Politics & Issues

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

A second death in the U.S. from H1N1

A second person in this country has died after contracting the H1N1 virus commonly known as swine flu. Health officials say the victim, a U.S. resident,  was a woman living in Texas. The first death occurred in Texas as well, however, the toddler who died had been visiting from Mexico. Today officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the number of confirmed cases of […]
Monday, May 4, 2009

President Obama moves to plug tax loopholes & keep more U.S. jobs at home

Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters President Obama is making good on a campaign promise to overhaul the tax system. Today the president took aim at some loopholes in the tax code and the wealthy individuals and corporations that use them to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. At the White House, the president announced steps to crack down on overseas tax havens and to […]
Saturday, May 2, 2009

100 days plus: President Obama & the H1N1 flu virus

  President Obama has a new challenge to deal in the next 100 days of his administration; a previously unknown flu virus, which has the potential to kill. Last Wednesday night, the president highlighted efforts being made to handle the two wars, the bad economy, and other problems inherited from the Bush years. The president said: “I am pleased with our progress, […]
Thursday, April 30, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama makes People’s 2009 Most Beautiful List

Photo: Marc Hom from People website   Some fresh new faces in People’s 2009 Most Beautiful issue. There’s a sneak peek of some of the celebrities and famous folks selected on People’s website, among them First Lady Michelle Obama. Along with the photos, some candid comments as well. In the past 100 days, President Obama has been making his mark with policy […]
Saturday, April 25, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama and the Queen of Jordan

  Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House   First Lady Michelle Obama had another chat with a queen a few days ago. Mrs. Obama held a get together with Jordan’s Queen Rania in the White House Yellow Oval Room on Thursday, April 23, 2009.  Also this week, Jordan’s King Abdullah met with President Obama.   Earlier this month, the first lady and the president had a meet and greet […]
Thursday, April 23, 2009

President Obama’s Earth Day challenge

Photo: Pete Souza/White House   President Barack Obama spent part of Earth Day in Newton, Iowa touring a wind tower production facility. In his Earth Day speech, the president described a major challenge facing our nation: “Now, the choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy.  The choice we face is between prosperity and decline.  We can […]
Saturday, April 18, 2009

State Assemblyman Paul Krekorian campaigns for the upcoming special election

The Burbank Democratic Club threw a backyard BBQ bash with great eats and brew in a neighborhood near the Rancho District, last night. I’m a member and I joined 50 or so other folks for a fun club meeting and social gathering. However, there was a serious message about the state’s budget woes presented by local Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D) 43rd District. Krekorian had the […]
Thursday, April 16, 2009

Day 86: President Obama travels south of the border to Mexico

Photos: Pete Souza/White House Today President Barack Obama visited Mexico. On his arrival, President Obama received a warm welcome from some of its citizens and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. During the welcoming ceremony, Obama made a pledge: “At a time when the Mexican government has so courageously taken on the drug cartels that have plagued both sides of the borders, it […]
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A close finish in the Burbank City Council race

  Photo: FLLewis/A Writers Groove I dropped by Burbank City Hall last night to see the returns come in for the General Municipal Election. The only names on the ballot were the six candidates running for three seats on the powerful Burbank City Council. Around 10 p.m. when the numbers were in for all of the city’s 42 precincts and the winners elected, I felt like I’d just watched […]