http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/failure/ en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:44:29 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417667/posts The U.S. government had intelligence from Yemen before Christmas that leaders of a branch of Al Qaeda there were talking about "a Nigerian" being prepared for a terrorist attack, the New York Times reported Tuesday. A senior official told the Times that President Obama was told in a private meeting Tuesday while vacationing in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the failed bombing on a Detroit-bound flight last week that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among intelligence agencies. The newspaper said the information did not include the... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417667/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:44:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417665/posts The only thing healthy about Congress' health insurance legislation is the healthy skepticism about it by most of the public, as revealed by polls. What is most unhealthy about this legislation is the raw arrogance in the way it was conceived and passed. In short, this is not about improving the health of the American people. It is about passing something – anything – to keep the Obama administration from ending up with egg on its face by being unable to pass a bill, after so much hype and hoopla. Politically, looking impotent is a formula for disaster at election... Orange County Register (CA) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417665/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:43:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417434/posts Today, after a vacationing President Barack Obama conceded that both human and systemic failures of U.S. Intelligence had failed to bar a Nigerian man posing a reported security risk from boarding that Detroit-bound jetliner - a near-''catastrophic" breakdown in security - Obama left the reporters taking his words in Hawaii and went snorkeling. The president was wearing a navy blue suit and white striped shirt with no tie, and spoke only to reporters - unlike a televised appearance sans-tie that he had made the day before. Today, his words seemed sterner. Today, he was acknowledging a troubling breakdown in Intelligence... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417434/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:57:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416963/posts The Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a US plane using explosives hidden in his underwear "disappeared" from an Australian university's Dubai campus just months ago, an official said Tuesday. Skip related content Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, spent several months at the University of Wollongong's Dubai branch until he vanished mid-year, vice-chancellor Gerard Sutton told ABC radio. "He commenced in January 2009 but disappeared from the residences around the middle of the year and was excluded from the second semester around August, September, October on the basis of non-payment of fees," he said. Sutton said Abdulmutallab, who also... AFP via Yahoo! News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416963/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:29:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416947/posts Yemen has said it is not getting enough support from the West to tackle al-Qaeda, as details emerge of the suspected US jet bomber's time there. Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told the BBC that Yemen had the will and ability to deal with al-Qaeda, but was undermined by a lack of support. He estimated that several hundred al-Qaeda members were operating in Yemen and could be planning more attacks. BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416947/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:11:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416931/posts President Obama has laid out a series of steps that should be at the heart of our continuing efforts to accelerate job growth, rebuild our economy for the long term, and bring American families relief during these difficult times. These proposals are an important steppingstone in our efforts to fix the economy - but they are only a part of our strategy. There is no single piece of legislation that will solve our problems. Our nation faces double-digit unemployment. Far too many Americans still are struggling to make ends meet. But to understand where we need to go, it's important... SF Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416931/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:43:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416923/posts Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database: This is the largest collection, with about 550,000 individuals. U.S. intelligence and law enforcement as well as trusted allies can nominate "known or suspected terrorists" for this database, which is maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center and was set up in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian accused of trying to attack an airliner as it approached Detroit on Friday, was in this database. The consolidated terrorist watch list: About 400,000 individuals. People are moved onto this list, which is maintained by the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center,... SF Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416923/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:34:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416914/posts The door isn't expected to slam shut on foreclosures here next year. Home foreclosures, which have pummeled many Chicago area neighborhoods, are expected to continue to mount in 2010, and high unemployment will be the driver, experts say. The problem, which has driven home prices down to bargain basement levels in some hard-hit African-American communities on the South and West sides of the city, will likely attract speculators. And that could be more bad news for those neighborhoods, predicts one local researcher. While the start of the crisis was linked to the subprime mortgage meltdown, today and going forward "it's... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416914/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:23:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416097/posts Sunday's chilling terror news wasn't the removal of a Nigerian man from the same Northwest Airlines route targeted by a would-be bomber two days earlier. Sunday's disruptive passenger just wasn't feeling well. No, the chilling news came from James Carafano, a defense and homeland security expert at the Heritage Foundation: The foiled Christmas Day plot, he says, is the 28th unsuccessful attempt to bring terror attacks to America since Sept. 11, 2001. This attempt, which could have scattered passengers and plane parts across frozen Michigan tundra, may trace to Yemen. That's where thwarted martyr Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab claims he obtained... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416097/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:42:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416080/posts THE THWARTED Christmas Day airplane bombing raises three causes for alarm. First, it illustrates a screening system that remains porous enough to let a suspect board with the same explosive shoe-bomber Richard Reid attempted to use in 2001. Second, it exposes a terrorism bureaucracy too clumsy to catapult the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, at least to a higher level of preflight scrutiny after his father came forward with warnings that he might pose a danger. Third, if it is true that the suspect received explosives training from al-Qaeda in Yemen, the incident underscores the emergence of that troubled nation as... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416080/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:51:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415189/posts Even 60 Minutes forecasts a major second crash. The fake Obama "bailout" with massive debt, printing money, "cap and tax," healthcare takeover, increasing the debt limit, giving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac another "open season" on taxpayer money ... are setting us up for even worse. 60 Minutes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415189/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:10:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414930/posts For his first lie in office, Obama said he'd be A model of transparency. On his second day in office, Obama let us see Two brand-new czars And no sign of that transparency. For his third lie in office, Obama said, "Trust me, Three million jobs," Dozens of czars, But no sign of that transparency For his fourth gaffe in office, he made apology To all the world, But no new jobs, To many czars, And no hint of that transparency After five weeks in office, the trend was plain to see: Five dates with wife, Insults to the Queen... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414930/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:34:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414436/posts VENEZUELA President Hugo Chavez threatened today to expropriate Toyota's local assembly plant if it did not produce an adequate number of vehicles designed for rural areas. Mr Chavez said his socialist government was going to apply strict quotas regarding the number and types of vehicles firms could produce. He ordered an immediate inspection of Toyota's facilities to see how many "rustic vehicles" they were currently producing. "They'll have to fulfil (the quotas), and if not, they can get out," said Mr Chavez during a televised address. "We'll bring in another company." He said if the inspection showed Toyota was not... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414436/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:24:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414428/posts Dec. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits last week declined to the lowest level since September 2008, signaling firings are easing as employers gain confidence in the economic recovery. Initial jobless claims fell by 28,000, more than forecast, to 452,000 in the week ended Dec. 19, from 480,000 the prior week, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The number of people receiving unemployment insurance dropped in the prior week to 5.08 million, and those receiving extended benefits decreased. Improving sales combined with increases in production mean companies may not need to trim staff... BusinessWeek http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414428/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:10:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412918/posts Nevada's stimulus-funded weatherization programs are living down to expectations of inefficiency and incompetence. What a surprise. Of all the debt-growing, make-work boondoggles crafted by Congress this year, the "green jobs" grants set aside to make low-income homes more energy-efficient left elected Democrats especially excited: "We're handing out welfare, creating jobs and saving the planet!" The state got $18.6 million in weatherization funds, with the condition that all the money be spent by June 30. About 1,850 homes with incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty level were supposed to get new insulation, new caulking and the minor repairs... Las Vegas Review-Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412918/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:10:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412910/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy grew at a much slower pace than initially thought in the third quarter, restrained by weak business investment and a slightly more aggressive liquidation of inventories, according to data on Tuesday. Growth was boosted by government stimulus programs, including the popular cash for clunkers and tax credit for first-time home buyers, and debate continues to rage over the sustainability of the recovery once government support wanes. Business spending in the third quarter was weaker than the government had estimated last month. Business investment fell at a 5.9 percent rate instead of 4.1 percent, the department... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412910/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:57:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412905/posts For the first quarter ever, the number of homes in foreclosure with mortgages serviced by U.S. national banks and savings and loans topped the 1-million mark, according to figures released Monday by the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The percentage of prime borrowers whose loans were 60 or more days past due doubled from the July-to-September period a year earlier. And more than half of all homeowners whose payments had been lowered through modification plans defaulted again. The report, which covers about 34 million loans, or about 65% of all U.S. mortgages,... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412905/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:49:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412761/posts Promising change after eight George Bush and Republican dominated years, Barack Obama won the most sweeping non-incumbent victory in over 50 years along with congressional Democrats gaining large House and Senate majorities. In addition, at 56.8%, voter turnout was the highest since Richard Nixon's "secret plan" to end the Vietnam war and his "Southern" and "law and order" strategies beat Hubert Humphrey and independent George Wallace in 1968. On election night, the mood celebrated hope for progressive change, an end to imperial wars, and a new day for America. When word came around 10PM, expectant thousands in Chicago's Grant Park... Baltimore Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412761/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:28:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412672/posts Take a look at the future of America at the hands of Democratic leadership! blueloriblogspot.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412672/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:56:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412641/posts If I already have health insurance, can I keep it as is? The short answer is: yes. Can I keep my doctors? Again, yes. If I change or lose my job, can I keep the same insurance? No... But the government would set up a new "insurance exchange" that you can buy into. If I'm on Medicare, will there be cuts to my benefits? No - your benefits will not be cut. In fact, the bill would improve your prescription drug coverage. Will taxes go up? In some cases, yes. If I'm uninsured now, how soon do I get the... ABC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412641/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:06:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411657/posts WASHINGTON — Ben Nelson has spent his life negotiating big deals, but never one this big. Now he must face the consequences of his decision. It may make him popular at the White House and among some of his fellow Senate Democrats, but his announcement brought swift, scathing denunciations from Republicans — in Washington and in Nebraska. Nebraska GOP chairman Mark Fahleson declared Nelson's decision “the death knell to his political career in Nebraska.” In contrast to the charged atmosphere that has surrounded the health care debate, Nelson has sought to maintain a calm demeanor and downplay the pressure he... Omaha World-Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411657/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:55:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410892/posts even U.S. banks were closed by regulators on Friday, bring the total this year to 140 as the effects of the credit crisis continued to be felt across the country. What's more, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. established temporary institutions to help close two of the failed banks. Market Watch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410892/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:59:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409603/posts If Senate Democrats want their version of sweeping health care legislation to carry the day, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, said they have a tall order to fill: prove they have written the better bill. Ms. Pelosi, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said House Democrats could live without a government-run insurance plan, or public option, like the one in their bill — if the Senate has a better idea. But even as Ms. Pelosi stressed that she had yet to see the completed Senate bill, she said there were aspects of the House version that were clearly stronger,... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409603/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:03:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409597/posts The U.S. government abruptly shelved plans to start trimming its 34% stake in Citigroup Inc., after investors demanded a price so low that the Treasury Department would have lost money on the deal. The embarrassing reversal came two days after the Treasury said it planned to sell as much as $5 billion of stock in the New York company, as part of Citigroup's plan to pay back $20 billion in taxpayer aid the troubled bank received last year. Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409597/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:56:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409585/posts House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to President Obama's aid on health care legislation Wednesday, taking on an enraged liberal base that includes many House Democrats and former party chief Howard Dean. But on Afghanistan, the San Francisco Democrat parted ways with the president, saying she would not ask Democrats to fund Obama's request for more troops. Pelosi backed away from her yearlong crusade for a "public option" of government-provided insurance in health care legislation. "Whatever we have, it will be great," Pelosi said, dismissing the welter of compromises that Senate Democrats have acceded to in their struggle to get the... SF Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409585/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:48:17 GMT