Word: major
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...bigger scare is how hard fought the contest became. Even if Coakley wins comfortably now, this past week was a major warning shot for vulnerable members who will surely have taken note at the amount of investment and energy it took to retain the seat. This is Massachusetts, after all, where both Senators, the governor, all 10 congressional members and a large majority of the state legislature are Democrats. It doesn't get much bluer than the Pilgrim State. In other words, whatever happens, the big takeaway from the race will be: If Teddy's seat isn't safe...
...upside of this approach is obvious: It gets things done. Between the stimulus package, the pending health care bill and a new raft of financial regulations, Obama will soon be able to claim more major legislative accomplishments than any Democrat since Lyndon Johnson. The downside, though, is that sometimes what gets done isn't worth doing...
...While there are many differences between the two bills, including abortion funding restrictions and Medicaid expansions, the issue now emerging as the major flash point is the Senate's proposed 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance policies: those individual policies costing upwards of $8,500 and family policies costing more than $23,000 that are being referred to in Washington these days as "Cadillac plans." At this point, about three-quarters of the House Democratic caucus has signed a letter sponsored by Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney expressing opposition to the tax. (See the five differences that need...
...says Shah, authorities have been "passive," favoring only "defensive measures" such as checkpoints - the layers of concrete blocks and razor wire at the entrance of each of Pakistan's major cities and athwart all their major thoroughfares, where a handful of policemen peek into vehicles and perfunctorily inspect trunks before waving them through. At best, these checkpoints are a visible deterrent designed to reassure the public. But for months now, they have for the most part failed to keep out gunmen, suicide bombers and vehicles laden with explosives. (See pictures of the aftermath of an October 2009 bombing...
...tackle terrorism," says independent security analyst Ayesha Siddiqa. In the capital, Islamabad, which has seen some two dozen bombings in recent years, including the spectacular 2008 attack on the Marriott hotel, the police role has largely been to protect VIPs, she says. "Now they have to deal with a major threat, but have no expertise." Relative to the size of the population, the police are understaffed. And they enjoy little public confidence amid widespread allegations of venality. Other problems listed by Siddiqa include a lack of coordination between various intelligence agencies, poor pay and the dedication of élite units...