Help The Middle ClassNews and Information For The Heart Of America
Obama Has No Decision On Afghanistan; Advisors Split
President Barack Obama is confronting a split among his closest advisers on Afghanistan, reflecting divisions in his own party over whether to send in thousands more U.S. troops and complicating his efforts to adopt a war policy he can sell to a public grown weary of the 8-year-old conflict.
With top military commanders and congressional Republicans [...]
Take Advantage of the New Credit Card Rewards – Yahoo! News
Credit card rewards programs have traditionally featured airline miles, gift certificates, and cash back for customers who spend enough on their cards to rack up points. But recently, credit card companies have started offering a different kind of gift: They’re handing out lower interest rates, refunding interest payments, and using other strategies to provide incentives [...]
Toyota Plans Huge U.S. Recall For Dangerous Floormats
Toyota Motor Corp said it will recall some 3.8 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk that a loose floormat could force down the accelerator, a problem suspected of causing crashes that have killed five people.
The recall includes the hot-selling Prius hybrid and would be the largest ever for Toyota, which has [...]
Senators Reject Toughening Abortion Rules
In a vote with far-reaching political implications, senators writing a health care overhaul Wednesday rejected a bid to strengthen anti-abortion provisions in the legislation — which could reach the Senate floor in the next two weeks.
The 13-10 vote by the Senate Finance Committee could threaten support for the health care bill from some Catholics who [...]
43 U.S. Troops Have Died in Afghanistan Since Gen. McChrystal Called for Reinforcements
Another American died in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the final day of September–and exactly one month after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan sent a confidential war assessment to the Obama administration, warning that more forces are needed–soon.
The as-yet-unnamed American serviceman who died on Wednesday was caught in a suicide attack in Khost Province, in eastern [...]
McCain: Time Is Running Short For Afghan Decision
Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that President Barack Obama cannot give up the fight in Afghanistan, saying the region would be destabilized if the United States and its NATO allies pulled back.
McCain, Obama’s Republican opponent in last year’s election, also argued for the president to approve a call for additional troops by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, [...]
MAN IN THE MIDDLE UNEDITED: POTUS UNFOCUSED
As I write this the Senate is picking over the carcass of the Health Care bill. Additionally, our nation is fighting and losing two wars. Unemployment is rising, but we’re told the recession is almost over. And our perennial nemesis Iran, is knocking on everyone’s backdoor with ‘weapons of mass destruction,’ and I ask myself, [...]
‘Public Option’ Defeated By Senate Finance Committee – Dems Vow To Fight On
New York Senator Charles Schumer and fellow Democrats vowed to keep fighting for a government- run health-insurance program on the U.S. Senate floor after the finance committee defeated the proposal yesterday.
The panel rejected amendments offered by Schumer and West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller to create a “public option” that would compete with private insurers such [...]
Canada Outranks U.S. In Healthcare Report Card
Canada outperforms the United States in health outcomes but is well behind global leaders like Japan in overall health of its population, a Canadian report released on Monday showed.
The annual report card by the Conference Board of Canada ranked Canada 10th out of 16 developed countries, with a “B” grade. The United States was the [...]
F.D.I.C. Moves to Replenish Bank Fund
Acknowledging that they greatly underestimated the problems plaguing the nation’s banking system, federal officials proposed a plan on Tuesday to replenish the fund that protects bank depositors.
They also announced that the fund, which began the year with more than $34 billion on hand but has been battered by bank collapses, would fall into deficit this [...]
