519. The Fiscal Cliff Hanger

“Fiscal cliff” is the popular shorthand term used to describe the conundrum that the U.S. government will face at the end of 2012, when the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011 are scheduled to go into effect.
Among the laws set to change at midnight on December 31, 2012, are the end of last year’s temporary payroll tax cuts (resulting in a 2% tax increase for workers), the end of certain tax breaks for businesses, shifts in the alternative minimum tax that would take a larger bite, the end of the tax cuts from 2001-2003, and the beginning of taxes related to President Obama’s health care law. At the same time, the spending cuts agreed upon as part of the debt ceiling deal of 2011 will begin to go into effect. According to Barron's, over 1,000 government programs - including the defense budget and Medicare are in line for "deep, automatic cuts."
(tags: Political Series, economy, president, congress, Barack Obama, Economics, money, taxes, laws, Health Care, House of Representatives, Senate, America, United States)

518. Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings

(tags: holiday, christmas, Political Series, Generic Series, Obama, president, Santa Claus, Hope, Barack Obama)

511. Romney Loses Election

Beating GOP candidate Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama won re-election exactly the way his campaign had predicted: by running up big margins with women and minorities, mobilizing a sophisticated registration and get-out-the-vote operation, and focusing narrowly on the battleground states that would determine the election.
(tags: election, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, DNC, GOP, 2012, President)

510. 2012 Likely Voters

(tags: election, 2012, vote, Republican, Democrat, Independent, President, Vice President, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, Statistics)

490. Tobacco Warnings, cont.

update 4/2/12 Louisville, Ky.— A federal law requiring cigarette packages to carry graphic warnings about the dangers of smoking and restricting how tobacco products may be marketed and advertised passes constitutional muster, a federal appeals court ruled. (more: http://alturl.com/842fb)
(tags: Cigarette, Tobacco, Smoking, warning, danger, Freedom, Economics, Barack Obama, President)

452. Dubya's Brush Removal

(Political Series, Politics, President, US Flag, George W. Bush, Bush, Barney, Billy Goat, Goat, Dog, Truck, GOP, 2012, election)

451. Chuck Norris Endorses Newt Gingrich

SALT LAKE CITY — Chuck Norris — martial artist, film star, author, philanthropist, internet meme, devout Christian and energetic Republican — recently announced his endorsement of presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich.

In his first of two separate articles posted at wnd.com, Norris compared Gingrich to Benjamin Franklin, King David and “others like them.”

“We must remember,” Norris states, “that we’re electing a president, not a pastor or pope. And with the mainstream media and a billion-dollar Obama campaign coffer on the president’s side, we need a veteran of political war who has already fought Goliath, because he will be facing Goliath’s bigger brother. “ (read more http://alturl.com/nzzc7)

448. Trump Endorses Romney

LAS VEGAS –Hotel magnate Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney on Thursday, Feb 2, a theatrical announcement that matched the setting two days before the Nevada caucuses.Trump, a onetime possible contender for the presidency, said it was an “honor” to endorse Romney. Taking the stage at his luxury hotel on the Vegas Strip, Trump lavished praise on Romney in trademark colorful terms. (read more http://alturl.com/x2nt4)
(tags: Political Series, election, 2012, President, GOP,  Republican, Endorsement, Donald Trump, The Donald, Trump, Mitt Romney, US Flag, Economy, Economics, Las Vegas, Nevada)

444. John Edwards' Heart Condition

Ex-presidential candidate John Edwards has a life-threatening heart condition that will require surgery next month, his doctor told a judge presiding over Edwards' upcoming court case over possible campaign violations. (Jan. 13, 2012)

(tags: Political Series, Politics, election, John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Freg G. Sanford, President, Candidate, Entertainment Series, Sanford, Sanford and Son, Heart Attack, Health, Corruption, Infidelity, adultery)

442. Santorum Family Values

As Rick Santorum sprinted Thursday through New Hampshire,  his views on social issues like same-sex marriage were quickly challenged. A midday event in front of a gathering of college students turned into a testy exchange in which Mr. Santorum compared allowing gay couples to marry to polygamy, apparently equating the two as equally undesirable.
“If you’re not happy unless you’re married to five other people, is that O.K.?” he asked.

The students booed Mr. Santorum during the 10-minute exchange and loudly booed when he left the room.

(tags: blow-up doll, Dollars, election, family values, Gay, Gay Rights, GOP, Homophobia, Homosexual, Political Series, Polyamory, President, Rick Santorum, sasquatch, Senator, sheep)

422. The Debt Ceiling Debacle

WASHINGTON — President Obama repeated his call Saturday morning, for House Republicans to accept a compromise that would allow the federal government to borrow more money, avoiding a potential default on its obligations. But there was no sign of progress toward a deal after the Senate on Friday night quickly rejected a Republican plan that had passed the House only hours earlier. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, were blocking a vote on a rival Democratic plan.
(tags: Political Series, Politics, Barack Obama, Obama, President, Congress, GOP, DNC, Debt, Debt Ceiling, Economy)

411. New Cigarette Warning Labels

update 4/2/12 Louisville, Ky.— A federal law requiring cigarette packages to carry graphic warnings about the dangers of smoking and restricting how tobacco products may be marketed and advertised passes constitutional muster, a federal appeals court ruled. (more: http://alturl.com/842fb)

(tags: Political Series, Cigarette,  President, Smoking, Tobacco, Health, Legislation, Law, FDA)

391. Obama 2012

U.S. President Barack Obama's campaign will lay out a huge amount of money to try to ensure he wins re-election in 2012, with many estimating that he will raise a record $1 billion.

(tags: Barack Obama, President, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Joe Biden, Biden, Billion, Dollars, US Flag, Flag, Taxes)

386/168. Obama's Birth Certificate

see, there's all this controversy about whether Obama is a citizen, and therefore qualified to be President. Reportedly, he was born in Hawaii. This DEEP DIVE confirms that notion but introduces a new conundrum. His race. Get it? ok nevermind.

ATLANTA — Georgia is the latest state to propose legislation that questions whether President Barack Obama was born in the U.S., joining 10 other states who have measures that want more proof before his name is put on the 2012 ballot. (read more: http://alturl.com/kmcg5)

(tags: Barack Obama, Obama, Political Series, Politics, Birth Certificate, President)

363. Nobel Peace Prize In Absentia: Liu Xiaobo

NORWAY – CHINA Nobel Peace Prize goes to an empty chair

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony went ahead without the winner, Liu Xiaobo, co-author of the pro-democracy manifesto Charter 08, who is serving 11 years in a chinese prison for demanding greater democracy in China. President Obama stated that Liu “is far more deserving of this award than I was.”

359. Obama Claus

An homage to the December 1963 Esquire Magazine cover featuring Sonny Liston, “the last man on earth America wanted to see coming down its chimney,”  and the 1967 classic, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner staring Sidney Poitier, as well as the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.  Oh, and lest we forget, the notoriously generous, Santa Claus.

(tags: Barack Obama, Christmas, Entertainment Series, Holiday, Hope, Political Series, President, Santa, Santa Claus, Snow)

350. Decision Points, by George W. Bush

In his newly released memoir, Decision Points, former President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.

(tags: Book, Decision Points, Entertainment Series, Flag, George W. Bush, Political Series, President, Racism, Waterboarding)

335. Chelsea's Wedding Crasher

First daughter Chelsea Clinton wed boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in front of 400 guests at Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Saturday, 31 July 2010.  She was walked down the aisle by her father, the 42nd preseident of the US, Bill Clinton.

(tags: Chelsea Clinton, Marc Mezvinsky, Wedding, Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton, President, Infidelity, Clinton)

292. President Obama Visits Oil Spill

President Obama rushed to southern Louisiana to inspect forces arrayed against the oil gusher as Cabinet members described the situation as grave and insisted the administration was doing everything it could. Then he took a helicopter ride over the water to view the 30-mile oil slick caused by as much as 210,000 gallons of crude gushing into the Gulf each day. The president vowed that his administration, while doing all it could to mitigate the disaster. (read more http://alturl.com/c3ft)

278. New START Agreement Signed

The U.S. and Russia have agrred to the New Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START)  signed by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. It reduces the U.S. and Russian nuclear warhead stock by about one third, to 1,550.

Future republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin criticized Obama's pledge not to strike non-nuclear nations who abide by the nonproliferation treaty; "It's unbelievable, no other administration would do it." And then she likened it to kids on the playground. She said you're like a kid who says, "Punch me in the face, and I'm not going to retaliate."