Romney Wins Nevada Caucuses
February 4, 2012

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has won the Nevada caucuses, in which voter turnout was quite low.  At this writing, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are still battling for 2nd place with Rick Santorum bringing up the rear. [For more, please see Mitt Romney Wins The Nevada Caususes (The Inquisitr).]

The Week in Review - Highlights

February 5, 2012 - February 11, 2012

February 5 -- Nineteen Americans working in Egypt have been ordered to stand trial on financial and licensing charges.  One of those is Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  This occurred just a day after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Egypt that the U.S. will suspend the $1.3 billion in annual aid to Egypt's military if the Americans were not allowed to leave Egypt immediately. [See Egypt says 19 Americans will be ordered to stand trial for more (LA Times).]

January 29, 2012 - February 4, 2012

February 4 -- The Arab League has been pushing for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down in order to end the violence in that country.  However, because of vetoes by Russia and China, the UN resolution to support the Arab League's demand has been defeated.  [See Russia, China veto new U.N. resolution on Syria (LA Times).]

February 2 -- The so-called Stock Act, which bans members of Congress from participating in insider trading, passed the U.S. Senate with bi-partisan support.  In fact, only three people voted against it.  Now the bill goes to the House.  President Obama indicated that he will sign the bill into law as soon as it gets to his desk.  [For more, please see STOCK Act passes in the Senate (CBS News).]

February 2 -- On the light side:  Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog of Pennsylvania, saw his shadow this morning.  This means that we will have six more weeks of winter.  If the next six weeks will be like what our winter has been up to now, we have nothing to worry about. [For more, please see Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter (Time.com).]

February 1 -- It was announced that the breast cancer fighting organization, Susan G Komen for the Cure, severed its ties with Planned Parenthood because the latter was being investigated by Congress.  But as Patrick Hurd, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, said, "It sounds almost trite, going through this with Betsi [his wife who is battling breast cancer], but cancer doesn't care if you're pro-choice, anti-choice, progressive, conservative.  Victims of cancer could care less about people's politics." [Please see Susan G. Komen cuts ties with Planned Parenthood (CBSNews.com).]

February 1 -- Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney may have won the 2012 Florida Primary, but Newt Gingrich is challenging Romney's win of all 50 delegates on the basis of an RNC ruling that states that no primary can be winner-take-all before April 1, 2012. [For more, please see Florida primary might not be a done deal (FoxNews.com).]

February 1 -- Bloody rioting ensued after a soccer game in Cairo, Egypt.  More than seventy people have died.  "Politicians, fans and Egyptian soccer officials all faulted the police for failing to conduct the standard gate searches to prevent fans from bringing knives, clubs or other weapons into the match," according to the NY Times. [Please see Egyptian Soccer Riot Kills More Than 70 (NY Times) for more.]

February 1 -- Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) signed a "right-to-work" legislation into law, making Indiana the twenty-third state in the country to do so.  The law prohibits agreements between labor unions and employers that make membership, fees, or payment of union dues a condition of employment, either before or after hiring. [Please see Indiana enacts 'right to work' law for more (The LA Times).] The goal, of course, is to make it as difficult as possible for employees to form unions.

January 31 -- Mitt Romney has won the Florida Primary after a very nasty week of campaigning, receiving approximately 46% of all the votes.  Newt Gingrich came in second (32%), Rick Santorum was third (11%), and Ron Paul came in fourth (7%).  "The commanding win by Mr. Romney," said the NY Times, "offered a forceful response to the concerns that were raised about his candidacy only 10 days ago after a stinging loss to Mr. Gingrich in the South Carolina primary. It also raised new questions about whether Mr. Gingrich can persuade Republicans of his electability." [For more, please see Romney Wins Big in Florida Primary (NY Times).]

To review the news for January, please go to our January News page.

Weekly Address: It's Time for Congress to Act to Help Responsible Homeowners
(February 4, 2011)

"MAKE NO SMALL PLANS. THEY HAVE NO MAGIC TO STIR MEN'S BLOOD." -- Daniel Burnham

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