http://budget.house.gov/doc-library/FY2010/03.15.2010_reconciliation2010.PDF

White House Ups Ante With New Criticism of Israel

FOXNews.com

The White House is raising the stakes with Israel, calling it an "insult" and an "affront" that the Jewish nation would continue plans to build 1,600 new apartments during a construction freeze aimed at re-igniting peace talks with Palestinians.

Palestinians have not sought as part of their capital the area of northeast Jerusalem where the Jewish settlement of Ramat Shlomo resides, but the decision to announce construction plans just as Vice President Joe Biden was visiting the region led to strained meetings that continues past his return. 

Biden expressed his displeasure by showing up late to a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to issue a statement of condemnation.

On Sunday, President Obama's chief political adviser David Axelrod told ABC's "This Week" that the move undermines the fragile effort to bring peace to the troubled region and called the timing of the announcement "very destructive."

Axelrod would not say what has been discussed in diplomatic talks but suggested the decision by Israel was "calculated to undermine" peace talks with the Palestinians. He added that because Israel is a special ally to the United States "for just that very reason that was not the right way to behave."

But White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Netanyahu's apology on Sunday was a "good start" to rebuild trust, but more needs to be done.

"I think what would be an even better start is coming to the table with constructive ideas for constructive and trustful dialogue about moving the peace process forward," Gibbs said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/14/white-house-ups-ante-new-criticism-israel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fpolitics+%2528Text+-+Politics%2529

Seniors' Concerns Loom In Votes On Reform

Ronald Brownstein
Thursday, March 11, 2010 4:00 PM

Demographic trends could compound the political challenges Democrats face in their struggle to assemble a majority for health care reform in the House of Representatives. As the following tables show, about two-thirds of the roughly 100 Democratic House members who are not considered firm supporters of the legislation represent districts where senior citizens represent a larger share of the population than they do nationally (12.6 percent); in polls many seniors have expressed concern that the reform package will hurt Medicare.

On the other hand, only about 40 of the target Democrats represent districts where the share of residents without health insurance exceeds the national average of 15 percent. These figures on access to insurance are drawn from the Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey, which produced a slightly different overall rate of insurance coverage for the nation than the bureau's annual report on health insurance. That report uses another survey (the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey) to calculate its figures. The annual report placed the share of Americans without health insurance at 15.4 percent; the ACS put it at 15 percent. The district level and national figures on the senior population are drawn from a three-year average of the American Community Survey that the Census Bureau publishes.

When the House initially passed the health care bill last November, 39 Democrats voted no. Of those, 17 represent districts where the share of residents without health insurance exceeds the national average. Four no votes -- Chet Edwards of Texas, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Harry Teague of New Mexico, and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina -- represent districts where at least 20 percent of residents lacked health insurance. All four are currently expected to vote no again when the final bill reaches the floor.

Meanwhile, of the initial 39 no votes, 25 represent districts where seniors exceed their national share of the population. These members include some of the leadership's top targets in the final scramble for votes, including Pennsylvania's Jason Altmire and John Adler of New Jersey.

http://healthtopic.nationaljournal.com/2010/03/seniors-concerns-loom-in-votes.php#133559p

Gavin Newsom Running for Lieutenant Governor in California

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, best known for his bold push for gay marriage in his city, is now running for the No. 2 spot in California politics.

Newsom announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor this morning on CBS 5 in San Francisco (Watch the announcement at left).

"If you told me two months ago we'd be sitting down having this conversation, I would say, 'no way,'" he said in the interview with CBS 5 political reporter Phil Matier. "But enough people came to me and made a case for this office."

Newsom dropped out of the gubernatorial race in October after failing to gain traction statewide. He had been trailing California Attorney General Jerry Brown (who is also a former governor) in fundraising, even though Brown had not at that time formally entered the race (he did formally enter the race earlier last week).

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000381-503544.html

Albany’s Crime Spree

New York state government is a den of thieves.

BY Fred Siegel

Why our 'post-modern presidents' fail

Last Updated: 4:25 AM, March 13, 2010

Posted: 12:22 AM, March 13, 2010

Since the end of World War II, our country has had three great presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.

Their politics varied, but these giants stand in sharp contrast to our last three presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and now Barack Obama. The first two presided over gravely flawed presidencies; the third is on his way to outright failure.

What makes these two presidential trios so different? A recent visit to the Truman Museum and Library in Independence, Mo., made me ask what made those great presidents great.

The answer is character. The three greats were men of great character; the three recents, men of great ambition -- driven, in their different ways, by a fateful sense of entitlement.

And you don't build character by punching your ticket at today's Ivy-League universities, then dashing straight into politics.

The people I admire most in life aren't the golden boys (or girls), but those who've come up the hard way. Frankly, failure builds character -- in those who have the gumption to get back up on their feet and fight to succeed.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/why_our_post_modern_presidents_fail_9MKHR3ZhrLhWjxrtwsjAbL

Robert Gibbs and the Sestak Stonewall

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
03/13/10 6:38 AM EST

At Friday's White House briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked, for the fifth time in less than three weeks, about Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak's charge that the White House offered Sestak a high-ranking job if Sestak would drop his challenge to Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. And for the fifth time, Gibbs refused to answer the question of whether the White House offered a bribe to protect the fortunes of a key political ally.

The story started on February 18, when Sestak told a talk radio host that the offer had come last summer, when Sestak was considering a run against Specter. Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, was asked whether he was offered the position of Secretary of the Navy. "No comment," Sestak said. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the White House "strongly denied" Sestak's allegation.

On February 23, Gibbs was asked whether he had "any comment" on Sestak's charge. "I was traveling for a couple of days, as you know," Gibbs answered. "I have seen some stuff that he said, but I have not looked into this."

Later in the briefing, a reporter pointed out that the White House had "vociferously" denied the story. "When you said, 'I haven't looked into this,'" the reporter asked Gibbs, "I want to make sure you're not contradicting that denial."

"I just -- because I was on the road and dealing with different things on the road," Gibbs responded, "I've not had a chance to delve into this….Like I said, I was on the road and I don't really have a whole lot of knowledge on this."

On March 1, the subject came up again. "Last Monday, you were asked twice about the claims of Congressman Sestak, that he had been offered a high-ranking administration position -- " a reporter began.

"I have not made any progress on that," Gibbs said.

The reporter pointed out that the Pentagon had said there was no discussion of any job, but that Sestak stood behind his charge. "Can you check if the White House made any offer?" the reporter asked.

"Yes, I was remiss on this and I apologize," Gibbs said.

"Can I follow up on that?" asked the reporter.

"There's not much to follow up on," Gibbs said. "Let me check into that."

On March 9, the issue came up again. "You told us a couple of times you’d check back on this," a reporter asked. "Can you give us an update?"

"I don’t have the update with me, but let me check and see if I do have anything -- " Gibbs said.

On March 11, Gibbs was asked, "Last Tuesday you told us, 'I don't have the update with me on Sestak.' Two things have happened since then -- "

"I don't have any -- " Gibbs said.

"[Rep.] Darrell Issa sent a letter to the White House counsel -- "

"I don't have anything additional on that," Gibbs said.

And finally, on March 12, Gibbs was asked, "Do you have an answer yet on Mr. Sestak's charge?"

"I don't have any more information on that," Gibbs said.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Robert-Gibbs-and-the-Sestak-Stonewall-87567892.html

American Linked to Terror Plot 'Lost Her Mind'

Saturday, March 13, 2010

LEADVILLE, Colorado —  Before her daughter disappeared last fall, Christine Mott recalls that the 31-year-old who had been held in connection with an alleged assassination plot announced she had converted to Islam and told her family they'd go to hell if they didn't follow in her steps.

Jamie Paulin-Ramirez also began talking about Jihad with her Muslim stepfather and spent most of her time online as she withdrew from her family, Mott said.

"We were enemies," Christine Mott said. "We couldn't even speak to each other."

Last year, on Sept. 11, Paulin-Ramirez left Leadville, Colorado, an old silver mining town west of Denver that was Colorado's second-largest city during its heyday. She took her 6-year-old son with her, her mother said.

A U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Saturday that Paulin-Ramirez had been detained in Ireland in connection with an alleged plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist who had offended many Muslims.

Irish police said later Saturday that they had released without charge an American woman, who they didn't identify, and three others arrested in Ireland over an alleged plot to assassinate the cartoonist, Lars Vilks.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,589186,00.html

Americans Say Jobs Top Problem Now, Deficit in Future

Economy, healthcare remain prominent concerns

PRINCETON, NJ -- Unemployment now stands alone as the top issue in Gallup's latest update on the most important problem facing the country. Thirty-one percent of Americans mention jobs or unemployment, significantly more than say the economy in general (24%), healthcare (20%), or dissatisfaction with government (10%).

http://www.gallup.com/poll/126614/Americans-Say-Jobs-Top-Problem-Deficit-Future.aspx?CSTS=tagrss

New standards in history class

Texas board endorses conservative-backed curriculum

By GARY SCHARRER
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

March 13, 2010, 7:27AM

AUSTIN — The State Board of Education tentatively approved new standards for social studies Friday with members divided along party lines — some blasting them as a fraud and conservative whitewash, others praising them as a tribute to the Founding Fathers that rightly portrays America as an exceptional country.

The standards, which will influence history and government textbooks arriving in public schools in fall 2011, were adopted by 10 Republicans against five Democrats after weeks of debate and across a racial and ideological chasm that seemed to grow wider as the proposal was finalized Thursday.

The document faces a public hearing and a final board vote in May.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6910429.html