Future Grim for Western Economies

Jeremy Warner, The Telegraph
Since last week’s shock announcement of a fall in fourth-quarter GDP, the Government has found itself unexpectedly on the back foot in the debate over austerity. The news yesterday that service industries rebounded strongly last month, as the snows melted away, will go some way towards evening things out. But it will be at least a year before we can say for sure whether the Coalition’s bold experiment in fiscal consolidation is undermining or supporting the process of economic renewal.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/02/04/future_grim_for_western_economies_249964.html

Jay Goyal Nikki Haley Jaime Herrera Ellie Boldman Hill

Obama Touts Clean Energy As Jobs Booster

President Obama held another green jobs event, this one in central Pennsylvania. By making buildings more energy efficient, he says, businesses could save money on their heat and electric bills ? money they could then use to hire more workers.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/03/133475331/Obama-Touts-Clean-Energy-As-Jobs-Booster?ft=1&f=1014

PEGGY NOONAN TONY PERKINS FRED THOMPSON PATRICK RUFFINI

Even In Her Struggles, A Mother Taught Life Lessons

When Mary Van Beke was growing up in the 1920s, she was the oldest of four children. Her parents were immigrants from Europe. And as Mary tells her son, Charles, the family managed a modest life, until an accident changed everything.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133465167/even-in-her-struggles-a-mother-taught-life-lessons?ft=1&f=1057

Stephanie Schriock Bakari Sellers Kyrsten Sinema Brendan Steinhauser

The Scandal That Almost Destroyed Reagan

Robert Busby, Salon
On Nov. 13, 1986, President Reagan declared in a national address, "We did not -- repeat -- did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages -- nor will we." His assertion ran counter to covert operations that had been ongoing for several years. Reagan was faced with an uncomfortable question, transposed from the Watergate scandal, which threatened to strike at his credibility. What did the president know and when did he know it? Having secured a landslide win against Walter Mondale in 1984, Reagan’s second term appeared to be one in which the Cold War, arms control and...

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/02/04/the_scandal_that_almost_destroyed_reagan_249957.html

Ben Rhodes Cedric Richmond Marco Rubio Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Two Titian Masterpieces Traveling Through U.S.

Two Titian masterpieces ? Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto ? are in the United States for the first time. Fresh Air's Lloyd Schwartz says art lovers will want to see them in person ? particularly because there's a chance they may be permanently separated.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/03/133441944/two-titian-masterpieces-traveling-through-u-s?ft=1&f=1057

Victor Davis Hanson Erick Erickson Chris Ruddy Jim DeMint

Thousands Gather To Mourn Hmong Leader Vang Pao

During the Vietnam War, Gen. Vang Pao led Hmong guerrillas fighting communist forces invading Laos from North Vietnam ? an effort funded by the CIA. Throngs of Hmong from around the world will be in Fresno, Calif., Friday for the start of a six-day funeral to honor the general, who left a controversial legacy.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/03/133474907/thousands-to-attend-funeral-for-hmong-leader-vang-pao?ft=1&f=1004

Joe Scarborough Victor Davis Hanson Erick Erickson Chris Ruddy