night everyone

So sorry I still haven’t replied to some beautiful emails I received the last couple of days, or kept up with all your comments – the weekend should be a whole lot less crazy …. I hope …. so I’ll reply to everyone then. Thank you all, love ya 😉

PS If there’s anything in particular you’d like me to post over the weekend – eg old videos, speeches, etc – please let me know in the comments.

guiding light

President Barack Obama talks with Press Secretary Jay Carney, left, and Senior Advisor David Plouffe, right, before an interview at the InterContinental Hotel Chicago in Chicago, Ill., April 15. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

oooops

Jon Huntsman, President Obama’s outgoing ambassador to China, is considering running against his boss in 2012 as a Republican.

But two handwritten letters from Huntsman obtained by The Daily Caller raise the question of why he’s not campaigning for Obama instead.

“You are a remarkable leader,” Huntsman wrote to Obama in an Aug. 16, 2009 note, underlining the word “remarkable,” “and it has been a great honor getting to know you.”

The letter thanks Obama for “the graciousness and kindness you have shown me and my family – particularly your confidence in my ability to represent you in China.”….

i’m your man

President Barack Obama during his interview with The Associated Press, April 15, in Chicago

AP: “I think the economy’s going to continue to improve, and I think that I can make an effective case … that not only have I been able to yank this economy out of that hole” but also that he has been able to start making wise fundamental changes. He pointed to overhauling the health care system, investing in clean energy and making college more affordable.

“I’m the person who is best prepared for us to finish the job so that we’re on track to succeed in the 21st century,” Obama said.

President Obama waves from the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, April 15

the navy pier speech

President Obama is introduced by Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel at a DNC fundraiser at Navy Pier in Chicago, April 14

I haven’t had a chance yet today to look for a video of last night’s Navy Pier speech, but here’s the audio to keep you going:

A youngster awaits President Barack Obama at a campaign fundraiser at Navy Pier in Chicago.

Will post the video as soon as I find it!

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PS Sorry again people for not replying to comments and emails the last couple of days, things will be a little less crazy later today and I’ll get back to you all – thank you! 😉

krugman. seriously.

Paul Krugman: Paul Ryan sounds upset. And you can see why: President Obama, to the great relief of progressives, has called his bluff.

Last week, Mr. Ryan unveiled his budget proposal, and the initial reaction of much of the punditocracy was best summed up (sarcastically) by the blogger John Cole: “The plan is bold! It is serious! It took courage! It re-frames the debate! The ball is in Obama’s court! Very wonky! It is a game-changer! Did I mention it is serious?”

Then people who actually understand budget numbers went to work, and it became clear that the proposal wasn’t serious at all. In fact, it was a sick joke. The only real things in it were savage cuts in aid to the needy and the uninsured, huge tax cuts for corporations and the rich, and Medicare privatization. All the alleged cost savings were pure fantasy.

On Wednesday, as I said, the president called Mr. Ryan’s bluff: after offering a spirited (and reassuring) defense of social insurance… And then Mr. Obama laid out a budget plan that really is serious.

The president’s proposal isn’t perfect, by a long shot … but the vision was right, and the numbers were far more credible than anything in the Ryan sales pitch.

And the hissy fit – I mean, criticism – the Obama plan provoked from Mr. Ryan was deeply revealing, as the man who proposes using budget deficits as an excuse to cut taxes on the rich accused the president of being “partisan”. Mr. Ryan also accused the president of being “dramatically inaccurate” – this from someone whose plan included a $200 billion error in its calculation of interest costs and appears to have made an even bigger error on Medicaid costs. He didn’t say what the inaccuracies were.

…What happened over the past two weeks, then, was more about staking out positions than about enacting policies. On one side you had a combination of mean-spiritedness and fantasy; on the other you had a reaffirmation of American compassion and community, coupled with fairly realistic numbers. Which would you choose?

Full article here

“you want to repeal health care? go at it”

CBS: In what he thought was a private chat with campaign donors Thursday evening, President Obama offered the most revealing behind-the-scenes account to date of his budget negotiations with GOP leaders last week.

CBS Radio News White House correspondent Mark Knoller listened in to an audio feed of Mr. Obama’s conversation with donors after other reporters traveling with the president had left the room.

In the candid remarks, Mr. Obama complains of Republican attempts to attach measures to the budget bill which would have effectively killed parts of his hard-won health care reform program.

“I said, ‘You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We’ll have that debate. You’re not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we’re stupid?'” recalled the president of his closed-door negotiations on the bill to fund the federal government until September.

…Mr. Obama bemoaned GOP leaders’ attempts to attach a measure to the budget bill which would have cut funding for Planned Parenthood.

“Put it in a separate bill,” the president said he told Boehner and his staff. “We’ll call it up. And if you think you can overturn my veto, try it. But don’t try to sneak this through.”

…The president told his backers Thursday night that he expects Republicans to continue using that process to enact their political agenda under the guise of cutting spending. He specifically called into question the sincerity of Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan…

“When Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure, he’s just being America’s accountant … This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill – but wasn’t paid for,” Mr. Obama told his supporters. “So it’s not on the level.”

Full article here

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Sneaky work by Mark Knoller …. but the President’s comments were sublime

morning everyone

I’l try to find more video from the the President’s three speeches in Chicago yesterday – you can see the transcripts here

Updates will be a little slower today, I have to go and about again, but will catch up later – promise 😉