****
Today (all times Eastern):
2:0: President Obama signs the bipartisan student loans bill, cutting student loan interest rates
3:0: Holds a press conference
4:15: Meets with Secretary of State John Kerry
****
Bloomberg: Is Obamacare Forcing You to Work Part-Time?
Here’s the next conservative argument against President Barack Obama’s health care law: It’s causing employers to shift full-time workers into part-time. Too bad it’s wrong…..
Read here
****
****
10 job openings created by Obamacare. http://t.co/5Jn3mNGgmp
— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) August 9, 2013
****
Greg Sargent: …. Republicans are caught in an Obamacare trap. They know proposing repeal while not offering a serious alternative is untenable. But when they do propose alternatives that would accomplish the popular parts of Obamacare, conservatives revolt, because they don’t want to sap the repeal-Obamacare drive of its energy and don’t want to legitimize an interventionist role for government. Which just highlights what Republicans are trying to obscure in the first place: the party is in the grip of an anti-Obamacare animus that has come unhinged from any normal policy considerations, and doesn’t envision a meaningfully constructive role for government in solving our health care problems.
Full post here
****
Democrats win in 2014 by sticking to the big issues on which virtually everyone agrees with us. Stay out of the weeds.
— allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) August 8, 2013
****
TPM: Poll: Hispanics Favor Democrats Over GOP By Big Margin
Hispanics in the United States, whether they were born in America or not, overwhelmingly favor the Democratic Party, according to new findings from Gallup released Thursday.
Fifty-seven percent of Hispanic immigrants born outside the U.S. said they identify with or lean toward the Democrats, while only a quarter gave the edge to the GOP…
…. President Barack Obama claimed a strong approval rating among all three groups of Hispanics, with majorities in each giving him high marks.
More here
****
Civil Rights Icon John Lewis Praises Edward Snowden? THEY LIE | The People’s View: http://t.co/XCVBga5nqT
— adept2u (@adept2u) August 8, 2013
****
FROM THE BLOG STAFF: The Top 10 Most Inaccurate and Exaggerrated NSA Stories (So Far) http://t.co/cVjhLeGK15
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) August 9, 2013
****
NYT: House Majority Leader’s Quest to Soften G.O.P.’s Image Hits a Wall Within
Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, has been trying for months to remake the image of the Republican Party, from one of uncompromising conservatism to something kinder and gentler.
It isn’t working so well.
On Wednesday, Republican leaders abruptly shelved one of the centerpieces of Mr. Cantor’s “Making Life Work” agenda — a bill to extend insurance coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions — in the face of a conservative revolt. Last month, legislation to streamline worker retraining programs barely squeaked through. In May, Republican leaders will try again with legislation, pitched as family-friendly, to allow employers to offer comp time or “flex time” instead of overtime. But it has little prospect for Senate passage.
So it has gone. Items that Mr. Cantor had hoped would change the Republican Party’s look, if not its priorities, have been ignored, have been greeted with yawns or have only worsened Republican divisions.
More here
****
President Obama will award the Medal of Freedom to openly gay black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. http://t.co/900GnvzH6W
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 8, 2013
****
Mediaite: …. actor Alec Baldwin is getting his own weekly show in MSNBC’s primetime lineup.
According to our source, the so far untitled show will air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET and will feature a large dose of Baldwin’s outspoken liberal politics.
More here
****
US wholesale inventories dwindle in June on ongoing demand http://t.co/WcDWH6d0c9
— WBP Online (@WBPOnline) August 9, 2013
****
TPM: I’m sure many of you got a kick over the mini-implosion of Mitch McConnell’s reelection campaign yesterday, with his own campaign manager admitting that he thinks McConnell sucks and is only working for him to further the hopes of Rand Paul. It all ended up with this cringey-not-going-to-fix-the-damage picture of Mitch and his disser…
…. I’m coming around to the idea that Mitch McConnell could actually lose his reelection battle next year, through a mix of deep unpopularity, a tough and well financed primary challenger and a decent Democratic opponent. But …. McConnell’s problems at home make a government shutdown and a lot of other nonsense much more likely. Whether or not McConnell finally wins or loses is basically a secondary point. It’s what he’ll do trying to win from now until election day 2014…..
More here
****
Steve Benen: Rand Paul’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week
It’s probably safe to say Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has had better weeks. Just over the last few weeks he started to lose his cool on NPR when asked about a neo-confederate he co-authored a book with; he was caught making ridiculous boasts about his record on minority rights; and he repeated a bizarre conspiracy theory about George Stephanopoulos that’s already been debunked.
And then, after all of this, the Kentucky Republican sat down for a chat with Businessweek’s Josh Green….
More here
****
****
Steve Benen: Immigration reform’s odds improve – a little
It’s pretty easy to assume that fierce Republican opposition will doom comprehensive immigration reform. Indeed, for much of the summer, House GOP extremism on the issue has reinforced fears that the odds are poor.
But there’s been some gradual movement of late, and it’s given new hope to reform proponents.
More here
****
Wow! Military to give same-sex couples up to 10 days to travel to a state where #gaymarriage is legal & get married. http://t.co/hYNVfwcpiP
— Jake Grovum (@jgrovum) August 9, 2013
****
On this day…..
Aug. 9, 2011 – Pete Souza: “The President, in the process of saluting, participates in a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of U.S. and Afghan personnel who died in Afghanistan a few days earlier. Many family members and friends of the special forces who died in this incident requested a copy of the photograph and later wrote me how much it meant to them.”
****
MoooOOOooorning!
The Obama Diary 
Morning all
Congrats!
Thanks. Pure luck. I didn’t expect the R&S to show up for a couple more hours.
Oi you!!!
In honor of your up-coming birthday I give you…
And if they’re giving you grief about your rise-and-shine-ish-ness, just give ’em a copy of this!
http://www.amazon.com/Ish-Creatrilogy-Peter-H-Reynolds/dp/076362344X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376062821&sr=8-1&keywords=ish
“A creative spirit learns that thinking “ish-ly” is far more wonderful than “getting it right” in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.”
Ha, will do Mary!!!! 🙂
Hi there, Japa! I see you and I were using the same R & S theory, but you tested yours periodically, while I wandered off to have brunch. 😛 Good strategy on your part!.
Morning Japa! I replied to your honeymoon revelation in the last thread. Beyond that, my heart aches too much to say any more.
Wello, as I mentioned, having to put up with each other for that long will be interesting. Who knows what the future brings.
I wish there was an edit key for comments. I generally don’t proofread before posting and only see my mistakes after the fact. Of course, if I actually proofread before posting that would solve the problem too. But that would be like admitting I could make a mistake and I can’t do that.
I was going to fiddle around with the settings and give you the honor of being able to correct your typos, but that would also mean you could post photos from your honeymoon and frankly, I don’t know if I could take that.
I would never be that callous.
Okay then, I trust you – but ONE honeymoon pic and it’s war. Emailed you one of those automated thingies from WordPress, chirpily ‘accept’ and then you’ll have the power to correct ALL your typos (and sheesh, there are sooooo many of them) – and you’ll be able to post, which I’m going to bully you in to doing.
Oh no. This can only turn out one way, and that isn’t good. And how about pictures of whales or glaciers?
The only problem is that I will now regard pictures of whales and glaciers as some kind of subliminal honeymoon reminder, because it’ll be you who’ll be posting them. Why you had to mention that honeymoon at all, in my flippin’ birthday month, I will never know.
I truly am sorry that it has upset you so much. But keep in mind, I still consider you my Never to be Former Future Bride. And I won’t post them (I’ll bribe UT).
LOL! 🙂
The first thin on this post is important. Whether or not I agree with everything PBO does, I still have his back. But it goes further than that. Having his back means I have the country’s back as well.
He is currently, quite honestly, the best hope this country has to move forward. And, to some degree, the immense amount of hatred so many on the right feel towards this man may work to the country’s advantage. Any semblance of civility is being ripped off the GOP. Even those who like to consider themselves moderate Republicans, and who were able to tolerant the excesses of the party in the 90’s, are becoming alaremd at what the party has become.
I know the GOP thinks there are a lot of people who will pull the lever for a GOP candidate no matter what. But that number is dwindling.
In 2014, IF the Dems don’t bliow it like they did in 2010, they can win back the House and hold the Senate. Then things can start getting done again, even with the GOP Senate obstruction.
And in 2016, with another Dem President and even stronger hold on the Senate and House, PBO’s legacy will be assured.
GM TODville Community. Wow…..Great posts by Our very Best UT and Chips.
Thank You to all our bt.
8-9-13. TGIF. It is indeed a Beautiful Day as U2 would sing.
Exactly at Noon today……39 yrs ago, Nixon resignation became official…….Marine 1 flew him out of the White House……on Aug 9th, 1974.
I’m so happy that same-sex couples that are federal employees can now elect to have their partners covered with health and life insurance. One year ago this would have been unthinkable; President Obama is day by day making America a more perfect union.
OLD LYME, Conn. — Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s brother has been charged in Connecticut with impersonating a police officer after authorities say he stopped boaters.
Police say 46-year-old Bruce W. Browne, of Wolcott, stopped three vessels on Long Island Sound on Thursday and asked boaters for their registrations and safety certificates. Police say Browne had three loaded handguns, handcuffs and a bulletproof vest marked “police” in his car.
Wolcott Chief Edward Stephens said Browne is the Massachusetts Republican politician’s brother. He could not explain why their last names are spelled differently.
A call to Scott Brown was not immediately returned. A listing for Bruce Browne went unanswered.
Browne also was charged with breach of peace, interfering with a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon. He was released on $50,000 bond.
—
AP report
Police Officers have a hard enough job as it is without these wannabe cops, this guy is lucky he didn’t get his brains blown out by someone that doesn’t give a shit.
I read that at another site and I was horrified by it. Many in US are Conceal and Carry gun owners. If they start posing as cops…..We are Cooked as a society.
Trayvon Martin was killed by an armed racist pig who was not wearing a uniform. Browne with an E and Romney as an adult doing that today is detrimental to a society’s Civility……and this is what in my opinion that the NRA and the followers, the RWNJs are truly gunning for.
Just so weird how these GOP pols and wannabe pols are so into impersonating police officers. (Think R-money, and the story that the MSM ignored.)
Chips Ahoy!!!
Chips, Great R&S. Thank you!
THIS!
My 79 year old mom passed away peacefully today morning. She was the first female doctor in a small rural town to start a practice in 1960’s. A steady stream of her ex-patients from in and around villages have been stopping by home all day.
A woman of simple life but elegant taste who served the rural poor, mostly free of charge through out her career. Till her retirement when turned seventy, she was still charging the patients Rs 0 to 10 when all her contemporaries were charging a minimum of rupees 100/- for each consultation.
Oh…..what a loss. I am so sorry. My prayers, thoughts, sympathy and loads of hugs to you and your family.
Though I don’t know you personally, amk, my thoughts and sympathy are with you and your family.
Oh amk, my deepest condolences.
Oh Amk, I am so sorry for your loss – what a simply extraordinary woman and pioneer she was, that’s a life story to be incredibly proud of, as I’m sure you and your family are. May she rest in peace, what a legacy to leave behind, with the love and respect of the 100s of people whose lives she touched in such a powerful, positive and healing way. Take care of yourself fella, deepest sympathies again.
Amk my condolences and many virtual Hugs.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. ((( amk )))
Beautiful story about how she touched so many lives. She has left an enduring legacy in her overachieving children and grandchildren. Bless you and your family, and Godspeed Mother AMK.
Amk, My deepest condolences to you and your family. Your mother was an amazing women.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
My sympathies. Losses are never easy. It helps that you will have the memories of a wonderful woman who obviously had an impact on many people, most importantly you. She ahd her priorities straight, and did a good job teaching them to you. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts.
Sorry for your loss amk. She was an inspirational woman.
Amk, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. My deepest condolences to you and your family! We pray you find strength to cope.
Amk, my deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved mother. My mom has been gone for many years now but not a day goes by that I don’t think about the wonderful mother and friend that she was. These are the thoughts that will get you through. My prayers to you and your family.
Me too. Words are not enough to fill that hole. You have my sympathy.
I’m so sorry amk. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Oh, amk, I’m so sorry. She sounds like a remarkable woman and I’m sure you and your family will feel her loss greatly. Please be good to yourself and take the time to grieve.
Amk, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your mom sounds like a deeply caring woman. Her life’s work and memories of her goodness and love will endure in lives of the people that she helped over the years and in you. Bless you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your loss She sounds like a wonderful lady with understanding and feelings for others less fortunate
Regret your loss, amk, very much. Your mother was obviously an exceptionally fine person and paragon of what a medical doctor should be and do.
My sympathy. I lost my Mom in Feb.
Sincere condolences to you too, Obama Grandmama!
Sorry for your loss Amk. She sounds like a wonderful woman who did a lot of good in the world. May she rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss, amk. My prayers are with you and your family. Your mom sounds like a wonderful woman; what a testimony her life has been.
AMK, so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. May you be comforted with sweet memories of such a remarkable Mother, lady and humble public servant. You and your family are in my prayers.
My condolences to you and your family, amk.
May she rest in peace.
The world could use a million of your mom, what a better place it would be. May the wonderful memories of your mother help to ease the pain of your loss.
So very sorry for your loss amk. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. What a wonderful woman she was.
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. I know that no matter how prepared you might be for this to happen it is never easy. It has been 25 years since my mother died and I still miss you. We are blessed with memories.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO Oh! {{{{amk}}}}
My deepest condolences amk for the loss of your mother. She Sounds like she was an incredible women; you must have been proud of her. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. {{hugs}}
amk – Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your dear mother. The way you described her soul, her passion, and her life’s work certainly does her proud today. Take care of yourself and your family, in the days and weeks ahead. You were all lucky to have her, as long as you did, although it’s terribly sad when we lose our dear parents at any age.
AMK, so sorry to hear about the passing of your extraordinary Mum. My deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your family. I hope you can feel all the love and support from your TOD family. I pass along the following passage to you as it gave me some comfort when I lost my beloved Dad 4 years ago… HUGS
“Death is nothing at all. I have slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed, at the little joke we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effect, without trace of shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant, it tis the same as it ever was, there is an unbroken continuity. What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
Canon Henry Scott Holland
So sorry for your loss amk. My condolences to you and your family. Your mother was a wonderful woman and made a difference in this world.
Amk, my condolences to you and your family.
AMK, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. May you find comfort with family and friends. She was a wonderful woman.
Deepest condolences amk. She was a compassionate woman who lived a life to be proud of. Sending my prayers for you and your family.
AMK, I’m very late reading of your mother’s passing. She sounds like a remarkable woman. My condolences to you and your family.
Funniest thing I’ll probably see today! You’re on another roll, Dudette!
Handy little guide — thought I’d share it!
One more good reference:
The way it’s gonna be.
Shipmate ….. is that what I think it is….. ie the trapped bits?
Yup. He hung hisself by the ‘naughty bits’! 🙂
😯
It’s gotta hurt a little bit. 😆 😆
Amk: Thinking of you as you celebrate the life of your mother. I’m sure you can see her life and values reflected in the lives of her children and brilliant grandchildren. She has left you with positive, lasting and tangible memories, and I hope that as you mourn you will also be uplifted by her example. We are with you in thought as you go through these early days of loss.
AMK…
VC expresses so beautifully what i could ever say…
my sincerest sympathy..praying that the Creator grants you and your family comfort..and peace
President Obama’s America is a bloody awesome country!
YES IT IS!!
AMK, my thoughts and prayers are with you today on the loss of your mother. She seemed to have been a remarkable person.
‘Sometimes Angels are disguised as Mothers’.
AMK, my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
What great memories she left for you all to share!
Her love will and always be with you in your heart.
The people who appreciated her precious gifts of caring and compassion will never forget her services.
amk, I join the rest in saying how sorry we are to hear about the lost of your Mom. You and your family have my deepest sympathy.
So do I. Very sorry to hear about the loss of your mother AMK.
One of your best ….
TY, he said with a blush.
Awesommmmme Japa….
AMK, my warmest condolences on the loss of your mother. She was truly a remarkable woman. You will treasure her memory forever, and it will warm your heart.
Observation from middle America-mine. Just Putin guy reminds me of a banty That like to strut around with his chest poked out. He’s fearless and that’s why he’s a bigot?
Excellent image!
Happy bday-ish, Chips! Here’s a snappy playlist in honor of your day-ish! 😆 hope it makes you dance! 🙂
Ps-Leo’s ROCK!!!!!!! 😆
Excellent collection LLO! The party is STRONG with you! 🙂
😆 amen! 🙂
Started at 2 PM. President not there, but interesting, different speakers.
We the Geeks: “Robots”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/06/we-geeks-robots
this is cool
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/08/president-obama-and-robots-our-5-favorite-moments
That is such a stupid picture of Mitch McConnell and his campaign manger, or is it Rand Paul manger. Ain’t no one buying what they are trying to do. McConnell with that fake ugly smile.
A worthy read
//….
For us, Ebony’s “We Are All Trayvon” covers are not about tit-for-tat media coverage, reverse racism claims, or the detached outrage of an out-of-touch political party. This is urgent and personal. One different choice, one year’s delay, one miscalculated risk, and our black children could cease to exist. Someone who doesn’t like the look of them could follow them or instigate a confrontation or deem them unworthy of equitable opportunities or just wordlessly open fire.
These are our stakes. They do not begin or end with George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin or with hoodies and magazine covers. But if the story of John H. Johnson’s rise from poverty, through Jim Crow, and into our current media consciousness tells us anything, it’s that we can’t afford not to use every avenue available to us to fight for a more just society. We cannot afford to stop believing that, even against the unlikely odds of school disappearances in our communities and racial profiling and rampant gun violence, our voices and our media and our protests are meaningful. Here’s hoping Ebony remains in print and online long enough to report every stride we take toward a greatly improved future.
//
http://www.salon.com/2013/08/08/the_rights_ridiculous_ebony_outrage/
or pass it on via a tweet
Hiya everyone, will have a Heads Up post in a few minutes for the press conference
Heads up:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/08/09/heads-up-president-obamas-press-conference/