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There are lots of sources for news these days. That’s a good thing since we are no longer captive to the messages espoused by a single local newspaper or 3 TV network anchors.  But, with such media diversity, it is hard to know all that is going on.  

Every morning, I receive an email from my staff with clips and links to stories from the 6 Capitol Hill publications as well as other media from around the nation, highlighting things they think I should know about. Today, we will give you an abridged version of that. Here are a number of "clips" from the last several days with information you may not have seen. In each case, there is a sentence or two from the article to give you a flavor of what it is about. If you want to read more, click on the link for the entire article.   

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The $1.9 Trillion Gimmick – The Wall Street Journal

What passes for a joke on Capitol Hill these days is that Bernie Madoff, given his experience managing Ponzi schemes, should be put in charge of the federal budget.   

Bill would cause increase in Medicare premiums – The Associated Press

Seniors would pay $49 billion in higher premiums over the next decade as a result of legislation headed for a House vote that raises fees for doctors treating Medicare patients, according to an estimate by congressional budget officials.   

Obama: Job creation not goal of Dec. 3 jobs forum – The Associated Press

President Barack Obama says creating jobs isn’t the goal of a coming White House forum on jobs and economic growth.   

Salary raise counted as saved job – The Associated Press

President Barack Obama’s economic recovery program saved 935 jobs at the Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, an impressive success story for the stimulus plan. Trouble is, only 508 people work there.   

Stimulus Momentum Builds – Roll Call

With unemployment above 10 percent and Democratic poll ratings dipping, anxious leaders on both sides of the Capitol are gathering ideas and building momentum for what could be a significant new jobs package early next year.   

Recovery.gov Web site errors fuel criticisms by opponents of program – The Times Picayune

When President Barack Obama came before a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24 to talk about his $787 billion stimulus package, he acknowledged that there were many "who are skeptical of whether this plan will work.’

Paterson Assails Obama on Holding 9/11 Trial in New York – New York Times

Gov. David A. Paterson on Monday criticized the Obama administration’s decision to try five men linked to the Sept. 11 attacks in a civilian court in Manhattan.   

GAO calls for further guidance on reporting jobs created or saved by stimulus funds – Washington Post

A government audit set for release Thursday urges the Obama administration to provide further guidance on how recipients of economic stimulus dollars should report jobs created with the funding.   

Obama’s Pacific Trip Encounters Rough Waters – New York Times

For all of President Obama’s laying claim to the title of "America’s first Pacific president," Asia was always going to be a tough nut for him to crack.   

Obama: Afghan leaks firing offense – POLITICO

President Barack Obama says he is angry about leaks from his deliberations on more troops for Afghanistan, and said he considers such disclosures a firing offense.   

Barack Obama rewards big donors with plum jobs overseas – POLITICO

He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors.   

Congress Poised to Keep Homebuyers’ Tax Credit – New York Times

The Senate and House are poised to agree on a compromise measure to extend unemployment benefits that also would expand a popular $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers, despite a recent government report on extensive mistakes and suspected fraud in the program.   

Obama admits Guantanamo won’t close by Jan. deadline – Washington Post

President Obama directly acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay will not close by the January deadline he set, but he said he hoped to still achieve that goal sometime next year.   

Illinois prison could host military trials of detainees – LA Times
President Barack Obama says he is angry about leaks from his deliberations on more troops for Afghanistan, and said he considers such disclosures a firing offense. President Barack Obama says he is angry about leaks from his deliberations on more troops for Afghanistan, and said he considers such disclosures a firing offense.

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In this list, there are a few stories exposing the complete folly of the so-called "stimulus" plan and the number of jobs claimed to have been "created or saved" by this rapacious spending.  In Obama speak, today I created or saved 3,000 calories towards my diet. Clearly, I could have eaten 300 more calories if I tried, but I "saved" those calories due to my stimulus plan. At this rate, I could lose 100,000 calories while still gaining weight! Now, that is Obamanomics.

So, here’s a contest: Using Obama math, what have you "created or saved" towards a goal recently? Send your reply by clicking the comment button at the bottom of this post and we’ll tell you the best ones in our next posting.

Until then, may we all be filled with giving thanks this upcoming week for all the many blessings we have and for the freedom to express our pleasure and displeasure with our government.

Happy Thanksgiving!