President Barack Obama signs the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; a job-training legislation which aims to help job seekers gain valuable employment skills, as guests and members of Congress look on at the White House
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Text of the President and Vice President’s remarks here
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In other important news today…
President Barack Obama meets with Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission
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"It was a seminal moment not just in our country’s history, but the history of all humankind." —Obama on #Apollo45 http://t.co/2ua8fpcAaR
—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2014****
"Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins took the 1st small steps of our giant leap into the future." —Obama http://t.co/OVwaxP1kgm
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2014• • •
President Barack Obama signs the book of condolence at the Embassy of the Netherlands as Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Mollema watches
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Text of the President’s remarks here
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• • •
POTUS msg to Dutch ppl after signing condolence book: "Will not rest until we're certain that justice is done." #MH17 http://t.co/BcmSqvqwJU
—
Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) July 22, 2014• • •
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The Obama Diary 
WOW, these are some great pics – thanks NW!
Meanwhile…
Congrats on 1st, hf2 – and thanks for the link, meta!
I love our President!
Thanks JO’B! The local media are soooo excited…they are going on and on…about how awe-inspired they are to see him in their city.
Fabulous!
Link is courtesy of JER, as always!!
Thanks, JER!
A beautiful, perfect round-up of the President and First Lady’s day, thank you soooooo much Legend!!!
Thank yooooooou too, Chips.
It looks like Virginia Foxx is lusting after our President.
Eek. I suggest he make a run for it.
ugh.
just…ugh.
Thank you JER!!!!
You are welcome, BFF.
After 6 yrs in office, the local media and people are super excited to see him get off AF1 🙂 LOL!
If PBO was in office for 6 years or 16 years or 60 years I think the excitement would be there for him.
That’s one reason why the GOP/MSM is losing their minds.
They were consoling themselves early on that the President would lose his luster. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Yup, I agree with everything you said Vicki. 🙂
Thank you AG Holder for getting the job done. I guess former Newark Mayor Cory Booker got out just in time. Hmmm.
“Mayor Ras Baraka, who only took office July 1 and has been a longtime critic of the agency, attended the news conference with Fishman and said he welcomed the decree.
‘One could look at this 22 days in as mayor as the roof is caving in,’ Baraka said. ‘I look at it as the opportunity to build a new roof.’”
Left in the dust by Ms NerdyW….again! Good thing I’ve become used to the feeling so there are no hard feelings. TY Ms NW for summarizing the POTUS and FLOTUS’ day in one spot for folks like moi!
A little afternoon pickmeup: Superman Theme by John Williams
From the New England Journal of Medicine:
Though the major coverage expansions began this year, the law launched reforms in 2010 that were designed to improve health insurance and expand coverage to high-risk groups. Among the most visible of these provisions is the requirement that all health plans offering dependent coverage allow young adults to enroll in a parent’s policy until they turn 26 years of age. Last year, a Commonwealth Fund survey showed that 7.8 million adults between the ages of 19 and 25 years were enrolled in a parent’s plan — and that most of these enrollees would not have been eligible to do so before the passage of the law. Federal surveys suggest that the number of young adults without health insurance has declined by 1 million to 3 million since the provision took effect….
….Several aspects of the individual marketplaces deserve attention as we judge their past and prospective performance. First, enrollment is not the same as insurance. Critics have questioned whether enrollees will actually pay their premiums and become insured. State and federal officials, using data provided by insurance companies, estimate that 80 to 90% of enrollees have paid their first month’s premiums. But it will be important over time to assess whether individuals using the 51 marketplaces pay their premiums each month. The fact that 85% of people who selected a plan during open enrollment were eligible for premium subsidies will undoubtedly influence this outcome, since the subsidies dramatically lower their premium contributions, but so will other factors, such as premium levels, cost-sharing obligations, and restrictions on provider choice, which will influence purchasers’ perception of the value of the insurance they are buying.
Second, the 8-million enrollment figure is just the beginning for the individual marketplaces. The CBO projects that 25 million people will have insurance through the marketplaces by 2017. Although ongoing outreach efforts will be critical to inform those eligible about their coverage options, it is easy to see how the current number will grow. There will be annual open-enrollment periods, with the next one scheduled for November 2014 through February 2015. Individuals can also enroll at any time they lose insurance as a result of an important life event, such as marriage, or a job change. An estimated 4 million people may gain health insurance this way this year during the months between the open-enrollment periods.6
Third, despite the media focus on federally run marketplaces, the 14 states running their own systems will have a major influence on the numbers of people gaining coverage. States with well-functioning systems, such as California, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Kentucky, contributed substantially to the enrollment numbers….continued
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) – This is a town where people are so rich that a $2 million home can be a handyman’s special. A town where the thrift shop is stocked with donations of designer dresses and handbags. But Southampton, with its privet hedges, pristine beaches and some estates costing tens of millions, also is where 40 percent of children get free or reduced school lunches, where a food pantry serves up to 400 clients a month and where some doctors and nurses share homes owned by the local hospital because they can’t afford to buy or rent. Studies show the wealth gap separating the rich from everyone else is widening, and few places in the country illustrate that as starkly as Long Island’s Hamptons – America’s summer playground for the haves and have-mores, where even middle-class workers struggle with the high cost of living.
“We have a tremendous amount of millionaires who live 3 miles from the food pantry, and they really have no idea that there’s a need in this community,” said Mary Ann Tupper, who retired last month after 21 years as the executive director of Human Resources of the Hamptons, a charity that assists 6,000 people annually through its food pantry and other services for the working poor. “In the summer they’re working and everything is pretty good, but come the winter, all the nannies, the gardeners, the pool people, all those people are out of work, and then there’s no money,” Tupper said. “The income disparity is tremendous.”…..continued
Niiiiice positioning, Hopef! 😀
YES!
Congrats on your Au ⭐ HF2 🙂
Thank you Nena!
Whew.
A person goes away from TOD for a few hours, and soooo much has happened.
Not just today, but every.single.weekday.
Wonder if someone has chronicled the sheer activity of this President versus other modern Presidents (after FDR… the Great Depression and WWII were such momentous events and required special strategy and maneuvering by the President)? Just amazing.
Thanks to JER and Meta, I caught part of the KOMO newscast from Boeing Field. Quotes from the news reporters:
this President is:
“bold and nimble and obviously in great shape” referring to PBO stair-descending without using the handrails
“has the weight of world on his shoulders…”
No protesters have been seen in Seattle.
Thank you Pacific Northwest, thanks for taking good care of POTUS.
You are certainly welcome, We All Love Him Back! And, here, right now, the clouds are lifting and the sun is trying to cone through to celebrate PBO with us! Of course, he leaves in another hour or so, right?
Another afternoon pickmeup:
Laura Rozen is out of her mind? Didn’t she see the AP articles and their subsequent attempt to modify their headline/story? And glad to see that it wasn’t just me who caught her trying to be slick.
I am thinking about DF…
Need Help Chips or Nerdy.
The WH Presser is once again coming off ALL on the Playlist format. I have tried posting off TOD twice now…..one time yesterday and just now and I am stuck……. 😦
If I post it here, I am afraid it will fail woefully. I just tried and it indeed failed.
How shall I successfully retrieve just the daily presser without linking the Playlist?
Here you go Nena:
Nena, it took me an age to figure this out, but if you delete everything in the url from the & on, and then post that, it’ll work!
I tried deleting some, 😉 I failed to delete enough. Thanks Chips. Thanks 🙂
Just updated the instructions Nena, hope they work for you!
I got it now, might call on you again tomorrow, shall I get stuck 😎
Thank you.
🙂 The key for every YouTube url is just to delete from (and including) the ‘&’ – then you’ll be whistling!
Any tips on posting facebook photos—–or is that an impossibility? I am a complete failure in this endeavor. It’s about the only thing I can’t do. 🙂 Oh, and posting photos here from photos sent me via email. So—-2 things I can’t do. In the world. Help me, Rhonda.
“It’s about the only thing I can’t do.”
🙂
Well Dotster, the first thing is that WordPress are mean enough to only allow blog tyrants post photos in the comments, apart from ones included in tweets.
I remember you had a link before to Facebook but I wasn’t able to see it, maybe the page was private?
But if you have photos you’d like posted here, you could email them to me (theobamadiary@gmail.com) and I will very, very, very happily post them!
That woman with gray hair is Rep Virginia Foxx from NC, a true RWNJ who was once a University English Professor. She is like Michele Bachmann. I am surprised that she showed her now slim self next to president Obama. I hope that the SService gave her a hard time.
John Boehner Makes A Fool Out of Himself Trying To Use ACA Subsidy Ruling To Push His Lawsuit
John Boehner demonstrated that he is a terrible Speaker of the House, but he excels at making a fool out of himself. The second ruling killed the Republican talking point that Obamacare is illegal and doomed while Speaker Boehner is on another planet still trying to sell his bogus lawsuit to a disbelieving public.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/22/john-boehner-fool-aca-subsidy-ruling-push-lawsuit.html
But but but they said obama gutted NASA and…
Love it! “I think this guy must be someone special——-and I think I like him!”
What a completely perfect caption!!!!!! 🙂
Reporting for Baby-Fix Mr. President…now burp me please.
😆 The burping commences now Jo Jo, sit still!!!
Chips! 🙂
caption: “You REALLY wanna hold me, dontcha”
🙂 Toooooooo good, Nospin!!!!
Important updates about MH17 at the link in the tweet ….
About those North Dakota jobs in the boom town of Williston, ND:
Oh my goodness, some WHPC person asked about the Jimmy Kimmel’s Canceled appearance? These Journos are just crack pots.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/tom-petty-talks-religion-no-ones-got-christ-more-wrong-than-the-christians/
I have always liked Tom Petty’s music. Now I respect him for these comments. I never knew he had strong public views.
To any Catholic who would object to him taking on that sensitive issue, he said, “I’m fine with whatever religion you want to have, but it can’t tell anybody it’s OK to kill people, and it can’t abuse children systematically for God knows how many years.”
Petty argued that if he discovered he was part of a club or group that has been covering up generations of that kind of abuse, he would quit on the spot.
He also shared some provocative thoughts on religion and how violent people can get in the name of their faith:
“Religion seems to me to be at the base of all wars. I’ve nothing against defending yourself, but I don’t think, spiritually speaking, that there’s any conception of God that should be telling you to be violent. It seems to me that no one’s got Christ more wrong than the Christians.”
Amen to that!
I hate these media bastards, especially supposed liberals like him:
Wow, I had no idea.
How absolutely tragically devastating for Andie’s family.
Heartbreaking for a true-blue Obot (to paraphrase Tommy Lasorda, Andie bleeds Obot blue [Tommy bleeds Dodger blue]).
I had no idea either Arapaho415, it doubly explains why she is so passionate about ‘Obamacare’. Horrible.
MSNBC must not have liked the negative feedback from banning Rula for expressing her opinion of Israel bias on their network (Andrea Mitchell) Will be on Chris Hayes tonight.
Wow, what a u-turn. Great news.
Sounds good, I hope. It will be interesting to see if they have toned her down, as they have done with others.
No, but here’s what I think will happen. They will slowly make her frame her commentary so as to appear to blame PBO/WH/Administration, while continuing the pro-Palestine facade. I see that angle coming from a mile…
Mark Knoller posted a tweet with a pic of supposedly pro-Palestinian protesters near PBO’s DNC fundraiser location. So this is the new angle the MSM (including MSNBC) will be pushing. Make it ALL about PBO and what he is or isn’t doing to “help” Gaza while children are being tortured and killed. I’ve seen this movie before, and I know it begins and ends.
Wow. I never expected this reversal. She is a Contributor with a contract……stating not to be critical of others on the same network. Hmm? After Scarborough has been allowed for many years violating this rule…..well, now, with the heavy push back and the lower ratings…..Alas, push back can indeed work. There is HOPE!
I’m not so excited, after all she’s coming on MSNBC – and she will be pressured to frame her remarks to be more critical of the administration, PBO, etc in order to get any airtime or further invites to push her cause. I will be extremely and pleasantly surprised if I turn out to be wrong about this.
lol! HP you’re so ahead of the game…She’s going to start by saying ” What I meant to say was_________
I really hope I’m wrong, but I’ve had enough experience with the corporate media to have my antennae up about their various shenanigans.
I tend to look at small changes in HOPE that it leads to more changes. It is always a Hard Road to Travel to get the Change that is needed in a Corporate Media.
I get you point 1001%
My hope is not with MSNBC but with the said reporter to stand her ground and not succumb to the corporate media’s pressure to frame every event as a negative on PBO. Let’s see what she does. 🙂
Good evening TOD!
I stepped away for a day to exhale; allowing positive energy to enter into my world.
The constant negativity in the MSM has been weighing me down, and releasing harmful chemicals into my bloodstream. I know all too well, without our health, we have nothing, and President Obama need us at the polls.
I have just spent the last 3 hours of catching up from yesterday, and my emotions have been all over the place, and I am convinced; my heart skipped several beats as I read today’s court ruling.
Then gladness returned as I read the reverse rulings. Clarity from the TOD community gives me hope. I don’t want to see any TV coverage on this. I can only imagine that the GOP are doing triple decker flips.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
HAPPY BEAUTIFUL AND BELATED CONGRATULATORY WISHES ON 12 MONTHS OF WORKING TOGETHER
CHIPSTICKS AND NERDY WONKA!!!
Thank you for this “AWESOME” sanctuary called TOD.
Your work speaks volumes to your commitment in supporting our “WONDERFUL” President, and bringing together a community that stretches across the globe who supports your efforts.
Because of your hard work Chipsticks and Nerdy, you’re leaving the world in a better place. {{{{Chipsticks/Nerdy}}}}}}
Success
by: Ralph Waldo Emerson
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,
A garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
My favorite drink, when I could drink in my younger days, was a well-made Margarita. So I will toast you both (Chipsticks/Nerdy), and simply say; well done my friends, well done, and I know there’s more to come.
Wishing everyone a GORGEOUS and BEAUTIFUL evening, and please step back from the chaos if you haven’t, it will do wonders for your heart, spirit and soul.
Blessings,
From the article:
“Southern black voters don’t usually play a decisive role in national elections. They were systematically disenfranchised for 100 years after the end of the Civil War. Since the days of Jim Crow, a fairly unified white Southern vote has often determined the outcome of elections.
This November could be different.”
And from this morning, another Nate Cohn article:
Dearest Desertflower,
My heart weeps for you today, because sweet and precious “Simi”, can no longer stay.
I’ve walked a mile in your shoes for 3 of my handsome boys (cats), and all I have left today, are the memories and their joy.
I know that you have been an awesome mom, you gave “Simi” a home and lots of love, so don’t lose all hope, she will be looking down on you from above.
I leave you with this precious poem, and I will hold you close to my heart, in prayers and thoughts to see you through, as you enjoy the memories of “Miss Simi’s” mark.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I’M STILL HERE – Desertflower
Desertflower, please don’t mourn for me
I’m still here, though you don’t see.
I’m right by your side each night and day
and within your heart I long to stay.
My body is gone but I’m always near.
I’m everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I’ll never depart
as long as you keep me Desertflower, alive in your heart.
I’ll never wander out of your sight-
I’m the brightest star on a summer’s night.
I’ll never be beyond your reach-
I’m the warm moist sand when you’re at the beach.
I’m the colorful leaves when fall comes around
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I’m the beautiful flowers of which you’re so fond,
the clear cool water in a quiet pond.
I’m the first bright blossom you’ll see in the spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I’m the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you’ll see that the face in the moon shine is mine.
When you start thinking there’s no one to love you DESERTFLOWER
you can talk to ME through the Lord up above you.
I’ll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,
and you’ll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.
I’m the hot salty tears that flows when you weep
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I’m the smile you see on a baby’s face.
Just look for me DESERTFLOWER, I’m every place!
~Author Unknown
Warmest Blessings and tons of {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{DESERTFLOWER}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Cindy
{{{{Cindy}}}} Thank you so much for this. It was a most difficult day. Just when I think I’m all cried out, well…not so much. She was a rescue from the pound. They were going to kill her that night. But we rescued each other that day and I am so grateful that she got to spend 7 more wonderful years with me. I will love her until the day I die. Today was hard and tomorrow is also the anniversary of the day my mother died 16 years ago. I miss her every. single. day. Been a tough month for me…but time and friends and family and laughter make things feel ok again…I’ll never forget, but I will be able to smile at the thought of her, rather than cry..and remember the joy rather than this deep sorrow and pain my heart feels now. I wish I knew how to get this beautiful poem off here and saved somewhere special….
Thank you my friend, wish I could give you a for real hug : )
It’s hard, and to know that your mother’s anniversary is tomorrow, adds to the heavy burden that is on your heart right now. Sometimes when it rains, it pours.
Don’t rush anything, cry if you must, and in those tears, you will find laughter. My sorrow creeps up from time to time for my munchkins and I cry, and I laugh, and I remember their craziness and all the joy they brought to me. I look at the pictures, I cry and laugh and the pain eases. It will get better in time but take each day, one day at a time.
I’m sincerely praying for you, and I pray that you will get through tomorrow as you remember your mom. It sounds like you all had a beautiful relationship. Just know that you’re not alone.
I am highly challenged technologically but I think you can just copy it, and paste it into word, and then you can print it.
((( desertflower )))
You probably won’t see this since there’s a new thread, but I understand what you’re going through.
My Mother died 18 years ago this month, and I still miss my favorite kitty who went to the vet for a brain tumor operation and never returned. Still breaks my heart remembering the last time I saw her.
For your beautiful mother and precious kitty {{{{{{{{Arapaho415}}}}}}}
Hugs to you Arapaho. Sending (((HUGS)))
😘
Hugs df {{{{{{df}}}}}} – missing Moms shows how much love exists between mother and child – I think of my Mother most every day – the smallest thing makes me remember her words.
Cindy’s poem is on the net – you can see it here – or as Cindy says, highlight the text and save it to any word processing program (Word, Notepad, whatever)
http://www.ericadanielle.freehomepage.com/catalog.html
((((((((((DesertFlower)))))))))) So sorry for your loss of your furry/family/friend of seven years. You gave her a wonderful life of love, laughter, and hugs. It’s been some month alright with so much each day but I am thankful for you, Chips, and all our TOD family we come home to everyday.
Beautiful post Nerdy!
Hi everyone!
Thanks, Dudette.
I listen to Chris Matthews this evening and I wish I hadn’t. He was talking about the court ruling today and all I heard from him was negative, he made you feel like the ACA was on it’s deathbed.
Hi Annabelle….I have stopped watching CW aka Tweety, Chris Hayes, and the guest hosts on Rachel & LO. On occasion I might watch Rachel or LO but there is no “good” news the corporate owners of msnbc wants out there about this president. I come here for my news.
I think I will stop watching him again.
Yes Laura, both the headline and story as reported by the AP were severely (and in my opinion, deliberately) distorted, not merely “dismissive.”
HP..I Love how you put media in their places….I believe Media is on overdrive today…with ObamaCare and everything else they can think of..Blame Obama…Sick of all all of’ em
Brava!
LOL – thanks Kasai.
I truly believe the media is a huge reason why we have so much difficulty even getting legislation passed through congress. The media is largely responsible for an uninformed, misinformed and disinformed electorate, which in turn votes against its best interests. When people begin to realize and act on the notion that the media is an enemy among us, things will begin to change hopefully for the better.
Nixon and Roger Ailes built today’s media. They had a Goal to destroy a Fair and Balanced Arbiter.
Lefties of all stripes Need to build a Media with respectability and Accuracy while holing those in power accountable. The failure of this is helping the right to obstruct, lie and gain power that they never deserved nor earned Legitimately.
Bill Clinton gave them the nail to destroy it completely……
There were many Dems who voted for these things once the Gingrich Congress took over.
I hate the Media….
Georgia runoff elections today
Awwwwww—–so sad. Buh-bye! See ya—–wouldn’t want to be ya. Sorry about this sorry new arrival in your state, Tn.
States need to work hard in replacing these companies with manufacturing jobs that don’t kill people. I would love for Detroit to build bullet and metro trains once they get rid of the stinking GOP that’s destroyed that city and the entire state.
Senate Dems bill—— $225 million emergency funding for Israel’s Iron Dome, cuts 1 billion from PBO’s border request.
Not one dime of US Taxpayers money should go to fund Israel’s wars.
Who is setting up the Billy Joel tribute thread later in honor of the award he is receiving?
Surrender, like this fella, right now – otherwise I’ll hunt you down:
You’ll never get me, copper.
Oh yeah? —–>
That’s actually a pretty good likeness.
That’s why I kept the reward quite low, the drawing is so spot on even Billy Joel could idenitfy you.
😆 LL
The Psychosis has been there for many years now. Do you remember his appearance at an event in Maine or NH and he was given a bottle of syrup? Let me see if I can find it.
But boy oh boy, those glasses are working wonders…
The tape is 25 mins of total nonsense and the media didn’t play it as much as they would have had it been a Dem who was running for president.
Oh by the way, Richard Santorum has announced that he is running for the presidency in 2016. Please proceed, Santorum.
please tell me this is fake.
quite real, I’m afraid.
“on a sophisticated surface to air missile launcher provided by Russia”
Look at this pitiful tshirt on this old, idiot gun coot…..
RT
Nerdy’s new post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/22/a-tweet-or-two-84/
70 ?