Perry blasts Fed, Obama in noisy start to presidential race (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Texas Governor Rick Perry has only been a presidential candidate since Saturday, but the Republican hopeful has already produced some of the most inflammatory rhetoric of the early 2012 campaign.

Perry seemed to threaten Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday, saying another fiscal stimulus would be “treasonous,” a sign of the political heat the central bank faces as it tries to right the stumbling economy.

“If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don’t know what y’all will do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas,” Perry said, to laughter from supporters in Iowa, which will hold the first elections of the presidential campaign in February.

“Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous, treasonous in my opinion,” he said at the campaign stop.

Under Bernanke, who was appointed in 2006 by President George W. Bush and reappointed by President Barack Obama, the Fed has mounted one of the most aggressive central bank easy money campaigns in history.

It cut interest rates to near zero in December 2008 and has since bought $2.3 trillion in assets to provide an additional prod to

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Obama adviser: Obama not obsessed with keeping job (AP)

WASHINGTON – Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says Republicans must decide whether they’re going to “swear allegiance to the tea party” or work with Democrats to create jobs.

Gibbs, who now advises President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, tells NBC’s “Today” show Congress should “pay attention to creating jobs again.”

He also suggested that some Republicans “do not want to see this economy get better” because they know continuing misery will likely improve their election prospects.

Gibbs says Obama favors a number of moves to help businesses step up hiring. He says “the president is not focused on keeping his job, most of all. He’s focused on creating jobs for the American people.”

The former White House spokesman also says that Congress likely will be asked to continue payroll tax relief.

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Obama tells voters to pressure Congress (AP)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is calling on frustrated voters to tell Congress they’re sick of gridlock and partisanship and want to see compromise to boost the faltering economy and create jobs.

The president used his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday to try to position himself on the side of the public and against a Congress with abysmal approval ratings in the wake of the bitter partisan bickering over the debt.

Obama’s approval ratings aren’t so good either, but the president clearly sees a need to direct the public’s anger at Washington toward lawmakers in Congress — or risk being its target himself as the 2012 presidential campaign season opens.

“You’ve got a right to be frustrated,” the president said. “I am. Because you deserve better. I don’t think it’s too much for you to expect that the people you send to this town start delivering.”

“Members of Congress are at home in their districts right now. And if you agree with me — whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican or not much of a fan of either — let them know.”

The president listed several initiatives he’s been calling on Congress to pass — among them free trade pacts, measures to improve

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Analysis: Obama pivots to new string of problems (AP)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama dodged a debt-ceiling fiasco Tuesday. He reacted with a wiped brow more than a victory lap, and with good reason.

As Republicans gradually weigh a potential challenger, Obama’s re-election bid faces daunting problems: high unemployment, a limping economy, lackluster approval ratings and a demoralized liberal base. The last-minute debt agreement prevented a full-blown disaster. But it might do little or nothing to help Obama’s campaign.

It cuts spending that might otherwise have produced jobs. And for now, at least, it keeps Obama from claiming he tackled long-festering problems such as Medicare, Social Security and a revenue base that consistently lags behind the nation’s spending habits.

Obama has considerable political assets, including robust fundraising and an up-and-running nationwide operation. Also, the Republican primary process is murky, and it’s too soon to gauge whether it will produce a top-notch nominee who can match Obama’s proven campaign skills.

But job worries are dominating this election, and economists see little likelihood of a serious recovery before the November 2012 election. The man who ran on hope and change in 2008 is hoping voters will decide against change this time, fearing the GOP nominee would be worse.

Obama seems well aware of his challenges. In

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Democrats say Obama should invoke 14th Amendment (AP)

WASHINGTON – House Democrats said Wednesday that President Barack Obama should invoke a little-known constitutional provision to prevent the nation from going into default if Congress fails to come up with a plan to raise the debt ceiling.

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, a member of the Democratic leadership, said he told fellow Democrats that Obama should both veto any House GOP plan for a short-term extension of the debt ceiling and invoke the 14th amendment, which says that the validity of the nation’s public debt “shall not be questioned.”

The White House has rejected resorting to this tactic to keep the nation from defaulting, questioning its legality, but Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, who chairs the Democratic caucus, said “we’re getting down to decision time” and “we have to have a failsafe mechanism and we believe that failsafe mechanism is the 14th Amendment and the president of the United States.”

Larson said Clyburn’s proposal on the 14th Amendment was met with applause by other Democrats at their meeting.

The Democratic leaders said the vast majority in their party still support a plan for raising the debt ceiling and cutting spending put forth by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. But they said the

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Democrats say Obama should invoke 14th Amendment (AP)

WASHINGTON – House Democrats said Wednesday that President Barack Obama should invoke a little-known constitutional provision to prevent the nation from going into default if Congress fails to come up with a plan to raise the debt ceiling.

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, a member of the Democratic leadership, said he told fellow Democrats that Obama should both veto any House GOP plan for a short-term extension of the debt ceiling and invoke the 14th amendment, which says that the validity of the nation’s public debt “shall not be questioned.”

The White House has rejected resorting to this tactic to keep the nation from defaulting, questioning its legality, but Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, who chairs the Democratic caucus, said “we’re getting down to decision time” and “we have to have a failsafe mechanism and we believe that failsafe mechanism is the 14th Amendment and the president of the United States.”

Larson said Clyburn’s proposal on the 14th Amendment was met with applause by other Democrats at their meeting.

The Democratic leaders said the vast majority in their party still support a plan for raising the debt ceiling and cutting spending put forth by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. But they said the

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Poland: Obama wishes a greater military presence on Warsaw visit

AP - Polish leaders praised President Barack Obama on Saturday for pushing ahead on issues of key importance to Warsaw: establishing a U.S. military presence in this central European country and making it easier for Poles to visit the United States.

As Obama wrapped up his first visit to Poland, the White House said the U.S. plans to establish an Air Force detachment of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and C-130 Hercules aircraft in Poland in 2013. “I believe a new stage is opening in Polish-U.S. relations, also in the area of the U.S. military presence in Poland,” Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said in an interview after Obama’s visit. Poland and the U.S. are NATO allies and already cooperate closely, but Poland wants a stronger U.S. military presence on its soil as a way of enhancing its security. “The order of magnitude is not really large, but the gesture is very significant,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a joint news conference with Obama. An analyst said having American “boots on the ground” has as symbolic aspect but that its importance goes beyond that. “It means the commitment is larger than the commitment through NATO,” said Marcin Zaborowski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Obama also said he backs legislation sponsored by several members of the U.S. Congress that could ease travel restrictions for Poles – a key issue in Polish-U.S. ties. Obama noted that Poland currently does not meet criteria to enter the visa waiver system, and that “I could not simply waive the law.” But he said the legislation he backs would change the criteria and should “resolve this issue in a way that is satisfactory to Poland but also meets the security concerns of the United States.” To a Polish reporter who asked when Poles could expect to shop on Fifth Avenue in New York, Obama said: “We very much want you to shop on Fifth Avenue and anywhere else in the United States.” President Komorowski said he felt “great satisfaction” that Obama presented “specific ideas for solving this problem that unnecessarily burdens Polish-American relations.” Currently, Poles must have a visa to enter the United States, a source of much dissatisfaction for years now. Many Poles feel they should have earned the right to visa-free travel to the U.S. given the nation’s strong alliance with the U.S. and its support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The issue of visas exemplifies that there is a lack of reciprocity in this relationship. ... If you can’t travel there (without a visa) you feel kind of humiliated,” said Zaborowski. He added that while Poles will welcome Obama’s promise to push the matter in Congress, ultimately Poles will judge him on the result.

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EUROPE: Obama packs star power European tour

The small Irish village of Moneygall, where President Barack Obama can trace some of his ancestors and recently stopped to raise a pint of Guinness with a distant cousin, crowds waving American flags and plaques read "Welcome Home". Just as in Dublin earlier in the day, the US President was treated welcome of the hero in Moneygall he launched a four-nation European tour that culminates with the Summit of the G8, in France, 26-27 May. This cheerful reception set the tone for the rest of the visit of the Obama, which will also include a visit to Poland, as the Europeans offered him the applause without reservation, that they are now denied several of its leaders.

IN pictures: OBAMA return to EUROPEObama appeared as comfortable sipping a pint of beer in the heart of regions rural of the Ireland, as it is usually hosting galas of the White House in Washington. He was unfazed by the Royal reception and the salvo of 41 given in his honour at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. According to Royal watchers, Queen Elizabeth II took a taste for the Sung since the meeting the couple during their 2009 visit to London. And on Thursday, Obama became the first President of the United States to address both houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall in London.

Visit to come from the Obama in France, his second as President, he will join major leaders of the economies of the world and will therefore be deprived of the exclusive media attention, that he was drawn to Ireland and Great Britain. Nevertheless, the French want to witness the landing of more recent Normandy of the Obama - and the press will likely be scramble to respond to this request, as it is seized.

Image changing

As a candidate of the presumed Democratic Party and during the first days of his mandate, Obama won the legions of fans throughout Europe. In July 2008, Senator then attracted a crowd of 200,000 people in Berlin's Tiergarten Park. Nine months later, as President, Obama told a large crowd of 20,000 in Prague that a nuclear-free world was possible. Other notable tours in Europe have included France in June 2009, for the 65th anniversary of the d-day allied in Normandy and Norway in October 2009 to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to Divina Frau-Meigs, a sociologist at the University of Paris 3 media, initial call of the Obama was directly linked to a strong aversion to Europeans of former President George w. Bush. "Obama has been considered a person with support base, not bound to Bush-like big companies." "[Obama] was seen as someone who would be to withdraw the troops of Iraq and close Guantanamo", Frau-Meigs said, adding that many Europeans is disappointed that these expectations went unmet in Obama.

In his first trip to France two years ago, Obama was granted ceremoniously by one of his unabashed fans: President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to Christine Rolland, President of the chapter of Democrats abroad Normandy, the French were "absolutely thrilled" to see the Obama then. "The France and the United States share a long love-hate relationship". I lived the phases of this batch. "The Obama administration marks certainly a climax," said Rolland, a 26-year-old resident, of the France.

For the French press, visit the Obama and the ceremony marked a turning point in the French-American relations, which had been strained over the reluctance of Paris to join the invasion of the Iraq in 2003. With Obama, the French were once more willing to embrace America and forget any incident "freedom fries".

While admitting that the US President still popular in France, Frau-Meigs, said there are signs that disappeared in the French initial enthusiasm exposed in the spring of 2009. She stressed the popular TV show "Les Guignols de l'Info", a satire policy that uses puppets, which depicts once Obama as being significantly different from its predecessor in the White House. This image has gradually given way to a character Guignol confident and often bullying - not unlike the way that former President Bush is interpreted on the show, according to Frau-Meigs.

Writing in the left British daily The Guardian, on the eve of the European tour of Obama journalist Gay Younge agreed to record this Obama on issues which are important for the Europeans, such as the closure of Guant?namo and reduction of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistanwithout interest. But for Younge, popularity of pop-star of the Obama in Europe "has barely changed since its emergence as a credible candidate." Europeans are simply willing to overlook the faults and the promises of the Obama, argued the British journalist.

Win - win.

Analysts expect the tour to be beneficial for the Obama, which is already in fashion campaign for his re-election in 2012. Images of Europeans, crazed waving flags Americans and British Ministers laugh at Obama each sentence will certainly make their way back across the Atlantic.

Widespread Obamania in Europe stands in contrast to the treatment of the leaders of the continent at the end. While the French and British Governments slash public jobs and reduce budgets, Prime Minister David Cameron and President Sarkozy have seen their approval ratings sink. While it retains the approval of a majority of Poles, President Bronis?aw Komorowski also saw his support slip, according to a survey in April per polling agency community organizations.

Obama is perhaps could not stimulate the collective image of its European counterparts with his mere presence, but it can be a positive step from which voters address.

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United Kingdom: Obama rejects the notion of Western decline

AFP - in a rallying cry of the Western world, US President Barack Obama Wednesday denied that the rise of powers such as China, the India and the Brazil meant the inevitable decline in Europe and the United States.

In a speech to both houses of Parliament Britain means to inject new momentum into the transatlantic alliance that has strengthened the global security since the second world war, Obama said Western nations must renew itself.

"Countries such as China, the India and the Brazil are giant growth," Obama told the assembled lawmakers, arguing that, ultimately, the emergence of new powers would benefit everyone.

"This rapid change took place, it is become fashionable in some circles to question if the rise of these nations will accompany the decline of American influence and European in the world," Obama said.

"Perhaps this argument, these nations represent the future and the time for our leadership."

"This argument is false." Now is the time for our leadership. ?

The head of the U.S. joined a select list of the foreign political leaders who have addressed both houses of Parliament to 900 years Westminster Hall, Nelson Mandela and Charles de Gaulle.

Speech by Obama in the historical Hall was long awaited by foreign policy experts and political leaders who have speculated that Obama believes that future lies of America with the new Giants and not his former allies.

But he rejected this idea, saying: "it is the United States, the United Kingdom and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which may emerge new nations and people could thrive."

"And even where the nations most assume the responsibilities of global leadership, our Alliance will remain essential to the objective of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just.".

"We remain catalysts more global action.".

But the President said that although the links between the United States, Great Britain and Europe have been forged in two world wars, they had to be redesigned to respond to a new era of threats, including terrorism and climate change.

The President also argued that countries such as his own and his hosts had an inherent advantage in a new global economy that threatens their competitive advantage, but which price a well-educated workforce.

"To maintain" this advantage in a world that is more competitive that ever, we will have to redouble our investments in science and engineering and to renew our national commitments to educate our workforce, Obama said.

Obama also praised NATO, currently fighting in Afghanistan, as the "alliance more successful in human history" and promised to never release the fight against Al-Qaida and to ensure that the Afghanistan is purged of terrorism.

He also said that the West had a crucial interest in the wave of revolt raged in North Africa and the Middle East and called his leadership colleagues to help ensure that the political transitions are successful.

"It will take years before these revolutions reach their conclusion, and there will be difficult days along the way." Power rarely gave up without fighting, "he says.

"Make no mistake: what we have seen in Tehran, Tunis and Tahrir is a desire for the same freedoms we take for granted at home."

"Let so there is no doubt: the United States and the United Kingdom are squarely on with those who long to be free,"Obama said, many of the themes of his major speech on the Arab uprisings taking last week."."

"We will proceed with humility, and knowledge that we do not dictate results abroad." Ultimately, freedom must be won by the people themselves, not imposed from without. ?

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