Obama Says High Speed Rail Will Create Jobs, But U.S. Must Rely on Foreign Companies

Washington (AP) – President Barack Obama is pitching his $8 billion high-speed rail program to Americans as a jobs generator that will revitalize the domestic rail industry. But the full picture is more complicated

Read more: AP

Off Script, Obama and the G.O.P. Vent Politely

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At a moment when the country is as polarized as ever, Mr. Obama traveled to a House Republican retreat on Friday to try to break through the partisan logjam that has helped stall his legislative agenda. What ensued was a lively, robust debate between a president and the opposition party that rarely happens in the scripted world of American politics

Read more: NY Times

Obama’s Stunning Admission

— if you want to keep the health insurance you got, you can keep it, that you’re not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge. [emphasis added]

If we take this statement at face value, President Obama is admitting the the health care bills passed by either the House or Senate (or both) contained provisions which were “snuck in” – presumably by Democratic members and perhaps on behalf of certain lobbyists – that would have in fact prevented people from keeping their current insurance and/or choosing the doctor they want

Read more: Real Clear Politics

Taxpayers pay $101,000 for Pelosi’s in-flight ‘food, booze’

It reads like a dream order for a wild frat party: Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey … and Corona beer

Read more: WorldNetDaily

Obama, Republicans clash in unusual session

BALTIMORE (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday engaged in a rare face-to-face showdown with Republican critics and testily accused them of trying to block his policies while urging them to “join with me” in creating jobs.

Read more: Reuters

China protests US arms sales, warns of ‘serious’ impact

China on Friday protested the US decision to sell 6.4 billion dollars in weapons to Taiwan and warned of “serious” damage to relations and cooperation with Washington.

Read more: Breitbart

Holy BlackBerry! Obama Finds Ways to Keep the Faith During First Year in Office

If church attendance is one measure of a man’s faith, then President Obama may appear to have lost some of his. The first family, once regular churchgoers, have publicly attended services in Washington just three times in the past year, by ABC News’ count, even bypassing the pews on Christmas Day.

Read more: ABC News

Justice Dept.: Obama administration may take action on BCS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is considering several steps that would review the legality of the controversial Bowl Championship Series, the Justice Department said in a letter Friday to a senator who had asked for an antitrust review.

Read More: Sports Illustrated

Climate chief was told of false glacier claims before Copenhagen

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Rajendra Pachauri was told that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment that the glaciers would disappear by 2035 was wrong, but he waited two months to correct it. He failed to act despite learning that the claim had been refuted by several leading glaciologists

Read more: Times Online

US Senate backs new sanctions against Iran

 The US Senate has backed legislation allowing President Barack Obama to extend sanctions against Iran.

The new sanctions would target those who export fuel to Iran.

Read more: BBC