President Obama arrives at Miami International Airport, March 29
****
Text of the President’s remarks here
****
****
President Obama speaks with officials as he tours the PortMiami tunnel project
****
147 Responses to “Miami”
Comments are currently closed.
Obama White House.gov
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
WH Tumblr
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
The People’s View
- Follow me at my new venture: Reclaim the Fight Spandan Chakrabarti
- Ignore the bait: Why it’s the right strategy for Democrats to focus SCOTUS fight on health care Spandan Chakrabarti
- BIG: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to shortcut the census Spandan Chakrabarti
- Trump doesn't want peaceful transition of power. Legally, it doesn’t matter. Spandan Chakrabarti
- Fauci goes off on Rand Paul Spandan Chakrabarti
Smartypants
- The Lie Embedded in Carlson's Great Replacement Theory
- Can Democrats Work With the "New Right" on Anti-Trust Issues?
- Alito's Embrace of Junk Science Will Make Several Forms of Contraception Illegal
- Biden: "This Is No Longer Your Father's Republican Party"
- The Only Way to Fight Back Against a Radicalized Supreme Court
Steve Benen
- President Biden arrives in South Korea for Asia trip
- Petraeus: Ukraine has won by keeping Russia from achieving its main objective
- Petraeus: What Putin has really done is make NATO great again
- Bill de Blasio announces his run for Congress
- Abbott needs to be held accountable for what happened, says senator
The Obama Diary 
Howdy!
boy I’ve been away for weeks and weeks and might be first??
You tied, Susan. Congrats to you and Carol!
I I hadn’t been chatting I would have been No. !
I was chatting profoundly on the last thread. But kudos to Carol and Susan.
Thanks 57
Ah, beaten by Carol Mae… Congrats CM!
What a few weeks. Have been scanning and skimming my TOD fix. So glad to be “back.”
Welcome back, Susan!
Thanks, THEO!
By the blink of an eye. 😉
CaroleMae and Susan, well, well, a two-way Tie 😉
Congratulations 🙂
Congrats on 1st CarolMae. Boy am I out of touch. I thought the President was going to Colorado.
Thanks. Jackie, next week is CO.
Who are those handsome guys with the red ties?
Don’t know Judith, but PBO seemed more than happy to pose for a pic with them!
Yep – it looked like he was art-directing the photo shoot with them. WOW!
🙂 He’ll be making movies in no time, Judith!
me too, me too!!
The President looked really good today…
Yes, but why is he always ‘undressing’ in public? I shall have to have a talk with him!
Because he goes to hot places and he gets hot. (Just a thought or two or three about it!)
Please don’t… 😉
You know I think he looked really well rested yesterday with the Moms and despite the sadness surrounding the event it’s the best I’ve seen him appear in months. The trip to the middle east must have been really good.
You’re right. He looked even better yesterday – he just seems to be relaxed and where he belongs.
The sky is Blue, the Sun is shining, the Main Event, smiling with his pearly teeth, looking firmly Fit……Oh Yeah 😉
It is Good Friday. The truth must be shared ;). OK I made the last sentence up 😆
We had a few 4. something’s this month.
Thank you so much. Everyone enjoy your week-end. Is their anything better than fresh asparagus from the garden? Ours doesn’t even make it to the table. We eat it raw while picking. Spring, glorious spring! Let’s move! 🐞 In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~ John Muir
Yoou mean you can grow them? I thought they fell off a tree already presorted in a fat rubber band.
No, they grow very well in cold areas. The Joy of gardening.
What a whole lotta of Love shown to the POTUS with Mostest 😉
Enjoy 😉
🙂
I Like His take very Much 😉
😆
Great Job, Chips. Thanks.
These pictures are just Fantastic.
Love it when he’s out and about with the people. You can tell it gives him pleasure and the response from every crowd is wonderful.
That’s cool, I want to see that movie 42.
Howdy Obots!
Yesterday’s kerfuffle over the “Democratic Six” got me to thinking. So, of course, it’s becoming a post. It should be ready for tomorrow, and as my fellow blog tyrants can see it’s entitled “Politics and the big tent”.
Now off to shoe shopping for the missus! Really, I don’t know how the French can take month long holidays; two weeks and I’m bouncing off the walls.
You need to get up and go drive up and down your beautiful coastline and watch whales, walk the beach, taste wine.
Profitez de votre temps sur la terre.
Careful, CarolMae, from what I know of LL he’ll probably only notice the ‘taste wine’ suggestion! 😆
🙄
dance!
ain’t nothing wrong with a little bump and grind…
THIS IS JUST AWESOME
Eco/system: Obama announces plan for flora, fauna and climate change
By Kent Jones
————————–
As if there weren’t enough going on this week, the Obama Administration announced the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, a coordinated government strategy to protect animals and plants from the perils of climate change. According to the Department of the Interior
————————————-
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/29/17518378-ecosystem-obama-announces-plan-for-flora-fauna-and-climate-change?lite
Did you say flora & fauna? Oh my! 💡
This is old (Sept. 2011) but it might make you smile.
http://juanitajean.com/2011/09/30/a-man-walks-into-a-bar/
I’m sorry. I only smile at things after Sept. 2011. (Ha! How are you doing, VC? We have sun in the Midwest today!)
VC, you are bad! JuanitaJean was absolutely hilarious!
Shout out to #2, currently in the Motherland:
Two moments I’ll never forget. The first time I heard Miriam Makeba, fifty years ago and the first time I set foot on African soil, 15 years ago. Changed me.
Thank you for saying that. The first time I heard her was on a Harry Belafonte special in the 50’s I think. #2 spent time there in 2010 and swears it changed her life. It took forever after her return for her to even watch TV again. She became really introspective.
I’m sitting here getting all sentimental. Kids and grandkids spread out all over. Makes a cookemom feel all discombobulated on this special week-end.
Post link again for #2 please. 😉 Thanks for sharing video.
Thank you CarolMae. Here it is: http://www.mydestination.com/users/kelauni/bbb#tab I really appreciate your asking and your support.
She’s at 925 🙂
wonderful!
This was beautiful. Yes it is attached to beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing yours.
Mama Afrika!!
Partial bucket list — visit West Africa, visit South Africa, visit more of Africa 🙂
The GOP’s Post-Election Outreach Hits Some Speed Bumps
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/03/gop-minority-outreach-setbacks.php
For the season, for your own reasons:
Happy Good Friday TOD!
To my Maryland peeps from our OFA leader:
Dear Friends,
Join Greater Silver Spring volunteers to write letters to the editor that publicize the harmful effects of sequestration budget cuts on Maryland residents and identify better solutions.
Wireless is available for laptops and cell phones. You can look up data on sequester effects and post letters to the editor on sequester in local newspapers. Please bring a list of newspapers and local media that we should contact, so you can share that information at the meeting.
GSS Letters against Sequestration
(Letters to the Editor Party)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Please click this link for more info and to RSVP- https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/letterstotheeditorparty/gsk4m4
See you on Wed, April 3
Cell phones and drones and facebook and privacy….
I ran across the article by Al Giordano that I used in the post below because I was looking for something he said about all this in Facebook, Privacy, and The New Exhibitionism.
The democratization of public or semi-public exhibitionism has thrown traditional concerns about “personal privacy” out the window.
Who needs the CIA anymore when everybody is out there blurting the kinds of secrets it used to take surveillance to discover? Privacy
didn’t disappear because Big Brother took it away. We gave it away! Freely! It fell aside to a greater impulse: the need to expose
ourselves in public, to have an audience, and to keep it.
……..
http://www.immasmartypants.blogspot.ca/2013/03/privacy-is-era-of-facebook.html
Thanks VC for sharing Smartypants’ post. I think she is one of the most astute bloggers on the scene toady. I am also a big fan of Al Giordano, another smart and very pragmatic political analyst whose liberal/progressive credentials can not be questioned. This is indeed a must read post!
Hi Nath, I went away to pretend to do some chores and have a real ‘sit-down’ meal and never expected too many people to respond to my recommendation below, but I sure am glad to see that people read it. As most of you know, SmartyP regularly shares really thoughtful stuff.
Yes She does, VC! Also know this: although I rarely respond to your posts/comments I always appreciate your comments pragmatism. It’s just that I come to this blog so late that I always think it’s pointless to comment when everyone has gone to sleep. At the same time, the issues that I am passionate about, and I know a little bit about, I always feel compelled to say something.
I really, really, really, REALLY think this Smartpants column featuring Al Giordano is worth a bit of your time. Here is the concluding paragraph
In my mind – all of that holds true when we talk about prosecution of the big banks. If it could be done in a way that doesn’t set off another great recession, I wouldn’t necessarily be against it. But I too worry about liberal bloodlust for witch hunts and how that leads to a complacency about our own responsibilities for the step-by-step process that is really required for change.
http://www.immasmartypants.blogspot.ca/2013/03/al-giordano-warns-us-about-becoming.html
thank you vcprez, I read this article, at your recommendation, and I cherish the
commitment to the long haul that is reflected here, the deep connection to personal
responsibility, step by step. It is what’s ~true~ for me. Thank you for getting my attention.
xoxoxo to you.
YW, SCC. Smartypants herself has had an ongoing dialogue re the President and his ‘North Star’ (long haul) that she updates from time to time. It makes reassuring reading for me, to be periodically reminded that this President isn’t just speaking from the top of his head at any given moment, but that he has a purpose. Or should I say purposeS? 😉
I’m curious about Ben Carson’s interview with Mrs. Greenspan…..someone said this interview should end his brief political career, combined with his interview on Hannity. What happened on Mrs. Grenespan’s show???
Carson to bow out of Johns Hopkins event after anti-gay comments
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/29/17519497-carson-to-bow-out-of-johns-hopkins-event-after-anti-gay-comments?lite
Good, John Hopkins don’t need his Rush Limbaugh B.S.
She did a good job asking Dr. Carson about his Homophobic put-down remarks he made on Hannity. So for damage control, Dr. Carson went on and appeared with Andrea M. Some students at Hopkins University Medical School where Dr. Carson also works, some students are demanding that his speech at their graduation this May be withdrawn. It looks like that there is a backlash. Then I hopped on to CNN and Wolf had the Doctor on. It looks like they both know each other for they went to school there together. I didn’t hear Wolf’s interview, but I don’t think that Wolf went as Mitchell did, trying to hold the doctor accountable. Jumping around trying to get you the flavor of what I know…….. 🙂
Carolyn, google MSNBC Andrea Mitchel, and it should show a link to the video. He went in circles with a very annoying voice. I wouldn’t want him operating my brain.
His voice is annoying and he does speak in circles.
First time I listened to him. Started watching him at Prayer breakfast, but only made about 30 sec.
This was sent to me by one of my BFFs;
I went on YouTube and copied it out.
Pretty interesting. I think.
kewl
Totally! 😎
Weird and wonderful!
So John Boehner quickly came out and said that Republican Congressman Young of Alaska need to apologize for what he said about Mexicans. Well guess what, where were Boehner stepping forward and telling all the other Republicans who said racists disrespecting things about POTUS and FLOTUS that they need to apologize. Even when they talk about Malia and Sasha. Boehner nor any other Republican never step forward for this black family, but because they know they need the Latinos vote, all of a sudden they must pretend to show Latinos respect,when truth be known Republicans don’t give a dam about Latinos anymore then they do Black folks.
X1000. I wrote about the same issue.
When the NRA drag the President’s kid into the discuss about gun control, remember the NRA ad, did Boehner say anything about that. When the Republican Congressman made some comment about our First Lady butt, what did Boehner say? They don’t give a dam about any minorities, all they care about are white folks, rich white folks.
discussion.
Ben Carson is an educated fool. He threw away all the esteem we in the Black community had for him. If he thinks he is going to just waltz into the nomination in 2016 he better don’t retire as planned because he is not going to win the nomination. Period. What a mighty man he was! I was so proud of him because he was raised by a single mother who didn’t give up on him. The man seems to have forgotten where he came from. The higher monkey climbs the more is backside is exposed. And yes, I am calling him a monkey. He better get used to it if he wants to remain in politics. The same ones that are fawning over him now will be calling him monkey.
He is not a fool. He is selling a book. He knew exactly what he was and is doing. Disparaging pres Obama will get him TV, Cable and media time. Saying fatuously wicked nonsense about the LGBTQ community would help him sell the books for the more he is called out and the more he is in the lime light, his books will sell. He is nearing retirement. I have read and known about Carson since 1985/1986. The Readers’ Digest had stories about him. These days, to boost one’s speaking engagements and notoriety is to be obnoxiously hating president Obama and hating on Gays in the rightwing quarters.
I think you are correct about enhancing his book sales and speaking fees, but I would not think he needs the money at this point in his life at the expense of his reputation. I have only been aware of him since the prayer breakfast, but I do not understand what his agenda is. Does he believe the things he has been saying? He seems naive.
Bill, that is what I was thinking. Is he that broke? There is no way I would sell my reputation for money. I’d prefer to walk on the road and collect bottles before I do that. He is being used and if he can’t see that then he is a fool.
It is not that he needs the money. But those who have money still want more and accumulate more for whatever reason. He also has a foundation. So if he is Incorporated, then his book sales and money made from there could very well be part of the reason.
Good point. He is a strange individual.
You know what, Miss Pat? It really pains me to see such a well educated and accomplished Black man stoop so low just to gain political fame. I also keep wondering how Black right wing conservatives, like Ben Carson and Justice Clarence Thomas, sleep at night when they are out there aiding and abetting people, like Antonin Scalia, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, who want to take this country back to the Jim Crow era.
Priebus is a bold face liar. What Rep. Young said is the heart and soul of the Republican Party.
Ahhh. Another day with Barack Obama as our President. Can’t get better than that.
Better would be a functioning Democratic House and filibuster-less, Democratic Senate AND him as our President
Peace and love throughout the Earth, A Clean Environment, Innovation/Exploration, Clean Air/Water/Land, Healthcare, Education, and Equal Justice for All!
But I can work with what we’ve got for now! 😀 😀 😀
#FORWARD
Yes, and all that other stuff! 🙂
Curtis is so right.
Anniebella, I agree with you and Curtis. Among those who have said “mind blowing racist things about PBO and his family” is the chair of NRC, Reince Priebus.
The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy provides a unified approach—reflecting shared principles and science-based practices—for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural systems upon which they depend.
National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaption Strategy
Obama Moves On From The Sequester To ‘Rebuilding America’
By LOLGOP
————————
President Obama appears ready to move past the politics of the sequester and move on to an issue he knows voters love — rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure.
Speaking at the Port of Miami Friday, the president gave a quick speech outlining the “Partnership to Rebuild America.” The proposal builds on ideas he presented in his State of the Union address to use federal spending to spur construction of roads, bridges and other public needs in order to create jobs.
“Let’s get started rebuilding America,” Obama said, after noting that his proposal is backed by both the Chamber of Commerce and the nation’s largest union, the AFL-CIO.
A recent Gallup poll found that 72 percent of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support spending federal money to create jobs.
————————————-
http://www.nationalmemo.com/obama-moves-on-from-the-sequester-to-rebuilding-america/#.UVYGogEGOWE.twitter
In Miami, President Obama Talks About his Plan to Put People to Work Rebuilding America
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/03/29/miami-president-obama-talks-about-his-plan-put-people-work-rebuilding-america
Popped into my head 🙂 Love this city…
great pics. Thanks
This ought to help with that GOP outreach…..NOT
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/29/1795201/steve-king-english-only/
Republicans Introduce Legislation To Discriminate Against Non-English Speakers
I am sorry to say but the Republican party has become a total joke.
TELL IT!
It’s Not Don Young’s Comments, It’s His Party
By Spandan
——————————-
The history of racism in the modern Republican party is deep, entrenched and abiding. Fronting a Clarence Thomas or a Marco Rubio does not make up for the sins of a party whose current history is laden with things from the Southern Strategy to harboring anti-immigrant feelings to dog whistles that have become full out blow horns. The nativist, white nationalist chasing in the Republican party has gone on for ages, and it hasn’t stopped. For too long, the Republican party has thrived on their divide and conquer strategy. In fact, it has used the fear of the loss of white privilege as an electoral tool for so long that it doesn’t know what else to do, now that it doesn’t suffice anymore, at least not for national elections.
This isn’t a party in need of new messaging. This is a party in need of a new soul. The Republican party will not be able to shed the bigoted language from its public image, unless it can shed the bigots who make up its ranks.
————————————–
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/03/its-not-don-youngs-comments-its-his.html
We can not forget the 2012 election, we can not forget the code words the Republicans used when they were deciding their Presidential candidate. From Newt to Santorum, always everyday their was a racists comment or word being used about this black President. No Republican leader step forward and condemn the language. And it got no better doing the campaign with Romney people calling the President racists names.
Yes Indeed, anniebella. And you can include on that list, Romney himself, his #1 surrogate John Sununu, and the RNC Chair, Reince Priebus.
Public-private partnership (PPP)
The tunnel project is a public-private partnership (PPP or P3) designed to transfer the responsibility to design-build-finance-operate-and-maintain (“DBFOM”) the project to the private sector. Ten banks, BNP Paribas, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, RBS Citizens, N.A., Banco Santander, Bayerische Hypo, Calyon, Dexia, ING Capital, Societe Generale, and WestLB will provide the senior debt financing for the project,[12] which totals $341.5 million.[14] The project attracted three bidding consortia comprising several of the most famous constructors and financiers in the world. Under the concession agreement, FDOT will make milestone payments to the concessionaire (Miami Access Tunnel) during the construction period, upon the achievement of contractual milestones. 90% of Miami Access Tunnel’s equity is provided by Meridiam Infrastructure Miami LLC (Luxembourg based Meridiam Infrastructure Finance SARL), with the remaining 10% in France’s Bouygues Travaux Publics SA, operating as Dragages Concession Florida Inc.[12] The Port of Miami Tunnel Project was one of the first P3’s in Florida, and the first availability-based P3 deal in the US,[15] after the Interstate 595 (I-595) renovation project in Broward County.[16]
Once the construction is completed, FDOT will then make availability payments to the concessionaire. These payments will be contingent upon actual lane availability and service quality. In other words if the tunnel is closed for any reason or the road is in bad condition part or all of the payment for that period may not be made.[14] The tunnel will be returned to FDOT in first-class condition at the end of the contract in October 2044, thirty years after the completion of the tunnel.[13] Maintenance costs over this 30 year period are expected to total around $200 million.[17] Contrary to many similar public-private partnerships, the tunnels will not have a toll.[12]
Wiki-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The federal Government Accountability Office is giving generally good grades to the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s business plan to build a $68 billion bullet train.
In a report given Thursday to members of Congress, the GAO says the authority’s ridership and revenue forecasts are reasonable. It could not assess whether the authority’s projected costs are feasible, but says the California agency is following most of the GAO’s best practices in making its predictions.
The biggest hurdle remains money. The report says a funding gap of $39 billion is unlikely to be filled by the federal government given the current political climate in Congress.
Rail officials plan to start work this summer on the first stretch of track and have said they will not start other segments until funding is secured.
Ap-
30 billion short because of the T Baggers?
OMG. So sad….as if these people haven’t been through enough already.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/03/29/newtown-family-massacre-survivors-lose-everything-when-fire-destroys-their-home-kills-pets/
Sorry to hear that about the family.
Oh No. How sad?
My thoughts and prayers are with them. Lord, please get them the strength to cope.
WHIPLASH ALERT:
Jeff Gauvin @JeffersonObama
——————————-
Fox News was pissed off Michelle Obama was forcing kids to eat healthy veggies….now they’re pissed at her Easter Egg fattening hunt???
——————————————
If Your last name is O B A M A in the world of Roger Ailes’ Fox and Rupert Murdoch’s world, You just can’t win.
These people seriously have the ODS.
Thankfully, nobody who can actually think could care less about what Fox News has to say about anything. 🙂
Amen theo67. They are racists sickos over there at Fox.
FOX is beyond description.
Ah…same shit, different day….
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/03/29/pres-obama-uses-executive-power-to-move-gun-safety-agenda-forward/
Idiots. http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/assault-rifle-thermal-scope-stolen-car-top-u
What do you think about this
They fired soledad ?
they cleaned house over there. Trying to out nutbag Fox.
i do not know what here status on CNN is…the question is whether she would be a good fit on MSNBC,,,it would prove interesting
Yep. Today was her last day at CNN. She will however form a production company, produce pieces and offer the pieces first to CNN and if they say No, then she will shop around to sell her produced work. I hope she gets a gig with say, Al Jazeera America. If they are looking for a REAL journalist, Soledad O’Brien is one Fine work Filly.
I doubt that MSNBC would hire her for she left her weekend co-anchor gig at NBC for CNN in the early 2003/2004. Zucker, the current CNN head was then the Today Show Boss. Perhaps, he Canned O’Brien for she left 10 yrs ago?
teann going where it desperately wants to be, I guess.
Yes, AJ is much much better, some times even better than BBC. She would be a good fit there.
Two days ago, I watched their show on rise and fall of hosni mubarak. And very critical look at him and his rising hunger for power.
Msnbc hired Carville. 😦
Recycled
I saw that coming a Mile away. Why oh why? Must his voice be always heard? Next, his wife will be added to MSNBC :(.
same clowns. same show. different channel. uugghh.
They’re getting ready for a Hillary Presidential run….my guess.
Oh No! That’s terrible. Of all the Clintonites, I prefer Begala.
Evening Friends! Happy Good Friday and Happy Easter to those who celebrate it! And to everyone else “Happy Happy!”
I’m beaming from ear to ear … Jody Watley (LOVE her!) thanked me for retweeting a message about her blog post about the state of hip-hope/R&B these days and sharing one of her classic songs! Woot! 😎
Have a great gettin’ up weekend! I’ll try to come back a little later to re-tweet my TOD family tweets and catch up with the night owls. 🙂
WTF IS THIS LITTLE DICK (TATOR) DOING????????????????
Breaking: N. Korea Says to Enter “State of War” Against S. Korea – KCNA
Last edited Fri Mar 29, 2013, 08:08 PM USA/ET – Edit history (2)
Source: Reuters
@Reuters: NORTH KOREA SAYS TO ENTER “STATE OF WAR” AGAINST SOUTH KOREA – KCNA #breaking
N. Korea says it enters ‘war’ against S. Korea – Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) — North Korea announced Saturday that it has entered a state of war against South Korea.
In a special statement, the North said it will deal with every inter-Korean issue in a wartime manner.
by anthony.derosa 8:03 PM
Read more: http://scribblelive.mobi/Event/North_Korea?Theme=39&lang=en
I think we might have to knock this Kid back a little, before he starts something big.
And they say absolute Power, corrupts absolutely? Yep. Then he needs to be taught a serious lesson. That is all.
Chinese instigation. Troll the west while they literally buy into the resources around the world.
The biggest thing for me is how Chris Hayes did not point out that his colleague blew him out of the water re:diversity…
smartypants nails this…
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/03/29/the-week-ahead-10/