Gary Rumor’s Anti-Entropic Continuum

Poles show that Americans want to believe the president at least that is what the National Journal reports, here is an excerpt.

“In Gallup’s latest job ratings survey, released Friday, 69 percent of respondents said they approved of Obama’s performance so far. This mark is second only to John F. Kennedy, who enjoyed 72 percent approval in a poll done mid-February 1961. Obama’s support among Democrats is, not surprisingly, sky-high; nearly 9 in 10 respondents from the president’s party rated him positively. A healthy majority of independents did as well, with 62 percent approving. Members of the GOP, however, were a harder sell; less than half — 43 percent — approved, with almost a third expressing disapproval.”

Washington Week on PBS the banks are still in free fall, and they are asking for more, $500 million more to the FISC in case another bank falls according to Wall Street Journal reporter David Wessel, Ben Bernanke acted angry this week in congressional hearings at AIG for wanting another $30 billion, he wants the congress to fix the laws and regulate. Economy shrank 6% last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter this year looks the same.
Obama is calling for health care reform to keep people from loosing homes due to health care according to Karen Tumulty of Time Magazine a health care expert and she says that over half the bankruptcies in the country are due to medical bills.
It is promising that every one is talking about health care reform, one promise of Obama plan is to cover every one and the other is to bring costs down. This will be expensive according to Ms Tumulty and Obama is attempting to sell congress on coming up with a plan. Kathleen Sebelius is going to be leading the charge and she claims Max Baccus and Ted Kennedy are leaders in congress on the issue.
Oh and the Republicans seem to be having a circus of their own with Rush Limbaugh leading the way with Steele the chairman of the Republican Party had to apologize to Rush and the Democrats are laughing at them. Republican leadership is out to lunch they let President Bush lead them over the edge.
On CNN there is a debate about jobs, IT is here to stay, foreign manufacturers are making cars here in the US. Stephen Leeb says that the only thing we had going for us is the lack of wage increases and that was the driver behind why so many people were going into debt, to keep their incomes up when their wages were going down. Gold is volatile and has been going up for the last decade. But over the long run it has not been a very good investment according to Money man Walter Updegrave from Money Magazine.
Steve Leeb says now the housing is there but there is no financing. But a lender now will want 20% down on loans but if the government gets the financial system stabilized then perhaps there will be some money available.
The anti-regulation mood of the nation back in the Reagan era that continued through to the Bush presidency has led to a serious breakdown in the health of our food according to Rachel Maddow. She quotes a New Your Times article today exposing the problems in the food industry which had developed a private inspection system to provide cover in case of law suits. Due to the cut back on government inspectors especially under the Bush administration.
Keith Hall from the Bureau of Labor Statics noted to congress today on CSPAN that the unemployment rate is up to over 8,1% and if you add all the people who have stopped looking or are working at less than full employment and you end up with a rate of almost 15%. This is the highest rate since the recession of the early 1980’s. There have been only ten months when the unemployment was over 500,000 a month and 4 of those months have been in the last year.
Maurice Hinchey Democrat Congressman of NY State says that there are congress persons who are refusing to pass legislation that will stimulate the economy now, but it has been stalled by a number of congress persons.
President Obama spoke today at a police academy commencement in Columbus, Ohio. The stimulus package has insured that 25 members of the class will have jobs. Meanwhile 651,000 jobs lost in February. Bold action and big ideas are what is required now according to president Obama. 3.5 million jobs are created. Obama also said that his stimulus package would insure health benefits for the unemployed, people like me who have health issues that I have had to put off before because I was to busy and now because I am not insured. Ironic that I was working too much to take advantage of the Insurance and now that I have time there there is no money, You would almost think it was set up to take advantage of people that way.
Hillary Clinton has met with the Russians in Geneva, Switzerland to deal with issues of mutual concern. This was covered by CSPAN. She called it hitting the reset button. Top priorities follow on agreement to Start treaty to reduce nuclear weapons. She also mentioned the negotiations over Afghanistan and she discussed the need to deal with areas of disagreement such as Georgia, the nation not the state. This is an opportunity to advance the common good and especially in the area of Nuclear technology.
The Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says this is a good preparation for the G-20 summit in London. We agreed he said to work with willingness on the issues openly. He noted that there is a backlog of work that has not been dealt with including Iran, Korea and other areas such as terrorism.
Clinton says they agreed to a specific work plan to accomplish certain goals. Both have a deep concern for stopping nuclear proliferation. There is a very broad agenda were cooperation is required they both said.
It is not like the stone the Sisyphus had to roll up the hill Mr Lavrov commented.
A reporter asked about the S-300 missiles being sold to Iran’ Mr Lavrov said these are within the framework of international law. We supply defensive weapons he said and asks that all countries use restraint in the weapons sales. When all countries including Israel will live with peace, we will resolve the issues he said.
The reporter asked about the British establishing relations with Hezbollah and what would the US do. Hillary had no comment.
The Russian media asked about verification and if there will be a new Start Treaty. They both said they intend to reach a new treaty by the time the old one runs out in 2009.
A French speaking reporter asked about the recognition of Kosovo. Hillary congratulated them on one year of independence, the US is pleased with their progress. The Russian minister said that this is an area where the US and Russia disagree and they consider Kosovo independence to be illegal. He also mentioned that Palestine should be treated on the same basis of consideration as Kosovo.
A Russian reporter asked about Iran. Clinton said we are willing to talk with the Russians about Iran. The Russians expressed their viewpoint. Nothing was said about the Bush missile plan. It was the 800 lb guerrilla in the room not mentioned.
At a State Department press conference today a spokesperson said the Sudan is forcing the departure of aid workers as a result of the World Court decision to ask for the arrest of the President of Sudan. This state department spokesperson Gordon Duguid made a statement condemning the Sudanese action.
He also stated that the US is not upgrading its warning about Mexican violence.
The question about Iran participation in a conference on Afghanistan is one where the pro Israeli lobby is trying to keep the US and Iran from coming to an agreement.
The spokesman also stated that the US is trying to get the parties in Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian aid
A Chinese reporter has asked about the climate change policies between the US and China with regards to carbon limits, but the spokesperson had little to say other than a policy was being developed.
A middle eastern reporter asked about the British policy to talk to Hezbollah. The US decision is to wait and see what the results are in the British contact with Hezbollah. The US position has not changed that the US will not talk to Hezbollah. Reporters could not get an answer out of the State Department spokesperson about the British position. They tried pretty hard to get him to state a position. An Israeli reporter tried to get a policy position other than one that said the US was observing.
The state department spokesperson said that Hezbollah has killed more Americans than any other group until 9/11. The US would like to see the region stabilized. The US has diplomats in Beirut that may go to Syria. The US has determined that they might deal with Hezbollah in the future but not at this point.
Regarding a question about India the State department stated that the US sees India as a strategic and economic partner. US and India relations will grow. He seemed really upbeat about the US-India relationship.
Mauritania has found 3 spies from Israel and the Israelis closed their embassy in Mauritania. The US is still in negotiations with Kyrgyzstan over the base closing.
The Zimbabwe regime of Mugabe does not seem to be interested in a negotiated settlement with the opposition according to the spokesperson.
Pakistan has serious problems on their border and the US is attempting to deal with them he said in answer to a question from a Pakistani reporter.
The State Department spokesperson also stated that the North Korean statements this week were belligerent and unwarranted.
That is interesting the US has a lot of policy changes in the works with Secretary Clinton trying to psych up the allies to do more work. We share the glory and they share the load. That seems to be what Clinton is all about.
And that is my independent report on all that jazz. So what are we up too? The USA is working hard to spread the load. Since the USA is embroiled in borrowing more money than ever before. we have to play nice to the rest of the world but still show that we can kick as much but as we are hired to kick but with principal don’t you know. Israeli reporters seem to play the toughest game in Washington, DC although the Chinese seem to be a polite second.
And what do I think, I think I should be paid to do this so I can provide a better service than those right wing boys over at Stratfor.