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Thank you so very much for your service. You were dead on time and helpful in transporting our family to London and back. Will definitely use you again.
Many thanks for organising the mini buses this weekend. Your company were fantastic.
Honestly, booking through a comparison site, to a company I've never heard of, for a large group who were all relying on me was pretty daunting.
Thank you so much for making our journey worry-free and I will definitely be saving your details for next years trip!
We're well on our way home, Yani is doing a sterling job behind the wheel.
Thank you for the great service you provided for one of our recent events, efficient, helpful and local. We had great feedback from our clients on the driver and on the comfort of the minibus - great job!
We all wanted to say thank you very much for the excellent and efficient service that we received from your company on our trip to and from Luton Airport. Please convey our thanks to the driver.
We will most certainly be in touch for our trip next year and will be recommending<|fim_middle|> and this was particularly important to us. The driver was polite and got on with his job. I'll have no trouble recommending your firm.
Just wanted to say thanks very much for the excellent minibus service. It was so good being able to all enjoy our friends' wedding without someone having to worry about driving. Perfect!
Just wanted to say thank you for yesterday, Steve was excellent, I'd be grateful if you could pass on our thanks.
We were really impressed with how efficient Myhill's were last year and it takes away some of the stress of going on holiday, loading the car, driving to the airport, etc., so using their services again was a no question, welcome repeat choice for us all.
I highly recommend you do the same too.
Fantastic service. Very accommodating to meet our extra needs. Highly recommend.
Excellent service, punctual, professional and high-quality buses. I would use them again and 100% recommend them to anyone.
BEST minibuses, very comfortable and given water when we got picked up from a 4 day festival Very appreciated! Claire was also very helpful and friendly every time I called with questions. Would recommend!
Punctual, professional and very amenable! Will use again!
Highly recommend. Polite, friendly & efficient.
Myhill's team are fantastic! They took us to Blackpool for my sister in laws hen do. Very professional and accommodating.
We used Airport Lynx to get us to and from Gatwick airport in Sept/Oct 2016. In our party there were nine of is all together three of which were young children (3yr, 1.5yrs and 4months old) as you can imagine this could have been very stressful but it was made much easier by using this company. They were very organised and kept in contact with me on a regular basis giving me all the relevant paperwork needed they contact you a day before to confirm your driver and pick up time they even text you and send and email to you when your driver has arrived at your address on the day overall I was very impressed and I can not recommend them enough.
The mini bus was very clean, tidy and had plenty of space for our bags and Driver Tom (this is now what my son calls him) was very helpful, he was on time, helped to unload and load bags and even helped put car seats in. If your thinking of using a company to take you to the airport then defiantly use Airport Lynx. | you to anyone that needs transport.
Just wanted to say what fantastic service we had from Chris yesterday! He was so friendly and helpful (especially when trying to find him in the car park on the way out of the races)!
If I ever find myself over this side again, I will definitely use your company.
This is just to thank you for your service to and from Heathrow - Cambridge. The drivers were both prompt and helpful.
I would have no hesitation in recommending your services or using them again.
Just wanted to thank you for providing us with a very nice minibus and driver for our trip. I heard several nice compliments about both ; and was asked by everyone on the trip to send you a good review. Hence this email.
Silviu is a very friendly chap and worked exceptionally well for us. He is an asset to your company. I am sure we won't think of anyone else apart from Myhills for our future trips like this. You have 100% satisfied customers from this trip.
Also must mention how professional was all the arrangements beforehand especially from Claire and Katie whom I spoke to.
We hired a Myhills minibus for the whole day which suited our purposes well. Our programme changed from the original plan on an hour-by-hour basis and the driver managed to keep up with the changes of both time and venue throughout the day. An excellent service!
We thought your service was excellent. The bus was well presented and our request for child seats met. The coach arrived on time | 305 |
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The rise and fall of 'Russian Hawaii': How America's 50th state almost ended up under the Tsar's control
By Updates
Failure to secure the islands shows why Saint Petersburg couldn't gain a foothold in the New World
Almost everyone in Russia and the United States is familiar with the story of how Alaska was sold to the Americans for next to nothing. Considerably fewer people have heard about the Russian colony in California. And only historians seem to know that mere chance prevented the future 50th state of the US from becoming a part of the Russian Empire 205 years ago.
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The "Schaffer scam," as those events are known in American historiography, was a fleeting episode of the colonial era. But that doesn't make the story any less exciting.
What truly happened on the Sandwich Islands between 1815 and 1817, why did a Bavarian doctor christen native chiefs in memory of Russian heroes of the Napoleonic War, and when were the last human sacrifices in Hawaii?
The 'soft-shell crab' as a great conqueror
The first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii had a difficult childhood. He was born in the middle of the 18th century to a noble family on the archipelago's largest island. The clans of the tribe were constantly at war with each other and with neighboring tribes – for centuries there raged a classic "war of all against all."
At birth, the child was given the name Paiea – the local name for a now extinct subspecies of soft-shell crabs. The birth took place against the background of unusual natural phenomena – according to one version, Halley's comet was visible in the sky, passing perihelion in 1758. The priests took this as a sign and predicted that the child would become a great conqueror who would crush all enemies. After listening to the wise men, his grandfather, the ruler of the island, ordered the newborn to be killed "out of harm's way." His parents managed to hide the child, and for the first few years of his life nothing was known of his whereabouts. When, after the death of the leader and the next reshuffle in power, the boy was able to return to the court, his name was Kamehameha, which meant "very lonely man."
Kamehameha the Great Monument in Hawaii.
Until 1778, the existence of a group of large islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean was known only to a select few in Europe. The Spanish, who traded between their colonies in the Philippines and in the New World, wisely hid their routes from the hostile British. Therefore, there was no written data on the visits of Europeans to the islands, although archaeologists would later find evidence of rare contacts between the local population and the Spaniards.
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Officially, the discoverer of the archipelago was James Cook, who anchored at Waimea Bay on Hawaii's fourth-largest island of Kauai in January 1778. In 40 years, the Russian flag would be raised there but, in the meantime, the Englishman was extremely happy with his geographical discovery. He dedicated it to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, then First Lord of the Admiralty and, coincidentally, the inventor of the eponymous snack.
A year later, after an unsuccessful attempt to find a sea route home around North America, Cook returned to the island of Hawaii, where Kamehameha's uncle ruled at the time. For a month, the British repaired the ship and collected provisions. The crew, which had gone rather wild at sea, began having regular skirmishes with the local population. The conflict ended when the explorer tried to personally capture the chief. In the process, he was killed, his body cooked, and the bones, carefully cleaned of meat, were returned to the ship for an honorable burial. The chief who had evaded the assassination attempt died peacefully a couple of years later, leaving the island to his son and appointing his nephew as the defender of the god of war Ku. However, Kamehameha did not take long to fulfill the ominous prophecy concerning himself. He killed his cousin and became the ruler of the largest island.
Soon, the place attracted enterprising American traders from New England who found out about the archipelago from Cook's expedition. Kamehameha, who discovered the might of gunpowder after a visit from the British, established sandalwood trade with the Americans in exchange for guns. He then gathered a colossal (by local standards) army of 10,000 people and, in ten years, subdued almost all the neighboring islands with fire and sword, except for the two most remote – western Kauai and Niihau. The Kauai chief, named Kaumualii, was only 18 years old when an armada of 1,500 war boats moved towards his possessions. It seemed there would be no salvation, but the fleet of the mighty conqueror was scattered by a sudden storm. A<|fim_middle|> – oil.
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From far-away St. Petersburg, the idea of overseas colonies seemed non-viable. But, on the other hand, how did the colonies of Spain and Portugal, Holland and France survive for centuries, thousands of nautical miles from the metropolis? Unlike Russian Alaska, most of them sought to become self-sufficient from the earliest days. The leadership of the Russian American Company, however, relied on annual round-the-world "deliveries." Such a long and expensive logistics chain, of course, could not be justified either from an economic or military point of view.
Following this logic, it becomes obvious why Schaffer was so eager to settle in Hawaii. At the beginning of the 19th century, a geopolitical vacuum reigned in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. British companies had not yet reached British Columbia, the United States would "notice" California only with the start of the Gold Rush in 1837, Spain no longer had the strength to move north of San Francisco Bay. For two or three decades, Russia really had all the cards in its hands but didn't realize it – or didn't have the time to capitalize.
The leadership of the Russian American Company received Schaffer's first reports with enthusiasm. But conveying it to the highest dignitaries of the state proved a lot harder. Chancellor Karl von Nesselrode was skeptical about the idea of acquiring the islands and shelved it. When the proposal reached Alexander I, he considered it inappropriate to create a potential conflict with England or America somewhere on the far side of the globe. It was 1817, Napoleon was only recently defeated at Waterloo, the Holy Alliance was forged, the independence of Greece and control over the Bosphorus loomed ahead. Moreover, in 1816, the Emperor began, as we would now say, "falling into depression." By all means, it was not the best time for adventures in the Pacific Ocean.
Coincidentally, the "Russian trace" in the history of Hawaii did not stop at that. Russian Narodnik, Nikolai Sudzilovsky, was to become the founder of the Home Rule Party of Hawaii, and the first president of the Senate of Hawaii in 1901. But as they say, that's another story.
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Don't Worry! We don't Spam | few years later, Kamehameha began to assemble a new invasion army on the central island of Oahu. Precisely at that time, two ships under Russian flags appeared on the horizon.
(L) James Cook; (R) John Montague
Fur country
Although Russian research and fishing expeditions visited the coast of present-day Alaska as early as the 17th century, 1783 may be considered the year of the founding of Russian America. This is the same year in which Crimea and Georgia became part of the Russian Empire. By the decree of Catherine II, the American Orthodox Diocese was formed, and the North-Eastern Fur Company was founded. A year later, it established the first permanent trading post on Kodiak Island off the southern coast of Alaska. Initially, it was a private enterprise involving a group of Siberian fishermen. They extracted furs and sent them to Okhotsk, whence the goods were delivered overland to the central part of Russia with great difficulty.
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In 1799, the Novo-Arkhangelsk trading post was established, and Emperor Paul I chartered the Russian American Company. A decision was made not to limit trade to the European market, but to use the Chinese port city of Canton (Guangzhou) and the European trading bases there as the main market. The permanent Russian population of Alaska grew, reaching several hundred families. The Aleuts, instead of resisting the newcomers, began to work for them, learning the language and converting to the Orthodox faith.
From 1790, the senior manager of the enterprise was Pomor merchant Alexander Baranov. But Russian-American company co-founder Nikolai Rezanov wanted to see everything for himself. In 1803, he and a small retinue were part of the first Russian round-the-world expedition led by Ivan Kruzenshtern and Yuri Lisyansky. Ten days after their departure, the head of the expedition was notified that in fact it was Rezanov who had senior authority over the enterprise, sponsoring the entire voyage, and was to be appointed the first ambassador of Russia to Japan.
During the whole journey, Kruzenshtern and Rezanov engaged in power struggles and only the governor of Kamchatka eventually reconciled them on the opposite side of the Earth.
(L) Ivan Kruzenshter; (R) Nikolay Ryazanov
Sometime before that, the vessels 'Hope' and 'Neva' sailed to the shores of Hawaii to replenish supplies. The guests were warmly welcomed, although King Kamehameha could not receive the explorers. He was preparing for the second attempt to invade Kauai together with his warriors on a neighboring island and, together with them, was ill with an unknown disease (the campaign would never take place). Russian sailors also visited his rival, Kaumualii, who, being in a hopeless situation, was ready to swear allegiance to the Russian emperor right then and there, just to get military assistance. However, Kruzenshtern had other plans, and the ships sailed further along their routes.
Rezanov was never accepted as an ambassador in isolationist Japan and, arriving in Novo-Arkhangelsk, found the settlement in a depressing state. At the time, all provisions except for fish were delivered from Siberia via Okhotsk by sea, and by means of just one ship. The journey took two to three months. Of course, by the time of delivery, the supplies were far from fresh. It became clear to Rezanov that in order to continue the enterprise, it was necessary to ensure the safety of goods. To this end, he went down the coast on two ships, mapped out a place in northern California for an agrarian colony (the future Fort Ross), and visited Spanish San Francisco, where he made a great impression on the governor, established trade relations, and married the daughter of a local general. The ultimately sad fate of Rezanov is known from the work 'Juno and Avos', but his ideas were later used by the "ruler" of "Russian America," Baranov.
Much was done to organize transit trade with Hawaii. By that time, Kamehameha had stopped trying to land troops in Kauai and achieved his goal through diplomacy – he allowed Kaumualii to remain leader of the island, but on condition that after his death all possessions would go to him as king. Kaumualii could only humbly obey, until one day the Hawaiian gods sent luck right to his doorstep. In January 1815, a storm washed ashore the ship 'Bering', which belonged to the Russian American Company. This happened in the bay of Waimea – the same place where James Cook once sailed. Using the ancient custom of coastal law, Kaumualii appropriated the ship's cargo, estimated to have been around 100,000 rubles. When news of this reached Novo-Arkhangelsk, Baranov set out to reclaim the goods. However, he had neither the strength nor the means to accomplish this. All he had was the doctor.
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The empire of Dr. Schaffer
Georg Anton Schaffer was born in Bavaria in 1779. At the age of 26, he graduated as a surgeon, working in Hungary and Galicia. In 1808, he joined the Russian Army and, after the end of the Napoleonic invasion, he started working for the Russian American Company as a ship doctor. In the same year, on board the brig 'Suvorov', he sailed to Alaska, where he decided to go ashore due to a conflict with the ship's captain. This doctor turned out to be the most educated and reliable person at Baranov's disposal.
Alaska had no ships that were ready to sail. So, in October 1815, Schaffer, in the company of two assistants, one of whom was Baranov's son Antipater, sailed several thousand kilometers on an American ship to return a huge cargo seized by a tribe of natives for whom human sacrifices were still the norm. The plan was as follows: The doctor, disguised as a naturalist, was to arrive at the court of Kamehameha, ingratiate himself with the ruler, and wait until help arrived in the form of the Russian American Company ship 'Discovery'. At the right moment, the doctor would reveal to the king a document showing his real position as a representative of the Russian American Company and the Russian Empire. After that, with the help of the ruler, the plan was to take the company's property from Kaumualii or get a ransom with sandalwood, load it onto another ship, the 'Kodiak' and sail on to China to sell the cargo.
Things didn't go completely according to plan. Kamehameha's "advisers" from among American merchants immediately suspected something and warned the ruler to stand on his guard with the Russian German. However, the doctor was able to earn the King's trust by curing both the ruler and one of his wives from long-standing diseases, for which he was given a stone house in a palm grove on the shore in the area of modern Honolulu. While waiting for the arrival of the 'Discovery', Schaffer laid out a garden next to the house and really studied the nature and geography of the island. However, the appearance of the Russian ship once again alerted the king and his American well-wishers, who were afraid of competition.
Georg Anton Schäffer
The process stalled, and Schaffer considered 'plan B'. He would sail to Kauai on his own – after all, he already had a ship and all the necessary permissions, so he could even seize the island by force. Imagine his surprise when, instead of long negotiations and resistance, Kaumualii, who had just literally robbed the company, offered to pay compensation for the entire cost of the cargo, recognize himself as a vassal of the Russian Tsar, give the right to monopoly trade in wood, as well as allowing the construction of trading posts and fortified positions on all of the islands. Schaffer, an obviously adventurous and enterprising man, saw this as a great opportunity to expand the company's territories.
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In May 1816, having consulted all the idols and priests, Kaumuali, dressed in the uniform of an officer of the Russian Navy, personally raised the flag of the Russian American Company next to his family banner over the Gulf of Waimea. The same evening, religious celebrations in honor of the union with the Russian Emperor followed, during which, according to the sailors from the 'Discovery', two people were sacrificed. This is the last documented human sacrifice in the history of the archipelago.
The friendship developed at lightning speed. Schaffer was given land on the opposite, northern shore of the island. The doctor named the place Scheffertal and set up the first trading post there, protected from the sea by two redoubts with cannons named after Emperor Alexander and the military commander Barclay. The distillery was one of the first constructions to be built and, later, the first to be destroyed by the islanders. Schaffer named the largest river of the Hanapepe island "Don," and even christened two neighboring chiefs Mikhail Vorontsov and Matvey Platov in honor of the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Kaumuali skillfully supported Schaffer's enthusiasm. After all, he pursued practical interests, which, it seems, the doctor did not realize until the very last moment. A second, "secret" agreement was soon concluded, by which the leader pledged to provide 500 soldiers, and the Russian American Company would arm them with modern guns and deliver them under cover on warships to Oahu and Hawaii in order to jointly retake the archipelago from Kamehameha.
The ruler also proposed to build another fort, this time next to his settlement and from stone, according to all the rules of European engineering with which Schaffer was familiar.
The fort was named "Elizabethan," after the wife of the Russian Emperor. Fragments of volcanic rock that made up its walls were worn by local nobles and even the wives of the leader, according to local tradition. Schaffer was sure that he was building a fortress for Russia, although for the next half century it was a reliable center of power only for local rulers.
Elizabethan fortress. Bird's-eye view of the fortress. Reconstruction by A. Molodin and P. Mills, 2015.
The doctor also bought two American ships in full confidence that his achievements would more than recoup the expenses, and the purchase would be strongly supported by his management. When the former owners of the ships reached Novo-Arkhangelsk and showed the contract to Baranov, he was furious. Instead of returning 100,000 rubles, Schaffer had accrued debts for the company of another 200,000.
The situation began to deteriorate by autumn. In September, Kamehameha – who, of course, was aware of the events taking place with his rival – ordered the destruction of the Russian trading post in Oahu. The matter took a very unpleasant turn in December, when the brig 'Rurik' anchored off the coast of Hawaii, making a round-the-world voyage from the Baltic to Alaska and China. Its commander Otto von Kotzebue was very surprised to see 400 armed soldiers meeting his team on the shore. Kotzebue had visited Hawaii as a cabin boy during Kruzenshtern's first round-the-world expedition and remembered the friendliness of the locals. When he found out that the islanders had been expecting Russian warships promised by Schaffer, the captain was perplexed. He insisted that this was impossible and the doctor, apparently, was acting on his own behalf. Finally, Kotzebue sailed on, without trying to find out what was really going on with Schaffer.
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Sensing that the wind had changed, American merchants from Kamehameha's entourage began to bluff, threatening to call in five warships. As for Schaffer, no help came to his side either from Alaska or from St. Petersburg. The hired Americans gradually began deserting him, but the doctor did not seem to notice what was happening. What was there to fear? After all, he had a signed military agreement and was the authorized representative of the world's most powerful country. Everything ended in June 1817, when he and several remaining sailors were forcibly taken out of their house in Waimea, put into a barely functioning boat, and pointed to row in the direction of the no-less battered 'Kodiak' offshore.
Most of the crew of the two Russian ships returned to Alaska via passing vessels. Schaffer, as the main cause of trouble, was first to be dispatched towards Macau. Through random acquaintances, he managed to first get to Brazil and then to northern Germany. There, Schaffer unsuccessfully tried to get an audience with Alexander I, who was in Europe at the time, and explain the wonderful promise – perhaps still not entirely lost – of the Hawaiian enterprise. Later, he returned to St. Petersburg, where he tried to persuade the Russian American Company to relaunch the enterprise, but was ignominiously dismissed. Schaffer eventually found happiness in Brazil, where he successfully organized resettlement for the Germans.
The founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha I, died at a venerable age in 1819. Kuamuali was invited to a meeting of all the chiefs in Oahu, where they forced him to marry his rival's widow so that his son would inherit the lands. Thus ended the political unification of the archipelago.
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Imperial inertia
The Russian-American Company existed for several more decades but, throughout that time, St. Petersburg considered it more of a burden than a possible point of growth. For the first time, the idea to sell Alaska to the United States arose during the Crimean War. At the time, British and French troops were expected not only in the Black Sea, but also in the Baltic and Northern seas. In such conditions, it was considered impossible to protect several thousand Russian subjects on the opposite side of the world. The sale was carried out in 1867. Within just 30 years, gold was discovered in Alaska and, in another 70 years | 3,107 |
The Salvation Army's 3010 Apartments project in St. Louis is getting recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
It is among 13 projects nationwide honored this week at the 2015 PastForward National Preservation Conference in Washington.
The three-story building at 3010 Washington Boulevard in midtown St. Louis first served homeless boys and later as a Salvation Army center for drug addicts.
After a renovation,<|fim_middle|>Opened in 1926 as Father Dunne's News Boys' Home and Protectorate, the Salvation Army bought the building in 1970. It was used as the Harbor Light's substance abuse treatment facility before closing in 2013. | the building now has 58 affordable apartments for people with special needs. The $12.2 million project opened in March.
Preserved are the building's broad staircase, stained glass windows, plaster moldings and woodwork.
Scheduled to be honored Friday in Washington are the project's partners: The Salvation Army, The Salvation Army Services Inc., St. Louis Equity Fund, Central Bank of St. Louis, Midwest BankCentre, Commerce Bank, Gateway CDFI, Old Orchard Consulting, E.M. Harris Construction Co., Trivers Associates, McCormack Baron Management and the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
| 121 |
I layered this little jacket over the vest to tone down the neon a bit! I picked it up in a charity shop in Belfast a few months ago..
I'm as guilty as the next mammy in thinking there's nothing for kids to do in a lovely garden like this but I was reminded today that kids don't need face painters or bouncy castles to have fun. My three never stopped running about having a ball and they were surprisingly interested in the different flowers (they get that from their dad). Add in a few trees to climb and it was pretty much the perfect day out!
If you've a recommendation for a National Trust property near you, please add it to the comments below for everyone to see (and for me to potentially visit!). I'm particularly interested in ones in the Berkshire area and in Cornwall. Thanks girls!!
Have you tried Formby? It is one of the only places in the country that has red squirrels. There is a woodland walk where you can spot them and this leads to a fabulous beach with amazing sand dunes.
We are biased because we live here but I have spent countless hours here over the years with my four children.
The NT Card will give you free parking but there is very little to spend any money on except for an ice cream.
Love the neon vest, something I would probably walk past in the shops. You have a beautiful family!
Love the wellies. Much needed I'm sure. It's great when you realise that children need very little to have fun. Especially at that age. They have much better experiences in the real world than in bouncy castle and face paint world . Go National trust ..
St Michaels mount in Cornwall is a great day out. We go every year and my<|fim_middle|> plus they usually have events on for the children to do as well. We also love the Lizard Lighthouse - depends where you are staying and if you have a car. There is a great pasty shop in the town called Anns pasties which routinely gets great reviews. There is a playpark opposite for the smalls to run around in. We are going to be down there this summer and are hoping to make it to some of the others.
You must take a wee trip up to Portstewart beach & get free entry with your card. And while you're up here, see the Ropebridge too, using it. Enjoy! | children never tire of it.
Aw gorgeous pics... my kids love days out like that too - must visit Rowallane soon as we've not been for years. Mount Stewart is another good one & my two love the child-friendly cafe!
I used to live in Cornwall and love Lanhydrock - it's brilliant during the summer as they have games on the lawn for the children | 76 |
Launch of School Crest for Coláiste Chiaráin
The new school crest for the planned amalgamated school for West Athlone & South Roscommon was launched last week. 5th & 6th class pupils of Brideswell National School, Co Roscommon were delighted to hear that they had won first prize in the competition to design the crest. All primary schools in the catchment area of St Aloysius College and St Joseph's Summerhill participated in the competition in recent months. Fr John Cullen PP and Canon Liam Devine announced the winners on a surprise visit to the school. Fr Hugh Lee (Chairperson), Carmel Kelly (Principal), teachers and pupils were presented with a Samsung Tablet by secondary principals Mr Gerry Kinneavy and Mr Liam Nally.
The pupils were praise for their creativity and attention to detail. The crest is now being prepared to be added to the new school uniforms for 1st year students of both secondary schools from 1st September this year. The school will amalgamate into a new school "Coláiste Chiaráin" from 1st September 2017. The combined teaching staffs at their year-end meeting also welcomed the new crest. The teachers have been meeting regularly to plan for the new school.
5th & 6th Class pupils of Brideswell National School launch the school crest with L to R Back Row – Dara O'Driscoll, Frank Smith, Canon Liam Devine, Willie Gacquin, Fr. John Cullen P.P., Joan McNamara. L to R Middle Row – Gearoid O'Conamha, Liam Nally Ms. Muldoon, Fr Hugh Lee, Carmel Kelly ( Principal of Brideswell NS)
Naomh Ciaráin was born in Fuerty Co. Roscommon and founded the monastery in Clonmacnoise. The crest for Coláiste Chiaráin combines the two<|fim_middle|>, 600 new post-primary school places will be needed in the Athlone area over the next 5/8 years. It is to cater for this demand that the project is moving ahead at a rapid pace.
Coláiste Chiaráin will be in a campus setting, with the most modern educational facilities, and a full range of subjects and programmes to cater for all students. It has been confirmed that Metalwork will be available in the new school from September 2017. Students taking this subject will be able to continue on to take Engineering in the Leaving Certificate. This will be in addition to Technology, Design & Communication Graphics and Building Construction ( Woodwork).The Project Committee has also applied for funding for a unit to cater for children on the Autistic Spectrum (ASD), to link with the ASD unit in the adjoining St Joseph's Primary school. The modern Physical Education facilities will consist of 1000 sq ft, and outdoor sports facilities will include football, basketball etc. Local sports clubs have already pledged co-operation. A new interim Board of Management is currently being appointed – one of its first tasks will be to appoint a new principal in early 2017.
Combined teaching staffs of St Aloysius College and St Joseph's Summerhill, with Canon Liam Devine, Fr John Cullen, Fr Hugh Lee & Rev Willie Gacquin at the launch of the new school crest and uniform. | pillars on which the school is founded : a Catholic ethos and excellence in teaching and learning. The religious background of the school is seen in the Elphin diocesan crest on the left, and the academic focus of the school is seen in the open book and quill. These are united in the round tower associated with the school's patron. The round tower is a uniquely Irish building which acted as a store house for the treasures of faith and learning of the great Irish monasteries. The Motto chosen for the school, in keeping with the school name, is "as Gaeilge" : Our motto then means: 'Strength in coming together'.
The need for the new school, which will be on the 30 acre Summerhill site is essentially two-fold – the need for a top-class, modern, educational facility in West Athlone / south Roscommon, and the fact that due to increasing enrolments at Primary School level | 191 |
Burnaby Hotel near Vancouver is Connected to Metropolis at Metrotown Stay Smart when you visit Burnaby and choose the 100% smoke free Holiday Inn Express Hotel Vancouver Metrotown. Our Vancouver area accommodations are directly connected to Metropolis at Metrotown, the largest shopping complex in British Columbia. Our<|fim_middle|> BC Hydro and Telus. You'll love the free high-speed, Wi-Fi Internet access. For meetings, we have ballrooms to a boardroom, with catering and A/V equipment. Leisure visitors to Vancouver and Burnaby love our hotel's direct access to SkyTrain. The attractions in Vancouver, such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Gastown and Stanley Park, are minutes away. You can get to the BC Ferries, cruise ship terminals and the 2010 Winter Olympic venues easily. You'll enjoy the excellent amenities we offer at our smoke free hotel near Vancouver. There's free parking in the heated, underground garage and a year-round, heated, outdoor pool and sun deck, as well as a fitness centre. Start your day with a free breakfast buffet and relax in a newly renovated room with a fridge & microwave. For the best hospitality in Vancouver, Stay Smart at our Burnaby, BC hotel. No information available. No information available. This is a modern 6-story building. No information available. | direct connection to the Metrotown Skytrain Station means easy access to GM Place & BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. Our hotel's location is ideal for corporate guests looking for Greater Vancouver accommodations close... Read more to companies like Translink, Electronic Arts, BC Hydro and Telus. You'll love the free high-speed, Wi-Fi Internet access. For meetings, we have ballrooms to a boardroom, with catering and A/V equipment. Leisure visitors to Vancouver and Burnaby love our hotel's direct access to SkyTrain. The attractions in Vancouver, such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Gastown and Stanley Park, are minutes away. You can get to the BC Ferries, cruise ship terminals and the 2010 Winter Olympic venues easily. You'll enjoy the excellent amenities we offer at our smoke free hotel near Vancouver. There's free parking in the heated, underground garage and a year-round, heated, outdoor pool and sun deck, as well as a fitness centre. Start your day with a free breakfast buffet and relax in a newly renovated room with a fridge & microwave. For the best hospitality in Vancouver, Stay Smart at our Burnaby, BC hotel.
Burnaby Hotel near Vancouver is Connected to Metropolis at Metrotown Stay Smart when you visit Burnaby and choose the 100% smoke free Holiday Inn Express Hotel Vancouver Metrotown. Our Vancouver area accommodations are directly connected to Metropolis at Metrotown, the largest shopping complex in British Columbia. Our direct connection to the Metrotown Skytrain Station means easy access to GM Place & BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. Our hotel's location is ideal for corporate guests looking for Greater Vancouver accommodations close to companies like Translink, Electronic Arts, | 350 |
This is Steve's fifth solo project, recorded in 1997 on his own Signpost label. It won the Gospel Album Of The Year award in his homeland, Canada, and its release has made him more noticed south of the border and also, thankfully, in Britain. The album consists in the main of gentle-sounding ball<|fim_middle|>Lament For A Nation" is a deep cry for his own country -"Where have the nightwatchmen been?" - a longing equally applicable to our own nation. The songs are perhaps not 'catchy' enough for Christian radio, but this is an album I don't think you'll want to miss. Certainly worth checking out. | ads and if that sounds boring - well, it isn't. The result is a moving experience that is affecting; it somehow changes you - at least it does me. Every track is strong in its own right and there's a fair variety. The theme is relationships: male/female (hence 'Romantics') and a deeper union with God (thus 'Mystics'). This latter idea is classically expressed in "Dark Night Of The Soul", adapted from the epic poem by 16th century Spanish monk St John Of The Cross. This is a deeply intimate song of abandonment to God and Steve retains the rich poetic element of the original, while adding to it musically. There are two instrumentals, with Steve showing typical versatility (on strings, percussion and piano); one is lighthearted and affectionate, the other is understandably moody - being inspired by a visit to Auschwitz. But it's his sinuous and heartfelt vocals and depth of lyrics which captivate one's attention. "Let's Do It Again" is a stunningly beautiful love song, as is the somehow haunting "Alone Tonight". " | 230 |
Do you ever have one of those moments where you step outside of your every day life to realize that there is a much bigger picture that we're all a part of? It might happen when you see a rainbow or maybe as you stare out at the vast enormity of the ocean. For me, it's a snow day.
We live in a crazy busy world and, often times, it's easy to forget what truly matters. We neglect to look at the beauty<|fim_middle|> moments exist all around you if you simply open your eyes and take the time to look. | around us and remember that life is an absolute gift: one that we only get to open once.
Not on a snow day though. A snow day forces us to slow down and see the grace that surrounds us. No school, no work, no travel. Just you, your family and the moment at hand as it has been given. Whether you believe in God or you don't, you can't help but give thanks for the beautiful moments in life when they happen.
Grace filled opportunities cause you to realize that we aren't here on this amazing planet to simply get the next promotion or complete that marathon we've always wanted to run. We learn that it's not just about ourselves. It never was. It's about us all. Being there for your fellow man, no matter what. Discovering the beauty and joy in all the world, not just your condensed little corner of it. Living not only for yourself, but for the fulfillment of others less fortunate. And most importantly it's about God, every so once in awhile, taking a moment to remind us who's in charge.
We can always do better and be more aware of our world and the unique place we hold in it. Don't wait for a snow day to come to you. Get out there and discover one for yourself. Grace filled | 263 |
NEW YORK – BLACKBERRY SECURITY SUMMIT / CRWE PRESS RELEASE / July 19, 2016 – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in secure mobile communications, today announced that the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms Office (Sergeant at Arms) has awarded a multi-million dollar order for the BlackBerry AtHoc crisis communications software to power the Sergeant at Arms' Joint Emergency Mass Notification Systems (JEMNS) over five years. With full spectrum enterprise level alerting and accountability, JEMNS powered by AtHoc provides secure notification and communications in<|fim_middle|> the JEMNS based on the AtHoc solution will be achieved over the coming months, with Leidos providing direct support and help desk support to the Congressional community. | times of crisis for as many as 50,000 individuals working and visiting the US Capitol Complex.
This announcement marks the second large engagement between BlackBerry's AtHoc and Leidos, which also partnered to provide the US Army their global mass notification under the Emergency Management Modernization Program. Full implementation of | 63 |
In our digital and social media focus month, Gustavo Pratt highlights a fictional Twitter conversation between an advertising agency and a pharma company about implementing a social media strategy in Latin America. The use of social media by individuals in LATAM is high, but in the corporate space it's low. Gustavo shares his top tips on how a healthcare company can use social networking sites to its advantage.
Juan@bigpharmaclient Dear Esteban, we have been considering launching a Facebook page for our drug in Mexico and Latin America, can you help us?
Esteban@innovation_adagency Dear Juan, it sounds great!
As you might know we can´t advertise the drug, but we can talk about the disease and education for the patients.
Juan@bigpharmaclient Ok, we have no experience what so ever using the social media tools and our global office is still on the debate of the use (or not) of social media and the legislation by the FDA. Can we make it work in our country?
Esteban@innovation_adagency We have experience with other clients, that are not pharma, but we have to be very careful of what we do, how we do it and the final purpose of having a Facebook page. We have to be open minded to receive the critics or applauses, since we will only be setting the stage. Let´s put it this way, we will set up the table, a great table for someone else to have dinner…we will only see them eating.
Esteban@innovation_adagency The LATAM market is hooked with Facebook, for personal reasons, from our "latino culture" we share a lot of the personal stuff. Also I can tell you that many people join groups to share experiences, I have a perfect example: a page to talk about rare diseases. With the correct advertising within the Facebook world, we could get 5000 followers in 3 months, you just have to be promoting and guiding the topics that you want to address with your community which share the same interest. There are more than 125 million people on Facebook in Latin America.
Juan@bigpharmaclient But do you mention the name of the brand? How can I capitalize the success of the page?
It will work similar to what your sales force accomplishes when they leave the doctor's office. Reps don't necessarily close a sale, they hope that their message and presentation has been impactful enough to convince them to prescribe, but at the end, they don't know. Same with social media. You will be building a page that will give clear and trustworthy information and education to patients, which will guide them to the physicians that your sales force is visiting, therefore you close the gap and have the sale and a more educated patient.
But we can't expect to see revenue directly from Facebook.
Juan@bigpharmaclient But the investment is too much!!!!
Esteban@innovation_adagency Yes, sometimes it is. But I see it a long-term commitment from your brand – big pharma need to start educating the patients with clear, consistent information. A page like this is better than "Dr Google", right? We are not looking at it as redemption, but as a true form of dedicated commitment.
Esteban@innovation_adagency But with these tools, I think we can set the record straight. The drug will not be talking to the patient. A responsible, committed patient company will.
Esteban@innovation_adagency Also, we have been having great connectivity with doctors through LinkedIn, on a more professional level.
Esteban@innovation_adagency Since it is a one-on-one channel of communications, and it is a professional networking tool, we have been very successful launching campaigns and message directly to specific doctors. LinkedIn is growing in Mexico and LATAM, with more than 10 million users, now the people are seeing the value. There are almost 10,000 doctors in Mexico today. So it is really a tool to consider.
Juan@bigpharmaclient What else<|fim_middle|> the distance with a business perspective.
2) Select the perfect social network for your brand. Not all the social networks will fit your product or disease – you will have to select the ones that really connect with the audience you are looking for. For instance, the use of Instagram for a brand would be irrelevant, unless you hire a professional photographer to shoot for Coca-Cola with the topic "coca-cola experiences in the world" and it becomes more of artistic experience.
3) The right content by the right content manager. You should have a well trained content manager that understand your communications plan, what he can talk about and how to motivate the people to post comments and experiences.
4) Keep an open mind. Not all comments and posts will be great. Some of them will criticize your drug, treatment and mostly pricing. Keep an open mind and create contingency plans to deal with such comments and don´t take it personally. Transform those bad comments into opportunities to get closer to patients.
5) I-N-N-O-V-A-T-E. Keep innovating, keep evolving, keep looking for the new social networks that will come with time. Experience them and fail. Only by failing can we grow and become better.
Create those successful social media stories that will push our industry forward. Now more than ever we need people to take risks and changes to make our great industry grow.
Keep the ideas and experiences coming…all the pharma brands and patients need them.
Gustavo Pratt has always been on the quest of innovation, change and challenge in the status quo of pharma advertising. His story is very rich and solid in both the creative and strategic environments. He started his career in advertising at BBDO Mexico where he worked on the Pepsi, Gamesa and FedEx accounts. After that, he joined Ammirati Puris Lintas and was in charge of accounts like GE, Nestlé chocolates, Tetra Pak, and Bayer. Later he worked for Bancomer, Sonrics candy, Janssen-Cilag, Volkswagen and McDonald's at DDB. At Saatchi &, Saatchi, he launched SKY Satellite TV in Mexico. Finally, he worked for Young &, Rubicam as Creative Director for AT&,T and AT&,T Latam, Danone and Phillip Morris. Then he ventured as a partner in CMV Advertising (small creative boutique that later turn into a full agency) where he worked for Bally Total Fitness Gyms, Starbucks, Royal &, SunAlliance, Reebok, Xerox and Pfizer (Viagra, Detrol, Dostinex &, Norvasc). And there a relationship started with GSW to handle the Lilly accounts for Diabetes and CNS, that earns the agency the recognition in the marketplace and sets the course of becoming a full healthcare ad agency.
How can pharma continue to innovate its use of social media? | can you tell me before I arrive home?
Esteban@innovation_adagency Social media in Mexico and all across LATAM is becoming a powerful force. A force that we will not be tamed, a force that we can´t control, but a force (like in Judo) that we can use in our advantage by creating a more educated patient from a platform that is not dedicated for education but is where the heart, soul and brain are connected and there is no barrier to slow it down. If we understand the process of how the social networks works, we can take the advantage of been closer to the patients, bringing the mission of the real pharma companies to life to develop better medicines and help patients.
Juan@bigpharmaclient Well said, amigo! See you tomorrow on Facebook, ok? By the way, I love your last Instagram photo!!!!
Esteban@innovation_adagency Thank you Juan, see you tomorrow.
The social networks are living, breathing organisms, which we need to treat like that. We need to enrich them with true content, not just marketing or branding, especially in Latin America, since we decide things with the heart and gut, more than the brain.
1) Understand how it works: start by your own experience as a user. Take notes, understand your behaviour. Then see it from | 271 |
Up, and to the office, where a full Board sat all the morning, busy among other things concerning a solemn letter we intend to write to the Duke of York about the state of the things of the Navy, for want of money, though I doubt it will be to little purpose. After dinner I abroad by coach to Kate Joyce's, where the jury did sit where they did before, about her husband's death, and their verdict put off for fourteen days longer, at the suit of somebody, under pretence of the King; but it is only to get money out of her to compound the matter. But the truth is, something they will make out of Stillingfleete's sermon, which may trouble us, he declaring, like a fool, in his pulpit, that he did confess that his losses in the world did make him do what he did. This do vex me to see how foolish our Protestant Divines are, while the Papists do make it the duty of Confessor to be secret, or else nobody would confess their sins to them. All being put off for to-day, I took my leave of Kate, who is mightily troubled at it for her estate sake, not for her husband; for her sorrow for that, I perceive, is all over. I home, and, there to my office busy till the evening, and then home, and there my wife and Deb. and I and Betty Turner, I employed in the putting new titles to my books, which we proceeded on till midnight, and then being weary and late to bed.
4th February, 1668. I saw the tragedy of 'Horace' (written by the VIRTUOUS Mrs. Philips acted before their Majesties. Between each act a masque and antique dance. The excessive gallantry of the ladies was infinite, those especially on that [whore] Castlemaine, esteemed at ,£40,000 and more, far outshining the Queen.
Mrs. Philips "went to London in March 1664 with a nearly completed translation of Corneille's Horace, but died of smallpox."
The pronouns are a little confusing here. I understand this to mean: "[Stillingfleete] declaring, like a fool, in his pulpit, that [Joyce] did confess that his losses in the world did make him do what he did."
This makes it sound like Joyce confessed (on his deathbed?) to Stillingfleete about why he had tried to kill himself, and Stillingfleete made that public. Otherwise, the following sentence about secret confession is hard to make sense of.
'doubt v. . . II 5. b. With infinitive phrase or objective clause: To fear, be afraid (that something uncertain will take or has taken place). arch. and dial.
. . 1665 S. Pepys Diary 27 Nov. (1972) VI. 387 Doubting that all will break in pieces in the Kingdom.
Christopher Squire, the L&M Large Glossary agrees you are correct.
"...a solemn letter we intend to write to the Duke of York about the state of the things of the Navy, for want of money, though I doubt it will be to little purpose....."
"...who is mightily troubled at it for her estate sake, not for her husband; for her sorrow for that, I perceive, is all over. ...."
I think Sam may be being a little harsh here. Sometimes it is easier to concentrate on practical things after a bereavement - it takes your mind off your loss - and then when your mind next comes to dwell on the deceased, maybe the loss will be a little easier to bear.
"I think Sam may be being a little harsh here."
Sam is routinely harsh on other people's failings (or in his interpretation of other people's actions, as here). I put it down to a combination of youth and self-absorption.
"to Kate Joyce's, where the jury did sit where they did before, about her husband's death"
I think Sam doesn't quite comprehend the depth of anxiety of a widow with children, if she thinks she is facing destitution. It must drive all other concerns from her mind, at least temporarily.
He's right about Stillingfleete though, what an idiot.
"I employed in the putting new<|fim_middle|> phrase "all can, some should, none must") and the same rules apply to those hearing confession in the Anglican church as in the Roman. Not sure what the situation was in the 17th c. C of E. | titles to my books, which we proceeded on till midnight, "
Spoiler -- There are no surviving traces of these and similar titling labels, unlike the occasional traces or fragmentary survivals of press mark labels placed at either head or tail or the spine.
Even if Stilingfleet was not bound by the seal of the confessional, he should have exercised some discretion.
It was part of folk religion, that truth was always spoken by a dying man, so weight would have been given to Stillingfleete's reporting of Joyce's deathbed words. Furthermore, the words spoken by a minister in his pulpit would have been received with great respect and credence by his congregation. No wonder Sam was irritated by him.
The Anglican Church does allow for personal, private confession (summed up by the | 163 |
Business Mediation
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Bower Law Firm: Business Mediation Attorney
Facing a tough company dispute is easier with a business mediation lawyer by your side. Contact the Bower Law Firm for your business legal needs. Call now!
Why Call a Business Mediation Attorney?
Difficult disputes can destroy the relationship between business partners or a company and its clients. If left unresolved, a business dispute can result in small business owners closing shop entirely. Many people settle their commercial disputes using mediation services to avoid that potential eventuality. When they do so, it is generally advised to have business attorney present to protect their rights.
Mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution, which means it will be used when all other nin-litigious available options have been exhausted. Its purpose is to arrive at a mutually agreeable decision between two parties who cannot resolve the issue independently.
The mediation process is a collaborative and efficient way of conflict resolution that is often used to save time and money. It is an alternative to litigation and the court system. By acting as a neutral third party, the mediator assists the parties in dispute in finding their own solutions.
Business attorneys are often used in the mediation process. If you need asset protection lawyers, the professionals from Bower Law Firm can help.
What Are Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods?
Alternative dispute resolution methods are a way to resolve disputes outside of the legal system. They are usually cheaper and quicker than litigation, but the parties involved must agree on the method to use.
Methods for resolving disputes include:
Retaining legal counsel may help if you need low-cost mediation services as an alternative to the countless hours of business dispute resolution in the courts. Mediation may be an attractive option before going before the judge or jury in a trial.
What Is Business Mediation?
Mediation is a technique that involves the opposing parties in dispute agreeing to negotiate their differences with the help of a third person, the mediator. The mediator has no power to impose any settlement on the parties. They can only offer advice and suggestions.
Mediation can solve many kinds of business disputes that may arise between two or more parties. Still, it is most often used in situations where the conflict has caused a breakdown in communication.
In most situations, the business mediator lawyer helps small businesses to determine a common ground with the other party, thereby resolving commercial disputes. Most mediations can take place in person or remotely. They can last a few hours but may take as long as days, weeks, or months.
How Do Business Mediation Attorney and Services Work?
Business mediation services are a great way to solve disputes with other companies or individuals without going to court. It is a less expensive, more efficient, and faster way to solve disputes.
In Missouri, a<|fim_middle|> have questions when facing mediation to resolve conflict. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the business mediation process.
What Does the American Arbitration Association Do?
The American Arbitration Association (AAA) is a not-for-profit organization that provides arbitration and mediation services. Both individuals and businesses can benefit from their services, including the following:
A skilled attorney from the Bower Law Firm would be useful if you plan to mediate a business dispute.
What Can You Expect From a Business Mediation?
Business mediation is a negotiation between two or more parties to find mutually agreed-upon solutions to a disagreement. Mediation has been around for many years, and due to its benefits, it is becoming increasingly popular in the business world.
What Is the Goal of obtaining a business mediation attorney?
Mediation aims to reach an agreement that satisfies both parties as much as possible. In the event of a dispute that cannot be resolved through mediation, the parties may still seek resolution through litigation and arbitration.
Who Can Act as a Mediator?
A mediator is a person who assists in a dispute between two or more people or groups without taking any sides. Mediators must keep an open mind as they try to assist the parties in coming up with mutually beneficial solutions to their disagreements.
Mediators come from all walks of life and have different backgrounds, including law, psychology, social work, and business. They come from many different cultures and should deeply understand human nature. Sometimes, a business law attorney can act as a mediator or can direct their clients to the appropriate resources.
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© Copyright 2022, Constellation Marketing. All Rights Reserved. | neutral third party, the mediator, helps two people or groups to negotiate an agreement. They do this by listening to what each side has to say and then coming up with a solution that works for both parties. It differs from arbitration because the parties are involved in the process.
Rather than making decisions for them, the mediator assists them in reaching an agreement.
Hiring a business lawyer is often more advantageous than bringing an expensive lawsuit if you and your partner can't resolve a dispute. Our attorneys at Bower Law Firm can help you keep costs low while helping both parties remain open-minded during negotiations.
How Can a Business Mediation Attorney Help?
It's essential for a business law attorney to understand the issues associated with mediation and to be able to recommend potential mutually acceptable solutions after carefully considering all of the issues.
The Bower Law Firm provides mediation services to resolve disputes between companies or individuals. The Bower Law Firm also has an in-house commercial property insurance attorney who can assist you with any disputed insurance claims you may have. Let's talk about how we can help you. Schedule a free consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Business Mediation Attorney
Many small business owners | 235 |
A funeral Mass for John Herold, 87, of Dickinson, formerly of Lefor, will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 23, 2017 at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Lefor with Father Biju Chitteth celebrating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Visitation for John will be 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 22 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson with a rosary and vigil service being held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
John Michael "Johnny" Herold was born on June 2, 1928 on the family homestead near Lefor, the son of Michael and Magdalena (Dassinger) Herold. John was the seventh of 11 children. He grew up and attended grade school at St. Elizabeth's, graduating from Lefor High School as Salutatorian in 1948.
After he graduated, from high school he taught at a country school. On July 18, 1949 he married his high school sweetheart, Pauline Kaufman at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church.
The couple lived, farmed and raised their seven children in the Lefor area: Keith, Ken, Betty Lou, Belinda Kay, Kelly, Bonnie Rae and John Mark. Together, John and Pauline loved to attend every event that they possibly could that involved their children and grandchildren. Whether it be a special family occasion, sport or music.
Johnny's main occupation was farming and ranching, but throughout most of his life he often held an additional job to supplement the family farm and put the last five children through a Catholic boarding school. He worked to help lay pipe, on road construction, heavy equipment operator at the Binek Coal Mine. John's last second job was as a federal crop adjuster. Through this job, he traveled many miles and met many people, developing friends everywhere he went.
John was a kind, fun loving, faith filled man. When he retired from farming, he was more than happy to spend his time playing cards, board games and most of all singing. He was filled with the gift of music and loved to share it, whether in a car ride on the way home, as part of a singing group, or formal choir. For many years, Johnny's voice was heard from the choir loft at St. Elizabeth's, and thankfully, we can hear him still in our hearts and on the St. Elizabeth's Choir recording. He participated in the Dickinson Barbershop Choir and quartets and the Happy Sing Along group.
When he retired from his farm and moved into Evergreen in the fall of 2013, he spent every moment that he could participating in activities or sharing his love of music. He was often called upon to sing at their events. He was blessed to be able to sing alongside his brother Joe, their voices blended so beautifully.
Each birthday and anniversary for all of his children, grandchildren and their families, was greeted by a hand-picked card from Grandpa Johnny. In person, we were welcomed by his warm smile and our farewells were with a wonderful bear hug, kiss and an "I Love You".
Johnny believed in and supported his church and community and belonged to many organizations throughout his life, including the Lefor Knights of Columbus, Elks, Lefor School Board, St. Mary's Booster Club, Farmers Union Oil Board, St. Elizabeth's Church Choir, Barbershop Choir, Happy Sing Along Group and the St. Elizabeth's Cemetery Maintenance Association.
He was very dedicated to the preservation of the cemetery and spent<|fim_middle|> Kelly Herold, Winona MN, John Mark (Lori) Herold, Bismarck; three daughters, Betty Lou (Gary) Schell, Stanley, Belinda Kay (Emmett) Lynch, Watertown, MN, Bonnie Rae (Keith) Benz, Bismarck; one brother, Joe (Phyllis) Herold, two sisters, Evelyn Herold and Angie Nuss, all of Dickinson, one sister-in-law, Betty Barton, Spokane WA, 20 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, with two due in 2017, his special friend, Rosalie Barth and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his wife, Pauline, his parents; son, Ken; six sisters and one brother.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the St. Elizabeth's Cemetery Association, or a charity of your choice. | many hours researching to be able to complete a directory of those interred at the cemetery. Each name was indexed and placed on a board outside of the cemetery so families can find their loved ones.
John was a wonderful example of dedication, faith and love to all of his family. His enthusiasm and interest in their lives will be forever missed and cherished.
John passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at St. Lukes's Home. In his last hours, John was surrounded by his family. They were blessed to be able to pray the rosary over him and sing some of his favorite songs. His voice may be silent but his spirit echoes still in our memories and hearts.
Johnny is survived by his children; three sons, Keith (Debbie) Herold, Lefor, | 165 |
THE FOOD CHANGE
The Food Change is a project of CUESA | 1 Ferry Building, Suite 250 | San Francisco, CA 94111 | 415.291.3276
© 2019 by CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) | Photography by Anne Hamersky
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Anne Hamersky
ABOUT THE FOOD CHANGE
The Food Change is a multifaceted educational project from CUESA championing farmers, advocates, and everyday people who are making positive change in our food system. Through a larger-than-life<|fim_middle|> Angeles Times, Saveur, and National Geographic Traveler. Hamersky has exhibited nationally and internationally; authored public art projects, social media campaigns, and short-form videos. Hamersky has been dedicated to documenting food systems subjects for more than two decades. Her 2010 book Farm Together Now showcases 20 diversified agricultural operations around the country. She says, " Whether on farmland or urban streets, I strive to create an envelope where people feel seen and heard. For me, there is power when subject, light, gesture, color, and frame come together—and it's through this visual unity that I aim to take an audience to a more informed, compassionate, activated place."
Design: Christie Rixford and Natalie Estrada, Super Natural Design.
Photo assistants: Jessica Baca, Leslie Calderon, Prince Dean, Jess Garrett, Lucy Goodhart, Jessy Jones.
Makeup artist for Food Democracy: Taiwo Koyejo.
Cover image: Elizabeth Walker, food stylist; Ethan Worman, Zarina Shkolnik, hand models.
The Food Change is made possible with funding by: | photomural installation at San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building, online resources, and live events, The Food Change will inspire people of all ages to take part in creating a fair, regenerative, and delicious food future.
About CUESA
CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a sustainable food system through the operation of farmers markets and educational programs. Founded in 1994, CUESA operates the world-renowned Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and Mission Community Market in San Francisco, and the Jack London Square Farmers Market in Oakland. CUESA is a cutting-edge force in influencing how people grow, produce, and eat food in the Bay Area and beyond.
About Anne Hamersky
Anne Hamersky is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in a wide range of publications including Time, LIFE, Los | 179 |
Bridging IT and citizens
By Diane Frank
| May 16, 1999
Richard Burk, director of community connections at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a man who is willing to sacrifice himself to help people in need. He started out doing that in the Peace Corps and in local government, but, in his view, there is no better place to help people th
Richard Burk, director of community connections at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a man who is willing to sacrifice himself to help people in need. He started out doing that in the Peace Corps and in local government, but, in his view, there is no better place to help people than in the federal government.
"You can have a tremendous impact across the country in what you say and what you do," Burk said. "Suddenly you realize you are impacting thousands of people's lives."
Burk said his role at HUD is to be the "ignorant one," forcing the technically savvy experts at the department to make their ideas accessible to the layman. Within the Office of Community Planning and Development, his job is to bring together the information technology and programming sides of the office to deliver the best and most efficient services to citizens.
HUD's IT staff and its program offices must cooperate, especially now that the department has shrunk by more than 1,000 employees over the past two years and is undergoing a major reorganization that is affecting everything it does. Burk said IT will play an essential but limited role in improving HUD's service to the general public. "Technology will lead you there, but it won't carry you all the way," he said.
He may hold this view in part because his background had nothing to do with IT or any type of hard science. Burk earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Dayton, not out of some need to understand why people act as they do, he said, but because he could not think of anything else he wanted to do.
He joined the Peace Corps right out of college—"part of paying rent for being here," as he described it. He was sent to Uganda as a health volunteer for the Uganda Foundation for the Blind to help eradicate trachoma, a contagious eye disease.
"We got 90 days of training, then they gave us motorcycles and sent us out," he said. "Two guys, out in the middle of nowhere,<|fim_middle|> easy to use without much training. "I've forced the techies to talk to someone that didn't come from a technical background," he said. With users as varied as city and state government officials, nonprofit organization directors and the person on the street walking up to a HUD kiosk, ease of use for HUD's programs is not just important—it is necessary, Burk said.
He views his role as one that bridges the gap between the department's IT experts and the rest of the world. "Every agency should have someone in this role," he said.
NEXT STORY: Union: DOD should prove outsourcing benefits | trying to do some good."
Burk said his father—a doctor who has used a wheelchair since being stricken by polio at age 29—probably had a lot to do with his life's choices. Working with his patients' physical rehabilitation, the elder Burk was a living example that it was possible to overcome a disability and that anyone can improve his position in life if given the right help.
After returning from Uganda, Burk went back to school to obtain a master of arts degree in public administration from Ohio State University and had his first true taste of public service working for Columbus, Ohio. His experience at the local level made it a natural switch to the community development and planning group at HUD, which administers grant programs that help local communities. Burk has been with the group since 1974.
"Most of the [community development] programs at HUD I've either run or been involved with at some point," Burk said.
Now as HUD's director of community connections, Burk has been able to bring software programs, including the HUD 2020 mapping software, to state and local entities. He has insisted that these tools be | 232 |
← Don't miss the dark comedy Force Majeure, opening Friday!
East Van Opry at the Rio Theatre →
Usher pulls out the dance moves for fans at Rogers Arena
Published On: November 28, 2014 - 2:32 pm
Usher circa 2013.
Review – Usher at Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Nov. 27, 2014
– by Ria Nevada
Up until last night, I would have said that nothing turns B.C. ladies on more than a shirtless Usher. But when the R&B superstar surprised his fans in Rogers Arena by changing into a custom Canucks jersey halfway through his set, I had to eat my words. Hundreds of his excitable admirers lost their minds (and probably their voices), screaming as he slid around the stage in blue and green to the party jam "You Don't Have to Call" – just one of the 20 or so chart toppers he performed over the course of two hours. This was merely the tip of the iceberg of tricks Usher pulled out for his retrospective tour dedicated to his hardcore fans.
Having laid low for the past three years, the R 'n' B artist decided to hit the road in 2014 with the Usher Experience aka the URX Tour (which I'm sure had a few Silicon Valley types rolling their eyes), performing a spectrum of all his gold and platinum hits. His set included rebooted versions of classics like "U Remind Me", "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice and Slow".
Initially, his vocals lacked the finesse and soul of his recordings; his dancing, on the other hand, was a whole different story. He indulged every ticket holder who had been mimicking his moves and perfecting his raps since puberty. Usher's choreography was beyond impressive; he pulled out his trademark circle glides like they were going out of fashion and even did a little breakdancing demonstration with his team of insanely talented back up dancers. A show highlight included a funk instrumental break where the whole dance crew pranced around the stage emulating the late, great James Brown.
After buttering up the audience with lines like, "There hasn't been a second that I haven't dreamt about my last time here" and getting some encouragement from<|fim_middle|> the permalink. | the lovely ladies who he handpicked from the bleachers to dance for him, he moved onto a string of sensual ballads. On the tracks "Climax" and "Confession", his falsetto and vocal runs were flawless. It's lucky there were seats on the stadium floor to catch all the folks who were weak in the knees after those steamy numbers.
He picked up the energy again with a drum solo that he performed behind a gold-rimmed set. Sensing the rising club vibe in the room, Usher ended the show with the thumpers "Yeah" and "DJ Got us Falling in Love Again", getting Vancouver's young and beautiful amped for more raging on the Granville strip. Some kitschy music arrangements aside, Usher puts on one hell of a spectacle, and I found myself almost missing those late nights at the club with his music as the soundtrack. Almost.
About Ria Nevada
Ria Nevada is a self-proclaimed pop culture junkie who can quote any early '90s sitcom or made-for-TV movie, from Parker Lewis Can't Lose to Frogs. This July she'll be leaving Vancouver for Australia, where she'll study for her Masters in Publishing and Communications.
View all posts by Ria Nevada →
This entry was posted in concert reviews, Homepage Features and tagged Rogers Arena, Usher, Vancouver concerts. Bookmark | 281 |
Bang Yai (, ) is a district (amphoe) in<|fim_middle|> sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 66 villages (mubans). Since 2020 Bang Mae Nang has had town (thesaban mueang) status, covering most parts of tambon Bang Mae Nang. There are five townships (thesaban tambons). Bang Muang covers parts of tambons Bang Muang, Bang Len, and Sao Thong Hin; Bang Yai covers parts of tambons Bang Mae Nang, Bang Yai, and Ban Mai; Sao Thong Hin covers most parts of tambon Sao Thong Hin; Bang Len covers most parts of tambon Bang Len; and Ban Bang Muang covers most parts of tambon Bang Muang. There are a further two tambon administrative organizations (TAO) responsible for the non-municipal areas of tambons Bang Yai and Ban Mai.
References
External links
amphoe.com
Bang Yai | the western part of Nonthaburi province, central Thailand.
History
The district was created in 1917 as a minor district (king amphoe) by splitting it from the districts Bang Kruai and Bang Bua Thong. In 1921 it was elevated to full district status. Originally named Bang Mae Nang, on 19 October 1930 it was renamed "Bang Yai", the original name of Bang Kruai District.
Geography
Neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise) Sai Noi, Bang Bua Thong, Mueang Nonthaburi, Bang Kruai, and Phutthamonthon of Nakhon Pathom province.
Administration
The district is divided into six | 159 |
Madison Reed is a beauty company revolutionizing the way women color their hair.
Madison Reed is a beauty company revolutionizing the way women color their hair. The fast-growing startup uses technology, a proprietary ammonia-free formula, and a team of licensed colorists to<|fim_middle|> an affiliation with, formal relationship with, or endorsement from Madison Reed or any companies featured above. | deliver salon-quality hair color to homes nationwide for under $25. Headquartered in San Francisco, Madison Reed is a privately held company backed by top-tier venture capital firms including Norwest Venture Partners, True Ventures and Maveron. Founded in 2013, Madison Reed started with a simple mission: To create a luxurious prestige hair color made with ingredients you can feel good about. Madison Reed's conditioning formula is crafted without ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates, and gluten. The entire color and hair care line is enriched with argan oil, keratin, and ginseng root extract to protect and pamper hair. Its products can be found online, on mobile, and through select retailers including Sephora, QVC, and Ulta Beauty.
EquityZen does not have | 169 |
The Zebra Lands Former Monster.com Vice President of Marketing John Federico
AUSTIN, Texas — June 18, 2015—The Zebra, the country's most comprehensive online auto insurance comparison platform, has just hired John Federico, former VP of marketing at Monster.com, in the same role. Federico comes to The Zebra with more than a dozen years of experience in both digital and traditional marketing; at Monster.com, the second-largest job search website in the US and the largest job search website in the world, Federico lead the global integrated marketing strategy for the company. He also created, built and led an online marketing team from the ground up.
"We've grown our business substantially over the past 12 months, and plan to invest heavily in customer acquisition through the second half of 2015." says CEO Adam Lyons. "John was instrumental in Monster.com's success driving growth of their jobs marketplace, and we have plans to do the same with our insurance marketplace."
John joins the current executive team which includes Imad Ahmed, former VP of Sales at Bankrate, Meetesh Karia, former<|fim_middle|> as their rates adjust based on factors like driving history or coverage levels. By doing this, The Zebra is pulling back the veil on auto insurance shopping, giving customers the power to find the best rate and coverage for their needs in seconds.
Jaime Netzer
301 Chicon St., Suite A | CTO of at Thinktiv, and co-founder & COO Joshua Dziabiak, former CEO of ShowClix.
Federico says the opportunity to establish and encourage a team is part of what drew him to The Zebra. Also contributing to his decision was the size and nature of the auto insurance industry: "It's impossible to resist the chance to disrupt such an old-school, antiquated business," Federico says. "Monster.com was a disruptor of the job classifieds, and The Zebra is disrupting car insurance and trying to change the way things are done by empowering consumers."
In his role as VP of marketing at The Zebra, Federico will focus on increased customer acquisition efforts by adding & expanding the company's various marketing channels. "I can't wait to expand our efforts and the team and help build the company," Federico says.
The Zebra is a licensed digital insurance agency boasting the most comprehensive real-time car insurance comparison platform in the country. The Zebra brings simplicity to car insurance shopping through its innovative comparison platform, which compares rates from more than 200 companies. Users of The Zebra can compare car insurance in real-time, and watch | 241 |
The Grammy's didn't have<|fim_middle|> | very many memorable moments this year. There seemed to be loads of issues with the sound, and the dreadful reality that Rihanna had to pull out of the show due to illness. It just didn't come together easily. Even though this was a slow year, it still had a couple of high points, the most memorable being Kendrick Lamar's performance.
There were whispers before the show started that Kendrick was delivering a powerful performance, and that rumor was enough to get people waiting on his moment. He absolutely delivered. The performance consisted of two songs from his now Grammy Award Winning album, To Pimp a Butterfly! "Blacker the Berry" & "Alright" are fan favorites from the album, but they are heavy on the content side concerning race relations in this country.
For Kendrick to deliver such a powerful performance of such potent content on the Grammy stage was inspiring. He used imagery of systematic oppression and cultural celebration to tell a story through production. The visual was strikingly engaging! If you missed the incredible performance, you can see it below! | 208 |
THE DUST BOWL bows on Blu-ray and DVD November 20th
RENOWNED FILMMAKER KEN BURNS EXPLORES THE LARGEST MANMADE ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN HISTORY
THE DUST BOWL
Gripping Two-Part Documentary Debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 20, 2012 With Over an Hour of Bonus Footage and Interviews
Release Timed with Premiere Airing on PBS on November 18 & 19
HOLLYWOOD, CA – Celebrated documentarian Ken Burns delivers an engrossing chronicle of America's greatest environmental catastrophe with THE DUST BOWL, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD November 20, 2012 from PBS Distribution and Paramount Home Media Distribution. The two-part, four-hour documentary offers a dramatic depiction of how human blindness to the balance of nature destroyed the farmlands of the Great Plains throughout the 1930s as prairies were turned into deserts and massive deadly dust storms took the lives and hopes of many Americans. Yet amidst the heartbreaking tragedy, there are also tales of heroic perseverance as families found ways to survive and government agencies and farmers worked together to develop new farming and conservation methods.
Filled with seldom-seen movie footage, unpublished photographs, the songs of Woody Guthrie and the observations of two remarkable women who left behind eloquent written accounts, the film explores this critical time in American history in all its complexities. The fascinating documentary also features compelling interviews with 26 survivors of those hard times and may well be the last recorded testimony of the generation that lived through the Dust Bowl.
"The Dust Bowl was a heartbreaking tragedy in the enormous scale of human suffering it caused. But perhaps the biggest tragedy is that it was preventable," said Burns. "This was an ecosystem—a grassland—that had evolved over millions of years to adjust to the droughts, high winds and violent weather extremes so common to that part of the country. In the space of a few decades at the start of the 20th century, that grassland was uprooted in the middle of a frenzied wheat boom. When a drought returned, all that exposed soil took to the skies, and people worried that the breadbasket of the nation would become the next Sahara desert. If we show the same neglect to the limits of nature now as we did then, it is entirely possible that this could happen again."
THE DUST BOWL is narrated by Peter Coyote and features voiceovers by Carolyn McCormack, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Conway, and Amy Madigan. The Blu-ray and DVD both feature over an hour of bonus material, including more eyewitness interviews, additional stories, revealing footage and a look at the legacy of the Dust Bowl.
THE DUST BOWL Blu-ray is presented in widescreen 1080p high definition with
5.1 Surround, English, Spanish DVI and descriptive video and English and Spanish subtitles. The DVD is presented in widescreen with 5.1 Surround, English, Spanish DVI and descriptive video with English and Spanish subtitles. Total runtime is 4 hours. The DVD and Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail prices of $24.99 and $29.99, respectively.
Disc contents are as follows:
Ø Part 1—The Great Plow Up
Bonus Material:
Ø Uncovering the Dust Bowl
Ø A Land of Haze
Ø Dust Bowl Stories
Ø Part 2—Reaping the Whirlwind
Ø Grab a Root and Growl
Ø The Dust Bowl Eyewitnesses
Ø The Dust Bowl Legacy
The Dust Bowl: An Illustrated History, written by Dayton Duncan with a preface by
Ken Burns, will accompany the film. The book, which will be published by
Chronicle Books, will be on sale in October.
About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution furthers PBS's mission of lifelong learning by expanding the availability of PBS's top-quality programs. PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves nearly 360 public noncommercial television stations in America, reaching nearly 123 million people each week through television and more than 21 million people online. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS<|fim_middle|> global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
Street date: November 20, 2012
SRP: $29.99 U.S. (Blu-ray)
$24.99 U.S. (DVD)
U.S. Rating: NR
Canadian Rating: PG
Tags: documentary, PBS, The Dust Bowl
For The First Time Ever "Avatar" Comes To Blu-ray 3D In North America On October 16
Blue Like Jazz RELEVANT Magazine Edition DVD Set for August 28 Release | is a leading provider of educational materials for pre-K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of educational services for adult learners. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online (pbskids.org), continue to be one of parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the most visited dot-org Web sites on the Internet. PBS is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC's home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment. PHMD additionally manages | 243 |
Visit an authentic Iberian pig farm to learn the secrets of the famous "jamón ibérico"
Learn the secrets behind one of Spain's most famous products, the nutty and delicious Iberian ham! This day-long culinary excursion will bring you to a pig farm in the heart of Southern Spain's Natural Park of Aracena, where you will experience first hand all the work that goes into producing this<|fim_middle|>. | gourmet delicacy. Witness the artisanal process from start to finish, and indulge in a sumptuous tasting at one of the four production areas of the country, the Sierra de Jabugo.
You will even have the chance to meet the family in charge of the farm, who will give you tips on how to distinguish the unique flavor, scent and texture of authentic jamón ibérico. After the tasting you will visit the charming village of Aracena, famous for its beautiful architecture and limestones caves, amongst which la Gruta de las Maravillas is one of the best preserved in Europe. For foodie travelers seeking to take a break from sight-seeing in Sevilla, this exciting adventure offers a closer look at the region's most beloved gourmet specialty.
Less than 1 week before the event's date – 100% of the total amount will be charged | 178 |
Mark P. Jones
Fellow in Political Science |
Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies
Mark P. Jones CV
view my research library
Mark P. Jones, Ph.D., is the fellow in political science at the Baker Institute, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies and a professor in the Department of Political Science at Rice University.
Jones also serves as the faculty director of Rice's Master of Global Affairs program. His research focuses on the effect of electoral laws and other political institutions on governance, representation and voting. He has received substantial financial support for this research, including grants from the National Science Foundation. His research has been published in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, Electoral Studies and the Journal of Politics, as well as in edited volumes published by Cambridge University Press,<|fim_middle|>0 - The battle for the Texas House
10/07/2020 - High stakes battle for the TX House
08/26/2020 - Lessons from Hurricane Harvey
08/17/2020 - Biden presidency to cast shadow over shale
08/12/2020 - Election 2020: How will next 90 days unfold?
07/13/2020 - 4 Texas GOP congressional primary runoffs to watch
07/07/2020 - George Floyd and the upcoming Texas Democratic Senate runoff
Tweets by @MarkPJonesTX | Oxford University Press and Penn State University Press, among others. He is a frequent contributor to Texas media outlets, and his research on the Texas Legislature has been widely cited in the media as well as by numerous political campaigns.
Jones regularly advises U.S. government institutions on economic and political affairs in Argentina and has conducted research on public policy issues in Latin America and Texas for numerous international, national and local organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Texas Department of Agriculture and the city of Houston. He is a frequent commentator in local, state, national and international media on government, politics and public policy. He is currently working on two principal research agendas, one that examines the impact of political institutions on politics and public policy in Latin America, and the other that analyzes the evolution of partisan politics in Texas over the past 50 years. Jones received his doctorate from the University of Michigan and his bachelor's degree from Tulane University.
Jones leads the Baker Institute's Argentina Program and helps direct the Presidential Elections Program.
My Recent Research and Publications
12/02/2020 - Death March for U.S. Shale?
11/23/2020 - Responding to allegations of electoral fraud
11/09/2020 - Why Trump's defeat is bittersweet for Texas Democrats
10/19/202 | 295 |
One of a Kind is a marketplace and community of like-minded individuals that shape the culture of craft here in Canada through the exchange of ideas, stories, and objects. Shop One of a Kind's winter show Nov. 22nd to Dec. 2nd at Toronto's Enercare Centre. *You'll find Calica Studio there for the second half of the show, Nov 27 to Dec. 2.
In anticipation of the One of a Kind winter event kicking off this week, we're showcasing some of the incredible vendors you'll find at the show. Browse last week's Gift Guide, read yesterday's interview with Tony Taylor, and join us today for our interview with Rebecca Horwitz and Meghan Macdonald, the creative duo behind Calica Studio.
Oh hey - I grew up in Oakville! I know some really talented artists to rise out of Sheridan. How did you enjoy your time there?
Attending art school in Oakville was a really bizarre and special experience. We were both quite young and found ourselves living for the first time in a sometimes isolating suburban environment, but attending this wonderful program that felt so different from the landscape we were in. The Craft and Design program at the time was made up of four disciplines: Textiles, Ceramics, Furniture and Glass. Students practically lived in the studios, spending<|fim_middle|> and our lives. Our relationship with each other has been so core to what we do. When we're working on a design we both start painting, drawing, collaging or embroidering on our own. Then we photograph our ideas and send them to each other. We're always open to what the other has to say and it's easy to agree on what direction feels right. Then we begin the process of refining our initial concepts into surface designs for our various soft goods. Distance has presented challenges and we certainly miss being able to just drop in to each other's homes, but we're still drinking tea and listening to podcasts and sharing ideas, we're just not always in the same room.
Talk to us about Calica Studio. What does this collaborative duo stand for? What do you hope your work contributes to the world?
We care about materials and process. We're interested in designing using hand techniques, digital technology and working with talented people to translate our surface designs onto cloth. A quote from the head curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton, in the exhibition book Manus × Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology has stuck with us. It reads "The mediator between the hand and the machine must be the heart." We're constantly looking for ways to embrace the buy less, buy better philosophy while making things that we find useful and beautiful, and keeping our hands and hearts deeply involved in the process.
Photographer Naomi Hill captured your Soft Studies collection with such a natural and effortless sense of flow. What inspired this collection?
Meghan: My home in Halifax looked straight out of Mad Men when my partner and I moved in. Think wood grain printed paneling, vintage furniture, terrazzo surfaces and a seafoam green bathtub. We've slowly made changes while embracing the house's history, including the fantastic tilework found in a few rooms. Soft Studies is about home and comfort and began as paintings made while looking at the mid century tile of my kitchen backsplash.
What sort of narrative do you hope Soft Studies will share?
It's been fun to see people connect with the collection through the colours we've chosen or the organic shapes that make up each scarf's composition. Textiles are so tactile, you just have to touch them, and that's been an important consideration, too. We want Soft Studies to bring people comfort, whether that's by providing a warm barrier against the elements, a way to stay cosy on an airplane or by being hung as artwork in a home.
Talk to us about Long Distance. What is your mission, and why did you create this space?
Our online shop Long Distance was named as a reference to the geographical space between us. It was created as a place to sell the work that we make as Calica Studio alongside objects from creative people that we admire including hand carved wooden spoons from New Brunswick, patinaed jewellery from Nova Scotia, and blown glass from Vancouver. It's our way to share the things that we like to wear and have in our homes with other people who might like them too.
It looks like you'll be back at One of a Kind this winter! Will some pieces from the Soft Studies collection be accompanying you? What else can attendees expect to find at your booth?
Meghan: We're really looking forward to being back at OOAK after a few years away. Our booth will have cashmere and wool scarves from our Soft Studies collection along with woven throw pillows and cosy blankets. Designing the layout and structure of a booth is always a challenge and we plan to channel the feeling we created in the Naomi Hill photographs, so wish us luck. Rebecca is pregnant and due around the time of the show, so it's a doubly exciting time!
What's your favourite thing about the whole One of a Kind experience?
OOAK is like a reunion for us! We're excited to catch up with creatives in the community who will also be taking part in the show and customers who we've gotten to know. It's great to meet the people who connect with what we make. When we get to meet someone face to face who has chosen our work to become a part of their wardrobe or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, that's just the best.
Any plans for the two of you to reunite? What does the average reunion look like? Wine? Beyonce? Blankets? A creative night in? A crazy night out? | tens of hours each week with each other. The environment was intimate and warm, the class sizes were small and that building and the people in it became our world.
We often ended up at Dixie and Dundas in Mississauga, an intersection boasting four major second-hand clothing stores. It allowed us to live large on a student budget. Otherwise, most of the time we were either in our studio at school or jumping between friend's places in the surrounding high rises where most of our classmates lived.
What was it like studying textiles with just 10 other women? As I think back on my massive lecture halls full of unfamiliar faces, I imagine that would be a pretty unique and intimate learning environment.
It was so wonderful! We both look back very fondly to those days - the people in our class, our instructors and the way we were taught to create and think about craft. By the end of three years with the same classmates, we were all able to give honest feedback and were open to receiving it. Critiques are one of the most valuable parts of the art school experience. We knew each other's work so well and had the opportunity to challenge and cheer each other on. It helped us all become better.
I love meet-cute stories, especially the becoming of friendships and creative partnerships! How did the two of you meet? Can you recall the memory for us?
Rebecca: We met in class, we actually have both since admitted that on day one we had 'liked the look' of the other, which I think just means we each thought the other was a friendly face on the other side of the table. Even though everyone was close and friendly, we all paired off quickly. It was a funny separation that happened quite organically and Meghan and I weren't in the same pair. We became closer friends in our third year and ended the program by going to New York with others from the department. After graduation, Meghan moved to Halifax to go to NSCAD and I would go visit often as my sister lives there. When Meghan moved back to Toronto we started meeting up to practice what we had learned in school together. After some late nights making silk scarves and dreaming about what was next, Calica was born.
How has your relationship evolved since that day? With one of you now in Toronto and the other in Halifax, how has distance challenged and transformed your creative partnership?
Our friendship and creative collaboration has developed so much since we started to make things together in those years after college. We're now living 1,793 km apart (give or take) and see each other every couple of months. We talk frequently, chatting about our business | 540 |
City council to talk AirBNB, short-term rental ordinance
David DeMille
<|fim_middle|> people renting out private rooms or houses, and city officials are scheduled Thursday to discuss potential changes to city ordinances regarding short-term rentals.
No official proposals have been made, but in recent weeks residents have approached the council from both sides of the issue. Some residents have complained about noise, traffic and general safety concerns when neighborhood homes are rented to unfamiliar tenants, while others are arguing that city ordinances should allow for well-managed rental practices.
City attorneys have voiced concerns in past meetings about the difficulty in enforcing the existing short-term rental ordinance, which prohibits advertised home rentals in most cases.
"There's not an official proposal but this is how things start and if the council feels one way or another they can direct staff accordingly," Mayor Jon Pike said.
The council will also consider action on a number of development-related issues, including a proposed zone change to accommodate a four-story condominium project on South Plantations Drive and a zone change from estate-size lots to smaller single-family residential lots on 13 acres on Horseman's Park Drive in the Little Valley area.
FollowDavid DeMilleon Twitter, @SpectrumDeMille, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpectrumDeMille. Call him at 435-674-6261.
What: St. George City Council meeting.
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Where: City Council Chambers, 175 E. 200 North, St. George.
On the Web: Visit sgcity.org/citycouncil for a full agenda and more information. | ddemille@thespectrum.com
St. George's attractiveness to tourists and the increasing popularity of websites like airbnb.com have led to more issues between residents and | 33 |
Dr. R. Norris Keeler has made substantial contributions to the Navy in a variety of capacities, the most notable of which was as the first director of the Office of Naval Technology in 1975 in which he was responsible for managing and directing all of the Navy exploratory development programs.
In more recent times, Dr. Keeler has applied his extensive knowledge of physics and chemistry to make major contributions to the Navy's submarine laser communications development program. He was personally responsible for defining the baseline system "Yankee Blue" that was deployed in 1988. He also perfected the concept of using atomic resonance<|fim_middle|> producing large synthetic pure single crystal diamonds which would find wide application in defense programs and across the industry.
Dr. Keeler embodies true scientific achievement in a myriad of areas through his role as a civilian engineer directly involved in contractor support of Navy systems engineering and research and development efforts. A distinguished scientist, reserve officer and business executive, Dr. Keeler blends all of these roles and his wide interests to provide innovation and technical achievement for the benefit of the Navy and the Nation. He is extremely well qualified and highly deserving of the American Society of Naval Engineers Gold Medal Award for 1992. | filters to enable the system to function effectively in day, as well as, night operations.
Dr. Keeler continued to apply his physical optical expertise to the field of LIDAR for the purpose of locating and neutralizing antiship mines deployed by Iraq in the Persian Gulf. Since that time, Dr. Keeler has designed optical command actuated underwater systems to neutralize anti-ship mines. Field trials of his concept will be conducted in the near future.
Dr. Keeler has also continued to remain active in the area of high pressure physics wherein he is making significant contributions to the development of a unique high pressure, high temperature process for manufacturing industrial diamonds. Dr. Keeler is now working on ways of | 143 |
A Poem is a Naked Person
Directed by Les Blank, Maureen Gosling
United States •et; 1974 •et; 90 mins. •et; In English
Les Blank's portrait of Leon Russell went unreleased for 40 years before hitting the screen. Russell, who also coproduced the project, wasn't happy<|fim_middle|>.
Genres: Documentary
Appears in: 34th Reel Music Festival | with the result, so questions of rights and differences of opinion meant that only a handful of people ever saw the film. Blank shot the footage between 1972 and 1974 while living on the property of Russell's Shelter Records recording studio in northeast Oklahoma. Four decades later, the footage functions as a time machine to a lost place and time. In addition to concert and studio recordings of Russell and fellow artists Willie Nelson and George Jones, Blank observes the scene with the intimate vérité that is the hallmark of all his films, capturing the spirit and feeling as much as the fabulous music | 122 |
In the BYOD movement, we've discussed the employer's right to maintain its confidential business information and trade secrets from being exposed. This time we will discuss the employee's right to privacy, in regards to this movement.
Employees' Right to Privacy Does this right cease to exist?
The right to privacy that the employee has in the personal device may indeed cease to exist once the device is used for business purposes. The need to protect a company's confidential information and trade secrets can often conflict with the need to<|fim_middle|>) to privacy. | respect an employee's right to privacy. Indeed, violating employee privacy rights is another risk that employers face in properly implementing BYOD programs. A well thought-out policy, however, can help minimize the risk of potential criminal and civil liability under state and federal laws that protect employees' privacy rights.
A BYOD policy should state that employees choosing to participate in the company BYOD program have no expectation of privacy with respect to any communications made with the device in connection with their employment. As far as the personal information on employees' devices, the employer's BYOD policy should set forth clear disclosures explaining that employees are forfeiting some of their privacy rights, should they choose to participate in the BYOD program. Employees must understand, and consent to, their responsibilities under the company's policy and the specific privacy rights they are surrendering. Accordingly, the employer should also require all employees participating in its BYOD program to sign a written acknowledgment consenting to the policy.
What if the Company gets sued? Does Electronic Discovery include employee's personal information?
The simple answer to this question is that it can include the employee's personal information. Competing with the need to respect employee privacy rights is the employer's duty to comply with litigation and discovery obligations. A transparent policy and employee consent are vital to protecting the employer. Thus, an employer's BYOD policy should notify employees that they must treat any business-related documents and information stored on their personal devices in accordance with the company's document retention policy. The BYOD policy should further notify employees that their personal data may be reviewed if the information becomes subject to discovery in litigation or in the course of an investigative proceeding, including internal investigations by the company.
Employers with BYOD programs must also ensure that any litigation identifies employees' personal devices for preservation of data. Another electronic discovery risk associated with BYOD programs is increased litigation costs for employers. For instance, if a company has to respond to a discovery request for electronically stored information, BYOD programs could markedly increase the number of additional devices subject to review. Indeed, a single employee could easily use three different personal devices for work, such as a smartphone, an iPad, and a personal laptop.
One avenue of mitigating potential future litigation costs is the use of technology that creates two different workspaces within an employee's personal device. Such technology can separate employees' corporate and personal workspaces, preventing employees' personal applications from accessing work information and preventing work information from being copied and pasted into personal applications or personal email messages. Use of this type of technology will not only enable a company to collect corporate data in a more efficient manner, should the need arise, but will also act as an additional safeguard against inadvertent disclosure of company information.
What about work done off the clock?
The risk of off-the-clock work also is noteworthy. BYOD programs essentially allow employees to work 24 hours a day. On one hand, around-the-clock work may present an attractive benefit for employers. On the other hand, this type of work can pose a significant risk of liability under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour laws.
The easiest and safest way to avoid the risk of wage and hour litigation is to make a BYOD program available only to exempt employees not covered by the FLSA overtime provision. For some employers, however, that is not a practical business solution. Consequently, those employers must ensure that their BYOD policies clearly outline the obligations of nonexempt employees. For instance, a company could implement a policy that prohibits nonexempt employees from utilizing their personal devices for work purposes when they are off the clock. The policy should define what constitutes "working" on their personal devices, such as checking company emails or answering company calls. Employees should also be made aware that any violations of the policy will subject them to disciplinary measures. Employers may wish to consult their IT departments regarding the use of software programs that block after-hours use of company emails and calls.
Even where nonexempt employees are prohibited from working on their personal devices after hours, however, a company still must ensure that its employees are aware that nonexempt employees will be paid for all time worked, that nonexempt employees must report all time worked and that employees should feel safe to report any pressure or encouragement to work off the clock. These policy statements should be set forth in an employer's BYOD policy, as well as in its specific FLSA policies. Regular employee training and signed acknowledgments are also key in mitigating the risk of off-the-clock work.
Employers will not likely be able to completely ignore employee demand for BYOD programs. Accordingly, employers should confront the BYOD movement head-on by drafting and implementing a clearly defined BYOD policy that not only considers, but balances and manages all of the competing interests and issues. If you need help, consult your attorney.
Posted on February 23, 2014 by ipconcerns Tagged employee trainingiPhoneright to privacysmartphonetrade secret CommentsNo Comments on You've heard of BYOB, but have you heard of BYOD? Bring Your Own Device?
You've heard of BYOB, but have you heard of BYOD? Bring Your Own Device?
l swing and has proven to save companies a substantial amount of money. As people own their own smart phones, tablets and laptops this will become more and more of a reality in the workplace. However, a company is putting itself at risk, not to mention an economic disadvantage, by moving forward in this movement without a clearly defined BYOD policy. Let's consider some key issues for putting just such a BYOD policy in place.
Employers should take a proactive approach in preserving confidential business information and trade secrets as the use of personal devices in the workplace opens up a myriad of different avenues through which company information might be accidentally leaked to the public. And accidental disclosures of company information may result in the loss of a company's confidential business information as well as company trade secrets. A written BYOD policy is a must. This is only one of the first steps an employer can take to show a court that the company has made reasonable efforts to protect the secrecy of its confidential information. Not only must a BYOD policy meet the company's individual goals and facilitate smooth day-to-day business practices, it also must be easily understood and followed by the company's employees. If the employees cannot understand it, a court may not view the policy as an adequate protective measure. Adequate training is often necessary in implementing a policy. This training should not be limited to initial hiring, but should be on a regular basis. And in light of the increasing capabilities of employees' personal devices, employers must also periodically review their policies to ensure that these stay current, and must manage any new security risks created by technological advances. When updates to the policy are necessary, additional employee training should be conducted. This is an ongoing process of redrafting the policy and retraining the employees to ensure understanding and compliance.
Losing personal devices or having them stolen.
Sharing personal devices with family and friends.
Connecting personal devices to unsecured wireless networks; upgrading their personal devices.
Resigning or being fired from their jobs, and taking the data on their devices with them.
By considering and addressing the various ways in which confidential business information might leak, both in the policy itself and in training, employers and employees can manage security risks at the outset.
In the next installment of BYOD we will explore whether Employees have any right (or expectation to a right | 1,519 |
Last month the New York Times published a now famous op-ed from someone within President Trump's administration. The piece led to a hunt for the "member of the resistance" and denials by major political figures. Watching this unfold I began to wonder whether Artificial Intelligence could have identified the author. I have applied machine learning to all sorts of pattern recognition problems and this seemed like just another example.
<|fim_middle|> has unique expertise in secure authentication, behavioral biometrics, PKI, Multi-Factor Authentication, and secure embedded systems. | TELEGRID is a market leader in the field of behavioral biometrics which includes voice recognition. Voice recognition utilizes subtle nuances in a user's speech pattern to perform user verification or identification. This field is widely researched and several technologies have made their way into commercial products. For instance, last year, Amazon announced that Alexa could differentiate between voices.
If we can perform speaker identification then author identification is not a big leap. Handwriting recognition, which uses optical character recognition, has also been around for a long time and is used widely in the banking industry for signature verification.
But what about text that is not handwritten, is there enough difference in authors' styles to identify them?
Stylometry is the identification of linguistic style in written language. While around for hundreds of years, it was not until 1964 that Mosteller and Wallace applied statistical modeling to identify the authors of the Federalist Papers. This began the application of machine learning to author identification of other classic literature and even tweets.
The results of this research have been positive but the lack of a valid business case has limited the technology's penetration. For instance while it might be interesting to find out if someone forged their college essay, it is doubtful that Universities will pay for it. One potential market is artist verification for auction houses. While not linguistic, perhaps this will be the market that helps the development of author identification.
Eric Sharret is Vice President of Business Development at TELEGRID. TELEGRID | 292 |
Minerals & Crystals<|fim_middle|> Bladed Barite Crystal Cluster - Morocco | (1,827)
4.2" Malachite Crystals on Matrix - Morocco
This is a gorgeous specimen of malachite mined in Morocco. This form of malachite is made up of slender prisms of tiny, fibrous needles. These needles merge to create sprays and fans of deep green color. The malachite formed from a limonitic matrix, after bladed barite crystals..
Malachite is an intense green, copper based mineral that can be found in a wide variety of forms. Malachite can grow in botryoidal masses, stalactitic, and reniform formations, typically as a tight cluster of fanning fibrous needles that make up a seemingly solid mass. As layers continue to stack during formation, a banded pattern can sometimes begin to take shape, which explains the rings in all shades of green that are seen on most polished malachite specimens.
Malachite results from the weathering of other copper ores and is very often found associated with other copper-based minerals such as Azurite and Chrysocolla. It can be found in copper deposits around the world, but the Democratic Republic Of The Congo is the primary source for polished malachite and mineral specimens.
Malachite has been prized since ancient times, first as a utilitarian copper ore, and then as an ornamental stone. Due to it's value as a decorative stone, it's rarely mined as a copper ore anymore.
4.2" long, 2.7" wide
4.2" Plate Of Gemmy, Chisel Tipped Barite Crystals - Mexico
2.7" Yellow Barite Crystal Cluster - Peru
3" Yellow Barite Crystal Cluster - Peru
3.7" Pink and Orange Bladed Barite - Mibladen, Morocco
1.3" Blue, | 377 |
In July 20, at his hotel in the Swiss Alps, on the second rest day of the 2009 Tour, Mark Cavendish was approached by a rival team manager, Bjarne Riis.
A controversial figure who had admitted to doping when he won the Tour in 1996, Riis was now running the Saxo Bank squad, and one of his riders, Andy Schleck, was still in contention to win the 2009 Tour. As a manager, Riis had earned a reputation as one of the sport's thinkers and innovators, whose teams were tactically astute and excep- tionally well organized. Partly this reputation might have been due to his demeanor: Riis, a Dane, was cold and inscrutable, his aloof manner sug- gesting he was in possession of a secret code.
But today, Riis had something else on his mind when he walked over to Cavendish's table as he ate dinner.
"Have you looked at the profile for stage 19, the finish in Aubenas?" Riis asked.
The riders were coming out of the Alps, heading west. The stage was a bridge to the final mountain of the Tour, on the penultimate day: Mont Ventoux. But the stage Riis was talking Cavendish into—stage 19, from Bourgoin-Jallieu, in the Rhône-Alpes, into the Ardèche Valley, then on to the town of Aubenas—was anything but flat. It was mountainous; the etymological root of the town's name, alb, means "height." Aubenas sits on a hill overlooking the valley.
It was the kind of stage that Cavendish, the best sprinter of his or per- haps any other generation, would have studied and then probably dismissed. Cavendish and Riis had this in common, if nothing else: Both were assiduous in their preparation. Every evening, while some riders were playing computer games or phoning home, Cavendish would study the official road book, the bible of the Tour, detailing every village, every hill, every bend in the road, along with brief tourist-style descriptions of the start and finish towns<|fim_middle|>. It's difficult to tell if he is still thinking or if he is allowing himself to become pissed off, again, as he reflects on his 2012 Tour with Team Sky, when he was made to feel like a bit player, a luxurious extra in a team built around Wiggins.
Then he leans forward again and the furrow vanishes. "Nah. That wasn't the best one. I would say Aubenas.
Thanks for reading this excerpt from Étape! You've read 22% of the chapter. Read the full chapter in Etape: 20 Great Stages from the Modern Tour de France by Richard Moore. | ("Aubenas," read the entry for stage 19, "perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Ardèche Valley, with a population of 12,000, benefits from the temperament, the accent and the radiant smile of the south. In the summer, the sunlight illuminates the treasures of the town, captivating the senses of those who visit the city of the Montlaurs . . .").
When Cavendish looked at the profile for the stage to Aubenas, it did not look promising. A lumpy first 50 km included two category 4 climbs, and four peaks in total: up, down, up, down, up, down, up. While category 4 climbs carry the "easiest" ranking, you still have to get up and over them, and these so-called transitional stages can be the hardest of all. There would be too many riders who would fancy their chances. And it would be their last chance, with Ventoux reserved for the overall contenders, and the Champs-Élysées, on the final day, reserved for the sprinters—for Cavendish, that is.
I MEET CAVENDISH IN THE deserted coastal town of Calpe in southern Spain, in the bar of an out-of-season hotel. It's early January. It is a pretty bleak setting. And Cavendish is cagey and monosyllabic when asked about recent controversies—there are always recent controversies with Cavendish—and immediate plans. But ask him to discuss his best-ever stage win in the Tour de France and he is transformed. He sits upright. His eyes—framed by long, cow-like eyelashes—widen and sparkle. He uses his hands to speak. And he recites what happened as though he was reading from the road book, recalling every corner, every hill, every pothole.
Cav has fire in his eyes now, as he relives it. His heart might be racing, as it was when he caught and passed the Spaniard, Luis León Sánchez, in the finishing straight in Brive. He settles back in his chair. He lifts a hand to his mouth. His brow furrows, not an unfamiliar sight | 456 |
Today on the podcast Michael Covel interviews Larry Doyle. Doyle's book is called "In Bed With Wall Street". Doyle is a former JP Morgan banker gets into why the system is fragile despite being five or six years removed from the crisis. Covel and Doyle discuss Doyle's background and why he put "In Bed With Wall Street" together; Madoff, and what was missed from a regulatory perspective; KYC, or "knowing your customer"; MF Global, Jon Corzine, and touching customer funds; Dodd Frank and the supposed fixes to the 2008 financial crisis, and why Dodd Frank was more of an architectual blueprint rather than a completed piece of legislation; regulatory reforms to help fix the problems created in the 2008 financial crisis; informing the general public of the problems surrounding Wall Street today; the "bribe" of equity markets at all-time highs; manipulation of the markets; why Tim Geithner said "we saved the economy, but we lost the country"; if a crash is the only thing that will bring about change; why the banks must be broken up; and what would have happened if Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley had failed. Want a free trend following DVD? Go to trendfollowing.com/win.
Today on the podcast Michael Covel talks with Tucker Max. Max is a bestselling author and entrepreneur who has sold over 3 million books. Covel and Max talk about their first meeting, and Max's brutally honest advice to Covel; diet and nutrition; the NCAA, college athletics, exploitation, the media, and having to 'beat' the system; marginal cost and marginal product; entrepreneurial thinking and Max's early career; Max's experience in marketing; protecting your independence; Christopher Hitchens; facing rejection in publishing, and how rejection is part of success; how success only teaches you to repeat what you did before, and failure forces you to think; what drives Max today; how the landscape has changed in regards to authors; the fight for authority and trust in the publishing world; what motivates Tucker Max today--the quality of relationships you have with other people, and what you do that matters to others. More information on Tucker Max can be found on tuckermax.me. Free Covel trend following video go to trendfollowing.com/win.
Michael Covel discusses a<|fim_middle|>. | white paper titled "Two Centuries of Trend Following". Covel likes the fact that when he goes through their references, it's all other academic white papers. Then, sandwiched in between the other white papers, "The Complete TurtleTrader" is referenced. Covel posted this on Twitter and received a response in which someone wanted to talk about the last couple of years of trend following performance. Trend following performance is going to differ depending on the trader, what's in their portfolio, the type of system they're trading, and the risk they're taking. There isn't some one magical elixir. Covel believes that you're better off in the long-term trend following world, rather than in the short-term world. Still, the person Covel interacted with on Twitter was not concerned with the two centuries of trend following that the white paper talked about, but rather, "what have you done for me lately?" Covel moves on to talk about a recent monologue he did concerning a Yahoo Finance article in which he questioned the vocabulary of the talking heads. Covel looks at the responses to that episode, and then the larger view: Most people don't have the foggiest clue what trading is; what Wall Street is. They've been listening to nonsense in the media. The lure is still out there. The buy and hold lure is still out there. But even worse is that "get rich quick" attitude. People don't understand it as a science. Covel looks at at "The Wolf of Wall Street" and analyzes a segment from the movie. Covel uses it as an example of how most people view money-making and Wall Street. People don't think like Covel's podcast guests and writing subjects; they don't think like Marty Bergin at Dunn Capital or Ed Seykota. This is what Covel is up against. He wants people to understand the science of trading. Covel also notes that his old newsletter system is being changed. If you want to continue to receive Covel's newsletter, go to trendfollowing.com/subscribe-now. Want a free trend following video? Go to trendfollowing.com/win.
Michael Covel talks with Bill Adams in his second visit to the podcast. Adams is a private trader and systems developer. He is based in Zurich and works with institutional clients. Adams and Covel discuss if Adams views himself as a trend following trader; why the word futures can be problematic; broad diversification and diversifying on a number of different tiers; risk-based diversification; why making sure you're in the game is the most important factor; why every business is seasonal; why price is the most important aspect to a trade; how Adams has (or doesn't have) the "expertise" to trade certain markets; informing your system of various events as a quantitative or systematic trader; thinking about Adams' strategy in the context of evolution; core baskets vs. satellite baskets; the adaptive aspect of what Adams does; the philosophical and operational aspects of volatility; average true range as a volatility measure; trading to make a return vs. trading as an economist; Adams' greatest areas of challenge and frustration; Michael Lewis and whether the markets are "rigged"; and execution strategy. Want a free trend following video? Go to trendfollowing.com/win.
Michael Covel cuts up a Yahoo Finance segment called "Are Social Media Stocks In A Bear Market?" with Michael Santoli and Jeff Macke. Covel dissects the terminology and words used by the media, and the position of the talking heads on this Yahoo Finance article. Covel discusses the idea of researching stocks. There is advice that says you should be doing one hour of fundamental research per week on every stock you own. If you own 50 stocks, that's 50 hours a week. Covel thinks this advice is asinine, and points out that the best traders don't do that. If the best traders in the world don't do that, why should you? It doesn't matter what the research tells you; if you don't have a stop loss, you're going to lose your money. Period. Covel then moves on to the Jeff Macke/Michael Santoli segment and dissects it each step of the way. Covel breaks down the terminology, including "crowded longs", "chatter from brokerage firms", and "hedge fund favorites". Covel also discusses how we don't know the why behind bubbles, inspired by his Justin Fox interview from a few days ago. Covel also discusses why you don't need to know what a good price is on the way down; defining "smart money", "aggressively buying", and "leadership" in a trading system; and whether or not the market is "anxious". Covel ends with something inspired by James Altucher's article, "Ten Reasons You Have To Quit Your Job In 2014". Want a free trend following video? Go to trendfollowing.com/win.
Michael Covel speaks with Justin Fox. Fox is the executive editor at the Harvard Business Review Group. He writes a blog for hbr.org (http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/) and a monthly column for Time magazine. Fox is also the author of "The Myth Of The Rational Market: A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street". Covel and Fox discuss Harry Markowitz, Bayesian statistics, and making smart decisions in an uncertain world using quantitative tools; stocks, beta, and the importance of making useful predictions; Commodities Corporation and trend following trading in the early 1970's; why a market in which everyone was rationally anticipating the future would be a random market; Amos Hostetter; how the behavioral mindset started to unfold in the 1970's; Eugene Fama and the efficient market hypothesis; the Capital Asset Pricing Model; why well-designed markets and well-informed investors are prone to manias and panics; and individuals making errors vs. the group getting it right. Justin Fox can be found on Twitter at @foxjust or on the web at byjustinfox.com.
Michael Covel speaks with Thomas Gilovich. Gilovich is a professor of psychology at Cornell. He is an expert on behavioral economics and decision making. Covel and Gilovich discuss how his world dovetailed into money and markets; basketball, streak shooting, and the "hot hand"; randomness and the clustering illusion; the missing Malaysian Airlines flight and probability; the reluctance to accept a probabilistic view of the world; politics, predictions, and probabilities; people who see the world in black and white; drawing conclusions from incomplete and unrepresentative evidence, and how to avoid that folly; the position of the devil's advocate, and the importance of that role; Gilovich's response to the media's talking heads, and their often black and white opinions; behavioral economics vs. traditional economics; when people do the wrong thing because the public demands it; Bill James and the closer; instinct vs. considered judgment and test taking; irrationality in financial markets and bubbles; loss aversion; and why you don't need to be better than the market. More information on Thomas Gilovich can be found at psych.cornell.edu/people/thomas-gilovich. Want a free trend following DVD? Go to trendfollowing.com/win | 1,488 |
Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/tag/interior-design/)
The Bunkhouse opens in Williamston
By Kayleigh Garrison | April 2, 2018
It's been busy inside the bright teal building at 118 W. Grand River Ave<|fim_middle|>-owner Chantelle Deimling. "These aren't pieces that you sell in a garage sale in two years; these are pieces that become functional in your home—they're art."
141 Design Company opened in September 2016. | . in downtown Williamston. The building now occupies The Bunkhouse, which opened on Feb. 16 and was founded by 141 Design Company owners Chantelle and Brian Deimling. "The Bunkhouse is where paint classes are held and it's also a fun little store," co-owner Chantelle Deimling said.
141 Design Company creates custom furniture and makes people feel welcome
By Kayleigh Garrison | February 21, 2018
One must bypass a bright red door before they can step inside 141 Design Company in Williamston. Once inside, they will be surrounded by vibrant furniture that has lived a life of its own. Unlike traditional furniture produced by the masses every day, 141 Design Company creates custom furniture from salvaged wood for anyone who desires it. "We'd like to consider them heirloom pieces," said co | 186 |
CLL starts in the bone marrow in cells meant to become lymphocytes, or white blood cells. These abnormal cells<|fim_middle|> noticed, CLL is in an intermediate or advanced stage.
CLL can be either of two types. It can be the slow-growing type that may take a long time before the patient needs treatment – or, it can be a faster-growing type, which is a more serious disease. The leukemia cells from these two types look alike, but lab tests can tell the difference between them.
Your doctor uses the stage of your CLL, results from various tests, and your overall health to make recommendations about your treatment. Treatment may include chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant.
If you have any of these risk factors and symptoms, contact your doctor for an appointment as soon as possible.
Any questions? Leave a comment or question below! | can build up in your bone marrow for a long time, causing serious problems down the line. CLL usually doesn't cause signs or symptoms and is found during a routine blood test. By the time symptoms are | 41 |
The science-profile course of the 11th grade at the Eider-Treene-school in Tönning has dealt intensively with nanotechnology this year. In addition to a visit to the nanotechnology student lab "klick!" in the Kieler Forschungswerkstatt, towards the end of the school year the preparation of an exhibition was on the program.
The exhibition is divided into four thematic areas: In the area "What is Nanotechnology?" the fundamentals of the subject are illuminated. A model made of wooden cubes illustrates the enlargement of the surface at a reduction of the material. A brief outline of the history of nanotechnology is complemented with current analytical methods such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), which is presented on the basis of a scale model and real recordings (that originate from the student laboratory visit). The<|fim_middle|> framework for a thematic focus "Nanotechnology" at the Eider-Treene school, where the exhibition will be complemented by various demonstrations of the students.
Preparing the exhibition: foils are glued; LED light strips soldered and assembled.
Assembly of the exhibition: With good planning, the question "Which board comes to where?" does not exist.
Exhibit details: The wooden cube model shows the increase in surface area, the Geckos in their exhibition terrarium. | area "Nanotechnology in Everyday Life" shows the many uses of the technology, from cosmetics to textiles and food, to the use in the industry. The lotus effect - of course a must-have in every nano exhibition – has a place in the "Where to Find Nano in Nature? section, along with leaf beetle and morpho butterfly. In a small terrarium in the middle of a shelf, four (plastic) geckos have found their new home and now are watching students eating their lunch. The final section deals with the use of nanotechnology in sports and addresses the opportunities and risks of nanotechnology, which is made accessible to the visitors in the form of an audio station.
After intense preparation the exhibition was set up yesterday. Thanks to a good preparation and a high degree of enthusiasm of the 11-member NaWi course, supported by a friendly carpenter, the exhibition was completed in just 6 hours. Next week, it provides a | 195 |
Four County Library System
( Four County Library System )
Village Library of Morris
The Resource Night at the museum 1 & 2, Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy, (videorecording DVD)
Night at the museum 1 & 2, Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy, (videorecording DVD)
The item Night at the museum 1 & 2, Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy, (videorecording DVD) represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Four County Library System.
Adams, Amy
Chabat, Alain, 1958-
Cobbs, Bill
Garant, Robert Ben, 1970-
Guest, Christopher
Gugino, Carla, 1971-
Levy, Shawn
Rooney, Mickey
Stiller, Ben, 1965-
Trenc, Milan
Van Dyke, Dick
Williams, Robin, 1951-2014
Wilson, Owen, 1968-
Lennon, Thomas, 1970-
Night at the museum: When Larry Daley is hired as museum night watchman, he soon discovers that all the exhibits come to life after the sun sets. Can he figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes? Night at the museum, batte of the Smithsonian: Larry Daley is the former night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, where the exhibits come to life after dark. But now Larry's nocturnal friends are being retired to the archives of<|fim_middle|>
Night at the museum 1 & 2
Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy
Night at the museum one and two
Night at the museum : battle of the Smithsonian
Battle of the Smithsonian
Museums -- Drama
Music by Alan Silvestri ; costume designer, Renee April, Marlene Stewart, respectively ; film editor, Don Zimmerman (both), Dean Zimmerman (Battle...) ; production designer, Claude Paré ; director of photography, Guillermo Navarro, John Schwartzman, respectively
MPAA rating: PG, mild action, language, brief rude humor
English, French or Spanish dialogue; Spanish subtitles; English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH); closed captioned for the hearing impaired
Night at the museum: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Robin Williams
Battle of the Smithsonian: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Robin Williams
Lennon, Thomas
Stiller, Ben
Gugino, Carla
Williams, Robin
Wilson, Owen
Azaria, Hank
Chabat, Alain
DVD, NTSC, region 1, full screen (1.33:1) (Night at the museum), widescreen (2.35:1) (Battle of the Smithsonian); 5.1 DTS or 5.1 Dolby Digital (English), Dolby surround (Spanish or French); dual layer
Village Library of MorrisBorrow it
152 Main Street PO Box 126, Morris, NY, 13808, US
<div class="citation" vocab="http://schema.org/"><i class="fa fa-external-link-square fa-fw"></i> Data from <span resource="http://link.4cls.org/portal/Night-at-the-museum-1--2-Twentieth-Century-Fox/t82OeE_7Kxo/" typeof="Book http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/Item"><span property="name http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/label"><a href="http://link.4cls.org/portal/Night-at-the-museum-1--2-Twentieth-Century-Fox/t82OeE_7Kxo/">Night at the museum 1 & 2, Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy, (videorecording DVD)</a></span> - <span property="potentialAction" typeOf="OrganizeAction"><span property="agent" typeof="LibrarySystem http://library.link/vocab/LibrarySystem" resource="http://link.4cls.org/"><span property="name http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/label"><a property="url" href="http://link.4cls.org/">Four County Library System</a></span></span></span></span></div>
Data Citation of the Item Night at the museum 1 & 2, Twentieth Century Fox ; 1492 Pictures/21 Laps ; screen story and screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon ; produced by Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; directed by Shawn Levy, (videorecording DVD)
Structured data from the Bibframe namespace is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Four County Library System. Additional terms may apply to data associated with third party namespaces. | the Smithsonian Institution, luring him back for a battle against museum misfits who plan to take over the Smithsonian
Beverly Hills, CA, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2014
2 videodiscs (DVD) (215 min.)
Night at the museum is based upon the book by Milan Trenc | 72 |
American heritage brands make a comeback
By BOOTH MOORE
Nov. 23, 2008 12 AM PT
Fashion Critic
When Charles Beckman sold his first pair of work boots for $1.75 in the sleepy town of Red Wing, Minn., in 1905, he probably never imagined that in 2008, those leather lace-ups would be selling for $235 at hipster havens Urban Outfitters and Opening Ceremony.
Call it blue-collar chic, sportsman style or retro prep. American heritage brands are being discovered by a new generation sporting Pendleton plaid shirts, Woolrich buffalo plaid vests, Filson field bags and Carhartt beanies.
American work wear has always been an inspiration for designers, most recently Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs. Young labels such as Adam Kimmel, Patrik Ervell, Rogues Gallery and Band of Outsiders incorporated traditional American<|fim_middle|> made him look so epic."
Christophe Loiron had a similar experience growing up in North Africa and France in the 1970s, watching Brando and McQueen on the big screen. He opened the vintage store Mister Freedom in L.A. three years ago to pay homage to utilitarian clothing from the last 150 years by Filson, Pendleton and other brands.
Loiron can rattle off the features of a 1942 U.S. military shearling flight jacket (made for only two years), or the derivation of the peacoat (again, U.S. military). A few style blogs, such as acontinuouslean.com, archivalclothing.blogspot.com and referencelibrary.blogspot.com, are similarly obsessed.
But for Loiron at least, mainstream interest isn't a bad thing. "What drives this country forward sometimes has erased its past," he says, with a cigarette between his fingers in a very James Dean-ish stance. "I like that more people are recognizing quality and heritage of design and are willing to invest in one good Pendleton shirt instead of having 10 shirts they don't really need."
Of course, Loiron also has his own Mister Freedom line of vintage-inspired work wear, which he produces out of his store. And in a sign that things have really come full circle, the Japanese line Workers replicates American vintage pieces by such long-gone manufacturers as Crown in Cincinnati, down to the painstaking detail of crown-embossed buttons and "union made" labels.
Wonder what will happen when those show up in a vintage store.
booth.moore@latimes.com
Booth Moore
As Los Angeles Times fashion critic from 2004-15, Booth Moore logged tens of thousands of miles covering the runways from L.A. to Paris and interviewing style leaders such as Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford and Donatella Versace. | checks and plaids, field coats and parkas into their menswear collections.
But the passion for Americana has moved beyond pure inspiration; now it's about owning the real thing. And although the trend is more prevalent on the men's side, it's starting to catch on with women, who are wearing Bass Weejuns, oversized Pendleton shirts and leggings, and Red Wing boots with skinny jeans.
"It feels like a good time to be patriotic again," says Ricky Swallow, a sculptor in Highland Park who likes to work in 1940s denim aprons and tracker boots from the century-old Quoddy Trail Moccasin Co. in Maine. "There's an irony to it. You go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, and you see a lot of fashion designers, people from Ralph Lauren, buying vintage clothes to make patterns. These traditional brands have informed fashion for a long time. Now fashion is helping them."
With their tough, dry-finish tin cloth, worsted wool and traction-tread heels, these clothes are the antithesis of throwaway cheap chic, which makes them particularly attractive when dollars are short. They are nostalgic, playing into an insatiable appetite for all things retro. But they are also a blank canvas for a number of subcultures, including neo-grunge, preppy, hip-hop and surf 'n' skate, whose common value is authenticity.
Neo-grunge was the starting point for Urban Outfitters when it began buying into the Americana trend two years ago, trading $200 premium jeans by Diesel for skinny Levi's and flannel shirts. In the last year the store has added Filson, Red Wing, Bass, Sperry and Patagonia to the mix. This summer, it will introduce Reyn Spooner shirts with a younger, slimmer fit, and possibly some pieces from Pendleton, L.L. Bean and J. Press.
Dan Leraris, head of menswear buying and design for the chain, admits that the names are not familiar to most of his core customers, who are between 18 and 24. "They trust us to educate them. These brands come from a real place. There are reasons for the way these things are. You can't hide or refabricate it. It has soul."
"It's the idea that when you buy a Filson tin-cloth jacket, it was originally intended for the field, with lots of pockets for bullets or cigarettes," Swallow says. "And now they work for cellphones and iPods."
If you had any doubt that everything's gone global, consider that it's the Japanese and Europeans who helped reintroduce Americans to heritage brands in their own backyard. (Not that many of the goods are made in America anymore, but that's another story.)
"American heritage is a huge part of the Japanese equation. Some of the best vintage is in Japan, and it's all from America, " says Humberto Leon, co-owner of the Opening Ceremony stores in New York and Los Angeles, who first noticed the trend a year ago when he was in Japan researching clothing lines to include in his current Japanese-themed store installation.
Leon ended up including Pendleton and Red Wing. The boot maker's American-made "heritage" styles were available only in Japan until last year. Now Red Wing also sells the line at Urban Outfitters, Opening Ceremony, J. Crew, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale's. Keanu Reeves and Ludacris have worn the boots, and Johnny Depp's stylist recently pulled a few pairs.
"It's becoming a smaller and smaller world, and success overseas is resonating on the home front," says Jenny Tauer, Red Wing's global marketing manager.
Daiki Suzuki, a New York-based designer who grew up in Japan, started his work wear-inspired line Engineered Garments in 1999. Two years ago he was recruited by Woolrich, the Pennsylvania outdoor clothier started in 1830, to design a younger brand-offshoot, Woolrich Woolen Mills, with stylistic as well as utilitarian details. A plaid field shirt jacket is nipped in at the waist and a fishing smock has hunters embroidered on it.
"I discovered American sportswear through movies like 'The Grapes of Wrath,' " he wrote in an e-mail. " Henry Fonda in those coveralls, leather jackets, work boots, wool blazers and newsboy caps made me think about clothes in a new way. These garments were not worn for fashion but for necessity, plus the stark contrast of the film, in black and white, just | 947 |
Lope De Vega Coffee Mug
About Lope De Vega:
Lope Félix de Vega Carpio (25 November 1562 – 27 August 1635) was a Spanish playwright, poet, novelist and marine. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Age of Baroque literature. His reputation in the world of Spanish literature is second only to that of Miguel de Cervantes,[1] while the sheer volume of his literary output is unequalled, making him one of the most prolific authors in the history of literature. He was nicknamed "The Phoenix of Wits" and "Monster of Nature" (in Spanish: Fénix de los Ingenios, Monstruo de la Naturaleza) by Cervantes because of his prolific nature.
Lope de Vega renewed the Spanish theatre at a time<|fim_middle|> Quevedo and an arch-enemy of the dramatist Juan Ruiz de Alarcón. The volume of his lifework made him envied by not only contemporary authors such as Cervantes and Luis de Góngora, but also by many others: for instance, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wished he had been able to produce such a vast and colourful oeuvre.[2](from Wikipedia) | when it was starting to become a mass cultural phenomenon. He defined its key characteristics, and along with Pedro Calderón de la Barca and Tirso de Molina, took Spanish Baroque theatre to its greatest heights. Because of the insight, depth and ease of his plays, he is regarded as one of the greatest dramatists in Western literature, his plays still being produced worldwide. He was also considered one of the best lyric poets in the Spanish language, and wrote several novels. Although not well known in the English-speaking world, his plays were presented in England as late as the 1660s, when diarist Samuel Pepys recorded having attended some adaptations and translations of them, although he omits mentioning the author.
Some 3,000 sonnets, 3 novels, 4 novellas, 9 epic poems, and about 500 plays are attributed to him. Although he has been criticised for putting quantity ahead of quality, nevertheless at least 80 of his plays are considered masterpieces. He was a friend of the writer Francisco de | 221 |
Apple leads Keynote at ASCCA 2009 Conference Where is e-tax for the Mac?
Take Control Books normally offer Apple User Groups a 30% discount off their range, but until July 7, 2009 they are having a 50%-off sale on all Take Control ebooks and Macworld Superguides, so you can expand your library with highly practical ebooks about Macs, Mac OS X, iLife '09, AirPort networking, and much more.
To take advantage of this limited-time sale, visit the catalog Web page using this coupon-loaded link, select the titles you want, and click the Buy Selected Ebooks button. You'll see the coupon code and the discount on the first screen of the shopping cart.
"Take Control of the Mac Command Line with Terminal": Joe Kissell shows you how to release your inner Unix geek!
"Take Control of Maintaining Your Mac, Second Edition": Keep your Mac running smoothly with an easy maintenance program!
"Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac": Learn how to solve any Mac problem with Joe Kissell's expert advice!
"Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac, Third Edition": Find essential advice for running Windows on your Intel-based Mac.
"Macworld Mac Gems Superguide": Browse through 240+ reviews of inexpensive software to improve your Mac experience.
"Macworld Mac Security Superguide": Protect your Mac from bad guys, malicious software, thieves, snoops, and other pesky problems.
"Take Control of iWeb '09": Learn how to make useful, attractive Web sites with iWeb '09.
"iPhoto '09: Visual QuickStart Guide": Master every aspect of iPhoto '09 with step-by-step, visual instructions from Take Control publisher Adam Engst.
"Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09": Learn how to record complete songs with drums, keyboards, bass, strings, even horns…even if all you have is a beat-up electric guitar<|fim_middle|>Port network fast, reliable, and secure! Updated for 2009 models.
"Take Control of Your Wi-Fi Security": Learn how to keep intruders out of your wireless network and protect your sensitive communications.
Be sure to let the members of your Apple User Group know about this great special from Take Control Books. | !
"Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09": Get creative and make music with the built-in loops in GarageBand '09.
"Take Control of Safari 4": Sharon Zardetto helps you make the most of Apple's Safari, a deceptively powerful Web browser with many hidden and under-appreciated features.
"Take Control of Your 802.11n AirPort Network": Make your 802.11n-based Air | 99 |
Temporary Structures 1
Mutual Investigations
From Thu 12/4/2018
Jan Šerých
Marek Pokorný
The library and reading room in PLATO as a work of art by the visual artist Jan Šerých to improve concentration on reading and stimulate active dialogue of the reader with the space.
An exceptional offer of art publications, magazines and various materials on contemporary art and its context is available to the public (borrowing usually for the reading room only). You will find 10,000 books purchased by the gallery or acquired as a gift from a private library and the Library of the City of Ostrava which provided a set of art books to PLATO.
The subject of Mutual Investigations is the book, information and knowledge as an infinite and forever changing universe, when individual texts unexpectedly merge in an<|fim_middle|>plato-ostrava.cz
gallery, library, bistro
Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Wed, Fri 10 am – 8 pm
Tram stop: Stodolní
Bus stop: Konzervatoř
Train station: Ostrava-Stodolní
PLATO provides the backup to everyone who wants to understand the world in wider relationships. Its complexity and richness is reflected through contemporary (visual) art. PLATO is a gallery of the City of Ostrava.
ostrava_logo
PLATO Ostrava is a city-funded organisation of the City of Ostrava.
5000 m² for Art
This page was last updated on Wed 30/10/2019
Space for schools, after-school clubs and teachers
Space for day-care centres and clubs
Space for children and families
Space for students and artists
Space for community
Space for teenagers | inspirational way and create more and more additional meanings and interpretations.
"The library is one of the crucial institutions preserving and disseminating knowledge, mostly in the form of texts and related storage media. It is always a unique dataset whose extent and content is influenced by a number of factors. In addition, the methods of its sorting and use are not determined a priori, but depend on the situation. The library therefore both stores and, at the same time, creates – relationships between texts, books, images, themes and users. The library is a performative and open system, regardless of how rigid and practical its outward impression may seem.
In collaboration with the artist Jan Šerých we are creating an environment as a nostalgic sigh for the time when a library was proof of the intellectual and social status of its owner. When the system of arrangement of the individual volumes without attributes for quick and precise retrieval of a particular work was just about to be created. When the library was a pulsating universe of desire, a garden of intellectual pleasure, a mirror and precondition of the birth of the subject.
The project is also a slightly ironic analogue variation on the digital world, where the algorithms fulfil our wishes before we are able to pronounce them (or type them into the browser). At the same time, by being incomplete it provides room for an alternative solution which could not be reached otherwise."
Jan Šerých (1972, Prague, CZ), a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague; in the 1990s a member of the Headless Horseman group of artists. His output is characterised by minimal form and working with the language of geometry, sign systems and codes, which often hide processed emotional experience. His work is a mix of the "high" and the "low"; pure aesthetic of reduced forms with the sphere of pop culture and mass media; scepticism against the possibilities and significance of a work of art, exploring the limits of language or different ways of sorting information with purely subjective impulses. He lives and works in Prague.
Information about the library
13←→
photo: Martin Polák
Temporary Structures is PLATO's year-long project when the city gallery's backup facilities in the former Bauhaus are created by artists. Instead of traditional exhibitions, we present a library, a bistro, a shop, a cinema and a garden as works of art.
PLATO Ostrava
city-funded organisation
Janáčkova 22
(former Bauhaus store)
info@plato-ostrava.cz
| 518 |
Property Overview - VILLA ALEGRA by Mr. Richard Tuil Design, Architect and Engineer: Situated on a promontory in the famed Hollywood Hills lies Villa Alegra, a true architectural triumph. This unique private and gated compound features un-obstructed city views of Los Angeles and beyond. Built with the finest materials and Architectural integrity, this home showcases a grand open floor plan with large living/dining room, gourmet top-of-the-line chef's kitchen, wood paneled library, state of the art media room and incredible luxurious master suite. Designer details include custom retractable steel doors and windows, marble and stone from Italy and handcrafted ceilings with ornate moldings. Additional features include elevator and the most advanced technology. Professionally landscaped<|fim_middle|> indoor/outdoor pool). There are also 2 gourmet ~~~chef's~~~ kitchens (one of which is on one of the enormous terraces). A spa room & 5 additional bedroom suites, staff quarters w/separate access, and warm, traditional office w/paneled walls (which could also function as a 2nd screening room, wine room, or humidor) complete this amazing residence. The gated entry from Viewmont opens to a long driveway, which leads to an 8-car motor court. You must experience it to believe it!
The grand entry to this rare property transports you from reality as you gaze at the magnificent City & Ocean views. Crafted from the finest materials, there is unparalleled attention to detail including custom-made steel doors/ windows & imported marble/ limestone from Italy. The spectacular ballroom converts into a state-of-the-art screening room with a touch of a button. The master suite features a lounge area as well as disappearing glass doors that open to one of the many terraces. The master suite includes his & hers baths, large dressing areas & closets. There are 2 gourmet kitchens, one as part of the extensive outdoor entertaining areas that includes an infinity pool (1 of 2 pools). Other features include formal living & dining areas, 5 additional en suite bedrooms, maids quarters with separate access, a luxurious office that converts into a 2nd screening room, wine room, humidor & elevator. The ~Smart House~ technology & gated entry complete this truly unique home.
1755 Viewmont Dr is located in West Los Angeles neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, CA.
See 1755 Viewmont Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069, a single family home home located in the West Los Angeles neighborhood. View property details, similar homes, and the nearby school and neighborhood information. Use our heat map to find crime, amenities, and lifestyle data for 1755 Viewmont Dr. | grounds include two pools, multiple dining and entertaining cabanas and fabulous decks to showcase the city, with a focus on in-and-out door living.
This property overview is from the previous listing when the home was listed for sale in Feb 1, 2012.
This property was not sold in the last 9 years.
Relisted $2,905,000 above previous listing price.
VILLA ALEGRA by Mr. Richard Tuil Design, Architect and Engineer: Situated on a promontory in the famed Hollywood Hills lies Villa Alegra, a true architectural triumph. This unique private and gated compound features un-obstructed city views of Los Angeles and beyond. Built with the finest materials and Architectural integrity, this home showcases a grand open floor plan with large living/dining room, gourmet top-of-the-line chef's kitchen, wood paneled library, state of the art media room and incredible luxurious master suite. Designer details include custom retractable steel doors and windows, marble and stone from Italy and handcrafted ceilings with ornate moldings. Additional features include elevator and the most advanced technology. Professionally landscaped grounds include two pools, multiple dining and entertaining cabanas and fabulous decks to showcase the city, with a focus on in-and-out door living.
Price decreased by $6,405,000 (42%).
Price increased by $4,405,000 (40%).
Price increased by $1,145,000 (12%).
Price decreased by $645,000 (6%).
Price decreased by $1,405,000 (12%).
Let Villa Allegra take you to a magical oasis. Built w/elegance and integrity, this one-of-a-kind work of art is constructed of only the finest materials and finishes, w/custom steel doors & windows, and marble & limestone imported from Italy. It boasts hand-crafted ceilings, an elevator, a ballroom, a state-of-the-art screening room, and city lights views. The master suite, w/its private boudoir, features dual baths & closets and disappearing glass doors, which open to one of the two fabulous pools (one infinity & one | 464 |
International Law Commission
Origin and background
Historical antecedents
League of Nations Codification Conference
Drafting and implementation of Article 13, paragraph 1
Organization, programme and methods of work
Object of the Commission
Members of the Commission
Structure of the<|fim_middle|>)
Resolution 260 B (III) adopted by the General Assembly 9 December 1948
Ways and means for making the evidence of customary international law more readily available (Summary | Analytical Guide)
Cooperation with other bodies
Consultation with organs of the United Nations and with international and national organizations, official and non-official.
List of national and international organizations prepared by the Secretary-General for the purpose of distributing documents. (Articles 25 and 26 of the Statute of the International Law Commission).
Codification Division, Office of Legal Affairs, © United Nations 2022 | Commission
Programme of work
Methods of work
Meetings of the Commission
Relationship with Governments
Relationship with other bodies
Geneva International Law Seminar
Gilberto Amado Memorial Lecture Series
Other (including internships)
All members (present and former)
Special Rapporteurs
Annual Sessions
2020–2029: 72nd – 81st sessions
2021: 72nd session
2019: 71st session
2018: 70th session
2011: 63rd session
1960–1969: 12th – 21st sessions
1949–1959: 1st – 11th sessions
1957: 9th session
1951: 3rd session
1950: 2nd session
1949: 1st session
Current Status and Deadlines
2021–2029: 72nd – 80th sessions
Analytical Guide
Summaries of Work
Texts, Instruments & Final Reports
Codification Division
Last update: July 15, 2015
1st session links
Agenda (A/CN.4/3)
Officers and Members
1949 ILC Report
First Session (1949)
The International Law Commission held its first session at Lake Success, New York, from 12 April to 9 June 1949 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 174 (II) of 21 November 1947.
Topics considered in 1949
Planning for the codification of international law: survey of International law with a view to selecting topics for codification
Article 18 of the Statute of the International Law Commission
Draft declaration on the rights and duties of States (Summary | Analytical Guide)
Resolution 178 (II) adopted by the General Assembly 21 November 1947
The Commission adopted the Draft declaration on the fundamental rights and duties of States with commentaries.
Formulation of the principles recognized in the Charter of the Niirnberg Tribunal and in the judgment of the Tribunal (Summary | Analytical Guide)
Preparation of a draft code of offences against the peace and security of mankind (Summary | Analytical Guide)
Desirability and possibility of establishing an international judicial organ for the trial of persons charged with genocide or other crimes over which jurisdiction will be conferred upon that organ by international coventions (Summary | Analytical Guide | 555 |
How one engineer made it his business to help refugees become entrepreneurs
By Nadine Cranenburgh
When Prince Harry presented Iftikhar with<|fim_middle|>ysr – a startup accelerator for migrants and refugees with innovative ideas.
"We've become visible to various governments and different organisations that are also helping refugees with startups in different countries, who have contacted us right off the bat," he said.
In under two years, Catalysr has helped 66 'migrapreneurs' start 15 new businesses, including startups with products ranging from 3D-printed ethical diamonds, to AI tools for students struggling with procrastination, and water filtration for developing countries.
Photo courtesy of David Weekly.
Source: Create Digital (link opens in a new window)
accelerators, global development, immigrants, refugees, social business, social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, social impact, startups | the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year Award earlier this year, the young engineer found the experience both unexpected and amazing. He said the award has led to publicity and new opportunities for his business, Catal | 39 |
Home News Campus Co-author of<|fim_middle|>.com.
Newly elected student ambassadors share experience with new roles at K-State
Cadets on campus gain degrees, training, leadership skills through ROTC
OPINION: Marginalized students should acquire leadership roles across campus
K-State Looks to Improve in Return to Alamodome
Liz Heath - Sep 10, 2015 | 'Take It From Me' reflects on interaction with Bill Snyder
Co-author of 'Take It From Me' reflects on interaction with Bill Snyder
By Peter Loganbill
Last year, Jefferson Knapp, owner of Kraken Books, wrote a short children's book in collaboration with Bill Snyder called "Take It From Me." The book centered around Snyder's 16 goals for success. Knapp wrote a long Facebook post on Tuesday recalling the event and reflecting on his interaction with Snyder.
"I'm a children's author and Coach is unquestionably a figure that children should look up to and learn from," Knapp said in the post. "I was told that he always responds when you write him and I checked the mailbox every day praying for something from him."
Shortly after, Snyder responded to Knapp, saying they would be in contact once the season was over. Knapp immediately got his proposal together and sent it once the Wildcats won the Texas Bowl.
Just a few days later, Knapp heard that Snyder had cancer, and gave up on the book. He now only wanted Snyder to heal; however, Knapp received a letter apologizing for a late response and phone call from Snyder a few months later.
"On the phone, he was so apologetic," Knapp told the Collegian last year. "I remember thinking 'why are you apologizing? I think you've got a legitimate excuse, and plus, you're Bill Snyder.'"
Knapp ended up having a meeting in Snyder's office, who loved the manuscript and illustrations. He had Snyder end the book with his famous slanted writing.
"'So if you paid attention to these things, please keep them close to your chest,'" Knapp wrote in the post. "'I leave with you my heart, my time and my gratitude, and my 16 Goals for Success.' He perfectly added, 'With love and best wishes for a wonderful and successful life. – Bill Snyder'. The only image I could think of for the last page was Coach hugging Willie. Willie represents us all and this book is a love letter to us."
The book includes illustrations with significant parts of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium, including the statue of Snyder and the marching band.
"I knew this would be what you call a 'collector's item' for anybody who loves K-State," Knapp said. "I think it's going to help preserve him, I needed to help with that in any way. He was interested in reaching a younger audience with his 16 goals. This was a tool to help kid that might not be interested in sports."
Knapp's family had attended the meeting with Snyder, and when it was over the coach had looked at Knapp's four-year-old daughter and said, "You're not leaving without giving me another hug."
"This past Sunday, when I heard the news that Coach stepped down, I felt sick to my stomach," Knapp wrote in the post. "I know he made the decision best for him and K-State, but there's a huge part of me that wants to tell him, 'You're not leaving without giving us another hug…another smile…another kiss blown to the crowd.'"
"Take It from Me" can be ordered at billsnydersbook.com or purchased at the K-State Super Store.
Peter Loganbill
I'm Pete Loganbill and I'm the News Editor for the Collegian and host of the Collegian Kultivate podcast! I spent two years at Johnson County Community College, and I am now a senior in Public Relations at K-State. I believe constant communication leads to progress, no matter how difficult a comment may be for me or anyone to hear. Contact me at ploganbill@kstatecollegian | 757 |
The GasAlertMicro5 PID gas detector.
MAKER of a full line of gas detection equipment, BW Technologies will showcase a new user-friendly portable five-gas detector at Safety<|fim_middle|>AlertMicro is the new MicroDock II, an affordable automatic calibration and testing system that is also compatible with the GasAlert Extreme and the GasAlertClip Extreme.
The MicroDock II is fully portable and easily expandable, with results stored for easy retrieval through on-site or offsite (LAN capable) connections.
BW Technologies will be at stand G48 at Safety In Action and Materials & Manual Handling, which runs from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 March 2005 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. | In Action and Materials & Manual Handling 2005 from 21-23 March.
Adding to BW's range of personal, portable, fixed and stand-alone systems, the new GasAlertMicro5 PID is compact and convenient.
The unit continuously and simultaneously detects up to five odourless and invisible gases, including toxic volatile organic compound (VOC) vapours, through a photo-ionisation sensor.
Other typical applications include the detection of oxygen enrichment or deficiency, combustible gases and a variety of toxins.
Housed in a concussion proof, water resistant boot, the GasAlertMicro5 PID is as durable as it is cost effective.
Complementing the Gas | 136 |
Original Biggby's, housed in a 1966 Arby's building, will close Friday, move to modern digs
The café known as Biggby's No. 1 – housed in a distinctive 1966 Arby's building with a curved roof and ceiling – will close for good at midnight.
Original Biggby's, housed in a 1966 Arby's building, will close Friday, move to modern<|fim_middle|>
Shiawassee Co. man charged with murder of Flint-area man
Sheriff: Inmate died by suicide when jumping from van on highway
Chicago man charged with death of MSU student | digs The café known as Biggby's No. 1 – housed in a distinctive 1966 Arby's building with a curved roof and ceiling – will close for good at midnight. Check out this story on lansingstatejournal.com: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/12/19/original-biggby-old-arbys-building-east-lansing-move/2704038001/
Judy Putnam, Lansing State Journal Published 6:20 p.m. ET Dec. 19, 2019 | Updated 3:03 p.m. ET Dec. 22, 2019
EAST LANSING -- Friday is the last day to grab a coffee in the original Biggby's, the first location of the wildly successful coffee chain. It opened in March 1995.
The café known as Biggby's No. 1 — housed in a distinctive 1966 Arby's building with a curved roof and ceiling — will close for good at midnight. The franchise will move across the street to fill the first-floor retail space in the 300 Grand apartment building in early January.
The original Biggby Coffee store, at 270 W. Grand River, East Lansing, shown Dec. 19, 2019, will close Dec. 20. It will reopen across the street in more modern digs. (Photo: Judy Putnam)
I call it the "Arby Biggby." Before that, I called it the "Arby Beaners."
The Beaner's franchise name was changed to Biggby Coffee in 2007 to avoid a connection to a derogatory term for Mexicans.
It's unclear what will happen to the former Arby's building.
"I'm going to miss this building. It's part of the family," said Hatim Shetiah, whose family owns the franchise and used to own the building. He works in the family business in sales and marketing.
His father, Mohamed Shetiah, bought the property in 2000 from Bob Fish, the founder of Biggby Coffee.
Mohamed and his brother, Fathy, own 25 Biggby franchises in Michigan and Ohio.
Fathy Shetiah said the move has been in discussion for five years. The original Biggby's building was sold to DTN Management Co. of East Lansing, he said, and Biggby's will lease space from DTN in the new building.
A call to DTN was not immediately returned.
Fathy Shetiah said the new space will be more modern. Though it will havesignificantly fewer parking spaces, it will have a drive-through that the old site did not have.
"The atmosphere is very different," he said. "It's a lot more comfortable atmosphere and lot more inviting."
He said the original Biggby's is very different from the other franchises and was becoming expensive to maintain.
"Maintenance wise, it's always been a challenge,'" he said. "It's time to move to something more modern."
Hatim Shetiah talks to a news crew Dec. 19, 2019 about the closing of the original Biggby's in East Lansing, now owned by his family. The franchise will reopen at 300 Grand apartments in early January. (Photo: Judy Putnam)
Jace Brandhorst of East Lansing said he's been a fan of Biggby Coffee since he moved to the area in February to help start a Commons Church at McDonald Middle School in East Lansing.
"Biggby's has been a staple in my coffee experience," he said.
He has no attachment to the old building and will check out the new location.
"I'll probably go there as much as I do here," he said.
The Shetiahs are asking customers to stop by with their pictures and memories of Biggby's No. 1, 270 W. Grand River, East Lansing.
John Beutler a retired state worker, has been a regular at the coffee shop since it opened, dropping by about three times a week.
"I've been hooked on Caramel Marvels since the late '90s," he said.
He likes the idea of a drive-through but said he will miss the historic character of the old building.
Friday is your last chance to step inside and say goodbye to an icon in East Lansing.
More: From diner coffee to Biggby to cortados: how Lansing learned to love craft coffee
Judy Putnam is a columnist with the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at (517) 267-1304 or at jputnam@lsj.com.Follow her on Twitter @judyputnam.
Read or Share this story: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/12/19/original-biggby-old-arbys-building-east-lansing-move/2704038001/
Mason couple welcomes second New Year's baby
Red Cedar Grill in Williamston to close next week
MSUFCU warns of suspicious activity seen on accounts | 1,095 |
Soledad ready to defend its section crown
Quinn Robinson
The Californian
The Soledad Aztecs have always been hunters on the football field.
Now, with a Central Coast Section D-IV title to their name, the Aztecs become the hunted – and they're ready to take everyone's best shot.
Azte<|fim_middle|> top in 2017
While Florez is preparing for the opening game at home against Seaside on August 25, he admits he's still a little nervous about the home opener.
"At the end of the day, I'm just going to trust what Coach B taught me," Florez said. "All the technique and all of that. If it's all good – which I know it is – it's going to help me out a lot." | cs' head coach Frankie Berlanga – entering his seventh season – said there won't be any relaxing with his team.
"We just (need) to continue to keep in mind how hard we worked last year and know we have to work twice as hard if we want to continue the success we have going forward," Berlanga said. "I'm really happy with the progress we made. I think we had a really great summer.
"I hope we're doing all of the right things and make sure we put ourselves in the best position to be successful."
More:Jim Rear to be inducted into Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame
Soledad running back and the Aztecs' all-time leading rusher Emanuel Ortega understands the challenge ahead this season if his team wants to repeat as section champions.
"It's always harder to win the second one," Ortega said. "We're putting in more work than we ever did (to make sure we do it)."
Along with Ortega, the Aztecs have David Cruz, Geronimo Serrano, Aaron Rodriguez and Robert Santa Ana back this season.
Berlanga said he expects these guys to continue to lead the way for the Aztecs on both sides of the ball.
"We're going to continue to thrive off those guys," Berlanga said. "Allow them to use their big-game experience to trickle down and be contagious with the rest of the guys on the roster."
More:On Point: The summer drag for the rabid sports fan
Berlanga is also excited about the work quarterback Gabriel Florez put in over the summer. A first-year varsity player, Florez has shown the dedication needed to be a leader on this team.
"He had a really great summer, put a lot of time working on his mechanics, his timing," Berlanga said. "All those things to build the confidence that he needs to lead this offense."
Florez said he wouldn't have been able to progress as he did over the summer without Berlanga's help.
"Coach B brought me under his wing," Florez said. "He made me go to his classroom and we ran over technique and just practiced around there.
"It helped a lot because I could tell that he wants to win and cares about his players."
Berlanga said Florez understands the importance of the quarterback position on this team and knows he's up for the task.
More:Palma football looking to stay on | 502 |
Characterization of the Product Specificity and Kinetic Mechanism of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1
Shanying Gui, Utah State University
Committee Chair(s)
Joan M Hevel
Lance C. Seefeldt
Sean J. Johnson
Tim Gilbertson
Alvan C. Hengge
Protein arginine methylation is an essential post-translational modification catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). Type I PRMTs transfer the methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to the arginine residues and catalyze the formation of monomethylarginine (MMA) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Type II PRMTs generate MMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). PRMT-catalyzed methylation is involved in many biological processes and human diseases when dysregulated. As the predominant<|fim_middle|>
Gui, Shanying, "Characterization of the Product Specificity and Kinetic Mechanism of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1" (2013). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1980.
Biochemistry Commons | PRMT, PRMT1 catalyzes an estimated 85% of all protein arginine methylation in vivo. Nevertheless, the product specificity of PRMT1 remains poorly understood. A few articles have been published regarding the kinetic mechanism of PRMT1, yet with controversial conclusions.
To gain more insights into the product specificity of PRMT1, we dissected the active site of PRMT1 and identified two conserved methionines (Met-48 and Met-155) significant for the enzymatic activity and the product specificity. These two methionines regulate the final product distribution between MMA and ADMA by differentially affecting the first and second methyl transfer step. Current data show that Met-48 also specifies ADMA formation from SDMA. To further understand the kinetic mechanism of PRMT1, we developed a double turnover experiments to conveniently assay the processivity of the two-step methyl transfer. Using the double turnover experiments, we observed that PRMT1-catalyzed dimethylation is semi-processive. The degree of processivity depends on the substrate sequences, which satisfies the controversy between the distributive or partially processive mechanisms previously reported. We are using transient kinetics and single turnover experiments to further investigate the mechanism of PRMT1. Interestingly, during these studies, we found that PRMT1 may incur oxidative damage and the histidine affinity tag influences the protein characteristics of PRMT1. These studies have given important insights into the product specificity and kinetic mechanism of PRMT1, and provided a strong foundation for future studies on PRMT1.
ec6f17f1bfec783c8c2cb5aa1ddf2972 | 343 |
Gillard moves to ban live odds, restrict gambling ads during games
By Paul Bibby and Jonathan Swan
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has defended the government's intervention in gambling advertising during live sports broadcasts, declaring it has balanced community concerns with the economic needs of broadcasters.
Ms Gillard formally announced the government's demand that TV and radio networks ban the promotion of live odds and restrict gambling advertisements during sporting matches in a press conference at Kirribilli on Sunday afternoon.
Soon afterwards the Australian television industry announced that it had agreed to the demands.
"From the moment the players step onto the field from the moment they leave the field there will be no live odds," Ms Gillard said.
"Families have become increasingly frustrated about the penetration of live odds into sporting coverage, and worried that their son or daughter is now talking about the game, not through the prism of what's happening on the field but through the prism of the associated betting."
Tom Waterhouse would be banned from continuing<|fim_middle|> has acted in response to community concern,'' Free TV CEO Julie Flynn said.
''We recognise that these are difficult issues and we will submit a revised code within the next two weeks in line with the Prime Minister's announcement.''
Senator Richard Di Natale, Greens spokesperson on gambling and sport, said Labor's proposed changes "would do nothing to stop the discussion of odds during sports shows like The Footy Show and it would do nothing to end the bizarre loophole that allows gambling ads to be shown during kids' viewing times.
"I have a bill before the parliament that would do three things: ban all gambling ads before 9pm; ban all odds during sport and sports related programs, like The Footy Show; and prevent gambling ads from being integrated into broadcasts," Senator Di Natale said.
"The combination of these reforms would have done much more to protect our kids from the normalisation of gambling and protect the purity of Australian sport."
Mr Abbott said the government had embraced Coalition policy, and were ''playing catch up politics" with today's announcement.
In a rule seemingly tailored for Mr Waterhouse, Ms Gillard said representatives of gambling companies must not appear with a sports commentary team at any time.
"The public have had enough of odds and betting promotions being shoved down their throats while listening to and watching sport," Ms Gillard said in a statement.
"Younger Australians in particular should continue to talk about which is the best football team … not which team is at the shortest odds to win a game."
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the government would ''monitor the intensity of generic gambling advertisements within the allowed periods.
"If it is found to go beyond reasonable levels, the government will impose a total advertising ban.''
Trade Minister Craig Emerson told ABC television on Sunday morning he did not watch a lot of AFL, but "I see Tom Waterhouse and I see spruikers and I think it is a bad development.
"It is fundamentally destroying Australian viewing on television of sport and the PM is acting," Mr Emerson said.
Most Viewed in Politics | to spruik live odds during sports games under restrictions proposed by the federal government. Credit:Channel Nine
Under Labor's demands – which come several weeks after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott flagged a Coalition government would take action against televised betting – all promotion of betting odds on broadcast media would be banned during games.
Under the new rules, gambling advertisements would be prohibited during commercial breaks while matches are being played, however they would be allowed during breaks in play such as quarter-time or half-time, and before or after a game, the Prime Minister's office confirmed.
The new rules also allow crosses to gambling representatives. A spokesperson for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told Fairfax Media that the gambling representatives could not spruik odds for games (either the one being broadcast or others) during breaks in play but they were allowed to promote ''generic material''.
Ms Gillard asked broadcasters to submit a revised code to the industry regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Clamping down on TV bookies: Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
But some, including the Greens and independent Senator for South Australia, Nick Xenophon, say the government's proposed restrictions do not go far enough.
Senator Xenophon on Sunday questioned why the government wouldn't go further to address the issue ''rather than stopping a third of the way''.
Ms Gillard responded to this criticism at the press conference, stating that the government had considered a total ban on all gambling advertising during broadcasts, but felt the proposed changes went far enough.
"The proposal we're announcing today, we believe, gets the balance right in terms of protecting the community from gaming and the influence of gaming, and making sure there is an appropriate revenue stream for broadcast rights for our sporting codes," Ms Gillard said.
Younger Australians in particular should continue to talk about which is the best football team … not which team is at the shortest odds to win a game
"Obviously people want to watch sport on TV, that's got to stack up as an economic model for broadcasters..."
She said that gambling ads broadcast during half-time breaks would not be allowed to feature live odds, and that people could - as many already do - simply not watch during these breaks if they wanted to avoid any gambling advertising.
The Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, also present at the press conference, said that broadcasters would not be permitted to put "wall-to-wall gambling ads" during these breaks, and that the government would intervene if they did so.
The new code would apply to gambling on all television sports broadcasts, including televised cricket, with the exception of horse racing.
In a statement released almost immediately after the PM's press conference the country's broadcasters announced that they had accepted her demands.
''These are unprecedented restrictions for broadcasters but we accept the government | 559 |
Granny's Blue-Mers and the BLUES JaM!
PLAY. MEET. SING. DRINK. PLAY. NETWORK. SING. SOCIALIZE. PLAY. LEARN. SING. EXPERIMENT OR JUST HANG-OUT AND HAVE A HOT TIME! BRING YOUR VOICE … BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS (acoustic only please) … BRING YOUR FRIENDS … BRING YOUR BLUES!!
Sunday night is the new hot night and the Upper west Side is the new hot spot thanks to Mary Elizabeth Micari and Rev. Mary's Blues Jam at the The West End Lounge, 955 West End Avenue (at 107th Street), NYC.
Starting Sunday, February 18, Rev. Mary will host a monthly jam session with singers and acoustic musicians at the famed cabaret spot near Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University.
All acoustic musicians and singers are invited to come down and take to the stage and join singers Rev. Mary and Papa Sugar-Cane (singer/actor Mario Claudio) for a three hour jam session. Audiences are invited to come and hear and even sing-along. Sign-up starts at 7:30 p.m. The event is 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
The Blues Jam is an acoustic blues open-mic featuring Rev. Mary as Emcee. The evening is open to all blues musicians and singers. Granny's Blue-Mers will also be performing throughout the evening. Pianist Dan Furman and drummer Adam Weingarten will also be on hand.
REV. MARY'S BLUES JAM featuring Granny's Blue-Mers will begin at the West End Lounge, one Sunday a month, starting Sunday, February 18 from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Musicians "jam" all the time. It is a way for them to learn from each other, network and even as has been done over and again, create a new art form. The Blues<|fim_middle|> I can help to bring people together the way I experienced it in WV I will be so very happy. | has a long tradition of people getting together to just play and sing all sorts of songs and ideas. I had been away singing last summer at a Blues week at August Heritage in West Virginia. I had been part of "jams" before but not like these! We would play for hours starting the moment we woke up and some of us it seemed never slept. I would go to sleep at 4 or 5 AM listening to blues coming from all corners of the place and wake up at 9 hearing it still going on. I loved it so much that I wanted to find a way to recreate that here a little in NYC. Granny's Blue-Mers is set to perform on a monthly basis now and I wanted to not only allow folks to come up and hear our funny, dirty songs but also to bring an instrument or their voice and play! Dan Furman is on piano and Adam Weingarten on Drums (that's a loose term with The Blue-Mers, more like he's playing washbasin, boxes and metal objects like would have been in the old days) and Mario Claudio on back up vocals. I am hoping that some amazing artists show up and bring their ideas, music and instruments! Acoustic only!
They can expect to sign up to perform as a leader of a song if they wish or they can just play along with the crowd! I will be MCing and singing my songs all through the night.
I think its going to be great and a wonderful new tradition for NYC blues artists. If | 310 |
Greenville, SC – Sept. 6, <|fim_middle|> recycled polymer certificate from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) for their EcoSure fiber.
Poole Company is headquartered in Greenville, SC and has a 400,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution center in Johnsonville, SC. In addition, the company has operations in India and China.
For more information, contact Poole Company at +1-864-271-9935 or visit www.poolecompany.com. | 2011 – Poole Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of recycled and virgin fiber products, announced today that Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has completed the evaluation of Poole Company EcoSure® and EcoSure® Wellstrand fibers manufactured in SC and China. Based on the renewal evaluation, these products have fully qualified for certification under the SCS Recycled Content Certification Program.
EcoSure is a staple fiber made from 100% PCR PET flake. Made for the environmentally-conscious consumer, EcoSure quality fibers reduce the amount of waste that burdens landfills and diminishes earth's natural resources. Studies from NAPCOR determined that the use of PCR polyester fiber versus virgin polyester fiber reduces energy consumption by 84% and greenhouse gas emissions by 71%.
EcoSure PET fibers are used in numerous types of apparel, hosiery, hygiene, fiberfill, and industrial industries. From shirts and sheets to wipes and scrub pads, retailers select EcoSure as their quality, sustainable, certified staple fiber.
For over 35 years, Poole Company has been a leading global distributor of polyester, polypropylene, and rayon fiber. The company designs, manufactures, and provides technical services for recycled and virgin polyester fiber products across major markets with an emphasis on sustainability and value. By specializing in recycled fiber, textile fibers, nonwovens, heavy denier, and fiberfill, Poole Company provides high-quality products to domestic and international markets.
EcoSure fibers are made for the environmentally-conscious consumer from 100% post-consumer recycled PET packaging. Poole Company was the first staple fiber supplier produced in North America to earn the prestigious 100% | 347 |
Q: Is wave function an analogue of probability amplitude or a ket vector from Dirac notation? The way I was introduced to wavefunctions was in form of Dirac notation:
$$\psi(x)=\langle x| \psi \rangle$$
i.e. the probability amplitude of going from state $\lvert \psi \rangle$ to state $\lvert x \rangle$, where state $\lvert x \rangle$ is a member of eigenvectors of some observable, forming a basis.
It also makes intuitive sense because the wavefunction peaks at a specific $x$ values which happens to be eigenvalues of the state $\lvert \psi \rangle$.
Another example of wavefunction as the probability amplitude is in this notation:
$$\lvert \psi \rangle = \sum_i \psi(\<|fim_middle|>*(x)x\psi(x)$$
Thus the shorthand for: $X\psi(x)=x\psi(x)$ since the action of $X$ on $\psi(x)$ gives an eigenvalue of $x$ in position space. Since we don't have an explicit expression for the $X$ operator in real space it is easier to derive this expectation via states $|x>$:
$$\left\langle X\right\rangle = \left\langle\psi|X|\psi\right\rangle=\int dydx\left\langle\psi|y\right\rangle\left\langle y|X|x\right\rangle\left\langle x|\psi\right\rangle$$
$$=\int dydx\psi^*(y)x\delta(x-y)\psi(x)=\int dx\psi^*(x)x\psi(x)$$
Using the orthogonality relations: $\left\langle y|x\right\rangle=\delta(x-y)$ where $|x>$ is the set of eigenvectors of the $X$ operator with eigenvalues $x$ and the completeness relation: $\int dx|x\left\rangle\right\langle x|=1$.
| textbf{i}) \lvert i \rangle $$ (eigenvector basis expansion of an arbitrary state).
But now, I am being exposed to notation of the sort $X \psi(x)=x \psi(x)$ or $A \psi = \lambda \psi$, which is rather confusing because the wavefunction is being treated like a ket vector or state rather than a probability amplitude. So what is the correct interpretation of wavefunction?
I am considering $\lvert \psi \rangle$ (arbitrary state vector) as being different from $\psi (x)$ (wavefunction).
A: If i have a vector $\vec{v}$ I can find its components by taking the dot product with basis vectors
$$
v_i = \vec{e}_i\cdot \vec{v}\;.
$$
I can then write $\vec{v}$ in terms of its components as a column vector.
$$
\vec{v} = \left(\begin{array}{c}v_1\\v_2\\\vdots \end{array}\right)\;.
$$
The abstract vector notation $\vec{v}$ and the column vector notation describe the same object and ultimately I can extract the same inforamtion from both, but in a given situation one may be much more conveinent than the other.
Now Dirac notation is essentially a variant of abstract vector notation and wavefunction notation can be thought of as analogous to column vector notation (in the $x$ basis). Both the ket $|\psi\rangle$ and the wavefunction $\psi(x)$ contain the full information about the state of the quantum system. I can extract the same information from both (though it may be easier in one notation than the other) and can apply operators to either (although I need to find a representation of the operator to match how I represent the state).
A: The two notations you have mentioned only differ in their conventions, for example, the first one follows Dirac bra-ket notation $<x|\psi>$ which is the probability of |$\psi$> to go to state |x>.
The second notation $X \psi(x) = x\psi(x)$ is the eigenvalue equation, and says that $x$ is an eigenvalue of the eigenfunction $\psi(x)$ for the operator $X$.
The two here convey different meanings and must not be confused.
Not sure if you have already checked, this explains well.
Check: DIRAC's BRA AND KET NOTATION
A: It is just a shorthand. Finding the eigenvalues in terms of the wavefunction on real space $X\psi(x)=x\psi(x)$ usually makes more sense when taking expectation values:
$$\left\langle X\right\rangle = \left\langle\psi|X|\psi\right\rangle=\int dx\psi^ | 594 |
Failure, that is what the first day of iNERDE camp in Dakar was. Our expectations were high but the outcome was a disaster. We only had six students and we didn't make any impression on them. We had to let them go home earlier than expected because we couldn't do much with the few students that we had. The whole day was nothing but a downward spiral.
Not to feel discouraged, we had a much better outcome on the second day of the camp. We doubled the number of students and we got them excited. We introduced them to Math, Science, and Technology, the subjects of STEM. We had them unleash their imaginations by starting a story and asking all of them to continue it using their imagination. By the end of the day, all the kids were familiar with each other and eager to come back the next day. We left with smiles on our faces. We had a better day.
We talked more about STEM and introduced the students to the engineering process. We got them to think about a problem and solutions to solve it. This got their minds running and enabled them to better understand the engineering process. Based on that activity, we introduced S.C.A.M.P.E.R. which got their creative thinking going. The students were put into two groups. Each group was given an image of an item. Based on S.C.A.M.P.E.R, the students were asked to use their imagination to innovate the item and make it better and more sophisticated. We chose a winner based of the presentation of the item and being able to convince us to buy their item. We ended the day surer of ourselves and at a better place.
The next day, we showed the students the different parts found in a toy car through the process of reverse engineering. We asked them to use their imagination in order to draw what they thought was found in a car that helps it run. After that, the students opened up the different electronic toys they had in front of them. They found out for themselves what was inside without us having to tell them. They came up with many suggestions to make the toys better and more efficient. We also introduced them to an important function in technology using computers. They were introduced to Microsoft Word and its many functions. We also introduced the projects that the students had to complete. They got really excited about the projects that they wanted to build everything thing on that day.
I believe that the last day of the week was a great day for the students. We got familiar with impromptu speaking. They got familiar with the projects they are to do and showed progress. We introduced a little Biology by talking about the human body. They were introduced to five different kinds of cells found in the body. After that we introduced them to DNA by doing an experiment on DNA extraction. We used an onion to help show the students how we can<|fim_middle|> by the end of the week we were flying. We achieved our goal of hitting the ground running and getting the students excited. | extract DNA from anything with a living cell. This experiment got them very excited and involved. By the end of the day, everything that they had learned was acted on and we could tell that we came along way from the first day of camp.
To summarize the whole week, we started real slow but | 60 |
Opal was commissioned by Leeds Inspired to cover their year long celebration for Leeds West Indian Carnivals 50th Anniversary. The project was full of colour and happiness as 4 specially commissioned headdresses toured Leeds for members of the public to wear and get a slice of Carnival fever.
We documented the project as the<|fim_middle|>, it was a truly amazing project to be part of. | portable portrait studio popped up around the city, heading to shopping centres, community groups and leisure centres. To give the audience a better understanding of what this project was about and everything that went into it we interviewed some of the key members; including some of the headdress designers and people who have Carnival in their blood after being part of it for so many years. It was touching to hear from people whose passion for Carnival will never die; and to hear more about why Carnival exists in a historical sense, the true meaning that brought us the bright and colourful parade we see every year.
Seeing the look on peoples faces transform as they put on a headpiece was incredible. How can you not smile when you've got a magnificent feathered crown on your head? Each day of filming brought laughter, smiles and glitter | 161 |
Single channel piezo servo controller for capacitive sensors (<|fim_middle|> positioning systems can be controlled together or new systems can be used with minimum programming effort. | E-625.CR and E-625.C0) or strain gauge sensors (E-625.SR and E-625.S0). Integrated sensor module for strain gauge sensor evaluation in the E-625.SR and .S0. Integrated servo controller module for limiting the slew rate of the output voltage, notch filter, and servo loop.
Multi-axis network: Several E-625s can be controlled from one single interface. A special network cable establishes communication between the individual controllers.
Waveform memory: The user can save any function values in an internal table and output them by triggering. This makes it possible to repeat control motion profiles simply and reliably.
General Command Set (GCS): For uniform control of nano- and micropositioning systems, the universal command set from PI is used. With GCS, control is independent of the hardware so that various | 185 |
All posts tagged Kevin McCarthy
Political Musings June 26, 2014: Democrat Harkin prevented unemployment extension passing with jobs training bill
Democrat Harkin prevented unemployment extension passing with jobs training bill
All the talk is about Speaker of the House of Representative John Boehner, R-OH and the Republican majority in the House preventing the passing of the unemployment benefits extension bill, when a Democrat in the Senate, Tom Harkin of…READ MORE
Posted in 113th Congress, Bills & Legislation, Congress, Democrats, House of Representatives, Jobs, Political Musings, Senate, Unemployment
Tagged Business Tax Cuts, Congress, Dean Heller, Democrats, Harry Reid, Highway Bill, House of Representatives, Jack Reed, Jobs Training Bill, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Patty Murray, Senate, Tax Cuts Extenders, Tom Harkin, Unemployment Benefits Extension
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/political-musings-june-26-2014-democrat-harkin-prevented-unemployment-extension-passing-with-jobs-training-bill/
Political Musings June 25, 2014: Heller and Reed unveil new unemployment extension bill excludes retro payments
Heller and Reed unveil new unemployment extension bill excludes retro payments
New hope for the over three million long-term jobless Americans was unveiled in the form of a new unemployment benefits extension bill introduced by Senators Jack Reed, D-RI and Dean Heller, R-NV in a joint press conference…READ MORE
Posted in 113th Congress, Bills & Legislation, Congress, House of Representatives, Jobs, John Boehner, Political Musings, Senate, Unemployment
Tagged Business Tax Cuts, Congress, Dean Heller, Harry Reid, Highway Bill, House of Representatives, Jack Reed, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Senate, Tax Cuts Extenders, Unemployment Benefits Extension
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/political-musings-june-25-2014-heller-and-reed-unveil-new-unemployment-extension-bill-excludes-retro-payments/
Political Musings June 22, 2014: Reed and Heller to introduce new unemployment benefits extension bill to Senate this week
Reed and Heller to introduce new unemployment extension bill to Senate this week
Keeping to their promise of "not stopping" or "giving up" Senators Jack Reed, D-RI and Dean Heller, R-NV announced on Friday, June 20, 2014 that they are ready to unveil a new long-term…READ MORE
Posted in 113th Congress, Bills & Legislation, Congress, House of Representatives, Jobs, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Obama Administration, Political Musings, Senate, Unemployment
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/political-musings-june-22-2014-reed-and-heller-to-introduce-new-unemployment-benefits-extension-bill-to-senate-this-week/
Political Musings June 18, 2014: Cantor's last words on primary loss as House leadership campaign in full steam
Cantor's last words on primary loss as House leadership campaign in full steam
With all that was going on politically in the world, Washington could not stop discussing House of Representative Majority Leader and Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor's stunning primary loss almost a week earlier on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 on…Continue
Posted in 113th Congress, Congress, Congressional Primaries, Eric Cantor, House of Representatives, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Political Musings
Tagged Congressional Primary, Dave Brat, Eric Cantor, GOP, House Majority Leader, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Republican Party, Tea Party, Virginia
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/political-musings-june-18-2014-cantors-last-words-on-primary-loss-as-house-leadership-campaign-in-full-steam/
Full Text Political Transcripts June 11, 2014: Eric Cantor's news conference on primary loss and resignation as House Majority Leader
Transcript: Eric Cantor's news conference on primary loss
Source: WaPo, 6-11-14
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) spoke about his political future…READ MORE
Posted in 113th Congress, 2014 Midterm Elections, Congressional Primaries, Eric Cantor, GOP -- Republican Party, House of Representatives, Midterm Elections 2014, Press Conferences, Republicans, Tea Party
Tagged David Brat, Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, Midterm Elections, Press Conference, Primaries, Republican Party, Resignation, Tea Party
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/full-text-political-transcripts-june-11-2014-eric-cantors-news-conference-on-primary-loss-and-resignation-as-house-majority-leader/
Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown August 6, 2011: Washington Post Analysis — The Reasoning Behind the Republican Showdown in the Debt Crisis — "Origins of the Debt Showdown"
For the GOP, the debt showdown was a 'leverage moment':
Source: WaPo, 8-7-11
Origins of the debt showdown
The frantic showdown over the debt ceiling that played out in Washington, bringing the nation to the brink of default, looked like the haphazard escalation of a typical partisan standoff. It wasn't.
Rather, it was the natural outgrowth of a years-long effort by GOP recruiters to build a new majority and reverse the party's fortunes. That effort began before the economy collapsed in 2008, before the government bailouts that followed, before the tea party rose in response to push its anti-tax, anti-spending message.
The Washington Post reconstructs the Republican party's transformation, and its impact on the nation's economic course, through interviews with the leading participants during this summer's drama and from earlier interviews, some of them recorded, at various points during the past 2 1/2 years….READ MORE
Posted in 112th Congress, Debt Ceiling Showdown 2011, Political Buzz, President Barack Obama
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget Control Act of 2011, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Gang of Six, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Republican, Senate, Tea Party
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/political-buzz-debt-ceiling-showdown-august-6-2011-washington-post-analysis-reasoning-behind-republican-showdown-debt-crisis-origins-of-the-debt-showdown/
Political Highlights: Debt Ceiling Showdown 2011 Recap — President Obama Signs the Bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011 into Law Averting 1st Default in US History
Ms. Goodman is the Editor of History Musings. She has a BA in History & Art History & a Masters in Library and Information Studies from McGill University, and has done graduate work in history at Concordia University.
DEBT CEILING SHOWDOWN 2011 RECAP: OBAMA VS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
Debt Ceiling Showdown All Posts; News, Quotes, Speeches, Press Conferences & Analysis on History Musings
Political Highlights Debt Ceiling Showdown August 1-2, 2011: Debt Ceiling Crisis Averted House & Senate Pass Bipartisan Compromise Bill — President Obama Signs Budget Control Act of 2011 into Law — History Musings, 8-2-11
Political Highlights Debt Ceiling Showdown July 25-31, 2011: Finally, a Deal! After Week of Partisan Votes in Congress — President Obama, White House, Republican & Democratic Leaders Agree to Debt Deal — Still Needs to Pass House & Senate Votes — History Musings, 8-1-11
Political Highlights Debt Ceiling Showdown Recap July 18-24, 2011: 2 Plans, 8 Days No Debt Deal in Sight — Will the US Default on August 2, 2011? — History Musings, 7-25-11
Political Debt Ceiling Showdown Recap July 6-18, 2011: Bipartisan Senate Compromise Plan Emerges — Obama Sets New Deadline for Friday July 22, 2011 — History Musings, 7-18-11
Full Text of the Budget Control Act of 2011 — PDF
How the Senate voted: 74-26 roll call Tuesday — the Senate passed Budget Control Act of 2011 —
YES: 45 Democrats and 28 Republicans
NO: 6 Democrats and 19 Republicans
How the House of Representatives voted: 269-161 roll call Monday — the House passed Budget Control Act of 2011 —
YES: 95 Democrats and 174 Republicans
NO: 95 Democrats and 66 Republicans
Resources on the Debate About the National Debt — White House
Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell and the making of a debt deal — Politico, 8-2-11
Obama Approval Drops to New Low of 40% Similar to his approval rating for handling the debt ceiling negotiations: President Obama's job approval rating is at a new low, averaging 40% in July 26-28 Gallup Daily tracking. His prior low rating of 41% occurred several times, the last of which was in April. As recently as June 7, Obama had 50% job approval…. – Gallop, 7-29-11
Majority of Americans surveyed believe Congressional leaders behaved like spoiled children: Congressional approval ratings fell to a dismal 14% in the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corp. Survey released Tuesday. It showed a whopping 77% of people felt elected officials in Washington behaved mostly like "spoiled children" in the run-up to the vote.
Only 17% of people surveyed believed the pols behaved like "responsible adults," with 4% saying it was a mixture of both…. – NY Daily News, 8-2-11
Snapshot: Obama signs debt limit bill: Just hours ahead of a deadline to avert an unprecedented default, President Barack Obama, without public ceremony, signs a bill that raises the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and sets in motion a plan to reduce U.S. deficits over 10 years…. – Reuters, 8-2-11Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline — White House, 7-31-11 Timeline of the Debt Ceiling Negotiations — NYT, 7-31-11
SNAPSHOT-U.S. lawmakers close to deal on debt: Here is what is happening on Sunday as lawmakers and the White House race to broker a deal to raise the country's $14.3 trillion borrowing cap by Tuesday's deadline and avoid default on obligations…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
FACTBOX-Key elements of possible U.S. debt deal: U.S. lawmakers were working furiously on Sunday to hammer out details of a deal to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and put in place a deficit-reduction plan to help avert a potentially catastrophic debt default.
Lawmakers, administration officials and aides have made clear that they have yet to agree on the final deal. But they did provide the following details of how the deal is taking shape…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
FACTBOX-What's ahead in the U.S. debt limit fight — Reuters, 7-30-11
How Different Types of Republicans Voted on the Revised Debt Plan: Analysis of how different Republican blocs voted on the revised debt plan… – NYT
Interactive Graphic: House Roll Call: Boehner's Short-Term Debt Ceiling Increase — NYT
Interactive Graphic: Comparing Deficit-Reduction Plans — NYT
Timeline: How U.S. debt talks spiraled into crisis: The United States drifted closer to a credit rating downgrade and default on Wednesday as President Barack Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals worked on competing plans to cut spending and raise the debt ceiling. Following is a timeline of the U.S. debt debate… – Reuters, 7-30-11
Factbox: Details of competing debt limit plans: House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid are pushing rival plans to raise the government's borrowing limit before an August 2 deadline. Reid could modify his plan to attract Republican support once Boehner's bill fails in the Senate. Here are details of the two plans… – Reuters, 7-28-11
Factbox: House factions influence debt/deficit vote: On any major piece of legislation that moves through Congress, various factions within the House of Representatives and Senate can influence chances of success or failure.
That has been especially true in the debate over raising the $14.3 trillion debt limit by August 2 in order to avoid a U.S. government default. Here is a rundown of the various factions — many overlap — and how they shaped the debate and how they might influence the final vote:
TEA PARTY HOUSE CAUCUS…
HOUSE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE…
THE TUESDAY GROUP…
BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS…
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS…
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JIM DEMINT…
– Reuters, 7-28-11
Debt ceiling Q&A: How did we get here, what happens next? — LAT, 7-28-11
Debt ceiling poll: Voters with Obama: Most Americans would like to see a mix of spending cuts and tax increases be part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling, a new poll finds, aligning the majority with President Barack Obama's position. Of those surveyed for a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday, 56 percent said they want to see a mix of approaches used in an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. The poll was conducted overnight Monday, as Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) voiced their views on the impasse in negotiations in back-to-back televised primetime speeches.
Just 19 percent of Americans said they favor a plan like Boehner's, which would rely solely on spending cuts to existing programs to reduce the deficit. Twelve percent said they would prefer a plan to reduce the deficit only by raising taxes.
Americans' blame for the impasse is spread all around, though is particularly strong against congressional Republicans, with 31 percent of those surveyed saying they are responsible for it. Twenty-one percent blamed Obama and nine percent blamed congressional Democrats…. – Politico 7-26-11
New polls confirm Obama's Democratic base crumbles: …"More than a third of Americans now believe that President Obama's policies are hurting the economy, and confidence in his ability to create jobs is sharply eroding among his base," the Post reports.
Strong support among liberal Democrats for Obama's jobs record has plummeted 22 points from 53% down below a third. African Americans who believe the president's measures helped the economy have plunged from 77% to barely half.
Obama's overall job approval on the economy has slid below 40% for the first time, with 57% disapproving. And strong disapprovers outnumber approvers by better than two-to-one. – LAT, 7-26-11
INFOGRAPHIC: Where does our national debt come from?: One of the fundamental things to understand when considering the debate about reducing our national debt is how we accumulated so much in the first place.
To explain the impact various policies have had over the past decade, shifting us from projected surpluses to actual deficits and, as a result, running up the national debt, the White House has developed a graphic for you to review and share. – WH, 7-26-11
Factbox: How the Obama/Boehner debt talks unraveled: President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner had agreed on the rough outlines of a far-reaching budget deal that would allow the United States to avert an imminent default before Boehner broke off talks on Friday.
Here is a summary of what the two sides had agreed upon, where they had differed, and how things fell apart… – Reuters, 7-24-11
Timeline: How the debt talks spiraled into crisis: With financial markets on edge, White House officials and Republican leaders scrambled to reassure them that the United States will avert default and lift its $14.3 trillion borrowing limit before August 2. Following is a timeline of the U.S. debt debate…. – Reuters, 7-24-11
Debt Ceiling for Dummies: Why Compromise Is so Necessary — Huff Post, 7-24-11
SCENARIOS-Options for raising the U.S. debt limit: Democrats and Republicans in Congress, unable to compromise on how to cut budget deficits and raise U.S. borrowing authority, are now working on their own, competing bills. With nine days' left until the United States runs out of money to pay all its bills after Aug. 2, the two parties were rushing to get their respective bills moving through Congress this week.
Here are some scenarios for raising the debt limit by the early August deadline to avoid a potentially crippling government default:
AN ALL SPENDING CUTS, NO REVENUES PLAN…
A SHORT-TERM DEBT LIMIT INCREASE…
BLEND THE TWO IDEAS?…
MCCONNELL "FALLBACK" PLAN…
TALKS RESUME…
OBAMA INVOKES THE CONSTITUTION… – Reuters, 7-24-11President Obama USA Today Exclusive Op-ed: Go 'big' on debt deal: For years now, America has been spending more money than we take in. The result is that we have too much debt on our nation's credit card — debt that will ultimately weaken our economy, lead to higher interest rates for all Americans, and leave us unable to invest in things like education, or protect vital programs like Medicare.
Neither party is blameless for the decisions that led to this debt, but both parties have a responsibility to come together and solve the problem. That's what the American people expect of us. Every day, families are figuring out how to stretch their paychecks a little further, sacrifice what they can't afford, and budget only for what's truly important. It's time for Washington to do the same…. – USA Today, 7-21-11
Poll: Sharp Partisan Divide Over Debt Ceiling Deal: With the deadline to broker a debt ceiling deal fast approaching, Americans are craving a solution but remain strongly divided along party lines over how to achieve it, according to a CNN/ORC poll released today.
The poll finds 64% of Americans want a package that includes both spending cuts and tax increases, although the partisan divide is clear: 83% of Democrats and nearly two-thirds of independents support this combined approach, while only 37% of Republicans say they agree. A majority of Republicans and self-described tea party supporters support a plan that only includes spending cuts…. – NY Daily News, 7-21-11
'Cut, cap, and balance' vs. 'gang of six' plan: Which for House GOP?: 'Cut, cap, and balance' legislation, which lays out a GOP plan to eliminate the US budget deficit, is set for a House vote late Tuesday. A symbolic move, the vote is nonetheless vital to Republicans. Here's why…. – CS Monitor, 7-20-11
Latest developments in debt ceiling standoff: Congress has until Aug. 2 to raise the federal borrowing limit or the government will run out of money and possibly default on its debt. House Republicans say they won't raise the debt limit without equal spending cuts. President Barack Obama and Democrats insist that higher revenues must be included.
Monday's developments: Obama says the two sides are "making progress" in negotiations. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says the Senate will meet each day until the issue is resolved.
What's Next: Republican House to vote Tuesday on bill to cut and cap spending and require that Congress pass a balanced budget amendment before the debt ceiling can be raised. While the bill is unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate, Obama threatens to veto it. – AP, 7-18-11
McConnell Offers Three-Stage Debt-Limit 'Last Choice' Option: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a "last choice option" for increasing the U.S. debt limit in three stages in case President Barack Obama and Congress can't agree on a deficit-reduction plan.
McConnell's plan would let the president raise the limit, while accompanying it with offsetting spending cuts, unless Congress struck down his plan with a two-thirds majority. The debt-ceiling increase could occur without the companion spending cuts, McConnell said.
Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, said the plan would allow Obama to raise the debt limit while putting the onus on him and congressional Democrats for any failure to cut spending. At the same time, Republicans wouldn't have to agree to tax increases.
The proposal is "not my first choice," McConnell said, adding that he wanted to show the financial markets that the U.S. will not default on its debts. He said he continues to seek a broader deal to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit with congressional Democrats and the White House. "We're certainly not going to send a signal to the markets and the American people that default is an option," he said…. – Bloomberg, 7-12-11
Timeline: Debt debate, 7-11-11: President Barack Obama and top lawmakers will meet again Monday in search of a deal on slashing the U.S. budget deficit and raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling before the United States defaults.
Obama wants to strike a deal well before August 2, when the Treasury Department says it will no longer be able to honor its obligations and issue new bonds without breaching the limit that Congress set on how much the United States can borrow.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers say any increase must include measures to ensure the country's debt remains at a sustainable level. The debt-reduction debate is a sharp shift for Washington, which less than a year ago was focused on additional deficit spending to lower the unemployment rate.
Following is a timeline of the debate…. – Reuters, 7-11-11
Factbox: What's on the table in debt talks: President Barack Obama and congressional leaders resume their White House talks on Monday to see if they have the makings of a deal to trim budget deficits and avert a looming default.
The Treasury Department has warned it will run out of money to cover the country's bills if Congress does not raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2.
Although Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for trillions of dollars in budget savings, they remain sharply divided about how to get there.
Following is a summary of the debate… – Reuters, 7-11-11
Bruce Bartlett: Five myths about the debt ceiling: In recent months, the federal debt ceiling — last increased in February 2010 and now standing at $14.3 trillion — has become a matter of national debate and political hysteria. The ceiling must be raised by Aug. 2, Treasury says, or the government will run out of cash. Congressional Republicans counter that they won't raise the debt limit unless Democrats agree to large budget cuts with no tax increases. President Obama insists that closing tax loopholes must be part of the package. Whom and what to believe in the great debt-limit debate? Here are some misconceptions that get to the heart of the battle….
1. The debt limit is an effective way to control spending and deficits.
2. Opposition to raising the debt limit is a partisan issue.
3. Financial markets won't care much if interest payments are just a few days late — a "technical default."
4. It's worth risking default on the debt to prevent a tax increase, given the weak economy.
5. Obama must accept GOP budget demands because he needs Republican support to raise the debt limit….
– WaPo, 7-7-11
Posted in 112th Congress, Debt Ceiling Showdown 2011, Political Highlights, President Barack Obama
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget Control Act of 2011, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Gang of Six, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Republican, Senate
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Political Highlights Debt Ceiling Showdown August 1-2, 2011: Debt Ceiling Crisis Averted House & Senate Pass Bipartisan Compromise Bill — President Obama Signs Budget Control Act of 2011 into Law
THE HEADLINES: DEBT CEILING SHOWDOWN: OBAMA VS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
IN FOCUS AUGUST 1-2, 2011: DEBT CEILING CRISIS AVERTED HOUSE & SENATE PASS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE BILL — PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011 INTO LAW
Full Text of the Budget Control Act of 2011 — PDFHow the Senate voted: 74-26 roll call Tuesday — the Senate passed Budget Control Act of 2011 —
Snapshot: Obama signs debt limit bill: Just hours ahead of a deadline to avert an unprecedented default, President Barack Obama, without public ceremony, signs a bill that raises the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and sets in motion a plan to reduce U.S. deficits over 10 years…. – Reuters, 8-2-11
SENATE VOTES ON DEBT DEAL — PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES STATEMENT & SIGNS DEBT BILL INTO LAW RAISING THE DEBT CEILING
Obama signs debt-ceiling deal into law: President Obama has signed into law the bill raising the federal debt ceiling just hours before the Treasury said it could begin running out of money to pay the government's bills, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday.
President Obama says work not done: After the Senate passed the debt deal and removed the threat of default the day the Treasury was expected to run out of funds, President Obama told the American people from the Rose Garden that "the next phase" of the process involved such things as entitlement and tax reform, extended unemployment benefits and middle-class tax cuts.
He urged Congress to tackle those issues when it returns from its August recess.
"Voters may have chosen divided government, but they sure didn't vote for dysfunctional government," Obama said. "They want us to solve problems."
The president added "While deficit reduction is part of that agenda, it is not the whole agenda."
Congress approves debt deal, averts U.S. default: The Senate approved a plan, 74 to 26, Tuesday that will increase the federal debt ceiling just hours before the Treasury said it could begin running out of money to pay the government's bills.
The measure now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it shortly. The plan will cut the national debt by at least $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years with no immediate provision for tax increases.
Senate begins vote on debt deal: Approval would send the measure to President Obama and immediately grant the Treasury $400 billion in additional borrowing authority, just hours before a midnight deadline.
"It was a long and contentious debate. And I want to thank the American people for keeping up the pressure on their elected officials to put politics aside and work together." — President Barack Obama
"We have seen in the past few days that Washington has the ability to focus when there is a timer ticking down and when there is a looming disaster. It shouldn't take the risk of default, the risk of economic catastrophe, to get folks in this town to get together and do their jobs. Our economy didn't need Washington to come along with a manufactured crisis to make things worse." — President Barack Obama
"It may have been messy. It might have appeared to some like their government wasn't working. But, in fact, the opposite was true. The push and pull Americans saw in Washington these past few weeks was not gridlock. It was the will of the people working itself out in a political system that was never meant to be pretty…. It was a debate that Washington needed to have." — — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
The bill passed by the House last night isn't the bill we'd write if conservatives ran Washington, but it's a step in the right direction. When I went to NY & said we wouldn't pass a debt limit increase without spending cuts larger than the hike, skeptics said we were crazy. We've proven the skeptics wrong. When Americans stay engaged in their government, there's no limit to what can get done. Keep up the fight. — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"Never again will any president from either party be allowed to raise the debt ceiling without being held accountable for it by the American people. And in addition to that, without having to engage in the kind of debate we just went thorough. This kind of discussion isn't something to dread. It's something to welcome." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
"The American people want to see accountability and cooperation in Washington. And they want to see that we're working to get our fiscal house in order. This legislation doesn't get us there. But for the first time in a long time, I think we can say to the American people that we're finally facing in the right direction." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
"It is the beginning of a process where we are going to change a system in this town. And it also, I think, sends a signal that we can work together to try and produce results." — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
"It's hard to believe that we are putting our best foot forward with the legislation that comes before us today. I'm not happy with it, but I'm proud of some of the accomplishments contained in it." — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
"There is great incentive created in this committee to deal with tax reform. It is certainly our expectation that that product will include revenue as well as other areas of finding deficit reduction." — Speaker of the House Jay Carney
"I believe the joint select committee can in fact produce real cuts in spending." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
Senator Tom Coburn: Why I voted against the debt deal": "The real debt crisis is not a debate that has been imposed on Washington by Tea Party activists. It is a crisis Washington has imposed on the American people through laziness." — WaPo, 8-2-11
Debt Bill Becomes Law; Default Averted: The Senate voted Tuesday to raise the government's debt ceiling and cut trillions of dollars from its spending, finally ending a fractious partisan battle just hours before the government's borrowing authority was set to run out.
The bill, which passed 74 to 26 after a short debate devoid of the oratorical passion that had echoed through both chambers of Congress for weeks, was signed by President Obama later on Tuesday.
A few minutes after the vote, President Obama excoriated his Republican opposition for what he called a manufactured crisis that could have been avoided. "Voters may have chosen divided government," he said, "but they sure didn't vote for dysfunctional government…. – NYT, 8-2-11
Fitch: US Debt deal alone won't sustain AAA rating: The bill to raise the country's borrowing limit and prevent a possible U.S. debt default passed in Congress. But it not enough for the U.S. to maintain its coveted AAA debt rating, according to Fitch Ratings.
On Tuesday, Fitch said the agreement was an important first step but "not the end of the process." The rating agency wants to see a credible plan to reduce the budget deficit.
David Riley, managing director at Fitch, told The Associated Press: "There's more to be done in order to keep the rating in the medium-term."… – AP, 8-2-11
Senate passes, Obama signs debt limit bill: President Obama signed a bill to raise the nation's borrowing limit on Tuesday, just hours after the Senate voted 74-26 in favor of the deal that will cut government spending by trillions and effectively raise the debt ceiling through the end of 2012…. – CBS News, 8-2-11
President Obama Signs Debt Deal as Next Fight Looms: Hours before the U.S. faced a first-ever default, President Obama signed into law a compromise deal that averts a crisis by raising the debt limit, but signaled that he will not abandon his stalled efforts to raise taxes on the wealthy.
"It's an important first step to ensuring that as a nation we live within our means, yet it also allows us to keep making key investments in things like education and research that lead to new jobs and assures that we're not cutting too abruptly while the economy's still fragile," Obama said in a statement from the White House Rose Garden before signing the bill.
Moments before his remarks, senators voted 74 to 26 to pass the Budget Control Act, the last hurdle for the controversial measure that was first approved by the House Monday night, making a $2.4 trillion down-payment on the federal deficit over the next 10 years.
Obama's signature ends a bruising Washington-made crisis that has gripped the country and lifts what the administration has called a "cloud of uncertainty hanging over the economy."… – ABC News, 8-2-11
With debt debate over, Obama urges focus on jobs: President Obama marked the end of the "long and contentious" debt-limit debate Tuesday afternoon, lamenting that the "manufactured crisis" has stunted the economic recovery and promising a return to a jobs-focused agenda.
The president spoke from the Rose Garden moments after the Senate gave final approval to the deal by a vote of 74-26. The House had voted for it by a surprisingly comfortable 269-161 margin on Monday.
Obama signed the measure more than an hour after the Senate vote, ensuring that the nation is able to continue borrowing money to pay its bills.
The president called the deficit-reduction measures paired with the debt-limit increase an "important first step to ensuring that as a nation we continue living within our means." But he also said he would continue to fight for a "balanced" approach when Congress continues the debate this fall.
"I've said it before, I will say it again: We can't balance the budget on the backs of the very people who have born the biggest brunt of this recession," he said…. – LAT, 8-2-11
Obama says more needed to boost U.S. economy: President Barack Obama said on Tuesday a just-passed bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and cut spending was a first step toward ensuring the United States lives within its means but that more was needed to rebuild the world's largest economy.
Speaking at the White House, Obama made clear he expects tax reform to emerge from deliberations by a new committee of Democrats and Republicans to be established by the legislation and that a "balanced approach" in which the wealthier pay more taxes is needed for more deficit reduction.
Obama, a Democrat, said uncertainty from the bitter debt debate had been an impediment to business but the economic recovery also suffered from unforeseen problems such as the Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Obama urged Congress to pass stalled trade bills and said he wants tax cuts for the middle class and unemployment benefits extended.
"Both parties share power in Washington. And both parties need to take responsibility for improving this economy," Obama said shortly after the Senate passed the debt bill and sent it to him for signing into law.
"I'll be discussing additional ideas in the weeks ahead to help companies hire, invest and expand."… – Reuters, 8-2-11
Obama hails passage of debt limit compromise: President Obama hailed a hard-fought, last-minute deal to avert economic catastrophe Tuesday, saying a compromise to cut spending and increase the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit marked an "important first step to ensuring that as a nation we live within our means."
The bill, he said, was the outcome of a "long and contentious debate" to avoid a man-made economic disaster that he described as creating "unsettling" economic uncertainty. He said that while voters chose divided government, "they sure didn't vote for dysfunctional government."
"It shouldn't take the risk of default, the risk of economic catastrophe, to get folks in this town to get together and do their jobs," the president said. He added: "Our economy didn't need Washington to come along with a manufactured crisis to make things worse."
Mr. Obama plans to sign the legislation in a closed-door ceremony Tuesday afternoon. It will effectively increase the nation's borrowing authority through the end of next year and promises more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years.
Now that the debt limit fight is effectively over, Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats say they will pivot to a focus on jobs and the economy, which they say should be Congress' top priority.
"We've got to do everything in our power to grow this economy and put Americans back to work," Mr. Obama said Tuesday. He called on Congress to extend middle class tax cuts and unemployment benefits, pass trade deals and plow money into infrastructure when it returns from its August recess…. – CBS News, 8-2-11
Obama signs debt-limit bill into law: The Senate passed a landmark plan to raise the federal debt limit and reduce government spending Tuesday, ending a partisan stalemate that threatened to plunge the nation into default and destabilize the world economy.
The measure was approved by a vote of 74 to 26. It promptly went to President Obama, who signed it into law, giving the government the money to pay its bills ahead of a midnight deadline.
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden after the Senate vote, Obama called the legislation "an important first step" in ensuring that the nation lives within its means, and he said it avoids "cutting too abruptly while the economy is still fragile." He vowed to keep working for a "balanced approach" to deficit reduction that includes "reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share."
The Senate vote came a day after the House voted 269 to 161 to pass the plan, as recalcitrant Republicans and disappointed Democrats rallied around calls to avert the nation's first default and rein in ballooning deficits. The measure immediately grants the Treasury $400 billion in additional borrowing authority, with more to follow…. – WaPo, 8-2-11
Debt ceiling bill passes Senate, 74-26: Treasury won an immediate reprieve of $400 billion in new borrowing authority Tuesday, as the Senate gave final approval to a hotly contested debt and deficit-reduction agreement hammered out with the White House Sunday night.
The bipartisan 74-26 roll call followed a 269-161 vote in the House Monday evening and the bill will be quickly signed by President Barack Obama, ending an unprecedented, hard-edged political struggle that pushed the nation to the brink of default.
Indeed, the stakes were far larger than the April shutdown fight, and more than any single event this year, the debt ceiling fight captured all the power—and critics would say extreme risk-taking—of the anti-government backlash that fueled the GOP's gains in the 2010 elections…. – Politico, 8-2-11
Done Deal Senate Passes Debt Ceiling Bill 74-26: Members of the Senate this afternoon approved a bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling, narrowly avoiding the nation's first-ever default.
The bill garnered broad bipartisan support in today's 74-26 vote. The House passed the measure yesterday by a vote of 269-to-161, with only two members of the city's congressional delegation supporting it.
The bill now heads straight to President Barack Obama's desk for signing…. – NY1, 8-2-11
Senate Passes Debt Plan to Avert Default: The Senate put an end to months of partisan impasse on Tuesday, passing a landmark budget agreement to raise the debt ceiling and sending the measure to the White House for President Obama's signature — just hours before the government's borrowing authority was set to run out at midnight.
The bipartisan vote was 74 to 26 , a margin that belied the intensity of a fight that has left both parties bruised and exhausted.
With the ambivalent support of Congressional leaders in both parties and Mr. Obama, the compromise, which passed the House with bipartisan support on Monday night, averts a potential default on the government's debt and provides for increases in the debt ceiling to be phased in, with compensating budget cuts, lasting beyond the 2012 elections. Enactment of the legislation would signal a pronounced shift in fiscal policy, from the heavy spending on economic stimulus and warfare of the past few years to a regime of steep spending cuts aimed at reducing the deficits — so far, without new revenues sought by the White House…. – NYT, 8-2-11
Senate passes debt deal: The Senate approved — and President Obama is likely to sign — $2.4 trillion in budget cuts and a roughly equal amount of additional debt capacity, ending months of gridlock.
The 74-26 Senate vote came just in time to avoid an unprecedented default that Treasury officials predicted could happen if Congress didn't raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit by today.
The debt drama wasn't a one-act play. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said it would be the "template" for all future debt limit increases…. – USA Today, 8-2-11
Senate approves bill to raise debt ceiling; sends to President Obama: The Senate voted on Tuesday to approve a deal to raise the nation's borrowing limit, voting 74-26 for a bill that would cut government spending by trillions and effectively raise the debt ceiling through the end of 2012. The bill will now be sent to President Obama, who is expected to sign it immediately.
The bill was brokered Sunday night in last-minute negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a key player in the negotiations, and Majority Leader Harry Reid,D-Nev., both backed the bill – paving the way for its easy passage in the Senate.
The six Democrats who voted against the measure on Tuesday were sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Tom Harkin (Ia.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Bob Menendez (N.J.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.). Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, also voted against the measure.
Nineteen Republican senators voted against the bill…. – CBS News, 8-2-11
Debt battle set to draw to close, for now: The United States is poised to step back from the brink of economic disaster on Tuesday when a bitterly fought deal to cut the budget deficit is expected to clear its final hurdles.
Just hours before the Treasury's authority to borrow funds runs out — risking a damaging U.S. debt default — the Senate and President Barack Obama are expected to approve a deal to cut a bulging deficit and lift the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling enough to last beyond the November 2012 elections.
The bill overcame its biggest obstacle late on Monday when the Republican-led House of Representatives passed the measure despite noisy opposition from both conservative Tea Party members, who wanted more spending cuts, and liberal Democrats angered by potential hits to programs for the poor.
The vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, due to take place at noon EDT, is expected to be less dramatic. If approved, Obama would sign the bill into law shortly afterward.
That would mark the end of a fierce partisan battle that has paralyzed Washington for weeks and spooked investors already nervous about a weak U.S. economy and Europe's sovereign debt woes…. – Reuters, 8-2-11
Senate expected to vote in favor of debt-limit bill: The Senate is set to vote this afternoon on the bill to raise the debt limit that the House approved Monday. Senators are expected to approve it and then send the bill to President Barack Obama for his signature.
With a strong backing from Democrats, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the House on Monday approved raising the nation's debt ceiling.
The Senate is expected to approve it at noon today, and President Barack Obama is prepared to sign it almost immediately, averting the prospect of an unprecedented default…. – AP, 8-2-11
House Approved Debt Bill Faces Final Hurdle: The Senate today is expected to sign off on a compromise bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid the country's first ever default on its bills.
The House passed the measure yesterday by a vote of 269-to-161, with only two members of the city's congressional delegation supporting it.
Once approved, the bill will head straight to President Barack Obama's desk for signing.
The measure allows for a $2.4 trillion increase to the debt ceiling, but also slashes about $2 trillion from the federal budget. It also means Congress doesn't have to deal with the debt ceiling again until 2013.
Many Republicans say it still does not cut enough spending, while many Democrats slammed the deal because it does not include tax hikes…. – NY1, 8-2-11
Republicans Turn to Dealmaker McConnell for Compromise: While Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell stayed out of the spotlight during much of the negotiations over the U.S. debt limit, the deal that's headed for approval by Congress today has his fingerprints all over it.
Those who have worked with McConnell say that is typical of the lawmaker from Kentucky, a tight-lipped veteran of 26 years in the Senate who says little in public while wielding broad power behind closed doors.
He "tends to be underestimated by the press, because they don't see him doing things," said former Senator Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican and longtime ally. "He's not at the microphones all the time, so they underestimate his capacity to do things. And he's the last person in the Senate you want to underestimate."
The deficit-reduction deal that is set for a Senate vote today is largely a product of direct negotiations among McConnell, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi…. – Bloomberg, 8-2-11
Senate to Vote on Debt-Ceiling Bill: The Senate is expected at noon Tuesday to sign off on a bipartisan agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling and cut as much as $2.4 trillion from budget deficits, after the House passed the measure 269-161 last night.
The deal is the product of one of the most ferocious fights ever over government spending and political brinksmanship that caused economic uncertainty and continues to threaten the nation's prized AAA credit rating. Its passage through the Senate makes it likely that Congress won't break Tuesday's deadline set by the Treasury Department after which the nation could run out of money to pay all of its bills.
WSJ's Alan Murray and Joe White join the News Hub panel to discuss Monday evening's House vote to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, and look ahead to Tuesday's vote in the Senate. WSJ Photo.
Passage in the House came despite the opposition of both conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, both of whom balked at the deal reached over the weekend between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders.
However, the agreement was expected to obtain the 60 votes needed for it to pass the Senate, paving the way for Mr. Obama to sign it into law Tuesday afternoon…. – WSJ, 8-2-11
Senate poised to pass debt deal despite criticism from left, right: The Senate will vote at noon Tuesday to approve a bipartisan deal to raise the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion and send it President Obama before the 11:59 p.m. deadline.
The deal is expected to attract strong support from mainstream senators on both sides of the aisle while the chamber's most liberal and conservative members will vote no.
It passed the House easily Monday evening by a vote of 269 to 161.
Wall Street, however, did not seem impressed by the deficit-reduction package, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.75 percent and the Standard & Poor's 500 fell by 1 percent Tuesday morning.
Senators from both parties lined up to praise and criticize the agreement…. – The Hill, 8-2-11
Obama, GOP brace for 'Super Committee': It's a bird … it's a plane … It's Super Committee!
As President Obama prepares to sign the debt ceiling agreement later today, lawmakers are already positioning themselves for the special congressional committee that will be assigned to look for $1.5 trillion in debt reduction over the next ten years.
Some observers are joking about whether members of so-called "Super Committee" will don capes and costumes with dollar sign logos, but the political parties are preparing another serious battle over the topics that dominated the debt ceiling debate: Taxes, spending, and the scope of government.
Obama and aides said they will continue pushing the idea that any debt reduction plan must be "balanced," including not only spending cuts but more taxes from the nation's wealthiest Americans.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "it's going to be pretty hard" for the committee to recommend taxes, and suggested that GOP appointees would block such a move…. – USA Today, 8-2-11
Obama shifts to the right: President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks from White House briefing room, Sunday, July 31, 2011 in Washington, about a deal being reached to raise the debt limit. (AP)
The most distressing outcome of the deficit hysteria gripping Washington may be what Barack Obama has revealed about himself. It was disconcerting to watch the president slip-slide so easily into voicing the fallacious economic arguments of the right. It was shocking when he betrayed core principles of the Democratic Party, portraying himself as high-minded and brave because he defied his loyal constituents. Supporters may hope this rightward shift was only a matter of political tactics, but I think Obama has at last revealed his sincere convictions. If he wins a second term, he will be free to strike a truly rotten "grand bargain" with Republicans—"pragmatic" compromises that will destroy the crown jewels of democratic reform.
The president has done grievous damage to the most vulnerable by trying to fight the GOP on its ground—accepting the premise that deficits and debt should be a national priority. He made the choice more than a year ago to push aside the real problem—the vast loss and suffering generated by a failing economy…. – CBS News, 8-2-11
Debt ceiling agreement a fair compromise? — Politico Arena, 7-31-11
Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell and the making of a debt deal: Almost as abruptly, the compromise started coming together. What happened during a weekend of frenzied negotiations to salvage the deal is a tale of cataclysm narrowly averted, a historic debt-reduction plan that satisfies none of its signatories and a lesson on how even the most dysfunctional political system can be made functional through the injection of fear, finesse and Joe Biden's old friendships…. – Politico, 8-2-11
Pols all 'look like idiots' during debt crisis, but President Obama takes biggest hit of them all: There are no real winners in the debt-crisis debacle, and in such moments the leader of the country absorbs a larger hit than most.
The tawdry spectacle of governmental paralysis, engineered by take-no-prisoner Tea Party newbies and abetted by Republicans fearful of crossing them, is more reminiscent of a banana republic.
"We all look like idiots," a dismayed Democratic Party elder complained as Congress lurched toward sidestepping a financial meltdown. "The extremists have taken over the system. This is not a good omen for anyone."
President Obama, least of all.
Obama got less than a half loaf, but came away with some positives from the shotgun-wedding compromise. He pushed back the next debt extension donnybrook to 2013, guaranteeing this summer's legislative chaos won't be rerun during next year's campaign.
He also averted an even bigger embarrassment – America didn't, on his watch, default on its debt obligations for the first time in history.
But even Obama loyalists on Capitol Hill privately say he didn't exactly burnish his leadership credentials in this process. "At the end of the day, voters expect their President to bring people together," one of them said. "He hasn't been able to on this."…. – NY Daily News, 8-2-11
AUGUST 1, 2011: HOUSE VOTES 269-161 FOR DEBT CEILING BILL — GABRIELLE GIFFORDS'S FIRST VOTE IN HOUSE SINCE BEING SHOT — SENATE VOTES NEXT — DEFAULT AVERTED
How they voted: The 269-161 roll call Monday by which the House passed the compromise bill to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a government default.
YES: 95 Democrats and 174 Republicans.
NO: 95 Democrats and 66 Republicans.
House approves raise in federal debt ceiling; bill goes to Senate: The House approved a bill Monday night that raises the federal debt limit and cuts discretionary spending by $1 trillion over the next 10 years, a key step toward averting a government default. The 269 to 161 vote sends the bill to the Senate, which is likely to consider the plan Tuesday — the day that the Treasury has said it would begin running short of cash to pay the nation's bills. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords cast her first vote in the House since being shot in January, voting yes.
I would like to say this bill solves our problem. It doesn't. It's a solid first step." — Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R) of Texas, the House Republican Conference chairman
"Although not perfect, [it] will begin to change the culture here in Washington." — House majority leader Eric Cantor (R) Virginia
"Beginning to take steps toward fixing our fiscal problems will in fact provide more confidence for employers in America." — Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio
"The Capitol looks beautiful, and I am honored to be at work tonight… I had to be here for this vote. I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy. I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what's going on in Washington. After weeks of failed debate in Washington, I was pleased to see a solution to this crisis emerge." — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona
"Gabby is voting to support the bipartisan debt-ceiling compromise. This is a huge step in her recovery, and an example of what we all know — she is determined to get better, and to serve CD8 and our nation. This vote — expected to be very close — was simply too important for her to miss." — Gabrielle Gifford's Facebook Page
"There isn't a name that stirs more love, more admiration, more respect, more wishing for our daughters to be like her than the name of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Thank you, Gabby." — Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the minority leader
"That's why I'm here. Nancy [Pelosi] was kind enough to call me."…
When I went up, she said, 'Joe. I said, 'Now we're both members of the Cracked Head Club.' You know, I had two craniotomies. For real. They literally took the top of my head off. Twice. Now, the wags in Delaware, when the second operation occurred, wrote and said, 'Well, it's because they couldn't find a brain the first time!'
She and I just commiserated about the steps to recovery. Hers, much more consequential. But it scares the living devil out of you when you're recovering from a serious operation or injury to your head. But it comes back. And knowing people who've been through it and came back was helpful, for me anyway. You know what I mean?
She's remarkable. She's remarkable. Will matters. Will matters. I tell you what, she's the embodiment of a strong, strong woman. Think about what that woman has been through, and think about her determination.
It's really good. Here I am hugging Gabby and Michele Bachmann. Seriously. I'm being literal. Sure! I like Michele Bachmann. For real. We're all standing there around and Michele walks up to see Gabby because she cares about her… There is a basic humanity here, man. It matters, between people. I know that sounds corny."…
He then recalled what he said was one of the most emotional moments he ever saw. Hubert Humphrey, the former vice president and US senator from Minnesota, was dying of cancer and made an appearance on the Senate floor. "He could hardly walk. He walked into the well. And Barry Goldwater got out of his seat, hugged him in the well, and the both embraced each other for a good three minutes, crying. These were arch, arch, arch ideological enemies. There's a lot of humanity left here." — Vice President Joe Biden Boston Globe, 8-1-11
House approves debt deal a day before deadline – Reuters, 8-1-11
WaPo, 8-2-11
House OKs debt; Giffords brings down the House: Crisis legislation to yank the nation past the threat of a historic financial default sped through the House Monday night, breaking weeks of deadlock. The rare moment of cooperation turned celebratory when Rep. Gabrielle Giffords strode in for the first time since she was shot in the head nearly seven months ago.
The vote was 269-161, a scant day ahead of the deadline for action. But all eyes were on Giffords, who drew thunderous applause as she walked into the House chamber unannounced and cast her vote in favor of the bill.
A final Senate sign-off for the measure is virtually assured on Tuesday. Aside from raising the debt limit, the bill would slice federal spending by at least $2.1 trillion, and perhaps much more.
"If the bill were presented to the president, he would sign it," the White House said, an understatement of enormous proportions…. – AP, 8-1-11
House Passes Deal to Avert Debt Crisis: After months of partisan impasse, the House on Monday approved a budget agreement intended to head off a potential government default, pushing Congress a big step closer to the conclusion of a bitter fight that has left both parties bruised and exhausted. Despite the tension and uncertainty that has surrounded efforts to raise the debt ceiling, the vote of 269 to 161 was relatively strong in support of the plan, which would cut more than $2.1 trillion in government spending over 10 years while extending the borrowing authority of the Treasury Department. It would also create a powerful new joint Congressional committee to recommend broad changes in spending — and possibly in tax policy — to reduce the deficit.
Scores of Democrats initially held back from voting, to force Republicans to register their positions first. Then, as the time for voting wound down, Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, returned to the floor for the first time since being shot in January and voted for the bill to jubilant applause and embraces from her colleagues. It provided an unexpected, unifying ending to a fierce standoff in the House.
The Senate, where approval is considered likely, is scheduled to vote at noon on Tuesday and then send the measure to Mr. Obama less than 12 hours before the time when the Treasury Department has said it could become unable to meet all of its financial obligations…. – NYT, 8-1-11
Debt-ceiling bill clears House. Now, hopes that Round 2 will be better: With the House passing a debt-ceiling bill Monday, and end of the debt crisis is in sight. But more cutting lies ahead, and both sides are hopeful they'll get more of what they want…. – CS Monitor, 8-1-11
Debt deal easily clears House, final passage likely: Congress was poised to send President Obama a compromise deficit-reduction package topping $2 trillion Tuesday, just hours before the nation could run out of borrowed money to pay its bills.
After months of bitter partisan wrangling, the House on Monday easily approved the landmark measure raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit by a 269-161 vote. The Senate is expected to approve it at noon Tuesday, and Obama is prepared to sign it almost immediately, averting the prospect of an unprecedented default…..
Republican leaders boasted that they got two-thirds of the spending cuts they sought, leading GOP House members to vote 174-66 in favor of the bill. Democrats who split 95-95 on the measure were left to highlight the cuts they averted…. – USA Today, 8-1-11
Debt deal clears House on 269-161 vote; Senate passage expected Tuesday: A bipartisan bill to increase the nation's debt limit and cut as much as $2.4 trillion in government spending passed the House of Representatives, overcoming the key hurdle on the road to averting an unprecedented federal default.
The legislation, which passed Monday evening by a relatively comfortable 269-161 margin, came after a weekend of tense meetings, exhausted staff discussions and, in the end, a compromise worked out at the highest levels of government. If passed by the Senate on Tuesday, which is widely expected, it will end a months-long standoff between a new Republican House majority, which refused to pass an increase without a deficit reduction package, and the Democratic majority in the Senate and President Barack Obama…. – Bellingham Herald, 8-1-11
House passes debt ceiling agreement; Senate vote expected Tuesday: The U.S. House on Monday passed the debt-ceiling deal worked out by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders, sending it to the Senate for consideration a day before the deadline for the government to face possible default.
A Senate vote was expected Tuesday, according to multiple Senate leadership aides from each party…. – CNN, 8-1-11
Pelosi rallies Dems to help pass debt plan: House minority leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco provided 95 Democratic votes – half of her caucus – to approve a $2 trillion-plus, 10-year debt-reduction package Monday that helped make up for a slew of defections by Tea Party-backed Republicans.
Pelosi urged Democrats to swallow hard on the package, which did not include new taxes as they had wanted, to save the nation from a potentially calamitous cash shortfall. The final vote was 269 to 161, with 66 Republicans voting no on grounds that the spending cuts did not go deep enough.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords,the Arizona Democrat shot in the head by a gunman in January, made a dramatic entrance onto the House floor to cast her vote for the deal…. – San Francisco Chronicle, 8-1-11
House Passes Compromise Debt Bill: 7:42 p.m. | Updated The House of Representatives approved the debt ceiling bargain negotiated over the weekend by President Obama and leaders from both parties, sending the measure to the Senate. Final approval that could come Tuesday.
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, told his colleagues that the Senate will take up the debt bill at noon on Tuesday, just hours before the midnight deadline when the nation's borrowing authority will run out.
The final vote was 269 to 161, with 66 Republicans and 95 Democrats voting no. Many Democratic lawmakers joined dozens of Tea Party-backed Republicans in calling it a bad deal for the country. But the complicated legislation to raise the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion earned the support of members from both parties to win approval.
Senators said they planned to take up the legislation as soon as Monday evening or Tuesday, hours before a deadline that might have led to a federal default.
The passage came in dramatic fashion as Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, made her first appearance back in the chamber since she was shot in the head by an assailant during a meet and greet in her district. Members in both parties stood up for a long and enthusiastic standing ovation for Ms. Giffords, who entered dressed in a teal shirt and with her brown hair trimmed short. She has been recuperating since the shooting and it had been unclear when she would return…. – NYT, 8-1-11
Giffords Returns, as Does Unity, Briefly: With two minutes to go and roughly 20 votes needed to pass a bill to raise the nation's debt limit, a smattering of applause rippled from a corner of the House chamber. After a few seconds of confusion, a flash of teal jacket could be seen almost floating among a sea of Democrats.
There she was, Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, appearing unexpectedly Monday evening to cast one of the last votes needed to send the measure over the top.
The full chamber erupted in loud applause as Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the House whip, flicked his eyes from the vote board to Ms. Giffords. It was the first time she had been in the chamber since she was critically injured in an assassination attempt in January in Tucson…. – NYT, 8-1-11
Rep. Giffords casts debt-limit vote on House floor: As minutes remained on a critical vote to raise the debt limit, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords burst onto the House floor Monday and cast a "yes" vote, the first time the Arizona Democrat had voted since a gunman shot her in the head at a political event in Tucson seven months ago.
Lawmakers, tense after weeks of contentious negotiations, erupted into applause as Giffords entered the chamber accompanied by her close friend and colleague Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and her husband, space shuttle astronaut Mark Kelly. Giffords waved and said, "Thank you" as her colleagues gave her a standing ovation.
Giffords, who wore glasses and a teal blazer, turned to watch the tally as voting ended on the debt-ceiling compromise package….
Vice President Biden said Pelosi told him earlier Monday that Giffords would return to the House. "That's why I'm here," Biden said…. – USA Today, 8-1-11
Julian Zelizer on House Debt Deal Vote: Many bills that eventually take on big issues start as a modest, first step, says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University, citing the 1957 civil rights bill, which disappointed most of its supporters for not going far enough to redress the nation's record on civil rights.
President "Lyndon Johnson pushed back against liberals saying, 'If I can get Southerners to vote for something, you can do more down the road,' " he says.
"The debt deal is trying to give some assurance that it's a first step and will continue," he adds. "The legislation is vague enough about this new committee that everyone can look at it and think that the committee will later give them what they want."… – CS Monitor, 8-1-11
Deal Was Forged Over Choices and Chinese Food: Last Friday night, President Obama called Speaker John A. Boehner just after the Republican House leader had gotten his rebellious Republicans, on the third effort, to pass legislation to address the debt crisis.
"Congratulations on finally getting your bill through," Mr. Obama said, according to a Democrat familiar with the conversation. "You know you're not going to get through the Senate, so now we need to focus on a solution."
Roughly 48 hours later, at 8:15 on Sunday night, the president again called Mr. Boehner from the Oval Office.
"Do we have a deal?" Mr. Obama asked, then stopped abruptly. His senior advisers, standing nearby, gathered that Mr. Boehner had interrupted the president, and they braced for confirmation of the worst in Mr. Obama's next words. Instead, there was relief.
"Congratulations to you, too, John," Mr. Obama finally said….. – NYT, 8-1-11
AUGUST 1, 2011: BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO DEBT DEAL — CONGRESS FIRST TO VOTE ON DEBT DEAL THEN THE SENATE
Budget Office says debt deal will save at least $2.1 trillion: The Congressional Budget Office confirmed Monday that the debt-reduction deal struck by the White House and congressional leaders would cut deficits by at least $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years, if lawmakers approve the plan later Monday.
The independent budget analysts reconfirmed that it contains up front savings of $917 billion, the same level as initially proposed in legislation offered by House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) last week, and it credited President Obama and the leaders with at least $1.2 trillion in savings for the follow-on work to be done by a special committee.
"Despite what some Republicans have argued, I believe that we have to ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share by giving up tax breaks and special deductions. Despite what some in my own party have argued, I believe that we need to make some modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to ensure that they're still around for future generations. That's why the second part of this agreement is so important." — President Barack Obama
"I am relieved to say that leaders from both parties have come together for the sake of our economy to reach a historic, bipartisan compromise that ends this dangerous standoff. The compromise we have agreed to is remarkable not only because of what it does, but because of what it prevents: a first-ever default on the full faith and credit of the United States." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
We got 98 percent of what we wanted… It would also guarantee the American people the vote they have been denied in both chambers on a balanced budget amendment, while creating, I think, some new incentives for past opponents of a BBA to support it." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"There is nothing in this framework that violates our principles. It's all spending cuts. The White House bid to raise taxes has been shut down…. Now listen, this isn't the greatest deal in the world. But it shows how much we've changed the terms of the debate in this town." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"I became convinced that even though my friend, [majority leader Reid], and I would love to work this out, we can't do it by ourselves. It has to have the only person who can sign something into law. There are 307 million Americans, but only one can sign something into law." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Reid says debt limit vote in Senate by Tuesday: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that debt limit increase legislation would be completed in the Senate by Tuesday. "This vote could happen either tonight or tomorrow," Reid said on the Senate floor. – Reuters, 8-1-11
Highlights of the bipartisan debt-ceiling deal — LAT
For debt-ceiling deal to become law, what needs to happen by Tuesday: Selling the debt-ceiling deal to a critical mass of lawmakers is a formidable political reach. Many conservatives say the deal doesn't go far enough, while some liberals say the richest Americans should have to pay more taxes…. – CS Monitor, 8-1-11
Several Steps Remain Before the Debt Ceiling Is Raised: During the next 60 hours, the legislative leaders who shook hands with each other must sell the deal to their wary members, something that could still pose a thorny political challenge.
And then — with the Tuesday deadline for a default looming — they must turn the "framework" into legislative language and pass it through both chambers of Congress — not an easy task for institutions, especially the Senate, which are not known for moving with haste…. – NYT, 8-1-11
House begins debate on debt limit compromise: Congress has started debating the debt limit compromise negotiated by President Barack Obama and Republican leaders.
The GOP-run House began considering the bill less than a day after the White House and top lawmakers reached agreement on a dispute that had locked them in deadlock for months…. – AP, 8-1-11
Pleasing Few, Debt Deal to Go to Vote: Democratic and Republican leaders in the Congress began making their final arguments on behalf of Sunday's debt ceiling deal to skeptical members in advance of votes in both chambers that could come as early as Monday afternoon.
With only one day left before Tuesday's looming deadline that carries the threat of a federal default, Vice President Joseph R. Biden arrived at the Capitol for back-to-back, closed-door meetings with Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate. Republicans in the House and Senate also huddled in advance of the votes.
The last-minute wrangling on Monday morning reflected the lack of enthusiasm for the debt deal as lawmakers, party activists and pundits expressed relief but little excitement for a compromise that appears to have left few partisans eagerly promoting the deal as the one that they wanted.
On the Senate floor on Monday, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, said, "People on the right are upset. People on the left are upset. People in the middle are upset." But he called it a "remarkable agreement which will protect the long-term health of our economy."
Mr. Reid said that the Senate is likely to take a final vote on passage of the deal later today. Republican aides in the House said that voting could begin as early as 2 p.m., though neither chamber had yet told members exactly when to expect final votes on the legislation.
Most of the leading 2012 Republican presidential candidates weighed in Monday in opposition to the debt ceiling deal, saying that it does too little to address the nation's spending problem. Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, said the deal "opens the door to higher taxes and puts defense cuts on the table.."… – NYT, 8-1-11
Debt deal: $32.4 billion per page: The debt framework President Obama and congressional leaders reached Sunday night runs 74 pages long, and could authorize as much as $2.4 trillion in new debt — or $32.4 billion per page.
That debt increase will get the country through the 2012 election, both sides said, but it does not bring to an end the sea of red ink that will continue to wash over the federal government for the foreseeable future.
In the near term, the bill sets budget numbers for 2012 that would require a real cut of $7 billion in discretionary spending from 2011 levels, though that's $25 billion less than projected spending would have been had it kept pace with inflation.
Over the long term, the deal could lead to as much as $2.4 trillion in lower-than-projected spending over the next decade, which also works out to about $32.4 billion per page in lower spending — if all of the conditions are met. But during those 10 years, that still means the country could pile up another $10.4 trillion in new debt, which would leave the government well more than $20 trillion in debt by the end of the decade…. – Washington Times, 8-1-11
Obama: Debt debate will continue: President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign e-mailed a brief address from the president, describing the recent battle with Republicans as a phase in a long-running effort to forge a "balanced" debt reduction package that includes new tax revenue as well as budget cuts.
"This chapter is over. That work and that debate continue. This has been a tense debate because the stakes were so high."
Though grateful that the agreement heads off a government default, Obama said the agreement is "far from satisfying" and he will urge a new special congressional committee to cut federal debt with taxes as well as less spendng. "The ultimate solution must be balanced," Obama said…. USA Today, 8-1-11
House vote first test of debt-ceiling bill: The first test of legislation to raise the nation's debt ceiling comes in the House, which plans to vote Monday evening on the plan agreed to by party leaders Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate would work to take up the plan Monday as well, though that would be a challenge given traditional delaying tactics that may be employed.
Passage in either chamber is far from assured. Some Republicans are objecting to the possibility of steep cuts in defense spending, while others continue to oppose any debt-ceiling increase. Liberal Democrats think the so-called compromise was more like a cave-in…. – LAT, 8-1-11
House Debt Vote Expected Monday Afternoon: The House of Representatives could begin voting as early as 2 p.m., Eastern time, on the debt ceiling compromise announced by President Obama and Congressional leaders on Sunday night, a House leadership aide said.
In a brief message on Twitter, Erica Elliott, the press secretary for Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, the majority whip, announced the tentative schedule.
It was not immediately clear when the Senate might vote on Monday…. – NYT, 8-1-11
Debt-Limit Deal to Get Congress Vote Today: Congressional leaders, leaving no extra time before a default threatened for tomorrow, are racing to push through a compromise sealed with President Barack Obama last night to raise the U.S. debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion and slash government spending by $2.4 trillion or more. The House plans votes today and the Senate may follow suit to consider the agreement reached during a weekend of negotiations that capped a months-long struggle between Obama and Republicans over raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling. Megan Hughes reports on Bloomberg Television's "First Look." (Source: Bloomberg)
Congressional leaders, leaving no extra time before a default threatened for tomorrow, are racing to push through a compromise sealed with President Barack Obama last night to raise the U.S. debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion and slash government spending by $2.4 trillion or more.
The House plans votes today and the Senate may follow suit to consider the agreement reached during a weekend of negotiations that capped a months-long struggle between Obama and Republicans over raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.
Both parties were working to sell the deal to their rank and file — meeting resistance from social liberals who fault it for failing to increase taxes and from fiscal conservatives who say it's insufficient to rein in the debt…. – Bloomberg, 8-1-11
House races toward Monday debt ceiling vote: The House is racing toward a Monday evening vote to raise the debt ceiling, as congressional leaders furiously round up the votes necessary to push the plan through before Tuesday's deadline.
Senate leaders plan to take up the bill shortly after, where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says enough votes will be lined up for the bill to pass.
House leaders are still gauging support for the measure. House Republicans will meet at 12:30 and House Democrats are caucusing with Vice President Joe Biden — who got a standing ovation when he walked into the meeting today.
Biden laid out in candid terms what the White House had to do to get a deal.
"Elections have consequences," Biden told Senate Democrats, according to a senator in the room. The vice president characterized the fight as a hostage situation, saying Republicans have a "gun to their heads," the source said…. – Politico, 8-1-11
Debt-ceiling compromise: Now, it's time to find the votes: Vice President Joe Biden will meet Monday with the Senate and House Democratic caucuses while Republican leaders also huddle to gauge support for the debt-ceiling plan negotiators agreed to Sunday.
The legislative path for the bill was still somewhat unclear as individual members study the details. No votes had been scheduled yet in either the House or Senate on Monday, but could be added once party leadership takes the temperature of their respective caucuses. House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told members Sunday night that the bill would move quickly to the floor, perhaps as early as Monday afternoon…. – LAT, 8-1-11
House to vote before Senate on raising debt ceiling: The House of Representatives will vote before the Senate on the bipartisan plan to raise the debt ceiling, according to two House GOP leadership sources…. – CNN, 8-1-11
House vote could be squeaker: A Democratic official involved in the effort to secure the votes in the House and Senate for the debt deal says there is more concern about the vote tally in the House than the Senate, where it looks like it will get the 60 votes needed without much drama.
In the House, Democrats who favor the deal are concerned about a very close vote – maybe a squeaker.
Vice President Joe Biden will meet with the House Democratic caucus at noon to answer questions, soothe concerns, and help shore up reluctant Democrats.
Even though Biden is coming over to meet with Democrats and has planned to come out to the media stakeout afterwards, it's unclear from Democratic aides at this point how many of the Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, will stand with Biden and say they will support the bill…. – CNN, 8-1-11
The debt ceiling battle at a glance:
A compromise agreement to raise the nation's borrowing limit has been reached The House and Senate are expected to vote today The House Speaker says the agreement does not violate Republican principles Some Senate Democrats are grumbling, an aide says, but the chamber is expected to approve the deal
President Obama and congressional leaders have agreed to a plan that would lift the nation's credit limit and avoid an unprecedented default on its debt, which could have widespread economic ramifications ranging from higher interest rates to a predicted stock market crash. Congress still must approve the deal by Tuesday. Here's the situation at a glance… – CNN, 8-1-11
Democrats seem to end up on short end of the deal: The deal struck by the White House and congressional leaders to raise the nation's debt ceiling has the feel of a classic compromise, full of give and take.
There is no requirement for a balanced budget amendment, no second showdown over the nation's borrowing limit before the 2012 elections and, according to some conservatives, not nearly enough in cuts.
But for weeks and months Republicans have warned Democrats they would only accept a deal that cut spending without raising taxes.
And the deal that faces a final congressional vote Monday does exactly that. The deal includes $1 trillion in cuts over 10 years. It sets up a congressional committee that could consider tax reform as it seeks a strategy for deeper debt reduction. On Monday, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the deal would cut deficits by at least $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years…. – WaPo, 8-1-11
Obama, Boehner Suffering 'Monday Morning Hangover': President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, did something most considered a long shot – they agreed on a budget deal and the talking points that go with it.
But the Monday morning hangover plaguing Obama and Boehner as a result of Sunday night's celebration may last longer and produce bigger headaches than either anticipated.
Vice President Joe Biden was dispatched to the Capitol early Monday to meet with Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate to convince lawmakers the latest deal is the way to go. Republicans were also huddling to see if they have enough votes for a Monday afternoon roll call.
Reid took to the senate floor Monday morning, calling the weekend deal a "remarkable agreement which will protect the long-term health of our economy."
"People on the right are upset. People on the left are upset. People in the middle are upset," said Reid in his remarks.
President Obama, seemingly tired and frustrated after a tense round of negotiations, called reporters together saying the compromise "allows us to avoid default and end the crisis that Washington imposed on the rest of America."… – Christian Post, 8-1-11
Debt Deal: Some Read It and Weep, Others Swallow Hard and Nod: Liberals and conservatives woke up on Monday morning and began assessing the last-minute debt ceiling deal reached by leaders in Washington over the weekend.
Many liberals are grousing about President Obama's willingness to abandon some of the things he had demanded. Some conservatives are griping that the deal doesn't do enough to cut spending. And some members of both parties are declaring the deal good enough, if not exactly great…. – NYT, 8-1-11
McCain says he'll 'swallow hard' and support deal: Sen. John McCain says he'll vote for compromise legislation averting a government default, although "I will probably have to swallow hard."
The Arizona Republican who lost to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election says he's concerned about the impact of the deficit-reduction deal on defense spending.
But McCain also tells CBS's "The Early Show" that officials in Washington realized "we were not going to let the government shut down."… – AP, 8-1-11
Sen. Marco Rubio will vote against debt ceiling deal: The South Florida Congressional delegation says it will likely approve the tentative deal struck Sunday night to raise the debt ceiling but Sen. Marco Rubio is a holdout…. – Miami Herald, 8-1-11
GOP presidential hopefuls unhappy with debt-ceiling deal: Some of the Republicans who want to kick President Obama out of office next year are sounding off today with their opposition to a deal the White House reached with congressional leaders to raise the debt ceiling…. – USA Today, 8-1-11
Romney opposes debt deal: Mitt Romney said Monday he opposes the compromise to raise the nation's debt ceiling, becoming the second Republican presidential contender to oppose a deal backed by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders in both parties.
The plan, which supporters say is needed to avert a looming fiscal crisis, opens the door to tax increases and defense cuts, the former Massachusetts governor said in a statement.
"President Obama's leadership failure has pushed the economy to the brink at the eleventh hour and 59th minute," Romney said. "While I appreciate the extraordinarily difficult situation President Obama's lack of leadership has placed Republican members of Congress in, I personally cannot support this deal."
The statement represents the most substantive comment to date from Romney, the early frontrunner in the Republican presidential field, who has largely avoided weighing in on daily developments in the high-stakes debate. The issue, as the nation's economy in general, is likely to dominate the 2012 contest…. – AP, 8-1-11
Debt and budget bill saves more than $2T: A new study says the debt and budget bill backed by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders would save taxpayers at least $2.1 trillion over the coming decade.
The Congressional Budget Office analysis says the initial down payment of spending cuts — tight "caps" on the operating budgets of Cabinet agencies like the departments of Defense and Education — would produce more than $900 billion in savings over 10 years…. – AP, 8-1-11
Congressional Leaders to Pitch Debt-Reduction Compromise to Caucuses: Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers of Congress will meet with their caucuses Monday for a hard sell of a compromise debt-reduction package that gives President Obama up to a $2.5 trillion hike in the debt limit as long as lawmakers can find an equal or greater amount in spending cuts.
But even if they can't come up with solutions, the cuts will be found for them.
Obama announced Sunday night that leaders of both parties in both chambers reached an agreement on a debt-reduction deal that will "lift the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over our economy" and prevent the nation from potentially defaulting on the U.S.'s financial obligations…. – Fox News, 8-1-11
Congress moving quickly on debt and spending deal: Congress is moving quickly on an agreement to avert a potentially devastating default on U.S. obligations, with legislation that mixes a record increase in the government's borrowing cap with the promise of more than $2 trillion in spending cuts.
After a tense weekend of bargaining, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders announced the agreement Sunday night, providing an instant boost to Asian financial markets and a huge dose of relief to an administration and Congress frazzled by months of partisan warfare and the chance that a default could send the still-fragile economy into recession.
The Senate seems likely to vote first on the measure while House GOP leaders work to assemble support for it. Democratic votes are certain to be needed to pass the measure in the Republican-dominated House, just as Republicans will be needed to clear the measure through the Democratic Senate. Liberal Democrats were already carping that Obama had given away too much to GOP leaders…. – AP, 8-1-11
Obama announces budget deal: President Barack Obama, addressing the nation Sunday, announced a bipartisan, bicameral deal to end a dangerous impasse over raising the debt ceiling, marking the start of a process to avert a catastrophic national default on Tuesday.
A somber Obama — decrying a process that has been "messy" and has "taken far too long" — made his announcement moments before House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) took the two-part package of $2.5 trillion in cuts to a skeptical GOP conference. The agreement came after a day of frenzied negotiations over "triggers" that will be used to determine the make-up of the final $1.5 trillion in cuts.
"We're not done yet," Obama told a smattering of reporters gathered in the White House briefing room. "Despite what some Republicans have argued I believe we have to ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share … and despite what some in my own party have argued I believe that we need to make some modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to assure that they're still around for future generations," he said, acknowledging the opposition of tea party conservatives and liberal Democrats…. – Politico, 8-1-11
Analysis: Bipartisan debt-limit deal means bipartisan opposition for Obama, Boehner: The newly struck debt-ceiling compromise between President Barack Obama and the Republican leaders of Congress represents a historic accomplishment of divided government, with all the disappointment that implies for the most ardent partisans inside the two major parties and out.
But it marks an accomplishment nonetheless between a Democratic president elected in 2008 and the Republicans who, Obama memorably said, handed his party a "shellacking" at the polls two years later.
The tea party conservatives won't like it, regretting it doesn't cut spending by more. "Someone has to say no, I will," Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said in a statement emailed from Iowa Sunday night, where she was courting Republicans for her 2012 presidential bid.
Neither will the liberal Democrats, unhappy that it cuts at all. "This deal weakens the Democratic Party as badly as it weakens the country. We have given much and received nothing in return," said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Which means that Obama and his principal Republican antagonist, Speaker John Boehner, will share responsibility for passing it in the House…. – AP, 8-1-11
US debt limit really doesn't limit debt: The federal debt limit is a triumph of false advertising. It doesn't really limit the national debt. Whenever the false ceiling has been reached, it has been raised — forcing unpopular votes in Congress, but not the really hard ones it would take to cut spending, raise revenues and balance budgets.
Ranting about the debt is easier than taming it. So the same political theatrics are played over and over again. The debt limit has been raised 78 times since 1960. The current hassle over No. 79 is more contentious and divisive than the previous rounds because of hardened lines in Congress, not only between Democrats and Republicans but within their rosters, especially on the GOP side where about 80 freshmen sent by tea party voters consider compromise a crime.
The hypocrisy of the whole process was summed up by an expert witness, Barack Obama, now the president championing a debt limit increase, when he tried to explain his own vote as junior senator from Illinois to oppose the raise then-President George W. Bush sought…. – AP, 8-1-11
Obama: We have a deal: The nation's top lawmakers and President Obama announced late Sunday they have reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling and dramatically curb federal spending.
"I want to announce that the leaders of both parties, in both chambers, have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default," Obama said Sunday night.
Obama said that while the process was messy, and had taken far too long, the nation would, in the end, avoid a costly default and economic catastrophe.
A short time before Obama spoke, Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell said that a framework had been agreed to…. – CNN Money, 8-1-11
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget Control Act of 2011, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Republican, Senate
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Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown August 2, 2011: President Obama's Statement on Congress Passing the Compromise Debt Ceiling Bill — The Budget Control Act of 2011
POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS
Putting Americans Back to Work: President Obama Speaks on the Debt Compromise
President Obama spoke from the Rose Garden after the Senate vote on the debt ceiling bill on Tuesday. More Photos »
Read the Transcript | Download Video: mp4 (81MB) | mp3 (8MB)
This afternoon, Congress approved a compromise to reduce the deficit and avert a default that would have devastated the economy. Speaking from the Rose Garden, President Obama thanked the American people for reaching out to their elected officials during the debate, and stressed that this compromise guarantees more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction, and will ensure that as a nation we live within our means, while still making key investments in things that lead to new jobs, like education and research.
The President noted that this is just the first step, and that both parties must work together on a larger plan for the long-term health of our economy:
And since you can't close the deficit with just spending cuts, we'll need a balanced approach where everything is on the table. Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they're there for future generations. It also means reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share. And it means getting rid of taxpayer subsidies to oil and gas companies, and tax loopholes that help billionaires pay a lower tax rate than teachers and nurses.
I've said it before; I will say it again: We can't balance the budget on the backs of the very people who have borne the biggest brunt of this recession. We can't make it tougher for young people to go to college, or ask seniors to pay more for health care, or ask scientists to give up on promising medical research because we couldn't close a tax shelter for the most fortunate among us. Everyone is going to have to chip in. It's only fair. That's the principle I'll be fighting for during the next phase of this process.
President Barack Obama makes a statement to the media in the Rose Garden of the White House after House and Senate passage of the debt ceiling bill, Aug. 2, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
In the coming months, President Obama will continue to fight for what matters most to the American people: new jobs, higher wages and faster economic growth. And when Congress gets back from recess, the President will urge them to take bipartisan, common-sense steps to help put Americans back to work.
So, we've seen in the past few days that Washington has the ability to focus when there's a timer ticking down, and when there's a looming disaster. It shouldn't take the risk of default -– the risk of economic catastrophe -– to get folks in this town to work together and do their jobs. Because there's already a quiet crisis going on in the lives of a lot of families, in a lot of communities, all across the country. They're looking for work, and they have been for a while; or they're making do with fewer hours or fewer customers; or they're just trying to make ends meet. That ought to compel Washington to cooperate. That ought to compel Washington to compromise, and it ought to compel Washington to act. That ought to be enough to get all of us in this town to do the jobs we were sent here to do. We've got to do everything in our power to grow this economy and put America back to work.
Posted in 112th Congress, Debt Ceiling Showdown 2011, Political Speeches & Documents, President Barack Obama
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget Control Act of 2011, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
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Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown August 2, 2011: D-Day, Done Deal — Senate Passes Debt Bill 74-26 — President Obama Makes Statement to the Nation & Signs Debt Bill into Law Raising the Debt Ceiling Limit
President Obama speaks from the Rose Garden at the White House after final passage of a debt-ceiling increase in Congress on Tuesday. (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images)
SENATE PASSES DEBT DEAL 74-26 — PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES STATEMENT & SIGNS DEBT BILL INTO LAW RAISING THE DEBT CEILING
Tagged Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
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Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown August 2, 2011: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Senate Floor — Bipartisan Debt Ceiling Bill Will Slow Down 'Big Government Freight Train'
McConnell: Bipartisan Agreement Will Slow Down the "Big Government Freight Train'
Source: McConnell.Senate.gov, 8-2-11
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the Senate vote on the Budget Control Act that will prevent default, cut Washington spending:
"Over the past few weeks, Congress been engaged in a very important debate. It may have been messy. It might have appeared to some like their government wasn't working.
"But, in fact, the opposite was true.
"The push and pull Americans saw in Washington these past few weeks was not gridlock. It was the will of the people working itself out in a political system that was never meant to be pretty.
"You see, one reason America isn't already facing the kind of crises we see in Europe is that presidents and majority parties here can't just bring about change on a dime, as much as they might like to from time to time. That's what checks and balances is all about. And that's the kind of balance Americans voted for in November.
"The American people sent a wave of new lawmakers to Congress in last November's election with a very clear mandate: to put our nation's fiscal house in order. Those of us who'd been fighting the big-government policies of Democrat majorities in Congress welcomed them into our ranks. Together we've held the line. And slowly but surely, we've started turning things around.
"That's why those who think that no problem is too big or too small for government to solve are worried right now. They're afraid the American people may actually win the larger debate we've been having around here about the size and scope of government; and that the spending spree may actually be coming to an end. They can't believe that those who've stood up for limited government and accountability have actually changed the terms of the debate in Washington.
"But today, they have no choice but to admit it.
"Now, I know that for some of my colleagues reform isn't coming as fast as they would like. I understand their frustration. I too wish we could stand here today enacting something much more ambitious. But I'm encouraged by the thought that these new leaders will help lead this fight until we finish the job. And I want to assure you today that although you may not see it this way, you've won this debate.
"In a few minutes, the Senate will vote on legislation that represents a new way of doing business in Washington.
"First, it creates an entirely new template for raising the nation's debt limit. One of the most important things about this legislation is the fact that never again will any President, from either party, be allowed to raise the debt ceiling without being held accountable for it by the American people and without having to engage in the kind of debate we've just come through.
"This kind of discussion isn't something to dread; it's something to welcome. And while the President may not have particularly enjoyed this debate, it was a debate that Washington needed to have.
"As for the particulars, this legislation caps spending over the next 10 years, with a mechanism that ensures that these cuts stick. It protects the American people from a government default that would have affected every single one of them in one way or another. It puts in place a committee that will recommend further cuts and much-needed reforms. It doesn't include a dime in job-killing tax hikes at a moment when our economy can least afford them. And, crucially, it ensures the debate over a balanced budget amendment continues, and that it gets a vote.
"This is no small feat when you consider that just last week the President was still demanding tax hikes as a part of any debt ceiling increase, and that as recently as May, the President's top economic advisor said it was `insane' for anybody to even consider tying the debt ceiling to spending cuts. It's worth noting that two and a half months later, that advisor is no longer working at the White House and the President is now agreeing, as a condition of raising the debt ceiling, to trillions of dollars in spending cuts.
"Let me be clear: the legislation the Senate is about to vote on is just a first step. But it's a crucial step toward fiscal sanity, and it's a potentially remarkable achievement given the lengths to which some in Washington have gone to ensure a status quo that's suffocating growth, crippling the economy, and imperiling entitlements.
"We've had to settle for less than we wanted, but what we've achieved is in no way insignificant. And we did it because we had something Democrats didn't. Republicans may only control one half of one third of the government in Washington. But the American people agreed with us on the nature of the problem. They know that government didn't accumulate $14.5 trillion in debt because it didn't tax enough.
"And if you're spending yourself into oblivion, the solution isn't to spend more, it's to spend less.
"Neither side got everything it wanted in these negotiations. But I think it was the view of those in my party that we'd try to get as much spending cuts as we could from a government we didn't control. And that's what we've done with this bipartisan agreement.
"This is not the deficit reduction package I would have written. The fact that we're on pace to add another $7 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years is nothing to celebrate. But getting it there from more than $9 trillion the President continued to defend until recently, is no defeat either. And slowing down the big-government freight train from its current trajectory will give us the time we need to work toward a real solution, or give the American people the time they need to have their voices heard.
"So much more work remains. And to that end, our first step will be to make sure that the Republicans who sit on the powerful cost-cutting committee are serious people who put the best interests of the American people, and the principles that we've fought for throughout this debate, first.
"But before we move on to the next steps, I would like to say a word about some of those who made today's vote possible.
"I'll start with Speaker Boehner.
"It should be noted that he helped set the terms of this debate by insisting early on that he'd oppose any debt limit that didn't include cuts that were greater than the amount the debt limit would be raised. And he stuck to his guns. The Speaker and I have worked shoulder to shoulder over the past few months, and it's been a pleasure. He's been a real partner. We wouldn't be here without him.
"So I want to thank the Speaker and the entire Republican Leadership in the House for standing on principle, and I want to thank my Republican colleagues in the Senate for their determination and their ideas and their support. We wouldn't be here without them either. And I want to thank my friend, the Majority Leader, for his work in getting this agreement over the finish line. We may disagree a lot, but I hope everyone realizes it's never personal. And I think today we can prove that when it comes down to it we'll come together when a larger good is at stake.
"I also want to thank the President, the Vice President, and everyone on their staffs who believed, as we did, that despite our many differences, we could all agree that America would not default on its obligations. It's a testament to the good will of those on both sides that we were able to reach this agreement in time. Neither side wanted to see a government default. I'm pleased we were able to work together to avoid it.
"This bill does not solve the problem. But it forces Washington to admit that it has one. And it puts us on the path to recovery. We're nowhere near where we need to be in terms of restoring balance. But there should be absolutely no doubt about this: we have changed the debate. We're headed in the right direction.
"How'd it happen? Because the American people demanded it.
"So, in the end, we're back to where we started. The only reason we're talking about passing legislation that reins in the size of Washington instead of growing it is because the American people believed that they could have a real impact on the direction of their government. They spoke out, and we heard them. And it's only through their continued participation in this process, and lawmakers who are willing to listen to them, that we'll complete the work we've begun. As Winston Churchill once said, `Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [and] courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.'
"I can't think of a better way to sum up this last year and, in particular, these last few months, in Washington than that.
"The American people want to see accountability and cooperation in Washington. And they want to see that we're working to get our fiscal house in order. This legislation doesn't get us there. But for the first time in a long time, I think we can say to the American people that we're finally facing in the right direction. And for that, we have them to thank."
Tagged Barack Obama, Big Government, Budget Control Act of 2011, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Plan, deficit, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
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Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown August 1, 2011: House Bipartisan Vote 269-161 for Debt Ceiling Bill — Gabrielle Giffords First Vote Since Being Shot — Senate Votes Tuesday
House Television, via Associated PressRepresentative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in January, appeared on the floor of the House of Representatives after the vote.
Tagged Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Republican, Senate
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Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown August 1, 2011: Majority Leader Harry Reid on Senate Floor on Debt Ceiling Bill as a Bipartisan Compromise & Step Forward
THE HEADLINES: DEBT CEILING SHOWDOWN:OBAMA VS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
Reid: Bipartisan Compromise, A Step Forward
Source: Reid.Senate.gov, 8-1-11
Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks today on the Senate floor:
Mr. President, the eyes of America and the world were on Washington this week.
They witnessed some of the worst political wrangling Congress has seen in years.
But after weeks spent facing off across a partisan divide that seemed too broad to cross, patriots from both parties reach a historic, bipartisan agreement that revived America's faith in our Democracy.
Americans voted for a divided government, and it's not always easy for two sides at odds to reach consensus. But I believe reasonable Republicans and Democrats alike understood that in this case, without compromise, our country faced disaster.
If the United States had defaulted on its debt for the first time in history, it would have put our economy and the world's economy at great risk.
I was satisfied last night when Congressional leaders from both parties agreed on a long-term solution to avert that default, reduce the deficit by trillions of dollars and provide our economy with the stability it desperately needs.
We have sent a message to Americans from each state we represent and to citizens of every country in the world that today this great Democracy is moving forward in the name of progress.
There is still work to do. Shortly I will present to the Senate Democratic Caucus the agreement bipartisan, bicameral leaders have reached.
The agreement protects the long-term health of our economy. And it establishes a committee that will look at every option for reducing future spending – no matter how painful to either party.
The support of Democrats and Republicans from both houses of Congress will be essential to passing this accord. Neither party can do it alone in either the House or Senate.
The Irish statesman Edmund Burke said that "All government – indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act – is founded on compromise."
Congress has a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to show the world what we can achieve when we work together.
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget Control Act of 2011, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Plan, deficit, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
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Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown August 1, 2011: House Votes First on Brokered Debt Deal — Bipartisan Opposition by Democrats & Republicans in House, Senate & Nation
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks to the media after a caucus meeting with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill in Washington August 1, 2011. (Joshua Roberts, Reuters)
AUGUST 1, 2011: BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO DEBT DEAL — HOUSE FIRST TO VOTE ON DEBT DEAL THEN THE SENATE
Tagged Barack Obama, Charles Schumer, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Deal, Debt Plan, Defict Reduction, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romeny, Republican, Senate
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Political Highlights Debt Ceiling Showdown July 25-31, 2011: Finally, a Deal! After Week of Partisan Votes in Congress — President Obama, White House, Republican & Democratic Leaders Agree to Debt Deal — Still Needs to Pass House & Senate Votes
THE HEADLINES: DEBT CEILING SHOWDOWN: OBAMA VS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS: JULY 25-AUGUST 1, 2011
Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline — White House, 7-31-11
Timeline of the Debt Ceiling Negotiations — NYT, 7-31-11
JULY 31, 2011: PRESIDENT OBAMA & REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS REACH DEBT DEAL
White House Photo, Pete Souza, 7/31/11
Obama: Agreement has been reached on raising debt limit: In an evening news conference, President Obama says the debt ceiling deal is not the one he would have preferred, but it will "allow us to avoid default and end the crisis Washington imposed on the rest of America."
Reid declares debt deal is finished: Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid said Sunday evening that all congressional leaders had agreed to a compromise plan to lift the debt ceiling. "We're moving forward together," Reid said. Immediately afterward, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declared "there is now a framework" for a deal.
Timeline of the Debt Ceiling Negotiations — NYT
"Is this the deal I would have preferred? No. I believe that we could've made the tough choices required on entitlement reform and tax reform right now, rather than through a special Congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year." — President Barack Obama
"My message to the world tonight is that this nation and this Congress are moving forward and we are moving forward together….
"Sometimes it seems, our two sides disagree on almost everything. But in the end, reasonable people were able to agree on this: The United States could not take the chance of defaulting on our debt." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said from the floor of the Senate.
"I am relieved to say that leaders from both parties have come together for the sake of our economy to reach a historic, bipartisan compromise that ends this dangerous standoff." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"This is an important moment for our country…. I think I can say with a high degree of confidence that there is now a framework to review that will ensure significant cuts in Washington spending. And we can assure the American people tonight that the United States of America will not for the first time in our history default on its obligations." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
"I'm going to tell you, this has been a long battle -– we've fought valiantly -– and frankly we've done it by listening to the American people. And as a result, our framework is now on the table that will end this crisis in a manner that meets our principles of smaller government." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
President Obama Announces Debt Deal: Rundown of the Debt Debate 9:25 p.m. ET | President Obama announced Sunday evening that he had reached an agreement with party leaders in Congress that will cut the deficit, raise the debt ceiling and create a bipartisan, bicameral committee of members of Congress to identify further deficit cuts.
The deal will cut $1 trillion from the deficit over ten years and allow President Obama to raise the debt ceiling in a series of steps that Congress could then vote against, but they would need a likely unattainable two-thirds majority in both chambers to reject the debt limit increase.
The deficit reduction committee must identify a way to cut at least an additional $1.5 trillion from the deficit over the next ten years and then send that proposal to Congress by the end of the year. If it does not pass, there will be a series of automatic cuts in Medicare and defense and non-defense domestic spending. This measure is meant to force the committee to reach a workable agreement.
"Is this the deal I would have preferred? No. I believe that we could've made the tough choices required on entitlement reform and tax reform right now, rather than through a special Congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year," President Obama said. "Most importantly it would allow us to avoid default and end the crisis that Washington imposed on the rest of America. It ensures also that we will not face this same kind of crisis in six months, or eight months or 12 months."
President Obama urged members of Congress to support the deal, but that support is not guaranteed. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, held a conference call Sunday evening to sell the deal to House Republicans. He used this slide show to make his case.
The Senate will also have to vote to pass the plan, but the math is more uncertain in the House, where Democratic votes will be needed to pass a bill that some conservative Republicans will likely reject. The deal must be passed in both chambers before 12 a.m. Wednesday in order to avoid a default on the debt and an overnight reduction of 40 percent of government spending…. – PBS Newshour, 7-31-11
Obama, Congress reach a debt deal: Ending a perilous stalemate, President Barack Obama announced agreement Sunday night with Republican congressional leaders on a compromise to avoid the nation's first-ever financial default. The deal would cut more than $2 trillion from federal spending over a decade.
Default "would have had a devastating effect on our economy," Obama said at the White House, relaying the news to the American people and financial markets around the world. He thanked the leaders of both parties.
House Speaker John Boehner telephoned Obama at mid-evening to say the agreement had been struck, officials said.
No votes were expected in either house of Congress until Monday at the earliest, to give rank-and-file lawmakers time to review the package. But leaders in both parties were already beginning the work of rounding up votes…. – AP, 7-31-11
It's a deal: Obama, Congress will avert default: Ending a perilous stalemate, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders announced historic agreement Sunday night on emergency legislation to avert the nation's first-ever financial default.
The dramatic resolution lifted a cloud that had threatened the still-fragile economic recovery at home – and it instantly powered a rise in financial markets overseas.
The agreement would slice at least $2.4 trillion from federal spending over a decade, a steep price for many Democrats, too little for many Republicans. The Treasury's authority to borrow would be extended beyond the 2012 elections, a key objective for Obama, though the president had to give up his insistence on raising taxes on wealthy Americans to reduce deficits… – AP, 7-31-11
Obama announces deal reached to end debt crisis: President Barack Obama announced on Sunday that Democrats and Republicans leaders have reached an agreement to reduce the U.S. deficit and avoid default. Obama said the agreement will cut about $1 trillion over 10 years…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
Obama announces debt deal to end U.S. debt crisis: President Barack Obama said on Sunday that Democrat and Republican leaders have reached an agreement to reduce the U.S. deficit and avoid default, but it was not clear if the spending cuts were deep enough to stave off a credit rating downgrade.
Obama said the agreement will cut about $1 trillion over 10 years and cuts would not happen so quickly that they would drag on the fragile U.S. economy. Another $1.2 trillion would be cut if a joint committee fails to find at least that much in budget savings.
The deal would still have to be passed in the House and the Senate.
U.S. S&P 500 stock futures bounced 1.4 percent and U.S. Treasuries futures slid on news of the deal. Gold and then yen also fell.
Standard & Poor's and Moody's rating agencies indicated earlier that deficit-cutting measures of around $4 trillion would be enough for the U.S. to avoid losing its prized AAA rating…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
Leaders Report Accord on Debt Limit Increase: 9:05 p.m. | Updated Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress announced Sunday night that they have reached a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avert a default.
President Obama spoke moments later at the White House, telling reporters that "the leaders of both parties in both chambers have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid a default."
"My message to the world tonight is that this nation and this Congress are moving forward and we are moving forward together," Senator Harry Reid of Nevada said from the floor of the Senate.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader said "there is now a framework to review that will ensure significant cuts in Washington's spending."
The announcement came even as House Speaker John A. Boehner was holding conference call with Republican House members.
In the Senate, Mr. Reid called the deal a "historic bipartisan compromise" and said it is "remarkable" for what it does and for what it prevents: a "first-ever default on the full faith and credit of the United States."
"Sometimes it seems, our two sides disagree on almost everything," he said. "But in the end, reasonable people were able to agree on this: The United States could not take the chance of defaulting on our debt."
"This is an important moment for our country," Mr. McConnell said, adding later that "I think I can say with a high degree of confidence that there is now a framework to review that will ensure significant cuts in Washington spending. And we can assure the American people tonight that the United States of America will not for the first time in our history default on its obligations."… – NYT, 7-31-11
White House, congressional leaders reach debt deal: Two days before the deadline for a possible U.S. government default, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders reached agreement Sunday on a legislative package that would extend the federal debt ceiling while cutting spending and guaranteeing further deficit-reduction steps.
The proposed $3 trillion deal, which still requires congressional approval, brought some immediate relief to global markets closely watching the situation play out and a nation filled with anger and frustration over partisan political wrangling that threatened further economic harm to an already struggling recovery…. – CNN, 7-31-11
Leaders agree on framework of a deal to end the debt crisis: President Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties said late Sunday that they had agreed to a framework for a budget deal that would cut trillions of dollars in federal spending over the next decade and clear the way for an increase in the government's borrowing limit.
With the health of the fragile economy hanging in the balance and financial markets watching closely, the leaders said they would present the compromise to their caucuses Monday morning in hopes of narrowly averting a default before a Tuesday deadline.
Obama spoke from the White House on Sunday night, telling reporters that "the leaders of both parties in both chambers have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid a default."
Just before Obama spoke on TV, the two Senate leaders, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, took the floor to endorse the pact as well.
"I am relieved to say that leaders from both parties have come together for the sake of our economy to reach a historic, bipartisan compromise that ends this dangerous standoff," said Reid, the majority leader.
The agreement came after a day of wrangling over Pentagon cuts and must still be sold to the Senate and the House, with the House providing a particular challenge.
As conversations flowed between the White House and Capitol Hill, Reid, the majority leader, publicly embraced the compromise that would tie deep spending cuts to a debt increase, though
his plans to bring it to a vote as early as Sunday were put off as was a tentative meeting of Senate Democrats to review it…. – NYT, 7-31-11
Obama, Congress Reach Debt Deal: President Barack Obama on Sunday said that leaders of both parties have reached an agreement to lift the U.S. debt ceiling, reduce the federal deficit and avoid a U.S. credit default, an announcement welcomed in early trading on the Asia financial markets.
Both the U.S. House and Senate were expected to meet Monday to discuss the details of the plan, which calls for increasing the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion through the end of 2012 along with $2.4 trillion in deficit reduction.
"It will allow us to avoid default," said Mr. Obama, who spoke at the White House … WSJ, 7-31-11
Parties agree to debt-ceiling deal, pending votes in Congress: Senate Majority Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Sunday night that they had come to an agreement on a deal that would raise the federal debt limit and reduce the deficit.
In back-to-back speeches on the Senate floor, Reid (D-Nev.) called the compact an "historic, bipartisan compromise that ends this dangerous standoff," while McConnell (R-Ky.) said there was now a framework in place to "ensure significant cuts in Washington spending."
"Sometimes it seems our two sides disagree on almost everything. But in the end, reasonable people were able to agree on this: The United States could not take the chance of defaulting on our debt, risking a United States financial collapse and a worldwide depression," Reid said.
Speaking from the White House, President Obama acknowledged that the "messy" fight over the nation's debt and deficits has "taken far too long," but he thanked leaders for finding "their way toward compromise" and urged Americans to continue putting pressure on lawmakers until the deal is voted out of Congress.
The agreement "will begin to lift the cloud of debt and the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over our economy," Obama said.
As the Senate leaders announced the accord, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) addressed his members on a conference call – briefing them on the outline of the plan.
"There's no agreement until we've talked to you," Boehner told the members, according to excerpts of the conversation released by his office.
All sides planned to meet Monday morning to go over details…. – LAT, 7-31-11
Obama, Boehner Announce Agreement to Raise Debt Ceiling, Avoid Default: It took the threat of economic collapse and a long, contentious negotiation — and there will still be votes in Congress before it's truly done — but lawmakers from both parties and the White House have reached a deal to raise the nation's credit limit — the debt ceiling — by $2.4 trillion, likely through 2012.
President Obama made a hastily arranged address from the White House at 8:40 p.m. at the same time House Speaker John Boehner was pitching the deal to House Republicans on a conference call.
"This will allow us to avoid default, allow us to pay our bills," the president said.
On the senate floor, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared alongside Majority Leader Harry Reid and seemed confident that the deal would gain enough support to pass through Congress.
"We can assure the American people tonight that the United States of America will not for the first time in our history default on its obligations," he said.
Boehner told House Republicans, according to an account released by his office, that the framework he and the president have agreed upon is true to the principles of small government because it relies entirely on spending cuts, although it includes promises of entitlement and tax reform in the future…. – ABC News, 7-31-11
Obama Says Congressional Leaders Approve Debt-Limit Increase: President Barack Obama said tonight that leaders of both parties in the U.S. House and Senate had approved an agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling and cut the federal deficit that must now be sold to Congress.
"The leaders of both parties in both chambers have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default," Obama said at the White House. "This compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit-reduction we need. Most importantly it will allow us to avoid default."
Congressional leaders are sifting through the details of the tentative bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion, sufficient to serve the nation's needs into 2013. They are preparing to sell to members the deal to cut $917 billion in spending over a decade, raising the debt limit initially by $900 billion, and to charge a special committee with finding another $1.5 trillion in deficit savings by the year's end. They confront an Aug. 2 deadline for approval…. – Bloomberg, 7-31-11
Obama Announces Debt-Reduction Deal Approved by Senate, House Leaders: President Obama announced Sunday night that leaders of both parties in both chambers have reached an agreement on a debt-reduction deal that will "lift the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over our economy."
According to the president, the deal means an immediate cut of $1 trillion over a 10-year period, followed by the creation of a committee to come up with additional cuts worth $1.5 trillion to be voted on by the end of the year.
Each chamber will nominate lawmakers to the committee to report back in the fall. Tax hikes are not part of the package and a pledge for a Balanced Budget Amendment vote is.
Obama said everything will be on the table and both parties will find some of the cuts objectionable.
The Senate adjourned Sunday night without a vote on a debt reduction deal, but Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said that the parties are going to have to give ground and compromise so the country doesn't default.
"I am relieved to say that leaders from both parties have come together for the sake of our economy to reach a historic, bipartisan compromise that ends this dangerous standoff. The compromise we have agreed to is remarkable not only because of what it does, but because of what it prevents: a first-ever default on the full faith and credit of the United States," Reid said.
Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will both present the agreement to their caucuses on Monday morning. Several objections are expected, including from Republican defense hawks who don't want the military gutted and from the Congressional Black Caucus, which called the deal a "sugar-coated Satan sandwich."
House Speaker John Boehner told his Republican caucus on a Sunday night conference call that the deal isn't done yet.
"The press has been filled with reports all day about an agreement. There's no agreement until we've talked to you," he said.
But Boehner of Ohio said the deal does not violate GOP principles. "We got 98 percent of what we wanted," he said adding gthat the framework cuts more spending than it raises the debt limit. It also caps future spending to limits in the growth of government.
"It would also guarantee the American people the vote they have been denied in both chambers on a balanced budget amendment, while creating, I think, some new incentives for past opponents of a BBA to support it," Boehner said…. – Fox News, 7-31-11
Debt deal: Obama, Hill leaders break through: Facing the imminent prospect of default, the White House and congressional leaders reached a debt ceiling deal that gives President Barack Obama greater certainty in managing the Treasury's borrowing needs while making a joint commitment to major deficit reduction without any explicit concessions by the GOP on new tax revenues.
Obama announced the deal at 8:40 p.m. on live TV in the White House briefing room as Speaker John Boehner was simultaneously briefing his own Republican conference on the deal.
"Is this the deal I would have preferred?" No," Obama said. "We could have made the tough choices required on entitlement reform and tax reform right now rather than through a special congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need … and ensures also that will we not face this same kind of crisis in six months or eight months or twelve months."
"Both parties gave more than they wanted," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in making the announcement on the Senate floor. "But that's the essence of compromise."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a central player together with Vice President Joe Biden in the final talks, had been confident all of Sunday that a resolution was possible. But Boehner's silence had remained a concern for the administration, having twice seen the Ohio Republican walk away from negotiations with the president.
It was not until the evening that Boehner announced an 8:30 p.m. conference call with his members, and even then his staff said there had no agreement yet on a stubborn dispute over 2012 defense funding. But that issue was resolved finally when it appears the administration agreed to use a broader definition of security spending that also includes funding for Homeland Security, the State Department and foreign aid…. – Politico, 7-31-11
President Obama: Deal reached on debt crisis: President Barack Obama announced that an agreement with Republicans has been struck to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for $1 trillion in spending cuts over the next ten years.
Mr. Obama said the deal will result in the lowest level of domestic spending since the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s, but still allow the U.S. to create jobs.
Still clinging to his idea of a balanced approach, Obama said "we have to ask wealthiest Americans to give up tax breaks," as well as make modest adjustments to entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
The second part of the agreement reached was a previously mentioned bipartisan Congressional committee, which will report back by November with a proposal to further reduce the deficit. Their proposals will then be put in front of congress for up or down vote…. – CBS News, 7-31-11
Obama: Deal raises debt ceiling and reduces deficits: President Barack Obama announced Sunday an agreement with congressional leaders would extend the federal debt ceiling and reduce deficits.
He said that, under the debt agreement reached by congressional leaders from both parties, which must still must be approved by lawmakers, a bipartisan commission would report back by November with suggested cuts and potentially revenue increases to address the nation's budget deficit.
"At this stage, everything will be on the table," Obama said of this second round of cuts, which are in addition to an agreed-upon $1 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years.
Obama said the debt reduction plan that's been backed by congressional leaders – but that still must be approved by the House and Senate – "ensures that we will not face this kind of crisis in six months, in eight months, or in 12 months."… – CNN, 7-31-11
Harry Reid Supports Debt Ceiling Compromise; Defense Cuts a Sticking Point: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's spokesman says the majority leader has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement "pending caucus approval," but there's nothing yet from Republicans.
So, what's the delay? There's one last bone of contention.
Republicans are objecting to the amount of defense spending cuts in the first year of the deal. This has nothing to do with the trigger — if further spending cuts are not enacted by Congress next year, the deal would mandate they occur. This disagreement has to do with how much of next year's cuts will apply to defense.
Reid is trying to put pressure on House Speaker John Boehner to give in on this last point by saying that everybody is now on board –- except for the Speaker…. – ABC News, 7-31-11
JULY 31, 2011: HARRY REID BACKS DEBT DEAL, SENATE VOTE SUNDAY EVENING
"Senator Reid has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval." — Harry Reid Spokesman Adam Jentleson
"I've had, for the information of senators, a number of conversations in the last hour with people downtown – and the arrangement that is being worked on with the Republican leader and the administration and others is not there yet…. We're hopeful and confident it can be done. As soon as it is done, I'll let my caucus know." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Reid says hopes to hold Senate debt vote tonight: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Sunday he hopes to hold a Senate vote tonight on an emerging deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling.
Asked if the Senate would vote tonight on the plan, Reid said "we hope to" as he left a meeting with other congressional Democratic leaders… – Reuters, 7-31-11
Reid says he has signed onto a debt ceiling deal: The Senate's top Democrat said Sunday that he has signed onto a debt ceiling deal with President Barack Obama and Republican leaders, pending approval of his caucus.
The statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, was the first confirmation of a pending deal after legislative leaders dropped hints all day that an agreement was close… – CNN, 7-31-11
Reid Backs Debt Deal and Hopes for Sunday Night Debt Vote: 5:29 p.m. | Updated A spokesman for Senator Harry Reid said the Senate majority leader has "signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval."
Mr. Reid, a Nevada Democrat, also raised the possibility that his chamber might vote as early as Sunday night on a yet-to-be-announced debt ceiling compromise designed to avert a potential economic crisis this week. When he emerged from a two-hour meeting with other Democratic lawmakers and was asked whether the Senate would vote on a deal Sunday.
"I hope so," he told a swarm of reporters.
A Sunday vote seemed unlikely just a few hours earlier as top lawmakers and the White House continued to work behind closed doors to finalize a debt agreement that would cut spending by more than $2.5 trillion and raise the debt ceiling into 2013…. – NYT, 7-31-11
Amid New Talks, Some Optimism on Debt Crisis: New budget talks between top Congressional Republicans and President Obama made progress late Saturday, suddenly stirring optimism that a last-minute deal could be reached to avert a potential federal default that threatened significant economic and political consequences.
After a tense day of Congressional floor fights and angry exchanges, Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, called off a planned showdown vote set for after midnight, but said he would convene the Senate at noon on Sunday for a vote an hour later. He said he wanted to give the new negotiations a chance to produce a plan to raise the federal debt limit in exchange for spending cuts and the creation of a new Congressional committee that would try to assemble a long-range deficit-cutting proposal.
"There are many elements to be finalized and there is still a distance to go before an arrangement can be completed," said Mr. Reid, who just a few hours earlier had played down talk of any agreement. "But I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work."
Mr. Reid's announcement set off an almost audible sigh of relief on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers and their aides had been bracing for an overnight clash over the debt following a day that had seen a heated House vote and lawmakers trudging from office to office in search of an answer to the impasse…. – NYT, 7-31-11
White House, GOP race toward debt compromise: Just two days before the federal government's Aug. 2 deadline to avoid economic default, lawmakers and White House negotiators are scrambling to hammer out an agreement for raising the debt ceiling – but despite talk of an impending deal, leading Democrats say they're "not there yet."
Just minutes after Senate Republicans voted to block Majority Leader Harry Reid's Democratic bill to raise the nation's borrowing limit on Sunday, lawmakers turned their focus to ongoing negotiations between President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who are working on a deal that would extend the debt limit through 2012 and cut up to $3 trillion in spending during the next 10 years.
That deal proposes $3 trillion in cuts that would come in two waves. The first wave would include $1 trillion in reductions. A bipartisan "super congressional committee" would then need to determine the second round of cuts by Thanksgiving of 2011. If Congress failed to agree on that second round of cuts, automatic "trigger" cuts would be made.
McConnell said Sunday afternoon that negotiators were "really, really close to an agreement," but leading Democrats maintain that the deal is "not there yet."… – CBS News, 7-31-11
'Really close' to debt deal as deadline nears: Racing to avoid a government default, President Barack Obama and Republican congressional leaders reached urgently for a compromise Sunday to permit vital borrowing by the Treasury in exchange for more than $2 trillion in long-term spending cuts. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said the two sides were "really, really close" to a deal after months of partisan fighting. Yet he and others stressed that no compromise had been sealed, just two days before a deadline to raise the federal debt limit and enable the government to keep paying its bills.
As contemplated under a deal that McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden were negotiating, the federal debt limit would rise in two stages by at least $2.2 trillion, enough to tide the Treasury over until after the 2012 elections…. – AP, 7-31-11
Political left and right decry debt-ceiling deal: Signs are emerging that a possible compromise to raise the debt ceiling doesn't pass muster with those on the political left or right…. – USA Today, 7-31-11
JULY 31, 2011: DEBT TALKS CONTINUE — DEBT DEAL BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LEADERS & WHITE HOUSE CLOSE AT HAND — SENATE REPUBLICAN'S DEFEAT HARRY REID'S DEBT BILL
Harry Reid's debt deal defeated: As expected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's deal to raise the debt ceiling by $2.2 trillion was defeated in the Senate on Sunday afternoon.
But Senate leaders and the White House continued on Sunday to craft the outlines of a deal to avoid default on Aug. 2 that seemed to be gaining momentum.
Senate Blocks Reid's Debt Ceiling Bill: As last-ditch budget talks between top Congressional Republicans and President Obama continued on Sunday, Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, convened the Senate at noon, then moved to a symbolic procedural vote on his own proposal for raising the debt ceiling. Senate Republicans have been filibustering that plan, which House Republicans rejected on Saturday, and the procedural vote on breaking the filibuster fell 10 votes short of the 60 votes needed under Senate rules…. – NYT, 7-31-11
"I believe there will be a strong bipartisan support for this. Again, this deal has not been finalized yet, but I think we're very, very close to something that I could comfortably recommend to my members, and I believe the Democratic leadership will be doing the same…. I'm sure there will be both Democrats and Republicans who in the end find the agreement wanting in one way or another…. My party controls only a portion of government. There's only so much you can achieve when you don't have the leverage of power." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday morning
"There are still elements to be resolved…. We are cautiously optimistic." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"The enforcement mechanism has to be strong enough to compel both parties. We're talking about a variety of options." — White House political adviser David Plouffe, on ABC's "This Week."
"We haven't even seen it yet. (Senate Majority Leader Harry) Reid and Democrats in the Senate have not signed off on this deal. We don't even know what all the details are. So we're not yet ready to try and urge anybody to be for it…. The key with the trigger is one word: Equality. It should be equally tough on Democrats and Republicans." — Senator Chuck Schumer
"Discussions are underway on legislation that will cut government spending more than it increases the debt limit, and advance the cause of the balanced budget amendment, without job-killing tax hikes. Those talks are moving in the right direction, but serious issues remain. And no agreement will be final until members have a chance to weigh in. I would expect a conference call for members later this afternoon." — Speaker of the House John Boehner email to House Republicans
"Discussions are moving in the right direction, but serious issues remain. And no agreement will be final until members have a chance to weigh in." — A House Republican leadership aide
Reid: 'cautiously optimistic' on US debt deal: U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said on Sunday he was "cautiously optimistic" that Congress can reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling, but several issues still must be settled.
"We are cautiously optimistic. There are a number of issues that need to be resolved," Reid said in remarks on the Senate floor…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
Reid: 'We still have a ways to go': Reporters caught Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid walking from his office to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office on the House side. His message: There's not a deal yet, but getting one before the Aug. 2 deadline is in sight.
"We don't have the content of what the trigger would be," he said. "We have a few things we're still working on and there simply not done yet."
When asked if he's closer to a deal, Reid replied, "Well, closer than yesterday, but we still have a ways to go."… – MSNBC, 7-31-11
Senators Hold Out Hope for Debt Measure Compromise: For once in the long debate on lifting the nation's debt ceiling, Democrats and Republicans are talking about progress finding a compromise. The Senate is expected to vote on a measure Sunday that would lift the ceiling while calling for $3 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years…. – Portfolio, 7-31-11
McConnell: Boehner, Obama 'wasted' a week: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a little swipe Sunday at House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Barack Obama, charging they both "wasted" a week by chucking bombs at each other. "We kind of wasted a week throwing volleys at each other across the Capitol," McConnell said on "Fox News Sunday." The deal, he says, was essentially at hand a week ago… – Politico, 7-31-11
Senate Blocks Reid's Debt Ceiling Plan; Talks Continue: Last-ditch budget talks between top Congressional Republicans and President Obama continued on Sunday, as the top Senate Republican and Democrat both expressed optimism that a $3 trillion deal could be reached to avert the economic and political calamity of a potential federal default.
But without a compromise in hand, the divided Senate could not break a filibuster and went wearily into recess while the leaders resumed their search for something that could pass.
Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, had convened the Senate at noon, then moved to a procedural vote on his own proposal for raising the debt ceiling. Senate Republicans had been filibustering that plan, which House Republicans rejected on Saturday, and the vote on breaking the filibuster fell 10 votes short of the 60 votes needed under Senate rules. Even so, Mr. Reid said before the cloture vote that he was "cautiously optimistic" that an agreement could be reached today that would make it possible for the Senate to amend his bill and gain bipartisan approval in both chambers…. – NYT, 7-31-11
Senate Defeats Reid Plan; Leaders Work to Finalize Deal Today: After the Senate voted this afternoon to defeat Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan to increase the debt limit, Congressional leaders and staff are continuing to work out the final details of a bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling that can pass through Congress before a lurking financial crisis is fully upon the country.
The Senate voted largely down party lines to block legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that would raise the debt limit by $2.4 trillion and cut spending by $2.4 trillion. The House voted Saturday afternoon to defeat legislation crafted after the Reid bill's language.
The cloture vote to end a GOP filibuster failed 50-49 and required 60 votes to pass. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts was the only Senate Republican to vote with the Democrats…. – ABC News, 7-31-11
Senate Negotiators Scramble to Finalize Debt Deal After Reid Bill Tanks: Senate leaders scrambled to finalize an emerging compromise on the debt ceiling Sunday, with pressure building to produce a bill that can somehow sail through both chambers in the next two days.
Congress is running out of time for do-overs, with lawmakers facing an Aug. 2 deadline to either raise the debt cap or face the possibility of default.
The Senate, after voting against House Republicans' proposal Friday night, effectively killed Democratic Leader Harry Reid's counterproposal Sunday afternoon. Sixty votes were required to advance the proposal, and it fell far short in a 50-49 roll call. While the test vote was expected to fail, the outcome stressed how important it is for the latest round of talks to produce a viable alternative.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said talks are proceeding at a furious pace, with Vice President Biden deeply involved…. – Fox News, 7-31-11
Senate conservatives say they don't plan to delay consideration of debt-limit deal: Senate Republican conservatives say they do not plan to delay a bipartisan deal to raise the debt ceiling, giving Congress a chance to make the Aug. 2 deadline set by President Obama.
If any member of the Senate withholds his or her consent to speed up the chamber's floor procedures, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could not pass legislation to raise the debt limit before Wednesday, according to a Senate aide.
But conservatives, including members of the Tea Party Caucus, say they do not plan to blow up the floor proceedings in protest of a deal that does not include passage of a balanced budget amendment… – The Hill, 7-31-11
Griping begins as debt deal specifics emerge: Members of Congress from both parties fear their leaders may have conceded too much ground in an emerging deal to raise the debt ceiling, a sign of how difficult it'll be for a sweeping plan to be signed into law before the government begins to default on its debt later this week…. – Politico, 7-31-11
Outcry From the Left Precedes Debt Deal: Liberals began tearing into President Obama and Democrats on Sunday, accusing them of caving to Republican demands even before final details of a debt ceiling agreement have been announced…. – NYT, 7-31-11
Senate shelves Reid bill as final debt-ceiling plan comes into focus: The Senate floor during a procedural vote on a Democratic plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
The Senate failed to advance debt-ceiling legislation moved by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, even as lawmakers say progress is being made on a final agreement that they hope can pass before the Aug. 2 deadline to avoid a federal default.
The vote, initially planned for late Saturday, ultimately proved inconsequential, with leaders working to agree on terms of a new plan. The Senate could return to vote on it Sunday evening if an agreement is reached.
"We're cautiously optimistic," Reid said earlier of talks with his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. But he added: "As we know, one problem can stop the whole agreement from going forward."
Reid said he's also spoken with Vice President Joe Biden, who is playing a key role in the frenetic final days before the nation could lose the authority to continue borrowing money to pay its bills…. – LAT, 7-31-11
Debt Deal Appears to Be At Hand: 1:40 p.m. ET | The Senate blocked a final vote on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's original debt limit bill Sunday afternoon, while negotiations over a final deal continue among congressional leaders and the White House.
Sen. Reid's bill will be used as the legislative vehicle to enact whatever deal might be reached. Reid said he was confident a deal could be reached, but that it was not done yet.
The measure needed 60 votes to proceed, but the vote was 50 to 49.
11:05 a.m. ET update from David Chalian | A deal between President Obama and bipartisan congressional leaders on raising the nation's debt limit and averting the risk of default appears to be at hand.
According to congressional leaders of both parties and senior White House officials, the finishing touches on an agreement to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling before a Tuesday deadline are being hammered out Sunday morning with an expected agreement slated to receive a vote in the Senate in the afternoon…. – PBS Newshour, 7-31-11
Compromise Debt Deal in Sight: With the risk of a government default less than three days away, congressional leaders on Sunday said they were getting closer to a deal that raises the government's borrowing limit and resolves the federal debt crisis.
"I can pretty confidently say this debt-ceiling increase will avoid default," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said Sunday on CNN.
The White House and congressional leaders are scrambling to agree on a deal before Aug. 2 to raise the U.S. federal borrowing limit. Follow developments in Washington and reaction globally here.
Sen. Charles Schumer, a top Democrat from New York, also speaking on CNN, said there was no "final agreement" but that default was "far less of a possibility now than it was even a day ago." He added, "If there's a word right here that would sum up the mood, it's 'relief.' "
Washington leaders face a Tuesday deadline by which the nation's $14.29 trillion borrowing limit needs to be increased so the government can meet its financial obligations.
The framework emerging over the weekend likely would allow an immediate increase to the debt ceiling, lasting through the end of 2011, accompanied by government spending reductions of roughly $1 trillion over 10 years.
To get through 2012, Congress would form a special committee made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans to negotiate up to $2 trillion in additional cuts as part of a package containing a further debt-ceiling increase…. – WSJ, 7-31-11
Debt-limit agreement begins to take shape: Senate leaders said Sunday that they are nearing agreement on a debt-limit increase of up to $3 trillion that would include many of the ideas both Democrats and Republicans have floated in recent weeks to try to rein in future spending.
"There is no agreement that has been made, but we're optimistic one can be," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said on the chamber floor as he opened up a rare Sunday session.
He said there are plenty of outstanding issues, but he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said the outlines include a multi-step, long-term debt increase of about $3 trillion, a vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, and a special committee to propose future deficit reduction.
That committee's report would come to both chambers under expedited rules that would ensure a vote…. – Washington Times, 7-31-11
Debt Limit Agreement 'Very Close' to Coming Together: President Obama and congressional leaders are "very close" to reaching a compromise to raise the nation's debt limit before the August 2 deadline.
"We're very close" to a debt limit deal, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.
The sticking points in negotiations were over tax increases. Republicans would not support a bill that had tax increases, or revenue increases eliminating tax deductions. Democrats would not support a bill that did not include revenue increases. Democrats also said they would not support a bill that made cuts to entitlements (Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security). President Obama wanted a debt limit increase large enough that it would not have to be increased again until after the 2012 elections. Tea Party Republicans said they wanted Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment before the debt ceiling was increased.
The compromise that is reportedly being worked on would give Republicans what they want (no tax increases), Democrats what they want (no cuts to entitlements), and Obama what he wants (a limit that will last past 2012)…. – Christian Post, 7-31-11
McConnell: "Very close" on deal to avoid default: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Sunday that Republicans and White House negotiators were "very close" to a deal on raising the debt ceiling and that an agreement that would prevent the nation from defaulting on its loans was "just within our reach."
In an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," McConnell expressed confidence that Congress and the White House could reach a compromise before the Tuesday's deadline and that "we'll avoid default, avoid raising taxes and begin to get the government's house in order by dealing with our biggest problem, which is that we've been spending entirely too much." "We've come a long way," he told CBS' Bob Schieffer.
Republicans and Democrats are negotiating a deal that would extend the debt limit through 2012 and cut up to $3 trillion in spending over the next 10 years…. – CBS News, 7-31-11
Reid: Cautiously optimistic on debt limit deal: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he's cautiously optimistic that President Barack Obama and congressional lawmakers will come to a deal on raising the debt limit. But the Nevada Democrat emphasizes that no agreement has been reached.
Reid's Republican counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell, also says that negotiators are close to an agreement.
The Senate takes a test vote at 1 p.m. Sunday to move the debate forward…. – AP, 7-31-11
Debt Deal 'Near'; Members Still to be Consulted: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell arrives on Capitol Hill for a postponed vote on the debt ceiling on July 31, 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Under the threat of a catastrophic U.S. default in three days, congressional leaders and the White House neared agreement Sunday on a plan to lift the debt ceiling and slash $2.8 trillion from the federal deficit in two stages.
With a final deal expected to be in place as early as Sunday afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said negotiators are "very, very close" to a deal. Both McConnell and a House GOP leadership aide warned that any agreement will need to be run by members first. Republican members of the Senate were set to meet in the early afternoon…. National Journal, 7-31-11
Debt deal still has 'serious issues,' says John Boehner: Speaker John Boehner emailed his House Republican colleagues Sunday afternoon acknowledging momentum in negotiations with the White House over a deficit reduction package, but we warned that "serious issues remain." The Ohio Republican told lawmakers to expect a conference call Sunday afternoon.
"Discussions are underway on legislation that will cut government spending more than it increases the debt limit, and advance the cause of the balanced budget amendment, without job-killing tax hikes. Those talks are moving in the right direction, but serious issues remain. And no agreement will be final until members have a chance to weigh in. I would expect a conference call for members later this afternoon," the email to House Republicans read.
Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) kept the House in session this weekend, with lawmakers staying in Washington awaiting a deal. The House was in on Saturday, and is in a pro forma session Sunday with no votes. The message from Boehner indicates that he will unveil the framework of some compromise this afternoon. It's also the first indication from Republican leadership that a deal is in the offing…. – Politico, 7-31-11
Senate GOP votes to watch in debt-limit drama: Getting any kind of deal to raise the debt limit in the Senate is tricky because 60 votes are needed to break logjams.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., controls 53 votes: 51 Democratic senators and independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has 47 GOP senators in his caucus.
There are at least two groups — moderates and Tea Party supporters — within the Senate GOP to watch as the drama over raising the debt limit continues to unfold:
Moderates: Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine declined on Saturday to sign a letter opposing Reid's plan to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion in borrowing authority. Brown and Snowe are facing potentially tough re-election fights in 2012…. USA Today, 7-31-11
White House: "We don't have a deal" on debt bill: A top White House official says "we don't have a deal" between President Obama and Republicans in Congress to avoid a crippling default.
But senior White House adviser David Plouffe tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that both sides are generally in agreement on an emerging package that would cut the deficit in two stages, with key details still being worked out.
Plouffe suggests that negotiations are still focused on how to compel Congress to approve a deficit-cutting plan of tax and entitlement reform later this year.
Mr. Obama is adamant that the nation's debt limit be extended into 2013 without being tied to that vote. Republicans want the debt limit to be the "trigger" to force Congress to act…. – CBS News, 7-31-11
House Republican to Obama: Stop Tweeting About the Debt Ceiling: A top House Republican mocked President Obama for trying to leverage his Twitter bully pulpit to pressure Congress into approving a debt-limit deal.
The president took directly to Twitter on Friday to urge followers to inundate Congress with calls for a bipartisan compromise. The plan may have backfired — while some followers indeed voiced their concerns to Congress, tens of thousands cut ties with the president's Twitter account after being inundated with his messages,
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House Republican whip, urged the president to take a different approach.
"You cannot be the leader of the free world and sit on the sidelines and tweet and think you're going to get the job done," he said on "Fox News Sunday." …
"We have been out front negotiating, "McCarthy said…. – Fox News, 7-31-11
Senate debt vote delayed, but Harry Reid optimistic: A vote is set for around midday Sunday, as the Senate majority leader speaks of a 'move toward cooperation and compromise.'… – LAT, 7-31-11
JULY 31, 2011: PROMISING DEBT PLAN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LEADERS & OBAMA WHITE HOUSE — SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL ANNOUNCES BEING CLOSE TO A DEAL
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Congress, White House "very close" to deal: With the default deadline two days away, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday morning that Congress and the White House were "very close" to a framework for a deal that he could recommend his members support.
The deal would contain $3 trillion in spending cuts and no tax increases.
"We'll avoid default," McConnell said. "We're not going to have default."
"You'll see that this is a process that could get him (President Obama) past the election. We're working on the combinations that will get us there. I'm particularly appreciative that we're now back talking to the only person in America who can sign something into law and that's the president of the United States." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on CNN's State of the Union
"If there's a word that would right here that would sum up the mood, it would be relief. … default is far less of a possibility now than it was a day ago." — Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
"There are many elements to be finalized and there is still a distance to go before an arrangement can be completed. But I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work…. I'm glad to see this move toward cooperation and compromise. I hope it bears fruit" — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
McConnell: 'We're very close' to a deal: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that a deal to raise the debt ceiling is "very close." Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," the Kentucky senator said Republicans and Democrats "made dramatic progress" Saturday over a $3 trillion package of spending cuts that would not include tax increases.
McConnell said he is "very very close to being able … to recommend to my members that this is something that they ought to support."… – CNN, 7-31-11
McConnell says U.S. deficit deal is "very close": Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday that U.S. deficit negotiations are "very close" to a $3 trillion deal to raise the federal debt limit.
McConnell told CNN he hoped the deal would come soon and was confident that it would not raise taxes but set the stage for further deficit reductions down the road.
He said he expected a deal that he could recommend would win "a significant percentage" of Republican support…. – Reuters, 7-31-11
Senate To Hold Afternoon Vote On Possible Debt Solution: Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. appear to be making progress on a solution to the nation's debt crisis as Tuesday's deadline draws closer.
Officials close to the talks say the White House and Republican leaders in Congress are nearing a last-minute agreement to avoid the first U.S. default in history.
The plan under discussion would raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit by about $2.4 trillion and enact spending cuts of a slightly larger amount in two stages.
The deal would also require Congress to vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, but not require its approval.
At the request of the White House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pushed off a test vote on his debt limit bill from 1 a.m. until this afternoon.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has already voted against the measure.
Senator Charles Schumer reportedly warned that there is still much discussion to be done, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say a deal appears to be in sight…. – NY1 News, 7-31-11
McConnell Sees Deal "Very Close"; Focus Is on Triggers for Cuts: Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said Sunday morning that he is "very close" to recommending to his members that they sign on to a debt deal with President Obama and the Democrats.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Mr. McConnell said the deal includes as much as $3 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years, with much of that decided later this year by a joint congressional committee.
"What conservatives want to do is cut spending," he said. "We've come a long way. This agreement is likely to encompass up to $3 trillion is spending cuts."
In addition, Mr. McConnell said the agreement would allow votes in Congress on a balanced budget amendment.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, a top Democrat in the Senate, cautioned that "there is no final agreement. No one has signed off on a final agreement."… – NYT, 7-31-11
Obama aide, GOP leader say they are close to debt deal: President Obama and congressional Republicans are close to nailing down a debt ceiling deal just two days before a possible government default, negotiators said today.
White House adviser David Plouffe told NBC's Meet The Press that "we don't have deal," but there has been progress and "today is a critical day."
Over on CNN's State of the Union, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, said "we're very close" and "had a very good day yesterday."
With details still to be worked, the proposed agreement in general includes a short-term increase in the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling; a second debt limit hike would depend on a debt reduction plans to be recommended by a special congressional committee.
Plouffe said the committee would look at "our entire deficit reduction problem," including tax reform and new government revenues…. – USA Today, 7-31-11
Debt deal negotiators getting close: The White House and Republican leaders are closing in on a debt ceiling deal giving President Barack Obama greater certainty in managing the Treasury's borrowing needs while making a joint commitment to major deficit reductions without any explicit concessions by the GOP on new tax revenues.
Both sides stress that nothing is yet final, but the contours suggest a more practical approach by Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, to achieve many of the party's goals without pushing Obama and the nation into default.
Quoting a figure of $3 trillion though declining to provide details, McConnell confirmed Sunday morning on CNN's "State of the Union" that both sides were close to a deal. "We've made dramatic progress in that direction," he told Gloria Borger.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking on the same CNN show, also said a deal was close, "If there's a word that would right here that would sum up the mood, it would be relief. … default is far less of a possibility now than it was a day ago."… – Politico, 7-31-11
McConnell says very close to deal on debt ceiling: Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says negotiators are "very close" to nailing down an agreement that would avert a default of the nation's debt obligations.
McConnell tells CNN's "State of the Union" that lawmakers are looking at a $3 trillion package that would raise the debt ceiling in two stages through the elections next year.
McConnell says he is hopeful he will soon have a deal that he can recommend to his fellow Republicans.
On the Democratic side, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York cautions that "there is no final agreement" and that much remains to be discussed…. – AP, 7-31-11
U.S. lawmakers 'very close' to debt deal, Senate Republican leader says: The top Republican in the Senate said Congress and the White House were very close to a deal on raising the limit on U.S. borrowing that would avert an unprecedented default on America's debt, ending one of the nastiest partisan fights in recent memory.
Senate Majority Leader Mitchell McConnell said he was very close to being able to recommend the tentative agreement to Republicans in the upper chamber. It would, he said, likely extend U.S. borrowing authority, which expires on Tuesday, beyond the 2012 presidential and congressional elections, a fundamental demand of President Barack Obama.
At the same time, the agreement would include none of tax increases Mr. Obama has sought and Republicans had steadfastly rejected. It also includes, he said, the requirement that both houses of Congress vote on a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. That outcome of that vote, however, would have no effect on raising the debt limit…. – AP, 7-31-11
Debt deadline may provide another Mitch McConnell moment: A man of few words but vast behind-the-scenes power: Just days before the Aug. 2 debt-ceiling deadline, the Republican Senate minority leader has held back from fully engaging in the negotiations. But congressional insiders have long viewed McConnell as the real linchpin to a bipartisan agreement…. – WaPo, 7-31-11
Debt-ceiling compromise taking shape: What's in it?: The details of an emerging debt-ceiling compromise are unconfirmed and could change, but they appear currently to involve parts of Sen. Mitch McConnell's 'last choice' option, as well as a trigger to ensure promised spending cuts take place…. – CS Monitor, 7-31-11
Senate debt vote delayed in quest for elusive compromise: The Senate's top Democrat sounds a newly optimistic tone as a key test vote is delayed to midday Sunday, but is Congress now too partisan to settle on any middle ground?… – LAT, 7-30-11
Senate debt vote delay is sign of hope: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is in active negotiation with the White House on a debt ceiling deal, and Democrats agreed late Saturday night to postpone a partisan-tinged cloture vote to give time for both sides to find a compromise.
"There are many elements to be finalized, and there is still a distance to go before any arrangement can be completed," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "But I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work."
"I'm glad to see this move toward cooperation and compromise. I hope it bears fruit."
Just hours before Reid had sparred on the floor with McConnell over the seriousness of his efforts, and Reid's change of tone — and tactics — suggested that real progress had been made. "We're getting close," said one GOP leadership aide, with knowledge of the discussions.
"In the category of getting serious, I have spoken to both the president and the vice president within the last hour," McConnell had told reporters earlier in day in a joint appearance with Speaker John Boehner. "We are now fully engaged, the speaker and I, with the one person in America out of 307 million people who can sign a bill into law. I'm confident and optimistic that we're going to get an agreement in the very near future and resolve this crisis in the best interests of the American people."
Boehner echoed McConnell's statement, saying he believed that "we are going to be able to come to some sort of agreement." But the speaker appears to have had no contact himself with President Barack Obama Saturday, while McConnell spoke to the president and reached out to Biden, after which the two men engaged in at least four back-and-forth phone calls through the day…. – Politico, 7-30-11
Optimism starting to creep into debt crisis: New budget talks between top congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama made progress late Saturday, suddenly stirring optimism that a last-minute deal could be reached to avert a potential federal default that threatened significant economic and political consequences.
After a tense day of congressional floor fights and angry exchanges, Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, called off a planned showdown vote set for after midnight but said he would convene the Senate at noon Sunday for a vote an hour later. He said he wanted to give the new negotiations a chance to produce a plan to raise the federal debt limit in exchange for spending cuts and the creation of a new congressional committee that would try to assemble a long-range deficit-cutting proposal.
"There are many elements to be finalized and there is still a distance to go before an arrangement can be completed," said Reid, who just a few hours earlier had played down talk of any agreement. "But I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work."
Reid's announcement set off an almost audible sigh of relief on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers and their aides had been bracing for an overnight clash over the debt following a day that had seen a heated House vote and lawmakers trudging from office to office in search of an answer to the impasse…. – NYT, 7-31-11
JULY 30, 2011: OBAMA, WHITE HOUSE RESTARTS NEGOTIATION WITH SENATE/HOUSE DEMOCRATIC & REPUBLICAN LEADERS — REID DELAYS SENATE DEBT PLAN VOTE UNTIL SUNDAY
Reid delays debt vote: Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid announced late Saturday that negotiations with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House had made enough progress that he would delay consideration of his own legislation to avert the debt crisis. Rather than a 1 a.m. Sunday vote, Reid said he would give the negotiators room to maneuver and set a 1 p.m. Sunday vote on his bill — which McConnell has already assured would be defeated.
"I'm glad to see this move toward cooperation and compromise. I hope it bears fruit. I'm confident that a final agreement that will adopt the Senate's long-term approach, rather than the short-term Band-Aid proposed by the House of Representatives, will move forward." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"I'm confident and optimistic that we're going to get an agreement in the very near future and resolve this crisis in the best interest of the American peopl. Our country is not going to default for the first time in history. We have now, I think, a level of seriousness with the right people at the table we needed…. We're going to get a result." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky
"I just spent two hours with the president, the vice president and the agreement is not in a meaningful way. The Republicans still refuse to negotiate in good faith." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada
Speaker Boehner: Time for President Obama to Tell Us His Plan for Ending this Crisis: In a press conference with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) highlighted the House-passed Budget Control Act – which was negotiated with the bipartisan leadership of the Senate – and said it is time for President Obama and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) to outline their plan for ending this debt crisis
"Today's vote on the House floor indicates there's bipartisan opposition to Senator Reid's proposal. The House yesterday sent our second bill to end this crisis to the Senate. It's a reasonable, responsible approach that will end this crisis, get our economy moving again and get Americans back to work.
The only thing standing in the way of the House proposal over in the Senate is the president and Senator Reid. It's time for them to tell us what they're for, time to tell us how they're going to get us out of the cul-de-sac that they've driven our country into. So we're hoping that we'll hear from them soon about their plan for how we end this crisis." —
Senate delays key debt vote until Sunday: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday delayed a test vote on the Democratic debt limit increase plan until 1 p.m. EDT Sunday to give negotiators more time to work out a deal.
In brief remarks on the Senate floor, Reid, a Democrat, said that negotiations between congressional leaders and the Obama administration were ongoing, but that there was "still a distance to go" before a deal might be reached…. – Reuters, 7-30-11
Senate Delays Vote as Debt Talks Progress: The Senate will delay a crucial vote on the Democratic debt ceiling bill until 1 p.m. Sunday as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers said a potential compromise was in the works that would avert a federal default after midnight on Tuesday.
The delay averts a 1 a.m. legislative showdown Sunday morning in the Senate, and all-night wrangling that Democrats had threatened on Friday. And it suggests that the looming deadline is working to press both sides toward a last-minute agreement.
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, announced just after 10 p.m. Saturday that White House officials had urged him to give more time for negotiations to continue.
"I believe we should give everyone as much room as possible to do their work," Mr. Reid said on the Senate floor before adjourning until Sunday afternoon.
The delay came as Republican lawmakers expressed optimism that talks begun on Saturday with President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and others were leading toward an agreement. And Mr. Reid said he, too, was now confident that a deal is within reach…. – NYT, 7-30-11
Reid: Debt negotiations underway at White House: After weeks of intense partisanship, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders made a last-minute stab at compromise Saturday night to avoid a government default threatened for early next week.
"There are many elements to be finalized…there is still a distance to go," Majority Leader Harry Reid cautioned in dramatic late-night remarks on the Senate floor.
Still, his disclosure that "talks are going on at the White House now," coupled with his announcement that progress had been made, offered the strongest indication yet that an economy-crippling default might be averted.
White House officials had no immediate comment.
Nor was there any immediate reaction from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell or House Speaker John Boehner, Obama's principal Republican antagonist in a contentious era of divided government.
There were no details immediately available on what the terms might be of any compromise…. – AP, 7-30-11
Saturday's debt-ceiling surprise: GOP and Obama are talking again: After a rancorous day in which Republicans vented their anger at the Senate and President Obama, GOP leaders said they are in talks with the president and that 'the country is not going to default.'
There were signs of movement toward a potential resolution of the federal government's debt ceiling crisis after both the House and Senate met in unusual Saturday sessions notable for partisan fireworks.
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D) of California and Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada were called to the White House for a 3:30 p.m. meeting about debt-ceiling negotiations with President Obama.
At about the same time on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky gave a press conference and expressed optimism about reaching a settlement that would keep the nation from being unable to borrow enough to pay its bills.
Senator McConnell said that he had spoken to both Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden "in the last hour," and that the White House was "now fully engaged" in conversations with the two Republican leaders about the debt-ceiling crisis. Speaker Boehner said he and McConnell were "both confident" they could "end this impasse." McConnell added, "Our country is not going to default. We are going to get a result."… CS Monitor, 7-30-11
Last-minute debt deal still eludes Congress: In public, at least, neither Democrats nor Republicans show much inclination to work out an accord as the clock ticks toward a federal default.
Efforts to reach a last-minute deal to stave off a potentially disastrous federal default remained at an impasse Saturday as House Republicans engaged in some psychological warfare and their colleagues in the Senate seemed poised to block a key vote on a bid by Democrats to raise the debt ceiling.
With just days to go until the federal government's authority to borrow money expires, neither Democrats nor Republicans showed much inclination to bridge their differences and hammer out a deal.
Instead, the action — at least the events playing out in public view — suggested that partisan distrust remained as high as ever. The House convened only to take a purely symbolic thumbs-down vote on a debt plan crafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), even though that plan hasn't yet cleared the Senate…. – LAT, 7-30-11
In Senate, bitter debate but little agreement on Democratic debt plan: With the deadline for a debt limit increase inching perilously closer, Congress remained deadlocked Saturday over how to avoid a crisis as both houses spent the day publicly mired in often tart, even defiant partisan votes and rhetoric.
Privately, the White House was talking to leaders of both parties – but those leaders had sharply different views about the outlook.
"The process has not been moved forward during this day," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, after he and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., met with President Barack Obama for nearly 90 minutes.
But House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio told a news conference he was "confident that we're going to be able to come to some agreement with the White House and end this impasse."
And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he spoke to Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday afternoon, and added that "we are now fully engaged, the speaker and I," with Obama.
"Our country is not going to default for the first time in history," said McConnell, R-Kentucky. "We have now, I think, a level of seriousness with the right people at the table we needed…. We're going to get a result."
Reid, D-Nevada, with fellow senators huddling around him and watching intently, took to the Senate floor to dispute McConnell's account with a harsh tone rarely used to discuss the opposition's tactics in the genteel Senate. Reports a deal could be close are "not true," Reid said.
With McConnell standing a few feet away, Reid charged the GOP leaders were "holding meaningless press conferences."
And, Reid said, "I just spent two hours with the president, the vice president and the agreement is not in a meaningful way. The Republicans still refuse to negotiate in good faith."
McConnell swung back, saying, "I think we've got a chance of getting there. What I think is not helpful is the process we're going through here on the Senate floor … ."
The day began when the Republican-run House of Representatives voted 246-173 to reject a new Reid plan that would reduce deficits by more than $2.2 trillion over 10 years and raise the debt limit in three stages.
The Senate debated the plan throughout the day Saturday, and scheduled a post-midnight vote on whether to cut off debate. The vote was expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed, since 43 Republicans sent Reid a letter saying they opposed the measure…. – McClatchy Newspapers, 7-30-11
Democrats, GOP Disagree on Whether a Debt-Limit Deal Is Near: With the nation only three days away from facing its first-ever financial default, congressional Republican and Democratic leaders couldn't even agree on whether a deal to end the debt crisis is close.
House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday that they are confident they can reach a deal with the White House to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit to allow the government to keep paying all of its bills.
At a news conference held just minutes after the GOP-led House defeated a Democratic debt-limit bill, McConnell said he had spoken with President Obama and Vice President Biden in the past hour.
"I'm confident and optimistic that we're going to get an agreement in the very near future and resolve this crisis in the best interest of the American people," he said.
"Our country is not going to default for the first time in history," McConnell said."We now have a level of seriousness with the right people at the table. ….We're going to get a result."
Boehner added he's also confident of an agreement with the White House "to end this impasse."
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid disputed their account on the Senate floor after meeting with the president and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi at the White House.
"Republican leaders still refuse to negotiate in good faith," Reid said, explaining that they still refuse to consider including new revenues in any deal and only want to slash entitlement programs.
Republican leaders "should know that merely saying you have an agreement in front of television cameras doesn't make it so."
McConnell responded that he's more optimistic than Reid and that the only way to get to an agreement before Tuesday is through the president.
"We need to be in a position where all of us in the leadership can come back here and say that we think we reached a framework of an agreement that we can recommend to our members," he said. "So that's what I'm working on and I'm not interested in scoring any political points. I'm interested in getting an outcome for the American people. And the only way that can be done is with the president of the United States."
Earlier Saturday, the House defeated Reid's bill that would raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit by $2.4 trillion while cutting spending by $2.2 trillion. But the Senate hasn't voted on the bill yet and is planning a test vote in the wee hours of Sunday morning to break a GOP filibuster…. – Fox News, 7-30-11
Debt deal not close, Senator Reid says: Republicans and Democrats are not close to a deal to raise the debt ceiling despite what Republican leaders may say, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Saturday.
"It's fair to say that the engagement there is not in any meaningful way," Reid said on the Senate floor shortly after returning from a meeting with President Barack Obama. "Republican leaders still refuse to negotiate in good faith."… – Reuters, 7-30-11
McConnell says he's spoken to Obama 'within last hour': Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said Saturday afternoon that he had talked to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden "within the last hour" and is "confident and optimistic" that there will be an "agreement within the very near future." A national default "is not going to happen," McConnell said.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also expressed optimism that an agreement is near. "In spite of our differences, we're dealing with reasonable, responsible people," Boehner said…. – CNN, 7-30-11
Obama huddles with Democrats in hunt for debt deal: US President Barack Obama held an urgent White House summit with key Democratic allies Saturday as his Republican foes said fever-pitch efforts to avert a disastrous debt default would soon pay off.
"That's not true," Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, pouring cold water on the upbeat Republican message after talks with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
With three days before a midnight Tuesday deadline, Obama stayed largely out of sight but warned in his weekly address that "very little time" remains to reach a deal to raise the $14.3 trillion dollar US debt ceiling…. – AFP, 7-30-11
Reid and Pelosi head to White House for debt meeting: A White House official says President Barack Obama will meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi at the White House at 3:30 pm to receive an update on the situation in the House and Senate…. – CNN, 7-30-11
JULY 30, 2011: REID V. MCCONNELL — PARTISAN VOTES IN SENATE & HOUSE CONTINUE IMPASSE IN DEBT CEILING CRISIS — CONGRESS VOTES 246 TO 173 AGAINST REID DEBT PLAN —
House GOP rejects Reid debt-ceiling bill: Republicans in the House of Representatives have rejected a bill that mirrors a proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to raise the debt ceiling through 2012, a symbolic gesture of disapproval as the Senate continues to debate Reid's measure and discuss a possible compromise.
Reid plan in jeopardy: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered a letter Saturday afternoon to Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), signed by 43 Republicans, declaring that Reid's debt-limit legislation was unacceptable. Needing 60 votes to clear a filibuster hurdle, Reid's current draft is assured of failure in a 1 a.m. vote Sunday. McConnell demanded that President Obama re-engage in negotiations. "It isn't going to pass, let's get talking to the administration," McConnell said Saturday in a floor speech.
"The only possible justification for a $2.4 trillion increase in borrowing authority is to allow the President to avoid any accountability for these issues before his 2012 election. It is by constantly putting off these tough decisions that we have found ourselves with a national debt nearly equal to the size of our gross domestic product. The time for action is now, we cannot wait until we accumulate another $2.4 trillion in debt." — Mitch McConnell, 43 Senators Sign Letter Opposing The Reid Bill
"It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people – not just one faction of one party. There are multiple ways to resolve this problem. Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House. And it's got to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday." — President Barack Obama in his Weekly Address
"Republicans in the House of Representatives just spent precious days trying to pass a plan that a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate had already said they wouldn't vote for. It's a plan that wouldn't solve our fiscal problems, but would force us to relive this crisis in just a few short months. It would hold our economy captive to Washington politics once again. If anything, the past few weeks have demonstrated that's unacceptable….
Look, the parties are not that far apart here. We're in rough agreement on how much spending we need to cut to reduce our deficit. We agree on a process to tackle tax reform and entitlement reform. There are plenty of ways out of this mess. But there is very little time." — President Barack Obama in his Weekly Address
"We start from the understanding that the reason the debt ceiling is a problem is because of runaway Washington spending. So, Republicans have been united in the belief that raising the debt ceiling without making significant spending reductions would be irresponsible…
"The simple fact is, in order to afford the kind of government this President wants, taxes would have to be increased dramatically – and for middle income Americans, not just on the wealthy." – — Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) in the<|fim_middle|>ized 173-246 vote. Republicans unanimously opposed the measure while most Democrats backed it.
GOP leaders conducted the vote on Reid's bill under rules requiring a two-thirds majority for passage, thereby ensuring its defeat…. – CNN, 7-30-11
43 Senate Republicans oppose Dem debt bill: Forty-three Senate Republicans say they oppose Democratic leader Harry Reid's bill to cut spending and raise the nation's borrowing authority.
In a letter released Saturday, the GOP lawmakers said the bill "completely fails" to address the nation's fiscal imbalance and relies on gimmicks to cut spending. Reid's measure would raise the debt limit by up to $2.4 trillion…. – AP, 7-30-11
All Senate Republicans oppose Democratic debt bill: All 43 Republicans in the U.S. Senate have signed a letter, released on Saturday, saying they will not vote for a Democratic plan to raise the debt limit in a sign that the measure does not have the support it needs to advance in Congress.
Democrats need at least seven Republican votes to clear a procedural vote in the 100-seat chamber. That vote is scheduled for 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) on Sunday…. – Reuters, 7-30-11
Senate Wrangles Before Debt Vote: The high-stakes debate over raising the U.S. debt limit remained deadlocked Saturday afternoon, as both Democrats and Republicans considered their next moves less than four days before the U.S. could begin defaulting on some obligations.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) has scheduled a series of votes beginning Sunday morning at 1 a.m. on his proposal to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, though whether or not he can garner the 60 votes necessary to move forward with the bill remains in question….
Mr. McConnell, speaking just after Mr. Reid, countered that Mr. Reid should abandon his legislation. He and 42 other Republican senators sent a letter to the majority leader saying they oppose the Reid measure.
"It will not pass the Senate, it will not pass the House, it's simply a non-starter," Mr. McConnell said.
House Republicans, meanwhile, scheduled a symbolic midafternoon vote on Mr. Reid's proposal, which is likely to be voted down by House lawmakers. A House GOP leadership aide said the Senate was wasting time by focusing on Mr. Reid's "doomed bill."… – WSJ, 7-30-11
House set to reject Reid debt plan as endgame nears: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is set to reject Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling Saturday — partisan payback for the Democratic-controlled Senate's rejection of Speaker John Boehner's plan Friday night.
The twin votes are a likely prelude to a long weekend of furious back-room negotiations between congressional leaders looking for a way to end a tense political standoff and avoid a potentially catastrophic federal default next week…. – CNN, 7-30-11
Congressional leaders struggle to work out bipartisan debt deal: With just three days to go before Congress's deadline to raise the debt ceiling and avoid sending the country into default, leaders continued to struggle Saturday to work out a bipartisan deal that can pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Obama.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered a letter Saturday afternoon to Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), signed by 43 Republicans, declaring that Reid's debt-limit legislation was unacceptable.
Needing 60 votes to clear a filibuster hurdle, Reid's current draft is assured of failure in a 1 a.m. vote Sunday. McConnell demanded that President Obama re-engage in negotiations. "It isn't going to pass," McConnell said Saturday in a floor speech. "Let's get talking to the administration."… – WaPo, 7-30-11
Senate headed for critical debt vote Sunday: The Senate is driving toward a climactic and dramatic vote at 1 a.m. Sunday that could determine whether a bipartisan deal to raise the nation's legal borrowing limit is possible or a government default is likely….
Speedier action would require unanimous agreement from all senators, including conservatives who have vowed not to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval of a balanced budget amendment to the constitution, and it wasn't clear that would be forthcoming.
Senators instead moved forward with an alternative advanced by Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), which would raise the debt ceiling through the 2012 election, but they hoped to amend the bill in coming days if a bipartisan compromise is reached.
Now, Senate rules require a full day in between Reid introducing the measure Friday night and a vote to cut off debate, leading to a key vote early Sunday.
Closing debate will require the approval of 60 senators, meaning Reid will require at least seven Republican votes to clear that hurdle.
If the measure cleared that hurdle, the final passage would require a simple majority of senators to send the bill to the House. Without unanimous agreement, however, it would require an additional 30 hours of debate for that final vote, meaning 7:30 a.m. Monday would be the earliest a final vote could happen.
Then, the measure would return to the House on Monday, where it would face a final critical vote — with the outcome deeply uncertain, as world markets watch nervously…. – WaPo, 7-30-11
Washington's warring weekend: Dueling votes, parties and loyalties: Warring House and Senate votes late Friday set up a tense weekend of confrontation — and what the White House hopes are still meaningful negotiations — before markets reopen Monday, one day before the threat of default….
Much depends still on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is deeply worried by the prospect of default and has had a running series of conversations with Vice President Joe Biden to try to defuse the crisis. McConnell was frozen in place out of loyalty to Boehner during the House debate but even after, Democrats complained that he was restraining his rank-and-file members from participating in talks.
"There is a growing sentiment by senators on both sides of the aisle to sit down and reach a reasonable compromise to save our economy from the disaster that awaits us," said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) "What these senators on the Republican side are waiting for is a permission slip from Sen. McConnell."
That would be a vintage McConnell approach, but aides to the Republican leader said he is fully prepared to begin talks with Reid and others, as long as President Barack Obama is also represented at the table.
There's been bad blood between McConnell and Reid after a falling out last weekend over debt talks also involving Boehner. But McConnell's office expressed confidence that a deal could yet be reached with the White House represented…. – Politico, 7-30-11
Debt Deadlock: The Road Ahead: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the White House must be present if there are negotiations toward a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling, according to Democratic and Republican sources familiar with the situation.
If those talks get going, Democratic officials maintain things could move quickly because a lot of the details were hashed out over nearly two months of deficit talks between Vice President Joe Biden and congressional leaders, as well as during negotiations on a grand bargain between President Obama and the congressional leadership…. – CNN, 7-30-11
Harry Reid debt ceiling bill to be targeted by House on Saturday: Reid and other Senate Democratic leaders have already declared the Boehner plan dead-on-arrival in the Senate.
In order to show Reid's package would face a similar fate in their chamber, House Republicans will do force a vote on Saturday.
The Nevada Democrat's package, which includes a single debt limit hike, is likely to see support from House Democrats, but little from the GOP…. – Politico, 7-30-11
Obama pressures Congress for debt deal: President Barack Obama struck an urgent tone in his weekly address Saturday, telling members of Congress that he needs a debt ceiling deal on his desk before next week's deadline.
"Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House," Obama said. "And it's got to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday."
Obama's remarks come one day after the House voted along party lines to pass a Republican-sponsored debt plan. The bill was tabled without a vote in the Democratically-controlled Senate.
In his address, Obama said that that such maneuvers weren't helpful in staving off a debt crisis…. – CNN, 7-30-11
GOP lays out consequences of missing debt deadline — Jon Kyl Republican Weekly Address: With Congress and the White House still at odds on raising America's debt ceiling, Republicans used their weekly address to illustrate the dire risks of missing next week's deadline for reaching a deal….
Kyl cited debt crises spreading across Europe as examples of what could happen if politicians don't strike a deal before early next week.
Kyl criticized the way Democrats were approaching the debt ceiling negotiations, saying they had failed to recognize the opportunity to cut spending…. – CNN, 7-30-11
Moody's: Boehner and Reid bills won't cut it: Neither of the debt ceiling bills before Congress would meaningfully alter the country's debt trajectory and thus won't bolster the United States' chance of preserving its AAA rating, a key rating agency said Friday.
"Reductions of the magnitude now being proposed, if adopted, would likely lead Moody's to adopt a negative outlook on the AAA rating," Moody's Investors Service said…. – CNN, 7-30-11
Reid and McConnell: The Senate's odd couple: By all measures, Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell are worlds apart when it comes to their politics. But there's at least one thing solidifying their relationship.
"Both are institutionalists at heart," said Jim Manley, a former spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Reid, a Nevada Democrat. "They come from completely different ideologies but both have the respect from their caucus." He added that while they're not the best of friends, their bond is strong… – CNN, 7-30-11
Analysis: Debt mess shows Washington's awful side: There is no changing how Washington works. It doesn't. Even if a bitterly divided Congress and President Barack Obama avoid a U.S. debt default by striking a last-second deal, as all sides expect, plenty of damage has been done.
People are disgusted. Confidence in the political system is tanking. Nothing else is getting done in Washington. The markets are spooked. The global reputation of the United States has slipped.
And the real kicker? This whole wrenching effort to shrink the debt may actually increase the debt.
Any emergency deal may not be broad enough to prevent the major credit rating agencies from downgrading the United States as a rock-solid investment. That, in turn, could increase the cost of borrowing for the government (hence more interest and debt), not to mention for everyone else.
The spectacle has brought Washington to its knees. Obama went on TV before the nation and called it a circus. One lawmaker felt compelled to apologize to the American people…. – AP, 7-30-11
The Debt-Limit Hobbits The GOP fantasy caucus is empowering Nancy Pelosi: Political logic and perhaps even common sense seem to be prevailing within the House GOP after Thursday's debt-ceiling vote was postponed—at least among most of the caucus. The shame is that the debt-limit absolutists have weakened Speaker John Boehner's hand in negotiating a final bill with Senate Democrats.
At the most practical level, Mr. Boehner's plan is better than the one Harry Reid supports in the Senate. This remains true of the revisions Mr. Boehner released yesterday, though the irony is that it is less credible and weaker politically than the previous version. The concession the holdouts demanded, and got—a balanced budget amendment—ensures that it cannot pass the Senate. The best but unlikely scenario is that the bill otherwise remains intact…. – WSJ, 7-30-11
For Reid, Durbin, and Obama, a (very) partisan record on debt ceiling: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has frequently accused Republicans of playing partisan politics in the debt ceiling crisis… A look at Reid's record, however, shows that in the last decade his own voting on the issue of the debt ceiling is not only partisan but perfectly partisan. According to "The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases," a January 2010 report by the Congressional Research Service, the Senate has passed ten increases to the debt limit since 2000. Reid never voted to increase the debt ceiling when Republicans were in control of the Senate, and he always voted to increase the debt ceiling when Democrats were in control.
At look at the number-two Democrat in the Senate, Richard Durbin's record shows that he, too, has voted along absolutely partisan lines. In the last decade, Durbin never voted to increase the debt ceiling when Republicans were in control and always voted to increase the debt ceiling when Democrats were in control. As for Obama, there were four votes to raise the debt ceiling when he was in the Senate. He missed two of them, voted no once when Republicans were in charge, and voted yes once when Democrats were in charge… – Washington Examiner, 7-30-11
Debt-ceiling crisis: Why won't Republicans compromise?: The hardcore Republican debt hawks fueled by November's tea party victories say that Congress has historically gone back on promised spending cuts. So far, they are refusing to budge without some guarantee that the cuts will actually materialize…. – CS Monitor, 7-30-11
Houses passes Boehner's debt deal, but at what price?: …But the price Boehner has paid for his victory may be bigger than he hoped for or predicted. The speaker at times look liked he was a hostage of his 87-member, tea party inspired freshmen class. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) threatened to overshadow him. Senate Republican leaders have already acknowledged that the Boehner plan can't pass that body, and even if it did, Obama would greet it with a veto. That leaves Boehner with a weakened negotiating hand heading into showdown with Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Politico, 7-29-11
JULY 29, 2011: SENATE TABLES BOEHNER HOUSE DEBT BILL 59-41 — HARRY REID WILL BROKER HIS OWN PLAN TO SENATE & WHITE HOUSE
Senate tables Boehner bill: Roughly two-and-a-half hours after it was passed by the House, Senate Democrats on Friday night tabled, 59 to 41, House Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the debt limit.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will now try to broker his own plan with Republicans and the White House before the debt ceiling expires on Aug. 2. Reid's current bill would achieve $2.2 trillion in deficit savings over ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
"I eagerly await the majority leader's plan for preventing this crisis." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Kentucky
"This is likely our last chance to save this nation from default." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"The president urges Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House – a plan the president can sign by Tuesday." — White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
"To the American people, I would say we tried our level best. We tried to do our best for our country, but some people still say no." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
Statement by the Press Secretary Jay Carney: The bill passed today in the House with exclusively Republican votes would have us face another debt ceiling crisis in just a few months by demanding the Constitution be amended or America defaults. This bill has been declared dead on arrival in the Senate. Now that yet another political exercise is behind us, with time dwindling, leaders need to start working together immediately to reach a compromise that avoids default and lays the basis for balanced deficit reduction.
Senator Reid's proposal is a basis for that compromise. It not only achieves more deficit reduction than the bill passed in the House today and puts a process in place to achieve even more savings, it also removes the uncertainty surrounding the risk of default. The President urges Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House – a plan the President can sign by Tuesday.
Lawmakers' votes open way for final debt push: Lawmakers opened the way on Friday for a last-ditch bid for a possible bipartisan compromise to avert a crippling national default just four days before the deadline to raise the country's debt ceiling.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved a Republican deficit-cutting plan and the Democratic-led Senate quickly rejected it — moves that underscored the ideological divide but also cleared a path to start negotiating a deal.
The back-to-back votes broke weeks of political inertia in efforts to lift the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt limit by Tuesday after which the world's largest economy will be unable to pay all of its bills, the government says.
Delays and procedural hurdles will still make it all but impossible for Congress to strike a deal and send it to Obama's desk until the 11th hour, injecting a dangerous level of uncertainty into already rattled global financial markets.
Even if a late deal can be struck, the United States risks losing its top-notch AAA credit rating…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
Reid adds Republican "backup plan" to debt bill: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid revised his debt-limit bill on Friday to incorporate elements of a "backup plan" first proposed by the Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell.
Reid's plan originally envisioned raising the U.S. debt limit in one step by $2.7 trillion, enough to cover the nation's borrowing needs through the November 2012 elections.
The new version would essentially allow President Barack Obama to raise the debt ceiling in three steps. Through a complex legislative process, Congress could approve these debt-ceiling hikes with only a one-third vote in each chamber…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
Reid Revises Bill to Include McConnell 2-Step Process: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid revised his debt-limit proposal to adopt a two-step procedure modeled after one proposed by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that would let the president raise the ceiling in two steps unless a supermajority of Congress blocked it.
According to a summary of the new plan, the borrowing authority would be provided in two separate $1.2 trillion installments, one immediately, and one in several months, the next time the nation nears its borrowing limit.
All but the first $416 billion could be blocked through a joint resolution of Congress, though opponents would have to muster supermajorities in both chambers to override a veto…. – Bloomberg, 7-29-11
McConnell still refusing to negotiate, Democrats say: Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate said on Friday that the top Republican in the chamber was still refusing to negotiate a debt-ceiling increase with them after they defeated a bill backed by Republicans.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told Senate Democratic leaders he would not work on a compromise after the Senate defeated a bill that had passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said at a news conference…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
House approves debt bill; Senate rejects it: In an unforgiving display of partisanship, the House passed emergency legislation Friday night to avoid an unprecedented government default and the Senate scuttled it less than two hours later.
The final outcome — with the White House and Senate Democrats calling anew for compromise while criticizing Republicans as Tuesday's deadline drew near — was anything but certain….
The House vote was 218-210, almost entirely along party lines, on a Republican-drafted bill to provide a quick $900 billion increase in U.S. borrowing authority — essential to allow the government to continue paying all its bills — along with $917 billion in cuts from federal spending.
At the other end of the Capitol, Senate Democrats scuttled the measure without so much as a debate on its merits. The vote was 59-41, with all Democrats, two independents and six Republicans joining in opposition…. – Businessweek, 7-29-11 — AP, 7-29-11
Senate Quickly Kills Boehner Debt Bill: After a 24-hour delay and concessions to conservatives, the House on Friday narrowly approved a Republican fiscal plan that the Senate quickly rejected in a standoff over the federal debt ceiling that was keeping the government on a path to potential default….
Demonstrating the deep partisan divide coloring the budget fight, the House voted 218 to 210 to approve the plan endorsed by Speaker John A. Boehner to increase the federal debt ceiling in two stages. No Democrats supported the measure; 22 Republicans opposed it. The White House condemned it as a "political exercise."…
That did not take long. Two hours after the House approved its plan, it was convincingly tabled in the Senate by a vote of 59 to 41, and Democrats took steps to move ahead with their proposal…. – NYT, 7-29-11
Senate Kills Boehner Debt Plan 59-41: The Senate voted down a House-approved bill to raise the debt ceiling, leaving the ball in the court of Senate leadership to produce a deficit reduction bill, with just days before the Aug. 2 deadline. The vote was 59-41…. – Fox News, 7-29-11
Senate Tables Boehner's Debt Ceiling Bill: The United States Senate quickly dispatched the debt ceiling bill passed by the House Friday evening, tabling the Republican bill indefinitely and moving quickly to start consideration of a Democratic plan that would avoid default on Tuesday.
Less than two hours after House Speaker John A. Boehner pushed his bill through the House over the strenuous objections of nearly two dozen of his own Republican members, the Democratic leadership in the Senate followed through on their promise to kill his legislation.
But the move now sets up an uncertain 72 hours as the Congress moves ever closer to the Tuesday deadline when the Treasury Department says the country will default on its financial obligations without an increase in the debt ceiling…. – NYT, 7-29-11
Senate kills latest House debt measure: The Senate has killed the latest effort by the House to raise the government's borrowing cap. Democrats and several Republicans killed the GOP measure by a 59-41 vote Friday night, just minutes after it arrived from the House. Democrats opposed the measure because it would require another painful debt-limit debate early next year.
The move continues a standoff over the debt limit but could set the table for negotiations this weekend on compromise legislation that could pass the Democratic Senate and the GOP-controlled House before an Aug. 2 deadline to prevent a potentially disastrous default on U.S. obligations like interest payments and Social Security checks…. – AP, 7-29-11
Senate quickly acts to block House debt-ceiling plan: The Senate voted Friday evening to reject Speaker John A. Boehner's debt-ceiling plan just hours after it moved through the House, setting up a dramatic weekend of negotiations as Congress works to stave off a potential federal default.
The Senate tally was 59-41 on the motion to table the House plan, including some Republican votes.
Even as leaders from both parties engage in frenetic talks on the way forward, the House will hold yet another symbolic vote. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced the chamber plans to hold a vote on legislation that closely mirrors Reid's plan, planning to kill it even before the Senate can adopt it.
In a statement on the earlier House vote, White House press secretary Jay Carney called Reid's plan the basis for final compromise and called for an end to "political exercise[s]."
"The president urges Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House – a plan the president can sign by Tuesday," he said…. – LAT, 7-29-11
Now, Congress down to its last strike to avoid debt-ceiling default: By rejecting the bill passed by the House Friday, the Senate essentially now has one last shot to get a debt ceiling increase through Congress before the Aug. 2 deadline.
After a night of high drama on Capitol Hill, a legislative solution to the debt crisis now shifts to the Senate, where leaders of both parties must now try to guess what will pass in the House – perhaps the worst bet in all of politics.
The situation is the result of strategic mistakes in the buildup to Friday's debt-ceiling votes, which produced an outcome exactly the opposite of what GOP leaders had hoped. Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio had hoped to win support from House Democrats this week by scaling back the House's earlier "cut, cap, and balance" bill. With Democratic support in the House, the bill would have had a credible shot in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Instead, his proposal alienated not only House Democrats but also the president and GOP conservatives. After an aborted attempt to hold a vote Thursday, an amended bill did at last pass the House Friday, 218 to 210, but without a single Democratic vote and without 22 Republican defectors. Later Friday, it failed in the Senate, which voted to table Mr. Boehner's bill, 59 to 41, effectively derailing it…. – CS Monitor, 7-29-11
JULY 29, 2011: HOUSE VOTES & PASSES BOEHNER'S REVISED DEBT CEILING BILL 218-210
U.S. House passes Boehner debt plan: With only a handful of Republicans in opposition, the House on Friday voted, 218 to 210, to approve Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the nation's debt limit for a few months. The measure was revised earlier in the day to make it more palatable to conservatives. No Democrats supported the bill. Senate Democrats say they cannot support the bill in its current form.
"I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the President of the United States. I stuck my neck out a mile. This House has acted and it is time for the administration and our colleagues across the aisle, put something on the table! Tell us where you are!" — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"Washington Democrats are all that stand between the American people & a responsible resolution to this debt crisis. The House has now passed not one, but two bills that would cut spending & avoid a national default, while the Senate hasn't even passed a budget. Americans will tolerate the inaction of the Senate no longer. The Senate should pass the House bill at once & send it to the president's desk. — Speaker of the House John Boehner
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Comments on House-Passed Bill to Prevent Default: "The House has now passed its second bill in two weeks that would prevent a default and significantly cut Washington spending. The Senate is a different story. Rather than working towards a solution to this crisis the way the Republican majority in the House has, the Democrat majority here in the Senate has been wasting precious time rounding up 'no' votes. Rather than come up with a bill that can pass, they've been busy ginning up opposition to everything else. Now it's time for them to act. I eagerly await the Majority Leader's plan for preventing this crisis."
"Keep the pressure on Washington and we can get past this" … "The time for putting party first is over. If you want to see a bipartisan #compromise, let Congress know. Call. Email. Tweet. –BO"
"This administration does not believe that the 14th Amendment gives the president the power to ignore the debt ceiling. Congress has the authorities necessary to ensure that we meet our obligations…. Only Congress can increase the statutory debt ceiling. That's just a reality." — White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
Debt deal politicians race against the clock: The White House and Senate Democratic leaders want to finalize a debt ceiling deal with top congressional Republicans by the end of Friday night, fearing that waiting until Saturday could jeopardize efforts to get a final package to President Barack Obama before next week's critical deadline. It's far from clear whether they can achieve that.
Now that the House has passed its bill, the White House wants congressional leaders to race against the clock and reach a compromise before midnight, a deadline imposed by the Senate's arcane procedural requirements and the failure to reach a deal so far.
Once the Senate rejects the House bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wants to begin the process of moving to a final vote on a new plan by Monday morning.
That means he needs to file a procedural motion — known as cloture — by Friday night to reach his goal. The Senate could only move forward on that plan only after several days of floor consideration and if Reid then secures 60 votes, unless senators allow the majority leader to speed up the schedule.
But Reid and the White House do not have a deal with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Talks ground to a halt as House Republicans moved forward with their own plan that Democrats oppose. That means Reid may file cloture on his own plan to raise the debt ceiling without GOP support…. – Politico, 7-29-11
John Boehner debt ceiling bill passes; Senate deal making begins: Ending a 24-hour roller coaster ride, the House narrowly approved a Republican-backed debt ceiling bill Friday after Speaker John Boehner won back wavering conservatives by adding a provision threatening default next year if Congress doesn't first approve a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.
In closing remarks, from the well of the chamber, the weary Ohio Republican was alternately defensive and defiant. "I have worked with the president and the administration from the beginning of this year to avoid being in this spot. I have offered ideas. I have negotiated," Boehner said emotionally. "I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the president of the United States. I put revenues on the table in order to come to an agreement to avert us being where we are."
Left unsaid was how much the forces in his own party had pulled him back — especially on the revenue issue. "To the American people, I would say we've tried our level best," Boehner said. "We've done everything we can to find a common-sense solution that could pass both houses of this Congress and end this crisis."… – Politico, 7-29-11
House passes GOP debt limit plan: Can they do it in time? Twenty-four hours later than planned — and only after a change to mollify conservative Republicans — House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, put together enough votes to rescue his debt limit fix Friday.
The 218-210 vote, along party lines, came four days before President Obama says he'll run out of the borrowed money that keeps the federal government from paying its bills.
The House vote kicks the issue once again to the slower-moving Senate, where rules make it all but impossible to vote out a plan before Monday.
"I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the president of the United States," Boehner said, rallying the House to vote for his plan. "It's time for our colleagues across the aisle to put something on the table! Tell us where you are!"
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. vowed to do just that. He had been waiting on the House plan all week, prepared to immediately vote it down.
"No matter how long Republicans delay, the deadline will not move. We have hours — I repeat, hours — to act," Reid said, announcing his plan Friday morning to move forward with or without the House. "This is likely our last chance to save this nation from default."
Under Senate rules, the earliest a vote could take place on that plan would likely be Monday or even Tuesday — the day the Obama Administration says it will run out of borrowed money. That would give the House just hours to agree to the Senate version and send the bill to the president…. – USA Today, 7-29-11
House passes Boehner debt bill: President Obama emerged from several days of radio silence Friday with an impassioned appeal to the masses to save the country from the politicians.
As the debt ceiling crisis ticked down toward Tuesday's witching hour when the government runs out of cash, Obama asked the country to bombard Congress demanding a balanced compromise that calms markets and salvages America's credit rating…. – NY Daily News, 7-29-11
House approves revised Boehner debt-ceiling plan: After a belabored and bruising struggle to appease conservatives, the House of Representatives has passed Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the debt limit and reduce the deficit.
The bill passed on a 218-210 vote, winning no Democratic support while losing 22 Republicans. It now moves to the Senate where Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said it will go nowhere.
With just four days left before the government can no longer pay all of its bills, Reid is working on a separate proposal aimed at winning support for Republican moderates in that chamber…. – LAT, 7-29-11
House approves GOP bill extending debt limit: Republicans have muscled legislation to extend the government's borrowing authority and cutting spending through the House over solid Democratic opposition.
The 218-210 vote sets up a confrontation with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Barack Obama, who say the GOP-written measure will die in the Senate. They say the bill would wreak economic havoc because it would force lawmakers to vote on another extension of the debt ceiling early next year, in the heat of presidential and congressional campaigns… – AP, 7-29-11
House Passes Short-Term Debt Ceiling Increase: The House of Representatives on Friday approved a plan for a short-term increase in the debt ceiling and cuts in spending, ending a week of intense fighting among Republicans and shifting the end game of the debate to the Senate.
The vote was 218-210, leaving House Speaker John A. Boehner with 22 Republicans who were unwilling to support his efforts to get a bill approved.
Urging passage for the bill, an emotional Mr. Boehner angrily accused President Obama and his Democratic allies of negotiating in bad faith for weeks and called the bill the only way to "end this crisis now."… – NYT, 7-29-11
Boehner Bill Passes House, Focus Shifts to Senate: House Republicans rallied enough conservatives Friday evening to pass House Speaker John Boehner's debt-limit bill after days of delay that put into question whether the speaker could secure votes in his caucus.
The final vote was 218 to 210; Boehner needed 216 votes to pass the measure. No Democrats supported the bill.
Senate Democrats say the bill will not pass in that chamber, and are likely to kill the measure immediately but putting it aside or "tabling" the measure. However, it is likely that the Boehner bill will be used as a legislative vehicle to pass a new compromise bill in the Senate that, if passed this weekend, would be sent back to the House.
The House would then have to pass that measure in order for President Obama to sign it. All of this needs to happen before midnight Aug 3., when the United States runs out of the ability to borrow money, according to the Treasury Department…. – PBS Newshour, 7-29-11
House nears vote on GOP debt bill; Dems oppose: Partisan to the core, Congress groped uncertainly Friday for a way to avoid a government default threatened for early next week. "We are almost out of time," warned President Barack Obama as U.S. financial markets trembled…. – AP, 7-29-11
House to Vote on Debt-Ceiling Bill That Obama, Senate Oppose: House Speaker John Boehner plans to take his proposal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling to a vote in the chamber at about 6 p.m., Republican leaders announced.
The vote is scheduled to occur between 6 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. in Washington, according to leaders' announcement….
President Barack Obama today said Republicans and Democrats are in "rough agreement" on their plans to raise the nation's debt limit with just four days before a threatened U.S. default and the time for compromise is "now." Still, the Senate and House stood at odds, with Senate leaders planning to kill the House plan and Obama threatening a veto.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican, said his party has the votes to pass Boehner's plan today. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said he will move to a vote on his competing measure and held out hope for a deal with Republican leaders…. – AP, 7-29-11
Boehner's Bill and the Balanced Budget Amendment: Speaker John A. Boehner's debt ceiling bill would essentially require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress before the nation's debt ceiling could be raised next year.
Under Mr. Boehner's plan, which members began debating Friday afternoon, the nation's debt limit could be raised by $1.6 trillion in February — but only if the nation's archivist reports that a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution has been sent to the states for ratification.
The legislation was amended Friday morning to say that the debt ceiling would be increased only if "the archivist of the United States has submitted to the states for their ratification a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States pursuant to a joint resolution entitled 'Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'"… – NYT, 7-29-11
John Boehner changes debt limit plan to secure Tea Party support: It looks like the House Republican leadership may have found a way to get their members to vote in favor of their debt limit plan: By adding a Balanced Budget Amendment requirement that makes the bill even more toxic to Senate Democrats and the White House. Even before the change, Democrats had vowed to vote down the bill….
What changed? Members say the bill is being changed to tie a second debt ceiling increase roughly six months from now to successfully sending a Balanced Budget Amendment to the states, which would require a 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate.
They say a vote on the new version of House Speaker John Boehner's plan will be held today between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time – and the bill will pass…. – CBS News, 7-29-11
Republican senators consider backing Reid debt plan: The House plans on voting on Speaker John Boehner's debt limit plan this evening, but with its demise imminent in the Senate, some Senate Republicans are considering getting behind Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's alternative plan.
"I voted for cut, cap, and balance,'" Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts said today, in reference to the House Republicans' initial debt limit plan. "I'll vote for Boehner, and I'll vote for Reid. I've already said that. We need to move our country forward. It's time."
Senate Democrats have promised to reject Boehner's plan, which would only extend the nation's borrowing authority for another six months. Democrats say it would be unwise to re-create the debate over the debt ceiling and deficit reduction again, just before Christmas.
Reid's plan would extend borrowing authority at least through 2012. Like Boehner's plan, it calls for significant spending cuts and doesn't make any tax increases. Both plans call for a bipartisan commission to come up with longer-term deficit and debt reduction plans…. – CBS News, 7-29-11
Obama calls for debt #compromise on Twitter: Phones are once again ringing off the hook on Capitol Hill after President Obama repeated his request for voters to call their representatives and let them know what they think about the ongoing debt debate.
The Capitol call center alerted House offices Friday that the high level of incoming calls put the House phone circuits near capacity. The House faced a similar influx of calls earlier in the week after the president urged people to get involved.
"On Monday night, I asked the American people to make their voice heard in this debate, and the response was overwhelming," Mr. Obama said in a White House address this morning. "So please, to all the American people, keep it up. If you want to see a bipartisan compromise, a bill that can pass both houses of Congress and that I can sign, let your members of Congress know."
He urged people to call, email, or contact their congressmen via Twitter — "Keep the pressure on Washington and we can get past this," he said. He repeated the message on his 2012 re-election Twitter feed: "The time for putting party first is over. If you want to see a bipartisan #compromise, let Congress know. Call. Email. Tweet. –BO"… – CBS News, 7-29-11
As congressional debt-ceiling plans founder, eyes turn to executive option: There is growing pressure on President Obama to simply declare an increase in the debt ceiling by executive order and tell everyone else: Deal with it…. – CS Monitor, 7-29-11
Rejecting the 14th Amendment, Again: While President Obama's critics on the right regularly call him a tyrant, in the debt-limit showdown he is flatly rejecting presidential powers that others claim for him.
On Friday, in its most definitive statement yet on the subject, the White House again ruled out the possibility that Mr. Obama would cite the 14th Amendment to disregard the debt-limit law and unilaterally order government borrowing to proceed if no deal was reached by Tuesday's deadline for raising the debt ceiling.
Several House Democratic leaders, former President Bill Clinton and some constitutional lawyers in recent days have said Mr. Obama should, if necessary, invoke the amendment, which holds that "the validity of the public debt … shall not be questioned."… – NYT, 7-29-11
Why won't Obama just declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional?: "Only Congress can increase the statutory debt ceiling," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at today's briefing. "That's just a reality." Carney was responding to a suggestion floating around that the White House could invoke the 14th amendment of the Constitution to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval—should it come to that.
But is Carney right? A growing number of top Democrats strongly disagree and think the 14th amendment option is a good last resort. "Is there anything that prohibits him from doing that?" Iowa Senator Tom Harkin told The Hill today. "The answer is no." Thursday, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer described it as the least bad option if Congress doesn't act. Former President Bill Clinton's on board, too. And a growing number of law professors and legal scholars are now arguing that Obama would actually prevail…. – WaP, 7-29-11
Markets on edge as debt limit debate drags on: The word of the day in financial markets: Anxious. On Friday, traders did something they rarely do: they sold what are considered to be the world's safest short-term investments. Traders typically buy short term U.S. Treasurys on Friday because they want their money in a safe place in case something happens over the weekend to rattle markets.
But this week, they instead bought longer-duration bonds as concerns grew that the federal government may not be able to pay all of its bills next month. Yields on bonds due in one month rose higher than those due in six months. The higher the yield, the higher the implied risk of the bond.
Analysts say it's a clear sign a short-term default is a growing possibility…. – AP, 7-29-11
JULY 29, 2011: OBAMA ADDRESSES THE NATION ON THE DEBT CRISIS — HARRY REID MOVES FORWARD WITH SENATE VOTE ON DEBT PLAN — SHOWDOWN ON SUNDAY
President Obama says Boehner plan has no chance of becoming law: Speaking four days before a potentially disastrous U.S. default, President Obama said the plan that House Speaker John A. Boehner is working furiously to pass "does not solve the problem. It has no chance of becoming law."
He urged the Senate to move quickly to produce a bipartisan plan to raise the debt ceiling. "The time for putting party first is over," he said.
"Any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan. I urge Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House, a plan that I can sign by Tuesday." — President Barack Obama
"The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now. And I'm confident that we can solve this problem." — President Barack Obama
"I know the Senate compromise bill Democrats have offered is not perfect in Republican eyes. Nor is it perfect for Democrats. But together, we must make it work for all of us. It is the only option. The settlement on the table will never give either party everything it wants. But it already meets the Republicans' demands." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"No matter how long Republicans delay, the deadline will not move. We have hours – I repeat, hours – to act. That is why, by the end of the day today, I must take action on the Senate's compromise legislation. … This is likely our last chance to save this nation from default." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"You've got the speaker of the House doing his job. Speaker Boehner has been doing the hard work of governing, working day and night to put together a bill that can actually pass the House of Representatives and end this crisis now…. It's about time our Democratic friends join us." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
"Another day wasted while the clock ticks. Now is the time to compromise so we can solve this problem and reduce the deficit." — White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer wrote Thursday night on Twitter
Obama Calls for Debt Deal as Boehner Looks for Votes: President Obama called on Congress on Friday to produce a fiscal plan that could be passed with votes from both parties, as House Republicans hardened their position and Senate Democrats said they would move ahead with their own plan.
After a caucus meeting to round up the votes needed for House passage, Republicans said that Speaker John A. Boehner had agreed to modify his plan, which raises the debt ceiling only enough to last a few months, to make the next round of spending cuts and debt relief contingent on Congressional approval of a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.
That, lawmakers confirmed, won pledges of enough votes to allow Mr. Boehner to pass his bill, which was put on hold at the last minute on Thursday, with only Republican votes, including those of many from the Tea Party faction. But it would only make the House bill more unpalatable to the White House and the Democratic leadership.
"Any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan," Mr. Obama said. "I urge Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House, a plan that I can sign by Tuesday."
Mr. Obama urged Republicans in the House and Senate to abandon a bill that "does not solve the problem" and has no chance of passage in the Senate."…. – NYT, 7-30-11
Obama urges Senate to forge compromise on debt limit, rejects House efforts: President Obama, warning that time is running out to lift the federal debt ceiling, said Friday that a House GOP plan has "no chance of becoming law," and he urged Senate Democrats and Republicans to come together on a "bipartisan compromise."
Obama spoke as House Republican leaders labored Friday to rescue a debt-limit plan opposed by their party's arch-conservatives. But he reiterated that the House leaders are wasting their time by trying to pass a measure that includes a short-term raise of the debt ceiling.
On Capitol Hill, the House GOP leaders offered party members a reworked plan Friday morning designed to appeal to the tea party-allied conservatives, and several previously skeptical lawmakers said they would now support it. Members who exited a House Republican Conference meeting said the new proposal would not change the first step of their original two-stage plan to raise the debt limit but would call for Congress to send to the states a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution as a prerequisite for the second stage of the debt-ceiling increase to take effect early next year…. – WaPo, 7-29-11
Obama Calls for Bipartisan Solution on Debt: President Obama on Friday morning urged deadlocked lawmakers to find a way to resolve their differences and compromise as the clock ticks toward the possibility of a default if the nation's debt ceiling is not raised by Tuesday.
"What's clear now is that any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan," Mr. Obama said. "It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people, not just one faction."
"I urge Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground," he added in brief remarks in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Mr. Obama urged Republicans in the House and Senate to abandon a bill that "does not solve the problem" and has no chance of passage in the Senate.
"There are a lot of crises in the world that we can't always predict or avoid," he said. "This isn't one of those crises."… – NYT, 7-29-11
Obama ready to work through weekend for debt fix: President Barack Obama said on Friday he was ready to work with top Democrats and Republicans through the weekend to get a debt ceiling accord.
In remarks at the White House, Obama said he was confident a solution could be reached despite the impasse that has raised the prospect of a U.S. credit rating downgrade and default…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
Obama urges action as debt stalemate continues: With just days left to reach a deal, negotiations over raising the debt ceiling remain stalemated, but President Obama said Friday morning that he was confident a bipartisan solution is achievable.
Even as he expressed optimism, however, Mr. Obama delivered a stern warning to Congress: "For all the intrigue and all the drama that's taking place on Capitol Hill right now, I'm confident that — but as I said earlier, we are now running out of time. It's time for everybody to step up and show the leadership the American people expect."
Mr. Obama delivered his remarks from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room — a setting perhaps chosen to send a message to the House, where diplomacy appeared to be sorely lacking Thursday night. Conservative Republicans on Thursday delivered a stinging rebuke against House Speaker John Boehner, when they refused to support his debt limit plan, which would have increased the U.S. borrowing limit by up to $900 billion while cutting more than $900 billion in spending over the next decade…. – CBS News, 7-29-11
With House debt ceiling bill stalled, Harry Reid makes his move: With House action stalled, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Friday he'd take the lead and move his bill to raise the national debt limit and avert an economy-shaking default next week.
Calling his plan "the last train out of the station," Reid said there are only hours to act before Tuesday's Treasury deadline, so he plans to file a procedural motion Friday to move towards a final vote in the next few days.
"That is why, by the end of the day today, I must take action on the Senate's compromise legislation," he said.
Republicans are opposed to Reid's plan, saying that it would give President Barack Obama too long of a debt ceiling increase by extending it through 2012. And they criticize its proposed savings of $1 trillion from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling it a gimmick.
But Reid said he was about to make "tweaks" to his plan to win GOP support, which he would need to get 60 votes and break a possible filibuster attempt.
"A Band-Aid approach to a world crisis is an embarrassment to Congress, to this country and to the world," Reid said. "Our economy cannot bear this kind of uncertainty any longer."… – Politico, 7-29-11
As debt ceiling deadline looms, default or compromise?: Washington awoke Friday morning to a possibility that has been widely shrugged off for weeks, but suddenly seems chillingly real: Could the government actually default?
The delay and disintegration of a House vote on the debt limit late Thursday is the latest sign that Congress is mired in legislative gridlock just four days before the Aug. 2 deadline for lifting the country's borrowing authority.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) vowed to return to his bill Friday, but Thursday's chaos — hours of private meetings, praying and postponed votes — raises fresh concerns that the country is stumbling toward a possible default and downgrade of its credit rating…. – Politico, 7-29-11
House GOP tries to rescue debt-limit plan; Obama to make statement: House Republican leaders labored Friday to rescue a debt-limit plan opposed by their party's arch-conservatives, as President Obama prepared to reenter the fray with a morning statement on the status of negotiations to avert a potentially disastrous U.S. default now only four days away.
The White House announced that Obama would deliver his previously unscheduled statement at 10:20 a.m. Eastern time. Administration officials indicated earlier that Obama and fellow Democrats remain opposed to the House GOP plan and its provision for a two-stage increase in the federal debt ceiling tied to large spending cuts. The White House wants a single increase in the $14.3 trillion debt limit that would last into 2013, arguing that a series of short-term raises would fail to calm the markets, possibly trigger a credit-rating downgrade and become embroiled in election-year politics.
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) called a 10 a.m. meeting with his party members to plot the way forward after he was forced to cancel a vote on his plan late Thursday in the face of persistent opposition from recalcitrant conservatives.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) appealed Friday to his chamber's Republicans to help him pass his compromise bill and invited Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to a new round of negotiations. He urged House Republicans to "break away from the shrill voices of the tea party" and return to the party of Ronald Reagan…. – WaPo, 7-29-11
Senator Reid: Moving forward with debt limit bill: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Friday said that he "cannot wait any longer" for the Republican-led House of Representatives to act on a debt limit increase and he will begin taking steps to move legislation…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
Senate Dems to push ahead with debt-limit bill: The Senate Democratic leader says he will move ahead with a debt-limit bill as a rival proposal remains stalled in the House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Friday that his plan would cut $2.5 trillion from the deficit over a decade and avert a debilitating default. He said it's likely the last chance to save the nation from default with a Tuesday deadline looming. The Nevada Democrat said he has invited his counterpart, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, to negotiate with him.
Reid's move sets up a potential showdown vote in the Senate on Sunday. – AP, 7-29-11
Reid will move forward on Senate debt-ceiling plan: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Friday morning that he would take action on the Senate's version of a debt-ceiling compromise, one day after House Republicans postponed Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) debt-ceiling proposal as leaders scrambled to whip up support for the plan.
"No matter how long Republicans delay, the deadline will not move. We have hours – I repeat, hours – to act," Reid said on the Senate floor. "That is why, by the end of the day today, I must take action on the Senate's compromise legislation."
"This is likely our last chance to save this nation from default," Reid added.
Reid's remarks came as the White House announced that President Obama would make a statement on the status of debt negotiations at 10:20 a.m. There were no obvious signs of compromise in the Senate as the day began.
Reid said that he had invited Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to sit down and "negotiate in good faith knowing the clock is running down."
"I hope will accept my offer," Reid said.
"I know the Senate compromise bill Democrats have offered is not perfect in Republican eyes. Nor is it perfect for Democrats," he added. "But together, we must make it work for all of us. It is the only option. The settlement on the table will never give either party everything it wants. But it already meets the Republicans' demands."
McConnell took the Senate floor to urge Democrats to back the Boehner's measure, though it was not at all clear that the House bill will make it to the Senate for consideration.
"You've got the speaker of the House doing his job," McConnell said. "Speaker Boehner has been doing the hard work of governing, working day and night to put together a bill that can actually pass the House of Representatives and end this crisis now." "It's about time our Democratic friends join us," he said. … – WaPo, 7-29-11
Senate Dems to move ahead with debt-limit bill: Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid served notice Friday that he's pushing ahead with his debt-limit bill as House Speaker John Boehner's rival measure languished in limbo, further escalating a wrenching political standoff that has heightened fears of a market-rattling government default.
"This is likely our last chance to save this nation from default," Reid declared glumly on the Senate floor, as a Tuesday's deadline drew closer.
Reid's move came with Boehner's bill still in wait of a vote and a bitter standoff between GOP leaders and their conservative rank and file. Demoralized House Republicans were striving for a third straight day to pass the Boehner bill, even though it had virtually no chance of surviving the Senate.
Reid, D-Nev., said he had invited Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to join him in negotiations.
"I know the Senate compromise bill Democrats have offered is not perfect in Republican' eyes. Nor is it perfect for Democrats," Reid said. "But together, we must make it work for all of us. It is the only option."
Reid's move sets up a showdown vote on Sunday…. – AP, 7-29-11
Reid vows Senate will act on debt-limit plan: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed today the Senate will act on his plan to raise the nation's debt limit, saying the economy should not be held hostage by recalcitrant House Republicans.
"This is likely our last chance to save our nation from a default," Reid said this morning, after Speaker John Boehner abruptly called off a vote last night on a GOP plan when he could not muster the votes for passage.
Reid, D-Nev., implored conservative Republicans to abandon their allegiance to the anti-tax, small government Tea Party movement and "go back to being the party of Ronald Reagan."
Reid's remarks drew a quick retort from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who decried "chest bumping" comments from Democrats who said they would oppose Boehner's plan once it got to the Senate. McConnell, R-Ky., argued it is the Republicans who are trying to govern…. – USA Today, 7-29-11
House Again Seeks Votes, After Failing to Pass Debt Plan: House Republican leaders, who had abruptly put off a vote on their proposal to raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending, called their rank and file back into another closed-door session on Friday to resume their overnight search for the last few votes they need.
President Obama was expected to comment on the deepening impasse shortly, and there was no clear sign what the next step would be. Among the several possibilities were changes to the House bill, an attempt by Senate Democrats to leapfrog forward with their own plan, or a new attempt to reach a compromise on the part of all the major players.
In an effort to break the logjam, Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, called on Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, to meet with him on Friday to try to resolve to the stalemate, given the failure of House Republicans to advance their own budget proposal.
"My door is open," Mr. Reid said as the Senate convened. "I will listen to any idea to get this done in a way that prevents a default and a dangerous downgrade to America's credit rating. Time is short, and too much is at stake, to waste even one more minute. "The last train is leaving the station," he said. "This is our last chance to avert default."
Mr. McConnell, who had earlier been working with Mr. Reid on a fallback plan, abandoned that attempt and has been supporting the effort by the House speaker, John A. Boehner, to push through a proposal that would raise the debt limit in two stages — an approach flatly rejected by Senate Democrats and the White House. Mr. McConnell also had been talking with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. but broke the conversation off while the Boehner plan was pending.
Mr. McConnell, too, came to the Senate floor and offered little indication that he was ready to deal, accusing Democrats of devoting recent days to undermining the House plan. "Our Democratic friends in the Senate have offered no solutions to the crisis that can pass either chamber," he said…. – NYT, 7-29-11
White House opposed to short-term debt limit lift: The White House remains opposed to any short-term increase in the debt limit, unless a broader deficit-cutting deal is agreed and needs time to be voted through Congress, a White House official said on Friday. "Our position has not changed," the official said…. – Reuters, 7-29-11
Boehner's big bid on debt undone from right, left: Despite his image as a button-down Republican, House Speaker John Boehner walked to the brink of a dramatic and historic agreement to change the government's spending habits.
But as he twice approached a $4 trillion deficit-reduction deal with President Barack Obama that would have rocked both parties' bases, Boehner was reeled back in by his caucus' conservative wing. The muscular, tea party-fueled group not only forced him to abandon a "grand bargain" with Obama, it made him scramble Wednesday to secure the votes for a far more modest deficit-ceiling plan, which in turn is all but doomed in the Senate.
The events highlight the limits of power for an experienced and well-liked politician who has struggled to budge his caucus' staunchest conservatives despite constantly reminding them that their party doesn't control the Senate or White House.
"The problem with leadership is it has to be conjoined with follower-ship," Duke University political scientist David Rohde said. "Boehner is not in a position to give orders to his members."… – AP, 7-28-11
JULY 28-29, 2011: BOEHNER DELAYS VOTE ON HOUSE DEBT PLAN — FRIDAY VOTE POSSIBLE
Republican leader says the House will not vote tonight on debt bill: House Majority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said that the chamber will not vote tonight on Speaker John A. Boehner's proposal to lift the federal debt ceiling. A vote on the bill had been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, but as that hour approached, House leaders called for an indefinite postponement of the vote, signalling that Boehner, McCarthy and other House GOP leaders did not have the votes lined up to pass the Boehner plan.
Lacking Votes, House Won't Vote on Boehner Debt Plan Tonight: Republican leaders in the House have announced that there will be no vote on the debt ceiling bill Thursday night, an indication that House Speaker John A. Boehner remains short of the votes necessary to pass his legislation.
Mr. Boehner and his top lieutenants called it a night after more than five hours of furious arm-twisting of freshman Republicans, many of whom emerged from the closed-door sessions appearing to be firmer in their opposition.
There was little indication of what else had transpired during an evening that was supposed to have been a victory for Mr. Boehner as he passed a second debt-limit bill over to the Democratic Senate.
Instead, the evening highlighted the tensions within his conference and the sway that the Tea Party backed members hold within Mr. Boehner's party.
There was no indication of whether a vote might still come on Friday.
"What a compromise looks like is pretty clear. Significant deficit reduction; a mechanism by which Congress would take on the tough issues of tax reform and entitlement reform; and a lifting of the debt ceiling into 2013 so that we do not have the cloud of uncertainty that is hanging over our economy right now." — White House press secretary Jay Carney
"It's Mad Hatter time on the Hill… None of this has anything to do with the economy, it's all power games inside the Beltway." — A Senior White House Official
"This bill is not perfect. I've never said it was perfect. Nobody in my caucus believes it's perfect." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"No Democrat will vote for a short-term Band Aid that would put our economy at risk." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"What we need to do is get beyond, you know, voting on dead-on-arrival measures that aren't going to become law when we have so few days left to reach a compromise." — White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
"Clock ticks towards August 2, House is naming post offices, while leaders twist arms for pointless vote. No wonder people hate Washington." — White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer on Twitter
Obama to Speak on Debt Crisis: President Obama will deliver a statement about the debt-ceiling fight at the White House at 10:20 a.m. at the White House. His appearance will kick off what is sure to be an eventful day in the partisan showdown over the budget, with the clock ticking toward midnight on Tuesday, when the government will exhaust its ability to pay all its bills without additional borrowing.
It is not clear whether Mr. Obama intends merely to exhort Congress or to put any new proposal on the table. On Capitol Hill, House Republican leaders continue to scramble to find the votes they need to pass their version of legislation to cut spending and increase the debt ceiling…. – NYT, 7-29-11
House Leaders Meet Again to Round Up Votes: House Republicans prepared to head into a crucial closed-door session in the basement of the Capitol at 10 a.m. Friday.
The meeting will provide another opportunity for the House leadership to determine whether they have the votes to push through their debt-ceiling plan.
Republican aides said that John A. Boehner, the House speaker, "remains committed" to preventing default and said they expected to vote on the speaker's plan at some point Friday. But that kind of optimism persisted throughout the day on Thursday and did not end in a vote…. – NYT, 7-29-11
Debt ceiling vote postponed; for John Boehner, 'it's all on the line': John Boehner faces the biggest test of his speakership Friday morning as he tries to resuscitate a monumental debt-limit bill that was forced from the floor Thursday night because Republican leaders hadn't lined up enough votes to pass it.
On the line: The outcome of a debt-limit increase that has consumed Washington and New York for months, Boehner's standing in the Republican Conference, and the balance of power between the House GOP and the Democrats who control the White House and the Senate. Republican leaders hoped to put the bill back on the floor Friday, either in its current form or in a slightly altered state, and some in the GOP worried that Thursday night's failure to move the bill could disrupt markets.
But Boehner has been in plenty of tough scrapes before, and he tends to stay very cool when others start to panic. He'll address his troops at 10 a.m. Friday in a closed meeting in the basement of the Capitol with a lot at stake.
"This is the key week of Boehner's speakership," Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) told POLITICO. "It's all on the line." Politico, 7-29-11
Obama: Waiting, waiting, waiting: President Obama planned to make some kind of statement last night — after the Republican House passed Speaker John Boehner's debt ceiling plan.
Instead, as he has for most of the week, Obama sat and waited as Boehner scrambled to find enough Republicans to get his plan through the House — and eventually put off a final vote.
Largely sidelined since Boehner decided last week to break off direct White House talks, Obama and his team are constantly trying to game out the next moves in the debt ceiling dispute, hoping to avoid the prospect of a government default next week.
Administration official still expect the Boehner bill to pass at some point, hopefully today. They also expect the Democratic Senate to then kill the Boehner plan, setting up even more talks on a potential compromise.
Officials also said there's enough similarities between the Boehner plan and the proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, to get a deal and avoid a potential government default next week…. – USA Today, 7-29-11
Boehner fights for debt ceiling bill, as protesters rally against him: The federal government is now just over 4 days away from maxing out its credit card. House Speaker John Boehner is having real trouble even getting Republicans to pass his debt ceiling bill.
Opponents are planning to stage a protest at 10 a.m. on Friday, as a counter to Monday's tea party support rally. Protests will be calling on the House Speaker to spare social security, medicare, medicaid and college scholarship programs from funding cuts. That rally comes as Boehner struggles to get enough Republican support to pass his latest debt ceiling-budget cutting plans in Washington, D.C.
Thursday night, a vote on that plan was postponed for lack of support among his own party members.
Congressman Boehner told reporters late Thursday, "The bill's not perfect, I've never said it was perfect, nobody in my caucus believes it is perfect. But what this bill reflects is a sincere, honest effort to end this crisis."
Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, "What we need to do is get beyond, you know, voting on dead-on-arrival measures that aren't going to become law when we have so few days left to reach a compromise."
Carney was referring to the fact that 53 Democratic senators have written a letter to Speaker Boehner saying they oppose his debt ceiling bill and will vote against it, if and when it arrives in the Senate.
Before the house convenes at 11 a.m. Friday morning, it's expected Boehner will be spending the morning, twisting the arms of more house republicans to see if he can get enough votes for his almost $1 trillion in cuts to raise the federal debt ceiling before Tuesday…. – KY Post, 7-29-11
U.S. House Bids to Salvage Boehner Debt Bill: House Republican leaders, four days before a threatened U.S. default and facing stiff resistance within their ranks to raising the U.S. debt ceiling, plan to make a second try at passing legislation that is headed for a Senate roadblock.
Republicans led by House Speaker John Boehner were forced to scrap action on the measure late last night. They are considering a rewrite for a second time this week after face-to- face meetings with recalcitrant lawmakers failed to yield the votes to push it through the House.
Skeptics concerned that the plan wouldn't do enough to rein in the debt were insisting on conditioning part of the borrowing boost on congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
The measure should be amended to "something transformative that transcends election cycles and has some degree of permanency to it," said Republican Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, a freshman opponent of the measure who met with House leaders for three hours last night as they struggled unsuccessfully to build support for the bill.
The delay was a setback for Boehner and his leadership team, forcing them to delay a vote until today. They implored Republicans to back a measure that President Barack Obama's advisers have said he would veto and Senate leaders promised to quickly defeat…. – Bloomberg, 7-29-11
Senior White House Official: 'Mad Hatter Time on the Hill': President Obama is likely to speak today to try to reassure any panicking Americans and to urge Congress to compromise.
White House officials had expected that Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, would be able to pass his bill Thursday night and watched in disbelief as he pulled the bill because it didn't have enough votes to pass.
While the president believes the debacle on the Hill underlines his belief that passing a small bill is no easier than passing a big one, he also believes the time for a big deal has passed, officials said…. – ABC News, 7-29-11
Republican House Leaders Work for Votes Into the Night: The waiting continued at the Capitol Thursday night as the Republican leadership worked late looking for votes that could rescue House Speaker John A. Boehner's debt ceiling bill.
At just after 10 p.m., staff members for the Rules Committee were seen walking into the office of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority whip, prompting speculation that the panel will try to clear the way for the House to consider changes that might win a few extra votes.
Representatives Tim Scott of South Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, as well as Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio, John Mica of Florida and Cory Gardner of Colorado, entered Mr. McCarthy's office. All are Republicans who have expressed doubts about or outright opposition to the bill…. – NYT, 7-28-11
Post-Aug 2 plan may be unveiled as soon as Friday: The U.S. Treasury will unveil a plan as soon as Friday evening on how the government will function and pay its bills if it looks like Congress will not raise the debt ceiling in a timely manner, an administration official said on Thursday.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers are scrambling to broker a deal to raise the country's $14.3 trillion debt cap before Tuesday, when the Treasury will no longer be able to borrow funds to meet all of its obligations…. – Reuters, 7-28-11
U.S. House Postpones Debt-Ceiling Vote as Compromise Sought: House Speaker John Boehner, falling short of the votes within his own party needed to increase the U.S. debt limit after a night of one-on-one appeals to members, cancelled a vote on a plan that Senate leaders pledge to defeat.
Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the House's chief vote-counter, told reporters after several hours of closed-door meetings that there would be no House vote tonight.
Senate Democrats meanwhile are working to break the impasse over raising the debt limit by devising a strict enforcement mechanism to guarantee future deficit savings, according to Democratic officials.
After the House postponed a vote planned at about 6 p.m. Washington time, the speaker summoned fellow Republicans opposing his plan into his office and walked to McCarthy's office, where pizza was delivered. Representative Jeff Flake, who went in and out repeatedly, said he remained opposed to the plan after meeting with Boehner…. – Bloomberg, Businessweek, 7-28-11
House calls off vote on Boehner debt ceiling plan: House leaders called off a vote on Speaker John Boehner's plan to cut federal spending and raise the nation's debt limit late Thursday, after a last-ditch lobbying effort failed to line up the Republican votes needed to ensure passage.
Party leaders held out hope that further changes could attract wavering conservatives. The House Rules Committee was set to meet at 11 p.m. Eastern time to amend the measure, striking some or all of $17 billion in supplemental funds for Pell Grants, a move that would add to the plan's $915 billion in deficit savings.
A meeting of the full House Republican conference is planned for Friday morning…. – LAT, 7-28-11
Republicans search for votes with Boehner plan in jeopardy: House leaders worked late into the night Thursday to convince the final few wavering Republicans to back a debt ceiling plan from House Speaker John A. Boehner, even as the Senate stood by ready to immediately kill the plan.
A vote that had been scheduled for the early evening was postponed just moments before it was to be called, when the GOP leadership recognized it was shy of the 216 members needed to advance the measure.
In an effort to win over some of the conference's more conservative members, Boehner was prepared strike $17 billion in supplemental funds for Pell Grants, which would add to the plan's $915 billion in deficit savings.
Republicans were eight votes short, but dropped down to two after hours of negotiations, aides said…. – LAT, 7-28-11
Debt Vote Crucial to GOP Cohesion: House Speaker John Boehner was working Thursday night to win a high-stakes showdown over the debt-ceiling bill he has crafted, with the outcome crucial to both the deficit debate and his tenure as speaker.
House Republican leadership aides had expressed confidence all day that Mr. Boehner would win the votes of enough balky conservatives to secure passage of his plan. And win he must, leaders said, if the GOP conference, tugged between loyalties to Mr. Boehner and to tea-party activists, is to be molded into a reliable governing majority.
"This is a defining vote," said Rep. Tom Cole (R., Okla.), a senior member of the vote-counting "whip" team. He described the vote as important not just to the speaker but to the cohesion of the entire Republican House contingent.
The vote on the measure to raise the nation's borrowing limit by an initial $900 billion—scheduled for Thursday evening then abruptly postponed—may be of little consequence in the larger struggle to avoid a first-ever default on the nation's debt. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged the bill would die promptly in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
But to the workings of the House and the future of Mr. Boehner's speakership, success is vital. The outcome has turned into a contest between Mr. Boehner, an 11-term House veteran, and the tea-party freshmen who made him speaker. Those members were listening to more senior conservatives—especially those such as such Rep. Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) who are seeking higher office—as they fueled a rebellion against Mr. Boehner's approach, demanding more deficit reduction and harder limits on future spending than the speaker's bill offers.
Late Thursday, the wavering of those young conservatives forced the delay on the vote for the second time in a week…. – WSJ, 7-28-11
House delays vote on Boehner debt-limit plan: The U.S. House is in recess and has delayed a vote on Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, as the GOP leadership tries to get votes for passage.
Two hours of debate on Boehner's measure, which would raise the nation's borrowing authority and cut spending by a greater amount, ended hours ago and the House moved on to bills that name post offices. The GOP leadership had said they hope to hold a vote "later."
Congress is racing to avert a historic default on America's financial obligations by Tuesday.
Boehner met with resistant lawmakers throughout the day to secure the bill's passage, even though it will likely die when it reaches the Democratic-controlled Senate. Some members of the House GOP majority are balking because the bill does not cut enough spending…. – USA Today, 7-28-11
Vote delayed on debt bill as default date looms: A Republican plan to cut the budget deficit stumbled toward a vote in Congress on Thursday and its expected demise could force a compromise to avert an imminent and unprecedented debt default by the world's largest economy.
With the measure short of as many as four votes, according to aides, the Republican-led House of Representatives abruptly delayed a vote as Speaker John Boehner struggled to overcome objections from conservative rebels in his own party…. – Reuters, 7-28-11
House GOP leaders scrambling for votes for their debt ceiling plan: Republicans in the House of Representatives struggled Thursday to find enough votes within their own ranks to pass a GOP plan to cut future deficits and raise the nation's debt limit – even though their party leaders were solidly behind the plan.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, abruptly postponed an early evening vote. Instead, he and other leaders worked furiously to persuade 217 Republicans to vote for passage. Recalcitrant Republicans were summoned to Boehner's office for arm-twisting sessions.
Many GOP conservatives, under strong pressure from tea party and other like-minded groups, were balking, saying the GOP plan wouldn't cut federal spending enough – and some said that the nation's debt limit shouldn't be raised at all.
A defeat would be a huge embarrassment for Boehner. "This is a vote that John needs," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y…. – Miami Herald, 7-28-11
Debt deal compromise suggested by Democrats: Democrats are aiming for a debt-limit compromise similar to the House Republican plan, with at least one major difference: The second vote on raising the debt ceiling would not depend on Congress passing a broader deficit-reduction package.
The shape of this potential compromise meshes major elements of the proposals offered in recent weeks by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), according to Democratic officials familiar with the negotiations.
Under the possible compromise, Congress could still get a second crack at voting on the debt limit within months. But rather than linking the vote to Congress approving the recommendations of a new 12-member committee — as it would be in Boehner's bill — Democrats prefer McConnell's proposal that allows President Barack Obama to lift the debt ceiling unless two-thirds of both chambers override his veto of a disapproval resolution, the officials said…. – Politico, 7-28-11
Sarah Palin's Well-Timed Reminder to Freshmen: Sarah Palin has impeccable timing. The former Republican vice presidential nominee took to her Facebook page Thursday afternoon to warn freshman Republicans in the House that they just might face primary opposition if they cave in to demands by their party to raise the debt ceiling.
"All my best to you, GOP Freshmen, from up here in the Last Frontier. Sincerely, Sarah Palin," she wrote. "P.S. Everyone I talk to still believes in contested primaries."
Just two hours later, House Speaker John A. Boehner was forced to postpone the vote on his proposal to increase the debt ceiling at the last minute, apparently facing a revolt among some of those very members…. – NYT, 7-28-11 — Sarah Palin on Facebook, Congressional Freshmen – For Such A Time As This, 7-28-11
The weak speaker: How a failed debt vote disarmed the nation's top Republican: House Speaker John Boehner failed to muster enough GOP votes to pass his plan to raise the debt limit on Thursday night, throwing into question the fate of Boehner's proposal as well as that of his speakership. Republican leaders must now rewrite the legislation in order to attract more conservatives as they try to pass a revised version on Friday. But considerable damage has been done. Boehner's negotiating stance in the ongoing effort to trim deficits and raise the debt ceiling by next Tuesday's deadline is hobbled; any credibility he had in claiming that his restive members could get behind a consensus debt deal has vanished. The Speaker has gone lame. … – Time, 7-29-11
US debt crisis: Is Obama's leadership style suited to the moment?: Despite Obama's use of the bully pulpit in the showdown over the debt limit, he is not a direct party to negotiations. How much has his cautious leadership style contributed to his predicament?….
And Obama himself is no longer even a direct party to the negotiations. His White House must rely on its Democratic allies, particularly in the Democratically-controlled Senate, to stay in the loop.
But certainly there is a dimension to Obama's leadership style – a tendency to set a policy framework and then let Congress work out the details – that has contributed to the state of play…. – CS Monitor, 7-27-11
Why John Boehner is determined to pass his doomed debt-ceiling bill: House Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan won't pass the Senate. Yet he is making huge efforts to ensure it passes the House – including delaying a vote Thursday – because his leadership is at stake.
House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday expended a tremendous amount of time and energy on a debt-ceiling bill that is doomed to fail, because his credibility as leader of the House depends upon it. If Mr. Boehner can't marshal his Republicans to back him on this crucial vote, he risks losing his leverage in the debt-ceiling endgame.
"If this were a parliamentary system, this would have been the equivalent of a no confidence vote," says Stan Collender, a longtime federal budget analyst and partner at Qorvis Communications in Washington.
Thursday afternoon GOP leaders delayed the vote on Boehner's debt-ceiling plan – typically a sign that they have yet to find the 217 votes needed to pass the bill. Even if the Boehner plan makes it through the House, however, Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada says that the has the votes to make sure it goes nowhere in the Senate. President Obama has threatened to veto it…. – CS Monitor, 7-28-11
JULY 28, 2011: BOEHNER DELAYS VOTE ON HOUSE DEBT PLAN — DEBT PLAN C EMERGES COMPROMISE BETWEEN BOEHNER HOUSE PLAND & REID'S SENATE PLAN
House Postpones Vote on Boehner's Debt Ceiling Plan: House Speaker John A. Boehner abruptly delayed an expected vote on Republican debt ceiling legislation late Thursday, shifting business on the House floor in the middle of the debt debate.
The delay came after House lawmakers had already began discussing the legislation that would set up a pivotal showdown between the House and the Senate over how to cut spending and increase the debt limit before the federal government loses its ability to borrow.
It was unclear whether the debate and vote on the legislation was delayed because Republicans did not feel that they had the votes to ensure its passage. — NYT, 7-28-11
"When the house takes action, the United States Senate will have no more excuses for inaction." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"It will be defeated. No Democrat will vote for a short-term Band-Aid that would put our economy at risk and put the nation back in this untenable situation a few short months from now." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Mitch McConnell: Democrat leaders and the President himself have endorsed every feature of this legislation except one: and that's the fact that it doesn't allow the President to avoid another national debate about spending and debt until after the next Presidential election. This assurance is the only thing the President and Senate Democrats are holding out for right now.
"We do not have the votes yet. But today is the day. We're going to get it passed." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"Harry Reid has three different options. One is to suffer the economic consequences of default, which all of us hope he doesn't choose. Two is to bring up the bill we sent prior … or to accept the compromise bill that we are sending over today." — Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader
Reid: Senate Will Vote Down House Short-Term Bill Tonight: "Today the House of Representatives will vote on Speaker Boehner's short-term plan to raise the debt ceiling. As soon as the House completes its vote, the Senate will move to take up that bill, and it will be defeated tonight. No Democrat will vote for a short-term Band-Aid that would put our economy at risk and put the nation back in this untenable situation a few short months from now.
Economists have said a short-term deal holds many of the same risks as a technical default. Democrats are not willing to put our economy on the line like that. Our economy and the financial markets desperately need stability. Speaker Boehner's bill does not provide it. It is time for Tea Party Republicans to stop resisting compromise. They must join Democrats and Republicans of good will in putting the good of our economy ahead of politics."
House GOP Postpones Vote on Boehner Debt Ceiling Plan: House Speaker John Boehner and his leadership team urged passage of their short-term debt limit increase Thursday, calling it a compromise that the Senate needs to pass, but delayed a scheduled vote on the bill…. – PBS Newshour, 7-28-11
Obama Preps Emergency Plan if No Deal Before Deadline: The Obama administration has begun making clear in the past 24 hours that it is busy preparing emergency plans for how the government would operate if no debt agreement is passed by Aug. 2, and choices would have to be made about which bills would be paid immediately…. – PBS Newshour, 7-28-11
Potential Debt Limit 'Plan C' Emerges, Democrats Say: Democratic officials are cautiously optimistic that the outlines of a potential compromise – a "Plan C" – are emerging that could bridge the differences between plans pushed by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
The officials said President Obama has spent the past couple of days quietly reaching out to leaders in both parties to try and start hammering out the details, though it's clear this is still only in the discussion phase and they are not close to a deal yet.
Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., hinted at such a compromise earlier Thursday during an interview on Fox News.
"Let me just say behind the scenes there are discussions underway to find a way forward," said Conrad. "To how would you harmonize what Leader Reid has come up with and Speaker Boehner has come up with and I'm increasingly of the view that we can do that. That's good news."
The focus of this round of talks is on what kind of "trigger" mechanism the debt ceiling legislation will have to guarantee that a new special committee of Congress actually follows up with real spending cuts later this year. And whether or not positive action by the committee will allow the president to get more leeway on another lift in the debt ceiling so there's no repeat of the current debate early next year…. – Fox News, 7-28-11
House leaders delay vote on GOP bill extending debt limit; vote still expected Thursday night: House Republican leaders have abruptly delayed a vote on a bill extending the government's debt limit and cutting federal spending.
House Speaker John Boehner's spokesman, Michael Steel, said it was "a sensible assumption" that Boehner was still trying to round up the needed votes. Steel said the vote would still happen Thursday night.
The House was nearing the end of its debate on the legislation when Republicans suddenly shifted gears. They instead moved to a bill renaming a post office in Peoria, Ill.
GOP leaders have been laboring to line up the 216 votes the debt bill would need to pass the House, and they have encountered opposition from some conservatives. There are 240 Republicans in the House. Few if any Democrats are expected to support the measure…. – AP, 7-28-11
House postpones debt-ceiling vote: House leaders have delayed a scheduled vote on the debt ceiling plan offered by House Speaker John A. Boehner, a possible acknowledgement that Republicans lacked the votes to ensure passage.
The postponement was announced just minutes before the planned 6 p.m. vote. The House instead moved to consider a far less controversial measure — to rename a post office in Peoria, Ill.
Republicans had been working throughout the day Thursday to lock down support for their plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling, even as Senate Democrats vowed to swiftly kill it if passed…. – LAT, 7-28-11
Snapshot: What is happening Thursday in debt crisis: The House of Representatives is set to vote on a Republican plan proposed by Speaker John Boehner to raise the debt ceiling in a two-step process that links any borrowing increase with spending cuts. If the measure passes the Republican-controlled House, Democrats vow to defeat it in the Senate using their majority in that chamber.
The vote in the House is tentatively scheduled between 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. EDT (2145 and 2215 GMT).
During a morning meeting with fellow Republicans, Boehner urges them to back his bill. Wavering lawmakers get resounding cheers as they stand up to say they will support it. Although several lawmakers say after the meeting they have changed their minds and would vote yes, the result is still likely to be very close as it is unclear how many will oppose Boehner's plan.
The chief Republican vote counter, Kevin McCarthy, declines to say whether the Boehner bill has enough votes to pass. "We're moving in the right direction. This conference has moved a great deal in a short amount of time," McCarthy says.
House Democrats also meet to discuss the latest Republican plan. The top Democratic House vote counter, Steny Hoyer, says his party would be close to unanimous against the bill.
White House spokesman Jay Carney calls Boehner's proposal a "political act" that would not pass the Senate. Carney urges lawmakers to work out a compromise.
Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid plans a vote in the Senate on Thursday night on the Boehner plan if it passes the House. "It will be defeated" in the Senate, Reid says…. – Reuters, 7-28-11
Speaker Boehner Faces His Biggest Test: When the House of Representatives votes on Speaker John Boehner's plan to cut the deficit by $917 billion over 10 years (according to that new handy Congressional Budget Office score he got Wednesday night) and immediately raise the debt ceiling by $900 billion (which will allow the government to avoid for default for roughly six months), it will, at once, represent the most meaningful vote of his term and an entirely meaningless vote in actually solving the looming debt ceiling deadline.
Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy have been getting their members in line in hopes of getting 217 "yeas" and passing the plan without any expected Democratic votes.
If Rep. Boehner loses this vote Thursday, he'll be widely viewed as a speaker who has no control over his rank and file. Most Hill observers anticipate the bill will pass, and questions about his ability to wrangle the conservative and Tea Party-backed freshmen will be put to rest, for now. That's what makes the vote so very meaningful.
However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Speaker Boehner on Wednesday night, signed by all 51 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them, explaining that the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate…. – PBS Newshour, 7-28-11
House Republicans challenge Senate Democrats: House of Representatives Republican leader Eric Cantor Thursday challenged the Democratic-led Senate to accept a House-passed bill raising the debt limit or suffer the consequences of default.
Cantor issued the challenge at a news conference just hours before the Republican-controlled House was tentatively set to vote on a revised proposal to reduce deficits and raise the debt ceiling short-term.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Senate Democrats would reject the revised plan crafted by Republican House Speaker John Boehner…. – Reuters, 7-28-11
Boehner Sees Passage of Debt Plan; Reid Vows to Kill It: The House and Senate headed for a pivotal showdown on Thursday evening over how to cut spending and increase the debt limit before the federal government loses its ability to borrow.
The House began debate and a vote was expected early this evening, with Republican leaders confident of winning over enough holdouts to pass their plan, which would make $900 billion in cuts, raise the debt ceiling for a few months, and come back for more of the same later. But Senate Democratic leaders said that if that happened they would waste no time rejecting the legislation.
Leaders of both parties and in both chambers said that it was essential to avoid a default on the federal debt, but that was practically all they agreed on.
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Senate Democrats would move immediately Thursday night to set aside the House proposal if it wins passage and then take steps to force a vote on Mr. Reid's own proposal to raise the debt limit through 2012 in exchange for more than $2 trillion in cuts. "No Democrat will vote for a short-term Band-Aid that would put our economy at risk and put the nation back in this untenable situation a few short months from now," Mr. Reid said.
But the House Republican leaders, all but declaring that they now had the votes in hand, said that would put blame for the continuing crisis on the Senate Democrats. "When the house takes action, the United States Senate will have no more excuses for inaction," said the House speaker, John A. Boehner, just before taking his bill to the floor for debate.
As they prepared to open debate, he and his fellow Republican leaders seemed confident that they would indeed pass the bill soon and send it to the Senate…. – NYT, 7-28-11
Rival Plans Avoid Tough Decisions: The two main deficit-reduction plans in the House and the Senate, which would tie cuts in federal spending to an increase in the debt limit, both defer tough decisions and rely heavily on procedural steps to impose fiscal discipline.
These devices include annual spending caps on selected government programs and a new Congressional panel to recommend additional savings — with no guarantee that Congress will enact the proposals.
At the center of the debate on Capitol Hill this week is the question whether the cuts are deep enough and the savings are genuine. To get a deal, Congressional leaders may need to add new enforcement measures to ensure that the promised savings are achieved.
In a weak economy, many economists and Obama administration officials say, Congress should not make sharp, immediate cuts in federal spending. The leading deficit-reduction plans defer major decisions about exactly how and where to cut…. – NYT, 7-28-11
House voting on GOP bill _ key step in debt fight: As Thursday's crucial vote neared, Republican leaders convinced a growing number of their fractious rank and file to support a House plan to stave off an unprecedented government default. Many of the chamber's GOP freshmen, crucial to passage, were climbing aboard, but leaders stopped short of claiming victory.
If the House approved the bill, it would bring President Barack Obama and congressional leaders a step closer to endgame efforts for a debt-limit solution before Tuesday's deadline.
At an afternoon news conference, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the House would act on legislation that he called "a sincere, honest effort to end this crisis." Rival Democratic leaders moved ahead on the assumption that Boehner would prevail in rallying Republicans to back the legislation…. – AP, 7-28-11
Boehner won't say if his bill is House's final offer: Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) implored the Senate to take up his debt-limit bill but pointedly refused to say whether it would be the House's final offer before a potential U.S. default on Aug. 2.
"We have a reasonable, responsible bill that was put together with the bipartisan leadership of the United States Senate, and I would hope that they would take it up," Boehner said Thursday at a press conference with House Republican leaders. "There is no reason for them to say no. It is time for somebody in this town to say yes," Boehner added.
Asked if the House would remain in session over the weekend — when it would potentially consider Senate revisions to Boehner's bill — the Speaker replied: "Sure." He did not answer directly when asked if the House would consider a different version from the Senate.
A Boehner spokesman, Michael Steel, said after the press conference: "We believe that once we pass the Budget Control Act, the only responsible course of action will be for the Senate to pass it and the president to sign it — which will end this crisis."
The House will vote on Boehner's bill around 6 p.m. Thursday, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said the upper chamber will immediately take up and "defeat" the measure if it passes the House…. – The Hill, 7-28-11
Boehner: House debt plan is not perfect but is 'doable and signable': House Speaker John Boehner says his plan mixing spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit is not perfect but is as large a step that a divided government can take that's "doable and signable" by President Barack Obama.
The Ohio Republican says the measure is an honest and sincere attempt at compromise and was negotiated with Democrats last weekend and that passing it would end the ongoing debt crisis. The plan blends $900 billion-plus in spending cuts with a companion increase in the nation's borrowing cap.
But the White House has promised a veto since the measure also would require another debt limit increase early next year and Senate Democrats vow to kill the measure tonight. Boehner declined to say whether further compromise was possible…. – AP, 7-28-11
Advantage Boehner: Enough conservatives in the House appear to have decided that it's down to the Boehner plan versus the Reid plan and that the speaker's proposal is the lesser of two evils.
After hours of arm-twisting yesterday within his GOP caucus, the betting is that House Speaker John Boehner's debt ceiling bill will prevail by a whisker without any Democratic support. The House has scheduled a vote for today.
As recently as Tuesday, the speaker's plan appeared to be a sure loser, and the pressure applied by Mr. Boehner and his troops to cajole members into voting for it has bruised some feelings. But now even most freshman tea party members appear to be on board. We are told that The Journal's Wednesday editorial "The GOP's Reality Test" helped to turn the tide. So did other conservative voices, including National Review, which called the Boehner plan a "worthy framework," and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, who advised members to "keep an open mind."
Conservatives in the House successfully urged Mr. Boehner to add more savings and get rid of budget tricks. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the revised plan will save about $917 billion over 10 years.
Meanwhile, a Democratic debt ceiling proposal from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was exposed as using fuzzy math. CBO's analysis found that about a half-trillion dollars of Mr. Reid's advertised savings were from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — savings that are speculative at best.
Enough conservatives in the House appear to have decided that it's down to the Boehner plan versus the Reid plan and that the speaker's proposal is the lesser of two evils. Moving the Boehner plan through the House increases the chances of "bigger spending cuts," said GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of California.
Mr. Boehner conceded that his plan "isn't perfect," but he told colleagues that it's the best the GOP could hope for with "a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Democrat in the White House." Tea party Republicans, who still feel burned by the false budget… – WSJ, 7-28-11
In debt ceiling fight, Boehner lays himself on the line: Much is at stake for the House speaker and the Republican Party as he tries to persuade unruly GOP lawmakers to back his debt ceiling plan…. – LAT, 7-28-11
John McCain derides 'tea party hobbits' in debt ceiling fight: The Arizona senator says conservatives would end up helping reelect President Obama if they reject the House Republican plan to raise the debt ceiling…. – LAT, 7-28-11
Boehner and Cantor To Reid: Pass Our New Bill, Pass Cut Cap N' Balance, Or Face Default: The Republican leadership in Congress, with Speaker of the House John Boehner and Representative Eric Cantor at the head, told the nation that they are ready to pass their revised plan through the House and to the Senate. They told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid the fate of the nation was on his hands, with Cantor telling him he had three options, sit back and watch the U.S. collapse, accept the new bill, or accept prior Cut, Cap, and Balance bill.
Every time that it seems like resolution is drawing near, both parties make sure to remind the nation that the political show is more important than the nation's finances. In their latest public appearance, Republicans said time is up, urging Senate Democrats to pass their bill and get on with running the country, without ever recognizing that as both sides blame the other for not passing their own bill, they are both being equally stubborn…. – Forbes, 7-28-11
Key debt-ceiling votes loom in Congress as deadline nears: With the high-stakes vote just hours away, House Republican leaders on Thursday made a last-ditch effort to lock down support for their plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling, expressing measured confidence that they could persuade skeptical conservatives to get onboard.
"We're not there yet, we don't have the votes yet. But today is the day," House Speaker John Boehner told members at a morning meeting, according to a GOP source who was not authorized to discuss the private conversation.
But even as Republican leaders hunted for votes, Senate Democrats announced plans to put the brakes on the House bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said his chamber would vote Thursday night — immediately after the House — to block the Boehner bill…. – Chicago Tribune, 7-28-11
Debt ceiling talks: House to vote on John Boehner's budget deficit plan to avoid government default: House Speaker John Boehner was scrambling Thursday morning to line up the needed GOP support to pass his debt ceiling plan, which is set to be voted on later this evening.
"We do not have the votes yet," Boehner admitted to Republicans during a closed-door meeting, Politico.com reported. "But today is the day. We're going to get it passed."
Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and their leadership whips fanned out across Capitol Hill to convince, cajole and brow-beat fiscal Tea Party hawks to back the measure.
Deep divides within the Republican Party threatened to derail the Speaker's proposal earlier this week, though an emerging civil war seemed to subside as many members warmed up to the plan…. – NY Daily News, 7-28-11
Republican division casts doubt on debt plan: The White House threatened Tuesday to veto legislation pending in the House of Representatives to avert a threatened default, a pre-emptive strike issued as Republican leaders of the lower chamber labored to line up enough votes to pass the measure.
House Speaker John Boehner faced criticism from some conservatives in advance of an expected vote on Wednesday…. – AP, 7-28-11
Boehner: 'Beyond My Control' How Ratings Agencies Treat My Debt Limit Plan: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) doesn't sound all that confident that his debt limit bill would pass the smell test with credit ratings agencies, all of which are watching this debate closely.
At his weekly Capitol briefing, a reporter asked him if he believed his legislation, if enacted would allow the U.S. to maintain its AAA credit rating. Boehner wouldn't bite. "That is beyond my control," he said. "All I know is that this bipartisan bill is as large a step as we're able to take at this point in time that is doable, and signable and to become law."
In a strictly literal sense, this is true — it's not within his power to determine what Moody's or S&P does whenever this standoff ends. It's also worth noting that what the ratings agencies do is often inscrutable, can be arbitrary, and is not immune to outside pressures, as we saw in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But it's a stretch for him to suggest his actions have no influence over what the agencies do: if he'd agreed to a "grand bargain" with President Obama, he'd confidently be able to predict the country's current rating would stand. If his plan didn't portend yet more debt limit brinksmanship in a few months, he'd be on firmer ground than he is now.
Boehner did tacitly acknowledge that his plan might change, though. Pressed whether his debt limit bill is a "take it or leave it" proposition for Democrats, Boehner would only say, "we have a reasonable responsible approach, there is no reason for anyone to object to it." Asked whether the House would be in session this weekend, after (presumably) passing his plan, he said "sure."… – TPM, 7-28-11
US Congress can work with lightning speed on debt compromise: The U.S. Congress, known for moving painfully slowly, can kick into high gear when it is staring down a deadline important to the entire country — or when lawmakers are approaching their cherished August recess.
Luckily for those who want to see Congress promptly raise the the United States' borrowing limit after months of squabbling, both of those conditions are now in play. Members of Congress have two key dates foremost in their minds right now: Aug. 2 and Aug. 5…. – Reuters, 7-28-11
Asian Shares End Mostly Lower; US Debt Ceiling Concerns Weigh: Most Asian markets ended lower Thursday, amid growing concern the U.S. will be unable to resolve an impasse in negotiations on raising its debt ceiling, which could spur a credit downgrade or even a debt default.
"The scary part of the story is the fact that markets have not priced-in the U.S. defaulting on its debt. Should the unthinkable happen in the next week then a throw back to the chaos of 2008 would again become a reality," said CMC Markets analyst Ben Le Brun…. – WSJ, 7-28-11
Could Boehner and Reid plans both hurt recovery?: With the House looking more likely to pass Speaker John Boehner's debt ceiling bill today, and with Harry Reid pushing his own plan, it's worth asking: How would each of their plans impact the economy?
From the point of view of helping the economy recover, this is idiotic. For Republicans, of course, increased unemployment and lower GDP increase the possibility of Obama being a one term president. The reason few people are stating the obvious — that there's something oddly masochistic about harming the economy at time when so many are unemployed — is that both sides are pushing plans that could damage the recovery. That's because we're trapped in a Beltway Deficit Feedback Loop, where no one's talking about unemployment and everyone's talking about the deficit…. – WaPo, 7-28-11
Analysis: U.S. may be entering age of political deadlock: The debt limit impasse in Washington, where a polarized Congress is struggling to avert an imminent U.S. default, points to a deeper crisis — America may be entering an age of political paralysis.
President Barack Obama's ability to get any significant legislation passed before next November's election is all but gone and whoever sits in the White House in 2013 will likely face a Congress unable to tackle major issues.
A crisis of governance — born of decades of gerrymandering, polarization and exploding deficits — could persist in the short term and may last for a decade, said James Thurber of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.
"We're in deep trouble. We are going to have continued gridlock. It's an era of deadlocked government during a period when the economy is not doing well and we are not doing well internationally," Thurber said.
"The world is looking to us for mature decision-making and they are not seeing it. We're in a situation which is unique in our history. And it's a very serious situation."… – Reuters, 7-28-11
JULY 27, 2011: AS JOHN BOEHNER REIGNS IN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, HARRY REID PROMISES ALL SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE AGAINST HOUSE DEBT PLAN
"I didn't put my neck on the line and go toe to toe with Obama to not have an army behind me." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"There are only three possible outcomes in this battle: President Obama gets his blank check; America defaults; or we call the president's bluff by coming together and passing a bill that cuts spending and can pass in the United States Senate. There is no other option." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"The fact is, Republicans have offered the only proposal at this point that attempts to get at the root of the problem, and which actually has a chance of getting to the president's desk." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
"The bottom line is there's only one bill in Congress that's a true compromise. We're running out of time, and it's time to get serious about finding that compromise." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"Get your ass in line. I can't do this job unless you're behind me." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's letter to Speaker Boehner on Wednesday night, signed by all 51 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them, explaining that the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate. — Reid.Senate.gov, 7-27-11
Debt ceiling: How would investors react to a default?: As the Aug. 2 debt deadline approaches, investors can envision everything from the stock market dropping like a rock to the economy shrinking as government vendors lay off thousands of workers…. – CS Monitor, 7-27-11
Debt-ceiling plans face CBO fire: Does either cut as much as promised?: Added to the political question of whether either one of the competing debt-limit plans can pass Congress is a practical question from the nonpartisan CBO: How much will they cut the deficit?… – CS Monitor, 7-27-11
Boehner's debt ceiling plan has no Democratic votes, says Harry Reid: Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Wednesday that no Democrat in the Senate would vote for Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan should it pass the House, where it's come under fire from conservatives groups and tea-party lawmakers for not going far enough to cut spending.
The plan is a "big, wet kiss to the right wing," Reid said at a packed Capitol Hill news conference. The entire 53-member Democratic caucus signed a letter opposing Boehner's plan.
Democratic leaders also signaled that a final deal will have to be worked out behind closed doors between leaders of the two parties, while Senate Republicans weighed whether to mount a filibuster against Reid's rival proposal if it becomes the last option on the table to avert a catastrophic default before Tuesday's deadline.
Seeking to exploit fissures in Boehner's caucus, Democrats repeatedly called on the Ohio Republican to scrap his plan to cut the deficit and hike the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit in two phases by next year. Reid's plan would also slice the deficit but would raise the government's borrowing limit through the 2012 elections…. – Politico, 7-27-11
On Boehner's debt-ceiling bill, Democrats expecting few defectors: Few Democrats — if any — are expected to break ranks and vote for Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan Thursday.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer has been urging Democrats to oppose Boehner's proposal, which would bump up the debt ceiling in two increments – a chief Democratic complaint. Two members of Hoyer's whip team said Wednesday that they believe Democrats will stick together to oppose the plan, which could come up for a vote as early as Thursday.
A Democratic leadership aide was more confident: "Hoyer has been whipping against the Boehner bill very hard. No Democrats will vote for it."
There were signs of the proposal gaining traction within House Republicans on Wednesday. After a blunt speech Wednesday morning in which he told his rank-and-file to "get your ass in line," Boehner and House GOP leaders had gained several new "yes" votes for the plan. And freshmen appeared to be coalescing around it…. – Politico, 7-27-11
In Both Houses, Fortifying Support for Rival Plans: House Republicans and Senate Democrats gained substantial support on Wednesday within party ranks for their separate plans to resolve a looming debt crisis, but the momentum seemed to be pushing both sides further from a compromise.
Tea Party activists have been adamant about deep budget cuts. A small group of them gathered June 27 on Capitol Hill.
It was a day in which Capitol Hill seemed to operate in alternate realities: Republicans in the House sharing near universal belief that the Senate will eventually cave and accept their plan, and Senate Democrats assured that they will have the last word over the weekend and ultimately force the hand of the House.
As the House headed for a vote on Thursday, Congressional officials suggested that Senate leaders from both parties were keeping an open line for a potential compromise they could both brook. So far no such agreement appeared likely, and the Senate moved toward its own series of votes that could run through the weekend and perhaps into Monday, just one day short of the Aug. 2 date that the White House has insisted is the deadline for extending the debt ceiling for paying the nation's bills…. – NYT, 7-27-11
With G.O.P. Unity at Risk, Boehner Tries Tougher Style: Speaker John A. Boehner is a laid-back leader who likes to say that his role is to let the House work its will. But with the nation's economic standing and his own political future at risk, Mr. Boehner jettisoned his usual laissez-faire approach on Wednesday.
"I didn't put my neck on the line and go toe to toe with Obama to not have an army behind me," Mr. Boehner declared at a private party meeting, according to some House members. He demanded the fealty of conservatives who were threatening to sink his budget proposal and deny him the chance to confront the Senate with a take-it-or-leave offer on a debt ceiling increase.
Mr. Boehner really had no choice but to go all out. A defeat of that plan — which seemed likely Tuesday night before its prospects improved Wednesday — would have been a disastrous repudiation, in effect a stinging vote of no confidence in him…. – NYT, 7-27-11
States nervously watch debt-ceiling impasse: The U.S. government's stalemate over raising the debt limit is taking a growing toll on states as Tuesday's deadline draws near, with some canceling bond sales and identifying roadwork and other expenditures that could be delayed.
"As the deadline to Aug. 2 comes closer, people are really, really worried," says Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers.
A failure by Congress to raise the $14.3 trillion federal debt limit would lower the nation's credit rating and raise borrowing costs for states as well as 7,000 cities, counties, universities and non-profits. That's partly because many interest rates — for everything from municipal bonds to mortgages — are benchmarked to U.S. Treasuries…. – USA Today, 7-27-11
President revs up PR in debt-ceiling debate: As House Republicans slog toward a Thursday vote on raising the debt ceiling, President Obama and his staff have hit the airwaves in a massive, all-hands-on-deck public-relations effort to turn the tide of political opinion in their favor. All told, the president has addressed the press on five different occasions since July 11.
He has also dispatched his top aides — from senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Plouffe to White House press secretary Jay Carney and economic adviser Gene Sperling — to appear on TV and make his case for a more balanced approach to deficit cutting…. – The Hill, 7-27-11
Debt ceiling talks between Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell: Taking square aim at the White House, Republicans prepared to bring to a House vote Thursday a two-step $2.5 trillion debt ceiling bill that will avert default next week but threatens more conflict — and renewed instability — in six months.
Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remain in conversation over how to defuse the building confrontation before the threat of default next week. But with stocks falling again Wednesday, the fight between Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama has become so personal that each side says the other needs to find some way to save face before reaching a deal.
Fifty-three senators, 51 Democrats and two independents, signed a letter to Boehner on Wednesday vowing to oppose the House bill. But the speaker is unapologetic about his intentions to use the default crisis to try to jam the Senate. And at a GOP conference Wednesday morning, he enlisted conservatives to be his "army" after he had stood "toe to toe" with the president and put his "neck on the line" for them…. – Politico, 7-27-11
Boehner tries to tame GOP on debt ceiling plan: A dust up among a major House conservative bloc and the prospect of tens of billions of dollars in new spending cuts has Republican leadership feeling as if it quelled an uprising on the right after struggling to line up votes for much of the week.
Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California and Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam of Illinois continued their hard sell of a two-step debt-limit package, meeting in Capitol offices to close the deal and avoid a default on the nation's $14.3 trillion debt.
In a closed-door Republican Conference meeting on Wednesday, Boehner demanded his wavering members "get your ass in line" to back his proposal, and some members obliged. Michigan Rep. Thad McCotter, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, switched from voting no to yes during the 90-minute session. Reps. Blake Farenthold of Texas, Billy Long of Missouri and Jeff Denham of California are now backing the speaker's plan, as are Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, Nan Hayworth of New York and Dan Lungren of California. Lungren even got up during the meeting and likened Boehner to Ronald Reagan, the conservative icon who was president during Lungren's first stint in the House. Other hard "no" voters have flipped to leaning no or even undecided.
But despite having momentum on their side, Boehner and his top lieutenants don't have a big margin for error. Few, if any, Democrats are expected to vote for the debt ceiling package, so Republicans must cobble together 217 votes on their own. They can lose just 23 lawmakers and still pass it. As of press time, at least a dozen lawmakers were whipping "no."… – Politico, 7-27-11
Short-term debt deal poses severe political risks for Obama: Kicking the US deficit can down the road will solve the problem now, but could ruin Obama's second term… – The Guardian UK, 7-28-11
JULY 27, 2011: CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS MOUNT OPPOSITION TO JOHN BOEHNER'S DEBT PLAN THREATENING ITS PASSAGE IN CONGRESS
S.&P. 500-Stock Index Closes Down 2 Percent: Stocks fell sharply on Wall Street as the impasse over lifting the nation's debt limit wore on in Washington. In addition, economic statistics were disappointing and some companies delivered corporate earnings fell short of expectations.
The broad stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index, was down more than 2 percent, while the Dow Jones industrial average of 30 stocks lost nearly 200 points, or about 1.6 percent. During the trading session, the technology-heavy Nasdaq index fell as low as 3 percent but closed down 2.65 percent.
"This is the bill. I can't do this job unless you're behind me…. So get your ass in line." — Speaker John Boehner told a private meeting of House Republicans, Politico.com reported.
"Members are rallying around the speaker's plan, and we're going forward." — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor: The House will cut spending. We will hold the line on taxes. With your help we will change Washington, and get government out of the way so America's economy can grow.
"To hold out and say we won't agree to raising the debt limit until we pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the constitution. It's unfair, it's bizarre. And maybe some people have only been in this body for six or seven months or so really believe that. Others know better." — Senator John McCain's, R-AZ
"Why are we voting on measures that have no chance of becoming law?" — White House Press Secretary Jay Carney
"We're running out of time. It's time to get serious about finding a compromise…. It's too bad his caucus is being run by such a small number of people. [House Republicans] are struggling to save a Tea Party bill… The way to resolve this crisis is to ignore the extremists and meet in the middle of the road." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"As we speak, Congressional staff are looking at options to adjust the legislation to meet our pledge. This is what can happen when you have an actual plan and submit it for independent review — which the Democrats who run Washington have refused to do." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"I am confident as of this morning that there are not 218 Republicans in support of the plan." — Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio
Snapshot: Developments in debt talks: House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in the U.S. Congress, is reworking his deficit reduction proposal after some conservatives in his party rejected it and an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found it would save $350 billion less than the $1.2 trillion over 10 years he had claimed.
House Republicans meet behind closed doors to discuss the emerging new Boehner plan. Some House Republicans who had been leaning against previous versions say they now are leaning in favor of a reworked Boehner plan that is to match any debt limit increase with an equal amount of spending cuts.
A separate plan crafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, is being tweaked after a budget analysis found it would cut $2.2 trillion from deficits, about $500 billion less than claimed. Democrats want at least a $2.4 trillion debt limit hike to provide enough borrowing authority through the November 2012 elections. They are trying to match that number with an equal amount of deficit reduction, a key Republican demand…. – Reuters, 7-27-11
Boehner Debt-Limit Plan Gaining Support as Aug. 2 Deadline Nears: House Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the U.S. debt ceiling was gaining support among fellow Republicans as leaders reworked the legislation, while Senate Democrats said the measure won't pass their chamber.
Republican leaders are moving ahead with plans to vote on the measure tomorrow, less than week before a potential U.S. default Aug. 2, and sought to ease party members' concerns that it wouldn't do enough to cut spending.
The urgency of the debate was reflected in rhetoric on Capitol Hill as well as market reaction to the appearance of what presidential adviser Gene Sperling termed a "stalemate."… – Bloomberg, 7-27-11
GOPers blast Republican Study Committee staffer Paul Teller for undermining John Boehner debt plan: The GOP's civil war over the debt limit exploded Wednesday, with rank-and-filers calling for the scalp of the Republican Study Committee's top staffer.
The aide, Paul Teller, was slammed for sending emails encouraging conservative groups to lobby against House Speaker John Boehner's debt ceiling proposal, The Hill newspaper reported.
Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the RSC, apologized for Teller's emails in a closed-door meeting with other Republican congressmen.
Some lawmakers began to chant, "fire him, fire him!," in reference to Teller, the executive director of the RSC, Politico reported.
Teller and other RSC aides had sent an email to outside groups urging them to "kill the Boehner deal." It identified lawmakers for the conservative organizations to target.
"We need statements coming up to the Hill every hour of the day in mounting opposition to the plan. If we keep this from ever coming to the floor, we have a greater chance of victory than defeating a vote on the floor," the e-mail read.
The RSC is a caucus of more than 170 Republican House members, and is widely known for its conservative politics…. – NY Daily News, 7-27-11
Democrats reject Boehner plan as Republicans try to build support for it: As Republicans in the House put more support behind a plan from Speaker John Boehner to solve the debt crisis, Senate Democrats and the White House are rejecting it as a non-starter and a waste of time.
Republican leaders are working to line up support for Boehner's proposal, which is being reworked after budget analysts found that it would cut spending by less than the $1.2 trillion that he estimated.
GOP Congressman Mike Rogers says Republicans are gravitating toward it "in a big way." Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell says it's the only way to avoid default without raising taxes.
But the plan is drawing fire from Democrats and from the right. Tea party activists are urging Boehner to reject any deal that doesn't include steep spending cuts — even if the U.S. defaults. One tea party group is even calling on Boehner to step down.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, whose rival proposal would deliver budget savings of more than $2 trillion, says he'll wait and see what the House does before bringing his plan to a vote…. – AP, 7-27-11
Boehner Asks GOP for Unity on His Debt Plan: Faced with a conservative Republican rebellion, House Speaker John Boehner asked for Republican unity Wednesday, saying he needed "an army" standing behind him to support his plan to raise the debt ceiling and reduce the deficit.
Mr. Boehner made the plea during a closed meeting of House Republican lawmakers, a senior Republican aide said, a day after the speaker abruptly postponed a vote on the measure scheduled for Wednesday.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) also defended Boehner's plan, saying in the meeting that he was tired of hearing Republicans criticizing other Republicans on cable television. He told lawmakers "we all need to rally together," the aide said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) also endorsed the Boehner plan during a Senate floor speech.
Several Republicans emerged from the Wednesday morning meeting saying they believed momentum has shifted toward Mr. Boehner's plan. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), head of the conservative Republican Study Committee, had said Tuesday morning he was "confident" the Boehner bill would fail. On Wednesday, he declined to repeat that assertion. "I don't know where the votes are today,"? Mr. Jordan said after the morning session. "I just know that I'm against the bill."
The delayed vote on the Boehner plan added further confusion less than a week before a possible government default. It was a setback for GOP leaders who had promoted Mr. Boehner's plan as the best way to raise the debt ceiling while cutting the deficit. House Republican leaders said they hoped to bring Mr. Boehner's plan to a vote on Thursday…. – WSJ, 7-27-11
CBO: Democrats' debt bill tops GOP's in spending cuts: The Senate Democratic debt-limit bill would cut future spending by $2.2 trillion over 10 years — much deeper than the House GOP alternative, according to figures Congress' chief scorekeeper released early Wednesday.
The Congressional Budget Office said the plan by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would raise the government's borrowing limit by $2.7 trillion, and cut $2.2 trillion from future spending, chiefly by limiting the amount of money spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
House Speaker John A. Boehner's plan, meanwhile, would produce just $850 billion in savings, versus $900 billion in new debt authority, according to a CBO analysis released late Tuesday. That sent the Ohio Republican back to the drawing board to rewrite his bill to try to meet his own pledge of topping any debt increase dollar-for-dollar with new spending cuts.
The CBO analysis could give momentum to Mr. Reid's plan, though the GOP says spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was going to drop anyway, and so shouldn't be considered as future savings.
A Boehner aide said CBO also added in savings from future interest payments that would no longer need to be made on that "phantom" war-spending reduction.
And the aide said Mr. Reid's bill now violates the dollar-for-dollar goal Mr. Boehner laid out and that Mr. Reid said he accepted. CBO's score shows that even including the war cost reductions, the cuts fall half a trillion dollars short of the $2.7 trillion debt increase…. – Washington Times, 7-27-11
War of words continues as debt limit deadline nears: With less than a week to go before the Obama administration's August 2 deadline for raising the national debt limit, Democrats and Republicans continue to spar over the relative merits of two separate proposals – one Republican, one Democratic – and a bipartisan agreement appears far from the horizon.
Leaders from both parties continued on Wednesday to push for their own plan while lambasting the other. Neither House Speaker John Boehner's Republican proposal nor Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Democratic plan, however, appears to have the necessary votes to pass through Congress.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Reid argued that the Democratic plan was the only "true compromise" on the table, and urged lawmakers to rally around it. "We're running out of time," he told reporters. "It's time to get serious about finding a compromise." The Boehner plan, Reid argued, did not qualify as anything more than a "big wet kiss" to the Tea Party – and he pledged that "every Democratic senator will vote against" it. "It's too bad his caucus is being run by such a small number of people," Reid said, of Boehner. "[House Republicans] are struggling to save a Tea Party bill… The way to resolve this crisis is to ignore the extremists and meet in the middle of the road."
Even as Democrats blast Boehner for putting forth a plan they say caters heavily to the Tea Party, the conservative movement is, in fact, speaking out against the GOP bill – and many believe Tea Party-oriented lawmakers could prevent its passage in the House.
"I am confident as of this morning that there are not 218 Republicans in support of the plan," Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said in a Tuesday morning press briefing…. – CBS News, 7-27-11
GOP Retools Plan as Congress Seeks Debt Fix: Six days away from a potentially calamitous government default, House Republicans appeared to be coalescing Wednesday around a work-in-progress plan by House Speaker John Boehner to increase the U.S. borrowing limit and chop $1 trillion in federal spending. But the measure got a thumbs-down from both Senate Democrats and tea party activists, a telling illustration of the difficult politics along the pathway to a deal.
Democrats and Republicans alike tried to claim the moral high ground in a standoff that has put financial markets on edge. Stocks were falling again Wednesday.
Boehner, R-Ohio, set out to retool his plan after nonpartisan analysts in the Congressional Budget Office said it would cut spending less than he had estimated — about $850 billion over 10 years rather than $1.2 trillion. GOP leaders planned a House vote Thursday on the reworked plan.
"We're moving in his direction in a big way today," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said of Boehner's plan. Rogers and others cited changes being made in the bill to make sure spending cuts exceed added borrowing authority, and the fact that the House would soon vote on a balanced budget plan.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said only Boehner's plan would resolve the crisis "in a way that will allow us to avoid default without raising taxes and to cut spending budget gimmicks."
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., dismissed the speaker's plan as a short-term measure that would leave the economy on shaky ground. He said it would not get one Democratic vote in the Senate, dooming it to failure and was merely "a big wet kiss for the right wing." "It's not Democrats who have asked for a long-term solution," Reid said. "It's the economy. The economy has demanded it." Reid was asked if there was a "drop-dead date" for a deal to pass the House, be amended by the Senate and reach President Barack Obama in time to avoid default. "Magic things can happen here in Congress in a very short period of time under the right circumstances," he said…. – AP, 7-27-11
John Boehner tries to rally Republicans to his debt plan: House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) appealed in unusually aggressive terms to his wavering GOP colleagues in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday morning with just a week left to go until the debt ceiling must be raised or the country will default on its obligations.
At a meeting of GOP House members, the embattled Republican leader told his colleagues, many of whom had vowed to oppose his two-step bill to raise the debt limit that is expected hit the floor as soon as Thursday, to "get your ass in line."
The meeting came as Boehner scrambled to rewrite his legislation the morning after a Congressional Budget Office analysis showed his plan would cut the deficit less than advertised.
In a closed-door meeting for the House GOP Conference in the basement of the Capitol, Boehner worked to rally support from skeptical conservatives, who have been subjected to intense pressure from tea party groups and others who say Boehner's plan will not impose the kind of structural reform Republicans promised when they took control of the House in 2010.
With few options on the table except the plan advanced by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), some of those conservatives now seem inclined to finally fall in line behind their leader.
Republican leaders told the group that they need to stay united and rally around the bill. Boehner also said his bill will be rewritten to either cut more from the deficit or to raise the debt ceiling by less than the $900 billion he had proposed earlier this week…. – WaPo, 7-27-11
Boehner To Tea Party: 'Get Your Ass In Line': A frustrated House Speaker John Boehner had a blunt message Wednesday for his cavalier Tea Party colleagues: "Get your ass in line" behind the GOP's debt ceiling plan.
"This is the bill," Boehner told a private meeting of House Republicans, Politico.com reported. "I can't do this job unless you're behind me."
Boehner believes Senate Democrats will cave if Republicans in the House can rally behind his nearly $1 trillion proposal to raise the nation's debt limit ahead of an Aug. 2 deadline, when the Treasury will run out of money to pay all its bills. So "get your ass in line," Boehner demanded.
His spanking of rank-and-file Republicans came after it looked like an all-out war was erupting within the House GOP, which has nearly 100 Tea Party fiscal hawks. Many Tea Party-backed conservatives insist Boehner's debt plan is too soft…. – NY Daily News, 7-27-11
Democrats say Obama should invoke 14th Amendment: House Democrats said Wednesday that President Barack Obama should invoke a little-known constitutional provision to prevent the nation from going into default if Congress fails to come up with a plan to raise the debt ceiling.
Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, a member of the Democratic leadership, said he told fellow Democrats that Obama should both veto any House GOP plan for a short-term extension of the debt ceiling and invoke the 14th amendment, which says that the validity of the nation's public debt "shall not be questioned."
The White House has rejected resorting to this tactic to keep the nation from defaulting, questioning its legality, but Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, who chairs the Democratic caucus, said "we're getting down to decision time" and "we have to have a failsafe mechanism and we believe that failsafe mechanism is the 14th Amendment and the president of the United States."
Larson said Clyburn's proposal on the 14th Amendment was met with applause by other Democrats at their meeting…. – AP, 7-27-11
Administration: Aug. 2 remains critical deadline: Some private economists are suggesting the Treasury may have enough money on hand to pay the government's bills for another two weeks beyond an early August deadline for Congress to raise the debt ceiling. But the Obama administration insisted on Tuesday that it will run out of maneuvering room after Aug. 2.
The projection of private analysts is based on the fact that currently the government is sitting on a large amount of cash — $88.5 billion at the close of business on Monday.
Many analysts believe that this money could be used to meet obligations that are coming due if Congress doesn't raise the borrowing limit by the Aug. 2 deadline.
Economists at several financial firms, including HSBC Securities and Wrightson Research, said that the government may have enough cash on hand to make it until Aug. 15, two weeks beyond the current deadline…. – AP, 7-26-11
Speaker Boehner's unconventional sales pitch: More than two years later, Boehner has a new title, speaker of the House. But he has the same problem: He has defined himself as a leader who doesn't twist arms, instead letting his rank-and-file follow their own consciences. But that strategy has left Boehner struggling to control his flock at the moments he needs it most.
For Boehner, 61, the past week has likely been the hardest of his seven months as speaker. After leading Republicans into a battle over the national debt ceiling, he now seemingly cannot find a way out of that fight.
On Wednesday, Boehner and other GOP leaders were furiously trying to persuade conservatives to support the speaker's proposal to raise the debt ceiling while cutting spending. After a morning meeting — in which the speaker broke with his usual genial demeanor and told Republicans to "get your ass in line" — there were some signs that holdouts were being persuaded.
Thursday's vote, then, will be a key test of a political persona that Boehner has been cultivating over two decades in Congress…. – WaPo, 7-27-11
Q. and A. on the Debt Ceiling: For a time it seemed safe for many people going about their summers to try to ignore the debt ceiling drama playing out in Washington. If Wall Street so far has not seemed overly concerned that the United States was headed toward default, why should anyone else worry? And there is the long history of crying wolf in Washington: in April everyone finally got up to speed on the threatened shutdown of the federal government just in time to see it averted by an 11th-hour deal.
But now, palms in Washington are beginning to get sweaty and President Obama is breaking into "The Bachelorette" to address the nation about the debt crisis. Perhaps the time has finally come for a crash course in all things debt ceiling…. – NYT, 7-27-11
Analysis: Obama's leadership image on the line in debt saga: President Barack Obama's credibility as a leader hangs in the balance along with America's gold-plated credit rating as he strives to break a debt impasse with Republicans and avoid a ruinous default.
Even if a deal to raise the debt limit emerges ahead of an August 2 deadline — just six days away — Obama faces a risk of being perceived as weak if he appears too willing to make concessions.
The political fallout for Obama could be far greater if there is no agreement. A default and government-debt downgrade could send the U.S. economy into another recession, potentially dooming Obama's prospects for re-election in 2012.
That makes the crisis especially difficult for Obama to navigate and gives Republican lawmakers a fair amount of leverage as they push for steep spending cuts in exchange for raising the legal limit on the country's borrowing.
"When you're running for re-election, you want to have a strong leadership image," said Stephen Wayne, a professor of government at Georgetown University. "The longer there is no resolution, the weaker the president looks." "He's got to do something to get an agreement or to state his position so clearly that he can blame the opposition party for not adhering to it," Wayne added.
Obama could reap political gains if Republicans are perceived as overplaying their hand. Polls so far show a mixed impact of the crisis on Obama…. – Reuters, 7-27-11
JULY 26, 2011: BOEHNER DELAYS HOUSE DEBT VOTE AS TEA PARTY REPUBLICANS BALK FROM THE PLAN
Boehner delays debt vote: House Republicans have delayed a vote on their bill to lift the debt ceiling as they scrambled Tuesday night to rewrite portions of the measure to ensure that accompanying spending cuts were large enough, according to three senior GOP aides. Budget analysts said hours earlier the plan would only create $850 billion in savings as opposed to the sought-after $1.2 trillion. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the vote could now happen Thursday.
"As we speak, Congressional staff are looking at options to adjust the legislation to meet our pledge. This is what can happen when you have an actual plan and submit it for independent review — which the Democrats who run Washington have refused to do." — Speaker of the House John Boehner in a Statement
Speaker Boehner on GOP Spending Cut Plan: "It's Reasonable, It's Responsible, It Can Pass": At a press conference with Republican leaders today, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) urged President Obama to support Republicans' common-sense, two-step plan to cut spending and prevent a national default. Following are text and video of Speaker Boehner's remarks:
"I think I made it pretty clear last night: the President is looking for a blank check. We have a bill that is a reasonable approach negotiated with the Senate leadership that really is commonsense. There's more cuts in spending than you have an increase in the debt limit. There's real caps and a real process for cutting spending before the end of this year. And it provides for – I think – the best effort to get a Balanced Budget Amendment enacted into the Constitution.
"It's reasonable, it's responsible, it can pass the House and it can pass the Senate – and I hope the President will consider signing it into law."
"President Obama has run up a dangerous amount of debt since taking office, and I greatly appreciate Speaker Boehner for courageously leading the fight to stop him from running up even more. Speaker Boehner has now put forth two plans; that would be exactly two plans more than what the President has offered. The debt limit is a line in the sand where Republicans can force the tough decisions to fix our nation's finances, and taxpayers cannot afford for us to back down now. I am for the plan that will cut spending, cap it, and pass a balanced budget amendment, but unfortunately this latest bill does not accomplish that." — Tim Pawlenty now rejects John Boehner debt plan
Eric Cantor: The House plan is consistent with our commitment to change Washington, stop spending money we don't have, and focus on growing America's economy. The President has yet to offer a plan.
"The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn't vote for a dysfunctional government. So I'm asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your member of Congress know. If you believe we can solvethis problem through compromise, send that message." -– President Obama
Congressional Budget Office — Plan would cut spending by $850 billion during the next decade — about $150 billion less than the $1 trillion increase proposed for the debt ceiling
Another Chart for Your Debt Ceiling Discussions: Here is another chart to the same effect, released this afternoon by the White House. It is a more comprehensive accounting of the forces that turned the large projected federal surplus as of 2001 into the large structural deficits that are dominating our politics as of 2011. Thus it attempts to explain a $12.7 trillion negative swing in public finance — from the $2.3 trillion surplus forecast by Bill Clinton ten years ago, to the $10.4 trillion total debt Barack Obama encounters now.
The chart is more comprehensive in including not just policy changes — deliberate adoption and extension of tax cuts, spending on TARP and other programs — but also the effects of external pressures and shocks, mainly the recession starting in 2008. See for yourself, and click for a more detailed view…. – The Atlantic, 7-26-11
Boehner rewriting debt limit plan as clock ticks: Neither the House nor the Senate has a clear path forward for must-pass legislation to allow the government to continue to borrow to pay its bills, putting lawmakers and financial markets alike on edge less than a week before the deadline for heading off the nation's first-ever default.
House Speaker John Boehner was forced late Tuesday to postpone a floor vote on his plan, which originally had been scheduled for Wednesday, after nonpartisan congressional scorekeepers said the proposal would cut spending less than advertised. He promised to rewrite the measure, but the move means the House can't vote on it until Thursday at the earliest.
Boehner, R-Ohio, needs to do more than pump up the legislation. He needs to shore up his standing with tea party-backed conservatives demanding deeper spending cuts to accompany an almost $1 trillion increase in the government's borrowing cap. Many conservatives already had promised to oppose it…. – AP, 7-27-11
GOP headwinds delay House budget-debt vote: House leaders delayed a vote on a Republican U.S. debt reduction plan after congressional budget officials said it would save $150 billion less than advertised.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said House Speaker John Boehner's plan would cut spending $850 billion over a decade, not $1 trillion as he said it would.
The budget office conclusion Tuesday night capped a day in which the Ohio Republican's plan faced a barrage of conservative criticism that the cuts were not nearly deep enough.
Four Republican senators with Tea Party links wrote to their House colleagues urging them to vote against the measure. The Club for Growth — which advocates limited government, lower taxes and less government spending, while scoring lawmakers on their fiscally conservative votes — also came out against the plan.
So did other conservative groups including the Heritage Foundation and a national coalition of Tea Party groups, The New York Times reported.
In addition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called it "dead on arrival in the Senate, if they get it out of the House." And the White House said President Barack Obama would veto the bill if it reached his desk.
Boehner's congressional staffers planned to work through the night to rework the measure to achieve the amount of cuts originally pledged, Boehner's office said Tuesday night…. – UPI, 7-27-11
Vote on Boehner Plan Delayed Amid Opposition: House Republican leaders were forced on Tuesday night to delay a vote scheduled on their plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling, as conservative lawmakers expressed skepticism and Congressional budget officials said the plan did not deliver the promised savings.
The pushback on the bill was the latest chaotic twist in the fiscal fracas on Capitol Hill, as the clock ticked closer to Aug. 2, when the Obama administration has warned that the nation risks defaulting on its bills. The scramble to come up with a plan that could be put to a vote, now moved from Wednesday to Thursday, represents a test of Speaker John A. Boehner's ability to lead his restive caucus. The expected showdown over the legislation is the culmination of months of efforts by Tea Party-allied freshmen and fellow conservatives to demand a fundamentally smaller government in exchange for raising the federal borrowing limit.
Mr. Boehner rolled out a two-stage plan on Monday that would allow the $14.3 trillion federal debt limit to rise immediately by about $1 trillion in exchange for $1.2 trillion in spending cuts. The plan tied a second increase early next year to the ability of a new bipartisan Congressional committee to produce more reductions.
The plan was met with skepticism — and in many cases outright rejection — by several conservative House members who said its savings did not go far enough. President Obama and most Congressional Democrats also have rejected the proposal, saying it is only a short-term solution and could lead to market uncertainty and instability.
Mr. Boehner's troubles piled up late Tuesday afternoon when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said his plan would cut spending by $850 billion during the next decade — about $150 billion less than the $1 trillion increase proposed for the debt ceiling.
Mr. Boehner was forced to quickly retreat from the bill. Republican leaders said they would probably rework it to in a way that would reflect the decreased savings by raising the debt limit by less than $850 billion. Such a change would mean that the Obama administration would need to make another request for an increase in a matter of months, making the deal even less palatable to Democrats…. – NYT, 7-26-11
Boehner, Reid scramble to build support for rival debt-limit plans: Washington barreled closer to crisis Tuesday as House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid scrambled to build support for rival plans to control the national debt, but both appeared doomed without significant bipartisan modifications.
House Republicans delayed a vote on Boehner's bill, which had been set for Wednesday, after congressional budget analysts dealt the legislation a potentially devastating setback by saying it would save far less over the next decade than the $1.2 trillion advertised. The Congressional Budget Office projected that the spending cuts would save only about $850 billion over that period.
The news from the CBO alarmed conservatives, who were already balking at what they considered timid spending reductions. It also meant Boehner's bill would not meet his own demand that the cuts exceed the size of the $900 billion debt-limit increase.
House Republicans were racing Tuesday night to rewrite portions of the measure to bring the numbers into line. The vote could now come Thursday…. – WaPo, 7-26-11
Analysis: Little by little, the sides are budging in debt debate: The differences are narrowing, not widening, as the U.S. government struggles to avoid a financial default that neither President Barack Obama nor the leaders of Congress say they want.
That helps explain why day-old legislation unveiled by the House Republican leadership pulled off something of a political trifecta Tuesday before being scrapped.
Several rank-and-file GOP conservatives in Speaker John Boehner of Ohio's own party attacked it.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada labeled it "dead on arrival" in his Democratic-controlled chamber.
Then the White House said that if the measure cleared Congress, "the president's senior advisers would recommend that he veto this bill."
Yet the legislation also represented significant movement from a bill the House passed last week, such as roughly half of its mandated spending cuts, just as Reid no longer insists on tax increases as part of any plan to cut deficits. "We have a bill that is reasonable and responsible," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said earlier…. – AP, 7-27-11
Republican debt plan struggles in House: Speaker John Boehner and other party leaders push into overdrive to try to rescue the measure, even as an independent analysis challenges its figures.
A go-it-alone House Republican plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling teetered on the edge of failure late Tuesday as leaders struggled to rally reluctant lawmakers and to make last-minute changes to curry conservative support.
Leaders postponed a planned Wednesday vote in the House, an indication of the problems besetting the effort. Even if the plan passes this week, it would face an uncertain fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and White House officials said they would recommend President Obama veto it.
The uphill task, led by House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), grew more difficult when an independent analysis posed a new challenge to the figures used in the plan, saying its projected savings would be less than initially estimated.
Boehner's challenge arrived at a pivotal moment for both the Republican Party and the country, after months of political deadlock. Just days remain before the federal government hits the $14.3-trillion limit on how much it can borrow, after which it could be unable to pay all of its bills and obligations.
In proposing their own plan, House Republicans aimed to demonstrate that they could lead the nation away from the brink of economic disaster. But on Tuesday, they largely showed off the deep divisions that have dogged the GOP and Boehner's leadership all year.
GOP leaders pushed into overdrive to try to rescue the measure, using arguments, empathy, sweeteners and even a tough-guy movie clip — yes, a movie clip — to rally support.
To push a plan through the House, Boehner must amass 217 votes. There are 240 Republicans in the House, and few, if any, Democrats are expected to support his plan. So Boehner can afford to lose no more than about 23 members of his party — a difficult task given the opposition of many conservatives to any increase in the nation's debt limit under any circumstances…. – LAT, 7-27-11
Boehner plan runs into GOP rebellion CBO scoring necessitates reworking: Facing a growing revolt in their own ranks, House Republican leaders said Tuesday they are rewriting their debt-limit increase bill after the Congressional Budget Office said Speaker John A. Boehner's plan does not save as much money as he had claimed.
The vote had been scheduled for Wednesday, but CBO's numbers sent the Republicans scrambling to make changes, fouling up the schedule and pushing Congress ever closer to the Aug. 2 date when the government bumps up against its borrowing limit.
"We're here to change Washington — no more smoke and mirrors, no more 'phantom cuts,' " Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement to reporters. "We promised that we will cut spending more than we increase the debt limit, with no tax hikes, and we will keep that promise."
The CBO said Mr. Boehner's reductions in future spending would save only $850 billion over the next decade, which is less than the $900 billion increase in the debt ceiling he is proposing. That discrepancy meant the bill violated his pledge to have cuts exceed the dollar amount of the debt increase.
The delay could also give the party's leaders time to twist arms among conservative lawmakers, many of whom said Tuesday they cannot vote for the plan, and which one influential lawmaker said is short of the support needed.
"There are not 218 Republicans in support of this plan," said Rep. Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, who heads the powerful conservative caucus in the House and who said he's voting against the measure.
Democratic leaders said Mr. Boehner was unlikely to get much support from them.
"Very few. I don't want to give a number on it, but I would think very few," said the House Democrats' chief nose counter, Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland.
Whenever it occurs, the vote is shaping up as a key test of Mr. Boehner's leadership. If successful, it would give momentum to a two-step debt increase that also would ensure votes on a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.
But if unsuccessful, it could give the edge to Senate Democrats' plan, which immediately would raise the debt limit by $2.7 trillion, reduce future new discretionary spending by $1.2 trillion and create a commission to recommend other budget fixes…. – Washington Times, 7-26-11
House GOP revolts against Boehner plan: House Republicans do not have enough support to pass their debt-ceiling increase plan on their own, a top conservative said Tuesday as his party's leaders tried to cobble together a coalition of Republicans and Democrats to put the bill over the top.
"There are not 218 Republicans in support of this plan," Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who heads the powerful conservative caucus in the House, told reporters Tuesday morning.
If Mr. Jordan is right, that would mean Speaker John A. Boehner would have to rely on Democrats to pass the $1.2 trillion spending cuts plan — support Democrats' top vote-counter said he'll be hard-pressed to gain. Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer said "very few" Democrats will vote for the Boehner plan, though he acknowledged there could be some.
A vote in the House is expected Wednesday, and Republican leaders are trying to round up enough support to pass their version. They hope that if it can pass the House, that will pressure Senate Democrats to drop their alternative and accept the GOP's plan.
Mr. Boehner's bill would reduce future discretionary spending by $1.2 trillion, grant an immediate debt increase of $1 trillion, and set up a committee to work on trillions of dollars in future deficit reduction either through more spending cuts or tax increases, which would then earn another future debt increase. It would also require both the House and Senate to hold votes on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution…. – Washington Times, 7-26-11
CBO: John Boehner's debt bill comes up short: New cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office could pose a problem for Speaker John Boehner as he tries to rally conservative support for his two-step plan to raise the federal debt ceiling and avert default next week.
The first installment of $900 billion is contingent on enacting 10 year caps on annual appropriations which the leadership had hoped would save well over $1 trillion. But CBO late Tuesday came back with a report showing the legislation would reduce deficits by $850 billion when measured against the agency's most current projections for spending.
At one level, Boehner is the victim of his own success, since that same baseline is $122 billion lower in direct spending because of concessions the speaker won in the April government shutdown fight. But that won't help him much with restless conservatives and this could force him now to readjust the bill with tighter caps to meet his goals…. – Politico, 7-26-11
Tea Party Warns GOP: A Vote for Boehner's Debt Plan Violates Our Pledge: The Tea Party is causing more headaches for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) over his debt proposal. A coalition of several hundred Tea Party chapters declared Tuesday that a vote for Boehner's debt plan constitutes a violation of its pledge, which 51 Republican lawmakers have signed. The group, known as the Cut, Cap and Balance Coalition, notified its members of its position in a Tuesday memo entitled, "Clarification of the CCB Coalition Stance on the Speaker's Proposal."
"The greatest concern to the Cut, Cap and Balance Coalition is the integrity of the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge that was signed by 39 House Members and 12 Senators, and whether voting for the proposed deal constitutes a Pledge violation," reads the memo." "We hold that is does violate the pledge, on several grounds."… – Huff Post, 7-26-11
Perry: Obama debt ceiling speech was condescending: Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he thought President Barack Obama's speech on the debt ceiling debate was condescending, saying he heard the president tell Americans they "just wouldn't understand" the issue. The potential Republican presidential candidate spoke Tuesday at a ceremonial bill signing in Amarillo.
Perry says he was stunned Obama "would think that Americans aren't paying attention" to the debate. In his speech, Obama said the term "debt ceiling" is one most people outside of Washington have probably never heard of before…. – AP, 7-26-11
Michele Bachmann opposes House GOP debt limit plan: Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann says she opposes GOP House Speaker John Boehner's plan to increase the federal borrowing authority.
Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman, is telling Iowans that she will vote against any measure in Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The three-term House member says blocking the increase will force Congress to cut spending…. – AP, 7-26-11
Debt-irked voters shut down Congress' websites, phones: President Barack Obama asked Americans to reach out to Congress to make their voices heard on the debt ceiling debate – and so they did.
Thousands of callers flooded the Capitol switchboard Tuesday, and email traffic swamped congressional servers. The website of Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., crashed briefly, as did those of did Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Reps. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., and Frederica Wilson, D-Fla.
"It's been pretty busy today," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C. "The poor interns are having a good time."
The Capitol, which typically handles 20,000 calls per hour, saw spikes of up to 40,000 Tuesday, rivaling the 50,000-an-hour rate of the health care debate.
"Congress and Capitol Hill have been flooded, with emails and phones, switchboards are jammed, servers going down. So it's clear the American people are frustrated by the lack of compromise in Washington," said David Plouffe, the president's senior adviser, who was clearly getting exactly the response the White House had sought when the president on Monday called Washington a town "where compromise has become a dirty word."… – McClatchy Newspapers, 7-26-11
Debt-ceiling showdown: The legal battleground: President Barack Obama says he will not bypass Congress and cite an obscure part of the Constitution to prevent a government debt default, but legal experts say it would prove difficult to challenge him in court should he change his mind.
Former President Bill Clinton argued last week that the 14th Amendment that states the "validity" of government debt "shall not be questioned" means that Obama could simply ignore the congressionally imposed debt ceiling and go on borrowing.
Obama has indicated he considered the possibility, but on Tuesday his spokesman, Jay Carney, appeared to rule it out.
"The Constitution makes clear that Congress has the authority, not the president, to borrow money and only Congress can increase the statutory debt ceiling. That is just a reality," Carney told reporters.
But if the country is about to go into default, the temptation to act to avert calamity will grow. Legal experts say if the president were tempted to act unilaterally he might escape without his actions being overturned in court.
Regardless of how controversial a 14th Amendment maneuver might be, a legal challenge would be very hard to mount and so far, no one has stepped forward to say they would challenge him in court.
Nor has anyone said they would sue him if he took the alternative, equally controversial, step of using his broad authorities as guardian of the constitutional order to unilaterally raise the borrowing threshold.
Theoretically, there are aggrieved parties who might consider legal action, including Congress, individual citizens or interest groups, and investors such as foreign governments…. – Reuters, 7-26-11
Abolish the Debt Ceiling: James Surowiecki, in The New Yorker, has a strong article out arguing that the debt ceiling shouldn't exist at all. He writes:
The truth is that the United States doesn't need, and shouldn't have, a debt ceiling. Every other democratic country, with the exception of Denmark, does fine without one. There's no debt limit in the Constitution. And, if Congress really wants to hold down government debt, it already has a way to do so that doesn't risk economic chaos—namely, the annual budgeting process. The only reason we need to lift the debt ceiling, after all, is to pay for spending that Congress has already authorized. If the debt ceiling isn't raised, we'll face an absurd scenario in which Congress will have ordered the President to execute two laws that are flatly at odds with each other. If he obeys the debt ceiling, he cannot spend the money that Congress has told him to spend, which is why most government functions will be shut down. Yet if he spends the money as Congress has authorized him to he'll end up violating the debt ceiling.
He adds that the ceiling is an artifact of a time when it was useful for reining in the president, because before 1974 Congress didn't pass a comprehensive budget, and the president had much more freedom over spending. So why does it live on?
Advocates of the ceiling like the way it turns the national debt into front-page news, focussing the minds of voters and politicians; they think it fosters accountability, straight talk, transparency. In reality, debt-ceiling votes merely perpetuate the illusion that balancing the budget is easy. That's why politicians like the debt ceiling: it allows them to rail against borrowing more money (which voters hate) without having to vote to cut any specific programs or raise taxes (which voters also hate).
And, Surowiecki says—and current events certainly confirm—"by turning dealmaking into a game of chicken, the debt ceiling favors fanaticism." That is the most painful part of the present mess: that fanaticism appears to be prepared to bring down the national economy…. – Forbes, 7-26-11
Patricia Campion: Debt Ceiling Crisis Doubles as Countdown to Obama's Political Armageddon: By definition, default is a failure to meet an obligation. In one week, if Obama and Congress cannot reach a debt ceiling agreement, the United States of America faces sovereign default for the first time in our history. In the event of a nuclear economic meltdown, as president, Obama knows he will be standing at ground zero.
Economists say interest rates will skyrocket and the stock market will plummet, sending ripples through the global economy. Moody's is threatening to lower the U.S. credit rating and, because the interest rates consumers pay are tied to what the federal government pays, interest rates for consumers will also rise. And the wheels on the bus go round and round …
Flashback: While facing default on their $24 billion deficit in 2009, California Democrats refused to allow budget cuts to solve the state debt crisis. The Republicans wouldn't allow tax increases. Sound familiar?
When Obama revealed his FY2012 plan in February, it became clear he planned to tax his way out of debt. Offering only $1 trillion in spending cuts, he proposed 43 tax hikes to gouge an additional $1.5 trillion from Americans over the next decade.
Perhaps someone should inform the fiscally naive president that California's record tax increase of $13 billion didn't solve that state's economic problem.
Obama gave another speech from the White House Monday saying that Republicans want "an approach that doesn't ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all." He forgets that the top 10 percent already pay 70 percent of the nation's revenue, according to The Heritage Foundation, and American businesses already pay the highest corporate taxes on the planet, per the Daily Caller…. – Associated Content, 7-26-11
Analysis: Debt differences narrowing, despite talk: Pitched partisan rhetoric aside, the differences are narrowing, not widening, as the divided U.S. government struggles to avert a financial default that neither President Barack Obama nor the leaders of Congress say they want.
Which helps explain why day-old legislation unveiled by the House Republican leadership pulled off something of a political trifecta on Tuesday.
Several rank-and-file conservatives in Speaker John Boehner's Republican party attacked it from the right.
From other points on the political spectrum, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid labeled it "dead on arrival" in his Democratic-controlled chamber. And moments later the White House said if the measure somehow managed to clear Congress, "the president's senior advisers would recommend that he veto this bill."
Yet the legislation also represents significant movement from a bill the House passed last week, roughly half of its mandated spending cuts, for example. Just as Reid no longer is insisting on having tax increases as part of any plan to cut deficits. "We have a bill that is reasonable and responsible," said Boehner's spokesman, Michael Steel.
Clearly, not everyone sees it that way. So the crisis continues, and efforts to avoid a market-shattering default could yet falter in the run-up to an Aug. 2 deadline…. – AP, 7-26-11
JULY 26, 2011: REACTIONS TO OBAMA & BOEHNER'S DEBT PLAN ADDRESSES TO THE NATION
Americans increasingly unhappy with Washington's effort on jobs, poll finds: More than a third of Americans now believe that President Obama's policies are hurting the economy, and confidence in his ability to create jobs is sharply eroding among his base, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Americans are also unhappy with congressional Republicans: 65 percent disapprove of the GOP's handling on jobs, compared with 52 percent for the president.
"They can do far more. I do believe this plan is enough … I would ask all my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, to look a this common sense plan, this common sense way forward that will avoid default and put American fiscal house back to other." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
"Republicans have offered the only proposal that attempts to get at the root of the problem — and which actually has a chance of getting to the president's desk. That's why we'll continue to press for the legislation Speaker Boehner has proposed. And that's why we'll fight against anything that pretends to solve the problem but doesn't. The Majority Leader proposed a plan yesterday that's nothing more than another attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people" — Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
"History is scattered with the stories of those who held fast to rigid ideologies and refused to listen to those who disagreed. But those are not the Americans we remember. We remember the Americans who put country above self, and set personal grievances aside for the greater good. We remember the Americans who held this country together during its most difficult hours; who put aside pride and party to form a more perfect union. That's who we need to be right now. The entire world is watching." — President Barack Obama Address to the Nation, July 25, 2011
Boehner presses debt plan opposed by Democrats; IMF urges raise in debt limit: With a debt-limit deadline now a week away, House Speaker John A. Boehner pressed ahead Tuesday with a two-stage deficit-reduction plan that President Obama and most congressional Democrats reject, and the International Monetary Fund warned of "serious spillovers" worldwide if the U.S. debt ceiling is not raised.
Responding to Obama's appeal in a speech Monday night for Americans to contact their members of Congress to urge them to adopt his "balanced approach" to deficit reduction, callers flooded Capitol telephone circuits Tuesday morning, and several lawmakers' Web sites — including Boehner's — reportedly crashed Monday night as huge numbers of people tried to send them messages…. – WaPo, 7-26-11
McConnell disses Reid plan: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined fellow Republicans critical of Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan to raise the debt ceiling, calling it "another attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people."
The Senate's top Republican didn't outline any specific objections to the plan, which calls for slashing $2.7 trillion over the next decade in exchange for raising the debt limit by a similar amount through the 2012 elections.
But Republicans in both chambers have blasted a major provision in the bill which counts a $1 trillion in savings from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, something they dismiss as an accounting "gimmick" since those savings had already been expected.
Instead, McConnell said Republicans will push for a rival plan by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that would raise the debt limit in two stages between now and early 2012
"Republicans have offered the only proposal that attempts to get at the root of the problem — and which actually has a chance of getting to the president's desk," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "That's why we'll continue to press for the legislation Speaker Boehner has proposed. And that's why we'll fight against anything that pretends to solve the problem but doesn't. "The Majority Leader proposed a plan yesterday that's nothing more than another attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people," he added…. – Politico, 7-26-11
Boehner says his debt plan can pass House and Senate: House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, said Tuesday his two-stage deficit reduction plan could pass through the House and the Senate.
Boehner is advancing a plan that would start with an initial $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years, but would only increase the debt limit for a few months. Senate Democrats have proposed a single-step plan to raise the debt ceiling through 2012 that would reduce the deficit by $2.7 trillion over the next decade…. – Reuters, 7-26-11
GOP leaders seek to build support for Boehner debt plan: House Republican leaders tried to sell their deficit reduction proposal as the only "bipartisan" plan on the table, but acknowledged they don't yet have the votes to pass the bill through the House.
At a morning press conference, House Speaker John Boehner said despite some push back from high-profile House conservative he's optimistic the House will pass the plan tomorrow.
"I do think we have some work to do to get it pass but I think we can do it," Boehner told reporters.
If House Democrats remain largely united against the bill – as they claim they will – Boehner will need all but roughly 20 of his GOP members. Five Democrats already voted for a stricter version of the Boehner plan.
Asked if the plan would do enough to calm the markets, Boehner emphasized that more deficit reduction would be coming later in the year when a committee devises a plan for at least $1.8 trillion in spending reductions.
"They can do far more," Boehner said. "I do believe this plan is enough … I would ask all my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, to look a this common sense plan, this common sense way forward that will avoid default and put American fiscal house back to other."… – LAT, 7-26-11
What was accomplished in Obama and Boehner speeches?: President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner gave televised addresses Monday night that seemed to emphasize how far Washington is from a debt-ceiling deal.
For weeks now, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have been speaking past each other at the negotiating table – unable to find compromise on a deal to trim the deficit and raise the national debt ceiling. Monday night, they continued that trend on national television.
In separate primetime televised speeches, Messrs. Obama and Boehner told the country what has been well known for more than a month. The president wants Republicans to pass a bill that would compel the wealthiest Americans to "share in the sacrifice" of a deal through new tax revenues. The Republicans do not.
It is, they both agree, a fundamental difference in how each views the political world. And yet on Monday night neither Obama nor Boehner offered an inkling as to how that gap is to be bridged before the federal government runs out of money to pay all its bills on Aug. 2. If anything, their speeches gave the impression of the two entrenching more deeply…. – CS Monitor, 7-26-11
Does John Boehner have the leverage in debt-ceiling crisis?: With a week to go until a potentially calamitous federal default, talks that began three months ago with an overt gesture toward bipartisanship appear to have ended in a high-stakes game of chicken.
Both President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner set their hot rods on a collision course Monday evening, with neither side showing much interest in compromise even as the clock continues to tick.
Both men appeared to center the thrust of his appeals to the audience at home around the same set of political players, the insurgent Republicans in the House. To Obama, they represent irrationality and a failure to seek compromise for the good of the nation. To Boehner, they are a growing power base that must be courted if his plan has any hope to pass…. – LAT, 7-26-11
Web errors hit Hill after Obama, Boehner speeches: Shortly after President Obama's address on the debt ceiling negotiations Monday night, problems were reported with the web pages of at least two Republicans, House Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
An error message on Boehner's site said "The web page cannot be found," and Bachmann's website said the "Server is too busy."
"There were temporary issues with sites hosted by outside vendors – many have been resolved," a spokeswoman for House Administration Committee said. Both websites were operating normally by early Tuesday…. – CNN, 7-26-11
What the Obama-Boehner bond is (and isn't): President Obama's and House Speaker John Boehner's best efforts to become collegial negotiators hit a roadblock Monday night, with Boehner delivering a speech that suggests all their work together in recent months has meant little to the current debate.
Obama played a round of golf with Boehner last month, and earlier in the debt-limit talks he praised the speaker as "a good man," but on Monday night, he appeared to have lost an ally, as the two descended on a very stiff deadline to extend the federal debt limit.
Really, though, that's reading too much into relationship they were supposed to have forged. And it's also reading too much into their public posturing…. – WaPo, 7-26-11
Cool Obama meets hot Boehner in dueling debt ceiling speeches: President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, the two men at the center of the ongoing debate over whether to raise the debt limit, both addressed the country on the topic tonight. And that's where the similarities between the two speeches ended.
Obama was all cool reason — making a case for why passing the debt ceiling is necessary to keep the economy on firm footing and quoting the likes of Ronald Reagan and Thomas Jefferson to argue that compromise is part of being American.
Boehner was all white hot passion — blasting President Obama for his "business as usual" approach to governing in Washington and repeatedly insisting that it was the president not the Congress who was standing in the way of debt limit deal.
The wildly variant tones from the two men make clear not only the gap that remains between the two sides with just eight days remaining before the country defaults on its loans but also the differing constituencies at whom the speeches were aimed…. – WaPo, 7-26-11
Obama changes tone in public debate over debt ceiling: "Don't call my bluff," President Obama reportedly warned House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) during a tough bargaining session over the debt ceiling July 13. "I'm going to the American people with this."
It was no empty threat. As the high-stakes negotiations with Congress to avoid financial default Aug. 2 have bogged down, Obama has taken his case directly to the public with increasing urgency. This month, he has appeared in front of reporters at the White House briefing room four times, taken the stage before a friendly crowd of 1,200 in a town hall-style event at the University of Maryland and delivered a rare televised prime-time address to the nation Monday night from the East Room.
The gambit is aimed at winning public support that could give him an upper hand at the negotiating table, though polls suggest Americans are frustrated both with the president and his Republican rivals.
With each appearance, Obama has not altered his message as much as his persona: He verged from poised early in the process — the "only adult in the room" strategy aimed at contrasting him against a squabbling, childish Congress — to frustrated and emotional by the end of last week, when House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) abruptly left Obama "at the altar." He returned to a more collected and determined demeanor Monday night, as he tried to leave the public with a lasting impression with just a week left until the deadline.
Along the way, Obama has perhaps revealed more public emotion than he has during his 2 1/2 years in office…. – WaPo, 7-26-11
John Boehner Debt Ceiling Plan May Still Trigger S&P Downgrade: Report: Minutes before House Speaker John Boehner delivered a prime-time address in which he framed his latest deficit-reduction deal as a silver bullet for the nation's economic uncertainty, reports surfaced that the plan being crafted by the Ohio Republican would potentially lead to a downgrading of the AAA credit rating of the United States.
In an address that immediately followed the president's own, Boehner argued that if the president were to merely sign into law his latest deficit-reduction bill — which slashes more than a trillion dollars in spending before requiring a second tranche of cuts and a second vote — "the 'crisis' atmosphere he has created will simply disappear."
It was a fairly bold selling of a plan that — in terms of both the size of cuts and structural reforms — fell far short of what the Speaker had been negotiating with the White House prior to those negotiations ending this weekend. It also was delivered with an unfortunate backdrop. Just minutes before Boehner spoke, CNN's Erin Burnett relayed word from her sources on Wall Street that the newest Republican plan would not satisfy the credit rating agencies, which have soured on the idea of a short-term solution to the debt ceiling debate. Rather, it was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's approach (padded by counting the savings from the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq) that would calm their nerves…. – Huff Post, 7-26-11
Washington Day Ahead: Obama, Boehner Draw Lines in Debt Debate: In separate televised remarks, President Barack Obama warned of economic danger ahead unless a compromise is reached before the Aug. 2 deadline for a possible U.S. default, while the U.S. House of Representatives' top Republican, Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, said that he had made a "sincere effort" to work with the White House and that Republicans weren't going to hand the president a "blank check."
President Barack Obama warned of a "deep economic crisis" without a compromise to avert an Aug. 2 U.S. default as he dueled Republican House Speaker John Boehner in back-to-back speeches on increasing the debt limit.
House Speaker John Boehner often attacks the spendthrift ways of Washington. "In Washington, more spending and more debt is business as usual," the Republican leader from Ohio said in a televised address yesterday amid debate over the U.S. debt. "I've got news for Washington — those days are over." Yet the speaker, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell all voted for major drivers of the nation's debt during the past decade: Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and Medicare prescription drug benefits. They also voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, that rescued financial institutions and the auto industry…. – Bloomberg, 7-26-11
Treasury 10-Year Note Yields Rise to Two-Week High on U.S. Debt Deadlock: Treasury 10-year note yields touched a two-week high after speeches by President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner showed they still disagree on how to raise the borrowing limit.
Yields on two-year notes fluctuated after matching a two- week high before today's $35 billion auction of the securities. The difference between yields on 10-year notes and inflation- linked debt reached to the widest since May on concern the U.S. credit rating may be lowered. The dollar fell to a record against the Swiss franc….
Obama warned in a televised speech yesterday in Washington of a "deep economic crisis" unless Republicans and Democrats can agree on how to raise the $14.3 trillion federal borrowing limit and find accord on reining in future spending. Boehner, an Ohio Republican, who spoke afterwards from the U.S. Capitol, said Obama was asking for a "blank check."
Earlier in the day, Boehner and the Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid of Nevada, announced competing plans to raise the debt ceiling. Reid dropped Democrats' insistence on tax increases, a move favored by Obama.
Treasuries with the longest maturities will have the biggest declines if the U.S. loses its top-level debt rating, said Pacific Investment Management Co.'s Bill Gross, who manages the world's biggest bond fund, in a Twitter posting…. – Bloomberg, 7-12-11
Obama argues debt case to nation Boehner rebuts in another speech as divide deepens, default looms: President Obama, reminding lawmakers "the whole world is watching," exhorted them last night to break through partisan bickering and pass a comprehensive budget deal that protects Americans from the pain of a government default in one week.
The prime-time address to the nation came hours after House and Senate leaders released dueling plans that promised to spark days of battles between the chambers and within the parties. No clear path to a resolution emerged….
Republicans appear to be hoping that their plan will be the only viable one still standing as the deadline of Aug. 2 for a government default approaches.
"If you get to the 11th hour and you actually have some legislation that's doable – if there's not a lot of time for negotiations – it really puts pressure on Obama," said Julian Zelizer, a professor at Princeton University…. – Boston Globe, 7-25-11
Boehner introduces debt plan, says can pass Senate: House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, introduced a new plan on Monday to approve an increase in the debt ceiling based on the principles of the "cut, cap and balance" plan that can pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Boehner said it would be irresponsible for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, to veto the Republican debt plan…. – Reuters, 7-25-11
Challenging Obama, House GOP unveils new debt bill: In a blunt challenge to President Barack Obama, House Republicans drafted legislation Monday to avert a threatened Aug. 2 government default — but along lines the White House has already dismissed. U.S. financial markets shrugged off the uncertainty.
"Compromise has become a dirty word," Obama lamented as congressional leaders groped for a way out of a looming crisis.
According to a GOP aide familiar with the emerging House bill, it would provide for an immediate $1 trillion increase in the government's $14.3 trillion debt limit in exchange for $1.2 trillion in cuts in federal spending.
The measure also envisions Congress approving a second round of spending cuts of $1.8 trillion or more in 2012, passage of which would trigger an additional $1.6 trillion in increased borrowing authority.
While the bill marked a retreat from legislation that conservatives muscled through the House last week, the two-step approach runs afoul of Obama's insistence that lawmakers solve the current crisis in a way that avoids a politically charged rerun next year in the middle of the 2012 election campaign…. – AP, 7-25-11
JULY 25, 2011: PRESIDENT OBAMA & SPEAKER BOEHNER ADDRESS NATION ON COMPETING DEBT CEILING PLANS
Obama urges Congress to reach deal on debt ceiling: President Obama said in a prime-time speech Monday night that, unless Congress agrees quickly to a long- term increase in the federal debt ceiling, "we would risk sparking a deep economic crisis, this one caused almost entirely by Washington." He asked Americans to urge their lawmakers in Congress to strike a deal on the issue. He said he would not agree to a short-term increase, as proposed by House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), saying it amounted to "kicking the can down the road." He added: "We can't allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington's political warfare."
Boehner: 'The solution to this crisis is not complicated': House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a prime-time address Monday night that he intends to continue pushing a short-term raise in the federal debt ceiling, despite President Obama's objection that such a move does not solve the problem.
"The solution to this crisis is not complicated. … We are up to the task, and I hope President Obama will join us," Boehner said. The speaker said that, in negotiations with Obama over a long-term debt deal, "I made a sincere effort to work with the president. … I gave it my all. Unfortunately, the president could not take yes for an answer." He added: "The president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today,. This is not going to happen."
President Obama Addresses the Nation on Debt Ceiling Crisis, Blames House Republicans, Suggests Raising Taxes
Speaker John Boehner's Address to the Nation on the Republican's (GOP) Plan for America's Debt Crisis — Response Blames President Obama's Inability to Agree on a Deal
Parties Head to Showdown as Obama Warns of a 'Crisis': The Democratic-led Senate and Republican-led House on Monday barreled toward a showdown on competing plans to cut spending and raise the debt limit as a resolution to the intensifying crisis remained farther from sight just one week before a possible federal default.
With President Obama trying to employ the power of the presidency to force an agreement, House and Senate leaders said votes could occur as early as Wednesday on competing proposals to slash spending in exchange for increasing federal borrowing authority that the Treasury Department says will be exhausted Aug. 2, raising the prospect that federal bills will go unpaid.
It was a day of legislative chess moves, back-to-back party caucuses and closed-door meetings that ended with a nationally televised presidential address and a rebuttal by the House speaker, John A. Boehner. Their separate speeches reflected that the two sides are farther apart than ever — just a week ago, the two men were in private negotiations on a "grand bargain" of spending cuts and additional revenue, what Mr. Obama called "a balanced approach."
"The only reason this balanced approach isn't on its way to becoming law right now is because a significant number of Republicans in Congress are insisting on a different approach, a cuts-only approach — an approach that doesn't ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all," Mr. Obama said in his address. "And because nothing is asked of those at the top of the income scales, such an approach would close the deficit only with more severe cuts to programs we all care about — cuts that place a greater burden on working families."
Even as he sought to set Republicans up for blame for any crisis, Mr. Obama offered assurance that a crisis would be averted. He called on Americans to contact their lawmakers in support of a compromise. "We would risk sparking a deep economic crisis — this one caused almost entirely by Washington," he said. "Defaulting on our obligations is a reckless and irresponsible outcome to this debate.
In response to Mr. Obama, Mr. Boehner said: "The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. That is just not going to happen."
Mr. Boehner urged the president to sign a Republican plan to raise the debt limit. "If the president signs it," he said, "the 'crisis' atmosphere he has created will simply disappear. The debt limit will be raised."… – NYT, 7-25-11
Obama urges GOP to break 'stalemate' over debt talks: President Obama on Monday used a nationally televised address to urge House Republicans to stop standing in the way of a deal to tame the nation's debt and raise the federal limit on borrowing, making his most direct appeal to the American people in the confrontation over the debt.
Obama said failure to raise the debt ceiling within the next week "would risk sparking a deep economic crisis." He said he would not be able to pay all of the government's bills, including Social Security checks and veterans' benefits.
The president endorsed a Senate Democratic plan unveiled Monday that would save $2.7 trillion in spending over 10 years in exchange for raising the federal debt ceiling through 2012. He rejected a competing House Republican plan that could save up to $3 trillion while raising the debt ceiling in two stages — the first lasting six months.
Obama reserved his harshest words for House Republicans as he called on them to join him in breaking a "stalemate" and forging a compromise that balances cuts in government spending with new tax revenues from the wealthy and corporations.
"The only reason this balanced approach isn't on its way to becoming law right now is because a significant number of Republicans in Congress are insisting on a cuts-only approach – an approach that doesn't ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all," Obama said in the East Room of the White House.In a response following the president's statement, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Republicans had fought to rein in the national debt, but that Obama had refused to compromise.
"I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the president to identify a path forward," Boehner said. "Unfortunately, the president would not take yes for an answer. Even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the president's demands changed." "The president has often said we need a 'balanced' approach — which in Washington means: we spend more. . .you pay more," the speaker said. "Having run a small business, I know those tax increases will destroy jobs." "The United States cannot default on its debt obligations," Boehner said.
"The solution to this crisis is not complicated: If you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it," he said. "I've always believed, the bigger [the] government, the smaller the people."… – WaPo, 7-25-11
Debt ceiling speeches given by Obama, Boehner: President Barack Obama used a rare prime-time address Monday to rally support behind the Democratic plan for raising the debt limit, a high-stakes bid to isolate Republicans with only a week left to avert a government default.
In a 15-minute speech from the White House, Obama made the case for compromise between Democrats and Republicans, saying it is the only way to prevent default that could be catastrophic to the economy.
"Unfortunately, for the past several weeks, Republican House members have essentially said that the only way they'll vote to prevent America's first-ever default is if the rest of us agree to their deep, spending cuts-only approach," Obama said. "If that happens, and we default, we would not have enough money to pay all of our bills — bills that include monthly Social Security checks, veterans' benefits and the government contracts we've signed with thousands of businesses."
Obama called for unity, on one hand, but he also bashed Republicans, arguing that their tactics "risk sparking a deep economic crisis — one caused almost entirely by Washington."
"Defaulting on our obligations is a reckless and irresponsible outcome to this debate," Obama said. "And Republican leaders say that they agree we must avoid default. But the new approach that Speaker Boehner unveiled today, which would temporarily extend the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts, would force us to once again face the threat of default just six months from now. In other words, it doesn't solve the problem."
In an extraordinary contrast, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) delivered a response only minutes later from the Capitol. The back-to-back speeches underscored the deep divide that remains between the two central figures in the debt-limit drama.
"The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today," Boehner said. "That is just not going to happen."
Obama decided to deliver the prime-time address after three days of little progress…. – Politico, 7-25-11
Obama Warns 'World Is Watching' as Boehner Says GOP's Efforts on Debt Have Been Rejected: President Obama on Monday night urged a "balanced approach" in crafting a deal to raise the debt ceiling, saying a Republican proposal to temporarily extend the debt limit would lead the country back to the same arguments on spending and taxes in six months from now.
"That is no way to run the greatest country on Earth. It is a dangerous game we've never played before, and we can't afford to play it now. … We can't allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington's political warfare," the president said in a televised address to the nation.
Instead, Obama said he wants tax increases paired with spending reductions that will put the U.S. debate past the next election and keep the country from defaulting on its loans to creditors, set to come due on Aug. 2.
"The entire world is watching. So let's seize this moment to show why the United States of America is still the greatest nation on Earth," Obama said. "The debate right now isn't about whether we need to make tough choices. Democrats and Republicans agree on the amount of deficit reduction we need. The debate is about how it should be done."
House Speaker John Boehner, delivering the Republican response after Obama spoke — the first such live response aside from the State of the Union in nearly four years — said Obama was looking for a "blank check" to fund his administration's "spending binge." He accused Obama of not negotiating in good faith…. – Fox News, 7-25-11
Obama urges Americans to back 'balanced' debt plan: President Obama asked Americans tonight to pressure congressional Republicans to accept a "balanced plan" to reduce the federal debt through taxes as well as budget cuts in order to stave off a government default that will kill jobs and slow the economy.
"The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn't vote for a dysfunctional government," Obama said during a prime-time speech at the White House.
House Speaker John Boehner — who is promoting an alternative debt plan with no tax increases — said in a responding speech that Obama's definition of balance means "we spend more and you pay more."… – USA Today, 7-25-11
Obama, Boehner present conflicting debt-crisis solutions to America: President Barack Obama used his televised speech to the nation Monday night to paint a lurid picture of U.S. debt default if the GOP doesn't raise the debt ceiling enough to continue the administration's spending until after the president completes his 2012 campaign.
Obama did not threaten to veto a short-term measure, but presented an alarming vision of a default, urged a tax increase, and then called on Americans to press their legislators to pass a debt ceiling deal that would be large enough to cover spending until 2013. That $2.4 trillion debt-plan has been developed by Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid, and is large enough to pay for spending until 2013, but it does not include a tax increase.
"We can't allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington political warfare … I want you all to make your voice heard," by reaching out to Congress, he said, without repeating his earlier demands for tax increases, his earlier objections to budget cuts, or his earlier opposition to a stopgap measure.
Moments later, House Speaker John Boehner pushed back hard, saying it is time "to end the spending binge in Washington." Boehner briefly outlined his own two-step plan to raise the debt limit and set similar cuts, finishing by saying "we're up to the task, and I hope President Obama will join us in that work."
Obama's eleventh-hour appeal to voters is a gamble because his political credibility will be damaged if Americans fail to pressure their elected legislators enough to win a debt ceiling deal worth $2.4 trillion.
But it is also a partial defeat, because he and his political allies have abandoned their earlier demands for tax increases…. – Daily Caller, 7-25-11
Obama takes debt case to American people: With just eight days left before a possible economic catastrophe, President Obama on Monday took his argument for a "balanced" debt limit agreement to the American people, arguing in a prime time address that voters should call their members of Congress in support of a deal that "asks everyone to give a little without requiring anyone to sacrifice too much."
Speaking from the White House, the president lambasted Republicans for what he cast as a refusal to compromise, arguing that the nation faces a possible "deep economic crisis- one caused almost entirely by Washington."
"Republican House members have essentially said that the only way they'll vote to prevent America's first-ever default is if the rest of us agree to their deep, spending cuts-only approach," Mr. Obama said. "If that happens, and we default, we would not have enough money to pay all of our bills – bills that include monthly Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, and the government contracts we've signed with thousands of businesses."
"It is a dangerous game we've never played before, and we can't afford to play it now," he warned. "People are fed up with a town where compromise has become a dirty word."
Mr. Obama continued to ask Republicans to accept revenue increases for the wealthiest Americans, saying they and large corporations should "give up some of their tax breaks and special deductions."
Arguing that Republican leaders were acting outside of the interests of their constituents, Mr. Obama called on voters to "make your voice heard."
"The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn't vote for a dysfunctional government," he said. "So I'm asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your Member of Congress know. If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message."… – CBS News, 7-25-11
Obama Speaks to Nation as Debt Talks Intensify; Boehner to Give GOP Response: President Obama, in a nationally televised address to the nation Monday, urged a "balanced approach" in crafting a deal to raise the debt ceiling and reduce the federal deficit ahead of the Treasury's Aug. 2 deadline, when the country is said to risk default on its debt.
"The entire world is watching. So let's seize this moment to show why the United States of America is still the greatest nation on Earth," Obama said. "Not just because we can still keep our word and meet our obligations, but because we can still come together as one nation,"
He said that, although some Democrats are reluctant to make deep cuts to domestic programs, "enough are willing to accept them if the burden is fairly shared," rather than the "cuts-only" approach of the Republicans that Obama said would "place a greater burden on working families."
House Speaker John Boehner was scheduled to deliver the Republican response after Obama speaks.
Republicans and Democrats outlined separate deficit-reduction proposals Monday afternoon, pushing ahead with bills that have a questionable chance of passing as the showdown over the debt ceiling intensified…. – Fox News, 7-25-11
A 'Unique Opportunity' on the Debt Ceiling, Lost: Leaders of both parties have said for months that the need to raise the nation's borrowing limit offered a "unique opportunity" for a bipartisan deal that would constrain the mounting federal debt. Instead, it is shaping up to be a lost opportunity.
Whatever deal Congress and President Obama devise in this final week to allow the government to keep paying its bills after Aug. 2 and avert an economy-rattling default, it almost certainly will fall short of the compromise that Mr. Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, nearly struck last week — before details of the negotiations leaked, opponents in both parties protested and Mr. Boehner left the table.
The difference between that attempted "grand bargain" and what Congress is coming up with is not just a matter of dollars. Mr. Obama and Mr. Boehner did tentatively agree to more than $3 trillion in savings over 10 years — at least hundreds of billions more than is called for in the fallback plans now bandied about in Congress to clear the way for a vote to increase the $14.3 trillion borrowing ceiling by next Tuesday.
But the more significant difference is in where the savings would come from. The Congressional proposals mainly seek caps on annual spending for domestic and military programs and no additional revenues…. – NYT, 7-25-11
JULY 25, 2011: REID & BOEHNER UNVEIL DEBT PLANS — WHITE HOUSE SUPPORT REID PLAN — PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ADDRESS NATION AT 9PM
Obama to address nation on debt at 9 p.m. ET: President Obama will address the nation on the "stalemate over avoiding default and the best approach to cutting deficits" Monday at 9 p.m. ET, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney announced via Twitter.
White House: Obama backs a proposal by Sen. Harry Reid to cut spending by $2.7 trillion, raise debt limit through 2012.
House Leaders Call for Short-Term Rise in Debt Ceiling: House Republicans intend to push for a vote this week on a two-step plan that would allow the federal debt limit to immediately rise by about $1 trillion and tie a second increase next year to the ability of a new joint Congressional committee to produce more deficit reduction.
Top Republicans were to try to sell the proposal to their rank-and file in a crucial meeting Monday afternoon as House Republicans and Senate Democrats readied competing plans in an effort avoid a federal default next week.
The proposal would cut current spending and put legal limits on future spending, saving what Republicans estimate to be about $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The plan calls for no new revenue.
"We're about to go over a cliff here." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV
"Speaker Boehner's plan, no matter how he tries to dress it up, is simply a short-term plan, and is, therefore, a non-starter in the Senate and with the president." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"Republicans are more interested in trying to embarrass the president than trying to do what's right for the country." — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"Does anyone think it would be a good idea to do this all over again in six months? … This is an offer that Republicans can't refuse." Sen. Charles Schumer
"Senator Reid's plan is a reasonable approach that should receive the support of both parties, and we hope the House Republicans will agree to this plan so that America can avoid defaulting on our obligations for the first time in our history. The ball is in their court." — Press Secretary Jay Carney
"I know the president's worried about his next election. But my God, shouldn't we be worried about the country?" John Boehner on "Fox News Sunday"
Eric Cantor: The House plan will responsibly prevent default and meets the President's request for a debt limit increase over time. The President's reason for opposing this plan is to avoid an election year fight on spending and taxes.
Mitch McConnell: "Congressional leaders of both parties have shown they are willing to work in good faith. I would suggest that the President reconsider their offer rather than veto the country into default."
Press Secretary Jay Carney's Statement that the Obama White House Supports Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Debt Plan
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Statement that Obama Should Reconsider the Bipartisan Debt Proposal to Prevent Default
Two proposals, but no clear path toward debt ceiling deal: The Republican leader in the House and Democratic leader of the Senate issued dueling proposals Monday to allow the federal debt ceiling to be raised – both with steep spending cuts, but neither with a clear route to ending the standoff over the government's ability to pay its bills.
Both plans will face key tests on Wednesday, when Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) each plan to bring their proposals to the floors of their respective chambers.
In the House, the issue will be whether conservative Republicans will remain united behind Boehner even though his plan received mixed reviews from conservatives, with some influential Tea Party-affiliated lawmakers and groups denouncing it as too weak. In the Senate, the question will be whether Reid can attract the seven Republican votes he would need to cut off a threatened filibuster and claim bipartisan backing for his plan.
President Obama was scheduled to address the nation at 6:30 Pacific about the importance of quickly resolving the impasse as the threat to the economy was imminent. Boehner will deliver the Republican response shortly after…. – LAT, 7-25-11
White House backs Reid debt plan: The White House on Monday endorsed a deficit reduction plan put forward by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, saying it would remove the cloud of a possible default from the U.S. economy through 2012.
"Senator Reid's plan is a reasonable approach that should receive the support of both parties, and we hope the House Republicans will agree to this plan," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. "The ball is in their court."…. – Reuters, 7-25-11
Senate and House Still Far Apart on Debt in 2 New Plans: The Democratic Senate and Republican House put themselves on a legislative collision course Monday as they moved forward with significantly different plans on how to raise the debt limit and avert a possible federal default next week.
House Republican leaders pushed for a vote Wednesday on a two-step plan that would allow the federal debt limit to immediately be raised by about $1 trillion and tie a second increase next year to the ability of a new joint Congressional committee to produce more deficit reduction.
But top Senate Democrats called the proposal a "non-starter" and said they would advance their own plan to reduce the deficit by $2.7 trillion and raise the debt ceiling until after next year's elections, saying it met the conditions that Republicans had laid down during the ongoing debt fight….
Hoping to beat the Senate to the punch, the House Republican leadership was trying to sell its plan to the party membership in the hopes of forcing it through the House by Wednesday…. – NYT, 7-25-11
Democrats offer debt plan they say GOP "can't refuse": Senate Democrats unveiled a plan to raise the debt ceiling Monday that abandoned President Obama's call for revenue increases as part of a deal, putting forth a plan they said would cut spending by $2.7 trillion.
The plan would include a $1.2 trillion reduction in both defense and non-defense discretionary spending. It also counts $1 trillion in spending cuts from winding down the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, something critics say should not count in the total savings.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, joined by Sen. Charles Schumer, unveiled the plan Monday afternoon in a combative news conference in which they ruled out a rival plan from Senate Republicans that would create a two-step process for a debt limit increase…. – CBS News, 7-25-11
House, Senate leaders unveil dueling debt-limit plans: House and Senate leaders formally unveiled dueling backup plans Monday afternoon to raise the federal debt limit after a weekend of intense negotiations failed Sunday to break a partisan impasse that threatens to throw the government into default next week.
The White House promptly threw its support behind a Democratic plan advanced by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and heaped criticism on House Republicans, accusing them of intransigence in trying to balance the budget "on the backs of seniors and the middle class."
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) proposed a two-step plan to cut spending by nearly $3 trillion, laying out the details to his rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door meeting in the Capitol basement. Shortly afterward,Reid outlined a plan to slash $2.7 trillion.
Rather than heading toward a compromise to meet the Aug. 2 deadline, however, the two leaders publicly dug in for a fight. Neither of their rival strategies appeared sure to win approval in their respective chambers, as opposition remained high in some quarters. The result was to leave Congress locked in bitter and messy legislative warfare, even as financial markets reopened Monday for the first time since Boehner abruptly abandoned debt-limit talks with the White House on Friday…. – WaPo, 7-25-11
John Boehner's debt ceiling plan pushes even deeper spending cuts: Speaker John Boehner's two-step plan to raise the debt ceiling by upwards of $2.5 trillion would require the White House to accept much deeper spending cuts than he was negotiating only last week with President Barack Obama.
Unveiled Monday, the proposal appears to take back Boehner's prior offers to allow an $800 billion increase in tax revenues but his new spending demands are significant in themselves and could amount to $600 billion more over 10 years when compared with the White House talks.
Two installments on the debt increase are anticipated, according to a summary document released prior to a House Republican conference on the proposal…. – Politico, 7-25-11
Last-ditch GOP debt plan emerges: With skittish markets preparing for the possibility of economic catastrophe, lawmakers worked behind closed doors Monday to craft dueling plans that they hope could somehow, someway get a polarized Washington to pass an increase in the debt limit.
House Speaker John Boehner, who walked out of negotiations with the White House Friday, planned to present his caucus Monday afternoon with a nearly $3 trillion package that broke the process into two parts.
Senior GOP aides familiar with the negotiations said the deal would mandate immediate cuts and caps in discretionary spending, potentially saving $1.2 trillion over a decade. (The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has yet to score the proposal.) In exchange, the debt ceiling would be raised by less than $1 trillion, enough to last the nation through the end of the year. The as-yet-unspecified spending caps would trigger automatic across-the-board spending cuts if not met…. – CBS News, 7-25-11
GOP whip holds firm to balanced budget amendment: The man charged with rounding up Republican votes in the House said he expects that whatever debt-ceiling plan initially makes its way through that chamber will include some kind of balanced budget amendment — or a plan to implement one soon.
"I think it will have some form," House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told Chuck Todd on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown."
"Maybe it has a balanced budget amendment right now, maybe it has some vote in the near future," McCarthy added.
The House majority whip said that Friday's 51-46 party-line Senate vote to not move forward on the House-approved "Cut, Cap and Balance" bill doesn't mean it's over for that approach right now. "It did not get rejected; it got tabled," he said…. – MSNBC, 7-25-11
Treasurys dip as debt ceiling debate continues: Treasury bond prices are edging lower as Washington continues to debate plans to raise the nation's debt ceiling before an Aug. 2 deadline.
A failure to raise the debt ceiling could lead the U.S. government to default on its bond payments. Treasury bonds are considered the safest and most liquid investments in the world…. – AP, 7-25-11
Obama still pushing deficit deal with tax revenue: President Barack Obama is reiterating his call for a deficit-cutting plan that cuts spending and that also increases tax revenue by making the wealthy and corporations pay more to help stabilize the long-term debt. The president made his comments to the National Council of La Raza on Monday as congressional leaders struggled against time to come up with a plan to meet an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling. Obama said the wealthy and big corporations have to "pay their fair share, too." And he alluded to the difficulty of cutting a deal, saying "compromise is becoming a dirty word." – AP, 7-25-11
Analysis: The politics behind Boehner's two-step debt hike: So many Americans are so sick of political acrimony over raising the U.S. debt limit that it might seem unfathomable to have to do it all over again early next year. But that is exactly what the top U.S. Republican, John Boehner, is proposing for some practical political reasons.
If Boehner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, prevails, President Barack Obama will sign legislation by August 2 to raise U.S. borrowing authority by about $1 trillion, or just enough to carry the government through March.
That would set up a second tortured debt limit debate to avert default just as the U.S. presidential campaign heats up…. – Reuters, 7-25-11
Dueling debt-ceiling plans: Can either pass Congress?: House Republicans and Senate Democrats introduced their plans to resolve the debt-ceiling impasse before Aug. 2. But bipartisan hopes appear thin.With eight days before the US loses its authority to borrow funds, House and Senate leaders launched dueling plans to resolve the crisis.
Both deliberately avoid calls to raise taxes – a nonstarter for Republicans that derailed previous bids at a solution. But neither plan can yet claim a clear or even likely path to a bipartisan majority.
"What they have in common is that neither one is likely to pass – even its own house," says Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. "Here's a case where you really do need a bipartisan agreement, and there's no bipartisanship left…. – CS Monitor, 7-25-11
Ezra Klein: Obvious compromise between Reid and Boehner debt plans: When it comes to cutting the national deficit, the plans proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner are much more similar than they are different. It's on the issue of raising the debt ceiling that the consensus cracks.
Both plans call for $1.2 trillion in reductions to discretionary spending. Both envision the formation of a bipartisan "supercommittee," which would try to find consensus on a larger deficit-reduction package that, if it won a majority on the panel, would be immune to amendments and filibusters and be fast-tracked for an up-or-down vote in the House and the Senate…. – WaPo, 7-25-11
Emily Miller: Congress agrees: Keep spending Democratic and Republican leaders preserve status quo on Capitol Hill: Congressional Democrats and Republicans waged a war of words on Monday over their debt-ceiling plans, but their agendas amount to pretty much the same thing. Washington just can't kick its spending habit.
Both the blueprints cooked up by House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, claim 10-year domestic spending reductions equivalent to a bit over $1 trillion with the creation of new committees to find more spending reforms. Neither leader will provide hard numbers for budget reductions in 2012, the only enforceable year. That means borrowing is immediate and spending cuts delayed. Neither plan raises taxes. The primary distinction between them is that Mr. Boehner seeks a smaller debt-ceiling increase, forcing President Obama to come back hat-in-hand in 2012 for more borrowing authority…. – Washington Times, 7-25-11
Congress Can Learn From 1995-96 Debt-Ceiling Debate: Failure to raise the Federal debt ceiling limit could "roil the financial markets and cause severe economic problems," "cause profound damage to our country," and have "dire consequences." So wrote the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and New York Times. But the year was 1995, not 2011.
Other ills predicted during that contentious debate were rising unemployment, reduced GDP growth, and soaring interest rates. That was at a time when President Clinton and Democrats were fighting off attempts by Republicans to link cutting the deficit to the increase in the debt ceiling.
Then as now, there was a widespread misperception that failure to increase the debt ceiling would produce a default: "congressional Republicans are threatening to provoke the nation's first-ever default" (Washington Times). The Los Angeles Times reported: "the first real risk of a government default could occur November 15 [1995]." Even the then Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, warned that congressional Republicans should drop their efforts, declaring: "To default for the first time in the history of this nation is not something anyone should take in any tranquil manner." … – Fox News, 7-25-11
Tagged Barack Obama, Charles Schumer, Chuck Schumer, CNN, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Plan, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Gloria Borger, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Scott Brown, Senate, State of the Union
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/debt-ceiling-showdown-july-25-31-2011-finally-deal-after-week-partisan-votes-congress-obama-white-house-republican-democratic-leaders-agree-debt-deal/
Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: Fact Sheet on the Details of the Bipartisan Debt Deal
Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline
Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline
Removes the cloud of uncertainty over our economy at this critical time, by ensuring that no one will be able to use the threat of the nation's first default now, or in only a few months, for political gain;
Locks in a down payment on significant deficit reduction, with savings from both domestic and Pentagon spending, and is designed to protect crucial investments like aid for college students;
Establishes a bipartisan process to seek a balanced approach to larger deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform;
Deploys an enforcement mechanism that gives all sides an incentive to reach bipartisan compromise on historic deficit reduction, while protecting Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low-income programs;
Stays true to the President's commitment to shared sacrifice by preventing the middle class, seniors and those who are most vulnerable from shouldering the burden of deficit reduction. The President did not agree to any entitlement reforms outside of the context of a bipartisan committee process where tax reform will be on the table and the President will insist on shared sacrifice from the most well-off and those with the most indefensible tax breaks.
Mechanics of the Debt Deal
Immediately enacted 10-year discretionary spending caps generating nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction; balanced between defense and non-defense spending.
President authorized to increase the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion, eliminating the need for further increases until 2013.
Bipartisan committee process tasked with identifying an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, including from entitlement and tax reform. Committee is required to report legislation by November 23, 2011, which receives fast-track protections. Congress is required to vote on Committee recommendations by December 23, 2011.
Enforcement mechanism established to force all parties – Republican and Democrat – to agree to balanced deficit reduction. If Committee fails, enforcement mechanism will trigger spending reductions beginning in 2013 – split 50/50 between domestic and defense spending. Enforcement protects Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries, and low-income programs from any cuts.
1. REMOVING UNCERTAINTY TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
Deal Removes Cloud of Uncertainty Until 2013, Eliminating Key Headwind on the Economy: Independent analysts, economists, and ratings agencies have all made clear that a short-term debt limit increase would create unacceptable economic uncertainty by risking default again within only a matter of months and as S&P stated, increase the chance of a downgrade. By ensuring a debt limit increase of at least $2.1 trillion, this deal removes the specter of default, providing important certainty to our economy at a fragile moment.
Mechanism to Ensure Further Deficit Reduction is Designed to Phase-In Beginning in 2013 to Avoid Harming the Recovery: The deal includes a mechanism to ensure additional deficit reduction, consistent with the economic recovery. The enforcement mechanism would not be made effective until 2013, avoiding any immediate contraction that could harm the recovery. And savings from the down payment will be enacted over 10 years, consistent with supporting the economic recovery.
2. A DOWNPAYMENT ON DEFICIT REDUCTION BY LOCKING IN HISTORIC SPENDING DISCIPLINE – BALANCED BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND PENTAGON SPENDING
More than $900 Billion in Savings over 10 Years By Capping Discretionary Spending: The deal includes caps on discretionary spending that will produce more than $900 billion in savings over the next 10 years compared to the CBO March baseline, even as it protects core investments from deep and economically damaging cuts.
Includes Savings of $350 Billion from the Base Defense Budget – the First Defense Cut Since the 1990s: The deal puts us on track to cut $350 billion from the defense budget over 10 years. These reductions will be implemented based on the outcome of a review of our missions, roles, and capabilities that will reflect the President's commitment to protecting our national security.
Reduces Domestic Discretionary Spending to the Lowest Level Since Eisenhower: These discretionary caps will put us on track to reduce non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level since Dwight Eisenhower was President.
Includes Funding to Protect the President's Historic Investment in Pell Grants: Since taking office, the President has increased the maximum Pell award by $819 to a maximum award $5,550, helping over 9 million students pay for college tuition bills. The deal provides specific protection in the discretionary budget to ensure that the there will be sufficient funding for the President's historic investment in Pell Grants without undermining other critical investments.
3. ESTABLISHING A BIPARTISAN PROCESS TO ACHIEVE $1.5 TRILLION IN ADDITIONAL BALANCED DEFICIT REDUCTION BY THE END OF 2011
The Deal Locks in a Process to Enact $1.5 Trillion in Additional Deficit Reduction Through a Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Committee: The deal creates a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Committee that is charged with enacting $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction by the end of the year. This Committee will work without the looming specter of default, ensuring time to carefully consider essential reforms without the disruption and brinksmanship of the past few months.
This Committee is Empowered Beyond Previous Bipartisan Attempts at Deficit Reduction: Any recommendation of the Committee would be given fast-track privilege in the House and Senate, assuring it of an up or down vote and preventing some from using procedural gimmicks to block action.
To Meet This Target, the Committee Will Consider Responsible Entitlement and Tax Reform. This means putting all the priorities of both parties on the table – including both entitlement reform and revenue-raising tax reform.
4. A STRONG ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO MAKE ALL SIDES COME TOGETHER
The Deal Includes An Automatic Sequester to Ensure That At Least $1.2 Trillion in Deficit Reduction Is Achieved By 2013 Beyond the Discretionary Caps: The deal includes an automatic sequester on certain spending programs to ensure that—between the Committee and the trigger—we at least put in place an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by 2013.
Consistent With Past Practice, Sequester Would Be Divided Equally Between Defense and Non-Defense Programs and Exempt Social Security, Medicaid, and Low-Income Programs: Consistent with the bipartisan precedents established in the 1980s and 1990s, the sequester would be divided equally between defense and non-defense program, and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement. Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side.
Sequester Would Provide a Strong Incentive for Both Sides to Come to the Table: If the fiscal committee took no action, the deal would automatically add nearly $500 billion in defense cuts on top of cuts already made, and, at the same time, it would cut critical programs like infrastructure or education. That outcome would be unacceptable to many Republicans and Democrats alike – creating pressure for a bipartisan agreement without requiring the threat of a default with unthinkable consequences for our economy.
5. A BALANCED DEAL CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO SHARED SACRIFICE
The Deal Sets the Stage for Balanced Deficit Reduction, Consistent with the President's Values: The deal is designed to achieve balanced deficit reduction, consistent with the values the President articulated in his April Fiscal Framework. The discretionary savings are spread between both domestic and defense spending. And the President will demand that the Committee pursue a balanced deficit reduction package, where any entitlement reforms are coupled with revenue-raising tax reform that asks for the most fortunate Americans to sacrifice.
The Enforcement Mechanism Complements the Forcing Event Already In Law – the Expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts – To Create Pressure for a Balanced Deal: The Bush tax cuts expire as of 1/1/2013, the same date that the spending sequester would go into effect. These two events together will force balanced deficit reduction. Absent a balanced deal, it would enable the President to use his veto pen to ensure nearly $1 trillion in additional deficit reduction by not extending the high-income tax cuts.
In Securing this Bipartisan Deal, the President Rejected Proposals that Would Have Placed the Sole Burden of Deficit Reduction on Low-Income or Middle-Class Families: The President stood firmly against proposals that would have placed the sole burden of deficit reduction on lower-income and middle-class families. This includes not only proposals in the House Republican Budget that would have undermined the core commitments of Medicare to our seniors and forced tens of millions of low-income Americans to go without health insurance, but also enforcement mechanisms that would have forced automatic cuts to low-income programs. The enforcement mechanism in the deal exempts Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare benefits, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement.
Tagged Barack Obama, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Plan, deficit, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/full-text-debt-ceiling-showdown-july-31-2011-fact-sheet-details-bipartisan-debt-deal/
Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: President Obama's Statement to the Nation — Announces Reaching a Bipartisan Debt Deal with Congress
President Obama speaks in support of the bipartisan deal to reduce the deficit and raise the debt limit
President Barack Obama makes a statement in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House announcing a deal in the ongoing efforts to find a balanced approach to the debt limit and deficit reduction, July 31, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
Tonight, President Obama spoke in support of a bipartisan deal to reduce the nation's deficit and avoid default. It extends the debt limit to 2013, removing the cloud of uncertainty over our economy and ensuring that no one will be able to use the threat of default now or in only a few months for political gain. The bipartisan compromise assures that the United States meets its obligations – including monthly Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, and the government contracts we've signed with thousands of businesses.
In order to receive the support from both parties — as the President has consistently stressed — the agreement has a few important elements:
A down payment on deficit reduction with historic long-term spending restraint: Nearly $1 trillion in spending cuts — done in a way to not harm the economic recovery, are balanced between domestic and pentagon spending, and protects critical initiatives like aid for college students;
Expedited process for balanced deficit reduction: Puts in place a longer term process for additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction through a committee structure that will put everything on the table, including tax and entitlement reform. To prevent either side from using procedural tricks to prevent Congress from acting, the committee's recommendations will receive fast track authority, which means they can't be amended or filibustered.
Sets the stage for a balanced package, including revenues: The American people and a growing number of Republicans agree that any deficit reduction package must be balanced and included revenue.
If the Committee does not succeed in meaningful balanced deficit reduction with revenue-raising tax reform on the most well-off by the end of 2012, the President can use his veto pen to raise nearly $1 trillion from the most well-off by vetoing any extension of the Bush high income tax cuts.
A proven enforcement mechanism: An enforcement mechanism that will compel painful enough cuts to both sides that it will force congress to act. Enforcement mechanisms by their very nature should include measures that neither side supports so as to ensure action.
If Congress fails to act, beginning in 2013 there will be $1.2 trillion in spending cuts through 2021 – 50 percent from domestic spending and 50 percent from defense spending. Low income programs, including Medicaid, and Social Security and Medicare benefits would be exempted. Medicare cuts would be capped, limited to the provider side.
Does not accept entitlement reforms without equal consideration of revenue raising tax reform, and ensures that low-income and middle class families are not forced to bear a disproportionate share of the burden from deficit reduction.
This fact sheet provides and even more comprehensive overview of the deal.
Here are President Obama's full remarks:
Remarks by the President
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. There are still some very important votes to be taken by members of Congress, but I want to announce that the leaders of both parties, in both chambers, have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default — a default that would have had a devastating effect on our economy.
The first part of this agreement will cut about $1 trillion in spending over the next 10 years — cuts that both parties had agreed to early on in this process. The result would be the lowest level of annual domestic spending since Dwight Eisenhower was President — but at a level that still allows us to make job-creating investments in things like education and research. We also made sure that these cuts wouldn't happen so abruptly that they'd be a drag on a fragile economy.
Now, I've said from the beginning that the ultimate solution to our deficit problem must be balanced. Despite what some Republicans have argued, I believe that we have to ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share by giving up tax breaks and special deductions. Despite what some in my own party have argued, I believe that we need to make some modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to ensure that they're still around for future generations.
That's why the second part of this agreement is so important. It establishes a bipartisan committee of Congress to report back by November with a proposal to further reduce the deficit, which will then be put before the entire Congress for an up or down vote. In this stage, everything will be on the table. To hold us all accountable for making these reforms, tough cuts that both parties would find objectionable would automatically go into effect if we don't act. And over the next few months, I'll continue to make a detailed case to these lawmakers about why I believe a balanced approach is necessary to finish the job.
Now, is this the deal I would have preferred? No. I believe that we could have made the tough choices required — on entitlement reform and tax reform — right now, rather than through a special congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year.
Most importantly, it will allow us to avoid default and end the crisis that Washington imposed on the rest of America. It ensures also that we will not face this same kind of crisis again in six months, or eight months, or 12 months. And it will begin to lift the cloud of debt and the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over our economy.
Now, this process has been messy; it's taken far too long. I've been concerned about the impact that it has had on business confidence and consumer confidence and the economy as a whole over the last month. Nevertheless, ultimately, the leaders of both parties have found their way toward compromise. And I want to thank them for that.
Most of all, I want to thank the American people. It's been your voices — your letters, your emails, your tweets, your phone calls — that have compelled Washington to act in the final days. And the American people's voice is a very, very powerful thing.
We're not done yet. I want to urge members of both parties to do the right thing and support this deal with your votes over the next few days. It will allow us to avoid default. It will allow us to pay our bills. It will allow us to start reducing our deficit in a responsible way. And it will allow us to turn to the very important business of doing everything we can to create jobs, boost wages, and grow this economy faster than it's currently growing.
That's what the American people sent us here to do, and that's what we should be devoting all of our time to accomplishing in the months ahead.
Tagged Barack Obama, CNN, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Ceiling, Debt Plan, deficit, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/full-text-debt-ceiling-showdown-july-31-2011-president-obamas-statement-nation-announcesreaching-bipartisan-debt-deal-with-congress/
Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: President Obama & Republican, Democratic Congressional Leaders Reach Debt Deal — House & Senate Votes Monday
Time for Compromise
President Obama speaks in support of a bipartisan deal to reduce the nation's deficit and avoid default.
Tagged Barack Obama, Charles Schumer, Chuck Schumer, Congress, David Plouffe, Debt Plan, Democratic, Eric Cantor, Harry Reid, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Jon Kyl, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Republican, Senate
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/political-buzz-debt-ceiling-showdown-july-31-2011-president-obama-republican-democratic-congressional-leaders-reach-debt-deal-house-senate-votes-monday/
Full Text Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: Senate Minority Mitch McConnell's Statement that Republicans Agreed on a Debt Deal with White House & Democrats
McConnell: Framework Now Exists to Prevent Default, Cut Washington Spending
Source: McConnell Senate, 7-31-11
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement on the Senate floor Sunday on a proposed framework to prevent default and reduce Washington spending:
"This is an important moment for our country. I appreciate the Majority Leader's comments and want to say a few words to our colleagues who have been so patient over the past several days, and whose ideas and encouragement have been so helpful in getting us to this point.
"First of all, let me reiterate that before any agreement is reached, Republicans will meet to discuss the framework that the White House and the congressional leaders in both parties think would meet our stated efforts to cut spending more than the President's requested debt ceiling increase, prevent a national default, and protect the economy from tax increases. And to that end, I would like to say to my Republican colleagues that we'll be holding a conference meeting in the morning to discuss this framework and give everyone a chance to weigh in.
"But at this point I think I can say with a high degree of confidence that there is now a framework to review that will ensure significant cuts in Washington spending. And we can assure the American people tonight that the United States of America will not for the first time in our history default on its obligations."
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/full-text-debt-ceiling-showdown-july-31-2011-senate-minority-mitch-mcconnell-statement-republicans-agreed-debt-deal-with-white-house-democrats/
Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Backs Debt Deal — Senate Vote Sunday Evening
https://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/political-buzz-debt-ceiling-showdown-july-31-2011-senate-majority-leader-harry-reid-backs-debt-deal-senate-vote-sunday-evening/
Political Buzz Debt Ceiling Showdown July 31, 2011: Debt Talks Continue — Debt Deal Between Obama White House & Mitch McConnell, Republicans Leaders "Really, Really, Close" — Senate Republicans Vote Down Harry Reid's Debt Bill 50-49
Philip Scott Andrews/The New York Times
Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky walked to the Senate floor on Sunday.
JULY 31, 2011: DEBT TALKS CONTINUE — DEBT DEAL BETWEEN MITCH MCCONNELL, REPUBLICAN LEADERS & WHITE HOUSE CLOSE AT HAND — SENATE REPUBLICAN'S DEFEAT HARRY REID'S DEBT BILL
Outcry From the Left Precedes Debt Deal: Liberals began tearing into President Obama and Democrats on Sunday, accusing them of caving to Republican demands even before final details of a debt ceiling agreement have been announced…. – | Republican Weekly Address
"Republicans believe we must solve our debt crisis – and we believe we can solve it if Democrats will work with us. No one will get everything they want, and we can't solve all of our problems at once, but surely we can reach an agreement that will increase the debt ceiling, impose accountability, and begin reducing the size of our federal government." — Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) in the Republican Weekly Address
"I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the president of the United States. I stuck my neck out a mile, and I put revenues on the table in order to try to get an agreement to avert us being where we are. But a lot of people in this town can never say yes. I have offered ideas. I have negotiated. Not one time, not one time, did the administration put any plan on the table. All they would do is criticize what I put out." — Speaker of the House John Boehner
The Weekend Word: Rejection — NYT, 7-30-11
Stalemate as Congress Wrangles Over Debt Crisis: Congressional leaders fought, huddled with President Obama and hinted at an emerging bipartisan deal to end the federal fiscal crisis in a tense Saturday on Capitol Hill, but the stalemate over raising the debt limit persisted just days from a potential default.
In the most vivid illustration yet of the confusion surrounding the debt crisis, the two leading Congressional Republicans announced that they had reopened fiscal talks with the White House in a last-ditch drive to come to terms, only to have the top Senate Democrat leader quickly dismiss the idea that a breakthrough was at hand.
In the wake of the House's sharp rejection of a Democratic proposal to raise the debt limit, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader and a linchpin in efforts to reach a deal, said he and Speaker John A. Boehner were "now fully engaged" in efforts with the White House to find a resolution that would tie an increase in the debt limit to spending cuts and other conditions…. – NYT, 7-30-11
House Rejects Reid Debt Ceiling Proposal: The Republican-controlled House on Saturday dismissed a new proposal by Senate Democrats to end the fiscal crisis before the Senate even voted on it, deepening the ongoing federal budget stalemate.
In an effort to send a message to Senate leaders of both parties, the House voted 173 to 246 against the proposal by Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, to show it had no future in the House.
During a heated debate, Republicans and Democrats traded accusations over who would be responsible for a government default if no compromise was reached by next Tuesday, with Republicans defending the plan they sent to the Senate on Friday only to see it rejected almost immediately.
On Twitter, Speaker John A. Boehner called the Senate measure "DOA" and a "non-starter in the House." Republicans also said the $2.5 trillion in savings in the measure were illusory…. – NYT, 7-30-11
House rejects Reid's debt plan: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has rejected the debt ceiling plan proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.
The plan was rejected in a sharply polar | 668 |
Government of<|fim_middle|>ostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca). | Canada, Statistics Canada
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The number of vehicles registered in Canada rose 2.3% from 2017 to 35.1 million in 2018.
Accounting for almost two-thirds (65.9%) of the total, the registrations of light road motor vehicles (weighing less than 4,500 kilograms) rose by 2.0% to 23.1 million. This was the largest increase since 2014, despite a decline in the sale of new motor vehicles during 2018.
After reaching a record of more than two million units in 2017, sales of new passenger cars and light trucks (minivans, sport-utility vehicles and light trucks and vans) decreased by 2.5% during 2018.
The registration of other vehicles in 2018 included motorcycles and mopeds (729,000 registrations), medium vehicles (620,000 registrations), heavy vehicles (481,000 registrations) and buses (92,000 registrations). There were also 7.7 million trailers and 2.3 million off-road, construction and farm vehicles registered in 2018.
At the provincial level, Ontario had the largest number of vehicles registered (12.5 million), followed by Quebec (8.7 million). Together these two provinces accounted for 60.5% of registered vehicles in Canada in 2018.
This annual release presents a count of registered vehicles based on administrative files provided by each province and territory. Registered vehicles include road motor vehicles, such as light road motor vehicles, medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, buses, motorcycles and mopeds; trailers; and off-road, construction and farm vehicles.
Data from this release are used by Finance Canada in the calculation of fiscal equalization payments pursuant to the 1987 Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act. This information is also used by various levels of government for the planning and development of transportation infrastructure.
Data aggregations are available for Canada and by province and territory.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.inf | 700 |
Mr. Zodiac
Some crazy but charming shit happens.
From Yahoo! Movies:
When Lewis meets a mysterious boy from the future named Wilbur Robinson, the two travel forward in time where Lewis discovers the amazing secret of the Robinson family. Lewis is a brilliant twelve-year-old with a surprising number of clever inventions to his credit. His latest and most ambitious project is the Memory Scanner, which he hopes will retrieve early memories of his mother and maybe even reveal why she put him up for adoption. But before he can get his answer, his invention is stolen by<|fim_middle|> good, conquer adversity" message ever-present in most Disney movies was addressed but not overdone, though it did come complete with catch phrase. Having a science geek as the hero was a cool touch and different enough from Jimmy Neutron to be comfortable for fans of that franchise. The graphics were similar to those in The Incredibles, cartoony but centered enough in reality not to be surreal. The vibe of the movie is a 50's futurism with modern sensibilities and excellent graphics.
If you're interested in light-hearted popcorn fare that you could get the kids in on, check this out. On a side note, I was able to watch this in 3D and if you have the opportunity I would highly encourage you to do so as well. It wasn't made with 3D in mind so don't expect a bunch of crap to come flying at you, but it was a more immersive experience and highlighted the CG. Plus the glasses aren't goofy.
Score: 4/5 -- Not a Toy Story, but definitely a good flick
Internet Movie Database Listing | the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical hat - and constant companion - Doris. Lewis has all but given up hope in his future when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks our bewildered hero away in a time machine and the two travel forward in time to spend a day with Wilbur's eccentric family. In a world filled with flying cars and floating cities, they hunt down Bowler Hat Guy, save the future and uncover the amazing secret of Lewis' future family
Like most sub-boomers, I grew up watching cartoons and can appreciate a good cartoon movie. Though ostensibly marketed towards kids, movies like the Shrek franchise, Ice Age, The Incredibles, and Flushed Away have "in jokes" or whole subplots that can be appreciated by adults as well. Meet the Robinsons is definitely more kid oriented than any of the above, but its execution can be appreciated by anyone.
Since Disney acquired Pixar, it has been looking for a movie to put it back into the CG animation marketplace without having to reach into "the Disney vault." Meet the Robinsons is a fine addition to the proper Disney stable. All the gags were done well, there was no heartfelt musical number, and the characters were reasonably compelling. Adults will probably see the plot twists coming but the plot pacing is perfect for your jaded teenager and below. While appropriate for anyone, kids not yet in grade school may get lost in some of the content and action.
The "feel | 303 |
Mericle Commercial Real<|fim_middle|>).
BBU is the American corporate arm of Mexico's Grupo Bimbo and is the largest bakery company in the United States. BBU is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania. More than 22,000 employees operate BBU's more than 60 manufacturing locations.
BBU's CenterPoint distribution center serves approximately 70 depots in an expansive geography stretching from Maine to Florida and west to Wisconsin. The company ships a variety of brands from CenterPoint including Entenmanns, Sara Lee, Barcel, Marinela, Bimbo Sweet Goods, and Boboli.
Click here to view the drone video. | Estate Services has created a new video shot entirely with a drone to show off a new industrial building in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East in Pittston Township, PA.
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_FICTION AND BIOGRAPHY_
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
(MRS. WARD)
THE GATES AJAR. 16mo, $1.50.
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HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
WITHIN THE GATES
BY
ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS
[Illustration]
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press, Cambridge
1901
COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS WARD
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This drama has so departed from the plan of the original story, "The
Gates Between," published by me long ago, that it is, in fact, a new
work, and has therefore received a new title.--E. S. P. W.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
DOCTOR ESMERALD THORNE, _a city physician_.
HELEN THORNE, _his wife_.
LADDIE, _their child_. (_Between four and five years of age._)
MRS. FAYTH, _a patient of the Doctor's, and a friend
of Mrs. Thorne's, an invalid_.
DOCTOR GAZELL, _a hospital physician not in harmony with Dr. Thorne_.
DR. CARVER, _a young surgeon_.
MAGGIE, _a maid_.
A Priest, Nurses, Patients, Servants, People in the Street, Spirits, the
Angel Azrael.
WITHIN THE GATES
ACT I., SCENE I.
A library in a city house. A dining-room opens beyond a portière.
The dinner-table is set. The library is furnished in red leather
and dark wood. Books run to the ceiling. The carpet is
indeterminate in tone. The heavy curtains are of a rich, dark
crimson. A window is to be seen. The library is littered a little
with the signs of feminine occupation. At one of the tables sits
Mrs. Thorne. She is a young and beautiful woman, of stately
presence and modest, high-bred manner. She is well-dressed--but not
over-dressed--in a tea-gown such as a lady might wear in her own
home when guests are not expected. The dress is cream-white; it
falls open over a crimson skirt. The lamps are shaded with lace of
red or of white. One with a white shade is on the table by which
she sits. Her sewing materials are lying about, among books and
magazines half-cut. She tries to sew upon a little boy's lace
collar, but throws her work down restlessly. Her face wears a
troubled expression.
(_She rises and crosses the room nervously; goes to the window, and
stands between the long lace curtains, looking out. She consults her
watch; speaks._)
MRS. THORNE. It is not so very late! Hardly past six o'clock yet. What
can be the matter with me? I must not become a worrier. A doctor's wife
can never afford to be that.
_Enter_ MAGGIE.
MAGGIE. Shall I serve dinner, ma'am?
MRS. THORNE. The Doctor has not come, Maggie. We must wait--Jane will be
careful not to burn the soup.
(_Rises and looks again restlessly out of the window; calls_:)
Maggie!
MAGGIE. Ma'am?
MRS. THORNE. When you went up to light the Doctor's candles, how did
Laddie seem? Did Molly say?
MAGGIE. Just the same, she said. He does seem sort of miser'ble.
[_Exit_ MAGGIE.
MRS. THORNE. (_takes up a magazine and tries, in vain, to read; sighs,
and lays it down; takes up the little lace collar and tries to sew;
lays that down; rises_). I'll run up again and look at the child for
myself.
_Enter_ MAGGIE.
MAGGIE. Mrs. Fayth, ma'am.
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH (_pale, sweet-faced, delicate, with the languorous
step of the half-cured invalid. She is in carriage dress, with a long,
dove- opera cape--rich, but plain in design. She throws off the
cape at once_).
[_Exit_ MAGGIE.
MRS. THORNE (_warmly embracing her friend_). Why, Mary Fayth! _You?_ At
this time of night!
MRS. FAYTH. Yes. I--Mary Fayth--isn't it wonderful? I haven't been out
after sundown before for six years.... Is the Doctor in?
MRS. THORNE. He hasn't come yet. I am waiting for him. We never can
tell.
MRS. FAYTH. Doesn't the dinner get cold?
MRS. THORNE. The dinner is subject to chronic bronchitis and acute
pneumonia.
MRS. FAYTH. (_laughs merrily_). Acute pneu-mo-nia is good.... You were
always clever.
MRS. THORNE. But I don't fret. A doctor's wife can never do that....
Give me your cape, dear. You'll wait for him.
MRS. FAYTH. I did want to surprise him. He would be so pleased. My
husband calls me Doctor Thorne's miracle. But never mind. I can't wait
for him. I'm on my way to the Hospital Fair.... Think of that! I'm to be
let stay till half-past eight o'clock. Fred is to meet me there, and
we're to dine at the café with the crowd and see the tableaux.... Think
of it!--like common, vulgar, healthy people. Isn't it wonderful? To be
half alive! I have been half dead so long! Kiss me, Helen.
MRS. THORNE. (_anxiously_). I hope you won't pay for it to-morrow, dear.
(_Kisses her affectionately._)
MRS. FAYTH (_cheerily_). Oh, I expect to be flat to-morrow. But it's
worth it--to go somewhere with one's husband ... after six years. I'm
going to the Fifteen Cent Museum next--when I get a little farther
along--some big, noisy, healthy, shabby place. Fred has promised to take
me. He dotes on the gorillas.... Well, I only ran in. The horses are
getting cold. I must go. Give my love to the Doctor--Helen! I'm going to
church when I get well. I want to hear the _Te Deum_.... It's a good
while since I did that. They won't let me. They put it off till the
last. Fred said I must begin with the Hospital Fair and work up through
the gorillas to re-li-gious dis-si-pa-tion. The Doctor says I'm to get
well in a sci-en-ti-fic manner; on the Law of Ev-o-lution. Poor dear
Doctor! He doesn't care about the _Te Deum_.--Helen, I wish your husband
believed. He is so good--so kind. He ought to be a re-li-gious man.
MRS. THORNE (_sadly, with almost imperceptible bitterness_). He is a
doctor.
MRS. FAYTH. He is so great, you see. He is almighty to so many miserable
people.... I can understand that. His mind stops there. He is so strong,
so powerful; he works the miracles himself.
MRS. THORNE. My husband has no time to study these questions, Mary. All
his life is given up to science, you know. I thought--when we were first
married--I could influence him in these ways. But a doctor's wife learns
better than that.
MRS. FAYTH. What he needs is to be half-dead. Then he would _have_ to
believe. He is too much alive, poor Doctor.... It is such a joy to be
alive, Helen! I thought I must run in and tell you.
MRS. THORNE (_smiling affectionately_). I'll tell him to be sure and see
you to-morrow. You'll need it.
MRS. FAYTH. Well, Fred can tel-e-phone. I dare say I shall be sick
enough. Good-by, dear--Helen? What ails _you_? You don't look right
to-night.
MRS. THORNE (_arousing_). Laddie doesn't seem well at all. I can't make
Esmerald believe that anything ails him. But that's the way, you
know.... I am not allowed to be anxious. The mother of a doctor's child
can never be that.
MRS. FAYTH (_with quick sympathy_). Oh, I am so sorry! I know just how
you feel--
MRS. THORNE. You never had a child, Mary.
MRS. FAYTH. But sick people understand everything. Oh, we know!
MRS. THORNE. Yes. I suppose you have so much time to think.
MRS. FAYTH. We have so much time to feel. (_Rises to leave._)
(MRS. THORNE _puts the opera cape over her friend's shoulders_.)
MRS. FAYTH (_abruptly_). Helen, I was thinking to-day about Cleo. I
don't often.
MRS. THORNE (_pityingly_). Poor girl! I do, very often. She must have
led a cruel life with her husband. And she was so young when he died!
She really hated him--I think as much after he was dead as when he was
alive.
MRS. FAYTH. She did not hate yours.
MRS. THORNE (_gravely_). She was a patient. I have nothing to say.
MRS. FAYTH. But of course she hardly made a secret of it, that she loved
the Doctor--half wrongly, half rightly.
MRS. THORNE. Like the woman she was--half fiend, half angel--
MRS. FAYTH (_interrupting_). There are people who still talk about her;
they are equally divided whether she died of love or morphine. It is
said she had the opium habit. It is three years ago to-day that she
killed herself.
MRS. THORNE. I had forgotten.... Poor Cleo!
MRS. FAYTH. I've been thinking about her all day--I don't know why. She
never liked me very well--perhaps because I _didn't_ love the Doctor;
and so he could do so much more for me. You know how those things
go.... And you never gave her the satisfaction of one hour's jealousy?
MRS. THORNE (_peacefully_). How could I? I never had the materials....
But, as you say, these things are complicated. We never know where the
end of the skein is.
MRS. FAYTH. I will send over to-morrow and see how Laddie is.
Good-night--good-night.
MRS. THORNE (_kisses her warmly_). I wish you would stay--I wish you
need not go. Don't go! Mary--_don't go_!
[_Exit_ MRS. FAYTH (_slowly, with a sweet,
mysterious smile_).
(MRS. THORNE _relapses into her anxious attitude and manner. Moves to
the window, and looks out again, between the curtains. While she stands
there with her back to the door, suddenly and noisily striding in._)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE.
DR. THORNE (_at once_). Isn't dinner ready?
MRS. THORNE (_turning delightedly_). Oh! At last!
DR. THORNE. Well. You might have met me, then.
MRS. THORNE. Why, I have been watching for you--and listening--till I'm
half blind and deaf. I have been to the window--
DR. THORNE. Don't complain. I hate a complaining woman.
MRS. THORNE (_has advanced towards him, and impulsively put up her arms!
Drops them at this and turns sadly_). I did not know I was complaining,
Esmerald.
DR. THORNE. Most people don't know when they are disagreeable. (_He does
not offer to kiss her; pulls off his overcoat nervously._) Isn't dinner
ready? I am starved out.
(MAGGIE _is seen in the dining-room hastily serving dinner_.)
MRS. THORNE (_ringing_). Maggie had orders to put it on as soon as she
heard your wheels.... Yes. There! You poor, hungry fellow!
_Enter_ MAGGIE.
MAGGIE. Dinner is served, Mrs. Thorne.
DR. THORNE. I must run up and change my coat, first--no, I won't. I
haven't time. I am driven to death. Come along, Helen. (_Strides out
before her; then recalls himself from his discourtesy, and steps back._
DR. THORNE _is a tall, well-built, handsome man, of distinguished
bearing, but with a slight limp; his face is disfigured by a frown, as
he looks at his wife. He repeats_) I am driven to death! I haven't time
to call my soul my own.
MRS. THORNE (_archly_). I thought you hadn't any soul, dear. Or I
thought you thought you hadn't.
DR. THORNE (_crossly_). Soul? Rubbish! It is more than I can do to
manage bodies. Soul? Stuff! What have you got for dinner?
(_They seat themselves at the table._)
MRS. THORNE. You poor boy! You poor, tired, hungry fellow! I hope the
dinner will please you? (_Timidly._)
DR. THORNE (_testily_). Really, I hadn't time to come at all. I've got
to go again in ten minutes. But I supposed you would worry if I didn't
show myself. It's a foolish waste of time. I wish I hadn't come.
MRS. THORNE (_speaking in a low, controlled, articulate voice_). You
need not. On my account. _You need never come again._
DR. THORNE (_irritably_). It is easier to come than to know you sit here
making yourself miserable because I don't.
MRS. THORNE (_gently_). Have I ever fretted you about coming, Esmerald?
I did not know it.
DR. THORNE. It would be easier if you did fret. I'd rather you'd say a
thing than look it. Any man would.... This soup is burned!
MRS. THORNE. Too bad! I gave special orders to Jane--that is really too
bad. Let me send it away.
DR. THORNE (_excitedly_). No, I've got to get down something. Bring on
the rest--if there is anything fit to eat. I'm due at the Hospital in
twenty-two minutes. Gazell is behaving like the devil. If I'm not to
handle him, nobody can. The whole staff is afraid of him--everybody but
me. We sha'n't get the new ward built these two years if he carries the
day to-night. I've got a consultation at Decker's. The old lady is
dying. It's no use dragging a tired man out there; I can't do her any
good. But they will have it. I'm at the beck and call of every whim. I
wish I'd had time to change my boots! My feet are wet. My head aches
horribly. I had an enormous office--sixty people; forty here--twenty
down-town--besides my calls. I've seen eighty sick people to-day. I was
a fool to agree to that noon office hour.--I've lost ten thousand
dollars in this panic. Brake telephoned me to get down to Stock Street
to save what I could. I couldn't get off.... I lost a patient this
morning--that little girl at the Harrohart's. She was a poor little
scrofulous thing, but they are terribly cut up about it.--I wish you'd
had a good, clear soup. I hate these opaque things.
MRS. THORNE. But last time we had consommé, you said--
DR. THORNE. I said! I said! Who cares what he _says_?
MRS. THORNE (_in a low voice_). That seems to be quite true.
DR. THORNE. What did you say? Do speak louder. I hate to hear women
mumble their words.--I hope you have some roast beef; better than the
last. You mustn't let Parsnip cheat you. Quail? There's no nourishment
in quail for a man in my state-- (_Pushes away his plate crossly._)
Well, I suppose I've got to eat something. I was a fool not to dine at
the club.--The gas leaks. Can't you have it attended to? Pudding? No. I
see enough of spoon food in sick rooms. I might have eaten a good,
hearty pie.
MRS. THORNE. But the last pie we had, you said--
DR. THORNE (_again_). I said! I said! What does it signify what a man
_says_? How many times must I say that? Hurry up the coffee. I must
swallow it, and go. I've got more than ten men could do.
MRS. THORNE (_gently, but with perceptible dignity_). It seems to be
more than one woman can do--
DR. THORNE. What's that? Do speak so I can hear you.--If you're going to
speak at all.
MRS. THORNE. I said it seems to be more than one woman can do to rest
you.
DR. THORNE (_carelessly_). Do ring for a decent cup of coffee. I can't
drink this.
MRS. THORNE. Esmerald--
DR. THORNE (_crossly_). Oh, what? I can't stop to talk. There! I've
burned my tongue now. If there's anything I can't stand, it's going to a
consultation with a burned tongue.
MRS. THORNE (_tenderly_). How tired you are, Esmerald! It even gets into
your poor foot.--You limp more to-night. I was only going to say that I
am sorry. I can't _let_ you go without saying that.
DR. THORNE (_rising, and walking irritably through the rooms_). I can't
see that that helps it any. I am so tired I don't want to be touched.
(_Mrs. Thorne brings his overcoat. He repulses her._) Never mind my
coat. I'll put it on myself. Tell Joe--No. I left the horse standing; I
don't want Joe. I suppose Donna is uneasy by this time. She won't stand
at night--_She's got to._ I'll get that whim out of her.--Now don't look
that way! The horse is safe enough.
MRS. THORNE. I haven't bothered you about the horse, have I? But I don't
feel--quite--easy. She is such a nervous creature, and so--
DR. THORNE (_imperiously_). Don't you suppose I know how to drive?
You're always having opinions of your own against mine. There! I must be
off.--Where's the boy, Helen? Where's Laddie?
MRS. THORNE (_gently_). Laddie isn't just right, somehow, Esmerald. I
hated to bother you, for you never think it's anything. Molly is with
him. I've been a little troubled about him. He has cried all the
afternoon.
DR. THORNE. He cries because you coddle him! It is all nonsense, Helen.
Nothing ails the child. I won't encourage this sort of thing. I'll see
him when I come home. I can't possibly wait--I am driven to death--for
every little whim. (_Rushes towards the door, but pauses, irresolute._)
I suppose I shall have to go up--if you've got this fixed idea in your
head. I'll take a look at him on the way out.
MRS. THORNE (_more gently; without reproach, but regarding him
steadily_). Good-by, Esmerald.
DR. THORNE. Oh, bother!--I can't stop for fooling, now.
MRS. THORNE (_with sudden change of manner, breaks down, and hides her
face in her arms. She weeps quietly_). He has always kissed me
good-by--before--ever since we have been married. He never, never missed
before!
_Re-enter_ DR. THORNE. (_He holds the
child in his arms, and strides in impetuously,
still limping; lays_ LADDIE,
_wrapped in a silk robe, upon the sofa.
Tries to make the child sit up; but
the little fellow languidly falls back
upon the pillows._)
(MRS. THORNE _moves quickly over, and supports the child_.)
DR. THORNE. Helen, I must have an end to this nonsense! Nothing ails
Laddie. He is only a trifle feverish, with a little toothache--possibly
there's a slight cold. The child should be out of the nursery. He will
sleep better for the change. Let him stay awhile--and don't make a fool
of yourself over him. It really is very unpleasant to me that you make
such a fuss every time he is ailing. If you had married a green grocer,
it might have been pardonable. Pray remember that you have married a
physician who understands his business, and do leave me to manage it....
There! (_Consults his watch._) I'm eight minutes behindhand already, all
for this senseless anxiety of yours. It's a pity you can't trust me,
like other men's wives. I wish I had married a woman with a little
wifely spirit ... or else not married at all.
[_Exit_ DR. THORNE. (_He does not bid
his wife good-by. At the threshold of
the door he seems to hesitate, makes
as if he would turn back, but goes out._)
MRS. THORNE. Oh-h-h me! (_Utters one long, low cry; she does not speak
any words. She releases her hold of_ LADDIE, _who drops back sleepily
upon the sofa pillow. She seems to forget the child. She stands still,
in the middle of the library, with her face towards the window; her
hands are crossed before her, and clenched tightly together. A solemn
expression grows upon her face. Her tears dry upon her cheeks. Her eyes
widen and darken. Her mouth quivers pitifully. Still she does not speak.
She moves slowly to the window, and draws the curtains back. She stands
there looking out; she shades her eyes with her hand. The hand
trembles._)
THE CHILD (_cries_). Mamma! Mamma!
MRS. THORNE (_does not respond to the child. She moans_).
Esmerald!--Es--mer--ald!
END OF SCENE I.
SCENE II.
A dwelling street in the city, seen in an almost deserted
condition. The time is early evening. The wreck
of a buggy lies crushed against a curbstone; the traces
are broken, the horse having released herself and disappeared.
The wreck lies in shadow, and the prostrate
form of a man is but dimly discerned. After a
few moments of suspense and silence, slowly crawling
to his feet,
_Arises_ DR. THORNE. (_He is dressed
for driving, as when he left home; his overcoat
disarranged, muddy, and torn; his hat
gone; his face has a singular pallor, and
his whole appearance is agitated. As he
rises, he throws a carriage robe back over
the spot where he had been lying. He
speaks._)
DR. THORNE. That dastardly brute has
done it, now! I'll sell Donna for this.--It
will play the mischief with that old
injury. I shall exchange an interesting
limp for crutches, now.--Hil-loa! (_Walks
to and fro with perfect ease._) The shock
has acted like a battery on the nerve centres.
Instead of a broken neck I have a cured leg.
I'm a lucky fellow--as usual. (_Laughs
lightly; turns to examine the condition of
the ruined buggy; suddenly looks confused,
and puts his hand to his head._) Curious
cerebral symptoms I have! Queer, there isn't
a crowd round. They must have missed the
trail when Donna bolted. She'll be at the
stable by this time.--She won't go home.
Helen won't know.... I shouldn't like to
be the man that had to tell Helen!... I
must get to her--I must get home as soon
as I've been to the Hospital. I'm afraid I
was a little short with Helen. I wish-- (_Presses
both hands to his temples as if to
command himself; looks more and more
bewildered._) I must have been pretty well
stunned--seems to me there was a collision.
I ran down somebody. It was a landau--we
crashed--I saw it overturn--there
were people in it I knew--patients....
Who?... _Who?_ (_Stamps the pavement
peremptorily, and impatiently strikes his
own head._) Who was it?--Horrible! The
brain cells do not obey me--_me!_ (_Walks
about frenziedly._) ... Ach--ch! It is
worse to remember than to forget. I have
it now--the sweetest woman of them all--Helen's
friend--the gentlest, the most obedient,
most trustful, the bravest patient I ever
had--Mrs. Fayth. I saw her face as the carriage
went over.... She stretched out her
hands, and said: "Doctor!" It was Mary
Fayth. (_His face falls into his hands.
For a moment he sinks down on the wreck of
the buggy; but springs up._) Now that accounts
for it.--The crowd are all there. The
accident was so bad nobody has thought of
me. _She_ is the victim. _I_ have escaped.
Dead or alive, she is done for. She never
could recover from a shock like that. I
must go and find her. I must find Mrs.
Fayth. (_Starts and hurriedly walks down
the street, peering everywhere._)
[_Exit_ DR. THORNE.
(_In his absence no person passes the street._)
_Re-enter_ DR. THORNE.
Strange! How strange! I cannot find her. I cannot find anything--nor
anybody that a man would naturally meet under such circumstances. Not a
trace of the accident--yet I'm _as sure of it as I am that I'm alive_.
(_Pronounces these words slowly, and paces the sidewalk, irresolute._)
It all came from my being overdue at the Hospital. I suppose I did drive
Donna pretty fast. I wonder if I struck her? I am always in such an
infernal hurry--I never have had time to live. _I am driven to death._
(_He says the last five words, not impatiently, but with a certain
solemn deliberation._) I must go at once to Mrs. Fayth's house. They
must have carried Mary there--I wish I could spare time to see
Helen!--I'll go right home as soon as I've been to Fayth's. Odd! How
these brain symptoms last. I must have had quite a blow. I don't--I
can't--it is mortifying to feel so confused.
[_Exit_ DR. THORNE.
(_In his absence the street remains deserted._)
_Re-enter_ DR. THORNE.
_Enter behind him a tall_ Woman. (_She is
wrapped in a long ash- veil, or
mantle, beneath which shows a gleaming
gown of flame-color. She follows_
DR. THORNE _silently. She keeps at a
distance from him. Her step is a gliding,
stealthy one. The_ Woman _does
not speak_.)
DR. THORNE. There must be serious cerebral congestion. I cannot find the
street. I cannot find Fayth's house. What part of this bewitched town am
I in? I have lost my way--I, Esmerald Thorne, with a clientele of twenty
years from end to end of the city--I cannot find my way.
_Enter a_ Suburban, _a_ Loafer, _and a_
Priest. (_The_ Woman _draws her veil,
and looks solemnly at_ DR. THORNE
_as she passes. Her face is pale and
wretched, but possesses singular
beauty._)
[_Exit the_ Woman.
(DR. THORNE _does not notice the_ Woman.)
(_The_ Loafer _leans against a post. He stares stupidly at the wreck._)
(_The_ Priest _walks slowly, reciting an Ave_.)
(_The_ Suburban _hurries on, making a wide circle to avoid the ruins of
the carriage_.)
DR. THORNE (_addressing the_ Suburban). Can you tell me?--Here! Hold on
a minute! Man, can't you answer a civil question? Will you tell me--
THE SUBURBAN (_pays no attention to_ DR. THORNE, _but hurries on.
Consults his watch; speaks._) I shall lose my train!
[_Exit_ Suburban, _running_.
DR. THORNE (_with puzzled impatience, addressing the_ Loafer).
Here!--You! Why, it's Jerry! Just tell me, will you, Jerry, where the
accident was, and how much was the lady hurt?
(_The_ Loafer _stares stupidly at_ DR. THORNE, _but makes no answer_.)
[_Exit_ Loafer.
DR. THORNE (_with trouble on his face, more gently addresses the_
Priest, _whom he slightly touches on the arm_). Sir!--Oh, Father
Sullivan! Look here, Father! I'm ashamed to confess, I have lost my way.
Would you direct me to the house of the well-known merchant, Frederick
Fayth? I am due there on an urgent professional errand, and--I cannot
explain the phenomenon--but I have lost my way!
(_The_ Priest _repeats an Ave under his breath. He looks_ DR. THORNE
_full in the face, but does not reply_.)
DR. THORNE. And will you be so kind as to tell me whether you have heard
of a carriage accident down-town--and how much was the lady hurt? Did
you--
PRIEST(_looks blindly over_ DR. THORNE'S _head; mutters_). Nay--Nay. I
see nothing. (_He crosses himself_). Ave Sanctissima! Ora pro nobis!
(_He lifts his arms and, with a troubled and confused expression, makes
the sign of the cross in the air over_ DR. THORNE. _Priest passes on._)
DR. THORNE (_gently_). Thank you, Father.
[_Exit_ Priest.
DR. THORNE (_stands sunken in thought for a few moments; suddenly starts
and knots his hands together, then separates them with the motion of one
blind or of one feeling his way in the dark_). I must see Helen! I must
go to Helen!--Helen! _Helen!_
(_Sudden darkness settles. When it passes, the wreck of the buggy is
removed._)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE. (_Walks rapidly and
perplexedly, still with the manner of a
man who has lost his way._)
[_Exit._
_Re-enter._
[_Exit._
_Re-enter_ (_speaks_).
I must get home. I _will_ get home. I _will see_ Helen! (_Stops
sharply, as if smitten by an unseen force; cannot take another step;
contends, as if with an invisible power; droops, as if vanquished;
turns, and retraces his way; his head hangs to his breast. He speaks._)
_What_ thwarts me from my home? _Who_ constrains me from my wife?
(_Lifts his face angrily to the sky._) Is this hypnotism? (_Laughs
sarcastically._) Am I an infant--or a maniac? It must be anæsthesia
passing off. Perhaps I was etherized by some blank fool after that
shock.--The accident! That is it, of course, of course! It is the
cerebral concussion--a simple case.... I shouldn't like this to get out.
I believe I'll go into my office--if I can find my office--and wait till
this passes off. It is a perfectly simple case. (_Walks feverishly up
and down the street, searching for his own office; mutters._) Ever since
I yielded to that demand for a noon office hour downtown for business
men--it has crowded me without mercy. If they hadn't been my old
patients, I wouldn't have succumbed to it. It's just another strand in
the whiplash that has driven me to death. Well (_draws a long
breath_)--I seem to be out of sorts to-night. I shall get over all this
nonsense when I see Helen. Helen will set me right. _Helen will make a
live man of me again._
END OF SCENE II.
SCENE III.
The interior of a down-town office. DR. THORNE
is seen in the consulting room; the door is closed into
the reception room. One gas-jet burns over the desk;
patient's chair and physician's chair are seen in the
usual places; the desk is in order for the night; a
movable telephone, of the kind in use in offices, stands
upon the desk.
DR. THORNE (_throws himself heavily
into his revolving chair_). What the devil
am I here for? (_Violently. The light
grows dim as he says this._) Why in--why
in the name of all the laws of Nature
cannot I get home? (_After a pause, brokenly._)
Well--well! It's something to
be here; to get out of the street--in out
of the night--it's a good deal. I'd begun
to understand how outcasts feel--felons,
apparitions, fugitives. In the name of the
laws of mystery, thank Heaven for so much!
(_The light brightens. It reveals his face,
which is haggard and pinched. He pushes
his case books about, aimlessly. Suddenly
his hand hits the receiver of the telephone.
He springs and cries out_:) The telephone!
The telephone! I must have gone stark
mad not to think of it.--See! I'm not a
drinking man, am I? (_Puts his hand to
his head._) No. I do not drink. Helen
would not like to have me.--No. And
I've been all these hours without telephoning
to Helen. She'll think I did it on purpose--poor
Helen--because of the words
I said. _If a man could slay the words he
says...._ They harry me--like ghosts.
(_Rings the telephone violently._) Central?
48.4--48.4, I say. Why don't you give
me 48.4? I tell you I'm in a hurry. 48.4!
And be quick with it! (_Rings again._) Why
in--why don't you attend to your business
there? It is Dr. Thorne--Dr. Esmerald
Thorne. My errand is most urgent. Give
me my home, and make short work of it.
48.4! Do you hear? (_Rings again._)
(A MAN'S VOICE FROM THE EXCHANGE
_comes faintly over the wire, reverberating
through the transmitter, so as to be audible
at a distance from the instrument_.) Why
don't you speak? We cannot make out a
word you say.
DR. THORNE (_rings again, wildly_). I
tell you I want my home--48.4! I must
speak to my wife. Give me 48.4--Helen?
Helen!
VOICE FROM THE TELEPHONE. Stop
ringing your bell if you can't use your
tongue. Put your mouth close to the transmitter.
Are you drunk? Or are you dead?
DR. THORNE (_still ringing_). I will report
you for this. It shall cost you your
place. 48.4, I say. Give me my house.
I will not submit to this. Give me 48.4!
(_The telephone ceases to reply._)
DR. THORNE (_rises, hangs up the receiver,
and paces the office tempestuously;
speaks_). The very forces of Nature are in
league against me.... My own nervous
system--the night--the atmosphere--electricity--they
are all gone foes to me.
They are serried like an army between myself
and her. Helen will be--Helen will
suffer--oh, poor girl!
(_The telephone call bell rings suddenly._)
DR. THORNE (_leaping to the receiver_).
Who calls? I am here. Who wants Dr.
Thorne? (_He snatches the receiver greedily
to his ear; listens a moment; cries
wildly_:) Oh, Helen! Is that you, dear?
Speak louder, darling.... Yes, I'm
here--at my office down-town. I'll be
home soon. Don't be frightened--but I
met with a trifling accident. Helen? Helen!
What's the trouble? Don't you hear me,
Helen?
WOMAN'S VOICE FROM THE TELEPHONE.
Is my husband there? Esmerald! Are
you there?
DR. THORNE. Why, Helen! Don't you
hear me? What does ail this cursed telephone?
Central! Give me a decent wire.
My wife can't hear a word I say....
Helen? I'm not at all hurt--only shaken
up a little. I'll get back just as soon as--_Helen?
Helen!_
WOMAN'S VOICE FROM THE TRANSMITTER.
Central? I cannot find my husband at his
office. Please give me the Hospital.--I
must communicate with my husband.
(VOICE FROM THE TRANSMITTER _dies
away_.)
DR. THORNE (_rings madly_). Central,
you've cut me off! You've cut me off
from my home. Give me 48.4 again.
Helen?--Helen! Can't you hear me?
Don't you understand me, Helen? Oh, I
could hear you--your own dear voice, my
girl! I wanted to tell you--I can't wait
till I see you to say--Helen? She does
not hear me.--Helen!
(_The transmitter is silent._)
(DR. THORNE _lays the receiver down. He
hides his face in his hands._)
END OF SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
Morning in a business street down-town. Many
people are passing, among them the PRIEST, the SUBURBAN,
and the LOAFER. A crowd thickens before
the bulletin boards of "The Earth," a prominent daily
newspaper. At the extreme left are the headquarters
of "The Universe," a rival paper. Not far from
"The Earth" building can be seen the modest sign
of the eminent physician:--
+------------------------------------+
| DR. ESMERALD THORNE. |
| OFFICE HOUR 12-1 O'CLOCK. |
+------------------------------------+
(_A door opens within._ DR. THORNE _appears in the entrance to the
corridor_.)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE (_upon the sidewalk.
Standing irresolute, he seems to wince
from the daylight and the morning
air; he mutters_).
Now it is light, I can find my way to Helen. (_Steps slowly along the
sidewalk; shades his eyes from the sun. He wears no hat, and his pallor
has increased. No person addresses him._)
(_On the bulletin boards of_ "The Earth" _can be seen the following
announcement_:
WAR WITH THE ISLAND OF BORNEO.
BORNEO LAYS DOWN HER ULTIMATUM.
THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED FOR VOLUNTEERS.
PANIC IN STOCK STREET.
SANTA MA FALLEN 30 POINTS SINCE YESTERDAY.
DISSENSION AT THE CITY HOSPITAL.
RUMORS OF ACCIDENT AT THE WEST END.)
_Enter_ DR. GAZELL (_a short, blond, thick-set,
suave man of middle age_) _and_ DR.
CARVER (_a very young man; the latter
reading a fresh copy of_ "The Universe").
DR. GAZELL (_with emotion_). Shocking! Shocking! I cannot express--I am
overcome!
DR. CARVER (_without emotion_). Yes. It is very sad. You'll be apt to
find these things in "The Universe" before "The Earth" gets them. I
wonder if he--
DR. GAZELL. No. Never. He was above reproach. A hard man to get along
with--willful, but above reproach. I am greatly shocked!
DR. THORNE (_stepping out into the crowd_). Ah, Gazell! Good-morning. I
am--I am very glad to see you, Dr. Gazell (_pathetically_).
(DR. GAZELL _continues reading his paper. He does not look up._)
DR. THORNE (_with embarrassment_). Gazell! (_He moves directly in front
of the office of_ "The Earth." _At that moment a new bulletin flashes in
large letters, over the heads of the crowd, these words_:--
RUMOR CONFIRMED.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT!
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
RUNAWAY AT THE WEST END.
MRS. FREDERICK FAYTH DANGEROUSLY HURT.
THE EMINENT AND POPULAR PHYSICIAN,
DR. ESMERALD THORNE,
KILLED INSTANTLY.)
(DR. THORNE _reads, and reels; stares about him appealingly._)
(_Murmurs are heard from the crowd._)
_Enter two_ Office Girls.
(FIRST OFFICE GIRL _starts, and points to the bulletin_.)
SECOND OFFICE GIRL. Oh! Oh! (_She bursts into tears._)
SUBURBAN. Too bad! He was a clever fellow. He saved my little boy's life
last summer.
LOAFER. He took a t'orn out av me eye onct and divil a cint did he
charrge for 't.
PRIEST. Pater Noster in Cœlo--gone without absolution, poor soul! An
attractive heretic--merciful to the poor of my parish.
DR. GAZELL. He drove too fast a horse. And he drove the horse too fast.
I always told him so. But I am greatly agitated by this!
DR. CARVER (_reading aloud_). Now "The Universe" had it already in type:
"Dr. Thorne was dragged for some distance before the horse broke free.
He was found near the buggy, which was a wreck. The robe was over him,
and his face was hidden. Life was extinct when he was discovered, which
was not for an unaccountably long time. His watch had stopped at five
minutes past seven o'clock. He was not immediately identified. By some
unpardonable blunder the body of the distinguished and favorite
physician was taken to the morgue."
DR. GAZELL. That accounts for it.
DR. CARVER (_reads on_). "It was not until nearly midnight that the
mistake was discovered. A message was dispatched to the elegant
residence of the popular doctor. Mrs. Thorne is a young and beautiful
woman, on whom, with their only child, an infant son, this blow falls
with uncommon cruelty."
DR. THORNE (_utters a long, heartrending moan. But no person hears the
sound. He stretches out his hands. The crowd shrinks from but does not
see him. Staring at the bulletin, he stands apart. He raises his
clenched right hand in the air; speaks_). It is a dastardly lie! It is
one of those cursed canards manufactured to harass men--and--break the
hearts of women. God!--She has seen it by this time. Let me pass! Let me
go to her! You may kill _her_ with this, but you can't kill me.
Gentlemen, make way for me! _I am Dr. Thorne!_
(_The crowd pays no attention to this outcry._)
_Enter_ NEWSBOY (_shrilly piping_).
NEWSBOY. "Earth!" "Universe!" Latest--8.30. All about the accident! Dr.
Thorne killed instantly--Mrs. Fayth still breathin'--"Earth," sir? Two
cents, sir.
(DR. THORNE _clutches the newsboy by the arm, and would tear the paper
from him_. DR. THORNE'S _fingers grope over it--touch it. He tries
several times to obtain it. The paper remains in the hands of the boy._)
_Enter_ BRAKE, _the broker_.
(DR. THORNE _staggers against_ BRAKE, _who is reading_ "The Universe.")
[_Exit the_ Suburban, _consulting his watch_.
DR. THORNE (_more gently; addresses the loafer_). Jerry! Is that you,
Jerry! Tell these gentlemen, will you, that I am Dr. Thorne? I should
take it--kindly--of you, Jerry.
LOAFER (_stares; mutters_). Divil a cint did he charrge me for 't.
DR. THORNE (_addresses the broker_). Oh, Brake! I am glad to see you! I
couldn't get down to save my Santa Ma. But _that_ is of no
consequence.... I've been hurt--an accident--and I am confused. I am
suffering from hallucinations. They have got beyond my control. I
wonder if you wouldn't call a cab for me? I thought Dr. Gazell would
take me home in his carriage,--but he didn't seem to hear me when I
spoke to him. If you'll call a cab, I'll get home--to my wife.
[_Exeunt_ DR. GAZELL, DR. CARVER, _and_
BRAKE, _without replying_.
(DR. THORNE _watches them with a piteous expression; stands back and
apart from the crowd_.)
END OF ACT I.
ACT II.
SCENE I.
A small ward--the women's ward--in a hospital;
several cots with patients in them are visible. One
patient is in a wheeled chair. Screens stand by the
cots. There are plants, pictures, the cheerful features
of the modern hospital. Two nurses are seen busy
with patients.
_Enter_ DR. GAZELL _and_ DR. CARVER.
DR. GAZELL (_seats himself by one of the patients; speaks blandly_). And
how do we find ourselves to-day?
PATIENT (_turning her face, on which can be seen traces of tears_). Bad
enough--worse. I've been so upset by--
DR. GAZELL. Yes, yes. I know. It is truly shocking!
DR. CARVER (_addressing one of the nurses_). You become your cap to-day.
You have an uncommonly good color--I mean to operate on No. 21.
NURSE. Do you really? We thought her improving. She's nervous to-day--on
account of Dr. Thorne.
DR. CARVER. Yes. Thorne had things all his own way here, as usual. I
mean to operate,--if Dr. Gazell can manage her.
NURSE (_coquettishly_). You are so expert,--such an easy surgeon. You
don't mind it more than a layman would carving a Christmas _goo_--oose.
And what would you operate for--on No. 21?
DR. CARVER. Appendicitis, of course.
NURSE. Really? You are so clever on diagnosis. Now, I hadn't thought of
appendicitis--in her case. Do you know--I thought it more like pleurisy?
DR. CARVER (_looks keenly at the nurse to discover if she is making game
of him; speaks pompously_). The nurse, as you have been taught in your
training-school, can have no opinions. Now, the physician--
NURSE (_demurely_). Oh, of course. I wouldn't have you think I'm
presuming to set up mine. She might have measles, or the grippe, for
anything _I_ should know.
DR. CARVER. Now you speak very properly indeed.
DR. GAZELL (_at bedside of No. 21_). Is the pain more severe on the
right?
PATIENT. I didn't say I had any pain--now.
DR. GAZELL (_soothingly_). Increasing toward night? Paroxysms? Or is it
steady?
PATIENT. I said I'd got over the pain. That has all gone. It is the
weakness--the deadly weakness.
DR. GAZELL. Just so. That weakness is a most significant symptom--I
think you said it was accompanied by nausea?
PATIENT. No, I didn't. Not a bit.
DR. GAZELL. Just so. Dr. Carver? Here a moment? (_To the patient._) I'm
sure we can relieve all that. Just a little operation--a very pretty
little operation--would set you right again in a week or two.
DR. CARVER (_coming to the cotside of No. 21; speaks eagerly_). It is
such a beautiful operation! Why, I've known patients _beg_ for it,--it
is so beautiful.
PATIENT (_beginning to cry_). Dr. Thorne said there was no need of
anything of the kind.
DR. GAZELL (_stiffening_). Dr. Thorne was an able man--but eccentric.
His professional colleagues did not always agree with him.
_Enter_ DR. THORNE. (_He has wasted since
his last appearance; looks outcast,
wan, and wretched; is splashed with
mud; still hatless; stands at the
lower end of the ward, gazing blindly
about._)
PATIENT NO. 21. Dr. Thorne used to say that if we had better doctors, we
shouldn't need so many surgeons. He said the true treatment would
prevent half the surgery in the city.
(DR. THORNE _starts, and moves towards the patient_.)
DR. GAZELL (_soothingly_). Yes. Just so. Dr. Thorne had great confidence
in himself.
PATIENT (_rousing_). No more than his patients had in him.
DR. CARVER. Irritable! Very irritable! A significant symptom, Dr.
Gazell. In my opinion, this extreme irritability _demands_ an operation
for appendicitis.
FIRST NURSE (_listening, laughs; addresses_ SECOND NURSE). Now, if one
could only apply that! Take a cross man,--any cross man,--say a brother,
or a husband, or even a doctor, and if he carried it too far, just call
on Dr. Carver. Why, it would revolutionize society. And he is so expert!
He doesn't mind it any more than carving a _goo_--oose. Yes, sir! I'm
coming. (_Demurely obedient; hurries to_ DR. GAZELL.)
(SECOND NURSE _moves to the rear of the ward to a patient behind a
screen_.)
(DR. THORNE _advances slowly; stands in the middle of the ward,
unnoticed_.)
PATIENT NO. 21 (_louder_). I say, when a man's dead is the time to speak
for him. And I'll stand up for my dear dead doctor as long as I live.
VOICE FROM ANOTHER COT. And so would I,--and longer, if I got the
chance.
ANOTHER VOICE. He doesn't need anybody to stand up for him. His deeds do
follow him. And he rests from his labors.
(DR. THORNE _smiles bitterly; stands with his face towards the speaker.
He knots his hands in front of him, and thus advances with a motion so
slow as to be almost stealthy._)
VOICE FROM ANOTHER COT. He wouldn't care so much for that. It's Bible.
He was not a religious man. But he was as _kind to me_! (_Weeps._)
OTHER VOICES. And to me! Oh, yes, and to me,--as _kind_!
PATIENT IN THE WHEELED CHAIR. I couldn't move in my bed when I came
here. I'd been so three years. Look what he's done for _me_. (_Sobs._)
DR. THORNE (_in a low tone_). Miss Jessie? Don't cry so. You'll make
yourself worse. Go back to bed, Jessie, and--see. I'll tell you a
secret. Don't tell the others just yet. I wasn't killed, Jessie. That
was a newspaper canard. _I'm a live man yet._ See! Look up, Jessie. Look
at me,--can't you? (_Pleads._) Won't you, Jessie?
PATIENT IN THE WHEELED CHAIR (_stares past him at_ DR. GAZELL _and_ DR.
CARVER). And to think of the likes of them,--in his place! What ever'll
become of this hospital without _him_?
DR. THORNE (_with trembling lip_). You don't hear me, do you, Jessie?
Well--well. I must have met with some cerebral shock affecting the
organs of speech. It is a clear case of aphasia. I can't make myself
understood. It--it's hard. Jessie? (_Louder._) I can't see things go
wrong with _you_,--no matter how it is with me. You've been in that
chair long enough for to-day. (_Imperiously._) Jessie, go back to bed!
Stop crying about me, and go back to your bed.
(JESSIE _wavers; shades her eyes with her hands; stares about her;
slowly turns her wheeled chair and moves away_.)
[_Exit_ JESSIE.
DR. THORNE (_moves more naturally and rapidly; stands by the cot of No.
21; speaks_). Good-morning, Mrs. True. I meant to have seen you last
night. I was--unavoidably detained. I hope you're not worse this
morning?
PATIENT (_with tears_). I've cried half the night.
DR. THORNE. That's a pity. But you won't cry any more. I'll take care of
you now.
PATIENT (_looks up wearily; turns her face on her pillow and sobs_).
DR. THORNE. Clearly aphasia. She does not understand a word I say. Dr.
Gazell! Gazell! Dr. Carver?
(_The two physicians murmur together._)
DR. THORNE. Gazell? What's that? The knife? For Mrs. True? Excuse me,
but I cannot permit it.
DR. CARVER. It would be such a pretty little operation. The students are
getting restless for something. I told them--
DR. GAZELL. It is well-defined appendicitis.
DR. THORNE. Well-defined appendi--fiddlesticks! It is nothing but
pleurisy. I tell you, Gazell, I will not have it!
DR. GAZELL (_looks around uncomfortably; speaks with hesitation_). Of
course, Thorne would not have agreed with us.
DR. THORNE (_grips_ DR. GAZELL _by the arm_). I tell you it would be
butchery, Gazell! What are you thinking of? _Gazell!_
DR. GAZELL. But he was a very opinionated man,--everybody knew that.
(DR. THORNE _drops_ DR. GAZELL'S _arm and walks away with a gesture of
distress_.)
SECOND NURSE (_to_ FIRST NURSE; _moves out from behind the screen_).
Very invigorating day!
FIRST NURSE (_to_ SECOND NURSE). Father Sullivan's late with the
Sacrament. I hope Norah, yonder, won't get ahead of him. She's 'most
gone. (_Approaching the cot of the patient behind the screen._)
SECOND NURSE (_moves away_). Yes. She's been unconscious half an hour.
_Enter_ PRIEST. (_He advances to offer Extreme Unction to the dying
patient._)
FIRST NURSE. Lovely morning, Father.
DR. THORNE (_standing in the middle of the ward_). They used to call my
name when I came in. "Oh, there's the doctor!" "The doctor's come!" It
ran from cot to cot--like light. And everybody used to smile. Seems to
me some of them blessed me. Now--
(_Sobs from the ward._)
DR. THORNE (_tremulously_). My patients! Isn't there _one_ of you who
knows me? Doesn't _any_body hear me? Don't cry so! All the symptoms
will be worse for it.
THE DYING PATIENT. Doctor? Doctor?
DR. THORNE. That sounds like Norah.
PRIEST (_recites behind the screen at_ NORAH'S _bedside the prayer for
the passing soul_). "Proficiscere, anima Christiana, de hoc mundo, in
nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit; in nomine Jesu Christi
Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est; in nomine Spiritus Sancti"--
DR. THORNE (_softly_). Thank you, Father. (_Stands silently with bowed
head._)
_Reënter the patient in the wheeled chair._
JESSIE (_happily_). I've had such a lovely dream! I thought Dr. Thorne
was here--in this ward. Oh! (_With disappointment._)
DR. THORNE. Jessie!
JESSIE (_sadly_). It was such a lovely dream! (_Droops and turns away._)
(DR. THORNE _walks apart; stands drearily, with downcast eyes_.)
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH. (_She looks pale and
agitated, but quite happy. She is
dressed as before, for the street, but
her head is bare; is wrapped from
head to foot in her long, pale, dove-
opera cape. She goes straight
to_ DR. THORNE, _and touches him upon
the arm; speaks softly_.)
MRS. FAYTH. Doctor?
DR. THORNE (_starts_). Oh! Mary Fayth! You? (_He grasps her hand with
pathetic eagerness._) Oh, I never was so glad! You are the first
person--the only one--nobody else seemed to know me. I might have known
_you_ would. Where's Helen? Isn't she with you? And you weren't hurt at
all, were you? I have been--anxious about you. Those cowardly papers
said--I tried to get right over and see you. And, after all, you're not
hurt. I thank-- (_Looks around confusedly._) Ah, what shall I thank?
PRIEST. Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
(DR. THORNE _listens with troubled interest, like a child learning a
hard lesson_.)
MRS. FAYTH (_smiling_). I can only stay a minute. I must get back to my
poor Fred.
DR. THORNE. Don't leave me.
MRS. FAYTH. Oh, poor doctor! Don't you _see_? The carriage overturned. I
was badly hurt. I only died an hour ago.
DR. THORNE (_gasps, and stares at_ MRS. FAYTH. _He tries to speak, but
can only articulate_). You died an hour ago? And I? And _I_?
MRS. FAYTH (_still smiling, with her sweet, mysterious smile_). Don't
take it so hard, doctor. I came to ex-plain it to you. Why, it's the
most beautiful thing in the world! (_Glides away slowly, but smiling to
the last._)
DR. THORNE (_throws up his arms in anguish_). I am dead! My God! _I am a
dead man!_
(_His face falls into his hands, his whole body collapses slowly, he
drops._)
END OF SCENE I.
SCENE II.
It is night on a street in the West End of the city.
At the right stands a church, dimly lighted for a choir
to practice. An anthem on the organ can be heard.
At the left appears Dr. Thorne's house, viewed from
the outside. It has high stone steps, and lights are
in the window. One window on the ground floor has
the curtain raised. The interior of the library can be
seen through the window,--glimpses of the books, the
pictures, the table, the lamp with the white lace shade.
The room is empty. Into it--
_Enter_ MRS. THORNE. (_She is dressed in
deep black. Her face is drawn with
grief. Her hands are clasped in front
of her. She paces the room drearily.
She is alone. She seats herself by the
table; tries to read; lays the book
down, and rises; paces the room._)
[_Exit_ MRS. THORNE.
_Enter_ DR. THORNE _at the far end of the
street near the church. (He is dressed
as before. He is still pale. His manner
has increased in agitation, but a
new resolution gives more firmness to
his wasted countenance. He speaks,
meditatively._)
DR. THORNE. After all, there _is_ another life. I really did not think
it. (_Stops and passes his hand over his eyes; muses._) God knows--if
there is a God--how it is with me. If I have never done anything, or
been anything, or felt anything that was fit to _last_, I have loved one
woman, and her only--and thought high thoughts for her, and felt great
emotions for her, and I could forget myself for her sake--and I would
have had joy to suffer for her, and I've been a better man for love of
her. And I have loved her,--oh, I have so loved her that ten thousand
deaths could not murder that living love! (_Falters._) And I spoke to
her--I said to her--like any low and brutal fellow, any common
wife-tormentor--I went from her dear presence to _this_. (_Brokenly._)
... And here there is neither speech nor language. Neither earth nor
heaven, nor my love ... nor my shame ... can give my famished eyes the
sight of her dear face,--nor my sealed lips the power to say, Forgive!
(_The organ can be heard from the church._)
DR. THORNE (_without noticing the anthem_). I will not bear it. No--no.
I _will_ not! I _will_ go to her! (_Starts to rush up the street, whose
familiar precincts he seems for the first time to recognize._) Why,
there is my own house! She can't be two rods away. I wonder if a dead
man can get into his own home? _Helen?_ (_His feet lag heavily; he moves
like one who is wading in water. He makes the motions of one who
withstands a strong blast or an invisible force. He is beaten back.
Suddenly he raves._) You are playing with me! You torture a miserable
man. Who and what are you? Show me what I have to fight, and let me
wrestle for my liberty! Though I am a ghost, let me wrestle like a man!
Let me to my wife! Give way and let me seek her! (_Slowly recedes, as if
beaten back; bows his head. The man sobs._)
CHOIR FROM THE CHURCH (_chant_).
"God is a Spirit.
God is a Spirit.
And they that worship Him"--
(_Choir breaks off. The organ sounds on._)
(DR. THORNE _seems to listen, but with a kind of anger. He slowly
recedes, as if pushed back._)
[_Exit_ DR. THORNE.
_Enter the_ Veiled Woman. (_She stands
mutely and wretchedly. Watches the
house. Wrings her hands, but makes
no sound._)
_Enter_ MRS. THORNE. (_Within the house;
can be seen plainly from the street
through the window. She advances
and draws the shade still higher;
stands close to the window, pressing
her hands against the sides of her
eyes; looks out._)
(_The_ Veiled Woman _shrinks at the sight of_ MRS. THORNE.)
[_Exit the_ Woman.
_Reënter_ DR. THORNE _at the other end of the street_. (_He speaks
shrewdly._) It is nearer at this end. And perhaps, if I didn't have to
get by that church-- (_Hurries up opposite the house. Suddenly he sees
her._) Oh, there's Helen! God! It is my wife. I--see--my--wife.
(_Brokenly._) Dear Helen! (_Pushes toward the house. At the foot of his
own steps he falters and falls, still as if beaten back. He struggles as
a man would struggle for his life. The veins stand out on his face and
on his clinched hands. He cries out._) I'm coming, Helen! It is only I,
my girl. Don't be frightened, dear! I wonder would she be afraid of me?
Perhaps it would shock her. Live people and dead people don't seem to
understand each other. But I'll risk it. Helen would go alone and lie
down alive in a grave at midnight, and never look over her shoulder--if
she thought she could see _me_. I know Helen. I'll try again. (_He
pushes and urges his way onward. But the invisible Power restrains him,
as before. He stretches his arms towards the lighted window._) Here I
am, Helen! I can't get any farther, somehow.... Come and open the door
for me, my girl,--the way you used to do. Won't you, Helen? With the boy
in your arms? Perhaps if _you_ opened the door,--I could get in. I ...
(_After a silence._) I won't stay very long. I won't trouble you any,
Helen. I know I don't belong there any more. I won't intrude.
(_Wistfully._) Helen! I was cruel to you. I have been ashamed of myself.
I thought if I could get in long enough to say-- (_Reflects._) Mary
Fayth went back to see _Fred_. Nothing prevented her--
(MRS. THORNE _throws open the window. Leans out and looks about._)
(MAGGIE _is seen moving about the lighted room_.)
(_People in the street pass._)
(MRS. THORNE _hastily shuts the window_.)
DR. THORNE (_piteously_). Helen!
(_The organ sounds from the church._)
DR. THORNE (_turns suddenly, as if turning on an antagonist_). What art
Thou that dost withstand me? I am a dead and helpless man. _What_
wouldst Thou with me? _Where_ gainest Thou thy force upon me? Art Thou
verily that ancient Myth that men were wont to call Almighty God? (_He
lifts his face to the sky; holds up his hands as if he held up a
question or an argument._)
CHOIR FROM THE CHURCH:--
"God is a Spirit.
God is a Spirit.
They that worship Him
Must worship Him in Spirit"--
MAGGIE (_opens the door. The lighted hall is seen behind_). There's
nobody here, Mrs. Thorne.
(MRS. THORNE, _wearing a slight, white shawl which falls from her as she
moves, comes to the open door; motions_ MAGGIE _away_.)
[_Exit_ MAGGIE.
MRS. THORNE (_softly_). Esmerald? He might be out there in the dark. Who
knows what spirits do? Esmerald? Would God that I had died for you! Oh,
my dear!
DR. THORNE. _Helen!_
MRS. THORNE. If he were there he would answer me if it cost him his
living soul.
DR. THORNE. Helen, I answer you, for I _am_ a living soul. _Helen!_ (_He
struggles mightily; crawls up the steps, reaches with the tips of his
fingers the fringe of her white shawl, which has fallen down the steps,
and lies there unnoticed._) Helen, look down! _Down._ (_He clutches the
white fringe to his lips. He kisses it wildly._)
(MRS. THORNE _lifts her face to the sky_.)
DR. THORNE. I can't get any higher,--not any nearer, dear.
MRS. THORNE. There is no one here. (_Weeping._) There is nothing here.
(_She shuts the door slowly and reluctantly; remembers the shawl, which
she draws in with her._)
(DR. THORNE _clings to the shawl in vain. Moaning, he kisses the
doorsteps of his own home where the garment had touched them._)
END OF SCENE II.
SCENE III.
A narrow defile or pass between high mountains.
The light is dim. The pass winds irregularly, and is
often rough, but is always upwards. The scenery is
unearthly. No sign of life is to be seen. A distant
storm can be heard.
_Enter_ DR. THORNE (_slowly, holding a
staff; he is robed in purple, a flowing
garment, not unlike a talith or a toga.
His face, still pale, is heavily lined;
but more with anxiety than with resentment;
its expression is somewhat
softer. He speaks_).
DR. THORNE. I wonder what is to be done with me next? I see no
particular reason for climbing these mountains. There seems to be
nothing for a dead man to do but to obey orders. Well (_candidly_), I've
given my share of them in my time. I suppose it's fair enough to turn
about and take a few--now. (_He smiles. After a pause, climbing
slowly._) I must say I can't call this an attractive country--so far.
Its main features are not genial.
(_The storm increases; there is thunder and cloud._)
DR. THORNE (_looking about_). It seems to be in the cyclonic belt.
There's a storm of some sort,--I should say two of them fighting up in
these hills. Hear them close and clinch! Like a man's two natures;
civil war all the time. And no truce! (_Muses._) It's not a social
region, certainly. I don't know that I recall, really, ever being in a
place that was so desolate. There isn't so much as a wild animal, nor a
bird flying over. It reminds me of--what was it? I can't recall the
words. It seems to me my mother taught them to me when I was a little
lad. But they have quite gone. Beautiful literature in that old Book!
It's a good while since I've dipped into it. I've had too much to do.
What was it?
"Though I walk--When I walk"--
(_He breaks off; climbs stoutly. The storm darkens down. For the first
time_ DR. THORNE'S _face expresses something like alarm. He looks about
like a man who would call for help, but is too proud to do so. He
speaks._)
This is really growing serious. I wish I could remember those words. Now
I think of it, we were on our knees. A most unnatural posture! My
mother was a sweet saint,--rest her pure spirit! (_It lightens as he
says this._)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_softly chanting_).
"And when I'm lost in deep despair
Be thou with me....
Until life's daylight ended be,
Be thou with me, with me."
DR. THORNE (_lifts his head to listen_). There's a good musical taste in
this country, at all events. That's something. What were those words?
Ah, I have it.
"Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow
Thou shalt be with me."
It went in some such way. (_Repeats perplexedly._)
"_Thou_ shalt be with me?"
(_Sadly._) A beautiful superstition.
(_The storm comes on heavily, with darkness and lightning. Through the
gloom his solitary form can be seen manfully climbing. He exhibits no
panic, but his evident bewilderment grows upon him. He mutters._)
The desolation of desolations! I shall be glad when I get out of it.
What solitude! Of all the people I have known--dead or living--there is
not one to stay by me.
VOICES FROM BEYOND.
"Be Thou near him!"
_Enter, on the pass above him, a young
girl repeating prayers on a rosary.
She is a plain, unattractive girl, folded
in a dull gray gown that wraps her
loosely. Her face is earnest and devout._
DR. THORNE. Why, Norah!
NORAH (_looking back_). Oh, it is the Doctor.
DR. THORNE. I can't overtake you, Norah.
NORAH. And I've only died the day.
DR. THORNE. But you've got the start of me, Norah. You are higher up. I
am glad to see you, Norah (_eagerly_). But I can't reach you.
NORAH (_holds down her hand_). Come up, Doctor! Come up! I'll help you,
Doctor.
DR. THORNE (_gratefully_). Thank you, Norah.
NORAH. It's to Purrgatory I'd be goin'. But you're the herretic, Doctor.
Which way do you be goin'?
DR. THORNE (_shakes his head_). I don't know, Norah. You are wiser than
I am--in this foreign place.
NORAH (_holds down her hand_). The dear Doctor! Ye were that kind to me,
Doctor,--at the hospital, and forninst the house where I was worrkin'.
It's niver a cint I had to pay yez for yer thruble. If I'd been a pretty
lady with a purrse of gold, ye never could have put yerself about more
than ye did for the likes of me. It's not meself that would have died
the day if _you'd_ been there. Doctor? Would yez mind, if I
should--bless you, Doctor? There's kindness onto kindness, and mercy
goin' after mercy that ye did me, all hidin' in a poor girrl's heart to
rise and meet you here. I was sick an' ye did visit me.
DR. THORNE (_melting_). When did I ever show you all that kindness,
Norah? I don't remember--
NORAH. And I don't forget. Take my hand, now, Doctor, do. It must be
lonesome down below there by yersel'. (_Touches her rosary. Her lips
move in prayer._)
DR. THORNE (_climbing on, grasps_ NORAH'S _hand_). Thank you, Norah
(_gently_).
(_There is a lull in the storm. It grows lighter._)
(DR. THORNE _and the Irish girl climb on together silently_.)
(_It brightens at the brow of the mountain. Dim outlines of figures are
faintly seen at the summit. They waver, and melt away._)
DR. THORNE (_gradually loosening his hold of_ NORAH'S _hand, speaks, but
not to_ NORAH, _bitterly_). Now stop a moment. Where will all this end?
Rebelling, I obey; and obeying, I rebel. I am become what we used to
call a spirit. And this is what it means! Better might one become a
molecule, for those at least express the Laws of the Universe, and do
not suffer. I don't incline to go any higher. (_Drops back._) Every step
is taking me further away from my wife.
NORAH (_anxiously_). Doctor? Doctor! (_She climbs on, but looks back,
beckoning._)
DR. THORNE (_pays no attention to_ NORAH. _Retraces his steps down the
narrow path_). Come what may, I _will_ not go any further from Helen.
I'll perish first, in this unearthly place. (_He continues to descend;
stands lost in thought. The storm darkens round him, but lightens beyond
him. At the summit dim outlines can be seen again. These brighten
faintly._)
(NORAH _reaches her arms towards them; climbs on_.)
DR. THORNE. It was something to be in the same world with Helen.
(_Muses._) Oh, hot in my anger I went from her. And cold, indeed, did I
return. (_Still descending._) I will go back. I will get as near the old
system of things as I can. I will not put another span of space between
myself and Helen. Poor, poor girl!
(DR. THORNE, _doggedly descending, does not look up_.)
(_White-robed forms at the summit brighten. Arms are stretched downwards
through a mist. Hands beckon. One of them reaches down and clasps_
NORAH'S _hand; draws her up_.)
NORAH (_looking back_). Doctor!
(NORAH _vanishes_.)
(_The pass grows dark. Figures at the summit dim._)
(_Enter, from a darkness in the mountains,
the_ Woman _in flame-color. Her ashen
mantle is now thrown back, but still
clings to her. She stands mournfully
regarding_ DR. THORNE. _She does not
address him, but slowly extends her
arms._)
(DR. THORNE _does not observe the_ Woman. _She does not obtrude herself
upon his attention._)
[_Exit the_ Woman _into the darkness
whence she came_.
DR. THORNE (_with frowning face descends; he murmurs_). And a few days
ago I was troubled because I had lost a few thousand _dollars_ in Santa
Ma.... I saved up _money_! (_Scornfully._) I would accumulate a
_fortune_. Oh, the whole of it, ten hundred thousand-fold the whole of
it, for one hour in a dead man's desolated home! (_Pushes downwards,
suddenly and silently._)
_Enter_ AZRAEL, ANGEL OF DEATH. (_The
pass blackens. The mountain summit
is wrapped in darkness._)
(AZRAEL _stands tall and resplendent. He is a white-robed figure, winged
and powerful. The light falls only upon_ AZRAEL _and upon the man. It
can be seen that this gleam comes from a sword held in the hand of the
Angel. Without a word he lifts the flaming sword, and with it bars the
narrow pass from side to side._)
DR. THORNE (_in a ringing voice_). Azrael!
(AZRAEL _does not reply_.)
DR. THORNE (_under his breath_). Azrael, Angel of Death! (_Falls back._)
(_The two figures confront each other in silence._ DR. THORNE
_desperately flings himself towards the Angel. Without a touch he is
beaten back._ AZRAEL _stands immovable. His face grows solemn with
pity._ DR. THORNE _retreats; advances again; raises his staff, and
strikes it upon the Angel's sword. The staff flames up, burns, and drops
to ashes on the ground._)
(DR. THORNE _recedes a few steps; shades his eyes with his hands;
regards the Angel blindly; wavers, turns. Slowly, with bent figure, he
weakly reascends the mountain; stumbles and falls; regains his footing;
climbs on alone, and now without his staff; does not look back._)
(AZRAEL _stands immovable, with drawn sword_.)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_sing so softly that they seem rather to be
breathing than singing_):--
"The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on ...
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while."
(_As they sing the summit mellows slowly. No figures appear. At the brow
of the mountain a single gleam of light pierces the gloom. It brightens
rather than broadens. It has the color of dawn._)
(AZRAEL _fades away, the sword vanishing last_.)
(DR. THORNE _climbs up, with eyes lifted towards the light on the
summit, which strikes his face and figure_.)
AS THE VOICES SING:--
"And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while."
END OF ACT II.
ACT III.
SCENE I.
_Paradise_: A beautiful country. Trees, flowers,
shrubs, vines of great luxuriance abound. Brilliant
birds of unfamiliar plumage can be heard singing in
the boughs. They dip, blazing, through the air. The
grass is bright, and like short fur in effect. The
sheen of water, like the surface of a lake or sea, glimmers
beyond. Sails of faint, fair tints, move and
melt upon the sea. At a distance, upon a hill, are
outlines of graceful architecture. A narrow brook
can be seen, with strange shells upon its little banks.
There are no highways visible. Foot-worn walks and
paths, trodden through the grass, intersperse the
landscape. The grass, however, springs afresh beneath
the foot, and is not crushed or sear. Annunciation
lilies and scarlet passion-flowers grow in the
foreground. Bluebells, in clusters, spring beyond.
Roses are many. Flowers unknown to the botanies
of earth are frequent; and among those to which we
are used, it will be noticed that the blossoms of the
tropics and of the North countries flourish side by
side. The whole impression is one of delight and
beauty. The sky has a misty softness, and the atmosphere
is capable of taking on (and takes on) sudden
and subtle changes of effect. It is now seen to be
early morning, and all the tints of the landscape are
tender and fresh.
The scene is populous with _bright beings_. These
are seen to differ from the people of this planet chiefly
in their joyousness of manner, and in a certain high
expression, of which it might be said, in a word, that
the absence of low motive, and the presence of a sense
of ease and security, are the predominant features.
These beings wear flowing robes of various tints--dove,
rose, blue, corn, violet, silver, gold, and pearl.
Here and there one appears garbed in the color of the
pale leaf, and, in moving among the foliage, seems
to have sprung from it. Many spirits are clothed in
shining white. Happy conversation and gentle laughter
can be heard.
_Enter_ Two Children. _These play in the
brook, and gather the shells. They are
robed in short, childish garments--a
little frock, a little dress, both white,
and each clasped by a small, golden
cross._
FIRST CHILD (_a boy, four or five years old_). I never saw such pretty
shells in that other place we lived. They took me to the seaside
summers, but there weren't any there that began to be so pretty.
SECOND CHILD (_a girl_). _I_ never played with _any_ shells before. We
lived in a street. It was dark and dirty. I never saw the sea till I
came here.
FIRST CHILD. I never saw you in that other place, did I?
SECOND CHILD. No. You wouldn't have played with me there.
FIRST CHILD. I like you here--don't I?
SECOND CHILD. And I like you. I like you best of anybody I've seen in
this pretty country.
FIRST CHILD. Do you like roses? Or don't you care for anything but
shells?
SECOND CHILD (_adoringly_). I like roses, if you like roses.
(_They leave the brook, and gather roses, pelting each other with them,
and laughing merrily._)
(FIRST CHILD _tosses a rose over the brook_.)
(SECOND CHILD _picks a bluebell, and puts it to her lips_.)
FIRST CHILD. No. They're not to eat. They're to listen to. See! I'll
ring mine. Hark! (_He rings the bluebell. It gives out a musical
tintinnabulation._) Now, you hark again. I never heard a bluebell ring
in that other place, did you?
SECOND CHILD. I never saw one on our street.... Oh, _mine_ rings,
too!... Say! Are these angels? I never saw an angel either, in our
street.
(The Children _wander away and mingle with the groups of spirits. They
ring the bluebells as they go. The tintinnabulation is drowned in
orchestral music, which can be heard from a distance. The theme is from
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. Certain of the spirits listen attentively,
and move towards the music. Certain others continue to talk happily, and
stir among the trees._)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE. (_Walks slowly and
alone. He is robed still in purple,
with a tunic of white showing at the
throat. He looks pallid and harassed.
He stands for a time apart,
keenly observant of the scene and of
the people, then sinks in thought. He
speaks._)
DR. THORNE. Children here, too?
(_He looks wistfully at the two children, who are playing together at a
distance from him. He picks up the rose which the little boy had tossed
over the brook; puts it to his face; speaks._)
DR. THORNE. What a perfume the flowers have in this country! This seems
to be a rose, yet it is not a rose. You might call it the soul of a
rose. Exquisite, whatever it is. Some one has dropped this one. There is
personality clinging to it. Curious! It is as though I clasped a little
hand when I touch it.
(_He sighs; walks to and fro thoughtfully; does not throw away the rose,
but cherishes it. Groups of spirits pass and repass. Some of them smile
at him kindly, but he does not return the smile. No one addresses
him._)
DR. THORNE. I have done my share of traveling in my day, but I must say
I never was in a land that seems to me so foreign as this. Nothing looks
natural. I seem to have no acquaintances. Apparently nobody knows me. I
have no introductions. I am afraid I have got here without letters of
credit. (_Breaks off._) That was a mistake. I never did such an ignorant
thing before. I must say it is an attractive country, too. Everything
shows a high degree of civilization, and the beauty of the place is
unsurpassed. But it does not appeal to me. (_He shakes his head._) ... I
am too homesick.... If Helen were here, I could enjoy it.
(_He strolls about without aim or interest. Happy spirits pass and
repass._)
_Enter a man-spirit of impressive and
commanding appearance. His costume
bears a certain vague resemblance
to the dress of a gentleman and scholar
of the Court of Charles I. of England.
A cloak of the tint of the dead
oak-leaf is clasped across his breast
by a golden cross. He regards_ DR.
THORNE _with a piercing but kindly
look. He speaks with a fine and
courtly manner, dating from a bygone
age._
THE MAN-SPIRIT. I read thee for a stranger here.
DR. THORNE (_bitterly_). A stranger in a strange place am I, indeed. You
are the first inhabitant of this country who has troubled himself to
speak to me. Thank you for your politeness, sir.
THE MAN-SPIRIT. I was commanded. These (_waving his hand toward the
groups of spirits_) were not.
DR. THORNE. You look like a person more fitted to give commands than to
receive them. I fail to understand that word--_commanded_. I am--at
least, I was--a sovereign citizen of America. I was not born or trained
a subject.
THE MAN-SPIRIT (_smiling_). And I was subject of an English
sovereign--in fact, an officer of the royal court.
DR. THORNE (_without smiling_). And this nation? Is it an autocratic
monarchy you have here? What _is_ your political system?
THE MAN-SPIRIT. It is a simple one--a pure theocracy.
DR. THORNE (_indifferently_). Oh, theocracy? That is a system into which
I have never studied. I have been a busy man. I was a
physician-- (_Abruptly._) Would you favor me with your name?
THE MAN-SPIRIT. I was a healer of the sick in my time. My name
was-- (_Whispers his name._)
DR. THORNE (_starts with pleased surprise_). The great _Harvey_? And
_you_ discovered the circulation of the blood? How wonderful! Why, I
thought you had been mould and clover these two hundred and fifty
years! It never occurred to me that you were alive.... What an
extraordinary fact!
HARVEY (_turns away wearily_). I did not think to find your education so
limited. I understood you to be a man of superior powers.
DR. THORNE (_humbly_). Don't leave me, Doctor Harvey! I am the most
unhappy man in this most happy country.
HARVEY (_slowly_). Then you did not bring with you the materials of
happiness. What had you? What _were_ your possessions in the life
yonder?
DR. THORNE (_solemnly, but still bitterly_). Love, happiness, home,
health, prosperity, fame, wealth, ambition. None of them did I bring
with me. I have lost them all upon the way.
HARVEY. Was there by chance nothing else?
DR. THORNE. Nothing more, unless you count a little incidental
usefulness.
HARVEY. Plainly, you are not in a normal condition.
DR. THORNE (_hastily_). I am perfectly well.
HARVEY. You are sick of soul. You are not in health of spirit. You are
out of harmony with your atmosphere. Do you wish me to take the case?
DR. THORNE. Take the case, Doctor Harvey. Cure me of my nostalgia. Show
me how to become a citizen of this foreign land.
HARVEY. You know what it means to be a patient.
DR. THORNE (_grimly_). I can think of no worse fate; but I'll make the
best of it.
HARVEY (_smiling kindly_). I will undertake the case. At evening inquire
your way to my dwelling. (_Moves away; returns; hesitates; lingers;
speaks impulsively._) Concerning the latest attainments in science on
the planet Earth--they have the keenest interest for me. You have so
many advantages--facilities that we never had. (_He sighs wistfully._) I
am told that your therapeutics are really wonderful. And the advances in
surgery? Did you find them as beautiful as they are said to be?
_Enter a newly arrived woman-spirit. She
is still pale, but has a happy expression.
She recognizes_ DR. THORNE;
_cries eagerly_.
WOMAN-SPIRIT. Doctor! Doctor Thorne!
HARVEY. Here comes some of your incidental usefulness. That is a good
symptom. (_He moves away, still smiling._)
[_Exit_ HARVEY.
DR. THORNE. Why, Mrs. True! (_Grasps her hand joyfully._) You are the
first person I have seen--the first one I knew! But (_reflecting_) what
has happened to you? How did you get here?
MRS. TRUE. I died yesterday.... I knew I should see you, Doctor.
(_Calmly._) I counted on that.
DR. THORNE (_starting back_). Did they--you don't mean to say they
really operated on you? You were convalescent!
MRS. TRUE (_laughing outright_). Yes, in a week after you were killed.
Dr. Carver vivisected guinea-pigs all that week to keep in practice. I
died under the knife.... I wish you'd seen their faces!
DR. THORNE (_eagerly_). What did they find--anything to justify the
butchery?
MRS. TRUE. Of course not. Didn't you say there wasn't?
DR. THORNE (_gratefully_). You always were a loyal patient--better than
I deserved.
MRS. TRUE. You always were a kind doctor--better than I deserved.
DR. THORNE. And they slaughtered you in my hospital!
MRS. TRUE (_hurrying on_). Have you seen my husband? Do you know where
my mother is? I lost a baby twenty years ago. I want to see the little
thing. And oh? when can I see--?
(_She breaks off, with a devout expression, and moves away; joins the
upper group of spirits. Two of these can be seen to meet and embrace
her, and lead her on._)
[_Vanish_ MRS. TRUE.
_Enter_ JERRY, _the loafer, hurriedly and
stumbling. His robe is of dull blue,
something in the fashion of a smock-frock,
or butcher's blouse._
JERRY (_staring about him stupidly, and with a kind of social
embarrassment, as if he had been suddenly introduced into a
drawing-room_). <DW37>-niver a cint in me pocket, and me hoofin' it in this
quaer counthree. (_Scratches his head, and mutters unintelligibly._) ...
I wondher where the ... sinsible saints I'm at.
DR. THORNE (_steps forward; speaks_). Why, Jerry! How are you, Jerry?
(_Holds out his hand heartily._)
JERRY (_staring_). Sinsible saints, and silly sinners! Doctor Thorne?...
Why, I thought you was dead. Hilloa, Doctor! (_Grasps the doctor's hand,
and shakes it violently. Then meditatively._) Ye took a t'orn out av me
eye onct, and <DW37>-niver a cint did ye charrge for 't.
DR. THORNE. What are you doing here, Jerry? How did you get here?
JERRY. I was knocked down by a blame bicycle underneat' a murdherin'
trolley car. Nixt I know I don't know nothin', an' now, behold me, I'm
let loose loafin' in this quaer counthree.
DR. THORNE. Not drunk, were you, Jerry?
JERRY (_shaking his head gravely_). I shwore off, Doctor. I shwore off
t'ree years ago. Me little gurrl she give me no repose till I shwore
off.... She died jist av the hospittle, did me little gurrl.... Say,
Doctor, do ye know what's the thramp laws in this counthree?
_Enter_ NORAH _hastily_.
NORAH. Doctor--Doctor Thorne? Have you seen--oh, there he is! There's me
father! Why, Father, Father dear! (_Caresses_ JERRY _affectionately_.)
JERRY. Och! wisha, wisha! Norah, me darlint! (_Returns her caresses
tenderly._) What luck for the likes of us arrivin' emigrants thegither
in this agra-able counthree!
NORAH (_puts her arm in his_). Come yonder wid me, Father. (_Draws him
away._)
JERRY (_looks back over his shoulder at_ DR. THORNE). Is it to
confession we do be goin', Norah?--the wan av us arrivin' be way of a
murdherin' doctor, and the wan be way av a murdherin' trolley! I'm
thinkin', sir, it's niver a cint to choose bechune.
[_Exeunt_ JERRY _and_ NORAH.
DR. THORNE (_watches their departure drearily; turns, and walks feebly
towards the brook; speaks_). Now I think of it, I have not tasted food
or drink since I have been in this place. I believe I am downright
faint.
(_Drinks water from the brook in the palm of his hand; sinks beneath the
low boughs of a tree on thick moss. His head falls upon his arm. From a
distance, and from a height, slowly moving downwards, over the beautiful
landscape, robed in cream white, and unseen by_ DR. THORNE,
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH.
_As she approaches, it can be seen that her robe also is clasped across
the breast by a little golden cross._)
SPIRITS BEYOND (_softly chant the Te Deum_).
"We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be
the Lord"--
(_Midway of the landscape, and playing merrily_,)
_Enter the_ Two Children.
FIRST CHILD (_running to_ MRS. FAYTH). Oh, here I am! (_He clasps her
hand; clings to her affectionately._)
MRS. FAYTH (_to_ Second Child). Run yonder and play, Maidie.
(Second Child _obeys prettily, and joins the spirits above_. MRS. FAYTH
_and the_ First Child _move slowly to the front of the landscape_.)
THE CHILD. See that poor man under the tree! I think he's a hungry
man--don't you?
(_He breaks away from_ MRS. FAYTH, _and runs to_ DR. THORNE; _examines
the exhausted man attentively, bending forward with his hands on his
little knees_. MRS. FAYTH _advances slowly, with her mysterious smile;
she does not speak_.)
THE CHILD (_touches_ DR. THORNE _timidly; after a silence speaks,
ceremoniously_). Would you like a peach, or do you like plums instead?
I'll pick you one.
DR. THORNE (_arousing_). Who spoke to me? Oh, it is a child. (_Sinks
back feebly._)
(The Child _gathers some fruit from the trees, and brings water from the
brook in the cup of an annunciation lily, which holds the liquid
perfectly; offers the food and drink to the exhausted man_. MRS. FAYTH,
_still unseen by_ DR. THORNE, _stands quite near, nodding and smiling
at_ The Child. The Child _looks to her for encouragement and
direction_.)
DR. THORNE (_reviving_). Thank you, my little man. (_Leans on his elbow,
and gazes steadfastly at_ The Child; _rises to a sitting posture_.)
THE CHILD (_creeps nearer to_ DR. THORNE, _and, after a moment's
hesitation, throws his little length full on the moss at the man's feet,
and scrutinizes him seriously, putting his chin into his hand as he does
so; speaks sympathetically_). Do you feel better now?
DR. THORNE. Much better. You're a thoughtful little fellow.
THE CHILD. Our breakfasts grow all cooked here. This is a nice country.
DR. THORNE (_still gazing steadfastly at_ The Child). Where is your
mother, my lad?
THE CHILD. I don't know. I lost her on the way, somewhere.
DR. THORNE. And your father? What has become of your father?
THE CHILD. Oh, _he's_ dead. He got dead before I came here.
MRS. FAYTH (_moves within_ DR. THORNE'S _range of vision_; _speaks
quietly_). Good-morning, Doctor. (_Smiles brightly._)
DR. THORNE (_springs to his feet; cries out_). Mary Fayth! I thought you
had forgotten me! I have--needed you.
(The Child _rises; leans up against_ DR. THORNE'S _knee confidingly_.)
MRS. FAYTH. I have often needed _you_, Doctor. And you never failed me
once.
DR. THORNE (_impetuously_). I thought you would have come before. I
looked for you--
MRS. FAYTH. As I have often looked for _you_. But I was not commanded to
meet you--till this very minute.
DR. THORNE. Commanded? Commanded? There is that singular phrase again.
Have you seen Helen? (_Quickly._)
MRS. FAYTH (_shakes her head_). Not yet.
DR. THORNE. Have you seen your husband? Did they let _you_ go to
_Fred_?
MRS. FAYTH (_contentedly_). Oh, many times.
THE CHILD (_interrupting_). He doesn't kiss me! (_Puts up his lips in a
grieved, babyish fashion._)
MRS. FAYTH (_very quietly_). Doctor, don't hurt that child's feelings.
He's yours.
DR. THORNE (_gasping_). I don't understand you!
MRS. FAYTH. I have had the care of him since he came here. He's kept me
busy, I can tell you. I am to give him over to you now.... See how he's
grown! No wonder you didn't know him.
DR. THORNE (_in great agitation_). Did Laddie _die_?
MRS. FAYTH (_solemnly_). Yes, Laddie died.
DR. THORNE. Did something really ail him that night--that most miserable
night?... Oh, poor Helen! Poor, poor Helen! (_His face falls into his
hands. His frame shakes with soundless, tearless sobs._)
LADDIE (_creeps into his lap; lays his head on his father's neck_).
Hilloa, Papa! (_Pats his father on the cheek._)
[_Exit_ MRS. FAYTH _silently, with emotion_.
DR. THORNE (_raises his head, showing his stormy face. Clasps the child,
hesitatingly at first, then passionately; holds him off at arm's length;
scans him closely; draws him back; kisses his little hands, then his
face; clasps him again_). My little son! Papa's little boy! My son! My
little son! (_Smiles naturally for the first time since he died; then
with sudden recollection, he cries out._) Oh, what will your poor mother
do without you?
LADDIE. You homesick, Papa?
DR. THORNE. My little son! (_Caresses the child with a touching
timidity, broken by bursts of wild affection. The child responds warmly,
laughing for joy._)
END OF SCENE I.
SCENE II.
Dull daylight falls upon a wide and desolate expanse.
This has the appearance of a desert--unbroken and
arid. The horizon is low and heavy with cloud, and
is defined by a tossing sea-line against which no sail
appears. In the distance are cliffs, fissured by dark
cuts, but these are far away, and the foreground is
flat like sand or ashes, or it might be corrugated like
slag. There is no vegetation visible, and no sign of
organized life.
_Enter_ DR. THORNE. (_He paces the sands,
mournfully gazing about him at the
lonely scenery. He murmurs, then
raises his voice rhythmically, like one
who quotes from an uncertain memory._)
DR. THORNE.
"A life as hollow as the echo in a cave
Hid in the heart of an unpeopled world."
Where did I get that? Oh, I remember. I had not thought of it for years.
That woman used to quote it to me. She was the most consistent infidel I
ever knew. She shied at nothing; took the consequences, both living and
dying.... A shocking death, though! I suppose the boy is all right with
Mrs. Fayth and that little chum of his. If it hadn't been for that
discussion with Harvey I shouldn't have left him. Wishing seems to be
doing, in this singular state of existence. A man makes a simple
astronomical inquiry about a planet, and forthwith he is in the planet.
Remarkable! (_Breaks off; continues._) How magnificent Helen was about
that affair. If she had doubted me--but she never did. She was superb.
_Enter an_ EVIL SPIRIT. _Her garments
are of flame color. Her hair has the
same tint. On her forehead blazes a
single scarlet star. Her appearance
is queenly and confident. As she reveals
her face, it is seen to be that of
the woman whose wraith has followed_
DR. THORNE _at intervals ever since
the hour of his death. Her robe,
which is opaque, reveals her bare
arms and feet, but covers her shoulders
and bosom with a certain modesty,
which is felt at once to be not
wholly natural to the woman. Each
footprint that she makes upon the
sand is marked by a small jet of
flame, which flares after she has
passed, and dies down quickly._ DR.
THORNE _stares at the woman in evident
and not well-pleased perplexity_.
THE WOMAN (_speaks_). So? Am I forgotten on first principles? It is some
years since we had the pleasure of meeting.
DR. THORNE (_coldly_). I begin to recognize you, Madam.
CLEO. You did not know it, but I have given you several other
opportunities to do so since you died.
DR. THORNE. I should think that quite possible--and characteristic.
CLEO (_wincing_). Your tongue has not lost its edge! I'm afraid they
have not made a hopeful convert of you in yonder pious country....
Confess, you're bored past endurance with the whole thing? (_She draws a
little nearer to him, but is so adroit as not to touch him. She gives
him only her eyes, and these embrace him outright._)
DR. THORNE (_regarding her steadily_). Did I ever choose _you_ for a
confidante? (_He steps back._)
CLEO (_persistently_). Come, don't be cross! Tell me, then, why have you
fled the first circles of celestial society--to mope out here alone? Oh,
you can't deceive me. _I_ understand--I always understood you better
than any other woman living. (_In a low tone._) Your whole nature is in
antagonism with the very basis of existence in the state you're plunged
into. What's death? Nothing but a footstep. You've taken it. But you're
the man you were.... Pouf! _That's_ death. (_Snaps her fingers._) I'd
wager a waltz and a kiss that you are _ennuyé_ to madness over
there.... Admit it? (_Tenderly._) Admit it! (_Imperiously._)
DR. THORNE (_uneasily_). I don't profess to be thoroughly acclimated.
But I assure you I did not come here to sulk. On the contrary, I was
absorbingly interested in a scientific discussion with a distinguished
man. It was an astronomical point. I came here to verify it. I return at
once. (_Moves away._)
CLEO. Don't be in such a blatant hurry! It's not polite. (_Pouting._)
I've studied a little astronomy myself of late.... Come! I can converse
about planets--if you will. Was it Neptune or Venus you undertook to
investigate?
DR. THORNE (_not without interest_). I contended that it was
Neptune--before I came.
CLEO. And now?
DR. THORNE (_gloomily gazing at her_). I am inclined to think it is
Venus.
(CLEO _laughs softly_.)
(DR. THORNE _does not smile_.)
CLEO (_abruptly_). Esmerald Thorne, do you know what has happened? You
are in an uninhabited world--with me. You are in a dead world, burnt to
ashes, burnt to slag and lava by its own fires. You are alone in
it--_alone with me.... (In a changed voice.) And I meant you should be._
Oh, I've dreamed of this for years. I've held my breath for it, perished
for it.... Now, here we are--we two outcasts from the religious idea--we
who always rebelled against it, by the very bone and tissue of our
being.... We two (_tenderly_) _alone, at last_. (_She advances towards
him, and for the first time touches him, gently laying her hand upon his
shoulder._)
DR. THORNE (_not rudely, but positively, removes her hand, stepping back
quickly, so that her arm falls heavily by her side_). Woman! Woman, what
are you? A spirit damned, or a spirit deluded?... I confess I never
knew. And I don't know any better now.
CLEO (_more modestly lifts his hand to her cheek; speaks gently_). Do
you know any better now?
DR. THORNE (_withdrawing his hand_). My wife always said you were half
angel, half the other thing. She pitied you, I think. I confess I never
did, very much.
CLEO (_wretchedly_). I never asked for the pity of Helen Thorne!
DR. THORNE (_firmly_). You might well receive it, Madam. It would not
harm you any.
CLEO (_suddenly_). Oh, everybody knew you were an irreproachable
husband. A blameless physician, of course. But we have changed all that.
You are quite free now--as free as I am, for that matter....
DR. THORNE (_nobly_). Yes; I am free, as you say. I am free to mourn my
wife, and love her ... and await her presence ... which has a value to
me that I do not ... I cannot discuss--with _you_.
CLEO (_rebuffed, but gentle and sad_). I beg your pardon, Dr. Thorne.
DR. THORNE (_takes a few steps nearer her_). And I yours ... if I have
wronged you.
CLEO (_softly_). You feel so sure of her, then? Helen is so attractive!
These spiritual women always are--up to a certain point.... Life is a
long wait, brutally tedious. You know as well as I do how many--Now,
there is Dr. Gazell. A very consolable widower.
DR. THORNE (_proudly_). Oh, that was a blunt stroke. _Gazell?_ If Gazell
were a dog by which my wife might track her way to me through the
mystery of death ... she might have some use for him ... hardly
otherwise. I gave you credit for some wit, Cleo.
CLEO. I own the illustration was defective. But there are a plenty
better. There are gentler men than you. For my part, I don't mind your
attacks of the devil. I never did. I'd take your cruelty to have your
tenderness--any day. But Mrs. Thorne is sensitive to kindness. She likes
the even disposition, the patient, model man. After all, there are a
good many of them.
DR. THORNE (_lifting his head_). I am not afraid.
CLEO (_turning away_). And you? She is a young woman. It may be
years....
DR. THORNE (_coldly_). You will have to excuse me. I left some one.... I
may be missed. I have ties which even you would respect, Madam. I must
return whence I came. (_He moves away._)
(CLEO _hides her face in her hands; is heard to weep_.)
DR. THORNE (_steps back_). Do you want my pity?
CLEO (_murmurs_). Alone--in a desert world--we two--at last. Oh, you
don't know the alphabet of happiness! You have everything to learn ...
from me. And we shall never be like this again!
DR. THORNE (_frankly_). I hope not.
CLEO (_suddenly starting, paces the ashes; throws her arms above her
head_). I always said you had a Nero in you.... Oh, I understood
you--_I_! But _you_.... It never occurred to you, I suppose, that you
died on my very day? I had been dead three years that night.
DR. THORNE (_more gently_). What did you do it for, Cleo? You know I
warned you about that habit. You know I took the laudanum away from you.
CLEO. But you could not cork up the Limited Express--could you?
DR. THORNE. It was a dreadful death! Tell me, how do you fare? Where do
you live? Do you suffer? What is your lot?
CLEO (_with sudden reserve, and not without dignity_) We suicides have
our own fate. We bear it. We do not reveal it.
DR. THORNE (_uncomfortably_). Well--I must bid you good-morning.
CLEO (_savagely_). At least, I gained something--if I lose all. Of
course, it never dawned on you that this was all my scheme?
DR. THORNE (_in dismay_). _Your scheme?_
CLEO (_past control, raves_). Oh, I had watched my chance for years. I
knew _you_--your mad moods, your black temper.... Yourself slew
yourself, Esmerald Thorne. Your own weakness gave me my opportunity. I
waited for my moment. I sat in the buggy beside you.... I sometimes did
that when your evil had you. (I couldn't get there when you were good,
you know.) I tried to take the reins. _I tried to get the whip_--I could
not do it. _I meant to hit the horse_--my arm was held. (There are
always so many of these holy busybodies about--angels and messengers of
sanctity--to interfere with one!) Oh, then I sprang out--over the wheel
into the street. You didn't see me, _but Donna did_. When she shied I
clung to her bit. And then she bolted.... It was a very simple thing.
(DR. THORNE _recoiling slowly, an expression of cold horror chills his
features_.)
CLEO (_still raving_). Yes, I've murdered you--if you will--and Mary
Fayth besides. And I've broken Helen's heart. Do you suppose that
counts? Who counts? Nobody on earth, or in heaven, or in hell. _I've got
you away from your wife...._ And in earth, or in heaven, or in hell,
I'll have you yet....
DR. THORNE (_throwing out his hands; holds her off with evidences of
unbearable repulsion; speaks<|fim_middle|> slowly, and sighs away._)
(DR. THORNE _stands with the moonlight on his face. It is rapt, and
carries a certain majesty._)
(_Spirits pass. Some of them glance at him, with wonder and respect. No
one addresses him. He stands like a statue of strong and noble solitude.
He does not perceive the presence of any spirit._)
_Enter_ The Child. (_Runs to his father.
Springs into his arms._)
THE CHILD. Lonesome, Papa? I will comfort you.
DR. THORNE (_clasps the boy, who seems half-overcome with sleepiness.
Lays him gently on the grass_). Go to sleep, my child. It is growing
late. (LADDIE _drops asleep_.)
DR. THORNE (_continues to speak, for his emotion bears him on_). I did
not expect to live when I was dead. I lived--I died--and yet I live. I
did not think that love would live when breath was gone. I loved--I
blasphemed love--I breathed my last--and still I love. If this be
true--_any_thing may be true-- (_breaks off_). God! It may be years
before I can see her face--twenty years--thirty-- (_groaning_)--_Whence_
came the love of man and woman, that it should outlive the laws of
Nature, and defy dissolution, and outlast the body, and curse or bless
the spirit? If love can live, anything can live. Since this
is--_any_thing may be-- (_Falters; glances about; finds himself quite
alone with the sleeping child; lifts his eyes to the sky, and then his
hands; stands irresolute. Then slowly, reluctantly, still standing
manfully upright, with a touching embarrassment._)
DR. THORNE (_prays_). Almighty God!--if there be a God Almighty. Reveal
thyself to my immortal soul!--if I have a soul immortal.
* * * * *
(_The moonlight fades into a dark midnight. The figure of_ DR. THORNE
_disappears in it_.)
(_Dawn comes on subtly, but at once, for the nights and days of Paradise
are not governed by the laws of earth, and day breaks splendidly over
the heavenly world._)
_Enter the_ Two Children (_playing with
flowers, and tasting fruit_).
LADDIE. How did you like coasting down that waterfall on rainbows?
MAIDIE. I want that butterfly--with fire on it.
LADDIE. Don't be stupid, because you're dead! That is a flower. (_Picks
a flower in the shape of a butterfly with jeweled wings; hands it to the
girl._) No, it won't fly. It isn't grown up yet.
MAIDIE. Shall I fly when I'm grown up? I've got wings, too. (_Shows her
feet, on the heels of which a tiny pair of wings appear._)
LADDIE (_jealously_). I didn't know you had them. That's why you can
jump over things and get ahead of me.
_Enter_ DR. THORNE _and_ MRS. FAYTH.
MRS. FAYTH. Doctor, I don't know what ails me. Perhaps it's a symptom--a
moral symptom--but I can't help thinking of Cleo. I wonder--
DR. THORNE (_with reserve_). I do not care to speak of the woman.
MRS. FAYTH. You are right. But I did not mean to be wrong. (I think it
must have been a symptom.) It's the first time I've felt nervous since I
died. I beg your pardon.
LADDIE (_running to meet them_). Papa! Maidie's got wings on her feet.
Why don't _I_ have some? Papa! Papa! Come into your new house. It grew
up out of the woods--like--like acorns.
DR. THORNE (_addressing_ MRS. FAYTH, _looking towards the cottage_). It
is a shelter for the child, at all events. Quite in accordance with my
present social position in this place--a mere cottage--but it makes him
a home, poor little fellow!
MRS. FAYTH. It's just what Helen would like. She hates palaces.
DR. THORNE (_starts as if stabbed; makes no reply_).
LADDIE (_suddenly_). Oh, Papa, Mrs. Fayth's got wings on her feet, too.
Her dress covers them up. I like her better than I did that lady you
were so cross to.
MRS. FAYTH (_laughing_). I am so well!--oh, so well! I am a-shamed to be
so happy! I walk on air. I float on clouds. I move on waves. All nature
seems to be under my feet, and her glory in my heart.... Poor Doctor!
(_Breaks off and looks at him with quick sympathy._) And yet I tru-ly
think you im-prove in spirits. You don't look armed to the teeth, all
the time--now.
DR. THORNE (_smiles cheerfully_). A man must respect law, whatever state
he is in. I would conform to the customs of this place, so far as I can.
I would do this for the boy's sake, at least. I don't wish to be a
disgrace to him in this system of things.
MRS. FAYTH. Does Doctor Harvey treat you by scien-ti-fic ev-olu-tion?
That's a man's way. It's a pretty slow one.
LADDIE (_insistently_). Papa, she _has_ got wings on her feet.
MRS. FAYTH (_blushing_). Go away and play, children.
(_The children run to the cottage. The little girl bounds before, with a
light, flying motion. They play in the cottage at "keeping house,"
running in and out._)
(_Suddenly a change takes place upon the landscape. Its colors soften
and melt. Flying tints, like light broken through many prisms, float
upon the white flowers, rest upon the annunciation lilies, and
delicately touch the white robe of_ MRS. FAYTH. _In fact, the whole
atmosphere takes on the appearance of a vast rainbow. Music from the
temple sounds clearly._)
VOICES (_can be heard singing_):--
"Thou that takest away the
Sins of the world!"
MRS. FAYTH (_starts with a listening, devout expression_). Do you hear
that?... Oh, watch, Doctor! Watch for what will happen!
(_Spirits can be seen suddenly moving from all directions. They hurry,
and exhibit signs of joyful excitement. The singing continues;
repeats_:--
"Thou that takest away the
Sins of the world!")
(_Now over the brilliant landscape falls a long, sharp, strange shadow.
It is seen to be the shadow of a mighty cross, which, if raised upright,
would seem to reach from earth to heaven. The children run back from the
cottage._)
LADDIE. Papa! who is worship? Is it a kind of game? Papa, what is Lord?
Is it people's mother? What is it for?
DR. THORNE (_with embarrassment_). Alas, my boy, your father is not a
learned man.
LADDIE (_imperiously_). Teach me that pretty song! I cannot sing it. All
the other children can--
VOICES (_chanting_):--
"Thou givest,
Thou givest,
Eternal life!"
DR. THORNE (_sadly_). My son, I cannot sing it, either.
LADDIE (_with reproach, and with a certain dignity_). Father, I wish you
_were_ a learned man. (_Walks away from his father; goes up the path.
The little girl follows him._)
(_The evidences of public excitement increase visibly. From every part
of the country spirits can be seen moving, with signs of acute pleasure.
Some hasten towards the Temple; others gather in groups in the roads and
paths; all present a reverent but joyful aspect._)
MRS. FAYTH (_gliding away_). I cannot lose a moment. (_Beckons to_ DR.
THORNE _as she moves out of the grove and up the path. Calls._) Doctor!
Doctor!
DR. THORNE (_shakes his head_). I do not understand.
(MRS. FAYTH _remains still full in sight, standing as if to watch a
pageant or to see the prominent figure of a procession_.)
(LADDIE _runs on beyond her, watching eagerly; shades his eyes with his
little hand_.)
(MAIDIE _flits along with him_.)
(DR. THORNE _stands quite alone. He, too, shades his eyes with his
hand, and scans the horizon and the foreground closely._)
(_The shadow of the great cross falls upon him where he stands._)
(_It can now be seen that the happy people beyond give evidence of
greeting some one who is passing by them. Some weep for joy; others
laugh for rapture. Some stretch their arms out as if in ecstasy. Some
throw themselves on the ground in humility. Some seem to be entreating a
benediction. But the figure of Him who passes by them remains invisible.
The excitement now increases, and extends along the group of spirits
until it reaches those in the foreground. Here can now be seen and
recognized some old patients of_ DR. THORNE'S--MRS. TRUE, NORAH, _and_
JERRY.)
(_These wear the golden cross upon the breast._ HARVEY _enters
unnoticed, and mingles with the crowd. He stands behind_ MRS. FAYTH,
_who remains rapt and mute, full in the light. She has forgotten_ DR.
THORNE.)
(DR. THORNE _watches the scene with pathetic perplexity. He does not
speak._)
(_The chanting continues, and the strain swells louder._)
[Illustration:
_dolce._
Thou that tak-est a-way the sins of the
world! And givest, and giv-est e-ter-nal life!
]
(_Now the Invisible Figure makes the impression of having reached the
nearer groups._)
(NORAH _falls upon her knees_.)
(JERRY _salutes respectfully, as if he recognized a dear and honored
employer whom he wished to serve and please_.)
(MRS. TRUE _reaches out her arms with reverent longing_.)
(MAIDIE _kisses her little hands to the Unseen_.)
(HARVEY _stands devoutly with bowed head_.)
(MRS. FAYTH _holds out both hands lovingly. Then she sinks to the ground
upon her knees and makes the delicate motion of one who puts to her lips
the edge of the robe of the Unseen Passer. Her whole expression is
rapturous._)
(LADDIE, _breaking away from his elders, now boldly steps out into the
path. He looks up; shades his eyes, as if from a brilliance; then
confidingly puts out his hand, as if he placed it in an Unseen Hand, and
walks along, smiling like a child who is led by One whom he trusts and
loves._)
DR. THORNE (_in distress_). I see nothing!--No one! I am blind--blind!
(_Chanting._)
"Thou that takest away
The sins of the world!" ...
(DR. THORNE _covers his face. The music ceases. The air grows dimmer
than twilight. But there is no moon, nor is it dark. The groups in the
foreground move away in quiet happiness, like those who have had their
heart's wish granted._)
(_Harvey_, MRS. TRUE, NORAH, JERRY, _and_ MAIDIE _mingle with the other
spirits_.)
(MRS. FAYTH _rises from her knees; melts slowly in the dusk_.)
(LADDIE _runs into the grove, and disappears in the gloom. He acts as if
looking for some one._)
DR. THORNE (_remains alone. He paces the grove, irresolute--then
suddenly turns in the direction whence the Invisible had come; walks
uncertainly up the path; searches, as if for signs of the Passer;
examines the grass, the shrubbery; touches the flowers, to see if they
had bent beneath His feet; stoops; examines the pathway reverently;
speaks in a low tone_). The footprint! I have found the footprint! There
_was_ One passing. And He stepped here. But I was blind! (_Hesitates;
lifts his face to the sky; drops it to his breast; murmurs
inarticulately. Then slowly--as if half his nature battled with the
other half, and every fibre of his being yielded hard--he drops upon his
knees. He remains silent in this posture._)
(_From the depth of the grove behind_ DR. THORNE'S _cottage_,)
_Enter_ CLEO _stealthily_. (_She watches_
DR. THORNE _with an expression in
which love, fear, reproach, and astonishment
contend. She makes no
sign, nor in any way is her presence
revealed to_ DR. THORNE. _Taking a
few steps forward, she touches the
shadow of one arm of the mighty
cross._ CLEO _retreats in confusion_.)
_Enter_ The Child (_running down the
path_). Papa! Papa! (_Points up the
path. Beckons to his father. Points
ecstatically._) Look, look, Papa!
(DR. THORNE _arises to his full height; looks where_ The Child
_points_.)
(_Slowly and solemnly_,)
_Enter_ JESUS THE CHRIST. _(Our Lord
appears as a majestic figure, melting
of outline, divine of mien, with arms
outstretched in benediction._)
(CLEO _at sight of the_ Sacred Figure _wrings her hands in anguish, and
makes as if she would flee; but remains gazing at the Vision, as if
compelled by forces unknown to her. As the Vision draws nearer_, CLEO
_drops upon her face. Her long hair covers her. All her contours blur
into the increasing shadow. The scene is now quite dark, except for the
light which falls from the_ PERSON OF OUR LORD. _This shall fully
reveal_ THE MAN, _who falls at the feet of the Vision, and_ THE CHILD,
_who stands entranced, with his little arms around his father's neck._)
DR. THORNE (_lifts his hands rapturously_). I _was_ blind--But, now, I
see! (_Accepts and remains in the attitude of worship as manfully as he
had refused it._)
(THE SACRED FIGURE _stirs, as if to meet the kneeling man; slowly dims,
melts, and fades; vanishes_.)
END OF SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
In the same perspective as Scene III. is the Heavenly
City on the Hill. Thronging spirits move to
and fro.
The distance is full of radiance and of happy social
life. In the foreground is seen a dim and desolate
place. It is cavernous and mountainous. Its extreme
edge yawns over a black space, like a gulf or pit, or
it might be the mouth of an underground river. Here
and there is a stark, dead tree. A narrow footpath
winds among the crags. The path turns a sharp
corner between boulders; and the fair contrast of a
sunny country smiles beyond it. Rosebushes in full
bloom peer above the top of the rocks. The annunciation
lily is still prominent among the flowers. No
sign of life appears in the mountainous foreground.
Suddenly, silently, and swiftly, moving from the
sunny land, around the sharp turn in the pathway,
feet and face set toward the cavernous region,
_Enter_ AZRAEL, _Angel of Death_. (_The
Angel is immovable of manner. But
an obvious tenderness wars with the
solemnity of his expression. He looks
neither to the right nor to the left, but
glides over the rough path steadily;
his robe, which is of dull, white gauze,
conceals his feet; his wings are
folded; he carries no flaming sword,
nor any weapon._)
(_After a moment's interval, following_ THE ANGEL _quickly_,)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE (_his robe is much
paler, but still of a purplish tint. It
is now clasped by the golden cross.
He cries aloud_). Azrael!
ECHO (_from the caverns_). Azrael!
(AZRAEL _makes no reply. Moves on steadily._)
DR. THORNE (_in a lower voice_). Azrael, Angel of Death!
(AZRAEL _turns his head, but without pausing_.)
DR. THORNE. In the name of Him who strove with thee, and conquered
thee--whither goest thou, Azrael?
(AZRAEL _pauses. He looks over his folded wing at the man; regards him
steadily; does not speak; moves on again._ DR. THORNE _utters an
inarticulate exclamation. He follows the Angel. Halfway down the path he
stops, perplexed. His expression is anxious._ AZRAEL _moves on. He does
not again look back; glides to the edge of the ravine. The scene
darkens. The Angel does not pause, but can be seen to cross the gulf
fleetly. He does not fly, but appears to tread the air across the
space._)
[_Vanish_ AZRAEL.
(DR. THORNE _stands alone in the gloom. His eyes are fixed upon the spot
where the Angel disappeared. A low, rushing sound, as of water, can now
be heard._)
DR. THORNE (_shudders; speaks_). It seems like an underground river.
Horrible! (_Calls._) Azrael! Tell me thine errand--in this fearful
place!
(AZRAEL _neither replies nor appears. It grows very dark. The
perspective of the Heavenly City fades. The rushing of the river can be
heard. Now, through the unearthly gloom, upon the hither side of the
gulf, slowly grow to form the outlines of a Woman. She stretches her
arms out with the motion of one feeling her way. She moves with
difficulty, tripping sometimes, but regaining her footing bravely. Her
robe is light. Her face cannot be recognized._)
DR. THORNE (_on whose sensitive countenance falls the only light in the
scene, shows an unaccountable emotion. He murmurs_). It is a
woman--alone--exhausted ... and a stranger. As I serve her, so may God
send some soul of fire and snow to serve my dear wife--in _her_ hour of
mortal need! (_He advances towards the woman with a chivalrous
sympathy._)
(The Woman _moves on steadily; weakens; reels, but holds her ground. It
can now be seen that her eyes are closed. She falls. She does not cry
out._)
DR. THORNE. How brave you are! Keep courage. (_Catches her before she
touches the ground. She lies in his arms in a faint or collapse._)
(DR. THORNE _carries her along midway of the scene_.)
(_It lightens slowly. As it does so, it can be seen that the woman is
young and fair, and fine of nature. Her robe is of dazzling white; it
has a surface like that of satin-finished gauze, which reflects all the
light there is. Her long, dark hair is disordered, and falls about her.
She is pale. Her eyes do not open. She lies helplessly in his arms._)
(DR. THORNE _lays her gently against the trunk of a dead tree, which has
fallen across a hollow in the cliff, and which rests so as to support
the woman. He seats himself beside her; bends to examine her face._)
DR. THORNE (_recognizes the face of the woman; cries in a voice that
rings through the hills_). _Helen!_
THE ECHO (_takes up the cry_). _Helen!_
HELEN THORNE (_is half-conscious and confused; does not open her eyes;
murmurs_). Will it last long?
DR. THORNE (_clasps her reverently. As his arms touch her, they can be
seen to tremble. He moans_). My--poor--wife!
HELEN THORNE (_still lying with closed eyes; murmurs, but more
distinctly_). I said I would die two deaths for him.... Are they over,
yet?... if that would help him any ... where he had gone. (_Opens her
eyes, but they see nothing. Dreamily and solemnly, as if repeating a
familiar prayer, she speaks softly._) Great God! I will die ten deaths
for him ... and count myself a happy woman ... if that will make it any
easier for _him_.
DR. THORNE (_groaning, puts his wife gently from him, as if she were a
being too sacred for his touch. Turns his face from her; speaks_). I am
not fit!... I dare not touch her!
HELEN THORNE (_praying_). Dear Lord! I would die for him ... as Thou
didst die for us.... If that could be.... _Dear_ Lord!
DR. THORNE (_utterly broken_). I am a sinful man, O God! (_Removes from
her, and stands with his face in his hands._)
HELEN THORNE (_recovering full consciousness, and with it sudden
strength, lifts herself to a sitting posture; looks about her; half
rises. Suddenly she recognizes her husband, where he stands aloof. She
cries plaintively_). Esmerald?--Isn't it over yet? _Esmerald!_ Have you
forgotten me? Don't you _care_ for me any more?... (_piteously_). Oh,
Death! I did not think that thou wouldst _crucify_ me ... _so_!
(_Sudden darkness falls. When it passes, the gulf, the dark mountain,
the underground river, the ravines are gone. Slow and sweet light
returns softly. It is the setting of the sun. The perspective of the
Heavenly City and spirits are as before. The grim scenery surrounding
the mouth of the River of Death has given place to a fair meadow, sunny
and open. Some of the boulders remain, and the path which cut through
the ravine now runs across the field. Clumps of trees and thick shrubs
break the space between the foreground and the distant spirits, and the
path turns a curve through a thicket of roses. Lilies as before grow
higher than any other flowers, and nearer to the eye._)
HELEN THORNE (_stands, tall and glorious. Faint color has returned to
her pale face. Her expression is radiant. She looks downward and
stretches down her hands; speaks, very softly_). Dear!
DR. THORNE (_prostrate at his wife's feet, speaks_). Forgive! _Forgive_
me, Helen.
(HELEN THORNE _smiles divinely. Stoops to lift him up._)
(DR. THORNE _resists her still, and, fallen at her feet, he draws the
hem of her robe slowly to his lips. Then he lays his cheek upon her feet
before he reverently kisses them._)
DR. THORNE. I said ... oh, I have broken my heart for what I said ... to
you!
HELEN THORNE (_reaches down her beautiful arms to him. Draws him up_).
Why, my poor Love! My dear Love! Did you think I would remember _that_?
(DR. THORNE _arises. Holds out his shaking arms; does not speak._)
(HELEN THORNE _in silence creeps to him, not royally, like a wife who
was wronged; but like the sweetest woman in the world, who loves him
because she cannot help it, and would not if she could. Her face falls
upon his breast._)
(DR. THORNE, _as if she were a goddess, still not daring to caress her,
lays his cheek upon her soft hair. Before her face, but not touching it,
he delicately curves his hand as if he enclosed a sacred flame from the
rude air._)
HELEN THORNE (_lifts her face to his. Her eyes, all womanly, turn to him
in Paradise as they did on earth. She speaks softly_). I am in Heaven
... after all!
DR. THORNE. And I have never been there ... until now! (_He clasps her
slowly to his heart; turns her face back upon his arm and reverently
looks at it; scans it adoringly; humbly crying._) Helen! _Helen!_
(DR. THORNE _kisses his wife's brow--eyes--cheek--and then her lips.
Suddenly, around the curve in the path where the thicket of roses
blossoms, running rapidly_,)
_Enter_ LADDIE (_carrying a stalk of the
white lilies. He cries_). Papa! Papa!
I've lost you, Papa! (_The child runs
down the path. Closely following
him, fair and gentle, brightly smiling_,)
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH. (_She draws back
quickly; utters an inarticulate exclamation;
extends her hands in an impulsive
gesture of delight. But she
withdraws and puts her finger on her
lips. She retreats without speaking._)
(MRS. FAYTH, _hidden for a moment behind the thicket of roses, reappears
beyond with the other spirits. The group of spirits stirs upward in the
bright scenery._)
(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _having seen or heard nothing, still stand
rapt, embracing solemnly_.)
LADDIE (_stops on the path, irresolute. Frowns a little in pretty,
childish perplexity; makes as if he would go back; looks at the two
again. Then suddenly darts forward; cries_). Why, that's my Mamma!
(_Springs to her; clutches at her white robe, pulls at her hand._)
HELEN THORNE (_recognizes the child instantly, despite his larger
stature; she cries out_). Why, my little boy! Mother's baby boy! Oh!
_you_ again, ... you, too! My little, little boy. (_Catches him to her;
kisses him wildly; holds him, and releases him, and holds him again.
Murmurs half-intelligible words brokenly._) Mother's baby!... Mother's
beauty!... Oh, mamma _missed_ you, sonny-boy--
(DR. THORNE _does not speak. His face is shining. He holds his wife
within his arms as if he feared to lose her if he loosened them._)
(THE CHILD, _laughing softly, fondles his mother. The three stand
clinging together rapturously._)
VOICES (_from beyond the rose thicket chant_).
"As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen."
(_Chorus of spirits from the region of the Temple on the Heavenly Hill
very softly sing._)
"O Paradise! O Paradise!
The world is growing old.
Who would not see that heavenly land,
Where love is never cold?" ...
(_As they sing, the fair country brightens subtly, and all the heavenly
scene is radiant. The moving groups of spirits seem to be joining in the
song._)
(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _turning, look into one another's faces.
They do not speak._)
(_Now, delicately, it shall be seen to darken on the bright land, and a
holy half-light touches every outline._)
(The Child _leaves his parents. He walks a few steps away, shading his
eyes with one hand, as if he saw invisible glory; in the other hand he
carries the annunciation lily._)
(_Vaguely at first, then more definitely; slowly and solemnly_,)
_Enter_ JESUS THE CHRIST.
(_The_ Sacred Figure _advances towards the_ Man _and_ Woman, _who are
unconscious of the approach. Its hands are stretched in benediction. It
stands for a moment, mutely, and unseen by them._)
(The Boy _runs towards it fearlessly; seats himself upon the
meadow-grass at the feet of the_ Figure.)
(_The_ Sacred Figure _stirs towards the child. All the light in the
scene now falls from the_ Figure.)
(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and the_ Child _receive its full effulgence_.)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_sing_).
"Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light,
Enraptured through and through"--
(_The_ Man _and the_ Woman _now perceive the_ Sacred Figure. _They fall
to their knees. The man's arm still encircles his wife. They bow their
heads before the Divine Presence._)
(_The_ Child, _with the lifted lily, remains at the feet of the_
CHRIST.)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_repeat_).
"Enraptured through and through,
In God's most holy sight."
(_The_ Sacred Figure _dims and slowly fades. With it disappears the
stalk of annunciation lilies. The light returns softly upon the
celestial scenery._)
(_The_ Sacred Figure _vanishes_.)
(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and_ Child _stay gazing after it_.)
(_Now a mist breathes upon the Heavenly City and the sunny country. All
the outlines of the happy scenery blur and faint._)
(_The groups of spirits grow dim._)
(_Distant music softly sustains the strains of the song; but without
words._)
(_And now the golden mist slowly envelops the_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and
the_ Child, _who remain for a moment before the eyes--a vision--solemn,
tender, and half unreal_.)
(_The music continues very faintly. The strain slowly ceases._)
(_The mist dulls, deepens, and thickens, till it rolls like an
impenetrable curtain before the vanished scene._)
END OF THE DRAMA.
The Riverside Press
_Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.
Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._
End of Project Gutenberg's Within the Gates, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
*** | with difficulty_). And I pitied you a
moment since. Now I cannot scorn you. It is too fine a word.
CLEO (_more calmly_). I can abide my time.
_Enter_ LADDIE, _running rapidly_.
LADDIE. Papa, Papa! Oh, I missed you, Papa!
CLEO (_starting_). I did not know the child was dead! (_Looks
disconcerted._)
DR. THORNE (_catches the child, and holds him to his heart; speaks_).
No. You only knew you left him fatherless. (_With much agitation,
continues._) How did you get here, Laddie? How did you find the way?
Papa hadn't forgotten his little boy. I was coming right back to you, my
son.
LADDIE (_mysteriously; looking about_). A man with wings brought me. We
flowed over.... He is waiting out there to take us back. (_Observing_
CLEO, LADDIE _slips down to the ground, and backs up against his
father's knees; points at the woman_.) Papa, I don't like that lady.
DR. THORNE (_cruelly_). My son, I cannot deny that I respect your taste.
(_Clasps the boy to his heart again; then puts him down once more, and,
with a fine motion, holds the child at arm's-length between himself and
the woman._)
CLEO (_averting her face_). I perceive the importance of the obstacle. I
admit ... that to love a man who is the father of another woman's
child--
DR. THORNE (_interrupting_). And who loves the mother of his child--
(CLEO _sobs_.)
DR. THORNE. Come, Laddie. (_He does not glance at the woman again._)
[_Exeunt_ DR. THORNE _and_ LADDIE.
CLEO (_yearning after him; stretches out her arms, but does not follow;
calls mournfully_). Oh, if you would come back a minute--only a
minute!... In heaven, or earth, or hell, I'd never ask _any_thing of you
again. A minute, a _minute_!
(DR. THORNE _does not return, and does not reply_. CLEO _is left alone
in the dead world. She falls flat upon the slag and ashes._)
END OF SCENE II.
SCENE III.
Picturesquely visible among the trees of a grove
appears a small, rustic cottage, curiously interwoven
of bark, vines, boughs, leaves, and flowers--a building
which seems to have grown from the conditions
and the colors of the grove. The sea and the sails
show beyond, through the trees. In the distant perspective
can be seen the city on the hill; in the intervale,
the foliage, flowers, fields, as before.
The hour approaches sunset. A deep rich glow
mellows and melts the outlines of every object.
(_Spirits pass and repass in the distance._)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE _and_ HARVEY, _conversing
in low tones_.
_Enter_ NORAH _and_ JERRY.
JERRY. The brim of the avenin' to yez, Doctor! Och! but this is a foine
counthree now.
NORAH (_happily_). Me father is getting acquainted here.
JERRY. I'm about to discover where the ... angels ... I'm at.
DR. THORNE (_smiling_). You've got ahead of me then, Jerry.
[_Exeunt_ NORAH _and_ JERRY.
DR. THORNE (_to_ HARVEY). And why, for instance, was I directed or
allowed to take that astronomical tour before I had investigated my
immediate surroundings?
HARVEY. A patient may _ask_ questions. In your experience, did you
always answer them?
_Enter_ LADDIE (_running after his father,
whose hand he hurries to catch and
clasp_).
DR. THORNE (_pointing to the architecture beyond_). And those public
buildings yonder--what do you call them?
HARVEY. Those are our institutions of education and of mercy. They are a
great pleasure to us. We have our temples, colleges, music halls,
libraries, schools of science, hospitals, galleries of art, as a matter
of course. What did you _suppose_ we did with our intellects and our
leisure?
DR. THORNE. I never supposed anything on the subject. I never thought
about it.
HARVEY. Precisely. You are very ignorant--for a man of your gifts. Now,
our hospitals--
DR. THORNE. Pray do not mock me, Doctor Harvey. If you _had_ a hospital,
you could find me something to do. The humiliating idleness of this
place crushes me. I seem to be of no more use here than a paralytic
patient was in my own charity ward at home. I am become of no more
social importance than the janitor or the steward used to be. I am of no
consequence. I am not in demand. No person desires my services. The
canker of idleness eats upon me. Here, in this world of spirits, I am an
unscientific, useless fellow. If you have anything whatever in the shape
of a hospital, I beg you to find me employment in it. At least, I could
keep the temperature charts, if I am not to be trusted with any cases.
HARVEY (_smiling sadly_). Your cure proceeds but slowly, my patient. I
did not think you were a _dull_ man. Must you be taught the elements?
Our sick are not of the body, but are sick of soul. Our patients are
chiefly from among the newly arrived who are at odds with the spirit of
the place; hence, they suffer discomfort. Can _you_ administer holiness
to a will and heart diseased?
(DR. THORNE _shakes his head; bows it in bitter silence. He stands lost
in thought. As he does so, sunset deepens to twilight on the land._
LADDIE _drops his father's hand; plays among the annunciation lilies_.
HARVEY, _with a courtly salute, retires. He does not speak further to_
DR. THORNE.)
[_Exit_ HARVEY.
LADDIE (_breaks one of the tall lily-stalks--gently, for a boy. As he
does so, the cup opens, and a little white bird flies out, hangs poised
in the air a moment_). Oh, the beautiful! (_Catches the bird, which he
handles tenderly._) Papa! Papa! I went to pick a lily, and I picked a
bird! Oh, Papa, what a pretty country!
DR. THORNE (_smiling in spite of himself_). Come here, my lad.
(_Caresses the child with pathetic gratitude._) If it were not for you,
little man-- (_Bows his face on the child's head._)
(_The twilight changes slowly to moonlight._)
LADDIE (_restlessly_). I must go find Maidie and show her my white bird.
They didn't grow in her street.
DR. THORNE (_anxiously_). Don't go far, my child. You might lose your
way.
LADDIE (_with a peal of laughter_). We never lose our way in this nice
country.
[_Exit_ LADDIE.
(DR. THORNE _paces the path desolately; does not speak. As the moonlight
brightens, groups of spirits stroll among the fields and trees. These
walk often two by two. They are, and yet are not, like earthly lovers.
They murmur softly, and express delight to be together; and some of them
go hand in hand, or with arms intertwined. But a beautiful reserve
pervades their behavior. Faintly from beyond arise the strains of the
Serenade of Schubert's, played with extreme softness and refinement, but
with a depth of emotion which carries the heart before it._ DR. THORNE
_listens to the music. The sails quiver on the distant water, and faint
figures can be seen moving on the beach. The passion flowers salute each
other. The great Serenade plays on._)
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH. (_Her smiling face
is grave, or even a little sad. She is
moved by the music, and seems to sway
towards it._ DR. THORNE _holds out
his hand to her_. MRS. FAYTH _extends
her own, confidingly. The two stand
listening to the music, like comrades
bereft of other ties; on her face rests
a frank, affectionate expression; on
his a desolate leaning towards the
nearest sympathy. They glance at
the spirits who are strolling two by
two through the celestial evening. The
music is suspended._)
DR. THORNE (_moodily_). This foreign country would be lonelier without
you, Mary Fayth.
MRS. FAYTH (_frankly_). Of course it would!... It is a lovely thing that
we died together.... It has been a comfort to me, Doctor.
DR. THORNE. And to me.... Helen would be pleased.... Helen might like to
have it so, I've thought ... if she thinks of me at all.
MRS. FAYTH (_quickly_). She thinks of nothing but you ... all the time.
DR. THORNE (_eagerly_). How do you know? Have you been there? Can _you_
see Helen?
MRS. FAYTH (_mysteriously smiling_). Don't ask me!...
DR. THORNE (_imperiously_). When was it? How did you get there? How did
she look?--Is she well?--Did she look very wretched? Were her lips pale?
Or only her cheeks? Does she weep much? Can she sleep?--Is she living
quite alone?--Oh, how does she bear it? (_He trips upon his words, and
stops abruptly._)
(_A strain from the Serenade breathes, and sighs away._)
MRS. FAYTH (_gently but evasively_). My poor friend!
(DR. THORNE _and_ MRS. FAYTH _unclasp hands, and stand side by side,
silently in the moonlight. A certain remoteness overtakes their manner.
Each is drowned in thought in which the other has no share. The Serenade
is heard again._ MRS. FAYTH, _with a mute, sweet gesture of farewell,
glides gravely away_. DR. THORNE _does not seek to detain her_.)
[_Exit_ MRS. FAYTH.
(_The Serenade plays on steadily._)
DR. THORNE (_puts his hands to his ears, as if to shut out the music,
which falls very faintly as he speaks_). Between herself and me the
awful gates of death have shut. To pass them--though I would die again
to do it--to pass them for one hour, for one moment, for love's sake,
for grief's sake--or for pity's own--I am forbidden. (_Breaks off._) ...
Her forgiveness! Her forgiveness! The longing for it gnaws upon me....
Oh, her unfathomable tenderness--passing the tenderness of women!--It
would lean out and take me back to itself, as her white arms took me to
her heart--when I came home--after a hard day's work--tired out....
Helen! _Helen!_
(_The music strengthens as he ceases to speak; then faints again._)
DR. THORNE (_moans_). For very longing for her, I would fain forget
her.... No! No! No! (_Starts._) Never would I forget her! To all
eternity would I think of her and suffer, if I must, because I think of
her.... I ... love her ... so.
(_The Serenade ceases | 2,678 |
I frequently buy wild cod in the frozen section at Trader Joe's because<|fim_middle|>, lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Generously spread coconut mixture over the fillets. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 – 20 minutes, or until fish is white and flakey. For final 2 minutes, turn the broiler on to brown the crust.
COOK'S NOTES: I had leftover topping! You don't have to use it all. The baking time of the fish will vary slightly depending on the size of your filets.
Look Like You Lift: Join Me For Fast Physique! | it's an inexpensive source of lean protein, but without fail, I end up making it the same way every time - and not loving it. Butter, lemon, salt, pepper. Bake. BLAH. The end.
Not today. Today, I consulted the oracle of Google for some guidance on how to take cod from basic to "may I have some more, please?"
I found just what I needed: Coconut Lime Crusted Cod.
This fish was so good that I stood at the stove and ate a piece of it right out of the baking dish. The recipe came together with almost the same amount of effort as my usual boring butter-lemon routine. This one's a keeper!
This Coconut Lime Crusted Cod would be excellent served with pureed sweet potatoes (I like to add cinnamon or sometimes orange juice/zest for more flavor) and a green veggie!
1. Preheat oven to 350. Place fish filets in a glass baking dish. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine egg, coconut oil, shredded coconut | 222 |
Newly<|fim_middle|> | built, traditional two storey houses just a few meters from the port. The 16 apartments are fully equipped, featuring air conditioning, satellite TV, kitchenette, Wi-Fi internet, washing machine, refrigerator, iron, hair dryer, coffee shop, satellite TV.
Newly built, traditional two storey houses just a few meters from the port. The 16 apartments are fully equipped, featuring air conditioning, satellite TV, kitchenette, Wi-Fi internet, washing machine, refrigerator, iron, hair dryer, coffee shop, satellite TV. You can enjoy in your room a delicious breakfast with homemade pastries and traditional dishes. We also provide canoe ride into the port!
Most of the rooms have balconies with magnificent view to the picturesque port of Kastelorizo. The Poseidon Hotels provide for you so luxurious and comfortable stay in this beautiful island in the Dodecanese. And for those who can not part with their faithful friends, nor for a moment, we accept pets. | 201 |
UNFATHOMABLE LOSS
Ryan Petty Lost His Daughter in the Parkland Shooting. In That Loss, He Gained a Mission.
'This time must be different. This time will be different.'
Sarah Rumpf
Ryan Petty never expected to be involved in one of the most contentious gun control debates in American history. But, then again, he never imagined that his daughter would be killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month. Alaina JoAnn Petty was only 14 years old.
Now, her death is driving her father to chart a "middle way" through this highly polarized issue during the final whirlwind days of Florida's legislative session. His goal is to make sure that Alaina's legacy is remembered as one not of tragedy, but of hope, service, and love.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast, Petty shared how his family's Mormon faith had sustained them since Alaina's death, and how he was hopeful that reforms proposed by Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) could prevent other parents from experiencing the same pain.
Petty speaks with a sincerity and thoughtfulness that is a powerful testament to his faith. Many were moved by his words at Alaina's February 19 funeral, during which he voiced not only grief for his daughter, but compassion for the troubled 19-year-old young man (I will deliberately avoid mentioning his name) who took Alaina from them.
"We wish and believe," Petty told The Deseret News on that day, "that if somebody had been able to put their arms around him and show him some compassion and love to the extent that would have enabled him to get some help, things may have been very different last week."
"We're saddened he wasn't able to get more help before he made a decision to take other lives," he continued. "We're sad he didn't get a family that could help him."
This steadfast belief that proper love and support could have disrupted the shooter's path from troubled teen to mass murderer is a large part of what has compelled Petty to step into the public spotlight and fight for reform.
"Florida can lead the nation on this," he said, while traveling with Scott and meeting with<|fim_middle|> Controversially, the policies did not mandate arrests even for felonies or acts deemed to be a "serious threat to school safety." Sheriff Israel instituted a juvenile civil citation program in conjunction with this policy, and juvenile arrests plummeted by almost half, presumably allowing a large number of offenders to avoid facing any consequences for their actions.
Florida law makes it a crime to threaten to harm or kill another person, or to engage in cyberstalking, so if the shooter had been arrested for even one of his many reported offenses, it likely would have forced him to surrender any firearms in his possession, as well as prohibited him from legally buying more.
Entering a political debate so fraught with emotion risks a backlash, but Petty said he has been receiving messages from friends across the political spectrum cheering his efforts to encourage meaningful reform. "What we've said about trying a different approach has resonated," he says.
I asked Petty what he hoped people would remember about his daughter. Alaina, he said, loved to serve her community. She joined her school's Junior ROTC program last fall, following in the footsteps of her 17-year-old brother Patrick, who survived the shooting without injury. Last year, she volunteered with Mormon Helping Hands, assisting people whose homes had been destroyed during Hurricane Irma. It was physically and emotionally challenging work, but "she was there with her friends and loved every minute of it."
"That's the legacy we want people to remember -- how she loved to serve," said Petty. "She was a good friend to everyone," he added. "She'd walk in and her smile would light up the room."
A central tenet of the Mormon faith is that marriages are not "until death do us part," but "sealed" for eternity, binding the spouses together into the afterlife. This eternal bond extends to a couple's children as well, and has been a powerful comfort in the Petty family's grief.
"We know we'll be with her again someday," said Petty, "and that helps, but we still miss the little things," like watching television together or seeing her getting ready for school in the mornings. "Those are the sad moments, but we think a lot about her and who she was, and that brings some happiness too."
"This was a tremendous act of evil that has forever impacted our family," he concluded. "but there has also been a hundred times more love shown to our family, a hundred times more good and love and compassion, and we are grateful for it." | legislators to support the governor's plan before the state's legislative session ends on March 9.
Like many Mormons, Petty leans conservative but isn't particularly ideological. He applauded Scott's proposed reforms, along with those introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Senate last Thursday. He believes they are a pragmatic recognition that an America polarized on gun control can still find "common ground" to improve mental health services and school security.
"What the governor did is bring in experts and create policies based on that expertise, and he also captured input from students and parents," said Petty, praising Scott as "balancing heart and brain" and "approaching it as a father and a grandfather concerned about a school safety issue instead of getting stuck in a divisive gun control debate."
"After every school shooting the conversation inevitably moves to gun control, but each side is entrenched in their positions, the moment passes, and nothing gets done," said Petty. "I'm not a policy expert just because I've been through a tragedy, but there's enough we can agree on to let us take effective action."
"This time must be different," he said emphatically. "This time will be different, because we are going to focus on school safety and keeping guns away from those who would hurt themselves or others."
Scott and Rubio's proposals both seek to make it more difficult for dangerous and mentally ill people to access firearms. One element is the "Gun Violence Restraining Order," an idea that has gained traction recently in conservative circles, sparked by a widely shared National Review article.
Scott also chose to take advantage of a current state budget surplus to direct $500 million for more trained school resource officers, mental health services, and school-hardening measures such as "metal detectors, bullet-proof glass, steel doors, and upgraded locks." Not all states have money lying around like Florida, and Petty was glad to see Rubio's plan contemplate a role for the federal government to help implement such improvements across the country.
Rubio's proposal tackles the issue of federal law disincentivizing schools from reporting dangerous students to law enforcement, a problem that, as I reported for RedState, may have contributed to the shooter's long and troubled history never resulting in an arrest.
"There were so many threats," said Petty, incredulous that many warnings about the shooter were continuously ignored. "The police were aware, the school was aware, the FBI was aware, but nobody did anything?"
Broward County's school discipline policy has come under enhanced scrutiny after the shooting. After Broward Sheriff Scott Israel took office in 2013, his office entered into an agreement with the school district and other community stakeholders (State Attorney, Public Defender, etc.) to disrupt what's referred to as the "school-to-prison pipeline" by reducing the number of students whose disciplinary infractions resulted in criminal records.
Under this policy, other forms of intervention like counseling or transfer to an alternative school were encouraged for low-level offenses such as smoking marijuana, disorderly conduct, or harassment. | 613 |
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The DCD>Awards remains the ultimate showcase for data center excellence across the globe, and we look forward to celebrating the winners during our virtual awards ceremony on 3 December.
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DCDVirginia
1– 3 December 2020 The virtual conference for the multi-tenant data center ecosystem
DCD>Virginia VIRTUAL
DCD>Global Awards 2020
Dec. 3, 2020, 1 p.m. — Dec. 3, 2020, 3 p.m.
.As the DCD>Awards enter its 14th year, there has never been a more important time for us to stop and reflect on the extraordinary challenges and triumphs this industry has faced over the last year.
To honor the efforts & innovations of our colleagues from around the world, this year's DCD>Awards will be held as a global virtual event that celebrates the individuals, teams, and projects that went above-and-beyond during these past | 173 |
Ojai Rotie
winebox
The rôtie team
Larry (Lorenzo) Nicola and Claud Mann began working together in Los Angeles more than 25-years ago. In 1992 they were asked to lead a team to revamp all food outlets at the Palmilla Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico. Long before farm-to-fork was adopted as a marketing phrase, Larry and Claud forged relationships with local farmers and food producers with the goal of developing a world-class food program that allowed the hotel to free itself from out-of-season and unsustainable ground shipments from far away. Their improved menu ultimately reflected the bounty of Baja: almejas chocolates (giant sea clams), sea urchins, huitlacoche (corn truffles), verdolaga (wild beach purslane) and damiana (a slightly sweet native herb purported to have aphrodisiacal properties). Around that time, they began brainstorming on future projects; Ojai Rôtie is one of the concepts percolating since those days in Mexico. During the ensuing years, the two chefs went on to pursue numerous other projects, always hoping to reunite one day in a very special restaurant. As Lorenzo says about<|fim_middle|>-sourced food every single school day. He is also co-founder of "Barefoot in the Pork", a four-time 1st place winning team at The World Championship BBQ cooking contest, Memphis in May. | Rôtie, "This one's for love".
One of L.A.'s most beloved restaurateurs and chefs, Larry (Lorenzo) Nicola is an innovator and trend-setter for the restaurant industry. Nicola's love affair with food began as a young child at his family's Nicola Twins market in Silverlake. It was there that he saw first-hand how food is a meaningful expression of the love that unites families, friends and neighborhoods. Larry has owned and operated a string of iconic Los Angeles restaurants since the early 80's, including L.A. Nicola, Nicola, Mexico and Nic's Beverly Hills. He in demand as consultant for world-class resorts, wineries and restaurants such as the Palmilla Hotel, The Querencia in Los Cabos, Mexico, Tubec Golf Resort in Arizona, Hotel Lapa Rios in Costa Rica and The Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, where his original concepts were incorporated along with top tier chefs including Nobu Matsuhisa and Nancy Silverton. Larry sits on the board of the Hark department of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Regional food bank and HOLA (Heart of Los Angeles Youth).
Longtime Ojai resident Claud Mann has worked as a chef, educator and culinary professional for more than 30 years.
A graduate of The California Culinary Academy and the S.F. Baking Institute, Claud is former co-publisher of the James Beard Award winning, Edible Ojai Magazine, and a founding board member of Food For Thought, The Ojai Healthy Schools Project – dedicated bringing scratch cooking techniques and local ingredients to public schools. Mann also co-created, wrote and co-hosted TBS's long-running comedy cooking show, Dinner & A Movie. (Described as of the 100 reasons to watch TV by Rolling Stone). Mann has dedicated the past 5-years to school food reform through the Orfalea Family Foundation and working alongside nationally renowned Chef Nancy Weiss at Santa Barbara USD where 15,000 students are now offered scratch-cooked, locally | 420 |
Established more than 2,000 years ago, Peshawar has been the dominion of many empires—from Central Asia, Persia, and the Mediterranean—a trading center along the Silk Road, and the meeting place of divergent cultures and peoples in its markets such as the Qissa Khwami Bazaar. It was the capital of the Kushan Empire during the 2nd century CE and one of its rulers, Kanishka, built a enormous Buddhist stupa here, which drew pilgrims such as Fa Hsien and made the city a prominent center of Buddhism until the 7th century.
Islam arrived in the region around 1000 CE and remains the dominant faith through today. The city came under Mughal rule when Babur conquered India in 1526 and founded the Mughal Empire. He built a fort here in 1530, and his grandson, Akbar, gave the city its current name. In the mid-16th century, Sher Shah constructed the highway that linked Delhi to Kabul via Peshawar and the Khyber Pass. In 1818, Peshawar was captured by the Indian Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh and then fell to the British. Following independence in 1947, Peshawar became part of Pakistan. Today, it is the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, which has become a crucial front in the battle against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
From about 200 BCE to 1500 CE, eastern and western traders traveled along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that linked Rome in the West and Chang'an (today Xian) in the East. Silk, valued for its texture, was a major import of the Mediterranean region, and the Chinese intensely guarded their silk-making technique. However, silk was not the only commodity transported over the route—gems, metals, horses,<|fim_middle|>). In the north after a period of internecine warfare, and further incursions and invasions from Central Asia the next great Indian power was created by the Yueh-chi, or Kushans. One of the groups who migrated from what is now Chinese Central Asia into what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India, the Kushans formed one of the great empires of the classical epoch, ruling at their height from the Aral Sea to the Bay of Bengal.
The Kushans built an empire supported by trade on the Silk Road, and lavished their wealth on the arts and on Buddhist monasteries, importing Greek artisans to carve elaborate sculptures depicting the life of the Buddha. This synthesis of western artisans carving eastern subjects became known as Gandharan art. During this era, the first Buddhist missionaries travelled to China, with two Indian monks founding the first Chinese monastery and spreading the teachings of Buddhism by translating its sacred texts into the local languages.
The Kushans practiced an ecumenical rule, supporting many deities of different religions in their multi-racial empire. The greatest Kushan ruler, King Kanishka, closely affiliated himself to Buddhism, choosing the Mahayana tradition, and thereby influencing the direction of Buddhism in China and Tibet. His enormous stupa, erected in Peshawar was regarded as one of the greatest wonders of the Asian world: it was still standing 500 years later, as described by a Chinese pilgrim in the 7th century CE, though only its foundations survived into modern times.
The Kushans also developed a highly ornate and sophisticated system of coinage, with beautiful gold coins depicting rulers and gods in superb detail. Along with new inscriptional finds the coinage has allowed modern scholars to date the Kushan ulers more precisely, and is providing new insight into the events of the era which the great 18th century historian Edward Gibbon called "the happiest time in the history of humanity".
King Kanishka (reigned c. 127 -147 CE) was the most powerful ruler of the Kushan Empire. An important new inscription found at Robotak in Afghanistan has provided much more information about his family and ancestors, the dates of his rule, and the extent of his vast Indian empire. Having adopted Buddhism, he influenced the direction of the development of the religion by supporting the Mahayana tradition, and sending missionaries to China, where Buddhism then began to flourish. He also built a great stupa in Peshawar that signaled his support of Buddhism. Kanishka continued his campaigns of conquest to enlarge the Kushan Empire, expanding its boundaries from Afghanistan and Central Asia in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to Ujain in central India, Mathura, Kosambi and Benares in the Ganges plain, and Bhagalpur in Bihar, only three hundred miles from the Bay of Bengal. According to later legend, Kanishka was ultimately killed by his own soldiers, who suffocated him in his tent.
Approximately 33 miles long and 50 feet wide at its narrowest point, the Khyber Pass has been the main route through the Hindu Kush mountains on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan throughout history. Winding between limestone and shale cliffs, the pass begins near Jamrud, Pakistan, and ends near Torkham, Afghanistan, reaching its highest point at Landi Kotal (3,510 feet).
The mountains and high plateaus that form northern India's borders are broken only by several passes, and throughout history, traders, immigrants, and invaders made their way into India using the Khyber Pass. Among them, many scholars today believe, were migrants from Central Asia or the Afghan-Iranian borderlands speaking an early form of Sanskrit (or Indo-Iranian). Though this is very controversial in India today, some historians believe that these newcomers, who called themselves Aryans, or "noble ones," steadily trickled into the subcontinent over several centuries settling first in the lands below the Khyber on the Kabul River.
In the fifth century BCE, Darius I of Persia marched through the Khyber Pass to the Indus River after conquering the country surrounding Kabul. Other invaders, including Alexander the Great, Timur, Babur, and Mahmud of Ghazni, also took advantage of the pass's strategic location. Under Ashoka the Great, (3rd century BCE) Buddhism flourished in the region as evidenced by sites including the stupa near Fort Ali Masjid in the pass's southern region.
For the British, the Khyber was a critical military location in the Anglo-Afghan wars during the 19th century. In 1879, the British built a road through the pass, and from 1919-1925, a complex railway that includes 34 tunnels and 94 bridges was constructed through the route. As late as the 1970s, extensive camel caravans would make their way down the pass twice a week, bearing rugs, jewels, spices, herbs, and medicine from the markets of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. A route for cultural and linguistic exchange, the Khyber Pass has also been the site of intense fighting and military operations right up to today. The Pakistani Khyber Agency controls the pass today and it is still the major land route for commerce between India and Afghanistan.
What prominent roles has Peshawar, Pakistan played in Indian history?
What impressive lineage did Babur bring with him to India?
What has been the historical role of the Khyber Pass? Which Khyber Pass travelers have caused havoc in Indian history? | apricots, raisins, and manufactured goods were also traded. Crossing the route was not without danger, and travelers would often hire guards or rely on local guides to shepherd them on their way. In addition, the road facilitated commerce in technology, art, and medicine—even disease spread across cultures via the route. The network is largely credited with the spread of Buddhism to China, as Buddhist monks accompanied traders traveling east. Later, Chinese pilgrims, such as Fa Hsien, traveled to India to gain access to Buddhist writings and teachings. After the 13th century, the rise of the Mongol empires and regionalism along the route led to decreased use and its eventual disintegration.
Traders and travelers along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that linked the western and eastern worlds, would often stop in Peshawar's Qissa Khawani Bazaar, or the "Bazaar of Storytellers," to exchange gossip, news, and stories. Called the "Piccadilly of Central Asia" by a British Commissioner of Peshawar, the bazaar attracted professional storytellers who would recite ballads and tales in the market. Today, visitors to the bazaar can wander among booksellers, fruit stalls, sweet shops, cafes, and restaurants selling fresh breads and grilled meats. Peshawar means "city of flowers" and, as the first major city on the Pakistan side of the Khyber Pass, it has been a crossroads throughout history.
In April, 1930, a crowd of unarmed protesters gathered in the bazaar to protest the arrests of Ghaffar Khan, Badshah Khan, and other leaders in India's non-violent opposition movement against British rule. More than 200 people were killed or wounded when British officers fired on the crowd.
After the death of Ashoka the Great in 232 BCE, his successors slowly lost their grip on the territories of the Mauryan Empire, and northern India broke up into a number of smaller states ruled by local dynasties. In central India though, a major power continued for over four hundred years: the Satavahana Empire (c. 230BCE-220CE | 458 |
Home > THESES > <|fim_middle|> 32% of hatchlings dispersing generally away from water. The divergent patterns we observed in overwintering habitat use by hatchlings may be related to an evolutionary transition or phenotypic plasticity. We recommend limiting use of heavy equipment near habitat edges where hatchlings tend to overwinter, and timing habitat management activities during colder months (November to March) when hatchlings tend to be inactive. By implementing these strategies when managing coastal uplands and salt marshes, we can reduce human impacts on hatchlings and better conserve diamondback terrapins and their habitats.
Decker, Carolyn, "POST-EMERGENCE MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE BY HATCHLING DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN)" (2021). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2096.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2096
https://doi.org/10.23860/thesis-decker-carolyn-2021 | 2096
Open Access Master's Theses
POST-EMERGENCE MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE BY HATCHLING DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN)
Carolyn Decker, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES)
Nancy E. Karraker
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) require estuarine habitats for most aspects of their life cycles. However, adult female terrapins nest in coastal uplands, and hatchling terrapins use upland habitats following nest emergence. In these upland areas, hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to mortality risks from coastal land management activities such as mowing and tilling. From 2019 to 2021, we used small tracking devices to monitor hatchling movements and habitat use at a wildlife refuge in Rhode Island. When hatchlings emerged from nests in late summer and early fall, we attached a radio transmitter and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag (n=46) or only a PIT tag (n=132) to hatchling carapaces. From August to June, we tracked the hatchlings via radio telemetry and a sweeping PIT tag antenna. While 53.4% of hatchlings (n=95) had unknown fates when hatchlings' overwintering sites were not located or tags detached, 46.6% of hatchlings (n=83) had known fates. Known fates included 49 predated hatchlings, 3 unknown causes of death, as well as 23 hatchlings who overwintered in the upland and 11 hatchlings who moved to the salt marsh in the fall. In the uplands, hatchlings typically overwintered within about two meters of habitat edges and disproportionately overwintered in brushland habitat. Hatchling movement activity peaked from late August to early October, then ceased until hatchlings re-emerged in late April through early June. Hatchlings lost body mass during the overwintering period. Following fall nest emergence, most hatchlings dispersed toward the southwest of the study area with about 68% of hatchlings dispersing generally toward water and | 474 |
GEF Council approves ambitious work program for green cities, nature, and climate change
Government representatives have approved more than $600 million for two new work programs that include innovative ventures to expand marine protected areas and engage indigenous peoples for biodiversity protection,<|fim_middle|> the 57th GEF Council and the 27th LDCF/SCCF Council meetings* for more details on the various decisions.*
On the sidelines of this week's meetings, Council participants and invitees engaged in conversation with a global online audience and shared ideas and solutions to some of our planet's most urgent environmental problems on GEF Live - a partnership between the GEF and Connect4Climate. Watch all the videos from the Council event page.
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Representatives of the Global Environment Facility's 183 country members, meeting in Washington DC, approved the set of five programs and 48 projects, including four multi-trust fund projects, to be implemented in 87 developing and least developed countries. The $588.5 million in GEF Trust Fund financing approved by the GEF Council is expected to mobilize $5.6 billion in co-financing from other sources.
Additionally, the joint Council of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) approved a $64.8 million work program for climate change adaptation in the world's poorest countries, comprising of nine projects, four of which are also supported by the GEF Trust Fund. The government of Belgium also announced a 15 million euro pledge to the LDCF during that meeting.
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, said she was heartened to see support for action on urgent environmental priorities ahead of a pivotal year for international negotiations on biodiversity and climate change, and amid increasing recognition by citizens and governments alike that nature is a foundation to sustainable development.
"I have witnessed a huge and increasing surge of interest, recognition and determination of how we can make the best use of this Super Year 2020," she said, stressing the need for transformative change to the global economy in light of multiple pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pressures from the global food system. "We need to present how this transition will be navigated by working together. Our food, land use and restoration program, sustainable cities program, and forest management program are examples of how the transition may work. The GEF's role is to present this pathway for a very challenging transition and show how we can work together."
The work program approved by the 57th GEF Council spans support for action on climate change, biodiversity, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and international waters, primarily with grant support, and was complemented by $35 million in non-grant instruments. Among the programs and projects included are:
The Blue Nature Alliance, a new program designed to support new and expanded marine protections and improved management of existing marine protected areas to safeguard the future health of the global ocean. The GEF is a founding partner, working with Conservation International, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Walton Family Foundation. "Through this partnership we are trying to trigger what would have been impossible for any one of us to do alone," said Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Director of Programs. "We expect the Blue Nature Alliance to be catalytic for more action in this space."
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative, launched with Conservation International and IUCN, is a global project designed to directly support indigenous peoples' stewardship of the lands, waters, and natural resources they control, to address the growing drivers of global environmental degradation. This innovative program will empower indigenous peoples to increase large-scale biodiversity conservation and natural resource management activities, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 on biodiversity and critical ecosystems worldwide.
The Sustainable Cities Impact Program, which builds on prior GEF work in support of green and sustainable cities, including through the World Bank-led Global Platform for Sustainable Cities. The new Impact Program, led by the UN Environment Programme, will focus on supporting integrated urban planning, sustainable investments, and innovative financing and business models for private sector engagement at the city level. It includes $160 million of GEF support, leveraged by an expected $1.7 billion in co-financing, for activities in 24 cities across nine countries – Argentina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda.
The Africa Mini-Grids Program that will help 11 African countries – Angola, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan – increase clean energy access.
The Global Cleantech Innovation Program, designed to support clean technology entrepreneurship in developing countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uruguay, in support of lower carbon emissions.
An expansion of the Food, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program to five more countries – Brazil, Paraguay, Nigeria, Uganda, and India.
An expansion of the Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in SIDS (ISLANDS) Program to make three additional countries – Bahamas, Cuba, and Dominica – eligible for support, to address chemicals and marine plastics.
The Council took a number of decisions concerned with updating GEF policies and operations, including minimum fiduciary standards, and agency compliance with environmental and social safeguards. The GEF private sector engagement strategy was also discussed, with the Council inviting the GEF Private Sector Advisory Group to continue until the end of the GEF-7 replenishment cycle.
In the 27th LDCF/SCCF Council meeting, the Belgian Ambassador to the United States Dirk Wouters said his government had made the 15 million euro pledge to support the immediate needs of the least developed countries, and he emphasized the European Union's commitment to support climate action.
The governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden also reconfirmed the pledges they announced for the LDCF in September.
Council Member Gillian Guthrie of Jamaica, who co-chaired the 57th GEF Council meeting, underlined the importance of Global Environment Facility assistance to environmental and climate efforts across developing countries. "The GEF remains a very important global mechanism for development, especially in our recipient countries," she said.
Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia of Samoa, who represented the constituency including Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu at the GEF Council, also stressed the value of the GEF partnership and commitment to shared action, particularly in the face of global warming. "The sum of all our contributions is what allows us to address the impact of climate change," he told the final session.
Please see the Joint Summaries of the Chairs from both | 1,309 |
Posted by Luke Hickman - July 11, 2016
Weekend Box Office: The Secret Is Out
While Disney has been on fire at the box office this year, the results of this weekend pose a new question to consider: Are Disney's movies the reason for the studio's success, or are family audiences simply starving for new content? Family films are absolutely killing it this year!
Heading into the weekend, Universal and Illumination's 'The Secret Life of Pets' was certain to dethrone four-week-old 'Finding Dory' and take the top spot at the box office. Even so, no one predicted that it would be as huge a success as it was. From 4,370 locations, the animated comedy was expected to earn at least $80 million. In reality, it closed the weekend with $103.1 million, making it the sixth film in history to debut north of the $100 million mark. The movie will slowly roll out internationally over the next three months, but so far it has earned $42.6 million overseas, giving it a worldwide total of $145.7 million, which is excellent for a $75 million picture.
As big as 'Pets' was, the biggest surprise of the weekend comes from 'The Legend of Tarzan'. I expected the Razzie-quality blockbuster to swan dive into shallow water in its second week, but following last week better-than-expected opening, it also had a much better-than-expected holdover. Falling just 46%, 'Tarzan' retained the #2 spot with $20.6 million, giving it a domestic ten-day total of $81.4 million. Internationally, it has grossed $54 million to date, for a worldwide total of $135.4 million. The pricy $180 million picture has a ways to go to become profitable, but with many more large markets still to open in, it stands a chance.
It took the competition from 'Secret Life of Pets' for 'Finding Dory' to fall to third place just behind 'Tarzan'. In its fourth week, the 'Finding Nemo' sequel slipped 51%. The additional $20.3 million brings its domestic total up to $422.5 million, which gives it two records: domestic highest grossing Pixar title of all-time and the domestic highest-grossing picture of 2016. The highest grossing animated record holder is still 'Shrek 2' ($441.2 million), which 'Dory' is less than $19 million away from toppling. Internationally, 'Dory' has made $220.2 million, for a worldwide total of $642.7 million.
'The Secret Life of Pets' wasn't the only newcomer to exceed expectations. Predicted to open in the $12 million range, the R-rated comedy 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates' finished in the #4 spot with $16.6 million. Internationally, it pulled $3.7 million, giving it a $20.3 million worldwide opening. Not too shabby for a $33 million picture, right?
Rounding out the Top 5 was week-old horror-thriller 'The Purge: Election Year'. After dropping 63% (typical for the genre), it still scared up $11.7 million. The $10 million sequel sits with a domestic ten-day total of $58.1 million, making it yet another low-budget horror success.
The Top 10 was<|fim_middle|> much competition in its category.
I doubt it will do as well over the life of the movie though – Ghostbusters opens this weekend (while not targeting the same audiences, there are a lot of crossover between the two so it should eat a lot into Secret Lives of Pet's audience) and the week after that, Ice Age opens up. While Ice Age may not have a strong opening weekend, it should have a good three weeks until Pete's Dragon opens. Pete's Dragon should do REALLY well, because Ice Age will be four weeks old by then, and its the last family friendly release of the summer, so it should do well over the month of August, although many schools in the US do start back in mid-August (Schools in my area start back the week of August 22)
I should note that The BFG, while a family movie, it shouldn't be a surprise that it preformed so poorly. Roald Dahl's works are kind of hit or miss when taken to movie format. Now I don't think any of his previous movies really bombed, but none were really big hits either (Willy Wonka, even though it is fondly remembered by many, was the fifty third highest grossing film of the YEAR in 1971, earning only 2.1 million on its opening weekend, which, adjusted for inflation, is only $12.4 million. A lot of Dahl's works are considered weird and kind of scary, which will scare away families with very young children
I was about to mention Ice Age myself. I'd originally completely written it off as a huge movie this summer. But, the success of Pets, and the suggestion that family movies in general are killing it at the box office at the moment, does make me wonder if it can do a lot better than I orignally thought. No Ice Age movie has grossed more than $200M, though.
I'm glad Secret Lives of Pets opened so well. It was a fun little movie and on top of that, we have a pool going on what summer blockbusters will make the most money, and Pets is one of mine! Great news😀 | unexpectedly rounded out by the Bollywood drama 'Sultan', which kicked off at 283 locations with an impressive $2.2 million. The film's international release has yet to launch, but is expected to draw equally large results.
Playing on four screens, the Cannes-praised drama 'Captain Fantastic' drew $98,451 and a great per-screen average of $24,613.
Opening weekend numbers have yet to be announced for the John Cusack/Samuel L. Jackson thriller 'Cell'.
1. 'The Secret Life of Pets' (Universal) – $103,170,000
2. 'The Legend of Tarzan' (Warner Bros.) – $20,615,000
3. 'Finding Dory' (Buena Vista) – $20,351,000
4. 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates' (Fox) – $16,600,000
5. 'The Purge: Election Year' (Universal) – $11,700,000
6. 'Central Intelligence' (Warner Bros.) – $8,125,000
7. 'Independence Day: Resurgence' (Fox) – $7,700,000
8. 'The BFG' (Buena Vista) – $7,604,000
9. 'The Shallows' (Sony) – $4,800,000
10. 'Sultan' (Yash) – $2,216,475
TagsBox Office Captain Fantastic Finding Nemo Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Secret Life of Pets Tarzan The Purge
About Luke Hickman
From a young age, Luke has been obsessed with film. He studied film at Utah Valley University from 2005-08 and he reviewed movies for the weekly student publication "The College Times"/"UVU Review." Luke critiques films for "The Stubbs Show" on 101.5FM KEGA and on The Reel Place, a website that he co-created with fellow High-Def Digest writer Aaron Peck.
View all posts by Luke Hickman →
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Trond Michelsen
July 12, 2016 at 12:00 am - Reply
Very imressive opening from Pets. I didn't see that coming at all. But, surely, you must mean it's the sixth _animated_ movie with a $100M+ opening?
It also slowed down Dory quite effectively. I'm getting slightly worried it might not break through $500M as easily as I first thought.
"'The Secret Life of Pets' was certain to dethrone four-week-old 'Finding Dory' and take the top spot at the box office. Even so, no one predicted that it would be as huge a success as it was."
Was it really certain? It seemed like an 'under-the-radar' release to me. I noticed little fanfare, buzz, or anticipation. No 'You must watch this trailer or else you're missing out!' stories. Was it hyped in the United States prior to its release date?
William Henley
July 13, 2016 at 5:20 am - Reply
It got pretty good hype on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, both of which are networks that appeal to kids. School is out, parents are looking for stuff to do with kids, Finding Dory is four weeks old, so its fair to predict that any new family film to come out would beat it. The question is going to be how much it will drop next week.
Pretty much, hype or not, any movie targeted for families is going to do well in the US on its opening weekend if it doesn't have | 884 |
'Lifting the Veil
of Ignorance'
1 - Two Sides of Life
2 - Helping Others
3 - Some Rocks Ahead
4 - Influencing By Example
5 - The Virtue of Simplicity
6 - Have You Done Your Best
7 - Don't Be Discouraged
8 - On Getting a Home
9 - Using Their Right Name
10 - European Impressions
11 - Value of System In Life
12 - What Will Pay
13 - Education That Educates
14 - On Being Reliable
15 - The Highest Education
16 - On Opportunities
17 - Keeping Your Word
18 - Lessons Of The Hour
19 - The Gospel of Service
20 - The Negro Conference
21 - What About Our Future?
22 - Some Great Little Things
23 - To Would-Be Teachers
24 - Cultivating Stable Habits
25 - What You Ought To Do
26 - Individual Responsibility
27 - Getting On In The World
28 - Each One His Part
29 - On Mother & Father
30 - Object Lessons
31 - Substance vs. Shadow
32 - Character Shown in Dress
33 - Sing The Old Songs
34 - On Mother Earth
35 - A Penny Saved
36 - Growth
37 - Last Words
Email to a Friend!
Character Building by Booker T. Washington
Chapter 31 Substance vs. Shadow
You are here for the purpose of getting an education. Now, one of the results of an education is to increase a person's wants. You take the ordinary person who lives on a plantation, and so long as that person is ignorant, he is content to live in a cabin with one room, in which he has a skillet, a bedstead -or an apology for one-a table, and a few chairs or stools. He is content if he has fat meat, corn bread and peas on the table to eat, and for clothing he is satisfied to wear jeans and osnaburg himself, and to have his wife wear a calico dress and a twenty-five cent hat.
But, as soon as that man becomes educated, he feels that he must have a house with at least two or three rooms in it, furnished with neat and substantial furniture. Instead of jeans and osnaburg for clothes, he wants decent woolen cloth, neat fitting shoes, and a white collar and a necktie, things which he never thought of wearing before he became educated. Sometimes he even thinks that he must have jewelry.
So you see the result of education is to increase a person's wants. Now, the crisis in that person's affairs comes when the question arises whether his education has increased his ability to supply his wants. Such ability, I claim, is one of the results of industrial education. By such an education as that, while we are getting culture along all the lines that in any degree tend to increase the wants of a, person, we are, in the meantime, getting skill to increase our ability to supply these wants. And, unless we have this ability, we will find, sooner or later, that instead of going forward we are going backward.
I think that the temptation for us, especially for those who are only half educated, is to try to get hold of a certain kind of shallow culture, instead of getting the substantial-instead of getting hold of real educa-tion, of property and material prosperity.
You who study history know how the Pilgrim Fathers, who landed at Plymouth Rock in the bleak winter of 1620, were willing to wear homespun clothes, and to be married in them, if necessary, and to have a wedding that in all would not cost more than four dollars, I suppose. On the other hand,<|fim_middle|> you go, than to get married for a hundred and fifty dollars, and then pay four dollars a month to live in a rented cabin. When I go to New York, or to any large city, there is nothing more discouraging than to see people of this very class I am speaking of, people who seek the superficial culture, the shadow, rather than the substantial dollars and education. If you stand for a few minutes on any of the fashionable streets in the Northern cities, you will see these elaborately dressed men, wearing five dollar hats on heads that at most are not worth more than fifty cents. This is the class of people who have got just enough education to make them want everything they see, but who have not got enough to make them able to get what they want unless they go beyond their means to do so.
A superficial education, too, makes us inclined to seek show in other things besides dress. We are inclined, for one thing, to seek to show off in the use of titles. I remember that once I was introduced to a company of about sixty men, and out of the whole number there were only six who were not doctors, professors, or colonels, or who did not have some title. I must say I thought more of the six who were just plain misters than I did of all the rest, for among the others there were some very hard-looking doctors and professors. An over desire for these things' shows a shallowness in us which makes us ridiculous. We want to stop making that kind of mistake. If you are a mister, encourage the people to call you by that title. If you are a minister and preach interesting and instructive sermons, people are going to be impressed by what you say and not by the title you bear. The title is the shadow; what you say is the substance.
When a person is simple, he is on the strong side. People not only have more respect for him, but he accomplishes more. I was once at a memorial meeting held in honor of a man who had done a great and useful work, not only for the race but for the school with which he had been connected. After about two hours of speechmaking, somebody took the platform and said that a collection ought to be taken up for the benefit of the school which this man had worked so hard for, to show the appreciation which those present felt for this man's services. After a good deal of talk, $6.65 was collected. Then the question was raised again as to what was going to be done with this money-just how it was to be donated to the school.
The meeting had passed a set of resolutions testifying to the high character of the man and the worth of his work. Somebody suggested that- these resolutions be engrossed and sent to the school. This was a big word, and the people liked the sound of it. Upon inquiry it was found that it would cost $6.00 to have the resolutions engrossed. It was voted to have this done, and it was done; when the resolutions would have done just as much good typewritten, at a cost of twenty-five cents. But the meeting paid out the $6.00, and sent the engrossed copy of the resolutions down to the school, along with the sixty-five cents left to be expended for the help of the school. That, it seemed to me, was another case of grasping the shadow instead of the substance. The engrossed resolutions were the shadow; the sixty-five cents were all that was left of the substance.
In all these matters we need speedy and effective reforms. We want you to go out into the world and use your influence toward securing these reforms. There are too many people in the world who give their whole lives to grasping at the shadow instead of the substance-grasping at a sham instead of real worth. We want you to teach by word and action simple, right and honest living. | when one of our boys wants to get married now, he must have a wedding that costs not less than one hundred and fifty dollars. His wife must have a dress with a long train, and he must have a Prince Albert, broadcloth coat that he either rents, or buys on the installment plan. They think that they must have a bevy of waiting bridesmaids, and there must be a line of hacks stand-ing on the outside of the church door that will cost him not less than twenty-five dollars. Then, after the ceremony, where do these people go to live? The chances are the young man who has been to all this expense for the sake of the show of it, takes his bride to live in a small cabin with only two rooms-sometimes only one room rented at that.
This is what I mean by getting the superficial culture before the dollars are made; grasping at the shadow instead of the substance. Now what we want to do here is to send out a set of young men and young women who will go into the communities where such mistakes as these are made, and show the people by example and by work how much better it is to get married for four dollars, and to pay as | 245 |
Memoir 44 OP3 Battle Map - Sword of Stalingrad (T.O.S.)
The Battle Map<|fim_middle|>ga, north of Stalingrad. In a matter of days, 4th Panzer Army, headed for the river south of the city, effectively trapping many of the men and women of the Soviet 62nd Army. Stalin's order of July 27 - "Not a step back!" - was no longer just an obligation but a necessity, and its slogan "There is no land behind the Volga!" the harsh reality that now faced all of the city's inhabitants.
Having witnessed first-hand on the Russian steppe the devastating effectiveness of German Blitzkrieg tactics, Lt. General Chuikov turned the carpet-bombing of the city to his advantage. Anchoring his defense lines in bombed-out buildings that overlooked strategically important streets and squares, he ordered Soviet troops to "hug the enemy". Always keeping the front lines as close to the Germans as physically possible, often a mere floor or door frame away, he successfully negated much of the Germans' firepower and combined arms superiority.
Rats In A Factory
By October 1942, Stalingrad had become a matter of personal prestige for both Stalin and Hitler, and the sole focal point of the Campaign in the East, above and beyond any strategic military consideration. In mid-October, the Luftwaffe intensified its efforts against the remaining Red Army positions holding the west bank. Over 2,000 sorties were flown on 14 October with 600 tons of bombs dropped by German Stukas.
The same day, three infantry divisions and two Panzer divisions surrounded three important northern factories that centered the Soviet line. The 14th Panzer pushed forward and broke through. With the Tractor Factory nearly surrounded, the intensity of the attack effectively split the Soviet 62nd Army in two. Knowing that the loss of the Tractor Factory would lead to the collapse of the Soviet's right flank, General von Paulus ordered fresh troops forward to dislodge the last Soviet troops entrenched there.
Bonus Standard Scenarios
This Battle Map set also includes 2 Standard scenarios playable on a regular Memoir '44 board - Mamayev Kurgan and Pavlov, Hero of the Soviet Union; and Summary cards for the previously published Battle Maps and Mediterranean Theater. Also includes a revised Behind Enemy Lines Command card.
Released: 13 July 2021 | series introduces a new format for your Memoir '44 game play. With Battle Maps it's fast and simple to setup and play Memoir '44 scenarios. Each oversized map is ready-to-play with all terrain, obstacles and unit positions pre-printed - just add figures and play. It also features the scenario rules, terrain and unit summary cards and historical background.
The third installment in the series of Memoir '44 Battle Maps includes 2 Overlord scenarios; 2 Standard scenarios; new Summary cards for the previously published Battle Maps and Mediterranean Theater expansion; and, for the first time, additional cards for in-game play - the new Combat Deck specifically designed for urban warfare.
Sword of Stalingrad
By the end of August 1942, German troops had reached the Vol | 163 |
Choose a fashion company, which is currently underperforming. Using the frameworks, models or concepts discussed in class, analyse why the company is struggling and suggest a strategy for the company that will help overcome its current difficulties. Consider the current and future implications of the macro and microenvironment.
Escada Group is a fashion company operating on the international luxury good market. It comprises two brand lines Escada and Escada Sport. The product offer consists of<|fim_middle|> The third part evaluates the different strategic recommendations that Escada can underpin in order to overcome the weak performance situation. And the last part is containing the conclusion of the paper.
Bibliography: Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittingen, R. (2008) Exploring corporate strategy: text & cases. 8th ed, Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. | women's apparel and accessories such as bags, shoes and small leather goods targeted to a high-end segment. Escada line is characterized by sensuality and modern elegance, meanwhile Escada Sport represents urban chic and young femininity. Both are synonymous of colours, distinctive details and refined quality. Escada Group has licensed products for eyewear, fragrances and kidswear (www.escada.com, 2010). The market presence covers more than 80 countries with around 1.260 points of sales. The products are sold in the company-owned stores, franchised stores as well as in selected multi-brand department stores. After declaring insolvency in August 2009 Escada Group was acquired by Mittal Family Trusts in November of the same year. Escada's collapse follows years of management switches, design flops and a contracting luxury market that hastened the decline of the brand known for its bright colors and elegant evening robes. Today the company suffers from lack of brand identity among its core target (Mintel, 2008). The products are poorly received by customers. In addition Escada entered to many marginal markets damaging its image of exclusivity. The cause might is reconductable to a weak management in the company's internal organization and to the lack of strategic and coherent coordination, which affected the corporate strategy and the general vision and determined the consequent instability on the financial side. A restructuring program is absolutely needed in order to consolidate the whole image of the brand and to build a sustainable strategic platform for the future.
This paper is aimed to analyze Escada's strategic position in Germany, its core market, giving the current underperforming situation and to suggest a recovering solution in terms of strategic recommendations for long term perspective. The research will be based on information collected about the German luxury market and company itself through different resources. The analysis will take into consideration macro and microenvironment in which Escada operates according to different theoretical frameworks such as PESTEL, Porter's competitive forces and the SWOT analysis. Once assessed the current strategic position of the German fashion house a set of strategic recommendations will be introduced to guide the company in achieving the competitive advantage over its competitors. This paper is structured in four parts: the first part inlcudes the theoretical frameworks that will be taken into consideration. The second part consists on the analysis of Escada's underperforming areas and its strategic position according to the key theories discussed. | 496 |
The best<|fim_middle|> | insurance cover with total maintenance contract, claim management & warranty management.
Lease is an alternative way of acquiring any vehicle other than the Traditional model of Bank Loan or Outright purchase.
Instead of Paying for the whole cost of the Car and building the asset, Operating Lease brings the viability of paying only for the usage value of the Car, based on pre decided Tenure and Kilometers.
The amount payable by the client to Leasing Company for the usage of car for specified period and contracted mileage. Lease Rentals are inclusive of vehicle cost, Insurance, Maintenance and cost other services opted for. At the end of the lease period the asset is returned back to the leasing company.
The period for the vehicle is contracted for lease.
The expected resale price of the vehicle at the end of the Lease Tenure. The benefit of this amount is worked out into your rentals and thus the proposition becomes better than a loan EMI.
Contracted mileage is a pre-agreed mileage at the start of the contract. In case you exceed the agreed mileage, any additional kilometers travelled beyond these limits will be invoiced in accordance with the vehicle lease contracts which will be in addition to the monthly lease rental.
1. Whats is a Lease?
A Lease is a right to use an asset for an agreed period of time on payment of rentals. It involves 2 parties, a lessor and a lessee. Lessor is the owner of the asset and lessee is the user of the asset.
2. What is the difference between Car Lease & Car Loan?
3. What are the general benefits of Car Leasing?
No Down payment - 100% Finance. Rent covers Finance, Insurance, Maintenance, Accident Repairs & Admin Benefits. Provides an option to upgrade, without hampering budgets. Risk is fully covered. With the influx of new models, cars can be changed faster and without hassle. Pay for usage model. Target customers: Corporates, Self-employed professional, Sole-proprietors, Partnership firms, Private limited & limited firms. The RV is estimated upfront and its benefit is passed on in the lease rentals. Hence, any drop in the market price of the asset, does not affect the lease rentals.
4. How is the lease rental calculated?
The rental calculation involves the amount funded less the sale price expected at the end and includes interest cost and all other cost which is required to run a vehicle like insurance, maintenance, admin cost except fuel and driver charges. The lease rentals is worked out for a particular period and usage.
5. What is included in the Lease Rental over & above the car finance?
Insurance: Insurance Management will done by the Lessor for the entire lease tenure. This will include the repair works and speedy settlement of claims. The Lessee will need to comply with the Insurance Procedures including filing of FIR in case of Theft or 3rd party damage for settlement of claims. These would include procedures like – giving details of the accident, filing of the claim forms, providing documents like driving license, etc. Lessor will also bear the disallowed insurance if the same is covered in the contract. Maintenance & Administration: Pick-up & drop facility will be provided for servicing of vehicles within the Municipal limits of the city. 24x7 breakdown assistance will be provided within the Municipal limits of the city. A replacement vehicle will be provided, if the vehicle is off the road for mechanical repairs beyond 24 hours. Fleet management rates include 1 set of tyre and battery. Accident repairs & claim process.
6. What are the other Benefits of Operating Lease to Company?
a) Tax Saving: the rentals can be shown as an expense and tax benefit can be availed b) Convenience: as the product offered is inclusive of all services i.e insurance, maintenance, Insurance disallowance, replacement car, pick up and drop service, road side assistance. Their profession demands them to be mobile; as time is of prime importance. full service lease will ensure mobility and hassle free drive. c) Upgrade: Rentals are lower in operating lease compared to loan thus the user can drive the same variant at lower rental or upgrade to higher variant with the same outflow.
8. What happens at the end of the lease tenure.
At the end of the lease tenure, the vehicle comes back to the leasing vendor, i.e. the Lessor. At the end of the lease tenure, the vehicle can be purchased at the then prevailing market price.
9. What happens if the lease is pre-terminated.
There would be a pre-termination charge that would be applicable. Outstanding book value + penalty on o/s book value + taxes applicable + outstanding rentals (if any till the termination date) – market value of the vehicle. | 952 |
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PPT PowerPoint could be the speech program. PowerPoint is<|fim_middle|> have become an important element of corporate conferences. | also adaptable, and may make a fall display applying certainly one of several procedures. PowerPoint is a graphics-based plan that allows you to make powerful presentations. PowerPoint the various tools you should produce good images, including banners. Microsoft PowerPoint does not offer an alternative investment for the glides, but there are some creative solutions to implement anything in the exact same direction. Microsoft PowerPoint is a computer software plan that gives you the possibility to produce your own personal theme or maybe select from the numerous design patterns that are presented in the PowerPoint collection. Microsoft Powerpoint is certainly one of the most popular display applications available today. Right-click on the slip that's currently displayed in a presentation if you intend to demonstrate an invisible slide. You'll recognize the first slip which contains the name of the song. Open a picture that you wish to seem on the slide. Click on the slide that you wish to modify. Pick the PowerPoint fall that you'll require to edit. If you should be doing a display for a customer, like, you can choose to bring the client's logo. Whenever you open a display that's macros, a yellow club seems at the top of the screen. Relying the themes to collect your projects, if they're displays for the office or individual websites, means that you may not get the benefits of understanding the internal working of the application you are using. Visit the location wherever you will need to help keep the demonstration and give a speech name. Once you create a new display, you have the choice of choosing one of the accessible themes or developing your own. Powerful displays let presenters to spell out their points obviously and concisely. PowerPoint displays | 331 |
M1 Composites Technology Achieves Multiple Accreditations Further Increasing Value Added to its Customers
MONTREAL, April 3, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - M1 Composites Technology Inc. (M1) has achieved ISO 9001 and AS9100 quality accreditations for<|fim_middle|> attend the Advanced Material Repair Technologies Conference on Tuesday April 8, 2014 at 11:45 where M1 Composites President, Lorenzo Marandola will be a guest speaker.
Diffusé à : 2014-04-03 10:44 http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/archive/April2014/03/c8513.html | its advanced composites repair facility and manufacturing plant in Laval, Quebec. In addition, M1 has secured Canadian Controlled Goods (CGP) approval and Transport Canada certification as a composites repair facility.
The state-of-the-art operation is designed to provide rapid turnaround for repair of damaged commercial and military aircraft components. In addition, M1 offers composites manufacturing capability. The 24,000 square foot facility features a certified cleanroom, large curing oven, paint finishing operation as well as a full cadre of repair and manufacturing equipment. M1 is rapidly expanding its aircraft composites repair throughput and developing enhanced composites manufacturing capabilities, serving both the commercial and defense markets.
"Our highly experienced team has done a remarkable job in developing the facility operations to receive these quality accreditations and government certifications in such a short timeframe", said Lorenzo Marandola, M1 President. "The key factor in achieving these rapid approvals was ensuring the facility was built to the highest standards and that initial implementation of operational standards exceeded quality approval requirements."
M1 is a world class company specializing in composite and sheet metal aerostructures. Our mission statement centers around the design, manufacture and repair of complex structures for commercial and military aircraft.
To learn more about M1, please visit our booth #2903 at the upcoming MRO Americas Conference being held between the 8th to the 10th of April at the Phoenix Convention Centre (Phoenix, Arizona). We also invite you to | 298 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Albuquerque<|fim_middle|> accounts for the cost of fuel tank installation. Price includes local delivery, backhoe excavation, 500-gallon tank (with cathodic protection), backfilling, service line installation, appliance hook-up and permitting. Items not included: removal of existing tank, trenching for yard line, larger tanks, above ground tanks, commercial projects, concrete pad installation, and gas appliances . | Fuel Tanks Cost Report is a concise report on everything you need to know about the cost of fuel tanks in the Albuquerque area.
Price takes into account the cost of oil tank removal. It also includes pumping out any remaining oil, excavating the buried tank, collecting soil samples, back filling the hole, compiling a summary report. However, it excludes tanks over 550 gallons, leaking tanks, abandon-in-place solutions, soil remediation, re-landscaping, replacement tank, conversion to alternate fuel source, aboveground tanks, and commercial projects.
Price range takes into account installing an underground fuel tank labor. Accounts for the price of digging hole to bury horizontal tank (500 gallon capacity), sand subbase, back-filling, service line installation, and safety inspection upon completion. Items that are not included: difficult soil conditions, re-landscaping, disposal of an existing fuel tank, long-distance deliveries, pouring concrete slab, and 500+ gallon tanks.
Estimate | 202 |
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
Home › Groups › Ottawa Green Map ›
380 Sussex
ON K1N 9N4
"The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography was founded and affiliated with the National Gallery of Canada in January 1985. However, its history can be traced back to World War II (1939–1945), as the Still Photography Division of the National Film Board of Canada. For nearly five decades, the Division collected and championed Canadian photography. It built up its collection by assigning photographers to document Canada, its resources and its people. Part of this extensive archive, which includes negatives dating from 1941 to 1962, is now housed at Library and Archives Canada<|fim_middle|> moved away from a strictly informational role; it established its fine print collection and launched a program of exhibitions and publications. Until 1983, the exhibitions had a public venue in an Ottawa office building and were available to tour.
The CMCP carried on the Division's legacy, collecting photographs and producing major exhibitions and award-winning publications. For almost ten years, without gallery spaces of its own, it circulated its exhibitions to venues across Canada and abroad. In May 1992, the Museum became a cultural destination in downtown Ottawa, with the opening of a building specially designed to house the collection and showcase its exhibitions. " - From the museum website
http://cmcp.gallery.ca/english/index.htm
Ottawa Green Map
updated 09/2010 by Flemish Cartographer
Canadian War Museum
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Currency Museum
Laurier House
Canada Agriculture Museum
Navy Yard / BLDG 92
Musée d'ethnographie de Genève
Avenue of Stars
Lawrence Sweeny Museum
Europos parkas / park of the Europe
Museo Alameda
Museum of Ontario Archaeology
Garibaldi-Meucci Memorial Museum
Aloe Museum and Factory
Carroll Shelby Museum
Clark House (108 Orange Road)
Biologiska muséet
Detroit Historical Museum
Orpheum Children's Science Museum
The Akron Art Museum
Teach's Hole Exhibit: Blackbeard
Atlantic City Historical Musuem
Amaranthine Museum
Hatteras Histories and Mysteries Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum
郵政博物館
Museum of the city of Brasilia | . In the 1960s, the Division | 12 |
First, this album holds not just the famous three concertos (A Minor, E Major, Double Concerto in D Minor) but two concertos for three violins each, which contain some of Bach's densest writing. I had never heard one of the latter, so I learned something.
Second, the album uses five different soloists<|fim_middle|> ear stays refreshed that way.
Third, you can always listen to a masterpiece and hear something new. That may be the hoariest clichè in the world of the fine arts, but it's true. I heard accents I hadn't always observed (maybe I had never listened closely enough) and enjoyed the slight astringency of the Baroque-era style.
Germans don't have a monopoly on Johann Sebastian; the acclaimed Oregon Bach Festival has performed his work for 45 years. (Not coincidentally, Huggett and the PBO played Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" there in April.) Maybe the London-born Huggett and her American players come to this music encumbered by fewer preconceptions.
Not all of these orchestras or recordings have something to say, especially when the repertoire's so familiar. But after nearly a hundred years of Bach on discs, this one does. | . The tone changes a little from piece to piece: sometimes mellifluous, sometimes a little rougher, sometimes with a sharper attack and sometimes with a more relaxed one. The | 37 |
Stealing Sheep & The Radiophonic Workshop re-imagined score of René Laloux's 'La Planète Sauvage' is out today
By Lucia Weinrichter Roncero - November 22, 2021
"Om or Draag?" That's the question overheating the water cooler as René Laloux's celebrated sci-fi animation 'La Planète Sauvage (Fantastic Planet)' from 1973 is overhauled with a re-imagined soundtrack by electronic modernists Stealing Sheep and legendary sound innovators The Radiophonic Workshop.
'La Planète Sauvage' follows the relationship between the small human-like Oms and their much larger blue-skinned oppressors, the Draags, who rule the planet of Ygam.
It's a real pre-Avatar conundrum that Stealing Sheep, with the help of Bob Earland, Dick Mills and Roger Limb from the Radiophonic Workshop, unravel creating an ethereal excursion that's narrated by Roger Limb; like a futuristic Martin Denny, or Dr Who gone ambient techno, with a hint of Forbidden Planet 50 years on. It's an analogue swirl set in an off-world paradise; a field recording from the future.
"It was a natural assignation… Stealing Sheep are a unique trio who have a rather wonderful and instinctive feel for the harmonies and magical traditions of art-pop. We are, in effect, art electronica, our music based on natural and unnatural sounds, fields and technologies, past and present. It seemed utterly natural to bring these traditions together in the live re-scoring 'La Planète Sauvage', itself, a wonderful piece of psychedelic folk animation. The result was a rather magical moment for us all, that, thank goodness, we were able to capture and re-live" The Radiophonic Workshop
Without<|fim_middle|> and unnatural sounds, fields and technologies, past and present. It seemed utterly natural to bring these traditions together in the live re-scoring 'La Planète Sauvage', itself, a wonderful piece of psychedelic folk animation. The result was a rather magical moment for us all, that, thank goodness, we were able to capture and re-live
The Radiophonic Workshop
Stealing Sheep devour a broad range of styles, incorporating everything from the dark dance-pop of grace jones to the experimentations of Radiophonic Workshop pioneer Delia Derbyshire and John Carpenter soundtracks.
No institution has had a greater impact on the development of electronic music than the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
The Vinyl Factory | doubt the encounter has influenced the Liverpool trio's sound and their album 'Big Wows' that followed in 2019.
Blending the formidable psych-rock and pop of Stealing Sheep with the pioneering electronic experiments of the Radiophonic Workshop, 'La Planète Sauvage' is a thing of ambient beauty punctuated with electronic earworms that switches from intensely ominous to otherworldly dream like moments.
Available in Double Black LP & CD (Dinked Edition is now sold out), shipping 21st January
Listen/Order
Stealing Sheep & The Radiophonic Workshop Artist Page
The Radiophonic Workshop adds deeply immersive electronic soundscapes that nestle cosily alongside the woozy melody-soaked psych-pop of Stealing Sheep
★★★★ Uncut
Drift Records – Records Of The Week
Stealing Sheep & The Radiophonic Workshop 'La Planète Sauvage'
It was a natural assignation... Stealing Sheep are a unique trio who have a rather wonderful and instinctive feel for the harmonies and magical traditions of art-pop. We are, in effect, art electronica, our music based on natural | 236 |
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Home Dining Wonju Korean Restaurant
The Quarter: A Taste of N'awlins Comes to Downtown Roanoke
Cuban Island: A Taste of Paradiso
Wonju Korean Restaurant
by David Hungate, Tony Barbour
With a name customized to make any native Roanoker think "Korea," Wonju Korean Restaurant is tucked back into a corner of Lamplighter Mall. On the way inside, I spied a Korean-language newspaper sitting by the door, and snatched it up to pretend to read it, and it speaks volumes about the courtesy and professionalism of our waitress that she did not call me out for being such a goober.
Neither of us had ever had Korean food before, so we decided to have an order of Goon-mandu from the appetizer menu to give us a few minutes to ruminate and masticate as we familiarized ourselves with the menu. These deep-fried dumplings, served stuffed with meat, vegetables and seasonings, were quite flavorful, but a bit salty for my taste, and we didn't finish our order of six, preferring to save room for some other adventures. Another appetizer, the Kimchi-Pajeon, was a sort of pancake made with green onions and kimchi, which is a dish of fermented mixed vegetables. We enjoyed these a good bit more, and the only reason we didn't finish this was because the order that came to our table was so huge.
While we ate, we moved on to the entrée section of the menu, and notwithstanding the exotic names, each selection featured clear and descriptive explanations. My bulgogi, a grilled beef dish served with more kimchi and fried rice, was excellent. Though the beef was a bit dry, it was very well seasoned and quite tender. But the thing that really sticks in my mind about the meal was the kimchi. Spicy and pungent, I would have expected a mixed-vegetable dish like this to be overpowered by the flavors of the seasonings. But the zucchini, cabbage, onions and other characters really kept their…character<|fim_middle|>-3453
5524 Williamson Rd, Roanoke, Virginia 24012
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Free Retirement Guide | , retaining a crispness and a fresh flavor that was able to penetrate the spiciness. I'm going to take a year or two off of work and learn how to make this at home. My wife opted for the grilled spicy pork, and this was also delicious.
Wonju has recently added a full sushi bar to their offerings, but while I love sushi, and theirs looked fantastic, for some reason (see this magazine's last issue), I'm a bit sushi-ed out just now. Go figure. I did, however, try one of the Korean beers they offer, a crisp and hoppy number with the unexpectedly pronounceable name "Cass." It's always fun to add an entry to my "Nations of the World Whose Beer I've Tried" list.
We had come in rather late (as is usual with us, we're horrible guests), and had watched the dining room go from mostly full, to pretty much empty, but I couldn't resist an order of green tea ice cream for dessert.
Pete Hoefling, owner of the nearby Star City Games, is a frequent diner at Wonju; in fact he's such a fan that he's turned his staff of around 30 employees on to their Asian goodness, and turned most of them into regulars as well.
"Wonju is one of Roanoke's best-kept secrets," he says. "I eat there several times a week, and between the delicious food, reasonable prices, generous portions and super-friendly staff, the place never disappoints."
As we finished up and took our leave, I couldn't help wondering what was next for Williamson Road. Roanoke has such a broad range of immigrant communities with vibrant and cohesive cultures, it's hard to imagine that it will be very long before some other nationalities are represented on that car-friendly and storied strip. Greek souvlaki? Afgan kebabs? Salvadoran pupusas? Dare I ask, vegemite sandwiches? Food is such a powerful medium for expressing national identity and for exploring other cultures, and I can't wait to get the next stamp in my culinary passport.
5524 Williamson Rd., 206 | 448 |
CHINA: Suzhou's first tram line opened on October 26, just over two years since construction began, with 12 500 passengers carried on the first day.
Non-passenger carrying test running started on June 28. Between October 12 and 21, 50 000 tickets were provided for local residents to ensure realistic testing and to increase public awareness.
The 18·1 km route servers the southwestern Gaoxin district. It runs west from Suzhou Leyuan, which offers interchange with metro Line 1, to Longkanglu<|fim_middle|>82 passengers. They are equipped with Flexx Urban 3000 bogies and Mitrac propulsion equipment, and have a maximum speed of 70 km/h.
Line 1 is the first of six planned for Gaoxin. Construction of Line 2 started in July, and is planned to open by the end of 2016. | . The route is mostly at grade, apart from a section that dips under a road and a 1 km elevated alignment over a motorway. A depot west of Majian Lu is due to open at the end of this year.
Services are operated by Suzhou New District Tram Co and currently run every 10 min to 20 min. The end-to-end journey time is around 45 min, and there are 11 stops, with 11 more to open in the longer term.
CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Co has supplied 18 100% low-floor bidirectional trams under a 10-year technology licensing agreement signed with Bombardier Transportation in July 2012. The five-section vehicles, based on Bombardier's Flexity 2 design, are 32·2 m long and 2 650 mm wide with capacity for 3 | 192 |
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10 healthy ways to start the new year at home or away
It's time for a little self-care
January 4, 2022 // By Lois Alter Mark
By Lois Alter Mark
Travel Expert January 4, 2022
Yoga is good for your physical and mental health – especially when you do it at Miraval Arizona — Photo courtesy of Miraval Arizona
These past two years have definitely taken a toll on our mental and physical health, so it's no wonder wellness continues to grow as a top trend – both in travel and in general. After staying home day after day, spending hours on the couch, binging Netflix and snacks, we could all use a little pampering and some healthier habits.
But, instead of making resolutions, it's time to make plans. There are so many<|fim_middle|> the restaurant so you can meet others if you want to. It's low-key yet luxurious in an understated, make-yourself-at-home way, and you always leave feeling better and more connected to the world and to yourself.
Away: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai Thailand
There's nothing like a traditional Thai massage at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai — Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
This five-star resort offers everything you want in a wellness vacation, from the gorgeous surroundings and accommodations (splurge on the Private Residences for a truly unforgettable stay) to the freshest food and impeccable service to the unique experiences that pamper you physically and help you grow spiritually.
Immerse yourself in the local culture by participating in the morning temple ritual or planting rice. You can also take a cooking class (the khanom khrok – coconut rice pancakes – are delish!), learn to tie-dye or spend hours at the spa indulging in the Peace & Purification Therapy to release negative energy, the Rice & Spice Scrub to exfoliate skin and boost circulation, and the Samunprai Massage to detoxify your body and uplift your spirit. You will never want to leave this magical place.
Away: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
Hop on a complimentary bike and take in the scenery at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows — Photo courtesy of Stephanie Russo
This lovely Scottsdale resort, hidden away in the Sonoran Desert, is a great place for a weekend getaway that's as enriching as it is relaxing. With its focus on well-being, Andaz offers daily fitness classes, as well as the Create & Cultivate series, which lets you learn new skills like mixology and aromatherapy. For the more adventurous, there's hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. And, of course, there's the spa.
Because art is so good for your mental health – take time to explore the artwork showcased throughout the property – Andaz has partnered with local venues that are must-visits. In fact, they'll drive you to Cattle Track Arts & Preservation for a VIP tour and to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, where your admission is free as a resort guest. While you're downtown, check out some of the galleries and soak in the beauty.
Learn how to crochet with these easy and adorable kits for beginners
Away: The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
The pool at the Rittenhouse Hotel — Photo courtesy of The RIttenhouse Hotel
I know this may seem like a weird wellness choice but sometimes there's nothing like a staycation in a city to refresh and re-energize you. Philadelphia – underrated and easy to get around, with top restaurants and museums – is just the right city for that, and there's no better place to settle into than the Rittenhouse Hotel. Located on beautiful Rittenhouse Square, it's easy to walk almost anywhere or just park yourself on a bench and take in the scenery.
And, if you don't want to leave the hotel, that's understandable, too. Rooms are generously sized and well-appointed (love those Acqua Di Parma products!), and a view of Rittenhouse Square makes it easy to stay in all day. But, trust me, you don't want to miss out on the spa or the pool and fitness center, and you definitely don't want to miss a meal at one of the hotel's highly-acclaimed restaurants. If Eloise lived in Philadelphia, this would have been her home.
Away: JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
Imagine relaxing in the Sitting Room of the Hashani Spa at JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa — Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
Paying homage to its local culture, every day at JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass starts with the Mitakuye Oyasin ritual on the Salud Terrace, featuring the traditional burning of sage and a Native American flute serenade. This focus on authenticity and wellness continues in the AAA Four Diamond Hashani Spa, through ancient techniques and treatments inspired by the region's Indigenous people who incorporated the healing properties of the Saguaro cactus.
You'll want to stay on property for meals to get a taste of the mouthwatering dishes made with fresh, sustainable ingredients hand-selected by the chefs – like James Beard Award winner Chef Kelly – and including herbs from the resort's own garden. And, yes, you should join in the complimentary Tequila Toast, "The Legend of Arriba, Abajo," every evening and drink to your health.
Home: Lose the excess weight
Jenny Craig's new Max Up program will help you lose that excess weight — Photo courtesy of Jenny Craig
If, like me, you gained the COVID 19 – the pandemic's equivalent of college's Freshman 15 – you may want to consider Jenny Craig's new Max Up program, on which I lost that same 19 pounds in 9 weeks. It's not some quick fix – it's actually taught me healthier habits, like drinking lots of water, and kept me satisfied with fewer snacks and just one Diet Pepsi (my #1 vice) per day. And it's miraculously cured my sugar addiction.
What I like best about it is that you don't have to do any cooking at all (other than microwaving), although you certainly can add some creative touches to their frozen meals if you want to make them more substantial. You can customize your weekly menu and the food – which is very good and appropriately portioned (read: small) – is delivered right to your door. You speak to your coach once a week and you get a scale that syncs with an app on your phone so they have access to it, which keeps you accountable.
I can't recommend this program highly enough and will be continuing it myself into the year.
Home: Get off the couch
Jazzercise makes working out fun — Photo courtesy of Jazzercise
If there's one thing doctors keep stressing while we're home, it's that we still have to move. We're sitting around so much these days that experts have called sitting "the new smoking."
Luckily, you don't have to go to a gym – or even outside – to start moving. With so many fitness apps available, your home – or garage – can be turned into an impromptu exercise studio. You don't even need a lot of space.
Two of my favorite online programs – the ones that have kept me motivated (which is probably why they've been around for so long) – are Jazzercise On Demand and Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home, whose videos are available on YouTube. They're fun to do, they get me out of my chair (I do a couple of 15-minute Walk at Home workouts each day), and they work.
Home: Do a jigsaw puzzle
"After Party" from Piecework Puzzles. These are not your grandma's jigsaw puzzles! — Photo courtesy of Piecework Puzzles
When the pandemic began, I found myself doing jigsaw puzzles – something I never even considered before. They became a kind of meditation for me, making me stay present and focused, and distracting me from all the bad news out there. Millions of other people also turned to jigsaw puzzles and are still doing them as new, exciting brands – many of them female-founded – continue to pop up, offering unique images that are a far cry from the ones we did as kids.
The science shows that jigsaw puzzles aren't just fun, though. They're also really good for your brain. Puzzles help improve memory and visual-spatial reasoning, reduce stress and build problem-solving skills. Plus, in a world that seems so much out of your control, it's very satisfying and empowering to actually be able to complete something, one piece at a time.
10 of the best subscriptions and streaming services for learning something new
Home: Learn to play pickleball
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country — Photo courtesy of Steve Taylor
Over the past year and a half, I – along with millions of other people – discovered pickleball, turning it into the fastest growing sport in the country. It was such a delight to find this game with the funny name that's challenging and competitive, yet so much fun.
A combination of tennis and ping pong, pickleball is played on a smaller court, using paddles instead of rackets and a plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball. Pickleball courts are opening everywhere and you can always join open play or take lessons. There are few sports as welcoming, easy to learn, and where players are so friendly. It's an ideal way to socialize and get in a great workout.
Home: Practice kindness towards yourself and everyone else
"The Kindness Workbook" by Robin Raven — Photo courtesy of Simon & Schuster
Between unruly airline passengers and people fighting over, well, everything, it seems that kindness is at a premium these days. That general incivility has taken its toll on our national mental health, and writer Robin Raven is determined to change that. Her new book, "The Kindness Workbook: An Interactive Guide for Creating Compassion in Yourself and the World," is filled with thoughtful exercises and tips on everything from how to silence your inner critic to calling out the good.
Reading this guide and completing the prompts – remember, you practice kindness – has the power to affect real change both in yourself and the people around you. As you start to notice the positive impact kindness has on your mood, your relationships and your daily life, you just may feel compelled to write a note to the author to express your gratitude – which is an act of kindness in itself.
About Lois Alter Mark
Lois Alter Mark is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer who also writes regularly for Forbes and Reader's Digest. She writes about everything from luxury cruises and spas to quirky restaurants and street art. A former New Yorker, Lois now lives in San Diego where she's turned into a weather wimp and is still searching for a good slice of pizza.
Read more about Lois Alter Mark here.
Connect with Lois via: Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | great programs and tips you can follow at home, as well as amazing resorts and retreats you can visit whenever you're ready to travel again – all of which will give you the kickstart you need to stay healthy this year.
Here are some of my personal favorites.
Away: Miraval Arizona
Trying something new at Miraval Arizona is good for your body and soul — Photo courtesy of Miraval Arizona
A visit to Miraval in Tucson is so healing, it should be covered by health insurance. This oasis in the Arizona desert is all about mindfulness, and the nightly room (or, more appropriately, casita) charge includes meals and snacks, many fitness classes and activities and a credit to use for spa treatments and fee-based extras like their renowned Equine Experience.
Miraval is that rare place you can feel comfortable coming by yourself. In fact, so many people do that there's always a welcoming table for singles in | 186 |
When the weather turns chilly, I go back to cooking meat on the bone. It is much more satisfying than watching all those little fillets of anonymous meat dry out even further in the fry pan (I won't name names here, but pork fillets, I know you're listening).
Filleted, chopped and pre-marinated doesn't do it for me in winter, when long, slow cooking on the bone means extra layers of flavour and body. It may take a little longer but that's a good thing, because longer cooking means greater flavour.
Throw a knuckle of ham or bacon bones into your next vegetable soup, a pig's trotter into your stew and<|fim_middle|> thoroughly.
Rinse the black beans thoroughly in a bowl of cold water and drain. Place in a big bowl and lightly mash. Add the salt, sugar, rice wine or sherry, ginger, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, chilli and cornflour, mixing well. Add the ribs and toss well to coat. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
45 minutes. Scatter with coriander and serve.
Make this the day before you eat it and it will taste even better.
Peel and roughly chop the onions and carrots, and slice the celery. Cut away the excess fat and dust the oxtail in seasoned flour.
Heat the olive oil in the base of a large lidded frypan or heatproof casserole and brown the oxtail well on all sides. Remove the oxtail and add the onions, carrots and celery, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until they start to soften. Add the dry white wine and let it bubble and evaporate. Add the salt, paprika, saffron, tomato paste and tomatoes, and stir well. Return the oxtail to the pan, add the water or stock and bring to the boil, skimming.
Cover the pot and simmer gently for 2 hours. Add the capsicum and chickpeas and cook for another hour, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
Cool and refrigerate overnight. Remove the solidified fat and reheat to serve. Taste for salt and pepper, scatter parsley leaves on top and serve.
Never throw out a bone, because that's where the flavour is. To turn ham bones, chicken carcasses, chicken feet, trotters, fish bones and heads into stock, just cover them with cold water and bring to the boil, skim well and throw in lots of roughly chopped aromatic vegies (carrots, onions, celery, leeks), simmer until it smells wonderful then strain. | marrow bones into a rich sauce. By cooking with bones, you are not just cooking the meat on them, but creating a stock to go with it.
Technically, bones contribute albumen and collagen, which convert to gelatine when boiled in water, and gelatine is what gives a good stew its stewiness and gravitas. Even when roasting, grilling or pan-searing, just the presence of the bone gives meat more flavour, stopping the leaner meats from ending up tough and dry.
Best of all, it gives you something to hold on to as you gnaw at a sticky pork spare rib or nubbly oxtail to get every last little bit of flavour and goodness. Gnawing a bone has to be one of the most satisfying things you can do. If you don't believe me, ask the dog.
This is a clever recipe, because the maple syrup gives the pork chops heaps of flavour and causes them to caramelise quickly and easily in the pan.
Mix the paprika, maple syrup and 2 tbsp of the vegetable oil together in a bowl, then rub into the pork chops. Cover and refrigerate for whatever time you have, be it an hour or overnight.
Heat the oven to 140C. Heat the remaining oil in a fry pan and gently fry each chop on either side, until they start to blacken. (Be careful, as the rendered fat might spit.) Using tongs, hold the chop fat-side down to colour it as well, then transfer to a roasting dish. Season well and roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender.
Wash and dry the silver beet and finely shred. Cook in boiling salted water until tender, drain and dress with butter, lemon juice, sea salt and pepper to taste. Mix the mayonnaise and mustard.
Spoon the meat juices from the baking dish over the chops and season well with sea salt and pepper. Serve with the silver beet and the mustard mayo.
This is an entree but you could turn it into a meal with rice and wok-seared greens.
Ask your butcher to cut the spare ribs into 5cm wide strips instead of the more normal 8cm wide, or shop at a Chinatown butcher, where they will be suitably prepared. Trim off any excess fat, and cut between the bones into 2-3cm bite-size pieces. Wash well and dry | 495 |
We have been working with sportbilet.pl company for quite some time when they asked us to prepare business cards and printed materials for car race they were organizing. Up to that moment, we were mostly asked to design animated banners but this time we were supposed to develop something different.
Sportbilet.pl's branding and logo refers to competition, sport, strong sensations and adrenaline.
We enjoyed the project from the very start and after a short brainstorm we decided to continue the design in this dynamic spirit. The race prize - a cheque - also refers to the racing motive. Dynamic While working on the business cards we abandoned the standard BC layout in favor of a simple layout aligned to the left with simultaneus highlights of the logo on the right. Dynamic bevels, racing flags in toned<|fim_middle|> applications, although we also have rich experience in designing graphic, desktop publishing and preparing multimedia presentations and trainings.
Our company is a well tuned team of professionals. We are creative, we love challenges and we are not afraid of unusual solutions. Our projects are designed with passion, they are modern, functional and their appearance will satisfy anybody.
Our clients range from individuals to large advertising agencies and business companies. Our incendiary attitude, excellent contact, punctuality and high quality of our services make our clients come to us with every following commission.
For contact use the details provided below or use the contact form on the right. →.
Have no worries, we don't spam! | down, grey colours expose the main element - a sport bolide.
Project8 is an interactive agency from Warsaw, Poland. We specialize in designing websites and web | 32 |
The first set of teaser posters for the upcoming Euphoria two-part special are here!
By Jordan Robledo
Get ready, new episodes of Euphoria are on the horizon.
The critically acclaimed HBO teen drama Euphoria has released two new posters in light of the show's upcoming Christmas special.
Zendaya took to Instagram to share the teaser posters with the caption stating: "Part 1: Rue."
But please beware that these two episodes will not be part of the upcoming series. At the bottom of the poster, it states "this is not season 2".
The Spiderman Homecoming actress included another poster featuring herself and Hunter Schaffer's character, Jules smiling in bed.
The first episode will air on 6 December and will follow Rue as she celebrates the holidays.
Not much else is known about the upcoming special as production has been under wraps since the initial announcement.
Written and directed by series creator Sam Levinson, the episode will also star Colman Domingo, who memorably played Rue's mentor in the show's debut season
How Euphoria captures the Gen Z queer experience
Before announcing the two-part special, the Euphoria team was on track to start filming season 2. But due to the ongoing pandemic production was shut down.
Zendaya opened up about the delay earlier this year stating that pandemic hit "literally like two days before […] the first day of shooting."
"We're trying to figure out how to eventually be able to create a season two that we're all really proud of and get all the best out of it that we want<|fim_middle|> the youngest person to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
6 December can't come fast enough!
Related: Seven reasons why Euphoria is one of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ shows on television.
A post shared by Zendaya (@zendaya)
A post shared by Hunter (@hunterschafer) | , but also still being very safe," she explained.
For this new Euphoria special the producers and actors worked with a limited crew.
Since debuting in 2019, Euphoria has garnered critical acclaim, earning numerous awards and nominations. Zendaya also made history as | 58 |
MPCC
Team News | 20.10.2021
A glass of wine is a must: Despite a hot day in the saddle, Cape Epic still brings enjoyment
Much of today's third stage of Cape Epic was held around Saronsberg in the Tulbagh Valley. One of the highlights was the Bone Trail, a series of single trails seemingly untouched by nature. After another climb, the riders headed towards Fanties Pass, likely the hardest climb of the entire 2021 route, featuring gradients of over 20 per cent. From the highest point of the day, there was another 15km or so of coppiced terrain and a descent to the finish in Saronsberg.
"Today there were some very cool flow trails. I'm really used to it now and it's great fun." That's the first thing that came to Lennard Kämna's mind when he summed up the day. He continues: "We've actually found a pretty good general tactic. For the first hour we rode with the leaders, that worked quite well, and in the peloton, it seemed to flow better. On the mountain, we tried to find our pace and enjoy things a bit. The courses here are really cool." Ben Zwiehoff is full of praise, not only about the technical improvement shown by his teammate: "It's amazing what a talent Lenni is. He's been on his bike three times here and is<|fim_middle|>seta - Deia)
Trofeo Pollença - Port d' Andratx
Team Interviews | 08.01.2022
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BORA - hansgrohe schließt Partnerschaft mit Dynamic Bike Care
show flickr Stream
© BORA - hansgrohe | now so much better than he was on Sunday, you can just see why he's already so successful as a racer. That's really impressive. But the technical progress is also great. In the meantime, we're hanging with the faster teams on the downhill and can make up some time there."
"It was hard yet again today, but actually the heat was more the problem. After the cool past few days, the change wasn't necessarily that easy. However, I generally like good weather, so it's fine," says Lennard about the weather conditions. While today was a perfect summer day, the forecast for the coming days yet again looks different. "Tomorrow is supposed to be good, but then it will probably rain again. Let's see how that affects the longer stages," Ben is rather sceptical about what's coming up at the race.
THE DAY AT CAMP
Although the camp didn't have to move today, it was still not necessarily a comfortable day for Mario Lexmüller: "The weather is supposed to change again, so we changed the tyres on the spare wheels. Since they are brought to the depots along the track at six o'clock, we already started at five o'clock in the morning." After breakfast, it was back to cleaning while the cook did the shopping. At Cape Epic, the riders consume a similar number of calories as they would in a stage race on the road, so nutrition plays a big role here too. "Specialized has a cook with them and we're integrated with regards to catering. Even though the camping environment might give one the impression that there's BBQ here every day, the reality is different. We eat outside, but the quality is excellent," explains Mario.
Ben also praises the food, yet explains where the difficulties lie compared to road races: "It starts very early every day, so you're not very hungry and it can be quite difficult to get anything down at all. Normally we eat porridge in the morning, but here at this time of the day we can only eat toast. Since we don't take the sporting side quite as seriously, that works out ok. Otherwise we'd have to get up even earlier. In any case, coffee is very important. All in all, the food is quite similar to what we're used to. After the race, it's pasta with a little chicken or vegetables. In the evening, it's fish or meat in addition to pasta or rice, just like we're used to in our kitchen truck. But what we also treat ourselves to here, and of course we can't have anything else, is a glass of wine with dinner. It's a must in the South African evening sun," Ben smiles and enjoys the feeling after work is done.
Photos: ©Specialized/Michal Cerveny
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Surfers come in all shapes and sizes….and these days, species. Meet Deagen, the ultimate surfing dog – his moves and expressive eyes made him an instant celebrity in the surfing world. We talked with his owner Stephanie about how she got him into surfing and what's next for Deagen.
How did you get Deagen to surf?
We heard about a charity event called SurfCity SurfDog. It was the first time this event was being held and it was located in Huntington Beach. Knowing how much Deagen loves the dog beach there, we figured we would enter and take him down to the beach for one of the lessons they were giving a few weeks before the competition. We figured we'll take him out and see if he likes it, if he does, Great! If not then he won't participate. No big deal really, after all the money was going to charity. We took Deagen down to the lesson, put him on a board and he rode his first wave in. He loved it so much he wanted to go back out. The second his board hit the sand he jumped off, turned around and looked for his dad (who was in the ocean) to take him back out. He was a natural and he loved it.
What was his reaction to catching his first wave?
Deagen loved catching his first wave, I am not really sure he understood what just happened, but when he rode that first wave in, he jumped off the board turned around looked for his dad (who was in the ocean) to take him back out. We ended up staying at the beach for a few hours just surfing away. He absolutely loved it.
What's the best part about getting him on a board?
they are really missing out.
How is Deagen handling all this fame?
Deagen would like you to believe that it does not effect him at all and he hasn't let his fame change him or spoil him, but we would have to disagree. He knows very well that he is a little celebrity and he lets it be known every day. He requests that he be picked up and put onto the couch, even though he can jump up on it himself. We<|fim_middle|> they jump off the couch and run to the back door to go potty first. Where is Deagen you ask? Still laying on the couch waiting for you to come pick him up and carry him outside. He knows when we are at events for him, he knows how to act when cameras are around, and he knows how to act when he is greeting his fans.
Deagen has recently retired from surfing in competitions. He still surfs for fun and we still go to the events to see our friends and hang out but he was just done with surfing competitively. He has done some modeling in his retirement and filmed for tv shows and documentaries. Now Deagen spends his days laying in the sunshine, swimming in his pool and going to the dog beach to run up and down, and swim in the waves.
Deagen, you rock. Keep soul surfing and sharing your stoke. Thanks so much for taking the time to woof it up with us! | know this because we have seen him do it. At night when his sisters are told its time for night-night, | 23 |
KCSAR Myths
in Community — by Erika Klimecky+ — March 27, 2011
So now you know who they are. They are the people that the news stations refer to when "a search is underway". They are the teams that roll out of bed at all hours<|fim_middle|> have taken her from Newfoundland to Belize, From Paris to Nepal. She has written a book about her trek through Nepal and is the editor of SBM. Erika currently resides in Kirkland with her husband and two sons. | and go out into the back-country to find missing or lost people. They find evidence, follow tracks and bring people out of the wilderness and back to safety. But there is still a lot of confusion and questions about how Search and Rescue operates. So let's straighten that out a bit.
Let's debunk some myths about search and rescue.
You won't get in trouble for calling them. While KCSAR is under the jurisdiction of the KC Sheriff, they aren't there to bust you. They are there to help you out of trouble in the backcountry or on trails. They would prefer you call them sooner rather than later. This gives them a better chance of finding you in good condition and sending you home as healthy and happy as possible. SAR would much rather be part of the rescue and not have to be part of the recovery.
You don't get a giant bill for the operation and efforts surrounding your rescue. All of KCSAR is volunteers. They are supported by donations.
KCSAR does not have a set staff "standing by". All the people who do this, do it because they want to help people in the backcountry that need it. All the KCSAR workers do what they do completely voluntarily, because they are passionate about it. They are real people. They all have day jobs. They work in software and retail, the medical industry and outdoor recreation. But the thing they all have in common is they spend their own time off the clock being prepared and versed in Search and Rescue function so they are ready when the call comes.
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Tags: Course Three, KCESAR, KCSAR, SAR, Search and Rescue
Author: Erika Klimecky+
A native of Minnesota, Erika moved to Seattle in the late 90s and immediately fell in love with the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. She is a photographer, specializing in landscapes, though she enjoys capturing people as well. Her travels | 441 |
Key Capitol Hill Hearings
Washington Journal
Hardball With Chris Matthews
All In With Chris Hayes
WHO (NBC)
KTIV (NBC)
Washington Journal : CSPAN : December 31, 2015 7:00am-10:01am EST
it cannot be born. host: we talked with senator lamar alexander, who is a supporter of the rewrite of note had left behind, giving more control, more authority to states. will that change? guest: i do not think it will significantly change. if you go back and look at no child left behind -- host: and supported by george w. bush. guest: signed into law by george w. bush. it was an example of republicans increasing government. in per-pupilcrease spending on education, but you pretty much flat lined on the national test. personally, when i believe should happen, and it should have been on the local level, local communities say let's give kids a choice, let's give parents a choice. let's take the amount of money spent and give the vouchers to parents. and let that parent take the child to any school they want. baltimore, detroit, washington, dc, let's have freedom of trace in education. guest: well, i have come around on vouchers over the years. i have been to cities like cleveland, milwaukee, the district of columbia here has a public-private cooperation voucher program. and the thing ab
it cannot be born. host: we talked with senator lamar alexander, who is a supporter of the rewrite of note had left behind, giving more control, more authority to states. will that change? guest: i do not think it will significantly change. if you go back and look at no child left behind -- host: and supported by george w. bush. guest: signed into law by george w. bush. it was an example of republicans increasing government. in per-pupilcrease spending on education, but you pretty much flat...
All In With Chris Hayes : MSNBCW : December 30, 2015 5:00<|fim_middle|> that. more than one or two candidates will survive new hampshire this year. that's
because mainstream republican vote was hopelessly fractured between bob dole, lamar alexander, steve forbes coming in fourth that year. the day after the primary, bob dole came downstairs, reframed the race as a contest between the mainstream and extreme, started beating pat buchanan 2-1 in primary after primary and had the nomination sewed up. it took pat buchanan winning to united republican party in favor of bob dole. >> we've got to wait next year for wednesday to know what happened... | pm-6:01pm PST
their ways. and from alexander hamilton to caitlyn jenner and everything in between. >> that's awesomer than anything in the last movie. >> the year in pop culture when "all in" starts right now. >>> good evening from new york. i'm chris hayes. after decades of rumors, formal accusations, and public denials, america's most famous iconic accused serial rapist was arraigned today on charges of aggravated indecent assault, a second-degree felony. and even after everything we've learned about bill cosby in the past year, in which dozens of women came forward to accuse him of wrongful sexual misconduct, the image of the man formally regarded as america's dad taking a perp walk is a stunning one. the new charges stem from an old case. in 2004, a woman named andrea constand accused cosby of drugging and sexually abusing her at her home in philadelphia. she was an employee of temple university where cosby had graduated and later sat on the board of trustees. at the time, a local montgomery county district attorney declined to bring charges, citing insufficient evidence. and andrea constand sued
their ways. and from alexander hamilton to caitlyn jenner and everything in between. >> that's awesomer than anything in the last movie. >> the year in pop culture when "all in" starts right now. >>> good evening from new york. i'm chris hayes. after decades of rumors, formal accusations, and public denials, america's most famous iconic accused serial rapist was arraigned today on charges of aggravated indecent assault, a second-degree felony. and even after...
Key Capitol Hill Hearings : CSPAN : December 28, 2015 6:00pm-8:01pm EST
court that era. case,t florida-alabama the alexander vs. sandoval case, of garrett vs. alabama board trustee's case, which challenged congressional authority to subject state governments to certain kinds of lawsuits. and i had hired a good friend of mine, who is now a circuit judge on the sixth circuit, jeff sutherland, to represent our state in some of those cases before the supreme court. but i became convinced that the state solicitor general model would be something that would getw us to do even more, even bigger bang for our buck, and we could bring in young lawyers, many of whom had clerked on the supreme court of the united states, or just a few years out of law school, but were very talented and would love the opportunity to be involved in high-profile litigation representing state governments and states' supreme court's, and federal court of appeals, and occasionally in the supreme court of the united states, opportunities that they would not get as junior lawyers at big law firms. a salary thatthem would be competitive to attract them. could pay them far less than it would
court that era. case,t florida-alabama the alexander vs. sandoval case, of garrett vs. alabama board trustee's case, which challenged congressional authority to subject state governments to certain kinds of lawsuits. and i had hired a good friend of mine, who is now a circuit judge on the sixth circuit, jeff sutherland, to represent our state in some of those cases before the supreme court. but i became convinced that the state solicitor general model would be something that would getw us to...
better understood through the context 's michelle alexander book on the new jim crow. isil and violent extremism has been rampant throughout the islamic world for decades, and systematically, the public closed its eyes to it. c-span has been a wonderful gift to the nation. the incredible insight and adventurism into the newest technologies that are out there -- c-span was a pioneer in iowaer, back with the caucus people in 2008. it is just a remarkable gift to the nation. i do not think that there are very many other organizations that come close. flow thanks for the strong of support for this network. action, everything she mentioned, you can watch online at c-span.org at any time. that is one of the great things about the network, the website, the archives. -- rain is calling now lorraine is calling now. i guess we will not hear from lorraine. let's try north carolina, independent caller. what is your name? dare.r: my name is t i dominate nikki haley. she might not be number one, by think the way that she handled the charleston shooting was phenomenal. i think she did the right thing
better understood through the context 's michelle alexander book on the new jim crow. isil and violent extremism has been rampant throughout the islamic world for decades, and systematically, the public closed its eyes to it. c-span has been a wonderful gift to the nation. the incredible insight and adventurism into the newest technologies that are out there -- c-span was a pioneer in iowaer, back with the caucus people in 2008. it is just a remarkable gift to the nation. i do not think that...
Weekends With Alex Witt : MSNBCW : December 26, 2015 9:00am-11:01am PST
appealing for you? >> well, a number of things, jamie alexander is a star waiting to happen for years, and so giving her her own show, and standard procedural, and throwing in the twists, and the twists make it work, and another thing, too, i'm a numbers guy ultimately even though i wear shirts like this, and the numbers are great for "blind spot" both the same day, and dvr hit hits. all of the networks have had a hard time, and i would say, they try, they try, and in this era of the cable and the streaming, and "blind spot" has hit the ma mark. >> and to your point, transparent, and season one, a blockbuster, and picked up a couple of the golden globes, and back for a second season, and hugely popular and why? >> because transparent is the best show around, and season two which debuts earlier in the month on amazon, and the best show on tv got better. it speaks to not only to our time, but to the most intimate nature of family and love, and a sense of identity. jo sollo wway speaks great to u >> and what about jessica jones? >> we will be putting up parts with one of the top ten tv s
appealing for you? >> well, a number of things, jamie alexander is a star waiting to happen for years, and so giving her her own show, and standard procedural, and throwing in the twists, and the twists make it work, and another thing, too, i'm a numbers guy ultimately even though i wear shirts like this, and the numbers are great for "blind spot" both the same day, and dvr hit hits. all of the networks have had a hard time, and i would say, they try, they try, and in this era...
PBS NewsHour : KQED : December 25, 2015 6:00pm-7:01pm PST
ticket on broadway. "hamilton" a kind of hip-hop musical, tells us of alexander hamilton, immigrant, ambitious young rebel, a founding father who arguably never got the recognition he deserved. >> i'm actually working on a hip-hop album. it's a concept album about the life of someone who i thinks embodies hip-hop, treasury secretary alexander hamilton. ( laughter ) you laugh. >> "hamilton's" creator and star, lin-manuel miranda, performed an early version of one of the play's songs at the white house in 2009. ♪ i was the son of the scotsman ♪ ♪ dropped in the middle ♪ in the caribbean ♪ to be a hero and a scholar >> brown: when we talked recently, he told me how hamilton's life came to be about so much more. >> the joy of discovery of, oh, if i tell hamilton's story, i actually tell the story of the forming of our country, that was a joyous experience. and i think, honestly, that's the secret sauce in the score. i was learning this stuff as i was researching it to write the show. i knew the basic outlines that everyone knows. he was on the $10 and he died in a duel. that's
ticket on broadway. "hamilton" a kind of hip-hop musical, tells us of alexander hamilton, immigrant, ambitious young rebel, a founding father who arguably never got the recognition he deserved. >> i'm actually working on a hip-hop album. it's a concept album about the life of someone who i thinks embodies hip-hop, treasury secretary alexander hamilton. ( laughter ) you laugh. >> "hamilton's" creator and star, lin-manuel miranda, performed an early version of one...
was andrew jackson who waged a bank or and thomas jefferson and alexander hamilton fought so vigorously about the banks. fdr wereilson and strong leaders who took on the banking industry. some of them make mistakes. maybe they didn't fully understand it but there was the exchange in the conversation and we don't see that as much these days. before joining the university of georgia law school, our guest, mehrsa at brighamtaught young university. you make them between $25,000-$50,000? caller: yes, i do. i am a veteran. i average in the middle. my wife had to have knee surgery. and the insurance that she has , ther job only pays 80% , wethat we have to pay found out what we read for the surgery that i had to pay that before she could get the surgery. fromo i had to take money our bills from my check to pay for the surgery that she was going to have. that is put me behind. from to borrow money different places in order to make up for the money that i had. and now i have loan bills to pay have got to cover other things that i have. and i find now today that the president or the go
was andrew jackson who waged a bank or and thomas jefferson and alexander hamilton fought so vigorously about the banks. fdr wereilson and strong leaders who took on the banking industry. some of them make mistakes. maybe they didn't fully understand it but there was the exchange in the conversation and we don't see that as much these days. before joining the university of georgia law school, our guest, mehrsa at brighamtaught young university. you make them between $25,000-$50,000? caller:...
Key Capitol Hill Hearings : CSPAN : December 24, 2015 6:00am-7:01am EST
program begins, we are fortunate to have rabbi stephanie alexander here in charleston. a congregation found in 1749, this is one of the oldest jewish congregations in the u.s. and it is a knowledge and recognized to be the birthplace of reform judaism in the u.s. rabbi? [applause] stephanie: good morning. friends, let us pray. oh source of wisdom, resolve and power, as we gather today, a diverse and determined cross-section of this great city we dedicate ourselves to the primary task you have set before us all. not just today, but every day. to safeguard the health and well-being of our community. body and soul. as we learn and reflect strategize and deliberate today grant us the wisdom to see with focus and clarity how the proliferation of gun violence threatens every part of our well-being. confirm our resolve to reject the status quo that steals blameless lives and terrorizes innocent souls. solidify our power to shape a new reality, one where fear yields to hope, acquiescence becomes courage. violence gives way to peace. a modern-day isaiah might tell us to beat our handguns into
program begins, we are fortunate to have rabbi stephanie alexander here in charleston. a congregation found in 1749, this is one of the oldest jewish congregations in the u.s. and it is a knowledge and recognized to be the birthplace of reform judaism in the u.s. rabbi? [applause] stephanie: good morning. friends, let us pray. oh source of wisdom, resolve and power, as we gather today, a diverse and determined cross-section of this great city we dedicate ourselves to the primary task you have...
like to thank professor alexander for inviting me. is to would like to do explore the status of jerusalem in hope of offering insights on how to resolve the problem. i will start by introducing my association with the city and then talk a little bit about the history of the city and then discuss some potential way of trying to resolve the problem on the city. man appointed my great-grandfather to be the custodian of the king david tomb. mayor,n the first actually -- the ottoman empire study the municipalities -- started the minister polities by having one in istanbul. the second one was in jerusalem. rahman was appointed as mayor. for is the family picture the family in 1942. this is my father's wedding. actually in 1948, the jordanian s saved them and this family. after the jewish quarter fell, they saved to the library from being burned. just was a lot there but i mentioned it. is what i'm going to talk and so i will be focusing on what i am saying, how the rule over jerusalem has between theted muslims, the christians, and the jews. it is basically from the ancient history. j
like to thank professor alexander for inviting me. is to would like to do explore the status of jerusalem in hope of offering insights on how to resolve the problem. i will start by introducing my association with the city and then talk a little bit about the history of the city and then discuss some potential way of trying to resolve the problem on the city. man appointed my great-grandfather to be the custodian of the king david tomb. mayor,n the first actually -- the ottoman empire study...
and alexander hamilton fought so vigorously about the banks. fdr wereilson and strong leaders who took on the banking industry. some of them make mistakes. maybe they didn't fully understand it but there was the exchange in the conversation and we don't see that as much these days. before joining the university of georgia law school, our guest, mehrsa at brighamtaught young university. you make them between $25,000-$50,000? caller: yes, i do. i am a veteran. i average in the middle. my wife had to have knee surgery. and the insurance that she has , ther job only pays 80% , wethat we have to pay found out what we read for the surgery that i had to pay that before she could get the surgery. fromo i had to take money our bills from my check to pay for the surgery that she was going to have. that is put me behind. from to borrow money different places in order to make up for the money that i had. and now i have loan bills to pay have got to cover other things that i have. and i find now today that the president or the government is not going to raise social security. the government is
and alexander hamilton fought so vigorously about the banks. fdr wereilson and strong leaders who took on the banking industry. some of them make mistakes. maybe they didn't fully understand it but there was the exchange in the conversation and we don't see that as much these days. before joining the university of georgia law school, our guest, mehrsa at brighamtaught young university. you make them between $25,000-$50,000? caller: yes, i do. i am a veteran. i average in the middle. my wife...
lamar alexander is our guest. this is the follow-up to no child left behind. he explains why this law was needed and signed by the president this month hear. in -- [video clip] >> that accelerated would race to the top -- with race to the top. congress, in 2007, we failed leave no child behind. suddenly, brothers -- governors had to come to washington and play mother may i. may we fix performing schools that way? suddenly, you had washington running 80,000 schools in 42 states. we got rid of all that and we kept the tests so we know how people are doing. those are state designed to tests -- state designed tests. everybody was really fed up with washington telling 100,000 public schools so much about what to do, and it was really creating a backlash on efforts to set higher standards, mainly common core and teacher evaluation. host: i know you were very careful in crafting those prohibitions. some school district advocates that i've spoken to are really worried that this department will try to continue to wield a big federal hammer to the extent that it can. mr. alexander: we expec
lamar alexander is our guest. this is the follow-up to no child left behind. he explains why this law was needed and signed by the president this month hear. in -- [video clip] >> that accelerated would race to the top -- with race to the top. congress, in 2007, we failed leave no child behind. suddenly, brothers -- governors had to come to washington and play mother may i. may we fix performing schools that way? suddenly, you had washington running 80,000 schools in 42 states. we got...
tomorrow at 10:00 through six ago. thetor lamar alexander, chair of the health, education, labor and pensions committee talking about a variety of issues including why he things a new education law is needed. >> it began with no child left behind in 2001. federal requirements for tests, reporting the tests, a few other things. when president obama came in, that accelerated with what they call race to the top. congress, and we get ourselves the blame, we felt since 2007 to reauthorize no child left behind, suddenly, government -- governors had to come to washington pleading mother may i saying may we evaluate our teachers this way? maybe set of standards this way? maybe fix performance goals this way? washingtonou had running 80,000 schools in 42 states. we got rid of all of that. we kept the tests. we will know how people are doing. those are state designs tests. what to do about the tests now moves to the governors of chief state school officers, classroom teachers. that is why it had such support. everyone was fed up with washington telling 100,000 public schools so much about what
tomorrow at 10:00 through six ago. thetor lamar alexander, chair of the health, education, labor and pensions committee talking about a variety of issues including why he things a new education law is needed. >> it began with no child left behind in 2001. federal requirements for tests, reporting the tests, a few other things. when president obama came in, that accelerated with what they call race to the top. congress, and we get ourselves the blame, we felt since 2007 to reauthorize no...
Washington Journal : CSPAN : December 18, 2015 7:00am-9:01am EST
newsmakers program which airs on .unday at 10:00 and 6:00 senator alexander is the chair of the education committee. here he is talking about some of those issues. [video clip] it began with no child left behind in 2001 with requirements for tests, reporting tests, and other things. accelerated was when president obama came in with race to the top. congress, we failed in 2007 to reauthorize no child left behind. suddenly, governors had to play mother may i with at the department of education saying may we evaluate our teachers this way, standards this way, evaluate schools this way? you had washington running 82,000 schools. we got rid of that. theap the tests -- we kept state-designed tests could what to do with the tests now moves to the governors, officers, and teachers. everyone was fed up with telling 100,000 public schools so much of what to do. it was creating a backlash on setting higher standards, mainly common core and teacher of valuation. >> i know you were careful crafting prohibitions. solomon school district advocates are worried the continuet will try to wielding a bigger
newsmakers program which airs on .unday at 10:00 and 6:00 senator alexander is the chair of the education committee. here he is talking about some of those issues. [video clip] it began with no child left behind in 2001 with requirements for tests, reporting tests, and other things. accelerated was when president obama came in with race to the top. congress, we failed in 2007 to reauthorize no child left behind. suddenly, governors had to play mother may i with at the department of education...
do that. up thate caller brought senator lamar alexander will be joining our "newsmakers" program on sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. he is the chairman of the house education and labor and pensions committee. how would you respond to salt river on twitter who says that people are not on board with this bill? we sent you there to stop this kind of government abuse, why has gop folded? guest: iran on that and i put my ran onles in public -- i that and i put my principles in public. i agree. that is not why they sent the republicans there. this budget will probably pass with more democrats voting for it than republicans. the republicans own the house, so not a very good negotiation when we are losing on almost all the big issues and the last caller called about sequestration, and we broke the caps on the military and social spending side by $80 billion or so. i agree. rightyan is making the moves right now in terms of process, so we hope that the process will yield a better product deer, but there is a lot of special interest groups out have been promised strains of government revenu
do that. up thate caller brought senator lamar alexander will be joining our "newsmakers" program on sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. he is the chairman of the house education and labor and pensions committee. how would you respond to salt river on twitter who says that people are not on board with this bill? we sent you there to stop this kind of government abuse, why has gop folded? guest: iran on that and i put my ran onles in public -- i that and i put my principles in public....
gucci's alexander. he started a men's collection that included bustles, bells and lace. women's attire had been applied to men. social change meted out in the form of revolution. a designer fashioned with technology in search for new materials and techniques. her clothes are other-worldly, such as dresses that look like waves captured mid-splash. she's a futurist and without designers like her, we would all still be in panta loons and hoop skiers. when people see her work, they freak out. i know this because people write to me. it's only natural to be unnerved but something unfamiliar, but other categories regularly shock us without sending us into a fit of degreed mocking. we have been informed drones will soon be delivering dog food to our front door and the only question we ask is how fast? in other industries, we leap forward and are encouraged to look closer. but not fashion. the first reaction from so many, men in particular, is to laugh -- who would wear that? if there is one thread in all the lampooning and fretting is the belief that the mere existence of strange and expensive
gucci's alexander. he started a men's collection that included bustles, bells and lace. women's attire had been applied to men. social change meted out in the form of revolution. a designer fashioned with technology in search for new materials and techniques. her clothes are other-worldly, such as dresses that look like waves captured mid-splash. she's a futurist and without designers like her, we would all still be in panta loons and hoop skiers. when people see her work, they freak out. i...
Andrea Mitchell Reports : MSNBCW : December 16, 2015 9:00am-10:01am PST
and we shouldn't let that stop us from doing the other things. >> peter alexander, you eluded to this in your first comments that immigration could come back to haunt -- i'm sorry, to ron fornier, immigration could be the issue that really trips up marco rubio with the republican right, because of his past co-sponsorship with chuck schumer and others. >> it's been a big mystery why it has taken this long for rubio's critics to come at him hard from the right on immigration. it's obviously an issue that hurts him in two ways. one, he tried to do something that most republicans think is amnesty, even though i think they are distorting that word. and second, he didn't get it done. so it's the worst of both worlds. he's to the left of his right-leaning party and he was ineffective in actually creating policy. i want to go back to, real quick, to ted cruz. this is bad, also, politically, even just the allegation that he might have gone too far in exposing u.s. secrets. because don't forget who is probably awaiting the republican nominee, hillary clinton. and if it's bad enough that she mig
and we shouldn't let that stop us from doing the other things. >> peter alexander, you eluded to this in your first comments that immigration could come back to haunt -- i'm sorry, to ron fornier, immigration could be the issue that really trips up marco rubio with the republican right, because of his past co-sponsorship with chuck schumer and others. >> it's been a big mystery why it has taken this long for rubio's critics to come at him hard from the right on immigration. it's...
Morning Joe : MSNBCW : December 14, 2015 3:00am-6:01am PST
crucial state. peter alexander and mark halperin are both with us. peter good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. in las vegas. it's a cool one out but it's going to be hot on that debate stage. the key matchup will be between donald trump and ted cruz right now. ted cruz has benefitted by ben carson cratering, specifically among those very conservative supporters. as you look at it, the real question most are focused on is will cruz knock off trump? this morning donald trump and ted cruz are dominating the republican field. polls show trump still leading nationalwide but cruz gaining. with cruz be surging,
crucial state. peter alexander and mark halperin are both with us. peter good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. in las vegas. it's a cool one out but it's going to be hot on that debate stage. the key matchup will be between donald trump and ted cruz right now. ted cruz has benefitted by ben carson cratering, specifically among those very conservative supporters. as you look at it, the real question most are focused on is will cruz knock off trump? this morning donald trump and...
PBS NewsHour : KQED : December 9, 2015 6:00pm-7:01pm PST
yourself for stuff. that it wasn't your fault. >> reporter: her brother alexander, who has gotten his asthma under control, is now a starting running back on his school's varsity football team. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: cameron, who takes weekly dance classes, still struggles. but as she learns to cope with her anxieties, she's starting to better manage her asthma, one breath at a time. for the pbs newshour, i'm indira lakshmanan in detroit. >> woodruff: on our website, learn how stress-fueled health conditions like asthma may actually be passed from one generation to another. and find a link to the full report from "the detroit news," which includes more on the research, and each of the families profiled in our story. that's on our home page. >> ifill: on the newshour online right now, a popular art form that once reinforced stereotypes about native americans is now telling a different story. rocky mountain pbs explores how a new wave of comic books offers fresh takes on native identity. all that and more is on our web site, pbs.org/newshour >> woodruff: and that's the newshour for tonigh
yourself for stuff. that it wasn't your fault. >> reporter: her brother alexander, who has gotten his asthma under control, is now a starting running back on his school's varsity football team. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: cameron, who takes weekly dance classes, still struggles. but as she learns to cope with her anxieties, she's starting to better manage her asthma, one breath at a time. for the pbs newshour, i'm indira lakshmanan in detroit. >> woodruff: on our website, learn how...
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Key Capitol Hill Hearings : CSPAN : December 8, 2015 1:30am-7:01am EST
eye 10,168
you. it's not an easy one to solve. i have set them at top experts like keith alexander, one of the brightest minds on this issue, but i do believe that the first step is forcing them to get together in the same room to work out these differences and find a solution. i can't say that i have all the solutions to the problem, but i know the experts know how to get there. i think that is what this legislation will provide. >> david smith of "the guidian." you mentioned new efforts about people trying to enter the u.s. in terms of the refugee program. do you have any further details on that? the second question is, would you rule out a major ground force in iraq or syria, or is that a debate worth having? chairman mccaul: these are two different issues. the refugee crisis is as a symptom of a larger problem. the root cause is the civil in syria and the creation of isis and the failure to engage maliki in any political dialogue, and thereby, disenfranchising the sunni tribes. most chose isis. we saw them drop their weapons in mosul because they didn't want to fight isis. the refugee prob
you. it's not an easy one to solve. i have set them at top experts like keith alexander, one of the brightest minds on this issue, but i do believe that the first step is forcing them to get together in the same room to work out these differences and find a solution. i can't say that i have all the solutions to the problem, but i know the experts know how to get there. i think that is what this legislation will provide. >> david smith of "the guidian." you mentioned new efforts...
Morning Joe : MSNBCW : December 2, 2015 3:00am-6:01am PST
opening for the moderate establishment candidate. pat buchanan. in 1996. dole, alexander was behind him. trump is in first place right now. think about who is behind him. it's cruz, carson. you add those together, you're at 60%. i don't see necessarily how they all flock to marco rubio. >> that's outsider supporters. steve kornacki -- >> what's funning is the "new york times" article basically points out, correctly, the only candidate that republicans fear more if you're kelly ayotte, ron johnson or mark kirk, than the number one person in the republican lineup right now is the number two in ted cruz. ted cruz would be devastating for republican candidates in illinois, in new hampshire. you name it. in blue states. devastating. >> steve kornacki, you will have more reporting on this coming up at 9:00 a.m. jamie weinstein will read your latest piece at "the daily caller." >>> still up, yahoo! now considering selling the very business that made it famous. >>> we'll go to the new york stock exchange for that story next. this holiday season, get ready for homecomings. i see you brought
opening for the moderate establishment candidate. pat buchanan. in 1996. dole, alexander was behind him. trump is in first place right now. think about who is behind him. it's cruz, carson. you add those together, you're at 60%. i don't see necessarily how they all flock to marco rubio. >> that's outsider supporters. steve kornacki -- >> what's funning is the "new york times" article basically points out, correctly, the only candidate that republicans fear more if you're...
Hardball With Chris Matthews : MSNBCW : November 30, 2015 11:00pm-12:01am PST
because mainstream republican vote was hopelessly fractured between bob dole, lamar alexander, steve forbes coming in fourth that year. the day after the primary, bob dole came downstairs, reframed the race as a contest between the mainstream and extreme, started beating pat buchanan 2-1 in primary after primary and had the nomination sewed up. it took pat buchanan winning to united republican party in favor of bob dole. >> we've got to wait next year for wednesday to know what happened on tuesday? we can't go by election results tuesday night as to who actually won? if trump wins the new hampshire primary, are you going to give that same speech? >> it's going to take more than one caucus and more than one primary to nominate a candidate this cycle. >> you are not selling that primary, you are not selling the republican primary in new hampshire if you say it doesn't matter. >> no. >> that's what you are saying. >> there will be good candidates who will finish fifth or sixth and be out of the race after | 7,457 |
Stories from Tuesday, November 6, 2018
BIC teacher receives $500 check from Arvest Bank (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
Murelene Walker, fifth and sixth grade math teacher<|fim_middle|> ~ 11/06/18)
The Blytheville Chickasaws showcased their talents in front of fans at Chickasaw Gym, Monday night, during "Chickasaw Madness." The scrimmage was fans' first look at the team.
Sheriff Cook to serve 5th term (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
According to unofficial results, Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook won his re-election bid Tuesday, defeating challenger Bobby Ephlin, 6,022-4,392. Sheriff Cook had a big lead after early voting, up 4,013 to Ephlin's 2,518. He will begin his fifth term on Jan. 1...
James, Perrin win Blytheville City Council bids; Gosnell mayoral race headed to run-off (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
Ward 1 candidate Vera James knocked off incumbent Blytheville City Councilman Stan Parks and fellow challenger Don Driskell, Tuesday, without needing a run-off. James received 547 votes, while Parks had 250 and Driskell 166. In the Ward 2 race, Matt Perrin unseated Councilman L.C. Hartsfield, 894-428...
Nelson elected county judge (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
John Alan Nelson was elected Mississippi County Judge, Tuesday, defeating Darell Gist, 5,874-4,222. Nelson held the advantage in early voting, 3,649-2,662. "We'll start off this new year in the County Judge's office and we've got some plans to make some big changes and I'll be waiting," Nelson said. "I think everyone will see some big changes in the month of January, more in February and we are going to make a lot of changes."...
The Town Crier | at Buffalo Island Central, received a welcome surprise on Monday, Oct. 29. She was nominated and received the Favorite Teacher award. She was presented with a $500 check from Arvest Bank. Ms. Walker has taught for 15 years. She started her teaching career at Arkansas Northeastern College in adult education where she taught for four years. She then started teaching math at Buffalo Island Central Elementary...
Rebels declaw Tigers 59-39 (High School Sports ~ 11/06/18)
Riverside picked up its second victory of the season as they trounced Armorel 59-39 in senior boys basketball action Friday night at Lake City. The Rebels jumped to a 14-5 lead after the first quarter and increased their advantage to 35-11 at the half. Riverside took a commanding 55-21 lead into the fourth period...
Lady Rebels hammer Hillcrest 74-29 (High School Sports ~ 11/06/18)
Riverside remained undefeated on the young season by hammering Hillcrest 74-29 Monday night on the road. The Lady Rebels bolted to a 26-6 lead after the first quarter and headed to the dressing room up 38-12 at halftime. Riverside took a 59-25 advantage into the final frame...
Lady Mustangs open season with win over Armorel (High School Sports ~ 11/06/18)
Buffalo Island Central's Lady Mustangs opened the 2018-2019 basketball season with a 50-28 victory at Armorel Thursday night. Haddyn Hurst drilled four three pointers and finished with a game high 17 points to lead BIC. Jealynn Cates also hit double digits, scoring 10 points...
Hornets sting Lions 34-6 on Senior Night (High School Sports ~ 11/06/18)
Harrisburg spoiled senior night for Manila, as the Hornets handed the Lions a 34-6 defeat Friday night at Lion Field. Harrisburg quarterback Jett Jackson fired three touchdown passes while running back Tayeshaun Warren added two rushing touchdowns to catapult the Hornets to the victory...
Manila Senior Night (High School Sports ~ 11/06/18)
Manila Senior Night was held on Friday, Nov. 2, at the final football game of the season. Senior band members, cheerleaders, and football players were recognized and escorted by their parents. Senior members are: Band – Mackinze Bailey, Kaylee Barber, Eric Harmon, Tri Jones, Dalton Parsley; Cheerleaders – Madison Adams (Leo the Lion), Madisyn Carter and Carson Hammons, Kailey Manuel; Football seniors – Brett Carter, Lynn Hurley, David Keys, Abraham Lopez, William McCain, Jacob McCollum, Tanner McComas, Ethan Navarro, Michael Parker, Grant Salzer, Layne Sims, and Dalton Slaughter.. ...
Ashmores to observe 60th anniversary (Anniversary ~ 11/06/18)
Charlene (Poe) and Bill Ashmore will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Caraway Community Life Center (305 N. New York Avenue). The event will be hosted by the couple's family. All friends and family are invited. The couple requests no gifts. (photo provided)...
Caraway Fall Festival held (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
The annual Caraway Fall Festival was held Saturday, Oct. 27, with food vendors, games and entertainment throughout the day. Among the vendors were The Pfeifers of Jonesboro with chuck wagon cooking; Caraway Girl Scout Troop 3210 with games they created while working on game badges; homemade jellies and baked goods by Granny Margaret of Bay; sno cones and more. Alexis Roberson, state youth volunteer of the year of Caraway, was making jewelry with proceeds going toward her upcoming projects...
Officers welcomed by students and teachers at BIC Elementary (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
The new Commissioned School Security Officers (CSSO) at Buffalo Island Central Elementary in Leachville are a welcome presence among the students, teachers and staff. The team includes Patrol Sgt. Steve Lancaster, Patrol Sgt. Larry Whitehead, and Lt. Chuck Brown (training officer with the Sheriff's Department and BIC), all with the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department...
Manila Veteran remembers service years (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
Joe Chipman of Manila, a Navy Veteran, served during Desert Storm aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger as the Weapons Department, Weapons Elevators and Weapons Support Equipment Division Officer, and later as "Weapons Department Bomb and Missile Assembly Officer"...
Lake City veteran was part of the U.S. Navy WAVES (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
The U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was established on July 30, 1942, by President Roosevelt. In August of 1942 women from all over the country were applying for admission. The first training available was for yeoman. The course was 12 weeks long and the women were taught secretarial and clerical duties. The first class graduated 644 women at the United States Naval Training Center (USNTC) in Bainbridge, MD...
State Board of Elections representative monitoring local election (Local News ~ 11/06/18)
A representative with the State Board of Elections is in Mississippi County monitoring the election today (Tuesday). The representative, Chuck Eick, was at the Mississippi County Election Center in Blytheville this morning and planned to go to Osceola afterwards. Eick inspected the assisted voters list in Blytheville, among other documents, this morning...
Carol Hudson (Obituary ~ 11/06/18)
Carol Hudson, 77, of Blytheville passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Gertrude Garrett Collins (Obituary ~ 11/06/18)
Mrs. Gertrude Garrett Collins was born March 28, 1929 in Pontotoc, MS to the late John Wash Garrett and Eugenia White Garrett. She departed this life on Monday, November 5, 2018 at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 89. Mrs. Collins was a homemaker...
Chicks show off skills at Chickasaw Madness (High School Sports | 1,451 |
Ecologist Thomas Mueller uses satellite data to study how the patterns of plant growth relate to the movement of caribou and gazelle. The research sparked an idea: Would the footprint of human activity show up in the data?
Mueller, of the University of Maryland in College Park (now at the Biodiversity and Climate Research Center in Frankfurt) teamed up with university and NASA colleagues to find out. Their new analysis shows that on a global scale, the presence of people corresponds to more plant productivity, or growth.
Specifically, populated areas that have undergone intensive land use showed increasing plant greenness and productivity during the study period from 1981 to 2010. The research was published June 18 in Remote Sensing.
"Earth's land surface has been changed across very broad scales," Mueller said. "Human intervention has increased plant growth over large areas where intensification of agriculture has occurred."
The finding doesn't imply that relatively small areas with massive populations like New York City, with a high population density,<|fim_middle|>28 percent of Earth's ice-free land surface. The rest of the land surface is categorized as forested, rangelands or wildlands.
The researchers used data from NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometers (AVHRR), onboard a series of polar-orbiting satellites, and NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments, on the Terra and Aqua satellites, which produce a vegetation index that allows scientists to track changes in plant growth over large areas.
"We are fortunate to have 30 years of global vegetation greenness data from satellites to perform studies such as these," said Compton Tucker a co-author on the study at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The researchers found that the magnitude of changes in plant growth over the 29-year study period was different depending on the size of nearby population. Near areas defined as dense settlements – with about 500 people per square kilometer – the vegetation index increased by 4.3 percent. That's less than near villages, where the vegetation index increased by almost 6 percent. "More intensive agriculture occurs in these rural areas," Tucker added.
In short, areas with a human footprint have seen plant productivity increase. In contrast, areas with a minimal human footprint – rangelands and wildlands – saw close to no change.
Next, the team used a statistical analysis to estimate the relative importance of the various causes of changes in productivity. They showed that human-caused factors such as land use, nitrogen fertilization and irrigation accounted for much of the growth changes since 1981 in the areas studied.
The study follows on the heels of related research that showed the impact of climate on land plants at higher northern latitudes, where winter temperatures restrict the growing season, which researchers called the "warmer Earth, greener north" phenomenon. Agricultural areas were excluded from the higher northern latitude studies. "We now know that in addition to warmer climate at higher northern latitudes, human land use at lower latitudes also has a detectable, global footprint on Earth's vegetation growth," Tucker said.
The effects would be larger than this study implies, but by a small margin. Remember, humans also use Greenhouses ranging from normal greenhouses to hydroponic and aeroponics, as well as a few other schemes.
I've seen a Canadian Greenhouse scheme where they grow red tomatoes faster by regulating the temperature. Electricity for all systems is supplied by a fossil fuel generator (it may use higher than normal ethanol, I don't know). The generator is used to power lighting and automated systems. The exhaust from the generator was fed into the greenhouses to regulate temperature, and because it appears the tomato plants actually feed on the exhaust to maximize photosynthesis, as well as clean the air.
While projects like this would represent a very tiny portion of the net increase in plant growth, it's still something apparently not covered in the study. They also didn't address people in cities growing vegetables in windows, which is also rare, but not apparently discussed. | are necessarily flourishing in increasingly abundant greenery. Rather, the study uses an existing classifications of the planet's land surface based on how it's impacted by people, including the dense settlements, villages and croplands that compose | 45 |
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Moon Boot Lover, The Late Shift, Hartley's Encore
March 24, 2018 9:00 pm - 1:00 am
Putnam Place, <|fim_middle|> for attendees under 21)
Tickets: $8 Advance / $10 Day of Show
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Moon Boot Lover brings an original high energy funk-rock-soul blend, with a dose of body moving dance grooves. Front man Peter Prince has performed and recorded with top talent including Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews), Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers), and many more – and is widely known for his distinctive voice, mastery of electric and acoustic guitar, and an extensive discography of original songs that have topped many fans 'all time favorites' lists. There has been a wide assortment of band members over the years, all heavy weight players in their own right, with the most recent line up, Reed Dieffenbach on drums, Tom Martin & Ben Carle sharing bass guitar duties & Sam Gilman on keyboards carrying the MBL torch lighting it up where ever they go!
Band Website: www.peterprincemusic.com
The LateShift is a fresh alternative rock band based out of Albany, New York.
Band Website: www.facebook.com/wearethelateshift
Making music that's equal parts soundtrack to your Saturday night and bacon for your Sunday brunch, Hartley's Encore is frequently funky and always soulful. Hartley's Encore is the house band at your dance party for the apocalypse.
Band Website: www.facebook.com/hartleysencore
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Copyright © 2018 Putnam Place. All Rights Reserved. | 63a Putnam Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
March 24, 2018 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Putnam Place, 63a Putnam Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
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Ages: 18+ (note: there is a $5 surcharge | 104 |
Markets Media is all about institutional trading and investing, where the buy side meets the sell side. Through conferences in New York, Chicago, Toronto and London, and a digital editorial platform, we cover the market ecosystem spanning institutional asset owners, investment managers, sell-side banks, proprietary traders, exchanges, alternative trading systems, regulators, and software and technology providers.
Mohan Virdee (Chief Executive and Founding Partner) has more than two decades' experience in the financial publishing industry. Mohan spent four years at Euromoney Institutional Investor as associate publisher and publisher, before joining Financial News in 2000. In 2001, he opened the New York office for Financial News and as President of efinancialnews Inc.,<|fim_middle|> During his seven years at Financial News, David split his time between London and New York, ultimately settling in the U.S. to serve as Head of Sales for the organization's rapidly growing North American news and conference business. David joined Markets Media in 2008 and heads sales and operations.
Terry Flanagan, CFA (Managing Editor) joined Markets Media in 2010. Previously, Terry spent five years as an analyst at FridsonVision LLC, an independent research firm focusing on high yield bonds, and more than eight years as a reporter and editor at Bloomberg News, where he covered energy companies and U.S. corporate bonds. | was the driving force in establishing Financial News Group's U.S. business. He also launched the forums division and served as Online Business Development Manager of award-winning Financial News site amid its transition to a paid business model. As part of the Management Committee, Mohan played a key role in the sale and post-sale integration of Financial News to the Dow Jones Group of Companies. In December 2007, Mohan Founded Markets Media.
David Griffiths (Managing Director) joined Financial News Group in 2000 and played a key role in the expansion of Financial News. | 117 |
Featured Artist Interview with Dave Fox.
This featured artist interview ends with my guest Dave Fox playing one of several pianos that fill his spacious office. I found myself transfixed as he elicited tone after beautiful tone, his hands moving across<|fim_middle|> or an audience. There's a lot more to know about him, but somehow these images seem most poignant and serve to portray the essence of who he is.
There are undoubtedly many accomplishments of which he can be proud yet Dave does not give one the impression that he ever feels the need to point them out, drop hints or invoke them through innuendo. Instead, there is just an everpresent glint in his eye that tells you he is already visualizing and planning the next project, the next lesson, the next gig and they are each exciting to him in their own ways. With new students, varying band members and gigs in venues throughout the state, Dave manages to keep things fresh and vibrant moving fluidly through these ever-changing scenes. For a man in perpetual motion, he seems to have found a rhythm that allows him to keep the pace while appearing to be ambling along in a laid back, free and easy style. Part of being talented is the ability to make what, to the casual observer might seem difficult, look easy. Most of that my friends comes from drive, persistence and plain old hard work. Here's one man who genuinely appears to enjoy the work. I hope you have a good time getting to know a little about him here. I did!
Many thanks to Dave Fox and Greensboro College for graciously hosting us for this interview and to Melody Watson for her inspiration, technical, and blogging expertise. | the keys with grace and precision. That's talent, for sure, but much more. It is also the product of a lifetime of acquired knowledge, practice, application and passion for music in its many forms and means of expression. It is all that wrapped up in a man that just can't wait to share it all with a friend, a band mate, a classroom full of students, | 78 |
Children learn by watching and imitating adults. Make sure your children have a good example to follow. Let your child<|fim_middle|> this rule in your home. | learn from you the importance of following safety rules whenever fire is used. Take advantage of these times to emphasize the precautions you use.
Cooking: You can make safety a part of every recipe by wearing tight-fitting sleeves, using pot holders and pan lids, turning pan handles in, keeping the stove area clean of easily combustible materials. Heating: Have your heating system cleaned and inspected and keep all vents clear, store flammable liquids far away from a furnace, use a screen for your fireplace and make sure your woodstove is properly installed and vented.
Smoking: Keep matches and lighters above the strike zone, use safe ashtrays, carefully dispose of ashes, never allow children to light cigarettes or pipes, never "play tricks" with a lighter or matches.
Never let anyone use matches or lighters in an unsafe way in front of your child. Make certain all adults follow | 180 |
OurYAP, or Our Youth are Promising, a nonprofit, received three laptops from Mormon Helping Hands.
Mormon Helping Hands, the community service organization of The Church of<|fim_middle|> Youth are Promising,, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting "the well-being and development of Yaps' Youth for the benefit of all people of the state," received the laptops.
Jim Hachigeiresh, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints district president, presented the laptops to OurYAP representatives Michelle Chugen and Joshua. | Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provided media and technical experts arrived from Japan, Korea, Guam and Pohnpei to help at the 2018 Micronesian Games.
The all-volunteer group brought equipment and worked with local volunteers to deliver live streaming, according to a news release, and took photos of the competitions that were posted online and shot videos that will be uploaded to YouTube.
When the competition came to a close, the group left three new laptops with an offer to donate them to a worthy organization in Yap, and that's just what happened.
OurYAP, or Our | 121 |
El Papiro Oxirrinco 71 también llamado P. Oxy. 71 es un documento que contiene dos peticiones, dirigida al Prefecto romano y escrito en griego. El manuscrito fue escrito en papiro en forma de una hoja. Fue descubierto por Bernard Pyne Grenfell y Arthur Surridge Hunt en 1897, en Oxirrinco, Egipto. El documento fue escrito el 28 de febrero del 303. En la actualidad se conserva en el Museo Británico, Londres, Reino Unido. El texto fue publicado por Grenfell y Hunt en 18<|fim_middle|>ritos del siglo IV
Egipto en el siglo IV | 98.
Documento
La carta estaba dirigida a Clodio Culcianus, prefecto. La primera petición fue escrita por Aurelio Demetrio, hijo de Nilus (sacerdote en Arsinoe). La segunda petición fue escrita por Aurelia, una viuda. El lado reverso del papiro contiene una lista de edificios y medidas, escrito en tres columnas. Las mediciones del fragmento son 260 por 548 mm.
Véase también
Papirología
Manuscrito
Referencias
Enlaces externos
Página web oficial con información sobre los papiros oxirrincos
Papiros de Oxirrinco
Manusc | 157 |
Yukon River Panel Press Release for April 2019. The Yukon River Panel held their 2019 Pre-Season Meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon between April 8th and 10th, 2019. Highlights of the meeting may be found in the Press Release. Meeting minutes are under development and will be made available in due course.
The Yukon River Panel will be holding their 2019 Pre-Season Meeting between April 6th and April 10th 2019 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon. Meetings are open to the public on Tuesday April 9th and Wednesday April 10th. A bilateral closed session will be held on Monday April 8th. Meeting details and the agenda will be made available on the Meetings page in due course. For those that cannot attend in person, a live webcast will be available. The webcast link will also be available on the Meetings page in due course.
Yukon River Panel Press<|fim_middle|> The Yukon River Panel held their 2018 Pre-Season Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska between April 16th and 18th, 2018. Highlights of the meeting may be found in the Press Release. Meeting minutes are under development and will be made available in due course.
To mark 15 years of international cooperation, a special presentation was made to the Panel by the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee members of the Panel's Canadian section. Canadian Panel member Harvey Jessup, presented the Panel with a specially commissioned art work designed, carved and painted by renowned Northern Tutchone and Tlingit artist Eugene Alfred of the Selkirk First Nation from Pelly Crossing, Yukon.
Yukon River Panel Press Release for December 2017. The Yukon River Panel celebrated 15 years of international cooperation when they held their 2017 Post-Season Meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon between December 11th and 13th, 2017. Highlights of the meeting may be found in the Press Release. Meeting minutes are under development and will be made available in due course. | Release for December 2018. The Yukon River Panel held their 2018 Post-Season Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska between December 8th and 12th, 2018. Highlights of the meeting may be found in the Press Release. Meeting minutes are under development and will be made available in due course.
The Yukon River Panel will be holding their 2018 Post-Season Meeting between Dec 8th and 12th at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West 3rd Ave in Anchorage, Alaska. Meetings are open to the public on Tuesday Dec 11th and Wednesday Dec 12th. For those that cannot attend in person, a live webcast will be available. The webcast link will be available on the Meetings page.
Yukon River Panel Press Release for April 2018. | 185 |
Mélomanie Opens Season with New Venue, New Music
By Christine Facciolo
Mélomanie welcomed a new season on Sunday, October 7, with a new venue, a new cellist and a couple of eclectic works new to Delaware audiences.
The award-winning ensemble, known for its provocative pairings of early and contemporary works, has<|fim_middle|>ie.org.
Posted by Arts in Media
Labels: Christof Richter, Delaware Historical Society, Donna Fournier, Ismar Gomes, Kimberly Reighley, Melomanie, Tracy Richardson
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Delaware Ensemble 'Launches' to Space for Opening ...
Christina Cultural Arts Center Hosts Grammy Nomina... | established a relationship with the Delaware Historical Society, which will host its Wilmington performances at Old Town Hall adjacent to the organization's museum on North Market Street in downtown Wilmington.
Mélomanie also welcomed the addition of Ismar Gomes, award-winning cellist who has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.
The ensemble performs Christopher Cook's piece, Hubble's Eye. Photo by Tim Bayard.
The season-opening concert also served to introduce first-time audience members to the ensemble's repertoire as well as the individual talents of its musicians as each performed a solo work showcasing his or her capabilities.
The entire ensemble opened the program with a technically accomplished and courtly rendering of Couperin's La Sultane, one of the composer's most colorful instrumental works.
Two members of the ensemble chose to perform works by contemporary composers writing in the "old style." Violinist Christof Richter captured the fragile delicacy of Alfred Schnittke's Pantomime, a piece that despite its charming melody features bare, exposed rhythms, striking pizzicati and searing dissonance.
Gomes offered some very impressive playing in works by Benjamin Britten and Luciano Berio. Berio's Les mots sont alles for solo cello uses as its foundation Britten's Tema Sacher, a musical rendering of Swiss conductor Paul Sacher's last name. Gomes' handling of this complex miniature masterpiece was riveting.
Gomes joined with gambist Donna Fournier for a performance of Jean Daniel Braun's Sonata Sesta in D major for two bass instruments. It's not often that two such instruments get paired in a composition, so this was a rare treat indeed. Their beautiful burnished tones produced goosebumps, especially in the slower movements.
Fournier gave a splendid performance of Telemann's intimate but technically difficult Fantasia in G minor, one of 12 works discovered in 2015.
Harpsichordist and Mélomanie co-artistic director Tracy Richardson gave a spot-on reading of Jacques Duphly's finely wrought and thoroughly enjoyable Courante (from Book 1) for solo harpsichord.
Flutist Kimberly Reighley (also co-artistic director) offered one of the most interesting pieces of the afternoon. Le Vent a Travers Les Ruines by Yuko Uebayashi. Reighley's pristine tone and perfect intonation underscored the placid, non-judgmental character of the work, the later stages of which explore the instrument's lower register as it moves to bring this intriguing work to an understated conclusion.
The ensemble (sans cello) regrouped for the Delaware Premiere of Christopher Cook's ethereal Hubble's Eye, a multimedia musical interpretation of the jaw-dropping images taken by the Hubble space telescope.
While one might be tempted to draw comparisons with Holst's The Planets, Cook has undoubtedly imbued this seven-movement work with his own voice. Saturn is mysterious yet delicate. Mars is definitely a strong character with decisive rhythms and emphatic chords but hardly bellicose. The work exhibits some programmatic elements as well: the harpsichord "climbs and descends" the Mystic Mountain of the Carina Nebula, while the Supernova Bubble is buoyant and whimsical.
The trio of Reighley, Richter and Richardson concluded the event with another Delaware Premiere, Café au Triolet by Cynthia Folio. Folio, a Temple University music professor, wrote the work for Ensemble Triolet, which premiered it in 2016 at the National Flute Association Convention.
The first movement (Caramel Macchiato) takes the instruments out of their comfort zones to explore the full range of their capabilities. Special attention is given to the harpsichord, which Folio says she got to know up close and personal in the harpsichord room at Temple's Boyer School of Music. The second movement (Café do Brazil) is a lively fugue spiced with Brazilian rhythms and harmonies.
See www.meloman | 840 |
Sabrina Lamb and World of Money: Financial Education and Opportunity for Kids
For Black History Month, 2021, Financial Journalist and Founder of Best Money Moves, Ilyce Glink, sat down for a one-on-one interview with Sabrina Lamb, Founder/Executive Director, World of Money/YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. Through her work at World of Money, Sabrina aims to bring financial education to the families and communities who need it most.
Sabrina Lamb wasn't educated about the power of money growing up. She lived in a household where connections about money weren't passed down, parent to child, and has often wondered just how different her life would have been had healthy money management been taught.
So, it's no surprise that the former radio broadcaster started World of Money, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in New York City, that helps youth across the United States learn about, and become comfortable with, saving, investing, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The World of Money is global, with partners in Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda and Ghana.
In addition to being executive director of World of Money, she is the author of several books, including Do I Look Like An ATM? A Parent's Guide To Raising Financially Educated African- American Children, has written cover stories for Essence, Heart and Soul and Black Elegance magazines, is a television producer and solo performance artist, and a seasoned keynote speaker, competition judge and workshop leader. She has won numerous awards in her career, including Spectrum Television's "New Yorker of the Week," Rainbow Push/Wall Street Project Honors, the BDPA Small Business Innovator Award, the National Black MBA New York Metro Chapter Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the State Farm's National Dream Achiever Award. She is currently developing technology based on artificial intelligence.
ILYCE: Why did you start World of Money?
SABRINA: At least 16 years ago, I attended a financial workshop. And, sometimes in life, you receive an "Aha!" moment. For me, the [first] question was, "'What if children could receive the same kind of financial information that you're learning this weekend?' And the second question came, which really hit me very hard, was, 'How different would my life have been if I had received financial education?' And, the answer was "It would be totally different."
My parents and extended family adored me. They expressed their love and affection by not only giving me everything that I needed, but always satisfying all my wants. It felt good, but was not a good life plan. And so, I've dedicated the last 16 years to changing the financial conversation in every household so that children now can understand not only the power of money in their own lives, and their family's lives, but to change the trajectory of their money for generations.
ILYCE: So, your perspective is that being money smart starts in<|fim_middle|> what they spend their money on, and that they believe they should save and commit to a life of community service. If you don't believe that your life is worth saving, you're not going to save one nickel.
ILYCE: Can you give me an example of parents and students "not feeling worthy"?
SABRINA: When parents attend an orientation, I give them a one-page document and ask them to complete one exercise about saving and then I ask them to sign the document. Everyone does the exercise and signs the document. And then I'll ask those that signed to raise their hand. Everyone does. And, then I say, "Why did you sign this document?" And the answer is, "Because you told me to." But in the small print, at the bottom of the page, it says that by signing the document, you owe World of Money and Sabrina Lamb every nickel you will ever earn in the future.
ILYCE: You really have to read the fine print.
SABRINA: It goes beyond that. These people said they did not believe they had the power to say no. That is the fundamental foundation of financial education: the power to say yes and the power to say no. The power to delay gratification. But the principal power is to believe that your voice matters, no matter how confident that person is who is encouraging you to sign a contract that does not serve your best financial interests.
Ilyce Glink is the founder and CEO of Best Money Moves. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
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SABRINA: In my world, it all starts with children, right? Very young children are keenly aware of the power of money. If we are serious about generational wealth, then the foundation begins with youth financial education. It starts with children.
ILYCE: What programming do you offer?
SABRINA: Every July, we offer 120 classroom hours of financial education for children ages seven to 18. The Institute operates over three weeks, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the children learn everything from the financial history of money, how to have a "wealth mindset," to trusts, wills, ethics, as well as Mandarin Chinese and [how to read] Excel spreadsheets. Our approach is immersive. We don't believe in doing a workshop here or a workshop there because for many children and their parents, financial education is similar to learning a foreign language. So, we always believe that an immersive approach is impactful.
We also provide field trips to investment banks and to financial historical sites, such as the New York Federal Reserve and the home of Alexander Hamilton. It is important that our children experience money and the historical significance of it in real time.
ILYCE: It sounds a little like money camp.
SABRINA: I don't say "camp," and the reason why I don't say camp is because often when you say camp, children think of swimming pools and movie stars. It's an institute because every day they have homework assignments, called wealth work, and they also have a final exam. There are attendance policies, behavioral policies, and a dress code.
ILYCE: World of Money focuses on bringing financial education to underserved communities. How do you define "underserved?"
SABRINA: It's an interesting question because underserved is a buzzword. We attract economically diverse households for whom the commonality is no one understands or has received financial education. "Underserved" means that these children for generations have never received financial education.
So, they're underserved not just economically, where they may or may not be, but also they're kind of parched for financial education. And because I always believe that words have power, we use the words "financial education" and "financial capability."Why? Because children and parents have said that when they hear the word "literacy," it's almost inferred that they're illiterate or that they're dumb. That's how they perceive it. It's not the intent. But that's the perception.
And so, we teach children - and their parents are encouraged to participate in their child's financial education - how to become financially empowered and financially capable.
ILYCE: This is Black History Month, so I wanted to ask you how Black families, in particular, have been underserved when it comes to access to commercial capital and how you think World of Money can change the paradigm going forward.
SABRINA: Every day, I learn something new about this, but the financial significance of underserved communities and families, particularly in the African-American community, is historic. From redlining neighborhoods, from lack of access to business capital, to the difficult relationship with banks to being offered only subprime mortgages to not feeling capable or worthy enough to ask questions and feeling compelled to sign documents simply because this person seems like they know what they're talking about. It runs the gamut.
You talk about any aspect of financial education, and the African-American community has really been decimated. When we talk about the wealth gap, and how the lack of knowledge has impacted the black community, the only way that we can change it or hit the reset button is with financial education.
So, it starts with pouring financial education into children, with their parents alongside, so they understand that they're worthy of living a financially prosperous life. That they have a voice in how they use their money and | 804 |
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