Whats going on with Guantanamo Bay ?

Even as allegations of Koran abuse at the U.S.'s naval base in Cuba were still making headlines, the Pentagon was bracing for a new storm as reporters last week sorted through several thousand pages of transcripts from tribunals in which detainees challenged their designation as enemy combatants. To make sense of the latest Gitmo controversies, here is a look at Guantanamo during the war on terrorism. Since the first 20 prisoners were taken there from Afghanistan in January 2002, the U.S. has used its naval base in Cuba as its main holding area for suspected members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban.The U.S. considers none of the detainees prisoners of war, which means they do not enjoy rights under the Geneva Convention, which protects pows from indefinite imprisonment and aggressive interrogation. Because Guantanamo is on foreign soil—leased from Cuba since 1903—the U.S. has argued that the detainees are beyond the reach of U.S. law. Last June, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prisoners have the right to challenge their captivity in federal court.Over the past three years, 234 detainees have been permitted to leave Gitmo, but 67 were released on the condition that they be held by their home governments, including Pakistan, Britain, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. At least 12 of those set free are believed to have resumed terrorist activities, according to the Defense Department.

Obama & auto Companies

President Obama shakes hands with General Motors President Fritz Henderson in the Rose Garden on May 19. Based on the latest bankruptcy and bailout plans, the government will hold 72.5% of GM.

Based on the latest bankruptcy and bailout plans, the government will hold 72.5% of General Motors Corp., 8% of Chrysler Corp. and 35% or more of GMAC Financial Services, the car loan business. Ideas for what to do with those shares are colored by politics and investment philosophies, and they're sure to be debated. Some economists and financiers believe Obama should dump the stock almost immediately, to whatever buyer the government can find. Others say the administration should find a partner, maybe a savvy investor such as Warren Buffett or an justice firm such as Oaktree Capital to operate the businesses for a generous share of any profits on the condition that the government gets its money first. And some believe President Obama should just stick the shares deep into a desk drawer and let the next president worry about an exit strategy. GM and Chrysler will either fail again or become corporate home runs. Only time will tell. The government has sunk so much money into the companies that a few billion dollars more will make little difference, especially compared with the potential for GM and Chrysler to become corporate contributors to the U.S. economy once they've been "freed" from what Mitchell (an economist) considers the inefficient stain of federal ownership. It is believed that it is a Catch-22 and its not good to sell stock at a loss, but there is no way for the stock to go up as long as the government is involved. They need to get these companies back into the private sector, otherwise these companies will be perennial bleeding sores for the U.S. taxpayers.

Obama & Credit

President Barack Obama will step up his push for credit-card legislation with a town-hall meeting in New Mexico. With the Senate slated to vote on its credit-card legislation this week, Mr. Obama is seizing on Americans' complaints about interest-rate increases, penalties and fees for their cards. President Obama said "You shouldn't have to fear that any new credit card is going to come with strings attached, nor should you need a magnifying glass and a reference book to read a credit-card application,". I see that the president has alot of new plans with the credit cards and is concerned with the public opinions. It looks like he is going to change those terrible fees that credit card charge and lower interest rates. One problem is that the credit card companies arent willing to give in. Credit-card companies are lobbying against further changes, saying regulations approved by the Federal Reserve in December will transform industry practices. Industry officials say a quicker implementation or different rules could force lenders to cut off some consumers entirely when they need credit the most.Regulators have since taken steps to address the issue. The Fed regulations, scheduled to take effect in July 2010, would ban retroactive interest-rate increases for existing balances, force clearer disclosures and require advance notice for changes to card terms. The House recently passed legislation that, among other things, would codify those changes into law. The Senate is expected to begin debate as early as Monday afternoon on legislation that could impose even-stricter restrictions on credit-card companies .

Obama's Healthcare Reform

President Obama has set healthcare reform as his highest domestic legislative priority and has begun an intense push to get a bill through Congress by the end of summer. Obama spoke at a town hall-style meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Thursday, where he defended his call for a government-sponsored health plan to compete with private insurers. Private insurers have opposed a government-run program out of fear they’d be unable to compete with its cheaper costs. Obama did not, however, address his progressive critics who advocate the creation of a single-payer system that would eliminate for-profit insurance companies entirely. But Obama’s plan to create a “public option” to compete with private coverage is opposed by Republican lawmakers, private insurers and, most recently, the American Medical Association. The American Medical Association came out and said that they didn’t think that government had a role in assuring healthcare for all Americans. Really what that was all about was they were afraid of interference with the practice of medicine,blican lawmakers, private insurers and, most recently, the American Medical Association.

How are the republicans attacking obama?

After weeks of concentrating their attacks against President Barack Obama on the economy, Republicans are branching out. They're taking aim at his anti-terrorism policy. The production by the National Republican Congressional Committee is the latest part of a barrage in which former Vice President Dick Cheney, potential 2012 presidential contenders, Republican lawmakers and others seek to raise doubts about Obama's early performance as commander in chief. At times, the criticism is blunt, as when Cheney said Obama's actions "raise the risk" of another terrorist attack like the one on Sept. 11, 2001. At other moments, Republicans choose a less confrontational tone, posing uncomfortable questions, as yet unanswered. The robust new line of attack against the president coincides generally with the increased attention Obama has devoted to foreign policy issues in recent weeks. At the same time, recent internal Republican polling suggests it is an area where Democrats are relatively weak, at least in contrast to domestic matters such as the economy, energy, education and health care. Boehner recently challenged the president in a White House meeting to release memos that are said to evaluate the benefit of waterboarding in obtaining information. The president declined to make a commitment. Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and potential 2012 presidential candidate, has been among the most pointed of Obama's critics. These critics are mad at the fact that Obama shook hands wiht Hugo Chavez the president of Venezuela at a international meeting. Gingrich, finds it disstressing that "the administration opposes opening up oil exploration," but yet Obama has "bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia" and now reached out to Chavez. Gingrich said Hugo Cavez has been conducting "a vicious anti-American campaign." Republicans are watching every step obama takes they are there ready to attack whether its on health care,terror policy or the economy.

Gay Marriage

For some years, same-sex marriage (SSM) has been near or at the top of any list of leading religious/secular/political controversies in North America. It is complex, divisive, and not readily agreeable to compromise. After all, U.S. states either allow SSM or ban it. Any change, or threat of change, to the culture is distressing to many people. But a change to the structure of the fundamental building block of society -- the family -- can be chiefly upsetting. Most American adults currently oppose SSM, but the tendency is towards increasing acceptance. If current trends continue, most American adults will be supportive of SSM sometime in the early to middle 2010's. People who argue for SSM say that "The institution of marriage conveys dignity and respect towards a couple that make a lifetime commitment to support each other. Same-sex couples deserve this dignity and respect."They also argue Denying marriage to same-sex couples removes from one group a fundamental, important human right -- the right to marry the person that one loves and to whom one has made a commitment. That is unfair and unjust in a democracy. They believe that they have equal rights as well. Arguments against SSM say that for most Americans, marriage is a religious sacrament or ceremony. If the definition of marriage is changed to allow SSM, religious individuals and groups become at risk of having to violate their beliefs by marrying same-sex couples. Children benefit over regular marriage because many researchers have found that children thrive best when reared in a home with a married mother and father. Boys and girls have needs that are uniquely met by parents of the opposite gender. I am against gay marriage because i am a christian pentecostal. The world is already corrupt if they make gay marriage legal it would make it harder for us Christians to get people to convert. But I'm not only going against it only because i am christian i think that is disgusting and it isn't good morals. I think that we were made to marry the opposite sex. Nothing is going to change my mind this is wrong and everyone who is gay and supports SSM will pay the consequences which is burn in hell because this is a sin. Besides no where in the constitution it says marry the same sex therefore they hav no right to marry the same sex.

Do I Like Mayor Bloomberg? Why Or Why Not ?

I personally think that mayor Bloomberg is a great mayor because he does many things for New York City. There are certain things about Mayor that I dont like. He is socially liberal,supporting abortion rights, gay marriage, gun control, and normalization of the status of illegal immigrants On economics, foreign, and domestic issues, he tends to be conservative. I am totally against marriage and i don't think abortion should be legal. Bloomberg tends to be liberal about his policies towards many social issues. He supports governmental funding for stem cell research, calling the Republican position on the issue "insanity."He also supports same-sex marriage with the rationale that “I think anybody should be allowed to marry anybody". Even though mayor bloomerg has a lot of defects he does have many things to honor. On Domestic issues, Bloomberg is liberal compared to the country as a whole, but moderate leaning towards conservative compared to other large city mayors in the US. On crime, Bloomberg opposes the death penalty, stating, "I'd rather lock somebody up and throw away the key and put them in hard labor, the ultimate penalty that the law will allow, but I'm opposed to the death penalty."As mayor he increased the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a loaded handgun. In regard to the change, Bloomberg commented, "Illegal guns don't belong on our streets and we're sending that message loud and clear. We're determined to see that gun dealers who break the law are held accountable, and that criminals who carry illegal loaded guns serve serious time behind bars."Bloomberg has also shown involvement in education reform as mayor, replacing the school board set up by the state with direct mayoral control over public education. He raised the salaries of teachers by 15% while the test scores of students in the city and the graduation rate rose as well. Bloomberg is opposed to the promotion of students to the next grade level for strictly social reasons citing that students should only be promoted when they are adequately prepared for the next grade level. He favors after-school programs to help students that are behind. As mayor, Bloomberg strengthened the cell-phone ban in schools. Bloomerg to me is a good mayor he could change a couple things but right now his actions aren't doing any danger to New York which is good. I dont think I can say whether I like him or not he is ok.

Letter To Obama/Child Labor

Dear president Barack Obama,


Child labor is a widely controversial and complicated topic. Child labor laws are enforced to protect the well being of children and to prevent them from being used and taken advantage of.
Although there are several child labor laws designed to protect children, it is nearly impossible to prevent child labor completely. Child labor in America, although prohibited is still evident in many locations. There will always be a place where children are forced to work either by consent of their parents or ignorance on their part. You should give organizations like World Education and NGO money so they can continue preventing child labor and helping out children that are in risk of being force to work. There are many institutes, organizations, public departments and international organizations like UNICEF whose main objective is to prevent child labor. Children suffer and are treated terribly. First, many children leave their homes in a way to avoid the abuse that they are victims of from their parents. To prevent this bad treatment, the government could help give conferences to the parents about child labor and the consequences that it brings. In this way, we can help prevent other children running away from home and living as homeless children. In these homes, children are not supposed to work; they can study and learn a career, and they will get a better job and a future. Thank you President Barack Obama .

Sincerely, Giolenny Bautista

Obama & War

President Barack Obama rolled out his administration’s new strategy for the war in Afghanistan on a Friday morning, reassuring the American people that victory is possible but that a dire struggle in both Afghanistan and Pakistan lies ahead. This means that Obama is looking for peace and he wants the better for us. “At a time of economic crisis, it is tempting to believe that we can short-change this civilian effort,” Obama said. “But make no mistake: our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don’t invest in their future.” He is planning for the future because one cause can ruin another. The roughly 4,000 new troops mainly will be trainers to help expand the Afghan army. The training troops are in addition to the 17,000 troops Obama ordered in February, in what he told CBS’s “60 Minutes” last week was the most difficult decision of his young presidency. Obama’s message was not only directed to the American people, however; he also had a message for listeners in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The president repeatedly went out of his way to make the case that a stepped-up American presence in these countries would ultimately be in their own interest.

Opinion Polls

An opinion poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence intervals. Here is an example of a poll on Obama. More than two-thirds of Americans see President Obama as a different kind of politician, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll. Asked what sets him apart from other politicians, forty percent cite Mr. Obama’s governing style. Nine percent cite his policies, while 13 percent say it's both his style and his policies. Six percent cite another reason. One in four Americans overall, meanwhile, say Mr. Obama is not different from other politicians. Republicans are more likely to view the president as a typical politician – 44 percent say he is typical, compared to just 9 percent of Democrats. Nine in ten Democrats see Mr. Obama as a different kind of politician. While majorities of both whites and blacks say Mr. Obama is a different kind of politician, whites are more than twice as likely as blacks to describe the president as a typical politician. This poll was conducted among a random sample of 973 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone April 22-26, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. An over sample of African Americans was interviewed for a total of 212 interviews with African Americans. The results were then weighted in proportion to the racial composition of the adult population in the U.S. Census. The margin of error for the sample of African Americans is seven percentage points. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Obama's View On Health Care

Barack Obama will make health insurance affordable and accessible to all. The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing healthcare system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan.The Obama plan will lower health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family by investing in health information technology, prevention and care coordination. Obama and Biden will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and will increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters. So far I think Obama is taking care of all of our needs. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats. Obama Promises to offer guaranteed eligibility, comprehensive benefits similar to those offered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, affordable premiums, portability, and choice. Obama is going to bring down prices by "modernizing the system," including the improvement of prevention/treatment for chronic illnesses. Obama is offering alot of programs and has alot of ideas that I think are going to help our country to be healthy America.

Nuclear Weapons

Since 1945, when the first nuclear bomb was exploded by the Manhattan Project team in the US, nuclear weapons have proliferated across the globe.There are enough nuclear weapons in the world to destroy all civilization as we know it. They are perhaps the most powerful forces that man has ever wielded. When first developed, nuclear weapons were completely strategic weapons. That is, they were not designed to destroy enemy weaponry; they were designed to destroy entire cities. Many countries want nuclear weapons.The reason that nuclear-armed countries have power over non-nuclear countries is that there are fewer risks involved in attacking non-nuclear states versus attacking nuclear-armed states. If every state had nuclear capability, countries would be unwilling to attack one another out of fear of "mutual assured destruction" (MAD). President Obama said, "It is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is... about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path."Well, I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the President, but I have to say his statement is not enough. We don't need a warning about how grave the danger is. We need action. Right now, most countries in the Middle East support a nuclear weapons-free zone. In fact, they see agreement on this zone as a requirement for the indefinite extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

GUANTANAMO BAY

Guantanamo Bay is closing because President Barach Obama and his incoming director of national intelligence believe that it is "a damaging symbol to the world." Obama said"the message we are sending around the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism, and we are going to do so vigilantly; we are going to do so effectively; and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals." He wants to fight against terrorism he thinks that the with his actions he will restore the moral authority and strengthen the national security of the United States. Obama's incoming director said "It is a rallying cry for terrorist recruitment and harmful to our national security, so closing it is important for our national security,". So basically Guantanamo Bay is closing because of the terrorism and for the sake of our security. I personally think that Obama is right becuase our security is important. The closing of Guantanamo Bay shows how President Barach Obama cares for us and is brave enough to stand up for human rights. I am proud to say that Obama is our president and he wants the best for us.

OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP

The people are pretty proud of Obama's leadership. They like Barach Obama 's policies but yet find them inadequate. President Obama is benefiting from remarkably high levels of optimism and confidence among Americans about his leadership. People see Barach Obama's as three great lessons : learning empathy, challenging yourself, and persevering through adversity. People are so passionate about Obama's leadership they feel that his lessons should be engraved in stone wherever leaders learn and function. Just because they are lessons for us all. Americans said Obama should pursue the priorities he campaigned on, the poll found, rather than seek middle ground with Republicans. Obama appeared as a comparative unknown Washington rookie and managed to snatch the Presidency from the hands of seemingly more skilled and better-connected contenders. Why? Because he, unlike any other candidate in recent history, has engaged Americans in the struggle to rebuild our country and regain respect on the world stage. He expressed a strong sense of purpose that no other candidate did as persuasively. Obama has accomplished that by setting a clear vision, communicating broadly, and inviting voters to share their views and ideas with him. He has been accessible in an unparalleled way, using the Internet as a tool to reach out to voters. Any leader trying to arrange a change of this scale cannot do so without engaging and inspiring the people, who will eventually make change happen. To his credit, our new President understands this important step.

The Stimulus Plan

I believe that the stimulas plan is right the U.S because President Barack Obama is trying to provide more jobs and get the economy back on track. Right now our economy is bad because of the the few jobs and debts. The stimulas plan that obama has prepared is giving 3.5 billion jobs for people. I think that this will help our economy in a great way because we need jobs. The house of representative hasn't turned in their votes because they are not sure about the stimulas plan. President Barack Obama wants to deduct taxes for the lower and middle class taxpayers. This would pump $25 billion less on the economy which is less than previously planned. Critcs beleive that isnt gonna make a boost on the economy. Somehow I think this is going to make a difference on the economy because workers are going to be recieving more money on there checks and the rate of debts would be less.