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Today (All Times US Eastern)
3:25 AM: The President arrives at the European Council for the 2014 G-7 Summit, Brussels
3:40 AM: Participates in a G-7 meeting on the global economy
6:0 AM: Takes part in a working lunch with G-7 leaders on development
8:30 AM: Participates in a bilateral meeting with PM David Cameron of the United Kingdom
9:50 AM: Holds a joint press conference with PM Cameron
11:05 AM: Departs Brussels, Belgium
11:55 AM: Arrives Paris, France
1:05 PM: Joins President François Hollande for a dinner
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Barack Black Eagle: ‘One Who Helps People Throughout The Land’
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President Barack Obama: On My Upcoming Trip To Indian Country
Six years ago, I made my first trip to Indian country. I visited the Crow Nation in Montana—an experience I’ll never forget. I left with a new Crow name, an adoptive Crow family, and an even stronger commitment to build a future that honors old traditions and welcomes every Native American into the American Dream. Next week, I’ll return to Indian country, when Michelle and I visit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Cannonball, North Dakota. We’re eager to visit this reservation, which holds a special place in American history as the home of Chief Sitting Bull. And while we’re there, I’ll announce the next steps my Administration will take to support jobs, education, and self-determination in Indian country. As president, I’ve worked closely with tribal leaders, and I’ve benefited greatly from their knowledge and guidance. That’s why I created the White House Council on Native American Affairs—to make sure that kind of partnership is happening across the federal government. And every year, I host the White House Tribal Nations Conference, where leaders from every federally recognized tribe are invited to meet with members of my Administration. Today, honoring the nation-to-nation relationship with Indian country isn’t the exception; it’s the rule. And we have a lot to show for it.
President Barack Obama with his adoptive parents, Hartford and Mary Black Eagle
Together, we’ve strengthened justice and tribal sovereignty. We reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, giving tribes the power to prosecute people who commit domestic violence in Indian country, whether they’re Native American or not. I signed the Tribal Law and Order Act, which strengthened the power of tribal courts to hand down appropriate criminal sentences. And I signed changes to the Stafford Act to let tribes directly request disaster assistance, because when disasters strike, you shouldn’t have to wait for a middleman to get the help you need. Together, we’ve resolved longstanding disputes. We settled a discrimination suit by Native American farmers and ranchers, and we’ve taken steps to make sure that all federal farm loan programs are fair to Native Americans from now on. And I signed into law the Claims Resolution Act, which included the historic Cobell settlement, making right years of neglect by the Department of the Interior and leading to the establishment of the Land Buy-Back Program to consolidate Indian lands and restore them to tribal trust lands.
Together, we’ve increased Native Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. One of the reasons I fought so hard to pass the Affordable Care Act is that it permanently reauthorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which provides care to many in tribal communities. And under the Affordable Care Act, Native Americans across the country now have access to comprehensive, affordable coverage, some for the first time. Together, we’ve worked to expand opportunity. My Administration has built roads and high-speed internet to connect tribal communities to the broader economy. We’ve made major investments in job training and tribal colleges and universities. We’ve tripled oil and gas revenues on tribal lands, creating jobs and helping the United States become more energy independent. And we’re working with tribes to get more renewable energy projects up and running, so tribal lands can be a source of renewable energy and the good local jobs that come with it. We can be proud of the progress we’ve made together. But we need to do more
More here
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Maya Rhodan: Obama Administration Sees Undocumented Children Immigrants As Humanitarian Issue
The Obama Administration announced a shift Monday in its approach to children who enter the U.S. illegally and without adult guardians, forming a new interagency group that will address the influx as a humanitarian crisis. Administration officials said Monday that there has been a 90% increase in the number of undocumented immigrants under 18 entering the U.S., with more young girls and children under 13 entering the country than ever before. Because of this the administration wants to ensure that kids are quickly transferred from border control facilities to facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services that can better address their housing, educational, and medical needs.
Officials said about 1,000 undocumented children are being housed at a facility on the Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, where Baptist Children’s Family Services has been contracted to look after them. Another facility will be opening soon in Ventura County, Calif., and is expected to be able to house about 600 children. The kids typically stay in the facilities for between 30 and 45 days. The Obama Administration also requested an additional $1.4 billion to provide relief for unaccompanied immigrant children. Due to the increase in kids illegally crossing the border alone—expected to reach as high 60,000 this year—the government expects it will cost $2.28 billion to fund the programs that aid unaccompanied minors, the Associated Press reports. The bulk of children crossing the border have fled violence and economic hardship in Central American countries including Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras
More here
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Jeffrey Young: How Obamacare Tries To Makes Us Healthier, One Community At A Time
President Barack Obama’s health care reform law will spend more than $1 trillion over the next decade to extend health coverage to millions of people — and about $20 billion actually trying to make us healthier. The money supporting these initiatives is tucked inside the Affordable Care Act in the form of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, a pot of money to finance efforts in hundreds of communities to curtail obesity, promote exercise and better nutrition, and reduce tobacco use. Improving the health of Americans and reducing preventable deaths wouldn’t just benefit those individuals. Better health could prove key to reversing decades of skyrocketing health care spending. And the prevention fund is Obamacare’s primary means of making inroads on these problems, one community at a time.
Up to 40 percent of deaths each year from the five leading causes in America — heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke and unintentional injuries — are preventable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in May. In San Diego County, California, the local government and the Chula Vista Elementary School District used federal grants to make an immediate impact on students’ weight, said Nick Macchione, the director of the county Health and Human Services Agency. Using some of the $8.2 million the county received from the prevention fund, the health agency and the school started making changes, Macchione said. The cafeteria started offering healthier food and local farmers visited to talk about agriculture and provide fresh produce. Math teachers incorporated physical activity into counting lessons. And students and parents received information about nutrition and exercise.
https://twitter.com/BillBixBe/status/469512825870639104
Two years later, Chula Vista schools already could boast gains: a 3.2 percent reduction in the share of students who were obese or overweight. The county has since started spreading this program to 300 schools serving 650,000 children, Macchione said. Programs in Indiana also focused on children brought home the challenges faced by those working to address health in their communities, said Andrea Hays, the project director overseeing the $3 million in Community Transformation Grants managed by the Healthy Communities Partnership of Southwest Indiana in Evansville.
More here
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Yahoo: US Construction Spending Up 0.2 Percent In April
U.S. construction spending posted modest gains in April, driven by an uptick in home building and government construction that lifted total activity to the highest level in five years. Construction spending rose 0.2 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $953.5 billion, the strongest performance since March 2009, the Commerce Department said Monday. The April increase was lower than economists had expected. But the government revised March activity higher to a 0.6 percent gain, up from an initial estimate of a 0.2 percent increase. The small April improvement, combined with the strong gain in March, suggest that the construction industry is recovering from the harsh winter and will provide a boost to growth in the months ahead.
“This was mostly a good report,” IHS Global Insight economists Stephanie Karol and Patrick Newport said in an analyst note. “Core construction, the piece of the report which affects GDP, advanced 0.6 percent, the largest gain since December.” The April figure marked the third straight increase after the weather pushed spending down 0.4 percent in January. Total construction spending is 8.6 percent higher than a year ago, led by a 17.2 percent increase in housing construction. Non-residential construction is up by 5.6 percent from a year ago, while government projects are just 1.2 percent higher.
More here
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Greg Sargent: On Bowe Bergdahl, White House Bets On GOP overreach
The signs are everywhere this morning that the skirmishing over the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap is set to escalate into a protracted political battle that could go on for weeks or months. And the White House is placing its bet on Da Crazy. That is to say, White House officials are bracing for months of assaults on Obama’s handling of the swap, but they believe the Conservative Entertainment Complex will veer into over the top attacks that will alienate the broader public, which won’t see the basics of the situation in such lurid terms.
How this plays out could center on a video of Bergdahl in captivity taken by the Taliban in December. It was shown to Senators last night, to persuade them officials were right to worry that his deteriorating health meant fast action — without a 30-day notification of Congress — was imperative. A senior administration official tells me the White House is reviewing the possibility of releasing the video to the public. Obama aides say they’re not worried about the prospect of weeks of segments on Fox News or hearings by a Republican House that has spent four years investigating and rebuffing the White House on issues like Solyndra and Fast and Furious.
More here
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A morning treat for the ladies and some gentlemen.
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Aleksander Chan: Some Guy Filmed President Obama Working Out In A Polish Gym
For whatever reason, video of President Obama apparently working out in the gym of the Marriott Hotel in Warsaw, Poland has leaked. He’s in the country to reaffirm U.S. support for central and eastern European countries against Russia. Photos and video were first posted by Jean Ekwa on his Facebook page, which depict Obama, clad in a dark blue track suit, headphones in, lifting weights, doing lunges, and using the elliptical. At one point, he pauses to yawn.
The Secret Service confirmed to The Hill that the video is real, and that other hotel guests taking photos and videos of his workout is not a problem: “Hotel guests were not asked to leave the gym during this off the record movement, nor were they asked to refrain from taking pictures,” agency spokesman Ed Donovan said. The Hill also notes that these “off the record” excursions usually involve impromptu photo-ops with voters/citizens of countries he is visiting
More here
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On This Day
Ninety-five-year-old Charles Edwards shakes hands with Sen. Obama after presenting him with a hand-made walking stick during a town hall meeting at Virginia High School June 5, 2008 in Bristol, Virginia
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First Lady Michelle Obama talks with students from William R. Harper High School in Chicago, Ill., in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, June 5, 2013 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Obama with his National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, June 5, 2013
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The Obama Diary 
Hi
Hey, wait up!
See your computer is working for R&S vc 🙂 – if you have time watch the press conference at whitehouse.gov – PBO was his usual “hit it out of the park” self
They don’t usually put it up so quickly, TS. I’ll check them again in a little while.
Woohoo – gm everyone – thank you NW for R&S – I shall now go check all the good news of the day
You’re welcome, 99ts. Congratulations on first.
In honor of Throwback Thursday:
Good to look back – and forward. Thankful to live in these times.
Congrats 99ts!
thank you Sabreen – enjoy your day
What’s the rush, guys? I’m a-coming, o-kay!
Bless you NW….I can never bare to watch the question part .
You’re welcome, Linda.
THANK YOU, NW!
You’re welcome, Meta.
I was not able to see the presser.
Your Tweets are especially welcome. It is always as if one was there. Your gift is unbeatable. Thank you Nerdy Wonka.
Thanks.
Great tweets! Captured the essence of the humanity of our President.
Thanks.
Thank you so much NW. I was working and unable to see the whole presser. You are a treasure!!!
Thanks, Donna.
G’morning Nerdy, Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone and congrats 99ts on #1 🙂
Thanks so much NW for this feast – what an amazing R & S round-up! With all the wonderful pics, tweets, videos, that one pic of the 95 year old greeting PBO brings tears to my eyes.
Thanks, HF.
I know the perfect way to make the goppers and pundtwits and teaturds go over the edge that Sargent speaks about.
PBO must make a surprise visit to see Bergdahl in Germany and make sure there are plenty of photo-ops.
BOOM!
As I said, PBO is armed with the truth, the facts and his moral compass. He doesn’t need any Dem/attack dog “defending” him on the corporate GOP propaganda stations….
Have to say I agree, Hf.
There is Only one Fact. Sen Saxby Chamblis should be ashamed of himself. Karma will pay him a visit. They can hide, lie and distort……But the Truth will out them eventually.
That would be nice – wouldn’t it? Although PBO wouldn’t exploit the soldier just to stick it to the GOP/MSM, but if he visited in a sincere way, I would love to sit back and witness the media/GOP in full meltdown mode. Well they’re already in meltdown…
wanna bet that it isn’t in the cards? 🙂
How much?
Priceless:)
THE US MEDIA HAS BEEN IN BED WITH REPUBLICANS EVER SINCE OUR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED…AND HE’S DOING A MORE DIGNIFIED JOB THAN ANYONE IN THE OVAL OFFICE BEFORE HIM. THANK GOD FOR OUR INTELLIGENT AND DIPLOMATIC PRESIDENT. I HAVE ALSO SAID BEFORE THAT REPUBLICAN HAWKS DON’T WANT VETS HOME BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO PROVIDE ANY MONEY FOR THEIR NEEDS…..OBVIOUSLY THEIR SELFISHNESS HAS GONE ON FOR DECADES…THEY’RE GETTING CAUGHT AND THEY DON’T LIKE THE OBAMAS’ ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS!
You’re right on the money, Sue! 🙂
How about they re-instate Selective Service. Maybe more “Gold Star” moms in gated communities would clarify the costs, eh?
The Fox News tweet was in 2013. 2013! They and the GOP’s lies are really beyond the pale.
Because I called out that FOX NEWS poll, Twitter dinged me 3 followers. Okay then… LOL!
What do you mean, hf?
🙂 🙂 I’m joking – but I’ve noticed that there are times when I send out a series of tweets attacking the GOP, MSM or Greenwald/Snowden Libertarian contingent, and lose followers almost immediately or shortly thereafter.
It could be just random followers who support any of the above three groups and don’t like it when I criticize them.
Oh! I thought maybe there was a new twitter algorithm I didn’t know about!
Yeah, I couldn’t care less about people who unfollow me for what I believe.
Scarborough And Todd Get Into On-Air Shouting Match Over Bergdahl’s Dad
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd and Joe Scarborough got into a shouting match Thursday on “Morning Joe” over Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s father in a heated debate that ultimately centered around the host’s own parenting skills.
The exchange began with Scarborough talking about a photo of President Obama with Bergdahl’s parents.
Todd tried to steer the conversation away from from the father, Bob Bergdahl, contending that the POW’s parents shouldn’t be subjected to a pundit’s scrutiny, but Scarborough wasn’t having that.
So when Todd objected to Scarborough’s characterization of the elder Bergdahl as a “man who’s reaching out to pro-Taliban forces [and] talking about killing Americans,” the show’s namesake reacted the way he usually does when he’s interrupted.
“Wait,” Todd pleaded.
“Who wants to wait me here?” a visibly angry Scarborough shot back.
Todd held firm, but so did Scarborough. Crosstalk ensued.
“No, but Joe, Joe, let’s not — don’t criticize the parents. Don’t criticize the parents in here,” Todd said.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/scarborough-todd-bergdahl-father
Todd also stood up to Chris Matthews hair on fire yelling last night.
But but but as long as Joe Dinkweed and Chris Suckballs are allowed to just sway with the political wind, then this is what we will get. Smears, Swiftboats and delayed October surprises!
Who knew that all you need to get out of a war zone is a note from your parents?
Saintly JoScar cared so much that he left a son with health issues, his younger brother and their mother for his aide, Susan……then less than a decade or so, left Susan with two children for wild life style?
Hmm? Neither JoScar nor his 2 twenty-somethings has ever served in any of our Armed Forces…….May he go directly to BLAZES! He could keep a family, but he could tell a son in a war zone how to conduct himself? What a wicked soulless crude idiot. I will listen to JoScar when he has explained how a 26 yrs old intern died in his FL office.
I don’t give Chuck Todd an ounce of credit – he’s a huge part of the problem, and this is all part of the games they play to manipulate viewers. One side tries to play “Good cop” while the other side is allowed to attack PBO and spread lies. Then they switch it up every couple weeks…two weeks from now, Chris Matthews will be all lovey-dovey with PBO, while Rachel and Chris Hayes will be emoprog. Wash, rinse and repeat, and they play viewers like a damn fiddle while laughing all the way to the bank with the millions that their corporate owners pay them.
I’m surprised that people haven’t yet caught on to this media manipulation…the overall goal is to confuse viewers, reduce confidence in PBO (and Dems), to keep the GOP in power as much as possible at the local, state and national levels – while keeping the ratings going…
The GOP is poised to lose the Senate in November, and so the media (including MSNBC and so-called “left” stations) have launched an ALL-out offensive to diminish the Dem advantage. They are now firing on all four cylinders and from all corners hoping that something will stick.
The solution: STOP WATCHING cable TV news station. EVERY ONE of them is complicit.
YES INDEED…AND I WILL BE WATCHING EVERY MOMENT!
Translation : Senator Chambliss did not attend the briefings, so he just lies about it.
oops
mind if I tweet that?
CNN just interviewed in Afghanistan Veteran who now works for Rolling stone. He supported the President’s decision. He also called some of these critics chicken hawks and he didn’t care what they thought. Did anyone else see it?
When YOUR Conscience is CLEAN and you do RIGHT by your People……as this president has Done from Day ONE, You Smile. Thanks POTUS!
Are these Senators so stupid and blind, that they do not comprehend that their rushing to microphones after the “classified” session, how they consistently illustrate why the WH cannot let them know anything in advance????? The mind reels!
Good point. President Obama has understood a long time ago that he can’t trust republicans, and even some democrats, to keep their mouth shut. He doesn’t have a choice but to give them the MINIMUM information. When he has a little room, in terms of his legal obligations, for not telling everything right away, President Obama uses it. I’m sure he would prefer more transparency. But he knows he’s dealing with people who are either stupid or without conscience ( or both).
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
-Confucius
Good BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL Thursday to Chipsticks, Danny and the TOD FAMILY,
Congratulations on first 99ts! wtg and Happy Friday or almost Friday morning to you!
Thank you Nerdy Wonka for the BEAUTIFUL collection of pictures and news.
Wishing for “EVERYONE” to have a very BLESSED and SPENDID DAY!
President Obama has the hand of God upon him and it shows each and every day. What a WONDERFUL line of truth that he delivered today; Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is someone’s child.
I cried when I viewed the video of Sgt. Bergdahl sitting in the truck as he was being released; to see him walk with those who rescued him, and to see his eyes when the Afghan was telling him to never come back there touched my heart profoundly.
Only in an “ugly hate filled America”, would one ask; Was He Worth It? The cost of bringing Sgt. Bergdahl home.
Shame on Time magazine for this despicable cover, and I will write to them today, to let them know that they represent the ugly that America has now embraced. I will ask the question; Was It Worth It, To Lose Our Men and Women (4,400 plus) In Iraq Based On Bush/Cheney Lies, That Led Us To The Battlefield?
This is someone’s child who was sent on the battlefield to protect this country, and I stand with President Obama for bringing him home.
If the Dems followed President Obama’s lead, they would never have to jump ship when the waves get high and the sailing gets rocky. They could stand, and stand firmly, “never” apologizing for Sgt. Bergdahl’s return to his parents, and doing what is right because it was right.
I can’t move the mountains of hate, discrimination and ugliness that is perpetrated on President Obama day in and day out, but with the grace of God, I will carry away small stones one day at a time.
Today, Time magazine, tomorrow the networks, and after tomorrow, whatever I can do to make a better America I will do.
God Bless President Obama, God Bless America, and God Bless “The Obama Diary” truth squad.
Happy Thursday!
That kid decided to enlist and just for that he should be left alone. The vast majority of critics who are so quick to condemn him probably never entertained the thought of joining the army. Better to shout from the sidelines.
What did that kid witness that discouraged him so much ? How old was he ? 23 ? How can ANYONE who hasn’t endured what that young man went through can JUDGE him ? What kind of leadership was he under ? What support did he have ?
I can stomach the lynching from the tea party folks. They’re underdeveloped mentally and intellectually, and they are brainwashed. What I CAN’T accept is the laziness of the journalists who should know better, and the hypocrisy and cynicism of republican politicians who, for SOLE political calculation, are going “with the wind”, contradicting their previous statements. They have NO CONSCIENCE. (And some democrats haven’t been the epitome of dignity, to say the least).
Here is my image of how Chris Matthews acted last night……..
Maybe a skilled tweeter can make a caption and get this going viral ?
Good Morning my Chips, Danny O’, and all of the beautiful TOD family members and your families. So grateful that PBO is our President of the United States. I pray for wisdom in all that he has on his plate to be done with honor, and a compassionate spirit as always. I also pray for his travels to be very successful for our nation and all people of the world.
I lost my writing, so I will close and pray for all of my TOD family to have a lovely day/evening. Say a lovely word of gratefulness, meditative prayer for our president’s safety and great meetings with world leaders.
May our spaces be inviting enough for the beautiful and sweet spirit of love, grace, compassion, wisdom, and forgiveness all find a chair to sit down and enjoy our day with each of us.
Be kind to your space and allow your gentleness and firmness of mind travel on this journey with our wonderful and brilliant president with boldness in this Day of Action.
Enjoy your day, TOD family. Now off to get my monthly water from the water store. Be joyful and brush the little stuff your shoulders and square your shoulders and move with grace. We Will Be Fine.; As Bobfr reminds us : “Trust Barack.” Pray for his team and his Cabinet to work hard with him and for this nation.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Love my TOD Family. HZ
President Obama places a flower in the crematorium at Buchenwald concentration camp, June 5, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
That picture is gut wrenching….just look at President Obama’s face…..
I had the same reaction. He is man of such honor and grace. SO proud of him as a human being and as POTUS.
Seriously, I cried when I came to that picture. It was just instantaneous.
I may not agree with Krauthammer on many things, but at least he is honest about this.
He said that on either Sunday or Monday. I posted that here and wrote: A broken clock is right twice in 24 hours.
Wow, I have to say I’m impressed. However, the cynical in me thinks that, because of peer pressure, he will find a way to “pretzel” himself into attacking the President over the story, in a way or another. With distortions, half-truths, etc. He’s had a long practice at it.
I totally support President Obama!
I totally thank you, Nerdy Wonka, for all the joy in this post, and the coverage of the President’s remarks! We at TOD are SO LUCKY! This is my go-to place, for everything real about our President and our country.
Thanks, Ms. J’OB.
[This was a stretch, ’cause I’m barely awake.]
As I sit here with coffee
And a boy with a Tonka
I can’t help but be glad
For our friend Nerdy Wonka!
Heh, where is my poem?
Off to find something that rhymes with “even”!
🙂
I thought you’d respond Et tu, Brute. Ha!
Awww…..my very own poem.
You are awesome, Ms. J’OB.
Here’s a token of my appreciation
OMG. Poetry in motion!
To our brilliant Nerdy W. {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ I thank you for all that you do here to make this a beautiful place}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I am so sure that Chips appreciate all of the beautiful work that all of her brilliant contributors give us all of this wonderful reporting and respect for our wonderful POTUS. Thank you, Nerdy W. I am going by Panera , what would you like? I would be honored to get you something delicious and share with you. HZ
Thanks, HZ.
Enjoy the offerings at Panera! 🙂
THIS ,10000000000.
Good morning, dear HZ!! I hope you find a lovely something-something at Panera.
GM/GA/GD/GE TODers 😉
Excellent R&S NW.
Congrats to all GOLD ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ recipients starting with this awesome post and 3 back.
Sen Reid and Leader Pelosi back POTUS so do many other Dems so when The Hill a rightie garbage or some “air quotes” Dems are referenced by the NYT.com Please ignore the DC/NY Journos……there mantra is to distort, drive a controversy and demoralize Dems……DO NOT PLAT Their Games, You Hear?
THEIR…. oops……;) Not there….sorry……That is inexcusable.
Totally agree. This is a preplanned concerted propaganda offensive.
Sure, when every single republican hates the deal, that imbalances the poll.
Secondly, the media has been God awful on this matter!
See Nena’s comment above! Enough said!
you still believe in bs polls, jovie?
I’m amazed…really.
I am not surprised at those numbers, frankly!
Like I said, 100% of republicans hate the deal, so any and all polls are automatically unbalanced!
I sincerely mean this. It means as more of the truth gets out there, the percentage favoring the deal will grow. The negative perception is probably as high as it can get right now.
EXACTLY. I hope that as the truth comes out, it will be enough to counterbalance the growing smear machine. Because to be honest, I’m concerned those numbers could go down…
This has NIL to do with kidnappings – the media spreads the lies and then count the people who believe them.
How would they KNOW? They have NOT been getting Factually based stories. It is NOT up to Americans. The decision is that of CIC alone. Our MSM have failed this nation. They thrive to Divide Us and they ignore the UNITED in the USA.
And how ironic that with all the lies, distortions and fabrications, The media keeps losing their audience………We The People are just Not as Fatuous as the Media might think, like or even want to believe.
The one question I have for those Americans in that poll who think that they shouldn’t have made the deal, what if it was their son or daughter?
American soldiers are not in anymore danger then they already were. Sometimes people are so dam stupid it makes you want to knock them side the head.
If those 5 Talibans were so darn dangerous, then why hadn’t the U.S. tired them and put them in U.S. prison?
Probably because the Bush administration effed up, tortured them, and there would be no way to try them in a decent court of law.
I did hear that there was ‘no way’ they could be tried, and I assume this was the reason.
After His Bergdahl Comments Thursday, Joe Scarborough Needs To Be Taken Off The Air NOW!
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/06/05/bergdahl-comments-thursday-joe-scarborough-air-now.html
This then started a discussion revolving around Bergdahl’s service and the possibility that he might have gone AWOL prior to being captured in 2009. Robinson wondered if anyone would have a problem with a prisoner exchange for Bergdahl if he was a war hero, rather than someone whose service record is under question. This led to Rattner saying that he’d only release these detainees in exchange for someone truly important, like a Senator or Joe Scarborough (good grief!) This lit the fire under Joe to go off on Bergdahl’s alleged desertion.
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It will be interesting to see if Rattner is ever back on Morning Junk
They only fire black people who tell the truth Linda – white guys are paid to lie.
Linda, the head of MSNBC is afraid to stand up to Morning Joke.
Here is the media’s new (AND FALSE) narrative….Democrats are not confident in President Obama’s administration…..
This Greg person REALLY annoys me!!!!!!!
Sargent is usually excellent – I get a lot of info from him.
He likes to play dems against each other. He pretends blue dog dems did not exist prior to PBO. The drama he attempts to sow is solely to dishearten dems and tarnish PBO.
Yeah, he’ll get his digs in. Very astute of you, Eric. But I see a lot of pro-PBO posts from him and he’s good at calling out the GOP.
That is how they trick people into coming back and trusting his message.. A little sugar makes the medicine go down easier.
I’m sick of being manipulated. I long for the good old days when I could get unbiased, fact-based news.
It’s really about a couple of people who have a hidden agenda, namely DiFi and some other weak-kneed mope. I’m sorry I bothered to read it. NYT has really become a stupid rag.
How can this be true ?? It’s bc they’re ( democrats ) intimidated by the press.
The press should be regulated. Russians love putin bc of state run media, it’s the opposite here!
More likely it is not true. Not sure if you noticed but the msm has been lying to us for quite some time. Skepticism is warranted, especially since in reality Reid and Pelosi gave PBO full throated support. But I guess that doesn’t count because it goes against the narrative
Some really important links in this diary. It really is worth the link and pass this information along. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/05/1304556/-The-GOP-is-Heading-for-a-World-iof-Hurt-on-Bergdahl-here-s-why
Excellent piece, 57andfemale! Definitely a MUST READ AND PASS ALONG!
That is incredible….thank you for posting the link.
I think this needs to be highlighted…BT’S???? Chips???
It would be VERY difficult for Chips to FP a dKos diary and I don’t blame her. But there was some vital information in this particular post, and we really need to get this word out.
I read the Hastings piece, and everyone needs to be forewarned that it is not all hugs and kisses for the Obama administration. But the details about Bergdahl (good and bad) and particularly the atmosphere and the conduct of these alleged patriots in his unit who are now bashing Bergdahl and the administration – this is absolutely vital information to use to keep the narrative on the rails.
57, I see you changed your avatar to a beautiful flower. Nice!
Thank CarolMaeWY for the avatar! She went to great trouble to send flower links that I could use (I’m ‘FlowerInFaith’ on Twitter – it’s from Shakespeare (thanks, Tally!). She was sick of looking at the ‘egg’.
I still want to make an avatar from a photo of my dogs but haven’t gotten around to it.
Big ol’ thank you again to CarolMaeWY!
Oh I so wish they pay a HIGH PRICE for what they’ve been doing.
YAAAAY…SOME OF MY FAVORITE COLORS IN GOD’S AWESOME CREATIVE RAINBOW…NATIVE AMERICAN…SO HAPPY PBO IS GOING TO VISIT A RESERVATION AGAIN. AWESOME ANSWERS TODAY IN THE PRESSER W/ DAVID CAMERON…NO APOLOGIES FROM ME EITHER ON BERGDAHL…PEOPLE REMIND ME OF RAVENOUS DOGS..ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THEMSELVES AND NOT OTHERS! CAN’T WAIT FOR D-DAY CELEBRATION…I’LL BE HANGING ONTO KLEENEX AND THINKING OF MY DAD.
TODAY I AM JUST HANGING ON…OUR LANDLORD IS PUTTING A NEW ROOF ON OUR HOUSE…WORKING ON HEADACHE #347 AND ALONG W/ 3 CATS IN THE HOUSE…I WOULD LOVE TO PLEA INSANITY BUT THEN THEY’D FORFEIT MY DRIVER’S LICENSE!
BTW…DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY MY BROTHER’S KEEPER SHIRTS…I WOULD WEAR THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MY LITTLE GUY AND HIS MOM LIVE…I ADORE THAT PROGRAM AND IT IS SO NEEDED!
Hi Sue, Just google ‘my brother’s keeper t-shirt’ and you’ll see lots of options, especially in google images.
This media/GOP are so baiting HRC to run with these stupid, meaningless polls…it’s transparent to anyone with half-a brain. HRC couldn’t get her endorsed candidate in the same PA to win a silly little Dem primary – but the media wants us to believe that she’s such a phenomenal force in that state? ROTFLMAO!!!
We got more immediate problems than HRC running or not! 🙂
And sen Obama defeated McCain by 53% and Willard by over 51%. I said No More on Clinton and 2016. I am sticking to it. This is about pres Obama and his stats 😉 In support of HF2
The DC/NY distractions is just that to distract from 2014.
These numbers may be true. Republican candidates are not impressive to say the least. (And thank God Chris Christie was engulfed in scandal. I saw him as a serious threat.)
That being said, 2016 is a long long time away. Hillary Clinton polls high because she’s not in the limelight too much. I’m not sure the support for her is that solid. Clinton fatigue is a possibility. Democrats shouldn’t be too overconfident.
#nomoreclintons The End!
I agree…
I hate to say this, but something of a Mai Lai came to my mind…
I hate to actually push dKos but I posted a link to a really important diary that pulls together a lot of decent sources. The Michael Hastings piece in particular: this unit was full of eff-ups. The other day I saw a list of the hateful tweets that go back years from this Full guy against PBO – so there is an agenda here. The RW can spin all they want that caring about Afghan children being run over by American trucks makes Bergdahl a Taliban-lover, but it shines a huge light on the conduct of undisciplined, immoral soldiers on foreign soil. There is a LOT more to this story.
I could not agree more. If I was a high up mucky muck…I’d drag every single one of those guys in that unit in and have a little chat….and review their records….and the Army’s records…there is something very fowl going on here. I can feel it. You would have thought that we’d learn a thing or two after Pat Tillman, but I guess that war does a lot to fuck with heads. This piece needs to go viral, DKos or not.
I’ve come to this belief over the last 24 hours. I saw a tweet to this effect a few days ago and wondered if the conjecture could stand up to scrutiny. But facts are coming together and there is something very ugly about this unit to which Bergdahl may have had a very moral and well-founded objection.
Now, msm used to research this stuff. They would have looked into the backgrounds of these swiftboaters but no – they are paraded as truth tellers by RWNJ and liberal hosts, like Chris Matthews alike. People like Dianne Feinstein more interested in her standing in her committee than standing with her country and her President.
It’s so distressing.
How are you? The doggie?
Agree with you 100%. The truth WILL come out and those opportunists and self righteous idiots will be shown for what they are. I’m fine…eating breakfast and off to tutor:) Doggie is still with me:) Her name is Simi (short i) and she’s hanging in:) Thanks for asking
You are both in my thoughts and prayers. Sending healing positive energy to both of you.
{{{57}}}} Thanks bunches
Nothing is lost. More than anything, pundits want to make a name for themselves. If they smell some fish, they could begin digging. Yes many don’t dare investigate when scandal can hurt republicans politically. But the smell of scandal and desire to become the new Bob Woodward is irresistible. Someone like Jake Tapper comes to mind.
If there is a big story there, it will come out eventually. We can tweet journalists and point some facts to them. We could be surprised how out of the loop they can be. They’re caught in their little bubble. We just have to “help” them a bit in their investigation. We just have to do a part of their work for them…
Precisely.
I don’t know if anyone noticed, but there were a slew of anti-PBO polls released during or shortly after he concluded that joint presser with Cameron. If that doesn’t raise a red flag in someone’s mind, then that person is simply not paying attention to the media’s games.
Anyone who believes these polls…
If you have a sore of the American public 100% against anything the president does it says, than yes, it stands to reason these polls are accurate.
The timing of the polls are propaganda however, they know they can get these results anytime they want!
For example: the president walks to church with kids- poll comes out every single republican against it and all TBagger independents. Poll says 45% for 47% against! Lol.
Jovie these polls have been showed to be manipulated with the sampling and methodology. And you can get any poll to say just about anything.
My point is republicans are against everything this president does and it makes polls unbalanced regardless of issue! 100% of republicans hate this president, that skews polls to the right on any and all issues!
I agree. In the same vein, it’s impossible to compare the records of a democratic president and a republican one in terms of dealing with Congress. Chris Mattews raves about the collaboration between Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill, and criticizes President Obama for not being able to talk to republicans. This enrages me to no end. Republicans are UNABLE to deal with loss of power. And they ALWAYS put politics before responsibility. Democrats don’t behave that childishly. So a republican president can govern, while for a democrat it’s very difficult.
A couple of years ago, I read “The Authoritarians” by Bob Altemeyer. And since then, I’ve witnessed, over and over and over again, his theories being proven by the behavior of republicans. The authoritarian mentality has infected the whole republican party to a level rarely seen before. I mean, it has been bad for quite some time, but it has gotten worse. The whole party is being swallowed by that mentality. People who operate at a low level of consciousness and moral development. No wonder that the clash with President Obama is so big. On the scale of consciousness, moral development ( and intellectual brilliance) the President scores at the opposite level: very high.
Some people for what ever reason refuse to accept the reality of what our media is today. It is truly like Groundhog Day. Propaganda only works when people don’t see it for what it is.
Exactly…
Just a word about the messaging/media.
You all know the disdain that I have had for our media since the summer of those bogus town halls in 2009. My viewership is minimal at best simply because I just don’t see a lot of value in them. I view that stuff as entertainment rather than news but I can appreciate the fact that a lot of what is seen on cable now filters into network nightly and morning news shows so the public at large is getting fed right-leaning propaganda on a daily basis.
There was concern on the previous thread about messaging from the Dems perspective. I agree that PBO always does a masterful job when addressing media perceived controversies. With that said, he shouldn’t have to be the only reliable “attack dog” on our side. In order for PBO’s message to get reinforced into the mainstream it has to be diligently with conviction repeated over and over again on everyone of those shows so that it too will filter into the network news. This job cannot exclusively be left up to PBO. If the media won’t allow the types of Dems who without apology will have PBO’s back to have a voice on their shows to share their message then those media outlets need to be called out for that. But I don’t hear anyone on our side complaining about this. Do any of you? We in social media do our part but those who aren’t tuned in to social media need to get the message as well and from what I’m reading the majority of what they are getting is the Republican spin on Sgt Bergdahl up to this point.
It’s shameful in this day and age but this poor man is being tried in the court of public opinion. There hasn’t been one word from him as to what happened and he is being labeled every negative thing imaginable. I can’t fathom what his poor family and friends are going through hearing this stuff!
I’m happy that PBO is going on BriWi this week so that many will get to hear the “other” perspective on this situation but it certainly would be nice if we had some strong forthright voices on our side that knew how to handle the media.
If you have any free time today you may want to take a moment and contact some of the Democratic Leadership and ask them to find their damn voice:
Chairman of the DSCC – Sen. Michael Bennet @dscc and @SenBennetCO
Chairman of the DCCC – Rep. Steve Israel @dccc and @RepSteveIsrael
Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus – Rep. Marcia L. Fudge @OfficialCBC and @RepMarciaFudge
Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – Rubén Hinojosa @HispanicCaucus and @USRepRHinojosa
Chairman of the Democratic Party – Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz @TheDemocrats and @RepDWStweets
Other than occasionally reading from you all that DWS was on cable I rarely if ever hear about any of these other “leaders” in our party!
Just to name a few…..
IMHO they are just too busy planning for hillary’s coronation
“With that said, he shouldn’t have to be the only reliable “attack dog” on our side. In order for PBO’s message to get reinforced into the mainstream it has to be diligently with conviction repeated over and over again on everyone of those shows so that it too will filter into the network news.”
I say yes, if we had an honest, unbiased, objective media. But the reality is that we DON’T. Any democrat who takes on the role of “attack dog” for PBO would not get invited on those shows, let alone be allowed to speak for 2 minutes without interruption from the host, GOPer, or some such.
Look at what just happened…PBO gave a terrific presser, and the media/GOP responded by launching a coordinated “poll attack” with a slew of different polls basically geared towards the same nasty, anti-PBO narratives.
I think we need to be realistic about the kind of media we have. Our media is increasingly and uninhibitedly hostile towards this President and his administration. Let me tell you that I personally will not be surprised if there comes a point when MSNBC hosts are openly calling for his impeachment (and I’m not talking about Joe Scarborough). And the administration has been forced to find alternate ways of circumventing the media. As I said, PBO has the truth and facts on his side and those two things ALWAYS win out.
Just 3-5 months ago, the huge rage in the media was Obamacare being PBO’s Katrina and hurting the Dems in the midterms. Now no one is talking about Obamacare. The media lurches from one failed narrative to the next, and PBO continues to defeat them with his arsenal of truth and facts.
The facts simply do not bear out that PBO’s WH messaging is deficient in anyway. Since 2010, the GOP has NOT won a major election cycle. They didn’t win in 2012, or 2013, and they won’t win in 2014. The Dems are poised to sweep some gubernatorial races in RED STATES. The Dems are poised to retain the Senate. This is not by accident. And the media knows this.
I’m not referring PBO’s WH messaging in fact to the contrary. I feel he’s the only one on our side that is good at carrying the message. My concern is where is his backup??
I cannot believe that if Dems were making a concerted effort to get on these shows and voice their opinion and the media was not allowing it that they would just shrug their shoulders and walk away. No, they are not even attempting because its easier to let the President do all the heavy lifting because like you said eventually the truth prevails but should he have to work this hard on every issue? I don’t believe so if he had just a little bit of consistent help from our lackluster Dems.
Yes, I agree with you that some Dems are lazy and prefer to go the Clintonesque route of hobnobbing with the media and going along with their silly games instead of standing up to them. These were the same Dems who allowed Al Gore to lose in 2000, and John Kerry to be swiftboated by the media in 2004. I think that PBO has realized that he cannot rely on these Democrats (or the mainstream media), unless he plans to lose.
HOWEVER: What PBO has that Gore and Kerry didn’t was the “silent” support of many ordinary American citizens, (and even international supporters) who are quietly but steadily pushing back on the media, the GOP and all their lies.
If networks will deny PBO primetime to discuss ACA enrollment, why would you be surprised lesser dems are not booked on these shows. If you agree the msm are pushing pro gop narratives why is it so hard to believe that they won’t book guests that refute that narrative effectively?
Because not one Dem has ever complained that this is happening. Just as with the case you cite about the MSM not allowing the President to speak about ACA in prime time got back to us so would the fact that the media is denying Dems a voice on cable. They don’t try because most of them don’t have his back and expect him to fix and explain and take care of every darn issue that arises. Dems in general are lackluster in their support of this President and its reflective in their actions IMHO.
Dems will look foolish complaining about a msm that most Ameticans view as the liberal media. Also not wise to pick a fight with someone who owns a printing press.
Well, I get yelled at when I get into these fights. I agree with you, donna. The party has not worked effectively to find visceral messaging and keep enough party discipline to support PBO and Democratic policies. This is why we often lose the ‘conventional wisdom’ discourse. PBO should not have to do it alone. I don’t buy the argument that the msm wouldn’t listen or report anyway. When people like Feinstein and the usual attention-grabbing loudmouths help to create the meme that PBO doesn’t have Dem support, they are giving the msm the ammo they need. If there was one message, that message would have a fighting chance at setting conventional wisdom.
You know this is what I believe. I will contact as many of these guys as possible. I tend to focus on DWS, but it falls on deaf ears.
Sen. King: Release Bergdahl video to public
——————————————————–
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on Thursday called on the administration to publicly release a short video showing the deteriorating condition of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl recorded by the Taliban.
King said a “dead silence” came over a briefing for senators Wednesday night when they were shown the short clip of the soldier who was released recently after five years in captivity.
——————————————————–
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/208332-sen-king-make-bergdahl-video-public#ixzz33mRUBhLe
Did the gop bastids, especially that hypocritical mofo, mcangry, watch it?
The REPORT was that 100 senators attended. Attending isn’t watching. McCain is known to be tweeting when he should be paying attention.
Probably too busy rushing to a mic to bitch that he isn’t being briefed, while he’s missing the briefing.
smh/to be sure.
Never mind, the goopers didn’t change their mind because they don’t have one.
I will be eternally amazed that this administration has to “justify” bringing home a prisoner of war. The guy could be 100% fit and healthy and it still should not be questioned. That the GOP has tried and failed to limit the powers of this particular President while claiming to stand behind the constitution that gives him those powers is NO reason to dispute that “we take care of our own”.
My lot have been bringing 95 year old bodies home from France & doing dna to determine who they are – because we bring our soldiers home.
Maybe there truly is “something in the water” in some parts of the US because some people have completely lost any sense of reality and morality.
Sen. King: Partisan bickering ‘tiresome’
The administration is considering releasing the tape. I am sure they will if the POTUS thinks that it is warranted.
Kate Bolduan reads what is put in front of her.
Remember….she is the CNN reporter that rushed to the camera to say Obamacare had been struck down by the Supreme Court…
Must read for a little inspiration!
Finally some good news!
Indeed. “Soak” the mofos.
The U.S. claims 4.2 million barrels of oil were dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. BP estimates the flow at 2.45 million barrels.
Barbier will determine the size of the spill, which will be used to multiply the fines he sets. The penalty phase is scheduled for January.
–
So January finalized. And PBO has plans for New orleans with this money.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/karen-finneys-msnbc-show-cancelled/
Yet…..JoScar horrible at the ratings is not ONLY paid $6M annually, but has had the support of Phil Griffin.
The TOD commenter up thread had it 1001% correct…..MSNBC fires non-Caucasians 1st.
vc, email please 🙂
Just popped into bj, there is a bash timothy geithner fuck fest going on. /smh
JHC, get over it, libs! So sick of this revisionist history/histrionics about the economy in 2008-09. OMG.
There was a report of a Gun totting 24 yrs old man in Canada with two AK-somethings….. has killed 3 cops and wounded two. This was happening near Maine. A manhunt has pursued. I hope they catch him and there will not be any more bloodshed.
Wishing all affected my sympathy.
Yep, happening in Moncton..outrageous
Karen Finneys weekend show has been cancelled
I have tried to watch but she is another one that is a better guest than a host…
Have they cancel Mia’s son show yet?
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sheriff-s-office-refutes-mcdaniel-camp-account-of-courthouse-caper
The Hinds County Sheriff’s Department is denying that it let three supporters of state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-MS), including a top official for McDaniel’s campaign, into the Hinds County Courthouse late Tuesday night — refuting the campaign’s version of events which said they were directed inside by “uniformed personnel.”
“It’s a fabrication that someone pointed them to a door,” Hinds County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Othor Cain told the Clarion-Ledger. “I think that’s a total misrepresentation of fact. None of our guys let anybody in.”
The back-and-forth is in response the news on Wednesday that Central Mississippi Tea Party President Janis Lane, McDaniel Coalitions Director Scott Brewster and Rob Chambers, a consultant with the Christian Action Commission, went into the courthouse, where primary ballots were kept, late on Tuesday night.
With everything known about McDaniel – he still gets the votes. If a dem did half of what has been done in McDaniels campaign they would be gone – GOPers preach morality for others – not for their own.
This is a seriously weird event – the stories folks tell when they get themselves locked in a courthouse – could it be because they weren’t supposed to be there – just a chance?
Indeed. Ditto Heads will vote for anyone with “R” after their last name, period.
We are going to see lots of polling to persuade us that HRC would beat Jeb. The GOP wants HRC to run, no doubt about it.
Plus they are certain that Jeb will win that contest. I agree with them.
I really can’t even stomach the fact that the United States of America sees that kind of race and step back to the past as the best this nation has to offer. Really, there are no words.
meta—the goal is not the best the country has to offer but who will keep the profits rolling in to the 1%
I’m discovering what an idealist I really am. Hence my enduring love for POTUS.
We definitely Won this battle.
Score a big Win for the Good Guys!!!
Hi, Zizi, thank you for your great Essay yesterday.
Good Morning/Afternoon….have tried very hard to avoid all the bitterness, evil, negativity, hate, and pure vile thrown at PBO and anything he touches……too much anger is not good for my health….but…….this week has shocked me out of my shell….I agree whole heartily with Donna Dem and Layla and many other of you……….what frightens me the most is the depth of Hate and evil that is so pervasive in the USA…..it’s deeper than racism and I truly believe it has started in the rise of evangelical churches…not all but the majority, especially in rural areas….Yes, racism is being preached but it goes further….HATE everyone and everything that is not exactly like them…..all in the name of Christianity…reminds you of other religious extremists, doesn’t it?……..anyhow, just wanted you all to know that I check in periodically to see how everyone is getting along and my support, respect, and yes, love for PBO and his family has not diminished but grown…and yes, I still think he is the greatest President of the United States of America in my lifetime…..and as far as Dianne Feinstein is concerned…..will never forgive her……
Thanks NW for another great R & S thread. I especially liked the video of President exercising in the Poland.
Thanks, Sjterrid.
Well, well, well.
IOKIYAR
I tried posting it this morning, for some reason it didn´t work out but I can´t deny you guys this…
It´s a German website but you won´t need to read. Just to click the video. Enjoy 😉
I apologize if this has been posted before.
http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/barack-obama/trainiert-in-warschau-36260268.bild.html
I am still trying to post my link but it´s not working. Chips? 😦
h t t p : / / w w w . b i l d . d e / p o l i t i k / a u s l a n d / b a r a c k – o b a m a / t r a i n i e r t – i n – w a r s c h a u – 3 6 2 6 0 2 6 8 . b i l d . h t m l
Okay, maybe this works. whenever I try to post something with this link it just doesn´t appear. Maybe that´s because it´s a german website and an unusual video format? No idea. Anyways, ladies, take the time to re-delete the spaces again. It´s worth it. 🙂
http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/barack-obama/trainiert-in-warschau-36260268.bild.html
I got to your page – so will see if the link will post for me
http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/barack-obama/trainiert-in-warschau-36260268.bild.html
You are right WP doesn’t like that link at all (I just tried to post it also) – they must think the world of the internet is english only – sigh
Which is a shame, because…oh my. 🙂
Which is a shame, because…oh my.. 🙂
🙂
Good Morning TODVille,
It the President’s presser is a repeat, simply ignore.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?319794-1/g7-news-conference
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/05/president-obama-at-the-g7-summit/
President Obama and PM Cameron on 6-5-14