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Today (all times Eastern):
11:0: VP Biden attends and delivers remarks at a Nelson Mandela service at Washington National Cathedral
12:30: Josh Earnest briefs the press
3:45: VP Biden and Cecilia Muñoz answer questions about immigration reform in an online event
5:0: VP Biden delivers remarks at the 12th Annual George McGovern Leadership Award Ceremony of World Food Program USA
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Aboard Air Force One, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes begins the editing process on the President’s speech that he will deliver at the Nelson Mandela memorial service
Hillary Clinton talks with the Obamas, Ben Rhodes and Capricia Marshall aboard Air Force One, Dec. 9
President Obama greets security personnel from South Africa as he waits to take the stage at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela
President Obama and President Bush talk as they get ready to have dinner aboard Air Force One with their wives and Valerie Jarrett, Tina Tchen and Susan Rice
All photos by Pete Souza – lots more here
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USA Today: Obama applauds congressional budget deal
Don’t be surprised if President Obama addresses the proposed congressional budget deal on Wednesday, and to say good things about it.
In a written statement late Tuesday, Obama called the deal “a good first step” toward a “balanced” budget approach that combines prudent cuts with investments in job-generating programs.
“This agreement doesn’t include everything I’d like — and I know many Republicans feel the same way,” Obama said. “That’s the nature of compromise. But it’s a good sign that Democrats and Republicans in Congress were able to come together and break the cycle of short-sighted, crisis-driven decision-making to get this done.”
More here
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Obama shakes hands with Castro. Ryan shakes hands with Murray. Can’t get much better for the conservative outrage machine.
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) December 10, 2013
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Steve Benen: What’s next for the budget deal
That Congress’ budget chairs – Republican Paul Ryan and Democrat Patty Murray – were able to reach a budget agreement at all is a minor miracle. There was ample reason to believe the negotiations were a fool’s errand and that failure was an inevitability. The assumptions, however, were wrong, and the two leaders last night unveiled their deal to fund the government for the next two years.
Broadly speaking, there are two overarching questions to consider: is the budget agreement any good and can it pass Congress. Neither is easy to answer.
More here
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See, how it works is Republican presidents get to sell arms to dictatorial govts and support apartheid-practicing ones. Dems? No handshakes!
— Joy Reid (@TheReidReport) December 11, 2013
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BBC: ‘Volcker rule’ ban on risky trades passed by regulators
All five US financial regulators have approved the Volcker rule, designed to restrict the finance industry in the wake of the 2008-09 financial collapse.
Named after former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, it bans banks from using their own funds for trading activities.
It is considered the centrepiece of the 2010 banking reform legislation known as Dodd-Frank. Banks will have until 21 July 2015 to comply with the rules.
…. US President Barack Obama applauded the passage of a rule proposed more than three years ago.
He said in a statement: “The Volcker Rule will make it illegal for firms to use government-insured money to make speculative bets that threaten the entire financial system, and demand a new era of accountability from CEOs who must sign off on their firm’s practices.”
More here
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#ObamaCare private insurance sign-ups cross half a million. Medicaid/SCHIP at 1.6 million. http://t.co/QtvhuGHYnF
— amk4obama (@amk4obama) December 11, 2013
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Kentucky.com: Health enrollment climbs during holiday period
Enrollment through Kentucky’s health benefits website has grown by more than 11,000 in a 10-day period starting Thanksgiving week.
Gov. Steve Beshear’s office says the technology team for the state’s online health insurance marketplace was expecting an increase in traffic, applications and enrollments after Thanksgiving and increased capacity to prepare.
A news release from Beshear’s office says the site enrolls about 1,000 Kentuckians a day.
More here
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Pope Francis is Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2013. Go Pope and Change. http://t.co/OfGRvcazKZ pic.twitter.com/9knCCjocG1
— amk4obama (@amk4obama) December 11, 2013
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On This Day:
President Obama with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha walk out from the White House to attend Sunday service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Dec 11, 2011
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MoooOOOooorning! A bit of a rush job again, I’m sure I’m missing lots of news but we’ll catch up through the day.
The Obama Diary 
GM All!!
Congrats Allison!
Thanks V24!
Moooooorning Allison, moooooorning everyone!
Good morning !
Chips, Thank you for the great pictures!
Rise and Shine!
Thanks Chips, et al, for all the lovely posts yesterday, some of which I’m still catching up with. PBO = Class.
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone, and congrats Allison on #1! 🙂
Chips this is a most wonderful, R & S roundup – thanks! I hope CSPAN will carry the National Cathedral Services with VP Biden. 🙂 I’m sure the other networks won’t.
Good Morning Everyone!
Congrats Allison!
“Go Pope and Change” amk wins the day! Congrats, Allison! Happy Hump Day, everyone!
Or….just for SP the SnowIdiot….” How’s that Popey Changy Thingy” workin’ out for ya”?
I LOVE that term – thanks amk!!
Great summary, Chips. It’s so hard to catch up with everything going on. Interesting how we have to search for real information on what’s happening in the Ukraine and around the world, while our US media focuses on trivia. Americans are being very ill served and the only way it will ever change is if we demand it or completely replace the tired old media with our own sources of information. Right now twitter is the best source of info on the Ukraine. And, of course, we will only get to hear about VP Biden remarks from non network sources.
I vote to replace the entire lot of them. 🙂
Answered my own question! http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obamacare-enrollment-soars-november
Hope/ Change is working out damn skippy!
DECEMBER 11, 2013
RECORD FOR WORST CONGRESS OF ALL TIME SO CLOSE BOEHNER CAN TASTE IT
POSTED BY ANDY BOROWITZ
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—With six fingers of Johnnie Walker swirling in his favorite tumbler, John Boehner speaks with the quiet assurance of a man on the brink of something big.
Just three workdays remain until Congress packs it in for 2013, and the House that Boehner presides over is about to set the record for the least productive year in its history—a quixotic goal that the tawny Ohioan set for himself when he arrived in Washington, in 1991.
“Like most of us, I came to this town hoping to make history,” he says, refilling his tumbler. “And, damn it, that’s what I’m about to do.”
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/12/record-for-worst-congress-of-all-time-so-close-boehner-can-taste-it.html
What we see is that these people don’t mind going after FLOTUS to try to get to POTUS. These people have always wanted to portray FLOTUS as the angry black woman.
I’m amazed at how a selfie and handshake can become he talk of the media here in USA, instead of Mandela’s memorial service and POTUS speech.
Anniebella, I’m with you 100%. Damn useless MSM!
Over 1million enrolled.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/obamacare-enrollment_n_4421797.html
Great stuff Chips. Pete Souza has the best job!
Good and informative ObamaCare ad.
Hate to be a bit of a downer, but I absolutely detest the budget deal. The only thing it does is avoid a government shutdown for two years which is actually a plus for the GOP. Plus, UI is not extended, government pensions get hosed (unless you are in Congress), air travel will cost more, and no real new revenue.
The GOP won this one hands down. There is absolutely no plus side for the Dems or the American people with this deal.
If someboy can give me a reason to be happy about it, please let me know.
I don’t think the GOP won “hands down.” I think everyone got something of what they wanted and something of what the other side wanted. No cuts to SS or Medicare. Sequester spending cuts partially restored which prevents thousands of layoffs that would have otherwise occurred. Federal employees will be required to contribute a bit more to their pension plans – but what they are required to contribute now is already quite low. The UI is likely going to come as a standalone bill, so I am not particularly concerned about that just yet.
I don’t think anyone on either side is going to be or should be “happy” with this deal. It’s a compromise budget on both sides, but it’s a step in the right direction. Keep in mind that the GOP controls the House and the Dems only have a marginal majority in Senate. Thus the best way to avoid these “crappy” bipartisian budget deals is to vote in the midterms. The days of complacency and standing on the sidelines while expecting only one set of people to do all the heavy lifting are over. We as a country are going to have to collectively be the change that we seek.
HF, appreciate your thoughts, but very respectfully disagree. The GOP definitely won on several fronts. UI was not extended. This is a major win for GOP. Most of the restored sequester cuts go to the military, another major GOP win. No increased revenue by closing of tax loopholes, etc. The only people really impacted by the user fees will be the middle class. The wealthy will get to write it off as “business expenses”.
I really can’t think of a single thing that the Dems wanted that they received. It was merely a question of how much blood the would have to give up. Winning is not defined as giving up less than you might have. All the gains went to the GOP on this one.
In terms of the Federal workers contributing more to the pension, remember that their wages have been basically frozen for a while now, so what has happened is that wages that were already lowered by the past couple of years are lowered even more.
The people that stand to gain the most from this deal, the wealthy, do not have to contribute one cent more.
I think Pierce has it right:
This is how the scale generally gets loaded in Washington — Republicans get enough of what they want so as to rest up for the next big grab while the Democrats throw themselves a parade to honor how mature and grown-up they are. For them, the deal is an end in itself. For the Republicans, it is a means to an end. The fight gets fixed that way. For all the huzzahs, you can hardly hear the cries of the people who are being sold down the river.
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/It_Really_Is_No_Big_Deal
Remember what PBO said about it ‘it’s a good start’
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/12/11/112732/21
I agree with you, hf, more than with japa on this one.
UI is critical but this deal doesn’t mean UI won’t be dealt with in a separate bill.
Yes, a total repeal of sequester would be better than a partial repeal but I am witholding judgement on that until I see the details.
Paul ryan was in a defensive crouch during the press conference and kept assuring his colleagues that he’d stuck to their principles.
the side that has to do that is generally the side that is losing.
I totally agree with you, hopefruit2…this is the congress we have and we have to expect/accept the best we can get from them. The remedy is PEOPLE are going to have to vote in 2014, no if, and(s) or buts about it. If we want better, voters are going to have to do better in 2014.
Great news. A class seven student from our school won the All India Prize for social services from pogo tv station amidst 5000+ competition.
GREAT news indeed AMK!!!!! Be very proud!
Thanks Layla.
congratulations! this is a huge achievement for the student, student’s family and kudos for the institution – plus bragging rights
Thanks linda. It is. 🙂
UT’s SPECTACULAR ‘TRIBUTE TO NELSON MANDELA’ POST (12/10/13)
UT, your spectacular ‘Tribute to Nelson Mandela” post yesterday just took by breath away (along with everything else you do for TOD). It was wonderful to have the video, the transcript and the fabulous photos in one place. It was like having a souvenir program of President Obama’s beautiful eulogy. I have sent it to family and friends as a keepsake. You never cease to amaze me. Your dedication and support of TOD is a joy to see. Thank you dear for all of your hardware work. You are a treasure. Love ya, LH.
rise and shine: tribute to nelson mandela
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/10/rise-and-shine-tribute-to-nelson-mandela/
Thank you so much LH and thanks for spreading the tribute far and wide.
WATCH LIVE NOW:
VP Biden will speak. Link to pdf of program: https://wncwebassets.s3.amazonaws.com/events/mandela/mandela.pdf
Thanks Alycee for the link. I’m very disappointed in the media coverage of this national service. For this livestream, you have to sign up with your name and email address just to see the livestream. I can’t find a single other site where you can just access the event. Why isn’t CSPAN carrying this event?
The US media is once again showing it’s pathetic slip when it comes to memorializing a world leader.
Absolutely stunning ceremony. I’m drawn in, and quieted down, and just want to see it over and over again. The National Cathedral is one of the best hosts / planners of this type of memorial, in our country.
No one seems to know who the memorial fake sign guy is, or can locate him. Article also mentions possible security concerns, since he was standing right up there next to all the speakers, including President Obama. Just the weirdest.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-mandela-deaf-20131211,0,3884935.story
zuma govt is quite inept as well as corrupt and hence all the boos when he showed up. Remember how the amublance broke down when they were taking Mandela home from the hospital a few months back?
The question is: will this hurt the ANC in the next elections?
If zuma leads the anc, it will. There is a talk of roping in Walter Sisulu as prez candidate but given his age, I am not sure he will agree.
Is this Zuma’s first or second term?
I think first. Prez since 2009. Where I work in SA, I have been talking many of the workers at site. Most of them are against him. Too much unemployment. Corruption etc.
Sorry, not Sisulu, it’s Cyril Ramaphosa
He have actually been a security agent (who was a decoy) acting the role of a sign-language interpreter. The US media misunderstands and misinterprets a lot of what goes on in other countries. I know that first-hand based on what I saw of their reporting during the Haitian earthquake.
Hopefruit,
If what you said is true, the South African government must come out and make a similar claim. To know that POTUS was so close to a possible fraud leaves me with fear.
Agree—if he was a security agent, the govt. there is not admitting it, saying they don’t know who he is. And that is weird in itself. Why couldn’t a security guard just be a security guard and not pretend to be a sign language interpreter?
Also see Desmond Tutu’s house was burglarized while he was at the event. And that the reason there were empty seats in the stadium was because those who wanted to attend say their buses never arrived.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/world/africa/interpreter-at-mandela-service-said-to-be-an-imposter.html?smid=tw-nytimes
Dotster the burglarization of Desmond tutu’s house has nothing to do with the security at the stadium.
It appears that the US media is searching far and wide for “negative” stories to tar the event with. I know exactly what this is about, and I’m just not going along with it. For an event of that magnitude to go 100% incident-free is completely unrealistic – especially given the horrible weather and traffic jams.
I agree with you they should – and that info might be known to security officials and dignitaries. But they at least owe the deaf listeners/organizations an explanation – at the very minimum.
I don’t mean to sound callous and uncaring of those of us who are hearing challenged, but the security issue at that stadium was the single biggest challenge at that memorial yesterday and of utmost importance. The fact that they were able to pull this off without a single incident is to their credit (especially when you think of the unrestrained crowds and bad weather). All the speeches are taped and recorded and proper sign-language interpreters can be hired to convey what was said.
HF2, I agree 100%. Thank you!
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/handshake-be-damned-why-is-no-one-talking-about-obamas-speech/#more-1476. Nice piece on GOP tactic of distraction: focusing on handshake so people won’t discuss content.
Guess what? This ois proof that Obamacare website is doing alot better.
This is proof that Obamacare website is doing alot better.
Thanks so much.
You are welcome UT.
Thanks JER!!! Very much appreciated.
The Democrats are reading ACA success letters from their constituents to HHS Sebillus at the hearing
Good to hear that Linda.
LIVE NOW: VP Biden is speaking. http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=1
VP Biden is now speaking at the National Cathedral memorial for Nelson Mandela:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/cvplive/cvpstream1.html
Everyone still in bed?
No we’re up! Now listening to VP Biden eulogize Mandela 🙂
Chief of Staff to Sen. Lamar Alexander asked to step down as is involved in child porn allegations. Repub family values?
Good West Coast morning, fellow Obama sycophants!
That’s pretty much all I have. Coffee still making it through my bloodstream.
LOL – emoLibertarian going off the rails…..
There are Emoprogs who think that way.
Sad. Wicked. Pathetic.
He has joined Glenn Greenwald in that new adventure that is funded by e-bay owner. I saw him on Bill Maher recently…..
Let me see now bin Laden executed how many Americans on 9/11. Who ever this Jeremy Scahill is can go where bin Laden is, the bottom of the ocean or hell. Just my opinion.
Guess all the innocent children and old people this terrorist and his aq gang kill all over ME, Africa India and pakistan, let alone western nations, don’t count. Fuch loony left.
http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=d49234b5-ae5c-4da6-9293-97f3a1b82a30&ContentType_id=778be7e0-0d5a-42b2-9352-09ed63cc4d66&Group_id=80d87631-7c25-4340-a97a-72cccdd8a658
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement:
“I was just informed by the United States Senate legal counsel’s office that law enforcement agents are conducting a search of the personal residence of Ryan Loskarn, the chief of staff of my Washington, D.C., office regarding allegations involving child pornography. I am stunned, surprised and disappointed by what I have learned. Based on this information, I immediately placed Mr. Loskarn on administrative leave without pay. The office is fully cooperating with the investigation.”
is there a white house briefing today? have whpc idiots been asking about flotus’ ‘death stare’ – could they be that stupid?
I hope POTUS pops in just to tell them how stupid they are
Yes they could be that stupid.
No POTUS shouldn’t pop in.
Alfre Woodward is speaking now at Mandela’s Memorial Service.
I love her!!!!!
12:30 PM EST – Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/press-briefing-principal-deputy-press-secretary-josh-earnest-6
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/press-briefing-principal-deputy-press-secretary-josh-earnest-6
Time: 12:30 EDT 😉
http://www.c-span.org/ With White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, Josh Earnest
Time: 12:40pm EDT 🙂
Happy Birthday to SOS John Kerry.
Amazing Ukrainians …. they resisted, successfully …..
good article at the link in that tweet ….
From the article:
“U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was in Kiev overnight after meeting with opposition leaders and spent her morning handing out cookies on the Maidan.”
Gotta love it!!!!
WH presser with Josh Earnest in Now LIVE
@
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
“…. It soon became clear that Berkut was acting under orders to go easy on the protesters, and the resulting scuffle looked like a practice session of police units, not real action. As police broke through the first barricade, the church bells of St. Michael’s started to ring – an ancient and powerful call for alarm and mobilization.
For hours that followed, those watching Maidan saw massive shoving between Berkut and demonstrators, and its footage was top news around the world. But what was even more striking is how quickly Kyiv mobilized and moved into the city center, turning a crowd of a few hundred into a mass of tens of thousands of people in a matter of several hours. There was a lot of dignity in it, and a lot of pride.
This was the massive proof that EuroMaidan is not about its leaders, that it’s truly the will of the people.
Every person taking part in it was a leader and a hero. I am talking about all those drivers who tweeted in the crazy hours of the morning that they will be ready to pick up and drive to Maidan anyone for free. It’s about a young woman with polio who came to volunteer in the kitchens of Trade Union House, cutting lemons and making tea for hours with her not fully functional hands for those people in the streets. …..”
more at the link
——
It was amazing to watch ….
Chat away!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/11/nobodys-invincible/
Congressman Botches Attempt To Compare Sebelius To North Korean Dictator — And Then Really Freaks Out
What a jackass these Republicans are.
LORD HAVE MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help us all.