Grumpy Editor

Latest U.S.-North Korea talks provide little action

As expected in a Feb. 22 posting here, there wasn’t much action coming out of the latest U.S. talks with North Korea focusing on nuclear disarmament, observes Grumpy Editor.

The two-day U.S.-North Korea session late last week in Beijing was the latest in a series of efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Six nation talks involving South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Russia, China and the U.S. have been going on and off for more than nine years.

The Voice of America Web site on Friday did its best to herald the outcome of the Beijing meetings.

While VOA’s positive headline read, “US, North Korea Hold ‘Substantive’ Talks in Beijing,” the story’s lead got down to earth with:

“The United States and North Korea ended two days of talks in Beijing Friday with no breakthrough on Pyongyang's controversial nuclear program.”

It added, “But U.S. negotiator Glyn Davies says the talks were none-the-less ‘serious and substantive.’”

That contrasted with The Wall Street Journal’s Saturday headline, “Little Action in U.S., North Korea Talks.”

The latest session ended without mention of providing food aid, as supplied in the past, to the Communist nation.

The Beijing gathering also was a barometer to see if new leader Kim Jong-Eun was more open to diplomacy, following the December death of his father, Kim Jong-il. 

 

Nov. 15 GOP debate puts Romney, Cain in spotlight

Ready for another round?  With quotes from verbal exchanges at this week’s Republican presidential candidates’ debate in Las Vegas still bouncing around in broadcast and print media, another “boxing match” is slated for Nov. 15 on CNN, discovers Grumpy Editor. 

CNN, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, will telecast the debate from Washington, D.C.  Airtime is 8 p.m. ET. 

The focus will be on two areas mostly overlooked in prior sessions: national security and foreign policy. 

It will mark the 11^th national debate in six months. 

“We hope this debate will illuminate the candidates’ positions on national security and foreign policy at a critical time for America and the world,” mentions Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute. 

Already some media are gearing up for what they envision as hearty exchanges between front runners former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former corporate executive Herman Cain.

 

Obama bows to Boehner, resets speech to Congress

Rescheduling President Barack Obama’s speech on a jobs program and the economy before a rare joint session of Congress to next Thursday night from the prior night when it would clash with a long-planned NBC-televised Republican presidential debate, now has the president’s address competing for attention with a National Football League season opener between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, notes Grumpy Editor.

With the original scheduling, opposite a debate spotlighting eight GOP presidential contenders originating from the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., could it be a case of White House staffers consulting TV Guide to see what television fare was scheduled for Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.?

Or, with politics in mind, was it by design?

Prime time highlights for Sept. 7, in the TV Guide issue covering Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, showed no GOP presidential debate on NBC or its cable sister, MSNBC.

The magazine listed “Minute to Win It” on NBC at 8 p.m., Sept. 7 and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” on MSNBC at that time.

Scheduling of Obama’s speech at the same time as the GOP session was “coincidental,” claimed Jay Carney, White House press secretary.

Carney also maintained that the president decided to speak to a joint session of Congress because lawmakers’ action is needed to carry out his plans.

Joint session presidential speeches in the past usually have been reserved for state of the union addresses, inaugurations or major moments, such as declaring war.

In a letter to Obama yesterday seeking a date change, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), recommended “your address be held on the following evening, when we can ensure there will be no parliamentary or logistical impediments that might detract from your remarks."

He cited House activity on Wednesday, first day after members’ month-long vacations, would include voting into the evening and the need for a subsequent three-hour security sweep in advance of the president’s appearance.

 

Recession brings hunger risk to youngest baby boomers

AARP Foundation finds tough times are affecting the youngest baby boomers --- 50 to 59 year olds --- resulting in 8.8 million in that bracket facing the risk of hunger, learns Grumpy Editor. 

In case highlights from the report, “Food Insecurity Among Older Adults,” do not make it to your local newspaper today: 

Research uncovers more than 9 percent of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009, a 79 percent increase since 2001. 

The research for AARP Foundation, an AARP affiliated charity, by James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, is the first of its kind to examine hunger risk among 50 to 59 year olds.

They point out that age group, too young for Social Security and too old to qualify for programs designed for families with children, can be hard hit in bad economic times.

"For the first time, we have a fuller picture of hunger risk among all Americans 50-plus,” relates Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP Foundation president. 

"The recession has taken an especially large toll on older people, particularly those in the middle class," she adds.

"Between 2007 and 2009, the most dramatic increase in food insecurity was among those with annual incomes more than twice the poverty line.”

 

Presto! August Social Security payments flow on time

Following several weeks of scary-to-seniors dire warnings --- from President Barack Obama to national print and broadcast media --- that more than 45 million Americans may not get their August Social Security payments if the debt-ceiling crisis was not resolved, lo and behold, just minutes after the debt-ceiling vote passed in Washington, the Social Security Administration issued a news release saying benefits will be paid on time, notes Grumpy Editor. 

Whew! 

Imagine this miraculous speed:  With the green light and to meet the next-day (Aug. 3) dissemination, the U.S. Treasury Department immediately cranked up its check-printing presses or geared for direct deposits to millions of recipients.  Then, for the mailed checks, the U.S. Postal Service took over for following-day distribution around the country --- a delivery process that usually takes two days to mail boxes. 

Hard to believe? 

Not even usual eyebrow-raising investigative reporters were stirred by this magical, super-fast federal government action, equal to pulling a rabbit out of a hat. 

Strangely, with millions of Americans concerned, few print and broadcast media reported the announcement that Social Security benefits would be paid as usual and on time. 

The Aug. 2 news release from the Social Security Administration announced “payments for August 3 will be made on time and as scheduled.  Payments for August 10, 17 and 24 also will be made as scheduled.” 

The three-paragraph news release also reminded that “current beneficiaries must switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013.” 

That should provide another “crisis” for media, focusing on recipients who do not have bank accounts.

 

Obama at Twitter event: small business taxes cut 16 times

Sailing over the heads of most reporters covering Wednesday’s televised Twitter forum from the White House, President Barack Obama again trumpeted, “We have provided at least 16 tax cuts to small businesses” in response to a “where are the jobs” tweet from House Speaker John Boehner, observes Grumpy Editor.

The “16 tax cuts to small businesses” boast has been mentioned for months and few reporters ask what they are.

Going back to last fall, an Oct. 30 New York Times blog by Robb Mandelbaum (who did ask) listed these “tax cuts,” as provided by the White House.

• A new small-business health-care tax credit. 

• A new tax credit for hiring unemployed workers. 

• Bonus depreciation tax incentives to support new investment. 

• 75 percent exclusion of small business capital gains. 

• Expansion of limits on small business expensing. 

• Five-year carryback of net operating losses. 

• Reduction of the built-in gains holding period for small businesses from 10 to seven years to allow small business greater flexibility in their investments. 

• Temporary small business estimated tax payment relief to allow small businesses to keep needed cash on hand. 

• Zero capital gains taxes on key investments in small businesses. 

• The highest small business expensing limit ever –- up to $500,000. 

• An extension of 50-percent bonus depreciation. 

• A new deduction for health care expenses for the self-employed.

• Tax relief and simplification for cell-phone deductions. 

• An increase in the deduction for entrepreneurs’ start-up expenses. 

• A five-year carryback of general business credits. 

• Limitations on penalties for errors in tax reporting that disproportionately affect small business. 

Yes, there are 16.  But media should ask how many entrepreneurs and small businesses --- such as beauty salon operators, dentists and printers --- are seeing improved bottom lines as a result.

In this week’s Twitter session, Obama also mentioned the December passage of  a payroll tax cut “that put an extra $1,000 in the pockets of almost every single American.  That means they’re spending money. That means that businesses have customers.  And that has helped improve overall growth.”

That “extra $1,000 in the pockets of almost every single American” phrase didn’t raise eyebrows of media, either.

Some folks are still checking their pockets.

 

Americans wait as other nations clear citizens from Libya

While citizens of many nations were able to depart turbulent Tripoli by air and sea over the past few days, about 600 passengers --- mostly Americans --- were on board a ferry docked for three days in Libya’s capital awaiting a green light to sail to Malta, about 300 miles to the north, notes Grumpy Editor.

The ferry finally set sail this afternoon.

Media reported officials blamed the holdup in departure of the sleek, dual-hull, five-year-old Maria Dolores (capable of reaching 39 knots) on rough weather.

But there was a question mark with that reason.

Grumpy Editor found mid-day Thursday weather in both Tripoli and Malta was satisfactory:  52 degrees, scattered clouds and 15 m.p.h. winds in Tripoli and 48 degrees, mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and 22 to 25 m.p.h. winds at Valetta, Malta.

There were increased fears for U.S. citizens in troubled Libya as the security situation deteriorated.

A CNN anchor, after detailing the tense situation yesterday, mentioned that the Americans aboard the docked ferry could be “sitting ducks.”

While those U.S. citizens remained dockside, two ships transported about 4,500 Chinese workers to Crete. China also sent a missile frigate to protect its citizens evacuated by sea.

Meanwhile, citizens of other nations also had a much easier time leaving Libya.

While Libyan authorities refused the U.S. permission to land chartered aircraft, there were no problems for the German air force flying some of its citizens home, as did French chartered aircraft along with British and Russian departures by air.

Italian citizens were able to take Alitalia commercial flights home and the Italian air force was handling the overflow.  The Italians also dispatched two navy vessels to eastern Libyan ports.

The Dutch also used military aircraft to evacuate its citizens.

Turkey removed 3,000 of its citizens on two ships.

 

Most media miss al-Qaeda link in Pakistan shooting case

 

Nineteen days after Raymond Davis, a U.S. consular staffer was jailed in Lahore, Pakistan for fatally shooting two armed men, President Barack Obama declared that country must release him under a pact that gives diplomats immunity from prosecution, notes Grumpy Editor.

“If our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country’s local prosecution,” Obama informed a Washington news conference on Tuesday.

That has been a long-time diplomatic standard.

Nevertheless, a Lahore court today adjourned until March 14 in ruling whether Davis has diplomatic immunity.

Police plan to formally charge the former U.S. Army Special Forces member with murder.

Davis, who said he acted in self defense, was taken into custody on Jan. 27.

Into the intrigue --- and missed by most media in this international diplomatic saga --- is that on the same day Obama was meeting the press, Pakistan’s al-Qaeda-linked Taliban warned it would punish those involved in any move to release Davis.

Only Reuters’ Chris Allbritton uncovered that warning.

The two men Davis shot reportedly robbed two people earlier on the same day.

The incident occurred after Davis withdrew money from an ATM and was driving a car when the two men on a motorcycle confronted him at a busy intersection in Lahore, according to the U.S. Embassy.

A senior Pakistani official later admitted the two men were part of a criminal gang.

Even if released soon, things won't be smooth for Davis.

In another twist, Sen. John Kerry Tuesday jumped into the skirmish with a 24-hour visit to Pakistan, promising Pakistanis that the U.S. Embassy worker will face a U.S. criminal investigation if released.  The Massachusetts Democrat also expressed regret for deaths of the two men.

Pakistan is one of the largest non-NATO recipients of U.S. military aid.

 

Stranded Americans in Egypt await word on escape route

As chaos and lawlessness continued for a seventh day in Cairo, print and broadcast coverage by U.S. media has been scant on weary and concerned Americans stranded in Egypt awaiting overdue word on evacuation, notes Grumpy Editor.

While meetings, including photo ops, focusing on the violent protests  in Egypt continued in Washington, and the U.S. embassy in Cairo yesterday recommending that Americans leave Egypt as soon as possible, getting out of the country posed a major problem.

Thousands of travelers, including Americans, were stranded at the Cairo International Airport.

Among Americans were Diane Kelley and her husband.  She managed to tell CNN Saturday that they were concerned by the lack of help from U.S. authorities and they were awaiting a way out.

Through yesterday, the U.S. had not dispatched any special flights to fill cancellations by airlines, including Delta, the only U.S. carrier with direct service to Cairo.  Delta earlier suspended service to the area.

Meanwhile, other nations --- acting promptly --- have flown in additional flights to evacuate their citizens.

An airport official told Associated Press that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan sent in more than 15 flights in total to transport their nationals out of the country, adding that Royal Jordanian and Bahrain's Gulf Air switched to larger aircraft to accommodate more people.

A State Department spokesperson late yesterday said the U.S. was hopeful in sending chartered aircraft to Cairo for the trapped Americans today --- one week after protests started.

However, chaos mushroomed at the airport today as thousands of foreigners, including Americans, sought to flee the unrest.

Setting off further grumbling by Americans was word from the State Department that those taking chartered flights will be billed for the cost, mainly to Europe, and would then need to make their own travel arrangements home.

About 52,000 Americans are registered with the U.S. embassy in Cairo.

 

 

Survey: Obama should change tax policies to boost hiring

With President Barack Obama focusing on jobs creation in his State of the Union address last night, a just-released survey by Opinion Research Corp. for Adecco Staffing US, finds 73 percent of respondents believe the president “should change current tax policies to better encourage businesses to hire,” notes Grumpy Editor.

In other efforts to spur hiring, about 68 percent of those surveyed want businesses to be offered more incentives or tax breaks to encourage adding to staff, while 67 percent would like to see the government eliminate unnecessary regulations that discourage businesses from adding to payrolls.

In his State of the Union address, Obama urged efforts to create a wave of innovation to create jobs --- without getting into specifics.

With unemployment now at 9.4 percent, the push to speed up jobs creation comes after the current administration marks more than two years in the White House.

"The message is loud and clear: Americans feel changes are needed in government's approach to jobs and labor in order to get people back to work quicker," says Tig Gilliam, CEO of Adecco Group North America, a key provider of recruitment and workforce solutions.

"What we have now isn't working well enough or quick enough and people feel it, especially the unemployed,” he continues.

Gilliam adds, “Americans aren't asking for a handout. Rather, they'd like to see some of the barriers to jobs lifted --- better alignment of incentives and elimination of barriers --- to free up hiring."