Who is Obama's Manufacturing Czar?

Q: Who was appointed by Obama to be his manufacturing czar and what is the formal title of that position?

A: On September 7, 2009, the president of the United States announced that Ron Bloom would be his Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy. Because this position does not require Senate confirmation, the media dubbed him Obama's newest czar, the Manufacturing Czar.

For a list of other advisers to the president considered czars (appointed by the executive branch and not needing the confirmation of the legislation branch), see here.

Who's the highest-paid person in the White House?

Q: Who's the highest-paid person in the White House?

A: You mean, aside from the president who earns $400,000 a year and Vice President Joe Biden who earns $227,300 a year?

Unexpectedly, the highest paid employee at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is NOT senior adviser David Axelrod, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, press secretary Robert Gibbs or Obama's head speechwriter Jon Favreau, although each of them does make $172,000.

David Marcozzi, the Director of Public Health Policy, earns more with a salary of $192,934 a year. He's the highest-paid person in the White House.

Other salaries of White House employees

— $102,000 salary of Reggie Love, the president's personal aide and "body man"
— $113,000 salary of Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary
— $84,000 salary of Catherine Lelyveld, press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama,
— $36,000 salary of Darienne Page, the White House receptionist

Who is the 2009 US Open Winner?

Q: Who won the 2009 US Open Golf Championship?

A: The winner of the 2009 US Open Golf Championship is Lucas Glover of the United States. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina.

This is Lucas Glover's first major title.

Congratulations!

The winner's prize money: $1,350,000

Who is the TARP Lady?

Q: Who is the TARP lady they keep referring to in the news?

A: TARP refers to the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which has been the largest part of the U.S. government's $700 billion financial bailout plan of 2008.

The woman in charge of overseeing TARP is Elizabeth Warren, a professor at Harvard Law School. She was appointed by Senate Democrats to head the Congressional Oversight Panel in charge of monitoring the U.S. banking bailout.

The TARP lady's academic specialty at Harvard is bankruptcy law. In 2003, she published the book The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Parents Are Going Broke, co-authored with her daughter.

Who established the Yuan Dynasty?

Q: Who established the Yuan Dynasty of China?

A: The Yuan Dynasty (also known as the Great Yuan Empire in China) was established in the 13th century by Kublai Khan; however, he ordered that the name of his grandfather Genghis Khan (who had died in 1227) be placed on the official record as the founder of the dynasty.


In records, the Yuan Dynasty officially lasted from 1271 to 1368.

Rebellions broke out in the 1350s, and one of the rebel leaders was Chu Yüan-chang, who founded the Ming dynasty in 1368.


SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWER

Q: Who's the founder of China's Yuan Dynasty?

A: Formally, Genghis Khan. Actually, his grandson Kublai Khan.

Who is the 2009 Belmont Stakes winner?

Q: Who won the 2009 Belmont Stakes?

A: The winner of the 2009 Belmont Stakes was Summer Bird ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Dunkirk was second, and Mine That Bird ridden by Calvin Borel came in third.