Saturday, April 25, 2009
Final Post
I had fun. Hope you did too.
Beth
News Conference for Final Simulation
Bill 274 passed in the House and was signed into law by President Millworth. This means a grand restructuring of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and several other similar agencies within the government. While across the nation some were outraged with the vote, others were proud to have witnessed what they called a new era of civil rights. Representative Simon voiced his opinions in an interview with me last week stating, “I was happy Bill 274 passed; I voted for it. Two people from my state were killed in one of the hate crimes. It didn’t speak well that the House vote was so close, but I’m glad it passed.”
In the Shell Oil crisis, the UN resolution passed and gas prices have increased 10% and then leveled off. The White House credits this leveling off to investors trusting that the oil fields are protected and production will resume in the near future. But in
The White House is responding to the damage to
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bill 274 Passed House, Senate and the President Signed Off Too!
The vote happily electrified the Senate, who first passed the Bill before sending it on to the House Rules Committee. Within minutes, President Millworth signed the Bill.
For many who sided with the pro-Bill movement, today was an historic day of victory. However, those opposing the Bill are extremely upset with the Bill's passage. Rep. Kilpatrick was visibly shaken after the vote, having to leave chambers for a short period of time.
I asked Speaker Villary about the her vote and the outcome. She stated she had voted against the Bill because she was worried about it protecting gay marriage. Yet in the end, she said, "it came down to protecting our citizens." She was satisfied with the overall vote.
I would like to think that having Senator Meyers on today's program might have allayed some fears surrounding the Bill. The Bill is not about gay marriage or whether it is morally correct to be a homosexual. It simply defines sexual orientation as a part of civil rights legislation.
And on the topic of gay marriage, I showed a clip from this weekend's Miss USA pageant in which a contestant answered a controversial question in an un-politically correct manner in the eyes of the judges. Now, having been in a number of beauty pageants in my much younger days, I can assure you that your love of Jesus is throughly beat in your brain as a southern belle. So I don't really see the fuss about the religion part. All girls are supposed to talk about how moral they are and their desire for world peace. Her question might have been written in a different manner or she could have answered it in a different way. Her stance for her beliefs are admirable, but seems to have cost her the crown. You decide - here's the clip:
In other news, the Senate has been discussing Bill 208 regarding the Lottery. I spoke to Senator Dixon(D) regarding the talks. She felt some members believe the Bill will be a good idea "because it will help the economy and taxes." Dixon stated the Lottery will help with taxes and it is "on a voluntary basis." She noted that there were issues involved in gambling that she would like to investigate further with other members. If possible, she would like to have some sort of program, specifically social programs for gambling addicts, be paid for with the proceeds from the Lottery. Dixon said that both sides of the issue made their points clear. Some were caught in the middle, "(they) were torn between the moral and fiscal issues." She also added that she tried to look at the issues as if she were not a United States Senator, but back home as an "average citizen." It was clear that the issues have not been completely resolved; yet a vote is definitely close. Stay tuned to find out more on the Lottery Bill (previously the Casino Bill).
Tomorrow I'll fill you in on the Cuban recovery efforts, Nigerian situation and much more. Please send in any comments so that we might share your questions on the next broadcast.
Good night -
E.E.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Hate Crimes, Bill 274 and the House
What appeared to be a copy-cat killer is now looking more like an organized hate group. Last week a bomb went off in a homosexual community in
These actions seem to stem from the Senate’s approval of Bill 274 (Sexual Orientation and Discrimination). It was also recently passed in the House Rules Committee and is expected to be open for a vote of the full House as early as this next week. The Bill protects homosexuals as a class, similar to the way race and gender are handled in civil rights legislation. If passed in the House, the Bill will take effect one year after passage.
As expected, there are very strong opinions on both sides of this issue. A website called StopSexualPerversion.org informs visitors that homosexuality is unnatural and should be removed from American society. The home page of this site contends that “homosexuality is a cancer that must be treated through moral reform or other drastic measures.” The site quotes scripture, reports confessions of reformed homosexuals and provides a chat room for those who want to end homosexuality in
And in an odd turn of events, leaders of a group called Fight Back have expressed frustration with a
The sides are not drawn as simply as pro-homosexuality and anti-homosexuality. According to recent polls, many Americans are in favor of civil unions for homosexuals. The idea of the class as a whole being protected as a civil rights group may bring more controversy. In some cases, hiring individuals based not based on sexual orientation might prove morally challenging to religious work environments. However, the same ideal holds true for persons of color or minorities. The religious right and far right conservatives are not moving their position. The far-lefters feel they have been silent for too long and will push the issue until the Bill is adopted. We are set for a volatile situation unless Congress comes up with a plan quickly. Even then (and either way), I would expect riots and some Congresspersons to lose their seat come next election.
To add a punch for the pro-Bill 274 side, just this weekend a press release from the Human Rights Campaign (an interest group supporting gay rights), publicly stated their appreciation to Senator Meyers (D) for his years of hard work on behalf of the gay and lesbian community for passing 274. The group also implored to the House to pass Bill 274, noting the public is generally in favor of protecting homosexuals from discrimination (and similar issues), and that Republicans should be reaching out to new demographics and younger voters.
I was granted a short interview with Senator Meyers last week (prior to the Human Rights Campaign announcement). He was very pleased that 274 passed the Rules Committee, stating that is was even more significant for him as he is an openly gay Senator from
E.E.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Bills 156 and 136 Passed!
Representative Villary called the House to order and lengthy discussions of both bills ended satisfactorily in which both sides could agree for passage.
Bill 136, Digital Broadcast Spectrums, was revised and passed by the House last week. Representative Williams (R) spoke and referenced the President’s initial proposal and that work was made to the Bill in order to satisfy everyone involved, thus ensuring success. Other than some bickering between a few House members, the Bill seemed to be malleable enough to shape into what they felt will help both industry and increase revenue. Representative Culpepper (R) said the Bill was “a nice, free-market solution without raising taxes.”
The Bill passed unanimously (Kilpatrick was absent).
More controversial, Bill 156 (Multi-Lingual Education), was heavily worked and reworked in committees before reaching the floor for a vote. The initial Bill focused on school children learning two additional languages (other than English) for the purpose of making
There were oppositions to the Bill before it was even openly discussed. The most wide-spread conservative objection was federalism in the form of the Republican House. Many felt the House should not put further restrictions on local government. Some, of course, recognized the Bill’s passage as another way the federal government could make an attempt at nationalization, and to some, another step toward socialism. However, several education-based organizations disagreed, wanting additional monies for foreign language instruction, especially in poorer public schools where these resources would be very welcomed.
The Conference for State and Local Governments noted the Constitution was silent on the issue of education because it was more of a state responsibility, noting they were opposed to nationalized education. “Educators end up being seduced by federal dollars and alter their missions so that they can stay on the dole. Over time, the national government has used so-called federal aid to increasingly nationalize and homogenize our educational system. And, this has been done to the detriment of our states and localities.” While they encourage new teaching methods and ways of learning for all children, they would rather the federal funds go into federal projects and allow state and local boards of education to determine what is best for each community.
After the vote and announcement of passage, there was a drop in the approval ratings for Republicans. This seems to be a direct correlation with Bill 156, as some conservatives see the Bill as a Trojan horse for permitting Spanish to become a semi-official language. As you know,
The Bill passed unanimously (Kilpatrick was absent).
Results of Millworth Blog Poll
This week's poll is about the new drug called Frenzy. The poll is in the upper right corner of this blog. Feel free to comment somewhere in the blog if you wish, but please vote - it makes a difference. Thanks.
E.E.
Friday, April 17, 2009
President Sends Military Action to Nigeria
President Millworth recently gained a slight “rally ‘round the flag” bump in the latest approval poll (Robinson). This percentage boost is relatively small compared to prior polls. Perhaps the numbers are up as a result of sending
However, it seems some form of military action was needed to secure the oil-rich area in which the Shell Oil Company operates. Prior to this civil war,
In a statement released by the White House last night, the Nigerian conflict has become even more intense. Rather than summarize Press Secretary Adamez’s statement, below is the press release in its entirety: “The Situation in
The White House seemed confident this plan would be successful and added that they believe the House supports this current military action. But as of tonight, there have been several talk radio and late night television programs taking calls from concerned Americans who are worried that this may be the start of another long war.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Interviews with Dr. Davis and Senator Litz on Bills 180 & 274
Dr. Davis also took my questions about Bill 274 as it related to the increased violence against the homosexual community lately. Dr. Davis did not necessarily see a direct connection between the proposal of the bill and the series of crimes. Rather, he felt the media might be paying more attention to these crimes due to the timing of the bills. I asked Dr. Davis about the Litz factor – since she is a Republican from
As I was listening in on the House’s discussion of bills today, it seems there is strong support to pass Bill 274 there as well. Possibly the news of the bombing of a gay nightclub in
I’d also like to mention two important topics I’ll be discussing tomorrow: The Shell Oil crisis in
E.E.
P.S. I heard that President Millworth has been under the weather. And rumor has it Representative Kilpatrick broke her foot in a skiing accident. We at National Cable Television News wish them both a speedy recovery.Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Senator Litz Job Approval, Robinson Poll
Senator Litz Job Approval | 12/20/08 | 1/20/09 |
% | % | |
Approve | 60 | 53 |
Disapprove | 37 | 43 |
Don't know/no response | 3 | 4 |
Robinson Poll, 1/20/09, 848 respondents, ± 3% |
According to the latest Robinson Poll, Senator Litz's approval ratings have dropped. The Senator from Alaska received high marks at the end of last year for her work in the environmental business sector. But some Senate insiders feel her bipartisan vote for Senate Bill 274 was the cause of her recent decline in the polls. This Bill provided special civil rights to homosexual groups, particularly in cases in which persons in this group were justifiably discriminated against. Those close to the Senator feel the Republicans are generally experiencing a downward turn and that Senator Litz has done an excellent job representing her constituency. At the moment, however, the religious group, Family Focus, once a strong supporter of Litz, has openly turned their backs on the two-termed Senator, causing additional attention to her voting record.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
President's Budget Announced
In his opening comments, he again took the opportunity to use his campaign slogan by proclaiming his budget the "New - Idea" budget. His key messages were, "We have to collaborate for a better America" and then later, "We are in need of serious new ideas." The "collaborate" word was used several times. But not as many as his most often used phrase of "Let's be clear about something." That's precisely what the House and Senate want to know. Is there something the President can be clear on? Definitely not his budget. By slashing the National Defense budget and raising taxes by .99% (which he was happy to report was less than 1%), he expects the national deficit to turn into a surplus. We are talking about a $10 trillion debt with $47 billion in the current deficit. Yes, compounded over years it will be horrible, but some in attendance felt this budget was overly optimistic.
Possibly sensing some resistance, the President said, "We all need to come together to fix this economic crisis." That is probably a grandiose statement considering how the economic situation is for many Americans. Can we afford to lose even more of our income money while cutting back on the military? Do we feel any safer or more American by making such sacrifices? I'm not sure everyone's buying this candy, Mr. President.
If the President has his way, he anticipates a $39 billion in surplus each year. How does he propose to do this? He said, "with cheaper energy." The key is collaboration but he continued with this statement: (We) "can't cover everything. We're not here to drive numbers in your head but to give you an overview." His overview seems to include more than doubling the Energy budget.
When asked why the National Defense budget was cut by around 35%, the President said he felt the war was in the conclusion phase and the money that had been allocated to the war effort could be used elsewhere.
I asked him about the unemployment numbers that indicated we have more poor people this year and will definitely have a lot more poor people if they are taxed additionally in his proposed budget. If we have more poor people, I wondered, would the social services sectors be able to accomodate the needs of those new poor? The President responded that he had reallocated money in mind of the social services. This did not appear to be the case at all when the budgets were handed out. There were budget CUTS in the following areas: Medicare, Income Security, Social Security, Veterans Benefits and the Administration of Justice.
There was uproar in both houses regarding such areas of reallocation. I will be writing a more in-depth piece tomorrow on the reaction of Congress and any comments they wished to be a matter of record.
Until then -
E.E.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Multi-Lingual Education Bill (156)
The NLEA believes that in order for Americans to become more competitive in the global market, they must learn additional languages. Increasing the verbal strength of the next generation seems to be their key issue. They also cite immigration as a reason to institute such a plan as it would allow Americans to "prepare our society for social change." Really - "preparing" for immigration? That almost sounds like we are getting ready for an invasion. Are we?
And what "change," you may ask? The NLEA states: "The traditional picture of America as being white, Anglo-Saxon and English speaking will change as immigrants from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe increase in numbers. Eventually, the number of non-English speakers may be greater than the number of English speakers." I'm afraid this isn't a good selling point for a significant portion of the country. I can already hear the boos and roars from the pro-English speaking groups. Just as the pro-English Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem folks were just quieting down, too...
In many ways, this could be a valuable Bill for children. But the pro-English groups would argue that if such a plan was what America needed to be better at their jobs, wouldn't they have done it already? Many of them see America as the dominant country and, more importantly, the premiere language of the world. To agree to such a bill would be to admit defeat for their long-fought battle over having the English-version of the National Anthem sung at baseball games in English only. To others, it is a matter of history as the first permanent European settlers were English speakers, to which it has remained the prominent language, culture and quite frankly, propagation until recently. This could also have the anti-immigration groups wondering if the Government is sending an invitation to illegals - "Come here, we'll teach not only your kids, but we'll teach our kids your language in our federally funded public schools with taxpayers' money." As I talked to other people about this issue, one lady responded, "No, I didn't know English wasn't the official language of the United States. What is it then?" Her friend rebutted that the official language is English and had been since the founding fathers. So, it appears current Americans have a bit of educating to do, preferably before trying such an experiment on children.
If you are not aware (and you really should know this by now if you have email), there is a grass-roots group listing figures of how much the Government spends on educating illegal immigrant children, particularly those who were born in America to illegal immigrant parents. This will definitely be fuel to their fire, as they feel much of their hard-earned money is going to help people they don't consider to be "true Americans."
You may be wondering - what if the primary language in the child's home is Spanish? The NLEA would supplement Spanish with English and perhaps French, Portugese or German. They insist English would be taught in the three-language set, no matter the native language.
As the Bill had been discussed with the Internal Matters Committee of the House recently, I received a hand-written letter from the Internal Matters Committe, with the following well-meaning, if not watered-down, sentiment: "The Internal Matters Committee is working on a bipartisan effort to encourage and promote diversity in young Americans by providing funding for the education of foreign language education. This is part of a continuing effort by the Committee to work across party lines. At a time when the county is highly polarized, the Committee is heading the fight for a more cohesive house.
Signed - Rep. Gomez, Chair (and members Villary, Nedwick, DeWitt, Zahn and Yarmolinski, listed separately)
Again, the promise of better education, broadening horizons and a more linguistic generation sounds wonderful. The Committee's letter glossed over the controversial aspects of the Bill, perhaps in an effort to gain that bipartisan reach they have extended.
The future of this Bill seems to lie in the marketing. If the NLEA can continue to spin this as a true need for the next generation, it may still have life. My prediction, however, is that the pro-English-speaking groups will loudly protest the cost of the programs and implications it might have on immigration.
The future of this Bill - Does someone have a coin?
E.E.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
FEMA on Overtime
While the problem seems to have been efficiently handled, questions were raised about toxic containers crossing state lines. I suspect the New Jersey Department of Health and possibly other state-level agencies (Dept. of Transportation?) will be questioned about the incident on how to avert future disasters of this kind.
Representative Kilpatrick (R) of New Jersey was in session when the accident occurred. As soon as she became aware of the situation, she immediately appealed to the President. I happened to be at the White House as this took place and can say that while the President was concerned, he agreed to meet with her in a time frame of less than an hour. To Ms. Kilpatrick's persistence, she aggressively came to terms with the President's new Press Secretary, Ms. Adamez, who relayed the severity of the situation to the President, thereby sending FEMA to the area sooner. While this information was being worked out, Vice President Rourke appeared to be quiet and a bit confused. I suspect he might have been contemplating what his action would have been if he had been in the President's shoes...
Shortly after FEMA was dispatched to New Jersey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detected a hurricane off the coast of Bermuda. As the hurricane, dubbed "Faye," makes her way slowly through the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists predict landfall will be near the Miami/Dade area of Florida. Winds have picked up to an excess of 150 and possibly even up to 180 miles per hour. Some meteorologists have named Faye the "hundred-year hurricane" as current jet stream conditions are aligned to clash with the volatile hurricane, creating a level of destruction some have called "unimaginable."
I had an opportunity to discuss the Faye sitatuion with Rep. Kilpatrick. Her response was brisk, "That's not my area. I'm from New Jersey." I reminded her that there might be a chance FEMA would have to reassess their resources and/or some personnel might potentially be re-routed to the Faye situation. To this, she contacted Ms. Adamez again to make sure resources were on their way to her district first. So for those of you in Rep. Kilpatrick's district - you are apparently getting your money's worth. For those of you not lucky enough to be in her district, you might want to take a closer look at this assertive legislator.
Within a few hours, Ms. Adamez spoke at a very brief press conference in which she explained the toxic spill had been handled and people were starting to return home. She credited the expedited response of FEMA for that success. She added that FEMA was also being dispatched to lower Florida to aid in the Hurricane Faye situation. Ms. Adamez did not take questions.
E.E.
Friday, April 10, 2009
President Announces Plans for New Legislation
At 9:35 AM CST Thursday, President Millworth conducted a press conference, introducing five new bills. During this announcement, the President spoke with renewed confidence and commanded the attention of the room. Several journalists wondered if he would address his divorce situation - he did not. He did, however, take questions, much to the surprise of those in attendance.
Among the bills introduced, Bill 159 (Plant-Closing and Community Impact) caused the greatest stir among reporters. The Bill would require certain employers planning to close their businesses (mainly manufacturing and distribution) to provide a 2-year notice to all employees of the business closing date. The President felt the Bill would, "allow for workers to hunt for new jobs without getting their feet pulled out from under them." Further, an operational fund would be created to provide financial assistance to workers - up to 6-months after the business closes. When asked who will regulate the requirements of the bill, the President responded the responsibilities (as well as the funding) would lie completely with the state governments. When a bevy of further questions were asked, he stated, "I didn't take into account all the aspects and will revise it as necessary." I'm certain the President's staff will be working overtime fielding a great number of phone calls from state officials over this bill.
Another controversial item was Bill 104 regarding Comprehensive Profiles for Foreign Visitors. The President stated border control is a national problem that currently runs up a $10 trillion debt. He felt this bill was, in part, "an effort to cut this debt." While the Bill was written to allow for better border security without raising taxes, this Bill may not accurately count or include illegal immigrants. The President reiterated that this Bill aided in national security, as well as streamlining costs; adding, “Illegal immigration will pose a threat and may not be included.” He continued that border security was important to his administration, and he was also willing to hear from others and “review everything,” implying more revisions would be necessary.
To opponents of this Bill, the language went too far in the personal freedom area and not far enough in keeping out illegals. The Bill calls for profiles to be “furnished at American embassies or consulates in the visitors’ home country, and must be updated every 5 years.” This alone could provide statistical complications, particularly in cases of political or social asylum. But the Bill goes further: “Each profile will include a complete personal history, fingerprints, and genetic samples.” Some persons question the security of their personal identities if this Bill were to pass. If the President has his way, the information would be entered into a database, causing more alarm for persons concerned about identity theft and possibly their personal safety. For many, this database is a tool that, in the wrong hands, could be used maliciously.
Another item, Bill 122 (North American Natural Resources Preservation Act) dealt with preserving North America's natural resources by renewing
The
Finally, Bill 142 (Independent Voters and Primary Elections) was drafted with independent voters in mind, allowing them more freedom at the polls by eliminating party identification. The Bill calls for the states to revise their election laws and polls, but did not discuss the amount of money states would have to spend on such measures. The President said he “strongly encouraged” this bill and felt the White House “can’t hear the independent voters” without this Bill.
As the press conference wore on, the President seemed less confident and more taken aback by the degree of questioning by the reporters. While he was seen as confident and exultant at the beginning, the press took their toil on him as he ended the conference on a somewhat forlorn note. It will be interesting to see what he has to say about the budget at next week’s press conference.
E.E.
P.S. My bet is Bills 142 and 122 pass with relative ease as these are lower cost – pro-democracy items on his agenda.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Bill #274, Senate Passed 8:1
Today the Senate passed Bill #274, which outlined the elimination of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. If passed by the House, this bill will go into effect one year after passage, and no discrimination lawsuits can be filed during the intervening period of time.
So what is the bill all about? In a word – controversy.
The bill was designed to protect the employment rights of people identified by their sexual orientation in much the same way as Civil Rights legislation did for color and gender in the 1960s. Individuals who feel they have been discriminated based on their sexual orientation may bring suit against other individuals and/or organizations.
While the bill passed by an overwhelming majority and even experienced bipartisanship support in the Senate, religious conservative organizations such as Family Focus are outraged. These organizations feel the bill would make it easier for the Supreme Court to require all states to institute civil unions – or - put simply, a Trojan horse for gay marriage.
Undeterred and desiring additional bipartisanship aid on this issue, Senate Majority Leader Meyers (D) sent a statement to Speaker of the House, Villary (R). After reading the press copy, I can say that Meyers’ attempt to sway members toward the full passage of the bill is admirable. Meyers writes: “An anti-discrimination policy with regards to sexual orientation will benefit all Americans. It will cut down on the hate crime rates and increase the quality of life for LGBTQ Americans who can now have job security and harassment protection which will promote a better working environment for all Americans.”
Meyers also listed the most recent findings from the National Election Study (dated 2004) in which a large majority of polled individuals responded favorably to the suggestion that an individual’s employment be protected based on sexual orientation.
This poll likely did not include many (if any) Family Focus organization’s members. They presented a strong reaction by stating: “Today, the Senate voted to weaken religious and personal liberties by passing Senate Bill 274, effectively granting special rights to homosexual groups. Homosexual activists have convinced a heavily Democratic Senate to grant protected class statute to homosexuals, a protection that should be reserved for immutable characteristics such as race or gender, rather than behavioral choices.” In this, they argued that religious liberties would be weakened if full passage occurred. To further their plea, one spokesperson stated the following example: “A Christian family will now be forced to rent their upstairs apartment to a practicing homosexual couple, even if they disapprove of their behavior. Christian businesses can no longer turn down job applicants who are openly engaged in homosexual activities, even if such behavior contradicts their morals and religious values. We urge Speaker Villary and House Republicans to ensure this bill never sees President Millworth's desk, and we will giving our fullest support to any candidate who runs against those Senators who voted for this bill."
A long time House Representative, Speaker Villary is sure to have her staff on call for what seems to be a deluge of correspondence from both sides of this issue. Having blocked the first set of session proposals from the President, Villary may be positioning herself for political suicide if she also blocks additional proposed legislation. And the albatross around her neck might be Republican Senator Litz of
I will continue to monitor this situation; however, until Villary decides how to proceed, it appears this bill might stand in the wings for awhile. With strong feelings on both sides heating up, I anticipate more bipartisan reaching out from the Senate and an increasing public outcry from both religious right groups and liberal organizations.
- E.E.
Just In - Job Approval Ratings (01/2009)
According to the latest Robinson Poll, job approval numbers for President Millworth are looking up. President Millworth began his Presidency with a low job approval rating - a result of a close but hard-fought campaign. This dipped even further amid the announcement of his intention to go forward with divorce proceedings and was almost assuredly compounded by his original Press Secretary's missteps. However, as the Robinson Poll suggests, the numbers seem to be improving as the President has gained significant strides with the introduction of new bills. These figures indicate that the public has, as recently as this January, favorably responded to the President's vision of "new ideas for new times."
While the President's numbers are on the upswing, the White House scandals have taken a heavy toll on Congressional approval ratings. During the scandals, Congressional Republicans enjoyed a brief boost in the polls. As the President's numbers have increased, the Republicans' numbers have evened out. Congressional Democrats, on the other hand, were less effected by the scandal and have seen more significant rises in their approval numbers. (Actual figures listed below.)
October | November | December | January | |
President Millworth | 46 | 42 | 45 | 48 |
Congressional Democrats | 34 | 33 | 32 | 36 |
Congressional Republicans | 42 | 44 | 39 | 40 |
Next post: Discussion of Bill 274-Sexual Orientation and Discrimination
- E.E.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
April 7, 2009
On that note, I'm told that Thursday mid-morning there will be a press conference, at which time the President is expected to make an announcement about his legislative agenda. Some Americans are hoping this press conference will give him a fresh start and bring his "new ideas for new times" campaign promise to the forefront once again. The media has also been told that within the week there should be another press conference in which the President will specifically address the budget.
To some, this string of press conferences may be too little too late. The President's renewed public strategy may be overly optimistic as the religious right and other conservative groups are positioning themselves against the President due to his divorce, stating it does not reflect the values of traditional America. Some Democratic constituents feel his campaign was veiled as an untruth as both Mr. and Mrs. Millworth played the role as husband and wife only to win the election. Talk show hosts have gone as far as suggesting a pre-election settlement for the now ex-Mrs. Millworth, as the race would have been lost without the team package.
At this time it is unclear if the President will address any of his recent personal issues in these press conferences. Regardless, President Millworth narrowly won last year's election and can't afford to lose supporters. Perhaps more information will be outlined on Thursday. Until then -
E.E.