@Stcrow: The President signs Executive Order to “streamline” export/import process for US business
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All Times EST:
3:45: President Obama attends a working lunch, Toluca, Mexico
5:20: Participates in a walk and talk with Prime Minister Harper of Canada
5:50: Delivers remarks with President Nieto and Prime Minister Harper (WH Live)
6:30: Participates in the Trilateral North American Leaders Summit Meeting
8:15: Holds a press conference with President Nieto and Prime Minister Harper (WH Live)
9:50: Departs Mexico
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Chat on!
The Obama Diary 
Thanks Chips
A pleasure vetivera24!
So you gave VV an opening – good! We carry the same Olympic flag, so all’s good. 😀
Many leaders pale in comparison to PBO including our Canadian conservative PM but Stephen Harper can’t hold a candle to GOP obstruction.
Wherever PBO goes, people of all nations line up to see him. I’ve enjoyed watching him interact with people from all over the world, and have enjoyed watching other leaders learn how to interact with their own people, from HIM!
Remember in France, how he went to the rope line and people reached out to him, and Sarcozy trailed along behind, then finally realized this was maybe a good thing. PBO just shines in these situations, and frankly, others look dull.
I think Hollande learned a lot from him when he came, and Cameron has followed along too. Merkel still doesn’t get it, I’m afraid.
Carolyn, your comment reminds me of this. I couldn’t find the clip in English but in any language this occasion perfectly illustrates your point.
Priceless.
Oh yes, that’s a beauty!
I don’t think any of us had any idea all that was encapsulated in his statement in 2008: “Change has come to America.” Change is also coming to the world. Other leaders are hopefully seeing they have a wonderful example to follow.
ehehehehehehe
There’s a really neat version of this clip narrated by a trio of British journos – very funny.
Sorry vc – I had to go out today – just found your comment – I’ve seen the one you mean – I think it was on a “comedy” news show – they weren’t too polite about the PM
Hi, TS! No, they weren’t too polite. It was the version I was looking for, but I never seem able to locate video clips when I most urgently seek them. The Google often frustrates me no end.
Hope you Thursday has been rumbling along just fine!
I think it’s from “Have I got News for you” – used to watch it when I was in London 🙂
Thanks, TS – that’s the one! 😀 😀 I love it. I couldn’t find it anywhere when *I* looked.
I had to search under the name of the show (which took me a while to remember) – it wouldn’t come up when I searched on the PM & President’s names
Or maybe I’m just better at teh google 🙂
Well said. Sometimes it’s better that those who don’t get it, don’t try. Because you can’t fake it! Our President is the real deal, and we thank our lucky stars every day!
Nice to see you up there, Vetiv!
Hiya vc. Must be the warm weather.
Hahaha, he’s so short.
Thanks for all the RTs to get #RaiseTheWage trending on Twitter.
Wow Wow Wow!!!!
Well before the March 31 deadline to buy insurance, California announced Tuesday it has already exceeded its 2014 enrollment goals for its health care exchange.
Great new. This is because California has been aggressive about reaching out to people and embraced ACA from day 1. The result will be a healthier and happy California. Other states, not so much.
This is so cool. Our OFA team holds at least one event per week on this. We are at a local grocery store today at 4. Next week it is Trader Joes, then Goodwill. Even if folks have insurance we give them flyers for their kids, neighbors, and friends. We are also out there showing that OFA is not quitting just because the website was funky and Republicans are even funkier.
Every person who signs up will be a person who does not run up bills in the ER and who has more $$ to spend in the economy.
Thanks to everyone on this blog who has helped spread the news about ACA. If we just hang in there we always prevail.
That’s exactly what it takes, WIW! Person-to-person contact, away from the confusion sowed by the MSM and the GOP.
Thanks Lovely Tally!
p.s. hope you are feeling better.
Fantastic! It’s a crying shame Oracle screwed up the Cover Oregon website so badly. We were supposed to be a leader in enrollment also. NOT GIVING UP!
Good Afternoon TODVille.
¡Muchas gracias a Chipsticks!
¡Felicidades a Vetivera!
Gracias, mucho
The protests in Venezuela are caused from inflation which is at 56.2 % and also lack of basic goods.
Official Picture
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has struck down a Nebraska law that allowed the Keystone XL oil pipeline to proceed through the state.
Lancaster County Judge Stephanie Stacy issued a ruling Wednesday that invalidated Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman’s approval of the route. Stacy says the decision should have been made by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which regulates pipelines and other utilities.
The ruling could cause more delays in finishing the pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to Texas refineries.
But it’s a win for Nebraska-based pipeline opponents. They’ve argued that Heineman exceeded his authority when he approved the route in January 2013.
If that court case alone took a year to complete, looks like I’ll be old and graying by the time the final decision on the pipeline is made.
Oh, wait …
Also takes away the Gov.’s ability to grant Trans Canada eminent domain, to seize land from unwilling landowners. (which is just unbelievable to me—-seizing farm and ranch land from U.S. citizens so a Canadian co. can profit and put environment at risk)
Meeting of Presidents and Obama with their respective delegations.
UGH !
George W. Bush doesn’t really miss much from his time as president except for the first class travel.
“A lot of people ask me, you know, do I miss much about being president,” he said at a Wednesday event at the George W. Bush Institute, as recorded by Politico. “The answer’s really no. I mean I miss the people I served with. I miss Air Force One. In eight years, they never lost my baggage.”
He added that he misses the opportunities he had to honor the troops.
“I do miss saluting men and women who volunteered to defend our nation during the war,” Bush said. “Many are coming home and are preparing for new missions as civilians, and I intend to salute these men and women for the rest of my life.”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bush-loves-air-force-one
UGH is right. Does he sit home on his sofa eating pretzels and dodging that choking hazard, when he salutes the new “civilians” – those who actually made it home, of course.
Honoring the troops????!!!! He honored them by sending them to a lied into war without protection and equipment and making bad decisions that led to many deaths, and never going to Dover to greet them, and not even saluting correctly. Do you remember seeing him come of Marine One holding a dog and trying to bend over and half salute…..it was disgusting.
Clinton always half-saluted almost apologetically. One of the first things I noticed about POTUS after he was inaugurated, was that he had learned to salute CORRECTLY! He snapped one off sharply and smartly. I appreciated that, and then I saw pictures of his practicing the salute before his inauguration.
Bush NEVER honored the troops, and I find it hypocritical that he’s talking about it now.
Felt.Every.Word.You.Wrote.
So thankful Bush is no longer around, after the 100 years (seems like) we had to put up with his brainless political antics.
Reality ….
Putin has his hand in the trouble spots….IRAN…SYRIA…UKRAINE
Bob, I felt slightly hopeful there for a moment. Thanks for bringing the hard reality back into it. Yanukovych has to be made afraid of something to really pull back and it has to be something that will truly threaten him. I hope the EU and the US have some kind of big stick in mind. Olga’s description of him as a psychotic ape with a grenade in his hand is devastating and probably very accurate.
Russia Today: the house organ pimping for Putin’s domination of his “near-abroad”.
The best policy for helping low-wage workers (beyond moving the economy back to full employment) is expanding the EITC and raising the minimum wage. But while they work out their differences over the minimum wage, maybe lawmakers could agree quickly to expand the EITC
I don’t know what the “WhatsApp” app is, but Facebook has just bought it for $19 billion.
But remember, Russia is a champion of human rights, according to Snowden and GiGi.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26265230
LL, I think it’s fitting that Snowden chose Putin as his savior at a time when Putin decided to put on his autocrat books and start crushing nearby states. Little Pipsqueak thinks he lives in a freer, better country than the US of A because he’s a racist creep as well as a traitor and thief.
Philly faith healing couple sentenced to prison for allowing their 2nd son, this one a 7 mo. old baby, to die of pneumonia without seeking medical care. Formerly sentenced to probation for allowing a 2 yr. old son to die of pneumonia without seeking medical care. How brainwashed do they have to be to watch the health of their babies deteriorate, obviously the praying isn’t working, and not do anything/everything to try to save their lives? A disgusting tragedy. Utter stupidity.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140219_Faith-healing_couple_sent_to_prison_for_death_of_second_son.html
Methinks the “faith” healing couple should be sentenced to meet their maker. Maybe they can pray for a good outcome then….
Summit of North America, large development center: Peña Nieto.
Stephen Harper is a large man.
In other pictures, Harper’s about the same height as President Obama. I think this pic is just from a weird angle.
Or he stepped up on a stone or plank of wood. 🙂
5:50 PM EST
President Obama Speaks with President Nieto and Prime Minister Harper
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Did my POTUS say Bonjour?
LOL! Perhaps in jest? 🙂
Canada has many French-speaking citizens, journalists there.
Oh that’s right. 🙂
perfect, nw!
Fantastic news, and to heck with those who say that PBO is a lame duck President.
Those who call PBO a “lame duck President” are the same ones who support the “Duck Dynasty” racists, Rush Limbaugh, Republicans who disrespect the President and also cheerlead GOP lies and intransigence, despite the damage to the country. They don’t deserve any attention, because they are the lowest of humanity and they do nothing but root for failure.
THIS!!!
Good for GAP. I bet if they spread the word, they’ll get more customers because of it.
Well, I do need to expand my workwear collection…
LL, I’ll follow your example and buy from Gap instead of The Children’s Place.
for US Employees only…why not everyone
Update: The same Wal-Mart spokesman told the Huffington Post Wednesday afternoon that his initial comment was taken out of context: “We are not at all considering this.”
Gosh, well alrighty then. JERKS.
yup…..
I wonder how someone could take that kind of statement out of context
And then have the audacity to make a follow-up that says, NO WAY.
I have not bought anything from Walmart in years due to their employee practices. When I read they were considering raising their wages I thought if they do I will consider shopping there again. I knew it was out of character so I continue to not shop there.
Please give this man some praise for keeping the stats website for #Obamacare!
Message from the Leaders of North America
ICYMI,
Here’s President Obama’s statement on the Ukraine that he delivered before his bilat with Mexico President Nieto (click on the link in the tweet for the full text):
Linda posted this above, and JO’B, Dotster commented on the imminent domain clause, but I didn’t see a link to the article:
For #USA and #Illinois bobsled fans, here’s a spoiler on an event that NBC won’t air until later today.
Wow, she’s gawgeous. (Said with a New York accent.)
That’s my home girl. Yea! 🙂
Why don’t they show it live? Do they think everyone in the US thinks the world lives by US time?
Retweeted by LOLGOP
Jon Favreau @jonfavs 47m
So who will be the first Republican to attack GAP as a job-killer for raising their minimum wage to $10?
Yep …
Gap Raising Minimum Wage for Its US Employees
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/gap-raising-minimum-wage-us-employees-22590114
Reward good behavior. New grandmas—-Baby Gap has great quality items—–good sales too.
Yes, I’ve gotten stuff for baby nieces/nephews there 🙂
You know, it just occurred to me that I could use a few more classic tee’s from the Gap. And maybe a scarf or two. I anxiously await the next business to announce they are following the Gap.
Is CSPAN or anywhere besides the WH carrying PBO’s presser at 8:30PM live?
Heads up!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/02/19/president-obamas-press-conference-mexico/
President Obama sent a letter of praise to the R.I. high school football placekicker who was born without arms. He helped lead his team to an undefeated season.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/19/obama-sends-letter-to-armless-kicker/?iref=allsearch
The press conference ready to start in a few moments.
Magnificent setting for the conference at the end of the Summit of North American Leaders.