The LuLac Edition #1879, December 30th, 2011

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TOP STORIES/U.S. AND THE WORLD

10. OCCUPY WALL STREET: Protests across the nation focused in on the inequality of economic stress on the middle class. People with nothing left to lose chose to camp out in tents at very public places.
9. CONGRESSIONAL SEX SCANDALS: Give a boy a toy and he’ll find a very unconventional use for it. Congressman Anthony Weiner’s career went up in smoke when he started sending photos of himself to women he met on social network sites. He would have been better off if he stuck with an old fashioned flip phone.
8. CONGRESSWOMAN ATTACKED: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head and an aide killed earlier this year when an assailant opened fire in an area where the Democratic lawmaker was meeting with constituents in Tucson, Arizona. A federal Judge and the grand daughter of former big league manager Dallas Green was also killed. A mentally incompetent non entity was charged with the killings and attack. Giffords is making her way back after the attack appearing in a surprise appearance before the U.S. Congress.
7. LIBYA INCURSION: President Obama did not commit many troops to the Libyian effort but did channel U.S. support. The United Nations Security Council passed an initial resolution on 26 February, freezing the assets of Gaddafi and his inner circle and restricting their travel, and referred the matter to the International Criminal Court for investigation.In early March, Gaddafi's forces rallied, pushed eastwards and re-took several coastal cities before attacking Benghazi. A further U.N. resolution authorised member states to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, and to use "all necessary measures" to prevent attacks on civilians.The Gaddafi government then announced a ceasefire, but failed to uphold it. On 16 September 2011, the National Transitional Council was recognised by the United Nations as the legal representative of Libya, replacing the Gaddafi government. Muammar Gaddafi remained at large until 20 October 2011, when he was captured and killed attempting to escape from Sirte.[56] The National Transitional Council declared the liberation of Libya and the official end of the war on 23 October 2011.
6. GOP PRESIDENTIAL RACE: One of the on going news stories of 2011 was the Republican race for the person who would face off against President Obama . Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty dropped out after not registering in the straw poll. The field was tempted and teased by Sarah Palin, Chris Christie and Donald Trump. Michele Bachman, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, and Rick Perry, all had their crests while Rick Santorum appears to be getting one now. Jon Hunstman is still waiting. Meanwhile, Congressman Ron Paul continues to be the mystery man. Paul has great grassroots support and might win Iowa. But can the national media and GOP take him seriously as a nominee? And if not, will he run as a third party candidate? Paul may be the most intriguing politico of 2012.
5. IRAQ WAR ENDS: President Obama brought the troops home at the end of this year. The long nonsensical war in Iraq which costs nearly 5,000 lives finally ended. Shortly after we left, the good citizens of Iraq promptly started blowing each other up again.
4. THE RECOVERING ECONOMY: The jobless rate is at about 8 and ½ percent and economic growth is slow. The Republicans whine that the rich can’t invest without tax breaks, the Dems want to know where the heck are the jobs. A new title is born for business people who blame the government for over regulating them, they are now called “Job Creators”. Bow down and kiss their feet.
3. DEBT CEILING: The U.S. Government has been raising the debt ceiling every year since the Reagan administration. This year the House Republicans decided to fight it and nearly brought the government to its knees. In the process we lost our credit rating and people’s opinion of Congress went into the single digits. And yet they continue to fiddle while this country is stuck in low gear.
2. REVOLT IN EGYPT: The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of December 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and labour strikes. Millions of protesters from a variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded the overthrow of the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Despite being predominantly peaceful in nature, the revolution was not without violent clashes between security forces and protesters, with at least 846 people killed and 6,000 injured. The uprising took place in Cairo, Alexandria, and in other cities in Egypt, following the Tunisian revolution that resulted in the overthrow of the long-time Tunisian president. On 11 February, following weeks of determined popular protest and pressure, Mubarak resigned from office. The revolt in Egypt has opened the door for more instability in the Mid East.
1. BIN LADEN KILLED: Osama bin Laden, hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil was killed.
The president called the killing of bin Laden the "most significant achievement to date" in the effort to defeat al Qaeda.
"Justice has been done," Obama said. And then some. The little piss ant who killed more than 3,000 Americans in the New York City in 2001 cowered in his compound while U.S. Special forces shot him in the head.
Bin Laden was located at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which was monitored and when the time was determined to be right, the president said, he authorized a "targeted operation."
"A small team of Americans carried out the operation," Obama said. "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
DNA testing confirmed that it was bin Laden and then in a ceremony too good for anyone of his stature, his sorry remains were buried at sea where presumably his remains made many shark violently ill.