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President Obama's job approval in Ohio has dropped significantly in the last two months, dipping under the 50% mark for the first time, according to a new poll by Quinnipiac University. In the last Quinnipiac poll in Ohio taken in early May, Obama enjoyed a healthy 62% job approval rating, with only 31% disapproving. Today, Obama's job approval stands at 49%, with 44% disapproving - a twenty-five point net drop in just eight weeks. Not surprsingly, Obama has seen a corresponding drop among voters' approval of his handling of the economy: two months ago he had a net +21 approval...

The financial sector has just delivered a message to California, roughly translated as, “Quit working on cow tails and apologies to long-dead people.” A group of the largest banks in the US has announced that it will stop accepting California IOUs by Friday. The state will run out of cash by the end of the month if it cannot issue IOUs, as long as its $24 billion budget gap remains unresolved: A group of the biggest U.S. banks said they would stop accepting California’s IOUs on Friday, adding pressure on the state to close its $26.3 billion annual budget gap....

A new report in this month's issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Sexuality finds that sexual orientation can be changed — and that psychological care for individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions is generally beneficial and that research has not found significant risk of harm. The study, conducted by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), examined more than 100 years of professional and scientific literature from 600-plus studies and reports from clinicians, researchers and former clients principally published in professional and peer-reviewed journals. "This research is a significant milestone when it comes to the scientific debate...

Concerned that the veils, scarves, and head-to-coverings prescribed for women by Islamic law may be undermining both French culture and facilitating the subjugation of females by a Muslim patriarchy, the French government is considering outlawing the garb in public places. The hijab (head scarf for girls) has already been banned in French public schools. President Nicolas Sarkozy has called the Islamic dress code for women “a tool of repression comparable to the six-pointed star the Nazis forced Jews to wear. It is a step in the wrong direction—away from the freedom and equality our constitution guarantees to all. We cannot...

Nothing may be more important to public assessments of President Obama's leadership than the state of the economy and at this point there are political warning lights flashing.... The administration is trying to dampen down talk that they didn't get it quite right. Vice President Biden opened the door to questions on Sunday, telling ABC's George Stephanopoulos, "We and everyone else misread the economy." But he insisted that the stimulus applied "is the right package given the circumstances we're in" Obama, in Moscow, tried to modulate the impact of the vice president's words that the administration had somehow miscalculated. "No,...

For centuries, workers from many parts of the globe have been coming to the US to find work and support themselves. Many migrant workers have families back in their native countries who depend on them for remittances. But for some, a difficult economic climate, triggered by a collapse in the housing market, is causing the dream to evaporate. The worst US recession in decades has eliminated job opportunities for many immigrants, slowing the flow of money back home down to a trickle. That's especially true of the traditionally high-paying construction industry, often manned by Mexican workers.

Note: The following text is a quote: News American Forces Press Service Obama Proposes New Security Relationship with Russia By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 7, 2009 – President Barack Obama today called on current generations free from Cold War antipathy to chart a new course of U.S.-Russian relations that focuses on areas of mutual interests. Addressing an audience at the New Economic School in Moscow, Obama spoke about reducing nuclear arsenals, negotiating a missile defense program in Europe, and security topics such as Afghanistan and NATO. “Together, we can build a world where people are...

Despite devoting almost the entire Good Morning America program on Tuesday to Michael Jackson, ABC could only find three minutes for a hard-hitting Jake Tapper interview with Barack Obama. And even though co-host Diane Sawyer promised at the close of the piece, "And we'll have more of the President's interview with Jake Tapper later in the broadcast," the show never returned. Tapper, who was in Moscow to cover Obama's summit with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, quizzed, "Whether it's this summit with President Medvedev, or anything else, can you point to any reason why you're encouraged that your approach to Iran...

More Help Needed For "Sicker" U.S. Economy The U.S. probably requires a second stimulus package focusing on infrastructure projects because the $787 billion approved in February was "a bit too small," says Obama adviser and UC Berkeley professor... The U.S. probably requires a second stimulus package focusing on infrastructure projects because the $787 billion approved in February was "a bit too small," says Obama adviser and UC Berkeley professor Laura Tyson. Tyson, in a speech in Singapore today, said the first package will help, mostly in the third and fourth quarters, but what we have here is "sicker patient." Tyson...

We may know by the end of the week how the Democrats are claiming they will pay for their healthcare plans. News out of the House of Representatives is that they will introduce their bill on either Thursday or Friday of this week. In the mean time, on Tuesday a caucus meeting with Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) will be held on Tuesday to discuss the funding plans. This will be followed by a brief by House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) while Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will speak on Friday. Rangel is...

BOSTON — The Boston Globe’s owners have postponed a deadline for potential buyers of the newspaper to submit their initial bids. The New York Times [NYT] Co., which owns the Globe, had set a Wednesday deadline for nonbinding bids. But the Globe reports Tuesday that Goldman Sachs & Co., the investment banking firm hired to manage the sale, has told interested parties they will be given more time to prepare offers for the Globe and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

HappyBirthday,America!We hope our annual card finds you well and celebrating our Season of Freedom.   For almost a quarter century, we’ve sent these greetings to share our thoughts and pride in winning life’s lottery – being Americans.   Since we wrote last, much has changed…for America…and for the Kaufman clan (more on our family in Lindsay’s letter). For America, we experienced the worst economic upheaval since the 1970s…and, of course, elected a new president.   For those of us who believe in the magic of The American Soul, we know that whether or not we voted for President Obama,...

Issa unloads: Says GOP must address 'failures' of Bush and Hastert @ 1:15 pm by Michael O'Brien Republicans have a responsibility to reflect on the "failures" of leaders like former President George W. Bush and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), a prominent House Republican said Tuesday. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, argued the GOP must "throw everything we did wrong under the bus" — even if it means alienating some members of the party. Issa said that his committee and Republicans in general wouldn't be doing their jobs "if we're...

Sarah attracks attention, she draws crowds who listen more than bambi ever dreamed of. Sarah is simply a real person in a sea of empty suits (GOP) included. The left know it the attacks are coming hard and fast. Yet, every time sarah takes a knock, she bounces back stronger than ever. So, if she comes out an draws huge crowds as I predict she will, the left WILL attack her and those who came to listen. I believe this will have a two-fold affect. 1. She will not be affected 2. The MSN will cross the line and there...

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Updated: 12:00 AM ET July 7, 2009 Palin's Plan By Roger Stone It was 1962. Richard Nixon had had enough. Enough of being called "Tricky Dick, the man no one would buy a used car from." Enough of the elitist derision that had come his way since the Hiss case. He had had enough of the liberal media who consistently held him to a higher standard than his Democratic opponents and poked fun at his lack of sophistication - he being the son of a grocer. So Nixon blew. He announced the end of his career in seeking elective office;...

Note: The following text is a quote: HE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary __________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 7, 2009 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA IN MEETING WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS Ritz Carlton Moscow, Russia 6:14 P.M. (Local) PRESIDENT OBAMA: (In progress) -- not simply tolerate dissenting voices but also to respect and recognize dissenting voices. This is one of the elements, along with an independent media and adherence to the rule of law that has helped to solidify our own government during some very difficult times. I said in my remarks recently that the fact that...

"(George W.) Bush, wearing khakis and a knit shirt, was holding a driver in his gloved left hand. ... However incongruous the setting, the president plunged ahead. 'There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process that we have started, and we must not let them,' he said. ... His business out of the way, Bush barely paused for breath before saying, 'Thank you. Now watch this drive.' The abrupt segue illustrates the dilemma Bush will face over the next month as he relaxes and works at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., at a time of global...

GOP Ticket Leads in New Poll - Public Policy Polling Shows Clears Leads for McDonnell, Bolling, Cuccinelli - RICHMOND – Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today noted the results of a new poll released by the firm Public Policy Polling, which shows each of the three Republican statewide candidates with a clear lead following the Democratic primary election. Candidate for governor Bob McDonnell leads Creigh Deeds by a 49-to-43 margin; Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling leads Jody Wagner by 46-to-40; and Sen. Ken Cuccinelli bests Steve Shannon 45-to-38 in the race for attorney general. “Several polls conducted immediately after...

Uyghur youths now under official Chinese protection describe the deadly clash in Guangdong that sparked the July 5 protests and riots. Screen shot This screenshot from Sina News, posted on YouTube, shows the entrance of Shaoguan hospital, guarded by security officers following ethnic clashes at the Xuri toy factory June 25. HONG KONG—Three youths belonging to the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group and now under Chinese government protection after ethnic clashes in the southern province of Guangdong said fighting began when Han Chinese laborers stormed the dormitories of Uyghur colleagues, beating them with clubs, bars, and machetes. The deadly fighting...