Thursday March 26,2009



In the opinion section of theLA times today a journalist expresses his theory on the 13 question coincidence.
13 questions. Coincidence? I think not.

I have three theories here. The first is that the president considers Q&A sessions to be unlucky, so he takes 13 questions as some kind of occult countermeasure. Admittedly, that's not a likely explanation. More probable is that his team has calculated somehow that a number around a dozen sends the right message to the public. But the simple answer may be that Obama can't fit in more than about 13 answers per event because he just can't stop himself from filibustering. Er, I mean, lecturing. (Under this theory, if Vice President Biden moves up to the top job, the tally will fall to 5 or 6.)




In the NY Times President Obama plans to further bolster American forces in Afghanistan and for the first time set benchmarks for progress in fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban there and in Pakistan, officials said Thursday.
In the Washington Post day Lawmakers Hear Obama Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy..
“The era of the blank check is over,” Mr. Obama told Congressional leaders at the White House, according to an account of the meeting provided on the condition of anonymity because it was a private session.The new strategy, which Mr. Obama will formally announce Friday, will send 4,000 more troops to train Afghan security forces on top of the 17,000 extra combat troops that he already ordered to Afghanistan shortly after taking office, administration and Congressional officials said. But for now, Mr. Obama has decided not to send additional combat forces, they said, although military commanders at one point had requested a total of 30,000 more American troops.

Wednesday March 25, 2009







In the LA Times today recapped the major points in the press confrence from yesterday and stated that "Obama uses news conference to call for time, patience, understanding". obama made his second prime time television appreance in two months in hopes to promote a budget that supporters praise as ambitious and critics slam as big-spending. Obama consistenly raved that climbing out of the recession will not happen over night and asked that Americans show patience and have faith.


The NY Times belives that optimism is growing within the congress regarding Obamas new budget plan. The president visited the Capitol on Wendesday to urge senators to preserve his initiatives on health care, energy and education.Despite some blacklashing among some Senate Democrats about the level of spending and future deficits, Mr. Obama’s appeal seemed to find a receptive audience. The article stated that "Democratic senators indicated increasing optimism about the prospects for approval of the fiscal blueprint after they pared spending and made other adjustments."Just before midnight, the House Budget Committee voted, 24 to 15 along party lines, to approve its spending plan, sending it to the full House for consideration next week.



The Washington Post gave another side to this story insisting that Obama agreed to softening up his wish list and agreeing that the congress wont be able to give him everything that he wants. Obama excalimed that this budget was great because "it is what lays the foundation for a secure and lasting prosperity." The article then later states that asked twice whether he would accept a budget that did not include provisions for additional tax cuts for the middle class, or that did not launch a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Mr. Obama demurred. Obama called for he called for "a serious energy policy that frees ourselves from dependence on foreign oil and makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy".

Tuesday March 24, 2009




The Washington Post recapped today's press confrence that Obama held addressing the congress about the economic recession, his administration's recovery strategy, and other current events during the first 60 days of his presidency. President Obama sought to reassure Americans today that his administration has made progress in reviving the economy and said his $3.6 trillion budget is "inseparable from this recovery." During this time obama has delt with backlash from republicans that beleive his blueprint is irresponsible, and also heard from skeptical Democrats who have already set about trimming back his top budget priorities. obama later stated in response to all the budget criticism saying "We never expected, when we printed out our budget, that they would simply Xerox it and vote on it. We assume that it has to go through the legislative process. . . . I have confidence that we're going to be able to get a budget done that's reflective of what needs to happen in order to make sure that America grows." we shall see, all we can do now is wait and hope there is hope to that blueprint of his.



The NY Times also had a simlar story regarding the press confrence held today, but decided to give a different twist. this article relayed more to the housing situation and explaing the values of houses and what exactly is taking place. Obama stated "We’ve already seen a jump in refinancings of mortgages as homeowners take advantage of lower rates. And every American should know that up to 40 percent of all mortgages are now eligible for refinancing. This is the equivalent of another tax cut, and we’re also beginning to see signs of increased sales and stabilizing home prices for the first time in a very long time." Im in the process of looking for a home and i can definitely agree that alot is available and so many availble for refinancing, so other persons lost as become many others gain.



The LA times also reported the same story, obviously the press confrence was the big hit of the day. this article zoomed in on the question that was asked about Obama's plans as far as efforts by the U.S. to combat the growing violence unleashed in Mexico by drug cartels and whether Obama feels they are a threat to US security. Obama replied saying "The Obama administration this morning unveiled an ambitious multi-agency plan to help Mexico attack the growing problems created by powerful Mexican drug cartels, vowing to send U.S. money, manpower and technology to the southwestern border as soon as possible." Obama later praised Mexican President Felipe Calderon, calling him "courageous" for his efforts to fight the cartels.

Monday, March 23

In the LA Times, the Opinion section of the paper includes an article written by Joyce Appleby comparing Obama to Roosevelt. It states that in 1934, Franklin Roosevelt felt the same sort of urgency of moving the country in a new direction. He faced hardships left and right, including the rise of Hitler as well as the fall of his New Deal coalition. However, FDR was able to win over the men and women under his presidency by initiating radio talks, and becoming the provider of entertainment and news for many poor people, and keeping tabs of local papers. He was able to reassure Americans that he was strengthening their traditional institutions. Obama is somewhat in the same position FDR was in the past. "Obama's hope for matching Roosevelt's successful record of reform and recovery is going to rest on his pulling off an electoral victory in 2010 like FDR's 76 years ago." Can the current president do the same in 2010?


In The New York Times article, the author Helene Cooper addresses what Obama said on his interview "60 Minutes" on CBS, that a way out of Afghanistan is needed. “There’s got to be an exit strategy,” Obama said. Last month, Obama announced that he would send 17,000 more American troops to Afghanistan this summer. However, in this interview, Obama that this military build up in Afghanistan will lead to the eventual withdrawal of American and NATO troops from the country. Different from Bush's administration mission, Obama's mission in Afghanistan is “making sure that Al Qaeda cannot attack the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests and our allies," where as Bush's mission was promoting democracy, civil society and governance in Afghanistan and toward getting the country to a point where it is not used to start attacks on the United States..

THE WASHINGTON POST


Advisers To Obama Wary of Bonus Tax

Sunday, March 22

Obama VS. Cheney

An article concerning Obama's response to criticism from Cheney appears in both the Los Angeles and New York Times.
In an interview that was taped Friday, the 20th, but broadcasted on Sunday, March 22 on "60 Minutes" on CBS, as well as in both articles, Obama is quoted calling Bush administration policy on detainees at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, “unsustainable”, as well as “a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment.”The two newspapers are different in the way they present their stories. In the LA Times, the fact that Cheney has been criticizing Obama's decision to shut down the Guantánamo prison, along with other policies on the treatment of terrorism suspects is included in the lead, as if implying that that was the reason for the remark.




Aaron Tomlinson / Associated Press
In this photo provided by CBS News, Steve Kroft of '60 Minutes' interviews President Obama at the Oval Office on Friday, March 20, in Washington D.C.


However, in the NY Times, Cheney's opinion that Obama has put the nation at greater risk of terrorism isn't mentioned until the middle of the article. Because, there has been growing criticism of the government's handling of the financial crisis, the president also defends Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner who has been under public eye and anger over bonuses paid to Wall Street executives. His joke that if Mr. Geithner offered to resign, his response would be, “Buddy, you’ve still got the job” is present in both articles because of its prominence in our society.


In the Washington Post, an article titled, Obama Plans Anti-Drug Effort on Border to Aid Mexico
, was published. It explains how Obama attempts to help Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against violent drug cartel. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will be visiting Mexico City this week with the intention of designing a multi-agency security plan for the Mexico-U.S. border. Napolitano said the government is preparing plans to send more agents and intensify its investigation and prosecution of drug and gun-related activity between the border.



Obama has decided to focus on Mexico because more than 7,200 people have died in drug-related violence, prompting fears in the United States.

Friday, March 20

Los Angeles Times summarized President Obama’s Southern California trip that exposed him to both celebrity and everyday struggles. He got on "The Tonight Show" with Leno, talking about the AIG bonus scandal with details about his life inside the White House. Defending Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, he said that ultimately all this stuff is my responsibility. He had one impolitic moment when trying to make a self-deprecating joke about his bowling score of 129, saying, “That was like the Special Olympics or something.” Later after the taping, President Obama issued an apology for the remark.

The New York Times also reported similar story. Moreover, it wrote that overall Mr. Obama, the first sitting president to be a guest on “The Tonight Show,” delivered a familiarly smooth, winning performance. Making jokes on a talk show and drawing simple analogies for complicated issues were a way to reassure and befriend viewers. He stayed benign and folksy even while discussing serious topics.




The Washington Post ran a story of President Obama announced "unprecedented restrictions" aimed at deterring lobbyists from influencing projects under a massive economic stimulus plan and vowed that recovery efforts will not become "an excuse for waste and abuse”. He said any lobbyists who want to talk with a member of his administration about a particular Recovery Act project will have to submit their thoughts in writing, and it will be posted on the Internet for all to see.

Yada T.

Photo by Mandel Ngan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Video by The Washington Post

Thursday, March 19

All three publications published a story of President Obama appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios. They all mentioned how the President was stunned when he learned of the bonuses that bailed-out insurance giant AIG was paying its employees.

Besides that, Los Angeles times wrote President Obama expressed occasional frustration with life inside the presidential bubble, and giving his pick for the NCAA basketball tournament. President Obama appeared on the show to reach a different kind of audience than he normally commands, according to the White House. He mixed serious policy discussion with details about his life as president.

The New York Times addressed the criticism that the President should be spending his time fixing the economy and not going on late-night television. The newspaper wrote his appearance on the show has also been an opportunity for Mr. Obama to communicate directly with supporters and, indeed to get some love back, away from Washington.

The Washington Post mentioned about the White House bowling alley. President Obama said, bragging that he rolled a 129-point game ("Like the Special Olympics or something," he said) which lead to a controversy.

Yada T.

Video by CBSNEWS.com
First photo by Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
Second photo by Monica Almeida/The New York Times