Rise of the Center represents in United Republic’s citizen reporter contest:
Solomon Kleinsmith, Omaha, NE: Very straightforward, plainspoken, looks good on camera. Got a good sense of what he wouldn’t ask, perhaps not as good a sense of what he would ask. Out of 12: 9
President Obama signs a bill to supply new aid to the Israeli military at absolutely the worst time for former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), who is in Israel for his world tour, hoping to boost his numbers with American Jews. In short, it’s all about Jews this weekend. Expect a related column tomorrow.
Almost one-fifth of Americans are still convinced that Obama is a Muslim. Has he ever gone to a mosque as president? A Google search for “Obama mosque” turns up nothing unrelated to the Ground Zero mosque. I’d say it’s a no.
The Obama administration will not – NOT, I tell you – pursue new gun control measures, presumably because the people in Colorado who have bought more guns after the theater shooting have scared the shit out of them.
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), in agreement with yours truly, encourages Romney to select Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) as his running mate. For those who think it’s because they’re basically the same person, they’re not; Portman doesn’t make a point of crying or having a bad tan in public.
This week’s House action will include a bill extending drought relief to Midwestern farmers. I am genuinely curious about this: Is there much irrigation in that part of the country? It certainly helped southern California back in the day.
Congress pressures the White House to designate the Pakistani Haqqani network as terrorists. These people are affiliated with the Taliban and have been thought to have carried out 12 attacks on American, Indian and Afghan assets. Yes. Terrorists.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wants the U.S. to horn in on the deal between Canadian oil company Nexen and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, as 10 percent of Nexen’s assets are American. Canada won’t take China to task, so why not?
The head of Syria’s Olympic team says his country’s military is trying to “protect people and keep them safe.” You know, by killing them. Protecting them from living.
“NO AID FOR YOU!” says Germany to austerity-stricken Spain. I hope nobody thinks they’re happy about running the bailout show in Europe; if they weren’t the wealthiest of all involved nations, they wouldn’t be in that position.
