A Year Ago Tomorrow

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Sept. 6, 2012: “While the President was waiting anxiously backstage before his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., daughters Malia and Sasha came in to wish him well.” (Photo by Pete Souza)

A Tweet or Two from some of the Smart Folk

Alan Grayson Conspires with Far Right Lunatics to Lie and Fundraise Off of Crisis in #Syria: http://t.co/y0ycr7SrZ2 @AlanGrayson #Shameless

— The People’s View (@thepeoplesview) September 5, 2013

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In future years, if the worst thing people say about Barack Obama is that he once tried to stop a dictator from gassing children, so be it

— Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) September 5, 2013

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@Lawrence In violation of law, chemical weapons were used in Syria. Destroying them is not ‘going to war,’ it’s enforcing the law. cc @vj44

— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) September 5, 2013

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Obama didn’t wake up one morning and say, “Bombing Syria will be fun and popular!” Doing the right thing is rarely the easy thing.

— Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) September 5, 2013

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Um, THIS! –> RT @TeaPartyCat: GOP lists out pros and cons of intervening in #Syria: #Obama #GOP #p2 pic.twitter.com/Sux7QoKOux

— Eric Wolfson (@ericwolfson) September 5, 2013

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Let’s make this clear, the thing preventing us from spending money on the US is not Syria. It is the GOP and only the GOP.

— john miller (@deaconmill) September 5, 2013

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A Working Summit

President Barack Obama and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands before the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit

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 President of the United States of America Barack Obama attends a working meeting of G20 heads of state and government, heads of invited states and international organizations.

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Great to catch up with President Obama on the ride from the airport. Honored to serve as his representative here in Russia.

—
Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 05, 2013

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The first working meeting of G20 heads of state and government, heads of invited states and international organizations.

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Keep Chattin’

President Obama walks to attend the working dinner after the session of the G20 Summit in Strelna near St. Petersburg, September 5

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Back in a bit with a post or three

Chat Away

President Obama boards Air Force One at Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport in Sweden en route to Saint Petersburg to attend the G20 summit

Friends Reunited

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“Barack? You are hurting my hand. Very much.” (Putin ‘welcomes’ President Obama to the G20 Summit) pic.twitter.com/JoVcwKcmGD

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 5, 2013

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Obama Gives Putin Historic Death Stare At The G20 Summit http://t.co/RO62g8hdG1

— R.Saddler (@Politics_PR) September 5, 2013

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“Damnski – he’s even taller than I remember.”

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ‘welcomes’ President Barack Obama before the first working session of the G20 Summit in Constantine Palace in Strelna near St. Petersburg

Rise and Shine

Two years ago today: President Obama greets a man in the crowd after addressing the Labor Day celebration in Detroit, Mich., Sept. 5, 2011. (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today:

This morning, President Obama met with the King and Queen of Sweden before departing Stockholm for Saint Petersburg, Russia for the G-20 summit.

Through the day, the President takes part in G-20 meetings and working sessions, finishing with a working dinner at 8:0 local time (Saint Petersburg is eight hours ahead of US Eastern)

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President Obama arrives to take part in the G20 Summit in St Petersburg, September 5

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President Barack Obama meets with Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Royal Palace in Stockholm

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Nicholas Kristof (NYT): The Right Questions On Syria

Critics of American military action in Syria are right to point out all the risks and uncertainties of missile strikes, and they have American public opinion on their side. But for those of you who oppose cruise missile strikes, what alternative do you favor?

It’s all very well to urge the United Nations and Arab League to do more, but that means that Syrians will continue to be killed at a rate of 5,000 every month….

…. A decade ago, I was aghast that so many liberals were backing the Iraq war. Today, I’m dismayed that so many liberals, disillusioned by Iraq, seem willing to let an average of 165 Syrians be killed daily rather than contemplate missile strikes that just might, at the margins, make a modest difference.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the number of dead in the civil war, is exasperated at Western doves who think they are taking a moral stance.

…. how is being “pro-peace” in this case much different in effect from being “pro-Assad” and resigning oneself to the continued slaughter of civilians?

More here

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I’m genuinely enjoying this GOP-as-Peace-Party thing. Maybe for Halloween they can dress up as civil rights activists.

— edroso (@edroso) September 4, 2013

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National Memo: Obama Still Most Popular World Leader

Though his popularity is down from its peak in 2009, President Obama remains the world’s most popular leader among the world’s citizens as the G20 gathers for a summit in Russia, according to Pew Research.

“Only Angela Merkel comes close to the breadth of Obama’s popularity,” writes Pew’s Andrew Kohut. However, Obama inspired more confidence than the German chancellor in seven out of eight major German countries polled last year.

…. President’s Obama’s median popularity of 42 percent is more than double that of G20 summit host Vladimir Putin’s 19 percent. The only country where Putin inspires more confidence than Obama is China.

More here

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U.S. second-quarter productivity upped to 2.3% on.mktw.net/1ei1fBN via

—
  (@symmetry11) September 05, 2013

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Steve Benen: Jobless Claims Improve, Remain Near Six-Year Low

Today’s report on initial unemployment claims was widely expected to be good, but the newly released figures from the Department of Labor were even better than expected.

More here

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‘Sweden in World Focus’

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Smartypants:  Why The Most Liberal President In A Generation Is Driving Some Progressives Bonkers

Just as President Obama is taking huge steps to walk back the imperial presidency and making tremendous strides on issues like health care reform and LGBT rights and ending the war on drugs and fighting to curb climate change and ending the perpetual war and taking on the NRA and fighting for immigration reform and trying to curb the rising costs of college tuition and proposing things like a minimum wage increase along with universal day care, there is a group of progressives who have gone absolutely bonkers with their conspiracy theories about him. As Bob Cesca points out this morning, many of them are are so deranged that they’re staring to line up with tea party libertarians to destroy the Democratic Party.

Its no wonder that many of us are saying “WTH? Why now? You want to jump ship just when we’re starting to make some progress?”

To be honest, I’ve been trying to understand this particular variety of Obama Derangement Syndrome for quite a while now.

More here

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Good thing our President didn’t listen to the polls. GM sales up 14.7%; Ford rises 12.2%; Chrysler jumps 11.5% http://t.co/Xk9sKqRTxa

— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) September 4, 2013

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Steve Benen: Rumsfeld Just Keeps Talking

If there’s anyone in America who should go enjoy a little quiet time right about now, it’s failed former Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld. Nevertheless, he just keeps talking, appearing this morning on Fox News (thanks to my colleague Tricia McKinney for the heads-up) …Rumsfeld, who earned public scorn for his leadership of the Pentagon during the Iraq War, said Obama didn’t need to ask Congress for authorization and may have made a mistake in doing so.

Rumsfeld, who seemed generally supportive of intervention in Syria, added that President Obama “doesn’t have the kind of support that President Bush had in respect to his military actions.” Yep, he really said that. Part of me continues to wonder why Rumsfeld is still allowed to speak in polite company. Lance Armstrong isn’t asked for his opinions about athletes and performance-enhancing drugs; Miley Cyrus isn’t sought out for analysis on public modesty; so why should anyone take seriously what Donald Rumsfeld has to say foreign policy and the use of military force abroad?

Don’t go away mad, Rumsfeld. Just go away.

More here

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Jesus! Some GOP senators are dragging Benghazi non-scandal into Syria hearings as relevant. Shameless, ignorant hacks who politicize all!

—
Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 04, 2013

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Millions of Americans have already received free preventive care, thanks to #Obamacare. http://t.co/HUXIG0mV1f

—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 04, 2013

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Jonathan Cohn: ObamaCare Implementation: Clinton Speech Gives The Big Picture

The Secretary of Explaining Stuff is back on the job. On Wednesday, former President Bill Clinton gave a speech about Obamacare—why it was necessary, how it will work, and what it will do in the future. In the speech, Clinton acknowledged some of Obamacare’s flaws and he urged Republicans to join Democrats in trying to fix them.

But Clinton also pointed out the benefits Obamacare has already produced. Young adults are getting insurance through their parents. The insured have new consumer protections, like those eliminating lifetime limits on benefits. Seniors have more coverage of prescription drugs and preventative services. The list goes on: In all, many millions of Americans are better off because of these provisions. Meanwhile, the year-to-year increases in health care spending have been lower than usual, which means government is saving money and premiums for the privately insured aren’t rising as fast as they would be otherwise. Obamacare isn’t the only reason for this change and it probably isn’t the primary reason, either. But most experts think it has played a role.

Those savings are likely to grow with time. Health improvement might follow, since the changes underway—like a reduction in hospital readmisisons—save lives as well as money. And that’s not all—not by a longshot. Starting next year, millions of people without insurance today will get coverage via expanded state Medicaid programs or through the new insurance exchanges. Thanks to generous federal subsidies, many people will pay less for their insurance than they pay now. And those who do pay more will at least have more comprehensive and stable coverage, while paying premiums that are pretty much comparable to what employer-sponsored insurance costs. Oh, and if the Congressional Budget Office is right, the deficit will be lower than it might otherwise be.

More here

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Millions of Americans with private insurance are getting rebates thanks to #Obamacare. http://t.co/29S6O6LIiN

—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 04, 2013

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A Year Ago Yesterday (Chips had the photo and video ready to post yesterday, but then glitch-a-rama struck):

President Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama begins her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Sept. 4, 2012 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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On This Day:

President Obama hugs a woman in the crowd after addressing the Labor Day celebration in Detroit, Mich., Sept. 5, 2011 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Early Bird Chat – And 21 Million Thanks!

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MooooOOOOoooorning Early Birds! 21 million thank yous to UT and everyone for last night’s Cheesy Puff party – which I missed because, as you suspected, I was ZzzzzzZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzzzing. From bin Laden to 21 million hits, I’ve missed it all 😕

Back in a while – and from me and all the blog tyrants, thank you again, 21 million is eye-watering!