A Different Path: A History of the Kerry Administration & Beyond

[Aaaaasima]

2008 election results:

Romney/Thune: 326 electoral votes 51.95% of the popular vote
Kerry/Edwards: 212 electoral votes 46.53% of the popular vote

Incumbent President: John Forbes Kerry
President-Elect: Willard Mitt Romney

The 2008 election, as expected, was a resounding rejection of President Kerry. The financial crisis, Iraq, Katrina, gas prices, congressional gridlock, all these ensured that John Kerry would not be able to enjoy a successful presidency. That was along with the October Surprise, when in mid-October 2008 Vice-President Edwards was revealed to have cheated on his cancer-stricken wife Elizabeth Edwards with a White House intern, and the intern was revealed to be pregnant. The last few weeks of the campaign saw the last hope of the Democrats be crushed in the Edwards scandal.

The election saw turnout decrease from 2004 to 59.5%. Voters expressed a strong dislike and anger at their politicians and government. The election was a rejection of Kerry, whose approval ratings languished in the mid-30s as the economy rapidly went into freefall and the civil war in Iraq spread to violence in Syria and Iranian troops were reported to be in Iraq. The only surprising thing was that the rejection was not even bigger. In the Senate the seat count remained the same with 58 Republicans, 41 Democrats and 1 Independent. In Arkansas, former Governor Mike Huckabee brought down sitting Democrat Senator Mark Pryor, and Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu was also taken down. The Republicans dominated the governorships, with 33 Republican governors to 17 Democrats. In the House 249 seats went to the Republicans, a gain of 9 seats from in 2006, giving the party huge-but not filibuster proof- congressional majorities.

Still, with the nation facing the worst financial crisis since the Great depression the Republicans did not have much to celebrate. President-Elect Romney and his team could only hope that this was not another 2004, an election they'd have been best to lose. They would soon find out.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

ITALY, HONG KONG AND EUROZONE AS A WHOLE SLIP INTO RECESSION-NOVEMBER 14, 2008

DEMOCRATS SEEK TO REBUILD AFTER DEVASTATING DEFEAT
PELOSI, REID FACE POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES

KURDS, IRAQIS MAKING GAINS AGAINST AL-QAEDA

AUTO INDUSTRY STRUGGLING, SOME FEAR COMPLETE COLLAPSE
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PRESIDENT KERRY PASSES EMERGENCY $17 BILLION BAILOUT OF US AUTO INDUSTRY
BANKRUPTCY REMAINS LIKELY AS AUTO INDUSTRY CRISIS WORSENS-DECEMBER 1, 2008

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UNITED STATES OFFICIALLY ENTERS RECESSION-DECEMBER 1, 2008
DOW JONES FALLS 670 POINTS, 5TH WORST DROP IN HISTORY

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT PROROGUED IN PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS
MINORITY CONSERVATIVES TO MAINTAIN POWER-DECEMBER 4, 2008

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BERNIE MADOFF ARRESTED FOR MASSIVE PONZI SCHEME
COULD BE THE LARGEST FINANCIAL FRAUD IN HISTORY-DECEMBER 11, 2008

DENNIS HASTERT RETIRES, ROY BLUNT FRONTRUNNER TO SUCCEED HIM-DECEMBER 15, 2008

111TH CONGRESS CONVENES WITH INCREASED HUGE GOP MAJORITIES
BOEHNER SUCCEEDS HASTERT AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
BLUNT, MCCONNELL PROMISE 'SWEEPING TAX CUTS' TO COMBAT RECESSION
PELOSI, REID RETAIN DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP-JANUARY 6, 2009​

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LABOR DEPARTMENT: US ECONOMY HAS LOST 2 MILLION JOBS IN LAST 4 MONTHS OF 2008-JANUARY 9, 2009
GREAT RECESSION GOES GLOBAL, WORLD SET TO FACE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE 1930S
ROMNEY PREPARES TO PASS TAX CUTS BUT MAY HAVE TO PASS MORE BAILOUTS DESPITE KERRY'S EFFORTS​

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[Montgomerie Ward]

WILLARD MITT ROMNEY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES-JANUARY 20, 2009

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Mitt Romney took the oath of office today, sworn in by Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In Romney's inaugural address, he promised to "stand up to terror at home and abroad" (which coincided with a failed terrorist plot to disrupt the inauguration), to "mend Washington so the brazen partisanship of the last four years ends, and make it serve America again," and also promised "sweeping measures, to stimulate and reinvigorate our economy". Republican leaders Blunt and McConnell promised to aid President Romney's initiatives and have already begun crafting the American Economic Recovery Act (AERA) which is speculated to have hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts and possible spending increases.

BETH MYERS TO BE ROMNEY CHIEF OF STAFF

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ROMNEY CABINET NOMINEES
SECRETARY OF STATE ROBERT ZOELLICK
TREASURY SECRETARY MEG WHITMAN
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES
ATTORNEY GENERAL FRED THOMPSON
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DIRK KEMPTHORNE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE ED SCHAFER
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE CARLOS GUTIERREZ
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY MARION BLAKEY
SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE CHAO
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MIKE LEAVITT
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TIM PAWLENTY
SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT STEVE PRESTON
ENERGY SECRETARY JACK GERARD
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JAMES PEAKE
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY RUDY GIULIANI
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPA HAROLD HAMM
DIRECTOR OF THE OMB DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN​

DEMOCRATS SEEK TO STALL CABINET NOMINATIONS, ATTACK DECISION TO HAVE OIL BILLIONAIRE RUN EPA
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REPUBLICANS STEAMROLL DEMOCRATS, APPROVE ALL ROMNEY CABINET NOMINEES
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35 KILLED IN DAMASCUS SUICIDE BOMBING-JANUARY 28, 2009

PRESIDENT ROMNEY PROMISES MORE AID TO IRAQ IN THE WAR ON TERROR-FEBRUARY 1, 2009
WHITE HOUSE DENIES IT PLANS TO SEND GROUND TROOPS BACK INTO IRAQ
IS IRAQ A FAILED STATE?

SENATE PASSES $750 BILLION STIMULUS BILL-FEBRUARY 12, 2009
$80 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING, $130 BILLION IN TAX CREDITS, $90 BILLION IN OTHER SPENDING AND $450 IN TAX CUTS
HOUSE AND SENATE TO IRON OUT DIFFERENCES IN BILLS
HARD-RIGHT SUSPICIOUS OF STIMULUS, WORRIES ABOUT 'WASTEFUL SPENDING' AND LACK OF 'FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY'
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE STIMULUS, BUT FILIBUSTER OVERCOME BY DEFECTIONS

PRESIDENT ROMNEY SIGNS $743 BILLION STIMULUS BILL INTO LAW-FEBRUARY 22, 2009
AERA GETS 62% SUPPORT IN POLLS, BUT SUPPORTERS WORRY THAT SUPPORT COULD DECREASE IF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN CONTINUES
PELOSI, REID STAND AGAINST AERA, CALL IT 'A GIVEAWAY TO THE RICH'
EXPERTS PREDICT INCREASED DEFICIT AND REDUCED DOWNTURN, BUT MANY PREFER KEYNESIAN PLAN

BREAKING NEWS: "TERRORIST ATTACK IN LA, DEATH TOLL COULD BE OVER 100"-MARCH 1, 2009

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4 bombs have gone off in the South Coast Plaza in Los Angeles. 2 other bombs have been found and disposed of without harming any people. This is a terrorist attack, and the attackers according to speculation are Iraqi-Americans with Al-Qaeda connections. They have just been arrested after catching police attention when escaping the scene, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" The bombs were in abandoned bags and went off minutes later outside several cafés and a jewelry store. The death toll is rising fast and confirmed dead are currently 57 people. People are warned to be alert and other attacks may be occurring or planned to. Police and the FBI are investigating the attacks. More details to come in soon.

DEATH TOLL AT 101 AFTER 3/1 BOMBINGS, AMERICA & WORLD IN SHOCK
AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ LINKED TO 3/1 BOMBINGS
CALLS BEGIN TO RISE FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN IRAQ-MARCH 2, 2009

AIG REPORTS $63 BILLION IN LOSSES, TO RECEIVE $33 BILLION BAILOUT-MARCH 2, 2009

BIN LADEN TAPE RELEASED CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR 3/1 BOMBINGS, BOASTS OF 'STRIKING THROUGH THE WEST'S FALSE PROTECTIONS'-MARCH 4, 2009

PRESIDENT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES US WILL SEND 40,000 MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN IN TROOP SURGE
SURGE HAS BROAD SUPPORT IN WAKE OF 3/1 BOMBINGS, BUT LIBERTARIANS AND LIBERALS WARN OF 'IRAQ, VIETNAM REDUX'
US TO BEGIN AERIAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN IRAQ, BUT GROUND TROOPS SO FAR NOT IN THE PICTURE-MARCH 11, 2009

UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 8.2%, ECONOMISTS WARN RISE INTO DOUBLE DIGITS POSSIBLE, EVEN LIKELY
ROMNEY: "THE STIMULUS WILL WORK, ECONOMY WILL BE BACK TO PROSPERITY IN A YEAR", COMPARES HIMSELF TO REAGAN

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING AT 64%-MARCH 16, 2009

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President Romney's approval rating remain high, partly due to the 3/1 bombings, which caused a 'rally round the flag' effect and a slight bump for the President. However, the economy is still being rated as the most important issue for voters, and while it's just ahead of terrorism now, as jobs continue to die and the economy to shrink it's likely voters will focus more on their pocketbooks. At the moment Romney is a newcomer, and can blame his troubles on John Kerry, but if the stimulus doesn't work or work well enough, as experts are warning the tax cuts will be used to pay down consumer debt not invest in the economy, then the Republicans could have a problem on their hands. If by 2010 the economy is not improving for voters, and terrorism has not taken over the agenda, Romney and the Republicans are going to have a serious problem. They know this, which is why they are so determined to hype the terrorism threat and paint the Democrats as soft on that issue. We'll see in the coming weeks, months and years whether this works out and whether events go the President's way.

 

[Aaaaasima]

Sample infobox:

I don't think this is necessary. Delete this

 

[Pericles]

I don't think this is necessary. Delete this

Don't worry keep the infobox @HeavyCrown.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

NEW MEXICO ABOLISHES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, 15TH STATE TO DO SO-MARCH 18, 2009​

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US AUTO INDUSTRY RECEIVES $5 BILLION BAILOUT TO STAY AFLOAT-MARCH 24, 2009​

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ROMNEY TAKING PERSONAL LEAD IN WORKING TO SOLVE AUTO CRISIS
THE BIG THREE FACE DEATH
ROMNEY, WHITMAN CRITICIZED FOR ARROGANCE, OVERCONFIDENCE IN AUTO CRISIS TALKS​

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TREASURY SECRETARY MEG WHITMAN CALLS ON PRIVATE LENDING TO SAVE AUTO INDUSTRY
BANKS: "WE'RE BROKE, WE NEED YOU TO SAVE US, WE CAN'T SAVE THEM!"​

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LIBERALS CLAIM 'FATCAT BANKERS' GET BAILED OUT BUT AUTO WORKERS WON'T​

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THE CHOICE FOR GM & CHRYSLER: BANKRUPTCY OR LIQUIDATION​

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NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UAW AND GOVERNMENT OVER CHRYSLER & GM COLLAPSE-APRIL 20, 2009​

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GM, CHRYSLER TO BE LIQUIDATED, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO GO, POSSIBLY OVER A MILLION-APRIL 22, 2009​

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In a horrific shock to the nation, the administrations' efforts to save the auto industry have failed, and GM and Chrysler will undergo liquidation. President Romney lambasted the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union for not cooperating in negotiations over a bankruptcy, but critics and many auto industry figures are blaming Romney and Whitman for obsessing over getting private lending until it was too late, and arrogantly thinking they were experts in the subject, when they were mediocre at best. Economists predict a sharp spike in unemployment over the next few months into double digits and a prolonged recession, especially in the Rust Belt, with one administration official calling this "the Lehman of manufacturing". Democrats have been quick to pounce on the President, with Senator Hillary Clinton declaring "President Romney has displayed a remarkable lack of even basic leadership", Congressman John Dingell declaring "This is an immense tragedy for America, and a deeply avoidable one caused by appalling policies and stupidity from the White House," and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared " Republicans kill jobs. This is the latest proof". Ford is expected to remain solvent.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

SENATOR TED STEVENS' LEGAL TROUBLES END, CONVICTION BASED ON PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT-APRIL 1, 2009​

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UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKES DRAMATICALLY TO 9.7%
FORD TO HIRE 200,000 GM AND CHRYSLER WORKERS
ECONOMISTS PREDICT UNEMPLOYMENT TO RISE BY 1 MILLION MINIMUM DUE TO AUTO COLLAPSE ALONE
US GDP TO CONTRACT BY 6.0%
14.5 MILLION UNEMPLOYED, NUMBERS SET TO RISE

G-20 SUMMIT MEETS IN LONDON-APRIL 2, 2009
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS IN STIMULUS FUNDS AND AGREEMENT ON REGULATORY REFORM
CONTROVERSY OVER NO GREEN INVESTMENT AND REGULATORY REFORM BEING 'TOO WEAK'

63% OF AMERICANS SAY COUNTRY IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING SLUMPS TO 54%-APRIL 6, 2009​

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12 US HOSTAGES KILLED BY AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ, VIOLENCE RISES TO RECORD LEVELS
OPINION: AIRSTRIKES NOT WORKING, RETURN TO IRAQ MAY BE INEVITABLE-APRIL 9, 2009​

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NATIONWIDE MORALE TAKES SEVERE HIT AFTER THE DEATH OF GM AND CHRYSLER​

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MAY UNEMPLOYMENT: 10%, 15.5 MILLION OUT OF WORK, DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT SET TO CONTINUE​

Already, it's the worst recession since the Great Depression, and it's going to get worse. The national debt is rising dramatically, the economy is crashing, unemployment is shooting up and the economy is deflating like a popped balloon, with deflation currently at 1.8%. Since the recession started around the beginning of 2008, if the economy keeps shrinking then we could well be in for not a Great Recession but the Second Great Depression, because if an economy shrinks for two years it is in a depression. The Midwest is taking a particularly harsh hit, with the states in the region shedding jobs after the auto collapse. While Ford is stepping in to clean up the wreckage, and the administration is giving out billions to the states trying to stimulate the economy there, in many counties it's starting to be like the Great Depression. Michigan's unemployment rate is the highest in the nation, at 16%, the highest level any state has ever had in decades. To make matters worse, more war is on the horizon, with the Afghanistan surge and talk of returning to Iraq. America and the rest of the world, brace for the ride because it's going to be rough.​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

JACK KEMP, BOB DOLE RUNNING MATE, FOOTBALL PLAYER AND CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN DIES
ROMNEY: "WE NEED MORE JACK KEMPS"-MAY 2, 2009​

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DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES FIRES GENERAL MCKIERNAN, STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL TO REPLACE HIM-MAY 6, 2009

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126 CASUALTIES IN BAGHDAD SUICIDE BOMBING, 64 DEAD-MAY 7, 2009​

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SENATE TO IMPOSE NEW REGULATIONS ON CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY
SENATOR REID: "THIS BILL IS A CHEAP FRAUD DESIGNED TO DISTRACT FROM REAL REFORM"-MAY 24, 2009​

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LEAK: ROMNEY, MCCONNELL AND BLUNT HAVE MET TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH ON NEW TAX CUT PACKAGE
IDEAS DISCUSSED INCLUDE 20% TAX CUT ACROSS THE BOARD, TAX CODE REFORM, AND DEEP CUTS TO CORPORATE AND INCOME TAXES-MAY 28, 2009​

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HILLARY CLINTON: "STOP GIVING THE RICH A FREE LUNCH AND PAYING FOR IT WITH OUR LUNCH MONEY!"
VP THUNE: "SENATOR CLINTON IS ENGAGING IN CLASS WARFARE, WON'T HELP SOLVE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS"
MCCONNELL TO DEMOCRATS: "STOP HARPING ALONG THE SIDELINES AND START BEHAVING LIKE ADULTS"-MAY 28, 2009​

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THOUSANDS PROTEST IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK: "SAVE OUR JOBS, BREAK UP THE BANKS, GIVE US A BAILOUT"-JUNE 1, 2009

UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 10.4%-JUNE 2, 2009

5,000 'MILITARY ADVISERS' TO BE SENT TO IRAQ-JUNE 5, 2009​

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[Montgomerie Ward]

GOVERNING UK LABOUR PARTY DECIMATED IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS, COMES FOURTH-JUNE 7, 2009​

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UK UNEMPLOYMENT OVER 2.2 MILLION, HIGHEST IN YEARS-JUNE 9, 2009​

88-YEAR OLD WHITE SUPREMACIST KILLS 1 IN SHOOTING AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM-JUNE 10, 2009​

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SWINE FLU DEEMED GLOBAL PANDEMIC-JUNE 11, 2009​

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MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF IRAN WITH 64% OF THE VOTE
OPPONENTS DECLARE THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED AND BEGIN PROTESTS
ROMNEY: "EVENTS IN IRAN ARE 'CONCERNING'"-JUNE 13, 2009​

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62 KILLED IN SADR CITY BOMBING IN IRAQ, WHILE 45 KILLED IN TERRORIST MASSACRE IN NEARBY MARKET
UNCERTAINTY OVER WHETHER ATTACKS ARE LINKED-JUNE 24, 2009​

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MICHAEL JACKSON DIES-JUNE 25, 2009​

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IRAQI PM JAFAARI CONDEMNS KURDS, SAY THEY DON'T RESPECT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY
KURD LEADER BARZANI: "WE HAVE AUTONOMY, AND WE'RE KEEPING IT"​

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Iraq, already teetering on the edge of complete and utter dismemberment, is now struggling with tensions between the autonomous Kurds of the north and the Baghdad central government. While so far the Kurds, led by Masoud Barzani, have not made any overt moves to independence, Jafaari, in a speech to officials in the region, warned that Barzani's autonomous government has been stockpiling weapons, and exploiting the chaos. Kurdish forces have made offensives against Al-Qaeda deep outside their official region and have been occupying large parts of northern Iraq. Jafaari has in recent months, knowing he is unable to rein in the Kurds, has been appealing to Turkey, which is determined to avoid Kurdish independence. Barzani responded by declaring he is perfectly within his rights to exercise his autonomy and seeks to defeat Al-Qaeda and the terrorists, and has been in turn making signals to Turkey that he won't officially declare independence. the region remains on edge.

SENATOR FEINGOLD: "ROMNEY IS NEW HERBERT HOOVER"-JUNE 27, 2009​

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MCCONNELL: "YOU CAN EXPECT A STIMULUS BILL IN 3 MONTHS"-JULY 2, 2009

MOST PROMINENT FUNERAL OF ALL TIME? HUGE FUNERAL HELD FOR MICHAEL JACKSON-JULY 7, 2009​

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[Montgomerie Ward]

US UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 10.6%
ECONOMY SUFFERS 0.3% DEFLATION-JULY 1, 2009

SENATOR OBAMA TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, EXPECTED TO WIN EASILY-JULY 4, 2009

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Today, Illinois Senator Barack Obama confirmed he would run for re-election, ending speculation he would run for Governor of Illinois. A leak to Politico from an Obama staffer has claimed this is because Obama plans to, or is seriously considering, running for President in 2012 and would be hard-placed to do so if he had only just been elected Governor. Obama did not retire because if he wants to remain on the political scene, being in retirement would likely hurt his chances if he loses the 2012 election and decides to run for Governor in 2014 or most likely 2018, given the Democrats are likely to unseat Governor Topinka. Obama has denied the speculation, saying "I am focused on serving the people of Illinois in the Senate."

ICELANDIC PARLIAMENT VOTES TO APPLY FOR EU MEMBERSHIP-JULY 16, 2009

LONGEST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF THE CENTURY OCCURS-JULY 22, 2009

50 IRAQI SOLDIERS KILLED IN FIREFIGHT WITH AL-QAEDA NEAR FALLUJAH-JULY 26, 2009

US ECONOMY STILL IN RECESSION, SHRINKS BY 0.5%-AUGUST 1, 2009

PRESIDENT NOMINATES GLENN HUBBARD AS FED CHAIRMAN, DOESN'T RENOMINATE CHAIRMAN FERGUSON-AUGUST 13, 2009

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President Romney announced today that Glenn Hubbard, the economist who played a key role in authoring the controversial Bush tax cuts, and is known to be on the right of the political spectrum, is his nominee for Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Current Chairman Roger Ferguson, the first African-American Chairman and on who has presided over the Wall Street bailouts and the unpopular response to the financial crisis was not renominated. According to sources in the White House, Hubbard is closer to Romney than Ferguson, a Kerry appointee, and Romney trusts Hubbard on economic issues. However, Hubbard's confirmation is already running into trouble. After he admitted he supported the bailouts, Hubbard has encountered fierce opposition from a portion of the Republican Party. Congressman Ron Paul has called on Romney to "stop being a puppet of Wall Street and pick a servant of the American people. Hubbard is just not good enough, this is a man who will continue the current, failed policies the Fed has been pushing, and that the President has been supporting." Democrats also pounced on Hubbard, vowing to filibuster his confirmation in the Senate. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, declared "Have we learned nothing from the financial crisis? We need to start having sane, sensible policies, not the same old government being in the pockets of the big banks." Senator Hillary Clinton echoed those concerns, saying "Mr. Hubbard deeply concerns me, he seems just too supportive of the policies that have caused this crisis." Other Democratic leaders, such as Senator Harry Reid, have echoed those sentiments. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Majority Leader, fired back at critics, declaring "Democrats need to stop defending their failed, socialist policies. Glenn Hubbard is the kind of man we need in the Fed, and frankly, throwing rotten fruit at the people who are cleaning up your mess is not what America needs from the Democrats."

TED KENNEDY, BROTHER OF JFK AND RFK, "LION OF THE SENATE" DIES-AUGUST 17, 2009

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Senator Edward Moore 'Ted' Kennedy, the liberal "Lion of the Senate" has died. Kennedy was the fourth son in the Kennedy family, and he was the brother to John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Elected a Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy soon proved himself an effective legislator, rather than a young upstart. When his older brother Robert was killed in 1968, Ted became the Kennedy family patriarch, and in the following years would become one of the most important men in Washington.

However, his reputation was forever scarred in 1969 by Chappaquiddick, when he drove a car off a bridge and fled the scene, letting his passenger Mary Jo Kopechne drown. Kennedy declined to run for President in 1972 or 1976, when he was the frontrunner, but in 1980, seeing the Democrats and America turn away from New Deal liberalism, he ran against incumbent President Jimmy Carter, only to fail miserably. Kennedy's best moment of the campaign was after his defeat, with his "the dream shall never die" speech at the 1980 Democratic Convention.

Still, Kennedy was forced to face an America shifting away from his liberal beliefs further and further to the right. No longer pressured to run for President, Kennedy focused on stopping this rise of conservatism, and in some places succeeded, preventing Reagan from weakening the Voting Rights Act and from appointing conservative Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. In the following decades, he became the Lion of the Senate, helping to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, SCHIP, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Healthcare Malpractice Act of 2006. Kennedy was also the only person (so far) to inflict an electoral defeat on Mitt Romney, crushing by 18 percentage points Romney's upstart bid to topple the liberal lion from his Senate seat in 1994, the year of the Republican Revolution.

Ultimately, Kennedy was an extremely accomplished man, but one accomplishment escaped even his grasp. Universal healthcare for all Americans... In the 1970s, Kennedy defeated Nixon's healthcare proposals, making the failed gamble that a Democratic President would pass single-payer healthcare reform, or Medicare-for-all. This did not happen, as Jimmy Carter was opposed and uninterested in such a proposal. The next chance was in 1994, when Hillary Clinton proposed her Hillarycare plan, which Kennedy was an extremely strong ally of. But amid blunders, smears, miscommunication and obstructionism Hillarycare failed miserably without even turning up for a vote. Since then, Kennedy pursued incremental reform, and his hopes that President Kerry was an opportunity for universal healthcare were foiled when it became clear the votes weren't there. In Massachusetts, Kennedy helped Romney pass Romneycare healthcare reform, a proposal with bipartisan appeal, but so far President Romney has shown little interest or ability to repeat Romneycare nationwide. Still, Kennedy kept up his hopes to the very end that if not now, then in four, eight, or even twelve all Americans could finally get healthcare.

Now the Lion of the Senate is dead. His seat will go up for special election in 2010, which the Democrats are almost certain to win. Still, it will take time to find someone of Kennedy's stature and character. Right now that someone could come in handy. America mourns with the Kennedies, but it is also thankful for the long and fruitful life Senator Kennedy had.​

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[Montgomerie Ward]

KURDS SEIZE DISPUTED AREAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

BARZANI PROMISES TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON THE STATUS OF KIRKUK WITHIN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS

TURKEY ATTACKS KURDISH TAKEOVER, CALLS IT 'AN ILLEGAL POWERGRAB', 'ATTACK ON IRAQI INTEGRITY', AND CALLS BARZANI 'A TERRORIST IN FANCY GARB'
BASHAR AL-ASSAD CALLS ON KURDS TO 'RESPECT INTERNATIONAL LAW' AND CLAIMS BARZANI IS 'UNDERMINING THE STABILITY OF THE REGION'
US REMAINS NEUTRAL ON KURDISTAN ISSUE

Territories claimed by the Kurds

OVER 120 KILLED IN BAGHDAD EXPLOSIONS, HUNDREDS MORE WOUNDED-AUGUST 19 , 2009

100 SUNNIS KILLED IN BAGHDAD MASSACRE BY SADRIST MILITIAS-AUGUST 23, 2009

JAYCEE LEE DUGARD FREE AFTER 18 YEARS KIDNAPPED-AUGUST 26, 2009

POLL: ONLY 35% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT RETURN OF GROUND TROOPS TO IRAQ, WHILE 50% SUPPORT CURRENT STRATEGY-AUGUST 28, 2009

VICE-PRESIDENT THUNE HECKLED BY PROTESTER-SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

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Vice-President John Thune, when meeting with evangelicals in North Carolina, was heckled by a protester who burst in, and shouted at him "Lying scum! Serve America, you piece of s**t!" and then the heckler, a Jack Berlan, gave the Vice-President a profanity-laced rant about the economy, Wall Street, the prospect of ground troops in Iraq and then lastly calling the evangelical crowd "sheep", while getting dragged away by security. Afterwards, the crowd clapped for the security and Thune continued his speech.

3 SHI'ITE MOSQUES IN IRAQ BOMBED BY AL-QAEDA, 152 DEAD, OVER 400 WOUNDED
AL-QAEDA CLAIMS THIS IS 'REVENGE' FOR MASSACRE OF SUNNIS BY 'INFIDELS'-SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

TALIBAN HAS 'PERMANENT PRESENCE' IN 78% OF AFGHANISTAN
THOUSANDS MORE TROOPS TO BE SENT TO AFGHANISTAN IN COMING MONTHS
MANY WARN US NOT TO IGNORE AFGHANISTAN AND AVOID ANOTHER WAR IN IRAQ, CLAIM IT'S DOOMED TO FAILURE

ROMNEY HAS 47% APPROVAL RATING-SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

TURKEY PM ERDOĞAN WARNS TURKS OF 'KURDISH TERRORIST THREAT', URGES MILITARY TO BE ALERT
BARZANI UNDAUNTED, DECLARES "ERDOĞAN'S BARK IS BIGGER THAN HIS BITE. KURDISTAN WILL TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO US"
US DIPLOMATS FRANTICALLY SEEK TO DEFUSE KURDISTAN TENSIONS
-SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

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[Montgomerie Ward]

CONGRESS RELEASES HUGE TAX PLAN-SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
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Congress has released a huge tax plan, designed to stimulate the economy. After months of deliberations between the House, the Senate, and the White House, the White House has released a tax plan. To avoid a filibuster, the White House is making alterations to the 2010 budget so they can ram it through there, which only needs a simple majority. Congress is expected to approve the plan, and several Democratic Senators, among them Mark Warner, Max Baucus, and Tim Johnson have agreed to back the tax plan, giving it a bipartisan aura, though Reid and Pelosi have manged to get the vast majority of both their small, left-wing caucuses to resist and obstruct the plan.The plan cuts income taxes to 28%, abolishes the estate tax and corporate income taxes go to 25%. This would be paid for with cuts to several deductions, but mainly with spending cuts to social programs, and reorganization, abolition or cuts to several government agencies. The EPA is set to take a large hit in the Romney budget. Democrats are up in arms against the plan, with Senator Hillary Clinton calling it "a travesty" and Senator Reid declaring the plan is "a thinly disguised redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich." Protests have been organized in several cities against the Romney economic policies, but the attendance is set to be no more than a few thousand. Republicans claim the plan will bolster economic growth, and again McConnell and Blunt are attacking the Democrats as "throwing rotten fruit at the people cleaning up the mess you made." Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives have charged the Democrats are "tax and spend liberals". The deficit is projected to increase nearly $350 billion over the next few years due to the plan, and the deficit is already at $1.254 trillion. The national debt is predicted by some to rise by as much as $4.5 trillion.​

2012 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY POLL RELEASED, HILLARY CLINTON LOOKS LIKE THE FRONTRUNNER-SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

Poll results: Hillary Clinton-36%, Barack Obama-16%, Russ Feingold-13%, Al Gore-10%, Evan Bayh-4%, Tom Vilsack-2%, Howard Dean-1%, Wesley Clark-1%, John Edwards-1%, 8% undecided.

CONGRESS PASSES ROMNEY TAX CUTS, ROMNEY SIGNS THEM INTO LAW
UNEMPLOYMENT CURRENTLY AT 11.2%-OCTOBER 1, 2009

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

SUNNIS FLEEING SOUTHERN IRAQ AND BAGHDAD
REPORTS EMERGE OF ROUTINE VIOLENCE AGAINST SUNNIS, FEARS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING ESCALATE

12 TURKISH SOLDIERS KILLED IN FIGHT WITH ARMED MILITANTS-OCTOBER 8, 2009
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12 Turkish soldiers have been killed in a fight with armed militants on the Turkey-Iraq border. 5 of the militants, who were armed with Kalashnikovs, machine guns, and a rocket launcher, were also killed, though at least 10 more escaped after a surprise attack on the border post. Turkey has seized the bodies of the militants, and claims it is 'very likely' they were from the PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party), an insurgent group in turkey that has repeatedly been at conflict with Turkey in an effort to advance Kurdish status and achieve autonomy or independence. The PKK denies responsibility for the attacks, instead calling it an Al-Qaeda attack or a false flag attack by Turkey in order to instigate a war against the Kurds. Turkish PM Erdoğan declared "The PKK terrorists cannot expect to get away with this," and added "It is accepted those that harbor terrorists are themselves responsible. And it is obvious that the Iraqi Peshmerga and Barzani, they are harboring PKK terrorists. Turkey will not accept this threat to its security." Barzani emphatically denied any role in the attacks, and warned Erdoğan "If you attack Kurdistan, Kurdistan will make you pay in blood, toil, and sweat for your assault on us. We have withstood aggression before and if necessary we will withstand it again and give it back to our aggressor." US and Iraqi officials frantically seek to defuse the crisis and avoid escalation, which is seeming likely after the heated rhetoric from both sides.​

TURKEY BEGINS BOMBING PKK AND KURDISH PESHMERGA IN IRAQ
TURKISH FORCES MOBILIZE ON BORDER WITH IRAQ-OCTOBER 10, 2009

BALLOON BOY HOAX?: MANHUNT FOR BOY IN BALLOON FINDS HIM IN HOME ATTIC THE WHOLE TIME-OCTOBER 15, 2009

​

IS LEFT-WING POPULISM RISING?​

​

A year ago, the Democratic Party seemed to be headed out of power to isolation and disgrace, yet it could soon be shifting the nation to the left again, rather than crushed as the second coming of Reaganomics pushed along. The party establishment however is still facing severe trouble, and the party base is looking for alternatives to their incumbents. Kerry's presidency exemplified the party's frustrations, with many claiming Kerry was too timid to advance Democratic priorities such as a reversal of the Bush tax cuts, universal healthcare, lower tuition fees, action on global warming and social issues, and other left-wing positions. Establishment criticism that this would not have been possible with a Republican Congress and led to a more severe rejection have fallen on deaf ears, with Democrats complaining that their presidents act like Republicans. However, the biggest grievance is on the financial crisis, with the left furious at the party's subservience to Wall Street, which they allege dates back to the 1990s. While Hillary Clinton and the current congressional leaders will seek to lead the party into 2012 and beyond, that's not good enough for Democrats, who are beginning to turn to populism against big business, and many want Barack Obama, Russ Feingold or even Bernie sanders as their next President, rather than another Clinton.

ECONOMIC NEWS: NOVEMBER UNEMPLOYMENT 11.1%, GAS PRICES AT $90-95 PER BARREL​

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CZECH REPUBLIC FINAL STATE TO SIGN TREATY OF LISBON, WHICH WILL NOW GO INTO FORCE-NOVEMBER 3, 2009​

​

NOVEMBER US ELECTIONS:​

BOB MCDONNELL (R) NARROWLY WINS VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

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JON CORZINE (D) RETURNS, BEATS INCUMBENT DOUG FORRESTER (R), WINS NEW JERSEY GOVERNORSHIP
FORRESTER TIED TO ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH CORZINE LAMBASTS AS 'INCOMPETENT FOOLS' AND 'STACKING THE DECK AGAINST YOU'
IS THIS A WARNING TO THE GOP FOR 2010?​

​

DESPITE CORZINE VICTORY, GOP DOMINATES GOVERNORSHIPS 34-16, EVEN MAKING A NET GAIN OF 1 GOVERNOR

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

ROMNEY GAFFE: "THE ECONOMY IS NOT REALLY BAD"-NOVEMBER 4, 2009​

​

When asked during a press conference after the results of the gubernatorial elections, the President gifted reporters and opponents with a gaffe, declaring "Well, what you in the press corps don't see, we're saving the economy, it is not really bad, the picture you are painting of the economy is false. That is what the majority of Americans realize." Democrats pounced, with numerous Senators and Congressmen, as well as newly-elected Governor Corzine alleging the President is 'living in a bubble' and 'fundamentally out of touch with ordinary Americans'.

DEMS NOMINATE MARTHA COAKLEY IN SPECIAL ELECTION FOR KENNEDY SEAT, COAKLEY ENJOYS 34-POINT LEAD​

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15 KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACK ON FORT HOOD-NOVEMBER 5, 2009​

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BARZANI MASSES TROOPS ON BORDER WITH TURKEY, AND CALLS FOR KURDS TO 'DEFEND OUR NATION AGAINST AGGRESSION'-NOVEMBER 9, 2009​

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ERDOĞAN ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO KURDISTAN: 'HAND OVER PKK TERRORISTS AND END YOUR AGGRESSION'-NOVEMBER 12, 2009

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BARZANI REBUKES ERDOĞAN, AND PROMISES KURDISTAN WILL STAND STRONG
BARZANI ANNOUNCES KURDISTAN WILL HOLD REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE BY JANUARY 2011, DECLARES "WE ARE UNBOWED, TURKISH AGGRESSION WILL NOT DAUNT US'​

​

PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ IBRAHIM AL-JAFAARI CALLS ON TURKEY AND KURDISTAN TO DEESCALATE THE CRISIS
BARZANI: "IRAQ NO LONGER EXISTS, WE WILL NOT BE ENSLAVED BY IT"​

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TURKISH BOMBS LAND ACROSS ERBIL, KURDISTAN CAPITAL-NOVEMBER 15, 2009​

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TURKEY BEGINS OPERATION ENDGAME, SENDS TROOPS INTO IRAQ TO ROUT OUT 'KURDISH TERRORISTS'-NOVEMBER 16, 2009​

​

Tensions in the Kurdish region have reached boiling point, and Turkey is sending troops into Kurdistan. It is sending at least 30,000 troops according to most estimates, and according to reports the plan of Operation Endgame is to push PKK forces away from Turkey, and to occupy parts of Kurdistan to form a buffer zone with Turkey. Turkey also wants to prevent the Kurdish government there from declaring independence, and to destabilise and destroy the local Kurdish government is another objective. President Masoud Barzani, Prime Minister Nerchevan Barzani and other Kurdish leaders are targets of Turkish attacks. Erdoğan says that Turkey hopes to seize Erbil in the next few months and occupy much of Kurdistan, or at least the parts closest to Turkey, until Turkey deems the 'terrorists' to be defeated. The United States has expressed concern but not disapproval, while the UN is opposing the invasion. Kurdish Peshmerga are preparing to attack Turkish forces as Operation Endgame continues. What is clear now is that the crisis in Kurdistan has escalated into full-blown war, Turkey against the Kurds.

PKK TERRORIST ATTACK: 69 ANKARANS CONFIRMED DEAD, INJURIES OVER 200-NOVEMBER 17, 2009​

​

2 car bombs went off outside crowded shops in Turkey's capital of Ankara, and the confirmed dead are at 69 but expected to rise while injuries are over 200. The attackers have not yet been caught, but evidence found near the scene identifies them as Kurds and as members of the PKK. This is just in time for Erdoğan, providing a justification for his war in Kurdistan. Erdoğan's approval ratings in recent days have soared to over 70-75%, especially as a successful PR campaign by Erdoğan's government has made Turks fearful of the 'Kurdish terrorist threat' on its border.

ROMNEY: "I HAVE CALLED ERDOĞAN AND BARZANI, AND I CALL FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISTAN DISPUTE"-NOVEMBER 18, 2009

​

President Romney has addressed the Kurdistan crisis in his latest interview, revealing that over the last few days he has been making repeated calls to Erdoğan, Barzani and other Turkish and Kurdish leaders. He did not fully reveal what was said in those calls, but assured the international community his top priority is to get peace in Kurdistan (this statement about Kurdistan being his top priority was later construed by opponents to mean he doesn't care about the economy). Romney said he and US diplomats hope to craft a diplomatic solution to the crisis and called on all sides to "avoid unnecessary violence and work together to end this conflict and restore peace to the region," and warned parties not to "engage in indiscriminate violence against civilians such as what we have seen in Ankara". Romney threatened possible diplomatic and economic consequences-namely in sanctions and foreign aid- to both parties in the conflict if they didn't stop the violence. Barzani and Erdoğan adamantly refused to back down and blamed the other side for the conflict.

JAFAARI: "TURKEY IS INVADING IRAQ"
ERDOĞAN: "YOU CAN'T STOP TERRORISM SO WE MUST"-NOVEMBER 18, 2009​

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SECRETARY OF STATE ZOELLICK CONDEMNS 'UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR' IN KURDISTAN CRISIS-NOVEMBER 19, 2009​

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OVER 50 KURDISH CIVILIANS KILLED IN ERBIL BOMBING BY TURKS-NOVEMBER 20, 2009​

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LARGE HADRON COLLIDER RESTARTED-NOVEMBER 20, 2009​

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PESHMERGA KILLS 17 TURKS, BUT 13 PESHMERGA KILLED ALSO-NOVEMBER 22, 2009​

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ROMNEY GETS 46% APPROVAL RATING, 46% DISAPPROVE-NOVEMBER 23, 2009​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

DUBAI REQUESTS DEBT DEFERMENT FOLLOWING GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND DEVELOPMENT & RENOVATION PROJECTS
STOCK MARKETS DROP AT THE NEWS-NOVEMBER 27, 2009​

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GOLFER TIGER WOODS INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT
WOODS FACING ALLEGATIONS OF INFIDELITY-NOVEMBER 27, 2009​

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TREATY OF LISBON GOES INTO EFFECT-DECEMBER 1, 2009​

VIRGINIA SMOKING BAN GOES INTO EFFECT-DECEMBER 1, 2009​

​

OVER 10,000 TURN UP TO PROTEST IN WASHINGTON-DECEMBER 2, 2009​

​

Thousands of protesters have flocked to Washington, D.C. near Capitol Hill in the last week. These protesters call themselves the People Power movement, and directed their anger squarely at the President, but also targeted the political establishment as a whole. Protesters are largely on the left of the political spectrum, lambasting the war in Afghanistan, politicians' inability to confront Wall Street, the economic crisis and corporate greed. Several people addressed the crowd, such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. One member of the crowd had this to say "I voted for Romney last election, I've been a Republican most of my life. But I see the politicians cow-towing to Wall Street, I don't see people standing up and solving our problems, and I realized we need a change. This isn't a partisan issue. Our political system is corrupted by lobbyists and crooks and sleazebags, we need to do something. We need to break up the banks, get our troops home and we need to take our country back!"

HOW VULNERABLE IS THE GOP IN THE 2010 MIDTERMS?​

​

Soon, we will be heading into 2010. A lot of people are nervous, and Republican politicians are among them. The President's approval rating are lukewarm and slipping fast, while the economy, though growth could resume in 2010, still faces rising unemployment and severe malaise. Recovery doesn't seem to be in sight, and while it could appear by the 2012 election, it looks like what Republicans will have to face in the 2010 midterms is a sluggish economy at best. Republicans are trying to boast about their tax cuts, urge voters to give them a chance and blame John Kerry, but that strategy is risky. Several Republican candidates have said off the record that they will run as moderate Republicans, promising bipartisanship in Washington and condemning their own President as well as Democrats, or at least trying to distance themselves from him. Republican leaders will have none of it, with Mitch McConnell vowing to unite the party around Romney's record, and Blunt the same. With 58/100 Senate seats and a 63-seat House majority, the biggest Republican congressional majorities since the 1920s, and just last year talk of a permanent Republican majority, it seems impossible Republicans will lose Congress. it still seems through, if anything, the sheer power of their incumbency and how steep a mountain the Democrats would have to climb that they will keep control of Congress and a majority of governorships (they currently have 34), but 2010 is not going to be a good year to be a Republican. A victory could well be pyrrhic.

TROOPS START ARRIVING IN AFGHANISTAN IN TROOP SURGE, DESPITE STRONG DOMESTIC OPPOSITION
PEOPLE POWER MOVEMENT PROTESTS SURGE, REPUBLICAN POLICIES AND WALL STREET GREED ACROSS THE NATION, SAYS "CAN'T YOU LEARN FROM HISTORY?!"

ASSAD: "IRAQ NEEDS TO DEAL TO THE TERRORIST"
HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN AL-QAEDA AND SYRIAN GOVT FORCES ON SYRIA-IRAQ BORDER REGION-DECEMBER 7, 2009​

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150 KILLED, OVER 225 INJURED IN COORDINATED BAGHDAD CAR BOMBINGS
FEARS THAT SYRIA TOO WILL ENTER IRAQ POWER VACUUM-DECEMBER 8, 2009​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

JAMES CAMERON'S FILM AVATAR RELEASED, HIGHEST GROSSING FILM TO DATE-DECEMBER 10, 2009​

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AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ LEADER ABU AYYUB AL-MASRI DECLARES JIHAD AGAINST SYRIA-DECEMBER 11, 2009​

​

Abu Ayyub al-Masri, following clashes with Syrian government forces has declared jihad against the Assad government of Syria, whose leaders are from the minority Alawite sect of Islam. This latest move ramps up the likelihood Syria will intervene in Iraq, as al-Masri called for Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the wide jihadist network to wage a jihad in Syria. Already, AQI controls most of western Iraq, including Fallujah and Ramadi, and reports have emerged of terrorist training camps being formed in the region. Now, a confrontation is beginning in which AQI hopes to spread sectarian conflict to Syria and further expand its influence. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised to destroy the terrorists and reports are emerging of Syrian troops massing on the Iraqi border. Several unverified reports from inside AQI territory have claimed Syrians have already been bombing AQI targets and several civilians were killed.

COPENHAGEN CLIMATE AGREEMENT REACHED
AGREEMENT CRITICIZED AS WEAK, DISAPPOINTMENT THAT IT IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING
FURY AT US REFUSAL TO SIGN ON TO ATTENDANCE-DECEMBER 18, 2009​

​

PRESIDENT ROMNEY: "THE EVIDENCE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE EXISTS AND IS MAN-MADE IS TOO THIN"
LEFT FURIOUS AT ROMNEY'S REFUSAL TO ACT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, CLAIM LEADERSHIP FROM THE US WOULD LEAD TO A BETTER AGREEMENT AND EFFORT
REPUBLICANS BACK UP ROMNEY​

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IRAN SEIZES IRAQI EAST MAYSAN OIL FIELDS-DECEMBER 18, 2009​

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SYRIA BEGINS INTERVENTION IN IRAQ, SENDS OVER 20,00 TROOPS ACROSS THE BORDER TO FIGHT SUNNI TERRORISTS
SECRETARY ZOELLICK: "I AM CONCERNED AT THIS VIOLATION OF IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY"
HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS DEAD IN SYRIAN BOMBING-DECEMBER 20, 2009​

​

TURKEY TO DOUBLE TROOPS IN KURDISTAN, ADVANCE TOWARDS ERBIL CONTINUES
TURKEY TAKING HEAVY LOSSES, BUT PESHMERGA ALSO SUFFERING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASUALTIES
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS REPORT TURKS ATTACKING CIVILIANS, NEARLY 8,000 DEAD-DECEMBER 21, 2009​

US RAMPS UP FIGHT AGAINST TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN​

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UNDERWEAR BOMBER FAILS IN ATTEMPTED TERRORIST ATTACK-DECEMBER 25, 2009​

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46% APPROVE OF ROMNEY JOB PERFORMANCE, 48% DISAPPROVE-DECEMBER 28, 2009​

​

President Romney has had a trying first year. Foreign policy crises abroad, economic crisis at home and a poisonous inheritance have all dogged the President, yet at the same time he has his own failures have hurt him, from his gaffes, perceived ineffectiveness on the economy and his failure to save the auto industry. The swing-states of the Midwest are where unemployment is highest, and the President is increasingly poisonous. Michigan, Romney's childhood state, has unemployment that is over 17%, and in much of the Midwest the Great Depression is repeating itself. Even outside the region, the economy is shedding jobs fast and struggling to stay afloat. Romney promises economic growth soon, and projections seem to show an end of the recession could be just around the corner. An end to double-digit unemployment is less likely. Romney's presidency has had its accomplishments, in lowering taxes and preventing another Great Depression, and in 2010 Congress hopes to cut regulations, boost domestic energy production, reform lending and perhaps other legislation. The Romney presidency has time to get America back on the right track. Whether it will is another question. Entering 2010, the future is uncertain, and the ride will still be rough. We will see what Romney will be able to accomplish now.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

THE RECESSION IS OVER! US ECONOMY GROWS BY 2%
THE PAIN IS NOT OVER: UNEMPLOYMENT AT 11.5%
INFLATION'S BACK, DEFLATIONARY SPIRAL AVERTED-JANUARY 1, 2010​

​

BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, FED CHAIRMAN ROGER FERGUSON ATTEMPTS QUANTITATIVE EASING​

​

Named Person of the Year by Time magazine, and at the center of the economic crisis is Roger Ferguson. Ferguson has been extremely active in the economic crisis, in order to stop a deflationary spiral and collapse of the banks. Ferguson has pulled all stops to bail out the banks, free up credit, push interest rates to 0% and now is attempting quantitative easing, at such a rate that there have been fears of inflation going too high. Now it seems that with deflation stopped, Ferguson can leave having succeeded in averting another Great Depression. Still, the Glenn Hubbard confirmation, if it gets through, could endanger Ferguson's legacy at the Fed. Not that that legacy will be recognized by the public, as there is a strong movement to End the Fed and revulsion at the unpopular bailouts.

US, UK EMBASSIES IN YEMEN CLOSED DUE TO AL-QAEDA SECURITY THREAT-JANUARY 3, 2010​

TALLEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE - BURJ AL-KHALIFA - BUILT IN DUBAI-JANUARY 4, 2010​

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TURKS WIN BLOODY BATTLE OF SHANADAR, CONTINUE ADVANCE INTO KURDISTAN-JANUARY 12, 2010​

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GOOGLE: "WE WERE TARGETED BY CHINESE CYBER ATTACK"-JANUARY 13, 2010​

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YEMEN DECLARES WAR ON AL-QAEDA-JANUARY 14, 2010​

SYRIAN FORCES ENTER OIL REFINERY TOWN OF BAIJI, BATTLE BEGINS WITH AQI-JANUARY 15, 2010​

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MARTHA COAKLEY (D) WINS 13-POINT VICTORY IN SPECIAL ELECTION FOR KENNEDY SEAT-JANUARY 19, 2010​

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SUPREME COURT RULING IN CITIZENS UNITED V FEC CASE:
"1ST AMENDMENT DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE GOVT FROM RESTRICTING INDEPENDENT CORPORATE DONATIONS"
COURT DECLARES 6-3 "MONEY IS NOT SPEECH"-JANUARY 21, 2009​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

ROMNEY DELIVERS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS-JANUARY 27, 2010​

​

The President addressed the nation today, and his speech focused on the economy, with Romney declaring "We have taken many hits throughout our history, but we always get back up and we win. That is what will happen, and that is what must happen." Romney's speech promised that the Romney tax cuts and the stimulus would soon revive the economy, and he also emphasized that in the next few years he wanted to pursue conservative economic policies, 'fiscal responsibility', and other 'innovative, conservative, bipartisan solutions to our nation's pressing problems'.

CONGRESS VOTES 63-36 TO CONFIRM HUBBARD AT THE FED
NARROWEST MARGIN FOR FED CHAIRMAN CONFIRMATION EVER-JANUARY 28, 2010​

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US, BRITAIN TO BEGIN OFFENSIVE IN AFGHANISTAN​

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TURKISH FORCES SURROUNDED, MASSACRED BY PKK AND PESHMERGA AT SHAQLAWA
OVER 1,400 BELIEVED TO BE DEAD-FEBRUARY 9, 2010​

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AQI LOSES BAIJI, OIL REFINERY SET ON FIRE AND DESTROYED-FEBRUARY 20, 2010​

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In a major victory for the Syrians, Al-Qaeda has been routed from the town of Baiji, allowing the Syrians to continue their offensive into Iraq. However, during the battle AQI set the oil refinery on fire and destroyed it, no longer being able to use it to profit from the illegal oil trade. Still, Al-Qaeda forces are massing in nearby towns, and the Syrians have also taken heavy casualties.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT RUN IN NEW YORK GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION
ANDREW CUOMO SET TO WIN-FEBRUARY 26, 2010​

PEOPLE POWER MOVEMENT CHALLENGING DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS AND ESTABLISHMENT

SHORTAGE OF TOMATOES HITS​

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UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 12.0%
ECONOMY GROWS BY 2.1%, INFLATION AT 2.6%-MARCH 1, 2010​

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THE SENATE WILL HAVE A BILL TO REPLACE THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT IN DAYS-MARCH 18, 2010

STRONG EDUCATION FOR AMERICA ACT (SEFAA) PASSES THE SENATE 73-26
BILL DIVIDES DEMOCRATS, MANY VIEW IT AS TOO CONSERVATIVE-MARCH 24, 2010

SYRIANS AND AQI BATTLE FOR TIKRIT-MARCH 25, 2010​

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SOUTH KOREAN NAVY SHIP SINKS, NORTH KOREA BLAMED-MARCH 26, 2010​

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OFFICIAL TABULATION OF 2010 US CENSUS BEGINS-APRIL 1, 2010​

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HOUSE MINORITY WHIP STENY HOYER LOSES PRIMARY!-APRIL 3, 2010​

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The second most powerful House Democrat, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer has lost renomination in his own district, in a tremendous shock to the system that nobody saw coming. Publisher Cathy Johnson Pendleton unseated Hoyer, and by a chasmal 15-point margin. Yesterday she was barely known but today she is famous across America, perhaps even globally. The surprise upset (to say the least)has been attributed to the People Power movement, which supported Pendleton and the view among the Democratic base that Hoyer is a moderate and establishment figure. Democrats across America are shocked, and establishment figures believe this could endanger their chances of taking Congress in November, thinking that if the Democrats are too far to the left they could alienate swing voters and that the party war chest will be slightly less full without a prolific fundraiser in Hoyer. Hoyer's district is almost certain to elect Pendleton to replace him. Hoyer has announced he will stay Minority whip until January 2011, where his place in the House leadership is likely to be filled by Jim Clyburn, a more liberal candidate. The generic congressional ballot currently shows 42% Republican, 39% Democrat, 15% undecided and 4% other. The People Power movement and the party base are jubilant, and establishment democrats are reeling and are determined to avoid anymore unpleasant surprises. Many in the party base want to give them just that.

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

MINE EXPLODES IN WEST VIRGINIA, OVER 25 KILLED-APRIL 5, 2010

KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV FLEES BISHKEK AMID RIOTING AND CHAOS-APRIL 8, 2010

CEASEFIRE IN KURDISTAN AGREED, TURKEY AND KURDS AGREE TO NEGOTIATE A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT
SECRETARY OF STATE ZOELLICK LEADS PEACE EFFORT-APRIL 8, 2010

OVER 150 KILLED IN BAGHDAD MASSACRES BY AQI-APRIL 10, 2010

MAHDI ARMY RETALIATES, KILLS OVER 200 SUNNIS-APRIL 11, 2010

2010 US CENSUS: MICHIGAN LOSES 8% OF POPULATION, MIDWEST LOSES POPULATION AND TEXAS, CALIFORNIA SEE GAINS
PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, OHIO & NEW YORK TO LOSE 2 SEATS IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

US TO BEGIN OFFENSIVE ON KANDAHAR TO OUST TALIBAN

ZOELLICK: "WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS WITH KURDISTAN TALKS"

S&P DOWNGRADES GREEK SOVEREIGN DEBT TO JUNK, EXACERBATING ECONOMIC CRISIS-APRIL 27, 2010

CAR BOMB GOES OFF IN TIMES SQUARE, 45 PEOPLE KILLED-MAY 1, 2010

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Over 45 people are confirmed dead after a car bomb went off at 6:28 pm in Times Square, New York. Police have rushed into the area and the death toll is rising. Approximately 100 people have been injured in the attack. No suspect has been caught yet but police are mounting an investigation of the attack. Authorities across the nation are on high alert against any more terrorist attacks.

GREECE TO RECEIVE BAILOUT FROM EU AND IMF IN EXCHANGE FOR AUSTERITY MEASURES-MAY 2, 2010

PRESIDENT ROMNEY ADDRESSES NATION AFTER TIMES SQUARE BOMBING-MAY 4, 2010

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President Romney addressed the nation after the Times Square bombing in which 59 people are confirmed dead. He declared, "The terrorist threat will be overcome. To all those who seek to harm America, you will not prevail." And he also announced renewed counter-terrorism efforts at home and abroad, from increased security and police powers to ramping up the drone strike program. These measures are expected to be controversial, especially the 'drone war', which has aroused strong opposition from Democrats, with Illinois Senator Barack Obama as one of its most vocal critics. Still, in the aftermath of these attacks Americans are expected to rally behind these new measures, at least for the time being.

CONSERVATIVES WIN UK ELECTION BUT SHORT OF A MAJORITY
COALITION NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN-MAY 6, 2010

US STOCK MARKET EXPERIENCES FLASH CRASH-MAY 6, 2010

DEMOCRATS DIVIDED BETWEEN ESTABLISHMENT AND PEOPLE POWER MOVEMENT
PELOSI: "THESE PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT!"

GENERIC CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT: 3% OTHER, 13% UNDECIDED, 41% DEMOCRAT, 43% REPUBLICAN-MAY 10, 2010

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING: 47%-MAY 16, 2010

BILL HALTER SMASHES INCUMBENT BLANCHE LINCOLN IN PRIMARY
ARKANSAS SENATOR LOSES BY 9-POINT MARGIN
POLLS SHOW HALTER LOSING SENATE RACE BY 4 POINTS TO GOP NOMINEE JOHN BOOZMAN-MAY 18, 2010

​

 

[Oppo]

THAILAND PROTESTS END IN BLOODY MILITARY CRACKDOWN-MAY 19, 2010​

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AIR INDIA EXPRESS FLIGHT 812 OVERSHOOTS RUNWAY AND CRASHES, KILLING ALL BUT 8 PASSENGERS-MAY 22, 2010​

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PRESIDENT DISCUSSES AGENDA, POLITICS IN INTERVIEW-MAY 24, 2010​

President Romney has discussed his agenda in an interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, saying that asides from SEFAA (Strong Education For America Act-which repeals and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act) he hopes Congress passes the ROAR (Reform Of America's Regulations) Act, which makes deep cuts and reforms to government regulations and is designed to 'redesign the government and release the burden of heavy regulations from the economy'-to quote Speaker Blunt. The ROAR Act is expected to be voted on and pass the House in the next few weeks. Romney dismissed Republican fears over losing Congress in the midterms, and attacked his opponents as "having either terrible ideas or none at all". Romney declared "the economy is recovering" and called the Democrats "soft on defence, soft on terrorism"
​

AGREEMENT REACHED IN KURDISTAN-JUNE 1, 2010​

An end to the recent conflict in Kurdistan has been agreed, with a demilitarised zone being formed on the Turkey-Iraq(Kurdistan) border, a referendum on Kurdish independence and the status of Kirkuk being scheduled for 2012, an agreement by the Kurds to help Turkey defeat the PKK(or at least not aid them) and a Kurdish agreement not to expand their territory beyond what they currently hold, conditions protected by the threat of US aid to the Kurds being revoked, and the agreement has gained the support of Syrian and Iraqi governments as well.
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SEFAA PASSES THE HOUSE DESPITE DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION, SIGNED INTO LAW-JUNE 2, 2010​

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HOUSE PASSES ROAR (REFORM OF AMERICA'S REGULATIONS) ACT
DEMOCRATS LAMBAST IT AS 'A GIFT FOR BILLIONAIRES'-JUNE 5, 2010​

AFGHAN INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR AMRULLAH SALEH RESIGNS-JUNE 6, 2010​

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ETHNIC RIOTS ERUPT IN KYRGYZTAN-JUNE 10, 2010​

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OVER 40 AFGHAN CIVILIANS KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING-JUNE 10, 2010​

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DEMOCRAT ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES LOSING ACROSS THE COUNTRY​

The Democrat establishment is struggling in the wake of the People Power movement's rise, with establishment candidates and moderates being felled in primaries. First it was Hoyer, then Lincoln, now dozens of congressional districts are nominating people Power candidates and in gubernatorial elections too the establishment is facing strong challengers, with Oregon's Democrats surprisingly nominating left-wing Bill Bradbury over former Governor John Kitzhaber, and other Democrat candidates are adopting more left-wing platforms and pitches to satisfy the party base. The party leaders have made it clear they have, to quote Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid "no time for these lunatics", but that won't stop them. Republicans, with troubles of their own, are hoping the Democrats emerge weak, divided and unelectable from this. Whether the People Power wave will swamp the Democrats or Republicans remains to be seen.
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CHINA TO RAISE YUAN AGAINST US DOLLAR-JUNE 19, 2010​

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AUSTRALIAN PM UNSEATED AS PARTY LEADER AND PM BY JULIA GILLARD IN SURPRISE COUP

RULING LABOR PARTY HAS NARROW LEAD OVER OPPOSITION COALITION, EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP CHANGE REMAIN TO BE SEEN-JUNE 24, 2010​

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ROAR ACT PASSES SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, REPUBLICANS HOPE TO PASS IT IN WEEKS

REID VOWS TO FILIBUSTER, DEMOCRAT CAUCUS LOOKS UNITED AGAINST ROAR ACT-JUNE 27, 2010​

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WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR ROBERT BYRD DIES-JUNE 28, 2010​

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AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ IS COLLAPSING​

Sunni tribes in Iraq are in open revolt against Al-Qaeda, and Syrian forces are continuing their advance. In Baghdad, Iraqi government forces are making advances and pushing onwards against Al-Qaeda. The organisation's hold in Iraq is collapsing, and many are hoping an end to the civil war in Iraq might be on the horizon. However, Iraq is by no means a united and functioning state, and Al-Qaeda is still putting up a fight. However, as its forces are losing ground, there is reason to hope. A defeat for Al-Qaeda however, will not put an immediate end to the civil strife. Iraq, if it rebuilds, will take a while.
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ROMNEY GAFFE: PEOPLE NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ECONOMY

SAYS PEOPLE ACTING IF THEY'RE ENTITLED TO FREE LUNCH, CLAIMS AMERICA'S ECONOMY IS STILL DOING BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE-JULY 4, 2010​

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ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING HITS 42%, 51% DISAPPROVE-JULY 5, 2010​

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