January 8, 2010 – Page 2 – Capitol Hill Blue

Obama beefs up airline security, intel sharing

January 8, 2010

Hundreds of law enforcement officers are being trained as federal air marshals to ramp up security as the Obama administration tries to prevent a repeat of the near-catastrophic attempt to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day.

President Barack Obama ordered the U.S. intelligence agencies to do a better job of recognizing serious terror threats and sharing information with those who can disrupt a plot as quickly as possible.

The White House on Thursday released a declassified summary of a two-week review that began when a 23-year-old Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with an explosive hidden in his underwear.

Drug benefit expansion will help Seniors

January 8, 2010

In case the prospect of nearly $4,000 in prescription assistance isn’t enough to perk up low-income seniors, the government is using ’60s singer Chubby Checker to publicize “the twist” in the Medicare drug program.

As of Jan. 1, more than 1 million low-income seniors are newly eligible for more generous prescription drug benefits under the “extra help” program. Benefiting from a new law are those with life insurance policies and those who regularly get money from relatives to help pay household expenses but were previously disqualified because of too many assets or too much income.

“The safety net is frayed and this is a way to start stitching it back together again,” said Hilary Dalin, associate director for benefits at the National Council on Aging.

Gay marriage bill fails in New Jersey

January 8, 2010

Gays are vowing to fight back through the courts after the state Senate voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Minutes after the bill was defeated 20-14 on Thursday, gay rights advocates announced they would file a lawsuit seeking to get the state’s top court to order New Jersey to recognize same-sex matrimony.

The state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that the state must provide all the benefits of marriage to committed gay couples. In response, the Legislature legalized civil unions for gay couples.

Alabama beats Texas for national college championship

January 8, 2010

The houndstooth hat is a memory — the Snake, Joe Willie and Bart Starr replaced by guys named Julio, Javier and Mount Cody.

Alabama football, though, is alive and well, thanks to a defense that would have made the Bear smile.

That defense knocked Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the BCS title game early Thursday night, then made a big play to save the win late and restore glory to Bear Bryant’s football factory with a 37-21 victory for the Crimson Tide’s first national title since 1992.

The Tide was the unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press poll.

“We back,” said Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, the offensive MVP.

NBC ponders moving Leno back to late night TV

January 8, 2010

Jay Leno might get another another chance to reign as late-night king at NBC.

The network, contemplating disppointing ratings for Leno’s new prime-time show, is weighing a plan to return him to the 11:35 p.m. EST slot he held for 17 years as “Tonight Show” host, a person familiar with the discussions said on condition of anonymity over a lack of authority to address the issue publicly.

NBC executives on Thursday discussed a scenario that would include a half-hour Leno show at 11:35 p.m. EST, sending “Tonight” with Conan O’Brien to 12:05 a.m. and Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night” to 1:05 a.m., the person said.

Another year for Gates

January 8, 2010

Looks like Obama plans to keep Bush holdover defense secretary gates around for another year.

Gates to stay as defense chief at least another year

The White House’s Tiger Woods

January 8, 2010

Tiger Woods has nothing on White House budget director Peter Orszag.

On Dec. 39, ABC correspondent Brianna Golodyga announced on “Good Morning America” that she was engaged to Obama’s budget guy.

She says she met him at the White House Correspondents Dinner back in May.

But as their relationship developed, Orszag also had a pregnant girlfriend, Claire Milonas of New York, who gave birth to their daughter a few weeks before the public engagement announcement.

No word yet on whether or not the current future Mrs. Orszag is expecting.

In a joint statement released by Orszag and Milonas, the former couple said:

longhiar

January 8, 2010

Whilst well placed rivers of Angst cascade on the few with touch,.

One of my beloved is in harms way and I’m to blame.

Spigots dry with ethics deny, tis, bloooooooood but,

we send water, .

Hack…..