****
****
President Barack Obama speaks from the Oval Office on the shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, vowing to conduct a prompt and thorough probe of the shooting
****
President Barack Obama speaks after touring the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma. President Obama is the first sitting US President to visit a federal prison, in a push to reform one of the most expensive and crowded prison systems in the world
****
****
As part of a weeklong focus on inequities in the criminal justice system, President Barack Obama will meet separately Thursday with law enforcement officials and nonviolent drug offenders who are paying their debt to society at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison for male offenders near Oklahoma City
****
Today, @POTUS became the first sitting President to visit a federal prison → go.wh.gov/ViceElReno http://t.co/eQRqxusZoh
—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025.@VICE joined President Obama on the first presidential visit to a US federal prison: news.vice.com/article/presid… http://t.co/L87O7usEyJ
—
VICE News (@vicenews) July 16, 2025****
****
Pres Obama tours the Residential Drug Abuse Prevention Unit at El Reno federal prison in Oklahoma http://t.co/Z26JQU1BPU
—
(@petesouza) July 16, 2025Another view from El Reno federal prison today. http://t.co/LWZvynnIis
—
(@petesouza) July 16, 2025****
‘When Aaron Stein was studying nuclear nonproliferation at Middlebury College’s Monterey graduate program, the students would sometimes construct what they thought would be the best possible nuclear inspection and monitoring regimes. Years later, Stein is now a Middle East and nuclear proliferation expert with the Royal United Services Institute (as well as the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Atlantic Council). And in April, he told me that the Iran nuclear deal, the broad strokes of which had just been announced, looks an awful lot like those ideal hypotheticals he’d put together in grad school. “When I was doing my nonproliferation training at Monterey, this is the type of inspection regime that we would dream up in our heads,” he said at the time. “We would hope that this would be the way to actually verify all enrichment programs, but thought that would never be feasible.” Stein concluded it would make “an excellent deal” — if the negotiators could turn those broad strokes into a formal, finalized agreement. This week, they did exactly that. The full, final Iran nuclear deal “exceeds in all areas,” Stein said on Tuesday. “It makes the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon in the next 25 years extremely remote.”
The deal requires Iran to surrender some crucial components of its nuclear program, in part or even in whole. Here are the highlights:
-Iran will give up about 14,000 of its 20,000 centrifuges.
-Iran will give up all but its most rudimentary, outdated centrifuges: Its first-generation IR-1s, knockoffs of 1970s European models, are all it gets to keep. -It will not be allowed to build or develop newer models.
-Iran will give up 97 percent of its enriched uranium; it will hold on to only 300 kilograms of its 10,000-kilogram stockpile in its current form.
-Iran will destroy or export the core of its plutonium plant at Arak, and replace it with a new core that cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium.
It will ship out all spent nuclear fuel.
Iran would simply not have much of its nuclear program left after all this. A shorthand people sometimes use to evaluate the size of Iran’s nuclear program is its “breakout time.” If Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei woke up tomorrow morning and decided to set his entire nuclear program toward building a nuclear warhead — to “break out” to a bomb — as of today it would take him two or three months. Under the terms of the deal, his program would be so much smaller that it would take him an entire year to build a single nuclear warhead…continued”
President Barack Obama talks with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Colin Kahl, National Security Advisor to the Vice President, and National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice outside the West Wing of the White House, July 15, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I didn’t realize that SOS Kerry was so tall. But tall or short, he deserves SERIOUS consideration for the next Nobel Peace Prize!!! :)
It is in the bag as long as congress doesn’t scuttle things up. I don’t know the deadline for submission, but I think they are announced in Nov. and the TL for congress 60 day review starts as soon as they receive the classified documents which I thing was today….putting the vote around the mid Sept.
doesn’t matter much what Congress does. This is an international thing which means it will go through regardless what congress does or doesn’t do.
the funny or not so funny thing is that they go on vacation for part of that 60 days…INCREDIBLE!…This is OUR Congress….
Thanks as usual NW! Your tireless work to keep the TOD family informed daily doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Thanks.
Crocker, Pickering, Burns all prominent Bush Ambassadors:
he looks so tired.
Hi AMK. He does look tired.
I just want to kiss his cheek. Maybe give him a hug. Love that man, and love how he feels everything and sometimes lets us all see it on his face.
The more he fights for peace - the more the dicks want war. As for the shootings - guns kill - every sane nation keeps guns away from civilians. In the US - in many cases - they also need to be out of the hands of police.
I’ve never known another President to be responsible for anything/everything that happens in the World. Not one member of the GOP - including governors will EVER take responsibility for anything - and the US media - applauds the fools for their stupid.
good points, 99. blameshifting is the GOP’s only game.
I see that you aussies have come back roaring into the fight at ashes.
Slow batting - given they both got centuries - have to wait & see what the other side does.
337 runs in a day is pretty fast paced. It’s a great start. I toldja if steven smith clicks, aussies will win.
I’m learning from your words to the home team :) When they are 1 out should be able to get 360 minimum in a day
Well said.
What is PBO feeling as he walks through the penitentiary—I’m sure he has been briefed on the murder of Sandra Bland.
Then home to the WH and 4 dead in Chatanooga.
What President Obama has had to deal with day in and day out would destroy most humans.
Not our resilient strong President. Not simply still standing, but soaring and leading the world.
Thanks to Nerdy and Chips and all who found the strength to keep us up to date.
“Amazing Grace”
Thank you.
Indeed. And I also think that “tour” of the prison was emotionally and physically taxing.
Have no fear he will finally get a well deserved 2-week *vacation* (they never end up uninterrupted) in Martha’s Vineyard next month during the August recess.
http://vineyardgazette.com/news/2015/07/10/president-obama-will-return-marthas-vineyard-august-vacation?k=vg55a87283934b0&r=1
…also at the end of this month back to the homefront
“The United States will host a meeting of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Ministers in Maui, Hawaii from July 28-31, preceded by a meeting of TPP Chief Negotiators from July 24-27,” the release said on Tuesday.”
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150708/1024345010.html#ixzz3g7BMI1IW
Man looks like I’m riding solo…Where is everyone? …also BT I need a comment freed from moderation-TY
Hi LP. I just got here. Had a very busy day.
Hello, Jackie! I had no school today and have been totally unproductive….I hope you get to wind down and enjoy the rest of of your evening :)
Also catching up. family in town.
Hi LP - I’m usually lurking in the US late hours
Hello my Aussie friend….how are things down under?
Hello LP - Freezing down under - snow & ice in a country that has no way to deal with same - they simply close the roads and tell folks to “be careful”
Fortunately hasn’t snowed in my town - yet!
Thank you TOD. For everything.
With you on that.
Another day when he faces the death of a young black woman in police custody and another tragedy caused by an arm and violent man. This country is unrelenting.
Also, somewhat interestingly, our former mayore, Kwame Kilpatrick, is ensconced in the prison President Obama visited today.
Oh cr*p. Just posted something I meant to post elsewhere. SORRY! Please delete.
Love that Ted Cruz doesn’t get a look in.
UNITED NATIONS — The world powers have promised to keep an eye on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and renew United Nations sanctions, if deemed necessary, for an additional five years after the initial 10-year agreement comes to a close. Though not legally binding, that possible extension is part of a pact made by the foreign ministers of the six countries that completed the nuclear deal with Iran in Vienna this week and was conveyed in a three-paragraph letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations. The agreement lifts economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for guarantees that its nuclear energy program remains peaceful. It is to be endorsed by a Security Council resolution that is expected to pass when it comes up for a vote on Monday. The resolution is to take effect 90 days later, a window of time long enough to let Congress consider the matter and for President Obama to veto a rejection, if necessary.
The so-called snapback mechanism to renew United Nations sanctions is one of the most unusual parts of the deal. In the event that Iran is perceived as violating it, the agreement allows the full raft of penalties to resume automatically, without a vote on the Council that would risk a veto by one of its permanent members — namely, Russia, Iran’s closest ally on the Council…Preventing a resumption of sanctions would require a vote by the Security Council. That in turn can be vetoed by those who would want the sanctions resumed, presumably the United States and its Western allies. The snapback provision allows the United States, as one of Iran’s toughest critics on the Council, to use the veto power to its advantage. “It’s reversing the power of the veto,” one Council diplomat said. “The ones that will likely veto are the ones likely to push for the snapback.”
Interesting, apparently Israel’s military thinks it can live with the deal. I’ve seen more than one of these today but this is the most comprehensive.
http://forward.com/opinion/312158/this-man-explains-why-iran-deal-is-good-for-israel/
Here is another pretty comprehensive one, FireFox.
From a June 25th article
After a grueling two-year wait, Costa Rica will finally have a new United States ambassador. Stafford Fitzgerald Haney has been confirmed as the 58th U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July with expats here.
Haney was confirmed by the Senate on May 21. The U.S. Embassy in San José announced the appointment Thursday. Haney is expected to arrive in Costa Rica in late June, when he will present his credentials to the Costa Rican government, according to a statement from the embassy.
In a video, Haney said he hopes to focus his efforts in Costa Rica on economic development and energy.
“I think Costa Rica has the potential to become a source of innovation for the region, and I want to help it reach its potential,” said Haney, who speaks fluent Spanish.
The nominee was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up outside of Chicago in Naperville, Illinois. Fitzgerald and Andrea Haney live in Englewood, New Jersey, with their four children.
………………………………………. //
;)
Impressive! Thanks for sharing his story VC! :-)
Happy you found it interestingm Dee.
2 years to confirm an ambassador - where is the media while all this is happening - why laughing with the GOP congress - where else.
More than likely, TS. As we here know, the very uninsightful media is a major arm of the GOP.
A whole lot of thoughts have been roiling around in my head recently, brought into focus today by the reaction to the shooting of the Marines and the death of beautiful Sandra Bland for failing to signal a lane change. I am at the upper end of “middle” age and am so sad to see the state of our society. A couple of things fundamentally changed in this country as a result of 9/11 and the Republican fear-mongering that has followed.
First, fear of terrorism has become deeply rooted in white society in the US which controls the corporate media. Hence the disparities you see in the treatment of the shooting today (“domestic terrorism”) and the killing of the 9 members of AME (“criminal activity”). This of course has been exacerbated by the beheadings of Westerners committed by Daesh. I was shocked when a friend of mine mentioned a couple of years ago she has not gone to large crowded gatherings since 9/11. I gaped at her but she was serious.
Second, since 9/11 in addition to liberties we so willingly gave up, the police in this country gained a tremendous amount of power. I grew up in an age when it was standard for everyone to question the cops and we all expected to defy them. Compare that with the mindset today. When a young unarmed black man who had committed a robbery in Dallas a couple of years was shot by police, the sentiment everywhere here was if you run from police you deserve to be shot. And the police have done everything possible to cement and abuse that sentiment. I have no idea what Sandra Bland could possibly have done that landed her on the side of the road being sat on by 2 cops because she failed to signal a lane change. But is part of this history of the last 14 years.
We can rail forever about the NRA and the number of guns. There is no doubt this is part of the problem. But our FEAR as a society has allowed this to happen, and that remains. While I think the pendulum is slowly starting to move, there is a very long ways to go and I frankly doubt if I will see a better balance in my lifetime. I think back to the clashes I was involved in with the police in protesting Vietnam in the ’70s and our youth today could not conceive of it. Their lives would be at stake.
Well said. And it all goes beyond even that.
But that fear is directed towards people of color…blk brown native american….those white bikers were not gripped up …sat on or killed and they were armed…
and there was a history of this between the police and communities of color longgggg before 9/11…blk people dying in police custody in NOT a new thing….
Toodle-di-doo, folks; it’s been a loooong day!
Nighty-night VC!
{{Dudette}}
So glad I caught this thread. The President’s empathy for others is just amazing. I credit his mother! <3
He sure does JO’B. It makes me sad to see the pain in his face. What an amazing man.
I feel that, too. I can’t imagine what a great sadness it is for him not to have her here throughout this time in his life.
And his grandparents, of course.
I was also thinking (maybe more of a hope) that the tired look on his face is also partly caused not just by domestic and world events surrounding him constantly, but also by the fact he’s anticipating being in Hawaii soon, and in Martha’s Vineyard next month with the family. You know the pre-vacation thoughts, which must be true even for a man like our President who never really gets one! That’s my hope.
I have this sense that both he and Michelle are sort of racing against a clock……they’ve run a marathon and they are reaching the finish line. There is so much more they care to do and time is running out. It makes me sad to think about this way but so much is changing every day……
Ahh, I think you’ve nailed it. This is the difference between the old “lame duck” term and the new model President Obama has set (not that too many will ever match the model): “There is so much more they care to do and time is running out.” Dynamite people. We are so lucky. And, yes, I don’t want to think about 2017 either.
Here’s Sir Paul - my favorite part starts @7:20:
OMG :lol: :lol: :lol:
Follow the TL from the original tweet…even the former Twitter CEO is in on the action!
Cute! :-D
I’m gonna go follower her right now!
Even though he retired he is taking the down time in stride :D
Haha! Well I’m follower #5045, so I guess we’ll be seeing some Dingell-y Mean Tweets! :-D
#BeastMode….I thought I had heard and seen it all.
I bow down….there is nothing left to be said!
#BeastMode….I thought I had heard and seen it all.
I bow down….there is nothing left to be said!
Had to drop off the folks at the airport 4:00 A.M. this morning….don’t know how I’m still awake! GN TOD
This is AWESOME, LP. Thank you!
Sleep well LP
Good Night Family!
Thank you soooooooo much for the fabulous post, Nerdy!
Morning everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/07/17/early-bird-rise-and-shine-84/
:)