Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 1/9/09
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Here's how you can be a part of tonight's program. Just scroll down and share your thoughts on the headlines.
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Evening Buzz: Jobs Wanted
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
2.6 million people lost their jobs in 2008, the most since 1945, and it could get worse.
New data from the U.S. Labor Department shows that more than 11 million Americans are now unemployed. The cuts are in various fields. Here are some of the staggering numbers:
Job Cuts
Nov. to Dec. 2008
Manufacturing: 149,000
Professional & Business Services: 113,000
Construction: 101,000
Retail: 67,000
Source: U.S. Labor Dept.
Tonight on AC360°, personal finance expert Suze Orman will join Anderson to answer your questions about the job losses and what it means for you and your family. Click HERE to submit your question for Suze.
Let's give you a glimmer of hope. We don't want to start off your weekend on such a grim note. The good news: there are several industries that are seeking workers. Late last year 45,000 jobs were added in health care and education, and the government added 7,000 jobs. If you're a nurse or want to work for the FBI check out the help wanted ads.
Tonight we're also following developments on the crisis in Gaza. Remember all that talk last night about the U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire? Ahh. It's being ignored.
Hamas rejected the resolution, the Paris, France newspaper Le Figaro reported.
Israel also said it was disregarding the U.N. vote. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the firing of Hamas rockets into southern Israel today "proves the U.N. resolution is not practical."
More than 30 Hamas rockets were fired into Israel today.
And, Israel hit more than 70 targets in Gaza. They included 20 "terror operatives", rocket launching sites, two weapons smuggling tunnels and other areas.
Medical sources say 22 Palestinians were killed today. There are no new reports of Israelis being killed.
Since Israel's incursion into Gaza began two weeks ago, at least 792 Palestinians have been killed and 13 Israelis, including 10 soldiers have died.
14 days and more than 800 lives lost.
We'll have these stories and more tonight starting at 10pm E.T. Hope you will join us.
Beat 360° 1/9/09
Ready for today's Beat 360°?
Everyday we post a picture – and you provide the caption and our staff will join in too.
Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite!
Here is the 'Beat 360°' pic:
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich takes a morning run, Friday, January 9, 2009, in Chicago. (LANDOV)
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions!
Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
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But wait!… There’s more!
When you win ‘Beat 360°’ not only do you get on-air prime-time name recognition (complete with bragging rights over all your friends, family, and jealous competitors), but you get a “I Won the Beat 360° Challenge” T-shirt!
Crisis in Gaza: Why is this happening?
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Dave Schechter
CNN Senior National Editor
Any attempt to answer the question "why is this happening?" - this effort included - will be found wanting by supporters of both Israel and the Palestinians, who will decry omissions of history, over-simplification, lack of sufficient context and invalidation of truths they hold to be self-evident.
Nonetheless, for those not steeped in the minutiae of the conflict, a guide for the perplexed.
There are no good dates left on the calendar.
That's been my line for years about the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Governor is voted out! Blago remains defiant
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Ismael Estrada
AC360° Producer
Today the Illinois state house had their say in the state capital. They voted to kick Governor Blagojevich out of office, turning it over to the state senate for their say. As the vote came down overwhelmingly to impeach… 3 hours north in Chicago people outside the Governor’s office were chanting for his resignation. Where was the Governor? He was out for a run, in 4 inches of snow.
A few hours later Governor Blagojevich showed up for his press conference. The place was stuffed with reporters all talking about what he would do or say. He walked up to the podium and re-stated that he was innocent of all charges against him. Not guilty of any criminal wrong doing. He surrounded himself with people he says he helped with his policies while in office. He says he will fight on and he'll have his day in court. Then, he recited poetry he says inspired him since he first heard Ted Kennedy do the same in 1980. Even the press scratched their heads in amazement.
That sound you hear is Tennyson rolling over in his grave
Jack Gray
AC360 Associate Producer
Sweet mother of Pearl, I’m speechless. Was that a gubernatorial news conference or a scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?
Please tell me Rod Blagojevich did not just trot out cancer patients as political props. Not the same Rod Blagojevich who was allegedly captured on federal wiretaps plotting how to steal money from terminally ill children.
If all else fails just take off with your dry cleaner's purse
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Jack Gray
AC360° Associate Producer
Ah, Friday. The day when Americans say to one another, “have a good weekend.” Which of course is the polite way of saying “please let this be the night my lottery numbers finally come in so I never have to see you chumps again.”
The looming Powerball jackpot notwithstanding, I am looking forward to my $500 stimulus check from the Obama administration. I had no idea that all it would take to fix the financial crisis was for me to make the minimum payment on my credit card and buy a JetBlue ticket to Cancun.
Of course, President-elect Obama isn’t the first politician to employ this strategy. I vaguely remember getting a stimulus check from the Bush administration. I think the amount was $300. Or maybe it was $600. All I know is I never should have let Anderson talk me into investing in that Larry King Spaghetti Sauce. From now on I’m getting all my financial advice from professionals like Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Mickey Rourke.
How Obama can win terror war
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Peter Bergen
CNN National Security Analyst
In the war against al Qaeda and its allies, Barack Obama should adopt five key principles when he takes office.
First, the United States must lower the temperature in the Muslim world to help win back the "swing voters" in the Islamic world who turned against America and provide passive support to al Qaeda.
The Obama administration can do this by working as an honest broker to resolve conflicts such as those in Kashmir and Israel/Palestine that serve as grievances for Muslims and sometimes training grounds for militants.
Palin accuses media of 'personal, salacious' reporting
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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s office accused the media Friday of habitually taking her remarks out of context “to create adversarial situations,” and of pursuing “erroneous and often outrageous leads on a variety of non-issues.”
The statement also charged that some members of the media, including independent bloggers and the Atlantic, were continuing “to give credence to the sensational allegation that the governor’s child, Trig, is not hers.”
“As a public official, I expect criticism and I expect to be held accountable for how I govern,” Palin said in a statement released by her office Friday. “But the personal, salacious nature of recent reporting, and often the refusal of the media to correct obvious mistakes, unfortunately discredits too many in journalism today, making it difficult for many Americans to believe what they see in the media.”
Bye, Bye Blago
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Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich
The Illinois House of Representatives today voted to impeach embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The question of whether to remove Blagojevich from office now moves to the state Senate. Blagojevich was arrested last month after federal prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
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