President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting of the President’s Export Council at the White House. Flanking President Obama are Boeing CEO Jim McNerney and Xerox CEO Ursula Burns. The President’s Export Council advises the President on policies and programs that effects US trade performance and promote export expansion
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President Barack Obama speaks about the situation in Iraq, in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. President Obama said the US will send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq, set up joint operation centers
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President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to retired Marine Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Carpenter took a blow from a grenade to protect a fellow Marine in Afghanistan, sustaining major wounds including the loss of his right eye. He is the eighth living recipient to be chosen for the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan
Retired Marine Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter smiles as President Barack Obama speaks at a ceremony awarding Carpenter the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry
The Obama Diary 
Hi. Bye.
You cheated!
Hmmmm?
Wow he just keeps going. Thanks for photos NW.
Thanks, Vetivera24.
I love love love love you Nerdy, thank you soooooo much!
Right back at ya, Chiparoo. 🙂
All in just one day.
He is truly showing America how a Presidency should run.
Thanks NW for the wonderful pictures!
Very touching pics. Thanks NW for this wonderful recap of our President’s day. 🙂
Congressman Demands Pregnant Woman Explain Why Obamacare Includes Maternity Coverage
A lawmaker from North Carolina spent several minutes badgering a pregnant doctor about why Obamacare requires plans to cover maternity services, telling her it’s a service that people like him will never use, during a House committee hearing this week.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, who works for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is due to give birth in about three weeks, appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday to testify about Obamacare’s impact on the insurance market. The hearing was entitled “Poised To Profit: How Obamacare helps insurance companies even if it fails patients,” so it’s a safe assumption that Cohen was up before a tough crowd.
During Cohen’s testimony, Rep. Mark Meadows (R) demanded to know why Americans are forced to buy coverage for services that don’t apply to them. He pointed out that he and his wife are in their 50s and don’t plan on using maternity coverage anytime soon. The doctor attempted to explain that maternity care is one of the ten essential health benefits that Obamacare requires new plans to include, but Meadows wasn’t convinced:
MEADOWS: So you have to buy maternity, even though you may never have a child?
COHEN: That is correct.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/19/3450957/congressman-maternity-coverage-hearing/
I would bet this man pays school taxes yet has no children in public school.
Of course, women have to pay for insurance that coverages treatment for prostate issues.
Viagra, penis pumps…come to mind
This article balances the argument out in the last paragraphs…
In reality, however, the health reform law simply seeks to eliminate the gender-based cost disparities in the insurance industry. Before Obamacare was implemented, maternity care was routinely excluded in the individual market. Along with the cost of other critical health services that are gender-specific — like birth control, mammograms, and Pap smears — that old system ensured that women ended up paying much more for their health care than men.
Although maternity coverage won’t apply to every single person who signs up for Obamacare, it could apply to a lot of them. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 25 percent of all U.S. hospitalizations are a consequence of pregnancy and childbirth. Those hospital visits aren’t cheap. Out-of-pocket costs for maternity care services can reach as high as $15,000, depending on a woman’s insurance plan.
Last fall, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) responded to the critiques of maternity coverage by making a social responsibility argument for health care, comparing it to the property taxes that fund public schools. “Maybe because my wife and I do not have any more children and they are grown up, maybe I should not have to pay property taxes to pay for my local schools,” he said. “We are better than that in this country. We are talking about being part of our society. It is to our benefit, my wife and I, to support our local schools because that is our next generation, we want them well taught. Same with health care. It is a values system.”
I have to say, Linda, that just when you think the Republicans in Congress have said the stupidest possible thing, they always manage to top themselves. This Meadows guy doesn’t even know what insurance is, yet he feels free to speak the stupid as if he had any idea what he’s talking about.
I remember during the mark up for the ACA John Kyl brought this same subject up in committee…….He doesn’t need maternity coverage .
Senator Stabenow said …well … I bet your mother and both your daughters in law are happy they had coverage.
Surely the winner – everyone has a mother – including the fools who think women should give birth without any health care.
Scott Walker
The documents allege that Walker and his associates raised money and controlled spending by conservative groups during the 2012 recall elections. In Wisconsin, there can’t be coordination between campaigns and outside spending groups.
In an email to Karl Rove, Scott Walker said:
“Bottom-line: R.J. helps keep in place a team that is wildly successful in Wisconsin. We are running 9 recall elections and it will be like 9 congressional markets in every market in the state (and Twin Cities),” Walker wrote to Rove on May 4, 2011.
UPDATE 2:
a filing by special John Doe prosecutor Francis Schmitz that the illegal coordination goes back to 2009 (Walkers Gubernatorial campaign).
Because of what they view as illegal coordination, Schmitz wrote, “significant in-kind or direct contributions to the recall candidates were not disclosed on campaign finance reports as required.”
In addition, he alleged, “prohibited contributions from corporations or contributions well beyond legal contribution limits were made and accepted.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/19/1308142/-Prosecutors-Scott-Walker-at-the-Center-of-a-Criminal-Scheme
Stock up on Popcorn ( and Ice Cream )
I hope that despicable Walker ends up in the slammer along with Christie.
I missed the awards ceremony, Cpl Carpenter looks very young.
He is only 24.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Carpenter
thanks Linda, I thought he must be very young.. so many with scars from these wars.
It was a beautiful and moving ceremony with waterworks at the end. I was shocked when President Obama said Cpl Carpenter was only 24 years old. So proud of him.
thanks LH, hopefully I can watch it later.. I usually don’t miss these, its the least we owe them.
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL INCLUDING CPL. CARPENTER’S MESSAGE REARDING LIFE’S PLAN…GOD INDEED HAS PLANS FOR HIM…SUCH A HERO…AND SO IS OUR PRESIDENT FOR TAKING ON YEARS OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE FROM A VERY SELFISH AND RACIST SOCIETY!
I saw PBO’s entire press conference, and the Medal of Honor Ceremony. That Ceremony was so moving. I cried through the whole thing. I am keeping it for posterity.
thanks zekke.
Welp, I just watched the tail end of the House GOP Leadership Elections press conference. And if the little bit I saw is any indication – it was a train wreck. The new Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke in generalities and his demeanor was flat and lackluster. Then the new majority whip Steve Scalise spoke and we got more generalities. What a bunch of losers. And of course, Speaker Boehner had to say where are the jobs. If we had a media worth their salt they would not be able to get away with this nonsense. The worst congress ever.
I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING ……
The McCarthy election of nothingness
by pm carpenter
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Hell nobody actually leads these clowns. They’re the same ungovernable gasbags they were yesterday and the day before, the same anarchists, the same nihilists, the same irresponsible rubes who have kept millions needlessly unemployed and even more millions in utter despair.
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– See more at: http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2014/06/the-mccarthy-election-of-nothingness.html#sthash.DSGJl2Tb.dpuf
Oh my heart. My eyes are tearing up. That young Marine. The sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and the knot in my throat when I heard a pretty solid “rumor” (from a young woman who worked for a high level person in the military stationed here) that we were going to war in Iraq. The day I attended the funeral of one of the first fallen; the brother of one of my son’s close friends. The day that friend presented me with a bracelet with his brother’s name on it. The calm I feel today when I hear our President say … there will be no ground troops sent to Iraq. Thank you Mr. President. Thank you young Marine for your service and your valor. God Bless this country.
Kevin McCarthy: Say what?
By Dana Milbank
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Watching McCarthy at these weekly stakeouts (he has been majority whip the past three years) can be a nail-biting event. It’s surprising, because he is a native English speaker and he speaks fluently in private or in small groups. But put him in front of a crowd and his words come out as if they have been translated by Google from a foreign language.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-house-gop-leader-kevin-mccarthy-has-an-odd-way-with-words/2014/06/17/2009ac42-f65c-11e3-a606-946fd632f9f1_story.html
Did Kerry really say this? LOL 🙂
Teehee!
I hate when these pundiots talk chit like this…
Amen. I am not sold on Hillary. In fact, in light of the kind ‘I’m not Obama’ remarks lately, I am remembering why I didn’t vote for her in the first place. It reminds me of her self-serving vote on the Iraq War.
May he RIP. 😦
BOOM
Also I guess…LOL!
🙂 Even 12% fit, he’s flippin’ awesome.
He is amazing. Although England’s goalie looked like a music conductor chosen to be goalie on a bet gone wrong.
😆 What a splendiferous description Forus!!!
Well, remember, Joe Hart let in that goal by Landon Donovan in 2010 which let the US beat England. (Or was it draw? Honestly don’t remember.)
Joe Green? This is so funny!
Oh, heartbreaking:
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/479703481000148992
I hate to see anyone cry. So sad for him and his family. I don’t know him. Having lost a dad before age 11 is hard. To be told before a huge game and the whole world watching without ever saying goodbye is devastating. My heart goes out to him and his family……May his Dad RIP.
Ditto. So sad.
This is the saddest photo of the World Cup. I hope this young man can find some peace and time to mourn his father.
“Russian Defense Ministry Apologizes For Lying About White Phosphorus
20:41 (GMT)
Below is an excerpt from our Russia liveblog. Read the rest here: http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-this-week-protesters-in-moscow-respond-to-events-in-ukraine/#2032
Radio Svoboda and UNIAN reported today that Russian journalists from the Russian Defense Ministry television channel Zvezda sent a letter of apology to Ukraine’s Channel 5, saying they had lied on Russian TV when they claimed in a 12 June program that the Ukrainian army had bombed the village of Semyonovka near Slavyansk with “white phosphorus” bombs. Their program first led to all of Russia state media making the claim that the same type of bomb used by the US in Iraq was used, and angry demands by the Russian Foreign Ministry for an investigation.
The false report was promoted by Kremlin propaganda arm RT.com
then all the predictable pro-Kremlin echo chambers and discussed avidly on forums.
But ultimately, after discussion on forums, the propaganda gambit led to exposure and ridicule because it was determined that Russian state TV had used footage from the Iraq war in 2004, claiming it was in Slavyansk.
http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/3132
Helloooooo people.
A few days back I mentioned the gobsmacking saga of my attempts to cancel my NYT digital subscription.
I sent several cancellation requests to the email address they provided, and none was replied to. And they kept on charging to my credit card.
So, I tried again, and they said they would have to speak to me first!!
So, I said no, I don’t want to speak to you, I want you to cancel the subscription.
Finally.
June 3: “Thank you for contacting us. In response to your inquiry, our records indicate that your account has been canceled.”
Today?
They charged to my account again.
This is unfrigginbelievable!!!
And on top of your hairbrush being missing – OH THE HORROR!!!!!
OMG. You know when I get pissed off at my cable I send a tweet to them. The 2 times I’ve done that they have provided amazing service as I’m publicly shaming them lol. With your gift of writing I’m sure you can corner them on the Twitter machine. I’ll be retweeting if needed!!
Ha, thank you Forus!! I am ginormously tempted to tweet about it …. oh, damn it, I will!
That was going to be my suggestion too. This needs escalation to executive eyeballs. Their customer service in this instance stinks. It’s an embarrassment and a black eye for the NYT. Totally unacceptable. I am wondering if the ombudsman Margaret Sullivan could help.
There!
Also if possible, have your credit card cancelled.
Will do tomorrow Nena, thank you – in my stupid innocence I trusted them that the subscription had been canceled 🙄
Retweeted. And forward the email to your CC company.
Will do LL, thanks a million.
Chips, dispute the charges via your credit card company!
Take the bastards to small claims!
🙂 I’m thinking about The Hague at this stage LL!
The latest man I want to marry:
😆
Mario has matured quite a bit.
Excactly, he’s ready for marriage. Not to his fiancee, to me.
Just make sure he has no access to fireworks
http://www.mediaite.com/online/chuck-todd-and-ed-henry-caught-mocking-mccain-on-hot-mic/
Hmm?
Let’s see him poll that!
Why do they stand around as if the are important?
I am so glad that POB ignores them when there is a serious message that he knows we need to know only from him.
These damn fools are highly overpaid, fake reporters, auditioning for their next entertainment job as the American’s people expense.
I am so sick of the all….
#TrustObama
I saw that earlier — those juvenile ass-clowns.
Is he also implying that Petraeus is agreeing with POTUS because they “have something on him”?
Yes.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/schweitzer-apologizes-cantor-feinstein
“I recently made a number of stupid and insensitive remarks to a reporter from the National Journal. I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize for my carelessness and disregard,” Schweitzer wrote in a Facebook post.
During the interview, the former governor said men from the South like Cantor “are a little effeminate.”
He went out and likened Sen Finestein to a street walker? Wow. This guy is imploding before our very eyes nationally.
Ah yes, joining the ‘oops’ club
Great new hashtag: Dick Cheney #FatherofISIS pass it on.
😆 I. Am. Crying!
After all that Media Lovefest, Hoopla, Hysteria, etc….
The Hard Fact:
http://www.mediaite.com/print/hard-choices-outsold-by-sci-fi-romance-time-travel-novel-in-first-week/
According to Nielsen’s numbers, which were picked up by Buzzfeed, Clinton handily won the nonfiction category by selling 85,721 hardcover copies of Hard Choices, but the Outlander book, written by Diana Galbadon, sold 88,751 copies. Vox points out that even the most popular fiction books never outsell non-fiction: In 2013, nonfiction books outsold fiction two to one (even with the wildly popular Fifty Shades of Grey added to the mix). So for Clinton to be outsold by the eighth installment of a science fiction romance novel is rather unusual. (Nielsen Bookscan doesn’t report on the number of eBooks sold.
Is Paul Krugman PBO’s secret adviser? I noticed that as of late he has had only good things to say about our President. Whereas in the first term, particularly in 2009-2011, it was mostly negative….Any insights into the plausible reasons for the change of heart?
Noticed that too Hopefruit, endless positive articles of late, after years of snark. I read that they met the other day, I suspect that when anyone meets PBO they finally get it that he’s a good man trying to do very good things. Maybe Krugman finally got it?
Yes indeed. And PBO must have said a few kind things to him which flattered his ego immensely. And if that’s the case, then better late than never – I hope. 🙂
Possibly because his stock portfolio has doubled? Knowing Krugman it couldn’t be due to any respect for Barack Obama’s genius and recognition of the fact that POTUS has done EVERY.THING exactly correct for the economy in spite of the massive tsunami of GOP obstruction and newspaper naysayers and whiners. 🙂
Yesterday he met w/ President Obama…….access feeds egos. Or they may honestly feel that way?
Chuck Todd is yelling on NBC Nightly News that “President Obama is sending troops back to Iraq!” This was after Brian Williams opened with “hundreds of troops are going back to Iraq”. Got to a tad bit of truth after about 7 minutes—–no combat troops— but the damage had already been done with the opening. Now they’re airing Rubio’s deep thoughts on the situation in Iraq, for some unknown reason. No wonder people have lost trust in news on the teevee. It is beyond shameful, always trying to stir up anger and controversy.
Chuck Todd is yelling out a lie..I’m shocked! No TV news for me
The once proud peacock has lost all his beautiful feathers. That is disgraceful…….They don’t even listen to what the president says, and reiterates during the q & a.
When people realize “troops” aren’t going back to Iraq, and they will, .Todd will be shown to be a liar once again. These guys need to read their own polling and stop obsessing over the President’s. Brian Williams is also losing his credibility, and all the long facial expressions and starched shirts can’t regain it.
Thank you again, Bobfr Tweety started off with some crap ‘hair on fire also.’ I told him he was lying and that he needs to pack up his bags and go home. Told him that we listen to our President.HZ
Well.
Who would have thought that a country with a 21% poverty rate might have social dissension over billions spent on an event that won’t benefit those same impoverished people?
We feed them, we clothe them. Why are they not happy?
From my TL it appears that Matthews is also spreading lies about what the President said. MSNBC is on a roll…
Exactly, hopefruit2. I had left the tv on because I stopped to watch Rev. Al, and I walked out to do something and there Christ started off blowing fire and crap. I went to Twitter and sent out a few tweets and told him that he was lying. They will never stop, but we can sure call them out every time we hear this crap.HZ
Bill Press started his show this morning bashing Chick Todd for putting his negative spin on that poll yesterday. He was upset because he felt that Todd had no business saying that PBO’s presidency was over. All of the callers agreed. There are a lot of folks out there who feel as we do about MSM.
Exactly. President Obama can’t win for losing.
Yet another proof of the meme – “If PBO is for it – the GOP and their bff – the media – are against it”. Just unbelievable – except proven over and over.
Oh for fuck’s sake!
Yikes!
Thanks for the heads up. I know not to turn on the television for news content except local KTLA5
Laist and LAObserved are my go to sources for L.A. news. And, increasingly, the L.A. Times. I think it’s regaining its luster.
Gail, I also watch the local KTLA station news here IN SoCal. They always give positive reports on what PBO is doing without a lot of spin.
I pay attention to those LA stations/ LATimes…feels like sanity to me:)
I think Chuck Todd may be the most damaging voice on teevee “news”, simply because he works at a reputed liberal network—-hahaha, but that’s the widespread label——and when people hear him report so negatively about President Obama, nonstop,—–or even read or hear about his ‘Obama did another bad thing and he’s finished’ reporting, then they are likely to think, “Wow, even MSNBC is saying Obama is bad—–he must really be bad.”
He is despicable in this role he has decided to play. One day the scales of justice will tip.
Nerdy’s new post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/19/a-tweet-or-two-67/
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ TY, Nerdy W. again.+}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}HZ