President Obama walks from the Oval Office to Marine One at the White House, May 10. The President visits Texas today where he will deliver a speech on the immigration system.
Posts Tagged ‘kick
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oval ball
The Australian Herald Sun: Prime Minster Julia Gillard brought new significance to the Oval Office when she embarked on a game of Aussie Rules kick-to-kick with US President Barack Obama.
Ms Gillard, the Western Bulldogs’ number one ticket holder, gave Mr Obama an introduction to the much-loved Aussie game after a meeting in Washington overnight.
In a show of mateship between the two nations, Mr Obama joked the Aussie leader almost smashed a “bust of (Abraham) Lincoln” as she booted around the red Sherrin.
Ms Gillard had presented the ball, summoned from the Australian embassy, in a box before Mr Obama asked for a demo.
The prime minister fired off a hand pass before it was the president’s turn. He followed up with a kick and pretended to throw the ball gridiron-style.
The PM’s team:
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President Obama practices passing a football with Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia in the Oval Office. Under Australian Football League rules, a player must hold the ball in front of them and punch it with a clenched fist in order to conduct a legal pass to another player. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
TPM: Starting Saturday, two of the new health care law’s most significant reforms take effect – or at least begin to take effect.
The first will dramatically clamp down on insurance industry waste, abuse, and excesses. Starting on New Year’s Day, insurance companies will have to spend at least 80 percent of the revenues they receive from premiums on actual health care. Not on salaries or overhead…..
..…The other is much more visible. Senior citizens – a demographic that’s skeptical of the bill – will see real benefits. In 2011, the law will begin to close the Medicare Part D coverage gap – the infamous “donut hole.” Seniors who reach the donut hole will now receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs, the first step in a 10 year plan to fill the hole completely. Seniors will also now receive free annual checkups, screenings and other preventive care.
Other changes will also kick in … but these are the biggies. Add them to other reforms that have already taken effect – such as a ban on discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions, and the new right parents have of keeping their children on their family insurance plans until they’re 26 years old – and you’re talking about a bunch of stuff that would be very unpopular to repeal.
The Obama Diary 
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