Rise and Shine

On This Day: Residents greet President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama upon their arrival at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., July 3, 2010 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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Today

The President has no public events scheduled for today

12:30 EDT: Josh Earnest briefs the press

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#SoSueMe RT @MarketWatch 288,000 jobs created in June as the unemployment rate falls to 6.1%, lowest in over 5 yrs pic.twitter.com/ERsoD0eUrg

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 3, 2014

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Steve Benen: An emphatic answer to the ‘Where are the jobs?’ question

…. The new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in June, well ahead of forecasts. The overall unemployment rate, meanwhile, dripped to 6.1% – its lowest point since September 2008, nearly six years ago.

…. April’s totals were revised up from 282,000 to 304,000, while May’s figures were also revised up, from 217,000 to 224,000.

Overall, the report suggests the jobs landscape is clearly improving, which is no doubt proof that American employers are in on the conspiracy to distract Americans from Benghazi.

…. June was the 52nd consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth – the longest on record.

At this point, with the year about half over, 2014 is currently on track to be the best year for U.S. job creation since 1999.

Full post here

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June 52nd consecutive month with private-sector job growth, longest on record #SoSueMe -> http://t.co/JK37REkvd2 pic.twitter.com/G0kkp3vqLp

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 3, 2014

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Business Insider: US Jobs Report Demolishes Expectations, Unemployment Rate Plunges to 6.1%

Job creation in June was much stronger than expected as signs grow that the U.S. economy is accelerating.

The U.S. added 288,000 jobs in June, blowing away expectations for an addition of 215,000 in nonfarm payrolls. The unemployment rate also fell to 6.1%, the lowest reading since September 2008. Expectations were for the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 6.3%.

Last month’s jobs report was also revised, with non-farm payrolls growing by 224,000 in May, better than the previously reported 217,000.

The report also showed April non-farm payrolls were revised up to 304,000 from 282,000.

More here

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Don’t miss the VP sharing his thoughts on the Civil Rights Act & this moment with @RepJohnLewis → https://t.co/14usyCBoqJ #BeingBiden #CRA50 — Vice President Biden (@VP) July 2, 2014

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 A Word from Donna (@NoShock)

I‘m going to speak to this just from a personal perspective. I’ve watched many Presidents in my day. I didn’t just become interested in politics when PBO came along. I volunteered for Clinton, Gore, John Kerry and then President Obama. I sort of watched Bush because my kids were over there fighting in that gawd awful war so I was tuned into cable and read the Washington Post religiously during his Presidency.

Times have changed so much with the progression of technology and the internet I have to say that of course President Obama’s Presidency is the most visible. White House dot org was a nothing site before this administration. Being able to follow PBO daily gives me an insight into his Presidency that was never available to me before.

I can tell you that Bush did very few events and when he did venture out it was to some military facility so that he could attempt to flex his C-I-C creds. It was always just a big photo op. His speeches were boring and you could only stand to listen to him speak for a minute or two before you felt violently ill. (no kidding) He was not well liked abroad because our standing in the World was piss-poor thanks to his Iraq War. Surprisingly Africa is the only country that I can remember that welcomed him warmly. Mainly because his funding for Aids in Africa is probably the only decent thing he did in his 8 years as President.

Clinton was visible and you would see on the evening news that he had traveled abroad or ventured out into DC. He remained relatively popular and was fortunate that the economy was doing quite well during his Presidency so even though he was mired in scandal from the day he stepped foot into the WH his approval stayed quite high. The country didn’t become quite so partisan until the Lewinsky scandal took place and you could feel the shift taking place after his impeachment.

IMO the Presidency was always been given the benefit of the doubt by the MSM. Papa Bush got it until he raised taxes on them. Clinton got it until the blue dress showed up. Bush got it until investigations outside of the media discovered that there were no weapons of mass destruction. President Obama got no honeymoon when he became President. CNN did a report card show on his first 50 days in office. Those bogus, staged town halls on Obamacare were no longer just being talked about on cable. Suddenly we were seeing this crap on the evening news and it was being reported as if it was real outrage by every person in the country. PBO kept right on doing his job. He worked tirelessly and never gave up on ACA and we got that bill through Congress and it is now law and millions of people have health care because regardless of what impact it had on him politically he was determined to see it through. Another testament to the character of this man.

The Republicans along with their enablers our MSM have used every trick in the book to bring him down but he just keeps doing his job. He travels the country from end to end talking to America. Practically every day there is some event at the WH, social media, unconventional media or somewhere in the country that he is involved with. He honors our military constantly and salutes our sports heroes almost weekly. He’s brilliant, handsome, affable, congenial, a great dad and husband and the hippest guy we have ever had grace the halls of the West Wing.

This angers the Right and the media because he doesn’t care what they think of him. He was hired by us to do a job and he is determined to do just that. There has never been a President who has worked as hard for all of America. Half will never appreciate that but it’s okay he’s still there President too. And when the tornadoes and hurricanes sweep through their towns and cities he’ll go and give them assurance that he’ll be there to see them through and help to restore sanity to their life’s.

No poll will ever capture what he does each and everyday for this country. Skewered or weighted it doesn’t matter. The appreciation of our Nation is for the history books. The job of his supporters, those of us who know better, is to make sure that those who aren’t paying attention never forget!

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While she’s in Africa, Dr. Biden is taking over @VP‘s Instagram account. Check it out → http://t.co/dxkIu4kPqL pic.twitter.com/iGHEaYtCw3 — Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) July 2, 2014

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A Word from EricFive

Silly Season is officially in full swing. Let’s see, Boner initiates bogus lawsuit against PBO which serves to energize Dems, increasing fundraising and inspiring intelligent and impassioned mocking via the “SoSueMe#”.

Then the Supreme Court issues a partisan anti-woman decision which served to energize and enrage Dems and make the GOP look like a party out of its time (and mind, next stop, theocracy).

So what narrative is the MSM/GOP pushing?

PBO is the worst president ever according to a biased and bogus “poll”.

Chuck Todd cheerily trumpets this bullshit (its the perfect companion to his “PBO’s presidency is over” nonsense from last week, which was “based” on skewed reading of a single poll question in a single poll).

The MSM/GOP are feeling the heat, so they create anti-PBO headlines through manipulation (and often misinterpretation) of polls. Propaganda 101. The MSM/GOP are attempting to recreate the mood of 2010, but reality keeps interfering with their objective, so they are relying more and more on strategically timed polls to halt any momentum of the Dems.

Trumpeting skewed polls and ignoring or burying news that can be viewed as positive for Dems (or the country) is the current tactic. Unfortunately for the GOP/MSM, this is not 2010.

Dems seem more unified and are more angry at the GOP than they are with their own party.

PBO is leading the party through both words and deeds.

He has no fear of the GOP and is speaking truth.

So is Harry Reid, who has really found his voice recently.

In short, don’t fall for the propaganda which is designed to depress Dems. The over the top nature of their propagandizing tells me they are desperate, subtlety is out the window as they see their influence in dictating perceptions waning.

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#USMNT @Clint_Dempsey and @TimHowardGK got a call from President Obama earlier today in São Paulo. pic.twitter.com/Vm21OhxHqX — U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 3, 2014

From 1 SecDef to another: Hagel calls @timhowardgk to say thanks for defending USA. We (USA) are proud of @ussoccer! pic.twitter.com/M8nsYdlXFn — U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) July 2, 2014

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Am I The Only One Who Still Only Sees A Parrot?

Look at this picture.. .. stare at the picture until you realize that this isn’t a parrot at all.. It’s A Woman:-) pic.twitter.com/WERZbTneoO — Kasai™ (@Kahsai) July 2, 2014

Kasai? You’ve ruined my week.

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On This Day

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet local residences as they arrive at Fort McNair from Camp David and proceed to the motorcade in Washington on July 3, 2010

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President Obama meets with Speaker of the House John Boehner on the patio near the Oval Office, Sunday, July 3, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia return to Andrews Air Force Base after their visit to Africa, July 3 2013

President Obama meets with members of his national security team to discuss the situation in Egypt, in the Situation Room of the White House, July 3, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MoooOOOooorning everyone! Will catch up with more news later, thank you to Donna and Eric for their wonderful comments.

Early Bird Chat

Ladies and Gents…my very first grand babies and it’s twin girls!! pic.twitter.com/14Rlx5ezps

— Donna NoShock (@NoShock) December 19, 2013

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Donna, they are beeeeeeautiful!! Congratulations again.

MoooOOOooorning Early Birds, including Tamara and Samaya!

Chat Away

In case anyone missed the blissful news: Donna Dem is the proud new Grandma of twin girls, Tamara and Samaya.

Woooooot!

Congratulations Donna, love to you and your family from us all.

Donna and *that* call

Two years ago tomorrow …..

Donna Dem:

So today I decided to take a half day off from work to finish my Christmas shopping. My cousin who is a shopaholic told me about a newer Mall near Baltimore that had a specialty store that I needed to make a purchase from.

So I leave work and swing by and pick her up and we head out to the Mall. Otherwise I would have been in the comfortable setting of my office when my phone rang at 5:04 EST.

I almost didn’t answer because I wasn’t familiar with the number but thought it was one of my sons calling from work since it was a DC exchange.

Now I was at the cash register when my phone rang and I answered it intending to tell whichever son this was that I would call them right back because I was at the checkout in the Mall. So I answer and a male voice asks if this is Donna S…….. and I respond hesitantly yes. He immediately says the most magical words that I have heard in my life. He says…..

“Hold for President Obama” and within a second I hear. “Hello Donna! Congratulations, you were the winner of the grassroots fundraising challenge!”

Now I drop the bags I had in my hand and said “OMG, it’s President Obama”. My cousin looks at me as if I have lost my mind and the cashier’s face is scrunched up looking at me as if to say, ‘what happened?’ I whisper to my cousin that it’s the real President Obama on my phone. The cashier goes crazy and all the cashiers rush over and my cousin is telling me that it can’t be. So I asked him to tell her it’s really him. Once she hears his voice she drops her bags and screams “OMG, IT’S THE PRESIDENT!” I’m laughing hysterically at this point. Y’all had to be there to see that scene in that store.

I get the phone back from my cousin and he says, “now you tell Jackie (my cousin) she can’t be hijacking your phone call”. He said, “you know Donna, I get this all the time. People never believe it’s me calling. I just don’t understand it.”

His sense of humor is off the chart.

He thanks me for winning the grassroots challenge. He says he is grateful for all the work being done on his behalf. I thank him. I tell him how much I admire and appreciate all that he is doing for our country and that there are so many of us who “have his back”.

Then I told him about The Obama Diary, the wonderful space created to support him on a daily basis. I asked him to stop by someday. He said to tell you all that he is grateful for the support and that he loves you back and then he wished us all a Merry Christmas. I in turn wished him and his Family a Merry Christmas from both the OFA and TOD bloggers and then he was gone.

It was a magnificent Christmas present.

Thank you TOD for helping to make this possible!!!

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We needed a smile today, this memory did the job …. greatest/funniest TOD night ever, waiting for Donna’s report!

A Word from Donna

by Donna

I’ve been listening to Urban Talk radio of late during my drive in to work and on lunch break (Joe Madison in the morning and Rev Al at lunch).

Joe Madison has been blasting the Republicans and the media this week. It has been a thing of beauty to listen to. The callers to his show know the game as well and if these Republicans think that they are going to try and take this President down based on these bogus so-called “scandals” they are in for a rude awakening. The Republicans will feel their wrath like never before so let them keep overreaching…..

I’d like to say a word or two about a topic that he did touch on this morning (just as I arrived at work and couldn’t hear the end) was the WH’s response to these so-called scandals. I’m also seeing a lot of this in my twitter timeline. There seems to be this notion that the WH isn’t getting out in front of these issues as fast as some would like.

A message from Donna Dem: TOD-ers meet up in DC!

I don’t know who anyone is yet – we need them to identify themselves!

A message from DonnaDem:

Today it was an honor and a privilege to meet fellow TODers who are not just great supporters of President Obama but are great people as well…

I met someone who was first inspired to volunteer for PBO because of something she read on TOD. She went outside of her comfort zone and turned into a phone banking beast.

I learned that one of our fellow bloggers was a local civil rights pioneer and today we stand on her shoulders.

Then we have the fellow TOD’er (she was a hoot today) who was in da house to witness live when PBO crooned ~~ I’m So in Love with You ~~ at the fundraiser in NY.

Colorado, Ohio and Virginia, three battleground states, were won due in part to the strong work of three TOD’ers who worked their hearts out for a victory on election night. High Fives all around for those remarkable OFA Team Leaders who became their very own community organizers!

Talk about dedication, we had PBO supporters who traveled all the way from Canada to witness the second Inauguration of President Obama.

Thanks to one of our TODers who invited Cousin Henry Healy of Ireland who tried to make it to the meet-up today but was not able to get away from an Irish Embassy event. He actually sent his apologies.

We ate, we laughed, we hugged but most of all we shared our love and admiration for the greatest President evah and in the end three fantastic bloggers walked away with two tickets each to witness the Inauguration tomorrow!

It was a great time had by all!

Thank you soooooooooo much Donna, love you all!!!!! Have the best day EVER tomorrow!

DC date?

Finally! As promised …. days ago ….. a post for regulars here who are going to the Inauguration and who would like to meet up in DC.

DonnaDem has very kindly offered to co-ordinate everything and gave permission to post her email address:

donnadem4obama@gmail.com

So, get in touch!

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Will catch up with the news in the morning.

Forward

Donna? Brilliant. Thanks Meta.

Retweet!

Thanks Jovie

Retweet!

rise and shine

First lady Michelle Obama listens to President Barack Obama speak in the State Dining Room of the White House, February 26. President Obama hosted the 2012 Governors Dinner which coincides with the yearly meeting of the National Governors Association meeting in DC.

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Michelle Obama and Jill Biden also deliver remarks.

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The week ahead:

Tuesday: PBO will deliver remarks at the United Auto Workers conference in Washington, DC.

Wednesday: PBO and the First Lady will host a dinner at the White House to honor Armed Forces, who served in Iraq, and their families.

Thursday: PBO will travel to Nashua, New Hampshire, and deliver remarks on the economy. In the evening, the President will attend campaign events in New York City.

Friday: PBO will travel to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to visit with wounded service members.

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Ooops – this is one poll Politico will have troubling ignoring …. because it’s their own:

A new POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll reveals the prolonged nominating battle is taking a toll on the GOP candidates and finds the president’s standing significantly improved from late last year.

President Barack Obama’s approval rating is 53 percent, up 9 percentage points in four months. Matched up against his Republican opponents, he leads Mitt Romney by 10 points (53-43) and Rick Santorum by 11 (53-42). Even against a generic, unnamed Republican untarnished by attacks, Obama is up 5 percentage points. In November, he was tied.

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Thanks Loriah

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USA Today: ….. Today …. President Obama meets with state executives from across the country and with political donors in Washington.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will both speak today to the National Governors Association during a meeting in the State Dining Room. Their wives, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden will also deliver remarks.

…. This afternoon, Obama and Biden will meet with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner …. Obama ends his day with a closed-door campaign fundraiser in Washington.

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CBS: Mitt Romney went to the Daytona 500 NASCAR race Sunday for what should have been a chance to show he’s one of the guys. Instead, in casual conversation with an Associated Press reporter at the Florida track, he reminded people once again that he is not exactly a regular Joe.

Asked by the AP reporter if he follows NASCAR, Romney responded, “Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners.”

Democrats and liberals quickly ridiculed the remark on Twitter. “I don’t know people who fish but I know people who own yachts,” tweeted Brad Woodhouse, communications director of the Democratic National Committee….

More here

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Link

Donna Dem: I’m raising money on my grassroots fundraising page to help President Obama win in 2012. The President is counting on people like you and me giving what we can afford to build this campaign. Will you donate $5 today to help me try and reach my goal?

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Morning everyone 😉

afternoon all

Honestly, I haven’t made this up – a Ron Paul-supporting freak actually thought it was good news that the former KKK guy endorsed the nutjob!

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🙄

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Jonathan Bernstein: I have to say: If I were running Mitt Romney’s campaign, I’d much prefer reporters going on today about a mini-flap involving one of Mitt’s sons going birther and then apologizing than have them reporting on the Santorum surge.

….in the long run (or perhaps even by Tuesday) this particular incident will be long forgotten, it still can’t hurt Romney with Tea Partiers to hint that his camp is on the same page with them culturally.

Of course, I’m not hinting, nor am I voicing any suspicion, that the Romney camp would actually do something like this on purpose.

Full post here

Get your mug here!

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Reuters: New U.S. claims for jobless benefits rose last week but the underlying trend pointed to an improving labor market, while regional factory data showed the economy gaining momentum as the year ended.

The growth picture was brightened by other data on Thursday showing pending sales of previously owned homes jumped to a 1-1/2 year high in November, adding to signs of a tentative recovery in the housing market.

Indications the economy was wrapping up the year on a much firmer footing than had been previously anticipated leaves it better positioned to deal with headwinds from the festering debt crisis in Europe and fiscal tightening at home.

More here

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Friend,

This holiday has felt a bit like one last long, deep breath before we plunge into 2012.

This time next year, I don’t want us to have any regrets. I want to be able to say we rose to the task, and got it done. We’ve all got some work to do right now.

Over the next 11 months we’ve got an organization to grow, voters to register, and people to get fired up.

I hope you’ll close out this year by donating $3 or more now to help make sure we’re ready for the next one.

Thank you so much, and happy new year,

Michelle

P.S. Also, when you donate today, you are automatically entered for a chance to be one of three supporters to have dinner with Barack and me.

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If you have a few dollars to spare you can donate here:

OFA

or

through Donna Dem’s fundraising page at OFA:

Link

or through The Obama Diary’s OFA page:

Link

Whichever you choose, the money goes to the same place: Obama/Biden 2012. Thanks everyone.

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The Official Store

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Soooooooooo Presidential:

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