Radio America Online News Bureau

We have Wednesday’s top news… What is Obama saying about his tax policy agenda on Tax Day 2009?  What is the message of thousands of tea party attenders nationwide?  How does the Obama White House react to the frustration of millions of taxpayers?  What is Secretary of State Clinton saying about the problem of Somali piracy?  What is she saying about the possibility of nuclear talks with Iran?  What happened on Wall Street today?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

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What message is being sent by the scores of ‘tea parties’ taking place around the country?  Why is frustration over taxes and spending boiling over right now?  Is President Obama right when he says most people so far have gotten a tax cut?  Is he right when he says no one making less than $250,000 per year has seen or will see a dime of additional taxes?  How should we read his pronouncement that those in the top tax bracket can pay more because they have been lucky?  We ask Texas Rep. Joe Barton.

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As another American ship barely escapes Somali pirates, what is the best long term strategy to protect American crews and goods?  What changes should be considered about security aboard these commercial vessels?  What strategy needs to be employed against the pirates themselves?  What would make their sphere of influence much smaller?  And how can their money supply be choked off?  We ask retired U.S. Navy Captain Chuck Nash.

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On Tuesday, we told you that the Department of Homeland Security warned law enforcement around the country of possible violence perpetrated by right-wing extremists.  It defines extremists as people opposed to abortion, illegal immigration and gun control.  The report also said returning veterans could be recruited for violent activities.  So how are veterans groups and their families reacting?  What does the thinking behind this report suggest about how the government views our troops?  Is Wednesday’s ‘clarification’ from the head of DHS making things any better?  We ask Craig Roberts, spokesman for the American Legion.

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The 2009 Pig Book is out courtesy of Citizens Against Government Waste.  So what does the book include?  Are new earmark rules lowering the amount of pork barrel spending?  Do members even follow the new rules?  Which members of the House and Senate are the worst offenders?  And what are some of the most ridiculous earmarks?  We ask Leslie Paige of Citizens Against Government Waste.

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We have Tuesday’s top news… What is President Obama saying about the state of the economy?  How does he answer critics who blast his huge spending spree?  What can we expect with respect to the “Tea Parties” tomorrow?  Why are many states looking to free themselves from excessive Washington control?  Who does the Department of Homeland Security see as a right-wing extremist?  Who is the declared winner of the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota?  What happened on Wall Street today?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Tuesday, April 14, 2009.

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President Obama says our economy has a long way to go but we can see glimmers of hope.  Is he right that we may be seeing the beginning of the end of this recession?  How much credit does he deserve if we are in the early stages of a recovery?  Is he right in saying spending cuts would harm the economy despite our record deficits?  If Obama’s policies won’t help the economy, how will we recover?  We ask Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation.

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A new Department of Homeland Security assessment instructs national, state and local authorities to be watchful of threats posed by ‘right wing extremists’.  But how is extremist defined?  Why does opposition to Obama administration policy constitute a threat to public safety or national security?  What is really at work here?  And what is the Obama end game?  We ask Roger Hedgecock, former mayor of San Diego and host of The Roger Hedgecock Show on Radio America.

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On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he would support legislation in his state that would limit federal control over the Lone Star State.  So what is the state sovereignty movement all about?  What does it call for?  How many states are doing something similar?  What kind of reaction can we expect from Washington if it passes?  We ask Jonathan Williams, Director of Tax and Fiscal Policy at the American Legislative Exchange Council.

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The scourge of Somali pirates is front and center after the drama involving the Maersk Alabama and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips.  But the huge rise in piracy is believed to be linked to virtual lawlessness in Somalia.  What kind of government is in place now?  How much power does it really have?  Who really calls the shots throughout the country?  What is life like for most of the Somali people?  What role can the U.S. or other nations play in bringing back stability to Somalia – as well as a decrease in piracy in neighboring waters?  We ask Fred Oladeinde, President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa.

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