He assured his Tokyo audience that the United States continues to value its longstanding alliance with Japan but said his country is not threatened by the emergence of China as a global power and a “deeper relationship with China” does not mean weaker bilateral alliances. “In an interconnected world, power does not need to be a zero-sum game, and nations need not fear the success of another.”

Other issues to note in Asia:

• North Korea’s nuclear program. They have defied orders from the UN and the US and are continuing to move forward with developing possible nuclear weapons.

• Human Rights in China. It seems that President Obama will avoid this issues for now. In his attempt to make peace with China, it would be unwise to call out the Chinese government on their failure to allow full civil liberties as well as other violations.

Staying in late inside their chamber Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed their version of the health care bill and have put the proverbial ball in the Senate’s court. The bill only passed by a 220-215 margin due to some House Democrats breaking party lines to oppose the bill. Many who opposed believed it to be too liberal (read: “Public option is socialism”). One Republican, Joe Cao of Louisiana, voted in favor of the bill. Officially titled The Affordable Health Care for America Act, it proposes the following:

The Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962, restricts insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition or charging higher premiums based on gender or medical history. It also provides federal subsidies to those who cannot afford health insurance. And it guarantees coverage for 96 percent of Americans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

It’s passage in the House is an important step in the right direction for it to be eventually put into law. The process, however, is far from over. it now moves to the Senate floor where essentially 60 votes are needed to break a potential filibuster. While some, including President Obama, feel no worries about achieving the necessary votes, others aren’t so sure. It’s like a Lee Corso “Not so fast, my friend” coming from every opposing government official all at once.

Obama said Sunday morning at the White House that he was “absolutely confident” the Senate will follow suit in passing its version of the bill.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada last week indicated uncertainty over whether that will happen this year. Once both chambers have passed a bill, a congressional conference committee will merge the two proposals into a consensus version that would require final approval from each chamber and Obama’s signature.

However, Republicans and an independent senator who sits with the Democratic caucus signaled Sunday that difficulties remain for Obama on his top domestic priority.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, reiterated he would join a Republican filibuster against a health care bill if it contains a government-run public health insurance option following the chamber’s amendment process.

There is only so much prognosticating we can do — instead, the American public will just have to wait it out and watch how the tide shifts in the Senate and the outcome of the impending vote.

Obama: Time for Senate to ‘take the baton’ [CNN]

New Jersey: The incumbent is Jon Corzine, a Democrat who has served just one prior term. He is being challenged by Republican Chris Christie. Christie seems to have an advantage in various opinion polls which have been administered recently and he looks like the current favorite. This would cause a switch in the controlling party of the seat, based on issues including education in New Jersey, a possible medical marijuana bill, environmental protection, and taxing.

Virginia: Since Virginia does not allow governors to serve consecutive terms (the only state to do so), there will be a fresh face in this position after the election. It faces Republican Bob McDonnell against Democrat Creigh Deeds. Nearly every poll thus far shows McDonnell as the clear leader. Like in New Jersey, this would be a change in party from the incumbent — both states switching in favor of Republican candidates. This is somewhat surprising as Virginia voted for Barack Obama in last year’s election and both senators representing the state are Democrats.

“(a) Outpatient Hospitals – (1) In General – Section 1833(t)(3)(C)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(t)(3)(C)(iv)) is amended – (A) in the first sentence – (i) by inserting “(which is subject to the productivity adjustment described in subclause (II) of such section)” after “1886(b)(3)(B)(iii); and (ii) by inserting “(but not below 0)” after “reduced”; and (B) in the second sentence, by inserting “and which is subject, beginning with 2010 to the productivity adjustment described in section 1886(b)(3)(B)(iii)(II)”.

When printed out, the bill weighs more than 19 pounds and stands nearly nine inches tall. It’s hard to believe the Congressmen, even as highly educated people, are going to be able to understand each and every detailed legal point laid out by the plan. Not to mention they only have a week to read it, at a clip of about 250 pages a day.

The necessary 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster in the Senate? Harry Reid thinks that shouldn’t be a problem. What happens after that is impossible to predict — the outcome of the amending process and final vote are up in the air.

You can tell an issue is important when the media starts creating logos for it, as CNN has done. For the most updated info, here’s their special health care section.

There’s no doubt he has some persuasive points, such as calling for a troop increase with this:

I sympathize with our president, because sending men and women into harm’s way is the most difficult decision that a commander-in-chief must make. However, Americans are already serving in harm’s way in Afghanistan, and the sooner we can provide the reinforcements and resources they need, the safer and more successful they will be. So I am urging President Obama to move as quickly as possible to fully support Gen. McChrystal’s request for more troops.

Keep in mind, however, persuasive points aren’t necessarily the right points. Instead, its just something to get the people thinking. An economy falling apart faster than a used car and a mess of health care reform talks have diverted attention away from an ongoing problem to the point where it’s become almost completely forgotten about.  Multi-tasking isn’t something many people can pull off and the US government is definitely among those.

McCain might have gone a bit too far with the positives of the war so far. Success is Iraq? That’s what he says…

Success in Afghanistan will emerge, as it did in Iraq, when local leaders and citizens are more and more able to take responsibility for governing and securing their own sovereign country without substantial international assistance. This won’t be perfect or easy, but it will allow America’s fighting men and women to leave Afghanistan with honor, and it will enable Afghans to build a better, more peaceful future. That is our goal, and we must stay in the fight until it is won.

But it seems that to call the Iraq situation a success would be the overstatement of the year. At best, we took out an unstable government the people all really hated and installed another unstable leadership that only 98% of the people hate. Success is winning or being on the way to winning. Of all people, I figured McCain would know this best — now he does.

P.S. We need more of this kind of direct communication from our leaders. We need more of our senators and White House staffers to come out and put their name on opinion pieces. Chances are they don’t actually write it; because politicians talk a big game but never walk the walk, a common problem for 98% of college males. But at least some name attachment lends credibility to Washington. Transparency is bueno.

McCain: Why we can — and must — win the war in Afghanistan [CNN]

So what exactly is going on here?

First and least important, this is a place for me to put some thoughts down into actual text instead of having them cloud up in my head. That way, if by some miracle I say something legitimately awesome or predict the future correctly, I can prove it and direct the masses here to read it. We’re shooting for fun, not boring.

Second, this blog serves to fulfill one of my goals set out in my Professional Development Plan (PDF) which was created in the “Computers in Education” class at Indiana University. It’s point is to be a way (or at least an example of a way) to communicate with students as a teacher by using technology — they would be able to read this and keep up with current events. Since my area of concentration is social studies, the focus of the content here will be primarily on politics, government, economics, etc. A general idea of the type of monster I’m trying to create can be found here, which is written by a professor at IU for students in her political science classes. Clearly this use of the blog is more important because I feel like graduating from college, and on time at that.

Pepsi Didn’t Want To Pay $3 Million A Year For Naming Rights

So instead I had to muster my creativity and come up with one. The name of the blog is two-fold:

First, I’m hoping to be as objective as possible. Its tough, and sometimes sickening, to read things that are so grossly biased that they simply resort to bashing people and policies without ever actually taking a closer look. Its not worth reading — conservatives will say things other conservatives like to hear and likewise for liberals. I don’t consider myself one or the other, probably because I’m not even sure where I fall on the spectrum.

Second, Left Right Center is a dice game that I have become a pro at. They say it’s all chance — I disagree.

And away we go…