Thomas R. Eddlem
Obama’s Middle-class Tax-increase Dance
On August 3, everyone in the White House press corps was pretending President Obama hadn’t already broken his campaign promise not to back tax increases upon the middle class. The whole White House press corps was agog with speculation over comments by Obama’s top two financial appointees on Sunday-morning talk shows that broad tax increases are on the horizon for the middle class.
Ted Kennedy Receives U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Obama selected Massachusetts senior Senator Ted Kennedy to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom July 30, supposedly the highest civilian honor the United States government gives.
Guantanamo Teen’s Trial Delayed by Obama Administration
The Obama administration has picked up the Bush administration’s policy of denying justice to detainees rather quickly, using the tactics of delay as the Bush administration had done. But in the case of child-combatant Mohammed Jawad, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle may not allow it anymore.
Bush Considered Violating Posse Comitatus Law
President Bush considered ignoring the long-standing and explicit prohibition against using military forces within U.S. territory, the New York Times reported on July 25. The deployment of military forces against U.S. civilians was banned by the Posse Comitatus law, which was enacted shortly after Civil War reconstruction ended. President Bush reportedly considered using military forces to arrest five suspected terrorists near Buffalo, N.Y., in September 2002, despite the law.
House Committee Chairmen Rebuke Obama
Four Democratic committee and subcommittee chairmen signed a July 21 letter rebuking President Barack Obama for asserting in a “signing statement” that he could ignore the law as passed by Congress.
Obama Repeats Lie That He Hasn’t Pushed Tax Increases on Poor
President Obama reiterated his false claim that he has not raised the taxes of Americans.
U.S. Bailouts Could Cost $23.7 Trillion, Inspector General Says
Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Neil Barofsky told House members on July 21 that the TARP program and other government bailout programs have mushroomed the liability of the federal government to $23.7 trillion.
Obama Deals, Feels Pressure on Stimulus
President Obama is really starting to feel the heat on the bogus economic projections he used to sell the “stimulus” package and budget to Americans, and he’s also used cabinet-level executive branch officials to bite back at political critics.
John Yoo: President Can Ignore Law
Bush-era Justice Department Attorney John Yoo is mad that various inspectors general have concluded that his legal memoranda on Bush-era warrantless eavesdropping have “serious factual and legal flaws.”
CIA Lies and Other Redundancies
Seven Democratic members of Congress recently penned a strong letter to CIA Director Leon Panetta asking him to apologize for claiming back in May that the CIA didn't lie to Congress. Panetta had written in May: “Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and values.” Panetta’s claim was false. Last week, Panetta informed House Intelligence Committee members for the first time of an intelligence program that had existed since 2001.