Fri Jan 22, 2010
Scott Brown and Changes in Washington
Senator-elect Scott Brown arrived in Washington yesterday. Brown, winning the seat of the late Edward M. Kennedy in a special election earlier this week, now represents the key Republican vote that can break up the Democrats' Semate majority.
Weigh in Opnioin Leaders, is this a wake-up call for more bipartisanship in Washington? What does this mean for the White House? How will it effect the average American citizen?
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Fri Jan 08, 2010
Christmas Day Bombing Attempt: Questions About Airport Security
The attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 has brought the question of airport security back into the forefront.
Please weigh in, Opinion Leaders. What do you think our government and our airports should be doing to better protect travelers?
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Tue Dec 01, 2009
Troops Deployment to Afghanistan
According to White House officials, in tonight's address President Obama will announce his plans for sending additional forces to Afghanistan, announce plans for enhanced training for the Afghan army, and clarify that US involvement in Afghanistan will not be indefinite.
Please weigh in, Opinion Leaders. How much longer should we be in Afghanistan, and how will the deployment of additional forces effect our exit strategy?
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Tue Nov 10, 2009
The Impact of the Fort Hood Tragedy
In the wake of the tragic shootings at Ft. Hood last week, Americans continue to morn for our brave service men and women who have fallen both at home and abroad.
Please weigh in, Opinion Leaders. What does this tragedy mean for the war on terror? What can we be doing to better protect and provide for the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom?
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Fri Oct 09, 2009
Nobel Peace Prize
Early this morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced this year’s winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. This year’s recipient is President Obama. The Committee awarded this prestigious award based on President Obama’s direction toward obtaining global peace.
Please weigh in, Opinion Leaders. If you do not agree with the decision of the Nobel Committee, please post who you felt was more deserving.
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Mon Aug 31, 2009
More Troops to Afghanistan
General Stanley McChrystal, top military commander in Afghanistan, prepared and presented a status report to senior Pentagon and NATO officials earlier this week. "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," McChrystal said in the statement
The report contains details of McChrystal’s strategy as well as a reported request for additional ground troops. Currently there are approximately 62,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Combined with NATO troops and the number is over 100,000.
Even with the number of ground troops, the recent election has been marred by reported fraud and violence. It has been reported that the Taliban intimidated voters by cutting off fingers and in one case the nose of a male voter.
Please weigh in Opinion Leaders…
How do you feel about the ramp up of troops? Is Afghanistan another Iraq?
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Tue Aug 25, 2009
On-line Privacy Concerns
New York blogger Rosemary Port is planning to sue Google for $18 million after revealing her identity. Model Liskula Cohen obtained a court order forcing Google to disclose the blogger’s identity, and is currently seeking defamation charges against Rosemary Port for having called her a “skank” on Google’s blogger.com.
So, weigh in Opinion Leaders: What does this mean for online privacy rights? Do you feel Ms. Cohen had the right to know the blogger’s identity? Do you feel that Google should be held financially responsible for disclosing Ms. Port’s identity? Be sure to elaborate as to why or why not.
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Tue Aug 18, 2009
Public Option In or Out
What is the public option component of HR3200? The Public Option is a government-backed insurance plan offered alongside the private options would pressure those companies to keep coverage comprehensive, denials to a minimum and costs low. Supporters point out that the federal plan wouldn’t have to buy expensive advertising like other insurers, nor would it have to earn the profits expected by shareholders of private companies — money that could be used instead to reduce premiums.
But critics maintain that the public option would have an unfair, taxpayer-backed advantage over private plans that could eventually lead to the demise of private insurers altogether.
There are currently two options to modify the Public Option. One would allow for the creation of a public plan only in areas where private insurers failed, after a set time period, to meet certain coverage and cost targets. The second option is to create regional co-operative plans to be managed by the same people buying into them.
Please weigh in Opinion Leaders…where do you stand on the Administration’s health care policy HR3200? If public option is removed, what effect does that have on the overall proposed plan?
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Fri Aug 07, 2009
Money & Main Street
Recently, Time has been running an editorial series in the magazine called Money & Main Street in conjunction with the editors of Money Magazine. You may have also seen a version of Money & Main Street on CNN. This addition to Time was designed to provide financial information and advice to help you better navigate new, increasingly more difficult economic terrain.
We hope it’s been a helpful and useful addition to Time, but we’d like to know if you agree. So, weigh in Opinion Leaders, what do you think of this series? Is it relevant to your situation? Do you find the tips provided to be useful?
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Wed Jul 22, 2009
Obama, His Healthcare Plan, and the Administration Six Months In
President Obama may soon find himself at a crossroads, waiting for the six month report card on his young administration. Having passed his still controversial economic stimulus plan, Obama now gears up for the next round of decisions and judgment that his health care plan will face.
Obama’s ambitious next step, an overhaul of America’s current health care system, already has unnerved many in Congress on both sides of the aisle. How Obama decides to pursue his agenda could affect the image and course of the rest of his presidency.
If Obama attempts to ram the bill through Congress, he may end up alienating the fiscally conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats and moderate conservatives who had supported him. If he is too flexible, he may end up seeing his health care bill languish. With a news conference approaching this Wednesday, Obama seems aware that he has reached an early checkpoint in the formation of his legacy.
Weigh in, Opinion Leaders. What do you think of the current Obama healthcare plan? Do you think the bill will pass in its current form? Do you think it should? Six months in, how do you think the Obama administration has fared?
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