Politics
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Rep. Keith Ellison: We Should Support the Egyptian People
As violent clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters in Egypt have become the leading images of the country’s conflict, eyes are also on President Barack Obama. Publicly, his administration has taken the broad view that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak should transition to a new government, but officials are reportedly working behind the scenes to persuade…
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Egypt Twitter Fail: Kenneth Cole Apologizes for Offensive Tweet
The Associated Press is reporting that a major Twitter Fail for fashion designer Kenneth Cole on Thursday led him to apologize for a tweet that used the crisis in Cairo to promote his spring line. In a matter of hours, the Twitter community was up in arms over the tweet and even releasing tweets to…
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Egypt Crisis: White House Talks Transition With Mubarak
As Egyptian protesters make plans to march on the palace of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday, the White House reportedly has been in talks with the embattled leader to resign immediately and turn over power to his vice president, Omar Suleiman. According to the New York Times: Even though Mr. Mubarak has balked, so far,…
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Where Are the Green Jobs?
Proclaiming it “Innovation Week” at the White House, President Obama has ramped up his clean-energy agenda recently. From the Monday launch of a program designed to spark entrepreneurship in high-growth industries, to Thursday’s tour of labs at Penn State where researchers are developing more energy-efficient buildings, the president keeps talking the good talk on investing…
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Egypt: Another Day of Chaos
The Huffington Post reports on today’s dramatic and disturbing developments in Egypt: Protesters and government supporters fought in a second day of rock-throwing battles at a central Cairo square while more lawlessness spread around the city. New looting and arson erupted, and gangs of thugs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked reporters, foreigners and rights workers…
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VIDEO: Is That the President on a Fried-Chicken Commercial?
AOL News reports that KFC China ran an Obama-themed commercial in advance of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s January visit to the United States. “Change, not only for your mom, but for you, your stomach, for a better taste!” the sorta look-alike proclaims in the commercial, before being crushed by a giant sandwich. The company has…
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Cairo Is Burning: 5 People Killed Overnight
MSNBC is reporting that the protests in Egypt have turned violent. Overnight, pro-Mubarak supporters open-fired on an anti-Mubarak protest camp in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Thursday, killing at least five, as violence surged over an unprecedented challenge to his 30-year-old rule. Hundreds have reportedly been injured. The opposition responded by renewing demands that the 82-year-old…
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Obama 'Very Concerned' About Delays in Mubarak's Transfer of Power
ABC News reports that in the face of Mubarak supporters’ attacks on protesters in Cairo, the Obama administration is worried that President Hosni Mubarak won’t begin the transfer of power quickly enough. If he doesn’t, the administration fears the crisis will “turn even uglier.” One official described the administration’s public stance on the issue as…
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Limbaugh's Egypt-Themed Nickname for Obama: 'The Pharaoh' (VIDEO)
Rush Limbaugh really outdid himself in a recent comments about the situation in Egypt. Not surprising: He calls the president a name that implies he’s a cultural outsider, finds a way to connect criticism him to every piece of breaking news, and contributes in the least productive way possible to the public dialogue on the…
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Egypt Protests Turn Violent: Mubarak Supporters Attack Opponents
The Associated Press is reporting that the uprisings in Egypt have turned violent. Several thousand supporters of President Hosni Mubarak, including some riding horses and camels and wielding whips, attacked anti-government protesters Wednesday as Egypt’s upheaval took a dangerous new turn. In chaotic scenes, the two sides pelted each other with stones, and protesters dragged…