rightful place as a great power."
President Barack Obama's speech began with conventional references to Russia's timeless heritage. He mentioned the Russian people's suffering during World War II.
There was inevitably some geo-politics. Mr Obama said that "the days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over". That will be taken as a clear stab at those in the Russian leadership who still see their former-Soviet neighbours as a Russian sphere of influence.
But in his choice of audience - students from a business school "founded with Western support but now distinctly Russian" as he put it - he was hinting at the sort of society he hoped Russia would become.
He said both Russia and the US had shared common goals in, for example, preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
"It is not for me to define Russia's national interests, but I can tell you about America's, and I believe that you will see we share common ground," he told the audience at the New Economic School in Moscow.
Mr Obama said that neither the US nor Russia would benefit from a nuclear arms race in East Asia or the Middle East.
"That is why we should be united in opposing North Korea's efforts to become a nuclear power, and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," he said.
Mr Obama called on Russia to accept a "fundamental change", without which, he suggested the next two decades would inevitably bring about the further spread of nuclear weapons.
"That is why America is committed to stopping nuclear proliferation, and ultimately seeking a world without nuclear weapons," he said.
He suggested that Russia and the US could also co-operate in areas including energy and on the challenges of defeating extremism.
He said America's clear goal was to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan but did not seek bases in, nor to control, these nations.
"Instead, we want to work with international partners to help Afghans and Pakistanis advance their own security and prosperity. That is why I'm pleased that Russia has agreed to allow the United States to supply our coalition forces through your territory," he said.
He said the international financial crisis had highlighted the need and potential for unified co-operation between nations beyond the economic sphere.
"We can forge partnerships on energy that tap not only traditional resources, but the new sources of energy that will drive growth and combat climate change. All of that, Americans and Russians can do together."
New partnerships
Mr Obama urged the fellow nuclear power to respect international borders, human rights and democratic principles, as well as tackle corruption.
"People everywhere should have the right to do business or get an education without paying a bribe," he said.
"That is not an American idea or a Russian idea - that's how people and countries will succeed in the 21st Century."
Mr Obama then went on to hold what the White House described as a "good meeting" with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
On Monday, after meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Mr Obama signed eight separate agreements with Russia.
These, he said during the speech would "substantially reduce our warheads and delivery systems".
Among the deals was a pact to negotiate a new arms control treaty to replace the 1991 Start I pact which expires in December.
A new agreement could see the two countries reducing their nuclear warheads by up to a third, to below 1,700 each within seven years of the treaty's signing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8137637.stm
US President Barack Obama is holding talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, focusing on further reducing nuclear stockpiles.
Officials on both sides were quoted as saying a document had been agreed, though Russia said it was not final.
Both men say they want deep cuts to their current levels of 6,000 nuclear warheads each.
In addition, Russia has been pressing Mr Obama to scrap a US plan for a missile defence shield in Europe.
Afghanistan and Iran are also on the agenda.
The presidential Air Force One plane carrying Mr and Mrs Obama landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Monday morning.
Ahead of Tuesday's talks with Russian Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin, Mr Obama said he was confident the discussions could offer "extraordinary progress" on several fronts.
"On a whole host of issues - including security issues, economic issues, energy issues, environmental issues - the United States and Russia have more in common than they have differences," he said.
Many analysts say Mr Putin is still in the driving seat in the Russian government.
Both sides have made clear their desire to improve, or "reset", relations between Washington and Moscow.
But BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus, who is in Moscow, says that is not going to be easy given the different perceptions of their national interests the two sides bring to the table.
Under the previous Bush Administration, relations between Washington and Moscow were almost as bad as during the Cold War, so there is ample opportunity for improvement, he adds.
The two countries have very different hopes for the summit's outcome, he explains, with the US hoping it will provide the basis for a much more substantial diplomatic relationship in the future.
The Russian leadership, meanwhile, sees this summit as a way of presenting itself as the equal of the US, he says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8135394.stm
We now should have at least 60 votes in the Senate for at a very minimum a public option in the health care plan. It is time to turn up the heat by calling your representatives and demanding a strong public option if they want your support in the future. This is as true for the Obama administration as it is for your representative and we need to let them know that. Health care is not a privilege it is a right. Too long the poor and middle class had to go begging for adequate care while the rich are able to pick and choose their care. Enough! Remember that. We should be demanding a nationalized plan to take the profit motive out of this basic right however it is clear there is no democratic backbone for this fight and it will have to wait for another day. The fact is, and I have heard this from many others, the Obama administration and the democrats can all go to.. if they fail to provide for this basic right in a public option as a beginning. I am tired of the old refrain from democrats: "What are you going to do vote republican? No, but I will walk away from your bankrupt politics and work to form a new progressive party that respects basics rights of people first not the profit to be made from them being sick. I recently said to a very dear friend that I was keeping my powder dry on the where the Obama administration was headed. On this issue however, the very spirit of change he so eloquently spoke for is at stake. Mr. Obama please lead the and we will have your back 110%. I know in my heart you are the man I think you are. On a different subject and absolutely connected: When did it become ok to send babies to fight and die in an undeclared war in Afghanistan? Like Iraq it is not winnable and bleeds our blood and treasury. Anyone remember the Soviets or appreciate the history of the region?
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/LIVING/07/01/brothers.afghanistan.war/art.brothers.civilian.jpg
Can we call ourselves human beings if we send these babies to war and deny basic healthcare?
How can we make sure that health care reform includes ending insurance companies' abuse of denying claims (millions of claim denials a year)?
My son was just refused reimbursement for $1,300 for physical therapy for a serious knee injury. His physical therapy was recommended by his doctor to prevent the need for surgery. He was told he could be covered for PT only after he had surgery. How stupid and short-sighted is that! But I bet that, if he has to have surgery , insurance will find another reason to deny the claim. Just think about it. Our insurance premiums pay for insurance staff to find excuses to deny our benefits! Multiply this problem by millions a year.
Access to affordable health insurance is a key starting point, but reform needs to include correction of these bogus claim denials and continued oversight. Universal and continuous access to a public option would also help a lot to keep private insurance honest and give people like my son a chance to vote with his feet and walk out on ripoff private insurers.
http://www.globalchange.gov/
13 United States Agencies agree: humans are causing global climate change.
CA OPTION AL MEDICAL AND IHHS BENEFITS CUT FOR THOSE IN VOC REAHB TICKET TO WORK, EVEN SOME SEVERELY AND MULIPLY DISABLED. CUTS WERE BACKFILLED IN STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS WHERE LOBBY ISTS AGREED TO REIN STATE FOR MULITPLE SPECAIL INTERST GROUPS ONLY
- NOT BY MEDICAL NEED -
THOSE SEVERELY MULITPLEY DISABLED AND THOSE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WILL NOW SUFFER and be UN -ABLE .
FOR THOSE SOME LESS DISABLED ALREADY WITH MORE SUPPORTS BECASUE THEY HAD REPRESENTATION OF LOBBYISTS .
THIS VIOLATES ADA +/OR SECTION 504 .
THERE ARE NO advocates and no voice for severely and multiply disabled not attached to regional centers certain senior and other outside special interests.
This has been done by affiliation NOT medical need !
PLEASE ASK Washington to stand up for us and give us a voice!
CA LOBBYISTS BACK FILL some cuts for SPECIAL INTERESTS only!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoxic_event
We are probably headed for another anoxic event unless we intervene.
Dear President Obama,
You inherited something else -- the infrastructure problem, and it may not be as bad as they say it is -- it may be much, much worst.
You're responsible for one of the largest capital asset portfolio's on the planet; including America's roads, dams, schools, colleges/universities, hospitals, drinking water infrastructure, sewer systems, landfills, military bases, airports, police stations, fire stations, transit systems, electrical distributions systems, levees, parks, ports, borders, and more.
How much stuff is there? What is it all currently worth? How old is it? and How long do we expect it to last?
Open, transparent, and accurate data is required to address these questions, which may be the first step in solving America's rapidly approaching infrastructure crisis -- until then, should I hazard some guesses?
DOESN'T THE MINORITY SPEAKER GET BRIEFED ATT HE SAME TIME?
http://www.gop.gov/media/features/09/05/19/what-did-speaker-pelosi-know
