CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Front Page: Secret Order Let US Attack al Qaeda Anywhere

CitizenSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

A classified US order from 2004 authorized the US military to attack al Qaeda anywhere in the world. The order has allowed the US to secretly attack militants in Syria, Pakistan, and other places. — New York Times
President-elect Barack Obama will meet President Bush in the Oval Office today, to begin the transition of power. The two are expected to discuss the economy, the war in Iraq, and national security. Laura Bush will give Michelle Obama a tour of the White House. — CNN
Three bombs that exploded moments apart in Baghdad, Iraq yesterday left at least 28 people dead. Two of the explosions were car bombs and the third was a suicide bomber who blew himself up in the crowd trying to rescue people. — BBC News
An argument over Sunday's Alabama-LSU overtime football game ended with an Alabama couple shot to death. — Alabama Press-Register
A backlash against California's Proposition 8 has erupted. This weekend, same-sex marriage supporters protested the new law outside churches around the state, including a Mormon tabernacle. — San Francisco Chronicle

Fingerprint Database Silently Added for Mortgage Industry

LibertySugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:00:49 -0700

Privacy advocates, who usually find themselves opposing President Bush, are urging him to veto a housing bailout bill because it would create a national fingerprint registry for mortgage industry workers.

The fingerprint part of the bill, added by the Senate, is hidden in the lengthy bill, which appears to be about bailing out troubled homeowners.

The databased would encompass mortgage lenders, loan originators, and real estate agents. The registry, which was subject to little debate or public airing, is intended to create a national framework of consumer protection. The legislation would use the fingerprints when granting licenses from a newly created "Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry." Do you think fingerprints and background checks solve the crisis brought on by predatory lending and risky borrowing?

Does it bother you that Congress is considering a measure which would give the government much more information and individuals less privacy without much debate? Even if there are merits to the fingerprint database, how can impacted individuals weigh in on it? Should they be able to? Do you prefer a government that has less of your information, or more?

Source

President Bush Wants to Pass Global Warming Initiative

LibertySugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:00:50 -0700

President Bush may ask Congress to consider legislation to combat global warming as early as this week. An unmanageable web of US regulatory law, as well as upcoming meetings with world powers, has motivated Bush to take action.

Currently businesses must follow three pieces of complex legislation: the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Clean Air Act. Apparently, Bush wants to make it easier for corporations to assess and uphold what is required of them. But, according to the Washington Times, some Congressional Republicans fear runaway legislation and think Bush is making a mistake.

A debate in Congress about global warming will likely heat up in June, prior to the G-8 conference in July. We might get a preview this week, as US officials will be in Paris to meet with other world economic powers. All three presidential candidates want to increase action by the federal government. Specifically, they all endorse a cap-and-trade system similar to Europe's. It is unlikely that Bush wants to go that far, but it is still unclear what he has in mind.

What action would you like to see the US federal government take to cut greenhouse emissions and combat global warming? Do we need to streamline regulations to save the planet?

Source

President Bush Cries While Awarding Medal of Honor

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:28 -0700

President Bush bestowed the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award, to the parents of a Navy special operations sailor killed in Iraq two years ago. Petty Officer Second Class Michael Monsoor, then a 25-year-old gunner, covered a grenade with his body — saving the lives of his comrades, but sustaining wounds that took his life shortly thereafter.

Becoming visibly emotional, Bush said, "Mr. and Mrs. Monsoor, America owes you a debt that can never be repaid," he said. "This nation will always cherish the memory of your son. We will not let his life go in vain. This nation will always honor the sacrifice he made. May God comfort you. May God bless America."

This award is only the fourth Medal of Honor awarded since the war on terror began.

Are you surprised to see the Commander in Chief so moved?

Source

Front Page: Bush on FISA, Election in Iran, Afghan Bombing

CitizenSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:58:30 -0700

President Bush spoke just moments ago from the White House regarding the battle in Congress over FISA. House Democrats introduced their own version of the bill this week in an attempt to bypass the original legislation passed in the Senate. Bush said, "The House bill would make matters even worse . . . the House bill may be good for class-action lawyers, but it's terrible for the United States." Citing the need for the intelligence community to have the appropriate tools to fight terrorism, Bush said, "Voting for this bill will make us less safe." He concluded, "they should not leave for their Easter recess without getting the Senate bill to my desk."

Iran is set to hold an election tomorrow amid mixed perceptions of the enthusiasm behind the contest. Bans have limited the contest severely, the official campaign only ran for one week — including one day which was a public holiday — and the election itself is being held less than a week before the country shuts down for the Iranian new year holiday of Norouz. The Islamic Iran Participation Front party, which held the highest number of seats in parliament four years ago, had all of their candidates revoked because they allegedly lacked Islamic credentials. True reform candidates haven't bothered even submitting their names. Nevertheless, State television has been broadcasting stirring music and pictures of happy voters.
Just hours ago, a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy of US troops also killed six Afghan civilians. The renewed violence left at least 15 Taliban fighters and policemen dead. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast, which detonated on the road to the capital's international airport. Four US troops also suffered minor injuries and 33 Afghans were wounded.

Bush Dedicates the War on Terror to Jesus

CitizenSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:00:36 -0700

Though President Bush makes no secret of the influence his faith has on his agenda, rarely has the president mixed the language of faith and God so closely with talk of war and terrorism as he did yesterday in an address to the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Tennessee. Bush defended his actions in Iraq and Afghanistan with a 42-minute address attributing his faith to his foreign policy.

Coming just one day after spritual leaders protested President Bush's veto of limits to US interrogation techniques, his speech tying the war to a spiritual quest could raise eyebrows. In his speech Bush said,

The effects of a free Iraq and a free Afghanistan will reach beyond the borders of those two countries. . . . It will show others what’s possible. And we undertake this work because we believe that every human being bears the image of our maker. That’s why we’re doing this. No one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave.

To see how tied "freedom" to God,

President Bush Sings Farewell to a Hilarious Presidency

LibertySugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:19 -0700

An unauthorized cellphone video of the American President-turned-American Idol has leaked on the Internet. Last weekend at the Gridiron, an annual roast attended by political journalists, President Bush sang a lighthearted ode to his time in the White House. His serenade was met with chuckles, applause, and a standing ovation.

I'm a little confused why the country's best journalists find the inept response to Hurricane Katrina, obstruction of justice by a top administration aide, and other Bush highlights, so absolutely side-splitting.

Now that the Bush Presidency is in its twilight, are you prepared to laugh at a musical recitation of its many scandals and crises sung by the President himself? To see the lyrics,

Headline: President Bush Condemns Venezuela

CitizenSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:00:29 -0800

President George Bush condemned Venezuela yesterday saying, “We firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region." The statement comes amid growing border tensions in South America over Venezuela’s and Ecuador’s militarization along the Colombian border.

Venezuela and Ecuador have mobilized their armies in reaction to a Colombian incursion into Ecuador on a mission to assassinate a high level commander of FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia), Raul Reyes.

FARC is a militant organization currently waging war with the Columbian government from bases located within Ecuador. The Columbian government has caused a great deal of tension in the region by illegally entering Ecuador to attack FARC. At this point, both Venezuela and Ecuador are likely to back down since Columbia has the full support of the United States.

Source

Lighten Up: President Bush Is a . . . Fetish?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:00:43 -0800

Stephen Colbert hosted former Press Secretary Tony Snow this week and the touchy subject of President Bush's newly released 19 percent approval rating came up. Think that sounds bad? Not according to Stephen.

See? All cleared up. It's really just all a matter of perception. I wonder what happens if you google "President Bush Super Hot XXX". . . .

Headline: President Bush Says "I Know There's a Threat!"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:57:47 -0800

In his press conference that just concluded, President Bush strongly criticized Democrats in the House for not putting the FISA bill to vote before recess. "I guess you could be relaxed about this if you didn't think there was a threat to the country." Slamming his hand on the podium, he said, "I know there's a threat to the country!"

Later he said, "how can you listen to the enemy if the phone companies won't participate with you?!" He then stressed that phone companies would not consent to participate without the protection from lawsuits that FISA would allow. Bush continued, "this an important issue for the American people to understand."

President Bush said with regard to the shifting scene of power in Russia, "President Putin's a straightforward, pretty tough character when it comes to his interests. Well so am I." He went on to stress the need to establish a relationship with the candidate who becomes the new leader of Russia on Sunday.

Helen Thomas was in the front row, wearing red, though she didn't get to ask any questions.

Source

Front Page: Bush Speaks, Children Hostages in Cameroon, Kenya Peace

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:10:30 -0800

President Bush is currently giving a news conference. Topics are expected to include the economy and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. More details to follow.
It's estimated that 2,000 boarding school children are being used as human shields by demonstrators in Cameroon. Overnight, thousands of protesters entered the schools to escape police chasing them after demonstrations turned violent. This comes after days of protests across the country, set off by a taxi-driver strike over a fuel price rise. John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front said, "the people have no other alternative than to express themselves by marching on the streets to draw government's attention to issues affecting their everyday lives."
Better news from another part of Africa: Leaders in Kenya have signed a peace deal to end the post-election violence. Kofi Annan has been in Kenya mediating the talks, which have successfully resulted in President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga agreeing to form a coalition government. Annan announced, "We have come to an understanding on the coalition government," but offered no further details.

Headline: Bush in Rwanda and the Human Face of Darfur

CitizenSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:00:56 -0800

President Bush laid a wreath at the memorial of the victims of the Rwandan genocide yesterday. The genocide claimed 800,000 Rwandans, a lot of them children, mostly over the span of 100 days in 1994. Bush's trip to Africa has been a series of somber scenes. While touring the museum to this genocide, the topic of another — the Sudanese genocide in Darfur — came up.

President Bush has received criticism for not sending troops to Darfur. He said yesterday:

I still believe it was the right decision. But, having done that, if you’re a problem solver, you put yourself at the mercy of the decisions of others, in this case the United Nations. And I’m well known to have spoken out by the slowness of the United Nations. It is — seems very bureaucratic to me, particularly with people suffering.

Adding a very human, firsthand account to the Darfur tragedy, a New Zealand nurse, Lisa French Blaker, has just written a book called Heart of Darfur, recounting her two years of service in the region. For more about her powerful experience,

One Story, Three Ways: The State of the Union

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:00:21 -0800

Tons of you commented with us live last night during President Bush's last State of the Union. A two-term president's last SOTU is usually a little awkward given that everyone's attention is glued to finding his replacement, and the short period of time he has to execute any big changes. Last night was no exception. Here are three takes on the speech, the morning after.

Canada's National Post focused on Bush's optimistic message regarding progress in Iraq.

The Christian Science Monitor called out Bush's aggressive challenges that put Congress in the driver's seat.

And from the Los Angeles Times, a sly headline indicating perhaps what they may have liked to have heard last night?

A mixed bag of coverage to be sure. Many also pointed out Bush's "lame-duck" status and struggle for relevancy. Do you think even the positive headlines had an undertone of criticism? Did Bush overstate the positives last night?

Headline: President Bush Backs Economic Stimulus Package

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:03:56 -0800

In a speech from the White House this morning, President Bush proposed $145 billion in tax relief. According to insiders, individuals might receive rebates of $800 and families, $1600. This proposal follows Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony yesterday, calling for temporary measures to stimulate the economy. Bush echoed the chairman's sentiments saying that the relief should be temporary, but take effect right away. Aiming to bolster both business expansion and consumer spending, Bush said, "this growth package must be big enough to make a difference in an economy as large and dynamic as ours, which means it should be about 1 percent of GDP."
Source

Yay or Nay? Respecting the President...

CitizenSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:05:00 -0800

George W. Bush. Based on the debate following this post yesterday, your feelings about President Bush are pretty passionate.I'm willing to bet even reading his name evokes a definite reaction—and it's clear that reaction varies pretty wildly from person to person. But whether you love him or hate him, my question is this: even if you don't agree with a president's job performance, does the Office itself deserve respect?Source

Yay or Nay? Respecting the President...

Yay! Dissention is fine, but tearing down our leaders hurts us all.

Nay. Respect isn't part of the job perks—it's earned.