Politics. On Point.

... then there's going to be some harvesting and healthy eating talk going on at the White House. Just as in the Spring, the White House garden is a famed attraction. First Lady Michelle Obama brought several young people to the White House to participate in the Fall harvesting of the White House garden. Students from Magnolia Elementary School (Maryland), North Elementary School(West Virginia), DC's Harriet Tubman Elementary and Bancroft schools also joined the occasion. The First Lady was joined by Sesame Street's Elmo and Rosita in the White House to round off the day of talking to young people about the importance of healthy eating. The Sesame Workshop and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) joined the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in a two-year agreement to help promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption to kids, making those healthy choices a little easier for busy parents and families to make. The agreement allows PMA’s...

  Expanding and Enhancing SelectUSA   President Obama is announcing the first-ever comprehensive, all hands on deck effort led by the federal government to bring jobs and investment from around the world to the U.S. through aggressive expansion and enhancement of SelectUSA.    Ø   U.S. is becoming an increasingly more competitive location for investment : The U.S. is the top destination for foreign direct investment and is becoming increasingly more competitive in attracting investment due to rising productivity, abundant low-cost energy, and rising costs elsewhere – as analysis from the Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, AT Kearney and others have underscored.   Ø   To date, however, the U.S. has never before coordinated efforts to attract job-creating foreign investment : Unlike export promotion, the U.S. has historically left states and cities to compete directly with foreign countries.  A coordinated federal effort would help ou...

More woes for the Obama administration's roll out of HealthCare.gov .    During the president's weekly address he urged Americans to call a toll-free number to get help enrolling in a health care plan as the website continues to be 'improved'. Said the president, "But even as we improve the website, remember that the website isn’t the only way to apply for coverage under these new plans.  We’ve updated HealthCare.gov to offer more information about enrolling over the phone, by mail, or in person with a specially-trained navigator who can help answer your questions.  Just call 1-800-318-2596 or visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov .       No sooner than the president gives out the 800 number for Americans to speak to one of the 'specially-trained navigators', one of them  gets fired, perhaps loosing her own healthcare benefits. Her malfeasance?  Talking to talk show host Sean Hannity. Hannity called the 800 number with his...

It would seem that (unfair) voter ID laws would be the next big thing President Obama tackles after the Affordable Care Act, instead of illegal immigration. What's going on in North Carolina (and most likely other states around the country) compromises American citizens' natural right to vote. Reports have surfaced that voting practices are being put into place to discourage certain voter populations from voting. For example, the right to vote on Sundays is being challenged in some states.  Having students register to vote in the state where they attend college is another tactic, as is requesting an ID or a voter's birth certificate.  We know that young people came out in droves during the 2008 election. Making students register to vote where they attend college may discourage some young voters. Many people vote on Sundays after church, the only day they have free to do so due to working during the week.  Closing polling places on...

On Wednesday, November 20 , President Barack Obama will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.  Recipients include Ernie Banks, Bayard Rustin, Oprah Winfrey.                                                                                             ...

After nearly a month of being completely shut down, the Federal government is back to work thanks to a bipartisan agreement between the House and Senate. Furloughed workers will receive back pay for lost wages, food and water inspections have continued, and social services have resumed.  Faces of some of the players of  Washington's government crisis. The two parties have dodged a government default by again raising the debt ceiling limit which will allow the government to operate and pay its bills, for at least another three-four months.   A government default would have been the first in US history.  The government closure of parks and essential services seemingly for no good reason than yet another dog and pony show at the expense of America's workers is over for now - but will it last.  "There's no guarantees of anything", said Vice President Joe Biden today at the offices of the EPA where he welcomed workers back to work. "But I th...

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama addressed the media, then took questions regarding the government shutdown, healthcare, the debt ceiling and other concerning issues he says the Republicans are being uncooperative about. House Speaker John Boehner took to the podium moments later arguing the case that President Obama is unwilling to negotiate. It's time both parties but an end this war of words and take action to put Americans back to work and on solid footing. Thankfully, good Samaritans have come forward to assist Americans in their time of need where the shutdown has affected everyday Americans.  (See military | See education ). Related On the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have fought the president tooth and nail. Oct 2008 : "You'll never get elected and pass healthcare." Nov 2008: "We'll never let you pass healthcare." Jan 2009: "We're gonna shout you down every time you try to pass healthcare." July 2009: ...

GOP Majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) posted the below photo on his Twitter account  showing House GOP members sitting across the table from a row of empty seats, depicting them waiting to have a meeting with Democrats.  The crafty photo is the latest attempt in the war of the House v Senate to point fingers, and place blame, for why this government can't get anything done. Cantor tweeted, “In divided government, the only way forward is to sit down at the table. The House awaits the Senate". That's what the Republicans said. Democrats, as you might imagine, have a different take.  Democratic representative Tim Kaine (D-VA), speaking yesterday on Richmond, Virginia's Jack Gravely Show stated that it was after Republicans decided to shut down the government, they decided to reach out to Democrats for a meeting.   This placard is placed on the White House web site, blaming Congress for shutting down the government. R...