Release of Clinton documents, Detroit mayorial scandal, Supreme Court discussion on guns, and more

Notable excerpts of the day on the election, Supreme Court, stocks, energy, corruption, lobbyists, police, Utah’s STDs, and more from all over the country.

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Hillary Clinton’s White House schedules to be made public

The Los Angeles Times reports, “The National Archives plans to release today 11,046 pages of former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s White House schedules.” The Obama camp has questioned Clinton’s confidence in her foreign policy experience. Emphasizing she will be ‘ready on Day One’, Clinton has up to this point only cited her time as first lady in a general sense. “‘Arranged chronologically, these records document in detail the activities of the first lady, including meetings, trips, speaking engagements and social activities for the eight years of the Clinton administration,’ the National Archives said in a news release.” This archives release comes after Sen. Obama called for a release of the Clinton’s tax returns.

If politics today is based on who has the cleanest record, and the information is available for both candidates there should not be a problem. Sen. Obama has not made allegations and the released documents will tell the truth, a truth that will surely benefit one of the two remaining democratic hopefuls.

Supreme Court hears historic gun-ban case

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Supreme Court is heavily debating over the second amendment question “If such a constitutional right exists, how may legislatures and city councils limit that right?” The court has not explored the issue since 1939. The discussion began with the interpretation of the amendment’s text but quickly moved to one of its premise. The article gives a stellar recap of the primary positions taken and who took them. It also includes a link to a comprehensive transcript of the day’s arguments.

Stalemate in Detroit: City Council Asks Mayor to Resign, but He Refuses to Go

The New York Times reports, “The City Council on Tuesday asked Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick to resign in light of evidence that he had lied under oath and plotted to cover up an extramarital affair with his former chief of staff.” The council voted 7-1, despite mixed sentiments as to why the mayor should step down. “‘It is a vote of no confidence in the mayor’s ability to move the city forward at this time,’ said Councilwoman Sheila M. Cockrel, who drafted some of the 33 reasons listed in the resolution for the mayor to step down.” Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins said she voted yes because “‘my vote is not an indictment of the mayor so much as it is a request for the city to get back to normal business,’” The city population is not in agreement as the council as both sides were strongly represented on the issue. One citizen urged, “The people who elected him should determine what happens to him.” But another resident snapped, “I know a lie when I hear a lie, and I don’t want a mayor who lies to his people.” Fitzpatrick has no intention of stepping down at this time.

The city council members are citizens just like everybody else and are free to recommend the mayor step down just like anybody else. This scandal and its aftermath have wasted so much time and public funds for an already reeling post-industrial city, I cannot see how Kilpatrick can be the best man to lead the city at this time. Ms. Rose-Collins was right on the money.

Stocks come bounding back

“Stocks roared back Tuesday in the biggest daily gains on Wall Street since July 2002 after the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, but shadows still hover over the economy.”

“The cut also will mean lower interest rates for people with home-equity loans and some types of credit cards, [Joseph] Nader said.”

“The Fed has been reluctant to intervene in currency markets to support the falling dollar, especially since the currency’s decline has made exports less expensive and become a bigger driver of the U.S. economy.”

Energy Sector Roundup: Fed Cut Bumps Oil

“In the past several months, rate cuts have fed oil price rallies as investors bought crude futures to hedge against inflation and the falling dollar. Also, oil futures are priced in dollars, which makes them cheaper for foreign investors as the greenback falls.”

“ ‘Oil has become the ‘new gold’ – a financial asset in which investors seek refuge as inflation rises and the dollar weakens,’ said Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates in a new report. ‘The credit crisis has been fueling the flight to oil and other commodities, and that will last until the dollar strengthens or the recession becomes more pronounced.’ “

St. Louis County police picket for better pay

“About 100 St. Louis County police officers and their supporters picketed the county’s administration building on Tuesday afternoon demanding better benefits and higher salaries.”

“Dooley praised the police department as the area’s best but asserted that officers are adequately paid.”

“ ‘We have a retirement package that is second to none. We have outstanding midrange pay of around $52,000. And there’s no salary ceiling; no one gets topped out,’ he said.”

Confusion over L.A.‘s rules on lobbyists

“[Foes of Las Lomas] argue that by not registering, Orozco has shielded her company from having to reveal exactly how much it has spent promoting the controversial project. Such disclosure is required under the city’s ethics laws.”

“Under city law, a lobbyist is defined as anyone who is paid to work 30 hours on a specific city project over a three-month period and who makes one verbal contact with a single policymaker during that time.”

“That definition, written into the 2006 ballot measure known as Proposition R, is part of a larger ethics law designed to inform the public about lobbying activity, from the amount the advocates earn to the number of campaign contributions they collect for city politicians.”

STD capital of the U.S.

“Utah does not want to be known as the sexually transmitted disease capital of the United States. However, we might just earn that distinction, since our rate of STD infections is increasing at nearly four times the national average.”

I knew it was U-tah.

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Tags: detroitpoliceenergybarack obamast. louismiamigun violencecorruptionsupreme court

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