Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Pakistan Arrests C.I.A. Informants Who Aided in Bin Laden Raid - in yet another painfully clear example of the disconnect between the U.S. and Pakistan governments. The NY Times has a good read here.

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House Speaker Boehner Sends Letter to Obama on Libya - after several close votes from House members to end U.S. military involvement in Libya, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), sends a letter to President Obama asking for clarification of the U.S. military mission in Libya. At issue, the War Powers Act, which requires Congress to authorize lengthy military engagement. Time.com has the letter here.

Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Walter Jones (R-N.C) intend to file suit in federal court on Obama administration's failure to receive Congressional approval in Libya. TheHill.com has more here.

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Syrian Crackdown on Protesters Continues - Thousands flee as the military uses armored vehicles and tanks to crush rebellion against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters.com has an update here.

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Budget Woes Leading to Minnesota Government Shutdown? - a 5 Billion deficit has the Democratic Governor Mark Dayton proposing a tax on the top 2% of wealthiest Minnesotans and Republicans wanting to balance the budget strictly on spending cuts. If a deal is not reached by the end of the month, government will have to close. TPM.com has more here.

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New York Governor Cuomo Proposes Same-Sex Marriage Bill - he promised to introduce this bill when he was campaigning. New York currently recognizes same-sex marriages which were performed elsewhere, but does not allow it within the state. You can read more here.

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Blagojevich Jury To Resume Deliberations Today - this is the retrial of the former Illinois Governor, accused of bribery and corruption. Last year a two month trial ended with a jury deadlocked on 23 of the 24 charges with Rod Blagojevich found guilty of only one charge of lying to prosecutors. CNN.com has more here.

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Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Obama Joins Chorus Saying Weiner Should Resign - one more heavyweight Democrat telling Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) he will not be able to perform his job effectively. Politico.com has more here.

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The NY Times Weighs in on Financial Reform Act - a year after the passage of the Dodd-Frank bill many positions remain unfilled. Republicans are intent at blocking Elizabeth Warren as director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, who the Ny times believes the president should battle for confirmation. Martin Gruenberg, Obama's choice to lead the F.D.I.C., also receives the support of this NY Times editorial. Read the editorial here.

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May Retail Sales Drop in May - the first drop in eleven months. The Commerce Department reported retail sales dropped 0.2% in May after a 0.3% rise in April. Reuters.com has more here.

This highlights why the struggling economy will be the main focus in the 2012 president election.

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Obama in Puerto Rico - hard to believe it has been fifty years since an American president has visited the island, which is designated a U.S. territory. President John F. Kennedy was the last president to visit in 1961.

While, the U.S. President and Congress are the ultimate authority over the island and many residents pay federal income taxes, they have no representatives and can not vote in presidential elections. leading many to argue the island should become the 51st state.

The BBC has more here.

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General David Petraeus To Recommend Afghanistan Troop Withdraw - just over a week before he goes before Congress to be confirmed as the new C.I.A. director, he will provide a timetable for the withdraw of the 30,000 surge troops sent to Afghanistan by President Obama. CNN.com has more here.

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C.I.A. To Use Drones in Yemen - al-Qaeda operatives will be the targets in the expanded U.S. effort. The Washington Post has more here.

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GOP Debate Highlights Weak Field

George Wenschhof

A weak field for the GOP.... more below the video.



Not a lot of surprises in the first Republican Presidential Debate. To steal a phrase left on my facebook page, Tim Pawlenty wimped out when he had the chance to go after Mitt Romney on health care and otherwise was so bland, it would be hard to pick him out of last night's lineup.

Speaking of Romney, he tried to show more emotion in his responses to questions and even tried to emphatically gesture from time to time. But we had a term for people like him, back in the sixties and it was "plastic" - translation (fake). Romney played it cautious as he knows he is the front runner and as a result, probably came in second. However, he did not display any compelling reason to vote for him over Obama.

The ever smiling Michele Bachmann won the debate last night from her beginning statement saying she had filed the papers to enter the race to her catering to her tea party favorites. Yet, it is that goofy smiling glare she displays which what commentator Chris Matthews says makes it look as if she is hypnotized.

Herman Cain, the only African-American to announce to date, was cruising along in an average way until he said "he wouldn't have any Muslims in his Cabinet". He is toast.

Ron Paul appeals to his groupies, but no one else, so he merely takes up space.

Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich failed to distinguish themselves, which should be enough to show Newt the exit door.

So all in all, a ho-hum affair. While attacks were many against President Obama, especially in the area of the economy, not one candidate detailed a better alternative. The president is vulnerable on the economy, and if this is the best the Republicans can do, Obama will win reelection.

However, it is way early and more voters will tune in as the 2012 election nears. A lot will transpire over the next sixteen months.

So, stay tuned..

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Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Romney Hammers Obama on Jobs - in a facebook video entitled "Bump in the Road" - a jab at President Obama's definition of the state of the economy.



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Obama Heads to Durham, N.C. To Tout Jobs Program - He will speak at 1:00 P.M. ET and unveil his plan to boost job growth. You can read more here.

The new proposals are nothing earth shattering - reduce red tape in permitting projects pertaining to infrastructure, workforce and private sector cooperation in job training and allowing easier tourist access to promote spending. Reuters .com has more here.

Makes one wonder why no immediate public service employment program is being promoted to put people to work now.

The president will then fly to Florida where he will attend two fundraisers. Seems the ratio of time spent in the two endeavors is a little upside down. Obama should be focused entirely on creating jobs.

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The Republican Presidential Debates Begin Tonight - too early? not for many strategists who feel the campaign is slow in getting started. TPM.com has a good analysis here of what to expect to be said tonight.

I wonder if Newt be able to rebound after his entire staff resigned en masse. Look to see Michele Bachmann try to make points to her tea party supporters with Pawlenty and Santorum working one liners to receive attention. Romney is still the one to beat for GOP hopefuls so he could try to play the reasonable one in this debate. Cain, an African-American is a new face and Paul an old one. It's not too early to tune in to CNN tonight and check them out. I don't see a one in this group who can beat Obama.

In the latest Gallup poll, Romney leads the other GOP contenders in the debate tonight by a wide margin - most by a 3-1 margin. Overall, Romney receives 24% support and Sarah Palin comes in second with 16%. Herman Cain, the newcomer is third with 9%.

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Deficit Talks Resume in Earnest - the talks with Congressional leaders led by Vice President Joe Biden will meet three times this week as efforts intensify to reach an agreement to raise the national debt limit. TheHill.com has more here.

Everyone seems to want an agreement before Congress takes their July 4 vacation. The three meetings this week is also most likely directed at having something to present by this Saturday. Saturday, is when President Obama and Vice president Joe Biden will be joined on the golf course by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Ohio Governor John Kasich (R).

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Maryland's Bungled Slots Effort - as much as I like Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley personally, his convoluted roll out of slots in the state has been a debacle. From, the choice by the governor in his first term to push for a referendum as opposed to a vote by the state General Assembly, to the effort to put slots in remote located state owned and money losing Rocky Gap Resort, the effort has failed miserably to raise needed revenues. The Washington Post adds more here as to why this is not working in Maryland.

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The State Pension Debacle - turns out all fifty states currently have unfunded pensions accounts. To the tune of more than one trillion in retirement accounts for health care and pensions. Federal Stimulus funds were used by many states last year to plug the gaps, but federal dollars are not expected this year. Revenues by the states are also down due to lower real estate values, compounding the problem. Politico.com has more here.

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