10 months after her initial nomination, today Martha Johnson was confirmed by the Senate to lead the General Services Administration (GSA).
Johnson used to be the Chief of Staff at the GSA under President Clinton. She has also served as the Vice President of Culture at CSC and before that was a vice president at SRA International.
The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate Martha Johnson on her confirmation.
The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate Caressa Cameron on becoming Miss America 2010.
On January 30, 2010, she won the Miss America 2010 pageant held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Caressa is the third Miss Virginia to win the national title.
Congratulations Caressa!
The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate Jen Corey, Miss DC 2010 on being a semi-finalist in the Miss American pageant held on January 30th, 2010 at the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
Jen is the only person in Miss America history to have a “green” platform. Check it out at www.jennifercorey.com.
DC could not be more proud of Jen Corey . . . congrats Jen!
Copied from the Quinnipiac Poll:
January 26, 2010 - Rubio Edges Crist In Florida Gop Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Obama Under Water As Voters Disapprove
Former State House Speaker Marco Rubio has squeaked past Gov. Charlie Crist in the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, leading 47 - 44 percent and topping Gov. Crist on trust, values and conservative credentials, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Rubio beats the leading Democrat, South Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek, 44 - 35 percent in a general election matchup, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Crist leads Meek 48 - 36 percent.
President Barack Obama is under water in Florida as voters disapprove 49 - 45 percent of his job performance, down from a 48 - 46 percent approval rating October 21.
Rubio's lead over Crist in the horse race represents a major reversal from October when the Governor led 50 - 35 percent; from August's 55 - 26 percent Crist lead and from June's lead of 54 - 23 percent.
The Supreme Court of the United States’ recent ruling, that loosened the Federal Elections Committee restrictions placed on Corporations, Labor Organizations and National Banks, has been welcomed by some, yet slammed by the Obama administration. The 5-4 decision overturned a previous vote that specified that these three groups could not release political messages within 30 days of federal elections and that only money from their Political Action Committees, or funds set aside exclusively for political expenditures, could be used in these campaigns. This would essentially grant corporations and labor unions the same rights as individuals, when it came to expressing political opinions, which the prevailing opinion held was protected under the first Amendment right to freedom of speech. The dissent contended that this represented a misguided assumption that corporations and labor unions should have the same rights as citizens, who vote and can stand for elected offices. It is true that citizenship is a right granted to individuals, yet it is also an individual responsibility, a vital aspect of which is not present in labor unions or corporations.
Many feel that this will cause Members of Congress to be more conscious of the impact of their voting record on big business, as larger corporations now have a more potent influence in campaigns. This could be especially troubling, as now multi-national corporations, unlike foreign nationals, would be permitted to participate politically. Yet any action on the part of corporations could severely politicize the relationship between companies and their shareholders. Would investors then chose to sell stock in corporations they feel support or oppose a political point of view that they do not feel they could support financially? The reality is that while politics can affect business, it is stability that allows corporations to concentrate on their balances sheets. The only real measure of worth for shareholders is profitability so companies would most likely either choose not to weigh in and risk investments or simply support the incumbent candidate.
Perhaps it is not a wonder local television stations and local public relations firms are licking their chops in hopes that mid-sized corporations, which would not typically invest in a Public Affairs Committee, might now seek to spend money in order to influence local candidates. Perhaps soon political messages will become as prominent as direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertising or infomercials that plague the television audience. In a society where news is 24 hours and Youtube.com and social networking sites have come to dominate traditional forums for political expression, this decision may not have such a sever impact after all. In many areas individuals receive the news from the Internet, not television or print just as one example. Anyone concerned that big labor and big business will gain an oppressing advantage in public opinion, need only look at the success of grass roots organizations such as the Obama campaign and the Tea Parties.
According to a study that used Global Position System (GPS) data, the Capital Beltway has been ranked as the third worst freeway in the United States!
The only freeways that ranked worse then the Beltway were the Hollywood Freeway (#1) and the Lunalilo Freeway in Honolulu, HI (#2).
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Gov. McDonnell was picked because, “Gov. McDonnell understands that the American people are more interested in shrinking unemployment than expanding government.”
House Minority Leader John Boehner believes Gov. McDonnell is the right person to deliver the speech because he “has offered common sense economic policies in stark contracts to Washington Democrats.”