The Thursday ‘BushWhack’ing

There are 47 days left until Inauguration Day.

• Microsoft Founder Bill Gates hopes that President-elect Obama gets together with Congress after he’s sworn in to create a wide-ranging stimulus package aimed to jump-start the recession-laden US economy. Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Gates said eh would also like to see the government increase investments in the US education system while push technological advances that would improve agriculture, prevent disease, and promote economic growth throughout the world…
• While a majority of the US approves of President-elect Obama’s cabinet choices thus far (75% approve of the picks), there’s still quite a backlash going on among some people that he’s not doing enough for the country yet… despite the fact he’s, you know, NOT yet the president. Expect a post about that later today…
• The UAW announced yesterday that they would make major concessions in its contracts with the big three auto companies to help them lobby Congress for federal aid. Saying that UAW members are “willing to sacrifice job security provisions and financing for retiree health care” to keep the three out of bankruptcy… stay tuned.
• Obama’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, is already making a push for changes as he wants to oust FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair out of office, saying that Bair “isn’t a team player” and instead focuses on “protecting her agency rather than the financial system as a whole.”
• Yesterday in Oslo, Norway, more than 100 countries, including Afghanistan, started to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a treaty aimed at eliminating cluster bombs. The US has refused to sign the treaty saying it relies on them for it’s “defense strategy”, but when pressed by White House Reporting Icon Helen Thomas to explain the Bush(whacked) Administration’s opposition, Press Secretary Dana Perino said she “forgot” all the reasons they oppose it. Way to stay informed there Dana, keep up the good work…
• A release from the Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 were 1.4% above the 2006 total….
• And have we mentioned? That the Gov. who-must-not-be-named radio interview fiasco has had an adverse effect on a Florida Congresswoman? Florida republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was SO convinced that a purported phone call from President-elect Obama was a radio hoax, she hung up on him… she then hung up on COS Rahm Emmanuel before being convinced by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman that it actually WAS Obama on the phone. PE Obama did call back, fairly amused, and the two finally did speak… countdown to a skit like this appearing on SNL in five, four, three…