text:
(CNN) -- No longer able to fit into a booth at a restaurant and too embarrassed to ask for seatbelt extensions on an airplane, Maggie Sorrells was desperate to lose weight.

Maggie Sorrells lost 300 pounds and went from wearing a size  5X or 64 in men's clothing to a size 6.

The day she stepped on a hospital scale and realized she weighed 440 pounds she knew she had to do something.  Name: Maggie Sorrells Age: 32 Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee Occupation: Receptionist in doctor's office Height: 5 feet 6 inches Heaviest weight: 440 pounds Current weight: 140 pounds Pounds lost: 300 pounds  Defining moment The moment I saw that I weighed as much as I did, it scared me, and I knew I had to do something about it.    How did you finally lose the weight? Diet: Weigh Down Workshop, a faith-based weight loss program. I ate whatever I craved, but only when I was truly hungry, and then I ate a lot slower, so I could tell when to stop.

Exercise: Nothing out of the ordinary, occasionally I'd go for a walk, but never because I felt like I had to.

How long did it take you to lose weight? Four years with two pregnancies within the same time period. One month after I lost 300 pounds, I became pregnant for the third time with my son.

How has this changed your life? Drastically, the way I eat, the way I live my life. I am able to move better. I feel better emotionally and physically. I'm just a much happier person.

I love to hike and I could never go when I was big. I almost killed myself going a half-mile. My chest would hurt and I would think I was having a heart attack. Just after we had our daughter, we went hiking all day and climbed rocks.

I also love the beach. I'm no longer ashamed to go to the beach or wear a bathing suit.

Do you have any tips for other people who want to lose weight? Yes, don't think about how much weight you have to lose because you'll get overwhelmed and discouraged. Set small goals, like 15 pounds. There were times I wanted to give up and there were days I felt like I couldn't do this. Food was my drug. Take [weight loss] in small increments because when you lose 15 pounds you'll be excited and before you know it you'll lose 50.

text: CNN

text: No

text: longer

text: able

text: to

text: fit

text: into

text: a

text: booth

text: at

text: a

text: restaurant

text: and

text: too

text: embarrassed

text: to

text: ask

text: for

text: seatbelt

text: extensions

text: on

text: an

text: airplane

text: Maggie

text: Sorrells

text: was

text: desperate

text: to

text: lose

text: weight

text: Maggie

text: Sorrells

text: lost

text: pounds

text: and

text: went

text: from

text: wearing

text: a

text: size

text: or

text: in

text: men

text: 's

text: clothing

text: to

text: a

text: size

text: The

text: day

text: she

text: stepped

text: on

text: a

text: hospital

text: scale

text: and

text: realized

text: she

text: weighed

text: pounds

text: she

text: knew

text: she

text: had

text: to

text: do

text: something

text: Name

text: Maggie

text: Sorrells

text: Age

text: Hometown

text: Franklin

text: Tennessee

text: Occupation

text: Receptionist

text: in

text: doctor

text: 's

text: office

text: Height

text: feet

text: inches

text: Heaviest

text: weight

text: pounds

text: Current

text: weight

text: pounds

text: Pounds

text: lost

text: pounds

text: Defining

text: moment

text: The

text: moment

text: I

text: saw

text: that

text: I

text: weighed

text: as

text: much

text: as

text: I

text: did

text: it

text: scared

text: me

text: and

text: I

text: knew

text: I

text: had

text: to

text: do

text: something

text: about

text: it

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: finally

text: lose

text: the

text: weight

text: Diet

text: Weigh

text: Down

text: Workshop

text: a

text: faith

text: based

text: weight

text: loss

text: program

text: I

text: ate

text: whatever

text: I

text: craved

text: but

text: only

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: truly

text: hungry

text: and

text: then

text: I

text: ate

text: a

text: lot

text: slower

text: so

text: I

text: could

text: tell

text: when

text: to

text: stop

text: Exercise

text: Nothing

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: ordinary

text: occasionally

text: I

text: 'd

text: go

text: for

text: a

text: walk

text: but

text: never

text: because

text: I

text: felt

text: like

text: I

text: had

text: to

text: How

text: long

text: did

text: it

text: take

text: you

text: to

text: lose

text: weight

text: Four

text: years

text: with

text: two

text: pregnancies

text: within

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: period

text: One

text: month

text: after

text: I

text: lost

text: pounds

text: I

text: became

text: pregnant

text: for

text: the

text: third

text: time

text: with

text: my

text: son

text: How

text: has

text: this

text: changed

text: your

text: life

text: Drastically

text: the

text: way

text: I

text: eat

text: the

text: way

text: I

text: live

text: my

text: life

text: I

text: am

text: able

text: to

text: move

text: better

text: I

text: feel

text: better

text: emotionally

text: and

text: physically

text: I

text: 'm

text: just

text: a

text: much

text: happier

text: person

text: I

text: love

text: to

text: hike

text: and

text: I

text: could

text: never

text: go

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: big

text: I

text: almost

text: killed

text: myself

text: going

text: a

text: half

text: mile

text: My

text: chest

text: would

text: hurt

text: and

text: I

text: would

text: think

text: I

text: was

text: having

text: a

text: heart

text: attack

text: Just

text: after

text: we

text: had

text: our

text: daughter

text: we

text: went

text: hiking

text: all

text: day

text: and

text: climbed

text: rocks

text: I

text: also

text: love

text: the

text: beach

text: I

text: 'm

text: no

text: longer

text: ashamed

text: to

text: go

text: to

text: the

text: beach

text: or

text: wear

text: a

text: bathing

text: suit

text: Do

text: you

text: have

text: any

text: tips

text: for

text: other

text: people

text: who

text: want

text: to

text: lose

text: weight

text: Yes

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: about

text: how

text: much

text: weight

text: you

text: have

text: to

text: lose

text: because

text: you

text: 'll

text: get

text: overwhelmed

text: and

text: discouraged

text: Set

text: small

text: goals

text: like

text: pounds

text: There

text: were

text: times

text: I

text: wanted

text: to

text: give

text: up

text: and

text: there

text: were

text: days

text: I

text: felt

text: like

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: do

text: this

text: Food

text: was

text: my

text: drug

text: Take

text: weight

text: loss

text: in

text: small

text: increments

text: because

text: when

text: you

text: lose

text: pounds

text: you

text: 'll

text: be

text: excited

text: and

text: before

text: you

text: know

text: it

text: you

text: 'll

text: lose

question: how much pounds she shed?

answer: 300

question: who could no longer squeeze into restaurant booths?

answer: Maggie Sorrells

text: Maggie Sorrells

question: How much did Maggie Sorrells weigh when she started the weight loss program?

answer: 440 pounds

text: 440 pounds

question: what did she shed

answer: 300 pounds

text: 300 pounds

question: How much weight did Maggie Sorrells lose?

answer: 300 pounds

text: 300 pounds

question: What kind of weight loss program did Maggie Sorrells use?

answer: Diet: Weigh Down Workshop, a

text: Diet: Weigh Down Workshop, a


text:
(CNN) -- Paraguay international Salvador Cabanas is in a critical condition after being shot in the head in Mexico City.

The 29-year-old Club America striker was taken to a hospital intensive care unit following the incident on Sunday night.

Mexico City attorney general Miguel Angel Mancera told TV station Televisa: "We don't know the motive behind the injury. According to an initial report it was a shot from a firearm with a frontal entry point and without exit.

"The player is conscious but he has a heart problem which they're trying to stabilize. We're waiting to see what those arrested have to say. It seems that the attack happened in the bathroom of a bar."

Cabanas is one of Paraguay's most highly-rated players and was part of their World Cup squad in Germany.

He has scored more than 100 times in the Mexican top-flight and has netted 18 goals in 24 matches this season.

Club America president Michel Bauer later revealed the forward was having surgery adding he believed the attack was unprovoked. "He arrived conscious and responded well to the questions they asked him as he was going into hospital," he told Televisa.

"It's a key point that can be encouraging, but until further notice we cannot speculate on anything at all.

"They wanted to assault him. I can confirm that is what his wife has said, that it was an assault. There was no shoot-out nor any quarrel,"  Bauer added.

text: CNN

text: Paraguay

text: international

text: Salvador

text: Cabanas

text: is

text: in

text: a

text: critical

text: condition

text: after

text: being

text: shot

text: in

text: the

text: head

text: in

text: Mexico

text: City

text: The

text: old

text: Club

text: America

text: striker

text: was

text: taken

text: to

text: a

text: hospital

text: intensive

text: care

text: unit

text: following

text: the

text: incident

text: on

text: Sunday

text: night

text: Mexico

text: City

text: attorney

text: general

text: Miguel

text: Angel

text: Mancera

text: told

text: TV

text: station

text: Televisa

text: We

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: the

text: motive

text: behind

text: the

text: injury

text: According

text: to

text: an

text: initial

text: report

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: shot

text: from

text: a

text: firearm

text: with

text: a

text: frontal

text: entry

text: point

text: and

text: without

text: exit

text: The

text: player

text: is

text: conscious

text: but

text: he

text: has

text: a

text: heart

text: problem

text: which

text: they

text: 're

text: trying

text: to

text: stabilize

text: We

text: 're

text: waiting

text: to

text: see

text: what

text: those

text: arrested

text: have

text: to

text: say

text: It

text: seems

text: that

text: the

text: attack

text: happened

text: in

text: the

text: bathroom

text: of

text: a

text: bar

text: Cabanas

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: Paraguay

text: 's

text: most

text: highly

text: rated

text: players

text: and

text: was

text: part

text: of

text: their

text: World

text: Cup

text: squad

text: in

text: Germany

text: He

text: has

text: scored

text: more

text: than

text: times

text: in

text: the

text: Mexican

text: top

text: flight

text: and

text: has

text: netted

text: goals

text: in

text: matches

text: this

text: season

text: Club

text: America

text: president

text: Michel

text: Bauer

text: later

text: revealed

text: the

text: forward

text: was

text: having

text: surgery

text: adding

text: he

text: believed

text: the

text: attack

text: was

text: unprovoked

text: He

text: arrived

text: conscious

text: and

text: responded

text: well

text: to

text: the

text: questions

text: they

text: asked

text: him

text: as

text: he

text: was

text: going

text: into

text: hospital

text: he

text: told

text: Televisa

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: key

text: point

text: that

text: can

text: be

text: encouraging

text: but

text: until

text: further

text: notice

text: we

text: can

text: not

text: speculate

text: on

text: anything

text: at

text: all

text: They

text: wanted

text: to

text: assault

text: him

text: I

text: can

text: confirm

text: that

text: is

text: what

text: his

text: wife

text: has

text: said

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: an

text: assault

text: There

text: was

text: no

text: shoot

text: out

text: nor

text: any

text: quarrel

text: Bauer

text: added

question: who was shot in the head

answer: Salvador Cabanas

text: Salvador Cabanas

question: The Club America striker is how old?

answer: 29-year-old

question: where is salvador cabanas

answer: Mexico City.

text: Mexico City.

question: Salvador Cabanas is in a critical condition after being shot where?

answer: head

text: head

question: who does he play for

answer: Club America

text: Club America

question: How many times has he scored?

answer: more than 100

text: more than 100


text:
(CNN) --   The owners of a cruise ship that ran aground in Marguerite Bay, Antarctica, are hoping high tide will dislodge the ship Wednesday, a company statement said.

The Ocean Nova, seen on a previous voyage, has a total of 106 people on board.

Connecticut-based Quark Expeditions said the M/V Ocean Nova became stranded Tuesday in the bay not far from an Argentine research base. Marguerite Bay is about 900 miles south of the tip of South America.

The ship is carrying 65 passengers and 41 crew members, Quark Expeditions said.

All those aboard the vessel "remain safe and calm," the company statement said.

The ship's captain is awaiting high tide to make another attempt to move the vessel.

"The midnight operation will occur in daylight, as the ship is below the Antarctic Circle, where the sun never sets during February. We anticipate a positive outcome," Quark Expeditions president Patrick Shaw said.

The captain is also waiting for divers from the Spanish naval ship the HespÃÂ©rides to inspect the hull of the Nova to make sure it's not damaged, the statement said.

text: CNN

text: The

text: owners

text: of

text: a

text: cruise

text: ship

text: that

text: ran

text: aground

text: in

text: Marguerite

text: Bay

text: Antarctica

text: are

text: hoping

text: high

text: tide

text: will

text: dislodge

text: the

text: ship

text: Wednesday

text: a

text: company

text: statement

text: said

text: The

text: Ocean

text: Nova

text: seen

text: on

text: a

text: previous

text: voyage

text: has

text: a

text: total

text: of

text: people

text: on

text: board

text: Connecticut

text: based

text: Quark

text: Expeditions

text: said

text: the

text: M

text: V

text: Ocean

text: Nova

text: became

text: stranded

text: Tuesday

text: in

text: the

text: bay

text: not

text: far

text: from

text: an

text: Argentine

text: research

text: base

text: Marguerite

text: Bay

text: is

text: about

text: miles

text: south

text: of

text: the

text: tip

text: of

text: South

text: America

text: The

text: ship

text: is

text: carrying

text: passengers

text: and

text: crew

text: members

text: Quark

text: Expeditions

text: said

text: All

text: those

text: aboard

text: the

text: vessel

text: remain

text: safe

text: and

text: calm

text: the

text: company

text: statement

text: said

text: The

text: ship

text: 's

text: captain

text: is

text: awaiting

text: high

text: tide

text: to

text: make

text: another

text: attempt

text: to

text: move

text: the

text: vessel

text: The

text: midnight

text: operation

text: will

text: occur

text: in

text: daylight

text: as

text: the

text: ship

text: is

text: below

text: the

text: Antarctic

text: Circle

text: where

text: the

text: sun

text: never

text: sets

text: during

text: February

text: We

text: anticipate

text: a

text: positive

text: outcome

text: Quark

text: Expeditions

text: president

text: Patrick

text: Shaw

text: said

text: The

text: captain

text: is

text: also

text: waiting

text: for

text: divers

text: from

text: the

text: Spanish

text: naval

text: ship

text: the

text: HespÃÂ

text: rides

text: to

text: inspect

text: the

text: hull

text: of

text: the

text: Nova

text: to

text: make

text: sure

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: damaged

text: the

text: statement

text: said

question: How far from South America was the OCean Nova stranded?

answer: 900 miles

text: 900 miles

question: How many crew members were on the Ocean Nova?

answer: 41

question: Number of passengers found safe?

answer: 65

question: Number of crew found safe?

answer: 41

question: What vessel was stranded?

answer: M/V Ocean Nova

text: M/V Ocean Nova

question: Where was the craft stranded?

answer: Marguerite Bay, Antarctica,

text: Marguerite Bay, Antarctica,

question: What is the condition of those aboard?

answer: safe and calm,"

text: safe and calm,"

question: How far is Marguerite Bay from South America?

answer: about 900 miles

text: about 900 miles

question: How many safe passengers are there?

answer: 65


text:
(CNN) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain in August will be on the same stage for the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign.

The Rev. Rick Warren says he makes no endorsements because he shepherds "both sides of the flock."

The Rev. Rick Warren has invited them to appear at a leadership and compassion forum in his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on August 16. Warren, the author of the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life" spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer by phone Tuesday from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

BLITZER: Pastor Warren, how did you do it? How did you convince both of them to show up?

PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: Well, Wolf, they've both been friends for a long time. I knew both John and Barack before either of them decided to run for office, had talked with them. Both of them have helped me in the past with our peace plan and with -- they've sent messages to Saddleback at some of our conferences.

And so I just thought let's -- you know, I might be the guy to get them together. So, I called them up and said, let's do it. And they said, well, we'll do it if you be the only questioner, if you don't have a forum, don't have a panel. And if you'll ask all the questions, then we'll do it.

BLITZER: But they're not going to be together. They're going to be separate. These are going to be Pastor Warren and Barack Obama, followed by Pastor Warren and John McCain. But there's not going to be any interchange between the two of them, is that right?

WARREN: Yes. I'm going to -- my plan is to bring them out on stage together at the beginning or at the end. But what I want to do is I want to let each of them talk without interrupting each other. And it's not a debate format.

There will be plenty of time for debates. What I want to do is get people to know the real person like I know them without a time barrier and a buzzer and a time for rebuttal. Let them just speak what they need to say.

BLITZER: The last time we spoke was right after you invited Barack Obama when he was still running for the Democratic presidential nomination. You got some criticism from a few fellow evangelicals out there. You called him in the interview with me an amazing, an amazing man, Barack Obama. Could you see yourself supporting him for president?

WARREN: Well, I don't support anybody for president publicly. I never endorse. I never campaign.

You know, as a pastor, I don't really think that's my role. I have to shepherd both sides of the flock. And I have a church full of Democrats and a church full of Republicans and a church full of independents.

So, I think they're both amazing men. I've known them for a long time. They're both very, very different.

They have both different theories of government, different theories of leadership, different approaches to life. And I -- what I do is I think, because I know them, I think I can set up an environment that people can actually say, oh, so that's what that guy's really like. And I think I can do that for both John and for Barack.

text: CNN

text: Democratic

text: Sen.

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: and

text: Republican

text: Sen.

text: John

text: McCain

text: in

text: August

text: will

text: be

text: on

text: the

text: same

text: stage

text: for

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: in

text: the

text: presidential

text: campaign

text: The

text: Rev.

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: says

text: he

text: makes

text: no

text: endorsements

text: because

text: he

text: shepherds

text: both

text: sides

text: of

text: the

text: flock

text: The

text: Rev.

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: has

text: invited

text: them

text: to

text: appear

text: at

text: a

text: leadership

text: and

text: compassion

text: forum

text: in

text: his

text: Saddleback

text: Church

text: in

text: Lake

text: Forest

text: California

text: on

text: August

text: Warren

text: the

text: author

text: of

text: the

text: best

text: selling

text: book

text: The

text: Purpose

text: Driven

text: Life

text: spoke

text: with

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Wolf

text: Blitzer

text: by

text: phone

text: Tuesday

text: from

text: Sao

text: Paulo

text: Brazil

text: BLITZER

text: Pastor

text: Warren

text: how

text: did

text: you

text: do

text: it

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: convince

text: both

text: of

text: them

text: to

text: show

text: up

text: PASTOR

text: RICK

text: WARREN

text: SADDLEBACK

text: CHURCH

text: Well

text: Wolf

text: they

text: 've

text: both

text: been

text: friends

text: for

text: a

text: long

text: time

text: I

text: knew

text: both

text: John

text: and

text: Barack

text: before

text: either

text: of

text: them

text: decided

text: to

text: run

text: for

text: office

text: had

text: talked

text: with

text: them

text: Both

text: of

text: them

text: have

text: helped

text: me

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: with

text: our

text: peace

text: plan

text: and

text: with

text: they

text: 've

text: sent

text: messages

text: to

text: Saddleback

text: at

text: some

text: of

text: our

text: conferences

text: And

text: so

text: I

text: just

text: thought

text: let

text: 's

text: you

text: know

text: I

text: might

text: be

text: the

text: guy

text: to

text: get

text: them

text: together

text: So

text: I

text: called

text: them

text: up

text: and

text: said

text: let

text: 's

text: do

text: it

text: And

text: they

text: said

text: well

text: we

text: 'll

text: do

text: it

text: if

text: you

text: be

text: the

text: only

text: questioner

text: if

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: forum

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: panel

text: And

text: if

text: you

text: 'll

text: ask

text: all

text: the

text: questions

text: then

text: we

text: 'll

text: do

text: it

text: BLITZER

text: But

text: they

text: 're

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: together

text: They

text: 're

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: separate

text: These

text: are

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: Pastor

text: Warren

text: and

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: followed

text: by

text: Pastor

text: Warren

text: and

text: John

text: McCain

text: But

text: there

text: 's

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: any

text: interchange

text: between

text: the

text: two

text: of

text: them

text: is

text: that

text: right

text: WARREN

text: Yes

text: I

text: 'm

text: going

text: to

text: my

text: plan

text: is

text: to

text: bring

text: them

text: out

text: on

text: stage

text: together

text: at

text: the

text: beginning

text: or

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: But

text: what

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: do

text: is

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: let

text: each

text: of

text: them

text: talk

text: without

text: interrupting

text: each

text: other

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: a

text: debate

text: format

text: There

text: will

text: be

text: plenty

text: of

text: time

text: for

text: debates

text: What

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: do

text: is

text: get

text: people

text: to

text: know

text: the

text: real

text: person

text: like

text: I

text: know

text: them

text: without

text: a

text: time

text: barrier

text: and

text: a

text: buzzer

text: and

text: a

text: time

text: for

text: rebuttal

text: Let

text: them

text: just

text: speak

text: what

text: they

text: need

text: to

text: say

text: BLITZER

text: The

text: last

text: time

text: we

text: spoke

text: was

text: right

text: after

text: you

text: invited

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: still

text: running

text: for

text: the

text: Democratic

text: presidential

text: nomination

text: You

text: got

text: some

text: criticism

text: from

text: a

text: few

text: fellow

text: evangelicals

text: out

text: there

text: You

text: called

text: him

text: in

text: the

text: interview

text: with

text: me

text: an

text: amazing

text: an

text: amazing

text: man

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: Could

text: you

text: see

text: yourself

text: supporting

text: him

text: for

text: president

text: WARREN

text: Well

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: support

text: anybody

text: for

text: president

text: publicly

text: I

text: never

text: endorse

text: I

text: never

text: campaign

text: You

text: know

text: as

text: a

text: pastor

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: really

text: think

text: that

text: 's

text: my

text: role

text: I

text: have

text: to

text: shepherd

text: both

text: sides

text: of

text: the

text: flock

text: And

text: I

text: have

text: a

text: church

text: full

text: of

text: Democrats

text: and

text: a

text: church

text: full

text: of

text: Republicans

text: and

text: a

text: church

text: full

text: of

text: independents

text: So

text: I

text: think

text: they

text: 're

text: both

text: amazing

text: men

text: I

text: 've

text: known

text: them

text: for

text: a

text: long

text: time

text: They

text: 're

text: both

text: very

text: very

text: different

text: They

text: have

text: both

text: different

text: theories

text: of

text: government

text: different

text: theories

text: of

text: leadership

text: different

text: approaches

text: to

text: life

text: And

text: I

text: what

text: I

text: do

text: is

text: I

text: think

text: because

text: I

text: know

text: them

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: can

text: set

text: up

text: an

text: environment

text: that

text: people

text: can

text: actually

text: say

text: oh

text: so

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: that

text: guy

text: 's

text: really

text: like

text: And

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: can

text: do

text: that

text: for

text: both

text: John

text: and

text: for

text: Barack

question: who is rick warren

answer: Pastor

text: Pastor

question: With who is Warren friends?

answer: John and Barack

text: John and Barack

question: What is the name of the reverend?

answer: Rick Warren

text: Rick Warren

question: Where will the reverend host the candidates?

answer: Saddleback Church

text: Saddleback Church

question: What is the title of Warren's book?

answer: "The Purpose Driven Life"

text: "The Purpose Driven Life"

question: Who is friends with both?

answer: PASTOR RICK WARREN,

text: PASTOR RICK WARREN,

question: what did warren write

answer: "The Purpose Driven Life"

text: "The Purpose Driven Life"

question: What book is Warren the author of?

answer: "The Purpose Driven Life"

text: "The Purpose Driven Life"

question: what did warren say

answer: he makes no endorsements because he shepherds "both sides of the flock."

text: he makes no endorsements because he shepherds "both sides of the flock."


text:
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) -- If a state held a yard sale of government entities to bring in some much-needed cash, this might be what it would look like.

Two Minnesota lawmakers have proposed selling the capital's airport to alleviate the state's budget deficit.

Two Minnesota lawmakers are asking the state's legislature to consider a proposal that would sell to private firms the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, along with other state property and programs, in an effort to bring in roughly $6 billion or more.

Coincidence or not, that's about the same size as the state's estimated budget deficit. State Sen. Geoff Michel and state Rep. Laura Brod -- two Republicans from Minneapolis suburbs -- say they don't want to go about solving the budget crisis in a traditional way.

"The discussion is often 'do you tax more, [or] do you spend less?'" Brod says. "But it seems to me that there is a third option out there, and that's reforming how government operates."

They also say their proposal is a way to spark debate over whether government should be in control of certain entities in the first place.

"Government doesn't always have to do it," Michel says. Running the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport (MSP) is a prime example of something the government could do without, they say.

"The airport is a significant asset," Brod adds. "Why is the state running the airport, which provides restaurants and shops and the functions and the operations that a private business probably would do very well?

"So what we're looking at is just ... raising the real question of 'what should government be doing?'"  Watch the lawmakers discuss their proposal Â»

Michel and Brod also cite a recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates that put the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport at the bottom of a list of 19 "large airports" in terms of customer satisfaction. But they say their intention is not to "indict" anyone -- merely to "shine a little light on what is a new idea for Minnesota," according to Brod.

While privately owned and operated airports are much more common overseas, Michel and Brod could offer only one example of a similar notion in the United States: Chicago's plan to privatize Midway airport.

That plan, however, has yet to be finalized by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Michel says their proposal might mimic the Midway deal in that it could be a leasing of the entire airport and its operations for a term of 99 years. Midway sold for $2.5 billion, and Michel estimates that, given how much more use MSP sees, Minnesota might be able to bring in $5 billion with its airport.

Even though a final draft of a proposed bill is still days away from even being introduced, one lawmaker from across the aisle is already promising to make it an uphill battle.

State Sen. Steve Murphy, a Democrat and chair of the transportation committee, says the plan is a "horrible idea" and a "gimmick."

"You have to do what you have to do to get by [in] these economic times, and it's not having a fire sale on government," Murphy says. "It's sitting down with a sharp pencil and cutting out programs that have run their useful life. It's cutting back on maybe Sen. Michel's per diem, things like that."

The bill would have to get through Murphy's committee before it could make it to the floor of the legislature, and Murphy says his panel "would not go for this."

Despite the J.D. Power survey touted by Brod and Michel, Murphy calls the airport "one of the best-run operations in the world."

"This is ... government that works," Murphy adds. "So now we want to sell it? For what reason?"

In response, Brod calls Murphy's comments mere "scare tactics." And Michel adds: "There's nothing more predictable than a politician defending the status quo. And the days of status quo in Minnesota -- and, I think, the world -- are over."

Adeel Lari, a research fellow at the Center for Transportation Studies in the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, specializes in innovative financing in state and local policy-making. He says privatization can work, but given the economy, now may not be the best time to consider selling anything, let alone an airport that could be worth billions of dollars.

"Everything is in turmoil," Lari says. "Even if it was the right thing to do, there's no market for it."

Lari says the ideal philosophy -- "buy low and sell high" -- would be next to impossible to realize in today's situation. He says the state's holdings would almost certainly go for a less-than-desirable price.

Lari also worries the state may not see enough profit in the long run.

"Selling infrastructure is one-time money you're getting," Lari says. "If you're selling the infrastructure [as opposed to just the internal operations] then basically you're losing out on everything."

The issue of whether the average customer -- the air traveler, in this instance -- would be protected has also come up.

Jerry Zhao, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota who focuses on state and local public finance, says privatizing has mixed results and may not be the best option, especially when it's only considered "as the last resort of the desperate."

"Some recent cases of [public-private partnerships] of transportation facilities have led to widely spread concerns on whether the public interest is protected in these concessions," Zhao says. "Some services tend to be reserved for the public sector because of their 'public good' nature that won't be factored into consideration by profit-oriented businesses.

"Without careful research, a desperate rush into selling or leasing public facilities may lose value on public assets, lose long-term interests of the public in the exchange of short-term budget benefits, and lose democratic control."

Michel and Brod say the airport is only the tip of the iceberg. Their bill will also include the sale of the Minnesota State Lottery. Brod says that in this case, it's more of a fundamental question of ethics.

"Is gambling something that the state ought to be doing anyway?" Brod asks rhetorically.

The lottery would bring in between $500 million and $1 billion, they guess. It would be a different scenario, however, in that, since lottery proceeds come back to the state, Michel says they would include a provision to have the state keep that money. If not, he admits, they wouldn't be able to garner lawmaker support.

It doesn't end there. The lawmakers say they're looking at everything the state owns as possible items to be auctioned off, including roads, parks, prisons, rest stops -- even the naming rights to public transit systems.

Once drafted, the bill would have to pass through any relevant committees depending on what state entities end up in the final version. Only once it moves through could it be brought to the floor of the legislature.

"Our job now is to educate our fellow colleagues," Michel says.

text: ST

text: PAUL

text: Minnesota

text: CNN

text: If

text: a

text: state

text: held

text: a

text: yard

text: sale

text: of

text: government

text: entities

text: to

text: bring

text: in

text: some

text: much

text: needed

text: cash

text: this

text: might

text: be

text: what

text: it

text: would

text: look

text: like

text: Two

text: Minnesota

text: lawmakers

text: have

text: proposed

text: selling

text: the

text: capital

text: 's

text: airport

text: to

text: alleviate

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: budget

text: deficit

text: Two

text: Minnesota

text: lawmakers

text: are

text: asking

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: legislature

text: to

text: consider

text: a

text: proposal

text: that

text: would

text: sell

text: to

text: private

text: firms

text: the

text: Minneapolis

text: St

text: Paul

text: International

text: Airport

text: along

text: with

text: other

text: state

text: property

text: and

text: programs

text: in

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: bring

text: in

text: roughly

text: billion

text: or

text: more

text: Coincidence

text: or

text: not

text: that

text: 's

text: about

text: the

text: same

text: size

text: as

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: estimated

text: budget

text: deficit

text: State

text: Sen.

text: Geoff

text: Michel

text: and

text: state

text: Rep.

text: Laura

text: Brod

text: two

text: Republicans

text: from

text: Minneapolis

text: suburbs

text: say

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: go

text: about

text: solving

text: the

text: budget

text: crisis

text: in

text: a

text: traditional

text: way

text: The

text: discussion

text: is

text: often

text: do

text: you

text: tax

text: more

text: or

text: do

text: you

text: spend

text: less

text: Brod

text: says

text: But

text: it

text: seems

text: to

text: me

text: that

text: there

text: is

text: a

text: third

text: option

text: out

text: there

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: reforming

text: how

text: government

text: operates

text: They

text: also

text: say

text: their

text: proposal

text: is

text: a

text: way

text: to

text: spark

text: debate

text: over

text: whether

text: government

text: should

text: be

text: in

text: control

text: of

text: certain

text: entities

text: in

text: the

text: first

text: place

text: Government

text: does

text: n't

text: always

text: have

text: to

text: do

text: it

text: Michel

text: says

text: Running

text: the

text: Minneapolis

text: St

text: Paul

text: airport

text: MSP

text: is

text: a

text: prime

text: example

text: of

text: something

text: the

text: government

text: could

text: do

text: without

text: they

text: say

text: The

text: airport

text: is

text: a

text: significant

text: asset

text: Brod

text: adds

text: Why

text: is

text: the

text: state

text: running

text: the

text: airport

text: which

text: provides

text: restaurants

text: and

text: shops

text: and

text: the

text: functions

text: and

text: the

text: operations

text: that

text: a

text: private

text: business

text: probably

text: would

text: do

text: very

text: well

text: So

text: what

text: we

text: 're

text: looking

text: at

text: is

text: just

text: raising

text: the

text: real

text: question

text: of

text: what

text: should

text: government

text: be

text: doing

text: Watch

text: the

text: lawmakers

text: discuss

text: their

text: proposal

text: Â

text: Michel

text: and

text: Brod

text: also

text: cite

text: a

text: recent

text: survey

text: by

text: J.D.

text: Power

text: and

text: Associates

text: that

text: put

text: the

text: Minneapolis

text: St

text: Paul

text: airport

text: at

text: the

text: bottom

text: of

text: a

text: list

text: of

text: large

text: airports

text: in

text: terms

text: of

text: customer

text: satisfaction

text: But

text: they

text: say

text: their

text: intention

text: is

text: not

text: to

text: indict

text: anyone

text: merely

text: to

text: shine

text: a

text: little

text: light

text: on

text: what

text: is

text: a

text: new

text: idea

text: for

text: Minnesota

text: according

text: to

text: Brod

text: While

text: privately

text: owned

text: and

text: operated

text: airports

text: are

text: much

text: more

text: common

text: overseas

text: Michel

text: and

text: Brod

text: could

text: offer

text: only

text: one

text: example

text: of

text: a

text: similar

text: notion

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: Chicago

text: 's

text: plan

text: to

text: privatize

text: Midway

text: airport

text: That

text: plan

text: however

text: has

text: yet

text: to

text: be

text: finalized

text: by

text: the

text: Federal

text: Aviation

text: Administration

text: Michel

text: says

text: their

text: proposal

text: might

text: mimic

text: the

text: Midway

text: deal

text: in

text: that

text: it

text: could

text: be

text: a

text: leasing

text: of

text: the

text: entire

text: airport

text: and

text: its

text: operations

text: for

text: a

text: term

text: of

text: years

text: Midway

text: sold

text: for

text: billion

text: and

text: Michel

text: estimates

text: that

text: given

text: how

text: much

text: more

text: use

text: MSP

text: sees

text: Minnesota

text: might

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: bring

text: in

text: billion

text: with

text: its

text: airport

text: Even

text: though

text: a

text: final

text: draft

text: of

text: a

text: proposed

text: bill

text: is

text: still

text: days

text: away

text: from

text: even

text: being

text: introduced

text: one

text: lawmaker

text: from

text: across

text: the

text: aisle

text: is

text: already

text: promising

text: to

text: make

text: it

text: an

text: uphill

text: battle

text: State

text: Sen.

text: Steve

text: Murphy

text: a

text: Democrat

text: and

text: chair

text: of

text: the

text: transportation

text: committee

text: says

text: the

text: plan

text: is

text: a

text: horrible

text: idea

text: and

text: a

text: gimmick

text: You

text: have

text: to

text: do

text: what

text: you

text: have

text: to

text: do

text: to

text: get

text: by

text: in

text: these

text: economic

text: times

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: having

text: a

text: fire

text: sale

text: on

text: government

text: Murphy

text: says

text: It

text: 's

text: sitting

text: down

text: with

text: a

text: sharp

text: pencil

text: and

text: cutting

text: out

text: programs

text: that

text: have

text: run

text: their

text: useful

text: life

text: It

text: 's

text: cutting

text: back

text: on

text: maybe

text: Sen.

text: Michel

text: 's

text: per

text: diem

text: things

text: like

text: that

text: The

text: bill

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: get

text: through

text: Murphy

text: 's

text: committee

text: before

text: it

text: could

text: make

text: it

text: to

text: the

text: floor

text: of

text: the

text: legislature

text: and

text: Murphy

text: says

text: his

text: panel

text: would

text: not

text: go

text: for

text: this

text: Despite

text: the

text: J.D.

text: Power

text: survey

text: touted

text: by

text: Brod

text: and

text: Michel

text: Murphy

text: calls

text: the

text: airport

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: best

text: run

text: operations

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: This

text: is

text: government

text: that

text: works

text: Murphy

text: adds

text: So

text: now

text: we

text: want

text: to

text: sell

text: it

text: For

text: what

text: reason

text: In

text: response

text: Brod

text: calls

text: Murphy

text: 's

text: comments

text: mere

text: scare

text: tactics

text: And

text: Michel

text: adds

text: There

text: 's

text: nothing

text: more

text: predictable

text: than

text: a

text: politician

text: defending

text: the

text: status

text: quo

text: And

text: the

text: days

text: of

text: status

text: quo

text: in

text: Minnesota

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: the

text: world

text: are

text: over

text: Adeel

text: Lari

text: a

text: research

text: fellow

text: at

text: the

text: Center

text: for

text: Transportation

text: Studies

text: in

text: the

text: Hubert

text: Humphrey

text: Institute

text: of

text: Public

text: Affairs

text: at

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: Minnesota

text: specializes

text: in

text: innovative

text: financing

text: in

text: state

text: and

text: local

text: policy

text: making

text: He

text: says

text: privatization

text: can

text: work

text: but

text: given

text: the

text: economy

text: now

text: may

text: not

text: be

text: the

text: best

text: time

text: to

text: consider

text: selling

text: anything

text: let

text: alone

text: an

text: airport

text: that

text: could

text: be

text: worth

text: billions

text: of

text: dollars

text: Everything

text: is

text: in

text: turmoil

text: Lari

text: says

text: Even

text: if

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: right

text: thing

text: to

text: do

text: there

text: 's

text: no

text: market

text: for

text: it

text: Lari

text: says

text: the

text: ideal

text: philosophy

text: buy

text: low

text: and

text: sell

text: high

text: would

text: be

text: next

text: to

text: impossible

text: to

text: realize

text: in

text: today

text: 's

text: situation

text: He

text: says

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: holdings

text: would

text: almost

text: certainly

text: go

text: for

text: a

text: less

text: than

text: desirable

text: price

text: Lari

text: also

text: worries

text: the

text: state

text: may

text: not

text: see

text: enough

text: profit

text: in

text: the

text: long

text: run

text: Selling

text: infrastructure

text: is

text: one

text: time

text: money

text: you

text: 're

text: getting

text: Lari

text: says

text: If

text: you

text: 're

text: selling

text: the

text: infrastructure

text: as

text: opposed

text: to

text: just

text: the

text: internal

text: operations

text: then

text: basically

text: you

text: 're

text: losing

text: out

text: on

text: everything

text: The

text: issue

text: of

text: whether

text: the

text: average

text: customer

text: the

text: air

text: traveler

text: in

text: this

text: instance

text: would

text: be

text: protected

text: has

text: also

text: come

text: up

text: Jerry

text: Zhao

text: an

text: assistant

text: professor

text: at

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: Minnesota

text: who

text: focuses

text: on

text: state

text: and

text: local

text: public

text: finance

text: says

text: privatizing

text: has

text: mixed

text: results

text: and

text: may

text: not

text: be

text: the

text: best

text: option

text: especially

text: when

text: it

text: 's

text: only

text: considered

text: as

text: the

text: last

text: resort

text: of

text: the

text: desperate

text: Some

text: recent

text: cases

text: of

text: public

text: private

text: partnerships

text: of

text: transportation

text: facilities

text: have

text: led

text: to

text: widely

text: spread

text: concerns

text: on

text: whether

text: the

text: public

text: interest

text: is

text: protected

text: in

text: these

text: concessions

text: Zhao

text: says

text: Some

text: services

text: tend

text: to

text: be

text: reserved

text: for

text: the

text: public

text: sector

text: because

text: of

text: their

text: public

text: good

text: nature

text: that

text: wo

text: n't

text: be

text: factored

text: into

text: consideration

text: by

text: profit

text: oriented

text: businesses

text: Without

text: careful

text: research

text: a

text: desperate

text: rush

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text: selling

text: or

text: leasing

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text: facilities

text: may

text: lose

text: value

text: on

text: public

text: assets

text: lose

text: long

text: term

text: interests

text: of

text: the

text: public

text: in

text: the

text: exchange

text: of

text: short

text: term

text: budget

text: benefits

text: and

text: lose

text: democratic

text: control

text: Michel

text: and

text: Brod

text: say

text: the

text: airport

text: is

text: only

text: the

text: tip

text: of

text: the

text: iceberg

text: Their

text: bill

text: will

text: also

text: include

text: the

text: sale

text: of

text: the

text: Minnesota

text: State

text: Lottery

text: Brod

text: says

text: that

text: in

text: this

text: case

text: it

text: 's

text: more

text: of

text: a

text: fundamental

text: question

text: of

text: ethics

text: Is

text: gambling

text: something

text: that

text: the

text: state

text: ought

text: to

text: be

text: doing

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text: Brod

text: asks

text: rhetorically

text: The

text: lottery

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text: bring

text: in

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text: billion

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text: different

text: scenario

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text: that

text: since

text: lottery

text: proceeds

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text: back

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text: the

text: state

text: Michel

text: says

text: they

text: would

text: include

text: a

text: provision

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: state

text: keep

text: that

text: money

text: If

text: not

text: he

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text: they

text: would

text: n't

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: garner

text: lawmaker

text: support

text: It

text: does

text: n't

text: end

text: there

text: The

text: lawmakers

text: say

text: they

text: 're

text: looking

text: at

text: everything

text: the

text: state

text: owns

text: as

text: possible

text: items

text: to

text: be

text: auctioned

text: off

text: including

text: roads

text: parks

text: prisons

text: rest

text: stops

text: even

text: the

text: naming

text: rights

text: to

text: public

text: transit

text: systems

text: Once

text: drafted

text: the

text: bill

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: pass

text: through

text: any

text: relevant

text: committees

text: depending

text: on

text: what

text: state

text: entities

text: end

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text: the

text: final

text: version

text: Only

text: once

text: it

text: moves

text: through

text: could

text: it

text: be

text: brought

text: to

text: the

text: floor

text: of

text: the

text: legislature

text: Our

text: job

text: now

text: is

text: to

text: educate

text: our

text: fellow

text: colleagues

text: Michel

text: says

question: what are minnesota lawmakers proppsing

answer: selling the capital's airport

text: selling the capital's airport

question: Who is proposing the sale?

answer: Two Minnesota lawmakers

text: Two Minnesota lawmakers

question: Which state is struggling with budget woes?

answer: Minnesota

text: Minnesota

question: What do Minnesota lawmakers propose?

answer: selling the capital's airport to alleviate the state's budget deficit.

text: selling the capital's airport to alleviate the state's budget deficit.

question: what are they struggling with

answer: state's budget deficit.

text: state's budget deficit.


text:
(Mental Floss) -- We're in the throes of summer vacation season, but at least one American is still on the job. While it's rumored that President Obama will follow in the footsteps of President Clinton and vacation on Martha's Vineyard, he hasn't had a chance to break out his Bermuda shorts just yet. When Obama does take off, though, he'll join in the grand tradition of presidential vacations, like these notable ones:

President Bush (R) and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen ride bikes in Crawford, Texas, in 2008.

1. Abe Lincoln doesn't go too far

Far-flung vacations are nice, but President Lincoln preferred to stay a bit closer to home. When Lincoln needed a getaway from the heat and political turmoil of Civil War-era Washington, D.C., he headed to...a different part of Washington, D.C.

From 1862 to 1864 Lincoln spent June through November living in a cottage atop a hill at the Soldiers' Home a few miles from the White House. Lincoln apparently loved the slight change of scenery, which meant slightly cooler temperatures and a chance to ride his horse each morning. If you're considering a stay-cation this year, consider this Honest Abe's endorsement.

2. Movie cowboy does real ranching

Think George W. Bush was the first president to sneak away from the White House to spend time on his ranch? Not quite. At the end of his second term as Governor of California in 1974, Ronald Reagan paid just over half a million dollars to acquire Rancho del Cielo in California's Santa Ynez Mountains.

The 688-acre ranch, complete with stables and a 1500-square-foot adobe house, was Reagan's go-to vacation destination while he was in office, and he entertained some big names there, including Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, and Mikhail Gorbachev, who gamely wore a cowboy hat during his visit.

3. LBJ does some ranching, too

Texan Lyndon Johnson was very involved in the everyday operations of his ranch. Johnson, who had gotten into ranching in 1951, grew his LBJ Ranch into a 2,700-acre spread populated by 400 head of Hereford cattle.

Johnson was no absentee owner when he was in Washington, either. Johnson frequently headed back on vacations and supposedly drove his foreman crazy by calling every day to talk about the weather on the ranch or how the pastures looked. Today, the National Park Service maintains LBJ's spread as a working ranch, complete with a herd of cattle descended from the Herefords Johnson bred.

4. George W. Bush initiates a war on brush

George W. Bush followed in LBJ's footsteps and went to his own Texas ranch when he needed a getaway. Prairie Chapel Ranch, a 1,583-acre spread Bush owns near Crawford, Texas, served as the secondary White House throughout Bush's presidency, and he was often shown clearing brush during vacations.

Bush wasn't just doing farm work, though. He exhorted visitors to join the "President's 100-Degrees Club" by running three miles or biking 10 after the mercury hit 100 degrees. Anyone who could pull of the feat got a specialized Under Armour shirt as recognition.

We can only hope one of the many foreign dignitaries Bush entertained at the ranch -- including Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair, Silvio Berlusconi, Ariel Sharon, and Saudi King Abdullah -- managed to get one of the coveted shirts into their suitcases. Mental Floss: Iraq, Afghanistan and other extreme vacation spots

5. FDR heats up Georgia

Some presidents choose to head to their hometowns or a beach side resort for their vacations, but Franklin Roosevelt preferred to travel to western Georgia. Warm Springs, Georgia, is the home of (you guessed it!) warm springs that supposedly had therapeutic value for polio sufferers. FDR, who had contracted his own paralytic illness in 1921, started visiting Warm Springs in 1924 in the hope that exercising in the springs' warm waters would cure him.

Although the springs didn't reverse his illness, FDR felt like his time at the resort alleviated his symptoms somewhat. In 1927 he bought the resort he'd been staying at, and in 1932 he ordered a six-room Georgia pine house to be built on the property. This house was FDR's retreat throughout his presidency and became known as the Little White House.

FDR was sitting for a portrait at the Little White House when he died of a stroke in April 1945. Today, the house is part of Georgia's state park system and is open to visitors; it's been preserved to look almost exactly as it did the day FDR died.

6. Nixon gets the right ice cubes

When Richard Nixon wanted a break from Washington, he headed to a modest ranch home he owned on Key Biscayne off Miami. Nixon's "Florida White House," which he visited 50-plus times during his tenure in office, eventually swelled to include three houses and a floating helipad, which the Department of Defense installed at a taxpayer expense of $400,000. (There was plenty of room for taxpayer outrage at the $625,000 total the government spent sprucing up the Florida White House; one itemized expense was $621 for a replacement icemaker because "the President does not like ice with holes in it.")

Given that this house was Nixon's retreat, it's no surprise that some shady dealings transpired on the premises. Nixon allegedly discussed plans for the Watergate break-in at the house, and he holed up there when the coverup came to light. The house fell into disrepair after Nixon sold it, and in 2004 it was razed to make room for a new building.

The Florida White House wasn't Nixon's only retreat, though. He bought a mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Clemente, California, shortly after taking office in 1969. Nixon dubbed his new digs "La Casa Pacifica," but the press quickly started referring to the spread as "the Western White House." This house wasn't cheap for taxpayers, either; the government dropped over a million dollars improving this home with temporary office quarters for staffers, helipads, and an upgraded heating system. Mental Floss: Donald Nixon and other memorable presidential siblings

7. Teddy Roosevelt goes bear hunting

Lounging on the beach is great, but do you really think Teddy Roosevelt would miss the opportunity to do something manly? Roosevelt's vacation in 1905 took him to the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he stayed for three weeks while bear hunting.

8. FDR's successor gets his own little White House

Harry Truman may have been from Missouri, but he headed south when he needed some R&R. Truman started suffering from exhaustion in late 1946, and his physicians recommended a warm weather vacation to revitalize the President.

Truman took his vacation in a converted duplex in Key West that already held some history. The house, which was originally built in 1890 for the commandant and paymaster of Key West's naval base, had already hosted William Howard Taft while he was in office in 1912. When Thomas Edison developed 41 new weapons to aid in the American efforts in World War I, he spent six months living in the house.

Once Truman visited the house, though, it quickly became known as Truman's Little White House. He ended up spending 175 days in Key West over the course of his two terms in office. Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy later used the house while they were in office, and it's now open as a tourist attraction. Mental Floss: Early summer jobs of Truman, LBJ and more

9. Kennedy retreats to his compound

Starting in 1926, Joseph P. Kennedy began taking his family to Hyannisport, Massachusetts, on vacation each summer. His son John liked the area so much that in 1956 he bought a cottage of his own near his parents' digs, and the family soon purchased a third cottage in the area, giving rise to the name "the Kennedy Compound." JFK used his cottage as a base of operations for his presidential campaign and later vacationed there each summer he was in office.

10. George H.W. Bush prefers not to ranch

Not to be outdone by the Kennedys, the Bush family has an even older compound of their own in Kennebunkport, Maine. In 1903 George H. Walker, the grandfather of George H.W. Bush, built a great mansion on his oceanfront estate in Kennebunkport, and the property has remained in the family ever since.

George H.W. Bush used the Kennebunkport compound as his vacation home during his presidency, and George W. Bush made a few getaways to the house as well. Between father and son, they've entertained some pretty big names at their summer house, including Yitzhak Rabin, Vladimir Putin, and Nicolas Sarkozy.

For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com

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text: spread

text: as

text: the

text: Western

text: White

text: House

text: This

text: house

text: was

text: n't

text: cheap

text: for

text: taxpayers

text: either

text: the

text: government

text: dropped

text: over

text: a

text: million

text: dollars

text: improving

text: this

text: home

text: with

text: temporary

text: office

text: quarters

text: for

text: staffers

text: helipads

text: and

text: an

text: upgraded

text: heating

text: system

text: Mental

text: Floss

text: Donald

text: Nixon

text: and

text: other

text: memorable

text: presidential

text: siblings

text: Teddy

text: Roosevelt

text: goes

text: bear

text: hunting

text: Lounging

text: on

text: the

text: beach

text: is

text: great

text: but

text: do

text: you

text: really

text: think

text: Teddy

text: Roosevelt

text: would

text: miss

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: do

text: something

text: manly

text: Roosevelt

text: 's

text: vacation

text: in

text: took

text: him

text: to

text: the

text: Hotel

text: Colorado

text: in

text: Glenwood

text: Springs

text: Colorado

text: where

text: he

text: stayed

text: for

text: three

text: weeks

text: while

text: bear

text: hunting

text: FDR

text: 's

text: successor

text: gets

text: his

text: own

text: little

text: White

text: House

text: Harry

text: Truman

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: from

text: Missouri

text: but

text: he

text: headed

text: south

text: when

text: he

text: needed

text: some

text: R&R.

text: Truman

text: started

text: suffering

text: from

text: exhaustion

text: in

text: late

text: and

text: his

text: physicians

text: recommended

text: a

text: warm

text: weather

text: vacation

text: to

text: revitalize

text: the

text: President

text: Truman

text: took

text: his

text: vacation

text: in

text: a

text: converted

text: duplex

text: in

text: Key

text: West

text: that

text: already

text: held

text: some

text: history

text: The

text: house

text: which

text: was

text: originally

text: built

text: in

text: for

text: the

text: commandant

text: and

text: paymaster

text: of

text: Key

text: West

text: 's

text: naval

text: base

text: had

text: already

text: hosted

text: William

text: Howard

text: Taft

text: while

text: he

text: was

text: in

text: office

text: in

text: When

text: Thomas

text: Edison

text: developed

text: new

text: weapons

text: to

text: aid

text: in

text: the

text: American

text: efforts

text: in

text: World

text: War

text: I

text: he

text: spent

text: six

text: months

text: living

text: in

text: the

text: house

text: Once

text: Truman

text: visited

text: the

text: house

text: though

text: it

text: quickly

text: became

text: known

text: as

text: Truman

text: 's

text: Little

text: White

text: House

text: He

text: ended

text: up

text: spending

text: days

text: in

text: Key

text: West

text: over

text: the

text: course

text: of

text: his

text: two

text: terms

text: in

text: office

text: Presidents

text: Eisenhower

text: and

text: Kennedy

text: later

text: used

text: the

text: house

text: while

text: they

text: were

text: in

text: office

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: now

text: open

text: as

text: a

text: tourist

text: attraction

text: Mental

text: Floss

text: Early

text: summer

text: jobs

text: of

text: Truman

text: LBJ

text: and

text: more

text: Kennedy

text: retreats

text: to

text: his

text: compound

text: Starting

text: in

text: Joseph

text: P.

text: Kennedy

text: began

text: taking

text: his

text: family

text: to

text: Hyannisport

text: Massachusetts

text: on

text: vacation

text: each

text: summer

text: His

text: son

text: John

text: liked

text: the

text: area

text: so

text: much

text: that

text: in

text: he

text: bought

text: a

text: cottage

text: of

text: his

text: own

text: near

text: his

text: parents

text: digs

text: and

text: the

text: family

text: soon

text: purchased

text: a

text: third

text: cottage

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: giving

text: rise

text: to

text: the

text: name

text: the

text: Kennedy

text: Compound

text: JFK

text: used

text: his

text: cottage

text: as

text: a

text: base

text: of

text: operations

text: for

text: his

text: presidential

text: campaign

text: and

text: later

text: vacationed

text: there

text: each

text: summer

text: he

text: was

text: in

text: office

text: George

text: H.W.

text: Bush

text: prefers

text: not

text: to

text: ranch

text: Not

text: to

text: be

text: outdone

text: by

text: the

text: Kennedys

text: the

text: Bush

text: family

text: has

text: an

text: even

text: older

text: compound

text: of

text: their

text: own

text: in

text: Kennebunkport

text: Maine

text: In

text: George

text: H.

text: Walker

text: the

text: grandfather

text: of

text: George

text: H.W.

text: Bush

text: built

text: a

text: great

text: mansion

text: on

text: his

text: oceanfront

text: estate

text: in

text: Kennebunkport

text: and

text: the

text: property

text: has

text: remained

text: in

text: the

text: family

text: ever

text: since

text: George

text: H.W.

text: Bush

text: used

text: the

text: Kennebunkport

text: compound

text: as

text: his

text: vacation

text: home

text: during

text: his

text: presidency

text: and

text: George

text: W.

text: Bush

text: made

text: a

text: few

text: getaways

text: to

text: the

text: house

text: as

text: well

text: Between

text: father

text: and

text: son

text: they

text: 've

text: entertained

text: some

text: pretty

text: big

text: names

text: at

text: their

text: summer

text: house

text: including

text: Yitzhak

text: Rabin

text: Vladimir

text: Putin

text: and

text: Nicolas

text: Sarkozy

text: For

text: more

text: articles

text: visit

text: mentalfloss.com

question: what is the president name?

answer: Obama

text: Obama

question: Where do they go?

answer: Martha's Vineyard,

text: Martha's Vineyard,

question: who spent four months at the slightly cooler Soldiers' Home?

answer: Lincoln

text: Lincoln

question: Where did Lincoln go?

answer: cottage atop a hill at the Soldiers' Home a few miles from the White House.

text: cottage atop a hill at the Soldiers' Home a few miles from the White House.

question: Where was Nixon's home?

answer: Key Biscayne off Miami.

text: Key Biscayne off Miami.


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama painted a bleak economic picture of the country Saturday, hours before he met with his economic team.

President Obama delivers his weekly radio and Internet address, which focused on the economy.

"We begin this year and this administration in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action," he said in his weekly radio and Internet address.

"Just this week, we saw more people file for unemployment than at any time in the last 26 years, and experts agree that if nothing is done, the unemployment rate could reach double digits," Obama said.

The president pleaded for urgent action, saying, "If we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse."  Watch Obama's weekly address Â»

Obama's remarks came as he is lobbying for quick congressional passage of an $825 billion stimulus package to pump up the economy.  Watch the partisan politics involved Â»

The president revealed more details of his stimulus package, which he said would add more than 3,000 miles of electric lines to transport alternative energy across the country.

Obama also said the plan would save taxpayers $2 billion by making three-quarters of federal buildings more energy efficient and would "save the average working family $350 on their energy bills by weatherizing 2.5 million homes."

The White House also released a report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which calls for greater investment in Pell Grants for college students, a $2,500 college tax credit for 4 million college students and the tripling of the number of fellowships in science to help spur innovation.

Obama promised full accountability for government spending. After a stimulus bill is passed, a Web site, www.recovery.gov, will show taxpayers how their money is being spent, he said.

In the Republicans' response, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers criticized the Democratic plan. Watch the GOP radio address

"The $800 billion plan largely ignores the fact that we cannot keep borrowing and spending our way back to prosperity," said McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington.

"Instead of letting American families keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars, this plan proposes to spend additional money -- billions -- on such programs as new government cars, global warming studies and a billion extra dollars for the U.S. Census."

Balancing the budget and enacting tax cuts "are central to moving our economy forward," she said.  Watch what Republicans want Â»

The president is calling for the plan, which he hopes will create up to 4 million jobs over the next two years, to be passed by Congress and at his desk for signing by February 16, which is Presidents Day.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: President

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: painted

text: a

text: bleak

text: economic

text: picture

text: of

text: the

text: country

text: Saturday

text: hours

text: before

text: he

text: met

text: with

text: his

text: economic

text: team

text: President

text: Obama

text: delivers

text: his

text: weekly

text: radio

text: and

text: Internet

text: address

text: which

text: focused

text: on

text: the

text: economy

text: We

text: begin

text: this

text: year

text: and

text: this

text: administration

text: in

text: the

text: midst

text: of

text: an

text: unprecedented

text: crisis

text: that

text: calls

text: for

text: unprecedented

text: action

text: he

text: said

text: in

text: his

text: weekly

text: radio

text: and

text: Internet

text: address

text: Just

text: this

text: week

text: we

text: saw

text: more

text: people

text: file

text: for

text: unemployment

text: than

text: at

text: any

text: time

text: in

text: the

text: last

text: years

text: and

text: experts

text: agree

text: that

text: if

text: nothing

text: is

text: done

text: the

text: unemployment

text: rate

text: could

text: reach

text: double

text: digits

text: Obama

text: said

text: The

text: president

text: pleaded

text: for

text: urgent

text: action

text: saying

text: If

text: we

text: do

text: not

text: act

text: boldly

text: and

text: swiftly

text: a

text: bad

text: situation

text: could

text: become

text: dramatically

text: worse

text: Watch

text: Obama

text: 's

text: weekly

text: address

text: Â

text: Obama

text: 's

text: remarks

text: came

text: as

text: he

text: is

text: lobbying

text: for

text: quick

text: congressional

text: passage

text: of

text: an

text: billion

text: stimulus

text: package

text: to

text: pump

text: up

text: the

text: economy

text: Watch

text: the

text: partisan

text: politics

text: involved

text: Â

text: The

text: president

text: revealed

text: more

text: details

text: of

text: his

text: stimulus

text: package

text: which

text: he

text: said

text: would

text: add

text: more

text: than

text: miles

text: of

text: electric

text: lines

text: to

text: transport

text: alternative

text: energy

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: Obama

text: also

text: said

text: the

text: plan

text: would

text: save

text: taxpayers

text: billion

text: by

text: making

text: three

text: quarters

text: of

text: federal

text: buildings

text: more

text: energy

text: efficient

text: and

text: would

text: save

text: the

text: average

text: working

text: family

text: on

text: their

text: energy

text: bills

text: by

text: weatherizing

text: million

text: homes

text: The

text: White

text: House

text: also

text: released

text: a

text: report

text: on

text: the

text: American

text: Recovery

text: and

text: Reinvestment

text: Plan

text: which

text: calls

text: for

text: greater

text: investment

text: in

text: Pell

text: Grants

text: for

text: college

text: students

text: a

text: college

text: tax

text: credit

text: for

text: million

text: college

text: students

text: and

text: the

text: tripling

text: of

text: the

text: number

text: of

text: fellowships

text: in

text: science

text: to

text: help

text: spur

text: innovation

text: Obama

text: promised

text: full

text: accountability

text: for

text: government

text: spending

text: After

text: a

text: stimulus

text: bill

text: is

text: passed

text: a

text: Web

text: site

text: will

text: show

text: taxpayers

text: how

text: their

text: money

text: is

text: being

text: spent

text: he

text: said

text: In

text: the

text: Republicans

text: response

text: Rep.

text: Cathy

text: McMorris

text: Rodgers

text: criticized

text: the

text: Democratic

text: plan

text: Watch

text: the

text: GOP

text: radio

text: address

text: The

text: billion

text: plan

text: largely

text: ignores

text: the

text: fact

text: that

text: we

text: can

text: not

text: keep

text: borrowing

text: and

text: spending

text: our

text: way

text: back

text: to

text: prosperity

text: said

text: McMorris

text: Rodgers

text: R

text: Washington

text: Instead

text: of

text: letting

text: American

text: families

text: keep

text: more

text: of

text: their

text: hard

text: earned

text: tax

text: dollars

text: this

text: plan

text: proposes

text: to

text: spend

text: additional

text: money

text: billions

text: on

text: such

text: programs

text: as

text: new

text: government

text: cars

text: global

text: warming

text: studies

text: and

text: a

text: billion

text: extra

text: dollars

text: for

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Census

text: Balancing

text: the

text: budget

text: and

text: enacting

text: tax

text: cuts

text: are

text: central

text: to

text: moving

text: our

text: economy

text: forward

text: she

text: said

text: Watch

text: what

text: Republicans

text: want

text: Â

text: The

text: president

text: is

text: calling

text: for

text: the

text: plan

text: which

text: he

text: hopes

text: will

text: create

text: up

text: to

text: million

text: jobs

text: over

text: the

text: next

text: two

text: years

text: to

text: be

text: passed

text: by

text: Congress

text: and

text: at

text: his

text: desk

text: for

text: signing

text: by

text: February

text: which

text: is

text: Presidents

text: Day

question: Who criticizes Democratic plan's priorities?

answer: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

text: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

question: What did Obama use to press for the plan's passage

answer: $825 billion stimulus package

text: $825 billion stimulus package

question: Who criticised the democratic plan

answer: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

text: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

question: who criticises Democratic plan's priorities?

answer: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

text: , Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger

question: Who is to receive more funding

answer: n Pell Grants for college students

text: n Pell Grants for college students

question: which website would tell government spending?

answer: , www.recovery.gov

text: , www.recovery.gov

question: What will the recovery.gov site reveal?

answer: l show taxpayers how their money is being spent

text: l show taxpayers how their money is being spent


text:
(CNN)  -- Three runners died Sunday during the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon in Detroit, Michigan, police told CNN.

An EMT vehicle is at the scene Sunday in Detroit after three runners collapsed at a marathon.

All three deaths occurred between 9 and 9:20 a.m. ET, Second Deputy Chief John Roach said.

A man in his 60s fell and hit his head, Roach said. The cause of the fall was unknown. The man was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two other men, ages 36 and 26, also collapsed during the race and were pronounced dead at the hospital, Roach said.

All three collapsed near the end of the race, he said.  Witnesses describe scene Â»

The weather at the time was overcast, Roach said, with temperatures in the low 40s.

CNN's Chuck Johnston contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Three

text: runners

text: died

text: Sunday

text: during

text: the

text: Detroit

text: Free

text: Press

text: Flagstar

text: Marathon

text: in

text: Detroit

text: Michigan

text: police

text: told

text: CNN

text: An

text: EMT

text: vehicle

text: is

text: at

text: the

text: scene

text: Sunday

text: in

text: Detroit

text: after

text: three

text: runners

text: collapsed

text: at

text: a

text: marathon

text: All

text: three

text: deaths

text: occurred

text: between

text: and

text: a.m.

text: ET

text: Second

text: Deputy

text: Chief

text: John

text: Roach

text: said

text: A

text: man

text: in

text: his

text: fell

text: and

text: hit

text: his

text: head

text: Roach

text: said

text: The

text: cause

text: of

text: the

text: fall

text: was

text: unknown

text: The

text: man

text: was

text: transported

text: to

text: Detroit

text: Receiving

text: Hospital

text: where

text: he

text: was

text: pronounced

text: dead

text: Two

text: other

text: men

text: ages

text: and

text: also

text: collapsed

text: during

text: the

text: race

text: and

text: were

text: pronounced

text: dead

text: at

text: the

text: hospital

text: Roach

text: said

text: All

text: three

text: collapsed

text: near

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: race

text: he

text: said

text: Witnesses

text: describe

text: scene

text: Â

text: The

text: weather

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: was

text: overcast

text: Roach

text: said

text: with

text: temperatures

text: in

text: the

text: low

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Chuck

text: Johnston

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What was the age of the oldest dead person?

answer: 36

question: Where was the race?

answer: Detroit, Michigan,

text: Detroit, Michigan,

question: How many people died?

answer: Three runners

text: Three runners

question: who hit his head?

answer: man in

text: man in

question: who is Second Deputy Chief?

answer: John Roach

text: John Roach

question: At what time-span did the death occur?

answer: occurred between 9 and 9:20 a.m. ET,

text: occurred between 9 and 9:20 a.m. ET,

question: Who is John Roach?

answer: Second Deputy Chief

text: Second Deputy Chief

question: What was the name of the race?

answer: Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon

text: Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon


text:
(CNN) -- Fiat Group, fresh from an agreement to buy a piece of troubled automaker Chrysler, has plans to purchase GM Europe and spin off the recombined carmakers into a new company.

Fiat's update of the Cinquecento. The company says its small car expertise can help GM Europe get back on track.

If successful, the new company would become one of the largest car manufacturers in the world behind Toyota. The combined company would generate about $100 billion annually with sales of between 6 and 7 million cars a year.

"Clearly they're trying to take advantage of the opportunity when a lot of stakeholders may be willing to accommodate them," said John Bonnell, an auto industry analyst with JD Power and Associates.

"It may be their only opportunity to get to the kind of scale necessary to succeed in this market."

In an interview with the Financial Times, Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat, detailed a plan to separate Fiat Auto core car divisions and join with Opel/Vauxhall, Saab and GM's other European operations.

Last week, Fiat agreed to take an initial 20 percent of Chrysler as the U.S. manufacturer filed for bankruptcy protection.

"It's an incredibly simple solution to a very thorny problem," Marchionne told the Financial Times.

Marchionne hopes to have the deal finished by the end of this month, and list shares for the new company -- which may be called Fiat/Opel -- by the end of August.

Fiat has only recently gotten itself back on track. In his five years at the helm of Fiat, Marchionne has helped turn around the troubled Italian automaker.

Analysts say its small-car technology can help Chrysler, known for its minivans. In the past five years, Fiat has been able to regain market share in Europe with its economy fuel-saving cars as well as its luxury line, Alfa Romeo.

Marchionne is scheduled to meet with German government officials Monday to discuss the plan. Opel is GM Europe's German unit.

To secure the deal, Fiat is hoping to secure loans from the German government, raising concerns in Germany about helping to fund the Chrysler deal. The company plans to keep its plants operating in Germany, but will reduce workforce, which is likely to raise political concerns.

text: CNN

text: Fiat

text: Group

text: fresh

text: from

text: an

text: agreement

text: to

text: buy

text: a

text: piece

text: of

text: troubled

text: automaker

text: Chrysler

text: has

text: plans

text: to

text: purchase

text: GM

text: Europe

text: and

text: spin

text: off

text: the

text: recombined

text: carmakers

text: into

text: a

text: new

text: company

text: Fiat

text: 's

text: update

text: of

text: the

text: Cinquecento

text: The

text: company

text: says

text: its

text: small

text: car

text: expertise

text: can

text: help

text: GM

text: Europe

text: get

text: back

text: on

text: track

text: If

text: successful

text: the

text: new

text: company

text: would

text: become

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: largest

text: car

text: manufacturers

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: behind

text: Toyota

text: The

text: combined

text: company

text: would

text: generate

text: about

text: billion

text: annually

text: with

text: sales

text: of

text: between

text: and

text: million

text: cars

text: a

text: year

text: Clearly

text: they

text: 're

text: trying

text: to

text: take

text: advantage

text: of

text: the

text: opportunity

text: when

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: stakeholders

text: may

text: be

text: willing

text: to

text: accommodate

text: them

text: said

text: John

text: Bonnell

text: an

text: auto

text: industry

text: analyst

text: with

text: JD

text: Power

text: and

text: Associates

text: It

text: may

text: be

text: their

text: only

text: opportunity

text: to

text: get

text: to

text: the

text: kind

text: of

text: scale

text: necessary

text: to

text: succeed

text: in

text: this

text: market

text: In

text: an

text: interview

text: with

text: the

text: Financial

text: Times

text: Sergio

text: Marchionne

text: chief

text: executive

text: officer

text: of

text: Fiat

text: detailed

text: a

text: plan

text: to

text: separate

text: Fiat

text: Auto

text: core

text: car

text: divisions

text: and

text: join

text: with

text: Opel

text: Vauxhall

text: Saab

text: and

text: GM

text: 's

text: other

text: European

text: operations

text: Last

text: week

text: Fiat

text: agreed

text: to

text: take

text: an

text: initial

text: percent

text: of

text: Chrysler

text: as

text: the

text: U.S.

text: manufacturer

text: filed

text: for

text: bankruptcy

text: protection

text: It

text: 's

text: an

text: incredibly

text: simple

text: solution

text: to

text: a

text: very

text: thorny

text: problem

text: Marchionne

text: told

text: the

text: Financial

text: Times

text: Marchionne

text: hopes

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: deal

text: finished

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: this

text: month

text: and

text: list

text: shares

text: for

text: the

text: new

text: company

text: which

text: may

text: be

text: called

text: Fiat

text: Opel

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: August

text: Fiat

text: has

text: only

text: recently

text: gotten

text: itself

text: back

text: on

text: track

text: In

text: his

text: five

text: years

text: at

text: the

text: helm

text: of

text: Fiat

text: Marchionne

text: has

text: helped

text: turn

text: around

text: the

text: troubled

text: Italian

text: automaker

text: Analysts

text: say

text: its

text: small

text: car

text: technology

text: can

text: help

text: Chrysler

text: known

text: for

text: its

text: minivans

text: In

text: the

text: past

text: five

text: years

text: Fiat

text: has

text: been

text: able

text: to

text: regain

text: market

text: share

text: in

text: Europe

text: with

text: its

text: economy

text: fuel

text: saving

text: cars

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: its

text: luxury

text: line

text: Alfa

text: Romeo

text: Marchionne

text: is

text: scheduled

text: to

text: meet

text: with

text: German

text: government

text: officials

text: Monday

text: to

text: discuss

text: the

text: plan

text: Opel

text: is

text: GM

text: Europe

text: 's

text: German

text: unit

text: To

text: secure

text: the

text: deal

text: Fiat

text: is

text: hoping

text: to

text: secure

text: loans

text: from

text: the

text: German

text: government

text: raising

text: concerns

text: in

text: Germany

text: about

text: helping

text: to

text: fund

text: the

text: Chrysler

text: deal

text: The

text: company

text: plans

text: to

text: keep

text: its

text: plants

text: operating

text: in

text: Germany

text: but

text: will

text: reduce

text: workforce

text: which

text: is

text: likely

text: to

text: raise

text: political

text: concerns

question: What is Fiat hoping for ?

answer: to secure loans from the German government,

text: to secure loans from the German government,

question: What does Fiat hope for?

answer: to have the deal finished by the end of this month,

text: to have the deal finished by the end of this month,

question: Which company does Fiat hope to purchase?

answer: GM Europe

text: GM Europe

question: How much money is the new company excepted to generate ?

answer: about $100 billion annually with sales of between 6 and 7 million cars a year.

text: about $100 billion annually with sales of between 6 and 7 million cars a year.

question: What would the new company be called?

answer: Fiat/Opel

text: Fiat/Opel

question: How much money would the new company generate?

answer: $100 billion annually

text: $100 billion annually

question: How much would the new company generate?

answer: $100 billion annually

text: $100 billion annually