The incursion started hours after the announcement that a delegation is leading towards the Middle East to meet with regional leaders and open the possibility of a cease-fire. The announcement came from the European Union.

Israeli’s attacks were said to be just a response to previous rocket attacks on Israel from Hamas militants.

Sources said that there were four civilians killed by Israeli shelling, five near the Jabalya refugee camp, three in the GAza city, and one militant in Khan Yunis.

Although there were unconfirmed numbers of death from the Hamas party, the Isralie Defense Force confirmed a competitive fight between them. And missiles form the Israeli party were launched overnight, which includes the Hamas’ intelligence headquarters.

“At least 30 rockets were launched from Gaza into southern Israel on Sunday morning.”

“We haven’t articulated regime change as the goal of this operation. Our goal is to protect our people,” Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said.

Hamas vowed an “all-out war” and warned israel that the “Gaza will be their cemetery.”

“We will not abandon the battlefield, and we will stay on the thorny course, and we will fight until the last breath,”  Ismail Radwan, Hamas Chief Spokesman, said.

President-elect Barack Obama joyfully visited military personnel along with their familiesz at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii on Thursday.

Obama went to Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay on Oahu to join and greet marines and sailors. They also enjoyeda good traditional dinner which inlcludes thanksgiving presto turkey and roast beef.

Dressed in a casual blue polo shirt and khaki trousers, Obama shook hands, bid his warmest greetings, and posed for photos in the events Christams decorated dining hall. This act was a surprise for the marines since Obama did not say any gist of his coming on the event. Obama spent about an hour chatting with the marines and seriously told every table his pleasantries.

“Just wanted to say, ‘Hi, hey guys,’” Obama said at one point while reporters were allowed in the room.

Obama also stated a message of honor toward those military men and women who proudly gave their service for the country. This includes the 140,000 soldiers currently serving in Iraq and 30,000 in Afghanistan.
“As we celebrate this joyous time of year, our thoughts turn to the brave men and women who serve our country far from home,” he said in the said message.

“Their extraordinary and selfless sacrifice is an inspiration to us all, and part of the unbroken line of heroism that has made our freedom and prosperity possible for over two centuries.”

In the broadcast message, Obama also called on Americans to “renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship.”

“These are also tough times for many Americans struggling in our sluggish economy,” he said.

“Now, more than ever, we must rededicate ourselves to the notion that we share a common destiny as Americans — that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper. … We must all do our part to serve one another; to seek new ideas and new innovation; and to start a new chapter for our great country.”
Obama said that notion “will guide my administration in the New Year. If the American people come together and put their shoulder to the wheel of history, then I know that we can put our people back to work … and reach the promise of a brighter day.”

The Obama transition team has been unexpectedly surpised by how hundreds of thousands of resumes have been submitted in lieu to the different positions available in Obama’s administration.

Obama transition spokesman Nick Shapiro stated that they’ve actually had more than 300,00 expresions of interest.

This certain expressions entirely outclassed that of Bush’s tranisition before he was inaugurated in January 2001. Bush only goit 44,000 applicants. A large difference if compared to the current stat Obama’s transition team has. Another figure to compare was that of Clinton’s transition team in 1993. It was reported that his had 100,000 before his actual inauguration day. Still, a two-thirds smaller than Obama’s.

This improved the improvement of job search in the country. CareerPro GLobal, a national and international resume-writing company, has seen a big chunk of interest from those who wants to work in ther federal government. And this has not only observed from public servants but also from those experts who used to work in a private company.

“A lot have had to dust off their resumes,” Scott Kirk, who manages the company, said. “I’m talking people that have been in their professions 10, 20 years. So [Obama] has definitely stimulated something.”

Another prestige job recruiter in Washington also felt the same trend. Nels Olson of Korn/Ferry International said that this has benn one of the most active transitions in presidency in tems of the sheer volume of applicants.

Unfortunately, Obama’s administration would only fill up an estimated 8,000 presidentially appointed jobs from the ever-growing 300,000 applicants. Thus, an extensive job selections will be imposed upon the transition directors of the team.

Secretary of State-appointed Hillary Clinton had multimillion in presidential campaign debt at the end of the the election. Clinton had $6.4 million debt according to a filed report with the Federal Election Commission on Saturday

The amount represents the debt the New York’s senator had with her previous failed presidential campaign this year. Clinton’s campaign has reportedly reached the pinnacle that amounts to $12 million at the end of the first half of the year. The said debt initally decreased as the months passed by.

Clinton bids her high hopes of paying the said presidential debt before her confirmation as the state’s official secretary

Clinton had an initial $985,000 in her campaign account in November and raised nearly $290,00 by the end of the month. Her campaign paid out $1.2 million that ends the month with only $188,000 in the bank.

The stated multimillion campaign debt is owed to a total of 16 creditors which includes unpaid amount to Penn, Schoen & Berland.

(Clinton has also officially forgiven the $13.2 million she personally loaned her campaign. Under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, presidential candidates who loan their campaigns money from personal funds may only be paid back if they do so by the national party convention — in this case, the Democratic National Convention held last August in Denver.) -sidebar from CNN

America could now be waiting for President-elect Barack Obama’s probable reversals on some of President Bush’s executive orders.

Some of the most controversial issues that have been scrutinized over the years might be overturned by President-elect Obama after taking the assuming the office. These are the the restrictions and control on the embryonic stem cell research, the so-called “gag” order on international aid organizations with regards to abortion.

These EOs, according to the Obama’s Transition party Chair John Podesta, is now in further review as of press time.

Martha Kumar of the White House Transition Project stated that a president is capable of deciding on executive actions and he or she alone has the capacity of doing that. The Congress is obliged to do what the president does, but executive orders are still solely from the president.

Other past executive orders that remain questionable are those that pertains to family planning, military prisons, and security affairs.

George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley sees that the reversals of Bush’s executive orders is a good way of presenting Obama’s ideal of a new era.

“Until President Obama gets rid of all these executive orders, he’ll be sharing his presidency with his predecessor,” Turley said. “Now that’s a particularly obnoxious thought for an administration that was elected for change.”

New presidents often use executive orders to put their stamp on Washington quickly. Unlike laws, which require months to complete and the consent of Congress, presidents can use their executive authority to order federal agencies to implement current policies. -CNN