WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he'll host a White House summit next month on fighting the chronic joblessness that continues to be a drag on a struggling economy.

"We are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we've already taken to put America back to work," Obama said before taking off for a trip to Asia, where U.S. and global business prospects will be among the key issues under discussion.

Speaking at the White House, the president called a report showing fewer claims for jobless benefits "a hopeful sign." But with millions of Americans out of work, Obama said the government has "an obligation to consider every additional responsible step we can" to get people back to work.

While Obama may have good intentions and is just trying to show Americans that he knows that people are still hurting and that he really does care about those people, I think he made a mistake announcing this plan to hold a forum on jobs in December.

This is just what the Republican Party was waiting to hear.  To them, this is an admission by Obama and the Democrats that their Recovery and Reinvestment Act didn't do the job they had promised it would.

What makes this even worse is, Obama announced it just as they are finally coming closer to voting for a final bill for health care reform.

Can't you just see the ads now? 

"How can we believe the Democrat's claim they know how to cut the cost of our health care, when just 10 months ago they also claimed they would save or create 3.5 million jobs, but now we're told they need to hold a special "Jobs Forum" because too many people still need jobs?

I predicted previously that the jobs would return in the spring and summer of 2010.  I continue to believe they will, economists are also predicting this.  Jobs are always the last to return after a 'normal' recession.  This recession, everybody knows, was the worst we've had since the Great Depression.  Of course, it's going to take a bit longer to get the jobs back.  The recession began in late 2007 according to experts.  It's only logical that the jobs are just now starting to slowly appear again.

Instead of holding 'steady' with their plans they made in February, the Democrats are caving once again to the pressures laid on them by the Republican Party.  By even hinting that the jobs market might not be what they had hoped for by this time, they are hurting their chances politically and putting more 'fear' into the hearts of Americans.

When will they learn?

WASHINGTON - Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court, officials said Friday.

NBC News confirmed that Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce the decision later in the morning. ..

The New York case may also force the court system to confront a host of difficult legal issues surrounding counter-terrorism programs begun after the 2001 attacks, including the harsh interrogation techniques once used on some of the suspects while in CIA custody. The most severe method -- waterboarding, or simulated drowning -- was used on Mohammed 183 times in 2003, before the practice was banned.

Indeed, this trial, while I'm sure will be a long one, it may also finally bring to light what was done to these men in the name of Homeland Security and the War on Terror authorized by those in the Bush/Cheney administration.

Could this one man's trail be the catalyst that breaks the camel's back?  By holding this man's trial in New York; the court's actions will face the scrutiny of the media on an hourly basis.  What sort of defense do you suppose Mohammed's attorney will put forth?  I'm sure they will say, "Not Guilty your honor".

Can't you hear Mohammed's attorney now, "Mr Mohammed was beaten, thrashed, physically tortured by his interrogators," Mr Mohammed's lawyer,  told the reporters. "Under this fear he recorded his so-called confession."

For example, remember this case,

The man alleged to be the sole survivor of the terrorist team that carried out the Mumbai attacks told a court yesterday that his confession -- which hints at the involvement of the Pakistan state in the atrocity -- was beaten out of him by police.

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is accused of being one of ten highly trained Islamist militants who raided Mumbai in a commando-style strike that lasted three days in November. He faces 166 counts of murder and is accused of waging war on India; crimes that carry the death penalty...

"Kasab was beaten, thrashed, physically tortured by police," Mr Kasab's lawyer, Abbas Kazmi, a veteran defence council in high-profile terror cases, told The Times. "Under this fear he recorded his so-called confession."

Mr Kazmi said that Mr Kasab does not want to plead guilty and intends to fight the case."

As you may know I've been pushing for a full investigation by a special prosecutor of the way the Bush/Cheney administration handled prisoners and the way they spied on American citizens over the past 8 years. 

I'm no lawyer but it sure would seem that it would be entirely appropriate for the defense attorney for Mohammed to bring out the details of the way the man was tortured and harassed into confessing or saying things that were not true with the authority given by President George W Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, the Pentagon and the attorney general and specific members of Congress.

I'm also guessing but you would think that the defense attorney would be allowed to demand the right to ask questions of these interrogators and anyone else that was involved with the torturing of his defendant.  Could it be possible that the attorney could demand to speak to George W Bush or even Dick Cheney about authorizing such torture?

Forget about this specific crime that Mohammed committed for a moment and imagine being arrested for a crime such as a murder of a governor.  This is a huge political crime and could make the prosecutor famous if he wins it.  The police capture and arrest you and take you to the jailhouse.  The detectives and the prosecutor in charge, in order to win this huge political case, authorizes the police to torture you into confessing or giving up names of others involved.  Now imagine not being able to tell the jury this information as your own defense; not going to happen. 

If the lawyer has proof, or thinks he can get it by forcing a few people to take the oath and swear to tell the truth about any such torture or abuse, that judge will most likely allow the testimony.

So my friends, I'm betting that Mohammed's attorney will be demanding to speak to a those interrogators that waterboarded his defendant.  I'm betting the truth will finally come out.

Will the man get found 'not guilty' because of this truth coming out; probably not?  I doubt Attorney General Holder and yes even President Obama, would risk holding this trial in United States, because of this possible defense's actions, if they didn't have other proof that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was indeed guilty of masterminding the 9/11 attacks.

Yes indeed folks, I'm finally getting a bit excited about the thought of having this trial held here in the United States instead of behind closed doors in a military trial where the facts would be forever hidden - as George W Bush and Dick Cheney would much rather have happen.

Remember back when President Barack Obama took control of the White House and the Democratic Party took complete controll of Congress in January of this year?  Do you also remember how fast these people were able to come up with a Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, debate it and put it to a final vote all within 30 days?

What happen; did they all suddenly go on drugs?  Why else are they dragging the behinds in getting what could be the most important piece of legislation since the Social Security and Medicare were created passed?

Poll are showing that the Democrats bickering between themselves over what should or shouldn't be in this Health Care Reform bill is actually helping the GOP candidates during their run for Congress in 2010.

The healthcare battle appears to be helping Republicans running for the Senate.

Two Quinnipiac polls released Thursday show the leading GOP candidates in Connecticut and Ohio growing their leads.

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) leads Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), 49-38, and former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has opened his first leads over two potential Democratic opponents.

Do Democrats realize they are walking away from controlling Congress and therefore losing any chance of making American lives better with this or any other legislation?

They are all acting as though they have years to do this health care plan.  They are nuts thinking this way. History shows that any major legislation got done in the first year of any one term, after that, it ended up being dropped.

Back in August the Democrats allowed the Republicans to take control of the issue by them having staged rallies during town hall meetings.  Democrats should have immediately pulled Congress back into session and voted on the plans back then; but no, they let themselves be suckered into the GOP's famous traps.

Now, once again another trap has been laid.  Instead of talking about passing the final Senate version of the Health Care, they are arguing about abortion rights.  Just what the doctor (GOP) ordered.

Also today we were told by CDC that over 22 million people have now had or are experiencing the H1N1 flu since April.  That over 4000 adults and over 540 children have died from it.

Some 98,000 people have been hospitalized from this new flu or its complications, including 36,000 children, 53,000 adults younger than 65 and 9,000 older adults.

Who will be paying for the hospital stays by those sickened with the H1N1 pandemic flu -- that have no health insurance?

Yesterday we were told about a new study that over 2000 veterans died in 2008 because they had no health insurance.

A new study by two Harvard researchers estimate that over 2,000 U.S. veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance. Unlike popular belief, many veterans do not qualify for health care by the VA once they are out of the service.

The death toll of veterans, quantified by the researchers, David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Stephanie Woolhandler, was said to be 2,266. This would be 14 times higher than the military death toll in Afghanistan in 2008.

The study found that nearly 1.5 million veterans between the ages of eighteen and sixty-four were uninsured last year.

Who will pay for these veterans health care when it is needed?

You and me, those of us that have health insurance that's who. 

Exactly what else do the Democrats need for a reason to pass health care reform and finally ignoring the Republican Party's traps.

I blame the leadership in Congress.  The Democratic caucus should vote Senator Reid out of his seat immediately.  They should also remove the chairmanship that Senator Lieberman holds and they should stay in session till a bill is passed --- they should go ahead and do the Majority Rule vote.

Republicans have announced they will not vote for ANY health care reform.  There are a few Democrats saying that same thing.  So be it.  ENOUGH!

Get the bill passed and on President Obama's desk BEFORE CHRISTMAS or lose even more votes from the Democratic base then you about to lose right now and lose once again the chance to help millions of Americans.

The polls show Democrats are dropping in favor.  It's not because people don't like the bill.  It's because people don't like the way this thing is being drug out and watered down. How many people do you see today complaining about the way the Stimulus package was passed 11 months ago?  Very few.

Get off what ever drug you are on Democrats and get to work.  Get that damn bill passed or start packing your bags.

When an adult or child gets the H1N1 flu and ends up going to the doctor and possibly even to the hospital which could then lead to being admitted into ICU because they need to be on a ventilator or watched very closely while on a BiPap machine - who pays for that health care if the patient doesn't have health insurance?

Currently the H1N1 flu shot is free to all Americans because this virus is a pandemic, at least that's what I understand it to be.  The federal government paid for the vaccinations.  Does that mean that the health care of any serious illness related to H1N1 will also be paid for by the federal government?

While thinking about this issue it occurred to me that this one illness could be used as a very good reason for health care reform, health care for all, and yes with a public option plan.

The GOP constantly push the idea of terrorism and the many ways we could be attacked again if we don't' stay alert.  Well, what do they recommend if something 'were' to actually happen; how do they plan on covering (caring for) possibly thousands of Americans that may be exposed to something like a bio-chemical attack or some virus like an Ebola virus attack?

Just imagine the loss of income for the hospitals, doctors, nurses, office personnel, emergency personnel, the victim and their families, etc..., if God forbid, something catastrophic were to actually happen.  Would the GOP be willing to use taxpayer money to pay for the losses incurred?  Somehow I doubt it.

Even if we were never attacked in this manner, a simple flu like the H1N1 could wipe a family's savings away.  What will happen to them?  Can we avoid this in the future?  Sure we can.  Offer affordable health care for all with a public option that is even more affordable to the poorest among us.

Apparently Wal-Mart along with Costco offer caskets on their website now.  They are supposedly cheaper than most other places and they can be shipped within 48 hours.

They run between $999 - $1800 --  and are not sold in stores (can you imagine walking past the health care products directly into the Casket Room---Geez, that would sure make you feel good huh?).

While this may sound ridiculous, I'm all for these companies doing this.  There needs to be more competition between funeral homes and products required for a funeral.  Just imagine the money that those one or two funeral homes and the companies they do business with -- the profits they are making.  And, they are pretty much assured to stay in business for several life times.

In fact, I think Wal-Mart of Costco or some other place like that would make out pretty well if they were to create a separate division -- just for life or death products.   Imagine what that could include.  Not only medicines to keep you well, happy and healthy (medicine, insurance, assistant devices, weddings, baby items, homecoming dress/suits, etc..), but products for when your life ends(caskets, urns, clothing, flowers, insurance, cemetaries, etc..).

Yes I said cemeteries.  I meant however however, those special Cremation Niche that some cemeteries are now offering but in small amounts.  They are like a big concrete dressers, each drawer holds the cremation remains.

I would also love to see Wal-Mart offer up nursing home care.  Perhaps just the long term care policies.  Lock in those prices while you are young.

Imagine the possibilities folks...what a little competition will do.

I was listening to Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania and Governor Barbour of Mississippi on "Meet the Press" with David Gregory this morning while they discussed the Democratic and Republican Parties and the upcoming election in 2010.  They were debating who would best benefit in 2010 over the issue of health care, government spending and the unemployment rate.

David Gregory pointed out some people saying that the Democrats projected spending this year and the unemployment rate of 10.2% would, in one example, cause a "Tidal Wave" for the GOP in 2010.  I would argue that the "Tidal Wave" would instead, be a great "Tsunami" for the Democratic Party.

We recently saw a "Tidal Wave" for the Democratic Party in the 2008 election.  Not only did Republicans lose the White House, they lost a great deal of seats in the House and in the Senate during that election. 

The Republican base wasn't enough to get them over the hurdles they faced back then.  Their refusal to admit to any failures during the Bush/Cheney years, both in the White House and with Congressional actions caused the voters to swarm over to the Democratic Party.  Their failure to admit that they blew it when it came to the economy - allowing our nation to come within a hair's breathe away from another Great Depression hurt them.  Their failure to admit that we indeed have not won the war in Afghanistan and that the war in Iraq was in no way 'over' as they claimed the "surge" caused, also hurt them.

I also happen to think that Americans realized that tax rebates and tax cuts aren't the only solution to making our nation thrive.  After all, we were all given at least 5 different tax rebates or cuts over the past 8 years during the Bush administration yet instead of having a booming economy we ended up in the biggest recession since the 30s and 40s.

Commentators on "Meet the Press" also discussed whether President Obama was taking on too much and not spending enough time on the economy and whether that would hurt the Democrats in 2010.

As one of the commentators pointed out, Obama came into office planning on stopping the Iraq war, getting health care for all and getting control of our energy sources.  Those were his goals and what he ran on in 2008.  He inherited those other things like the "Great Recession", a corrupt Wall Street that was failing, businesses going belly up, car dealers threatening to die and two wars that we were falsely led to believe we were winning, and a world that lost their respect and admiration for the U.S.

Americans know these facts, they aren't blind.  Americans also know that jobs are scarce because of all the above.  Now the question becomes, what will pull employment back to at least where it was in the early 90's? 

Keep in mind, the Bush/Cheney administration and Republican Party, after 8 years in office and 5 tax cuts, still left behind a 7.2% unemployment figure as of January 1, 2009 before leaving office.   These facts will and should be repeated during the 2010 election cycle.  It was the Bush/Cheney administration and not the Obama administration that originally designed the 750 Billion dollar bailout for large insurance companies like AIG and the car industry, will and should be repeated during the 2010 election cycle.  The GOP is trying their level best to change that history in the minds of Americans but they won't succeed.

Let's take a look at what's happened since January 20th of this year.  The Democratic Party came into power and immediately wrote the Recovery and Reinvestment package that was passed and signed into law within 30 days in office on February 17, 2009.  This bill included a historical tax cut for Americans.  Only three republicans voted for this relief (stimulus) package, and those same three Republicans helped to gut what was initially asked for by the Democrats. 

President Obama immediately ordered an additional 33,000 troops be sent to Afghanistan to help try and stabilize that war.  This decision was made within a couple of months of taking office.  The Bush/Cheney administration had been asked by the Generals on the ground for more troops a full year before this yet date --they still hadn't made up their minds when they left office in January of 2009.

President Obama announced in March that he would be sending 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. But in an unannounced move, the White House has also authorized -- and the Pentagon is deploying -- at least 13,000 troops beyond that number, according to defense officials.

Today the President and his administration are trying to produce a new strategy, one that will work in Afghanistan instead of one we were lied to about.

The health care reform bills that the Democrats have been trying to put together is finally coming around, the House passed their final version of their bill last night that would not only cover millions of additional Americans, it is paid for and would cut the deficit by billions over  10 years.  They did this with only one vote from a Republican.  Now the Senate must do the same and then both bills will be merged into one final bill.

CBO says the GOP provisions would cut the deficit by $68 billion over ten years, less than the Democratic bill, which cuts the deficit $104 billion over the same time frame.  That's largely because the Democrats raise taxes and cut Medicare benefits while the GOP doesn't (although the GOP plan does include some small revenue growth of about $27 billion over ten years.)

   The CBO also says the Republican plan would leave 52 million people uninsured in 2019, more than the 46 million uninsured today (the percentage of Americans without insurance, about 17 percent, would remain basically unchanged, CBO says.)

   CBO earlier said the Democrats' bill would leave about 18 million uninsured.

My point is this, millions of potential voters will finally get the health care they need for their families.

The economy grew 3.5% the last quarter, instead of being in the negative as it was before.  Unemployment may still be high, but the numbers each month keeps dropping.  Only a third of the economic stimulus package has been used which means thousands of future jobs will become available during the spring and summer of 2010.

The Republican Party was given a warning with a "Tidal Wave" during the November 2008 election.  In some ways you could call this the 'drawback' step (first step of a Tsunami - the water along the shoreline recedes dramatically, exposing normally submerged areas - unaware of the danger sometimes people remain) it was a huge warning of sorts. 

By becoming the Party of 'No' since January 20, 2009; the Republican Party has put themselves in the position of being the Party that was 'wiped out' by a Tsunami in November of 2010.

When voters see that they will soon have health care coverage and won't lose what they have.  When they see that the economy is growing instead of melting and that jobs are finally coming around and the risk of losing their own is less.  When they see our roads, bridges, electric grids and infrastructure have all been improved since the Democratic Party took control - I predict there will be the greatest political Tsunami in history.  This "Tsunami wave" will wipe out what is left of, what is today known as, the Republican Party.