Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Rare Moment in White House
    First White House reunion of all living former U.S. leaders since 1981. President-elect Barack Obama hailed a rare Oval Office gathering of all U.S. presidents as an extraordinary event on Wednesday. President George W. Bush, reminded his predecessors and successor that the office "transcends the individual." President George W. Bush hosted President-Elect Barack Obama and Former President's Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton at the White House today.

Senate Democrats Move Closer to Seating Burris
     Roland Burris met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. and Senator Richard Durbin, D-Ill. today on Capitol Hill. President-Elect Barack Obama suggests he would accept Burris as his successor.

1.2 Trillion Budget Deficit Projected for 2009
     The Congressional Budget Office Report states the federal budget deficit will hit an unparalleled $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year. The Report further states the U.S. economy will likely contract by more than 2 percent.

Ice Storms in the Northeast, Floods in the South
     Storms affected millions of people across the United States. Ice and freezing rain caused disruptions in the Northeast, flooding and power outages hit the South. There is the possibility of new avalanches and flooding in the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service posted winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings from Pennsylvania into Maine. Winter weather advisories were also issued for parts of Michigan and Ohio. The storm has closed hundreds of schools throughout the country.

Gaza Fighting Continues Despite Word of Peace Talks
     Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets resumed Wednesday. Food and fuel was allowed to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Egypt's U.N. Ambassador said representatives of Israel, the Palestinians and Hamas have agreed to meet Thursday for peace talks to be brokered by Egypt in Cairo.

Coleman Files Suit Over Minnesota Recount
     Republican Norm Coleman filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Democrat Al Franken's apparent recount victory. The lawsuit could keep one of Minnesota's two U.S. Senate seats unoccupied for weeks or even months. The lawsuit is likely to address many of the disputes that arose during the recount, and could raise new questions concerning the conduct of the election and the counting of ballots.

House and Senate Convene for 111th Congress
     The crisis-ridden economy of the United States was the primary issue on Tuesday as Congress opened for business. The dawn of a new Democratic era was apparent and Republicans pledged cooperation in Congress as well as with President-elect Barack Obama — to a point. The House includes 262 Democrats and 178 Republicans. The Senate consists of 55 Democrats, 41 Republicans, and 2 Independents.