Monday, December 6, 2010

The Liberal Perspective 12-06-10


The Liberal Perspective…
Sojourners: sojo.net

NEWS AT HOME

Tax cuts compromise. GOP leaders hint at compromise on tax cuts, jobless benefits “The Senate Republican leadership telegraphed on the Sunday- morning talk shows that a compromise to extend unemployment compensation and the George W. Bush-era tax cuts is in the offing.” Bush Tax-Cut Deal With Jobless Aid Said to Be Near “Rather than extending the tax rates only on income described by Democrats as middle class — up to $250,000 a year for couples and $200,000 for individuals — the deal would also keep the rates for higher earners, probably for two years.Outline emerges of deal to extend tax cuts, jobless insurance Leading senators from both parties on Sunday sketched the broad outline of a compromise to extend the expiring Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans in exchange for another extension of benefits for the millions of long-term unemployed.”
Arizona immigration law. High court ruling on Arizona act could shape immigration law “The move sets the stage for a high court ruling on the most disputed issue in immigration law: Can states and cities enforce their own laws against illegal immigrants, or must they wait for federal authorities to act?
Texas death penalty law. Hearing to focus on Texas’s death penalty law “In the deeply Republican state that has executed more convicts than any other and the county that has sent the most to death row, an unusual legal proceeding will begin this week: A Democratic judge will hold a lengthy hearing on the constitutionality of the death penalty in Texas.”
Gay marriage. Gay marriage: all eyes on 9th Circuit panel “When a federal appeals court meets in San Francisco on Monday for arguments on Proposition 8, legal analysts will be closely watching Judge Michael Hawkins, a moderate Democratic appointee whose vote is expected to be critical in the same-sex marriage case.”
Polar bear gets ‘critical habitat’. Polar bear gets ‘critical habitat’ “The Obama administration is setting aside 187,000 square miles in Alaska as a ‘critical habitat’ for polar bears, an action that could add restrictions to future offshore drilling for oil and gas.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

WikiLeaks. US ‘vital facilities’ list leaked “A long list of key facilities around the world that the US describes as vital to its national security has been released by Wikileaks.”
North Korea. U.S. raises pressure on China to rein in N. Korea “The United States has stepped up diplomatic pressure on China by accusing its leaders of “enabling” North Korea to start a uranium-enrichment program and to launch attacks on South Korea, a senior U.S. administration official said this weekend.” US to host talks on North Korea The US, South Korea and Japan hold high-level talks in Washington on ways to deal with North Korea after its deadly attack on a Southern island.
Iran. Talks begin on Iran’s nuclear program “Six major powers began talks with Iran here Monday in their latest attempt to persuade Tehran to accept limits on the nuclear research program the other nations suspect is aimed at building a bomb.” Iran claim about uranium prefaces multination talks “Iran and major world powers will meet here Monday for the first talks in 14 months, amid low expectations and public posturing by both sides on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
Afghanistan. Afghan poll shows falling confidence in U.S. efforts to secure country “Afghans are more pessimistic about the direction of their country, less confident in the ability of the United States and its allies to provide security and more willing to negotiate with the Taliban than they were a year ago, according to a new poll conducted in all of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.” Afghans ‘harden’ stance on Nato More Afghans feel that attacks against foreign forces are justified than at any time since 2005, a survey suggests.
Mexican drug war. WikiLeaks: U.S. cables give grim view of Mexico drug war “As snapshots of Mexico’s drug war, the U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks over the past few days offer surprising, and sometimes grim, images.”
Iraq. As U.S. Leaves, Iraqis Suffer Economic Toll “While the political and security consequences of the American withdrawal have yet to be fully resolved, its economic effects have already taken a sharp toll on the tens of thousands of Iraqis who earned their livelihoods, sometimes at great risk, working for the military and the legions of American civilian and defense contractors.”

OPINION

All the President’s Captors (Frank Rich, New York Times) “President Obama has seemingly been held hostage by Republican captors, surrendering his once-considerable abilities to act, decide or think.”
Let’s Not Make a Deal (Paul Krugman, New York Times) “Mr. Obama should draw a line in the sand, right here, right now. If Republicans hold out, and taxes go up, he should tell the nation the truth, and denounce the blackmail attempt for what it is.”

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