Heritage Foundation economist Rea Hederman says economic growth of 5.7 percent in the final quarter of 2009 is a good sign and a signal of increasing confidence among business owners and consumers. He does not foresee a double-dip recession, but says stagnant wages and benefits are concerning because it shows the private sector is not yet adding jobs are giving raises.
The Capitol Steps bring back their John Edwards parody from the 2008 campaign – a tune that was disturbingly prophetic about Edwards’ current predicament. They also bring back a Barack Obama song from 2008, in which he tries to end the confusion between his name and that of the world’s worst terrorist.
Philip Zodhiates is on the board of director of AMG International, which has a strong presence in Haiti. He describes what his staff and partnering organizations dealt with in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. How much has the organization suffered? What are they noticing among the general population? And why does he think Haiti could emerge from this crisis much better than it was before the disaster?
President Obama stays the course on jobs, health care and more while promising to reduce our national deficit. But Republicans offer their counterpoints on all of those issues and Obama’s contention that Republicans aren’t offering up ideas of their own. The ACORN ‘pimp’ faces federal charges. J.D. Salinger dies.
Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson says he is surprised that President Obama recommitted himself to a health reform plan that America rejects. He says it would be dangerous for Democrats to ram through Obamacare through the budgetary move known as reconciliation. Isakson says his constituents want Congress to focus on the economy in a way that promotes stability and predictability.
Gary Marx of the Judicial Confirmation Network was shocked by President Obama’s scolding of the Supreme Court in his State of the Union address. He says it was not only a lack of respect for the separation of powers but his argument was completely wrong on the facts. Marx says perhaps the justices should not be invited to the State of the Union any longer.
Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole says President Obama’s State of the Union message shows he hasn’t learned anything in the past year. Cole says Obama is still pushing a health plan America has already rejected, is not willing to address the tough issues needed to ‘restore fiscal sanity’ and he’s disappointed that Obama never gave credit to the troops for accomplishing their mission in Iraq. Cole also says Obama’s track record does not back up his claim of being open to all ideas.
John Gizzi of Human Events says President Obama failed to re-connect with independent voters and the middle class. He says the president was not telling the truth when he claimed there was overwhelming evidence to prove the existence of climate change. Gizzi suggests Obama missed the message of voters by pushing the same rejected health care bill. He also says Justice Alito had every right to object to Obama’s scolding of the Supreme Court.
Planned Parenthood is releasing new numbers on teen pregnancy that it says proved abstinence-based sex education is a failure. However, the pro-life American Life League says the conclusion should be exactly the opposite. Rita Diller is national director of ALL’s STOPP Planned Parenthood. She says the data prove that teen pregnancy rates decline a few years after a commitment to abstinence-based education and the numbers rise when teachers don’t stress waiting for sex until marriage.
Both parties share advice and expectations for President Obama’s State of the Union message, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner grilled over handling of AIG, Obama looks to scrap return to the moon, Apple debuts new iPad.
