Obama and Cameron Catch Up

According to a press release from the White House, President Obama had a phone conversation with British Prime Minister David Cameron today. It has been almost three weeks since the Prime Minster visited the White House and they renewed their commitment on a shared global agenda. The two leaders talked about Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as the ongoing efforts towards direct peace talks in the Middle East. Prime Minister Cameron also discussed his recent trips to Turkey and India. 

Pelosi Blames GOP For Lackluster Job Numbers

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) just released the following statement regarding a report showing the unemployment rate remained at 9.5% during the month of July:

“This jobs report shows private employers and businesses taking the lead in our economic recovery — and a sharp turnaround from the 700,000 jobs per month lost under President Bush — despite Congressional Republicans fighting against the economic recovery every step of the way.”

“Today’s report shows our teachers, police officers, firefighters, and nurses are still feeling the worst of the Bush recession — while Republican leaders demean them as ‘special interests’ and try to block legislation that will grow our economy.  Democrats will return next week to save or create hundreds of thousands of jobs for our teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers — and close loopholes that allow corporations to ship American jobs overseas.‪”

Senate Confirms New Intelligence Head

The Senate held a voice vote to confirm retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The position oversees the nation’s 16 spy agencies. Clapper becomes the fourth director of an agency that has been around since 2004. Clapper has promised better coordination between his agency and the CIA…

-Robert Hune-Kalter



Obama Held Meeting With Reporters To Discuss Iran Sanctions

Time Magazine’s Joe Klein was one of a few reporters who attended a briefing at the White House on Wednesday held by President Barack Obama and other senior administration officials. Obama reportedly said that “high-level” Iranian government officials have signaled to the White House that they may be willing to re-start negotiations regarding their country’s nuclear program…

Republicans Blast Obama Over New Unemployment Numbers

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)
“Welcome to the reality of President Obama’s broken promises, out-of-control spending sprees, and failing ‘stimulus’ policies.  After another disappointing jobs report and the resignation of one of the chief architects of the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus,’ it’s time for President Obama to listen to the American people and face up to the fact that his ‘stimulus’ policies aren’t working.  How many more times do families and small businesses have to ask ‘where are the jobs’ before President Obama changes course?  Our economy will ultimately recover, but it will do so because of the hard work and entrepreneurship of the American people.  Republicans are listening to the American people and offering better solutions to cut spending now and get people working again. “Today’s report should also cause House Democrats to reconsider beating a path back to Washington next week to double down on the same ‘stimulus’ policies that have led to fewer jobs and more debt.  The American people don’t want more Washington ‘stimulus’ spending – especially in the form of a political season pay-off to union bosses.  How about Washington Democrats do the right thing for a change and focus on helping small businesses?  Let’s work together to ease the uncertainty employers are up against and stop the Obama Administration’s job-killing tax hike on families and small businesses.” 

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
“The American people keep asking ‘Where are the jobs?’ but the only answer from Washington Democrats is more spending and more taxes. Their economic policies have failed and nearly 15 million Americans are still struggling to find work. “Today’s unemployment report should be a wake-up call to Democrats and their plan to impose the largest tax increase in American history. Higher taxes won’t get people hired. Congress must act soon to ensure that there will not be any tax increases on January 1, 2011 for American families, small businesses and family farms.”

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)
“How many more months of losing tens-of-thousands of jobs have to go by before the Obama Administration removes the blinders, stops the propaganda effort and concedes that this deficit spending, tax-raising, bailout-first mentality is unsustainable and threatening the future solvency of this nation?  For all of the effort being expended by the Obama Administration to convince Americans that their policies have ‘funded’ or ‘created and saved’ new jobs, the sobering reality is 18 months after the stimulus was signed into law, our economy is still hemorrhaging jobs. “Perhaps the most discouraging reality is that Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid have allowed the Congress to recess so that members can focus more on keeping their jobs, rather than work on helping Americans finds jobs.  Instead of returning for one day, Congressional Democratic leaders should keep Congress in session for as long as it takes to enact policies that will cut the deficit, support small businesses and reduce the tax burden on all Americans.”