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Internet News RecordLibertyNewsprint.com U.S. Edition12/08/09 - 13/08/09
Emotions high at White House for “Puerto Ricangirl” Sotomayor
By Patricia Zengerle (Front Row Washington)
Submitted at 8/12/2009 9:30:33 AM
President Barack Obama took abreak from his tough fight overhealthcare reform on Wednesday tothrow a victory party for SoniaSotomayor, who on Saturday wassworn in as thefirst Hispanic andthird woman justice in the 220-year-long history of the U.S. SupremeCourt.Sotomayor, Obama’s first nomineeto the highest U.S. court, was praisedfor breaking barriers not only for herethnic background and gender, butalso for her unique history as a justice who was raised in humbleNew York Citysurroundings as thechild of a single Puerto Ricanmother.”It is this nation’s faith in a moreperfect union that allowed a PuertoRican girl from the Bronx to standhere now,” Sotomayor told the crowdin a packed East Room, whoresponded with applause, loud cheersand a standing ovation. “I am struck again today by the wonder of myown life and the life we in Americaare so privileged to lead,” she said.Republicans who had opposed thenomination had charged thatSotomayor lacked impartiality byzeroing in on her past comments thata “wise Latina” woman might reach abetter decision than a white man.Obama’s remarks touched on thatcontroversy, by citing not justSotomayor’s credentials as a lawyerand judge, but also insight she hadgained due to her upbringing. “Herlife is one of those ‘only in America’stories,” he said.In replacing the retired JusticeDavid Souter, Sotomayor is notexpected to change the court’sideological balance. Souter sidedwith the liberal wing of the court,which in recent years has oftenissued 5-4 rulings in favor of conservatives. Two members of thecourt’s liberal wing, Ruth BaderGinsburg and John Paul Stevens,were the only two justices to attendWednesday’s reception.Activists, particularlyfrom the U.S.Hispanic community, havehailedSotomayor’s appointment. “This is agood day,” said Fernando Negron,32, a radio host and communityactivist from Orlando, Florida, whosefather moved to the mainland UnitedStates from Puerto Rico, who was aguest at the reception.“My father came here back in the1950s, so he went through what hermother went through. So you get alittle emotional for the people whoallowed this to happen.”Photo credit: President Barack Obama and Supreme Court JusticeSonia Sotomayor, REUTERS/JimYoungPhoto credit: Senate JudiciaryCommittee Chairman Patrick Leahyand U.S. first lady Michelle Obama,REUTERS/Jason Reed
1 killed, 1 injured in Detroit police chase (AP)
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Submitted at 8/13/2009 6:26:41 AM
mrbadmood buzzed up: Obamahonors activists, actors, athletes,others (AP)16 hours ago 2009-08-12T15:13:22-07:00
US retail salesin surprise fall
(BBC News | Americas | World Edition)
Submitted at 8/13/2009 7:23:04 AM
US retail sales fell unexpectedly inJuly, ending two months of rises andindicating that weaknesses stillremain in the economy.Sales declined 0.1% last month,following a revised 0.8% increase inJune, the official figures from theCommerce Department showed.Excluding sales of car and autoparts, sales were down 0.6% in July.The figures disappointed analysts,who had been expecting on average arise of 0.7% in overall sales lastmonth.Mixed pictureCar sales saw the biggest rise inJuly, adding 2.4% as they benefitedfrom the government's "cash forclunkers" scrappage scheme.The weak retail sales figures comea day after the Federal Reserve saidthe worst of the US recession nowappeared to be over.The Fed's comments came afterother recent official figures showedthat US worker productivity hadincreased at its fastest annual pacefor nearly six years in the secondquarter of 2009, while US exportsrose in June.However, US unemployment hadrisen again last month, although byless than analysts had expected.Print Sponsor
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(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 8/13/2009 9:00:00 AM
 
2Internet News Record
U.S.: Chavez comments par for the course
By David Alexander (Front Row Washington)
Submitted at 8/12/2009 1:12:37 PM
He’s driven Exxon out of hiscountry and suggested former U.S.President George W. Bush was thedevil incarnate.But Venezuelan President HugoChavez really teed off the StateDepartment with his latest outrage —calling golf a bourgeois sport.“My position, independent of whatanyone else thinks, is that it’s abourgeois sport,” the baseball-lovingChavez told his weekly televisionaudience in July.“There is no justification for havinga golf course in the middle of a city,when there is such a shortage of landfor housing for the people, includingthe middle class.”Since his comments, The NewYork Times reported on Tuesday, pro-Chavez officials have moved toclose two of Venezuela’s best-knowngolf courses — in Maracay andCaraballeda.This did not go unnoticed by U.S.diplomats.“As the Department of State’s self-appointed ambassador-at-large forgolf, I wish to protest theunwarranted attack by VenezuelanPresident Hugo Chavez on the gameof golf,” State Departmentspokesman P.J. Crowley said at thestart of Wednesday’s briefing.And he was just warming to thetheme.He pointed to Angel Cabrera, whogrew up on the streets of Argentinaand won this year’s Masters. And tothe man he defeated, Kenny Perry,who once had to borrow money froma church friend to keep playing.Then there was virtual unknownLucas Glover winning the U.S. Open,and Tom Watson coming oh-so-closeto taking the British Open at the ageof 59.And Tiger Woods, of course.Said Crowley: “Considering thatthe hemisphere celebrated the victoryof (a) former caddy and son of Argentina in the Masters over a good-old-boy who built a public course inhis hometown in Kentucky, and wecheered as a relative unknown fromSouth Carolina won the peoples’open on the country’s finest publiccourse at Bethpage Black. We werein awe as a 59-year-old man held off the greatest golfers of the world for71 holes on links land in Scotland,where the game of golf was created.And now we are on the eve of theseason’s final major where thefavorite to win is arguably thegreatest golfer of all time and whoseheritage literally spans continents.”“So the suggestion by Mr. Chavezthat golf, a truly global sport, isbourgeois, is a mulligan. And onceagain, Mr. Chavez, one of thehemisphere’s most divisive figures,finds himself out of bounds.”For more Reuters political news,click here.Photo credit: Reuters/RussellCheyne (Angel Cabrera at BritishOpen July 19); Reuters/Carlos GarciaRawlins (Chavez bats in a softballgame in January)
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3Internet News Record
The First Draft: Will Cheney spill thebeans about Bush?
By Deborah Zabarenko (Front Row Washington)
Submitted at 8/13/2009 6:41:49 AM
How would you spend the dog daysof summer, if you were a former vicepresident? If you were Dick Cheney,you would be ensconced in your newoffice above the garage in McLean,Virginia (just down the road from theCIA!), writing your memoir of theadministration of George W. Bush.But would you tell all?The Washington Post indicatesCheney might. In a front-page storythat was one of the paper’s most-viewed online, unnamed sources saythe former veep was frustrated withBush, especially in the second term.When Cheney was asked at aninformal meeting to discuss hismemoirs if he had any regrets, onemeeting participant told the Post:“(Cheney) said Bush was shackledby the public reaction and thecriticism he took … The implicationwas that Bush had gone soft on him,or rather Bush had hardened againstCheney’s advice. He’d showed anindependence that Cheney didn’t seecoming. It was clear that Cheney’sdoctrine was cast-iron at all times —never apologize, never explain —and Bush moved toward theconciliatory.”If Cheney does open up about hisproblems with Bush and others inthat administration, that would beunusual. Cheney himself has shownpublic disapproval of those wholeave office and then write aboutwhat went on behind the scenes. Asformer White House spokesman AriFleischer told the Post, “If he goesout and writes a memoir that spillsbeans about what took place behindclosed doors, that would be out of character.”Since he left office, Cheney hasbeen one of Obama’s most vocalcritics, taking aim especially at thecurrent president’s opposition toharsh interrogation techniques atGuantanamo. He is also at the heartof a planned House of Representatives investigation into theconcealment of a secret CIA programfrom Congress. One senator said theprogram was hidden on orders fromCheney; Republicans see a partisanattack.Throughout his career, Cheney hasremained largely silent on the innerworkings of government and policy,but that could be at an end when hismemoir comes out. According to thePost, Cheney has said “the statute of limitations has expired” on many of his secrets.What do you think: should Cheneytell all, and let the chips fall wherethey may? Or would that beunseemly, impolitic and dangerous?For more Reuters political news,click here.Photo credit: REUTERS/LarryDowning (Washington, November 6,2008)
In Bill-Hillary popularitycontest, Bill wins
By Tabassum Zakaria (Front Row Washington)
Submitted at 8/12/2009 9:18:29 AM
Hillary Clinton may be Secretary of State, but her husband Bill still winsthe popularity contest.The former president grabbed theheadlines recently on whatcould beconsidered her diplomatic turf bygoing to North Korea and securingthe release of two Americanreporters.And then he was off to Las Vegasto celebrate his upcoming 63rdbirthday with pals at a steak housewhere an 8 ounce goes for $240 —and that’s without a baked potato orveggies — according to the NewYork Times.So when Hillary Clinton snappedquite undiplomatically at an Africanstudent over what was translated(wrongly) as an inquiry aboutherhusband’s views, it raised thequestion about why was she soirritated at the mention of Bill?Was it his spotlight-grabbingderring-do in North Korea? Or theVegas bash with his buddies? Orsomething else entirely?But even though she’s in publicoffice, and he’s not, a newRasmussen Reports poll shows thatClinton, the former president, is morepopular than Clinton, the currentSecretary of State, by 58 percent to53 percent.Click here for more Reuterspolitical coveragePhoto credit: Reuters/KevinLamarque (Clintons at inauguralservice for Obama)
Flash Zunes that disappeared from the Zune site reappear -- is someone toying with us?
By Laura June (Engadget)
Submitted at 8/13/2009 10:22:00 AM
Remember just a few days back,when the sadness and confusionsurrounded us as every last flashZune disappeared, leading us toponder the meaning of life? Well,they're back! Huzzah! Oursuggestion? Get them before they gofor good -- unless you're holding outfor the Zune HD.Filed under: Portable AudioFlash Zunes that disappeared fromthe Zune site reappear -- is someonetoying with us? originally appearedon Engadget on Thu, 13 Aug 200910:22:00 EST. Please see our termsfor use of feeds. Permalink| Emailthis| Comments
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