Friday News Roundup - Domestic

Friday News Roundup - Domestic

Three Secret Service employees will leave the agency amid the fallout from the Colombian prostitution sex scandal; American consumer spending was higher-than-expected in March, but existing home sales fell, raising fears about a stalling recovery; and the Environmental Protection Agency issued new air pollution rules for hydraulic fracturing. Ed Luce of the Financial Times, Laura Meckler of The Wall Street Journal, and Michael Scherer of TIME magazine join guest host Tom Gjelten for analysis of the week's top national news stories.

New polls indicate the presidential race is tightening – and that the economy tops voter concerns. Presumptive G.O.P nominee Mitt Romney visited a closed factory in the battleground state of Ohio to blame the president for the sluggish economy. President Obama is touting a modest improvement in employment over the past several months but scandals involving the Secret Service and the G.S.A are overshadowing his message. Republicans pushed a $46 billion tax cut through the House, ignoring a White House veto threat. The House also approved a short-term G.O.P bill to continue the flow of highway and transit aid to states. Ed Luce of the Financial Times, Laura Meckler of The Wall Street Journal, and Michael Scherer of TIME magazine join guest host Tom Gjelten for analysis of the week's top national news stories.

Guests

Edward Luce

Chief U.S. commentator, Financial Times; author of a new book, "Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent."

Laura Meckler

White House correspondent, The Wall Street Journal.

Michael Scherer

White House correspondent, Time magazine.

Comments

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One would imagine that the Secret Service would know how to be Serviced Secretly.

April 19, 2012 - 11:00 am

The U.S. Congress has about 250 to 300 nazis and their leaders are Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnel and Allen West. Now watch the Right wingers go crazy over this comment. But did any of them castigate Allen West for saying there are about 80 Communists in Congress? Not a one.

April 19, 2012 - 7:26 pm

Stale Fox News jokes and whatever that is that follows it. What is the rush to put up such nonsense? Being first is not everything when you got nothing!

April 19, 2012 - 10:58 pm

I hope you have time to talk about the “Buffet Rule” today.
There is only one point that I would make for those who are in the one percent. How much would you have without a stable and strong government, the legal system, safe roads a railway system, the power grid, air traffic control and communication networks. The ability to project our power to keep the sea lanes open throughout the world and the amazing work our diplomatic core. These are just a few things our government has done for all of us.
One more point if these tax breaks for investment are there so people invest. How come they do not apply to my 401K when I draw money out of it I will be charged as if it where actual income.

April 20, 2012 - 6:41 am

Bret Wooten Wrote:
...One more point if these tax breaks for investment are there so people invest. How come they do not apply to my 401K when I draw money out of it I will be charged as if it where actual income.

In answer to this portion of your question, it is becuase you bought the 401K with pretax dollars. So you are delaying your tax liability, but if you take dividends out i do believe you pay the dividend rate, but not the capital gains rate.

April 20, 2012 - 8:21 am

Alan West charges Progressives are Communists. Really ?

I thought the Progressives are about returning American jobs from Communist China.All the legislation Nancy Pelosi passed aiding jobs returning from Communist China was filibustered by Senate T-Partiers.

I`m willing to listen. Where is the right wing plan to return American jobs from Communist China,or Communist Vietnam?

April 20, 2012 - 8:22 am

"Top of the Morning wrote:
The U.S. Congress has about 250 to 300 nazis and their leaders are Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnel and Allen West. Now watch the Right wingers go crazy over this comment. But did any of them castigate Allen West for saying there are about 80 Communists in Congress? Not a one"

If you know anything about Nazis, they were Socialists that took control of private business. I think you got it the other way around or talking from that position.

April 20, 2012 - 8:40 am

Bret Wooten wrote: How much would you have without a stable and strong government, the legal system, safe roads a railway system, the power grid, air traffic control and communication networks. The ability to project our power to keep the sea lanes open throughout the world and the amazing work our diplomatic core. These are just a few things our government has done for all of us.

Obviously Elizabeth Warren, none of that would have been possible without private sector money. Government exists because of the free market, it is nothing more than a distributor of tax money taken from wealth creators. Most of us agree that the things you mention are proper Constitutional roles for the federal government just about everything else it does is not.

April 20, 2012 - 8:54 am

Top of the Morning wrote: " But did any of them castigate Allen West for saying there are about 80 Communists in Congress? Not a one."

Why should they? whatever you choose to call yourself today, Commies, progressives, liberals or socialists it's all pretty much the same thing.

April 20, 2012 - 9:14 am

Hey Marcus
I totally agree with you on this statement.

April 20, 2012 - 10:10 am

The only thing you can say about the Secret Service agents is hubris.

April 20, 2012 - 10:10 am

There is a whole long history of governments that have existed, and thrived for centuries, without free markets.

BTW, the railway system, power grid and communication networks in the USA are not a function of government.

April 20, 2012 - 10:15 am

SneezeWhiz wrote:
"There is a whole long history of governments that have existed, and thrived for centuries, without free markets"

Please enlighten us??

April 20, 2012 - 10:17 am

So you're saying Theodore Roosevelt, Republican President from 1901-1909, was a commie because he was a progressive.

April 20, 2012 - 10:18 am

how to pay to play

April 20, 2012 - 10:21 am

Sneeze if you follow the crazies thinking Jesus was a commie pinko

April 20, 2012 - 10:23 am

SneezeWhiz wrote:
"So you're saying Theodore Roosevelt, Republican President from 1901-1909, was a commie because he was a progressive."

Yes, it is all a matter of degree.

April 20, 2012 - 10:23 am

What do your guest think about Ann Romney saying "its our turn" Someone should be asking Ann Romney "when has it not been the 1%'s turn?"

April 20, 2012 - 10:25 am

It seems like Americans of a certain age (me included) bemoan this age of social media websites, but it seems to me these sites are doing a great job of weeding out the racists, mysogynists and other low-IQ people from the Secret Service, GSA, Congress, etc. I hope these people keep posting, and keep getting caught.

April 20, 2012 - 10:25 am

All of human history before about 1800.

April 20, 2012 - 10:26 am

I get it. We are going to be taxed!!! When is the conversation going to focus on the Feds monetary policy. Having managed our personal budget, through living within our income level, we have a largely self-funded retirement. Now we are living on the edge watching interest income on savings dwindling while bank profits are on the increase. Who is speaking for us?

April 20, 2012 - 10:36 am

Too bad Diane did not have Ted Nugent guest host, these doofuses are flailing.

No free markets before 1800 eh, pure genius!

April 20, 2012 - 10:40 am

Hey libertarians r us
For most of human history up til 19th century. Humankind has thrived and flourished under one form or another of FEUDALISM. Which was structured around relationships derived from holding of land in exchange for service or labour. You have been ENLIGHTEN.

April 20, 2012 - 10:50 am

libertarians r us wrote:
No free markets before 1800 eh, pure genius!

Since you apparently think that feudalism, serfdom and guilds are "free market" just because they aren't communist, I won't waste any more time on you.

April 20, 2012 - 10:52 am

libertarians r us wrote:
"Too bad Diane did not have Ted Nugent guest host.."
-----------------------------------------

Ted Nugent is his own worst enemy. Now on to new business. Back in 2008, super lib Keith Olbermann, then on MSNBC, advocated the rub out of Hillary Clinton. The Secret Service never interviewed Olbermann.

Howard Fineman suggested that some unnamed super superdelegate was going to have to find a way to persuade Hillary to drop out of the race, to which KO said:

"Right. Somebody who can take her into a room and only he comes out."

April 20, 2012 - 10:55 am

It seems Laura Meckler holds today's record for the use of "ya know."

April 20, 2012 - 10:57 am

Hey libertarians r us
yes not much of "free markets" existed as we know it today. Under the FEUDALISM systems that existed you where NOT FREE TO TRADE WITH WHOEVER A PERSON WANTED TO. You traded with the LORDS, BARONS, or KINGS' blessing or you found yourself in the dungeon or DEAD. NOT a very FREE system if you ask me. You have been ENLIGHTEN.

April 20, 2012 - 10:58 am

hybeerian wrote:' "You have been ENLIGHTEN.'

Enlightened! Since feudalism failed miserably and the point was the relationship of free market success and government sustainability. What are you talking about?

Definition of FEUDALISM
1: the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal with all land held in fee and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship, and forfeiture

April 20, 2012 - 11:00 am

kathleen wrote:
"What do your guest think about Ann Romney saying "its our turn" Someone should be asking Ann Romney "when has it not been the 1%'s turn?"
---------------------------------------------------

Then you sure do not want POTUS Obama to have a 2nd term considering he is a 1%er. Ann was referring to people like herself who are not waging a "war on women" in the way that Hilary Rosen and Bill Mahr are committed to doing.

April 20, 2012 - 11:49 am

Grant MacLaren wrote:
"It seems Laura Meckler holds today's record for the use of "ya know."
--------------------------------------

The reigning Olympic champion is still Caroline Kennedy.

She said "you know" 168 times during a 30 minute interview .

April 20, 2012 - 11:07 am

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