Clinton says no president could repair national economic mess in four years

Making a strong case for the re-election of President Barack Obama, Former President Bill Clinton formally nominated him as the Democratic party's nominee. On Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte,North Carolina, Clinton foiled the Republicans criticism of President Obama's handling of the nation's economy, and said no president, neither him nor his predecessors could have, in four years, repaired the economic mess that was inherited when Obama took office in 2008.

Following the 48-minute speech, several TV analysts said it was the best speech of the former president's political career; a speech supporting the man who in 2008 denied his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the chance to be president.

Clinton gave a formidable account of the accomplishments of President Obama over the past three and half years. These accomplishments included healthcare reform, restructuring of the student's loan program making it more affordable for students to attend college, reform of the financial institutions, the consumer protection program, the auto bail out, and the strengthening of Medicare.

Charlie Crist, former Republican Governor of Florida, has endorsed President Barack Obama for the 2012 presidential election. He is also scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention scheduled for North Carolina next week.
In 2009 Crist's popularity with local and national Republican leaders began to wane, after he appeared on a Fort Myers stage, embracing and welcoming President Obama.
In 2010 Crist announced his resignation as governor to run for the U.S. Senate. What seemed to be an almost certain victory for Crist, was stymied when party leaders backed his rival, Marco Rubio. Crist then left the Republican Party to run as an independent in the senate race which Rubio won.
On the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Crist announced that he is endorsing Obama.
Crist made his announcement in an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times, giving rise to speculation he could be planning to join the Democratic Party, and challenge Rick Scott to return as Florida's governor in 2014.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a surprising but interesting contribution to the national debate on immigration reform this week when he suggested that immigrants are viable contributors to the nation's economy.

According to an Associated Press report Bloomberg said there was no faster way to fix the nation's economic problems than by abandoning "self-defeating" immigration policies.

According to the report, in an editorial published Tuesday and at appearances before business leaders in Chicago and Boston, Bloomberg said immigrants and the businesses they create are engines for America's economic recovery.

In past statements Bloomberg has argued that the United States is committing economic suicide by sending the nation's top international students and the world's most promising entrepreneurs to other shores. In his appearance in Chicago accompanied by President Barack Obama's former chief of staff, William Daley he drew attention to a recent study released Tuesday by a partnership of U.S. mayors and business leaders that he co-chairs, which revealed immigrants were responsible for one out of four new businesses started last year.

President Barack Obama has appointed former U.S. Secretary of State, General Colin L. Powell, to lead the U.S. delegation at the upcoming celebrations for Jamaica 50th anniversary of independence.

General Powell will also be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Pamela Bridgewater and U.S. House of Representatives for New York's 11th congressional district, Yvette D. Clarke.

The chosen delegation marks a strong family connection between the two countries. General Powell, born in Harlem, New York, was born to Jamaica immigrants Maud Arial and Luther Powell. Clarke, who was also born in New York, is also a child of Jamaican parentage.