Del.icio.us Links

links for 2009-10-05

October 5, 2009 /
  • Taliban Afghan momentum due to lack of U.S. troops – Sec. Defense Gates
    The Taliban has the momentum in Afghanistan now because of the inability of the United States and its allies to put enough troops into the country, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday
    (tags: afghanistan robert_gates)
  • FTC: Bloggers must disclose payments for reviews
    The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.

    It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.

    But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.

    The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

    The rules take effect Dec. 1.

    (tags: blogging)
  • California Senator Barbara Boxer's Approval is at 41 Percent?
    Barbara Boxer's Approval is at 41 Percent?

    Survey USA released a ton of results Friday, asking voters about about they approve of the president, their governor, and their senators. A couple results that jumped out at me:

    California:

    Sen. Feinstein: 46 / 44
    Sen. Boxer: 41 / 48

    Boxer's numbers are pretty lousy for someone running for reelection next year.
    ++++++++
    Yet another reason for Carly Fiorina to jump into this race.

    (tags: barbara_boxer carly_fiorina)
  • Obamacare: States Resist Medicaid Growth – California Senator Dianne Feinstein Cannot Support
    As the reform debate unfolds on the House and Senate floors, health-care negotiators are prepared for a flood of pleadings like the one Reid made that could add up to many billions, forcing reductions to other portions of the bill. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), for one, estimated that the Medicaid expansion could cost his state $8 billion a year. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) underscored those concerns with her own pledge: "I could not support a bill that pushes additional costs on California state government or its counties."
    (tags: Dianne_Feinstein Obamacare)
  • Voice of Bush’s Pentagon Becomes Harder to Hear – Petraeus for President?
    Gen. David H. Petraeus, the face of the Iraq troop surge and a favorite of former President George W. Bush, spoke up or was called upon by President Obama “several times” during the big Afghanistan strategy session in the Situation Room last week, one participant says, and will be back for two more meetings this week.
    But the general’s closest associates say that underneath the surface of good relations, the celebrity commander faces a new reality in Mr. Obama’s White House: He is still at the table, but in a very different seat.
    (tags: david_petraeus afghanistan barack_obama)
  • Barack Obama furious at General Stanley McChrystal speech on Afghanistan
    The relationship between President Barack Obama and the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been put under severe strain by Gen Stanley McChrystal's comments on strategy for the war.
    According to sources close to the administration, Gen McChrystal shocked and angered presidential advisers with the bluntness of a speech given in London last week.

    The next day he was summoned to an awkward 25-minute face-to-face meeting on board Air Force One on the tarmac in Copenhagen, where the president had arrived to tout Chicago's unsuccessful Olympic bid.