Today at TRNS

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Today Talk Radio News Service the Washington Bureau will be covering Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) news conference on the economic stimulus package. Additionally, the Bureau will have coverage of the 2009 National Health Policy Conference, and will cover an event on "Human Rights and Civil Society in Iran" at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. UN Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi is covering a briefing on Sierra Leone war crimes.

Madeline Albright discusses American perceptions of the Muslim world

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright says that most Americans are "woefully ignorant" of the Muslim world, and that the press holds a certain responsibility to educate people about their culture.

Madelaine Albright: Americans “woefully ignorant” of Muslim world

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former Represenative Vin Weber (R-Minn) spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations conerning American relations with the Muslim world. Secretary Albright said that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world, but that Afghanistan and Pakistan are closely tied in their turmoil. She continued that most Americans are “woefully ignorant” of the Muslim world, and that America’s approach should not be one of ‘tolerance’, but rather one of ‘respect’. Concurrent to that line of thought is the notion that the United States should be prepared to deal with Islamist democratic elections where the results are not favorable to American policy. Albright said people all over the world are ready for democracy, but that the United States should take the position of supporting popular democratic movements, not “imposing democracy”. Weber echoed that sentiment, but insisted that the U.S. could help build the “preconditions for democracy”, such as improving women’s rights or encouraging an open media.

Regarding America’s approach to fighting terrorism, Albright said that the U.S. must not fight terror in a way which creates new terrorists, and that every civilian death makes both the United States and our causes suffer. Regarding the policies of ‘targeted killings’ and assassinations, Weber highlighted that both the Bush and Obama administrations said that they would not ignore ‘actionable intelligence’ on the locations of terrorists. Albright also stated that it is important for America to distinguish those who were civilians and those who were “murders”.

Peter Brimelow talks about the fall of the Republican Party

Peter Brimelow talks about the fall of the Republican Party at the National Press Club. January 29th, 2009.

By Michael Ruhl: University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Obama creates task force to help the middle class

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

On Friday morning in the East Room of the White House, President Barack Obama created a Task Force with the singular objective of raising the standard of living of the middle class. Obama said that his economic stimulus package was “just the beginning”, and said that this task force would be what middle class citizens so desperately need, calling the middle class the “backbone” of the economy. Vice President Joe Biden was charged with heading this endeavor, which Biden said would be “fully transparent”. The task force includes economic advisors and well as cabinet members, and according to Biden is going to seek the opinions and ideas of citizens. Meeting transcripts, documents, and other relevant material will be kept on a special website, aStrongMiddleClass.gov, which Biden said would be a place for both information and conversation, in which citizens can participate and tell their stories. The President also said that this Task Force will not forget the poor, but will give them opportunities to get a piece of the American dream if they are willing to work for it. Obama also emphasized that Labor Unions and Business can coexist, saying that the situation was not a zero sum game.

Vice President Biden will engage in monthly meetings with community leaders and interest groups to address regional economic issues across the nation, including but not limited to childcare, education, balance in the workplace, the creation of jobs, and safety and fairness in the workplace. The first meeting of the task force will be on February 27th in Philadelphia, to discuss green jobs.

The President also signed three executive orders after his remarks, which were related to these issues.