President Barack Obama reacts to a picture presented to him of a younger Robert Gibbs, who played soccer at North Carolina State, following a town hall meeting at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C. on July 29, 2009.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Presidential Daily Schedule (All Times Eastern)
10:15AM: Pres. Obama receives the presidential daily briefing
11:00AM: Pres. Obama meets with senior advisors
12:00PM: Pres. Obama and Hillary Clinton have lunch
2:05PM: Pres. Obama welcomes the San Francisco Giants to the White House to honor the team and their 2012 World Series Championship
2:45PM: Pres. Obama meets with Civil Rights leader and local elected officials
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Tom Kludt: Obama, Hillary Clinton To Have Lunch At The White House Today
President Barack Obama will welcome a fixture from his first term cabinet back to the White House on Monday when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joins him for lunch. According to Obama’s schedule, the two will meet at noon ET.
More here
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Nicole Winfield: Pope Francis Says He Will Not Judge Gay Priests
Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn’t judge priests for their sexual orientation in a remarkably open and wide-ranging news conference as he returned from his first foreign trip.
“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis asked.
More here
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Donna Cassata: Sen. Gillibrand Fights To Remove Commanders From Military Sex Assault Cases
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who helped force the military to allow gays in its ranks, is determined to upend laws governing how the armed services handle an epidemic of sexual assaults.
She is slowly and steadily building support for a proposal to strip commanders of their authority to prosecute cases of sexual assault, instead handing responsibility to seasoned military lawyers. She now has 44 backers, including Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who signed on last week, as well as conservative Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Gillibrand’s measure would remove commanders from the process of deciding whether serious crimes, including sexual misconduct cases, go to trial. That judgment would rest instead with seasoned trial lawyers who have prosecutorial experience and hold the rank of colonel or above.
More here
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Make sure your voice is heard during the August congressional recess. Learn about how you can get involved today: OFA.BO/SJb666
—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 28, 2013****
Catherine Thompson: Slim Majority Of Americans Support Legalizing Gay Marriage In All 50 States
A slim majority of Americans would vote in favor of legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.
While 52 percent of Americans would vote in favor of legalizing gay marriage across the country, 43 percent said they would vote against such a federal law, the poll found.
A number of groups posted more than 60 percent support for national legalization of same-sex marriage in the Gallup poll, including self-identifying liberals, those who said they subscribed to “no religion” or “rarely/never attend church,” Democrats, 18- to 34-year-olds, moderates, Easterners, and Catholics.
More here
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President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting in a Kroger’s Supermarket in Bristol, Va. on July 29, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Nicole Flatow: Governor Admits He ‘Does Not Know Enough’ About The Voter Suppression Bill He’s About To Sign
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) said Friday he would sign a bill passed by the North Carolina legislature that would become the most suppressive voting law in the nation. But when asked to speak about a provision in the bill that would prohibit 17-year-olds from registering in advance of their 18th birthday, McCroryadmitted he “did not know enough” and had not read that portion of the bill.
The bill, passed just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act and paved the way for new suppressive state laws, imposes a laundry list of new restrictions on access to the ballot, including eliminating same-day registration, cutting early voting, easing campaign contribution limits, and expanding the mechanisms for alleging voter fraud. In remarks saying he would sign the bill, McCrory focused on his support for the bill’s voter ID requirement — a particularly suppressive and discriminatory policy that McCrory has long supported. But when asked by an Associated Press reporter about another provision in the bill to limit new voter registration opportunities, McCrory said, “I don’t know enough. I’m sorry. I haven’t read that portion of the bill.”
More here
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President Barack Obama listens to a question at a town hall meeting at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C. on July 29, 2009.
(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
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Sandhya Somashekhar: Exclusive: Kathleen Sebelius On ObamaCare’s ‘Very Tight’ Deadlines
Sec. Kathleen Sebelius: Well, we are testing all of the data systems like crazy to try and make sure that information can flow easily through the system. I’m sure there will be operational challenges in the opening of the markets, but I think we’re trying to build in redundancies and be able to respond very rapidly. And really we see Oct. 1 as the beginning of the campaign that really lasts for six months.
KS: It is very tight…Ideally what you would do if you were building a data hub that needs this kind of information, you’d put a piece together and test that. You test it, if you will, sequentially. We have to build and test simultaneously…it’s a big operational issue but all systems are a go for the first of October.
More here
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President Barack Obama listens to a question during a town hall meeting at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C. on July 29, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Caitlin McDevitt: Kevin Spacey On Obama, Congress
“House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey thinks President Barack Obama deserves more credit for what he’s accomplished.
“President Obama will go down as having passed some of the most historic bills in the history of this country,” Spacey told Hot Press magazine in a recent interview. “That despite constant knee-jerk opposition from the Republicans. A lot of people don’t realize how much he’s done in the most difficult of circumstances.”
As for Congress, Spacey is less impressed.
“It’s maybe interesting for an American audience that’s sat through the most non-productive Congress in the history of the United States, in terms of bills passed, to watch a fictional show [“House of Cards”] where some bills actually get passed,” he said.
More here
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A picture of President Barack Obama rests on the ground during a town hall meeting held at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C on July 29, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
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Reuters: Amazon Unveils New Hiring Spree Ahead Of Obama Visit
Amazon.com Inc unveiled a new hiring spree on Monday ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama to one of the Internet retailer’s giant distribution warehouses this week.
Amazon said it is looking to fill more than 5,000 new full-time jobs at 17 of its fulfillment centers across the United States. That’s roughly a 25 percent increase in full-time fulfillment center staff, which currently number more than 20,000 in the country.
Amazon has been building lots of new fulfillment centers closer to customers in recent years as the company tries to speed up delivery of online orders and reduce shipping costs.
Amazon needs a lot of workers to pick, pack and ship orders alongside high tech robots that whiz around its warehouses. The company’s demand for employees is so strong that it has created special programs to woo candidates.
More here
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First Lady Michelle Obama hugs LeBron James following the USA vs. France men’s basketball game at Olympic Park during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, July 29, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
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President Barack Obama eats a peach following a town hall meeting at Kroger’s Supermarket in Bristol, Va. on July 29, 2009. Seconds later, the President handed a dollar bill to the CEO of Kroger’s, who attended the event. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Have An Obamariffic Day! 😀
The Obama Diary 
GM TODers 😉
Happy Monday, Monday.
Morning, Nena!
Thank You UT for a wonderful post.
Eat a peach!
I want a picture of POTUS eating broccoli.
Where are TODers, TODbots, TODville Villagers, TOD Town Hall Community organizers and activists? Come on TODers wake Up, I feel LONELY.
Thank you, UT:) I found this amazing, so I brought it over…
WOW! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-28/heart-surgery-in-india-for-1-583-costs-106-385-in-u-s-.html
Devi Shetty is obsessed with making heart surgery affordable for millions of Indians. On his office desk are photographs of two of his heroes: Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi.
Shetty is not a public health official motivated by charity. He’s a heart surgeon turned businessman who has started a chain of 21 medical centers around India. By trimming costs with such measures as buying cheaper scrubs and spurning air-conditioning, he has cut the price of artery-clearing coronary bypass surgery to 95,000 rupees ($1,583), half of what it was 20 years ago, and wants to get the price down to $800 within a decade. The same procedure costs $106,385 at Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“It shows that costs can be substantially contained,” said Srinath Reddy, president of the Geneva-based World Heart Federation, of Shetty’s approach. “It’s possible to deliver very high quality cardiac care at a relatively low cost.”
Medical experts like Reddy are watching closely, eager to see if Shetty’s driven cost-cutting can point the way for hospitals to boost revenue on a wider scale by making life-saving heart operations more accessible to potentially millions of people in India and other developing countries.
Wooooohooooooooo!
i like that hashtag #ObamasAmerica …got to remember to use it!
FLOTUS gives one of her famous hugs to the best basketball player in the world…..NBA Champ Lebron James.
I loved watching Lebron lead the Olympic team to hug the Flotus. I love Mr James but I’m also a Heat fan before he came.
The Miami Heats should be coming to the White House to meet POTUS in the near future to celebrate their NBA 2013 championship. 2014 I hope with Derrick Rose coming back the Chicago Bulls will win it all, so they can go to the WH. POTUS team…..the Bulls.
Yes indeed.
After the first 2 years I knew this would be a historic presidency not just because he’s black but bc of the laws that was passed. Democrats took it for granted and now we’re all suffering.
GM all. First of all, someone tell Lebron to keep his hands off my…er…PBO’s lady.
Always love Republcians who complain about voting on a bill they haven’t read but, obviously, have no problem signing into law one they haven’t read. Hypocrisy, thy name is GOP.
We had a beautiful fall weekend in Chicago area, now back to summer.
hello japa…
I think they know exactly what is in the bill…i think they make that statement to avoid answering reporters’ question and creating a soundbite that can be used against them..
Oh, I know, just like I am pretty sure the “Haven’t had time to read the bill so can’t vote on it” is also a bunch of malarkey.
Okay japa21, I’ll give Lebron a call right now, and I will tell him exactly what you said. 🙂
You know I was so sorry when Beverly Perdue decided not to run for re-election here in North Carolina.
Could she had won re-election, I don’t know.
Me too. Unfortunately, internal polling supposedly looked dire for her and the 2010 low-showing crushed Dems. Hopefully this latest wave of extremism will get NC voters to the polls – we’ll need a huge turnout because of gerrymandering, but hopefully we can at least get rid of the veto-proof majority the repugs now hold.
Good morning Chips and TOD. Great day in the land of pleasant living.
MsChips….UT
i could not sign in with my wordpress account so i used my twitter account…however…i am now in moderation…bummer….
You’re approved! 😀
(((((((((((((huggs)))))))))))…smilin…Big time
Suze? Is that you?
UT, how’s it going in Texas? What’s the latest on the bill the Wendy Davis filibustered?
Rick Perry already signed it into law. The next step we’re pursuing is lawsuits.
Yo O’s!!!! It’s a great getting up day again on TOD Boulevard!!!! I’ve been happily enjoying PBO’s trek across the country shaming the NOP critters. He has manged once again to make their tiny noggins to explode and say stoopid stuff on camera. They just don’t know what to do with this guy. Just when they think they have him on the ropes, he turns the tables on them. Of course, they don’t help themselves by listening to their own echo chambers. I do believe Rove is still waiting for the official ballot count in Ohio.
It could happen! Rick probably considers that having sex outside marriage.
Also, Perry probably thinks tampons could cause an abortion.
Jeff Gauvin @JeffersonObama 8m
Ralph Nader Plans To Get GOP back in power. Recruiting billionaires to power a third party bid for president http://www.salon.com/2013/07/29/go_away_ralph_nader/ …
Expand
Another emo exposed
Hmm? Which Billionaire? Doesn’t that go against everything he has once stood for? How did this One Billionaire make his/her money without having cheated? For I will bet that Oprah, Bill Gates, Buffett, etc are never going to be running.
Ralph Nader with all his accomplishments……as his life on earth draws to a limited conclusion, he gets forever clueless.
Looking at JeffersonObama’s Twitter….Nader is of the Greenwald, West camp…and calling the President a “war criminal” WTF is wrong with these idiots????
And you can feel that same idiocy in all the trolls that swarm the news sites. They are getting more vicious it seems.
If anything that will just split the Republican party even more. Go right ahead.
HA!!! Nader splitting the vote for the repubs…what a sweet, sweet karmic victory that would be!
Nader is never interested in actual progressive causes or an actual party. He’s never interested in helping elect congress people who could do some good. He is only ever interested in a third party that’s sole purpose is to inflate his already delusional ego.
I tend to be wary of men with fake hair. Just from my observations.
I had a feeling he was not who he seemed to be, but so many folks ate it up.
THIS
THIS is a problem…they don’t give a shit.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20130722house-republicans-latino-pressure.html
House GOP shrugs off pressure from Latinos
The simple political math is that while Republicans on a national scale want to court Latinos, members of the House GOP represent few of those Latino voters.
Across Capitol Hill, U.S. senators serve entire states, many of which have large Hispanic populations. And with Latinos one of the fastest growing demographics in the country, senators foresee an increasing number of potential voters in their ranks.
In the House, by contrast, Republicans represent only one-third of the country’s 33 million voting-age Hispanics, according to an Arizona Republic analysis of census data. And more than 70 percent of Republicans, or 169 out of 234 GOP members, represent districts where voting-age Hispanics make up less than 10 percent of the population.
It’s no wonder then, some observers say, that comprehensive immigration reform, which sailed out of the Senate on a bipartisan vote last month, is facing a tougher time in the House.
Good Morning TOD
WOWWWW…do you realize how Powerful this statement is coming from the Pope…wonder what the Catholic Bishops here in America will say to this…
Donna, this is a pope who actually follows the New Testament. Judge not, lest you be judged. Never saw this before in my lifetime.
Thanks for posting that, Donna. 🙂
http://www.people-press.org/2013/07/29/widening-regional-divide-over-abortion-laws/
Having to fight the same laws over and over becomes tiring – which is what the RWNJs depend on – they do not accept the decision of the majority – nor of the the umpire. They go on and on an on. Removing the right to vote (i.e. the right to an opinion) of those they disagree with is the latest tactic – well supported by the court.
As for abortion – what harm to I do people from the right if I have an abortion. I do not have the resources of Rick Santorum or Sarah Palin related to the cost of raising a disabled child – nor would I have the personal/family relationships to share the load. I do not restrict their rights by forcing them to have abortions – why do they feel this need to restrict my rights?
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/congress-wont-fix-the-voting-rights-act.php?ref=fpa
Ever since the Supreme Court gutted a centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act and threw it back in Congress’s lap, lawmakers in both parties have engaged in happy talk about the prospects of patching the provision used to proactively snuff out voter discrimination against minorities in the state and local governments where it’s most prevalent.
But it’s looking less and less likely that a fix will be agreed to because Republicans have little to gain and a lot to lose politically if they cooperate.
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said late last week, according to Roll Call.
A recent House Judiciary Committee hearing made clear that Republicans have little to no interest in reconstituting the Voting Rights Act. Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-TX) opened by emphasizing that even after the Supreme Court’s decision, “other very important provisions of the Voting Rights Act remain in place.”
Just like John Roberts planned….
It was not unforeseen that this would happen when the Supreme Ct. issued its corrupt decision. In fact, knowledge that Congress would be unable/unwilling act is precisely why the Court ruled as it did. Just as Citizens United was a direct response to the huge sums of money candidate Obama was able to raise thru grass roots internet donations, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act was designed to destroy the voting power of minorities and the Obama coalition that elected and reelected PBO. This Supreme Court sees its mission as tipping the scales to help the GOP/ownership class. When GWB was president, the VRA was renewed by wide bipartisan majorities and was on firm legal footing. The only thing that changed between then and now is the emergence of the Obama coalition (the powers that be thought that Obama’s first election was a fluke, this view was on full display in the electorial predictions most pollsters used which hugely underestimated the Black and Latino vote). Power is never given up without a struggle and we are witnessing the white male power structure game the system in such a way as to maintain/regain its control.
So perfectly stated, ericfive. I agree with you 1000%
Power is never given up without a struggle and we are witnessing the white male power structure game the system in such a way as to maintain/regain its control.
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BOOM!….
i will add….
altho they threw all the money that they could at us….we still won that battle…my hope is that the DEM Party took note of how we won…and not fall back on old style politics…which cannot win…
Bravo,ericfive, for this excellent comment! You are absolutely spot-on.
CHECK. CHECK. Is this thing broken? Where IS everyone? I’m talking to myself again….I’ll need an intervention soon!
Good Morning Chips, and TOD family. Thank you for the R&S, our wonderful UT.
Hoping everyone will enjoy the day. Remember to spread your wings and fly. There is so much beautiful space out there to hold all of our TOD family and the nation. Remember, our beautiful First Lady was introducing our brilliant President a few weeks ago, and she said, ” He is the wind beneath my wings.” Now that is some powerful wind. Let’s fly.
We need Dudette, our Musician-In-Chief to give us “I Believe I Can Fly,” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” A little music can kiss the day with sweetness.
Lots of loving healing hugs to our Gobrooklyn, VC’s family, Layla’s friends and families, and tnmtngirl and hubby. Make grace be with all of my beautiful TOD family. Be gentle to your space today, and enjoy every moment of it. () HZ
On behalf of my family I thank you for the healing hugs, HZ. They help, they truly do. Here is a version of ‘I believe I can fly’ with lovely visuals, including PBO coming through the ‘open door’, that will surely ‘kiss the day with sweetness’.
VC, I just saw this. TY so much. This is beautiful. The thoughts as I look at the graphics give so much velocity to my tears. If the world was policing my flow of tears at this very moment; I would be issued a speeding ticket. Because my thoughts are moving too fast in a zone where there are those who have changed the speeding limits through their actions in State Houses all across this nation to slow all of us down. I am reminded to keep my feet steady, as all of should and not allow these slow and agitating forces to move our steadiness. These forces in these State Houses and our United States Congress will not be patrolling too much longer.
However, I will continue to speak power with that speed of those tears keep full throttle with my actions as we together move into 2014 preps to move all of us FORWARD. Because we Believed and are still Believing in a brilliant, compassionate, caring, calm but firm, gracious and gentle spirit in our President, we have to Fly. Surely, a kiss of sweetness has again reminded me of just how much is again at stake as we move into action for 2014’s outcome.
((((((((((((( TY, Vc . So wonderful to hear of the continued progress of your beautiful family.))))))))))))))))HZ
I forgot something: There is an interesting article about John Boehner in the July 22, 2013 issue of ‘New York’ magazine. (Not The New Yorker). HZ
Do you mean this one, HZ?
Today in ‘John Boehner’s Life Is a Living Hell’
By Jonathan Chait
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/07/today-in.html
Meta, it is: “The Mystery of John Boehner,” by Jennifer Senior. On the cover is a split face of Spitzer and Weiner. Top of magazine is :”Jay-Z’s Money: The Shawn Carter School of Business”by Andrew Rice. Interesting read. HZ
So, I haven’t read it yet, but I just saw the cover picture — I just have to say, that is one sad, lost and lonely little man. He is a true reflection of the dying remnants of the republican party.
I’m SOOOOO thankful/grateful/happy for President Obama
I read it last evening, arkluvspbo and it is a good read. Boehner is a very sad and lost man.HZ
{{{{oxygen}}}}
So is his wife…….
That bothers the hell out of them that he is a loyal husband and dedicated father. They are waiting for a Bill Clinton scandal or may be getting ready to invent one to tarnish the family unit before he leaves office. They are going to get REAL evil before 2016.
The two of them together are stronger than that entire party and THEN some. Their light shines brighter and farther than the darkness that is the GOP.
LOL, Meta! That man is fiiiiiiiiiinnnnnne…wow. I think that would be my dream man, right there.
Meta and arkluvspbo, I am in charge of the Naughty Mats since yardarm is away. Do I need to put a few out? That will probably help. HZ
For you, HZ:)
Be Inspired…to reach your goals!
DF, I am going to cry. I love my TOD family. This is great. (((((((((((((((((((((((( TY, my Desert Angel)))))))))))))))))))))HZ
Y is he doing this again? This is not what we need, with what the republicans are pulling!
Ugh!
Howard Dean is a cool guy but he can’t see the bigger picture. Typical.
Dean is giving the republicans something else to use for criticism of the ACA. If he cannot say something constructive, he should be quiet. As Democrats, we sure have a knack for shooting ourselves in the foot.
The House already voted on that in March…..what is he talking about ?
UGH. More pointless but destructive yammering from the PL.
Howard Dean on ACA and Harold Ford on Keystone Pipeline…….then Ed Randell on just about any issue……that is what Dems do…..sabotage and pretend to care when they truly don’t……Not really. This is possible for The Dems have No Real DNC chair. Someone whose sole job is out there pushing and promoting Dem core policies and issues.
They’re on the outside looking in and have no power or influence. Ford has always been Republican lite, Rendell is a PUMA and Dean can’t see past his own nose. Let them make all the noise they want. Nobody’s listening. If they were Romney would be President and The Senate would be back in GOP hands. You’re talking about three guys who go on TV shows where the combined audience is less than reruns of Restaurant Impossible.
You mean the Howard Dean who does not disclose that he is a lobbyist for health care corps. and oil companies? That Howard Dean? He can STFU.
How DARE he not disclose his dirty lobbyist connections. He lost all credibility with me when I read this last week.
This Medicare board is meant to judge actual statistics on what is effective, and bring health care costs to the consumer in line with what things actually cost. We subsidize the health care profits by artificially inflating what things actually cost. But that would hurt his corporate clients and the doctors and hospitals and equipment suppliers who push unnecessary treatments and devices on patients who trust them.
THIS!!!
Well, p m carpenter took umbrage with the ‘lobbyist’ moniker, calling the law firm ‘policy advistors’. Here’s a quote from the firm’s description of itself:
“The firm is uniquely positioned at the intersection of law, business and government, representing clients in the areas of complex litigation, corporate law, energy, environment, finance, government contracts, health care, infrastructure, insurance, intellectual property, private client services, public policy, real estate, and technology.”
That’s a lobbyist in everything but name. I’m sure ALEC calls themselves ‘policy advisors’.
Then there’s this lovely article by Lee Fang from a year ago: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/04/lee-fang-howard-dean-advises-corporate-health-care-clients-to-fund-both-sides-run-attack-ads.html
Dean is looking out for the corporate interests of his clients, something he never disclosed. It explains a lot about his loony, inconsistent views on ACA.
Another excellent article on Howard Dean’s changing ‘progressive’ morals: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114072/howard-dean-obamacare-payment-board-and-k-street#
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/report/2013/07/24/70540/all-in-nation-an-america-that-works-for-all/
All-In Nation highlights the economic benefits of ensuring the success of communities of color. Groundbreaking analysis presented here estimates gains on a set of five economic indicators if Americans were able to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that perpetuate inequality in our nation today. If racial and ethnic differences were eliminated, the average total personal income in 2011 would have been 8.1 percent higher; our gross domestic product would have been at least $1.2 trillion higher; 13 million people would have been lifted out of poverty; federal, state, and local tax revenue would have increased by $192 billion; and the long-run deficit in Social Security would be reduced by more than 10 percent.
This is what compels the Center for American Progress and PolicyLink to present All-In Nation: An America that Works for All—the need to implement an equity policy agenda that reduces inequality and manifests the potential of our diverse population.
The need is urgent: If we do not change course and invest in strengthening communities of color and other communities that have been left behind, our middle class will continue to erode and our nation will be unprepared to successfully compete in the global economy. We must intentionally create an All-In Nation—ensuring opportunity for everyone and securing America’s economic future.
Statement by the President on the Resumption of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations
I am pleased that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas have accepted Secretary Kerry’s invitation to formally resume direct final status negotiations and have sent senior negotiating teams to Washington for the first round of meetings. This is a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead.
During my March visit to the region, I experienced first-hand the profound desire for peace among both Israelis and Palestinians, which reinforced my belief that peace is both possible and necessary. I deeply appreciate Secretary Kerry’s tireless work with the parties to develop a common basis for resuming direct talks, and commend both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas for their leadership in coming to the table.
The most difficult work of these negotiations is ahead, and I am hopeful that both the Israelis and Palestinians will approach these talks in good faith and with sustained focus and determination. The United States stands ready to support them throughout these negotiations, with the goal of achieving two states, living side by side in peace and security.
I am pleased that Ambassador Martin Indyk will lead the U.S. negotiating team as U.S. Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations. Ambassador Indyk brings unique experience and insight to this role, which will allow him to contribute immediately as the parties begin down the tough, but necessary, path of negotiations.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/29/statement-president-resumption-israeli-palestinian-negotiations
We WILL see peace in the middle east, in our lifetime. As a Jew, I am very hopeful, especially with President Obama and SoS Kerry in charge.
I totally concur, arkluvspbo. I discussed this with my best friend two years ago, and we both believe that President Barack Obama and Sec. John Kerry will get this done with all things being considered. I am still firmly believing that they will do their best to work to this end. HZ
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2013/06/13/66204/300-million-engines-of-growth/
So much great info here to read….
Good morning, TODville! Hi ya, Ms. Chips!
o/t: In light of what happened to Trayvon Martin, I would like to share what happened to my son and some of his friends while they were out celebrating one person in the group birthday this weekend.These are grown responsible working men meeting up in NYC in the village. Evidently, there are clubs that play hip/hop music exclusively, but AAs are not welcome. This happens all over in these U.S. they tell me. And they were shocked when I told them this was no surprise to me when I shared with them that I remember my older sisters buying albums with AA artists singing and their pictures were not on the covers. I remember the so-called “elite” clubs that would hand pick who could come in because you had to have a”certain look”, even though you were still paying.
There were detectives called to the club because supposedly a young woman had lost her phone and they were stopping all AAs males. They had no description because it was too dark in the club or she had one drink too many to give an accurate description. My son adamantly refused to answer any questions and my heart dropped when he told me the conversation he with the detective. I wanted to hug him and beret him at the same time. His life flashed in my mind of what could have happened. This is a grown man and I am still protective and worried when he and his friends whenever they go out. I refused to watch the trial, but that moment Tratvon’s helpless body flashed in my mind and I felt his parents’ pain more than ever.
As a parent, I am so angry that there are establishments that feel they have the right to exclude certain people. What confused my son and his friends is as they explained to me, “why play our music if you can’t embrace who we are?”
I asked a similar question as a child years ago, “why get a tan, if the color of my skin offends you?”
I still have not received an answer and I could not give them one.
wow…
is all i can say…it hurts me so when this happens…you want to scream to the high heavens…but all you can do is keep on fighting…
I am sorry this happened to your son. And speaking of Trayvon Martin, the other day I watched “42” Jackie Robinson was run out of Sanford Florida by angry white men, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Oh, LDS, my heart aches. I a white women, in my 60’s living in MT. I can’t think of a time in my life when I was ever questioned for what I looked like. I lie awake at night worrying about the retirees in Detroit, about the voters in NC and all young women who have to think about abortion. This is what keeps me awake and working to do what I can do. I truly believe there are more good people that haters. We will change America again. This is why I believe this community of TOD is so important. This is why it is so hard for me to comment at times. Words fail me, but my thoughts, prayers are with all of you.
This is all so weird to me – in my world if anyone goes to a club & loses their phone – it is their own stupid fault. The police would laugh at anyone who suggested they come & search people to find the missing phone. The phone companies demand you report the loss to the police (when you try and sort out contracts etc) – who just don’t want to know about it.
AA rap artist should make them stop using their music at their clubs if they discriminate as to who can enter these clubs. If you can ask a political party to stop using your music why can’t they ask a club? I know some artist disagree with the politician policies and refuse to allow them to use their music.
Wow, LDS, I can’t even begin to imagine that feeling, so glad he’s ok.
I have also wondered that same question.
White House Presser is about to begin:
http://www.c-span.org/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
with
white house live
Now Streaming…
July 29, 2013 12:30 PM EDTShare
Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest
Is Jay Carney on vacation?
I don’t know……he has at least a couple of kids……He will be on the Road with the POTUS tomorrow…..that was directly from Josh Earnest as his presser concluded.
Thanks DF for the videos. 😀 I miss you guys. I read the headlines. I read the headlines, but miss the banter and the informative. Unfortunately I can’t read long but the videos are a godsend. Thanks. I have a vitreous veil on my right eye. Weekend my left eye too. 4-6 weeks more. . . Please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes. I have a hard time proof reeding. Not that I was good at it before. So thankful to have President as President when I wake up in the mornings. 😀
Glad you can check in every now and then. Take care and get well soon.
Thank you.
Any more requests that will make you happy just let me know! Sorry to hear about your eyes. My goodness, how awful for you. I hope this goes away…4-6 weeks is a LONG time not to be able to see. I’m taking requests, so just let me know:) Feel better soon, CarolMaeWY!
GM DF, It is finally cool here in MT. How is it in Phoenix? Have there been any more flash floods?
Thanks Desert Flower. I can see, it just hurts while my eyes are open. I can manage you tube, but your thoughtfulness is appreciated. 😀
Take good care, CarolMae!!
Thank you Meta.
(((((((((((( CarolMaeWY))))))))))) Please be careful. You will be in my thoughts. HZ
Thank you HZ. Hugs back.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/07/is-american-public-ready-to-end.html
Are Americans ready to end perpetual war?
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/17734-economic-policy-debates-theater-of-distraction
GA TOD! A mid-day chuckle
https://twitter.com/LOLGOP/status/361903728615362560
http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2013/05/16/economically-could-obama-be-americas-best-president/
Impressive achievements of our President. In Forbes!0
Hell YES!
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/29/heads-up-san-francisco-giants-meet-pres-obama/