leaving hawaii

First Lady Michelle Obama is hugged by Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, before boarding Air Force One at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu

afternoon all

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President Barack Obama’s motorcade drives on Marine Corps Base Hawaii after his early morning workout, Monday, Jan. 2, in Kaneohe, Hawaii

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There’s lots of the usual snark from Andrew Romano in his Daily Beast article about the President’s ‘re-election machine’, but it’s worth a read – it’s an awesome machine! (Link)

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Slate

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Steve Benen: That ought to be interesting: “President Obama will fly to Cleveland hours after the Iowa caucuses for an address on the economy, the White House announced Monday. Obama will travel to the Ohio city aboard Air Force One on Wednesday and will deliver remarks on the economy at Shaker Heights High School. His remarks will come shortly after Hawkeye State voters kick off the 2012 presidential nominating race.”

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Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and her husband Marcus sing and pray while attending services at the Jubilee Family Church on January 1, 2012 in Oskaloosa, Iowa

😕

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Clean Technica: With two years of the Obama administration, almost four times as much clean energy has been put on the grid on public lands as in all the previous 40 years.

All the renewable energy ever permitted on public lands totaled 1,800 MW by the end of 2008. In the last two years, the Department of the Interior has approved 6,600 MW of new projects.

Full article here

the gop pledge

Back soon – chat away 😉

rise and shine

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US News: She’s best known as America’s First Mom, the First Beekeeper, and Veggie Gardener-in-Chief. But first lady Michelle Obama is also getting quite a name in military circles: First Booster for the troops. “Certainly other first ladies and presidents have taken an interest,” says Joyce Raezer, executive director of the National Military Family Association. “But to make supporting military families [a priority], and not just to make it one of the things you do, this is a game-changer,” adds an appreciative Raezer.

Often teamed with her lieutenant, Jill Biden, the vice president’s wife, Obama has organized and attended more events for and with military veterans and their families than any previous first lady, according to veterans groups. This year alone, for example, she’s participated in 50 events, many out of the eye of the media, and even dedicated the White House Christmas tree to supporting veterans. “There is this sense that this is genuine,” says Raezer. “We haven’t had this kind of visibility from the White House – ever.”

Full article here

Thanks Donna

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President Obama and his family will leave Hawaii early Monday evening, the White House announced Sunday, bringing their Christmas vacation to an end.

The first family will depart Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu at 5 p.m. local time (that’s 10 p.m. back in Washington). They’re expected to land at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday morning.

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Mediaite: In an interview with Candy Crowley on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Ron Paul slammed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, saying it “undermined the concept of liberty” and “destroyed the principle of private property and private choices.”

“If you try to improve relationships by forcing and telling people what they can’t do, and you ignore and undermine the principles of liberty, then the government can come into our bedrooms,” Paul explained. “And that’s exactly what has happened. Look at what’s happened with the PATRIOT Act. They can come into our houses, our bedrooms our businesses … And it was started back then.”

More here

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Morning everyone 😉