Bush Declines an Invitation to Ground Zero??

Former president George W. Bush declined an invitation sent by President Obama to attend an observance at New York's ground zero following Osama's death.  The observance is in remembrance to the 3,000 people that passed in the al-Quida attack on Sepetember 11, 2001, during Bush's presidency.  Obama plans on meeting with the families that lost a loved one on this awful day in American history.

Spokesperson, David Sherzer, for former president Bush says,"President Bush will not be in attendance on Thursday, he appreciated the invite but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight. He continues to celebrate with Americans this important victory in the war on terror."

Surprisingly, president bush has stayed very low-key during these hard times with the war on al-Quida.  Although, it does seems just a bit strange that the president that declared the war in the first place has chosen to step out of such a big occasion, that would bring such closure to the victims families he grew so close with. 

Bush has issued a statement though congratulating Obama and claims that he continues to celebrate with all Americans through this important victory in the war on terror.

A blog written by Thomas Danh

    In an article written by Thomas Danh, he's describing a proposal presented by Obama relating to his health care plan.  According to his article, Obama's plan is to have networks of hospitals, doctors, rehabilitation centers and other providers to work together to eliminate extra expenses.
    Unfortunately, the article isn't really well written. He presents this plan, but doesn't go into much detail. I'd have to do my own research to actually figure out what the proposal is all about.  He says how much we could save with this plan, but what exactly is the plan?  This post has a lot of potential but it really missing key pieces of information.  I leave with more questions after reading the post than I started with. Such as, how the organizations work together?  What are some of the specific pros and cons of the proposal?  What happens if the plan goes wrong?
    Thomas, A for effort, but in the end this wasn't a very substantial post.
  

A Louisiana Man on Death Row Found Innocent

    In 1985, John Thompson was wrongfully accused of murder and attempted armed robbery, and sentenced to death row.  In the past 14 years he has had his execution date set seven different times and watched many of his death row friends be put to death.
    But now, 14 years later, and just a matter of weeks before his newest set execution date, Thompson's attorneys have found new evidence that prove his innocence.  During the trial, the blood type of the real murderer was found, but never surfaced to the defense. It turns out that this blood type does not match Thompsons, and he was set free.
     After getting out of prison, Thompson sued and won $14 million in a case arguing that the district attorney failed to train prosecutors on the obligations to turn over evidence. But when brought up to the supreme court,1 has denied Thompson those $14 million dollars in damages. Majority agreed that a single incident could not prove that argument. Thompson doesn't seem to care about the money, hes just angry that no one will have to be held accountable for the years he has spent on death row.
     Since his release, thanks to private grants, Thompson has opened a group dedicated to helping those in similar situationa who have been found innocent after death sentences. His group also runs a transition house for former inmates to teach them important job skills to help make up for and get the most out of those lost years of their life.

Bradley Manning

    My blog this week is on an article titled "State Dept. Spokesman: Treatment Of Bradley Manning Is ‘Ridiculous And Counterproductive And Stupid’' This article was written by Zaid Jilani, a journalist for the blog "Think Progress".
     In this article he talks about the former soldier ,Bradley Manning, that released classified documents and videos to the website "wikileaks" and how he has been treated since his arrest.  According to the blog, he is "being kept in solitary confinement, being denied access to a pillow or bed sheets, and being forcibly stripped naked every single night."
     Zaid says that many groups of people are in awe and holding protests for the ridiculous treatment this former soldier for our nation is receiving.
    In his opinion, the strongest response to this argument has been “There are concerns about what is happening, but a strong argument is being made that they’re trying to preserve his safety, they don’t want him harming himself, and using his own clothing to hang himself, or do something like that". 
    I agree with Zaid, this is a legit response, but how do we know if that is truly the reason? Why would he have to be forcibly stripped, and refused a pillow or bed sheets?  There are people in prison for brutally murdering other human beings with more rights than this. It sounds like torture if you ask me. This guy risked his life for our country, maybe there is something we really aren't supposed to know. It bothers me that there are even such documents and videos existing that we the people are strictly not allowed to see. I really wouldn't hold it against our government, especially when it comes to treating a person so unfairly.

The Battle for Pro-choice

I’m writing my blog this week on an article out of the opinions section in the Austin American Statesman titled “Shift course or risk losing it all.” This article is in relation to the house passing a bill on Friday, stripping all federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Frances Kissling, the former president of Catholics for Choice is making an argument aimed towards those that are pro-choice. Aiming this article towards pro-choicers, he says that instead of pretending the fetus is invisible, those that are pro-choice must “stop holding on to a strategy that is making the legal right to abortion more vulnerable than ever.” The pro-choice argument is almost contradictory, demanding the state to mind its own business, which relieves the government of all of the responsibility for funding reproductive healthcare. Unless we suggest a more compromised balanced legislation and regulation of abortion, we stand to lose ground and eventually end up with no voice in the matter. This makes sense, although compromise isn’t something that is looking likely with two completely opposed groups. He makes a logically sound argument, and I like the way he is approaching this sensitive topic. Fighting to get the government to provide the resources that women need, and making a real effort to reduce mortality rates and pregnancy complications are steps that may give us more ground in the argument. The abortion-rights movement needs to accept the fact of the existence of the fetus, but realize that ending its life has moral significance. I agree with Kissling, and think that in this time and age we need to face the facts, and make an argument that gives both parties a part of the benefit, like ensuring the safety regulations of abortion facilities rather than completely banning them.

Donald Trump. President of the United States of America?!

Donald Trump for president?

     According to this article, Donald Trump believes that he could win the Republican presidential nomination next year and that Ron Paul has zero chance of getting elected. I think this is just absurd. Don't get me wrong he is an amazing business man with a strong will and has relations with tons of other countries, but he has filed for bankruptcy 3 times! With our nation in extreme debt, why would we want him as president? Running a country and running a business are two very different things. 
     I really like Ron Paul, I feel like everything he says is just common sense. And I really think people will start to listen to him when they realize he has called everything. I don't understand why everyone is so scared of Ron Paul. Maybe it's because we know he would actually do what he says. That he would get this country back on track.

Ron Paul could beat out Donald Trump with his eyes closed. Donald Trump should stick to television shows.

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