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WORLD BRIEFING Obama launches political counteroffensive WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama launches a political counteroffensive this week, weighed down by withering support among some of his most ardent backers, a stunted economy and a daily bashing from the slew of Republicans campaigning for his job. ‘‘We’ve still got a long way to go to get to where we need to be. We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it’s going to take time to get out of it,’’ the president told the country over the weekend, all but pleading for people to stick with him. A deeply unsettled political landscape, with vot- ers in a fiercely anti-incumbent mood, is framing the 2012 presidential race 15 months before Americans decide whether to give Obama a second term or hand power to the Republicans. Trying to ride out what seems to be an unrelenting storm of economic anxiety, people in the United States increasingly are voicing disgust with most all of the men and women, Obama included, they sent to Washington to govern them. With his approval numbers sliding, the Democ- ratic president will try to ease their worries and sus- tain his resurrected fighting spirit when he sets off Monday on a bus tour of Minnesota, Iowa and Illi- nois. The trip is timed to dilute the GOP buzz ema- nating from the Midwest after Republicans gathered in Iowa over the weekend for a first test of the party’s White House candidates. The state holds the nation’s first nominating test in the long road toward choosing Obama’s opponent. Ron Paul’s presidential bid shaping 2012 race DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ron Paul, once seen as a fringe candidate and a nuisance to the establishment, is shaping the 2012 Republican primary by giving voice to the party’s libertari- an wing and reflecting frustration with the Unit- ed States’ international entanglements. The Texas congressman placed second in a key early test vote Saturday in Ames, coming within 152 votes of winning the first significant balloting of the Republican nominating contest. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won the nonbinding Iowa straw poll, but Paul’s organiza- tional strength and a retooled focus on social issues set him up to be a serious player in the campaign. Dame’s disorder distressing daughter Dear Annie: My moth- er-in-law has always had issues with her self-image and is borderline anorexic. Recently, Mom had surgery. As a result, she lost weight and has been unable to gain it back. She also suffers from depression, for which she takes medica- tion. Recently, her mind has been slipping more and more, and she seems disor- ganized in her thinking. My husband brought this to her attention, and she says her anorexia is making it difficult for her to eat enough to gain back the weight, and she has no idea what else could be wrong. We asked her to talk to her doc- tor. I believe her poor eating habits are interfering with her ability to function normally. I am upset and frustrated because I want to help her. My husband, on the other hand, has dealt with this for most of his life and says the best he can do is bring it to her attention. He feels what she does with the information is up to her. Is there something more I could do? If not, how do I get past the frustration? — Concerned in New York Dear N.Y.: Mom’s confu- sion could be linked to any number of things, including post-operative complications and various medications, as well as long-term anorexia. She should not be self-diagnos- ing. You cannot force her to take better care of herself, but please urge her to talk to her doctor about her confusion, and offer to go with her if you Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar think it will help. Dear Annie: My husband’s brother owes us money. We helped him pay off a debt of several thousand dollars with the agreement that it would be repaid. That was three years ago, and we haven’t seen a dime. Recently, this same brother asked us to pur- chase a watch he wanted, say- ing he’d give us the money next week. I told him we were in no position to cover this expense and although I’d be happy to pick it up for him, he’d have to give us the money in advance. This was a luxury item, and it made me angry that he’d expect us to front more money for him. So I reminded him of his still-outstanding debt. Now my husband is angry, saying I had no business speaking to his brother about it. But, Annie, the money he borrowed is half mine, as we pool our equal salaries. When you marry into a fam- ily, do you not have a say in these financial matters? Is he just old-fashioned? — Mem- phis Dear Memphis: The money may be half yours, but the brother is all his, and this is why your husband reacted so strongly. He felt it was his place to deal with his sibling, and normally, we would agree. However, by failing to hold his brother accountable for the debt, he put you in that position by default. He knows this, which also could be contribut- ing to his anger, as it likely embarrasses him. Gently broach the subject with your husband in private, and see if the two of you can reach some agreement. Dear Annie: This is in response to the letter from ‘‘S.,’’ the widow who has joined various organizations, but hasn’t found romance after 20 years. I would like to rec- ommend something you’ve never mentioned — square dancing. My husband and I have belonged to a square dancing club for 13 years. It is great exercise for both body and brain, and gets you away from the TV. If you go to the lessons alone, you will more than like- ly find a partner. There are a lot of widowed men and women who keep dancing with our group because of the friendships they have formed. The rest of us gladly loan our spouses so they will have partners. That makes them feel welcome, and over time, all the nice men and women who wanted to find a partner have done so. — Salem, Ore. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Monday, August 15, 2011 – Daily News 3B LEGAL NOTICE PUBLISH DATE: August 15, 2011