****
All Times Eastern
11:45AM: President Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
1:05PM: President Obama departs the White House for Joint Base Andrews
1:20PM: President Obama and Hillary Clinton depart for Charlotte, North Carolina
2:25PM: President Obama arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina
3:15PM: President Obama campaigns with Hillary Clinton at the Charlotte Convention Center
5:05PM: President Obama departs Charlotte, North Carolina,
6:30PM: President Obama arrives at the White House
****
President Barack Obama sings “Happy Birthday” to his daughter Malia Obama at the Fourth of July White House celebration. Maila Obama celebrated her 18th birthday during the party, which featured guests including singers Janelle Monae and Kendrick Lamar
The Obama Diary 
Morning glorious Nerdy and TODers.
😀
The picture of POTUS and Malia hugging each other is one of the dearest, sweetest pictures I’ve ever seen. It brought tears to my eyes. The love between the two jumps clear off my computer screen. So beautiful.
Morning Carolyn. I’ve often wondered if Sasha looks forward to the time alone with her parents as Malia goes off to Spain and the Harvard, or if she prefers sharing the spotlight and attention with her big sister. It will be a big transition for her to move out of the direct spotlight and into private life next year. That’s a lot of change for a 15 year old.
Hope you had a good Fourth!
Congratulations Jackie and Carolyn! Missed yesterday’s posts, but the pictures above are wonderful! Hope everyone had a great 4th celebration with friends and family.
I agree Carolyn. That photo brought joy to my heart.
I feel the same way Carolyn. Brought tears to my eyes too. Oh, to have a father like that
Me too, tears here.
I’m looking forward to seeing PBO and HRC together. They have a genuine affection for each other and our President will invest a lot of himself in helping her to win. Everything PBO has done in his presidency and everything he hopes for this country and the future of his daughters and future grandchildren rests on this election. I doubt there’s been this much at stake since the Civil War.
Agree JG. I watched him sing the HB song and his voice was a little rough, sounded like he was getting laryngitis hope not. Anyway that picture of POTUS & Malia is priceless. It brings joy to my heart. Congrats on 1st and hope everyone had a wonderful 4th.
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
I look at the obvious love between father and daughter, and it makes me wistful – we are winding down the last few months of this Presidency. What a gift not only POTUS, but his entire family has been to the country. I will miss them beginning January 20, 2017. 😦
Hear hear, Rikyrah!
Wonderful photos!! Thanks so much dear Nerdy, (as well as you other BT’s!) for keeping TOD going so beautifully while our Ms Chips takes some well-earned and necessary time off. We are so grateful to you! ❤️❤️❤️😘
😀
I second that Nerdy. You have been stellar in your work and I SO appreciate it!
Liberals Shouldn’t Affirm Trump’s Message About Globalization
by Nancy LeTourneau
July 5, 2016 8:49 AM
……………………………..
Since when do people who claim to be reality-based think it’s a good idea to “forget about the inaccuracies?” And since when do we find “truth” from someone who is a liar, a demagogue, and a bigot? I’m not saying that’s impossible, but we can’t simply forget about the inaccuracies. Because whatever truth might exist is embedded within the same message being peddled by a lying demagogic bigot.
………………………
Both Sanders and his supporters try to distance themselves from the more noxious things Trump proposes by suggesting that we can separate his message about globalization from the nativism he also espouses. Here is how the Senator recently put it:
The trouble is that it is impossible to separate that message about globalization – whether it comes from Trump or the Leave campaign – from the demagogy and nativism on which it is grounded. Notice how Trump talks about “independence.” In the same speech he talked about how the U.S. has become dependent on foreign countries and he will put America first again. Of course, that also means “closing our borders.”
Key Phrase….
The trouble is that it is impossible to separate that message about globalization – whether it comes from Trump or the Leave campaign – from the demagogy and nativism on which it is grounded.
********
thanks for bringing this here.//
Which is why we should let members of the DNC platform committee know we will not tolerate them adding a slam against the TPP to it as Bernie is pushing for. That would be a huge insult to President Obama. Who should we write to on the committee?
an attempt was already made to add criticism about the TPP…but was not accepted…is will not be in the final platform
Thanks, PF!
Block Trump’s Brexit by Re-Engaging America’s Partners and Launching a New ‘New Deal’
Randy Abraham, Guest Blogger
July 1, 2016
In reports around the world pundits are proclaiming Brexit as a shot across the bow to globalism. Trade agreements are out, economic nationalism is in.
Brexiters won Round One, but what is to come?
The day after the vote, Donald Trump hailed the “victory” of the Brexiters and said America is feeling the same wave and also wants to “take their country back” from political elites.
And again Donald Trump used fear to appeal to people’s base instincts, scapegoating Mexico and China instead of trying to promote greater understanding of the issues and the nature of trade agreements and internationalism.
But as someone whose branded merchandise is made in foreign countries, who used imported steel and labor to build his buildings and staff his hotels, and who recently opened a golf course in Scotland, Trump hardly seems an opponent of globalism. Rather, he is a demagogue, a free-market fundamentalist who uses inflammatory pseudo-populist and anti-establishment rhetoric to pander to the disenfranchised members of both the political Right and Left.
❤️
Do you think there is some kind of advice Obama is going to give Hillary on their way to NC? I would think so. I wanted to give you all an update on my Cousins S-I-L, Paul. Autopsy came back he had an enlarged heart, blood clot and sleep apnea combine to cut off his breathing. The memorial service will be this Saturday. I will be going to Duluth, MN and stay with my Sister and we will attend to be there for our Cousins and their families. Thank you for all your prayers and best wishes for the family. You people are just awesome and I am so thankful I have all of you for a friend at TOD.
Thank you Nerdy for all you have been doing this past months for Chips to keep this place running. She is always in my prayers and thoughts everyday and mentally sending her hugs all the time. AND ALL OF YOU. Thank you again. Off to work, everyone is till on vacation LOL. Need to do payroll and close out month end. and I don’t know how toget rid of this darned red line. 😦
Bless you, Roberta. Hope your presence and love bring some consolation to your grieving family. Safe journey.
Thank you jackieg.
❤️ {{{HUGS}}} ❤️ Roberta
Hugs back at you CarolMaeWY. We are having horrendous weather right now. I guess Jim wright of Stonekettle Station came through MN today and apparently we weren’t MN nice. I feel sad for that.
Never met a Minnesotan that wasn’t nice.
Take care and more ❤️ {{{HUGS}}} ❤️
So sorry to hear this sad news, Roberta!
Thanks Judith.
Good West Coast morning TOD family. Congrats to JackieG and Carolyn in twin First 💕
Thanks NW for being You. We truly appreciate you 🌹
{{{{Chips}}}}
Thanks, GGail.
Okay, the picture of the father daughter hug has done it. I am a weeping puddle. Thank you, Nerdy, for the great info again and as always but I think I am going to be crying for most of the day now. I can’t explain it but its as if this is my own family, my blood, my loved ones. To see the beauty in that hug is so touching that its like going to a dozen wedings and crying all at the same time.
Already Great: Why Donald Trump is Attempting to Sell a Version of America That Never Actually Existed
Trevor LaFauci
July 3, 2016
……………………………………
So Donald Trump came up with the phantom idea that America is no longer great. This notion is not backed by any empirical data; it exists solely in the minds of low-information Republican voters looking for someone to blame for their hardships. Because for this voting bloc in particular, times have been tough for a long time now. Thanks to Reaganomics, wages have been stagnant for nearly thirty years. Due to increased globalization, corporations have opted to shift jobs overseas and avoid paying taxes rather than keep jobs here at home. Student debt has crushed a generation of students so there now exists a large segment of the population with a college degree being forced to work minimum wage jobs. Green jobs and the new green economy has pushed coal country to the brink of extermination. And those with nothing more than a high school degree have become lost in our modern economy, falsely blaming immigrant workers for their lack of job prospects rather than a generation of trickle-down economic policies that were never designed to reach their pockets in the first place.
There’s a reason that Donald Trump doesn’t specify when America was great. Because for those outside the Republican base, there exists a very real America where life was simply not great for various segments of our population. Prior to 2015, life was not particularly great for a generation of LGBT Americans, who were denied rights and protections simply because of whom they loved. Prior to the 1970s, life was not particularly great for a generation of African-Americans, who were forced to attend inherently unequal public facilities, public schools, and institutions of higher learning. Prior to the 1960s, life was not particularly great for a generation of women, who were expected to sacrifice their own careers to be the subservient housewife to conform to the accepted gender norms of the time. These groups in particular have experienced firsthand our country’s long march toward justice. Many fought and died to provide opportunities to future generations that they themselves were unable to receive. With so much progress made and still more to come, these groups will simply refuse to return to a time when they were treated as permanent second-class citizens.
And that is what the notion of making America great again is truly about: White supremacy. Donald Trump’s campaign has been built on racism, sexism, and xenophobia. For him, America would be great when certain segments of our populations would know their role and place in society. We’ve seen him refuse to repudiate David Duke because he knows he needs Duke’s supporters in the general election. We’ve seen how he thinks women should be seen and not heard. We’ve seen him promote an anti-immigration stance that would bar an entire world religion from entering our country. Donald Trump would thoroughly embrace an America dominated by a single religion, where there existed a strong sense of nationalism, and an ingrained distrust of foreigners. This is a version of America that never actually existed but is one that Donald Trump would love to come to fruition. Should that happen, America wouldn’t excel, but instead would become a fascist state led by a mentally-unstable ruler.
This is a great article and worth a ready by everyone.
G’morning Nerdy & TOD! Congrats Jackie on #1, and Happy Tuesday everyone! These heartwarming pics of PBO & Malia just make my day – thanks Nerdy for this lovely “Early Bird” photo set 🙂
😀
GM TODville. Hope everyone’s long holiday weekend was great.
We here know it’s true, that DNC and DSCC were cowards for the bulk of PBO’s term, but at least they’re making up for it at the 11th hour. #HowDoYouLikeMeNow?
#ImWithBarack
Link to article…
Meant to post this tweet…
We had a chance to bump off Mitch McConnell if Alison Lundergan Grimes had campaigned with honesty about President Obama’s accomplishments, especially as it related to healthcare in her state, but she followed this horrific advice. We all paid a price for this stupid tactic in 2010 and 2014!!
Politics drives me nuts.
MSM (aka GOP propaganda machine in a frenzy about FBI Comey statement at 11am today, 8am PDT):
Good morning TOD folks! It’s a beautiful way to start what I hope will be a glorious kick off for HRC and Dems. Thanks for sharing such great photos Nerdsy. You remain awesome.
Good Morning Everybody.
Good morning, NW and TODville.
Love and healing to {{{{Chips}}}}.
A Chicago legend has passed.
I SAID A PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT’S VOICE AND STRENGTH TODAY..DEAR LORD PLEASE STRENGTHEN HIS ‘HOLLAR’ FOR THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL……………………..
May have been mentioned – I’m just arriving – FBI Director Comey will speak to the media at 11 E. Hoping he clears Hillary!
GM Jacqueline. I saw it above & mentioned it below – will attempt to stay awake & listen. Will be 1am in my world (I think I have that right – assuming Eastern time).
On now!
Not sounding good
GM TOD 🙂
Venus just made her first semifinal at a major in 6+ years….Serena up next (could meet in the finals of Wimbledon)
😀 😀 😀 😀
That is so cool. So happy for them.
GM TOD – Interesting day over there. I might stay awake to hear the man from the FBI say there is no there there & the witch hunt found zero.
Also would enjoy seeing Gingrich get the GOP VP – the tweets about 2 guys and their 6 wives (great family values) will be seen from now until November. Hillary & Bill may have their issues, but they chose to stay together & overcome those issues – this is not the easy route – but it is the path often taken when you respect your vows and have a lasting affection for your partner.
As for the wonderful pictures from the 4th July – thank you so much Nerdy for bringing us together each and every day. Many thoughts to Ms Chips – so missed by us all.
go venus. come on serena.
LIVE NOW: Hillary Clinton at the NEA – http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml and http://abcnews.go.com/Live?stream=3
Morning everyone…Happy Tuesday!
This pos has got to be humiliated on Election Day…never to crawl out of his hidey hole to infect America with his noxious, toxic brand of hate.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/07/03/3795294/3-white-supremacists-twitter-inspire-donald-trump/
HOT DIGGITY DOG!….THOSE SOX WILL BE ON FIRE…GREAT DAY FOR THE CLINTON ANNOUNCEMENT…I DEARLY LOVE MY PRESIDENT!..FIRE IT UP!..I’LL BE WATCHING!..<3
Hope it’s too little, too late.
NCGOP must be scared to death. Since when does a state committee try to regulate the other party’s campaigning!!!
THEY CAN STUFF IT IN THEIR GOP DUNG BUCKET!..SS ON YOUR TOES DURING THESE PLEASE..REPUGNANTS LIKE GUNS!
Coming Up: FBI Officials Hold News Conference – http://abcnews.go.com/Live?stream=1
Sending the results to Justice???
That is the usual process.
I would have thought if there was NOTHING there – the only results to justice would be nothing. When so many others in office have done the same – why did they have to investigate Hillary. MSNBC is off and running – comparing her to Patraeus (sp)
Well, we see what happened to Petraeus, nearly nothing.
Sending his recommendation to DOJ is just a way of completing the entire process and buttoning it up. AG Lynch has the final decision for action/no action and she’s already said that she will follow FBI’s decision.
You know the system much better than I do meta – it just seems there is one rule for the Clintons and one for the rest (excluding of course PBO – he has to be the only person that the GOP tried and failed to bring down)
We have been so spoiled by PBO – no other World leader has ever been as “scandal” free as the President.
Interesting report coming out of the UK tomorrow in regards to the invasion of Iraq. That may take the media off Sec Clinton for awhile.
There are definitely two different standards and there’s no question which side the press is on. Dems get pounded for the slightest grievance while a vile thug like Trump gets exalted on a daily basis. It’s truly sickening.
The Chilcot report tomorrow should be explosive and hopefully will take up some attention, as you say.
serena needs to break her. Now.
and she does and wins. go sisters.
You seem to be her No 1 fan amk. Have you ever been at a match where she was playing?
This is a bit scary. Comey is going over detail by detail. No intention but extreme carelessness.
Any reasonable person should have known it was improper handling……..
Witch hunt by the GOP – unreal – NEVER has any person had to put up with what Mrs Clinton has had to see. He wants her to use GMAIL!!
This is why Bernie just had to hang around – and why the US will spend the next 4 years in turmoil
So he’s given the GOP 6 months worth of “evidence” but says no prosecution.
ALREADY – the media is saying “HOWEVER …” Corney must have known this would happen.
Comey/FBI conclusiont: No reasonable prosecutor would bring charges.
WHEW, she dodged a bullet.
The GOP has much ammunition and they will be using for months and months.
Honestly, she did it to herself. But the main thing is both intention and outcomes. It’s very good that they found no direct evidence of hacks, although her judgment on foreign soil is extremely flawed. And the fact that he painted the entire State Dept wth a broad brush leaves open criticism of PBO. I’m hoping he will make a statement in the near future to include recommendations for change to tighten things up.
Given the alternative was a communication system that was known to be archaic – it was a choice that was made – and also by many others – if her name had been Smith it would not have mattered.
I know that others used personal email but I don’t think anyone else set up a whole system of email servers. That’s primarily what led to the investigation.
comey – no charges can be brought about reg emailgate.
well, she could have very well avoided all this unnecessary crap.
It’s beyond my comprehension what she and Bill thought they were doing. I know she’s fairly tech ignorant but that is no excuse because the top level decision to create a private homegrown system was a big and very conscious one.
LIVE NOW: Hillary Clinton Speaks at NEA Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C. – http://abcnews.go.com/Live?stream=3
Ya THINK!
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/07/vladimir_putin_has_a_plan_for_destroying_the_west_and_it_looks_a_lot_like.html?wpsrc=sh_all_tab_tw_top
ladimir Putin has a plan for destroying the West—and that plan looks a lot like Donald Trump. Over the past decade, Russia has boosted right-wing populists across Europe. It loaned money to Marine Le Pen in France, well-documented transfusions of cash to keep her presidential campaign alive. Such largesse also wended its way to the former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, who profited “personally and handsomely” from Russian energy deals, as an American ambassador to Rome once put it. (Berlusconi also shared a 240-year-old bottle of Crimean wine with Putin and apparently makes ample use of a bed gifted to him by the Russian president.)
There’s a clear pattern: Putin runs stealth efforts on behalf of politicians who rail against the European Union and want to push away from NATO. He’s been a patron of Golden Dawn in Greece, Ataka in Bulgaria, and Jobbik in Hungary. Joe Biden warned about this effort last year in a speech at the Brookings Institution: “President Putin sees such political forces as useful tools to be manipulated, to create cracks in the European body politic which he can then exploit.” Ruptures that will likely multiply after Brexit—a campaign Russia’s many propaganda organs bombastically promoted.
Tweet form:)
FBI Director Comey: No intentional misconduct found … there was evidence of carelessness in handling of classified information … any reasonable person should have known levels of classification in e-mails should not have been on an unclassified system … security culture in State Department was generally lacking compared to elsewhere in government … it is possible hostile actors gained access … we cannot find a previous case in history that would warrant/result in criminal charges in this case …
FBI’s view: ONLY THE FACTS MATTER and NO CHARGES ARE APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE …
FBI Director says he’s speaking today because of need for unusual transparency due to the seriousness of the matter.
(Personally, I believe the President was already briefed on the FBI results, which is why he continued on with his plans to join Hillary in NC today. His integrity is assured.)
“His integrity is assured”
Despite all the GOP tries to do – never ever is his integrity in doubt. Amazing man – 4 more years needed.
This is one of the fun parts of this … and I’ve never spotted any extra coziness between Comey and the President.
Whadja say, GOP? Can’t hear ya.
We didn’t need an investigation to know that it was a STUPID, CARELESS & totally unnecessary mishandling of email — as I’ve stated from the beginning.
That said, the investigation achieved precisely what was required – a thorough search for system compromises and any related intentional acts that would merit criminal charges.
Fortunately for Sec Clinton the results of the investigation are only embarrassment and political distraction.
Agree, totally. We let the chips fall where they may, and Hillary got lucky, IMHO. And fortunately for the State Department (I was thinking after Comey’s remarks) as a separate entity (for goodness sake), they can now clean up their entire act – which I’m sure Secretary Kerry has begun already.
In my book, as well, Hillary also got lucky that this FBI director has credibility.
The press will make hay with this FBI statement because they need the drama. And although it sounded rather ominous, the result is that HRC did some stupid stuff but nothing rises to the level of criminal activity.
Comment from BJ – EXACTLY my sentiments
“Well, I’m shocked. No charges, but Comey felt the need to smear Clinton (to justify the investigation). ”
To spend a year, millions of $$$ and find 100 out of 30,000+ emails were classified – none of them ended up in the wrong hands – is so GOP out to get you stupid. Sec Clinton did not deserve that speech today. Man looking after his a.se in an attempt to look like he didn’t spend all that money on nothing. He should join the GOPers in congress who spent all their time and money investigating Benghazi.
Glad hat folks can seen thru the smokescreen….
now it is on to the General Election….
Nothing can stop us now…
#YesWeCan
Sorry but I disagree, 99.
If one of those emails had been transferred to any individual other than the intended recipients it would have constituted a felony. The FBI had to do precisely what they did and what they would have done irrespective of who the person responsible happened to be.
Secretary Clinton has no excuse and was totally responsible for those communications. She has the extreme good fortune that the Director of the FBI happens to be a darling of the conservatives and not someone with even the slightest exposure to claims of bias in her favor.
No one can question the thoroughness of the investigation.
My hope is that the political discomfort this has caused her will embed a lesson she will never forget as President. If that’s the case, the cost of the investigation was worth every penny.
I spent part of my early career deep in the intelligence community so my comments are not ‘arm chair’ opinions of someone lacking first hand experience in matters of handling confidential national security information.
From the larger perspective, of course Secretary Clinton has received and will continue to receive for every remaining moment of her life withering and, at many times totally unfair scrutiny. What’s so cool about her is that she knows that’s the drill and she’s proven over and over that she’s plenty capable of taking the heat.
Thank you.
No need to apologize when disagreeing with me Bob – you no doubt are more qualified to speak on the issue than I am. It just appears to me that any democrat in a powerful position has to be better than perfect ( and PBO is the only one I have seen get close) to avoid these types of investigations.
When she is President – it is to be hoped that she can get the funding needed to upgrade the government computer systems so that no-one would ever consider working outside the system.
Thanks for your insights – always appreciated.
“When she is President – it is to be hoped that she can get the funding needed to upgrade the government computer systems so that no-one would ever consider working outside the system.”
Absolutely, 99!
Thank you
Delurking to say, thank you Bob and 99! You both have touched on what I take away from this episode.
Hi everybody. Love you all. Gone again.
Would you bear the same criticism toward Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice for their private e-mail handling of after the fact classified material? And the same for GWB’s staff who had used an server at the RNC for all their e-mail?
Yes with regard to your first ?
Absolutely NOT with regard to your second ?
That is, if I understand what it is you’re asking, Bill 😉
“Secretary Clinton has no excuse and was totally responsible for those communications. My hope is that the political discomfort this has caused her will embed a lesson she will never forget as President. If that’s the case, the cost of the investigation was worth every penny.”
Worth repeating.
Conservatives have just lost their excuse to question the results of the investigation relating to Hillary Clinton’s email server, which legal experts say lacks a “legitimate basis” to charge Clinton with crimes. Right-wing media figures have ignored those experts to suggest that if the investigation does not result in a Clinton indictment, it must be politically tainted. But Attorney General Loretta Lynch affirmed that she will “be accepting the recommendations” made by “career agents and investigators” and FBI Director James Comey in the case, and conservative media have spent months lauding Comey’s “impeccable integrity” and ability to impartially conduct the investigation.
Tuesday Greetings, TODobots & friends!
#fotoshop
Hi my favourite cynic! You back home with su already?
yup. on to uk and germany next. oh, wait …
😀 😀
But I am serious. Gotta go this month for a biggie. ummmm,
At any other time I likely would have offered to help with your luggage or as a travel companion – now I’ll simply wish you ….. success. At least the pound to rupee exchange may be more in your favour (not that I have *any* idea what it has ever been).
ha, it’s in euro. soooo much in my fav.
also. too. #coward
Ha, you were smart when choosing your business partners!
Honestly, I wish you wouldn’t keep brandishing my middle name around so indiscriminately. I thought it was supposed to be *our* secret? 😀 😀
Beautiful!
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2016/07/05/the-hilarious-take-on-brexit/
“New rules from the Department of the Interior aim to close what many have called a loophole in how federal coal resources are valued.
……………
Critics say the government’s current method of valuing those sales allows companies to avoid tens of millions of dollars in royalty payments.
Among other things, the new rules change the way the sale price is calculated, so that it is based off the first sale to an unaffiliated company.
………………………
But environmental and public advocacy groups praised the new rules, saying they were long overdue.
“If their business depends on cheating the government, then they ought to find another business,” said Bob LeResche, chair of the Powder River Basin Resource Council.
The rules were last updated in the 1980s.”
http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/feds-change-coal-royalty-rules-close-loophole