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Juliet Eilperin: Obama Has Vastly Changed The Face Of The Federal Bureaucracy
Friday afternoon announcements in Washington are usually aimed at attracting as little attention as possible, but last Friday was different. President Obama’s decision to nominate Eric Fanning — an openly gay man — to head a branch of the military which only four years ago did not allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, was both historic and attention-grabbing. And it underscored an often-overlooked feature of the Obama presidency: Obama has presided over the most demographically diverse administration in history, according to a new analysis of his top appointments. The majority of top policy appointments within the executive branch are held by women and minorities for the first time in history. The shifts are significant enough, experts say, that they may have forever transformed the face of government. The Obama White House, by contrast, has established specific programs to boost diversity among appointees.
The Presidential Personnel Office targets historically black colleges and universities, as well as minority-serving institutions, as part of a new campus recruitment program. It has a liaison to identify candidates by working with leaders from underrepresented groups, including those who are LGBT or have disabilities. The impact of Obama’s diversity efforts could reverberate for decades in people such as Michael Blake, a son of Jamaican immigrants who was homeless as a child but worked on Obama’s two presidential campaigns and in the White House as associate director of public engagement. Last year, Blake won election to the New York State Assembly, with the help of a lot of other Obama alumni, including Marlon Marshall, who is now Hillary Rodham Clinton’s director of state campaigns and political engagement. Blake’s campaign slogan was about his transformation: “No House to the White House.” Obama, Blake said, has helped create a new network of people of color now climbing the ranks of government. “He did that,” Blake said. “He grew that.”
More here
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The Obama Diary 
FURST?
Congrats jojo! ☀️⭐️
TU Carol, how are you doing?
Good thanks. It’s such a beautiful day.
Congrats JoJo!
TU J4OB
Yippeeeeee….this is a Birthday “Furst” since it’s coming up real soon. Thank you Nerdy Wonka (don’t know why I’ve been calling you Wonkette, sorry about that). President Obama has changed the political landscape for many people who never got involved before are now more involved than ever. We really need people to step up and vote regularly and to pay attention not to let our country go to the highest bidder. If we allow our government to be run by and for billionaires then this will no longer be the United States.
Really odd is that last week AA presidential candidate Ben Carson was the number 2 front runner for the GOP while the number # front runner was endorsed by the KKK and people who feel minorities are taking everything away from them…..these are bizarre times.
Jojo, be sure to tell us when your birthday is. Happy Birthday in advance if I miss it. What the President is doing to increase political involvement across the country and promote diversity in as many arenas as he can largely goes under the radar because the media purposely ignores it. The media does, however, promote the Trumps and Carsons of the world and gives lots of coverage to the haters and the paranoid. That’s why you can sometimes get the impression that there are more hateful people in this country than decent ones, but I honestly don’t think that’s the case.
Great thread, Nerdy! Thank you!
The appropriate response to the “Muslim” haterade…
🙂
Still causes my eyes to leak for some reason.
I JUST POSTED THIS ON MY FACEBOOK…I’M SURE THE ROTTEN TOMATOES WILL BE STRIKING MY KEYBOARD AT ANY MOMENT!
remember that stupid hatchet job in the n.y. times by annie lowery (ezra klein’s wife) a year or so ago? she was suggesting president obama has a women problem. it was unreal. and lil’ ezra was going around defending it as if it was a reasonable proposition. amazing…”the news” attempts to diminish or take everything, literally everything away from president obama that he accomplishes. of course, he keep holding steady and just gets stuff done, at a historic pace.
Cry me a river….
So the Koch boys pet is not ready for the big stage. 🙂 He thought he could get elected by touting his ability to take on unions and teachers. I am still trying to understand why he was re-elected during that recall election.
COS, I think in the case of the recall, it was who counted the votes that determined who won, not who cast those votes. Wouldn’t surprise me to find out that some county totals were rigged. Also, the Dems put up a very weak candidate.
I spent many weekends calling for the WI recall and people telling me they were going to kick him out and they did not bother to vote that dumb jerk out of office. I would never do that again. They keep putting Republicans in office while their state is dead last in job creation, a huge budget deficit and their pristine educational history is being trashed.
Allison, I think Walker stepping out of the race is cause for a small celebration because he’s proof that even the Koch Brothers billions can’t put lipstick on any old pig. The brothers thought that their money entitled them to shove anyone down our throats, no matter how unqualified. Trouble is they don’t particularly want him back in Wisconsin, so maybe the brothers will give him cushy job as an errand boy. After all, that’s what he was intended to be if he made the White House.
Meta, this is such a self inflicted mess. I wonder if Debbie’s stubbornness is affecting donations?
Well, when you see the reports from fundraising this year, I have to think YES.
Well, COS, it certainly affected my donations. I won’t give to the DNC until that lady walks out the door. Any e-mails or messages from her get deleted immediately.
I stopped giving to the DNC this year, too, when I kept on getting all the Ready For Hillary emails from all the Democratic groups. Now I tend to give to individual candidates, OFA, and Draft Biden.
Walker is holding a presser this afternoon. Rumor is he’ll be dropping out.
Yes, he’s OUT.
YUP…
The Koch Brothers must have turned off the spigot.
Indeed.
Yippee! Regardless of the readin, good riddance! Yes, Koch $$$ probably got cut off. Boohoo! 😄😄😄😄
Reason
Even they finally realized they were just wasting their money.
What’s happened to the unions he busted? He needs to use the opportunity of the Pope’s visit to enter the Sacrament and pay for his sins.
never thought for a second he was any sort of viable candidate on the national stage. people like him can get away with their fraud in localized areas, but not nationwide. everyone else should just drop out too since the people who control the real power in america clearly want jeb BUSH!, but the smart ones know their role is to make BUSH the 3RD look reasonable, and that they’ll be rewarded somehow if they play the game long enough until their told to get out of the way. probably several months away yet.
He has too many people willing to cheat for him from the state supreme court to the local voting board workers who magically find votes out of thin air….
Why I Still Think Fiorina Was a Terrible CEO
By By JEFFREY SONNENFELD
——————————————–
And I have to point out the obvious: If the board was wrong, the employees wrong, and the shareholders wrong—as Fiorina maintains—why in 10 years has she never been offered another public company to run?
Now, Fiorina wants to run the country. I am a firm believer in second chances. Just because Fiorina failed at an early career does not preclude her from becoming a good leader later. But I do know, having written a book on how great leaders rebound after career disasters, that to overcome failure is to admit to it and learn from it. During the debate, instead of addressing the facts and taking on my professional observations, Fiorina decided to shoot the messenger. What she failed to see is that this behavior—sidestepping accountability by resorting to demagoguery and deflection—is exactly why she failed as a leader the last time.
——————————————
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/carly-fiorina-ceo-jeffrey-sonnenfeld-2016-213163
Congrats, Jojo!
Thanks, NerdyW. Over his term this president has definitely delivered on change we can believe in!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Delivering on Broadband Opportunity:
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 AT 2:48 PM ET BY JEFFREY ZIENTS
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Summary: Over the past several months, the Administration has doubled down on efforts to connect more Americans with high-speed broadband. Here’s where that work stands:
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Internet Adoption in United States by County, 2013
Over the past six years, under President Obama’s leadership the United States has expanded broadband access, bringing millions of people online and creating significant new economic, educational and social opportunities.
Since the President took office, investments from the Federal government have helped deploy or upgrade more than 110,000 miles of network infrastructure, and more than 45 million additional Americans have adopted broadband Internet. And as a country we’ve made high-speed wireless coverage available to 98% of Americans. Over the past several months, the Administration has doubled down on these efforts. In July, we launched the new ConnectHOME program in twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation to help bring Internet to more than 275,000 low-income households.
…………………………………… ///
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/09/21/new-steps-deliver-high-speed-broadband-across-united-states
Hi VC! Thank you…..
Scott Walker suspends presidential campaign
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker suspended his presidential campaign Monday, effectively ending a once-promising GOP presidential bid that tumbled from top-tier status over the summer.
Just saw the previous posts. Sorry for the duplicate.
(I just to confess that I am waiting for Ralph Cramden to drop as well. Can’t wait.)
I assume you mean Chris Christie.
On a side note. My father looked a lot like Jackie Gleason.
But I was told by some in “progressive” circles that Barack Obama didn’t care about nor do anything for women, gays, and minorities.
Could I have been told wrong?
LOL!
Jeb Bush looks like a tall fool! Nothing more. I almost had pity on him when he asked of THE DONALD to apologize to his wife for whatever the buffoon had said before. Wow! I am beginning to develop the profile of those voting for these clowns.
Karma!!!!!!
Karma Never fails to deliver the Right amount of Justice 😉
I wrote here that Scott Walker would fizzle out like Tim Pawlenty, the former Gov of MN….who was bested by Michele Bachmann in 2011. Walker and Pawlenty both won elections by Luck. Walker won 2010, 2012……before the Presidential elections and in 2014 when Dems traditionally lagged behind in turnout. Pawlenty won in 2 elections with 3 in the field both times…..2 Dems running against Pawleny both Times.
To actually lead the country forward you got to have realism, but you also have to have some optimism. [Snippet from a June 2007 interview with Senator Obama]
It’s always great [to me] to look back at the President’s positions in the light of his actions and accomplishments in office. Somehow I always end up grinning with pride AND with oodles of respect. /sigh of nostalgia/
Carly is branding herself as a big fat liar early on, and it is going to follow her like it did Mitt Romney. Just wait until the ads start airing. She is a nasty liar.
CORRECTION: The wrong man all the time.
Seems like they are falling like flies, Perry, Walker, next Carson, Carly, AnnRandy, Chrispy, Santorium, Graham then Trump. I think the last standing GOP candidates by December will be Rubicon, Bushed, and Kashi
The Council of Religion (something, something) is calling for Ben Carlson to drop out of the presidential race. That is if Ben Carlson’s campaign had any viability at all. This man should have remained in the operating rooms, unless it was noticed a deficiency in his brain which resulted in him being retired.
Love it!
Excellent Post, NW.
Anne Crowley and Jodi Kantor can go directly to Blazes along with Ruth Marcus.
Hope and Change.
#FORWARD!
🙂
Now that Scott Walker has dropped out of the Presidential race, he now has more time to train to fight isis.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of my all time favorite movies. Spying is a tough hustle.
too bad Texas seceded from the union…..
Mine, too. La Taupe, lu en français.
I had to go to google and get the translation, you learn something new every day.
Congrats Jojothecat on your Au ⭐
TU Nena 🙂
I got a clean bill of health today. Yippee!!! I can breathe now! 😉
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. I cannot begin to tell you what a relief this is.
Great News, {{{{{ ❤ Donna ❤ }}}}}
Happy for you. Keep up the good work!
Good news Monday….DD4O great news on your bill of good health and Snotty-Scotty Walker bites the dust.
Absolutely WONDERFUL, Donna! We celebrate with you!
This is FANTASTIC news donna! Thanks for sharing your positive update with us. 🙂 Wishing you continued good heath!
So glad to hear your good news, Donna. I hope you continue to be healthy.
Yay, Donna!!!!
That is Wonderful, Donna!!!!!
That’s fantastic news, Donna!
OUTSTANDING!
alrighttttttttttttt Donnaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
Wonderful news, Donna!
terriic!!!!!!
Super news Donna. Very happy for you!!!
That’s fantastic news DonnaD!!
Wooooot! Great to hear Donna! 😀
In Wisc as well as in Minn, Justices are elected by the people.
No doubt, Walker and the KOCHroches would kick into a higher gear to fund another RWNJ to replace him.
Was this Justice a Dem or Repug?
May he rest in peace.
6:00 p.m. LIVE
Secretary Kerry, Vice President Biden, Secretary Pritzker, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman deliver remarks at the U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Summit Reception at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, in Washington, D.C.
http://defensetv.tv/#/7075/live-events and http://www.state.gov/
WATCH LIVE: Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry attend US-India business council event.
http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-biden-and-kerry-on-us-india-relations-529512515531
Folks, Scottie is BEING Called to depart…….shocked…..I wonder by whom?
The guy is an arse.
Rubio is the other Koch backed candidate. Let’s see how he does.
Also, tonight Steven Colbert’s Hunger Games segment may mark Scott’s passing in the sky. Wait, no. The taping is probably over. That segment more like tomorrow night.
Don’t forget Chris Christie. Remember his secret two hour meeting in New York with Charles Koch a few years ago? From that meeting, Charles Koch invited him to be the keynote speaker at their upcoming closed-secret meeting/conference. Charles Koch bragged that Christie was his kind of person. I can’t remember his exact words. Anyway, the Kochs sent their private plane to picked-up Christie. Christie’s keynote speech did not disappoint and the Kochs were over the moon. I’ve always tied Walker and Christie together as the Koch brothers’ puppets.
I thought that Rubio had some other millionaire or billionaire backing him. Probably a part of the Koch regime.
Why avoid a shutdown, it worked so well the last time.
😆 🙄 😆 🙄
Oh Scotty, you look so cute trying to play eleven dimensional chess. Plotin’ on motherfuckers and shit, you go you!
Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drop out of the race to make way for Jeb.
LIVE NOW: Vice President Biden Speaks at the U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Reception
Washington, DC Click here ► ► http://www.state.gov/ or http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-biden-and-kerry-on-us-india-relations-529512515531 or http://defensetv.tv/#/7075/live-events
Brother Mark can be useful at times.
This is the perfect respectful welcome to The Pope.
Also, VPB will preside at the goodbye ceremony in Philadelphia. Very Presidential and free media for my preferred (D) candidate for POTUS.
Indeed. I so look forward to tomorrow’s coverage and the days thereafter! 🙂
Uh -huh.
Doing what a candidate does.
While Bernie demonstrates that nobody is inevitable.
How so Vicki? Has something happened?
Anything goes!
I love this guy.
Too funny! I love him, too!
Tonight Steven has Steph Curry, Ted Cruz and Don Henly.
Well, I may record it, then, so I can fast forward well beyond Ted. Ugh.
😀 😀 😀
Good Lord. i didn’t notice when I first looked at this picture but in the background there hundreds of peeps. Is that all media?
Chris Matthews had the priest who interviewed Vice President Biden on his show tonight. Within just a few minutes, Matthews called the priest’s insight “new meat,” and also asked him if he got any kind of feeling about whether Joe will run or not like, as Chris more or less put it, “like what ran up my leg about President Obama.”
Chris really needs to go home and sit on his lawn! Hope somebody keeps him away from the Pope. Ha! 🙂
I highly recommend watching this interview. He speaks so openly and frankly about his faith and his values and his current thinking about his family and running for the presidency. He’s so top notch, light years ahead of all the other candidates.
Light years and eons ahead (unless that’s the same thing, then, never mind 🙂 !!)
LOLz!!
There are rumblings that HRC is already attacking both Bernie and VPB. Leaks about VPOTUS’ Senate votes. Anita Hill.
Bernie’s positions from 40 years ago.
My strong belief is that BS and VPB should continue to ignore HRC. Give her nothing to rail and weep about. Ignore entirely. Carly has demonstrated that attacking a woman candidate is likely to backfire unpleasantly.
When put on the spot, “The former SOS can speak for herself” always works.
Notorious
Reminder!
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/09/21/a-tweet-or-two-321/
Thank you meta for the all the Papal schedules….and this notice about the President’s visit with inmates at this prison….
You’re very welcome, pf.
That’s funny, anti-Muslim Dr. Ben Carson, because I would not advocate that we put YOU in charge of this nation, either.