Senator Patrick Leahy takes a picture as President Obama signs the American Invents Act at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, September 16
Read about the Act here
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President Obama speaks before signing the America Invents Act
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President Obama visits a classroom and watches students Meghan Clark and Nathan Hughes demonstrate the FIRST Robot, a robot created in the school’s prototyping and robotics senior research labs for last year’s FIRST Robotics Competition, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. Later in the morning Obama signed the America Invents Act, which reforms patent law so to give a patent to the first applicant rather than the first inventor and allows the woefully underfunded U.S. Patent and Trade Office to set and potentially keep its own fees.
President Obama’s signature on the FIRST Robot
The Obama Diary 
Have called Boner’s office 6 times in the past hour. Twice left messages, not rude, but not as kind and respectful as the other day when I called. This time I said Pass the AJA, as President Obama has presented it, it is important to all those who, unlike you, do not have a job at this time. Will keep ringing that phone…..
Pamela…I spoke with an aide…he was very nice. I told him to pass everything but the “Free Trade” part. Coming from Ohio…the Speaker knows it is bad for his state and the country. I have emailed too. You can also call his other offices…most reps have two or more. If DC number is busy…try his district number in Ohio
I called twice & neither the gentleman or the lady was were nice. I was calm when I called both times, but they both hung up on me. I couldnt leave a voicemail message as his voice mail was full. I also called my two Senators Alexander & Corker(not that it will do any ago) as well as Senator Bob Casey of PA.
Good to see you here, gal. I called Alexander and Corker and Duncan last week. I definitely have a story to tell you about calling Alexander’s office….way too long to go into here. Let’s do lunch again and I’ll fill you in. Called Boehner’s office this morning (after calling yesterday too); on hold for 23 minutes…..couldn’t hold any longer so called back and left a message.
I just left a message for Boehner to put PBO’s AJA up for a vote. I think Donna’s action idea is a good one. Some Repubs are saying there has been very little increase in call volume. Don’t know if that’s true. I wonder when OFA will get involved with a specific campaign like during HCR debate. That campaign worked so well that even Dems asked PBO to call off OFA. Side Note: some Dems are so sorry…smh. Maybe I missed OFA’s called to action emails. But again, thanks Donna for setting up this day of action
Good Morning Everyone
Will get on the phone to boehner as soon as I am done here.
I had not seen this video, and thought it would help lift our spirits and motivate us on the Friday Facebook Smackdown of Boehner
Yes Elizabeth! Good luck to you. Thanks WIW – great post
Now – back to the jobs bill
More Organizations and Businesses Respond to the American Jobs Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/13/more-organizations-and-businesses-respond-american-jobs-act
I posted too soon
I wanted to add this to the post above. It would be great if all of us could start to gather endorsements of this bill on a local level. Local politicans, unions, churches, etc. I am not sure how to go about it, but think it is an idea that should be shared with OFA – how do we make a suggestions to OFA?
WIW go to the OFA website and they have email addresses and numbers you can contact to give suggestions. What you are suggestion is spot on. Thanks for all you do. 😉
Thank you what is working….I gave to her campaign already and will do so in the future. We have Lois Frankel running against Allen West here in Florida…I give to her campaign too. I don’t live in that district but am just north of it. I am lucky to have a progressive rep. Ted Deutch is quiet but stead fast. He won Robert Wexlers seat. I am working phones tomorrow to garner support. Being Jewish helps.
There’s live streaming (video) of the event at http://www.cnn.com/live – the White House only has audio.CNN video is already up.
I wish the country had listened to PBO last year before the midterms and turned out to not give the Teathugs the KEYS back. WE are suffering the consequences continuously. 😕 That being said I have signed up for the petition in Pennsylvania and am calling Boehner’s office to PASS THE BILL!! Our President works hard so we must as well or we won’t meet our goals. KEEP HOPE ALIVE!! YES WE CAN!! YES WE DID!! YES WE WILL AGAIN!! Obama/Biden 2012!!
Axelrod:
Media focused on the presidents poll numbers as if they existed in a black box:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/09/david_axelrod_memo_media_focus.html
Lol! Axelrod is going off, lately!
He really is. I just tweeted it. Thanks, Jovie.
Loved what he said.
Donald Trump: ‘Jim Perry’ Is A Great Candidate! [VIDEO] 😉
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/donald-trump-jim-perry-is-a-great-candidate-video.php
I love the pictures with the Robotics team…my oldest son was huge into the FIRST Robotics program at his high school. I remember all the long days, nights and weekends he spent with the rest of his team at school getting ready for competition. Yes, was into sports too but his Senior year he gave ALL of his time to Robotics. His school team made it all the way to state finals….they missed regional competition by just a few points. Watching the competition was more exciting than when his baseball team won the conference championship. He is now getting his Masters in EE.
My daughter was in the program. I did the lunch fundraisers for “Panda Robotics” . She also went to Space Camp in Florida won the coveted “The Right Stuff” award. Eventually she chose to be a writer of science fiction but to this day still tinkers. She built her computer.
Now she lives in Hollywood. Her science background lets her bring a very discerning eye to the table when she’s working with her partner. She’s still in touch with her JPL mentor. While we have never been blessed with “money” I am thankful everyday for the choices we made regarding her education. I wish your son all the best. Electrical Engineering is a brain sport…not for beginners. Good on you Mom!
Anti-Immigrant Bill Faces Growing Opposition From House GOP, Tea Party
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/09/16/320956/anti-immigrant-bill-faces-growing-opposition-from-house-gop-tea-party/
Republican E-Verify Bill Faces Growing Internal Opposition
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/republican-e-verify-bill-opposition_n_964915.html?1316121080
E-VERIFY FACING UNEXPECTED OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE, TAXPAYER & TEA PARTY GROUPS: Media Campaign Launched Today with First National Ad & Letter to Congress
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/e-verify-facing-unexpected-opposition-from-conservative-taxpayer-tea-party-groups-media-campaign-launched-today-with-first-national-ad-letter-to-congress-2011-09-15
So the answer is comprehensive immigration reform. Can it be done in 13+ months. I hope the dems make it clear that this is being pushed by republicans in the house. I’d like to find out more of how this would work even as a part of immigration reform. Is this a financial burden on business large and small?
Boehner’s ‘Transparency’ Hypocrisy: Keep DOMA Defense In The Closet
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/09/16/320981/boehners-transparency-hypocrisy-keep-doma-defense-in-the-closet/
Boehner announces second push for bill transparency online
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/110345-boehner-announces-second-push-for-bill-transparency-online
Boehner Introduces the House GOP Congressional Transparency Initiative
House squelches recording of DOMA court arguments
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/09/12/house-squelches-recording-of-doma-court-arguments/
@ShawnaNBCNews
POTUS will meet w/ Libyan TNC Chair Mustafa Abdel Jalil while in NYC nxt wk.
Household debt drops for 12th straight quarter
Household debt declined by a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.6%, dragged lower by a 2.4% decline in mortgage debt as consumers took out fewer mortgages, paid off or how had debts forgiven, the Federal Reserve reported in its voluminous flow-of-funds report….
The corporate sector continued to stockpile cash, reaching a record $2.05 trillion at the end of the second quarter, up from $1.96 trillion at the end of the first quarter and as little as $1.4 trillion in 2008.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/household-debt-drops-for-12th-straight-quarter-2011-09-16?siteid=bnbh
Boehner Spends $520 Per Hour On DOMA Defense After Promising ‘More Cuts’ In Govt Spending
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/04/19/177361/boehner-doma-clement/
Top Five Homophobic Statements From Boehner’s DOMA Briefs
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/08/02/286037/top-five-homophobic-statements-from-boehners-doma-briefs/
Boehner Claims Homosexuality Is A Choice In Effort To Preserve ‘Defense Of Marriage Act’
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/09/16/320808/boehner-claims-homosexuality-is-a-choice-in-effort-to-preserve-defense-of-marriage-act/
So this is my first call of the day to Bonhner office since I have been at work and already I can see this will not be pleasant. Before i could get a full sentence out I was hung up on. That better had been an accident. I’m not going to get rude YET. Lets try this again.
Obama/Biden2012&I’mIn
I think they have gotten tenser as the day wears on. I called about 9am PST and got a polite young man. I was on hold for about 10 minutes.
What is the take away from this – IT WORKED
They are flustered. This was an absolutely BRILLIANT IDEA – can we do it again please?
I would suggest the Dems who are dragging their heals, then we can just start taking nominations.
I felt so powerful making the calls and knowing others were making calls with me. DonnaDem – you rock
I loved how Romney said that Cheney is the kind of man he wants as a VP. Boy oh boy and Mittens is supposed to be the moderate face of the party.
Is he opening the door for Liz Cheney, Dick’s evil spawn?
Oh, I just love those baby shots.
Isn’t that little pumpkin a cutie patootie? The President isn’t bad either.
Picture #4…….Fierce!
The woman in photo 16 with the look of pure joy on her face is how I would look and feel if I got that close to PBO. Great, great, photos.
Goodness I love this man(swoooooon) ! I emailed Sen Jim Webb’s (D-VA) and let him know he needs to support the president with getting the Job’s bill passed ..otherwise the Democrats will go down in history as the party that won the presidency ,but refused to help their nominee do the heavy lifting …and dare I say sabotage many of his efforts..history will judge them harshly. I fully expect the teaparty\Rep to be against President Obama..but the so called Dems..thts it they need to hand in their card..so done with them !!
The baby with the Obama shirt is just gorgeous!!
I love to see him with babies. I’m glad to see First Robotics get some love. The program did wonders for my daughter back in 2002. Between First Robotics and Space Camp she learned a lot about herself, science, engineering and team work. Now she’s 26 and writing science fiction and her respect for pure science only enhances her imagination.
I hope President Obama makes a similar trip to speak at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD which has a math/science/computer magnet and a very high minority population. Those kids are awesome, too!
Who takes these photos? The reason I ask is that my son is a student at TJHSST and got to personally present the school’s satellite to the President. Obama then posed by their project poster with his arm over my son’s shoulder and photos were taken. Any idea how I can find a copy of that photo?
Hi Steve, those photos came from Daylife, here’s the link to the President’s visit that day –
http://www.daylife.com/search?q=obama+Thomas+Jefferson+High+School
And Getty:
http://www.gettyimages.ie/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-GB&family=editorial&assetType=image&p=obama+Thomas+Jefferson+school
Hope you find a photo of your son! Thanks Steve.
Thanks for getting back to me. There are lots of photos of the event that happened in the gymnasium like these. The photo I’m trying to find was taken earlier in one of the labs at the school. I have found a couple of photos from there on line, but not the one I seek.
I doubt it’s been published, so I’m trying to track down the photographers who were there to see if they have it. Any thoughts on how to do that?
Thanks.
Hi Steve,
I’d guess that the official White House photographer Pete Souza was there that day, so you could try to make contact with through:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Best of luck Steve.
You can also tweet Pete Souza directly at @petesouza – good luck!