Big Labor Spending Big Against GOP In Michigan, Nevada

According to the website factcheck.org…

“The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees is spending more than $1.5 million on ads that attack Republican congressional candidates in Michigan and Nevada. The big ad buy from the labor union also comes with some grandiose — and misleading — claims:

•    An ad in Michigan says GOP candidate Tim Walberg cast votes that “helped burn down our economy.” But the four Democratic-backed bills the ad cites all passed — regardless of how Walberg voted.
•    The ad also charges that Walberg “skipped out on a vote” to save auto industry jobs. He was in the hospital, recovering from surgery, when the House voted on, and easily passed, the automakers bailout bill.
•    In Nevada, an ad claims that Republican Joe Heck’s Social Security proposal “would have erased” a woman’s retirement. But Heck has called for voluntary private accounts, not forced “privatization” of the whole system.
•    Another ad makes the over-the-top charge that Heck is “dangerous to women,” because of his Social Security idea and his opposition to a state bill to require insurance coverage of a cervical cancer vaccine. Heck opposed the bill, but it easily became law.

Both Republican candidates are running against freshman Democrats in the House.”

AZ Governor Appears Flustered During Debate

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R), who earned the spotlight earlier this year for pushing through a controversial immigration law, appeared to stumble during a televised debate last night with her opponent, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. Watch the video below…

Gates Arrives In Kabul To Meet With Karzai, Petraeus

According to the Associated Press, Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan today for meetings with President Hamid Karzai and top NATO commander Gen. David Petraeus.

Gates flew Thursday morning to Kabul from Baghdad, where he participated in ceremonies marking the formal close of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq. He also plan to visit with U.S. troops during his visit.

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.

Romer Says More Spending Needed

Outgoing White House economic adviser Dr. Christina Romer said on Wednesday that increased government spending combined with tax cuts will lead to lower unemployment for Americans.

Romer, who is stepping down from her position atop the Council of Economic Advisers to return to the University of California-Berkely to teach economics, told an audience at the National Press Club in Downtown Washington that increased spending on infrastructure projects and other ‘emergency measures’ could be offset by future spending cuts.

Romer also warned against using the nation’s rising deficit as an excuse for “for leaving unemployed workers to suffer.”