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Week In The News: Wall Street Protests, Steve Jobs Dies, Christie Out

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Christie and Palin opt out of the GOP race.Wall Street protests dial up. Steve Jobs is dead.Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Occupy Wall Street protesters join a labor union rally in Foley Square before marching on Zuccotti Park in New York's Financial District, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. (AP)
Occupy Wall Street protesters join a labor union rally in Foley Square before marching on Zuccotti Park in New York's Financial District, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. (AP)

Republicans out and protestors up this week. Chris Christie and Sarah Palin put an end to speculation – and some begging – that they enter the GOP scrum for the presidential nomination.

What you see is what you get on the GOP stage. On streets in many cities and towns now, Occupy Wall Street protestors take up the cry “We Are the 99 Percent!” Union members out now, too. The president says they’re giving voice to national frustration. Steve Jobs is dead. Three women win the Nobel Peace Prize.

This hour, On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Mimi Swartz, executive editor of Texas Monthly

Matt Continetti, opinion editor and columnist for The Weekly Standard.

Jack BeattyOn Point news analyst.

From Tom's Reading List

The New York Times "On a whirlwind trip through New York City this week that marked the beginning of a nearly monthlong book tour, Herman Cain chatted with the hosts of ABC’s “The View,” promoted his new memoir on Fox News, met local titans like Donald Trump, shared ideas with former Mayor Edward I. Koch and enjoyed power lunching in Midtown."

The Washington Post "In Texas on Tuesday, the president went after a leading Republican by name: “Yesterday the Republican majority leader in Congress, Eric Cantor, said that right now he won’t even let this jobs bill have a vote in the House of Representatives,” Obama said. “I would like Mr. Cantor to come here to Dallas and explain what exactly in this jobs bill does he not believe in, what exactly he is opposed to. Does he not believe in rebuilding America’s roads and bridges? Does he not believe in tax breaks for small businesses or efforts to help our veterans?"

The Wall Street Journal "Punish bank earnings, so banks raise fees. Then denounce banks for raising fees. White House financial czar Elizabeth Warren is off and running for Senate in Massachusetts, and her theme is that "the people on Wall Street broke this country." Meanwhile, Senator Dick Durbin this week urged customers to stage a run on Bank of America because it recently raised debit-card fees by $5 a month, President Obama piled on by telling regulators to punish BofA, and even Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has joined the fun by vowing that America will "prevail" over the banks."

The New York Times "Typically, we close ranks when faced with criticism from outsiders. Being from Texas today is not unlike being a member of an ethnic minority. We can argue among ourselves, but criticism from the outside provokes a storm of defensiveness. Even liberal Texans took umbrage, for instance, when Al Gore portrayed the state as a polluted hellhole. "

This program aired on October 7, 2011.

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