This and That

President Obama signs a line worker’s shirt after touring the Amazon fulfillment center in Chattanooga, Tenn., July 30 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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Steve Benen: Why would the GOP balk at a corporate tax cut?

As promised, President Obama spoke in Tennessee this afternoon, and made congressional Republicans an offer they probably shouldn’t refuse: the GOP would get corporate tax reforms, including lower rates, while Democrats would get investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.

…. GOP opposition is just a little more difficult to understand. Sure, when the White House proposes new tax revenue from the wealthy, it stands to reason that Republicans will scream bloody murder. When the president talks about increasing the size of government in any appreciable way, we know the GOP will go berserk.

But corporate tax breaks and infrastructure jobs? Why announce knee-jerk opposition to these ideas?

I’ve spent some time this afternoon collecting Republican complaints about the new Obama offer, so let’s take them one at a time.

More here

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To understand PBO’s grand bargain on taxes, read @Smartypants32 on conciliation as ruthless strategy. http://t.co/8XFSg4oNGE

— allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) July 30, 2013

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Smartypants:  A common sense proposal for NSA reform

Now that it appears as if the American public is ready to move beyond their fear-based approach to national security, I agree with President Obama.

I’ve got to tell you though Charlie, I think this is a healthy thing because its a sign of maturity that this debate would not have been taking place 5 years ago. And I welcome it.

That means that perhaps we can have a rational discussion about the NSA and potential reforms that make sense. Of course folks like Greenwald are not going to initiate a discussion about solutions – that would mean actually owning some responsibility rather than simply screaming from the sidelines (not to mention that solutions are terrible link-bait). But somebody needs to do it. As is often the case, that part is left to the pragmatists.

More here

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And now for a balanced, informed view of the Manning verdict. Kidding, it’s Hamwald.

— Ethan Peretz (@MperiousRex) July 31, 2013

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Seems many journos also don’t get that the beneficiary of true whistleblowing is supposed to be THE PUBLIC, not their byline. @Lawrence

— Only4RM (@Only4RM) July 31, 2013

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@whitehouse This morning, President Obama and VP Biden met with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on resuming peace talks

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ThinkProgress: Obama Calls Out Republicans For Wasting Time On Keystone: ‘That’s Not A Jobs Plan’

In a speech on Tuesday focused on repairing the American economy, President Obama called out Republicans in Congress for flouting serious job-creation efforts in favor of trying to repeal environmental regulations and push for the creation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

While Republicans have advocated for Keystone by insisting that it will create jobs, Obama slammed that assertion Tuesday, pointing to the Cornell University estimate that Keystone would only create 50 permanent jobs….

More here

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Check it out: The restaurant industry is growing, and average hours are up. #ObamacareIsWorkinghttp://t.co/U8VXtXD3iC

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 30, 2013

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Thank you, PBO! Took my kids to doctor for annual checkups, NO COPAY for first time ever! I Love, Love, Love the ACA! #ObamaCares

— Aღanda (@AC_BOwen) July 30, 2013

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Very funny historical comparison by @NYTimeskrugman on Marco Rubio’s latest gibberish about Obamacare: http://t.co/0Olfck2SYY

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) July 28, 2013

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We’ve come a long way—but there’s still more work to do. #TransformationTuesday, pic.twitter.com/IPgpU2o7C2

— The White House (@whitehouse) July 30, 2013

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BREAKING! We now have a fully confirmed @NLRB board. —> http://t.co/xFtN04CKGO#1u#NLRB

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) July 30, 2013

RT @richardtrumka: For the first time in more than a decade America now has a fully staffed #NLRB

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) July 30, 2013

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The most useful invention since the wheel?

Seen on the shelves at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Chattanooga just visited by POTUS: pic.twitter.com/WI1lidi76q

— Jay Carney (EOP) (@PressSec) July 30, 2013

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Will catch up with whatever good stuff I missed in tomorrow’s R&S

Chattanooga

President Obama hugs Amazon employee Lydia Flanders who introduced the president before he makes a speech about the economy and jobs at an Amazon.com Fulfillment Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Text of the President’s remarks here

Back with a ‘This and That’ in a bit

Chat Away

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Coming Up

President Obama waves as he departs the White House for Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 30

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Today (all times Eastern):

10:45 AM: The President departs the White House

12:30: Arrives Chattanooga, Tennessee

1:35: Tours the Amazon Fulfillment Center

2:0: Delivers remarks

3:05: Departs Chattanooga

4:55: Arrives the White House

5:10: The President and VP Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Hagel

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Morning/afternoon everyone, enooooooormous thanks again to the legend that is UT for all her completely wonderful work the last few days. I’m in the same middle-of-nowhere spot as last year, enjoying the rain – 😕 – so wasn’t able to be around while traveling and trying to sort out an internet connection. Still struggling on that front, I have a moody dongle thingie that only started working occasionally from this morning, but I should have a new gadget later today that will sort things out. So, I had to abandon today’s R&S efforts because the connection kept dropping, leading to me using exceedingly bad language.

Normal-ish service will – hopefully – be resumed later.

Endless thanks again to UT!

 

Early Birds’ Chat

A Year Ago: President Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, N.Y., July 30, 2012 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MooooOOOOoooorning!!

Back in a bit with (a very late) Rise and Shine and several gazillion thank yous to the mighty UT for captaining the ship solo the last few days. See ya soon.