Clinton, in Iraq, Blames ‘Rejectionists’ for Violence

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here unannounced on Saturday to reassure Iraqis that the United States will support them, even as it withdraws combat troops. But with Iraq reeling from a week of suicide bombings, she got a jittery reception from a country that still plainly relies on the United States for security, stability and economic survival. Hillary Clinton blames all the people who reject the United states in Iraq for all the violence in Iraq. She talks about ways the USA could help Iraq, Clinton spoke about Iraq being more united then United States would be more willing to help. Here lately everyone in the white house wants to clear up past problems with certain countries. I think our government is beginning to become way to friendly.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/world/middleeast/26diplo.html?_r=1&hp

Obama Calls for Thaw in U.S. Relations With Cuba

Mr. Obama spoke at the Summit of the America's and while speaking he seemed to have an outstretched hand to Cuba. This comes to a surprise because the United States has pretty much severed ties to Cuba since 1962. Most leaders say Obama is willing to become friends with Cuba is a Historic shift.Hillary Clinton also did her part by having a warm word with Raul Castro Cuba's leader. I do not understand the sudden change of heart towards Cuba, just 50 years ago they were going to launch missile attacks on the United States. It may be where Cuba has underwent new leadership and the United States is trying to patch things up. Only time will tell what either country will gain from this friendship.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/world/americas/18prexy.html?_r=1&hp

Fate of Estate Tax Imperils Obama’s Ambitions

Democrats and Republicans are in a heated battle right now due the estate tax, or as most people know it as the death tax. The new plan for democrats is to go after the super wealthy when they die to receive a considerable amount of taxes. Democrats are not winning over any soft hearted people in this debate. This new plan has certain key democrats tore up,“No one should have to visit the tax man and the undertaker on the same day,” Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said during the floor debate. “It is the government’s final outrage.” Yes, the tax would help our economy but is it really moral to go after dead peoples money.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/politics/12hill.html?_r=1&hp

Obama’s Farm Subsidy Cuts Meet Stiff Resistance

The budget outlines approved by the House and Senate on Thursday night do not include limits on farm subsidies at all, and even champions of change say that if the president’s plan can be revived, it will have to be scaled back so significantly that the savings could amount to just several hundred million dollars. Obama is trying to save as much money as possible to get our economy out of debt. Obama plans to save at least 350 million by cutting the cost of crop insurance. Hopefully by trying to save up a little money might help our economy in the long run.





http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/politics/04farm.html?_r=1&ref=politics

You can win them over if you keep trying.

President Obama is still chasing down democrats to get on board with his 3.6 trillion dollar budget. He is still trying to win over certain states key democrats and republicans as well by advertising on television to certain states. Which if you think about it is a very good ideal, if you win over the people then you win over that states senator. In the end you know the peoples voice will be heard and I don't think to many senators are going to oppose the people that elected them into office. Still, several Democrats said they could not commit to voting for the budget until they studied the final number, the tax cut provisions and how the spending plan would ultimately affect the deficit projections. As the Budget Committees in the House and the Senate worked into the night on the details, different strains of ideologies began to assert themselves again.(Zeleny 18) I like Obama persistence, he is still pushing things but making things friendly. Obama is not trying to step on any ones toes and it is a wise choice on his part.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/us/politics/26memo.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Outreach to the Taliban

President Obama was asked a very wide variety of questions on Air Force One the other day. He touched on the war in Afghanistan. He told us the people the only way we could begin to win the war in Afghanistan is reach to the people that have been alienated by Al-Qaeda. This is very similar to the sunny militias in Iraq. When president Obama was asked if we were winning the war in Afghanistan he replied "No". So, I think that any thing that the U.S. can do to help get our soldiers back here in one piece I am for it. Obama also talked about rounding up know terrorist in third world countries. Which I think it is a great idea but he needs to be more focused on our country and help get things moving here for our economy, before he goes chasing terrorist in hills or caves. He could be using that money to help our economy.












http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/us/politics/08obama.html?_r=1&hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/us/politics/08obama.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

Partial Peace

President Obama has surprised everyone. In his latest address to the people, he mentions Partial peace. This means his promise of peace is going to be slightly broken. Obama hopes to pull troops out of Iraq by 2011. He also mentioned his is going to leave 25,000 special troops in Iraq. So this means that we could possibly have troops in Iraq for decades. This just angers me about Obama. He promised the people that he would bring our troops back home. He never mentioned anything about pulling half of our troops out of Iraq and relocateing them in afghanistan. I am just as shocked as everyone else about our presidents decision to relocate our troops. He made a promise to us americans for peace in Iraq not partial peace.










http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090316/hayden?rel=hp_picks

Nobody is above the law

The question was brought up to president Obama if he planned on investigating the Bush administration and his reply was ""My view is also that nobody is above the law, and if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen; but that generally speaking, I'm more interested in looking forward than I am in looking backwards." I think that Obama needs to prosecute anybody in the Bush administration who did anything wrong. Me as a person wants him to investigate that administration but be as it may the country is in enough turmoil as it is so I would say the Bush administration is on the back burner. I would say in time Former president George Bush's secrets will come out and everybody will find out he was not the good ole' boy everybody knew.


http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090309/horton?rel=hp_currently

Obama getting some support from the american people

The latest polls are out about Obama and his first month in office. They are positive stats, 63 percent of Americans are behind Obama and his decisions as president. The people that are showing positive support for president Obama think he will turn things around in the united states eventually but not right away. I think it is way to early to be judging Obama as president. He has barely been able to make a footprint there in Washington. I would have to say that I am agreeing with the American people. I think has done good in his first month in office but just give him a year or two in office then we can really see who is wrong and who is right about president Obama.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/us/politics/24poll.html?_r=1&hp

Obama pushing to get the stimulus package faster

President Obama is urging congress to hurry up and vote the stimulus plan through. Obama thinks by getting this stimulus package through as quickly as possible will create more jobs for americans. He mentions certain states such as Maine, Indiana, and Ohio where the stimulus plan would have great effects. Many people in congress do not think that spending all this money will create more jobs. So president Obama has some convincing to do to certain congressmen. Personally i think any kind of help money wise that american people can get from the government is a positive thing. Even if the stimulus package does not produce as many jobs as expected. It will still help people pay bills or help put food on the table for the ones that really need it. So i think what president Obama is doing is good. I feel he knows the urgency of people out there struggling. I just hope congress feels the same way.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/obama-calls-on-congress-to-put-stimulus-plan-in-motion/?hp

Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat

Finally they have filled Hillary clintons seat. I thought the kennedy woman would have been the perfect person for the job but having the illness in her family might have distracted her from fulfilling her duties. Kirsten Gillibrand I think was the next logical choice she is very gutsy and not afraid to lay it all on the line. They needed someone like her in the senate. Good call by governor Patterson.