American Morning
We Listen – Your comments 11/24/2009
Editor's Note: Tuesday’s American Morning audience was “offended” by President Obama holding a state dinner, when the economy was in such shambles and the U.S. was still fighting two wars. Most saw the dinner not as a “cross section of America,” but for the “suck-ups, large campaign donors, Hollywood celebs, and staffers.”
- Mike: I couldn't help but to comment on the state diner. Every day I see the homeless, buildings falling apart, people losing homes, and the list goes on. and hear we have these people eating like kings and queens off the tax payers of this country. sometimes I think this country isn't so great after. Oh and by the way I'm one of those people up at 4:30 am wondering how am I going to make it this month.
- Bruce: I find all the giddy slobbering of your anchors regarding the "State Dinner" a little offensive. Two back-to-back news items featured the breathless preparations for tonight’s state dinner which was followed by the news that 36.5 Americans are on food stamps. One of your guests stated the guest list was a "cross-section" of America, and nothing could be farther from the truth. So...how many homeless will attend? How many unemployed? How many returning troops and their families? How many factory workers? How many farmers? What a crock...the guest list will be comprised of suck-ups, large campaign donors, hollywood celebs, and staffers. […]
What are your thoughts on the state dinner? Continue the conversation below.
White House prepares for an elegant evening
Washington (CNN) - President Obama will welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for an official state visit Tuesday.
The two leaders will discuss a range of global, regional and bilateral issues, the White House said. Those discussions are likely to center on Afghanistan, climate change and nuclear energy cooperation. Singh has been quoted as saying that a Taliban victory in Afghanistan would be disastrous for Central and South Asia.
Singh's visit will be the first state visit hosted by the administration, the highest honor extended to a foreign dignitary. It will be Singh's second visit to Washington; he has also met with former President George W. Bush.
Obama's first state dinner more than a meal
Washington's A-list heads to the White House tonight as the Obamas host their first official state dinner. The guest of honor is Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and Lisa Caputo, former press secretary for First Lady Hillary Clinton, spoke to Kiran Chetry on CNN's American Morning Tuesday about the significance of the state dinner.
Related: Putting India center stage 
Sanford impeachment debated
Could this be the beginning of the end for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford? Today state lawmakers begin debating an impeachment resolution. This comes after Gov. Sanford was charged with breaking South Carolina's ethics laws – thirty-seven times.
Sanford has been under fire since going AWOL in June during a secret rendezvous with his mistress in Argentina. So how can he govern with all that hanging over his head?...
Leroy Chapman, government and politics editor for "The State" newspaper, spoke to John Roberts on American Morning Tuesday.
Read more: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges
Success in Sour Times: Local chains take on retail juggernauts
By Stephen Samaniego
They have infiltrated American consumer culture – Walmart, Target, and Costco. They are the mega-chains. Stores that carry anything and everything found in almost every community across the country. Many towns have gone to court to stop stores like Walmart from setting up shop, fearing a loss of local businesses and community charm.
Now in a Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, a new phenomenon is starting to take root. The local chain. They're small businesses linked by a common theme and – unlike their big chain rivals – are located in close proximity to each other. "We're not cloning one thing and putting it somewhere else," says Patrick Watson. "We're trying to target a neighborhood that we know and love incredibly well, and fill the gaps in."
Patrick Watson and his wife Michelle Pravda have lived in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens neighborhood for fifteen years and are owners of a local chain. Their first business was a wine shop called Smith and Vine. Playing off the wine theme, they opened up a cheese store across the street, called Stinky Brooklyn. They followed it with a combination of the two – opening a wine and cheese bar up the street, called The Jakewalk.
The concept: Identify a customer base and cater to their specific tastes with a personal touch and local flair. After a loyal following begins to build, capitalize on that reputation with another store that further extends your local brand.
Crib recall: 2.1 million deemed unsafe
By Aaron Smith and Ben Rooney
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The federal agency in charge of product safety announced the recall of 2.1 million cribs Monday, citing defective hardware that can cause toddlers and infants to suffocate.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/24/crib.art.jpg caption="Drop-side cribs have been recalled by the thousands this year due to hardware malfunctions that could cause infants to be wedged between the mattress and crib wall."]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said parents should immediately stop using Stork Craft drop-side cribs, which are made by Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada.
About 1.2 million of the cribs have been distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada.
The recall includes about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo, the CPSC said.
The cribs were sold at major retailers including Sears and Wal-Mart and online at Amazon.com and Target.com between January 1993 and October 2009.
The CPSC said the cribs' drop-side, which is attached with plastic hardware, can detach unexpectedly and create a space between the crib wall and the adjacent mattress. Infants and toddlers can become trapped in the space and suffocate or fall to the floor, the agency said.
Don't Miss: Read the safety release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
There have been 110 documented incidents of drop-side detachment, including 67 in the United States and 43 in Canada. Among those, four resulted in suffocation and 20 resulted in falls that caused injuries ranging from concussion to bumps and bruises.
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