usdemocrats.com political news weblog
October 07, 2008
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usdemocrats.com political news weblog
October 07, 2008
back to weblog index
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Feds to buy loans crucial
to business -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The program addresses commercial paper, a form of short-term funding that is crucial to many businesses operations. In the past month, the amount of money outstanding in commercial paper loans has fallen 11 percent to $1.6 trillion on October 1 from $1.82 trillion on September 10. Since much of the paper that was outstanding at the start of the credit crisis is now coming up for renewal, there were fears that it could drop even more sharply in the weeks to come without some drastic improvement in the market. –By CNNMoney.com’s Chris Isidore |
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French finance minister: European
nations will act on crisis together -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The most important thing is that today we should agree on an approach and a willingness on a doctrine that we all share,” Christine Lagarde said after a meeting in Luxembourg with her fellow European finance ministers. “Europe is determined to act in a
coordinated manner in the face of all of this,” she said. |
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Immunity issue a sticking
point in status of forces agreement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The sticking points are the immunity issues and there (is) some progress with the new suggestions submitted by the Iraqi government,” Zebari said at a joint news conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. “A number of immunity issues have
been resolved in the previous negotiations,” Zebari noted.
But until the issue is fully resolved, the foreign minister said,
he “cannot give… a timetable for this agreement.” |
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Iraqi presidency approves
elections law -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The elections measure has been described as a major step toward national reconciliation. It contains guidelines for elections in which voters will select local governing bodies before January 31. Iraq’s parliament passed the bill September 24, but the Presidency Council had to approve the bill for it to become law. The measure’s approval has been described as a major step toward the goal of reconciliation among Iraqi Sunni Arabs, Shiites, and Kurds. The Electoral Commission will set a date
for the elections. |
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American Islamic Congress
Hosts Capitol Hill Forum on Democracy ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Obama Emerges Ahead in Ohio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.democracycorps.com/strategy/2008/10/obama-emerges-ahead-in-ohio/ |
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Senate Race Roundup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/4p9lGWRpX6s/621832 |
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Democratic Senate Candidates
Bail on Rescue Bill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Senate Race Roundup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/6/153256/141/590/621832 |
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Democrats Lead In Presidential,
Senate Contests -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95440578 |
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Democrats Continue Surprise
Lead in Republican-held Congressional ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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New Obama, McCain ads say
opponent is lying -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand
A new Obama ad accuses McCain of lying to change the subject on the trail. (CNN) — Hours before they face each other on stage at the second presidential debate, John McCain and Barack Obama each accused the other of deliberate deception in new attack spots released Tuesday. Earlier: The word “lie” becomes a trail mainstay "Who is Barack Obama?" asks the announcer in the new 30-second McCain spot, “Hypo.” The ad includes footage from a Missouri television station that reported "Obama's presidential campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading television ad." The reporter on that story, John Mills,
has since dialed back those allegations, telling a Missouri newspaper
that "in the retelling of the story, it got out of control…
If they think a group has put out a misleading ad, they’re
basically going to call a press conference and say the ad is
misleading. I’m sure the Republicans would do the same thing." |
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CNN Polls: New Obama gains
in battleground states -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib
Obama makes major gains on the new CNN
Electoral Map. The CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation polls of likely voters in Indiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin reflect a significant nationwide shift toward the Democratic presidential nominee. Check out the latest CNN Electoral Map In Indiana, 51 percent of likely voters say Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, is their choice for president, with 46 percent backing Obama. Indiana went for George W. Bush by 21 points four years ago; the Democrats have not carried the state since 1964. Obama has made significant strides in New Hampshire, a state which is credited with reviving McCain’s GOP primary campaign in both 2000 and 2008. Fifty-three percent of the state’s likely voters are backing Obama, while 45 percent are supporting McCain. Obama’s eight-point lead is larger than the five-point lead held by Obama in the last CNN New Hampshire poll taken in the beginning of September. Bush squeezed out a slender one-point win
in the state in 2000 — but four years ago, John Kerry narrowly
carried the one-time GOP stronghold. |
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McCain vs. Obama: Round Two -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama will
meet again Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee. The debate comes amid stepped-up attacks from both sides. Gov. Sarah Palin accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists who would target their own country," and Obama's campaign released an ad quoting editorials that called McCain "erratic" and "out of touch." On Monday, the Obama campaign released an online documentary that criticizes McCain over his involvement in the "Keating Five" scandal of the 1980s. Fact check: Did McCain intervene on behalf of Charles Keating? The back-and-forth this weekend could set the stage for a more heated event than the first presidential debate — one that had few sharp exchanges as both candidates largely stuck to their talking points. At a campaign event in Denver, Colorado, last week, a voter asked McCain when he was going to "let the gloves come off and go after" Obama. McCain's response: "How about Tuesday
night?" |
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Fed creates commercial paper-buying
facility -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4964S420081007 |
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Obama gaining in 5 battleground
states, polls say -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/07/battleground.poll/?iref=mpstoryview |
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Russia: Georgia troop pullback
to start Wednesday -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itefRLYb9OvXIY84r-iHHUPY_6pQD93LMUT80 |
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South Korea dismisses North's
nuclear "ultimatum" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4960VC20081007 |
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Pakistani president to administer
oath of new cabinet ministers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/07/content_10161767.htm |
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IMF Urges Coordinated Action,
Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122338515046911173.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |
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Obama gaining in 5 battleground
states, polls say -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/07/battleground.poll/?iref=mpstoryview |
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Mrs. Hagel to Endorse Obama -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Obama leads McCain among Asian-Americans,
but one-third are undecided -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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FCC probes role of military
analysts in war-related broadcasts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/10/fcc-probes-role.html |
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Former WellCare worker pleads
guilty to Medicaid fraud -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/10/06/daily12.html |
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Faith and wealth; For many
elections to come; A comprehensive plan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Unwelcome Afghans quit Pakistan
battle zone -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD93LN0UO2 |
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House panel grills ex-AIG
execs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In prepared testimony for a committee hearing, ex-CEOs Robert Willumstad and Martin Sullivan said the accounting rules forced AIG to take billions in writedowns, initiating a downward spiral that led to the government action. But Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government, put the blame for AIG’s troubles squarely on its past and present leaders, comparing them to the former Lehman chief executive Richard Fuld, who testified on Monday about the investment bank’s bankruptcy. “In each case, the companies and their
executives grew rich by taking on excessive risk,” Waxman
said. “In each case, the companies collapsed when these
risks turned bad. And in each case, their executives are walking
away with millions of dollars while taxpayers are stuck with
billions of dollars in costs.” |
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Spain to pour cash into financial
system -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sum could reach 50 billion euros (about $68 billion US), Zapatero said at a nationally televised news conference, in which the Spanish treasury will purchase “non-toxic,” reliable assets from financial entities, to provide cash that can be used by the entities to make loans. The government will also guarantee bank deposits to 100,000 euros (about $136,000 US), up from 20,000 euros (about $27,300 US) at present in Spain. That’s double the 50,000 euro (about $68,200 US) bank deposit guarantee level proposed by the European Union. Zapatero repeated his insistence that Spain’s
financial system is sound. |
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Credit markets ease as Fed
steps in -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The move is seen as a positive for lenders because the Fed’s intervention means companies will be able to cover short-term expenses, including payrolls. The announcement is filling in “a big crack” in the credit crisis, said William Larkin, portfolio manager at Cabot Money Management. “It is a step in the right direction. There will be a benefit.” –By CNNMoney.com’s Catherine
Clifford |
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Fed chairman praises recent
steps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He also signaled that the Fed may be getting ready to cut interest rates, and predicted that the global financial markets crisis is likely to restrain the economy well into next year. In a speech before the National Association of Business Economics in Washington, Bernanke defended the $700 billion bailout package passed by Congress and signed into law last week, saying it and moves by the Fed this week to inject money into the economy were necessary at this time of economic stress. “The steps being taken now to restore
confidence in our institutions and markets will go far to resolving
the current dislocations in the markets,” he predicted.
“I believe that the bold actions taken … together with
the natural recuperative powers of the financial markets, will
lay the groundwork for financial and economic recovery.”
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MPR Poll: Obama Surges Ahead
in Minnesota -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/1...._minnesota.html A new Minnesota Public Radio poll of likely Minnesota voters finds "the extraordinary financial crisis and the resulting congressional response along with the Vice Presidential debate" propelled Sen. Barack Obama from a narrow 4 point lead (47% to 43%) to a 14 point advantage over Sen. John McCain (54% to 40%). "Despite Obama's lead, the race remains
fluid. Twelve percent of likely voters indicate that they may
change their minds; among the larger group of 19 percent who
are up for grabs, there appears to be receptivity to McCain." |
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Time/CNN Poll: Obama Gains
in Red States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- North Carolina: Obama 49%, McCain 49% Ohio: Obama 50%, McCain 47% Wisconsin: Obama 51%, McCain 46% Indiana: McCain 51%, Obama 46% New Hampshire: Obama 53%, McCain 45% |
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WCU/NPR Poll: Obama Ahead
By Ten In Pennsylvania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Fox/Rasmussen: Obama Gains
in Key Swing States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida: Obama 52%, McCain 45% Colorado: Obama 51%, McCain 45% Missouri: Obama 50%, McCain 47% Virginia: Obama 50%, McCain 48% Ohio: McCain 48%, McCain 47% |
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The Clinton Charisma -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The book is "a fascinating, prescriptive guide that reveals the former president's complex leadership techniques, including his attention to public opinion, his ability to take quick corrective action, and his efficient damage control in the face of political and personal difficulty. From diversity to decisiveness, from consensus to compromise, each chapter explores how Clinton employed important leadership principles and the ways in which they were -- or were not -- effective." http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/06/the_clinton_charisma.html |
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WSJ/NBC Poll: Obama Widens
National Lead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obama now leads Sen. John McCain by six points, 49% to 43%, up from just two points in the same poll two weeks ago. Update: Interestingly, though most recent national polls show Obama increasing his lead, the latest CBS News poll has the race closer with Obama just edging McCain, 48% to 45%. |