John Kerry: Forerunner Nominee for Secretary of State

Speculation of President's Obama 's intention to nominate John Kerry  for Secretary of State hits the media.
(Photo Courtesy of AP) 

After withdrawal of U.N. Ambassador Rice from the pick for U.S. Secretary of State, there has been recent speculation that US Senator John Kerry will be nominated for the position.  Kerry is currently Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman under the Obama Administration.  Though nothing is official yet, the buzz is the announcement of Kerry's nomination could come as early as mid-week according to Reuters.

Reuters’ unspecified source that is close to the situation also stated President Obama House is inclined “to unveiling Kerry's nomination as part of a high-profile package that would include his pick for defense secretary”.

As news of Kerry’s potential nomination reaches surface, no other candidates have been currently linked to the position. For other positions, Former Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel is most likely to succeed Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

News of Rice’s resignation from being considered for the position of Secretary of State comes to relief of both Republicans and Democrats, as a partisan clash has been averted for now. Ambassador Rice has received harsh criticism from both sides of the aisle ever since the death of US Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three fellow Americans in the act of terrorism that occurred in Libya in September.

Current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to step down in early January due to current health issues. Clinton is praised as one of Obama’s most popular cabinet members and has received hype on the possibility of her running for president in 2016.

So far, announcement of both Kerry and Hagel as nominations for opening cabinet positions are unofficial and up in the air until announcement by President Obama himself. 

Time Ticks for Passing New Federal Budget: Boehner Offers New Deal

As the year approaches an end, both democrats and republicans of the House of Representatives are rushing to pass a new federal budget for the nation before the year ends. News  has spread that House Speaker (R) John Boehner is trying to compromise with democrats by offering a deal of increased tax rates for those exceeding an annual income of one million dollars. He also offered to extend the debt limit for a year to avoid hitting a fiscal cliff.

House Speaker John Boehner speaking at
News Conference on Thursday.
(Photo Courtesy of AP)

All news of the deal is up to speculation and comes from an unspecified source close to Boehner and the current administration.  A spokesman for Boehner said that communication of the situation is open, but an agreement has yet to be reached. Both Boehner and Obama have discussed the issue at hand over the phone and face to face multiple times over the past week. While Boehner deal comes at a somewhat loss to Republicans over tax increases, the speaker’s deal come with requests for spending cuts to and major reform of entitlement programs.

However, President Obama is not budging on the deal at the moment. According to CNN’s unspecified source close to the Whitehouse administration, Boehner’s "offer was insufficient on revenue and rates and had a bunch of stuff we wouldn't do.

The President remains strong on his wants for the new federal budget, while trying to avoid hitting a fiscal cliff. Earlier in talks, Speaker Boehner stated that his side was willing to increase tax revenue by eliminating unspecified deductions and loopholes and drew the line at raising current taxes rates for higher incomes. Yet as Boehner budges on this, reaching a compromise over the new budget does seem reachable. While Republicans are not thrilled at the deal, avoiding hitting a fiscal cliff remains the party’s top priority.

Federal Regulation of Marijuana: Not a High Priority

President Obama gives his opinion on
 state's legalization of marijuana.
(Courtesy of AP Photo)

Marijuana users of Colorado and Washington may again rejoice in the recently passed legislation this past November, legalizing marijuana for recreational use in the two states. Last Friday President Obama stated his opinion on the issue stating that federal law enforcement agencies have “bigger fish to fry" than prosecuting marijuana users in those states.

The news comes with some surprise due to Obama’s current record on the issue. During his term in office, he put more force towards regulation of dispensaries in California and had many close down due to improper running of the businesses. In California dispensaries are supposed to operate solely to provide medical use for those with illnesses such as cancer, insomnia, and eating disorders, not for recreational use. Compared to his predecessor, George W. Bush, President Obama was much stricter on the issue. According to CNN, “Last year, law enforcement agents seized 3.9 million plants in the Golden State and were poised to collect more this year”.

However, as other issues arise and continue such as our country’s fiscal situation and foreign affairs with countries such as Iran and Syria, Obama’s indifferent reaction to the issue may be considered well-suited. Obama further stated in his interview with ABC "This is a tough problem, because Congress has not yet changed the law. I head up the executive branch; we're supposed to be carrying out laws. And so what we're going to need to have is a conversation about how do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it's legal?"

This issue is an ongoing problem because marijuana remains illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. Yet more states are going towards the trend of giving partial legality to use of the marijuana. Currently 18 states and the District of Columbia have allowed legal use of the drug for medical reasons, including Massachusetts who just passed a medical proposition this past November. According to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), Marijuana is a category 1 drug. Other on the lists includes drugs such as ecstasy, mushrooms, and cocaine. Category 1 drugs are classified as dangerous and having no medical purpose or benefits.