Musharraf Denies Pakistani Knowledge Of Bin Laden

By Lisa Kellman

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf claimed Wednesday that although Osama Bin Laden was found in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad when he was killed earlier this year, it was not evidence of corruption on behalf of the Pakistani government.

“[My] honest conviction, it’s a case of terrible negligence which ought to be investigated and punished, but it is not a case of compliance,” said Musharraf.

Musharraf gave a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wherein he touched upon tensions between Pakistan and America.

The former president criticized the United States, Afghanistan, and India for the trouble his country faces with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He declared that many issues may appear to have originated in Pakistan yet in fact, Pakistan is an innocent victim of circumstance in the Middle East.

Internal struggles in Pakistan include a dysfunctional government, a rise in terrorism and extremism, a rise in law and order situations, an economic collapse, and increasing political turmoil.

“Pakistan is in bad shape,” Musharraf acknowledged.

AFL-CIO 'Extremely Alarmed' By Occupy Wall Street Arrests

By Andrea Salazar

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka responded to the recent mass arrests of Occupy Wall Street protestors Thursday, calling them a “tremendous dishonor to America.”

Protestors at an Occupy Oakland demonstration clashed with police Wednesday as did protestors in Atlanta. More than 100 people were arrested in Oakland and 53 in Atlanta.

“The Occupy Wall Street movement has elevated the national conversation by shining overdue attention on the struggles of the 99 percent for whom the economy is broken,” Trumka said in a statement. “When people can’t raise their voices around pervasive inequality, there is a fundamental problem with how we’re functioning as a nation.”

Trumka urged officials to follow in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s footsteps and refrain from disbanding peaceful protests.

“We urge all elected leaders across the country to enable peaceful protestors to continue to exercise their most American of rights,” Trumka said.

Senate Republican Suggests Different Path For Student Loan Reform

As the White House gears up to take on student loan reform by allowing students to cap their payments at 10 percent, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is suggesting a different approach: halting the growing costs of attending college.

“The real way to reduce the burden of student-loan debt is to slow down the growth of tuition,” Alexander said in a statement. “And the best way to slow down the growth of tuition is to reduce health care costs and mandates that are soaking up state dollars that in the past have gone to support public colleges and universities.” 

The President is scheduled to announce his administration’s proposal Wednesday afternoon. The White House has indicated that they intend to move forward with the changes via executive action, and not through Congress.

Joe The Plumber Announces House Run

Sam Wurzelbacher, more popularly known as “Joe the Plumber” has announced plans to run for the Congressional seat currently held by long-serving Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

In a video released online, Wurzelbacher told reporters in an Ohio restaurant that he will run as a Republican but added “by god, that does not encompass who I am since I’m going to represent all Americans.”

Wurzelbacher became a fixture of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign as a symbol for average voters. There was speculation that Wurzelbacher could make a run for office in 2010, but he ultimately declined.

Earlier this month, Wurzelbacher filed paperwork for a House run with the FEC.

GOP Looks To Repeal CLASS Act

Another provision of President Obama’s healthcare bill is facing repeal. This time around, though, the move to repeal was sparked by his own administration. 

At a hearing Wednesday with two Energy and Commerce panels, House Republicans will likely pressure Obama to repeal a long-term healthcare provision called the CLASS Act after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the program was being suspended.

Despite the concession from the Obama administration, congressional Democrats have refused to call it quits and will make their case against the repeal at Wednesday’s hearing. 

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