Inspire Political Discourse

IPD Political News Summary: Monday, April 6, 2009

Friday, April 3 – Sunday, April 5, 2009

| For 18 years, in a practice begun by George H.W. Bush, the government has banned the media from providing coverage of returning war dead.
At President Obama’s request, the Pentagon has now lifted the ban, although permission from the service member’s family is required. “The arrival of the remains of Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, a 30-year-old supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, at Dover Air Force Base at 11 p.m. today [ipd note: Sunday, Apr. 5] marked the first time that the transfer of any of the nearly 5,000 U.S. troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan was open to the media. The transfer of the flag-draped casket was carried out with great dignity, for the seven family members present.” source
AP/Reuters photo
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Anger of Unemployed at Governors Talking About Rejecting Stimulus

:: Most of these governors are in the southern states, all are Republicans except Bredesen of Tennessee, and Palin, Sanford, and Jindal, are ringleaders. From the New York Times:

As governors in nine states, mostly in the South, consider rejecting millions of dollars in federal stimulus money for increased unemployment insurance, there is growing anger among the ranks of the jobless in those states that they could be left out of a significant government benefit.

Related posts on IPD:
| Governor Sanford Offers His Unemployed Constituent Prayers Rather Than Stimulus Money
| Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, Deprives Citizens of Louisiana of $90+ Million in Additional Unemployment Benefits
| GOP Governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho Consider Rejecting Stimulus Money
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Full Transcript: President Obama's Speech to Congress - February 24, 2009

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address to Joint Session of Congress
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
To view the video, click here.

“Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, and the first lady of the United States.

I have come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.

Video: President Obama's Speech to Congress - February 24, 2009

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Click here to read the transcript.

Governor Sanford Offers His Unemployed Constituent Prayers Rather Than Stimulus Money

:: Like lemmings to the sea. Yet another GOP governor says that he will not accept some of the stimulus money. The unemployed once again appear to be the target. From Think Progress:

On C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, Sanford received a call from a Charleston resident who said he lost his job because he has been taking care of mother and sister, both of whom have serious illnesses. The caller told Sanford he is “wrong” to decline the money. “A lot of people in South Carolina are hurting. And if this money can come and help us out we need it.” In response, Sanford could offer him only his prayers:

CALLER: I hope you all are not playing politics with this. People in South Carolina are hurting. You know how unemployment rates are high right now and going up higher. We are running out of money in the unemployment bank — we need money for that, the people that need help. And I’m one of them, I can’t get no help. […]

SANFORD: Well I’d say hello to Charleston because its home and I’d say hello to this fellow this morning and say that my prayers are going to be with him and his family because it sounds like he is in an awfully tough spot.

From Think Progress:

Sanford offered no other alternative solution for his constituent and instead argued that the state could not accept money to extend unemployment benefits because “increasing the tax on unemployment insurance” would negatively “impact the caller’s family” (although he didn’t say how).

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) — who sponsored an amendment to the stimulus bill that would allow state legislatures to “accept stimulus funding over the objections of conservative governors” — chastised Sanford on MSNBC this morning. “This program is an opportunity for Governor Sanford to target” the “chronically unemployed” and “chronically sick” communities in South Carolina. “I have got to believe that he is willing…to help these communities,” Clyburn said, asking,”Why won’t he?”

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