CNSNews.com E-Brief for We.20Jan10

Obama to Nationalize Student Lending with Pending Budget Bill
(CNSNews.com) – A bill currently before the Senate would empower the Obama administration to nationalize the student lending industry, eliminating the federally subsidized private loans millions of university students rely on to finance their educations. Under the current system, the federal government subsidizes private financial institutions, thus encouraging them to provide low-interest loans to students.

Education Secretary: ‘A Lot More Losers Than Winners’ in ‘Race To The Top’ Grant Contest
(CNSNews.com) – Tuesday was the deadline for states to apply for a share of the $4.35 billion in grants from the Obama administration’s “Race To The Top” education reform contest. Education Secretary Arne Duncan touted the plan Tuesday, even before the winners are announce -- and President Obama pledged $1.3 billion to continue the program that has yet to spend any money on U.S. schools.

Sessions ‘Goes to War’ With Obama Administration Over War on Terror
(CNSNews.com) – The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is “calling out” the Obama administration over its approach to the war on terror and its policies on national security. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) says he wants Wednesday's scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on recent intelligence failures to address “the grave and growing threats facing our country.”

U.S., U.N. Target Al-Qaeda in Yemen As Senate Report Warns That American Converts May Be Training There
(CNSNews.com) – The U.S. government and a U.N. Security Council committee announced new measures Tuesday against the al-Qaeda wing based in Yemen, including adding al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to the list of “foreign terrorist organizations.” The moves came as a new Senate report raised concerns about several dozen American converts to Islam who are now living in Yemen.

Social Security Administration Spent Millions in Stimulus Money to Hire 585 New Bureaucrats to Certify New Disability Recipients
(CNSNews.com) – The Social Security Administration spent $30 million in stimulus money in 2009 to hire 585 new bureaucrats who will be responsible for certifying whether people are eligible for disability so they can be paid by the taxpayers not to work.

Democrats Offer Muted Response to Scott Brown’s Victory; Republicans Hear ‘Deafening Message’ From Voters
(CNSNews.com) – Following Republican Scott Brown’s come-from-behind victory in a liberal-leaning state, prominent Democrats issued terse statements Tuesday night, while Republicans were eager to discuss the message sent by voters.

Hoyer Says Mood of Country Reminds Him of 1994—When Democrats Lost Congress
(CNSNews.com) - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D.-Md.) told CNSNews.com Tuesda7 that the current mood of the country reminds him of 1994, a year when the Democrats lost majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.  Hoyer said public opinion was mistaken in 1994 and suggested that it is mistaken again today.

Obama 'Surprised and Frustrated' and 'Not Pleased' by Massachusetts Senate Race
(CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama is “surprised and frustrated” and “not pleased” with the Senate race that will conclude in Massachusetts today, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters during Tuesday’s press briefing.

Conservative Group’s ‘MasterLard’ Ad Lampoons ‘Pork’ in Health-Care Bill
(CNSNews.com) - A new Internet video accuses Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) of “buying off” Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) to get a health care bill passed. The visuals play out over a background of pigs trying to beat each other to the trough.

Nigeria’s Religious Violence Comes Amid Political Crisis
(CNSNews.com) – The latest surge of Muslim-Christian violence in Nigeria comes at a sensitive time for Africa’s most populous country, already in crisis over the prolonged and destabilizing absence of its president. Osama bin Laden in 2003 named Nigeria as one of six “most qualified regions for liberation” in the drive “to establish the rule of Allah on earth.”

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CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO

TSA Nominee Sees Domestic Threat in 'Christian-Identity' Groups
(CNSNews.com) - Erroll Southers, nominated by President Obama to head the Transportation Security Administration, has said he sees a domestic threat in what he called 'Christian-identity' groups.

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OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES

TSA Nominee Erroll Southers Withdraws, Blaming ‘Political Agenda’
‘Gut-Check’ for Obama and Democrats on Health Care, AP Reports
‘Epic Loss’ in Massachusetts Has Democrats Scrambling to Regain Their Political Footing, AP Reports
Congress Seeks Specific Fixes on Intelligence Failures
Republicans See Scott Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts As A Stop Sign for Democrats
Suspect in Eight Virginia Murders Surrenders
Afghan Panel Calls for 400,000 Security Forces in Five Years
Democrats Play Blame Game on Coakley’s Defeat, Even Before the Polls Closed
Bank of America Loses Billions in 4th Quarter As It Repays Bailout
Big Differences Remain on Autism Coverage Bill in Missouri
New 6.1-Quake Hits Haiti, Sending Panicked People Into the Streets
Colorado Promises to Adopt Merit Pay for Teachers

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NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP:
China removed as top priority for spies; Intelligence chiefs object
Illegal Haitian immigrants can start applying Thursday to stay in U.S.
Massachusetts exit poll: Health care mattered
Hoyer: Passing Senate healthcare bill 'clearly better than nothing'
Dems brace for more 2010 fallout
Defendant’s outburst shows pitfalls of using federal courts to try suspected terrorists
FHA to require borrowers to produce more cash for down payments
Robert Gibb's wisecracks come in waves
Amid soaring debt, Dems tentatively agree to create independent budget commission
'Desperate' UC students scurry to snag key classes
Opponents of gay marriage hope for repeal in N.H.
Cuba begins performing state-sponsored sex-change operations
Kids' electronic media use jumps to 53 hours a week
Seeking to oust Patrick Kennedy, R.I.’s Loughlin eyes Scott Brown staffers
Denver scooter business losing ground while waiting for stimulus loan
Kelly Osbourne pledges to go green, gives up bottled water

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COMMENTARY
Saying No to Big Government
By Terence P. Jeffrey
A great cultural and political battle is underway in America between people who want government to take care of them and people who want to take care of themselves. Recent polls indicate that even though Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 running on a platform that appealed to the former, the latter still account for the majority of Americans.

The Democrats’ Massachusetts Meltdown
By Michelle Malkin
By early afternoon on Tuesday, several hours before the polls closed on the special Senate election in Massachusetts, the Democrats had already thrown in the towel and started throwing punches -- at each other. The supreme irony in hearing Beltway Democrats snipe at Coakley over her effete, out-of-touch attitude is that their commander-in-chief at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. suffers the same fatal flaws.

The Meanness of Martha Coakley
By L. Brent Bozell III
In recent years, the network news shows have glossed over any political campaigns below the level of president, stopping only if the candidate is named “Clinton” or “Schwarzenegger.” That principle held true for the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts. Here’s what’s being ignored, but should not be forgotten about this race: the sheer meanness of Martha Coakley and her campaign character assassins.

Heck of a Job, Brownie!
By Rich Galen
Before GOP candidates for the U.S. House or Senate begin measuring for drapes, remember that as quickly as the Democrats' fortunes have gone south over the past 12 months, the same can happen to Republicans over the next 10. The failure of Obama's policies that are symbolized by the election in Massachusetts raises the bar for Republicans as they gather themselves for the mid-term elections in November.

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