ALERT: PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO AT 11:35PM ET / 10:35PM CT
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President Barack Obama smiles as he is warmly received before speaking about housing at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
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USA Today: Obama Says It Is Time To Wind Down Fannie And Freddie
Almost five years after taxpayers bailed out mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, President Obama said on Tuesday that it’s time for private investors to take a bigger role in the mortgage market. Fannie and Freddie collapsed in 2008 before being bailed out with almost $200 billion in taxpayer funds. But with the nation’s real estate market on the mend, Obama said in an address in Phoenix on home ownership that it is time to wind down the two companies and make clear that the days of a guaranteed government bailout are over.
“For too long, these companies were allowed to make big profits buying mortgages, knowing that if their bets went bad, taxpayers would be left holding the bag,” Obama said. “It was heads we win, tails you lose. And it was wrong.” With his remarks, Obama for the first time endorsed bipartisan efforts in the Senate for mortgage reform. At the same time, he made it clear that he expects any legislation will spell out a limited government role for backing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the future, and that it must ensure Americans’ continued access to a 30-year mortgage at a fixed interest rate.
More here
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USA Today: U.S. Files Criminal Charges Over Benghazi Attack
A Libyan militia leader has been charged in last year’s terrorist attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that left U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead, two federal officials said.
Ahmed Kattalah is the first person to be charged in the Sept. 11 incident that sparked a political firestorm about the initial U.S. response to the assault.
Because the charges remain under seal, the officials were not authorized to comment publicly.
More here
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President Obama recorded a quick @Instagram video message before speaking about #ABetterBargain in Phoenix. Watch --> instagram.com/p/crv4vewitO/
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The White House (@whitehouse) August 06, 2013Every once in a while I remember that Romney thought he was going to win as late as the evening of Election Day, and it just makes me smile.
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Jesse Berney (@jesseberney) August 06, 2013****
President Barack Obama tours the home framing assembly area at Erickson Construction in Chandler, Arizona.
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AP: US Gov’t Sues BoFA Over Mortgage Bond Sale
The U.S. government has accused Bank of America Corp. of civil fraud, saying the company failed to disclose risks and misled investors in its sale of $850 million of mortgage bonds during 2008. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the bank and several subsidiaries in federal court in Charlotte, N.C., where Bank of America is based. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a related lawsuit against Bank of America there, too.
The lawsuits accuse the second-largest U.S. bank of misleading investors about the risks of the mortgages tied to the securities. And the government said the bank failed to tell investors that more than 70 percent of the mortgages backing the investment were written by mortgage brokers outside the banks’ network. That made the mortgages more vulnerable to default, they said. The bank disclosed the percentage of such mortgage loans in the investment only to a select group of investors, the suits alleged.
More here
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Today, the President laid out his plan to help homeowners. Tomorrow, he'll answer your Qs. Ask w/ #AskObamaHousing -> http://t.co/GXUx08eddj
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The White House (@whitehouse) August 06, 2013Yes America, WebMD really likes #ObamaCare. They just launched a comprehensive online ObamaCare guide. thehill.com/blogs/healthwa…
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Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) August 06, 2013****
CBS News: CDC: Obesity Rates Falling Among U.S. Preschoolers
A new government study of preschoolers shows there has been progress in the fight against childhood obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new report found about one in eight preschool-aged kids are obese, but the rates may be falling. CDC researchers studied more than 11 million low-income preschool children in 43 U.S. states and territories from 2008 through 2011. They found obesity rates fell in 18 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Health officials hope the findings are a sign of things to come.
“Today’s announcement reaffirms my belief that together, we are making a real difference in helping kids across the country get a healthier start to life,” Mrs. Obama said in a news release from the White House. “Yet, while this announcement reflects important progress, we also know that there is tremendous work still to be done to support healthy futures for all our children,” she said.
More here
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Read First Lady Michelle Obama’s Full Statement
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WebMD and AARP have launched websites to further educate consumers about #ObamaCare webmd.com/health-insuran… thehill.com/blogs/healthwa…
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Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) August 06, 2013On the 48th anniversary of #VRA, the fight continues —> votingrightsmatter.com #VotingRightsMatter
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The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) August 06, 2013****
Jessica Chasmar: Oprah Winfrey: Trayvon Martin ‘Same Thing’ As Emmett Till Lynching
While promoting her new movie “The Butler,” Oprah Winfrey told The Grio that the death of Trayvon Martin was the “same thing” as the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till for allegedly flirting with a white woman in 1955. “Let me just tell you — in my mind, same thing,” she said in a preview of the interview on MSNBC. Last week, Oprah said Americans know “diddly-squat” about the history of the civil rights movement. She also said that when she hears the N-word, she thinks of the “millions” of people “who heard that as their last word as they were hanging from a tree.
More here
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Today, there are those who say they want to take the country back. I ask, take us back where?
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John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) August 06, 2013Thx @DwyaneWade @SpikeLee @BorisKodjoe for standing w/ @SybrinaFulton & @BTraymartin9! We grieve & fight w/ them! https://t.co/K4wtLKTmRz
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(@Only4RM) August 06, 2013****
So delightful to watch. Yay FLOTUS!
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The Grio: Michelle Obama Turns To Hip-Hop To Promote Childhood Obesity Campaign
Michelle Obama is adding another fun element to her healthy kids campaign that seeks to tackle the issue of childhood obesity. Like her husband, the first lady has turned to hip-hop to demonstrate a point. She is distributing a hip-hop album complete with 10 music videos and 19 tracks to support her “Let’s Move!” nutrition program. Obama is partnering with Hip-Hop Public Health and Partnership for a Healthier America to release thenSongs for a Healthier America album on September 30th.
The single “Everybody” features the first lady joined by songstress Jordin Sparks, emcee Doug E. Fresh, and medical expert Dr. Oz. The video shows children of all ages dancing lightheartedly between takes of kids doing jumping jacks push ups, and drills.
“For years I have known that we need to reach children in the formative years to educate them to live a life of prevention,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz. “The best way to do this is to build a bridge with the artists that they see on television and listen to. When someone like Doug E. Fresh shows our youngsters that health can be fun and cool, we are winning the battle.” Some other songs on the album include “Veggie Luv”, “Hip Hop LEAN”, and “Get Up Sit Up” most of which will be hip-hop based, according to U.S. News and Wold Reports.
More here
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President Barack Obama listens as Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, briefs him on the terror threat, in the Map Room of the White House, Aug. 6, 2013. Also participating in the briefing are National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice and Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Barack Obama meets with former Negro League baseball players in the Cross Hall of the White House, Aug. 5, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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The Obama Diary 
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/08/06/rodney-alexander-retirement-frustration/2625737/
Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., a six-term lawmaker first elected as a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he will not run for re-election, citing the inability of Congress to get things done.
“Rather than producing tangible solutions to better this nation, partisan posturing has created a legislative standstill, Alexander said. “Unfortunately, I do not foresee this environment to change anytime soon. I have decided not to seek re-election, so that another may put forth ideas on how to break through the gridlock and bring about positive change for our country.”
Alexander is not the first to suggest that Capitol Hill has become too much of a quagmire to make service there satisfying.
I really detest politicians who change party AFTER they have been elected. There are times when you don’t like your electoral choices – so vote the party & then the person elected decides to change party – usually because they get offered an incentive to do so. They all feed at the trough. After his 6 terms I assume this one has the pension/health care jackpot for the rest of his life.
Does anyone know if this seat has a chance of being Democratic again? I’m not familiar enough with Louisiana to know whether this is even possible?
From the story:
Alexander’s district is heavily Republican and it is unlikely a Democrat could win it in 2014.
People still voting against their own best interest – not to mention the best interest of their country.
Of course. Still haven’t figured out this is the part that’s keeping them ignorant and dependent…and poor.
This is the PARTY…my daughter wizzed through here when I was in the middle of a thought….and wizzed right out again! Leaving mom to forget to finish her word!
Translation: time to cash in….
Why complain? Just grab about 19 like-minded GOPers and work with the Democrats. Even the threat of that happening would break the gridlock in the House.
NAUGHTY MAT!
Love it, Japa!
😀 😀
I love the “Everybody” music video. Dr. Oz is getting down for a white guy. I mean no harm.
CBS just did a nice report on PBO’s visit here in SoCal. 🙂 Some of the folks in the audience were pleasantly surprised when they found out that he was the guest on the tonight show.
This must mean that you’re not with Time-Warner, since CBS is still blacked out in LA market, if you’re on Time Warner (as I am), right?
Some in the Leno audience didn’t know PBO is in town? That makes sense; this is one of the lower-key visits by our President here. Usually @knx1070 is all over the story, with dire traffic reports.
No I don’t have Time Warner. , I have DirectTV.
Oops, disregard “comma”.
What I love about Pete Souza is that his eyes are as wide open as the rest of ours are, about “anything Obama”!
Thought I’d tell him directly!
And taking Pete Souza along to record it all. 🙂
Yes. As a permanent record of all PBO has done. It will be needed later in history.
Also, too – it sure upsets the WHPC – who prefer that photos of the President are not available for the country/world to see.
Screw that lot!
Pete is definitely President Obama’s “silent partner,” in leaving behind proof of his rich, dynamic legacy of innovation, intelligence, industriousness, sincerity, compassion (stop me; I’m on a roll), and more, which he puts forth every day for the betterment of all Americans.
Hi JoB – his pictures are such a delight – they look at the quirky as well as the more formal – so many sides to the first family – including Bo – are well seen by Pete.
It’s so obvious how close he feels to all of them! That, of course, makes us more sure how well he’s treated around the White House. Can you just imagine having his job? Wow.
He is well trusted – can’t imagine many who would work there and not want to make $$$ with a tell all – but Pete seems to know exactly when to talk & when to stay quiet. It was good that the WHPC had to back peddle when their cry baby antics were seen for what they were.
Hear, hear!
I am sooooo ready to see My President on the Tonight Show. When is Jimmy Fallon taking it over?
Interesting twitter HQ in SF:
Gorgeous. They’re making the most of being inside one of the most vibrant cities in the world (as opposed to suburban Silicon Valley).
The best thing about Twitter and Google are their minimalist approaches.
That’s why they both succeeded.
I really like the backstory with the founders of both companies; Facebook, not so much (never joined, was never tempted to join, just seemed too “Big Brother” creepy to me).
Yeah, I love the open spaces and the clean lines. The view is beautiful and serene.
When POTUS or FLOTUS have appeared on the Tonight Show before, they usually would release a small clip from tonight show.
There you heard it – straight from the horse’s mouth. So who are you going to believe, Barack Obama, or Edward Snowden?
Don’t underestimate the paranoia of the emos. They’re convinced that NO ONE in the government can be trusted, least of all the President.
But they trusted Bush, at least Greenwald and Snowden did. And they certainly trust Rand Paul and Ron Paul – who are both “in government.”
These emos are racist – plain and simple.
I agree. But don’t try to imply that – they will lose their sh*t.
Homegrown terrorism, yet MSM went out of it’s way to suggest that these guys were influenced by foreign “Muslim” religion…. MSM
Some of us here were saying this all along….
I wonder if Rep King plans to have hearings on this…call Hannity and Rush Limbaugh to the stand
Won’t post the tweets about Hillary (it’s friggin’ 2013, who besides the media CARES about HRC in 2016 now?)
And don’t the pool hate it when someone asks the questions they should be asking (but won’t) and also listens to the answers. I love that PBO does interviews with people who aren’t full of their own self importance.
…Making his sixth appearance on Leno – his fourth as president – Obama and his host stuck to serious subjects as the president promoted his economic and heath care policies, discussed terrorist threats in the Middle East, and defended NSA surveillance programs.
“We don’t have a domestic spying program,” Obama said, describing the NSA efforts as “mechanisms that can track a phone number or an email address that is connected to a terrorist attack … That information is useful.”
Obama also told Leno he’s disappointed that Russia granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden, but said the two nations can still work together on other issues.
“There are times when they slip back into Cold War thinking and Cold War mentality,” Obama said. “What I continually say to them and to President (Vladmir) Putin, that’s the past.” …
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/08/06/obama-talk-show-leno-letterman-nixon-clinton-arsenio-hall/2622767/
PBO can find something nice to say about every person on the planet. The RWNJs in congress can find nothing nice to say about anyone.
You are absolutely spot-on, 99ts. Sadly, the RWNJs are now joined by the equally deranged emoprogs and the blatantly unethical mainstream media. All these three groups have one thing in common: a deep-seated hatred of President Obama. They all can find “nothing nice to say about” him.
Dear Mr President,
I can write pages on this topic. The purpose of this brief letter is to alert you to a core issue, that if properly addressed, will transform the quality of health care in the USA and promote a level of personal health & wellness responsibility we have never enabled.
Simply, our approach to an individual’s medical record is a major obstacle to improving the quality of care, lowering the cost of care, and empowering every US citizen to take personal responsibility for their wellness.
The answer – An individual’s medical record should be OWNED by them, not by any of the systems that provide care to them during their life. The current system in the USA is the inverse of that basic principle.
Furthermore – An individual’s medical record is a core component of THEIR identity.
The technological implementation of the approach I am advocating is entirely achievable – every aspect of it, i.e., we do not need to invent anything.
If you’d like to have a brief conversation about how we implement and sustain a truly PERSONAL MEDICAL RECORD and the numerous positive implications of doing so, I’m more than ready to provide the details.
Point of disclosure – I have no ownership or affiliation with any entity that would profit from the above approach.
Thank you for OBAMACARE, btw!
Forward,
Bob
🙂 You could put my husband out of a job ….or maybe not…. He teaches Dr’s, surgeons and nurses how to use EMR….
Then maybe he would teach individuals?
Actually not, df. All health care and wellness providers would still need to be trained in the use of EMR irrespective of the ownership of the information issue.
And, silver lining, as jojo notes, individuals would benefit from training in the appropriate use of their EMR information – just as people benefit from knowing how to use an ATM machine, the Web, etc (training a bunch of folk could use a bit more of, btw 🙂 )
Hi Bob,
This sounds interesting! One thing that came to mind; how would it prevent a person from altering their own medical records to their benefit? Perhaps you weren’t talking about physical ownership but a patient’s “read only” capability?
Content as entered by any provider, of any type, would be immutable by the individual. Attempts to ‘counterfeit’ would be a crime.
Great suggestion, Bob! I hope you sent the letter and I hope the President’s aid select it as one of the letters he reads every night. By the way, I wish all of us would follow your example of how to engage constructively with the President to improve all of our lives.
Thank you so much, nath. You are such a fine friend!
#FORWARD Together
Excellent, Bob!
Thank you Mary!
Holly Crap….I never thought of that. Thanks Amk!
Neither did I. Some momsmartness.
So true…..I do this dance 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening before I pull the plug when it gets dark.
Hi, UT – I cracked up when I saw your “ALERT,” about the President’s appearance on Leno, mostly because everybody here really wants that alert and a couple more reminders before the show! And many of us Obots are DVRing it, as well, in case we accidentally get busy elsewhere. So, TYVM!
Very nice picture. I guess Pete’s camera needs to be a bit more skeptical…show the two of them on the floor fighting…
This is really good news for a possible Senate seat in Georgia!
Sam Nunn’s daughter, I believe. He was extremely popular in office and beyond!
He was in Georgia! I think he served 4 terms. He was also highly regarded by the his fellow Senate colleagues.
Yes!
And good evening to you, nathk!
Good evening, Jacqueline O! I hope you had a good day.
I did, thank you. Just about ready to call it a night!
Karma, Indeed! I hope of the fine imposed goes to pay for the education of those black kids he wronged.
testing
wow that was nuts I couldn’t post a comment for the longest time…. now that I can… I can’t remember what I wanted to say. 😉
That happened to me in the last coupla days. I was flippin’ out! 🙂
It was happening to me. I started copying the comments before attempting to post. That way I could just paste on each new attempt. It usually takes three or four tries to successfully post anything.
Here’s what I have to do to get comments to post: if I’ve been away from TOD for awhile, my login times out. I have to re-login and then I have to close out TOD and reopen it. THEN my comments will post.
If I log in to the same screen and try to post a comment I get a WP error that my comment cannot be posted.
WordPress is ridiculous.
#TrustBarack
Bob, fantastic letter to President Obama. Please let us know, if you here back from him or somebody from this administration. I’m sure he would be willing to listen to your ideas on an individual medical record.
Thank you sjterrid. If they contact me, will definitely share with our TOD community! 🙂
#FORWARD
should be hear back! :blush:
not to worry 😉
🙂
ok nitey nite TOD
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hey bt. There is a twitter script that is delaying the display of pages here. Methinks it’s coming from the right hand side of the page.
Yes, Bob…I would be interested in hearing if you hear anything back from the WH about this….for sure:)
Will be delighted to share should they show any interest, df. Thank you 🙂
Thank you, kind sir 🙂
Almost time for the Tonight Show. Are you guys ready?
Watchin’!
Ok
Think he’ll be up next! Yeehaw!
Hi fellow TODers,
Sorry to have been AWOL. Tryna complete some remodeling project before dear hubby arrives from extended trip abroad. Meant to be a surprise (he doesn’t follow me here to TOD…I think 😀 )
Anyway here’s a lovely new release from the South African group Micasa that I posted here during PBO’s trip to South Africa. A number of you liked their sound, so just alerting you that this new single is 2 in advance of their 2nd album coming out on August 16. Many of us are feverishly waiting. This song, “Jika” taps into intergenerational bonds. Simple storyline. So herre goes
POTUS is coming up next.
Don’t tell us west coast time zones any secrets:) I’m DVRing it….only 8:44pm here…. I want to be surprised:)
GREAT SOUND, zizi!! I loved this! thanks for sharing…will you remind us again when the album drops and post again??
Anyone heard/seen FayPax lately?? Just wondering where she is….maybe vacation?
I wondered that too df – Her last blog post seems to be July 22 – although I have trouble finding the dates on her blog.
Seemed like it’s been awhile:) Glad I wasn’t the only one that was missing her.
Leno just made a Snowdirt dig! Booyah!!
It’s lisa! Glad to see you. President Obama always brings you out, I see!
Yep! Plus my cold is getting better so of course I’m came to see my favorite man! 😉
Awww, take care of that cold. Nothing more annoying than a summer cold!
I won’t mention anything that would be a spoiler to west coasters, but your “favorite man” is doing wonderfully well tonight, eh? 🙂
So well, it’s beautiful to see! 🙂 of course tomorrow the media bitches will be crying “softball interview,” pity they don’t realize there’s a difference between professional questions asked in a polite and respectful manner and dirtbag, rude questions asked in a snide tone.
I’m with you – it’s not a softball interview at all. It’s a respectful interview, from start to finish, covering a lot of issues. Wish we could see this kind of stuff every day of the week from real reporters in the WHPC. The current group needn’t bother. Damn them!
Double damn them!
😉
Good questions from Jay.
True! He’s a good Liberal ya know? His house is all powered by green and has antique cars, old steam ones from the 1900 era.
So, he’s cool!
🙂
Nice!
If this was the President the RNC would send out a snarky email that would be all over the news.
The media themselves would be sending out snarky e-mails.
Paging Mr. Yardarm with the mats….not just for TOD, but also for Twitter…
https://twitter.com/PattiLaHelle/status/364956369511661570
HA! Naughty mats for America! We just can’t help it, can we? He just oozes sex appeal.
Naughty Mats for America just happens to be the name of my new company. Seeing the work-out they get here and knowing that President Obama is taking his message to the people, I thought I could get in on the ground floor. I figure I’ve got to do something to help my retirement. Oh, and all Todders get a discount 😉
PBO is making it real plain. Even Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see it. 🙂
New post to take us into Rise and Shine.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/08/07/the-president-and-leno/
PBO did a great job using the house example when talking about infrastructure building.
Leno…is asking great questions….no snark…