Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist for the Vice President and Executive Director of the Middle Class Task Force, debunks the myth that we cant afford health insurance reform. To the contrary, not only has the President demanded that reform not add to the deficit in the short term, but reform is the only way to get skyrocketing health care costs under control that will be devastating for families, businesses, and government deficits in the long term under the status quo.
Category Archives: the White House
President Obama Speaks to the Muslim World
The President’s speech “A New Beginning”, outlined his personal commitment to engagement with the Muslim world, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. It discusses how the United States and Muslim communities around the world can bridge some of the differences that have divided them.
The President spoke for 55 minutes, so if you do not have time to watch the whole video, below it are excerpts taken from the speech courtesy of the White House facebook page.
“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the US & the Muslim world based upon mutual interest and mutual respect”…
“I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”…
“Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.”…
“America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis.”…
“America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable.”…
“America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.”…
“America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.”…
“Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together.”…
“Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential”…
“I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.”…
“We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.”…
“The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.”…
Filed under Afghanistan, Cairo Egypt, Facebook, Iraq, Islam, muslim world, President Obama, the White House
Bo’s First Day
Here’s the video that everyone has been waiting for, Bo the Portuguese water dog’s first day at the White House as the offical 1st pooch!
The First Family takes Bo on stroll around the White House grounds. It’s very heart warming piece of footage.
Filed under Bo the dog, President Obama, the First Family, the White House
Obama Gains G.O.P. Support From Governors
If the 22 GOP Governors understand how important it is to our country and our economy that President Obama’s economic stimulus bill be passed and signed into law, then how come their counter parts in congress didn’t get it?
Jackie Calmes of the NY Times does her best to answer that question in her article that was posted online a short while ago:
WASHINGTON — President Obama must wish governors could vote in Congress: While just three of the 219 Republican lawmakers backed the $787 billion economic recovery plan that he is signing into law on Tuesday, that trifling total would have been several times greater if support among the 22 Republican state executives counted.
Leaderless after losing the White House, the party is mostly defined by its Congressional wing, which flaunted its anti-spending ideology in opposing the stimulus package. That militancy drew the mockery of late-night television comics, but the praise of conservative talk-show stars and the party faithful.
In the states, meanwhile, many Republican governors are practicing a pragmatic — their Congressional counterparts would say less-principled — conservatism.
Governors, unlike members of Congress, have to balance their budgets each year. And that requires compromise with state legislators, including Democrats, as well as more openness to the occasional state tax increase and to deficit-spending from Washington.
Across the country, from California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger to Florida’s Charlie Crist and New England’s Jim Douglas in Vermont and M. Jodi Rell in Connecticut, Republican governors showed in the stimulus debate that they could be allies with Mr. Obama even as Congressional Republicans spurned him.
Read More >>>Here
>Obama Gains G.O.P. Support From Governors
>
If the 22 GOP Governors understand how important it is to our country and our economy that President Obama’s economic stimulus bill be passed and signed into law, then how come their counter parts in congress didn’t get it?
Jackie Calmes of the NY Times does her best to answer that question in her article that was posted online a short while ago:
WASHINGTON — President Obama must wish governors could vote in Congress: While just three of the 219 Republican lawmakers backed the $787 billion economic recovery plan that he is signing into law on Tuesday, that trifling total would have been several times greater if support among the 22 Republican state executives counted.
Leaderless after losing the White House, the party is mostly defined by its Congressional wing, which flaunted its anti-spending ideology in opposing the stimulus package. That militancy drew the mockery of late-night television comics, but the praise of conservative talk-show stars and the party faithful.
In the states, meanwhile, many Republican governors are practicing a pragmatic — their Congressional counterparts would say less-principled — conservatism.
Governors, unlike members of Congress, have to balance their budgets each year. And that requires compromise with state legislators, including Democrats, as well as more openness to the occasional state tax increase and to deficit-spending from Washington.
Across the country, from California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger to Florida’s Charlie Crist and New England’s Jim Douglas in Vermont and M. Jodi Rell in Connecticut, Republican governors showed in the stimulus debate that they could be allies with Mr. Obama even as Congressional Republicans spurned him.
Read More >>>Here
Hoekstra leaks unauthorized intelligence information via Twitter
I understand the need to keep your constituents informed, but I think that things are getting a little out of hand.
Whether it is a lunch at the White House with the President or over seas on a SECRET mission to Iraq, do our Representatives need to constantly inform us of their every activity? Are they trying to impress us so much that they have become oblivious to there surrounds?
Twitter is a social networking site where friends, family, and co–workers can communicate and stay connected with each other. Members of Congress should not be abusing their privileges by divulging their activities as they happen. Not only is it rude to their host,but how can they concentrate on what is being told to them?
The following post from Think Progress is an excellent example of my point. While on a secret mission to Iraq, Congressman Pete Hoeksra let the followers of his Twitter account know exactly what he was doing, when no one was supposed to know that there was on entourage of congressmen in Iraq.
Rep. Pete Hoeksra (R-MI), the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, revealed classified intelligence information on Twitter when he reported on his “congressional trip to Iraq this weekend that was supposed to be a secret.” “Just landed in Baghdad,” messaged Hoekstra, who was part of a delegation led by John Boehner (R-OH). CQ reports, “Before the delegation left Washington, they were advised to keep the trip to themselves for security reasons. A few media outlets, including Congressional Quarterly, learned about it, but agreed not to disclose anything until the delegation had left Iraq.” Hoekstra not only revealed the existence of the trip, but included details about their itinerary. In a May 2006 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, Hoekstra wrote:
But every time classified national security information is leaked, our ability to gather information on those who would do us harm is eroded. … I regret that I see little sign of intolerance for unauthorized disclosures of intelligence to the media from some of my Democratic colleagues today. … We are a nation at war. Unauthorized disclosures of classified information only help terrorists and our enemies – and put American lives at risk.
>Hoekstra leaks unauthorized intelligence information via Twitter
>
I understand the need to keep your constituents informed, but I think that things are getting a little out of hand.
Whether it is a lunch at the White House with the President or over seas on a SECRET mission to Iraq, do our Representatives need to constantly inform us of their every activity? Are they trying to impress us so much that they have become oblivious to there surrounds?
Twitter is a social networking site where friends, family, and co–workers can communicate and stay connected with each other. Members of Congress should not be abusing their privileges by divulging their activities as they happen. Not only is it rude to their host,but how can they concentrate on what is being told to them?
The following post from Think Progress is an excellent example of my point. While on a secret mission to Iraq, Congressman Pete Hoeksra let the followers of his Twitter account know exactly what he was doing, when no one was supposed to know that there was on entourage of congressmen in Iraq.
Rep. Pete Hoeksra (R-MI), the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, revealed classified intelligence information on Twitter when he reported on his “congressional trip to Iraq this weekend that was supposed to be a secret.” “Just landed in Baghdad,” messaged Hoekstra, who was part of a delegation led by John Boehner (R-OH). CQ reports, “Before the delegation left Washington, they were advised to keep the trip to themselves for security reasons. A few media outlets, including Congressional Quarterly, learned about it, but agreed not to disclose anything until the delegation had left Iraq.” Hoekstra not only revealed the existence of the trip, but included details about their itinerary. In a May 2006 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, Hoekstra wrote:
But every time classified national security information is leaked, our ability to gather information on those who would do us harm is eroded. … I regret that I see little sign of intolerance for unauthorized disclosures of intelligence to the media from some of my Democratic colleagues today. … We are a nation at war. Unauthorized disclosures of classified information only help terrorists and our enemies – and put American lives at risk.
Obama Plans Media Blitz
President Obama will give sit-down interviews with all the major networks today, according to Hollywood Reporter.
“Obama will talk separately with the anchors of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox News Channel at the Oval Office on Tuesday. The networks will air their interviews over the course of the afternoon and the early evening.”
Obama is expected to make the case for his economic stimulus package.
>Obama Plans Media Blitz
>
President Obama will give sit-down interviews with all the major networks today, according to Hollywood Reporter.
“Obama will talk separately with the anchors of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox News Channel at the Oval Office on Tuesday. The networks will air their interviews over the course of the afternoon and the early evening.”
Obama is expected to make the case for his economic stimulus package.
Vice President Joe Biden and the Middle Class Task Force
The President created a Middle Class Task Force and asked his right hand man, Vice President Joe Biden, to lead it. The Task Force has one goal — to make sure the recovery doesnt just benefit the wealthy, like past expansions, but improves quality of life for the middle class.
MiddletownMike 