President Barack Obama greets the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal recipients in the Blue Room of the White House prior to a medal ceremony in the East Room, Oct. 20. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Friday:
9:30 AM President Obama signs the Korea, Panama, Colombia Free Trade Agreements and the renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance for workers
10:30 The President attends a reception in the Rose Garden
2:30 The President honors recipients of the 2010 National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation
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Andrew Sullivan: To rid the world of Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and Moammar Qaddafi within six months: if Obama were a Republican, he’d be on Mount Rushmore by now.
Ian Swanson (The Hill): Obama stands tall after the demise of Libyan strongman Gadhafi
The death of Moammar Gadhafi represents another major foreign policy victory for President Obama, who backed a months-long air campaign in Libya while facing criticism from the left and the right.
Obama stared down congressional skeptics across the political spectrum … Through it all, Obama kept his resolve.
…. On Thursday he basked in the second greatest foreign policy triumph of his administration, after the successful operation this spring that killed Osama bin Laden. Gadhafi’s death comes less than a month after the U.S. drone strike killed al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen.
…. For the unwavering Obama, Thursday came the big payoff as Gadhafi’s hopes for returning to power ended in a field outside his hometown of Sirte.
…. Obama entered the Oval Office as a novice on the international stage, criticized for a naïve outlook on the world.
…. three years into his term, both the bin Laden and Libya events suggest Obama can be steely in making decisions about U.S. force, and in sticking with them.
Full article here
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Jake Tapper: Have you had any difficulty discerning Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney’s precise position on the US involvement in the NATO mission in Libya?
The one consistency has been criticism of President Obama. But beyond that, he’s seemed a bit all over the Libyan map.
To wit:
Position 1: Obama was weak in not doing this sooner
Position 2: (Nothing to say)
Position 3: Obama is being too aggressive
Position 4: After Gadhafi fell: Hooray! Now release the Lockerbie bomber
Position 5 – (Somewhat similar to position 1): It’s about time! The world is a better place without him!
See full post here
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Washington Post: Marco Rubio’s compelling family story embellishes facts, documents show
During his rise to political prominence, Sen. Marco Rubio frequently repeated a compelling version of his family’s history that had special resonance in South Florida. He was the “son of exiles,” he told audiences, Cuban Americans forced off their beloved island after “a thug,” Fidel Castro, took power.
But a review of documents – including naturalization papers and other official records – reveals that the Florida Republican’s account embellishes the facts. The documents show that Rubio’s parents came to the United States and were admitted for permanent residence more than 2 and a half years before Castro’s forces overthrew the Cuban government and took power on New Year’s Day 1959.
The supposed flight of Rubio’s parents has been at the core of the young senator’s political identity …. he mentions his parents in the second sentence of the official biography on his Senate Web site. It says that Mario and Oriales Rubio “came to America following Fidel Castro’s takeover.”….
The real story of his parents’ migration appears to be a more conventional immigrant narrative, a couple who came to the United States seeking a better life. In the year they arrived in Florida, the future Marxist dictator was in Mexico plotting a quixotic return to Cuba.
Full article here
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Michael Tomasky (Daily Beast): The economy needs help. The Democrats’ proposals are popular. And yet they’re dying in Congress. Why? Because the GOP hates Obama more than it loves America.
Maybe as early as Thursday night, the Senate will take its first vote on one bite-size piece of President Obama’s jobs bill, a $35 billion measure to fund the hiring of 400,000 teachers and a smaller number of cops and firefighters. It will fail. As usual not a single Republican will vote for it….
…. The Republican Party’s posture to the American people is this. Your opinion on issues like teachers and taxes doesn’t matter a whit to us … if you keep that man in the White House, we will block everything he and you want. Everything. And nothing will happen in this town for those next four years. The Republicans can’t say any of this, of course, but they don’t have to. People get it. It just sort of seeps out of them, like oil from a polluted stream.
I have trouble keeping lunch down when I read these jeremiads about how sad and mysterious it is that our institutions of government are failing. It’s not a mystery. One side wants them to fail. And there’s very little the other side can do about it, besides point it out, which the president has started doing – and now he’s the one being divisive! They’ve turned the world inside out.
Full article here
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The video is glitchy, will get a better version tomorrow – but stick with it, Rachel was on fire
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Nearly there, thank you so much everyone:
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Update:
LA Times: Republican-led opposition in the Senate blocked a key element of President Obama’s jobs plan – a proposal to send $35 billion to cash-strapped states to keep public school teachers, police and firefighters on the job.
The Senate voted 50-50 late Thursday, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Polls have shown the proposal is among the most popular flanks of Obama’s jobs initiative.
President Obama shakes hands with Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) after he signed the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, October 8, 2010
The Hill: Democrats Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.), who voted last week to block Obama’s full jobs measure, again sided with Republicans.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, also said no, citing concerns about the legislation’s cost effectiveness.
Contact Mark Pryor here
Joe Lieberman – Twitter – Email
From two days ago:
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Joan, in case you drop in, thinking of you, hope all’s well and you’re recovering from your surgery. Take care of yourself, see you soon.
The Obama Diary 
The jobs bill vote turns my stomach. I’ve run out of wine so I’m going to bed. Good night all, and here’s to a better tomorrow :).
VIVA OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!
Feel sick. Drinking Limoncello while watching the news…….
Our4thEstate Bobfr
Hey Veterans #KOCHMAFIA boss McConnell just attacked US teachers, 1st responders, firefighters. We need you to defend them #OccupyCongress
Our4thEstate Bobfr
Hey #ows, it’s the #KOCHMAFIA in the US Congress that enables WS to do all their harm to Americans. Focus. #OccupyCongress NOW Vote in 2012.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
#KOCHMAFIA Boss McConnell – You are as much a threat to the US economy & 99% of Americans as any terrorist on this planet, IF NOT MORE SO.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
#ows it is time for millions to #OccupyCongress EVERY DAY until the #KOCHMAFIA #GOP are forced to create jobs or Resign. Do It. NOW
Our4thEstate Bobfr
#KOCHMAFIA boss McConnell and the anti-American #GOPFAIL Senate just denied teachers, firefighters, 1st responders jobs. #OccupyTheSenate!
Our4thEstate Bobfr
Hey US Troops #GOP Bush & Cheney had you suffer & die in an illegal Iraqi war. Pres Obama is ending that mess & trying to find jobs for you.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
Hey US troops, #KOCHMAFIA funded #GOPFAIL give you & our President ZERO credit for your courageous efforts to protect Libyan civilians.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@maddow #KOCHMAFIA bosses Boehner, Cantor & McConnell hit-jobs on our economy & middle class serves their bigoted agenda to harm Pres Obama.
#PRESSON
It was Sen. Pryor, Lieberman, and that big nose trader Nelson who voted against the bill. All three of them are traders to Teachers, Policemen, Firefighters. A big disgrace. I hope someone runs against Nelson and defeat him, he is not a Democrat.
OMG! Have you guys seen this video? 1980’s Sitcom Predicted Gaddafi’s Death – Look at the year.
Wow…..just a few months off. Talk about karma. I bet death could not come fast enough when he was captured by the people he tortured for all those years.
What he say?
I’m too through. Cornel West is nucking futs!!!!!
Uh, yes he is OR he’s on drugs.
I’ve been tweeting GOP senators. #GOP Thank you for killing #JobsBill that creates 400K jobs for Cops/Teachers/Firefighters. Come 2012 you’ll be on the unemployment line.
I also tweeted these nut jobs: @marcorubio @SenJohnMcCain @ChuckGrassley @SenJohnThune @SenSnowe @SenCollins @USSenScottBrown @JohnCornyn @SenDeanHeller @SenJohnBarrasso You just guaranteed @BarackObama a 2nd term by killing #JobsBill for the middleclass. #ThankYou.
They’re pretty much screwed. President Obama iss going to use this jobs killing vote on his jobs tour to demolish them. 2012 Here We Come.
I think the GOP is over beating President Obama. It is all about the Senate. If the Dems don’t hold on, and they don’t regain the House, we’re screwed.
I forgot to say “PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE” and vote DEMOCRATS in!!!
That’s what concerns me. There are more Dems up for re-election than Repubs. Hopefully, some of these Repub voters in states like OH, WI, and IN will come to their senses and vote for Dems.
Are you kidding. Repubs don’t vote for Dems. They are a loyal group.
I wish the Dems were loyal. We would not be in this mess right now.
The GOP are bastards. Democrats HAVE to be on the airwaves tomorrow, calling out Republicans for their HATE of Americans. We all need to phone the DNC, to start doing their jobs. They got the GOP to go on record for their hate for their own country, now it’s time to hammer it with them.
The Repubs hate the poor, people of color, gays, most of all.
So the loser Tester voted no again, wasn’t he a big favorite of Kos? Apparently he was suppose to be such a progressive voice.
Nice choice.
Just to show that they know nothing.
From what I read there were 2 Dems Pryor of Ark and Nelson of Neb., and Lieberman, an Indpendent. Tester voted yes. I was pleased. I will call his office tomorrow and thank him.
I saw it on twitter….good to know than…..he’s still a loser for voting no the first time,…no excuse.
Especially that it was all paid for,.
Yes he did vote yes mtmarilyn.. thank you so much for staying on him- well done 🙂
I’m going to tweet my dem senator tomorrow & all dems and remind them to speak up all over the airwaves and make it very clear- because the media will not- that it was the repubs in Congress who failed this bill/measure. I will never as long as I live trust any republican.
Congrats, Marilyn. 🙂
It wasn’t Tester, it was Pryor and that thing from Nebraska. And that loser from Connecticut.
Voted against the bill tonight were: Ben Nelson of Nebraska( he voted yes when his name was called, then he turned around as he was about to walk away, and held his hand and did a NO thumbs down.) I was watching the entire procedure. Lieberman voted NO, and Pryor voted NO.
They all are shameful jackarses. Plain and simple. How can these people sleep tonight, I can’t even go there. I am so pissed now, I can’t see straight. This hurts like hell. I know this act tonight is hurting millions of people in so many ways, we will never know. I just ask for peace to come to the many families who are waiting for a job.
This is so painful. I have seen a lot of hate in my life , in many ways directed at me directly, and this pain feels like that now. Please pray for me TOD family. I do not like to see people hurt. Children, wives, husbands, seniors, babies , disable , all who have no means to make this work for them right now.HZ
Turn your anger and hurt into action tomorrow, HZ. It will make you feel better when you confront these Senators – both left and right – and force them to start working for the people who pay their salaries. Take care!
Thank you theo67. I plan to do all that I can to help others’ lives to become more stable during this very difficult time. I am not a whiner, but I will never hide my emotions when it comes to feeling the pain when another person is hurting. I believe the one thing that makes our TOD family so beautiful are kind and helpful words like yours, theo67. They are encouraging words. So thank you very much.
Work has always been my other companion within my core which was instilled in me at a very early age by my parents and grandparents. So I will regroup from this vote tonight, and I will do what is appropriate for my brothers and sisters who do not have a job.
I also am grateful to Chipsticks for our haven here, because we can express our hurt and pain, and take time to regroup, discuss the next steps to be taken to assist our president to complete the work that he has started to further the necessary task of putting people back to work. So because we will have to endure many more votes of this nature for the next couple of weeks, we will also have to be here for each other with those kind and gentle words of encouragment such as those spoken by you and many others within our family here.
Thank you so much. We will make it through this, and we will find a way to help those who are in dire need at this difficult time in our country. Much thanks again,HZ
House GOP leader to play his own version of “class warfare” in Fri. Wharton speech on income disparity/unemployment at 4:30 pm ET.
Leader Cantor to Deliver Remarks: “A Fair Shot at the American Dream & Economic Growth” at Wharton on Friday
I can’t wait to see how the corrupt media will spin this in his favor…..
Well. Americans: What Say You? Are you ready to kick these teabaggers out of office yet? There’s no way they should have their jobs after voting to take yours away.
The President is not going to give up, he is going to keep going and going, and I am going with him all the way. Any fool can see just what the Republicans are doing. Mitch McConnell have order those idiots not to support anything and they are going right along with what he says. Even if some may agree with some of the plans, it is all about 2012. We have to make them pay. Including Pryor, Nelson, too. Thank God that piece of crap Joe Lieberman is retiring.
yup. All those I-hate-blackety-black-in-the-WH voters and the ‘non-voters’ (the real traitors), you reaped what you had sown and it ain’t pretty.
I’m sick to my stomach about this vote. it just defies all human reason.
The stage is now set for the biggest contrasts of values in our nation’s history.
Meta, I believe I know how you feel. I have gone downstairs for three snacks in less than 30 min. That is not good. This is shameful, but I believe deep down in my heart that we will prevail in a way that will blow the minds of these rotten to the core people. I have to hold on to that belief. I have had to do it in the past.
Chips, this is why this our precious haven is so sweet.HZ
Thank you for your spirit HZ in the face of all this madness. Love ya.
Thank you, Chipsticks. We will be fine. I am a very strong fighter, so I will make it, and our TOD family will make it. I am one who DO NOT Quit. And I know you do not quit. Thanks so much Chipsticks. I will be fine. We know how to resolve this madness. Work hard to get both the House and fill the Senate with strong people. It is time for change.
If you ever wanted a strong and fighting soidier, I Am One. Those who really know me, will tell you just that. We will make this work for POB and the many people who really need our help in this very difficult time.
so ebn nelson has been a rethugs mole since nineties?
That’s a good name for it. They are MOLES.
I really, truly, deeply hope the Democratic Party is busy working to identify and elect new senators and congresspeople in all corners of this country. We need energetic, electable people who know how to run hard and are willing to do the tough work of retail politics. We had a lot of duds running in 2010 matched up against a very rabid teabagging crew, and still a lot of those races were squeakers. We can turn this all around if the party will pull out all the stops. We have enough talent. We have a superstar President. We should be able to do this.
PJ, this is one of my biggest worries. We need a very deep bench and we need to work it like crazy. I’m sick of the turncoat weasels in Congress. In these climate, I just don’t understand how anyone could be a half-hearted Democrat, no matter where they live.
I’m worried too, I’d really like to see the Democrats get behind the President and really push for this jobs bill loudly and vocally and shame those 3 dems, and repubs like Scott Brown, and Collins and Snowe, along with Chambliss (who’s an Ind) and Lisa Murkowski. What a disappointment she’s turned out to be…thought she’d be more independent.
One(I don’t know if you do or not, PJ) could tweet Debbie Wasserman Schultz with your hope..it’s only too evident what needs to be done. And, Hopefully Connecticut will vote in a real Democratic Senator next year.
tim kaine defends mitten’s religion ‘vigorously’. So where were/are you defending dems vigorously all these years ? And why the fuck are you butting your nos in the rethugs’ cage fight ?
Joan, just wanted to send lots of healing thoughts and prayers to you. Hope you’re comfortable and are able to rejoin us here. Take good care.
Well, with Tester voting yea, we know that our voices are being heard….we just need to not get discouraged and keep calling, tweeting, emailing, and faxing.
In every message, there should be a sentence that states “we are keeping names and checking them twice come Congressional Voting Time”.
Chipsticks – the Rachel Maddow vid was very clear…I heard her loud and clear…she told the Koch brothers to bring it!
Thank you GGail, relieved to hear the video was watchable! See you tomorrow, thanks for everything 😉
Candles burning, meds in mouth, and trying to be quiet. Yes, comforting words to Joan, Sue, and any TOD family members. We will continue to lift you both up in our thoughts with goodness in our hearts. We will be just fine. We are on the right side of this thing.HZ
Chips—-a typo in the Rubio expose’—–parents arrived more than 2 1/2 yrs. before Castro, not 21. Still—–Rubio is a fooler, a trickster, an embellisher, a liar, not to be trusted.
The jobs bill defeat by the repugnant Repubs is sickening—–literally. I’ve never seen anything like this radical crew of anti-Americans in our govt. It’s just complete selfish disregard for this country and its people. Obama’s job act has 63% approval by the public, and this piece, allowing states to keep teachers and first responders on the job, was the most popular. The GOP is giving the country the finger. The country needs to return the favor and vote these rats out of office. They’re an American wrecking crew.
Oh thank you Dotster, fixed the mistake.
I don’t know why, it was inevitable, but I’m still stunned by the vote tonight. It’s so true, they will do anything – literally anything – to bring down this President, even if it means destroying all around them. I can’t even find the words to describe how I feel about them, ‘hate’ is way too mild. See you tomorrow Dotster, thanks again.
The Republicans have made it all about 2012, we have to get ready to fight, do what ever we can to be the last one standing in this fight, along with President Obama and some real Democrats. We have to get ready to kick some asses. I’m fired up and ready to fight. Fired Up and Ready to Go. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
And when you have fools like Cornel West going on national TV and claiming that there is no difference between Dems and Repubs, it makes me even angrier. It’s precisely that attitude that allowed these Teabaggers to get into congress last year.
Cornell West is a jealous heart fool. I still can’t figure out why Ed had him on . I just wonder is Ed going to revert back to a firebagger since he wants the President to go to Ohio and OWS? Maybe he has Ed duped. I hope Ed never invites this black fool on his show again.
I’m so angry about those Tea-baggers / Dixecrats over the Jobs bill. I feel like if I am, there must a millions of others too who will vote these fools out. The tea baggers and Northern dixecrats are cooking their own goose I do believe.
It’s very early and rhum is wearing off. As i’ve said before,the GOP has no interest in people, or investing in America’s future. It’s only interested in MONEY, and is not only trashing it’s own house, it’s hell-bent on burning down the entire neighborhood, and surrounding villages, all because of their blinding, personal greed and poisonous hatred for one man.
It is my belief that there is a message here and that the ALMIGHTY has a plan.
Goodnight everyone.
It is my belief that there is a message here and that the ALMIGHTY has a plan. ““““ You got that right *yardarm*, and I’ve been saying that all along. God’s got this, and God Is always on time, even when things look bleak and dim, God’s on time. God Is gonna show up, we just have to do all that we can do. Keep the Faith *TODers*, keep the Faith, It’s not over yet, It’s not the swift, but the one who endures to the END. Keep the Faith, my Friends, keep the Faith 🙂
You know this is a little scary because we have senators who are not afraid of losing their jobs. They are voting against a very important core of our society. Educators, fire fighters, and law enforcement. They don’t care and are so blatant in their position. It is like they have been reassured that if they should run for office that they will be reelected because it is in the works to manipulate the vote. This is why the poll numbers are so skewed. They want the American people to remain ignorant and to continue the ting and yang memo concerning our President.
If he goes right, he should have gone left. If he says no, he should have said yes. I think the Repubs have shifted. They are not so worried about the presidency because laws are established in Congress and if they get enough tea party elected it is all over for our country.
We need to be watchful and proactive. Press on. We have a great President Obama and his team.
People, make your voices heard at the voting booth next year. We can do this. YES WE CAN! Voting is the best revolution going.