Gen. Colin Powell: The GOP's Savior in 2012

Sorry-Ass Field of Republican Contenders Would Be Obliterated if Powell Entered Race

Note: This commentary was originally published in May of 2011, but it is being reprinted because of the fact that a brokered convention may be planned by the Republican Party if Mitt Romney isn't able to obtain enough delegates to get the nomination. Political analysts have noted that former Florida governor Jeb Bush would be sought as a potential nominee, but I suspect millions of voters in this country no longer want to be placed in position to be  "Bush-whacked".  Based on conversations I've had, many believe twice was enough. 

Having said that, the following is directed at Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Sharon Day, Co-Chair of the Committee, and every registered Republican voter in the country. You can push for Bush if "The Fake" (Santorum), "Flipper" (Romney) or "Nu-Nu" (Gingrich) can't close the deal by the time you get to Tampa, Florida, but you all would be incredibly stupid if you fail to approach someone that many Americans, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent, consider to be a true symbol of the GOP. That person is General Colin Powell. 

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I know how much the mainstream news organizations enjoy taking polls on any given day, so I'd like to ask them to consider conducting national polls based on these questions:

1. With political upheaval and the threat of war looming in so many areas of the world, which Republican would you trust most to lead America if she were thrust into a third world war?

Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
John McCain
Sarah Palin
Ron Paul
Colin Powell
Mitt Romney

2. If the 2012 presidential election came down to these two candidates, whom would you choose? 

Barack Obama
Colin Powell

Hopefully, someone in the mainstream media will consider my request. However, in the event that they piss on it, I'm confident that I know what the poll results would be. You folks out there in cyberspace ready for this? Colin Powell would win the first poll by more than 80 percent! The second poll would probably be much closer, with Powell winning 54-46 percent.

Allow me to explain by revisiting sections of an article I wrote back in February of 2007 entitled, "Colin Powell: The X-Factor in the 2008 Presidential Race". Heading into 2012, I strongly support the comments made back then.

(Stated in 2007) It would make perfect sense to tout Powell as the Republican's savior because, as an insider, he had enough conviction to stand toe-to-toe with staunch supporters of the war in Iraq, as well as other members of the Bush Administration, and challenge them on foreign policy and war strategy. They refused to listen, let alone cooperate, and Powell ultimately "bounced".

He later appeared on several talk shows, and while not outright demeaning the people closest to President Bush, Powell made it abundantly clear that he could not support the policies and strategies put forth by key figures in charge of handling the war in Iraq. His willingness to distance himself from the inept, callous and pragmatic hawks spoke volumes about the character, soul and leadership of Colin Powell.

Powell served as National Security Advisor during the Reagan Administration.

Despite his debacle at the U.N., I am convinced that Powell's opposition to Bush Administration policymakers has earned him the respect and admiration of many Americans, and this could prove to be a significant selling point for voters searching for a true stalwart within the Republican Party.

Backing Powell as the Republican nominee would send shockwaves across the country, and it would serve as a warning shot to the Democrats that Republicans fully intend to regain their power base, and most importantly, the respect and confidence of the American people in the wake of numerous scandals.

Supporting Powell would also serve as a way to mend fences. Powell has been extremely forthright when stating how he now feels about making the case for war against Iraq, since the allegations of WMD proved false. To say he was not happy would be an understatement. Simply put, the Republican Party owes Colin Powell, and they owe him bigtime! Endorsing him would be the ultimate payback.

I am going to state this is the strongest possible terms. There is no candidate in the Republican field that would be able to match or beat Colin Powell for the nomination. Period!

McCain has lost major support because many voters no longer view him as the maverick he once was; where he often denounced President Bush and battled him to the point where it became personal. To many voters, he has simply morphed into a true politician.

In the case of "America's Mayor", Rudy Giuliani, he is a dead candidate walking. Once those skeletons start jumping out of the closet to bite him in the ass, you can stick a fork in old "Julie". Moreover, he is going to catch major hell from many key African-American leaders over the issue of race and the polarizing affect he had on Black communities in New York City. The videotape footage of him taking part in a riot with New York City police officers at City Hall will not help, either.

That leaves Romney and Brownback. I'm sorry, but did I just hear you folks say, "Who?" That's my point exactly. These two face the same uphill battle as Obama. The public has no idea who they really are. Powell has charm, charisma, appeals to Black and white voters, and has a proven track record of leadership at many different levels.

Furthermore, if Powell entered the race and a poll was taken the day after his announcement asking, "Which candidate would you trust most to lead the country during wartime or an unprecedented number of terrorist attacks on America?", I feel confident in saying Powell would win by a huge margin. McCain, because of his prisoner of war experience, would place a distant second. The rest of the field would be left twisting in the wind.

Given the fact that wars could erupt anywhere in the future, and terrorists may launch chemical and biological attacks on American soil, Powell's background as a four-star general and Secretary of State give him an enormous advantage over not just challengers for the Republican nomination, but Clinton and Obama as well.

General Powell also served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush.

Again, I made these comments back in 2007, and my feelings have not changed. I don't care who the GOP trots out in front of America, they will never be as "certified" or genuine as Colin Powell. They won't have the level of trust that he has with voters, and they certainly won't have his resume. Moreover, Powell, unlike any potential nominee the GOP may consider, would be able to siphon off a percentage of the Black vote from President Barack Obama, particularly those that have become disillusioned with Obama and his policies.

Why the Republicans aren't courting Powell is a complete mystery to me. They'd rather waste time promoting "Prime-Time Palin", Lyle Waggoner from the "Carol Burnett Show" (aka Mitt Romney), or "The Huck", none of whom are fit to spit-shine Powell's old army boots.

When will they learn that voters are sick and tired of the same, sorry-ass cast of "Just For Men" and "Aqua Velva"-using candidates. They really need to get with the damn program and stop behaving like a bunch of old farts!

In closing, I have a special message for General Powell. You have been a loyal servant of the GOP for many, many years. Some may argue that fact after you appeared on "Meet the Press" and endorsed Barack Obama for president. Others may respect what you did on the show as your Constitutional right, regardless of political affiliation. No matter what the case, I truly believe many in this great nation hold you in extremely high regard -- enough to make you the 45th President of the United States of America.

This commentary is from the heart and.....From The G-Man.

Photo 1 source: Cropped from Gen. Colin Powell on Flickr (Pictured in 2005)
Author: Charles Haynes
Permission: Creative Commons Attributions -Share Alike 2.0 Generic License 

Photo 2 source: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, ID C46448-13
Author: Unknown
Permission: Public Domain 

Photo 3 source: http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/Assets/1991/Army/DA-SC-91-07109.JPEG
Author: Russell Roederer
Permission: Public Domain

President Praises Arab League's Decision on Syria

Statement by the President

I applaud the important decisions taken by the Arab League today, including the suspension of Syria's membership, consideration of economic sanctions, and downgrading of diplomatic relations. After the Assad regime flagrantly failed to keep its commitments, the Arab League has demonstrated leadership in its effort to end the crisis and hold the Syrian government accountable. These significant steps expose the increasing diplomatic isolation of a regime that has systematically violated human rights and repressed peaceful protests. The United States joins with the Arab League in its support for the Syrian people, who continue to demand their universal rights in the face of the regime’s callous violence. We will continue to work with our friends and allies to pressure the Assad regime and support the Syrian people as they pursue the dignity and transition to democracy that they deserve.

Politics in Action: S. 1769, S. 1786 and H.R. 2838

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

S. 1769 – Rebuild America Jobs Act

(Sen. Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and 20 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly supports passage of the Rebuild America Jobs Act, which will put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job and modernize America's crumbling infrastructure.

The President proposed this measure to Congress as part of the American Jobs Act as a way to create jobs and improve the Nation’s long term economic competitiveness by allowing goods and services to more efficiently reach domestic and global markets.

S. 1769 immediately invests $50 billion in the Nation's highways, transit, rail and aviation. This includes investments to improve the Nation's airports, support NextGen Air Traffic Modernization efforts, and provide resources for the TIGER and TIFIA programs, which target competitive dollars to innovative multi-modal infrastructure programs.

S. 1769 will also take special steps to enhance infrastructure-related job training opportunities for individuals from underrepresented groups and ensure that small businesses can compete for infrastructure contracts.

Together, these investments will rebuild America – upgrading 150,000 miles of roads, constructing and maintaining 4,000 miles of rail, and rehabilitating or reconstructing 150 miles of runway.

S. 1769 also includes an innovative American Infrastructure Financing Authority capitalized with $10 billion, in order to leverage private and public capital and to invest in a broad range of infrastructure projects of national and regional significance, without earmarks or political influence.

S. 1769 is fully paid for through a surtax on those Americans making over $1 million per year. What is most important is putting Americans back to work right now and making sure the debt is not increased over time – and doing so in a way that is fair. S. 1769 meets that test.

By enacting S. 1769, the Congress and the President can work together to put America back to work and lay a foundation for future prosperity, and the Administration urges prompt and favorable action.

S. 1786 – Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011

(Sen. Hatch, R-Utah)

The Administration strongly opposes passage of S. 1786 because the bill does not give the Nation’s economy the jumpstart it needs right now, even as it would undermine key environmental and public health protections and seriously disrupt the Federal Government's services.

The President has proposed immediately investing $50 billion in the Nation's highways, transit, rail, and aviation, which would put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job and modernize America's crumbling infrastructure for the long-term.

The President has also proposed a national infrastructure bank capitalized with $10 billion, in order to leverage private and public capital in innovative and reform-minded ways without earmarks or political influence. None of these proposals are contained in S. 1786.

Among the problematic provisions that the Administration strongly opposes that are included in this bill are:

Title IV of the bill would impose an unprecedented requirement that a joint resolution of approval be enacted by the Congress before any major rule of Executive Branch agencies could have force or effect.

This radical departure from the longstanding separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches would delay and, in many cases, thwart implementation of statutory mandates and execution of duly enacted laws, increase business uncertainty, undermine much-needed protections of the American public, and create unnecessary confusion. There is no justification for such an unprecedented requirement.

Title V and Section 140 would undermine public health protections under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving ahead with long-overdue requirements to reduce air pollution from industrial boilers, solid waste incinerators, and cement plants.

They also weaken EPA's ability to ensure that its standards protect American families from a range of harmful pollutants including mercury and other toxic metals, as well as smog and soot.

Delaying implementation of important air pollution standards would increase exposure to mercury, which can impair children's ability to think and learn. Delay due to this title and section could mean foregoing over a hundred billion dollars in health benefits.

Each additional year of delay would mean foregoing tens of billions of dollars more in net benefits.

Title VI, the Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011, would block implementation of critical public health and safety protections. This Administration is committed to a regulatory system that is informed by science, cost-justified, and consistent with economic growth.

Finally, S. 1786 seeks to pay for its proposals with a rescission of $40 billion of appropriated funds that runs counter to the spirit of two recent bipartisan agreements, including the recently-enacted Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA).

Disregarding the BCA agreement and cutting already-tight discretionary program levels even further, as this bill would do, would be a serious mistake.

The bill's unspecified rescission of $40 billion in appropriated funds would cause serious disruption in the Federal Government’s basic services in support of critical national goals, such as supporting education, protecting public safety, and promoting economic growth.

If the President is presented with S. 1786, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

H.R. 2838 – Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011

(Rep. LoBiondo, R-New Jersey, and Rep. Mica, R-Florida)

The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 2838 because it includes a provision that would require the Coast Guard to decommission the icebreaker USCGC POLAR STAR.

The Administration has requested, and Congress has appropriated, funds to reactivate the USCGC POLAR STAR by December 2012 and extend that vessel’s service life for seven to 10 years. This effort will stabilize the United States’ existing polar fleet until long-term icebreaking capability requirements are finalized.

By directing the Commandant to decommission the USCGC POLAR STAR within three years, the bill would effectively reduce the vessel’s service life to two years and create a significant gap in the Nation’s icebreaking capacity.

The Administration supports Title II (Coast Guard and Servicemember Parity), which would promote parity between the Coast Guard and the other branches of the armed forces.

The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to improve H.R. 2838 as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Images courtesy of the following:

http://www.free-clipart-pictures.net, http://95.143.192.212/traffic/trains/page2.html and

http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com

President Obama Honors Outstanding Scientists

Obama: "It's Inspiring to See the Innovative Work Being Done by these Scientists and Engineers"

President Obama today named 94 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.

The Presidential early career awards embody the high priority the Obama Administration places on producing outstanding scientists and engineers to advance the Nation’s goals, tackle grand challenges, and contribute to the American economy.

Sixteen Federal departments and agencies join together annually to nominate the most meritorious scientists and engineers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for assuring America’s preeminence in science and engineering and contributing to the awarding agencies' missions.

“It is inspiring to see the innovative work being done by these scientists and engineers as they ramp up their careers—careers that I know will be not only personally rewarding but also invaluable to the Nation,” President Obama said.

“That so many of them are also devoting time to mentoring and other forms of community service speaks volumes about their potential for leadership, not only as scientists but as model citizens.”

The awards, established by President Clinton in 1996, are coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President. Awardees are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.

This year’s recipients are:

Department of Agriculture
Dr. Laura L. Bellows, Colorado State University
Dr. Jonathan G. Lundgren, Agricultural Research Service
Dr. Samuel L. Zelinka, U.S. Forest Service

Department of Commerce
Dr. Jeffrey A. Fagan, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. James A. Morris, Jr., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Erin M. Oleson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. David E. Richardson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Kartik A. Srinivasan, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. Jacob M. Taylor, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Department of Defense
Dr. Michael S. Arnold, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Dr. Jeffrey W. Book, Naval Research Laboratory
Dr. Tad T. Brunye, U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center
Dr. Dirk R. Englund, Columbia University
Dr. Ali Khademhosseini, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dr. Reuben H. Kraft, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Dr. Tonghun Lee, Michigan State UniversityDr. Anne J. McNeil, University of Michigan
Dr. Aydogan Ozcan, University of California, Los Angeles
Dr. Tomas A. Palacios, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Sumita Pennathur, University of California, Santa Barbara
Dr. Kyle M. Shen, Cornell UniversityDr. Amit Singer, Princeton University
Dr. Stephen M. Spottswood, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
Dr. Joseph M. Teran, University of California, Los Angeles
Dr. Lan Yang, Washington University in St. Louis

Department of Education

Dr. Roy Levy, Arizona State University

Department of Energy

Dr. Christian W. Bauer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Dr. Greg Bronevetsky, Lawrence Livemore National Laboratory

Dr. Fotini Katopodes Chow, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Carole Dabney-Smith, Miami University

Dr. David Erickson, Cornell University

Dr. Daniel C. Fredrickson, University of Wisconsin—Madison

Dr. Christiane Jablonowski, University of Michigan

Dr. Gang Logan Liu, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Alysia D. Marino, University of Colorado at Boulder

Dr. Victoria J. Orphan, California Institute of Technology

Dr. Wei-Jun Qian, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dr. Evgenya I. Simakov, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Dr. Feng Wang, University of California, Berkeley

Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Rommie E. Amaro, University of California, Irvine
Dr. Sonja M. Best, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Dr. David T. Breault, Children's Hospital Boston

Dr. John S. Brownstein, Children's Hospital Boston

Dr. Brian S. Caffo, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Nicola J. Camp, University of Utah

Dr. Pierre R. Comizzoli, Smithsonian Institution

Dr. Chyke A. Doubeni, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Dr. Jose C. Florez, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute

Dr. James L. Gulley, National Cancer Institute

Dr. W. Nicholas Haining, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Thomas L. Kash, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Dr. John C. March, Cornell University

Dr. Katherine L. O'Brien, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Carla M. Pugh, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Jamie L. Renbarger, Indiana University

Dr. Sara L. Sawyer, University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Hari Shroff, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, Florida International University

Dr. Linda E. Wilbrecht, University of California at San Francisco

Department of the Interior

Dr. Sasha C. Reed, U.S. Geological Survey

Dr. David R. Shelly, U.S. Geological Survey

Department of Transportation

Dr. Kristin C. Lewis, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Department of Veterans Affairs

Dr. Tanya Z. Fischer, Veterans Health Administration

Dr. Christine M. Freeman, Veterans Health Administration

Dr. B. Price Kerfoot, Veterans Health Administration and Harvard Medical School

Dr. Kristina M. Utzschneider, Veterans Health Administration and University of Washington

Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Gayle S.W. Hagler, National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Dr. David M. Reif, National Center for Computational Toxicology

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dr. Jonathan W. Cirtain, Marshall Space Flight Center

Dr. Ian M. Howat, The Ohio State University

Dr. Gregory G. Howes, University of Iowa

Dr. Benjamin A. Mazin, University of California, Santa Barbara

National Science Foundation

Dr. Katherine E. Aidala, Mount Holyoke College

Dr. Hatice Altug, Boston University

Dr. Amir S. Avestimehr, Cornell University

Dr. Joshua C. Bongard, University of Vermont

Dr. David J. Brumley, Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Elizabeth S. Cochran, U.S. Geological Survey

Dr. Noah J. Cowan, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Xiangfeng Duan, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Michael J. Escuti, North Carolina State University

Dr. Demetra C. Evangelou, Purdue University

Dr. Benjamin A. Garcia, Princeton University

Dr. Tina A. Grotzer, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Dr. Lasse Jensen, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Benjamin Kerr, University of Washington

Dr. Benjamin L. Lev, Stanford University

Dr. Elena G. Litchman, Michigan State University

Dr. Yasamin C. Mostofi, University of New Mexico

Dr. Lilianne R. Mujica-Parodi, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Dr. Andre D. Taylor, Yale University

Dr. Claudia R. Valeggia, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Maria G. Westdickenberg, Georgia Institute of Technology

Smithsonian Institution

Dr. Justin C. Kasper, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Image courtesy of http://sciencewomen.blogspot.com.

Seventeenth Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

Vice President Joe Biden honors the 17th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. http://whitehouse.gov/1is2many

Cuomo Announces Additional Assistance for Flood Victims

Sends Letter to President Obama Requesting Further Federal Help

Governor Andrew Cuomo, joined by his Upstate Storm and Flooding Recovery Task Force, today announced additional assistance for local communities, businesses and residents recovering and rebuilding from the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Cuomo also sent a letter to President Obama requesting additional federal assistance to help with the recovery efforts.

“Over the past weeks, New Yorkers have stood together, neighbor helping neighbor, and supported each other as we recover from Hurricane Irene and the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee,” Governor Cuomo stated.

“Since the storms first came on the radar, state agencies and local governments have been working around the clock to keep New Yorkers safe and to rebuild as quickly as possible. Although much work has been done, there is still a long way to go and today we are leveraging additional state resources and calling on the federal government to provide further help so those affected by these storms can return to life as normal.”

NY Works: Neighborhood Rebuilding Corps

A new program called NY Works: Neighborhood Rebuilding Corps has been launched to provide temporary work to several hundred unemployed New Yorkers for a three month period to assist in rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. This program builds upon the Governor's successful "Labor for Your Neighbor" initiative where more than 2,000 New Yorkers heeded the call and signed up to help victims of the storm clean up during Labor Day Weekend.

The Neighborhood Rebuilding Corps program is funded by up to a $16 million emergency grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and provides temporary employment that will enable individuals to reenter the workforce by doing disaster recovery work.

Temporary workers will be trained to perform demolition, cleaning, repair, renovation, and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed public structures, facilities, and property that are located within designated disaster areas.

The first priority is to get those workers who are temporarily or permanently unemployed as a result of the storm back to work. Under this program, New York will hire part-time workers for approximately 20 weeks at an average wage of $15 per hour. Most of these workers will be directly employed by the State Labor Department and some will be employed by the affected counties.

Extension of Due Dates for School Tax Bills

Cuomo additionally announced that he will grant a penalty and interest free extension to taxpayers in affected areas for the payment of school taxes. School districts in affected counties should request an extension from the Department of Tax and Finance as soon as possible. The State has already received requests from several school districts in State Disaster Emergency areas affected by the storms.

School districts in the following counties are requesting extensions:

Broome: Binghamton; Chenango-Forks; Chenango Valley; Deposit; Johnson; Susquehanna Valley; Union-Endicott; Vestal
Delaware: Andes; Roxbury; Sidney; Stamford
Essex: Moriah
Greene: Catskill; Hunter-Tannersville
Schoharie: Jefferson; Schoharie; Sharon Springs
Ulster: Marlboro; Onteora; New Paltz
Tioga: Candor
Washington: Granville; Hartford; Salem
Orange: Warwick Valley; Washingtonville
Hamilton: Wells

Additional school districts may be added as requests are processed.

Fee Waiver for Replacement of State Documents

Governor Cuomo also announced that certain fees or payments required for the replacement of state documents will be waived to allow victims of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee to replace lost or damaged state documents at no cost.

The following agencies will waive certain replacement document fees:

Department of Motor Vehicles: registration certificate or license plate for a motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle; non-driver identification card or driver’s license; certificate of title; and registration certificate or number plate for a snowmobile, vessel, limited use vehicle, or an all-terrain vehicle.

Department of State: documents provided by the Division of Corporations or related to the Uniform Commercial Code; barbering licenses; pocket card for real estate salespersons and brokers; license, certification, or pocket card for real estate appraisers, and other documents.

Department of Health: certificates or certified transcripts of birth, and certificates of live birth, death, or fetal death; certification, certified copy, or certified transcript of a certificate of dissolution of marriage; and certified transcript of a marriage.

Department of Taxation and Finance: highway use tax certificate or registration and a fuel license or decal.

State Liquor Authority: business licenses issued by the Authority.

State Education Department: certificate of authorization to provide professional engineering or land surveying services and registration certificates and licensing.

In a letter sent today to President Obama, the governor requested the following actions:

Waiver to Expand Eligibility for Flood Insurance for Homeowners and Farms

Due to the unexpected nature of two "500 year floods," many New Yorkers are without flood insurance. Crop insurance programs that were designed for large, mid-west states are not geared to New York’s smaller, diverse specialty crop operations. As a result, few New York farms that incurred damage from the storms carried crop insurance or were enrolled in the non-insured crop disaster assistance program (NAP).

As flooding of such an extreme nature is rare, most homeowners were not insured. Unless federal requirements are relaxed, they will be unable to obtain compensation for loss or damage to their homes, resulting in the potential loss of entire neighborhoods and communities.

Cuomo is requesting a waiver to allow New Yorkers in impacted areas to retroactively enroll in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, and to allow New York agricultural producers to retroactively enroll in crop insurance and NAP in order to be eligible for all USDA-Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance programs.

Waive Limitations on FEMA-Funded Property Acquisitions

Homeowners that have been repeatedly flooded and wish to participate in a FEMA-funded buyout are unable to receive fair market value for their homes. Cuomo is asking FEMA to waive certain requirements for property acquisitions.

Emergency Housing for Displaced Families and Individuals

The governor is asking the Internal Revenue Service to temporarily suspend certain requirements for state-supported housing in order to allow owners and managers to rent properties to flood victims who may not otherwise meet strict income and age restrictions.

The request specifically asks that given the current emergency declared in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the state be temporarily relieved of requirements of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Service Code, which mandates restrictions on buildings receiving Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).

The state has identified hundreds of units of vacant housing in buildings receiving the LIHTC that are located either within emergency regions or in counties immediately adjacent.

Under the terms of the governor's request, an owner/manager of a LIHTC building may provide temporary emergency housing to those displaced by a major disaster. No current tenant in these properties can be displaced or evicted as a result of this action.

Waive HUD Requirements to Allow Displaced Homeowners to Move Into Foreclosed Properties

Approximately 3,000 buildings have suffered total destruction or major damage and in certain communities many residents are in urgent need of housing. Governor Cuomo is asking the Department of Housing and Urban Development to waive certain requirements that would allow displaced families to move into available foreclosed properties.

Expedite Small Business Administration Emergency Loans

To date, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has only approved 17 out of 464 loan applications for a total of $603,100. Cuomo is asking the SBA to streamline its application requirements and expedite processing of these critical loans for New York businesses.

Enhance Flood Mitigation Efforts

Debris clearance from waterways is vital to reduce the threat of future damage. Governor Cuomo is asking FEMA to remove its restrictions on reimbursement for debris removal, which if waived would permit debris to be cleared a quarter mile from improved infrastructure.

Additionally, an Army Corps of Engineers study of debris removal in the Susquehanna, Mohawk, Delaware, and Schoharie watersheds was proposed in 2006, but never implemented. Cuomo is requesting for that study to be commenced.

Permit New York to Access the Emergency Watershed Protection Program

The governor is requesting for New York State to be granted access to the Emergency Watershed Protection program. This program of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would provide funds to clear debris-clogged channels, fortify undermined and unstable stream banks, and address threats to water control and other public infrastructure. The governor is additionally requesting that NRCS expedite damage survey reports needed to begin implementation of this program.

Since the floods hit, local, state and community leaders joined by residents have been working non-stop to get things back to normal. Status to date in key areas includes:

Transportation: The recent storms damaged or caused obstruction to about one-third of the state's total highway system, resulting in closure of nearly 400 road segments and bridges. As of today, all but eight bridges and 15 road segments have been repaired and reopened. Those that remain closed suffered the most extensive damage and require significant reconstruction.

The State Department of Transportation has deployed a daily average of more than 950 crew members and 650 pieces of equipment to assist with damage assessment and field work over the twenty-day period since the storms. DOT fielded teams to complete approximately 4,560 damage assessments of pavement, bridges, roadsides, streams, signals, and utilities sites. This includes approximately 2,880 damage assessments on the state system and 1,680 damage assessments on the local system.

Maintenance crews cleared storm debris and initiated restoration work on approximately 5,700 miles of roadway and repaired approximately 1,200 miles of roadway in response to the two storm events. The state system is comprised of approximately 15,600 miles of roadway.

Water Treatment and Environmental Actions: Seventy-one wastewater treatment plants reported problems after the storms, including 36 with severe damage and 23 with moderate damage.

On September 15, Governor Cuomo together with the Environmental Faciliteis Corporation announced the creation of the Hurricane Emergency Loan Program (HELP), a $25 million loan fund that will provide up to $1 million in interest-free loans for municipalities seeking immediate repairs to drinking water and/or wastewater treatment facilities.

Department of Environmental Conservation staff and private contractors vacuumed and pumped out home-heating oil spills and raw sewage from more than 500 homes to address imminent health threats. DEC is also assisting business and commercial properties in removing hazardous materials and contaminants. With regard to flood control, 241 dams have been inspected, along with 20 levees and flood control structures.

Agriculture: Preliminary agricultural damage estimates for the two storms total $73 million, with more than 200,000 acres of crops being damaged. Farmers lost both cash crops and crops intended to feed livestock. Governor Cuomo created a $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund to assist in rebuilding communities and the agricultural industry in hard-hit areas.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Safety and Inspection division has conducted approximately 2,000 disaster investigation visits in 15 counties. Food inspectors will continue to visit retail and wholesale establishments to conduct damage assessments and to help them reopen.

The State is continuing to work with dairy farmers and milk processors to make sure that milk trucks can pick up and deliver milk to processers despite damage to roads.

Homeowner Recovery: Beginning today, residents can apply for the New York State Storm Relief Rebate Program, an $8 million initiative announced by Governor Cuomo last week to cover the costs of replacing vital household appliances and equipment, such as refrigerators, boilers, washing machines, and furnaces damaged by recent flooding.

Rebates will be a fixed amount for different appliances and could cover up to 100 percent of the costs of a purchase. If the cost of the appliance exceeds the cap, the program will pay a portion of the total costs up to the cap. For more information, visit https://www.nysappliancerebates.com/ or call the Relief Rebate Program hotline 1-877-NY-SMART (877-697-6278).

To help homeowners and businesses return to their dwellings quickly and safely, the New York Department of State has conducted an intensive effort with municipal code enforcement officials from across the state to evaluate buildings for habitability. Over 12,000 structures in seven counties have been evaluated and either deemed safe for return or identified for further action.

Insurance: The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has mobilized to help New Yorkers with their claims regarding property loss and damage. DFS has put all companies that sell homeowners and auto insurance on alert to be prepared to handle claims. Further, DFS staff has been sent to join other state and local agencies at state and at local emergency operations centers.

Over the past weeks, the DFS's mobile unit and staff has traveled to hard hit locations to provide on-the-spot assistance for consumers. In addition, health insurance companies have been instructed to accommodate consumers who had to evacuate their homes and as a result have to seek care from out-of-network doctors or other health providers.

DFS has set up an online "Homeowner's Resource Center" to offer detailed information and a number of useful tools consumers may find helpful as well as a hotline for storm and disaster-related help.

For additional help or information, please visit www.ins.state.ny.us/hmonindx.htm. Consumers can contact DFS's Consumer Services Bureau at 800-342-3736. Disaster related calls only should go to the Department's disaster hotline at 800-339-1759.

Image courtesy of http://www.cksinfo.com.

OrthoNet Holdings, Inc. Expands into Hudson Valley

$4.5 Million in Private Investment Will Retain 350 Jobs and Create 155 New Jobs

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that OrthoNet Holdings, Inc. will invest up to $4.5 million to expand its national headquarters in White Plains, retaining 350 jobs and creating a projected 155 new jobs to boost the Hudson Valley economy. OrthoNet Holdings is a national leader in orthopedic specialty benefit management.

“The expansion of OrthoNet demonstrates our commitment to attracting private sector investment and stimulating job growth in New York,” said Cuomo.

“I am proud to have worked with OrthoNet and our local partners to ensure New York jobs remain in the hands of New Yorkers.”

Supported by an incentive package including up to $3 million in Excelsior Tax Credits from Empire State Development and $31,000 in sales tax exemptions from the County of Westchester IDA, OrthoNet will be able to significantly expand its presence as a key economic and employment resource for the local community, while meeting its mission of providing services that promote high-quality, cost effective health care.

“We are excited about keeping and expanding our business in Westchester,” stated OrthoNet’s President and CEO Dr. Roger Shedlin.

“This means our excellent local workforce will not face relocation or disruption. The support from ESD and WIDA will help enable our continued growth, and job creation, here in New York.”

OrthoNet is the nation’s largest provider of musculoskeletal benefit management services. For over sixteen years the Company has called Westchester home, successfully growing a business that works with most major health plans, providing a wide array of programs related to orthopedics, rehabilitation and related clinical services throughout the United States and its Territories. These initiatives create efficiencies that keep treatments affordable, while promoting improved clinical outcomes and greater patient access to the most appropriate care.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “As OrthoNet grows so will employment opportunities for Hudson Valley residents. Over the next five years, their aggressive agenda for corporate expansion has the potential for significant job creation and economic activity to support the local community. I want to thank our local partners, including Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and his strong team for their outstanding efforts in helping keep these jobs in the Hudson Valley.”

“From day one I have made economic growth a cornerstone of my administration. Attracting and retaining business in Westchester is how to put people to work and strengthen the economy. Partnering with OrthoNet not only maintained jobs but created new ones. I would also like to thank Empire State Development (ESD) for collaborating with my IDA team to make this possible,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Image courtesy of http://www.ortho-net.com.

The Assassination of Barack Obama: The Three Key Bullets

The Economy, Frothy-Mouthed Republicans and the Mainstream Media Have Mortally Wounded the President

According to history, four U.S. presidents have been assassinated in office: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. Well, I would argue that President Barack Obama is the fifth U.S. president to fall victim to not just one assailant, as was the case with all of the aforementioned, but three.

The first bullet to strike the country’s first Black president was the economy, which has continued to lag since Obama took office, and it only seems to be getting worse. With all sectors of the economy, most notably job growth, in a downward spiral, and the U.S. credit rating being downgraded, Obama is hemorrhaging political clout to the point where it can no longer be controlled -- and he is getting weaker by the day.

Calling press conferences, to instill confidence in Americans and Wall Street investors, has become the equivalent of placing a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. Even he knows more must be done to manage the trauma that is paralyzing his Administration. Still, the “Kapi'olani Kid” stands before the nation, hemorrhaging and hiding his discomfort, because he knows the world is watching and promises pledged in 2008 must somehow be fulfilled.

The second bullet to strike the former senator was the Republican Party, led by House Speaker John Boehner. In their quest to prove that Washington, D.C. is not “New Jack City”, and make Obama a one-term president, the GOP – with the assistance of the “Tea-Cons”, the newly-elected Tea Party congress members – fired and pierced President Obama’s heart by forcing him to extend the Bush tax cuts and make concessions during the debt ceiling negotiations that would devastate the poor, seniors and many of the nation’s veterans.

The GOP bullet has caused significant damage to Obama’s vital areas: leadership and credibility with world leaders and the downtrodden of America. Now, he struggles to hide his disdain for the political process and maintain some sense of balance between both parties each time he takes to the podium to address the American people. With this type of energy being given off by the President, could this be the reason why the Presidential Seal of the United States has inexplicably fallen off the podium on occasion?

The third bullet to strike the loving husband and devoted father was the mainstream media. At one time, FOX News and other conservative news and radio outlets were largely responsible for attacking the Obama Administration on everything from illegal immigration to Wall Street regulation. These days, even the liberal media is openly attacking Obama for reneging on numerous pledges that were made when he ran for president.

The situation is eerily reminiscent of what took place on February 27 in 1968. It was on this date that President Lyndon B. Johnson stated, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle-America.” The statement was in reference to the fact that the “Most Trusted Man in America”, journalist Walter Cronkite, spoke out in opposition to the Vietnam War during a live news broadcast.

With major media, liberal voters and members of his own political party back-peddling, as evidenced though Obama’s abysmally low approval rating, he must be feeling as though he’s reached a “Cronkite moment” in his presidency. Who could blame him?

Indeed, America is facing its greatest challenge -- as it teeters on the brink of economic and social calamity. We only need to look at the economic conditions and chaos unfolding in London, Greece, Spain, Israel, China and other countries.

People are angry beyond words and taking to the streets in protest. If you think it can’t happen in America, then I suggest you take a close look at the situation in Philadelphia and other impoverished cities with high rates of unemployment. Make no mistake; the “wilding” has started...as a president bleeds out.

President Barack Obama has been mortally wounded, and God, the First Lady and his children are the only ones capable of serving as first responders on a daily basis. Without question, things are very, very bad, but I want everyone that claims to love this country to keep something in mind. Things would surely get a hell of a lot worse if President Barack Obama, heaven forbid, suddenly succumbed to these wounds…or a stress-induced heart attack. It's time to stop attacking the President, and start praying for him, his family, and this great nation.

This commentary is from the heart and…..From The G-Man.

Image courtesy of http://www.publicdomainpictures.net.

First-Ever Oil Savings Standards for Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses

New Standards Will Save $50 Billion in Fuel Costs and Over 500 Million Barrels of Oil

WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama will meet with industry officials to discuss the first of their kind fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles and to thank them for their leadership in finalizing a successful national program for these vehicles.

This meeting marks the Administration’s announcement of the standards, which will save American businesses who operate and own these commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the standards in close coordination with the companies that met with the President today as well as other stakeholders, following requests from companies to develop this program.

The cost savings for American businesses are on top of the $1.7 trillion that American families will save at the pump from the historic fuel-efficiency standards announced by the Obama Administrations for cars and light duty trucks, including the model year 2017-2025 agreement announced by the President last month.

“While we were working to improve the efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks, something interesting happened,” said President Obama.

“We started getting letters asking that we do the same for medium and heavy-duty trucks. They were from the people who build, buy, and drive these trucks. And today, I’m proud to have the support of these companies as we announce the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium-and heavy-duty trucks.”

“Thanks to the Obama Administration, for the first time in our history we have a common goal for increasing the fuel efficiency of the trucks that deliver our products, the vehicles we use at work, and the buses our children ride to school,” said Secretary LaHood.

“These new standards will reduce fuel costs for businesses, encourage innovation in the manufacturing sector, and promote energy independence for America.”

“This Administration is committed to protecting the air we breathe and cutting carbon pollution – and programs like these ensure that we can serve those priorities while also reducing our dependence on imported oil and saving money for drivers,” stated EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

“More efficient trucks on our highways and less pollution from the buses in our neighborhoods will allow us to breathe cleaner air and use less oil, providing a wide range of benefits to our health, our environment and our economy.”

Under the comprehensive new national program, trucks and buses built in 2014 through 2018 will reduce oil consumption by a projected 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons.

Like the Administration’s historic car standards, this program – which relies heavily on off-the-shelf technologies – was developed in coordination with truck and engine manufacturers, fleet owners, the State of California, environmental groups and other stakeholders.

The joint DOT/EPA program will include a range of targets which are specific to the diverse vehicle types and purposes. Vehicles are divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational vehicles (like transit buses and refuse trucks).

Within each of those categories, even more specific targets are laid out based on the design and purpose of the vehicle. This flexible structure allows serious but achievable fuel efficiency improvement goals charted for each year and for each vehicle category and type.

The standards are expected to yield an estimated $50 billion in net benefits over the life of model year 2014 to 2018 vehicles, and to result in significant long-terms savings for vehicle owners and operators.

A semi-truck operator could pay for the technology upgrades in under a year and realize net savings of $73,000 through reduced fuel costs over the truck’s useful life. These cost saving standards will also reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants like particulate matter, which can lead to asthma, heart attacks and premature death.

By the 2018 model year, the program is expected to achieve significant savings relative to current levels, across vehicle types. Certain combination tractors – commonly known as big-rigs or semi-trucks – will be required to achieve up to approximately 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018, saving up to 4 gallons of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, separate standards are required for gasoline-powered and diesel trucks. These vehicles will be required to achieve up to approximately 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018. Under the finalized standards a typical gasoline or diesel powered heavy-duty pickup truck or van could save one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

Vocational vehicles – including delivery trucks, buses, and garbage trucks – will be required to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 percent by model year 2018. These trucks could save an average of one gallon of fuel for every 100 miles traveled.

Beyond the direct benefits to businesses that own and operate these vehicles, the program will also benefit consumers and businesses by reducing costs for transporting goods, and spur growth in the clean energy sector by fostering innovative technologies and providing regulatory certainty for manufacturers.

More information is available on EPA’s web site at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm and on NHTSA’s web site at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

Image courtesy of http://www.pureclipart.com/trucks-clipart.php.

What, If Anything, Does U.S. Credit Downgrade Mean?

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's made the historic move to downgrade the United States' long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+.

Sources:MSNBCCNNXinhuaForbes

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

By Tracy Pfieffer

Anchor: Blake Hanson

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