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Obama’s 40 Jets, 34 Warships For Trip To India

Obama leaves for India on a ten-day tour ending in South Korea, costing us taxpayers some $200 Million dollars a day! Obama is bringing an entourage of 3,000 people with him. Obama’s trip to India does include a meeting with Prime Minister Manohan Singh in New Delhi. A total of 40 jetliners will haul Obama, family, friends and staff. They’ve rented the entire Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, all 570 rooms! He’s even bringing his teleprompters with him! He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea.

2010: 11/03
CATEGORY: International Events
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Fed To Boost Economy By Buying $600B In Bonds

The Federal Reserve said it will buy $600 billion of U.S. government bonds over the next eight months to drive down interest rates and encourage more borrowing and growth. The Fed left open the possibility of doing more if growth and inflation don’t perk up in the months ahead. The $75 billion a month in new purchases of Treasury debt come on top of $35 billion a month the Fed is expected to spend to replace mortgage bonds in its portfolio that are being retired. The U.S. central bank said it would buy about $75 billion in longer-term Treasury bonds per month. It said it would regularly review the pace and size of the program and adjust it as needed depending on the path of the recovery. In its post-meeting statement, the Fed described the economy as “slow”, and said employers remained reluctant to add to payrolls. It said measures of inflation were “somewhat low.”

2010: 11/03
CATEGORY: Economy
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Will Obama Ever Take Terrorist Threats Serious?

ISLAMABAD — Suspected militants attacked and set fire to at least 20 tankers carrying oil for NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan on Monday, the third such strike inside Pakistan in as many days, police said. The attack not far from the capital Islamabad took place on a supply line that has been stalled because of a temporary border closing imposed by Pakistani authorities to protest a NATO helicopter attack that killed three Pakistan troops last week. The attackers opened fire on trucks that were parked at a poorly guarded terminal before setting them afire, he and other officers said. The trucks were en route or waiting to travel to the Torkham border crossing along the fabled Khyber Pass, which is used to bring fuel, military vehicles, spare parts, clothing and other non-lethal supplies for foreign troops in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s other main route into landlocked Afghanistan, in Chaman in the southwest, has remained open. While NATO and the United States have alternative supply routes into Afghanistan, the Pakistani ones are the cheapest and most convenient. Most of the coalition’s non-lethal supplies are transported over Pakistani soil after being unloaded at docks in Karachi, a port city in the south. On Friday, a day after the closure of the Khyber Pass route to NATO and US traffic, there were two attacks on oil tankers headed to the country. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for at least one of them, and vowed to launch more.

State Department notice issued Sunday about the potential for terrorists attacks in Europe. The alert expires Jan. 11: The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks. European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions. Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.

A rare advisory for U.S. travelers to beware of potential terrorist threats in Europe drew American shrugs Sunday from Paris to Rome, but tourism officials worried that it could deter would-be visitors from moving ahead with plans to cross the Atlantic. The travel alert is a step below a formal warning not to visit Europe, but some experts said it could still hurt a fragile European economy already hit hard by the debt crisis. “I think if someone was looking for an excuse not to travel, then this is just the ticket,” said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. “However, I don’t think most people will alter their plans unless the threat is very specific.” The State Department alert advised the hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens living or traveling in Europe to take more precautions about their personal security. Security officials say terrorists may be plotting attacks in Europe with assault weapons on public places, similar to the deadly 2008 shooting spree in Mumbai, India.

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2010: 10/03
CATEGORY: Bomb Attacks
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Obama, The Clintons and ShoreBank

ShoreBank Corp., the Chicago lender operating under a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. cease-and- desist order for 13 months, will be shut and most of its assets will be bought by Urban Partnership Bank. Urban Partnership, created to make the acquisition, will keep branches in Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit and continue to focus on low-income communities, the people said, speaking anonymously because the matter is private. Urban Partnership will have Tier 1 capital of at least 8 percent and its chief executive officer will be William Farrow, a former executive at the Chicago Board of Trade and Bank One Corp. Investors include Goldman Sachs Group Inc., General Electric Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and several philanthropic groups, the people said. ShoreBank raised more than $145 million from the firms in May and the funds were placed in escrow pending a decision by the U.S. Treasury to provide another $75 million in bank bailout funds.

ShoreBank was founded in 1973 in Chicago’s South Side, an area that includes some of the city’s lowest-income neighborhoods. The area is also home to enclaves of wealth such as President Barack Obama’s Kenwood neighborhood, close to the University of Chicago.

Congressional republicans asked for a probe into the mysterious survival of Shorebank. The letter they sent to the President asks “why did government-supported Wall Street banks decide to save ShoreBank rather than the numerous others [failing banks] that faced a capital shortage?”

The answer is that ShoreBank is politically connected to both Bill and Hillary Clinton and Michelle and Barack Obama. Obama’s connections to the world of socially responsible investing are both longstanding and personal. His friend John Rogers later became one of his campaign fundraisers. John Rogers was also the husband of Desiree Rogers who became the White House social secretary (she was let go after a couple of reality TV stars crashed a state dinner).

Obama…is pictured above in 1988, honoring one of the founders of ShoreBank, one of the largest Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in the US. The first social shareholder proxy initiative was organized by the iconic Chicago-based community organizer Saul Alinsky against Eastman Kodak in the late 1960s. Alinsky died in 1972.

Barack arrived in Chicago 13 years later to work with the Developing Communities Project, an offshoot of Alinsky’s network, a context which must have made him conversant with proxy voting strategies. He served on the Woods Fund board along with Board Chairman Howard Stanback, who is currently head of Shorebank’s Neighborhood Institute. He also was chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) during the time that Business People for the Public Interest (BPI) was approved for $375,000 in grants. Ron Weissbourd, former Exec VP for Shorebank was serving on the board of directors for BPI during the same time period.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, while still a Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama visited Kenya, the former home of his biological father. He promoted the application of microfinancing (an activity for which ShoreBank has been a major promoter) as a way to fight poverty world-wide. Chicago’s Shorebank donated $1 million to Kenya and also assisted in setting up financial institutions in Kenya and many other locations throughout the world.

The bank steadily grew financially and facilitated the renewal of poverty stricken areas through the rest of the 1970’s and early 80’s, catching the attention of then-Governor Bill and Hillary Clinton of Arkansas (in fact, according to the IFA, Bill is still advocating on behalf of ShoreBank).

Because Shorebank was lending to run-down neighborhoods, the Clintons , along with Shorebank, decided to establish the Southern Development Bancorporation in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1988. They hoped that the poor in Arkansas would be helped by the loans they could obtain. Hillary’s former roommate at Wellesley College, Jan Piercy, joined Shorebank in 1984.

In this video, Hillary Clinton speaks (in September 2008) about Shorebank. The “Ron” she refers to is Ron Grzywinski, one of the founders of Shorebank (founded in 1973).

ShoreBank was the institution that financed the loan to Trinity United Church of Christ (Jeremiah Wright’s church) for Jeremiah Wright’s $1.6 million retirement home and a $10 million line of credit for Trinity United. Van Jones, who is a recognized account holder at ShoreBank.

The banks have agreed to contribute $140 million to bail out the bank, while the federal government will donate tens of millions more, according to people close to the talks. In addition to major Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs (GS: 148.13 ,+1.03 ,+0.70%), which agreed to contribute $20 million to the bailout effort, as well as Citigroup (C: 3.76 ,-0.04 ,-1.05%) and JPMorgan (JPM: 37.14 ,+0.05 ,+0.13%), General Electric’s (GE: 15.03 ,-0.22 ,-1.44%) GE Capital will also contribute $20 million to the rescue effort. All the firms have either received massive government assistance during the financial crisis or, in the case of Goldman Sachs, are facing multiple regulatory investigations into their business practices.

The bailout has been controversial. Senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett served on a Chicago civic organization with a director of the bank, and President Obama himself has singled out the bank for praise in lending to low-income communities.

The bank’s Tier 1 capital shrank to $4.1 million at the end of June from $26.3 million on March 31 and $43.5 million at the end of last year, according to the FDIC. The bank had “engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices,” the FDIC said in its order last July. In March, ShoreBank was ordered by the FDIC to boost capital within 60 days, a deadline it missed.

ShoreBank posted a $119 million loss in 2009 and a $39.6 million loss in the first half of this year, according to FDIC figures. It had a net loss of $9.3 million in 2008.

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2010: 08/20
CATEGORY: Obama
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Maxine Waters Three Ethics Violations‎

The House ethics committee announced three counts of alleged ethics violations against California Democrat Maxine Waters, including a charge that she requested federal help for a bank where her husband owned stock and had served on its board. The report accuses the 10-term congresswoman of violating three House rules: one that requires its member to “behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House”; a second that prohibits lawmakers from using their influence for personal benefit; and a third forbidding the dispensing of favors. By transmitting a “statement of alleged violation,” the ethics committee is ending the investigative phase of the Waters matter and moving to the adjudicatory phase. Taking this crucial step signals that the committee has “substantial reason to believe” that Waters broke the official rules of the House.

Waters case revolves around whether she helped OneUnited Bank obtain federal bailout funds in late 2008. Her husband, Sidney Williams, served as a member of OneUnited’s board of directors from January 2004 until April 2008, and was a stockholder in the bank. Waters’ husband, former NFL linebacker Sidney Williams, was on the board of directors of OneUnited Bank and had between $500,000 and $1 million in investments there, according to the congresswoman’s financial disclosure reports. The bank still features a photograph of the congresswoman on its website. OneUnited was heavily invested in preferred stock of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and its leadership feared it was on the brink of collapse in 2008.

Around the same time that Waters set up a September 2008 meeting between U.S. Treasury Department officials and representatives of minority-owned banks, her chief of staff, Mikael Moore, sent an e-mail to the staff of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. According to the report, the subject of the e-mail was: “One United is in trouble.’” Waters has publicly boosted OneUnited’s executives and criticized its government regulators during congressional hearings. Last fall, she helped secure the bank a meeting with Treasury officials.

Three months later, Boston-based OneUnited, with branches in Massachusetts, Florida and Los Angeles County, received $12 million in bailout funds. Waters has detailed her financial ties in a series of federal disclosure forms and has been vocal in public in support of the bank. Those ties, however, have received little public attention. Nor is it well known how the influential lawmaker has over the years acted to support the bank and its executives. Waters said in 2007 during a congressional hearing that for African-Americans, “the test of your commitment to economic expansion and development and support for business is whether or not you put your money where your mouth is.” OneUnited’s executives have donated $12,500 to Ms. Waters’s election campaigns.

In her 2007 remarks, Waters alluded to two banks, Independence Bank of Washington, D.C., and “another bank that was about to be acquired by a major white bank out of Illinois.” Waters didn’t mention that OneUnited had been an unsuccessful suitor of Independence, which had been taken over several years earlier. The second bank, which she didn’t name, appears to have been Family Savings Bank of Los Angeles. In 2002, that bank backed out of a merger agreement with FBOP Bank of Oak Brook, Ill., and shortly afterward was acquired by OneUnited. OneUnited’s minority-lending record is mixed. The bank received “outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act ratings for lending in Los Angeles. It has weak ratings in Massachusetts and failed to meet minimum standards in Florida. Waters acknowledged she made a call to the Treasury on OneUnited’s behalf. The bank’s capital, which was heavily invested in shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was all but wiped out with the federal takeover of the two mortgage giants, and the bank was seeking help from regulators. OneUnited eventually secured bailout funds under the government’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.

A provision designed to aid OneUnited was written into the federal bailout legislation by Mr. Frank, who is chairman of the financial-services panel. Mr. Frank has said he inserted the provision to help the only African-American owned bank in his home state. Regulators demanded that OneUnited raise fresh capital and name an independent board. The bank was ordered to stop paying for a Porsche used by one of its executives and its chairman’s $6.4 million beachfront home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., a luxury enclave between Malibu and Santa Monica. The report says Waters asked the Treasury Department to meet representatives from the National Bankers Association, a trade group representing minority-owned and women-owned banks. The discussion at that September 2008 meeting centered on OneUnited Bank.

Waters, who chairs the Financial Services subcommittee on housing and community opportunity, contends that the National Bankers Association requested the meeting, which was held on behalf of the association, not OneUnited. The report comes one year after the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent watchdog, asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate Waters, citing a call the congresswoman made to then-Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson during the financial crisis to set up the meeting between Treasury officials and representatives of minority-owned banks.

Waters and her husband, Sidney Williams, were investors in two African-American owned California banks that merged with other lenders in 2002 to form OneUnited. Congressional financial-disclosure forms show Ms. Waters acquired OneUnited stock worth between $250,000 and $500,000 in March 2004, as did Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams joined the board of OneUnited that year. ach sold shares in September 2004 — including Ms. Waters’s entire stake — but Mr. Williams continued to hold varying amount of the company’s stock. In the lawmaker’s most recent financial-disclosure form, dated May 2008 and covering the prior year, Ms. Waters reported that her husband held between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of the bank’s stock. Waters issued a defiant statement in response to the committee’s decision, vowing to take the matter to a public trial. “I have not violated any House rules,” Waters said. “Therefore, I simply will not be forced to admit to something I did not do.”

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2010: 08/09
CATEGORY: Celebrities
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Obama’s Stimulus Package Has Failed To Deliver

Obama’s $787 billion “stimulus” a flop. In a January report, White House economists predicted the bill would create (not merely save) 3.3 million jobs. Since then, 2.8 million jobs have been lost, pushing unemployment toward 10 percent. The February 2009 report “The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan,” which the White House used as an ammunition belt in the fight to gain passage of its $862 billion economic stimulus bill (the actual cost of which exceeds $1 trillion when interest is included).

History proves otherwise. In 1939, after a doubling of federal spending failed to relieve the Great Depression, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau said that “we have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. . . . After eight years of this administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started . . . and an enormous debt to boot!” Japan made the same mistake in the 1990s (building the largest government debt in the industrial world), and the United States is making it today. During the 1930s, New Deal lawmakers doubled federal spending–yet unemployment remained above 20 percent until World War II.

• Japan responded to a 1990 recession by passing 10 stimulus spending bills over 8 years (building the largest national debt in the industrialized world)–yet its economy remained stagnant.
• In 2001, President Bush responded to a recession by “injecting” tax rebates into the economy. The economy did not respond until two years later, when tax rate reductions were implemented.
• In 2008, President Bush tried to head off the current recession with another round of tax rebates. The recession continued to worsen.
• Now, the most recent $787 billion stimulus bill was intended to keep the unemployment rate from exceeding 8 percent. In November, it topped 10 percent.

The stimulus bill has proven to be a waste of borrowed money that has failed to create jobs, generate economic growth or do much of anything other than line the pockets of White House political allies. $308 million was given in subsidies to BP before the Gulf oil spill disaster, and subsidize a study on what happens when monkeys snort coke.

Department of Labor jobs report, which showed private sector job creation fell by 190,000 between April and May of this year, jolted markets worldwide including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which fell 3.2% to its lowest level since early February. In total the U.S. economy has now lost a net of 2.2 million jobs since Obama signed his stimulus bill, and his administration is now 7.2 million jobs short of what he promised his $862 billion stimulus would help create by 2010.

This repeated failure has nothing to do with the pace or type of spending. Rather, the problem is found in the oft-repeated Keynesian myth that deficit spending “injects new dollars into the economy,” thereby increasing demand and spurring economic growth. According to this theory, government spending adds money to the economy, taxes remove money, and the budget deficit represents net new dollars injected. Therefore, it scarcely matters how the dollars are spent.

The White House issued a report saying that the stimulus bill had “saved or created” 2.5 to 3.6 million jobs.” This report, based on a highly inflated projection of how much economic growth is created for every government dollar that’s spent, is further evidence that Washington is lying to the Nation. The national unemployment rate was 7.7 percent when the stimulus was passed. Today it is 9.5 percent. Since the passage of the stimulus, more than three million jobs have been lost across the country, resulting in a net job loss of 2.4 million.

One year later, one thing is clear: the stimulus bill has failed. One year later, not one net job has been created as unemployment rose from 7.6 percent to nearly 10 percent nationwide. Mr. President, millions of Americans are asking, ‘where are the jobs?’ Obama’s stimulus bill failed by its own standards. The idea that increased deficit spending can cure recessions has been tested, and it has failed. If growing the economy were as simple as expanding government spending and deficits, then Italy, France, and Germany would be the global economic kings. Every dollar Congress “injects” into the economy must first be taxed or borrowed out of the economy. No new income, and therefore no new demand, is created. They are merely redistributed from one group of people to another. Congress cannot create new purchasing power out of thin air.

Once again, the American public has been sold a bill of goods by the politicians who are trying to buy the public’s votes with the public’s money.

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2010: 08/09
CATEGORY: Economy
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Obama Admits He Does Not Know What’s In The Health Care Bill

At .45 Obama admits, “by the time the vote has taken place not only I will know whats in it you will know whats in it because it’s gonna be posted and everybody is gonna be able to evulate it on the merits.” Why are the Democrats pushing a bill that nobody has a clue on what’s in it?

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2010: 03/17
CATEGORY: ObamaCare
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Democrats Positions On The Healthcare Reform Bill

The Hill’s survy. House Democrats not on this list are expected to vote yes. However, some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who are not mentioned below have threatened to vote no unless the Senate’s immigration-related provisions are changed.

All House Republicans are expected to vote no.

* — Voted for Stupak amendment in November
(Y) — Voted yes in November
(N) — Voted no in November

Firm No, Leaning No, Likely No (37)
John Adler (N.J.) (N) Citing cost containment, Adler told the Courier-Post that he will vote against Senate measure
Michael Arcuri (N.Y.) (Y) Some reports have him as firm no, but Rules Committee member hasn’t closed the door yet
John Barrow (Ga.) * (N) Voted no last year in committee and on floor. Likely no
Marion Berry (Ark.) * (Y) Has been critical of the president since announcing his retirement. Strong backer of Stupak language. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15
Dan Boren (Okla.) * (N) Won’t be changing his mind — firm no
Rick Boucher (Va.) (N) GOP target who has told local press outlets in Virginia he has major problems with Medicare cuts and “unsavory dealmaking” that benefited Nebraska, Louisiana and Florida. Leaning no
Bobby Bright (Ala.) * (N) Voted against House health bill, stimulus and climate change. Firm no
Allen Boyd (Fla.) (N) Facing primary challenge. Voted no on education reform bill expected to move with healthcare reform as part of reconciliation. Voted no on March 15 during Budget Committee markup
Chris Carney (Pa.) * (Y) Carney told the Scranton Times-Shamrock, “As I said publicly, I can’t vote for a bill that will publicly fund abortion.”
Ben Chandler (Ky.) * (N) His office told The Hill on March 15: “Congressman Chandler’s position on the bill remains the same. He expects to vote against the legislation.”
Travis Childers (Miss.) * (N) In toss-up reelection race
Jerry Costello (Ill.) * (Y) Told the Akron Telegraph March 14 that White House and leadership “bungled” healthcare reform. Most of the calls, e-mails and letters he has received have advised a no vote. Says he opposes Senate bill, but doesn’t sound like an absolute no
Artur Davis (Ala.) * (N) Running for governor, but will make sure to return to D.C. to vote no
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) * (N) Voted no first time, and most expect him to vote no again. He has not commented publicly.
Joe Donnelly (Ind.) * (Y) Among the Stupak dozen — will vote no unless abortion language in Senate bill is changed, according to The Rochester Sentinel
Steve Driehaus (Ohio) * (Y) In toss-up race in November who is ardent backer of Stupak language. Now sounds like a very firm no. Told the Cincinnati Enquirer, “They are going to have to do it without me and without the other pro-life Democrats.”
Chet Edwards (Texas) (N) Perennial GOP target. Edwards spokesman told CNN he will vote no. Votes no at March 15 Budget Committee markup
Luis Gutierrez (Ill.) (Y) Citing immigration language, Gutierrez said on MSNBC that “I can’t support this bill.” Lawmaker has lambasted the president on not moving immigration reform yet. Warned that other Hispanic lawmakers will also vote no
Larry Kissell (N.C.) (N) GOP target, but reelection chances on the rise. Firm no
Frank Kratovil (Md.) (N) Voted for climate change; says he will vote no
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) (N) Progressive was on the fence before House vote last fall. He has said he is a firm no this time around. An undeterred President Barack Obama publicly called on him to back the bill on March 15 and gave him a ride on Air Force One
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.) (N) Congresswoman told the Rapid City Journal she’s a no, noting she is not a fan of reconciliation. She also voted no on education reform bill expected to move in reconciliation with healthcare reform
Tim Holden (Pa.) * (N) Voted against healthcare and climate change in 2009. Told The Republican Herald that he is a no, citing abortion and “significant” cuts to Medicare and Medicaid
Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) * (Y) Will not vote for abortion language in Senate bill, but has other concerns as well. Democratic leaders cannot count on Lipinski
Jim Marshall (Ga.) * (N) Perennial GOP target, but favored to win reelection. Told The Hill he’s a no
Jim Matheson (Utah) * (N) President Obama this year tapped brother for post, but Matheson still a likely no
Mike McIntyre (N.C.) * (N) Seven-term lawmaker rejected House health bill and climate change. Spokesman tells The Hill McIntyre is a no. Expected to win reelection easily even though Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won district
Mike McMahon (N.Y.) (N) Suggested last month he was a no to the Staten Island Advance. McMahon told The Hill on March 12 he is leaning no. Voted no on education reform bill that is expected to move with healthcare reform in reconciliation
Charlie Melancon (La.) * (N) Senate hopeful voted no in November and no in committee. Likely no
Walt Minnick (Idaho) (N) One of the House’s most conservative members. Firm no
Collin Peterson (Minn.) * (N) Ag chairman not shy in bucking leadership. Firm no
Mike Ross (Ark.) * (N) Voted for bill in committee, but not since. Firm no
Heath Shuler (N.C.) * (N) CNN reporting Shuler is a no. Doesn’t hold his tongue when he opposes Democratic leaders. Critic of reconciliation
Ike Skelton (Mo.) * (N) GOP targeting his seat. Armed Services Committee chairman is a firm no
Bart Stupak (Mich.) * (Y) No deal with leadership on abortion = no vote on final bill for Stupak and other Democratic opponents of abortion rights
Gene Taylor (Miss.) * (N) Has been a firm no all Congress. Constituents last summer urged him to get others to vote no
Harry Teague (N.M.) * (N) Told The Hill that he will review bill to see if final bill brings costs down. If “we are in the same place — a no”

Firm Yes (5)
Dale Kildee (Mich.) * (Y) Not one of Stupak’s Dozen
Steve Kagen (Wis.) (Y) Told Fox 11 in Wisconsin that he prefers more incremental approach. But on March 13 he said, “We’re going to find and secure enough votes to pass healthcare…”
Dan Maffei (N.Y.) (Y) On March 16, Maffei said, “I’m proud to support this legislation.”
Silvestre Reyes (Texas) * (Y) Intelligence panel chairman on board
Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.) (Y) Spoke out favorably on healthcare reform on the House floor on March 16. In a toss-up reelection race, according to Cook Political Report.

Leaning Yes or Likely Yes (17)
Joe Baca (Calif.) * (Y) Must-have for leadership. Said recently country can’t wait any longer for reform. Voted for Stupak language
Russ Carnahan (Mo.) (Y) In competitive race this fall, but should win
Gerry Connolly (Va.) (Y) If he votes no, bill will not pass. Likely yes. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15
Joe Courtney (Conn.) (Y) Wary of excise tax, but likely yes
Mike Doyle (Pa.) * (Y) Doyle told The Hill on March 16 that he will likely vote yes
Bob Etheridge (N.C.) * (Y) Passed up Senate run. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15
Jim Himes (Conn.) (Y) Must-have vote for leadership. Likely yes
Jim Langevin (R.I.) * (Y) Langevin’s seat not in danger this fall. He has previously fended off primary challenges. Voted yes in March 15 Budget Committee markup
Mike Michaud (Maine) * (Y) Likely yes
Dennis Moore (Kan.) (Y) Retiring this year. New Budget Committee member voted yes in March 15 markup
Jim Oberstar (Minn.) * (Y) Wants to vote yes, but also wants Stupak language. Oberstar sounds like a firm yes vote
David Obey (Wis.) * (Y) Waiting to review bill language; likely yes
Vic Snyder (Ark.) * (Y) Not seeking reelection. Snyder said on Fox News he is leaning yes
John Spratt (S.C.) * (Y) Budget Committee chairman is in competitive reelection race. Spratt will soon be trying to collect votes for his budget resolution. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15
Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) (Y) On March 12, Weiner noted that 290 times this Congress, the Senate has failed to act on bills passed by the House, adding, “Fool us once, shame on you, fool me 290 times, shame on us.” Regardless, Weiner is a very likely yes
Charlie Wilson (Ohio) * (Y) Considered less vulnerable this fall than other Ohio Democrats. Sounds like a yes vote, telling CQ he is willing to vote for Senate bill
John Yarmuth (Ky.) (Y) Considered a team player. Likely yes. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15

Undecided (55)
Jason Altmire (Pa.) * (N) On March 16, Altmire told Fox Business Network that he has major problem with Democrats’ apparent “deem and pass” strategy, calling it “wrong.” Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told McClatchy he is targeting Altmire, who many view as key to passage. Voted no in committee and on floor, but bottom line is his yes vote is gettable.
Brian Baird (Wash.) (N) Retiring member who bucked party on Iraq war surge. Another target of Clyburn
Melissa Bean (Ill.) (Y) Conservative Democrat well-positioned for midterm election
Shelley Berkley (Nev.) (Y) Told Politico she does not like the Senate bill
Sanford Bishop Jr. (Ga.) * (Y) Favors Stupak provision
Tim Bishop (N.Y.) (Y) Must-have vote for leadership. Bishop’s office told CNN that the New York lawmaker wants major changes to Senate bill. Voted yes in March 15 Budget Committee markup
John Boccieri (Ohio) * (N) In a bad sign for the White House, Boccieri did not appear with President Barack Obama at his March 15 speech in Ohio. Boccieri, a GOP target, told Foxnews.com, “I’m not afraid to cast a tough vote…” Clyburn has publicly said he is leaning on Boccieri, whose vote could go a long way in determining whether healthcare reform will pass
Michael Capuano (Y) Wanted to be a senator, but doesn’t trust the Senate. TPM reported that Capuano is leaning no. In an e-mail to supporters, Capuano said he has many problems with Senate measure
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.) * (Y) Secured language for district before last year’s vote
Jim Cooper (Tenn.) * (Y) Has had up-and-down relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
Jim Costa (Calif.) * (Y) Secured project for his district before November vote
Henry Cuellar (Texas) * (Y) Cuellar backs Stupak language but undecided. Cuellar’s vote has been one of rampant speculation, but the office told The Daily Caller he is undecided. Under pressure from Speaker and the president, Cuellar backed the climate change bill and House healthcare measure last year.
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Her yes vote could be key to passage. Strong backer of Stupak language
Brad Ellsworth (Ind.) * (Y) Senate hopeful who is big supporter of Stupak language
Bill Foster (Ill.) (Y) GOP target
Marcia Fudge (Ohio) (Y) Fudge is undecided, according to wkyc.com. Obama lobbying for her vote, giving her a ride on Air Force One on March 15
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) (Y) GOP target
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) * (N) Retiring committee chairman. Clyburn especially wants his vote
Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) (Y) Despite many threats, Arizona liberal expected to vote yes
John Hall (N.Y.) (Y) Democratic leaders may lose other Dems from N.Y., but need to keep Hall on board
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.) (Y) Politically vulnerable, but favored to win her reelection race
Baron Hill (Ind.) * (Y) Passed up Senate run
Paul Kanjorski (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Also voted with education reform bill that will move with healthcare reform in reconciliation
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) * (Y) Voted with leadership first time around, but doesn’t toe the party line. Wants Stupak language but that’s not a deal breaker. Voted yes during Budget Committee markup. Likely to move to lean yes category soon
Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio) (Y) In toss-up race this November
Ron Kind (Wis.) (Y) Represents competitive district. Voted against bill in committee
Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.) (Y) GOP target
Ron Klein (Fla.) (Y) GOP target
Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.) (N) President Obama urges her to vote yes in the Oval Office, according to March 16 AP report
Betsy Markey (Colo.) (N) Was a late no last time. In early March, Markey declined to be interviewed by Denver Post on her position on bill. Likely target for Democratic leaders
Jerry McNerney (Calif.) (Y) Waiting for final language. There are false reports of him being a firm no
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.) (Y) GOP target
Alan Mollohan (W.Va.) * (Y) In November, seat was considered safe. Now, he’s in a tight race
Chris Murphy (Conn.) (Y) GOP target
Scott Murphy (N.Y.) (N) President Obama urges Murphy to vote yes in Oval Office meeting, according to March 16 AP report. Reelection race looks good, for now. Told local media he might vote yes
Richard Neal (Mass.) * (Y) Better vote yes if he wants to take Ways and Means gavel; fan of Stupak language
Glenn Nye (Va.) (N) In toss-up race
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) * (Y) Was a late yes last time around
Bill Owens (N.Y.) (Y) One of first votes in Congress was yes on House health bill; media reports have him as undecided
Tom Perriello (Va.) * (Y) Took a step toward a yes by endorsing Senate abortion language on March 16. Still has not said how he will vote. In toss-up race this fall; Pelosi had long talk with the Virginia Democrat on March 10 on the House floor
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) * (Y) Voted against bill in committee, and for it on the House floor
Nick Rahall (W.Va.) * (Y) Another panel chairman on the fence
Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) * (Y) Considered by Cook Political Report to “likely” retain seat
Tim Ryan (Ohio) * (Y) Opposes abortion rights; voted for Stupak language
John Salazar (Colo.) * (Y) GOP target
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) (Y) Was a late yes in November
Mark Schauer (Mich.) (Y) In toss-up race this fall
Kurt Schrader (Ore.) (Y) Budget Committee member didn’t vote during March 15 markup. In competitive reelection race.
Zack Space (Ohio) * (Y) Voted yes in committee and yes on the floor last year
Adam Smith (Wash.) (Y) Was a late yes in November
Betty Sutton (Ohio) (Y) GOP target
John Tanner (Tenn.) * (N) House deputy whip not running for reelection, but he still will need to be convinced to get to yes. Voted no in committee and on floor
Dina Titus (Nev.) (Y) Her office told The Hill the congresswoman is undecided. Voted no in committee and yes on the floor last year
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) (Y) Waiting for Congressional Budget Office numbers
David Wu (Ore.) (Y) Was undecided for three hours during 2003 Medicare drug vote, then voted with the GOP

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2010: 03/16
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The Oprah Show Timeline

1983 Moved to Chicago, Illinois in late 1983 in preparation to host the talk show A.M. Chicago for WLS-TV

1984 January 2: First episode of A.M. Chicago. Show was extremely successful in the ratings
The show is later renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” expanded from 30 minutes to an hour, and begins national broadcast in 1986.

1985 Continued to work on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Starred in the Steven Spielberg movie ‘The Color Purple’ as the character Sofia

1986 Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in ‘The Color Purple’ but lost to Anjelica Huston
September 8: Her show expands to one hour and broadcast nationally. It was nominated for several Emmy awards
Formed her own television production company called Harpo Productions
Received the National Organization for Women’s Women of Achievement Award.
Starred in the movie ‘Native Son’ as Janet Thomason

1987 February 9: Her much acclaimed episode from her show was aired from Forsyth County, Georgia, where no blacks had been allowed to live since 1912.
Oprah won her first Emmy for best talk/service show host and best show.
Cameo role in the Danny DeVito movie Throw Momma from the Train

1988 Named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Television and Radio Society
Harpo Productions which obtained ownership and production responsibilities for her show from ABC-TV station, WLS in Chicago
Bought her Chicago apartmet and her farm in Indiana.
Appeared in the TV program Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special as herself

1989 Starred as Mattie Michael in the movie The Women of Brewster Place (she was also executive producer)
Received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Entertainer of the year award and went on to receive their Image Award 4 times from 1989 to 1992
Her half brother, Jeffrey Lee, sadly died of AIDS.

1990 Appeared in the TV program Brewster Place as Mattie Michael
Starred in the movie Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (documentary)

1991 Initiated the National Child Protection Act and testified before Congress
Appointed chef Rosie Daley to supervise a new and healthier diet.

1992 Won Best Talk Show Host at the Daytime Emmy Awards
1992 Appeared in the TV program The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Episode, A Night at the Oprah
Worked on Lincoln as narrator of the TV documentary
Became engaged to Stedman Graham, a public relations executive
Appointed Bob Greene to supervise her exercise program

1993 Hosted an interview with Michael Jackson which reached an audience of one hundred million.
President Bill Clinton signed the National Child Protection Act which had been strongly supported by Oprah.
Appeared in the TV program There Are No Children Here role as LaJoe Rivers

1994 Won Best Talk Show and Best Talk Show Host at the 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Became co-author of the book In The Kitchen With Rosie: Oprah’s Favorite Recipes by Rosie Daley and Oprah Winfrey

1995 Became the first woman and the only black on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans. She has remained the only black person to rank among America’s 400 richest people nearly every year since 1995

Won an Emmy for Best Talk Show and Best Host for the second year in a row.

“Oprah Online” started on American Online (AOL) in partnership with ABC

1996 Became co-author of the book A Journal of Daily Renewal : The Companion to Make the Connection, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey
Received the prestigious George Foster Peabody’s Individual Achievement Award
April 16: The OW Show dealt with Mad Cow Disease in the United States which led to a court case
During a show about mad cow disease, says “It has just stopped me cold from eating another burger!” Texas cattlemen respond by suing her in 1998, saying she defamed food and disparaged business. Oprah wins the subsequent trial.
Introduces Oprah’s Book Club segment on her show, routinely creating best sellers of the selections.

September 16: Oprah announced the start of her successful on-air book club

1997 Formation of Oprah’s Angel Network encouraging people to make charitable contributions and volunteer work.

Delivered the commencements address to the Wellesley College Class of 1997
Appeared in the TV program Ellen – The Puppy Episode
Appeared in the TV program Before Women Had Wings role as Miss Zora (she was also producer)
Author of the book The Uncommon Wisdom of Oprah Winfrey : A Portrait in Her Own Words by Bill Adler (editor) and Oprah Winfrey

1998 February 26: Sucessfully defended herself in the food disparagement lawsuit brought by Texas cattlemen following the show about Mad Cow Disease
Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmy Awards and an award for top talk show host. Starts Oprah’s Angel Network charity that has raised more than $51 million.
Formed Oxygen Media

Starred in the movie of the Toni Morrison novel, Beloved
Co-author of the book Journey to Beloved, by Oprah Winfrey and Ken Regan

1999 1999 Co-author of the book Make the Connection : Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey

2002 In 2002 Fortune called O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up ever in the industry.
Became the recipient of the first Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2002 Emmy Awards for services to television and film.

2003 She was the narrator in the documentary Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

2004 The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Concert was hosted by Oprah and Tom Cruise
Forbes’ international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world’s only black billionaire
Named by Time as one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th century
She was the narrator in the documentary Brothers of the Borderland
Kicks off new season by giving each audience member a new G6 sedan donated by Pontiac.

2005 The Color Purple was made into a Broadway musical of which she was a producer
Forbes’ international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world’s only black billionaire
Became the first black listed by Business Week as one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists
Oprah’s Christmas Kindness was made to draw bring attention to the plight of young African children affected by poverty and AIDS.
Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the year
Named as the greatest woman in American history as part of a public poll as part of The Greatest American in which she ranked in 9th place in the list of greatest Americans.
She was the narrator in the documentary Emmanuel’s Gift

2006 February 9: Signed 3-year contract with XM Satellite Radio to establish a new radio channel based in Chicago
Oprah & Friends, which begins broadcast the same year.
While appearing on “Larry King Live,” advances the notion of an as yet undeclared Barack Obama as U.S. President. She later interviews Obama and his wife on her show and repeats her endorsement. The U.S. Senator from Illinois becomes a candidate and wins the 2008 Presidential election.
Forbes’ international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world’s only black billionaire
Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the year
Appeared in the TV program Drake & Josh in the episode Josh Meets Oprah
Appeared in Drake & Josh – Josh Meets Oprah
Starred in the movie Charlotte’s Web playing Gussy
Oprah currently lives on “The Promised Land”, her 42 acre estate in Montecito, California and also owns a house in Lavallette, New Jersey.

2007 Opens the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg, South Africa, after investing $40 million.

2008 Announces deal with Discovery Communications to change Discovery Health Channel into the new OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which will debut in 2010.

2009 November 20 Oprah announced that the show will end 2011

2009: 11/20
CATEGORY: Celebrities
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Oprah Winfrey Farewell Transcript

Transcript: After much prayer and months of careful thought, I have decided that next season, season 25, will be the last season of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Over the next couple of days, you may hear a lot of speculation in the press about why I am making this decision now…and that will mostly be conjecture.

So I wanted you to hear this directly from me.

Twenty four years ago, on September 8, 1986, I went live from Chicago to launch the first national Oprah Winfrey Show. I was beyond excited…and as you all might expect, a little nervous. I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the “yellow brick road” of blessings that have led me to this moment with you.

These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure. And you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens, and into your lives. And for some of you long time Oprah viewers, you have literally “grown up” with me — we’ve grown together. You had your families, and you raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or your afternoon, depending on when the Oprah show airs in your town.

So I just wanted to say that whether you’ve been here with me from the beginning or you came on board last week, I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear. And your trust in me, the sharing of your precious time every day with me has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known.

So here we are, halfway through the season, 24, and it still means as much to me to spend an hour every day with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last?

Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say good-bye.

Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number—the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show.

Over this holiday break, my team and I will be brainstorming new ways that we can entertain you, and inform you and uplift you when we return here in January. And then season 25—we are going to knock your socks off.

So, the countdown to the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show starts now and until that day in 2011 when it ends, I intend to soak up every meaningful, joy-filled moment with you.

Thanks everybody and I’ll see you on Monday.

2009: 11/20
CATEGORY: Transcripts
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Obama Fried Chicken

Lood at the two versions. The first is the original video with the “Obama Fried Chicken” name intact, while the second is the MTV2 video with the name removed.

Is this what they don’t want the world to see…