The Luckiest President: Inside Obama's Health Care Triumph

David Goldman / AP

Supporters of President Obama's health care law celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington on June 28, 2012, after the court announced its ruling

During the Tea Party summer of 2009, when suburban revolutionaries with funny hats and nasty signs began screaming about Obamacare and tyranny, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel urged the President to settle for a less comprehensive health plan. But Obama said no, he felt lucky. At the end of the summer, after Obama?s approval ratings had sagged and Obamacare?s approval ratings had plunged, Emanuel asked during an Oval Office meeting whether he still felt lucky.

?My name is Barack Hussein Obama and I?m sitting here,? said Obama, in an anecdote first reported by Jonathan Alter in his book The Promise. ?So yeah, I?m feeling pretty lucky.?

Today, Obama must be feeling even luckier.?Obamacare has survived, thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative George W. Bush appointee who surprised legal pundits by upholding the plan?s insurance requirement as a tax, even though Obama always insisted it wasn?t a tax. The other four conservative Justices wanted to strike down the entire law, but because one Republican in a robe defied expectations, Obama has secured an achievement that Democrats have dreamed of since FDR and Truman, extending health insurance to the uninsured, while laying the groundwork for systemic reforms. As Vice President Joe Biden said, it?s a big you-know-what deal.

And as the Duke of Wellington once said, it was a near run thing.

It?s worth recalling just how narrow a needle Obama had to thread to get his health plan to this point. During the 2008 campaign, Obama had criticized the individual mandate, arguing that the real problem with health care was that it was too expensive, and that the path to universal coverage was to make it cheaper. But when he decided to push for health reform in the spring of 2009, he discovered that Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, a centrist Democrat who took the lead on reform, thought a mandate was the only path to a filibuster-proof majority. So the White House let Baucus pursue a bipartisan solution.

Do you remember how the pressure mounted that spring and summer, as the Tea Party exploded, Republicans began attacking Obamacare as an assault on liberty, Sarah Palin began warning of ?death panels,? and even Baucus? close friend and primary negotiating partner, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, accused the President of trying to pull the plug on Grandma? Emanuel was screaming at Baucus to hurry up and deliver a bill, but Baucus felt like he needed to make every effort to reach out to Republicans ? not just to try to pick off a few GOP votes but also to appease red-state Democrats who didn?t want a partisan bill. So he slow-walked the bill, and the Fox News drumbeat kept getting louder, and the polls kept getting uglier.

Ultimately, it became clear that Republicans weren?t going to play, which meant Obama and Baucus needed the votes of every one of the 58 Democrats and two independents in the Senate. If Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota hadn?t been seated after winning a lengthy recount by a handful of votes, no Obamacare. If Arlen Specter hadn?t switched to the Democratic Party after his vote for Obama?s stimulus doomed his chances in a Tea Party-dominated GOP primary, no Obamacare. If Emanuel hadn?t cut backroom deals for individual Senators ? the ?Cornhusker Kickback? for Ben Nelson of Nebraska, the ?Louisiana Purchase? for Mary Landrieu of Louisiana ? no Obamacare. If Obama had insisted on including the ?public option? beloved by liberals but anathema to independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, no Obamacare. If centrists like Evan Bayh of Indiana or Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas had decided that the President and Baucus hadn?t made enough of an effort to bring in Republicans, no Obamacare.

And then, after the House and Senate finally managed to pass comprehensive reforms before the Christmas holiday, but before the two bills could be reconciled into a final compromise legislation, an unknown Massachusetts Republican named Scott Brown won a stunning upset to claim the late Ted Kennedy?s Senate seat, upending the filibuster-proof Democratic majority. It looked like Obamacare was dead after all. House and Senate Democrats were at one another?s throats, drowning in recriminations. Again, Emanuel pushed Obama to cut a deal for a modest bill rather than destroy his presidency in an ignominious defeat. Again, Obama felt lucky.

The President barely mentioned health care in his 2010 State of the Union address. But somehow, he got the bill across the finish line. There was yet another hiccup near the end over abortion, but the White House worked out a deal that kept pro-life House Democrats on board. And with some legislative legerdemain, the House passed the Senate bill, so Obama no longer needed 60 votes, and the Senate approved some tweaks that didn?t require 60 votes, as well as a sweeping student-loan reform that had to be included for reasons I don?t even remember right now.

Most legal scholars scoffed at the notion that the Supreme Court might find the law unconstitutional, but it turned out to be a very serious threat. Just the other day, an Obama campaign operative told me the White House seemed blithely confident that the court would uphold the bill, that Obama didn?t seem to have a Plan B. ?They seem to think it?s going to be fine,? he said in a tone of voice that didn?t suggest he thought it was going to be fine.

It turned out that they were right. Without a single vote to spare in the court, the same margin it had in Congress, Obamacare survived. Barack Hussein Obama is a lucky guy. And today, 32 million uninsured Americans are sharing his good fortune.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/time/topstories/~3/-OeebCjH8rw/

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Syrian troops recover rebellious Damascus suburb

This image made from amateur video released by Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, June 29, 2012, purports to show shrouded bodies in Douma, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

This image made from amateur video released by Shaam News Network and accessed Friday, June 29, 2012, purports to show shrouded bodies in Douma, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian troops have regained control of a rebellious Damascus suburb after a 10-day assault that left dozens dead, hundreds wounded and caused a major humanitarian crisis, activists said Saturday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and local activist Mohammed Saeed said troops recaptured Douma outside the capital late Friday.

The latest campaign was the worst of several assaults on the area, with dead bodies left in the streets, the Observatory said.

"The situation in Douma is catastrophic. The suburb is badly destroyed," said Saeed via Skype, adding that he was among dozens of residents who on foot through the fields to safer areas for fear of being captured by security forces.

Douma has been a hotbed of dissent since the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March last year.

Troops loyal to Assad are strong in central Damascus, but have battled to control the ring of suburbs and settlements in the surrounding countryside. The army launches frequent offensives into the suburbs only to see them slip back into rebel control.

Saeed said troops stormed two makeshift hospitals where seriously wounded people were being treated. "The doctors fled and the wounded remained. Their fate is unknown," he said.

The latest violence came as representatives of global and regional powers tried Saturday to agree on a peaceful formula to end the bloody crisis in Syria, including the role of Assad in a transitional government.

The talks hosted by the United Nations at its European headquarters in Geneva are seen as a last-ditch attempt to salvage the peace plan brokered by the U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

Annan warned that if nations trying to end the country's violence fail to act they face an international crisis of "grave severity." He said history "will judge us all harshly if we prove incapable of taking the right path today."

Russia's determination to preserve its last remaining ally in the Middle East has collided head-on with the desire by the U.S. and other Western powers to replace Assad with a democracy. Diplomats are growing pessimistic that the U.N.-brokered conference can bridge the Russia-U.S. divide.

Activists say more than 14,000 people have been killed as the conflict has becoming increasingly militarized. Fighting also has left several rebel strongholds facing dire conditions.

Douma's residents suffer from daily shelling as well as shortages of food, electricity and running water, according to the Observatory. It also cited a shortage of cooking gas that has prevented people from cooking food since the latest campaign began on June 21.

The Observatory said about 100 families, mostly women and children, remain in Douma as men had to flee because of waves of arrests. Dozens of wounded people also are holed up in shelters and need urgent treatment after troops took over the main hospital in the area and damaged it, the Observatory said.

"Many of the wounded have died because of bad medical conditions," the Observatory said.

The state-run news agency SANA said troops continue to pursue "terrorist groups" in Douma, raiding their hideouts and destroying their communications and other equipment. Clashes resulted in the death of dozens of terrorists ? the official term authorities use for rebels ? and the wounding and arrest of many others, the statement said.

In other violence Saturday, a car bomb exploded in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, damaging a government building but causing no casualties since the building was closed for the weekend, according to SANA.

Activists also reported shelling by government troops and clashes between rebels and government forces in the central provinces of Hama and Homs, the eastern region of Deir el-Zour as well as Idlib and Aleppo to the north. Activists said at least 22 people were killed in violence Saturday.

In Egypt, Arab League deputy chief Ahmed ben Heli told reporters that a Syrian opposition meeting will be held Monday in Cairo.

More than 200 Syrians representing opposition groups from inside and outside the country have been invited along with foreign ministers from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members ? the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia, he said. Also invited were Annan and envoys from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey and Tunisia.

They will discuss agreeing on a common vision to deal with the next stage, he said.

The regional and international participation will only be in the opening and closing sessions while the opposition groups alone will discuss the issue for two days.

Previous attempts in the past weeks to hold a similar meeting at the league's headquarters in Cairo failed because of differences between opposition groups.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed next week's meeting.

"In our view the transition must involve representatives of all Syrian communities," he said in Geneva.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-06-30-ML-Syria/id-0a2ecad3becc49d3beb14cc531d6750e

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MCNtweets: RT @markromanek: It's like Apple showing Samsung ads in an Apple Store.

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/MCNtweets/statuses/218974821055348737

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Dem: Law a victory for middle class (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/236151122?client_source=feed&format=rss

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How Property Management Services are Helpful to Bangalore Real ...

How Property Management Services are Helpful to Bangalore Real Estate

?

Looking for property management service for your property? Property management firms provides completely different kind of service, it?s really the sort of service that determines the costs to be taken by the corporate. Whereas you're hiring the property Management Company for your property work, it's perpetually necessary to grant all the mandatory details to the corporate so they perceive your expectations from the work. Meeting the expectations of the consumer is troublesome for the property management firms, each consumer demands one thing completely different which may solely delivered by somebody who has expertise of operating within the property business.Evaluating the property properly is that the main necessary task of the property manager; it's really wiped out the initial stage to search out the optimal rental rate of the property.

When it involves analysis of property, it mainly involves the repair work and residential enhancements which might offer the property a stronger form. Householders typically stop the property management professionals to implement bound things, it?s necessary for the property management company to debate on such problems clearly with the property management skilled. Trendy property management professionals additionally take the images of the inside and exterior of home; it's really done so they will show the advance work to the consumers through the images.

Get new tenants for your property with the benefit of the right property management professional! The work profile of a property manager involves lots of things; it's the responsibility of the property management company to facilitate the consumer to urge smart tenants for their property in Bangalore.

Attracting the tenants towards the property is that the job of the property manager, it his/her responsibility to grant the property a stronger form through the repair and modification work. Property manager ought to additionally used the advertising mediums to push the property within the market, promoting the property on-line and meeting with the potential customers of the property additionally comes within the job profile of a property management company.

Money matters! Certify the consumer is proud of your work. Several property management professionals haven't been procured their work, it?s really because of the poor quality of the work that didn't impress the homebuyers. Showing the property to the potential tenants on the weekdays and weekends is your responsibility; create the simplest of your skills to convince the tenant. Application and everyone the opposite document work ought to even be managed by the property management skilled, certify to gather the applying fee within time. If you're searching for Property for Sale in Bangalore, you'd get several choices because the town of knowledge and technology is currently the new hot property of India.

?Want to set up a realty business? For tips from Property Management Services, ?Bangalore who has helped many purchasers to urge their dream property. Hopefully, this post can facilitate you to know the various services offered by the property management company. Opt for the simplest skilled for your property.

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Source: http://www.pr-express.com/how-property-management-services--are-helpful-to-bangalore-real-estate.html

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London Journal: Britain Honors World War II Bomber Crews

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Source: www.nytimes.com --- Thursday, June 28, 2012
Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated a monument to the aircrews, who had long lacked such recognition because of unease over civilian deaths from their bombing campaigns. ...

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=63da0db866a20dfacc84ebe008350746

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Europe's cities plan to combat mounting climate risk

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/europes-cities-plan-combat-mounting-climate-risk-131915376.html

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Pinkberry Greek Yogurt Debuts (PHOTOS)

Pinkberry is going Greek.

No, the Los Angeles-based yogurt chain Pinkberry isn't joining a UCLA frat; they're hopping on the bandwagon and serving nonfat Greek yogurt!

The company -- whose first store opened in West Hollywood in 2005 -- is making a surprising move in a number of ways. While Pinkberry is known for its upscale frozen yogurt, the Greek yogurt that they're starting to sell is unfrozen.

Furthermore, the chain is serving savory combinations that might shock the palates of most customers, who are used to the likes of fruit, granola, or honey on their yogurt. With tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers on the menu, Pinkberry seems to be trying to put a new twist on a somewhat old fad.

Select Pinkberry stores are also now serving coffee and opening at 8 a.m., in an attempt to make the brand a one-stop breakfast destination. Customers can eat berries on their Greek yogurt in the morning, and then return for a mid-day snack of something savory. Pesto yogurt, anyone?

Greek yogurt has surged in popularity in the US in recent years, accounting for 20 percent of total yogurt sales in 2011, according to the Chicago Tribune. Brands like Fage and Chobani are now commonplace in many supermarkets, and even Ben and Jerry's has introduced a line of frozen Greek yogurts.

Considering this craze, it only makes sense that Pinkberry would try to get a piece of the proverbial yogurt pie. However, only time will tell if this capitalization on the Greek yogurt trend will work out for Pinkberry, especially considering their relatively unusual approach to it.

There's no better place to gauge the trend than in LA, where Pinkberry was "born and raised," in the words of Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves. If Angelenos want to try for themselves, four locations in LA are now serving the new yogurt:

South Beverly: 240 S. Beverly Blvd., Beverly Hills
Third Street: 1456 Third St., Santa Monica
Century City Mall: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
Waterside Shopping Center: 4708 1/2 Admiralty Wy., Marina Del Rey

Greek yogurt is also being served at select Pinkberry locations in Boston and Washington, D.C. And, if you just want to look, check out some pictures of the new offerings.

• Pinkberry's new coffee and Greek yogurt. All photos courtesy of Pinkberry unless otherwise noted.

• Greek Yogurt, Basil, Halved Grape Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Balsamic Glaze, Pacific Sea Salt.

• Greek Yogurt, Sliced Cucumber, Diced Yellow and Red Bell Pepper, Pacific Sea Salt, Honey, Chili Powder.

• Greek Yogurt, Halved Grape Tomatoes, Halved Green Olives, Pacific Sea Salt, Pesto.

• Greek Yogurt, Chocolate Granola, Blueberries, Raspberries, Honey, Shaved Milk Chocolate,

• Greek Yogurt, Kiwi, Mango, Strawberries, Honey Almond Granola, Vanilla Agave,

• Greek Yogurt, Mango, Strawberries, Strawberry Puree, Toasted Almond, Coconut.

• Our own creation -- Greek yogurt with raspberries, blueberries, almonds, and cinnamon honey.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/pinkberry-greek-yogurt-de_n_1632406.html

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China business travel will soon surpass the United States ...

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Source: http://www.thefinancialherald.com/?p=188514

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Poker Tables

Poker tables - Things you need to start you r own league

Poker is on the up, this is with the aid of more and more television programs showing just how exciting poker can really be. Whether it is Texas hold'em or five card stud, you really need to consider the purchase of your very own poker table. Poker can be very enjoyable but without the feel of a lovely poker table and luxury chips then poker just isn't the same. This article is aimed at giving you information on the different types of poker tables that are available along with telling you the best place to locate them to pick up a bargain!

Poker tables are not just for casinos

You may have perceived that poker tables are just for casinos or for cruise ships but this isn't necessarily the case as more and more people are getting bit by the poker bug, so the need for the change to the places that you see poker tables cropping up in. These locations include pubs and also in some cases sports or community halls. You will see poker tables in different places as the type of people who are into poker is changing. You will also see the accessibility to get into poker has become easier and as such you will also see more and more poker leagues in and around the UK.

Where to find poker tables

If you are looking to buy a poker table or even if you would like a little more information then this can be found online. If you enter the keyword 'poker tables' into a search engine you will find hundreds of companies that will be able to help you out with your purchase. You will find many different tables from the affordable to the not so affordable. The best thing for you to do is shop around a little and you will be sure to find an incredible bargain on a Poker Chips. Once you are all set up and you've had plenty of practice, you never know you could end up becoming a poker champion of your very own!

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1270509/poker-tables.htm

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CareCentrix Moving To Hartford Instead of Florida, Adding 300 Jobs

A fast-growing East Hartford-based company that manages patient home health care will move to downtown Hartford, rather than moving to either Florida or Kansas where it also has significant operations ? the fifth company to win incentives from the governor's "First Five" program.

CareCentrix will move more than 200 jobs to the 20 Church St. tower in downtown Hartford by the end of the year, add another 300 in the next five years. The company could qualify for up to $24 million in grants for retaining and growing its job base in the capital city.

Thursday's annoucnement in the lobby of the Hartford building marked the first incentive package among the five to involve a business moving to Hartford.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy got an eviable lead-in earlier in the day, as the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision upholding sweeping health care reform.

"The reality is that more Americans will, in fact, have the kind of coverage that will then [prompt insurers to] turn to companies like CareCentrix that make sure they are provided with the highest level of quality, the highest level of care at the best possible price," Malloy said.

CareCentrix's relocation is the second time in a recent years when the state has backed the move of a corporation from East Hartford to a neighboring town; the first was Oakleaf Waste Management, which got a $3 million grant two years ago to help it move to Windsor.

But just as Oakleaf had threatened to move to another state, CareCentrix had actively considered moving their East Hartford headquarters and operations to either Kansas or Florida, Malloy said.

State Sen. Gary D. LeBeau, D-East Hartford, said CareCentrix had outgrown its quarters at Founders Plaza in East Hartford.

"They can't grow if they don't have space to grow," LeBeau said. "The bottom line here is, we're keeping the jobs in the state."

East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc said in a telephone message, "We hate to see them go but East Hartford is supporting the additional jobs and the growth....Quite frankly, 111 Founders Plaza has already signed a lease with a new tenant for that space."

CareCentrix started in 1996 as a division of Gentiva Health Services in New York. In 2008, backed by a private equity firm specializing in health care, the business spun off on its own and moved to East Hartford. Since then, it has grown from 300 to 1,100 employees serving a network of 7,000 home care providers with more than 30 million clients.

The grants would be paid out over five years as the company meets hurdles for increasing its employment base in the city and retaining that growing employment base. If CareCentrix meets the goals, the company would receive approximately $5 million a year.

Eric Reimer, CareCentrix's chief executive, said the company had seriously considered moving its headquarters and call center operations, now in East Hartford, to other states. In an interview, he indicated there was no bidding war waged among the states, after declining to detail what other states were offering during a press conference.

Among the 800 net new jobs CareCentrix has added since becoming independent, 700 have been in other states.

"It was always the preference to stay but the only way that was made possible was through the 'First Five' program," Reimer said, adding that the financial incentives would be used to finance further growth.

The CareCentrix move is a boost for downtown Hartford, which has struggled with high office vacancy rates for several years. The city's tax rates for office buildings is dropping this year as a result of a property revaluation.

The company also considered space at 242 Trumbull St., a smaller building owned by Northland Investment Corp., a source familiar with the search said Thursday.

The "First Five" program has come under fire from critics who say it is not certain that the companies who receive financial incentives would have moved out or would not have expanded as they did in Connecticut.

CareCentrix contracts with large providers such as Aetna and Cigna to monitor home health care, including when care in the home is the preferable alternative to more expensive hospital stays. It also recently added a program for doing sleep aphnea tests in patients' home rather than in two-night stays at a sleep-test facility. The typical cost of $3,000 can be reduced by as much as 90 percent, Reimer said.

Reimer said the jobs that would be added included call center employees, nurses, clinicians and managers. Call center employees, which would encompass the bulk of the jobs, typically pay $30,000 to $40,000 a year.

The announcement is the second in a week for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's "First Five" program, which offers state aid to large and midsize companies adding at least 200 employees. Last week, Malloy announced a state package worth up to $51 million in tax credits, a grant and loan for Alexion Pharmaceuticals to move to New Haven from Cheshire and add between 200 and 300 jobs.

In addition to Alexion, the other "First Five" companies named since last July are Cigna, which moved its world headquarters from Philadelphia to Bloomfield; ESPN, adding a large studio building in Bristol and NBC Sports, consolidating operations in Stamford.

A fifth firm, TicketNetwork, was part of the program but later pulled out.

Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra said the addition of more workers downtown will be a boon for local businesses. He said he mentioned the CareCentrix move to the owner of a Pratt Street restaurant where he was eating lunch, just prior to the announcement.

"She immediately rushed over with business cards and brochures about her restaurant," Segarra said.

CareCentrix will occupy two floors, or about 40,000 square feet, in the Church Street tower ? and would add more space as the company increases its employment base.

Source: http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-first-five-hartford-20120628,0,6900938.story?track=rss

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Health ruling to end campaign mystery, unleash ads

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns at Electronic Instrumentation and Technology in Sterling, Va., Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns at Electronic Instrumentation and Technology in Sterling, Va., Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

A view of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Saving its biggest case for last, the Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict Thursday on President Barack Obama's health care law. The outcome is likely to be a factor in the presidential campaign and help define John Roberts' legacy as chief justice. But the court's ruling almost certainly will not be the last word on America's tangled efforts to address health care woes. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Barack Obama speaks during an campaign fundrasising concert at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in Miami Beach. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Barely four months before the nation votes, one of the biggest factors in the fight for the White House still is a mystery. That will change on Thursday.

The Supreme Court's expected ruling on President Barack Obama's sweeping federal health care law will shape the contours of the presidential campaign through the summer and fall. Both Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are primed to use the ruling ? whatever it is ? for political gain.

Obama expresses confidence the court will uphold his signature legislative initiative. But he won't be shocked if a conservative majority overturns the most controversial provision, those familiar with his thinking say. Romney aides say the Republican candidate will get a political boost if the court strikes down the measure. But they don't want celebrations that could alienate voters who could lose health care benefits through the decision.

Neither candidate has any direct influence over the decision. The court may uphold the health care law, strike it down or deem the requirement that most Americans carry health insurance unconstitutional while keeping other aspects in place.

The ruling is expected to be followed almost immediately by a barrage of advertisements and fundraising appeals from Democrats and Republicans, with both sides trying to cast the decision in the most advantageous light for its candidate.

Romney, running on a pledge to repeal Obama's overhaul as a costly federal power grab, has focused more than usual on the Supreme Court ruling this week. In campaign appearances in Virginia, New Jersey and New York, he offered supporters and donors a preview of his likely response to the decision.

"My guess is they're not sleeping real well at the White House tonight," a confident Romney told cheering supporters gathered Wednesday evening at a Sterling, Va., electronics manufacturer.

The night before, he told donors in New Jersey that if the Supreme Court lets the law stand, "it will make it very clear to the American people that they must elect someone who will stop it." If the high court overturns the law, "then the first three and a half years of the Obama administration will have been entirely wasted, because that's where he devoted his energy and passion," the Republican said.

Romney's campaign also is running new ads this week in Virginia, North Carolina and Iowa promising he would move to "repeal Obamacare" on his first day in office.

Obama, while recently avoiding mentioning the impending court ruling directly, has vigorously defended the overhaul as critical to the public's health and well-being in his own campaign events this week.

"I think it was the right thing to do. I know it was the right thing to do," he told supporters in Boston.

The White House also published a blog post Wednesday touting the benefits of the overhaul, including free preventive services for people on Medicare and health insurance rebates for nearly 13 million Americans.

Both Obama and Romney were scheduled to be in Washington on Thursday. Romney planned to comment on the ruling during an event on Capitol Hill, and Obama was certain to address the decision as well.

Obama advisers say the Supreme Court showed reasonableness earlier this week in a ruling on an Arizona immigration case, and they see it as a hopeful sign for how the court might rule on health care.

If the court upholds the law, Obama could get an election year gust of wind at his back, with his vision and leadership validated. If the court strikes down the overhaul, the White House would seek to cast the decision as detrimental to millions of Americans by highlighting popular elements of the law that would disappear, such as preventive care and coverage for young adults on a parent's plan.

Romney, who as Massachusetts governor signed a health care law on which the Obama's federal law was modeled, is expected to use the health care law ? or what remains of it ? as a defining issue going forward in the presidential contest, regardless of which way the court's ruling goes.

Aides say that that Romney will hold up the law either as a symbol of Obama's ineffective leadership or as federal overreach that only the Republican can stop.

The campaign has coordinated its response directly with the Republican National Committee and House Republicans, who have agreed not to "spike the ball" ? as one Republican put it ? should the law be struck down. Romney's campaign worries that an over-celebratory tone may turn off voters affected by the decision.

Still, both sides will use it to raise money and motivate supporters. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a fundraising appeal for a "health care rapid response fund," telling supporters in an email Wednesday that however the court rules, "Democrats are in for a tough fight."

A flood of advertisements is also expected from outside groups. The conservative group called Concerned Women for America pre-emptively launched a six-state, $6 million advertising campaign this week claiming Obama's overhaul results in delayed and denied care, as well as skyrocketing costs.

___

Associated Press writer Ben Feller contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Steve Peoples at http://twitter.com/sppeoples

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-06-27-Presidential%20Campaign/id-132f8367a85e498e86237868c11e2507

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Reverse Mortgages Worry Regulator | Top iPad Finance Apps

By MAYA JACKSON RANDALL

WASHINGTON?A U.S. financial regulator warned that new rules may be needed to address hidden dangers in reverse mortgages, the special loans that enable cash-strapped seniors to borrow against the equity in their homes.

Deceptive marketing practices, complicated loan terms and misleading marketing materials are some of the problems the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlighted in the $ 90 billion industry, which is expected to grow in popularity as tens of millions of baby-boomer homeowners grow older and struggle to pay for retirement.

Any new regulations would affect industry leaders such as Quicken Loans and Wall Street financial firms like Guggenheim Partners and Knight Capital Group Inc.,

which own companies that make reverse mortgages. Large banks such as Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. have left the market amid rising defaults and declining home prices.

Nearly 10% of reverse-mortgage borrowers are at risk of foreclosure because they have failed to pay taxes and insurance, according to the CFPB?s study, mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul.

Reverse mortgages, targeted at homeowners over 61 years old, are similar to home-equity lines of credit. But instead of a monthly payment, repayment is deferred until the homeowner leaves the home, dies or fails to maintain the property, pay homeowners? insurance or property taxes.

The upfront fees, interest and closing costs can be much higher than on home-equity loans. While there are no required monthly payments on a reverse mortgage, the interest is added to the loan balance each month, and so the rising loan balance can grow to exceed the value of the home.

The loans represent a small corner of the national mortgage market, with only about 2% to 3% of eligible households using them, according to the CFPB. But studies show demand is growing, expanding the pool of 580,000 currently outstanding, according to Reverse Market Insight, a data provider and newsletter on the industry.

Peter Bell, head of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, said better consumer education is necessary, and he shares concerns about misleading advertising and scams, adding that most consumers who have the loans are satisfied.

Seventy percent of borrowers are taking out the proceeds as a lump sum, as opposed to a line of credit or stream of payments, according to the bureau?s study. Such a move could result in borrowers having trouble paying taxes and insurance on their homes, which could put them at risk of default.

Monica Newton, a 68-year-old resident of Chireno, Texas, said she has had troubles with unexpected bank fees and charges on her reverse mortgage, but she said in general the product is ?really good for old folks? who aren?t concerned about leaving their homes to their kids or other family members.

Ms. Newton used cash to purchase her home for about $ 140,000 and decided to take out a reverse mortgage about five years ago when she needed extra money to cover retirement expenses. She said she is worried about being able to keep her house maintained to her lender?s standards.

Write to Maya Jackson Randall at Maya.Jackson-Randall@dowjones.com

WSJ.com: Markets

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Benefits of 5 Panel Drug Tests | ArticleBro.com

The 5 Panel drug tests are apt for offices, recreational drug abuse and random drug test programs. As we all know that drug abuse is one of the chief concerns at workplace and this is because of the fact that a huge number of people are drug abusers in the US.

Panel drug test is a simple, quick and efficient method to detect drug abuse in an individual. Some of the most common illegal drugs taken by people are marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamine, phencyclidine and cocaine. Intake of drug can have harsh effects on the health of the abuser as well as on the workplace where he/she works.

All these afore mentioned drugs give various intoxication after effects and they are slowing down the thinking as well as reaction time, ecstasy, lack of concentration, memory loss, impaired coordination, confusion etc. These may result in mishaps and unwanted accidents at workplaces and in worst cases, deaths. Therefore, it becomes essential to check for drug abuse in your employees on a regular basis.

There are loads of drug testing methods available today, but the most preferred among them is the 5 panel drug tests for various reasons, which are as follows:

Some Benefits of 5 Panel Test Kits:

5 panel drug testing kits are mostly used for detecting the drug abusers, who indulge in abuse of some of the common drugs at workplace. These kits are quite easy to perform, use, dependable, save time as well as detect presence of various drugs in the abuser.

You can get instant results with 5 panel drug tests, as they give out accurate and quick results.

Cost-effective:

These types of panel drug tests are affordable. You can detect the presence of around five drugs in a single sample only and that too. Thus, you do not need different test for different types of drugs.

User-friendly:

Anyone of us can use the 5 panel drug test kit, as it is very user friendly. You just have to follow the systematic procedure mentioned on kit. You can find these kits in both cup as well as card forms.

Detect Multiple Drugs:

The 5 panel drug tests are highly effective in testing five major and common drugs mentioned earlier.

A regular drug testing schedule will keep a tab on the drug abuse habits among your employees and thus, you can avoid potentially unwanted consequences on your firm. This is because testing drug abuse and guiding them about the harmful effects on body will help abusers to quit the habit.

However, ensure that you conduct panel drug tests on your employees in a safe and smart way to boost the productivity in your firm as well as of the employee.

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Be A Expert Nurse Using online nurse schools

online nursing schools continuing education trains the students to secure a job being a nurse in primary places, through gaining the required education at home, and that as well, at a time and also speed selected by them. An online nursing level is now possible for even the people, who were not able to attend an everyday nursing university for various reasons and yet thought about being a nurse. However, the actual nursing education and learning gives equivalent importance to theoretical and useful training. Therefore, the theory component is analyzed online, whereas, for practical training, unique lessons are established at a hospital, near the place you reside.

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level programs make it quite possible for this kind of nurses in order to upgrade their own level of education in a more accommodating and practical manner, which usually does not require these phones make regular campus trips and sit for classes every day. Today approved online nursing schools are offering this kind of program throughout the US, which helps nurses with an RN accreditation to acquire a bachelor?s degree in nursing online and further lets them pursue any MSN program. Online nursing degree applications aren`t for everyone however! Although entrance requirements, classes offered, and program lengths vary in between online schools one thing is still constant ? earning the nursing diploma online requires just as much effort and determination as earning it upon campus. An online success learning requires a high degree of motivation, wonderful time management skills, and also self-discipline. Those who require a lot of composition and oversight in order to perform assignments should think about attending a regular campus centered nursing institution rather than going after their nursing degree on the web. Online nursing schools may well participate in a key role in health care change. It is often more affordable to attend an online nursing school, since there are no out-of-state expenses fees, as well as schedules will be more flexible. In some online nursing schools , accelerated plans are available while credit could be applied for previous experience.

online nursing school provides students a number of flexibility relating to course completion time. Several schools demands students to adhere to a traditional appointments, while others permit students to accelerate or slow their particular pace based on their private reference. Online nursing schools help people to grow to be professional along with registered nurses although staying at home. The programs offered by the actual online nursing schools are inexpensive, part-time and lucrative for all.

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Russia denies it endorsed call for Assad to leave

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KKCO11News: NM mom jailed for overdue 'Twilight' book, DVDs: A New Mexico woman was arrested and spent a night in jail for n... http://t.co/oA1ONCT1

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Career as Trusted Business Advisor Begins with Successful Study ...

Many accountants take CPA exam courses in order to attain the top designation in their field and deliver business advice as well as accounting services. Possessing the distinction of a CPA license is the right approach for attracting consulting work. But moving into an advisory role demands some special planning by a CPA firm.

The process is initiated by developing a reputation of trust. This arises from individuals trusting an accountant to discretely handle confidential data. In addition, a CPA gains trust by accurately compiling financial reports and tax returns according to the standards set forth in study for CPA exam completion.

CPAs with established relationships of trust are empowered to move forward with steps that promote their expertise as advisers. One of the benefits of embracing the role of business adviser is that it permits opportunities to convey the level of knowledge embodied in courses for CPA credentials. Better proof of CPA ability strengthens relationships with clients and results in referrals of new business.

Most accountants that deliver business advisory services as part of their professional practices did not take that direction merely to attain higher profit. This accounting specialty was appealing because of personal satisfaction derived from having the twin function of numbers master and business adviser. For many accountants, rendering business advice was always part of their career objectives. Their plans to work with small businesses were established during CPA review courses.

Branching out into a role as business adviser is a long-term plan. CPAs must first establish a foundation of trust with core services such as tax return preparation, audit, or financial reporting. Over the course of several years, a gradual system of trust develops. From that point forward, a CPA can begin asking more penetrating questions of clients and eventually open them to the concept of contracting for ongoing regularly delivered advice.

A CPA that provides advisory services is essentially a strategic partner for businesses. This requires selecting clients that are the best fit for a collaborative process. Accomplishing that might necessitate focus on a particular industry or businesses with distinguishing elements such as a large number of employees.

Accountants extending their services as business advisers don?t have to know the answers to every client question. They only need to know where to find the answers. This is just like fundamental numbers tasks in accounting work. That is, some issues take time to explore in greater depth. An accountant doesn?t always remember every detail from CPA study material. But, a little research quickly finds the right answer to a specific matter. Giving business advice is a lot like that. Advisory services entail plenty of reflection and then helping business owners visualize the likely results of intended actions.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure

Pursuant to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, we inform you that, to the extent any advice relating to a Federal tax issue is contained in this communication, including in any attachments, it was not written or intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (a) avoiding any tax related penalties that may be imposed on you or any other person under the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed in this communication.

Tags: courses for CPA, CPA review courses, CPA study material, study for CPA exam, take CPA exam

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Nora Ephron On Marriage: Author's Best Quotes On Relationships ...

Nora Ephron, beloved American author and screenwriter, died at the age of 71 on Tuesday.

Ephron?s films, among them Academy Award nominees ?When Harry Met Sally?? and ?Sleepless in Seattle,? tackled issues surrounding modern marriage with grace and humor.

Ephron has been married to fellow screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi for two decades. She was previously married to writer Dan Greenburg and journalist Carl Bernstein, with whom she has two sons.

Read More?
More on Nora Ephron

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Searching for Hardwood Floor Contractors to Improve Your Home ...

The floor may help define the standard of your own home. It is the very first thing your friends and relatives will probably notice once they step into your house. It ought to appear clean for your eyes and really feel clean for your feet. The sort of material applied on your floor leaves a good or bad impression on your visitors. One of the most appealing types of flooring is hardwood. Look for well-performing hardwood floor contractors if you need to bring classiness in your property.

There are two kinds of hardwood floors: solid and engineered. Solid hardwood floors give off a natural vibe into the house. It could range in dimension and style while some might include other functions just like immunity from humidity. Engineered hardwood, conversely, has 2 or more levels. Additionally it is the most widely used flooring worldwide. Many people mix up engineered hardwood with laminates and vinyl. Both kinds just make your floor appear as if they're genuine wood. Discuss the type of flooring you would like for your home with your hardwood floor contractors.

Floors deteriorates with time. Experts normally make use of special surface finishes to keep the floor from looking dull over time. Building contractors don't just set up flooring systems; they must make sure it seems polished and spot-free. In some cases, the floor may end up uneven after installation. To correct this, hardwood floor sanding is critical.

hardwood flooring sanding is the solution to smoothen the surface and get rid of unevenness. Experts use a sander machine for easy leveling and handheld sandpaper for edges and difficult to reach parts. This process also works well for removing paint stains or torn film on the surface of the floor. Sanding isn't easy and it demands good deal of attention if you need a perfectly smooth surface. Additionally you need to use different kinds of sand paper or devices on distinct areas. Apart from flooring, stair cases made out of hardwood steps also call for sanding and finishing.

When sanding hardwood floors, you initially need to remove or fasten lifted nails or screws. This prevents uneven smoothening and also eliminates damaging the sanding machine. There has to be good air flow inside the room as sawdust may possibly fill up the air. Building contractors need to use safety glasses and respiratory masks to protect themselves from toxic irritants. The floor must be free from dirt, hair, as well as other fine particles to have an easier sanding process.

It really is easier to try to find contractors on the internet focusing on setting up hardwood floors. Do a search for reliable companies providing high quality solutions on installation and sanding. Makeovers continually come with an expensive price however, you can get your way around it when you try to find reasonably priced deals on the internet. Verify the hardwood floor sanding cost with your list of contractors. Select one that provides economical yet effective services with reputation on quality. Change the look of your home with hardwood flooring systems, and bring in an even more elegant atmosphere in your interior.

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Sirius XM Radio, Howard Stern coming to Google TV

4 hrs.

Liana B. Baker , Reuters

Google Inc is getting help from shock jock Howard Stern to revive its Internet TV software, which has languished since its debut 19 months ago.

Satellite radio provider Sirius XM will make all of its programming available on Google TV, including Stern's shows and live sports through a new app that will let listeners pause live programs and play back up to five hours of content, the company told Reuters.

Sirius XM, which plans to announce the deal at Google's I/O developer conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, joins a growing list of partners for Google TV such as Netflix and Amazon.com.

But it has been an uphill battle for Google to convince TV networks and other content providers to let their programs be available on devices powered by Google TV.

Google TV is built into television models manufactured by Sony Corp, LG Electronics, as well as Vizio set-top boxes. It allows consumers to access online videos and websites on their TVs, as well as to download and play with specialized apps such as video games.

Google has never revealed how many Google TVs have been sold and analysts have said the product has failed to gain traction with consumers. By contrast, its Android software which powers smartphones has been a runaway success, accounting for 56 percent of the market compared with 23 percent for Apple Inc's iPhone, according to tech research firm Gartner.

TV broadcasters ABC, CBS and NBC blocked online versions of their programs from appearing on Google TV when it was first released in November 2010. Last fall, Disney said a handful of its movies and shows would be available to rent through YouTube on Google TV.

Sirius XM's app can only be used by its 22 million subscribers and cannot be accessed without a Sirius XM subscription. Users who download the app can also listen to additional channels they do not receive in Sirius XM radios in their cars, such as "ESPN SportsCenter", "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Radio" and "Carlin's Corner", a channel dedicated to George Carlin's comedy.

Sirius XM said the app will be available to download this summer, but it did not provide an exact date.

The company said it worked closely with Google to develop the app so subscribers could have another way to access the subscription service. Sirius XM already has apps on Apple and Android mobile devices and some of its channels are available on TV for customers of satellite TV operator Dish Network.

Several of Sirius XM's competitors, Pandora Media and Slacker Radio already have apps on Google TV.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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PFT: Brees 'very confident' deal will get done

Getty Images

It?s officially time to break out the Deux Deux Deuxs.

ESPN has announced that Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer will call the second game of the season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader, when the Raiders host the Chargers.

The official announcement includes a ?podcast? from Berman, who likely still thinks that term is a reference to the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, in which he explains how the decision came to be.

?Our president John Skipper, our executive V.P. of production John Wildhack, we were together, and midway through an interesting evening they said, ?We?d like you to call the second Monday night game,?? Berman says.

?I went, ?Now, wow.? There?s something I never really thought about.?? Of course, I?ve thought about calling NFL games my whole life, but given what I do and Sunday duties, the normal ones, and it?s Week One of the season and you get your hands full and we?re all excited and we?re trying to do our best in the studio, etc.? I didn?t see it coming.

?I said, ?I gotta give you guys credit.? So, you understand I haven?t called a football game in a while, although I?ve called many baseball games and U.S. Open golf, etc., etc.? I was really surprised and excited about hearing it, to be honest with you.? Really excited.? It?s nice to be surprised after 32 years, it really is.?

This explanation implies that Berman had done no lobbying whatsoever for the gig.? Which some people will believe, and plenty of people won?t.

To get ready for the regular-season assignment, Berman and Dilfer will handle the Titans-Cardinals game on August 23.

Per ESPN, Berman will host Sunday NFL Countdown on Week One, then fly to Oakland to prepare for the Monday night game.? There?s no specific word yet on who will replace Berman for The Blitz, Berman?s SportsCenter-embedded review of game highlights with Tom Jackson.

And that?s perhaps the real news.? For the first time in a quarter-century, someone other than Berman will get the opportunity to narrate the extended highlights packages from the games of the Sunday that was.? To give up those reins, Berman must have really wanted to get in to the booth.

UPDATE 10:50 a.m. ET:? ESPN spokesman Bill Hofheimer says that the host of The Blitz has not yet been determined.? With Berman absent, Suzy Kolber will host Monday Night Countdown from Bristol.

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Illinois aims to head off sex abuse scandals like at Penn State

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