Clem’s Chronicles: Obama & School Kids/Swine Flu/Changing Workforce/Arson seen as cause of Cali fires

PRESIDENT/STUDENT SPEECH FLAP-It seems innocuous enough. The President was going to kick off the unofficial start of the school year with a speech to the nation’s students, encouraging them to do their best. But an unexpected crush of criticism from parents, conservatives, and talk-radio seems to have turned this into one big headache. It certainly wasn’t anticipated-Jack Tapper, filing for WORLD NEWS, notes that “White House officials seem to have been caught completely flat-footed on this”. And it seems local school districts who are hearing from angry constituents are reacting-Tapper notes that “some school districts in Texas, Illinois, Virginia and Wisconsin are even refusing to show the President’s address.” What’s got everybody so riled up? Tapper again: “What seems to be drawing the most ire are these optional preparatory materials from the Department of Education asking students to ‘write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President’….that has now been changed for students to ‘write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term educational goals.” White House deputy policy director Heather Higginbottom told Tapper that the “goal of the speech is to encourage students to set goals for themselves”. The Administration is trying to lower the 30% drop-out rate in this country, Higginbottom added. So how did this get so politicized? Tapper notes that “President George HW Bush (spoke to students) in 1991 and Ronald Reagan even talked politics with students in 1988.” But this is different, at least to some folks. Tapper sez that “charges from Republican officials that President Obama is seeking to indoctrinate students-unsupported by any real evidence-have been flying.” But regardless of proof, the howl of protest is not going to be ignored by the White House. Tapper noted in his close that “the White House will release a text of the speech on Monday…so parents can see it as benign, about staying in school and personal responsibility.”

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES-Another good day for firefighters who say that the so-called “Station Fire” is now nearly 40 percent contained. Rod Jackson listened to a brief newser and reports: “At a news conference a short time ago, the U.S. Forest Service says  they’ve determined the 147,000 acre Station wildfire is an arson fire. They say the determination is based on forensic information from USFS, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. and Los Angeles County Fire dept investigators. Steve Whitmore of the L.A. County Sherifff’s department says the team effort determines – ‘We believe this is arson. Because of that the LA County Sheriff’s department is now launching a homicide investigation, due to the fact two firefighters were killed fighting this fire.’ LA County Sheriff’s Dept. will take the lead in the investigation.”

CHANGING WORKFORCE-Remember LEAVE IT TO BEAVER? Ward worked, June stayed home with the kids and there was an expectation that Dad would retire at 65 to spend his golden years with his beloved nuclear family. A survey of government data by the Pew Foundation that was released today couldn’t be any more different.As Betsy Stark said in her WORLD NEWS spot, “the new face of the workforce looks a lot like Marion Scott….increasingly female and increasingly older.” And not just increasingly older…looking ahead you might say convincingly older. Stark: “The government estimates an astounding 93% of the growth in the U.S. work force from 2006 to 2016 will be among workers 55 and older.” And while you can point to economic factors for some, it’s less complicated for the majority-Stark notes that “(54%) stay on the job simply because they like working.” One area where economics does seem to play a predominate role is the gender shift in the workforce. Most families today can’t afford a stay-at-home Mom. Stark notes that “in 1964, the year the Labor Department began keeping track, women made up about a third of the workforce. Today, by one important measure, they account for nearly half(49.8%).” Paul Taylor of the Pew Center also cites the kinds of jobs lost during this recession as another factor in the continued growth of the female worker-“The sectors that have taken the biggest hits from this recession have been the male-dominated sectors. A couple of the female-dominated sectors, education and health, have actually gained jobs during this recession."

SWINE FLU-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their first detailed look at U.S. children killed by swine flu. Lisa Stark, reporting for WORLD NEWS, notes that “the study found two-thirds of those under age 18 who died from the flu had medical complications…including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. The agency says MOST children and others who get swine flu will recover just fine-but certain children should get immediate attention if they get sick. “ Another study released today focused on those caring for patients with swine flu-Stark again: “(The new study) recommended that those who care for patients who have or may have the swine flu virus, wear this type of mask, called an N95 respirator.” This mask apparently offers better protection than surgical masks but supply is an issue. Stark notes the public may rush to buy them now “leaving even fewer for those who really need them.”

NORTH KOREA/URANIUM ENRICHMENT- North Korea said Friday that it is in the final stages of enriching uranium, a process that could give the nation a second way to make nuclear bombs. The official Korean Central News Agency said in a report early Friday that North Korea informed the U.N. Security Council it is forging ahead with its nuclear program in defiance of international calls to abandon its atomic ambitions. Kirit Radia reports that “the US Mission to the UN confirms it has received a letter from North Korea that it will circulate to Security Council members tonight. They are not confirming the contents of the letter…and have no plans to release the letter publicly until at least tomorrow.”

KENNEDY MEMOIR:  "Atonement is a process that never ends," Ted Kennedy wrote in a memoir that will be published posthumously on September 14.  “For the first time we learn about Ted Kennedy’s imperfections in his own words,” John Berman reported on WORLD NEWS.  Imperfections like his drinking, (“I have enjoyed a stiff drink or two or three…at times I’ve enjoyed these pleasures too much’) and his involvement in the 1969 car crash – Chappaquiddick – that killed his friend Mary Jo Kopechne ("That night on Chappaquiddick Island ended in a horrible tragedy that haunts me every day of my life").  “Another theme in his life,” Berman said, “and in the book: the immense pressure he felt as a Kennedy…he writes ‘as I think back to my three brothers….it sometimes has occurred to me that my entire life has been a constant state of catching up.’”  Kennedy died last week at the age of 77. (thanks to Marisa Bramwell for this entry)

SCOTUS JUSTICE INTERVIEWS:  In an upcoming television program, C-SPAN provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court and feature one-on-one interviews with nine current and retired justices, including the newest member, Sonia Sotomayor. “When Sonia Sotomayor takes her seat on the Court next week for the first time, it will feel –for the other justices — a little like having a new relative at the table for Thanksgiving,” Jan Crawford Greenburg reported on WORLD NEWS.  “We move the seats around in the court room,” Justice John Roberts told C-SPAN, “the seats are in order of seniority.”
And as Crawford Greenburg reported, seniority plays a role not just in seat assignments, but also simple tasks: “When we meet in the conference there are no staff members present.  And occasionally someone will knock on the door.  It’s the job of the junior justice to get up and answer the door.  And usually it’s somebody’s glasses or a memo or something like that,” Justice Samuel Alito said.  The C-SPAN program begins October 4th. (thanks to Marisa Bramwell for this entry)

AFGHANISTAN/BRITISH RESIGNATION-One the eve of British PM Gordon Brown’s “major” speech on Afghanistan, an embarrassing resignation. Eric Joyce, a senior aide to the British Defense Minister, sent a resignation letter to Brown today. Jean Fievet: “Joyce criticized NATO allies for not doing enough, called for a second round in the Afghan presidential election and a timeline for a substantial reduction in UK troops, and seemed to ask for more from the US in return for Britain’s support.”

OTHER STUFF-
–RUNAWAY CHRISTIAN CONVERT-A judge in Florida ruled today that Rifqa Bary can stay in Florida for now with a foster family. The 17-year-old fled her family in Ohio after converting to Christianity. Her family is Muslim.
–MICHAEL VICK-Good news for Philadelphia Eagles fans. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that quarterback Michael Vick would be eligible to play in the third game of the season. Previously, Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by no later than Week 6. Vick was released from federal custody July 20 after serving 18 months of a 23-month sentence for his role in running a dogfighting ring.
–FOOD STAMP USE CONTINUES TO RISE- The number of Americans receiving food stamps continued to rise in June, with more than 35 million Americans receiving assistance. The numbers, released on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are 22 percent higher than June 2008. The number of Americans receiving food stamps in June rose by more than 700,000 people compared with May, and was the eighth straight month of increases. The USDA administers the food stamp program, which helps to cover grocery costs for poor Americans. The average recipient in June received more than $133 in assistance. The average household received more than $293. (AP)
–NEW HUBBLE PIX-NASA will unveil the new improved Hubble telescope on Sept. 9th. Nine images will be revealed which were  taken by the telescope since it was refurbished earlier this year by the crew of Atlantis. The briefings will be live on NASA and start at 11:00am ET.  (Gina Sunseri)