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POLITICO 44: GOP sens. write Napolitano

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Politico - By Kendra Marr - Nov. 22 (News Report) - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 11 of his Senate colleagues blasted Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday for supporting the legalization of undocumented immigrants.

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Obama Aims to Allay Auto Lobby Concern on Korea Trade

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Bloomberg - By Edwin Chen, Julianna Goldman - Nov. 21 (News Report) - President Barack Obama said he is committed to pushing through a free trade agreement with South Korea that has been stalled by the U.S. auto lobby and unions, who argue it doesn’t do enough to open up Korean markets. Obama’s joint press conference in Seoul today with South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak was a last chance on his four- nation Asia trip to show he opposes protectionism. The accord has been held up in Congress, where lawmakers are demanding wider access for Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. Lee said today he is willing to reopen talks on the auto industry.

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Senators Press Holder to Declassify Key Facts about Patriot Act

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Salem-News.com - Nov. 19 (News Report) - We believe that the information we referenced in those paragraphs – specifically about the use of section 215 – is essential to understanding the full scope of the PATRIOT Act, which is about to be debated in Congress. As we said in June, if you have concerns about declassifying the specific language contained in our letter, we ask that you work with us to find language that conveys enough information to allow for an informed public debate on the PATRIOT Act’s reauthorization

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Obama Web site claims stimulus jobs in non-existent places

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

McClatchy - By James Rosen - Nov. 18 (News Report) - The federal Web site that tracks spending from the Obama administration's $787 billion economic stimulus program reports that the program has created thousands of jobs in congressional districts that don't exist.

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General Electric Pursues Pot of Government Stimulus Gold

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wall Street Journal - By Elizabeth Williamson, Paul Glader - Nov. 18 (News Report) - The financial crisis hasn't been kind to General Electric Co. Its stock has lost almost half its value, the government has stepped in to prop up its enormous financial arm, and sales have slumped in core industrial businesses. But Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt now has his eye on a huge new pool of potential revenue: Uncle Sam's stimulus dollars. Mr. Immelt, a registered Republican, quips about the shift in thinking in the nation's corner offices: "We're all Democrats now."

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How General Electric Engineered Its Presence on Capitol Hill

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wall Street Journal - By Paul Glader - Nov. 18 (News Report) - Many companies have offices in Washington D.C. for lobbying purposes, have employee-funded political-action committees to donate and influence politicians and belong to industry trade associations that lobby for their interests. General Electric Co., in recent years, has developed another way of engaging its business units with policy makers in Washington and other global capitols. It helps explain how President Barrack Obama has become GE's customer in chief.

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Chamber’s Donohue Keeps Cash Coming After PG&E, Apple Defect

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Bloomberg - By Mark Drajem, Daniel Whitten - Nov. 17 (News Report) - Apple Inc. and three other members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce quit over its opposition to climate-change legislation. President Barack Obama denounced the group for “spending millions” to kill a planned consumer financial-protection agency. Tom Donohue, the 71-year-old president of the nation’s largest business-lobbying organization, responded by doing what critics and admirers alike say he does best: using a fight to raise money in support of the Chamber’s agenda.

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Big costs weigh on troop debate

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Seattle Times - By Christopher Drew - Nov. 15 (News Analysis) - even if Obama chooses a lower troop commitment, Afghanistan's new costs could wash out the projected $26 billion expected to be saved in 2010 from withdrawing troops from Iraq. And the overall military budget could reach $734 billion, or 10 percent more than the peak of $667 billion under the Bush administration. Such an escalation in military spending would be a politically volatile issue for Obama at a time when the government budget deficit is soaring, the economy is weak and he is trying to pass a health-care overhaul.

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Russian Deal on Afghan Supply Route Not Done Yet

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

New York Times - By Peter Baker - Nov. 14 (News Report) - When he met President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia in April, President Obama sought to open an important new supply corridor for Afghanistan by flying American troops and weapons through Russian airspace. Visiting Moscow in July, he sealed a deal for as many as 4,500 flights a year, in what he called a “substantial contribution” to the war and a sign of improving relations with Russia.

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Wartime role weighs heavily on president

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Seattle Times - By Joel Achenbach - Nov. 14 (News Report) - War and tragedy are putting President Obama through the most wrenching period of his young administration. Visibly thinner, admittedly skipping meals, he is learning every day the challenges of being a wartime president. It's the hardest part of a very hard job.

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U.S. ambassador dissents on Afghan troop increase

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Washington Post - By Greg Jaffe, Scott Wilson, Karen DeYoung - Nov. 11 (News Report) - The U.S. ambassador in Kabul sent two classified cables to Washington in the last week expressing deep concerns about sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan until Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government demonstrates that it is willing to tackle the corruption and mismanagement that has fueled the Taliban's rise, said senior U.S. officials.

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Obama Receives New Afghan Option

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wall Street Journal - By Peter Spiegel, Yochi Dreazen - Nov. 11 (News Report) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday will consider a new compromise plan for adding troops to Afghanistan that would deploy 30,000 to 35,000 new forces, including as many as 10,000 military trainers, over the next year or more. The new scenario combines reinforcements for fighting Taliban insurgents with trainers aimed at rapidly increasing the size and capabilities of Afghan troops to take on more operations themselves. It wouldn't aim to eliminate the Taliban, but weaken it until Afghan forces can secure major population centers themselves.

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'Change' puts U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the spot

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

USA Today - By David J. Lynch - Nov. 11 (News Analysis) - Climate change has been especially problematic. The chamber stumbled early when one of its officials publicly called for evaluating the scientific evidence behind global-warming claims in "the Scopes monkey trial of the 21st century," a reference to the infamous 1925 Tennessee courtroom showdown between evolution and creationism.

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Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

CBS News - By David Martin - Nov. 09 (News Report) - Tonight, after months of conferences with top advisors, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for Afghanistan. CBS News correspondent David Martin reports that the president will send a lot more troops and plans to keep a large force there, long term. The president still has more meetings scheduled on Afghanistan, but informed sources tell CBS News he intends to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal most, if not all, the additional troops he is asking for.

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PM heads to Washington, under threat of Palestinian statehood declaration

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Haaretz - By Barak Ravid, Natasha Mozgovaya - Nov. 08 (News) - Concerns are growing in Israel's government over the possibility of a unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence within the 1967 borders, a move which could potentially be recognized by the United Nations Security Council.

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Soaring U.S. Unemployment Threatens Path to Economic Recovery

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Bloomberg - By Timothy R. Homan - Nov. 07 (News Report) - The unemployment rate in the U.S. jumped to 10.2 percent in October, the highest level since 1983, threatening the emerging economic recovery and giving President Barack Obama and Democrats a bigger hurdle to overcome before next year’s Congressional elections.

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Obama in 11th-hour health plea

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

BBC News - Nov. 07 (News Report) - US President Barack Obama is due to make an 11th-hour plea in person to lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote on his landmark healthcare reforms. Mr Obama needs 218 supporters in the House of Representatives vote, which may come as early as Saturday. The

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Illinois data on stimulus-related jobs saved, created don't add up

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Chicago Tribune - By Bob Secter, Erika Slife - Nov. 04 (News Report) - More than $4.7 million in federal stimulus aid so far has been funneled to schools in North Chicago, and state and federal officials say that money has saved the jobs of 473 teachers. Problem is, the district employs only 290 teachers. "That other number, I don't know where that came from," said Lauri Hakanen, superintendent of North Chicago Community Unit Schools District 187. The Obama administration last week released the first round of data designed to underpin the worthiness of its economic stimulus plan, which so far has directed $1.25 billion to Illinois schools. That money has helped save or create 14,330 school jobs in the state, the administration claimed.

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White House Tally Appears to Overstate Stimulus Jobs

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wall Street Journal - By Louise Radnofsky, Maurice Tamman - Nov. 04 (News Report) - The number of jobs the Obama administration credits to federal stimulus money could be overstated by at least 20,000 of the 640,000 claimed, a Wall Street Journal analysis found. Recipients of the government grants and contracts appear to have made mistakes when estimating the number of jobs that have been saved or created, according to the Journal's review. Some recipients said they were confused by forms that asked how they spent the money.

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Britain is forcing breakups of bailed-out major banks -

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Los Angeles Times - By Anthony Faiola - Nov. 03 (News) - The move to downsize some of Britain's largest banks comes as U.S. politicians are debating whether American banks should also be required to shrink.

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On the importance (or not) of off-year elections

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Guardian - By Michael Tomasky - Nov. 03 (News Analysis) - In general, I think political journalists wildly over-conclude based on Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial results every time they happen. Consider. In 2001, Virginians elected Democrat Mark Warner. New Jerseyans elected Democrat Jim McGreevey. Warner won by a comfortable margin of five points, while McGreevey stomped his GOP opponent by nearly 15 points.

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Virginia, New Jersey races may test Obama influence

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Reuters - By Steve Holland - Nov. 03 (News Report) - Republicans seeking a comeback from recent losses may pick up the governor's seats in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday in campaigns that tested the limits of President Barack Obama's influence.

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Karzai win complicates White House strategy for Afghanistan

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Washington Post - By Scott Wilson - Nov. 02 (News Analysis) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's election by default Monday confirms at least a week earlier than expected that the Obama administration will continue for the foreseeable future to have the same mercurial partner in Afghanistan.

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Karzai Declared President As Election Runoff Canceled

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Time - By Aryn Baker - Nov. 02 (News Analysis) - If the Obama Administration had hoped that pressuring President Hamid Karzai into accepting a runoff election would strengthen the legitimacy of the resulting Afghan government, those hopes have now been dashed. Karzai has been declared the elected President of Afghanistan by election-poll officials, after they scrapped the planned second round of the vote. Independent Election Commission chairman Azizullah Lodin announced that Karzai was the victor during a news conference in Kabul on Monday. "We declare Hamid Karzai, which got the majority of votes in the first round and is the only candidate for the second round of the election in Afghanistan in 2009 ... is the elected President of Afghanistan," said Lodin. He went on to explain that the second round on Nov. 7 had been canceled to save money, for security reasons and to prevent further delays which could damage Afghanistan both politically and economically.

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Obama Strategy on Health Care Legislation Appears to Be Paying Off

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

New York Times - By Robert Pear, Sheryl Gay Stolberg - Nov. 02 (News Analysis) - After months of plodding work by five Congressional committees and weeks of back-room bargaining by Democratic leaders, President Obama’s arms-length strategy on health care appears to be paying dividends, with the House and the Senate poised to take up legislation to insure nearly all Americans.

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