Obama To Push For Business Tax Relief

The New York Times is reporting that President Barack Obama will call this week for tax write-offs for businesses making investments in capital. Under the proposal, businesses would be allowed to deduct items such as equipment purchases through next year. The White House says the plan will lower the price of goods and create jobs…

Obama On Peace Talks: Efforts Must Be Made

After a day full of bi-lateral meetings with leaders of key middle eastern nations, President Barack Obama defended his efforts to bring Israel and Palestine to the negotiating table.

Though the President acknowledged skepticism over his objective, he told reporters in the White House Rose Garden that “if we dont make the attempt, then failure is guaranteed.”

In the morning, Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu, where the topic of Hamas’ deadly attack on Jewish settlers in the West Bank earlier this week was discussed. Obama followed that by holding a one-on-one with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority.

Afterwards, Obama said the two leaders recognized that “this as an opportunity [to talk] that must be seized.”

In the afternoon, the President met individually with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan.

The heads of state will all take part in a working dinner at the White House this evening.

Palin Invokes Orwell In Preview Of Obama's Iraq Speech

Former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin tweeted today that President Barack Obama is attempting to re-write the history books by taking credit for ending America’s combat mission in Iraq.

“Obama speech tonite may make u dig out ur old Orwell books so rewritten history can be deciphered, depending on who gets credit 4 Iraq surge,” read Palin’s tweet.

The outspoken conservative was referring to George Orwell, the author of 1984, a fictional novel which portrayed a dystopian society created by the totalitarian regime of a socialist party.

The President’s address to the nation will be televised tonight starting at 8:00pm.

White House: No Timetable For Formation Of Iraqi Government

A White House spokesman told reporters traveling aboard Air Force One today that the Obama administration will not set a certain date by which Iraq’s new government must be in place.

“We’re not going to put a timetable on government formation,” Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said. “What we are saying, though, is that Iraq should move forward with a sense of urgency around government formation, that it’s time to get down to some of these core issues.”

Parties of both current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his opponent, Ayad Allawi, won enough seats in March’s elections to form governments, yet no action by either side has taken place. Rhodes said President Obama will discuss the need for Iraq to address this challenge during his roughly 15-minute televised address to the nation tonight…

Obama Calls Bush On Eve Of Primetime Address

A White House spokesman confirmed today that President Barack Obama phoned former President George W. Bush this morning in advance of Obama’s address to the nation tonight. The 44th and 43rd Presidents spoke for just a few minutes during the former’s flight down to Texas. Details of the conversation have yet to be released…