Does Obama Have a Double Standard on Earmarks?

On Tuesday evening, when President Barack Obama declared before a joint session of Congress that “we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks,” House Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi popped like jackrabbits out of their seats for a standing ovation.

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Sources: Weapons, subsidies, loopholes among budget cuts

After promising the American people his team has already found $2 trillion in budget savings by scouring the federal budget, President Obama is planning to lay out some of the potential spending cuts in great detail when he unveils his first blueprint on Thursday, according to senior administration officials familiar with the budget plans. “My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs,” Obama said Tuesday in a speech to a joint session of Congress.

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How a New Fleet of White House Choppers Spiraled Out of Control

One response of the Bush Administration to the attacks of 9/11 was to invade Iraq. Another was to order up a new fleet of hyper-secure helicopters to transport the commander-in-chief — out of concern that a president borne by the current generation of choppers could be cut off from the rest of the world.

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Young son of UK opposition leader dies

The disabled young son of UK opposition leader David Cameron has died, UK media have reported. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama said it’s time to act boldly not just to revive the economy, but “to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity.” “While the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater,” he said.

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Apparent rebellion hits Bangladesh force

Shots continued to ring out from inside the headquarters of Bangladesh’s border security force in the capital, Dhaka, hours after a gunbattle began Wednesday morning. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama said it’s time to act boldly not just to revive the economy, but “to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity.” “While the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater,” he said. The president struck an optimistic tone, asserting that “we will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.” Obama focused on the three priorities of the budget he will present to Congress later this week: energy, health care and education

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Obama outlines budget priorities in speech

In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, President Obama outlined the three priorities of the budget he will present later this week: energy, health care, and education. The president said he sees his budget as a “vision for America — as a blueprint for our future,” but not something that will solve every problem or address every issue.

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