On This Day: Sen. Barack Obama listens as Gen. David H. Petraeus discusses security improvements in Baghdad while giving him and Sens. Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel an aerial tour of the city Monday, July 21, 2008
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Today (all times Eastern)
10:30: The President signs an Executive Order that protects gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees from discrimination by companies that do federal government work, East Room
11:0: The President makes a statement on the situation in Ukraine
11:45: Participates in a town hall focusing on the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative; Walker Jones Education Campus, Washington
1:0: Josh Earnest briefs the press
3:10: The President awards Ryan M. Pitts, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor, East Room
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The Week Ahead here
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NYT: Obama to Issue Order Barring Anti-Gay Bias by Contractors
President Obama plans to sign an executive order on Monday that protects gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees from discrimination by companies that do federal government work….
The order will also, for the first time, explicitly protect federal employees from discrimination on the basis of gender identity, officials said. Federal workers are already protected based on their sexual orientation.
…. “With the stroke of a pen, the president will have a very real and immediate impact on the lives of millions of L.G.B.T. people across the country,” Chad Griffin, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement on Friday. “These actions from the president have the potential to be a keystone in the arch of his administration’s progress, and they send a powerful message to future administrations and to Congress that anti-L.G.B.T. discrimination must not be tolerated.”
More here
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MSNBC: Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative gets $104 million boost
Six months since the launch of My Brother’s Keeper – the president’s boldest effort since taking office to address the dire state of young minority men – Obama is set to announce that millions are being dedicated to expanding the initiative.
According to a White House official, Obama will announce Monday at the Walker Jones Education Center in Washington new partnerships with public and private groups to the tune of about $104 million in funding to help this demographic succeed at critical stages throughout their lives – from early education to college and career.
Young minority men generally faces some of the worst social, academic and economic outcomes in the country.
“Tomorrow’s announcements are an important next step in continuing to build ladders of opportunity for all and to highlight the President’s commitment to ensuring that all children have a fair shot to succeed in this country,” a White House official said.
More here
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BBC: Gaza crisis: UN calls for ceasefire as deaths pass 500
The UN Security Council has called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Cairo for talks on the crisis amid a mounting death toll.
Over 500 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed since the Israeli offensive began two weeks ago, Gaza’s health ministry says.
Twenty Israelis – 18 of them soldiers – have died, Israel says, as it seeks to end rocket fire on the country.
On Sunday Gaza saw its deadliest day since the start of Israel’s Operation Protective Edge, with 13 Israeli soldiers and more than 100 Palestinians killed. Israel says it has killed at least 120 militants since the ground offensive began on Thursday night.
More here
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Washington Post: Flight 17: U.S. builds case against rebels, Russia in downing of jet in Ukraine
The Obama administration expanded its case Sunday accusing Ukrainian separatists and Russian forces of working hand in hand to acquire and operate a missile battery believed to have shot down a Malaysia Airlines jetliner last week, killing nearly 300 people.
Citing an “enormous amount of evidence,” Secretary of State John F. Kerry accused Russia of providing SA-11 antiaircraft missiles to the pro-Russian rebels and training them how to fire the advanced weapons. He also said U.S. intelligence agencies “saw the launch” of a missile from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine and recorded its trajectory at the moment the passenger plane vanished from radar.
Meanwhile, in Kiev, the U.S. Embassy said American intelligence analysts had confirmed the authenticity of recorded conversations in which rebel leaders bragged about shooting down what they thought was a Ukrainian military transport plane moments after the Malaysian jetliner was blown apart.
More here
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WH.gov: President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor
On July 21, 2014, President Barack Obama will award Ryan M. Pitts, a former active duty Army Staff Sergeant, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Staff Sergeant Pitts will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as a Forward Observer with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, during combat operations at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, in the vicinity of Wanat Village in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008.
Staff Sergeant Pitts will be the ninth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.
More here
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Obamacare in Kentucky: Seeing a doctor for the first time in seven years http://t.co/F7oPH8xUPv via @BBCNewsMagazine pic.twitter.com/e1qLre1t2d
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 21, 2014
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On This Day
U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, and Sen. Barack Obama at Baghdad International Airport, July 21, 2008
Sen. Obama shakes hands with a U.S. Soldier outside Multi-National Division South East Headquarters in Basra, Iraq July 21, 2008
Gen. David H. Petraeus gives an aerial tour of Baghdad to Sen.’s Obama, Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel Monday.
Sen. Obama looks on during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad, July 21, 2008
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President Obama tapes an interview before an event celebrating country music at the White House on July 21, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
The First Family listens to a performance during an event celebrating country music in the East Room of the White House on July 21, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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The Obama Diary 
Time to go
🙂 Congrats GGaaaaaail, have a great day!!
Yay GGail! Congratulations! Have a splendid day!
Congrats, GGail!
Good Morning!
… and ThanksALot, jacquelineoboomer! 😡 🙂
Huh? I typed my good bye and it landed here. Chips? what happened???
I have no clue!!! You mean you were accidentally FURST?! 🙂
Yup!
Now I really got to get out the door –
You’ve got the magic touch today! 😀
Morning and thanks for this R&S, Chips. Sometimes it breaks my heart a little to see how young and full of hope our president was just a few years ago. He’s still full of hope and still the best president ever and the finest person to occupy the WH in my lifetime, but the burden he’s carried is so heavy, it’s impossible not to show on his face sometimes. I see this in my own children who are now entering (gulp) middle age and wonder how that time passed when I wasn’t looking. That’s why I have my little granddaughter’s face on my avatar. She makes me feel the world can be new again.
Thanks for the photo! They’re so dressed up that it looks like an Easter parade 🙂 Hats and heels … but the gloves just take the cake.
Hey everyone, PBO’s signing of the LGBT Executive Order is a little earlier than the original schedule said
10:00 AM EDT President Obama Signs an Executive Order to Protect LGBT Employees from Workplace Discrimination
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Thanks Chips! 🙂
A pleeeeeeeeasure Dudette, top ‘o the morning to ya!
And also to you, Love! 🙂
😆 That was me with my cup of tea this morning!!
Great R&S, Chips.
The reach of President Obama is powerful indeed.
Loooooove this initiative.
Mooooooooorning Legend!!
Awesome Sauce!
Have a GREAT DAY everybody! 😀
Pierce on the pundits
“Rich (Sparkle Pants) Lowry opined that, if Palestinian children don’t want to be blown away with advanced weaponry, they should stay off the beach, clinching his place in the finals of this year’s World’s Most Unlikable Sociopath Pageant.”
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/The_Gobshites_In_The_Levant
They truly have no shame as they LIE to their viewers.
Good article from Richard Mayhew at BJ – impact of rejecting medicaid
“In a rational world, blame would be placed squarely on the Republican governors and Teabagging legislatures for refusing free money. In a slightly less rational world, blame would be split between the Supreme Court and the Teabaggers who say Nee. In our world, at least 27% of the country will blame Obamacare for closing the rural hospitals in non-Expansion states.”
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2014/07/21/rejecting-free-money-is-expensive/
Oh, Pierce truly is one of a kind, 99ts – love him!
He uses a language that has universal appeal. Rich Lowry will never live down “sitting up straighter” – why anyone lets him speak in public is beyond stupid.
I missed early bird this day – not sure what happened to my evening – so I will assume you had a very early R&S
I’m off work this week 99ts, so it’s always easier to get up early when you know time is your own 🙂
Have a wonderful vacay, Chips, and remember to follow Dr. Bob’s advice to #TrustBarack.
There have been a few times in the past (long ago) when I winced when some trivial thing PBO said would no doubt be twisted against him.
But now with the world in such turmoil, Obots know that PBO will be under relentless MSM/GOP attack for being too deliberate (not cowboy enough for those warmongers) but the great thing is Obots can rely on the fact that PBO won’t stoop to their level when the global stakes are so high.
MSM/GOP are grasping at straws in trying to find ways to attack our President, while those Americans who don’t believe the earth is flat are thinking WTF? (example: whoever the WHPC idiot who yelled last week “Do you blame Ukraine?” when the President could not have been more clear that his attention was on Putin.
Thank you Arapaho415! No vacay this week, it’s Operation Clean The House 😦
House cleaning is good for the soul – the 11th commandment from my dearest Mother.
Huh, never noticed. You do feel fabulous after it’s done, but before and during? Not so much.
Enjoy your week – I’m off work all the time – which is why I like to avoid getting up early 🙂
“I’m off work this week’
Eureka! That’s why you tampered with my computer! To slow me up and put me at a disadvantage! The plot is slowly unraveling.
“Sparkle Pants” is a charitable description of Rich “I see stars when I watch Palin” Lowry.
Lowry must have really liked Palin’s policies… or was it her wink (directed toward Sparkle Pants, of course).
Nothing to do with her policies – nor her brain (or lack thereof) 🙂
Direct link for Exec Order ceremony:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-signs-executive-order-protect-lgbt-employees-workplace-discrimination
President Obama said VP Biden would make a “superb president”, but he expressed “wonder” that either he or Hillary would want to subject themselves to the rigor of another presidential campaign “at this phase of their lives”.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-biden-2016-president-20140721,0,3190457.story
I wonder the same thing – and not just related to a campaign – but to the job itself.
Dotster, there is a poll there. Take a five question survey on Obama and your vote for Congress.
https://www.civiqs.com/polls/38
Thanks for bringing here, dotster.
But remember that the demographics are shifting away from the GOP.
Ignore poorly-thought-out articles like the one in @nytimes last week which extrapolated future voting patterns of Millennials based on what happened 30 years ago when Reagan was President — I still remember the covers of Time and Newsweek declaring how much the young loved Reagan, and so did the “lunchbucket Dems.”
Just like GWBush and R-Money, the MSM have amnesia when it comes to small matters like Iran Contra, Iraq WMDs, R-Money on the beach in France while the Vietnam war was raging, etc.
#LandslideDems2014 and beyond would certainly help the 2016 Dem President. And HRC and my man Joe only have to look at how MSM/GOP treat the current President regardless of what PBO does to have an inkling as to how Dem 2016 candidates will be treated. GOP/MSM/Koch will be *pissed* after #LandslideDems2014 and will seek revenge.
P.S. – As LovePolitics2008 reminded TODville, MSM will never get over the fact that PBO is a better writer than any of them could ever be. They’d also feel that way about LL and zizi2 if they ever read any of their essays.
ALERT: https://twitter.com/markknoller/status/491224704200753152
Mark KnollerVerified account
@markknoller
Just In: Pres Obama to make a statement on latest situation in Ukraine. At 1050am on the South Lawn.
Thank you Hopefruit!
Any time Chips 🙂
I’m exhausted just looking at his schedule today – and they’re only the public events. How on earth does he do it?
I’m thinking the same thing Chips. And, as PBO himself wondered in the article that dotster posted, I’m really hoping that people thinking of running for President in 2016 will seriously consider the rigors of this job (and all the campaigning that goes along with it).
That’s the thing, the campaigning is so utterly grueling I can’t imagine how anyone would have the energy left to do the job.
HEADS UP
https://twitter.com/MaximEristavi/status/491224909071523840
Thank you Nerdy!
So the LGBT E.O. signing is pushed back as well? It hasn’t started yet.
The live streaming has just started Hopefruit, should be on soon.
Thanks – I’m on the stream now. 🙂
Live Now (10:30 ET): President Obama Signs Executive Order to Protect LGBT Employees from Workplace Discrimination
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-signs-executive-order-protect-lgbt-employees-workplace-discrimination
Should we hold Lady Merkel accountable as well?
What did she do?
Obama expected to make statement on Ukraine at 10:50 a.m. ET, White House says. cnn.it/1rDGIxu
Not just a generation gap.
When I grew up, ABC was broadcast from Mexico for the San Diego market.
Before cable, we had an attenae on our house, but lived on the north side of a hill, so could not receive ABC reception, so I saw no ABC shows growing up in the 1960s. I was inconsolable missing Outer Limits, The Patty Duke Show and some rock n’ roll show (was it Shindig?).
Forgot to include this link to a great tribute to James Garner, by a Gen-Xer.
Charlie Pierce also had a great tribute:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/RIP_James_Garner
Hey TODers.
Piped and the WH.gov is terribly intermittent. C-SPAN.org is working well. I missed the presentation before the signing ceremony.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?320555-2/president-obama-signs-executive-order-protecting-lgbt&live
Thanks Nena! I thought it was my computer acting up, and did a reboot, missing the actual signing. Anyway, will catch up with the archived footage.
Back to read all that I have missed. Looking forward to hearing POTUS’ comments on the situation in Ukraine in a little bit.
Isn’t it ashame that POTUS would have to sign something like that.We should treat all people like we want to be treated. If I ran a business and as long as you did your job, I have nothing to do with who you have in your bedroom.
But I know it doesn’t work that way for all people.
The evangelical wing of GOP only cares about pro life, anti gay and anti Muslim memes.
Or in 1692 evangelicals were known as Puritans.
Yes my question is were is all the praise the right wing were giving Putin not to long ago?
Not just the right – the mainstream media and some on the left.
Let me put it like this. Where is all the praise the right, the left, and the media were giving Putin not so long ago?
The MSM and emoprogs were looking for the next Great White Hope to take the black POTUS down a peg. The emos think he’s Snowden’s savior. They have a soft spot for him.
That’s not new?
The View’s big public feedback question at the top of the show is “Is President Obama playing too much damn golf while crises are going on?” One person clapped in the audience. But quintuple sigh at the dumbness.
If the President stop playing golf will the crisis stop? If so, I’m sure President Obama would give up golf. Any question why the View ratings has sunk in the tank?
Let me email the View and give them my answer to their question.
They must think that bashing pres Obama gets the ratings……Foxification of the Media. They forget that Fox has all the haters already and they are NOT growing.
Al Jazeera America has been great…..on some balance to the I/P current crisis.
Good day everyone…..Thought for the day: Put Lindsey Graham in uniform and send HIM overseas!
Morning Shipmate – what an excellent idea!
Yeah. He could whip Putin with his purse.
😆 You are BAD!!!!
heh!
Morning, Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiips!!!
So many eyes!!!! 🙂
Oh, Lindsey Graham should not be the only one. Actually, I have a vision. McLoss with his baillonette on hands, Lindsey by his side, Dick Cheney on the other, and many warmongers from Congress following their commander McLoss en route to Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. They should all volunteer and enlist! Once they leave, close all US borders!!!!
Good Morning TODVille!
Oops (à la Rick Perry)! I have to change my name… again.
BRAVO! I concur 100%.
Don’t leave out General McCain, who never met a war he didn’t like.
Send all of the bastards! I’m sick of them. laraofzhivago has the right idea.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?320555-5/president-obama-remarks-ukraine
WH feed is still intermittently sad for me.
Thanks Nena, it’s very glitchy today.
Man it’s saddening that our relations with Russia has deteriorated so badly. Ever since Putin became president again our relations have gone south. 😦
It’s true. I thought that Dimitry and PBO had what seemed to my eyes, a very good and cordial relationship…then, barenaked chest beater put himself back into power again and its all gone down hill fast. That’s what a different agenda, a thirst for power, and a whole lot of arrogance gets you! Russia is worse off since he’s been there.
He calculated so wrong. He thought he was dealing with a GW Bush. Then he met wits and Putin tried his machismo. POTUS do not Bluff. He told Cantor and Putin and they both didn’t learn. POTUS is not loud. Talk about speaking firmly, softly and as VP Biden said….Ramrod…..pres Obama……will steadfastly get to his from plan A to B. The media, emoprogs, righties are left stupefied.
Now imagine, if the media reported the truth? Putin and those in denial would have learned. But their decease are twofold: Underestimation and Bigotry. EU would either comply or they will find it herder. I think this president’s patience with a Merkel and Co has reached it’s peak. Cameron, to my surprise has learned something about this President.
The world is in a mess. It is reparable, but ONLY if there are those willing to see the POTUS’ vision and get on board.
He was pissed and more than just a little fed up with Russia’s shenanigans. ” Thanks”…he NEVER just says that!! Morning TOD:)
df, “Thanks.” My immediate thought was: Ooooooooh, he’s pissed!!!! Never heard him say that, never.
We’re on the same page:) I believe that was a first!
With his American flag flying and his God Bless America sign….idiots!
Raving friggin’ hate-filled lunatics. Morning DF!!!
❤ it. Thanks Lady Chips. I 😆 and then I 🙄 😆 some more.
hahahahahahahaha. Chips. You had me clicking on the image to enlarge it searching for the folks who attended. Huge turnout….. hahahaha
I’d say there were a million there Nospin – at least!!!! 🙂
We have some serious problems here in “River City”, but we are soooo concerned about what’s happening worlds away.-smh
Heads up:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/21/the-president-participates-in-a-my-brothers-keeper-town-hall/
I don’t usually like people being punished for their fatuous views. My mantra is to Let Them Speak. Then expose their idiocy with FACTS and persuasive arguments.
On this one case? I am 49% convinced and in support here 😉
Me too. I can’t stand this guy. World Class Jerk.
😥 I’m sob. sob. in semi sob. sob. withdrawal 😥 😥 and the pain is great!
My laptop screen decided it had had enough, walked off the job in the middle of the evening, and no amount of stopping and rebooting nudged it back! Figuring it was tired, and reasonably so, I locked down early and gave it an ENTIRE NIGHT of rest. However, it hasn’t budged since early morning so I can only conclude that it’s in shutdown mode.
The upshot of all that is that I spent the entire morning frustrated, wondering what you all were doing! Among other things like possible cost etc, Stapes Tech says it would take about 2 weeks to send it away for repairs. Best Buy offers me a little less time away! Should I scream now, or later?
Right now I’m fiddling around on my old, old, cold and slow ASUS desktop and it’s a royal pain! I’m not even sure THIS will show up in the village. WHAT DID I EVER DO TO DESERVE THIS NEW FORM OF TORTURE? Amk, what did you have to do with this? My laptop is only 4 years young…it has a new battery in – bought only about 2-3 weeks ago – …..I used it lovingly EVERY DAY, sometimes for almost 20 hours so it couldn’t have felt unloved ….. :scream:
O, sorry 😥 I forgot my manners 😥 Hello, everyone! Please tell PBO I’m behind him all the way, even if I may not be able to make contact over the next little while.
HA-A -A-P 😥 P-P-PY MOHN_ 😥 DA- DA-Y!
So VC, you’ve had a relaxing morning 🙂 You poor thing!!!!!!
You can actually see me? That’s worth all the struggles, especially since I haven’t a clue how long I can stand the clack-clack-clacking of my old desktop. This way you will at least know WHY I’m MIA. 🙂
I can see you!! You are having a severely testing day!!!
It’s a bit better now. 🙂
Whe-ell! That only took 14minutes fiddling around trying to remember my password, being kicked around and starting over several times, but what the heck, at least I’m in ……for a bit.