Same Sex Marrages in D.C.

Tuesday the Washington D.C. City Council voted 11-2 and approved a bill that would legalize same sex marrage and extend rights to same sex couples. After Mayor Adrian Fenty signs the Bill Congress will have 30 days to intervene before it will take effect. But I doubt that the Democratic majority on will block the bill. Washington will join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa in allowing legal same sex marrages. Yvette Alexander and Marion Barry voted aginst the bill because the majority of their constituents did not support the bill.

Peace Prize in a Time of War

President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Thursday. The Nobel committee's choice of Obama as this year's winner sparked controversy, because he is a president waging two wars abroad. But Obama siad there are many more deserving people, but he accepted his award with great "humility"

Recount for Atlanta

The race for mayor of Atlanta is was so close that its headed for a recount. Encumbant Senator Kasim Reed won then the runoff vote showed him beating city Councilwoman Mary Norwood by around 750 votes out of 83,000 cast. Mary Norwood said in a statement that she will ask for a recount under rules that permit one when less than 1 percent of votes cast separates the candidates. The recount will not and could not begin until Saturday. Norwood, who won the initial voting in November, would be Atlanta's first white mayor since 1974. But the victory of the Encumbant Reed showed Atlanta's demographics, with Reed running gained many votes from areas that are mainly black and include some of the city's poorest neighborhoods. Norwood's support base was in mainly white precincts, which include the city's richest neighborhoods. Although both played the race card, instead presenting themselves qualified to restore city finances and fight rising crime rates that are ravaging the city.

Climate-gate

Climate-gate is the newest scandal in Washington DC. Senator Barbara Boxer of California is calling the leaked e-mails from a climate scientists, at a British university research unit, a "theft" and "crime" that should be investigated. "You call it Climate-gate. I call it E-mail-theft-gate," Boxer said at a hearing Wednesday on the Committee on Environment and Public Works. the reason it is a consperacy is in thoese e-mails shows the scientists discussing the manipulation of their climate research. Matt Dempsey said Thursday that he belives, "Congress should be more focused on the scientific data than the conditions of the leak." The planned hearing dosen't have a date but according to both parties they just want to get this all cleared up.

Is Obama too focused on Afganistan?

Obama's new Afganistan supplement is estimated to cost $30 billion a year and will bring the total number of soilders in Afghanistan to about 100,000. The new strategy is designed to finally get rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan and help the Afghan government with theTaliban insurgency. The Taliban said " The latest strategy will be a "fiasco" that will lead only to more dead Americans...Throughout the history of Afghanistan the Afghans have not been subject of deceit, ploys, material power, troop reinforcement and military might of the foreigners. Therefore, the reinforcement of the American troops and other tactics will not have impact on the status quo. But the reinforcement will provide better opportunity for the mujahedeen to launch offensives." This chilling quote released thurday makes many wonder if Obama is really doing the right thing by sending more men and women overseas. The Senate is wondering if Obama is focusing too much on Afganistan and not enough on more prevelent coutries like Packistan. Many also belive the 2011 pullout is a bad idea because that just gives the al Qaeda/ Taiban a set date to plan attacks. Feingold said "I do not support the decision to prolong and expand a risky and unsustainable strategy in the region," refering to the requested reienforcement of troups.
Mullen rebuffed by asserting it is "not arbitrary at all." By July of 2011, he pointed out, "and we will have a clear indication (by that point) which way this is going."

House May Lift Ban

U.S. has had a travel ban to Cuba since the late 1950s after Fidel Castro led the 1959 revolution that overthrew Cuba's Batista dictatorship. The United States broke diplomatic ties with Cuba and set up a trade embargo. Both policies remain in effect today, but now the House committee is looking into whether or not to lift the ban on Cuba. U.S. citizens are allowed to visit Cuba, but must apply for a special licenses to go there. Although, some citizens travel to Mexico or Canada and then into Cuba, illegally.
Every year, travelers go to Cuba's exotic shores and colonial streets, adding an estimated $2 billion into the island's economy. Cuba is facing a troubled economy and travel could help the island nation.

'A Pretty Good Photo-Op'

'A Pretty Good Photo-Op'

Obama holds a speech in Korea infront of troops stationed in S. Korea. Earlier that week President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak talked about North Korea and a return to the nuclear talks.

Obama's Health Care Update

The Health Care bill that has been passed onto congress is a combination of 2 diffrent bills drafted by congress. The health care reform bill is 2,074 pages and will cost $849 billion over the next 10 years. Unlike the House version, the Senate bill does not mandate that all employers offer health care. Only Businesses with more than 50 workers, would face a penalty of $750 for every full-time employee if it does not offer health care to. The bill would not cover illegal immigrants and would prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion coverage. The vote is planned to take place this Saturday, but the GOP is threatening with a filibuster, so the democrats need over 60 votes to override the filibuster and carry on with the voting process.

Mormon Church Backed Gay Rights Bill?

When anyone thinks of Utah we think of Mormons. Salt Lake City became the first Utah community to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two new ordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evict someone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender. "The church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage," Michael Otterson, the director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said. The bill gained a unanimous vote and passed. If the Mormons don’t feel threatened, because Homosexuals "do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.", should we?

Is a Catholic-Democrat Alliance Growing?

Catholic bishops and Democrats forming an alliance? It would be a smart move on the democrats’ part. As many of you know the Catholic church’s vote is split because of the abortion issue, half Dem half Rep. Bishops have the power to sway the way most Catholics vote-either for or against the push for healthcare reform. So why not get the support of over 67,515,016 Catholics in the United States? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic and an abortion rights supporter, had been on the phone with Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Washington's former archbishop. They hope the measure will bar the new government-run plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or situations that put the mother at risk. It would also prohibit any health plan that receives federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage

Resigned or Pushed?

Annita Dunn resigned earlier as Communications Director for the Obama administration. Many say she was forced to resign because she is one of many that have recently resigned. Is Obama cleaning up his administration? Allegedly last year Annita was quoted saying, “ …two of my favorite political philosophers, Mao Tse Tung and Mother Teresa”. Those are two people not often paired with each other, Mao a former Chinese communist leader and Mother Teresa a person who gave her life to help children in Calcutta. Even more recently Annita was known to be taking on a battle with Fox News- a Republican news show. Annita is among 4 others who have ‘resigned’ from Communications Director under Obama including: Ellan Moran, Van Jones, Yosi Sergant, and Luis Cladera.

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