Chicago Tribune (January 29)
In the U.S., immigration reform has been a lethal subject for politicians. That is changing. Now that a bipartisan group of Senators have lent support, immigration reform legislation, which would affect 11 million illegal immigrants, may pass. “Americans support it. Latino voters expect it. Democrats want it. Republicans need it.”
Tags: Democrats, Illegal immigrants, Immigration, Politicians, Reform, Republicans, U.S.
Washington Post (November 22)
Until, 1939, Thanksgiving was observed on the last Thursday in November. By moving it up to November 23, the fourth Thursday, from November 30, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s goal was to help retailers benefit from a longer shopping season. The move set off years of arguing over when the real Thanksgiving should be held. “Today, Thanksgiving is a settled issue, its observance cemented in place by goodwill, consensus and the National Football League’s scheduling department….. There are many factions in America, as always, but only one Thanksgiving, and it is neither Democratic nor Republican — a state of affairs for which all can be thankful.”
Tags: Democrats, FDR, NFL, Republicans, Retailers, Thanksgiving
Chicago Tribune (November 8)
After two years of fighting, the score in Washington looks just the same: a Republican House and a Democratic Senate. “Guaranteed gridlock? Not necessarily.” The Tribune is hopeful status quo will actually provide the momentum to overcome the looming fiscal cliff. “With Washington’s power equation constant, this is, surprisingly, the ideal moment to take unpopular steps and rescue our government from potential doomsdays — the first of them scheduled for Jan. 1, less than eight weeks away…. This lame-duck Congress and re-elected president could give the American people a marvelous holiday present.”
Tags: Congress, Democrats, Fiscal cliff, Gridlock, Republican, Washington
Boston Globe (August 2)
In the U.S., Republicans and Democrats have been battling down to the wire over a debt deal. The final deal, “like all compromises…is not a win for either side.” It could have been better, especially if it created additional revenue, but it did avoid a disastrous default. The debt deal also has some positive aspects. The cuts are “spread across federal programs—including defense.” Moreover, the deal “delays any serious cuts for two years, to give the economy more time to recover.”
In the U.S., Republicans and Democrats have been battling down to the wire over a debt deal. The final deal, “like all compromises…is not a win for either side.” It could have been better, especially if it created additional revenue, but it did avoid a disastrous default. The debt deal also has some positive aspects. The cuts are “spread across federal programs—including defense.” Moreover, the deal “delays any serious cuts for two years, to give the economy more time to recover.”
Tags: Compromise, Congress, Debt, Democrats, Economy, Republicans, U.S.
Washington Post (June 6)
Japan is not the only place where lawmakers find agreement elusive. In the U.S. “partisan deadlock over trade policy continues. If anything, it’s getting worse.” The current stumbling blocks are trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. “What’s especially maddening about all of this is that most Republicans and Democrats claim to agree on the benefits of the trade pacts,” yet there’s no clear sign that the parties will find common ground to break the impasse. “Determining the merits of this increasingly self-referential quarrel between the two parties would take 100 marriage counselors 100 years.”
Tags: Colombia, Democrats, Panama, Republicans, South Korea, Trade pacts, U.S.
Washington Post (November 2)
Whenever unemployment is high, the party in power is “going to take a beating.” It comes as no surprise that President Obama’s Democrats suffered major losses in the election. The Post writes “We believe Mr. Obama’s first two years were better than he’s getting credit for.”
Tags: Democrats, Obama, Unemployment
