Does Obama need a new plan of action?

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Does Obama need a new plan of action?

By Michaela L. Duckett – September 16, 2011

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Good morning! Thank goodness it’s Friday. What are your weekend plans? Be sure to check out Toni’s picks in her column “On the Town with Toni.”

Whatever you do, keep your umbrella handy. The weekend forecast includes a few rain showers. The weatherman says today we will see cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon and highs in the low 60s. Saturday will be cool. Expect a few showers and thundershowers with a high of 64°. Sunday’s forecast calls for considerable cloudiness with highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

Is Obama moving America in the wrong direction?

The majority of American voters don’t agree with the direction the nation is going under the leadership of President Barack Obama, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

The survey taken the week ending Sunday, September 11 found that only 17 percent of likely U.S. voters said the nation is going in the right direction. Seventy-five percent of voters say the country is heading down the wrong track. This time last year, 65 percent said the U.S. was heading down the wrong path.

It’s not just the Republicans (91%) or voters not affiliated with either political party (79%) who believe the country is heading down the wrong track. Even a majority (56%) of Democrats also say the United States is heading in the wrong direction.

According to Rasmussen, more Americans than ever believe that America has changed for the worse since 9/11 but say that the world would be a better place if more nations were like the U.S.

What should the White House do? Leading Democratic strategist James Carville’s answer: Panic! In a column he wrote:

We are far past sending out talking points. Do not attempt to dumb it down. We cannot stand any more explanations. Have you talked to any Democratic senators lately? I have. It’s pretty damn clear they are not happy campers.

This is what I would say to President Barack Obama: The time has come to demand a plan of action that requires a complete change from the direction you are headed.

He added that the president needs to fire some people, indict some people, explain himself, and fight his case like a Democrat.

QUESTION: What do you think the White House should do to get the nation back on track or are you satisfied with the way things are going?
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Execution of black man in Texas halted

As the push to spare the life of Troy Davis continues, The U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution Thursday of Duane Buck, 48, who was convicted 16 years ago of a double murder in Texas. His lawyers claimed his sentence was unfair because of a question asked about race during his trial. They say the jury was unfairly influenced by the testimony of a psychologist who asserted that black people are more likely to commit violence. Buck was found guilty of shooting his girlfriend and a man that was in her apartment. His guilt is not being questioned, but his lawyers are appealing for a new sentencing hearing. (Read more)
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Elisa Baker guilty in death of Zahra Baker

Elisa Baker, 43, was sentenced to 15 to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter Zahra Baker. She also plead guilty to obstruction of justice, bigamy, four counts of obtaining property through false pretenses, and two counts of identity fraud. Now that the yearlong investigation has come to a close, many questions remain unanswered - such as how Zahra died and what responsibility her father may have had in the case. QUESTION: Was justice served? (Read more)
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Florida wants $100,000 from Casey Anthony

A broke and unemployed Casey Anthony has been ordered to reimburse the state of Florida $100,000 for cost incurred by police and searchers during the five month search for her daughter Caylee Anthony. The state had originally requested $500,000. Anthony, who was acquitted on murdering her daughter but found guilty of providing false information to a law enforcement officer, is currently on probation for check fraud. The 25 year old is still facing a six-figure lawsuit from Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, the woman who shared a name with the fictional nanny Anthony claimed abducted her daughter. EquuSearch, the volunteer organization that hunted for Caylee is also seeking compensation. (Read more)
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Guilty teen: ‘I’m sorry. My mother didn’t raise me like this”

A Maryland judge sentenced one of two teenagers charged with hate crimes in the brutal beating of a transgender person in a Baltimore county McDonalds. Teonna Brown, 19, will spend five years in prison. Her 14-year-old accomplice, who has admitted to her involvement, is currently being held at a juvenile detention center. The teens are charged with beating Chrissy Polis to the point that seizures were induced. Brown, who has no high school diploma or previous criminal record, issued a tearful apology telling Polis. She said: “I am sorry. My mother didn’t raise me like this.” Polis says she continues to suffer seizures, flashbacks of the incident, seizures, bouts of crying, mental anguish and anxiety. (Read more)