Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

News/Politics

The New Homebuyer Tax Credit

The New Homebuyer Tax Credit

Last week the President signed a new $24 billion stimulus bill including measures to extend jobless benefits, to provide tax relief for struggling businesses, and to expand the homebuyer’s tax credit introduced earlier this year. The measure passed the Senate unanimously (98-0) and the House overwhelmingly (403-12) and was signed by President Obama. Ordinarily I would expect to applaud any measure... [Read more]


Catholic court documents ordered released

Catholic court documents ordered released

As a disclaimer, let me state categorically that I am not trying to bash the Catholic Church with this article. If there is one thing the Catholic Church is known for, it is it’s secrecy. I am not versed at all in their religious proceedings, but the first thing I think of when I hear the Catholic Church mentioned is how secretive they are. It seems that the theme filters from the Vatican, all... [Read more]


Health care debate moves to the Senate

Health care debate moves to the Senate

I knew there was a reason I liked Joe Lieberman. With the House passing their version of health care reform late Saturday night, the battle over how to reform the system moves to the Senate and conservatives seem to have an ally in the Democrat turned Independent Senator from Connecticut. The plan pushed through the House by Nancy Pelosi contains a public option in which the government would offer... [Read more]


Fort Hood – Questions and answers

Fort Hood – Questions and answers

As the aftermath of the shooting at Fort Hood begins to unfold and more details are released, one thing is apparent. There are a lot of questions and no so many answers. It is now known that Major Nidal Malik Hasan is still alive and is in stable condition. The female civilian police officer who exchanged gunfire with him was originally thought to be dead as well, but she appears to have survived and... [Read more]


Shooting at Fort Hood

Shooting at Fort Hood

Even though I made the decision to cover breaking news and current events after the 2008 Presidential election was over, I hate writing about happenings such as this. Around 1:30 PM this afternoon, a soldier went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, TX and at the last count, 12 people were dead, including the shooter, and 31 were wounded. Some of the wounds were very severe. Although details are still... [Read more]


How well has the economic stimulus worked?

How well has the economic stimulus worked?

Remember how Barack Obama and his hordes of aides descended on Washington, D.C. before he even took the oath of office and began making the push and the sell for a massive economic stimulus package? To the tune of $787 billion, they told the American people that it was necessary and vital to any economic recovery. They told us how it would preserve jobs and even how it would create new ones. That has... [Read more]


Republicans win independent voters

Republicans win independent voters

As the news coverage of the GOP wins in Virginia and New Jersey continues, it is clear November 3rd was a big day for the Republican Party. Even though they lost the congressional seat in New York, they managed to pull off big wins in both of the previously mentioned states. The win in New Jersey itself was no small feat. Most of the stories that I have read or listened to have all alluded to the fact... [Read more]


Maine voters say no to gay marriage

Maine voters say no to gay marriage

It is a well known fact that voters in the New England area of our country are more independent than most and tend to vote more on the liberal side of the political spectrum. That statement is not meant to be a slam towards those voters, just an observation. When the Maine legislature voted in a state law to legalize same-sex marriage, it’s implementation was delayed because a voter referendum... [Read more]


Election results – November 3, 2009

Election results – November 3, 2009

Does anyone remember how it was last year around this same time? Barack Obama had just won the White House, due in no small part to a large influx of new voters, people who usually did not participate in the election process. For weeks now, we have heard how today, November 3, 2009 would be a test of the political clout President Obama still had left. There are three main contests that are being watched... [Read more]


Republicans boycott Senate meetings on climate control

Republicans boycott Senate meetings on climate control

For most of this year, it seems all I have written about has been the health care reform debate. Every time I turn around, there is something new to add to the discussion and even though I get tired of writing about the same old song and dance, it is news and that is what I want to cover on the blog. There are other stories in the news however, stories that should not be overlooked. As President Obama... [Read more]


Hyatt Hotels’ Housekeepers Histrionics

Hyatt Hotels’ Housekeepers Histrionics

There was a story out last month about Hyatt Hotels’ mistreatment of its housekeeping staff in three Boston hotels that I let pass due to the more engrossing health care reform debate. There was yet another editorial in todays paper, however, and so I thought it was time to take this issue on. For those who may have missed it (I don’t know how much play it got outside the northeast) this... [Read more]


New York congressional race heats up

New York congressional race heats up

I have been out of the news loop for most of the weekend, due to having other obligations and it appears that I have missed a lot. Mike has already written about the struggle between the conservative and moderate factions of the Republican Party and how this struggle is playing out in the race for the congressional seat in upstate New York. The seat has been in Republican hands for a long time, yet... [Read more]


More arrests in California gang rape

More arrests in California gang rape

News stories began to break over last weekend about a tragic turn of events at a homecoming dance at a Northern California high school last Saturday. I have yet to write about this case and have no intentions of getting into the specifics, but I have been watching it with interest, mainly from a father’s perspective. From the evidence so far, it appears the 15-year-old girl had left the dance... [Read more]


The NFL, Congress, & football – The way the game is played

The NFL, Congress, & football – The way the game is played

I know, I know, this is an unusual post for me. I do not generally write about sports related issues, but as I begin to hear and read about the hearings held by Congress today, I decided to make an exception. Those of you who do not know me personally have no idea that I grew up listening to the Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys on the radio. It was an every Saturday and Sunday tradition for... [Read more]


Bombs in Pakistan

Bombs in Pakistan

Early reports this morning are saying that a major explosion has taken place in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 80 people, with the death toll expected to go higher. Care to take a guess at where the bomb went off? It was at a women’s market. According to FOX News, more than 200 people have been wounded. This attack highlights the problem that those who would oppose the Taliban must always... [Read more]


Republicans vs. Conservatives in NY Congressional Race

Republicans vs. Conservatives in NY Congressional Race

The race for the NY congressional seat left vacant when President Obama named moderate Republican John McHugh secretary of the Army has become the epicenter in the fight over the soul of the GOP. The county GOP chairmen chose moderate Dede Scozzafava as their nominee and tea party conservatives, with the growing support of national political figures, have flooded the blogosphere and the region in support... [Read more]


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