Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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Andy Borowitz: G.O.P. Rehearsing Grumpy Facial Expressions for Obama's Speech Top
As President Barack Obama prepares to make his first address to a joint session of Congress, G.O.P. leaders revealed today that their membership has been busy rehearsing grumpy facial expressions for the televised event. While no text of the President's address has been released to the press, Republican leaders have already promised to respond to it with the grouchiest facial expressions in history. "I've instructed my members, when the camera cuts to you, look like someone pissed in your cornflakes," said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) To ensure that their faces look as stricken as possible, Republicans have been drawing inspiration from disparate sources, such as the look Frank Langella gave when Hugh Jackman sat on his lap and Glen Campbell's mug shot. For his part, President Obama hopes to make history tonight by delivering the congressional address in English for the first time in eight years.
 
Richard Skinner: Obama Unlikely to Overcome Divide Top
Despite his popularity, and the discrediting of the Republican Party, Barack Obama's efforts to end partisan conflict in Washington have failed consistently. Republicans have put up a united front in opposing the stimulus plan and the confirmations of Timothy Geithner and Hilda Solis. Obama's attempt to include a mainstream Republican in his cabinet (as opposed to a technocrat like Robert Gates or a maverick like Ray LaHood) collapsed when Judd Gregg realized that he actually had little in common with the administration he planned to join. But, on the flip side, Capitol Hill Democrats have voted almost unanimously in favor of Obama's proposals, showing far greater unity they displayed under Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter or Lyndon Johnson. If Obama's executive-branch appointees have shown a greater level of competence than those nominated by George W. Bush, they have fit the mainstream of his party as their Republican predecessors fit that of theirs. Public opinion polls show Democratic voters as united in their support of Obama as they were in their contempt for Bush. This should surprise no one. Since 1980, we have seen a consistent trend toward greater partisanship in our political system. The Obama presidency has not been an exception to this pattern, in fact it fits perfectly into it. Traditionally, political scientists have tended to see the powerful presidency of the 20th and 21st centuries as the enemy of strong parties. Through an "objective" media, presidents appeal directly to voters, over the heads of party leaders, seeking a non-partisan image. They build ad hoc coalitions of support in Congress without regard to party lines. They preside over an executive branch staffed by non-partisan experts more interested in policy than politics. Presidents show little interest in their party's performance in down-ballot races, let alone its long-term fate. Generally speaking, the heyday of this "modern presidency" (from the 1930s through the 1970s) saw political parties in decline in the electorate, in government, and as organizations. But since 1980, we have seen the rise of a new kind of presidency - a Partisan Presidency. The past quarter century has seen a reversal of the trend toward weaker relationships between presidents and their parties. "Partisan Presidents" have polarized the electorate along partisan lines to an extent unimaginable a generation ago, often experiencing an "approval gap" of 40 points or more. (The "approval gap" is the difference between the approval given to a president by his partisans, as opposed to that given by members of the other party). Relatively few members of the other party have voted for them. But George W. Bush set new standards for polarization. For much of his presidency, Bush received more than 90 percent approval among Republicans, making him one of the most popular presidents ever with his own party; during 2004, his support among Democrats was among the worst ever received for a president within the opposition party. According to the National Election Studies, the 2000 and 2004 elections showed the highest level of party loyalty in history; with about seven out of eight voters supported the presidential candidate of their party. "Partisan Presidents" have received overwhelming support in Congress from their party. More notably, they have confronted strong - sometimes near-unanimous - opposition from the other party. They have often relied heavily on their party's leadership to deliver votes on Capitol Hill, and they have been unable to enjoy the cozy relationship that earlier presidents had with the opposition. The voting records and constituencies of congressional Democrats and Republicans increasingly diverge; party leaders wield more clout than they once did. By contrast, Modern Presidents often could not depend upon their congressional parties for legislative support. Those parties were usually divided; the North-South split within the Democratic Party was most notable. "Partisan Presidents" have sought to put a stronger partisan imprint upon the executive branch, centralizing personnel decisions, and favoring ideological loyalists or spinmeisters over career civil servants or non-partisan experts. It is hard to imagine presidents less interested in "neutral competence" than Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. George W. Bush, perhaps our most "Partisan President," showed limited interest in wooing the conventionally "objective" media. Instead he sought to get his message out through more partisan outlets - Fox News, conservative talk radio, the "Christian" media. Bush's communication strategy often seemed aimed more at rousing the base than appealing to the general public. But it reached its natural limits, since its focus on Republican voters did little to sway the alienated majority. The "partisan presidency" may have some positive effects on our political system. Voter turnout has increased in the past two presidential elections, which both featured strikingly polarized views of the candidates among voters. Voters report clearer images of the two parties, images with greater ideological coherence than in the past. The 2004 National Election Studies showed the highest number of voters ever who cared who won the election and who tried to influence someone else's vote. But citizens also report greater ideological distance between themselves and presidents. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush generated unusually intense support and opposition, while the relentlessness of the "permanent campaign" makes it difficult for politicians of opposite parties to work together. If Barack Obama expects to cross the partisan divide easily, he will be disappointed. But if he plans to use "bipartisanship" as a weapon against Republicans to paint them as divisive and out of step, he may find it a useful technique. Even though they actually behave in a highly partisan fashion, most Americans still disapprove of open conflict between the parties. Obama also seems to be developing his own channels to communicate with his supporters, using the Internet much as conservatives have exploited talk radio, to go around the traditional media. But he should try to also find ways to communicate effectively with the general public, to avoid Bush's mistake of only preaching to the converted. The fragmentation of the media makes this difficult, but the skills that Obama showed during his press conference should help. And "Obama" the pop-culture phenomenon should allow the man himself to reach out to the independent, the apathetic, and the disenchanted. Richard Skinner teaches government at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. This article is taken from his essay published in the Winter 2008 issue of Political Science Quarterly, "George W. Bush and the Partisan Presidency." More on President Obama
 
Bernanke: Recession Should End in 2009, 2010 "Will Be A Year Of Recovery" Top
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday that the recession should end this year and 2010 "will be a year of recovery," if actions taken by the government lead to some stabilization in financial markets. But that's a mighty "if" given recent severe declines in equity markets to levels not seen in more than a decade despite repeated announcements of government bank and housing rescue plans. More on Ben Bernanke
 
Michael Wolff: Rupert Murdoch Makes His Crazy Last Stand Top
Well, Rupert has guts. With the share price of News Corp. at its lowest level in years, Rupert Murdoch has allowed Peter Chernin, the company's No. 2, the manager of its entertainment divisions, which are the company's biggest revenue streams, and a Wall Street favorite, to walk away. I wrote the other day that Chernin would probably stay on, that Murdoch, cowed like everyone else by the financial crisis and an unforgiving market, would give his most important executive what he wanted. I was wrong, as so many people have been, for doubting the old man. The contract issue was straightforward: Chernin wanted Murdoch's word that if Murdoch departed (carried out or otherwise), Chernin would get his job. That's the deal they struck four years ago when Chernin's contract was renewed. But now Murdoch, at 78, wants to know that if he goes, one of his children--likely his son James--will take over. So it's an actuarial issue. But it's also a philosophical issue. It's about newspapers. Indeed, there's a special irony in the Times writing about the negative impact Rupert's love of newspapers has on the share price of his company, since it's the Times itself that Rupert wants most. Continue reading at newser.com
 
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Gibbs "Morning Joe" Appearance: Hosts Get Bizarre White House Tour (VIDEO) Top
On MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Tuesday, hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough got an informal White House tour from none other than Robert Gibbs. The press secretary is a gracious guide, even when his guests threaten to storm the Oval Office. Watch: Willie Geist got a tour of the briefing room, and dragged NBC News' Chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd to talk about his job.
 
Burris Won't Resign Or Seek Second Term As Durbin Meeting Looms Tuesday: Sun-Times Top
WASHINGTON--Embattled Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) meets with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday afternoon. Burris understands that he needs to try to mollify Durbin and he will attempt to do that. Scoop: Burris will also be sending, directly or indirectly (maybe this is it) two messages: he will not resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding his appointment by the ousted Gov. Blagojevich and he will not run for the seat in 2010. Burris has finally realized that not seeking election next year is the least price he will pay.
 
Average American Watching More TV Than Ever Top
THE average American is now watching more TV than ever - more than 151 hours a month - according to the latest Nielsen research. While viewership of the Big Four broadcast networks is declining, the survey found more people are watching cable and using DVRs to tape shows for later viewing.
 
Staffing Headaches Crippling Treasury; Geithner "By Himself" Top
"We begin this year and this administration in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action," President Barack Obama said just days after taking office. Despite the urgent call to action, the agency leading the way is understaffed and overburdened as it confronts the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, government analysts say. The Treasury Department still has numerous job vacancies that need to be filled, leaving Secretary Tim Geithner working on his own, according to Darrell West, head of government studies at Brookings Institution. More on Timothy Geithner
 
Donna Schaper: Practical Policies for Populist Economic Reform Top
Practical Policies for Populist Economic Reform There is nothing like a good solid catastrophe to drive us back to first principles. Let me name four that could morally and usefully attach to any bail out or stimulus bill, as we go forward. One is to reduce the difference between the highest paid and lowest paid employee. Think 15 - 1. No one can make more than the minimum wage times 15. That still gives room for what Karl Marx thought was the actual value of creativity, indispensability, talent and incentive. Figure everybody gets $30,000 at the "bottom" and, going up, nobody gets more than $450,000. That policy would change a lot, especially if it attached as policy to every nickel of government bail out or stimulus money. Culturally, we should stigmatize people who make more - instead of praising or worse, trying to imitate them as our cultural heroes. Secondly, guarantee universal health care. Drive medical costs DOWN by doing that. Attach price limits on procedures. Use digitalized medical records WITH strong privacy policies attached to their use. Institute and reward wellness programs from kindergarten and before, all the way up. Third, start every child in America off with Social Security at age one. That would take the teeth out of a Harvard education versus a community college one. People would have money already invested them, which they could use to buy education, start a business, see the world, support themselves while they painted for a decade. Fourth, institute national service for every eighteen year old for two years at a low salary. Don't let them go to college till they have learned how to drink, been in an extended summer camp with their peers from every walk of life, and learned how to do something with their hormones. This moment of great difficulty is also a time of great possibility. Isn't it great news that the old economy is dead? It benefited the few and ignored the many. It wastes college and educates to the 19th and 20th century industrial cultures rather than today's digital millennial. Want to avoid a depression? Work on the depression that already exists. Attach just policies to the "emergency" bills and you will find a powerful anti-depressant, the kind that brings people up just enough to truly be active citizens again in building a new world. The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper is Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City and author of GRASS ROOTS GARDENING: RITUALS TO SUSTAIN ACTIVISM.
 
Karen Salmansohn: 8 Tips For Constructive Criticism Top
Having trouble with a colleague, paramour, parent, sibling, friend - imaginary friend? Here are eight quick constructive criticism tips which work across the board: 1. Choose the right time and place. Make sure you have at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time. Be certain you're in a location where you can talk openly. 2. Explain the benefit of talking up front. Admit that talking about a difficult subject can be uncomfortable, but you'd rather have a difficult conversation now than a decaying, untruthful relationship later. 3. Be specific. Psychologists agree it's best to limit your talk to one specific recent event or topic which has been bugging you and resist mentioning a multitude of past offenses. 4. Start sentences with "I," not "you." The goal: Own your feelings; don't slander the other person. 5. Avoid using words like "angry" or "furious." Try to talk about your feelings with words like "disappointed" or "confused." You will keep the mood more calm. 6. Steve Covey's philosophy of "SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD" is timeless. When you've finished your initial self- expression, tell the other person you are truly eager to understand things from their point of view. Then become eager. Try to get yourself to become more curious than you are furious. 7. Set time blocks. Alternate 5-minute time blocks of "expression non-interruptus" until you both feel you've been heard. 8. End on a positive note. Create an upside to talking so that you and the other person will want to talk again in the future, should the need arise. Close the conversation by listing all the positive things you learned from communicating. Make a list of the actions you both will try to do to keep your relationship as strong as possible. *** Want to boost your happiness - but hate self-help books? Check out a new breed of self help for people who would never be caught dead reading self-help by clicking here... More on Happiness
 
NASA Satellite, Taurus XL Rocket, Crash Lands In Ocean Top
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — A rocket carrying a NASA global warming satellite splashed into the ocean near Antarctica early Tuesday after a failed launch. The Taurus XL rocket carrying the Orbiting Carbon Observatory blasted off just before 2 a.m. from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. But minutes later, a cover protecting the satellite during launch failed to separate from the rocket, a preliminary investigation found. The 986-pound satellite was supposed to be placed into an orbit some 400 miles high to track carbon dioxide emissions. "Certainly for the science community it's a huge disappointment," said John Brunschwyler, Taurus project manager for Orbital Sciences Corp., which built the rocket and satellite. "It's taken so long to get here." The project was nine years in the making. The rocket landed in the ocean near Antarctica. A group of environment ministers from more than a dozen countries met on the southern continent this week to get the latest science on global warming. NASA said it will convene a team of experts to investigate the loss of the satellite. The observatory was NASA's first satellite dedicated to monitoring carbon dioxide on a global scale. Measurements collected from the $280 million mission were expected to improve climate models and help researchers determine where the greenhouse gas originates and how much is being absorbed by forests and oceans. Last month, Japan successfully launched the world's first satellite to monitor global warming emissions. Scientists currently depend on 282 land-based stations _ and scattered instrumented aircraft flights _ to monitor carbon dioxide at low altitudes. Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse gas and its buildup helps trap heat from the sun, causing potentially dangerous warming of the planet. Carbon dioxide emissions rose 3 percent worldwide from 2006 to 2007, according to international science agencies. ___ On the Net: Carbon Orbiting Observatory: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/oco/main/index.html
 
Agatha Christie's Summer Home Opens Doors To The Public Top
LONDON — The English holiday home where Agatha Christie spent her summers and entertained guests with readings from her thrillers is opening to the public for the first time. Craftsmen have worked for two years to restore the house, Greenway, to gleaming 1950s condition. The rooms remain much as they were when the mystery writer lived there, complete with books, papers, boxes of chocolates and flowers. Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard said Tuesday the house had been restored to its former beauty. Christie bought the house near Dartmouth in southwest England in 1938 and spent holidays there until 1959. Her family donated it to a conservation group nine years ago, but until now only the garden has been open to the public. The house opens on Saturday. ___ On the Net: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-greenway
 
Josh Silver: CNN's Wolf Blitzer Lapdogs While Senator Hatch Lies Top
This week, Wolf Blitzer interviewed Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT). I watched dumbfounded as Hatch lied, and Blitzer obediently chose not to challenge the Senator. It's the same lapdog reporting that enabled Bush & Co. to marshal public support for war in Iraq, to torture and spy, and allows politicians to continue to lie with impunity. Tough luck if you thought the last eight years would give guys like Blitzer a backbone. Hatch: "... the president has finally recognized that what really has caused this (mortgage crisis) wasn't the Bush administration, it was Wall Street, it was Fannie and Freddie." Most Americans are not political junkies. They rely on Blitzer to use his knowledge and position to cut through the bull and tell the real story. But Blitzer is not a reporter; he is a news reader who ignores facts and sticks to the next scripted question: "Will Utah accept stimulus money?" Here's what Wolf needed to ask: "On what basis are you claiming, Senator Hatch, that President Barack Obama believes that the Bush administration is free of blame for the subprime crisis? And on what basis do you assert that the Bush administration is free of blame for the crisis considering that Bush's Securities and Exchange Commission quietly passed an exemption to a regulation in 2004 that limited the amount of debt that investment banks could take on?" These are the same banks that have received billions in taxpayer money - one of them was Goldman Sachs, led by Henry Paulson until he took over Bush's Treasury Department two years later. Blitzer would probably say that his job is to present news, give members of each major party equal airtime, and let the public decide. But when you conduct an interview without another guest to provide counterpoint, it is the host's responsibility to cite facts and expose spin. And don't give me the "we had members of both parties on the show" myth. Both parties are awash in cash from corporate lobbyists that compromises their integrity. Yet they continue to get most of the airtime while real experts like economists and public interest advocates are largely ignored. Just look at the bank bailout if you need proof. Blitzer-style lapdog reporting and the 10-second soundbyte-ification of important news by commercial television - with a few notable exceptions - is the biggest reason that the American public continues to be fundamentally misinformed, and led time and again to support policies and politicians that hurt - rather than help - the public interest. The media's failure to hold the powerful accountable is, along with the corrupting influence of money in politics, the biggest threat to the future of our democracy and our nation. Those on the far end of the spectrum on both the left and right have their go-to news outlets. But self-identified moderates go for their news to channels like CNN, where unchallenged lies become truth in the mind of a public deprived of skepticism, watchdogging and tough questioning. The danger of an unquestioning press is exacerbated as newspapers continue their financial freefall, laying off reporters by the thousands, and atrophying the most reliable source of investigative journalism. Blitzer: "If it (bank bailout) requires more than the total $700 billion, are you with the administration on that?" Hatch: "Some of the big problems with this so-called fiscal stimulus bill, number one, it was totally partisan. The first two bills out of the shot, the chip bill and the so-called stimulus bill were purely partisan bills. We were willing to work with them." Now I'm not here to defend Democrats, but there are several major stimulus concessions that President Obama and his congressional allies made in an effort to gain Republican support. Those included reduced total spending, increased tax credits, and reductions in family planning and Medicaid spending. Hatch's rhetoric, combined with remarkable Republican unity opposing the stimulus is obviously (even to Blitzer) a smart gamble by the GOP to abdicate their duty to lead the nation out of crisis, and place responsibility for reviving the economy squarely on Obama's shoulders. Expect inflation and higher taxes down the road, and tee up a "we told you so" when they make their bid to regain power. Without fearless, vigilant questioning, spin masters like Hatch will turn Bush's financial crisis into Obama's financial crisis in a few months rather than a few years. Without tough reporting from the people who are our eyes and ears in Washington, Americans will remain mired in an ignorance that will force us to repeat history by way of more unnecessary wars, more government corruption, and more elections of politicians who legislate against our interests. As goes critical journalism, so goes our democracy.
 
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The Media Consortium: Weekly Audit: The Worst is Yet to Come Economy NewsLadder Top
by Zach Carter, Media Consortium MediaWire Blogger   Last week's passage of the economic stimulus bill marked the first major win for progressives on economic policy under President Barack Obama, but the hardest economic battles have yet to come. The fight against entrenched corporate interests and a global order that ignores the needy will likely be as long and arduous as the recession itself. The stimulus package may be an absolutely essential step for fending off economic catastrophe, but it does nothing to overhaul the deeply flawed structure of our economic system. "In unleashing a flood of deficit spending and avoiding tax increases, the legislation didn't threaten moneyed interests, didn't alter the existing economic topography, and therefore didn't attract the withering hostility from business groups that typically prevents 'hope' from becoming 'change,'" David Sirota writes for Salon. The Obama team seems to be considering nationalizing big, troubled banks temporarily, a prospect which was politically unthinkable just a few weeks back. Progressives have been pushing nationalization hard and it seems to be working. Several Republican Senators are supporting the idea, as temporary nationalization is already government policy for smaller banks that don't employ massive lobbying teams. But getting Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on board is only half the battle. In a piece for The Nation , Thomas Ferguson and Robert Johnson detail how hedge funds and private equity firms hope to capitalize on a big bank nationalization policy by using political clout to score unfairly cheap prices from the government. "Much of the wind in the sails of this new push comes from private equity firms like KKR, Blackstone, or their political allies, mostly, though not entirely within the Republican Party," Ferguson and Johnson write. When the government nationalized troubled banks with the Resolution Trust Corp. under President George H.W. Bush, politically connected investors made out like bandits when the government resold the banks into the private sector. It is important that this corruption not be repeated. We don't tolerate our politicians doing favors for wealthy constituents, and we shouldn't allow our financial regulators to do so either. The current recession has roots in excessive consumer debt—some of it predatory, some of it spawned by consumerism run amok. U.S. economic well-being has depended on destructive and environmentally unsustainable spending habits of its citizens for too long. Writing for In These Times , Terry Allen notes that "our own addiction to consumerism and failure to save tie us to debt and stress." While consumer spending kept the economy from crashing until last year, it was very bad for individual households. Over at The American Prospect , Matthew Yglesias discusses the global implications of lower levels of U.S. consumption. As the U.S. consumes less product, there will be major consequences for economies that rely on U.S. demand. Yglesias emphasizes that the current downturn is fully global, unlike every U.S. recession since the Great Depression. Potential solutions will have to involve coordinating policy responses with other countries to ensure that everyone is shouldering the stimulus load—and to help everyone adjust to an era in which U.S. consumers buy less stuff. As Nomi Prins explains in Mother Jones , Wall Street bankers have always had a knack for bestowing lavish compensation upon themselves. Bonuses are routinely based on ill-conceived criteria that focus on short-term gains and create unnecessary risk. The key reforms, Prins says, do not merely involve capping executive compensation for bailed-out firms, but regulating bonus compensation and imposing heavy taxes on it in both good times and bad. In recent years, Wall Street has dealt homeowners an absolutely devastating blow with various exotic mortgage schemes, but another major housing crisis is now looming for renters. Despite an overabundance of sprawling suburban developments, U.S. cities are facing a dramatic shortage of affordable rental housing. As hard as the economic crisis is for homeowners, those who rent in urban areas are being hit even harder. Many renters who cannot afford to buy a home under still face housing hardships today. In the below video for American News Project, Garland McLaurin and Mike Fritz reveal the dire straits currently facing federal affordable housing programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, known as HUD, received a significant funding boost under Obama's economic stimulus package—its $40.4 billion 2009 budget was supplemented by $13.6 billion. But thanks to years of neglect and political cronyism under the Bush administration, HUD housing units have a backlog of at least $22 billion in needed repairs, which severely hinders HUD's ability to expand operations. And the number of affordable rental housing units falls well short of what is needed. McLaurin and Fritz highlight Baltimore in their video, a city that has roughly 30,000 subsidized housing spaces, but will require 60,000 more to built in order to meet the city's needs. The proliferation of subprime mortgages was one of the chief drivers of the foreclosure epidemic. They seem absurd in retrospect. Lenders charged people with relatively weak credit scores higher interest rates to counter the risk in making loans to people with bad credit. But since credit scores are fairly closely linked to income level, lenders were essentially charging people with less money more than they would have charged an ordinary borrower. Not surprisingly, that business model is now completely destroyed. But, as Daniel Fireside reveals in Yes! Magazine , there is a more effective way to expand access to homeownership , one that relies on charging—shock!—less for homes. Several U.S. cities now make use of non-profit land trusts to lower the costs of homeownership. Here's how it works: The land trust purchases a swath of property and builds housing on it if none already exists. The trust then sells homes to new homeowners, but does not sell the underlying land. The trust negotiates mortgages with banks on behalf of low-income borrowers. By using the land equity as part of the mortgage calculation, the necessary down payment is dramatically reduced. As a result, the home never falls into the hands of real estate speculators and the cost of owning a home falls by around 25%. If borrowers ever run into trouble on their loan, the trust works with them and the bank to fend off foreclosure. Land trusts feature foreclosure rates 30 times— not 30 percent, 30 times —lower than the national average. Each of these initiatives is absolutely essential and will, unfortunately, involve brutal policy battles. Many people make a lot of money from the status quo. Let's hope Obama has the political clout to tell corporate opportunists that the times are a-changing.   This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about the economy. Visit StimulusPlan.NewsLadder.net and Economy.NewsLadder.net for complete lists of articles on the economy, or follow us on Twitter . And for the best progressive reporting on critical health and immigration issues, check out Healthcare.NewsLadder.net and Immigration.NewsLadder.net . This is a project of The Media Consortium , a network of 50 leading independent media outlets, and was created by NewsLadder . More on Financial Crisis
 
Obama's Tuesday Speech: President Addresses Congress Top
Check back here on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 9 PM ET for live video of Obama's address. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs previewed President Obama's address on "Good Morning America" Tuesday. Asked about Bill Clinton's advice to be more optimistic about the economy, Gibbs responded, "You'll hear the president tell Americans that ... better days are ahead." Watch: President Obama is delivering his first State of the Union-like address on Tuesday. McClatchy says there are three key questions facing the nation's leader : First, will he reach out to the Republicans who have felt free to scorn him, or match his popularity against theirs and try to slap them back? Second, how specific will he be about his plans for the coming days? Will he propose nationalizing troubled banks or lay the groundwork for such a dramatic action? Will he use his first proposed budget this week to advance a campaign to overhaul the nation's health-care system? Third, will he continue the warnings he's used so far to prod Congress to follow his lead on rescuing the economy, or will he employ a more upbeat voice and say help is on the way? AP adds some context on what Obama plans to discuss: The president is expected to show Americans how all the pieces fit together to make the economy sound again. There's the $787 billion just-signed stimulus bill, plus an even more expensive mix of rescues for the financial industry, auto companies and troubled mortgage holders. He will touch on other priorities he says fit into the bigger picture. Potentially eye-popping expensive plans to broaden health care coverage to eventually insure everyone. Moving the country toward greener energy sources. Expanding education opportunities. Overhauling financial industry regulation. And, he is all but certain to talk about the national debt and budget woes, stressing the need to get what he calls "exploding deficits" under control by controlling spending. His upcoming budget request will include his goal to slice the estimated $1.3 trillion annual deficit in half by the end of his first term. The speech is not formally called a State of the Union, AP reports , because Obama is not considered to have had enough time in the White House yet to deliver a full status report. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi formally invited President Obama to address Congress. The full letter: President Barack Obama The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We greatly appreciate your support for the legislation we have sent you to guarantee fair pay for women and expanded health care for children, and for your leadership as we work to finalize an economic recovery bill, which we will send you shortly. This Congress and your Administration have truly hit the ground running, but our hard work has just begun. We would like to invite you to address a Joint Session of the Congress on Tuesday, February 24 to share your vision for addressing the many critical challenges our country faces at home and abroad. Thank you for considering this invitation to speak to the Congress and the nation. We look forward to your reply. Sincerely, NANCY PELOSI HARRY REID Speaker of the House Majority Leader of the Senate
 
Home Prices Post Record Annual Decline In 4Q Top
NEW YORK — A widely watched index shows home prices tumbled by the sharpest annual rate on record in the fourth quarter and in December. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index plunged 18.2 percent during the quarter from the same period a year ago, the largest drop in its 21-year history. Prices are now at levels not seen since the third quarter of 2003. In the month of December, the Case-Shiller 20-city index plunged 18.5 percent from December 2007 levels, while the 10-city index dropped 19.2 percent. Prices in the 20-city index have plummeted 27 percent from their peak in the summer of 2006, and the 10-city index has fallen more than 28 percent.
 
Karl Rove Instructs Illinois GOP: You Have A Pretty Easy Message Top
Karl Rove, the political brain trust of former President George W. Bush, told Northwest suburban Republicans they can win back the state if they don't rip the party apart in the primaries early next year. [...] That is crucial, Rove mentored at a Schaumburg fundraiser, because the time is ripe for a GOP comeback in the statewide 2010 elections, or a potential special Senate election, given the arrest of Democratic former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and scandal surrounding Democratic Sen. Roland Burris. "It strikes me that you have a pretty easy message," Rove told the several hundred attendees at the Schaumburg Marriott. "If you want change from the way things are then you ought to elect yourself a Republican governor." More on Karl Rove
 
Mexican Drug Cartels' Turf War May Be Spreading To Arizona Top
PHOENIX: The raging drug war among cartels in Mexico and their push to expand operations in the United States has led to a wave of kidnappings, shootings and home invasions in Arizona, state and federal officials said at a legislative hearing. More on Mexico
 
Bernanke Appears Before Senate Banking Committee (WATCH LIVE VIDEO) Top
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faces questions from the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday. His testimony comes a day after the government moved closer to dramatically expanding its ownership stakes in the nation's banks, including Citigroup Inc. The Treasury Department, the Fed and other banking regulators said Monday they could convert the government's stock in the banks from preferred shares to common shares. The event is expected to begin at 10 AM Eastern Time. Watch here: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy More on Ben Bernanke
 
Nadya Suleman Faces Off Against Her Own Mother Top
Nadya Suleman, the California woman who gave birth to octuplets last month, squared off against her own mother in a 30-minute face-to-face debate videotaped last week by the Web site RadarOnline.com, which posted a portion of the face-off on Monday. "I'm not going to destroy the embryos, period. Done, done, done," Nadya Suleman tells her mother, Angela Suleman, during their often-heated conversation. "You can't go back and alter the past," says Nadya. More on Nadya Suleman
 
Majority Doesn't Want Obama To Be Bipartisan: Poll Top
You routinely hear it asserted that the public wants bipartisan comity in Washington, but some striking numbers buried in the internals of the new New York Times poll find that in the current context, precisely the opposite is true:
 
City Sued For Charging Its Taxes On Suburban Car Rentals Top
How would you like to rent a car in Waukegan or St. Charles, only to be slapped with the 8 percent "transaction tax" that applies to Chicago car rentals? Brace yourself. With a burgeoning $50.5 million budget gap, Chicago is reaching into suburban pockets. And Enterprise Rent-a-Car has filed a lawsuit challenging the Daley administration's effort to collect the tax from drivers who rent cars in the suburbs.
 
Christine Hassler: When Your Personal Life Gets In The Way Of Work Top
Dear Christine, "I can't seem to concentrate at work. I'm going through a break-up, fighting with my roommate, and at odds with my parents. I feel totally overwhelmed, like one of those cartoon characters when steam starts coming out of its ears. I need some space, some time, but what about work? Can I take a personal day or should I just suck it up and go on? I don't want to be seen as a slacker, especially since it seems everyone at my company pushes the fifty hour work week barrier. How do I stay professionally focused and still juggle everything I'm going through?!" -Personally Distracted Professional, 24, San Francisco Dear Personally Distracted Professional, Believe me, I understand. When there is upset or chaos in our personal life it can be challenging to focus on work - or really anything at all. You are experiencing what many of us can relate to: work-life balance feeling more like a balancing act than a sustainable possibility. At the same time, maintaining your professionalism at work and performing well is critical to your career success. You can't afford to spend another day distracted and emotionally over-burdened at work. First step: be present. When you are at work really BE at work. If your mind wanders to your personal life, bring your awareness and attention back to what you are doing or need to do in your professional life. Stop checking your personal email account, turn off your IM and your cell phone. Channel your frustrations into your work. Redirect stress in your personal life into productivity in your professional life. That said, it is critical to make time to deal with the issues affecting your heart and your head and not to lose yourself in your work. The more you push yourself at work to avoid dealing with your feelings and/or to keep up with the office status quo, the faster your overall well-being starts to drain away. So what do you do? Sucking it up isn't the way to go as things will just continue to suck at home and at work. Right now seems like a good time for you to put yourself first and take a day off. You are going to be far more valuable to your company if you take a day to refuel rather than going in completely distracted. Smart companies recognize the value in giving employees time to attend to personal matters. In fact, a company in Japan gives employees "heartache" leave when going through a break-up or divorce. The older you are the more days you get off as they figure it takes longer to recover from heartbreak when you're older. Will American companies catch on to this idea? It certainly may curtail bringing personal drama into the office; however, will it inspire more calling in to the boss with "I got dumped" excuses? But I digress, back to you... Discuss taking a personal day with your boss. You do not have to give specifics for why other than, "I have some personal things to attend to that require me taking a day off." Many employees, women in particular, tend to compulsively apologize and explain. Going into the dramatics of your personal life is inappropriate to do with your boss - especially if you are on the verge of tears. Assure him/her that you will attend to anything that is urgent, and if appropriate, see if someone can cover your workload for the day. Then set your "I will be out of office today and returning emails tomorrow" email response, and for at least one whole day totally check out from work. But don't slack off on your personal day - it's not a vacation! Use it to attend to your personal issues, not just as a day to catch up on errands and TiVo. Make an appointment with your counselor or life coach if you have one, spend time with a friend or mentor and do things that support you in dealing with your emotions so you can be more focused at work. Make the day one of closure with your ex. If you still are in communication, it's time to cut it off - completely. It's harder to heal and move on from a break-up if you are still in a relationship, and any kind of communication of any kind means you are still relating! Going forward, schedule some "me time" into your days to help you feel more balanced. Maybe it's journaling in the morning or going to a yoga class three times a week. Build in structured time in your schedule to deal with the things in your life that do not belong in your work day. Life is indeed a balance of dealing with the normal day in and day out "to-do's" with the curveballs that get thrown our way. As tempting as it is to dodge the curveballs, it's more empowering to deal with them head-on in a healthy way. But it is also our responsibility to attend to our personal matters outside of the office so that when we are on the clock, we can be focused and productive. - Christine Please send me your questions to christineAThuffingtonpost.com More on Careers
 
Iran Arrests Up To 70 Students After Rare Protest In Tehran Top
A group of Iranian students are reported to have been arrested following a rare show of opposition to government policies. More on Iran
 
Freida Pinto Lands Woody Allen Movie Top
Freida Pinto will follow up her performance in the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" with a role in Woody Allen's latest project. This year's Cinderella at the Oscar ball will join the long list of Allen's muses as she takes on the ingenue role in the helmer's still-untitled pic. Naomi Watts has also signed on to star in the film, joining the already-announced Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins.
 
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Obama On Cantor: "I'm Just A Glutton For Punishment" Top
WASHINGTON — Add another job description to Barack Obama's title: facilitator in chief. The president presided over a White House fiscal summit Monday, and showed his hand as both a policy wonk and a gracious host _ to allies and adversaries alike. Easygoing though always in charge, Obama melded serious talk about ways to control the exploding federal deficit with frequent doses of humor and familiarity. That mix provided moments of levity that defused what could have been a tense session of finger-pointing between Republicans and Democrats on a painfully dry subject _ fiscal policy. By Washington's stuffy standards, it was a rollicking good time. On display: a former one-term senator who clearly has grown comfortable as the country's chief executive after just one month in office. Opening the summit, he promised to cut the skyrocketing annual budget deficit in half over four years and said he would reinstitute a pay-as-you-go rule that calls for spending reductions to match increases. He also said he would shun what he said were the past few years' of "casual dishonesty of hiding irresponsible spending with clever accounting tricks." And, he called health care reform "the single most pressing fiscal challenge we face by far" to the long-term solvency of Social Security. Later, Obama set the lighter tone as he stood at the podium in the auditorium-like room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to close out the hours-long summit. He said he heard everyone had enjoyed it. "It's a sign of something," the grinning president said _ and readily agreed when someone suggested "illness." He then proceeded to call on Democrats, Republicans, economists, business representatives and union leaders, inviting questions and comments. He referred to the group generally as "you guys" and casually addressed even the most senior lawmaker by first name. The Democrat very purposely started with, perhaps, the unlikeliest of all people _ the Republican he vanquished in last fall's election, John McCain. "You know, he and I had some good debates about these issues," Obama said _ an understatement to be sure and one that drew laughter. He also praised the Arizona senator as "extraordinarily consistent and sincere about these issues." "Well, thank you, Mr. President," McCain said and quickly delved into the issue of cost overruns on large government buys. "Your helicopter is now going to cost as much as Air Force One." Using the opportunity to talk of a purchasing process "gone amok," Obama said he had ordered a thorough review of his new fleet of Marine One helicopters. "The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me," Obama said wryly, inciting more laughter. "Of course, I've never had a helicopter before. So, you know, maybe I've been deprived and I didn't know it." When Rep. Steny Hoyer flubbed the name of a GOP senator from South Carolina who has frequently opposed the president, Obama was quick to jump in with a correction: "Lindsey Graham. I don't know about Lindsay Thomas, but I know Lindsey Graham." In announcing a health care summit next week, Obama seemed to channel his predecessor George W. Bush, who took liberty with the English language. The 44th president said, "It's not that I've got summit-itis here." At another point, Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., noted that on health care "there are some words that send us right into the weeds in the debate." "Socialized medicine?" a chuckling Obama interjected, prompting yet another round of laughter. "Was that one of them?" It's the GOP's oft-repeated criticism of the president's push for universal health care. Obama also complimented Andy Stern of the Service Employees International Union on his pastel purple neckwear after the union leader pressed Congress to tackle health care. "Nice scarf, by the way," Obama said offhandedly. Laughter again, though it wasn't clear if he was teasing. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., urged Obama to continue to reach out to both sides of the aisle even though only three Republicans backed the $787 billion economic package. "Well, I will certainly do that, Tom, because I'm just a glutton for punishment," Obama joked. "I'm going to keep on talking to Eric Cantor. Some day, sooner or later, he's going to say, 'Boy, Obama had a good idea.'" Cantor is the No. 2 Republican in the House and was credited with unifying Republicans against the economic package. Over the laughter, Obama teasingly predicted: "It's going to happen. You watch. You watch." Yet, for all the fun and games, Obama took a pass when Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, asked him to encourage House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to include Republicans in the decision making. "I'm not in Congress, so I don't want to interject myself too much into congressional politics," the former Illinois senator said. Then, not passing up a moment to make his pitch, he said: "But I do want to make this point, and I think it's important _ on the one hand, the majority has to be inclusive. On the other hand, the minority has to be constructive." ____ Associated Press writer Ben Feller contributed to this report.
 
Dem Rep: LaHood "Slapped Down By Know-Nothings" In White House On Mileage Tax Top
Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and something of a firebrand, took issue with comments made last week by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
 
Quinn Commits To Running In 2010, Still Using Old Business Cards Top
WASHINGTON -- First, some news, for anyone wondering if Gov. Quinn, who replaced the ousted Gov. Blagojevich, will run in 2010. He will. "I have no reason not to run," Quinn told me when I asked him about the 2010 election
 
Italian City Lucca Bans Foreign Foods To Protect Its Cuisine Top
Until recently, Italians overwhelmingly ate Italian food, but a decade or more of immigration has seen a surge of new foreign food eateries. Now, one city has declared that enough is enough. The walled, medieval bastion of Lucca, in the heart of Tuscany, wants no more of the kebab shops and Chinese restaurants that have sprung up along the cobbled streets of its centro storico, or historic center.
 
Shelly Palmer: Third Lowest Rated Oscars in History: MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer February 24, 2009 Top
Nielsen is reporting that this years Academy Awards show was watched by nearly 36.3 million people . The show's ratings increased 13% over last year, which was the lowest rated Oscars in the history of the program. While the numbers are up, the 81st annual Academy Awards will go down as the third-lowest rated broadcast of the event. Peter Cherin , the President and COO of News Corp, announced that he is set to leave the company . Chernin, who has acted as Rupert Murdoch's number 2, will now head a new film and television production division associated with Fox. Chernin's departure has spurred rumors that shakeups at Fox's film and television divisions are on the way. A new Nielsen survey notes that Americans are now watching more television than ever . In the fourth quarter of 2008, the average American watched 151 hours of TV a month, up from 146 hours last year. Despite the rising popularity of internet video, viewers are using technology like digital video recorders to ingest more television. The survey also reported that average internet video viewer spent 2 hours and 53 minutes watching video on the web a month. The Blogosphere and Tweetosphere were a buzz yesterday with stories of President Obama canceling a helicopter program which would have created new jobs . As it turns out, the VH-71 helicopter program is more than 100% over budget. If something as simple as advocating fiscal responsibility can be this badly misinterpreted by superficial soundbite seekers, imagine what's going on with truly complex news. Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards ). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here . Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net More on President Obama
 
World markets down amid US banking woes Top
LONDON — World stock markets traded lower Tuesday on mounting concerns about the U.S. banking system and renewed fears about the capital position of leading financial firms in Europe and Asia. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 34.93 points, or 0.9 percent, at 3,815.80, while Germany's DAX slid 56.37 points, or 1.4 percent, to 3,880.08. The CAC-40 in France was down 17.85 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,710.02. Earlier, Japan's Nikkei languished near 26-year lows, closing down 107.60 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,268.56, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index sank 376.58, or 2.9 percent, to 12,798.52. The losses in Europe and Asia came after hefty selling in the U.S. that sent the Dow to a 12-year low on Monday even though the Obama administration tried to pacify fears, saying it would launch a revamped bank rescue program this week. Though markets initially breathed a sigh of relief on weekend reports that the Obama administration was only looking at the part-nationalization of Citigroup Inc., speculation soon swirled that other banks would need urgent government help. "Investors are still waiting for details of the Treasury's comprehensive rescue plan for financial markets but ongoing piecemeal releases will only increase the uncertainty surrounding the plans and not provide a much-needed shot in the arm for sentiment," said Brian Kim, an analyst at UBS. Modest gains are expected when Wall Street opens later. Dow futures were pointing to a 62 point, or 0.9 percent, gain at the open to 7,178, while Standard & Poor's 500 futures were 6.8 points, or 0.9 percent, higher at 751.80. On Monday, the Dow plunged 250.89, or 3.4 percent, to 7,114.78. It last closed this low on May 7, 1997 when it finished at 7,085.65. The Dow hasn't traded below the 7,000 mark since October 1997. While the S&P managed to close above its Nov. 21 trading low _ considered a key threshold among investors _ it still took a beating. The benchmark fell 26.72, or 3.5 percent, to 743.33. It was the lowest close since April 11, 1997. David Jones, chief market strategist at IG Index, thinks the next few days "really do look like crunch time" for world stock markets, as the late 2008-early 2009 gains have been given back. "Unless some half-decent strength is seen in the short term, then the rally from last November looks like yet another dead cat bounce for markets, and it is time to brace ourselves for the next real lurch downwards," he said. A "dead cat bounce" is market slang for a temporary recovery that does not imply reversal of the downward trend. Without any improvement in the underlying strength of the financial sector, investor hopes of a global economic recovery remain thin on the ground. And the newsflow from the sector continues to be downbeat. Earlier, shares in Nomura Holdings, Japan's biggest broker, slumped over 9 percent after it said it was looking to raise over $3 billion more in capital by selling shares to shore up its capital base, while shares in Axa SA, Europe's second largest insurer, dropped 6 percent on mounting concerns about its capital position. And in the U.S., bailed-out insurer American International Group Inc. said it is evaluating "potential new alternatives" to tackle its continuing financial problems amid reports it will soon announce a $60 billion loss and ask the government for more aid. After the markets closed, JPMorgan Chase said it was slashing its quarterly dividend to preserve capital in case economic conditions drastically worsen. U.S. investors seemed unconvinced after regulators promised to ensure the viability of banks by providing capital and said they would start conducting "stress tests" on Wednesday to gauge the health of financial firms. Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi fell 3.2 percent to 1,063.88, while mainland Chinese shares, among the year's best performers, got slammed, pushing the Shanghai benchmark down 4.6 percent. Sentiment there also took a hit after China's central bank said the country's economic downturn could worsen and warned the risk of deflation is "quite big" amid collapsing consumer demand. The bank's report could temper expectations that China's slump might be bottoming out and a recovery might be taking shape, Elsewhere, Australia's stock measure was off 0.6 percent, and Singapore's benchmark lost 1 percent. Oil prices were steady, with light, sweet crude for April delivery up 8 cents at $38.52 a barrel the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost 4 percent, or $1.59, to settle at $38.44 overnight. In currencies, the dollar strengthened 1.2 percent to 95.75 yen. The euro was up 0.6 percent at $1.2768. ___ AP Business Writer Jeremiah Marquez in Hong Kong contributed to this report. More on Recession
 
Chinese Drywall Could Be Poisoning American Homes Top
New homeowners in Florida complained of a strange smell, which officials now believe to be coming from high sulfur content in Chinese drywall . Now it appears that the problem may be more widespread than just Florida. Our friends at Treehugger have been on this Chinese drywall story for a bit, but it appears that others are starting to notice, too. A press release from one group provides some helpful answers about the Chinese drywall problem : What Are The Time Lines As Far As When The Chinese Dry Wall Was Introduced To The United States? The potentially toxic Chinese dry wall was first introduced to the United States in 2001, and would have entered the US, through the ports of Long Beach, or Oakland California, and or the ports of Seattle/Tacoma Washington. What Are The Symptoms Of Potentially Toxic Chinese Dry Wall In A House, Condominium/Town Home, Office, Retail Store Or Work Place? * Homeowners, building owners, or occupants in most cases will have seen continuous failures of their air conditioning coils, or HVAC units beyond anything normal. * Homeowners, building owners, or occupants may have noticed corroded electrical wiring in their walls, in properties built, or remodeled since 2001. * Homeowners, building owners or occupants may have experienced mild to severe upper respiratory problems, nose bleeds, headaches or other potentially serious medical conditions. What Types Of Properties Could Be Affected In This Imported Chinese Potentially Toxic Chines Dry Wall Disaster? * Single family homes in subdivisions in Florida, California, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, the Carolina's, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Colorado or any other US state built from 2001 to the present. * Condominium projects in any US State, built since 2001. * Town Home Projects in any US State, built since 2001. * Any type of low rise commercial, retail or industrial property built or remodeled in the US since 2001. * Single family homes, condominiums, town homes or commercial properties remodeled in the US since 2001. * The Homeowners Consumer Center fears the Chinese dry wall was used in the post Hurricane Katrina metro area's of New Orleans. More on China
 
Binyam Mohamed: Release Of Detainee Fuels Demands For UK To Clarify Its Role In Gitmo Detention Top
The seven-year ordeal of a British resident who claims he was brutally tortured before being sent to Guantanamo Bay was brought to an end last night during an emotional reunion with his family. Binyam Mohamed's sister, Zuhra Mohamed, said she was "overcome with joy" as she watched her brother shuffle down the steps of the RAF transport plane which had carried him from the notorious US detention camp in Cuba to Northolt airfield, west London. She said: "When I saw him he looked like he is OK, but he will plainly not be the man I remember all those years ago." Almost as soon as Mr Mohamed had taken his first steps on British soil, the former computer and engineering student made it clear that he had unfinished business with both the US and UK governments. In a carefully worded statement he said he intended to hold to account those he blamed for his alleged rendition, torture and unlawful imprisonment: "I am not asking for vengeance; only that the truth should be made known so that nobody in the future should have to endure what I have endured." Last night Mr Mohamed's release from US custody reignited calls for the British Government to publish secret documents that would shine further light on the involvement of MI5 agents in his interrogation and alleged torture. William Hague, the shadow Foreign Secretary, and the Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman, Ed Davey, joined with human rights groups in calling for the Government to come clean about British complicity in Mr Mohamed's alleged torture. Mr Mohamed, wearing a cream pullover, navy-blue trousers, white trainers and a white cap pulled over the top of his head, was accompanied by Metropolitan Police officers as he shuffled down the steps of the military aircraft steps. Unaided, he was taken to an airport interview room and detained under Port and Border Controls, part of the Terrorism Act 2000. After further questioning by UK Border Agency officials, who will now consider renewing his British residency status which expired in 2004, he was released without charge. Family and friends were then granted access to Mr Mohamed, who will spend some time away from the media glare. The 30-year-old Ethiopian national, who came to Britain in 1994, was held in Karachi in 2002 by American and Pakistani secret agents before being allegedly sent to Morocco, where he says he was tortured. He is the first of 250 Guantanamo detainees to be transferred under a review ordered by President Barack Obama. Ms Mohamed, 38, who had flown from America to be reunited with her brother after more than 10 years apart, described last night the family's own ordeal in trying to find out what had happened to him. Ms Mohamed said in an interview with The Independent that she had been repeatedly told by the US and Pakistani governments that they had no information relating to her brother - whom she had spent three years living with in Ethiopia and then two more years in America. After he disappeared in 2002, Ms Mohamed and her other brother, Benhur, went to the FBI to ask for help to find him. She remembers: "They first said, 'It looks like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' But then they later denied knowing anything about him at all and suggested we contact the Pakistani government. When I spoke to the Pakistani embassy, they said they didn't know where he was either. It was only when the Red Cross contacted us in 2004 that we were aware that Binyam had been taken to Guantanamo Bay. It is now clear that all the time they [the US government] were involved in his interrogation." Ms Mohamed described both countries' attitudes as "shameful". Behur Mohamed, who came to west London in search of his brother after his disappearance, said yesterday: "It was very disheartening to know that the British had something to do with his suffering." Mr Hague said it was "high time the UK Government asked the new US administration for permission" to release information relating to Mr Mohamed's case which was withheld by the High Court earlier this month. Medical treatment: Matters of the mind *Binyam Mohamed is expected to be referred to the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, in London, which has helped other Guantanamo detainees deal with the psychological effects of their experiences. Alex Sklan, a clinician who has worked with torture survivors at the foundation for more than 10 years, says it is essential that Mr Mohamed is assessed as soon as possible. "Once out of the media spotlight, Mr Mohamed will need help in addressing the serious long-term consequences of his ordeal," says Mr Sklan. "Long after they are released, survivors of torture can suffer with nightmares related to their ordeal, intrusive thoughts about their torture, outbursts of anger and intense feelings of hopelessness." Related Article: Binyam Mohamed: 'I wish I could say that it is all over, but it is not' Read more from the Independent. More on Guantánamo Bay
 
Bike On Steroids Could Be The Car Of The Future Top
The ZEM is a Zero Emissions Machine, from a Swiss company of the same name. One that "promotes, develops, produces and deals with sustainable mobility systems mainly in Europe, and provides consulting on environment, ecology and sustainability." Originally designed as a four person human powered vehicle, so it could carry around a car-less family in comfort, the ZEM is also now available in the two person version pictured here. An important difference with the ZEM and other multi-person pedalcraft is each rider pedals at their own strength, rather than trying to keep up with the fittest. Read the full story on treehugger.com More on Bike Culture
 
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Mardi Gras The Green Way Top
This year get set for greener festivities. I've never actually been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans but that has never stopped me from celebrating at home. It's an excuse to cut loose for sure, though I have never been one to lift my shirt for some junky plastic beads. That brings me straight to my first green issue with the holiday. Seriously, beads, who needs 'em? If you buy them, don't just hand them off to the nearest shirtless maiden, keep them for next year. But that's just the beginning, there are certainly a number of ways that you can celebrate this riotous holiday and minimize your green impact at the same time. Mardis Gras is Tuesday, February 24th! More on Food
 
Swat Valley: Taliban Extend Cease-Fire Top
ISLAMABAD — Taliban militants extended a cease-fire Tuesday in northwestern Pakistan's Swat valley, granting more time for peace talks with the government that the U.S. worries could create a haven for insurgents in the nuclear-armed country. Troops and insurgents have observed a truce since Feb. 15, when Pakistani authorities offered to introduce Islamic law in the region if militants lay down their arms. A hard-line cleric is negotiating on behalf of the government. The Taliban's cease-fire was due to expire on Wednesday, but spokesman Muslim Khan said insurgent leaders decided to extend it "for an indefinite period." "From our side, there will be no hostility against the government and the army, and we expect the same from them," Khan told The Associated Press. Militants control much of the picturesque region of northwestern Pakistan once popular with tourists, according to residents. Pakistani officials say the offer to introduce Islamic law there addresses long-standing demands for speedy justice that have been exploited by the Taliban. NATO and the United States have voiced concern that any peace accord could effectively cede the Swat valley to militants who have defied a yearlong military operation, beheaded opponents and bombed girls' schools. Many analysts doubt the Taliban will accept the mild version of Islamic law on offer _ or that they will loosen their grip on the valley, which lies just 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital, Islamabad. A deal last year collapsed after several months. The status of the talks and each side's positions are not clear. The Swat Taliban have not clearly stated they will disarm or allow the schooling of female children. Pakistan's president has said he will not sign the law imposing Islamic justice until peace has returned to the valley. Militants in Bajur, another northwestern region, announced late Monday they would observe a cease-fire with government troops there. The military, which claims to be close to victory in Bajur, has not commented on the move. Pakistan says it is committed to regaining control of the northwest, but American officials have expressed skepticism about the willingness and ability of its security forces and have ratcheted up missile strikes on al-Qaida targets there. Pakistan's army chief and foreign minister are holding talks in Washington this week as the new U.S. administration hammers out a new policy for the region. ___ Associated Press writer Sherin Zada contributed to this report from Mingora. More on Pakistan
 
Inside The Vanity Fair Party: Movie Stars, Cigarettes And Masturbation Talk Top
Several papers had sources and/or reporters inside Vanity Fair's post-Oscar bash Sunday night. See red carpet pictures of the bash here . VF also had a G-rated twitter of the night . According the NY Post, it was THE party t o be at, with guest leaving other bashes to come to Vanity Fair. [The party] featured Kate Winslet clutching her Oscar, Vivi Nevo and fiancée Ziyi Zhang sitting with Brian Grazer, Wendi Murdoch and Phillip Dauman, and MySpace founder Chris DeWolfe huddling with Lyor Cohen at the inside bar. Elsewhere, Madonna, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher threw a party, as they did last year, at Guy Oseary's house, but with less success. Rosario Dawson, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Chris Rock, Sharon Stone and Jessica Biel left early for the Vanity Fair bash. Sean Penn was there too, which was unexpected given that his film "Milk" had a party elsewhere. The New York Daily News , meanwhile, had an impressively thorough eavesdropper inside the function and observed Sully chatting up Buzz Aldrin and Ginnifer Goodwin being cozy with "He's Just Not That Into You" co-star Justin Long. Some of what they overheard: Penn's "Milk" co-star Josh Brolin told a pal, "I'm so tired and over all this," while his wife, Diane Lane, looked on wearily. "I've lost him again," she murmured. "We were almost out of here!" Natalie Portman, meanwhile, was chided by a pal. "She's not drunk enough!" her buddy teased, prompting a slightly swaying Portman to respond, "Oh, you little s--!" His goading worked -- we saw the actress head toward the bar just moments later... Amidst the glitz was a crew of comedians cracking jokes off to the side, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segal, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Danny McBride. The conversation ranged from Jewish culture to Rogen's query as to whether masturbation could be used "as a form of weight control." Hill soon leaned in, announced he was "going home to smoke a joint" and disappeared. Speaking of marijuana, the NY Post had this blind item : WHICH actor snorted cocaine in the bathroom during an Oscar after-party, while a slimmed-down stoner actor smoked pot outside with his pals? And Us Weekly thought Madonna had a "fresh-looking face" at the party. More on The Oscars
 
Microsoft's Severance Return: Oops, We Gave You Too Much Top
First they were laid off. Then their company wanted them to give back part of their severance. In an ultimate software screw-up, red-faced Microsoft bosses demanded that some of their newly fired workers give back part of their total $100 million severance because the tech giant's accounting department fouled up the numbers.
 
Marwan Barghouti Could Return Through Israel-Hamas Truce Deal Top
RAMALLAH, West Bank — While a possible Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap focuses on a famous Israeli soldier, the prisoner most likely to affect the direction of Mideast peace is a brash and chubby Palestinian long seen as a potential successor to his people's aging president. Marwan Barghouti is the most popular Palestinian leader since Yasser Arafat. He has spent the last seven years in an Israeli prison after being convicted of playing a role in attacks that killed four Israelis and a Greek monk. A lifetime member of President Mahmoud Abbas' venerable and corruption-riddled Fatah movement, Barghouti is seen as perhaps the group's best chance to restore its eroded credibility. Many Palestinians _ and some Israelis _ see him as the only figure capable of bridging the myriad rifts among Palestinians and leading them toward their long elusive dream of statehood. Barghouti is a secularist who works with Islamists. He supports negotiations with Israel, speaks fluent Hebrew and has Israeli friends, but he built his reputation through anti-Israel diatribes during the second Palestinian uprising. Detractors in Israel call Barghouti a cold-blooded killer who should remain locked up. The Likud hard-liners who will head the incoming Israeli government are likely to share that view. Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu will likely be forming a new Israeli government within six weeks, making the timing of a swap important for those who hope to see Barghouti released. A possible prisoner exchange surfaced in discussions for a long-term cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, where the recent Israeli military offensive to halt Hamas rockets killed some 1,300 Palestinians. Israel is anxious for the release of Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was snatched by Hamas-affiliated militants during a 2006 raid into Israel. Amos Gilad, until recently Israel's lead Gaza negotiator, had wanted to first clinch a truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers through the Egyptian-brokered talks, then strike a deal to swap Schalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. But Gilad was fired by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after Gilad criticized Olmert's demand that Schalit be freed before any agreement is signed. Even if Barghouti is released _ negotiations have hit new snags in recent days _ the thorny Palestinian political scene could prevent him from realizing the lofty hopes his supporters have attached to him. Barghouti's first challenge would be inside his own Fatah party. Corruption allegations have diminished its standing, and a muted response to Israel's recent Gaza war has undermined Abbas' popularity. There is no guarantee the party's old guard would step aside for Barghouti. An even bigger challenge would be rebuilding relations with Hamas, the militant Islamic group that seized control of the Gaza Strip in a brief but bloody civil war in June 2007, leaving Abbas only in charge of the West Bank. All attempts at reconciliation have failed. Barghouti, 49, enjoys a man-of-the-people reputation. He was born in a village near Ramallah and was seven years old when Israel occupied the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Middle East War. Israel imprisoned him at age 18 for his Fatah membership, then deported him to Jordan in 1987. He returned in 1994, following mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. As Fatah chief in the West Bank, he tried to rally support for a peace deal with Israel, but became disillusioned, saying Israel kept breaking promises. Yossi Beilin, a leading Israeli dove now retired from politics, met often with Barghouti in those days. The last time was in May 2000, when peace efforts had stalled. "He said to me, `If there is no peace, there will be violence, and we will be in charge of this violence,'" said Beilin, who was Israel's justice minister at the time. The second Palestinian uprising broke out four months later, following a failed U.S.-hosted Mideast summit, and Barghouti quickly emerged as the public face of the revolt. Israel arrested him in April 2002, saying he served as a liaison between Arafat and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a Fatah-allied militia that killed dozens of Israelis in shooting attacks and suicide bombings. Barghouti denied the charges, but Israel convicted him in the shooting deaths of the four Israelis and the Greek monk and sentenced him to five life sentences. Beilin said Barghouti appeals to ordinary Palestinians because of his down-to-earth style. "He's very close to the roots, he knows the Palestinian people very well and is appreciated by them, but who knows what kind of leader he will make?" Beilin said. Palestinian public opinion expert Khalil Shikaki said Barghouti has remained free of corruption allegations and has supported both negotiations and armed resistance, giving him credibility across the Palestinian divide. "These characteristics put him in a place where he can lead Fatah to reach an agreement with Israel and convince the members of Hamas to accept this agreement," Shikaki said. But first he must be released _ something many Israelis oppose. Hawkish legislator Yuval Steinitz declined to comment on Barghouti's possible release to avoid interfering with negotiations, though he has vocally opposed it in the past. Barghouti is a convicted murderer, he has said, whose release would "ridicule our justice system." More on Hamas
 
Macy's 59% Profit Drop In Fourth Quarter Top
NEW YORK — Macy's Inc. reported an almost 59 percent drop in fourth-quarter earnings Tuesday as its results were dragged down by weak sales and one-time costs associated with the consolidations of regional divisions and store closings. The Cincinnati-based company said Tuesday that in the three months ended Jan. 31, it earned $310 million, or 73 cents per share. That compares with $750 million, or $1.73 per share, a year earlier. Sales fell 7.7 percent to $7.93 billion from $8.59 billion a year ago. Same-store sales, or sales at stores opened at least a year, fell 7 percent. Same-store sales are considered a key indicator of a retailer's health. The fourth-quarter results included $17 million in expenses associated with the consolidation measures announced last year, $30 million in costs tied to further such moves announced this month and $11 million related to 11 store closings announced last month. Excluding those one-time items, Macy's earned $1.06 per share. That was above the $1.01 per share estimate from analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who generally exclude one-time factors. The results also exceeded the company's recent forecast for $1 to $1.02 per share. Thomson Reuters forecast revenue of $7.92 billion. "While 2008 results reflect the worst economic environment of our generation, we have taken aggressive action to drive sales, maintain profitability and conserve cash," Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statement. Department stores such as Macy's are facing big challenges as shoppers _ worried about their shrinking retirement funds and job security amid massive layoffs _ are in full retreat and focusing on basics like food. Macy's announced this month that it will eliminate 7,000 jobs, almost 4 percent of its work force, and cut capital spending, reduce its contributions to its employees' retirement funds and slash its dividend to preserve cash. Macy's also announced the national rollout of a plan to localize merchandising to specific markets, which it began in some regions last year. The moves follow Macy's announcement in January _ on the heels of the worst holiday season in decades _ that it would close 11 stores, affecting 960 employees. Lundgren said in the statement that Macy's remains "financially healthy," with strong cash flow and ample borrowing capacity. He said the company ended the year with $1.3 billion in cash, more than had been planned at the beginning of the year and no borrowings against its $2 billion bank credit agreement. Macy's reiterated that for the current fiscal year it expects to earn from 40 cents to 55 cents per share, excluding costs tied to restructuring. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect 53 cents per share. Macy's also said it still expects same-store sales to fall between 6 percent and 8 percent.
 
Street Signs For Mullet Place Keep Disappearing Top
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The hairstyle is short on the top and long in the back, and in Green Bay the mullet has it's very own street signs _ at least when the signs haven't been stolen. Mullet Place may not be named for the kind of hair design that became popular a few decades ago, but fans apparently like to grab the signs anyway because they disappear several times a year. "We've gone through a lot of Mullet Place signs," said Chris Pirlot of the city Public Works Department. "My only guess is that people are still in love with the '70s and '80s when the mullet haircut was prominent. I don't know." At times, every sign on the two-block street has been gone, frustrating some residents. "When you tell somebody directions how to get to your place, you've got to tell them it's the third road on the left, because there's no sign to tell them how to get to Mullet Place," said Richard Fleischfresser. The city has attempted to stop the thievery by mounting the signs beyond anyone's reach, about 20 feet from the ground. Pirlot said it costs $100 each to replace the signs. Stealing one can cost a lot more. Police say anyone caught taking a street sign can be fined $361 for theft plus $676 for criminal damage to property. ___ Information from: WLUK-TV, http://www.fox11online.com
 
George Clooney Meets With Obama Top
LOS ANGELES — George Clooney apparently had a good reason for skipping out on Oscar night: He had a meeting with President Obama. The Oscar-winning actor appeared Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live" and spoke of his visit earlier that morning with Obama to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region. Clooney said he told the president of his visit to camps in Chad where 250,000 refugees live, but he downplayed the risks he took to witness the suffering first-hand. "I don't think people should be going there and coming back and saying how it affected them," Clooney told King via satellite from the White House lawn. "I think somehow we should all know that these people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth." Clooney, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, said he asked the president to appoint a full-time regional envoy who reports directly to the White House, and to ask China to set aside its business interests in the region and pressure Sudan to prevent atrocities. The refugees need "what we do best, what we have done best since the start of this country _ which is good, robust diplomacy all across the world," he said. Clooney said he delivered 250,000 postcards gathered by the Save Darfur organization to the president and Vice President Joe Biden. The actor said both were receptive. Fighting erupted in 2003 as Darfur's ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudan's government complaining of discrimination and neglect. Nearly 2.5 million people have been displaced by a conflict that has killed about 300,000 people. Next week, the International Criminal Court is scheduled to rule on whether to proceed with an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur. Clooney said his latest visit _ his sixth to Darfur and Chad _ was privately arranged. He traveled with journalists, including the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof and NBC's Ann Curry, but the Sudanese government denied him a visa. More on George Clooney
 
Campbell Soup Sales Slip Top
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — The Campbell Soup Co. is selling more recession-friendly soups, pasta sauces and Goldfish crackers, but it's finding that a strong dollar has hurt its profits overseas. The Camden-based company said Monday that its second-quarter profit dropped 15 percent overall. Earnings were $233 million, or 64 cents per share, for the three months ended Feb. 1. That's down from $274 million, or 71 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding earnings from discontinued businesses _ notably, the company sold the Godiva Chocolatier business last year _ and one-time items relating to that sale, restructuring and a tax benefit last year, the company earned $234 million, or 65 cents per share. That's down 12 percent from $266 million or 69 cents per share a year ago. On that basis, Campbell's performance was a penny per share higher than the consensus expectation of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. The company said its profits were hurt by the strengthening dollar. While Campbell _ the world's largest soupmaker _ is best known for the red-and-white-labelled soups that are staples of U.S. pantries, it operates around the world, including a fledgling broth business in China and Russia. The company's international soup, sauce and drinks account for nearly one-fifth of total sales. Additionally, it owns the Australian biscuit brand Arnott's. Sales for the quarter came to $2.12 billion, down about 4 percent from last year's second quarter mark of $2.22 billion. Soup sales in the U.S rose 4 percent for the quarter, and sales for the whole U.S. soup division, which includes sauces and beverages, rose 3 percent. Other divisions, such as baked and snack goods and international soup, sauces and beverages, saw slower growth or decreases in sales. Food service sales also slid significantly as more people ate at home. President and CEO Douglas R. Conant said Monday that the company will continue to weather the recession because its main offering is the kind of food people eat more when times are tough. But Campbell also said that major retailers cut back on their inventories at the end of 2008, a trend that other foodmakers have also noted. The company said that especially hurt its condensed soup, Prego pasta sauces and Pace Mexican sauces, where it did not benefit as much as it would have from higher consumer sales. On a conference call Monday, Conant reassured analysts fretting about retailers cutting inventory. "It's about as low as it's going to go," he said. For the first six months of its fiscal year, the company earned $493 million, or $1.35 per share on sales of $4.37 billion. All those figures were down from the first half of the previous year, when earnings were $544 million, or $1.41 per share, on sales of $4.40 billion. Campbell is maintaining its projection of 3 percent to 4 percent sales growth for the fiscal year and expects its profits for the year to be at the high end of the previously projected 5 percent to 7 percent growth range. Shares in the company fell 82 cents, or 2.8 percent, to close at $28.63 on Monday, near the lower end of its range over the past 52 weeks, when it has sold for between $27.35 and $40.85. Jack Russo, who follows Campbell for Edward Jones, said the declines are due mostly to a poor overall economy. "These companies, their results get hit back a little bit, too," he said.
 
US Gaza Aid To Top $900M: US Official Top
JERUSALEM — United States aid for the Gaza Strip's reconstruction will likely top $900 million, an official said, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepared to make her first Mideast trip as America's top diplomat. Israeli and Palestinian officials said Monday that Clinton will visit Israel and the West Bank during the first week of March. Clinton said during her Asia trip last week that she would attend an international donors conference in Egypt on March 2 to discuss reconstruction in Gaza. She provided no other details, but a U.S. official in the United States said Monday that the Obama administration's donation will be at least $900 million in humanitarian and rebuilding aid to the Palestinian Authority to help Gaza recover from Israel's offensive against Hamas last month. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the donation had not received final approval, said the exact amount was still to be determined. The official added that the aid would not go to Hamas. The U.S. recognizes the West Bank-based government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and has no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which runs a separate Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli officials, meanwhile, said Clinton will arrive in Israel on March 2 for meetings with the country's top leaders. Israel is currently ruled by a caretaker government as Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu cobbles together a new coalition. The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the visit had not been announced by the State Department, which has not released Clinton's schedule for next week. Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Clinton also would visit the West Bank during her stay. ___ Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report. More on Hamas
 
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