April 29, 2012

Tax Distractions

The Change-o-Meter is now a widget. You can add it to your blog, Web site, or profile with just a few clicks (shortcut for Facebook here). Each time we publish a new column, the widget will automatically update to reflect the latest score.

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Win some, lose some, keep some: It’s the Obama White House Appointments Sweepstakes. Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer will not be joining the administration, but Republican Judd Gregg will be DKNY Dresses, and the president is leaving Bush’s Iran advisers at their posts. Mired in politics, the Change-o-Meter registers a 10.

The news that the Senate easily approved Eric Holder as attorney general was eclipsed by Daschle’s withdrawal as the health and human services secretary nominee and Killefer’s withdrawal as the “performance czar” pick—and with good reason. Like Timothy Geithner, both Daschle and Killefer had muddied tax histories. Altogether Chanel Dresses, the damage these events do to Obama’s promise of a squeaky clean White House racks up major negative points on the Change-o-Meter. The fact that he waited for them to withdraw, instead of asking them to, doesn’t help.

But the news isn’t all bad. Obama recently nominated Republican Sen. Judd Gregg to the last open position in his Cabinet, commerce secretary. (Well, last open before secretary of HHS reopened.) If confirmed, the New Hampshire senator will be the third Republican to join the Cabinet, giving Obama three times as many opposite-party secretaries as George W. Bush had in his entire presidency. (Norman Mineta served as transportation secretary, the lone Democrat among Bush’s overwhelmingly Republican Cabinets.)

The Obama administration’s refusal to speculate about the political leanings of Gregg’s successor is admirable—in fact, the job is likely to go to a moderate Republican—but it earns spare change in points for setting up an easier path to the Senate for Rep. Paul Hodes, a Democrat who is expected to announce his bid soon. Bipartisan points now, another Democratic senator (maybe) in two years.

Meanwhile, Bush administrators involved with the sanctions against Iran will remain, indicating that the “flinty Chicago toughness” Obama is so proud of applies to foreign policy as well as inclement weather. “The move signals that Obama will continue to aggressively pressure Tehran, even as he offers engagement,” writes the Los Angeles Times. Obama also picked Christopher Hill, an experienced ambassador to European nations who also saw success pressuring North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program, to replace Ryan Crocker as ambassador to Iraq. It doesn’t affect the Change-o-Meter much, but Hill’s an odd choice for ambassador to Iraq—unlike his predecessor, he doesn’t speak Arabic or have experience with the region—so he’s worth watching.

There’s a lot to cover, so we want to hear your thoughts on what the Change-o-Meter should be taking into account. No detail is too small or wonky. E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.

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May 17, 2012

Suu Kyi’s party decides to enter Myanmar’s parliam

YANGON Windows 7 Key, Apr. 30, 2012 (Reuters) — The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi agreed on Monday to end a boycott of parliament and swear an oath to protect the constitution, said party officials Office Visio Key, apparently ending a dispute with the government.

Officials in her National League for Democracy party said they could attend from Wednesday.

“As a gesture of respect to the desires of the people and in consideration of the requests made by lawmakers from democratic parties and independent lawmakers, we have decided to attend the parliament,” Suu Kyi told reporters after a meeting of party leaders.

“We will go there as soon as possible and take the oath and attend the parliament,” she added.

Suu Kyi is to meet U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Yangon on Tuesday, which is also a public holiday. Lawmakers from her NLD party will therefore travel to the capital, Naypyitaw, for the session on Wednesday Windows 7 product key free, officials said.

The NLD had wanted to replace the words “safeguard the constitution” with “respect the constitution” in the oath sworn by new members of parliament.

(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Writing by Alan Raybould. Editing by Jason Szep)

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May 17, 2012

Postmaster general Rural post offices to stay ope

John Clarke Russ | BDNEast Newport acting postmaster Barbara Henkle looks over paperwork between serving customers Tuesday afternoon, July 26, 2011. Buy Photo Related storiesCongress demands postal overhaul while making it impossible

The United States Postal Service has reversed course and announced that 3,563 rural post offices nationwide — including 30 targeted for study in Maine — will stay open.

In a statement released early Wednesday afternoon, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe announced a new strategy — which should be completed by September 2014 — to keep existing post offices, no matter how small, open, but with modified retail window service hours to match peak customer use.

“This is a victory for mail service in rural Maine and across the country,” Sen. Susan Collins said in an email Wednesday afternoon. “There should be clear minimum standards for service — which we establish in the bill just passed through the Senate — and communities should have a real voice in the decisions.”

As part of the new USPS cost-saving strategy, access to post office retail lobbies and P.O. boxes would be unchanged.

Last July, the U.S. Postal Service said it was considering closing about 3,200 post offices, including 34 in Maine. That number was cut by four shortly after it was determined that customers served by offices in Matinicus, Stoneham replica watches, Topsfield and West Forks would lose regular and effective mail service.

Donahoe said under the new USPS plan, about 13,000 post offices will have work hours reduced, be co-located with a nearby business such as the local pharmacy or merged with another location. Other options include providing service to residents and businesses in the affected community by rural carrier or highway contract route or offering service from a nearby post office.

“There are 244 post offices in Maine that will be affected by this new policy. No hours of service will change at any post office until the community meetings and surveys occur after Labor Day,” said Collins.

The new plan will be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission. After that, community meetings will be held in all areas affected by modified post office hours.

“Community meetings and surveys will be conducted to review the options in greater detail,” said Tom Rizzo, USPS spokesman for the Northern New England District.

“Communities will be notified by mail of the date, time and location of these meetings.”

The USPS, which estimates this cost-saving strategy will save approximately a half billion dollars each year, also is going to offer a voluntary early retirement program for its 21,000-plus nonexecutive postmasters.

“To reduce the impact on existing employees, the Postal Service is offering financial incentive to select postmasters and they have until June 22 to accept the offer and either retire or leave by July 31,” said Rizzo.

Rep. Mike Michaud said in a statement that he was encouraged by Wednesday’s USPS announcement.

“The Postal Service must be put on a path to long-term sustainability, but that future cannot be balanced on the backs of the many rural communities that are dependent on quality mail service replica watches,” Michaud said. “I will continue to fight to ensure that the USPS honors its commitment to universal service.”

“I am pleased to see that Postmaster General Donahoe has reconsidered his ill-advised plan to close thousands of rural postal offices, including 34 in Maine, and instead focus on alternative strategies to ensure these critical links to our nation’s communities stay open, either with reduced hours or through co-location with other businesses,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Collins also said she is hopeful the postmaster general soon will announce a new plan regarding proposed consolidations of 183 processing and distribution plants nationwide beginning May 15. One of those plants is the Eastern Maine Processing and Distribution Center in Hampden, which has been targeted to have its processing duties shifted south to Scarborough, causing the loss of 170 jobs at the plant.

“He will make an announcement about postal plants next Thursday replica watches,” said Collins, who authored a provision in the Senate bill passed 62-37 two weeks ago mandating certain overnight delivery standards in some areas, which would keep many of the processing facilities open. “The Hampden plant could not be closed if those standards become law. I have urged the postmaster general to allow the legislative process more time.”

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May 17, 2012

Rick Santorum Tells Voters ‘Don’t Settle’ Like

EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Rick Santorum warned Republican voters not to “settle” on a nominee like they did four years ago and pointed to the Democrats prolonged battle in 2008 as of a party fighting for their principles – something Republicans should do aspire to do in this primary.

“I ask each and everyone of you. You’re all being asked to settle for something less. We need to get this over some are suggesting. Well we got it over four years ago. We were the first to get it over because they said oh let’s just end this and oh and let’s settle on a nominee,” Santorum told a crowd of about 100 gathered at the Eau Claire Republican Victory Center.

“The Democrats didn’t. They continue to fight. They fought into the summer. They didn’t see this as something that unfortunately too many establishment Republicans see. They don’t see fighting for principle as something that damages the party. They see fighting for principle and hopefully you do, as something that sharpens steel on steel and that makes us stronger in the general election,” Santorum continued to applause from the crowd. “So I’m asking you on Tuesday not to do what you criticize folks who go to Washington for doing. And that is don’t settle. Don’t compromise. Don’t sell out to win. You know in your heart that the conservative principles you believe in is best for the country. Vote that way.”

In 2008 Tattoo Gun Needles, Santorum endorsed Mitt Romney Pulse Tattoo, who he is now fighting against for the Republican nomination, over Sen. John McCain, that year’s Republican nominee.

Santorum Tattoo Kits Free Shipping, who was accompanied by his wife Karen, daughter Sarah Maria, and son John, dropped by the victory center to make phone calls on behalf of Gov. Scott Walker, who faces a recall vote this June. Santorum reached only one voter by phone, who agreed to to support Walker. Asked if she recognized that it was him calling her, Santorum told reporters she seemed “non-plussed” by it.

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May 17, 2012

The Right Ruff! — What Makes an Elite Service Dog

As our troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan in increasing numbers, we’re discovering the almost limitless potential of dogs to help these veterans overcome the many wounds of war. From spinal injury to blindness Tattoo Supplies sale, deafness, amputation, and, perhaps most prevalent of all, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), man’s best friend is proving to be much more than just a friend.

In fact, one study has found that a properly trained service dog can reduce the symptoms of PTSD by 82 percent. That’s one of the most effective treatments out there, but even more than clinical improvement, service dogs also bring families together and helping veterans regain a sense of normalcy as they return to society.

So, what makes a good service dog? As the founder of Vets Helping Heroes, an organization devoted exclusively to raising the money needed to provide properly trained service dogs for veterans Tattoo Ink For Cheap, it’s a question I’m often asked.

These dogs, after all, are the canine equivalent of Seal Team Six. With the ability to detect seizures, prevent panic attacks, preserve personal space, navigate a bustling street, and act as the ears, eyes and nose of the person they’re tasked to care for, they can do things that even advanced medical technology can’t do (let alone the average family pet).

I spoke with some of the most distinguished service dog trainers in the field to find out just what makes a great service dog, asking how breed, size, intelligence, mood, and manner affect the dog’s ability to absorb the years of rigorous training needed to produce an elite service dog.

Best in Show? (Hint: It’s Not a Chihuahua)

“The retriever breeds are a mainstay of service dog work, and rightfully so,” says Mike Sergeant, an experienced service dog trainer who runs K9 Navigators. “There are many reasons for this, ranging from temperament, [emotional] flexibility, willingness to please the master and, quite truthfully, public acceptance of retrievers as a friendly, happy-go-lucky breed.”

Patsy French of Florida’s Southeastern Guide Dogs, which specializes in training guide dogs, confirmed this preference for the retriever family (of which both golden retrievers and labradors are members).

“While we do use goldadors, there’s really no bias towards them,” Patsy told me, referring to the beautiful and well-tempered mixed breed of golden retriever and lab. “Typically, both breeds exhibit a strong work ethic — a very important trait in a service dog. The ‘goldies’ have a little more personality and, for someone who needs that trait, it couples well with the work ethic. The labs tend to be quieter although they, too, are driven to work.”

The Right Stuff

Stephanie Baigent Tattoo Machine Coils, who heads up training for Freedom Service Dogs in Colorado, also says that retrievers like labradors, golden retrievers, and, maybe a little surprisingly, poodles make for good service dogs. But, Stephanie, whose organization relies on rescue dogs, makes an important caveat:

“I don’t think that the breed matters for training as much as the dog’s individual personality. We’re looking for a confident, people-focused dog. One that is sensitive enough to recognize a change in the client’s needs but at the same time is confident enough to handle a situation where the client may not be able to give the dog direction for a short period of time.”

Actually, all of the trainers I spoke with agree on just this point: It’s not breed, but personality that make for a good service dog.

“A strong work ethic, intelligence, trainability, and the ability to bond with an individual are the universal traits that make for successful service dogs,” Patsy French says.

Despite this, just like in elite military units, physical fitness is a barrier. While a maltipoo might exhibit all of the above qualities, its small stature prevents it from being able to hedge off personal space for a PTSD sufferer or physically guide a blind veteran. Instead, “stoutness” is called for, Mike Sergeant says. And physical fitness is a must.

“A Handsome-Looking Dog”

Surprisingly, in talking to trainers I also found that looks do matter. An elite service dog can’t get by on its skills, intelligence, and temperament alone. “When I work with these veterans, because they’re so beaten up [from years of war], I want a dog that complements them, rather than stands out. A dog that can blend in. A ‘handsome-looking dog,’” Mike says.

But for Mike and many of the other trainers I know, good looks isn’t about winning Westminster. It’s about a dog that looks as friendly as it is, so a veteran struggling to return to society with the help of a dog isn’t constantly confronted with questions about that dog’s sociability. “Does it bite?” is not a question a veteran on the road to recovery wants to hear every day.

Now the Fun Starts
So, temperament, intelligence, determination, willingness to please, physical fitness, and handsomeness are some of the qualities trainers look for to begin the very serious process of training a service dog. But training one of these lovely animals is more art than science, and most trainers will spend weeks with an individual dog just to make sure it has what it takes to care for a veteran returning home.

Having seen the profound impact these dogs make on the lives of men and women who have sacrificed so much for their country, I can tell you that it’s all worth it — and then some. And, by the way, the dogs love it too.

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May 16, 2012

Rick Warren ‘Newsweek’ Exploiting Easter With R

ABC News

When I sat down with Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church for “This Week,” I asked him about the current “Newsweek” cover story written by conservative Andrew Sullivan, who argues that Christianity is in “crisis” with too little focus on spirituality instead of politics. Here is what Warren had to say in response.

TAPPER:  This week’s “Newsweek” magazine, which has a very provocative cover, has a different perspective on what ails America’s religious communities, under the headline “Forget the Church, Follow Jesus,” Andrew Sullivan argues that American Christianity is in a crisis, it’s too focused on politics and policy, too little on spirituality. And that’s the same theme that was in this video by Jeff Bethke that was — that went viral earlier this year, with over 20 million views. So what is your reaction to this line of criticism from people who like faith but don’t like religion?

WARREN: Sure. Well, first place, let me give a little personal gripe. I think it’s disingenuous that magazines like “Newsweek” know that their circulation goes up at Christmas and Easter if they put a spiritual issue on the cover, but it’s always bait and switch. They never tell the stories, never tell the stories of what the good — what good the church is doing. Never. It’s always some obscure scholar, who’s debating something that kind of supposedly disproves this or that, or Andrew Sullivan — I don’t consider Andrew Sullivan to be a religious authority, okay?

And so it is — they know they’re going to make money, every time you put Jesus on the cover of a magazine, it skyrockets.  You go do the history.  “Time” magazine, “Life” magazine, “U.S. News and World Report,” those are always the best issues. So they make money on it, but then it’s a bait and switch, and it’s always a disappointment.  And I wish they would have a little bit more integrity than that, and tell the other side of the story, maybe just occasionally.

TAPPER: All right. Fair enough. But what do you think of the — I mean, there obviously is something going on out there if this YouTube video has 20 million hits, people responding to this idea of ‘I like faith, I like spirituality, I love Jesus.’ But organized religion is really bothering them.

WARREN: Well, in the first place, that video in itself, that young man who did that is a member of a local church. So he did not give up on the church. Now the Bible calls the church the bride of Christ and the body of Christ. For me to say, ‘I like you, but I can’t stand your body,’ or ‘I like you, but I hate your wife,’ that’s offensive. The Bible says that we are members of the body of Christ. We’re a part of the family of God. A Christian without a church family is an orphan. And a hand disconnected from the body will not have its connection. We’re not meant to just be believers. We’re meant to be belongers.

So I dispute that. Does the church have problems? Of course it does Replica DKNY Clothing, like every other institution that’s made up of human beings. So there’s sin Replica Herve Leger v neck, failure, mistakes, stuff we would disavow? Of course. But there’s a general tendency throughout our society to distrust leadership and institutions, and not just the church, but government –

TAPPER: Sure, corporations.

WARREN: — corporations.

TAPPER: Absolutely.

WARREN: And academics –

TAPPER: Media.

WARREN: The media, everything like that. So this is a general trend. It’s like, ‘This is news? This is worthy of putting on the cover?’

 

 

 

SHOWS: This Week

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May 15, 2012

Mini changing Paceman name to Countryman Coupe for

It’s pretty obvious that automakers’ definition of the word ‘coupe’ these days is a far cry from the traditional meaning. (We do live in the world of the “four-door coupe,” after all.) That said, Car and Driver reports that Mini will call the company’s two-door Paceman Concept the Countryman Coupe once it hits production.

While it’s true that both the Paceman Concept and most coupes have two doors, the vehicle is more of a CUV/hatchback/crossover, at least to our eyes. Even so, the fact that the vehicle will reportedly share the Countryman moniker is no shock. Both vehicles wear the same nose front fascia, grille, headlights Tattoo Supplies, fenders and hood. Even so, based on the automaker’s current naming convention Tattoo Supplies, that means we’ll have to get used to saying something like “Mini Cooper S Countryman Coupe.” Because that won’t get confusing or anything.

Last we heard, the three-door Countryman will go on sale in 2013 as a 2014 model, and rumor has it that the production model will debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year. A few patent drawings have already made their way to the web, indicating the final version will be remarkably similar to the concept we’ve already seen.

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May 14, 2012

BMW 3 Series gets together for family portrait

Ask anyone in the know what the quintessential sports sedan is Discount Christian Audigier Clothes, and nine times out of ten they’ll tell you it’s the BMW 3 Series. It’s the benchmark against which all others are measured DKNY Dresses sale, the target that every other luxury automaker has in its sights, and the very icon of what a luxury sports sedan should be. What’s more, it has been all those things for three and a half decades Replica Herve Leger gown, from the first model introduced in 1975 to the new sixth-generation model just rolled out last month.

With a hyphen or without, the 3 Series has come a long way Discount Herve leger strapless, so to illustrate the fact, BMW has lined up all six generations for a family portrait or four BCBG Dresses sale, which you can check out in the high-resolution image gallery above Cheap Christian Audigier Clothing, along with the detailed press release after the jump.

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May 14, 2012

Woman survives 7 weeks in wilderness in her Chevy

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The Chretiens left British Columbia with their Chevrolet Astro Van pointing towards Las Vegas. Rita and her husband Albert were embarking on a 1,200-mile road trip. Unfortunately for the Chretiens Buy Christian Audigier Clothing, and for reasons we don’t know Cheap Bandage dresses, that Asto Van ended up stuck in the mud out in the Nevada wilderness.

After sitting helpless for a few days Cheap Marc Jacobs Dresses, Rita’s husband couldn’t wait around any more and left on foot to try and find some help. Rita stayed behind Cheap Marc Jacobs Dresses, and survived for seven weeks in the Chevy before a group of hunters came across the stuck vehicle. Rita Chretien had survived by rationing her trail mix and drinking melted snow. Sadly Christian Audigier Clothing sale, Albert has not yet been found but the search for Mr. Chretien continues. Click past the jump to watch an ABC News spot on this story.

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May 14, 2012

Officially OfficialFerrari Scuderia Spider 16M to

Click the Scuderia Spider for a high res gallery Herve Leger sale

After winning its 16th Formula one constructors championship last week Cheap Hale Bob Dresses, Ferrari has chosen this week to release a open top version of the F430 Scuderia. The Scuderia Spider 16M gets all the goodies from the lightweight Scuderia coupe like the 510 hp 4.3L V8 and the 6-speed F1 paddle shift gearbox. Ferrari is claiming the Scuderia Spider is the fastest open top model they’ve ever tested around the Fiorano test track Replica Christian Audigier Clothing, presumably beating out even the might F50 of decade ago. The Scuderia is 176 lbs lighter than a standard F430 spider at 2954 lbs dry. That’s claimed to be good enough for a 0-62 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and a terminal velocity of 195.7 mph. As a limited series model Ferrari has of course added lots of distinguishing features like a carbon fiber shell around the roll bar Buy Christian Audigier Clothes, number plaque on the dash and special interior trim packages. Only 499 Scuderia Spiders will be built and they will undoubtedly be priced higher than the $277 Buy Missoni Dresses,000 US base price of the coupe. For those with access to that much disposable cash Discount DKNY Dresses, it will surely be worth the price of admission. The press release is after the jump.

Related GalleryFerrari Scuderia Spider 16M
[Source: Ferrari]

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May 13, 2012

Looking Back in Anger

The Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and USA Todaylead with the continuing bailout politics as the Bush administration sent some of its top officials to Capitol Hill yesterday in an effort to convince lawmakers they need to pass the $700 billion plan as soon as possible. Instead of falling in line as many had expected, congressional opposition to the bailout seems to be growing every day. The men of the hour Fake Breguet Watches, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, appeared before the Senate banking committee to push lawmakers toward action. In what USAT calls perhaps his “darkest economic assessment” since becoming chairman Replica Corum Watches for Cheap, Bernanke warned that the current crisis is unlike anything the country has ever seen, and failing to approve the bailout would have “significant adverse consequences for the average person.” Despite these dire predictions, congressional opposition, particularly from Republicans in the House, was so strong that by last night “it was no longer certain that a version of the Paulson-Bernanke plan could win passage,” the LAT declares.

The Wall Street Journal banners, and the NYT off-leads, news that Warren Buffett will invest $5 billion in Goldman Sachs. The WSJ calls the cash infusion by the famous investor “one of the biggest expressions of confidence in the financial system since the credit crisis intensified early this month.” Financial stocks, including Goldman’s, surged in after-hours trading as Buffett’s decision “immediately heartened investors,” says the NYT. The Washington Postleads with a new presidential election poll that suggests the economic turmoil is helping Barack Obama, who now has the first clear lead in the general-election campaign. Among likely voters, Obama leads John McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent. A mere 9 percent rated the economy as good or excellent, and 50 percent cited it as the most important issue. That undoubtedly helps Obama, who has a sizable advantage as the candidate best-suited to handle the current financial crisis.

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Vice President Dick Cheney was dispatched along with a few top White House officials yesterday morning to meet with House Republicans and try to convince them to approve the bailout plan as quickly as possible. But the closed-door session appeared to do little to convince lawmakers that the economy is doomed if a bailout doesn’t pass. “Just because God created the world in seven days doesn’t mean we have to pass this bill in seven days,” Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said after the meeting.

The LAT reports that Democratic leaders in Congress “admitted privately that they had been thrown off course by the vehemence of the opposition.” Democrats warned they would not move forward with such a massive plan unless they had significant Republican support. As the NYT points out, Democrats are now particularly worried that a lack of support from GOP lawmakers “could leave them in an undesired alliance with the Bush administration.” None of the papers spells it out, but it seems clear that Democrats are worried this is part of a Republican strategy to distance themselves from the bailout to then turn around and use its passage against Democrats in the upcoming elections.

Despite all the huffing and puffing, the LAT wonders whether Congress would really “dare to kill or seriously delay the only plan on the table—and, if it did, would an economic debacle ensue?” Paulson and Bernanke were emphatic yesterday that the plan is vital to the economy’s survival even as they insisted that they weren’t happy about having to ask for this kind of authority from Congress. “I share the outrage that people have. I think this is embarrassing,” Paulson told the Senate banking committee. Senators met the two men “with a nearly universal tone of disgust,” says the Post, and they characterized the bailout as a golden parachute for the companies that got us into this financial mess in the first place. At times it seemed like there was a competition going on to see who cared most about the average taxpayer How to buy Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Watches, and Paulson and Bernanke played along, insisting the bailout plan is designed to help (you guessed it) the taxpayer, not Wall Street fat cats.

For now Imitation Chaumet Watches, the angry lawmakers aren’t saying they’ll vote against the bailout but rather are concentrating on key changes they want to insert in the legislation. The one that now seems inevitable is the limit on executive compensation for the firms that participate in the bailout because the presidential candidates, as well as key lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, have expressed support for the measure.

Democrats are also pushing hard to give taxpayers an equity stake in the participating companies. But Paulson and Bernanke were adamant that they would oppose the changes because, as the LAT helpfully explains, the goal of the plan is to help markets regain the ability to set prices for their toxic assets, and if only the most desperate companies participate, then the market won’t believe the resulting sale prices, thus making the whole thing a pointless exercise. This is why Bernanke also said the government should pay a reasonable price rather than the cheapest price possible for the troubled securities.

Paulson will speak to House Republicans this morning Replica Cartier Watches, and he and Bernanke will face the House financial services committee MB&F Replica Watches, which, as the NYT points out, “could prove even more hostile than the Senate banking panel.”

One of the likely reasons for all the grandstanding in Capitol Hill is that lawmakers know voters are watching. The WP’s poll reveals that 52 percent of people believe the economy is in a serious long-term decline while around 80 percent say they are concerned about the direction of the economy. The majority of white voters who say they are concerned with the economy’s direction support Obama. The new poll also shows that Obama has a 21-point lead with independent voters, which is a marked change from the small lead McCain enjoyed after the Republican Convention.

The LAT also has a poll that generally confirms the WP’s finding that voters think Obama would do a better job handling the financial crisis than McCain. A “solid majority” of the 50 percent of Americans who said they feel less financially secure now than they did six months ago favor putting Obama in the White House. The LAT also reports that 55 percent of respondents said the government shouldn’t be planning a bailout, although that figure probably has more to do with the way the question was asked—whether it’s “the government’s responsibility to bail out private companies with taxpayers’ dollars”—and it’s unclear whether Americans understand how the rescue package would work.

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