Month: April 2011 Page 2 of 3

Here is your R&D for April 21st:

What Gary Johnson Brings to the GOP Presidential Race from the Atlantic
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson announced a bid for the Republican presidential nomination today.  Johnson was a two-term governor in New Mexico, but his stances on abortion and the legalization of marijuana will likely hobble his candidacy.

Obama has OK’d use of drones in Libya, Gates says from CNN
In a sign of the escalating conflict in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that President Obama has approved the use of Predator drones in Libya.

Gulf Council presents Yemen’s Saleh with exit plan from the Christian Science Monitor
The Gulf Cooperation Council has submitted a plan to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh that calls for him to step down from power within thirty days in exchange for immunity from prosecution.  This is the latest attempt at trying to resolve Yemen’s three month old period of political deadlock.

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Here is your R&D for April 20th:

Florida may be do-or-die for 2012ers from Politico
Although the Republican National Committee is threatening to sanction Florida if it does not move its primary date, that does not mean that Republican presidential contenders are going to ignore the state.  All of the Republican challengers view Florida as important in their 2012 primary strategies because of weaknesses in other early states.

Does Libya mission need ground troops after all? from CNN
As Libyan rebels continue to struggle to topple the Gaddafi regime, analysts are wondering whether it is time for NATO to send ground forces to protect civilians.  President Obama for his part has already ruled out sending ground forces into Libya.

New Terror-Alert System Unveiled from the Wall Street Journal
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled a new terror-alert system today.  The system replaces the color-coded system that the public did not understand and which attracted the attention of Saturday Night Live when the Bush administration enacted it in 2002.

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Here is your R&D for April 13th:

Tense Calm on Israeli-Palestinian Front from the Council on Foreign Relations
The Israelis and Palestinians are carefully watching the political upheaval that is taking place across the Arab world.  With the peace process between both sides deadlocked, Robert Danin, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, tells the Council on Foreign Relations that it is time for the U.S. to reenage both sides to reach a solution to the Middle East’s most divisive issue.

Budget: What got cut? Don’t know yet from CNN
Although Democrats and Republicans agreed at the last minute to cut $38 billion in spending to avoid a government shutdown, it is still unclear what got cut in the budget.

No end in sight from the Economist
Violence is growing in Syria and there are fears that a sectarian bloodbath could be starting.  This article from the Economist provides a quick overview of the situation for extempers.

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Here is your R&D for April 12th:

Ruling against Arizona immigration law upheld from the San Francisco Chronicle
Yesterday a federal appeals court in San Francisco refused to let Arizona police demand documentation from suspected illegal immigrants on the grounds that the state is intruding into federal authority.  The ruling was a 2-1 split.  State officials say they will appeal.

Mitt’s Challenge: Distinguishing “Obamacare” from “Romneycare” from RealClearPolitics
Shortly after Mitt Romney announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee for 2012, Democrats attacked him for his universal healthcare law in Massachusetts, which they say is similar to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which Romney opposes.  Romney’s record in Massachusetts may make him vulnerable in the 2012 GOP primary.

Japan ups nuke crisis severity to match Chernobyl from the Associated Press
After Japanese nuclear regulators did new assessments of the radiation that is leaking from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant they upgraded the crisis level from a five to a seven, making the disaster on par with the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

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Here is your R&D for April 11th:

Ivory Coast strongman arrested after French forces intervene from the Washington Post
French forces loyal to president-elect Alassane Ouattara stormed Laurent Gbagbo’s presidential palace today and arrested him without incident.  The fall of Gbagbo will likely end major hostilities in the Ivory Coast.

‘Road map’ to Libya peace comes as both sides show signs of fatigue from the Christian Science Monitor
The African Union has presented a road map to end the violence in Libya.  Moammar Gaddafi has accepted it, but the plan has sparked some protests by rebel groups.

Palestinians to tell West they ready for statehood from Reuters
Frustrated in talks with the Israelis, reports indicate that the Palestinians may approach Western nations for recognition as a state.  Palestinian leaders could ask the UN General Assembly for recognition this September.  The recognized state would include Palestinian territory prior to hostilities in 1967.

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