Changing The Discourse In Washington..."president's Questions."

Changing the Discourse in Washington-“Questions to the President” «

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Changing the Discourse in Washington-“Questions to the President” 2009 September 11 tags: Communication, Congress, Debate, Government, Journalism, Media, Newspapers, Obama Administration, Presidency, Public Issues, Questions, The Little Guy, The Presidency by Mitch Chester The unfortunate incident during President Obama’s health care address to a joint session of Congress on September 9 involving shouting from the Congressman from South Carolina, was, no doubt, “inappropriate and regrettable.” The encounter also points out a greater problem, and a larger opportunity. We need to see Washington luminaries actually addressing each other in spontaneous and substantive ways, where constructive exchanges are encouraged. Instead of interrupting a critical national address with rude and insulting words, those who disagree should be able to communicate on a higher level and in an accountable way, on the record. The incident highlights a unique opportunity for real change in the way our leaders communicate with each other. If Members of Congress disagree with the President, the world should be able to witness them seriously debating specific points. We can then decide who has the better position, and understand the basis for public positions and platforms that are often phrased in mere headlines without any foundation. Prime Minister’s Questions…An American version is worth exploring. It is ironic that in such an open society, the American public rarely gets to see the President talking, actually having a dialogue, with members of the opposition party. Such exchanges usually occur behind closed doors, whether it be in the Oval Room of the White House or private rooms on Capitol Hill.

For most citizens, the closest thing to watching the two sides actually conversing and listening to each other occurs every four years when Presidential elections loom. Otherwise they have to compare press conferences and blogs against media appearances and media releases and rely too much, way too much, on political pundits. The Sunday talk shows are too limited in time and guests, to be a meaningful stage for substantive exchanges viewed by the American people between the opposing parties. Published OpEd pieces pitting one view point against another are rare, and not widely read. Perhaps the British have it somewhat right…it’s called “Questions to the Prime Minister,” (QPM) when the Prime Minister meets members of Parliament for what is envisioned as a debate. Referred to as a “Constitutional Convention,” pointed and tough questions are asked and insightful (and quick) responses are often given. Often irreverent and sometimes non-diplomatic, the sessions (which can be viewed on CSPAN) offer the voters the opportunity to hear candid arguments and accusations, and see what lies behind many of the issues and political positions in a way that even the Fourth Estate does not afford through the conduit of reporters asking questions. Bluntly stated, QPM is another chance to understand what government is up to. We should adopt a modified version here. This idea is not new. During the Clinton Administration, there was talk of creating an American edition of QPM, but it never reached fruition.

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One recent commentator, John Freehery (who worked for Republicans in Congress) wrote that the “President had little interest in subjecting himself to that kind of ridicule on a weekly basis.” There is a compelling argument, however, for revisiting the idea for an American (and more respectful) form of the British practice. First, if proper rules of decorum are established, questioning need not venture into ridicule and heckling can be banned. Just as both houses of Congress have rules about what their members can and cannot do, such rules can be established for “President’s Questions,” strengthened by sanctions in the event of inappropriate behavior, to ensure civility and meaningful discussion. Respect for the Presidency should, and must, be a guiding principle of the debate. Second, the encounters can be limited to once every quarter. There is no need for a weekly forum, and can be 60 or 90 minutes in duration. In Britain, Prime Minister’s Questions are weekly for much of the year. That is too often for America, given the demands on the White House, but an exchange every 3 months would foster greater citizen participation in the little understood governmental decision making process. Third, and most compelling, it would allow both sides to smoke out rumors and unsubstantiated charges in a publicly aired discussion to get past all the rhetoric and into the real and relevant guts of key issues. Think how quickly the “Death Panels” proclaimed as “fact” could be debunked by a President responding in an articulate fashion to his accusers in spontaneous and lively discourse. Fourth,such sessions would educate the public, from school children to senior citizens, about the merits of each side’s positions, since each side could be heard talking to each other in which should be an unrehearsed forum. “President’s Questions” could be a showcase for debate, and an opportunity to infuse new opinions into the big issues of the day…directly to the top level of government. This vehicle is so valuable it is used not only in the United Kingdom, but in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, India, Sweden and is being suggested in Israel, according to Wikipedia. No doubt, there are problems with the presentation and evolution of Questions to the Prime Minister. On July 16, 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his weekly exchanges with the British House of Commons lack serious debate in a “sensible and reasonable way” and is “not the vehicle” for a non-party political discussion. While no format is perfect, surely a commission of government leaders, political science professors and journalists can fashion a procedure that will improve on the existing British tradition and bring it to a new and highly responsible level in Washington. Instead of hearing just “you lie,” such a meeting would allow the accuser to back up and expand on his or her statement, and afford the President a decent chance to respond. “President’s Questions” would promote an intelligent discussion…the “serious debate” Gordon Brown seeks, and not the incivility and sound bite we witnessed from a mistaken (and now apologetic) Congressman during Wednesday’s Presidential address.

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Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship Sec. Sebelius Takes Your Questions On Health Care, Abortion & Rep. Joe Wilson Never can outgrow mom Parsing Obama

Edit This from → Communication, Communications, Congress, Enlightenment, Exchanging Ideas, Health Care, Issues, Journalism, Media, Obama Administration, Public Issues, Questions, The Presidency 2 Responses leave one →

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2009 September 12 Bob permalink Mitch: I think you right-on. It is true: we never see the constructive interaction, both pro and con, with the President. I think we should, too. Bob Reply edit

2. 2009 September 12 Ellis permalink Just like loving families resort to conduct and verbal intercourse they’re ashamed of when economic stress plagues their house, so does the nation. Our resources are no longer dwindling at a rate that can be ignored. They are pouring out in flumes from between the seams of our entitlements and rights-nee-privileges. Where once it was easy and almost credible for the social do-gooders to scoff at “trickle-down economics” and propose “trickle-up” practices—suggesting that less-advantaged people who were given money to spend would stimulate the economy—the results of such thinking are now biting them in the butts. And the need to face the fact that the only way to stimulate the economy is to support the businesses that produce the jobs—as well as the products and services consumers can buy, once they have those jobs. The stridency we see in government is merely a reflection of fear and frustration because the money is running out. And our legislators who have been playing musical chairs with the offices they occupy are still standing when the music has stopped. (Why do you think there was such a rush of savvy Republicans for the door after the end of the last election cycle?) You’d be surprised how genteel and statesmanlike legislators can become when the only argument is about whether they can afford a national arts program or a journey to the moon. ET Reply edit Leave a Reply Logged in as Mitch Chester. Logout »

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Dems see race factor for Obama foes 09/14/2009 The whispers growing louder: that those who loathe Obama are driven at least in part by racism. Jonathan Martin The great myth: bipartisanship 09/14/2009 Obama is on the warpath over distortions about health care reform, but he's spreading one of his own. Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen ACORN mulls suit against Fox News 09/14/2009 ACORN alleges that the filmmakers committed a felony by shooting the footage of ACORN employees. Michael Falcone Obama: Industry ignoring lessons 09/14/2009 "Normalcy cannot lead to complacency," Obama says. Eamon Javers Ted Kennedy, in his own words 09/14/2009 Excerpts from Ted Kennedy's "True Compass: A Memoir" give one last look into the senator's life. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Huckabee: Journalism is dead 09/14/2009 Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rips the media. Andy Barr Exclusive: 'See Mike Not Run' 09/14/2009 Forthcoming Bloomberg bio reveals decision that led to him pulling the plug on a run for president. Joyce Purnick W.H. wants concrete actions from Iran 09/12/2009 Obama will insist that Iran's vague offer to open negotiations be followed quickly with concrete actions. Ben Smith Medical-device makers launch blitz 09/14/2009 Legislative battle over health shifts into a new phase. Carrie Budoff Brown,Chris Frates Dems go after Crist on transportation 09/14/2009 Democrats go after Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for not accelerating transportation projects. Michael Falcone Smart growth must not ignore drivers 09/14/2009 In an Ideas piece, Kotkin says there may be a critical conflict developing over how Americans live and travel. Joel Kotkin Green transit advocates seek gain 09/14/2009 Some environmentalists take a creative approach to push transportation policy toward greener transit. Abby Phillip

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past four decades because of fundamental changes in the regional ecosystem, according to a new report. The report also points out the need to manage the waters off the northeastern coast of the United States as a whole rather than a […] When Proteins Change Partners: Competition Between Proteins Maintains Cellular Balance 09/15/2009 Researchers have illuminated how competition between proteins enhances combinatorial diversity during ubiquitination -- the process that marks proteins for destruction. Looking Deeply Into Polymer Solar Cells 09/15/2009 Researchers have made the first high-resolution 3-D images of the inside of a polymer solar cell. This gives them important new insights in the nanoscale structure of polymer solar cells and its effect on the performance. Mandatory Alcohol Testing For Truck And Bus Drivers Reduces Alcohol Involvement In Fatal Crashes 09/15/2009 Mandatory alcohol testing programs for truck and bus drivers have contributed to a significant reduction in alcohol involvement in fatal crashes. Based on a study sample of nearly 70,000 motor carrier (heavy trucks and buses) drivers and over 83,000 non-motorcarrier (car) drivers, the estimated net effect of these programs was a 23 percent reduced risk of a […] What Do Dinosaurs And The Maya Have In Common? 09/15/2009 One of the world's most famous asteroid craters, the Chicxulub crater, has been the subject of research for about twenty years. The asteroid impact that formed it probably put an end to the dinosaurs and helped mammals to flourish. Researchers have now studied the most recent deposits that filled the crater. The results provide accurate dating of the li […] New Method Aims To Stabilize Antibodies 09/15/2009 Researchers have developed a systematic method to improve the stability of antibodies. The technique could lead to better biosensors, disease therapeutics and diagnostic reagents and non-laboratory applications, including environmental remediation. Fungus-treated Violin Outdoes Stradivarius 09/15/2009 At the 27th "Osnabrücker Baumpflegetagen," a researcher's biotech violin dared to go head to head in a blind test against a stradivarius -- and won! The new violin is made of wood treated with fungus, and played against an instrument made by the great master himself in 1711. Strategies To Counteract Side Effects Of New MS Therapies 09/15/2009 The drawback of new immunotherapies in multiple sclerosis (MS) include severe infections that can be fatal. For example, treatment with natalizumab, which reduces the immune surveillance of the brain, can lead to the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a typically fatal form of viral encephalitis. Researchers recently employed pl […] High-res View Of Zinc Transport Protein Reveals Shape-shifting Atomic Interactions; Suggests Mechanism And Possible Drug Targets 09/15/2009 New, improved-resolution views of a zinc transporter protein suggest a mechanism for how cells sense and regulate zinc, an element that is essential for life. Food Habits Are More Important Than Most Important Obesity Risk Gene 09/15/2009 The risk of becoming obese is 2.5 times higher for those who have double copies of the best known risk gene for overweight and obesity. However, this is only true if the fat consumption is high. A low fat diet neutralizes the harmful effects of the gene.

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Quake of 4.2 magnitude strikes central Italy-media 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters ROME, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy on Monday, sending residents rushing out onto the streets but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages to ... Defibrillators may not save women, study finds 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters (Adds industry comment, paragraphs 16-17) * Implantable devices may not reduce deaths in women * Women underrepresented in defibrillator studies * Future studies should focus on effectiveness in ... FACTBOX-Hunted al Qaeda militants in Africa 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. special forces in helicopters attacked a car in southern Somalia on Monday and killed one of east Africa's most wanted al Qaeda militants, witnesses and U.S. sources said. ... Raid said to kill top al Qaeda militant in Somalia 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters * Mombasa bombing suspect dead * Commandos attacked car in Barawe District * Pentagon refuses to comment (Recasts with U.S. sources) MOGADISHU, ... Work use of pesticides linked with Parkinson's 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. researchers said on Monday they had made more links between the use of pesticides and Parkinson's disease but said they only found a higher risk for people who use ... U.S. behind attack on militant in Somalia-US sources 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters (Adds details, Pentagon refusal to comment) WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Helicopter-borne U.S. special forces attacked a car in southern Somalia on Monday and killed one of the region's ... Defibrillators may not save women, study finds 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters * Implantable devices may not reduce deaths in women * Women underrepresented in defibrillator studies * Future studies should focus on effectiveness in women By Julie ... Combat veterans risk high blood pressure-US study 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Can the stress of war cause high blood pressure? Military veterans with repeated tours of combat duty are more likely to have high blood pressure than non-combat ... Steroids help some with vision-robbing clots-study 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters CHICAGO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Injections with a steroid improved the eyesight of more than one-quarter of patients suffering from vision-robbing blood clots, a leading cause of blindness, researchers ... US behind attack on militant in Somalia-US sources 09/14/2009 Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. special forces in at least one helicopter attacked a car in southern Somalia on Monday and killed one of the region's most wanted militants, U.S. sources familiar ...

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China's Potent Wind Potential 09/14/2009 Forecasters see no need for new coal and nuclear power plants. More Efficient, and Cheaper, Solar Cells 09/14/2009 New manufacturing techniques could cut solar power costs by 20 percent. Light Switch for Bladder Control 09/14/2009 A startup is developing molecular "light switches" for clinical use. Blog - Astronomers Plan Galaxy-Sized Observatory For Gravitational Waves 09/14/2009 An array of pulsars should shimmer as gravitational waves wash over it, making a galaxy-sized observatory Blog - The view from Crete 09/14/2009 Video - Solar Lab Tour 09/14/2009 Craig Lund, director of business development at 1366 Technologies, and Emanuel Sachs, the company's chief technology officer, give a behind-the-scenes look at the company's lab and pilot manufacturing line. Advertisement: 09/14/2009 Video - Improving Solar Cell Efficiency 09/14/2009 Emanuel Sachs, 1366 Technologies's chief technology officer and a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, explains the physics of solar cells and how to make them more efficient. Video - The Future of Solar 09/14/2009 Emanuel Sachs, 1366 Technologies's chief technology officer and professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, reflects on lessons learned from his earlier startup, Evergreen Solar, and discusses whether breakthroughs are needed for solar power to compete with conventional sources of electricity. Blog - Want 'n' waste 09/12/2009 The best of the rest from the physics arXiv this week

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President's Comments On Economy Examined 09/14/2009 President Obama has said the financial system is no longer in a grave crisis, and not in need of the government support it required a year ago. Kenneth Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard University, says though the financial system is not in the same state of crisis as last year, the government is still supporting it strongly. Obama Warns Wall Street Against Risky Behavior 09/14/2009 President Obama warned Wall Street Monday against returning to the sort of behavior that led to last year's economic meltdown. Obama also urged financial companies to take steps on their own to rebuild trust with the public. Consensus On Fixing Financial System Erodes 09/14/2009 When the financial crisis erupted last September, politicians, regulators and scholars from the left and right said it was so severe that something drastic needed to be done to prevent another meltdown. But now as a depression has been averted, consensus is slipping away into the muck of politics. Judge Rejects SEC-BofA Settlement Over Merrill 09/14/2009 A federal judge on Monday rejected a $33 million settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of America Corp., saying the SEC's accusations of inadequate disclosure by the bank over bonuses paid at Merrill Lynch must now go to trial. What Happened To The Push To Reform Wall Street? 09/14/2009 After last year's crash, there were loud calls to revamp financial rules to prevent another disaster. But the energy for a regulatory overhaul appears to have dissipated, even though the economy remains troubled. Wall Street, One Year After Lehman Brothers 09/14/2009 The massive financial services firm Lehman Brothers collapsed a year ago this week, and the economic meltdown that followed promised a transformation on Wall Street. Economics experts recall the disintegration of the banking giant, and what has really changed in the U.S. financial system over the past year. Obama Presses For Sweeping Financial Overhaul 09/14/2009 The president traveled Monday to the heart of Wall Street to outline proposed changes designed to prevent a crisis like the one that sent the global economy into a tailspin a year ago. U.S.-China Frictions Escalate Over Tire Tariff 09/14/2009 A trade row between the U.S. and China seems to be escalating. On Friday, the Obama administration announced it would increase tariffs on imports of Chinese tires. On Sunday, Beijing said it's investigating possible restrictions on imports of U.S. poultry and automotive products. Observers worry that a tit-for-tat trade war could slow any global economi […] Chevron Snags Natural Gas Deal In Australia 09/14/2009 U.S. energy giant Chevron says it's going ahead with a major project to extract liquefied natural gas off the coast of Western Australia. The project is one of the largest in the world and the biggest ever for Australia, which could become a major supplier of fuel to Asian economies hungry for energy. Trucker Team Brings Fresh Produce To Alaskans 09/14/2009 It's not easy to get fresh fruit and vegetables to Alaska. Some companies fly them in. Walmart trucks them in, along a long and potentially hazardous route. Annie Feidt reports for Alaska Public Radio.

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News In Technology Examined 09/14/2009 The NFL is playing some blacked-out games on its Web site, and there is controversy over Kurt Cobain's Guitar Hero avatar singing some very un-Nirvana songs. Omar Gallaga, technology culture reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, offers his insight. Fantasy Football: Increasingly A Woman's Game, Too 09/14/2009

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Some industry estimates say more than 20 million people play the online game — and a small, but increasing group of them are women. One group says they may use different techniques to make picks, but they play just as hard as men. Post Your 140 Characters Of Fame! 09/12/2009 Welcome to the party! As Scott Simon approaches his millionth Twitter follower, we're celebrating by inviting all of you to enter our 140 Characters Of Fame feature. Social Media's Growing Influence 09/12/2009 Host Scott Simon has nearly 1 million followers on Twitter. He speaks to media and technology expert Clay Shirky about the uses and implications of social media in politics, in which government collaborates with citizens to solve local problems. Health Care, As Seen Through Twitter 09/11/2009 There is a Twitter contest to come up with three-word health care reform policy statements. The prize is $100 to each of the five best entries. Some people with strong opinions about the subject submit their own. Are Post-Sept. 11 Airport Screens Just 'Security Theater'? 09/11/2009 While the technology to screen passengers has become more advanced and the check-in lines a little shorter, the question of whether flying is terrorism-proof remains. Some critics claim much security screening is needless. Students Get In Shape And Get Credit For Wii Class 09/10/2009 Students at the University of Houston can earn credit for playing Wii Fit for 20 to 30 minutes twice a week. Charles Layne, chairman of the Department of Health and Human Performance, says he sees the class as a gateway to other physical activity for students who might not otherwise engage in traditional sports. Souped-Up Hubble Makes A Comeback 09/09/2009 NASA has released the first collection of views from the recently refurbished Hubble Space Telescope. Thanks to new imagers installed in May 2009 during a visit from the space shuttle Atlantis, the 19-year-old orbiting observatory is more powerful than ever. Steve Jobs Returns To Stage At Apple Event 09/09/2009 Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs has returned to his showman role, taking the stage Wednesday at a product launch event for the first time since his nearly six-month-long medical leave. Jobs, who had a liver transplant this spring, got a standing ovation. The CEO unveiled a new iPod Nano with a built-in video camera, sound recording and speaker. Hackers Have It Easy 09/09/2009 Buying a password to almost anyone's email account can cost $100 or less. And although hacker services are illegal, the FBI rarely investigates. Washington Post staff writer Tom Jackman and Jon Erickson, a former hacker, examine how secure you are on the Internet.

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Navy Green: Military Investigates Biofuels to Power Its Ships and Planes 09/14/2009 Ships powered by algae and planes flying on weeds : that's part of the future the U.S. Navy hopes to bring to fruition. This week, the seagoing branch of the military purchased 40,000 gallons of jet fuel derived from camelina--a weedy relative of canola--and 20,055 gallons of algae-derived diesellike fuel for ships. [More] Electron Bolts: Even Deeply Bound Electrons Can Escape Molecules via Quantum Tunneling 09/12/2009 In quantum mechanics particles can escape from their confines, even if a barrier stands in their way, via a process known as tunneling. Tunneling is no mere quantum curiosity--tunneling electrons, for instance, are harnessed by scanning tunneling microscopes to observe on the smallest scales . Those probes can image a surface at the atomic level by detectin […] NO Good: Nitric Oxide May Be Key to Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance 09/11/2009 Researchers may be a touch closer to eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ) and anthrax, thanks to a troublesome air pollutant --nitric oxide (NO). [More] Hispanics Face Higher Cancer Risk from Breathing Household Chemicals 09/11/2009 Elena Rios still remembers going into the bathroom as a child and smelling a pungent odor from the big, round air freshener hanging on the back of the toilet. [More] Earlier Model of Human Brain's Energy Usage Underestimated Its Efficiency 09/10/2009 The human brain is an incredible energy drain. Taking up only about 2 percent of the body's mass, the organ uses more than a fifth of bodily energy . Ever more accurate calculations of its energy budget at the level of the neuron (nerve cell) are important to researchers ranging from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysts to evolutionary […] The Climate's Warm Future Is Now in the Arctic 09/10/2009 When the summer sea ice goes, the Arctic will lose the ivory gull, Pacific walrus, ringed seal, hooded seal, narwhal and polar bear-all animals that rely on the ice for foraging, reproduction or as refuge from predators. And the sea ice is going, faster and faster: In the past 30 years, minimum sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean has declined by 45,000 squa […] The Answer to China's Future Energy Demands May Be Blowing in the Wind 09/10/2009 After just four years of rapid development, China has the world's fourth largest wind power capacity : more than 12 gigawatts. However, the power of the breeze has become available so fast that the nation is struggling to make use of it.For instance, the Jiuquan wind power base in Gansu Province--better known as "Three Gorges on Land"--is e […] Japanese Lunar Mission Provides a Glimpse at How the Moon Took Shape 09/09/2009 The leading hypothesis for the moon's formation contends that a massive impact billions of years ago knocked a wealth of planetary material off of Earth, which coalesced into our lunar companion. [More] Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Created from Fat Cells 09/08/2009 The standard way to make induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for medical research is to scrape skin cells and mix up their internal clocks, coaxing them back into pluripotency over a matter of weeks. But now researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have turned their attention to another cell type in abundant supply: fat cells. The team of […] Threat Down Below: Polluted Caves Endanger Water Supplies, Wildlife 09/08/2009 The Bluestone River that straddles the Virginia-West Virginia border has long been a popular trout-fishing spot, as well as a source of drinking water for nearby towns. [More]

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Houses raided in New York terror probe 09/14/2009 Array 'Yale student's body found' 09/14/2009 Ed Pilkington Alleged Osama bin Laden recording released online 09/14/2009 Ian Black Europe unlikely to heed US calls for more troops in Afghanistan 09/14/2009 Julian Borger Iran agrees to October nuclear talks 09/14/2009 Julian Borger Bankers must scrap 'quick kills and bloated bonuses,' Obama says 09/14/2009 Andrew Clark Iraqi shoe-thrower to stay in jail 09/14/2009 Martin Chulov, Matthew Weaver Pregnant teen shot dead at bus stop 09/14/2009 Array Obama's dim view of transparency 09/14/2009 Cliff Schecter Feeling the heat 09/14/2009 Jay Stevens

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Lebanon’s Shadow Government 09/10/2009 The World Next Week Podcast: September 11, 2009 09/10/2009 September 10, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: allegations of election fraud plague Afghanistan; the U.S. Congress gets to work after its summer recess; and the United States m […] Hamas and Its Discontents 09/09/2009 Party Time in Tokyo 09/07/2009 The Fed's Political Problem 09/02/2009 What I Believe 09/01/2009 International Relations in the Post Cold War Era: Professor Colette Mazzucelli 09/01/2009 September 1, 2009 Y45.1000.001 International Relations in the Post Cold War Era Professor Colette Mazzucelli New York University Course Objectives Syllabus_Mazzucelli_IRPostColdWar.pdf Comparative Politics: Professor Colette Mazzucelli 09/01/2009 September 1, 2009 PSC02 (2) - Comparative Politics Professor Colette Mazzucelli Hofstra University Course Description Syllabus_Mazzucelli_ComPol.pdf Colette Mazzucelli 08/31/2009 Smart Aid for African Development; The Politics of Aid: African Strategies for Dealing With Donors 08/19/2009 September 1, 2009 A substantial rethinking of foreign aid has taken place since the mid-1990s, and Africa has been a site for experimentation, not least because the region receives the largest amount of aid relative to the size of its economy and population. In part because of a growing sense that aid […]

VuVox & Time Pictures of the Week {

Pictures of the Week 09/14/2009

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Best Tennis Shot Ever?

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Roger Federer's Between the Legs

14 Sep 09

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Between Two Ferns with Zach

08 Sep 09

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2300 1976 views views

The Onion Does LA Fires: Time Facebook & Lapse Video

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Language Media Medicine Mexico Nanomedicine Nanoscience Nanotechnology NASA NASA and Space Policy New Age Newspapers Numbers Obama Administration Physics Population Growth Public Issues Questions Quotes Rising Sea Levels Seawater Social Media Stock Market Swine Flu Teaching Technology TED The Little Guy The New Consumer The Presidency Transportation Safety Uncategorized Wall Street Walter Cronkite War Weather Workforce Housing

Categories { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { { {

Affordable Housing Africa Agriculture AIG Airline Safety Architecture Astronomy Automakers Aviation Bailout Biodiversity Blogs Body Brain Carl Sagan Censorship Climate Change CNBC CNN Communication Communications Congress Constitution Cosmos Courts Credit Crowdsourcing Detroit Disaster Recovery Economic Development

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Economic Recovery Economy Education Energy Enlightenment Exchanging Ideas FAA Fincancial Literacy Foreclosures Free Speech Freedom of Speech General Motors Geoengineering Global Warming Global Warming/Climate Change Google H1N1 Virus Health Health Care Housing Policy Human Body Hurricanes Intelligence Internet Iran Issues Journalism Justice Language Media Medicine Mexico Nanomedicine Nanoscience Nanotechnology NASA NASA and Space Policy New Age Newspapers Numbers Obama Administration Physics Population Growth Public Issues Questions Quotes Rising Sea Levels Seawater Social Media Stock Market Swine Flu Teaching Technology TED The Little Guy The New Consumer The Presidency Transportation Safety Uncategorized Wall Street Walter Cronkite War Weather Workforce Housing

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SharedEmergency is here for a number of reasons. First, the traditional media is failing the American public, and many stories and issues are ignored. Next, I discuss ideas and issues by also advancing potential solutions, so I am not just identifying a topic, but trying to constructively add to the voice of those seeking resolution of the problem. Third, I have ideas and like to write and broadcast in the "new media." Lastly, but most importantly, this blog is devoted to my son and his children, who I hope will inherit a better world. z

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