Posts Tagged “President Bush”
- President-elect Barack Obama will make his first-ever visit to the White House today when he meets privately with President Bush for the traditional first visit between America’s leader and his predecessor. Security will be particularly tight for the visit, as unconfirmed reports suggest Bush may try to escape and leave Obama in charge…
  One of the things the pair will certainly discuss is the nation’s economic woes, which today includes news of electronics giant Circuit City’s bankruptcy filing and the report of a record aid package to AIG–who already had received $80 million in federal loans. Obama may use the opportunity to press for an additional stimulus package, which Bush may agree to–just as long as it doesn’t mess with Cheney’s golden parachute package…- The newly-revised US-Iraq security pact no longer contains language that authorizes a request for US troops to stay beyond 2011, as well as additionally instituting a ban on cross-border attacks from their soil. My only question–how long will it take for another revision, begging us to stay until 2011…
- Markets in Asia soared in response to the news that China has implemented its own ambitious stiumulus package, boosting government spending on roads and other infrastructure, tax incentives for exporters, more aid for farmers and the poor, as well as greater investments in health and education, environmental protection and high technology. Premier Wen JiabaoW said that their actions, "are not only the needs of the development of ourselves, but also our biggest contribution to the world"–in other words, "maybe you won’t notice us taking Taiwan back"…
- A new study suggests that some headphones, like the earbuds so popular with iPod and other music player users, can interfere with heart pacemakers or implanted defibrulators if placed very close to them–like in a shirt pocket. Researchers caution that the danger is only from the powerful magnetic substance inside the headphones–a Nano in your pocket doesn’t mean you’re really glad to see the Maker…
 The latest update on the census of life under the sea, being compiled by over 2,000 scientists from 82 nations, has included a number of exciting discoveries–both of new varieties of sea life, as well as previously-unknown enviromments for some species. The photo is of a variety of male sea spider that is very possibly a newly discovered creature–and one that has absolutely no chance of landing on your face in the middle of the night…
Tags: AIG, Barack Obama, China, Circuit City, Financial meltdown, health care, Iraq, President Bush, White House
No Comments »
- The stock market returned to its wild ride Monday, as news of a global plan for buying directly into banks sent prices surging everywhere–including the US, where the Dow posted a gigantic 932 point gain, it’s biggest one-day bump in history. Brokers everywhere celebrated by taking off their homeless person disguises…
- President Bush said he would announce new plans Tuesday that will use a portion of the $700 billion bailout money for the purchase of stock in major US banks–the same plan adopted in Great Britain and throughout Europe. It must be strange for the president to announce a policy that wasn’t dictated to him while asleep by Karl Rove or Dick Cheney…
- Democratic Congressman Tim Mahoney of Florida called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into his own conduct after an ABC News report that he agreed to pay $121,000 to a former mistress and staff worker after being threatened with a sexual harassment suit. He’s either incredibly confident, insane or calculating–in other words, a politician…
 Princeton professor and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman is the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics for his work on international trade patterns–making Krugman the best-known American economist to win the award in decades. Krugman has been a relentless critic of the Bush administration’s economic policies, particularly the bailout package–which to much of the world would qualify him as a genius…- Canada is wrapped up in an election campaign as well, with voters going to the polls Tuesday to likely re-elect Conservative Party incumbent prime minister Stephen Harper over Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion. A native of Quebec, Dion’s struggles with the English language have been a campaign issue–you mean like Sarah Palin?
 Wildifres in Southern California are moving into suburban Los Angeles neighborhoods, fanned by the area’s legendary Santa Ana winds, forcing frantic evacuations by homeowners–some given as little as 20 minutes to escape the engulfing flames. There are those trying to put a positive spin on the tragedy–their commute just got a lot shorter…
Tags: ABC, California, Canada, financial bailout, Nobel Prize, President Bush, stock market, wildfire
No Comments »
 A Vibe magazine poll voted Eminem as "The Best Rapper Alive" from a field of 64 that placed Jay-Z second. Em released a statement saying, "It’s obviously an honor to have won the fans’ support by being voted the Best Rapper Alive. I don’t think there is any one rapper that is simply the best, though… But since Vibe’s offering the distinction, hell yeah, I’ll accept!"…- Katy Perry shed some light on her upbringing in a Blender magazine interview, revealing that her mom once dated Jimi Hendrix and her dad was a drug dealer specializing in a potent strain of LSD–all a part of their days as hippies in the ’60’s–but abandoned that lifestyle to become Evangelical ministers. You could say they found religion after meeting God…
- Britney Spears is still wrapped up in some legal difficulties, as a three-judge panel refused to dismiss a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license that stemmed from an incident when Brit hit a parked car and fled the scene–with one charge in that case already dismissed. Maybe she should just bit the bullet and take responsibility for it–it’s just what a clean and sober person would do…
- Fergie is experiencing one of those "blast from the past" moments she would have just as soon avoided–her prom date way back in 1993 was arrested for allegedly robbing a Southern California supermarket bank branch, with surveillance video showing him waving a gun during the holdup. You gotta admire whoever managed to dig this tidbit up–just they way you admire a mosquito, right before you squish it into oblivion…
  Actor Nick Nolte escaped with just minor injuries when an electrical fire broke out at his Malibu home Tuesday, causing about a million dollars in damages. Maybe he was just trying to get rid of as many copies of these photos as he could…- Director Oliver Stone says W, Stone’s film about President George Bush, is not a hatchet job designed to make Bush look bad–Stone claims he worked to make it "fair and balanced and compassionate". That kinda sounds like a report by Mother Teresa on Fox News…
Tags: Britney Spears, Eminem, Fergie, Katy Perry, Nick Nolte, Oliver Stone, President Bush, Vibe
No Comments »
- President Bush spoke to the nation Wednesday night, telling Americans and lawmakers that the failure to pass his $700 billion financial rescue plan could wipe out retirement savings, increase foreclosures, cost us jobs and businesses and even, "a long and painful recession". But what happens when we sink our government into unprecedented debt to aid a largely greedy industry–I believe that’s regression…
- The president has also brought in both John McCain and Barack Obama for negotiations to seal the deal on his rescue plan, on which Congress is reportedly close to agreement. He’s either looking for both national party leaders to convince their respective members to support it, or someone else to blame it on…
- More interesting revelations have surfaced about vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, as the grainy video below from the summer of 2005 shows her being blessed by a Kenyan pastor who prayed for her protection from "witchcraft":
 Perhaps Palin thought even then that she would have to compete with Hillary Clinton…
- Hurricane Ike is being blamed for NASA’s decision to postpone a shuttle mission to the Hubble Telescope next month–but the delay is a minor one of just four days. The hurricane cost the crew a week of training time, which is crucially important to make up–apparently they need some practice focusing…
- A new study reports that senior citizens are not embracing the use of generic drugs–as long as someone else is picking up the tab. The research found that seniors favor brand name drugs when their insurer covers them, but generic varieties when they’re the ones responsible for payment–which explains why Grandpa only wants coffee when he’s buying, but filet mignon when I am…
 Federal prosecutors say they will prove that Barry Bonds’ personal trainer supplied him with steroids in November 2000–the offseason prior to Bonds’ record-setting 73 home runs. It is crucial evidence to prove Bonds lied to a grand jury in 2003–which should only be slightly tougher to do than prove he’s an arrogant, egotistical jerk…
Tags: Ba, Barack Obama, Barry Bonds, Congress, financial bailout, Hubble Telescope, Hurricane Ike, John McCain, NASA, President Bush, Sarah Palin
No Comments »
- Hurricane Ike took its toll on Cuba, causing over a million people to evacuate and avoid damaging winds that knocked down buildings as well as utility poles. Despite weakening from a Category 3 to 1 Tuesday, forecasters expect it to gain intensity as it enters the Gulf and heads for the US southeast–just call it another gift from Fidel Castro…
- In a speech Tuesday, President Bush will announce plans to pull out another 8,000 troops from Iraq by February–a far fewer number and over a longer time interval than expected, which reportedly reflects a desire by the administration and military to not jeopardize recent security gains. Have you noticed a direct relationship between Iraq’s security and our insecurity?
- Secretary Of State Condoleeza Rice says that the nation needs more black diplomats to reflect America’s ethnic makeup. I’m guessing she’s just really desperate to learn how to dance to Low…
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the research arm of the auto insurance industry, is recommending that states raise the age for getting a driver’s license to 17 or 18, noting that auto accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teenagers. Not only are teens complaining, but many of their parents too–I mean, the nerve of anyone suggesting I can’t just turn over my 2-ton SUV death machine to a totally inexperienced and thrill-seeking offspring so I won’t have to miss another episode of Dancing With The Stars…(to view/download the IIHS report in PDF format, click here…)
- A group from a small Alabama town is working to encourage Jews to move there, offering a $50,000 incentive–money they wouldn’t have to repay if they got involved in the local temple and stayed at least 5 years. It’s an ambitious plan, and defintiely an upgrade over previous efforts–tickets to the local production of Fiddler On The Roof…
- MSNBC will replace Keith Olbermann
 and Chris Matthews  as co-anchors of political night coverage with veteran NBC political reporter David Gregory, in light of concerns that the two cable network talk show hosts and their opinions were better suited in commentator roles. Not such a surprise, really–these two have all the impartiality of Pat Robertson at an interfaith celebration…
Tags: Chris Matthews, Condoleeza Rice, Cuba, David Gregory, Fidel Castro, Hurricane Ike, Iraq, Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, President Bush
No Comments »
|
Entries (RSS)