WASHINGTON — What would happen if terrorists attacked the United States at the start of Barack Obama's presidency?
The Bush administration doesn't want to wait to find out. It's planning to test the incoming government's readiness next month in a series of tabletop exercises involving top Bush and Obama officials.
Concerned about the first handoff of presidential power since Sept. 11, 2001, the White House also is preparing briefing books and office manuals designed to bring the incoming Obama administration up to speed in a hurry.
"This is the first wartime transition in 40 years, and it's probably the first transition in a couple of centuries in which our homeland itself has been under threat," says White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten, who's supervising the effort. The goal is to "make sure that those who are coming in are as well prepared as they can be to deal with an actual threat here in this country."
Read full story USA Today
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Foreigners gave millions to Clinton foundation
Donor list heavy with international business leaders and billionaires
WASHINGTON - Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $46 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts to reduce poverty and treat AIDS. Other foreign government givers include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica. The Dutch national lottery gave $5 million to $10 million.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $46 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts to reduce poverty and treat AIDS. Other foreign government givers include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica. The Dutch national lottery gave $5 million to $10 million.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fed sets new target range for overnight rate
Rate will range from zero to 0.25 percent for what banks charge each other
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve has cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record and pledged to use “all available tools” to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession.
The central bank on Tuesday said it had reduced the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, to a range of zero to 0.25 percent. That is down from the 1 percent target rate in effect since the last meeting in October. Many analysts had expected the Fed to make a smaller cut to 0.5 percent.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve has cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record and pledged to use “all available tools” to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession.
The central bank on Tuesday said it had reduced the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, to a range of zero to 0.25 percent. That is down from the 1 percent target rate in effect since the last meeting in October. Many analysts had expected the Fed to make a smaller cut to 0.5 percent.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Obama expected to discuss Illinois scandal
Gov. Blagojevich has ignored president-elect's call for him to resign
CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday was expected to address the corruption charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a day after Blagojevich refused to heed the advice of Obama and others that he resign.
Blagojevich is clinging defiantly to power despite his arrest on accusations he tried to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Obama was expected to take questions about the scandal at a press conference to announce his pick for health secretary, former Sen. Tom Daschle.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday was expected to address the corruption charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a day after Blagojevich refused to heed the advice of Obama and others that he resign.
Blagojevich is clinging defiantly to power despite his arrest on accusations he tried to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Obama was expected to take questions about the scandal at a press conference to announce his pick for health secretary, former Sen. Tom Daschle.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Doctors call emergency care ‘national disgrace’
90 percent of states get poor, near-failing grades in nationwide report card
The nation’s emergency care system is “a ticking time bomb,” with demand far outstripping the capacity of hospital emergency departments already crippled by a widespread shortage of doctors and nurses, according to a national report on the state of emergency medicine.
The annual report card by the American College of Emergency Physicians gave the nation a D- grade for Americans’ access to emergency care, saying the emergency care system was “fraught with significant challenges and under more stress than ever before.”
That stress is likely to worsen as the weakening economy forces public officials and health administrators to cut back even further on costs, the report said.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
The nation’s emergency care system is “a ticking time bomb,” with demand far outstripping the capacity of hospital emergency departments already crippled by a widespread shortage of doctors and nurses, according to a national report on the state of emergency medicine.
The annual report card by the American College of Emergency Physicians gave the nation a D- grade for Americans’ access to emergency care, saying the emergency care system was “fraught with significant challenges and under more stress than ever before.”
That stress is likely to worsen as the weakening economy forces public officials and health administrators to cut back even further on costs, the report said.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Retailers saw sales drop in dreary November
Wal-Mart was among few bright spots, said its sales beat estimates
NEW YORK - Retailers — with Wal-Mart the notable exception — limped through a miserable November that even a surge of shopping after Thanksgiving couldn’t save, marking the weakest month since at least 1969 and deepening fears that the critical holiday period could be the most dismal in decades.
As merchants announced their November sales figures Thursday, the deep malaise cut across all sectors as shoppers worried about layoffs and shrinking retirement funds focus on necessities. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., though, posted sales gains that surpassed Wall Street estimates and has seen more customers and higher average transactions as it benefits from what could be a deep and prolonged recession.
However, Costco Wholesale Corp., usually a strong performer, reported a bigger-than expected sales decline. And most mall-based chains and department stores such as teen stalwart Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Kohl’s Corp. and Macy’s Inc. fared much worse, reporting percentage declines of over 10 percent.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
NEW YORK - Retailers — with Wal-Mart the notable exception — limped through a miserable November that even a surge of shopping after Thanksgiving couldn’t save, marking the weakest month since at least 1969 and deepening fears that the critical holiday period could be the most dismal in decades.
As merchants announced their November sales figures Thursday, the deep malaise cut across all sectors as shoppers worried about layoffs and shrinking retirement funds focus on necessities. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., though, posted sales gains that surpassed Wall Street estimates and has seen more customers and higher average transactions as it benefits from what could be a deep and prolonged recession.
However, Costco Wholesale Corp., usually a strong performer, reported a bigger-than expected sales decline. And most mall-based chains and department stores such as teen stalwart Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Kohl’s Corp. and Macy’s Inc. fared much worse, reporting percentage declines of over 10 percent.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Auto Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
2 teen girls charged in nursing resident abuse
They allegedly taunted, spat on, groped residents with dementia disorders
ALBERT LEA, Minn. - Two teenage girls who worked at a nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping the breasts and genitals of residents who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and other dementia disorders.
According to the criminal complaint, filed Monday, 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson laughed earlier this year as they spat in residents' mouths, poked and grabbed them, and at times mocked them until they screamed.
Broitzman and Larson, who worked as part-time aides at the home, have been charged as adults.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
ALBERT LEA, Minn. - Two teenage girls who worked at a nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping the breasts and genitals of residents who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and other dementia disorders.
According to the criminal complaint, filed Monday, 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson laughed earlier this year as they spat in residents' mouths, poked and grabbed them, and at times mocked them until they screamed.
Broitzman and Larson, who worked as part-time aides at the home, have been charged as adults.
Read full story MSNBC
Posted by Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona
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