Posts Tagged ‘soccer
05
Jul
15
USA! USA! USA!
01
Oct
14
The President’s Day
President Obama waves as he prepares to depart the White House - he is heading to Chicago where he will attend a campaign event for Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Il, and deliver remarks on the economy at Northwestern University
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Text of remarks here
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President Barack Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting in the Oval Office
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President Obama honors the Sporting Kansas City soccer team during an event in the East Room of the White House
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Text of remarks here
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President Obama talks with team manager Peter Vermes
President Obama points to a framed team jersey that was given to him by the members of Sporting Kansas City
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03
Jul
14
Rise and Shine
On This Day: Residents greet President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama upon their arrival at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
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Today
The President has no public events scheduled for today
12:30 EDT: Josh Earnest briefs the press
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#SoSueMe RT @MarketWatch 288,000 jobs created in June as the unemployment rate falls to 6.1%, lowest in over 5 yrs pic.twitter.com/ERsoD0eUrg
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 3, 2025
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Steve Benen: An emphatic answer to the ‘Where are the jobs?’ question
…. The new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in June, well ahead of forecasts. The overall unemployment rate, meanwhile, dripped to 6.1% – its lowest point since September 2008, nearly six years ago.
…. April’s totals were revised up from 282,000 to 304,000, while May’s figures were also revised up, from 217,000 to 224,000.
Overall, the report suggests the jobs landscape is clearly improving, which is no doubt proof that American employers are in on the conspiracy to distract Americans from Benghazi.
…. June was the 52nd consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth – the longest on record.
At this point, with the year about half over, 2014 is currently on track to be the best year for U.S. job creation since 1999.
Full post here
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June 52nd consecutive month with private-sector job growth, longest on record #SoSueMe -> http://t.co/JK37REkvd2 pic.twitter.com/G0kkp3vqLp
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 3, 2025
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Business Insider: US Jobs Report Demolishes Expectations, Unemployment Rate Plunges to 6.1%
Job creation in June was much stronger than expected as signs grow that the U.S. economy is accelerating.
The U.S. added 288,000 jobs in June, blowing away expectations for an addition of 215,000 in nonfarm payrolls. The unemployment rate also fell to 6.1%, the lowest reading since September 2008. Expectations were for the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 6.3%.
Last month’s jobs report was also revised, with non-farm payrolls growing by 224,000 in May, better than the previously reported 217,000.
The report also showed April non-farm payrolls were revised up to 304,000 from 282,000.
More here
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Don’t miss the VP sharing his thoughts on the Civil Rights Act & this moment with @RepJohnLewis → https://t.co/14usyCBoqJ #BeingBiden #CRA50 — Vice President Biden (@VP) July 2, 2025
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A Word from Donna (@NoShock)
I‘m going to speak to this just from a personal perspective. I’ve watched many Presidents in my day. I didn’t just become interested in politics when PBO came along. I volunteered for Clinton, Gore, John Kerry and then President Obama. I sort of watched Bush because my kids were over there fighting in that gawd awful war so I was tuned into cable and read the Washington Post religiously during his Presidency.
Times have changed so much with the progression of technology and the internet I have to say that of course President Obama’s Presidency is the most visible. White House dot org was a nothing site before this administration. Being able to follow PBO daily gives me an insight into his Presidency that was never available to me before.
I can tell you that Bush did very few events and when he did venture out it was to some military facility so that he could attempt to flex his C-I-C creds. It was always just a big photo op. His speeches were boring and you could only stand to listen to him speak for a minute or two before you felt violently ill. (no kidding) He was not well liked abroad because our standing in the World was piss-poor thanks to his Iraq War. Surprisingly Africa is the only country that I can remember that welcomed him warmly. Mainly because his funding for Aids in Africa is probably the only decent thing he did in his 8 years as President.
Clinton was visible and you would see on the evening news that he had traveled abroad or ventured out into DC. He remained relatively popular and was fortunate that the economy was doing quite well during his Presidency so even though he was mired in scandal from the day he stepped foot into the WH his approval stayed quite high. The country didn’t become quite so partisan until the Lewinsky scandal took place and you could feel the shift taking place after his impeachment.
IMO the Presidency was always been given the benefit of the doubt by the MSM. Papa Bush got it until he raised taxes on them. Clinton got it until the blue dress showed up. Bush got it until investigations outside of the media discovered that there were no weapons of mass destruction. President Obama got no honeymoon when he became President. CNN did a report card show on his first 50 days in office. Those bogus, staged town halls on Obamacare were no longer just being talked about on cable. Suddenly we were seeing this crap on the evening news and it was being reported as if it was real outrage by every person in the country. PBO kept right on doing his job. He worked tirelessly and never gave up on ACA and we got that bill through Congress and it is now law and millions of people have health care because regardless of what impact it had on him politically he was determined to see it through. Another testament to the character of this man.
The Republicans along with their enablers our MSM have used every trick in the book to bring him down but he just keeps doing his job. He travels the country from end to end talking to America. Practically every day there is some event at the WH, social media, unconventional media or somewhere in the country that he is involved with. He honors our military constantly and salutes our sports heroes almost weekly. He’s brilliant, handsome, affable, congenial, a great dad and husband and the hippest guy we have ever had grace the halls of the West Wing.
This angers the Right and the media because he doesn’t care what they think of him. He was hired by us to do a job and he is determined to do just that. There has never been a President who has worked as hard for all of America. Half will never appreciate that but it’s okay he’s still there President too. And when the tornadoes and hurricanes sweep through their towns and cities he’ll go and give them assurance that he’ll be there to see them through and help to restore sanity to their life’s.
No poll will ever capture what he does each and everyday for this country. Skewered or weighted it doesn’t matter. The appreciation of our Nation is for the history books. The job of his supporters, those of us who know better, is to make sure that those who aren’t paying attention never forget!
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While she’s in Africa, Dr. Biden is taking over @VP‘s Instagram account. Check it out → http://t.co/dxkIu4kPqL pic.twitter.com/iGHEaYtCw3 — Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) July 2, 2025
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A Word from EricFive
Silly Season is officially in full swing. Let’s see, Boner initiates bogus lawsuit against PBO which serves to energize Dems, increasing fundraising and inspiring intelligent and impassioned mocking via the “SoSueMe#”.
Then the Supreme Court issues a partisan anti-woman decision which served to energize and enrage Dems and make the GOP look like a party out of its time (and mind, next stop, theocracy).
So what narrative is the MSM/GOP pushing?
PBO is the worst president ever according to a biased and bogus “poll”.
Chuck Todd cheerily trumpets this bullshit (its the perfect companion to his “PBO’s presidency is over” nonsense from last week, which was “based” on skewed reading of a single poll question in a single poll).
The MSM/GOP are feeling the heat, so they create anti-PBO headlines through manipulation (and often misinterpretation) of polls. Propaganda 101. The MSM/GOP are attempting to recreate the mood of 2010, but reality keeps interfering with their objective, so they are relying more and more on strategically timed polls to halt any momentum of the Dems.
Trumpeting skewed polls and ignoring or burying news that can be viewed as positive for Dems (or the country) is the current tactic. Unfortunately for the GOP/MSM, this is not 2010.
Dems seem more unified and are more angry at the GOP than they are with their own party.
PBO is leading the party through both words and deeds.
He has no fear of the GOP and is speaking truth.
So is Harry Reid, who has really found his voice recently.
In short, don’t fall for the propaganda which is designed to depress Dems. The over the top nature of their propagandizing tells me they are desperate, subtlety is out the window as they see their influence in dictating perceptions waning.
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#USMNT @Clint_Dempsey and @TimHowardGK got a call from President Obama earlier today in São Paulo. pic.twitter.com/Vm21OhxHqX — U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 3, 2025
From 1 SecDef to another: Hagel calls @timhowardgk to say thanks for defending USA. We (USA) are proud of @ussoccer! pic.twitter.com/M8nsYdlXFn — U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) July 2, 2025
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Am I The Only One Who Still Only Sees A Parrot?
Look at this picture.. .. stare at the picture until you realize that this isn’t a parrot at all.. It’s A Woman:-) pic.twitter.com/WERZbTneoO — Kasai™ (@Kahsai) July 2, 2025
Kasai? You’ve ruined my week.
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On This Day
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet local residences as they arrive at Fort McNair from Camp David and proceed to the motorcade in Washington on July 3, 2025
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President Obama meets with Speaker of the House John Boehner on the patio near the Oval Office, Sunday, July 3, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia return to Andrews Air Force Base after their visit to Africa, July 3 2013
President Obama meets with members of his national security team to discuss the situation in Egypt, in the Situation Room of the White House, July 3, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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MoooOOOooorning everyone! Will catch up with more news later, thank you to Donna and Eric for their wonderful comments.
01
Jul
14
The President’s Day
President Obama and staff watch the U.S. soccer team vs Belgium in World Cup action in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, July 1 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Barack Obama speaks to the media during a meeting with his cabinet members in the Cabinet Room of the White House. From left are, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
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Attorney General Eric Holder
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson
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With the Key Bridge, linking Washington and Northern Virginia in the background, President Barack Obama speaks about the economy and transportation, at Georgetown Waterfront Park in Washington. The President said 700,000 jobs could be at risk next year if Congress doesn’t quickly agree on how to pay for highway and transit programs.
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"If this Congress does not act by the end of the summer, the Highway Trust Fund will run out. " —President Obama #RebuildAmerica
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 01, 2025****
"Middle-class families can’t wait for Congress to do these things, and I won’t." —Obama: wh.gov/year-of-action #RebuildAmerica
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 01, 2025****
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"Typically what gets reported on is just the politics...people don’t care about that. People just want to see some results." —Obama
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White House Live (@WHLive) July 01, 2025****
Obama: "If the American people put pressure on this town to actually get something done…we can grow our economy." #OpportunityForAll
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White House Live (@WHLive) July 01, 2025****
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President Barack Obama hugs Victoria Bellucci, a 2014 graduate of Huntingtown High School in Huntingtown, Md., after she introduced Obama to speak at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Bellucci played four years of women’s varsity soccer where she was a team captain and an All-State selection. By the time her high school and club soccer careers ended in 2013, Bellucci had suffered five concussions. President Obama was hosting the summit with representatives of professional sports leagues, coaches, parents, young athletes, researchers and others to call attention to the issue of youth sports concussions.
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President Barack Obama talks at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. Listening is Dr. Gerard Gioia
President Barack Obama is introduced by Victoria Belluci of Huntington, Md. at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. Listening are moderator Pam Oliver and Dr. Gerard Gioia
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CBS: President Obama Calls For More Robust Research Into Youth Concussions
The commander-in-chief wants to know more. President Barack Obama called Thursday for more robust research into youth concussions, saying there remains deep uncertainty over both the scope of the troubling issue and the long-term impacts on young people. “We want our kids participating in sports,” Obama said as he opened a day-long summit on concussions at the White House. “As parents though, we want to keep them safe and that means we have to have better information.” The summit signaled an effort by Obama to use the power of the presidency to elevate a national conversation over youth concussions. The White House brought together representatives of professionalsports leagues, coaches, parents, young athletes, medical professionals and others for the event.
"Sports teach us about teamwork and hard work and what it takes to succeed not only on the field, but in life." —Obama #HeadsUp4Safety
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 29, 2025Obama, an avid sports fan and father of two daughters involved in athletics, highlighted millions of dollars in pledges and other support from the National Football League, the National Institutes of Health and others to conduct research that could begin to provide answers and improve safety. Among the financial commitments is a $30 million joint research effort by the NCAA and Defense Department and an NFL commitment of $25 million over the next three years to promote youth sports safety. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can be caused by a blow to the head, or a blow to the body powerful enough to jostle the brain around inside the skull. Nearly 250,000 kids and young adults visit hospital emergency rooms each year with brain injuries caused by sports or other recreational activity, the White House said.
More here
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"We want our kids playing sports…as parents though, we want to keep them safe." —President Obama #HeadsUp4Safety
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 29, 2025****
President Barack Obama shakes hands with former football player Lavar Arrington, as former professional soccer player and current ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman watches
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USA Today: Obama: We Need ‘Better Data’ On Sports Concussions
President Obama told a White House meeting of athletes, coaches and medical experts Thursday that there are no “solid numbers” on the extent of the concussion problem in football and other contact sports. “We’ve got to have better research, better data, better safety equipment, better protocols,” Obama said at the first White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit. While “sports are vital to this country,”
"That’s what today’s about—let’s give parents the information they need to help their kids compete safely." —President Obama #HeadsUp4Safety
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 29, 2025Obama said, society needs to make sure that young people “are able to participate as safely as possible.” The purpose of the summit is to look for better ways to determine the severity of head injuries that could affect the brain, and how to treat them. Moreover, adults need to discourage a “suck-it-up” culture that encourages young athletes to pay through pain, Obama said.
More here
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President Barack Obama speaks at the White House Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit. Pictured from left to right: LaVar Arrington, former NFL linebacker; Victoria Bellucci, a high school soccer player from Huntingtown, Md.; Taylor Twellman, former professional soccer player; Gen. Ray Odierno, Chief of Staff of the United States Army; R. Dawn Comstock, who runs the national high school sports injury surveillance program called High School RIO; Gerard A Gioia, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center, Pam Oliver, a reporter with NFL on FOX
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Youth sports concussions draw Obama's attention, #NCAA and Defense Department launch $30M effort: apne.ws/1ivCnGf
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AP Sports (@AP_Sports) May 29, 2025****
Lackawanna College, PA, August 23
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The VP back home!
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President Obama’s townhall today:
Text of remarks here
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President Obama and VP Biden at Lackawanna College:
Text of remarks here
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Good reception, lots of regional coverage for Obama’s call to #MakeCollegeAffordable: http://t.co/1Od8TOttxp Huge issue for folks.
— Jesse Lee (@jesseclee44) August 23, 2025
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FACT SHEET on the President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable: A Better Bargain for the Middle Class – see here
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WH.gov
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Thoughtful @nytimes editorial on the President’s plan to make college more affordable for families. http://t.co/podnR4FoXo
— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) August 23, 2025
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23
Aug
13
Barackarooney
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Up next:
12:45 EDT: President Obama participates in a town hall at Binghamton University, NY
White House Live * C-Span * CBS * WBNG
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Syracuse.com: At Tully Junior/Senior High in Tully, N.Y., the president talked to the kids about the end of summer vacation and his plans to help make college more affordable.
…. The girls chattered, squealed and cheered throughout the visit, especially when the president posed with the Black Knights for a photo.
…. The president talked to the girls’ team first, then the boys. He tried to start a little trouble: “Can you guys beat the boys?” Obama asked the girls, and one said. “Oh definitely.”
…. Obama singled out one girl: “You don’t look like you’re in junior high school,” he said to a young girl, Julia, who is 9. Meeting the president, she had said earlier today, was on her bucket list. “Here’s a general rule,” Obama said. “When you’re 9, you don’t need a bucket list,” and the girls laughed. “When you get to be 52, then you might want to draw one up.” With the boys, Obama took a soft pass from one of the players, caught up to it and played with the ball for a couple of seconds (to oohs) before passing it back to the team.
More here
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Tully Junior High student Wayne Rooney applauds the President’s skills
President Obama’s foot rests on a soccer ball as he talks w the soccer team at Tully High School in NY pic.twitter.com/x8IEIxPnde
— petesouza (@petesouza) August 23, 2025
Tully Central High School in Tully, New York, August 23
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Later:
4:40 EDT: President Obama and VP Biden deliver remarks on college affordability at Lackawanna College, PA
26
Mar
13
Having a Ball
Ball: Float. In. Air. #JediMindMeld
Nonchalant after doing Jedi Mind Meld thing
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President Obama hosts a ceremony honoring players and coaches from the National Hockey League Stanley Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings and the Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles Galaxy in the East Room of the White House, March 26
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I don’t want to talk about football/soccer ever again after watching Ireland v Austria.
Okay, I do:
If Ireland had President Obama’s flippin’ ball control, I’d now be swigging champagne.
But …… :-(
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Back in a bit, I need to mend my broken heart.
14
Oct
11
catching up
Donate!
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Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak tips his Detroit Tigers baseball hat
President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at General Motors’ Orion Assembly Plant in Lake Orion, Michigan
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President Obama is seen through a window backstage at the General Motors Lake Orion Assembly Plant in Orion Township, Mich., Oct. 14. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama returns a salute as he gets off Air Force One at Air Force Base after a day trip to Michigan
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AP: U.S. consumers stepped up their spending on retail goods in September, a hopeful sign for the sluggish economy.
They spent more on autos, clothing and furniture last month to boost retail sales 1.1 percent, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the largest gain in seven months.
Auto sales rose 3.6 percent to drive the overall increase. Still, excluding that category, sales gained a solid 0.6 percent.
The government also revised the August figures to show a 0.3 percent increase, up from its initial report of no gain.
Stocks rose after the release of the report, which is the government’s first look at consumer spending each month. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 87 points in afternoon trading. Broader indexes also rose.
A separate Commerce report showed that businesses added to their stockpiles for a 20th consecutive month in August while sales rose for a third straight month. The increase suggests businesses were confident enough in the economy to keep stocking their shelves.
Full article here
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Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood feigns being a blocking back for President Barack Obama as he arrives backstage to meet with GOP House leaders, January 2010
AP: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the most prominent Republican in President Barack Obama’s administration, accused GOP House members Friday of putting their hope for the president to fail ahead of working toward solving the nation’s problems.
Responding to a question about why it was so difficult to get big infrastructure projects built right now, LaHood told a transportation conference that “some people don’t want Obama to be successful.”
“A big percentage of the Republicans that were elected this time came here to do zero, and that’s what they’ve done,” he said. Those lawmakers, he said, have obstructed other people who are trying to get things done.
…. “Here we are almost 12 months from the election and there are some people in Congress - look there are probably 40 people, 40 Republicans, elected to the House to come here to do nothing,” Lahood said. “That’s why they felt they were elected.”
…. “When I was elected in `94 we had a very reform-minded class, 82 new people, but they came here to do something, to solve problems,” he said. “Almost always in the past when people have run for Congress, they ran for Congress on the opportunity to help solve the problems of America.”
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Paul Krugman: Reading the transcript of Tuesday’s Republican debate on the economy is, for anyone who has actually been following economic events these past few years, like falling down a rabbit hole. Suddenly, you find yourself in a fantasy world where nothing looks or behaves the way it does in real life.
And since economic policy has to deal with the world we live in, not the fantasy world of the G.O.P.’s imagination, the prospect that one of these people may well be our next president is, frankly, terrifying.
…. the G.O.P. has responded to the crisis not by rethinking its dogma but by adopting an even cruder version of that dogma, becoming a caricature of itself. During the debate, the hosts played a clip of Ronald Reagan calling for increased revenue; today, no politician hoping to get anywhere in Reagan’s party would dare say such a thing.
It’s a terrible thing when an individual loses his or her grip on reality. But it’s much worse when the same thing happens to a whole political party, one that already has the power to block anything the president proposes — and which may soon control the whole government.
Full post here
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Greg Sargent: By now you may have heard about that 78-year-old grandmother who is fully against Ohio’s new push to roll back collective bargaining rights for public employees - but who had her words brazenly torn out of context and put into an ad advocating for the measure.
The tale has gone national. And now the story is about to get even bigger: The grandma is set to appear in a pro-union ad denouncing the anti-union forces as “desperate” for stealing her words. This will likely earn much more attention to a fight which is now being viewed nationally as yet another major referendum on whether the right will succeed in breaking labor in the industrial heartland.
Could this blunder by the anti-union forces be decisive? Labor hopes so….
Full post here
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Washington Post: As a result of stimulus spending and increased funding through the 2010 health-care law, the number of clinicians participating in a federal program to expand access to care in under-served communities has nearly tripled in the past three years.
About 10,000 doctors, nurses and other providers now participate in the National Health Service Corps, the highest number since the program was established in 1972….Officials estimated that the corps is serving about 10.5 million patients.
Full post here
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