‘A Nice Evening For A Walk’

 Pete Souza

sunday service

****

****

President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and their daughter Sasha attend a Sunday morning church service in Washington, March 18

****

….. bidding farewell to Rev. Luis Leon after attending a Sunday morning service at St. John’s Church

sunday service

Thanks P

President Barack Obama with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha walk out from the White House to attend Sunday service at St. John’s Episcopal Church

****

Thanks Hopefruit

****

MSNBC: President Obama’s standing has improved in Florida, always a key presidential battleground state. Forty-six percent of registered voters in the state approve of his job, which is up five points since October.

In hypothetical match-ups, the president leads Romney by seven points (48 to 41 percent) and Gingrich by 12 points (51 to 39 percent).

In South Carolina – a reliable Republican state in presidential contests – Obama’s approval rating stands at 44 percent, and he holds narrow leads over Romney (45 to 42 percent) and Gingrich (46 to 42 percent).

More here

afternoon all

Thanks M4O

****

****

Michael Tomasky: A Progressive Defense of the White House on Plan B

Kathleen Sibelius is getting flak for her Plan B decision. But Michael Tomasky defends the administration’s position because of the ethical issues raised by minors using the pill.

I get the reasons for liberal outrage at the Obama administration’s Plan B decision. But I can’t quite join in the indignation. I know that I am a man – a fact I’ve been aware of for some time – and so readers male and female can factor that in here as they wish. But it seems to me that to call this merely a case of politics cynically trumping science is way too dismissive of some concerns that parents with all kinds of political views might have about their teenage daughters buying this pill without their knowledge…..

Full article here

****

****

NPR: For the second week in a row, the Senate on Thursday voted down proposals to extend the payroll tax holiday through next year. In the case of the Democrats’ proposal, Republicans objected to the “millionaires surtax” that would be used to pay for it.

Ever since the idea of the surtax was introduced weeks ago, Republicans in Congress have railed against it, arguing that it is a direct hit on small-business owners and other job creators.

… We wanted to talk to business owners who would be affected. So, NPR requested help from numerous Republican congressional offices, including House and Senate leadership. They were unable to produce a single millionaire job creator for us to interview.

Full post here

****

They’re eating each other alive, part 72,393:

****

****

USA Today: As the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq is completed this week, President Obama will kick off a string of military-related events this month by attending the Army-Navy game Saturday.

The Cadets and the Midshipmen tee it up at 2:30 p.m. at Fed-Ex Field in Landover, Md.

Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, will attend the game with Obama.

Wednesday, the president and first lady Michelle Obama will travel to Fort Bragg, N.C., where the president will address the troops stationed there.

****

****

President Barack Obama attends a National Security Council holiday party at Blair House, across the street from the White House, December 9

****

Steve Benen: Rick Perry unveiled a rather ugly campaign ad this week, condemning gays for being able to “serve openly in the military,” and promising voters he’ll “end Obama’s war on religion.”

The Texas governor talked to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this week, and to his credit, the host asked Perry to back up the language in the ad.

PERRY: [W]e’ve got a federal judge for instance in San Antonio that said these kids couldn’t say an invocation in school. I mean, they say you can’t even use the word invocation at their commencement. I mean, that’s —

BLITZER: Is that President Obama’s war on religion?

PERRY: I’m just giving you suggestions after what we are seeing from the left of which I would suggest to you, President Obama is a member of the left and substantial left of center beliefs that you can’t even have a Christmas party. You can’t say a prayer at school.

I’m beginning to think Perry was not blessed with an overabundance of intelligence….

Full post here

****

Oh dear:

Steve Benen: It’s generally not too much to ask that major party presidential candidates know how many Supreme Court justices there are. Alas, Rick Perry, who’s already struggled to be coherent on a wide range of issues, flubbed this one, too.

…. Let’s count the errors of fact and judgment, because this a doozy.

(see post)

I’d swear this guy is getting dumber as the campaign progresses.

Full post here

****

****

Hey, I forgot, it’s Friday! Thanks for the reminder LOL!

rise and shine

Nick Anderson

****

11:0 The President is interviewed by local TV anchors from around the country

12:20 The President greets the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis

12:30 Jay Carney briefs the press

1:45 The President signs a proclamation to designate Fort Monroe a national monument

2:25 Michelle Obama delivers remarks at a DNC luncheon in New Orleans

3:15 Michelle Obama visits the Royal Castle Child Development Center in New Orleans

3:15 The President and Vice President meet with House Democratic leadership

****

Thanks Donna

****

The Week

****

ABC: Continuing his executive actions campaign, President Obama will sign a proclamation this afternoon to designate Fort Monroe a national monument.

“Fort Monroe has played a part in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American history. But today isn’t just about preserving a national landmark – it’s about helping to create jobs and grow the local economy. Steps like these won’t replace the bold action we need from Congress to get our economy moving and strengthen middle-class families, but they will make a difference,” Obama said in a written statement.

According to the White House, the preservation of Fort Monroe will help create nearly 3,000 jobs in Virginia …. Fort Monroe is integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military. It was the place where Dutch traders first brought enslaved Africans in 1619 and during the Civil War the fort became a place for escaped slaves to find refuge. In 1861, the fort was the site of Gen. Benjamin Butler’s “Contraband Decision,” which provided a pathway to freedom for thousands of slaves.

****

****

Think Progress: Mitt Romney, his son Tagg, and Romney’s chief fundraiser, Spencer Zwick, have extensive financial and political ties to three men who allegedly participated in an $8.5 billion Ponzi scheme. A few months after the Ponzi scheme collapsed, a firm financed by Mitt Romney and run by his son and chief fundraiser partnered with the three men and created a new “wealth management business” as a subsidiary.

Full post here

Thanks Desertflower

****

****

McClatchyDC – Thanks amk

****

Worth seeing again from last night:

****

Morning everyone 😉

sunday best (updated)

President Obama and his family walk to church for a Sunday morning worship service in Washington, July 17

tourist attraction

President Barack Obama walks around the South Lawn of the White House with Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, while tourists in the background walk along the Ellipse, the National Mall, and the Jefferson Memorial, July 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

eh, moneygall, france

Thank you Video Queen Donna 😉

memphis time

**** Live streaming from Memphis here – thank you Janelle ****

President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base as he travels to Memphis, Tenn. for private meetings with families affected by the flooding and to deliver the commencement address at Booker T. Washington High School, May 16

dude!

Vice President Joe Biden arrives at the Blair House in Washington, May 12, for a meeting on the budget

Reuters’s Jeff Mason threw in a question about where Biden got his shades. “I’ve been wearing these shades more years … probably than you’ve been alive,” Biden joked.