Famous Actor, Infamous Politician?

Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger has again proved us RIGHT when it comes to politics and mula. He proposed on Friday according to The Los Angeles Times that, “waiting is not an option” and that over the next year and a half, there shall be more , “cuts, cuts, cuts; budget cuts.” To top it off, when he took the freedom to call a special session the day incoming legislators are sworn in on December 6th, he also stated that, “ the bottom line is we can only lead horse to water” which I found hilarious because not only did it have grammatical errors but also compare citizens to a horse?, okay? Not only is the guy governor, but he is pretty funny and political. He should be in political cartoons, wait, he is! No wondering why that may be but Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as a former actor that you once were, I give you the best of compliments to having the Levi’s enough to stand up as a politician after knowing nothing of it. Hard-ride-roller-coasting experience you had, huh? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/11/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-hinted-friday-at-his-agenda-for-the-upcoming-special-session-to-tackle-california-estimated-254.html

Sarah Palin's Republican Book Tour

The Los Angeles Times has made it big, now that they have two stories that collide in similarities! Two politicians, not too well known for being good politicians but for having been criticized, are both on book tours. This story is Sarah Palin’s! As I had just finished with my George W. Bush story about his great Book Tour debut after being in his cave for so long, here comes Sarah Palin with a book of her own. See a pattern here? Sarah Palin has not only wrote a book called,  America By Heart but she has also set forth to promoting it in Republican states, thirteen of them, which in fact says a lot about the woman. She has taken huge steps in politics as in the former appearance she made at the Republican Party’s Reagan Day fundraising dinner which just adds to her joyous looks, personality, and most of all her “inspiring” actions to many Americans. Srah Palin has guts I say, because not only has she gone through so much political criticism after running in office but she has the skinny jeans to propose to herself to write a book and have the cover be filled by her face. Not many people like Sarah Palin but let me tell you, the woman has cajones and that's what counts. Well for now, until I read her book, (which may not happen, ever) that is my opinion, yet the whole Republican tour business is sorta not fitting in. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-palin-book-tour-20101113,0,4071387.story

Democrats Drop Out

Nancy Pelosi has taken the reigns in the Democratic fight for House leadership. She has not swung back and expects for Democratic reign to be achieved in 2012. As Democratic votes yet have to be seen she has turned back and waited. James E. Clyburn in a letter to democratic colleagues assured them a promising place in the House as he said, “allows us to begin the journey back to a stronger and more resilient majority.” He gave hopes to his colleagues by reassuring them that they must build their majority by communicating with the majority; African American, Asian, and Latino communities. As for Nancy Pelosi, she will surrender the gavel in January to expected speaker of the House, Republican, John A. Boehner. Truth be told, that Clyburn does have a point. He strongly believes that these communities must be communicated with and I definitely agree. Major communities such as these have to be gained first by respect and actions and sure enough if democrats put their mind into it, they will sure have their Democratic speaker back in the House in no time.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-democratic-leaders-20101114,0,4692180.story

Bush's Come Back

George W. Bush, after returning from exile on a book tour, stated, “Don’t get used to it” as he has plans on “heading back underground” which I thought was amazingly jaw dropping funny. His book, Decision Points has gained not only awes but also with harsh critiques in which he is described as “a man who left office with dismal approval ratings.” George W. Bush has shown no sign of wanting to return to politics nor has he shown his enthusiasm towards writing his own book. He was questioned about Obama’s presidency and had no comment, no argument, no reply, no nothing. As he next sets out to return to his cave, George W. Bush’s , The Bush Institute has yet not given up. They are working on promoting, global health, human freedom, education reform, and economic growth. The initiative they are planning to take is to start with healthcare plans for pregnant women in African and Asian countries. Former President according to his representatives and friends say, that he would like to be remembered for his two non infamous goals, The No Child Left Behind law and the effort to combat disease and poverty in Africa. The most interesting thing in this entire article to me was his statement to Lauer. He stated, “I have no desire to debate” and followed it up with, “ My debating days are over.”http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bush-memoir-20101115,0,6775609.story

NATO Troops Sleyed in Afghanistan

The report written by Laura King and Aimal Yaqoubi for the Los Angeles Times on November 14, was one of the few who caught my attention especially because after having set neutral peace in Afghanistan for a month or so, there were reports by NATO that five of their troops were slayed. To top it off, it was also said that the envoy, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, was released  in eastern Afghanistan after being kidnapped two years ago. So far, over the pat few months there have been three fatalities in the east and two in the south. Having American troops in Afghanistan has disturbed the population there and so have the casualty population as Americans are the majority in deaths. This affects the way Americans in the United States think since they aren’t guaranteed that troops are safe before their grand approach back home. On going deaths in Afghanistan only gives hopes to a new war with no absolute meaning. More deaths can conclude in assumption to revenge and then war. Having troops there until 2011 makes things much more tense and unreliable for the American government. The government is fed off of citizens confidence and having none would be fatal. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-deaths-20101115,0,7106719.story

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

On September 13, 2010, CNN. com posts an article in which the controversial repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy will follow through after marches and strong disagreements towards it. There is still yet no concluded matter until President Barack Obama, the Secretary of Defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all give their approval. The decision by California federal judge from the United States District, Judge Virginia Phillips, that stated that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy was unconstitutional shifted congress' focus. Already, 12,500 gays have been discharged from the military since the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy has gone into effect. The executive Director and founder of Service Members United was “pleased and relieved that Senator Reid has decided to schedule the defense authorization bill for floor time next week.” He also adds that, “ It would be shameful for lawmakers to vote to hold up an important and expansive piece of legislation like the defense authorization bill simply because of their opposition to one or two provisions within it.” Discrimination towards homosexuals is what many believe this policy is all about. When the policy states and segregates that only homosexuals will be affected because of it, the public have nothing else to question but the fact if congress, the senate, or the government is being sexually discriminatory?

Kaiser Permanente's Choice

On September thirteen of this year, the Los Angeles Times recently posted a battle between two Unions fighting for 43,000 employee votes. The battle is to be said the biggest private-sector labor election since 1941. Edvin Hakopian a member of the NUHW describes the battle between two grand Unions as “hostile.” If SEIU were to win, it could help the company from moving off a turmoil, but if the NUHW won it can cause an increase in significant force in the healthcare industry. The Kaiser face off according to UC Berkeley Professor Harley Shaiken, "is a critical election, but it's unusual in that it's a fight between two unions versus a fight over organizing new members…this is putting a lot of resources into fighting for a group that is already in a union." The Unions ups and downs are that SEIU has much more money and people but NUHW is counting on the loyalty of their people as pay for what their Union leaders have accomplished. Others like SEIU executive vice president assume that, “Kaiser workers would risk losing hard-earned gains in salaries and benefits if they decided to leave SEIU. There are also others who doubt the new coming business of NUHW because they have contracts with SEIU and with NUHW they have no complete guarantee. Although NUHW has about 8,000 workers, there have been about 30 elections they have chosen to drop out of in which SEIU have seem to be strong. SEIU has been built for more than 30 years now and it’s challenging trying to compete with this Union especially if you’re a new comer in the business.

Legalizing Pot/Marijuana

On September thirteenth, the article "Legalizing pot would free up police to fight violent crime, law enforcement group say" has been in question to whether legalizing marijuana would be for the public's benefit. In endorsing Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization measure, the law enforcement say would put a dent to drug cartels and would free up police for something more useful like chasing robbers and burglars. Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray argues that, "Current laws are making pot more readily accessible to youngsters than would be the case if it were regulated and taxed by the government, similar to tobacco and alcohol." Much of the money that flows to drug cartels are that made from illegal marijuana and 60% of the cartel money stems from marijuana sales. San Jose Police Chief Joseph McNamara states that those who worry about marijuana legalization don't pay much attention to history. He contrasts how if back when the prohibition on alcohol was repealed the bootleggers disappeared than maybe if marijuana is made legal, then cartels and the war on drugs would too. If marijuana should be legalized, consumers would only be permitted one ounce per personal consumption and it is estimated that it would bring 1.4 billion dollars in new tax revenue per year. As I always say, people always want the illegal, the bad, or the ugly. They like either the rush of being chased by the police, or the fact that they’re thuggish for being on the news. It keeps them satisfied to know that the entire nation spends money on them when they are gaining much more. If marijuana was legalized then cartels would have not much to offer because it wouldn’t be illegal, anyone could get it anywhere and on a regular basis. It wouldn’t be difficult to get or find and people just wouldn’t take that much of an interest in drugs any longer.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/legalizing-pot-would-free-up-police-to-fight-violent-crime-law-enforcement-group-says.html

BP Excuses being questioned

Posted by the NY Times on September 8, the article on BP's excuses and the blames falling on different parties and perspectives falls in question to readers as well as workers and different parties. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is said to be caused by human judgments, engineering design, operational implementation, and mechanical problems according to British Petroleum's one hundred and ninety three page report posted on their website on Wednesday. British Petroleum not only went a far to blaming such complex failures but also in blaming its own workers of misconduct but applauded the design of the well as being "careful in its assessments." Not only was their critique blunt and non accurate but also their blame shot through during court hearings to rig owner Transocean Ltd. and cement contractor Halliburton. Accuses and blames are still in question and yet not final as several divisions of the United States government such as the justice department, Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy as well as Regulation and Enforcement are investigating. The April twentieth explosion is also in doubt after there were eleven workers killed and yet the explosion has no conclusion. There are jumpstart conclusions that the explosion might have been caused because of British Petroleum trying to “cut corners” and getting a forty three day-twenty billion dollar delayed project back on track. British Petroleum’s internal review is really not something to look at when it is in fact already facing hundreds of lawsuits and billions of dollars of liabilities.

Controversial aid from U.S Soldiers

Posted on Sunday September 5th by The Los Angeles Times, the Headline "U.S Soldiers help repel deadly attack on Iraq army headquarters" grew great spur among readers because the attack helped made by the United States troops was done five days after our United States President Barack Obama, declared an end to combat operations in Iraq. Even more fuss was made when it was official that there were eighteen casualties and thirty-nine injuries and no casualties included any Americans. The United States not only provided hands on aid but also helicopters, bomb disposal experts, and other unspecified reconnaissance. Now Americans are afraid that since combat is obviously yet not over, that now that there was experience in combat after a long time and after such declaration from the President on Tuesday, that this can be an on going situation and that American troops will be caught up in violent combat operations in Iraq more often. Definitely more questioning has overthrown Americans minds when after the suicidal bombing on August 17th occurred killing forty-eight it seems much more evident that Iraq has not yet secured their capital enough to manage it completely and that they will be asking for American aid soon enough. American soldiers are with no doubt tempted to fight in combat for any given reason now that declarations were only made but actions will be taken until 2011 when the United States troops finally head out back home.