World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes mellitus world and is held on November 14 of each year. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. World Diabetes Day is a campaign that features a new theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation each year to address issues facing the global diabetes community. While the campaigns last the whole year, the day itself marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
Each year, World Diabetes Day is centred on a theme related to diabetes. Topics covered have included diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, and diabetes in children and adolescents.
National Diabetes Education Program http://ndep.nih.gov/
Saturday, November 13 2010
All Times ET
12:00 am
The President attends the APEC leaders retreat
Local Event Time:
2:00 PM JST
InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotel
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Limited pool coverage.
2:15 am
The President meets with the APEC Business Advisory Council
Local Event Time:
4:15 PM JST
Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center
Closed Press
5:30 am
The President attends a cultural program and APEC leaders photo
Local Event Time:
7:30 PM JST
Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center
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Limited pool coverage.
6:50 am
The President attends the APEC official dinner
Local Event Time:
8:50 PM JST
Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center
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Nov 13 Live Feed Schedule
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
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CNN http://live.cnn.com/
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CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
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UpTakeVideo | November 12, 2010 –
The President’s remarks in Japan
Audio only-President Obama gave the keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit in Yokohama, Japan. He spoke of the rapidly growing prosperity of the Asia Pacific region, and how buildings a few stories tall in his boyhood Jakarta are now replaced by towering skyscrapers. Obama talked about how economic strength was mutually beneficial to the United States and to the Asia Pacific region. He describes his goals in increasing exports and cutting the deficit. Obama said not all challenges can be solved in one meeting or “one term of my Presidency,” but said he remains confident in America’s future.
apecsec | November 13, 2010 -
The President’s remarks at APEC
National Diabetes Education Program
Established in 1997, the National Diabetes Education Program is a federally-funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes over 200 partners at the federal, state and local levels, working together to improve the treatment and outcomes for people with diabetes, promote early diagnosis, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Evidence from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed conclusively that improved control of blood glucose levels can make a big difference in reducing complications associated with diabetes. NDEP was initially created in 1997 to translate the findings of this major study into current health care practice. Beginning in 2001, in response to the findings of the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, NDEP outreach evolved to address the ABCs of diabetes: comprehensive control of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Research results from major studies continue to drive NDEP action. Results of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, which continues to monitor DCCT patients over time, and the results of the 10-year follow up study of the UKPDS have spurred messages to identify and manage both type 1 and type 2 diabetes early to reduce complications of the eye, kidney, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.
The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clinical trial, announced in August 2001, showed that among people with pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through modest weight loss and regular physical activity. Beginning in 2002, NDEP released messages and materials to translate the science of diabetes prevention into clinical practice and to raise awareness among high risk individuals. Results from Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS), the 10 year follow-up study to the DPP, reinforced the earlier findings that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed.
Together, NDEP and its partners promote the messages and materials of two national, multicultural public health campaigns, one targeting people with diabetes and the other targeting people at risk of type 2 diabetes. Both campaigns also have material specifically for health care professionals.
The Facts About Diabetes: America’s Seventh Leading Cause of Death
* What is diabetes?
* How many Americans have diabetes and pre-diabetes?
* What is the prevalence of diabetes by type?
* What is the prevalence of diabetes by gender?
* What is the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes by age?
* What is the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in youth?
* What is the prevalence of diabetes by race/ethnicity?
* How many deaths are linked to diabetes?
* How much does diabetes cost the nation?
* Additional resources
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes-facts/index.aspx
Diabetes Risk Factors
There are many factors that increase your risk for diabetes. To find out about your risk, note each item on this list that applies to you.
* I am 45 years of age or older.
* The At-Risk Weight Chart shows my current weight puts me at risk.
* I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
* My family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American or Pacific Islander.
* I have had diabetes while I was pregnant (this is called gestational diabetes) or I gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.
* I have been told that my blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal.
* My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told that I have high blood pressure.
* My cholesterol (lipid) levels are not normal. My HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) is less than 35 or my triglyceride level is higher than 250.
* I am fairly inactive. I am physically active less than three times a week.
* I have been told that I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
* The skin around my neck or in my armpits appears dirty no matter how much I scrub it. The skin appears dark, thick and velvety. This is called acanthosis nigricans.
* I have been told that I have blood vessel problems affecting my heart, brain, or legs.
If you have any of the items above, be sure to talk with your health care team about your risk for diabetes and whether you should be tested.
http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/DiabetesRiskFactors.aspx
Take Small Steps to Prevent Diabetes
When you take steps to prevent diabetes, you will also lower your risk for possible complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and other health problems. That’s a big reward for you and your family and friends.
The Small Steps. Big Rewards. GAME PLAN kit is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). This research study proved that type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed in persons with increased risk by losing a small amount of weight and getting 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, five days a week. NDEP used the findings from the study to prepare the GAME PLAN kit and to make it as easy as possible for you to take steps now to prevent diabetes.
Here’s what’s in the GAME PLAN kit:
* The GAME PLAN booklet helps people at risk for diabetes to implement a program to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
* Find information on the fat grams and calories for hundreds of foods in the GAME PLAN Fat & Calorie Counter.
* Record daily goals, fat grams, calories, and activities in the GAME PLAN Food & Activity Tracker.
Set a Weight loss Goal
Plan to set a weight loss goal: The key to preventing diabetes is to lose weight by eating healthy foods that are lower in fat and calories and being physically active. Set a goal that you can achieve. A good goal is to lose at least 5 to 10 percent (10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds) of your current weight. A 5 to 7 percent weight loss was shown to have a big impact on lowering the risk of diabetes in the DPP study.
Make Healthy Food Choices
Make healthy food choices to help reach your weight loss goal. There are many weight loss plans from which to choose. But the DPP showed that you can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by losing weight through a low-fat, reduced calorie eating plan, and by increasing physical activity.
Move More
When you move more every day, you will burn more calories. This will help you reach your weight loss goal. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week. If you have not been active, start off slowly, building up to your goal. Try brisk walking, dancing, swimming, biking, jogging, or any physical activity that helps get your heart rate up. You don’t have to get all your physical activity at one time. Try getting some physical activity throughout the day in 10 minute sessions.
http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/TakeSmallSteps.aspx
Office of the Press Secretary, October 29, 2010:
Presidential Proclamation–National Diabetes Month
Today, nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and thousands more are diagnosed each day. During National Diabetes Month, we recommit to educating Americans about the risk factors and warning signs of diabetes, and we honor all those living with or lost to this disease.
Diabetes can lead to severe health problems and complications such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, nerve damage, and amputation. Type 1 diabetes, which can occur at any age but is most often diagnosed in young people, is managed by a lifetime of regular medication or insulin treatment. Type 2 diabetes is far more common, and the number of people developing or at elevated risk for the disease is growing at an alarming rate, including among our Nation’s children. Risk is highest among individuals over the age of 45, particularly those who are overweight, inactive, or have a family history of the disease, as well as among certain racial and minority groups. While less prevalent, gestational diabetes in expectant mothers may lead to a more complicated or dangerous delivery, and can contribute to their child’s obesity later in life. With more Americans becoming affected by diabetes and its consequences every day, our Nation must work together to better prevent, manage, and treat this disease in all its variations.
Obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. National Diabetes Month gives Americans an opportunity to redouble their efforts to reduce their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and making nutritious food choices. For people already living with diabetes, these lifestyle changes can help with the management of this disease, and delay or prevent complications.
We must also do more to reverse the climbing rates of childhood obesity so all America’s children can grow into healthy, happy, and active adults. Through her “Let’s Move!” initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama is helping to lead an Administration-wide effort to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. “Let’s Move!” promotes nutritious foods and physical activities that lead to life-long healthy habits. I encourage all parents, educators, and concerned Americans to visit http://www.LetsMove.gov for more information and resources on making healthy choices for our children.
The new health insurance reform law, the Affordable Care Act, adds a number of tools for reversing the increase in diabetes and caring for those facing this disease. Insurance companies are no longer able to deny health coverage or exclude benefits for children due to a pre-existing condition, including diabetes. This vital protection will apply to all Americans by 2014. Also, all new health plans and Medicare must now provide diabetes screenings free of charge to patients, and Medicare covers the full cost of medical nutritional therapy to help seniors manage diabetes. This landmark new law also requires most chain restaurants to clearly post nutritional information on their menus, ensuring that Americans have consistent facts about food choices and can make more informed, healthier selections.
In recognition of National Diabetes Month, I commend those bravely fighting this disease; the families and friends who support them; and the health care providers, researchers, and advocates working to reduce this disease’s impact on our Nation. Together, we can take the small steps that lead to big rewards — a healthier future for our citizens and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans, school systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, and research institutions to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage the disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
http://bit.ly/cYIpUs
Quintessentially American: Leveling the Playing Field for Best Ideas to Combat Diabetes
Posted by Robynn Sturm on September 30, 2010
Earlier this week, I witnessed a striking role-reversal in the field of biomedical research. The Dean of Harvard Medical School, Jeffrey S. Flier, a prominent diabetes researcher in his own right, listened intently as undergraduate Megan Blewett presented her pioneering proposal to advance Type One Diabetes research in promising new directions.
Blewett, a senior at Harvard, was one of 12 winners of a Challenge sponsored by the Harvard Catalyst for the best and most feasible hypotheses that might drive the development of better tools for the diagnosis, treatment, or cure of Type 1 Diabetes. Funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Research Resources as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and led by Eva Guinan of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Karim Lakhani of Harvard Business school, the initiative leveraged crowdsourcing techniques to solicit out-of-the-box insights—encouraging people with expertise in areas unrelated to diabetes to apply insights from their disciplines to this biomedical challenge. The Challenge was posted to a global, open innovation marketplace and promoted by Harvard University President Drew Faust, who sent a letter to the entire University community at the Challenge’s launch.
The impressive winners selected from more than 190 entries by a multidisciplinary panel included not only an undergraduate, but also an MD/PhD student, an anonymous patient, a cardiologist, a biostatistician, a human resources representative, and a collaborative team from four universities. Harvard Catalyst has already secured a $1 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support research proposals from the academic community to explore some or all of the scientific questions posed by the winners.
Blewett was excited by the prospect of her idea driving scientific inquiry. But most impressive, she said, was seeing how the Challenge could facilitate in the biomedical arena the kind of accelerated innovation she has witnessed in computer science and other disciplines that are less dependent on expensive lab equipment and infrastructure. “The fantastic thing about this challenge is that it lowers the barriers to entry. So all you really need is an idea and Internet access,” she said. “And, I think that’s quintessentially American.”
Specialists, too, praised the Challenge for unbundling ideation from the formal grant application process. Harvard endocrinologist and Challenge winner Jason Gaglia said it was “freeing” to be able to contemplate the most important and feasible question to ask, regardless of whether his lab had the specific expertise or full resources needed to address it.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/30/quintessentially-american-leveling-playing-field-best-ideas-combat-diabetes
ndepgov | November 14, 2006
Take Control (Control Your Diabetes. For Life.) Produced by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP).
http://ndep.nih.gov
NIHOD | August 27, 2009
Dr. Griffin Rodgers, director of the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, discusses type 2 diabetes.
NIHOD | January 09, 2010
In the second of a two-part interview, Dr. Griffin Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, discusses the risk factors for diabetes as well as a condition called pre-diabetes.
10 Questions From First Lady Michelle Obama
Let’s Move!’ to End Childhood Obesity
by Mary Branham
America’s first lady, Michelle Obama, has an ambitious goal—to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. Her initiative, “Let’s Move,” builds on promising approaches to provide schools, families and communities proven tools to help kids be more active, eat better and get healthy.
Why did you think reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. and improving childhood nutrition and health was an issue you needed to focus on? What do you hope your attention to this effort achieves?
You have said personal experiences within your own family helped to shape your desire to create the Let’s Move! campaign. Can you share those experiences and how you think they can help other families as they try to improve the health and fitness of their children?
One of the four key components of Let’s Move! is improving the quality of the food in the nation’s schools. Why is this so important?
How can states assist in this goal?
Another component of Let’s Move! is increasing physical education for kids, and you have said various sports organizations will help to promote that. Many states, in trying to meet academic goals, have cut physical education. What would you like to see happen with P.E. in the nation’s schools?
As part of Let’s Move!, you have encouraged the nation’s chefs to adopt a school and work with teachers, parents and school nutrition professionals to help educate kids about food and nutrition. How is this program, administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, working and what does the program bring to the nation’s schools?
The Obama administration this year had proposed spending $1 billion annually for the next 10 years to improve the quality of school meals and increase the number of kids participating, but that funding was cut in half by lawmakers. How can state officials work collaboratively to help their schools reach the goals of healthier school meals?
Many states have various health and wellness initiatives similar to Let’s Move!. One such effort, the Healthy Mississippi Campaign, was featured on the White House website. How can Let’s Move! work with state campaigns to improve not only the health of our children, but the nation as a whole?
While children eat a large portion of their meals at school—during the school year—they also consume large amounts of food away from the school lunchroom. How does the Let’s Move! campaign address the challenges of getting kids to eat healthfully all the time, not just at school?
How does the campaign reach out to parents, who will need to be supportive partners in changing the diet of America’s children?
Is the campaign working with state officials to promote the ideals behind healthful eating both in schools and in communities? If so, how can states become involved in these efforts?
You have a garden at the White House. In what other ways do you and President Obama strive to set an example of healthy eating for your daughters?
For the entire article: http://www.csg.org/pubs/capitolideas/Sept_Oct_2010/10questions.aspx
Diabetes Research Made Significant Strides in Past Year
11/12/10 Serena Gordon – Health Day
Even as the threat of diabetes continues to grow, scientists have made significant discoveries in the past year that might one day lead to ways to stop the blood sugar disease in its tracks.
That’s some good news as World Diabetes Day is observed this Sunday. Created in 1991 as a joint project between the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization to bring more attention to the public health threat of diabetes, World Diabetes Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2007.
One of the more exciting findings in type 1 diabetes research this year came from the lab of Dr. Pere Santamaria at University of Calgary, where researchers developed a vaccine that successfully reversed diabetes in mice. What’s more, the vaccine was able to target only those immune cells that were responsible for destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
“The hope is that this work will translate to humans,” said Dr. Richard Insel, chief scientific officer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “And what’s exciting is that they’ve opened up some pathways we didn’t even know were there.”
The other avenue of type 1 research that Insel said has progressed significantly this year is in beta cell function.
Pedro Herrera, at the University of Geneva Medical School, and his team found that the adult pancreas can actually regenerate alpha cells into functioning beta cells. Other researchers, according to Insel, have been able to reprogram other cells in the body into beta cells, such as the acinar cells in the pancreas and cells in the liver. This type of cell manipulation is called reprogramming, a different and less complex process than creating induced pluripotent stem cells, so there are fewer potential problems with the process, he said.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20101113/hl_hsn/diabetesresearchmadesignificantstridesinpastyear
Whole-Fat Dairy Products May Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study
12/21/10 Serena Gordon -HealthDay
MONDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that whole-fat dairy products — generally shunned by health experts — contain a fatty acid that may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The fatty acid is called trans-palmitoleic acid, according to the study in the Dec. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, and people with the highest blood levels of this fatty acid reduce their odds of diabetes by 62 percent compared to those with the lowest blood levels of it.
In addition, “people who had higher levels of this fatty acid had better cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower insulin resistance and lower levels of inflammatory markers,” said study author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, co-director of the program in cardiovascular epidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard School of Public Health.
Circulating palmitoleic acid is found naturally in the human body. It’s also found in small quantities in dairy foods. When it’s found in sources outside the human body, it’s referred to as trans-palmitoleic acid. Whole milk has more trans-palmitoleic acid than 2 percent milk, and 2 percent milk has more of this fatty acid than does skim milk.
“The amount of trans-palmitoleic acid is proportional to the amount of dairy fat,” said Mozaffarian.
Animal studies of the naturally occurring palmitoleic acid have previously shown that it can protect against insulin resistance and diabetes, said Mozaffarian. In humans, research has suggested that greater dairy consumption is associated with a lower diabetes risk. However, the reason for this association hasn’t been clear.
To assess whether this overlooked and relatively rare fatty acid might contribute to dairy’s apparent protective effect, the researchers reviewed data from over 3,700 adults enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study.
All of the participants were over 65 and lived in one of four states: California, Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of trans-palmitoleic acid, as well as cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and glucose levels. Participants also provided information on their usual diets.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/hqo9gi
CR thanks for this thread. Diabetes runs in my family and I am not yet diabetic but I watch my diet.
Your welcome COS!
APEC Ministers Vow to Fight New Trade Barriers, Protectionism
11/11/10 VOAnews.com
APEC ministers vowed to curb trade barriers and eliminate protectionism on the final day of their two-day meeting. The ministers are laying the groundwork for discussions when their leaders gather in a few days.
Trade and foreign ministers from 21 APEC countries on Thursday extended their pledge to avoid new trade barriers in the next years.
The ministers vowed to complete the Doha round of World Trade Organization talks next year. The Doha talks are aimed at increasing global trade, especially for poor nations.
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said the commitment will would lay the foundation for future prosperity, at a time when the global economic recovery is slowing.
At a news conference, Maehara said the agreement Thursday shows APEC has played and will continue to play a critical role in the global economy. It reaffirms APEC’s commitment to opening up Asia-Pacific economies to global trade.
APEC ministers also vowed to move forward with a larger goal of establishing a regional free trade zone involving all 21 member. The first step is a U.S. led trade agreement that eliminates tariffs in nine APEC countries in the next decade.
For the entire article: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/APEC-Ministers-Vow-to-Fight-New-Trade-Barriers-and-Protectionism–107205659.html
Obama seeks more market access, jobs for Americans
11/12/10 By BEN FELLER, AP White House Correspondent
YOKOHAMA, Japan – President Barack Obama appealed to Asian leaders Saturday for greater access to fast-growing markets, proclaiming “the United States is here to stay” and saying its prosperity is tied inextricably to the success of its Pacific trading partners.
“America is leading again in Asia,” Obama told a gathering of chief executives at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, stressing anew his goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years. “For America, this is a jobs strategy,” the president said. “In this region, the United States sees a huge opportunity to increase our exports in some of the fastest-growing markets in the world.”
At the same time, Obama said that healthy competition need not cause ruptures in relationships between and among nations.
“There’s no need to view trade, commerce or economic growth as zero sum games, where one country always has to prosper at the expense of another,” the president said. “The story of Asia over the last few decades is the story of change so rapid and transformative that it may be without precedent in human history,” Obama added.
While recognizing the spectacular economic growth in Asia, Obama said, “We want to get back to doing what America has always been known for: discovering, creating, and building the products that are sold all over the world.”
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101113/ap_on_bi_ge/obama_asia
November 07, 2010
Statement by President Obama on Burma’s November 7 Elections
The November 7 elections in Burma were neither free nor fair, and failed to meet any of the internationally accepted standards associated with legitimate elections. The elections were based on a fundamentally flawed process and demonstrated the regime’s continued preference for repression and restriction over inclusion and transparency.
One of the starkest flaws of this exercise was the regime’s continued detention of more than 2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, thereby denying them any opportunity to participate in the process. The unfair electoral laws and overtly partisan Election Commission ensured that Burma’s leading pro-democracy party, the National League for Democracy, was silenced and sidelined. The regime denied the registration of certain ethnic parties, cancelled elections in numerous ethnic areas, and stage-managed the campaign process to ensure that pro-democracy and opposition candidates who did compete faced insurmountable obstacles. Ultimately, elections cannot be credible when the regime rejects dialogue with opponents and represses the most basic freedoms of expression, speech, and assembly.
We will monitor the situation in Burma closely in the weeks and months ahead. The United States will continue to implement a strategy of pressure and engagement in accordance with conditions on the ground in Burma and the actions of the Burmese authorities. We renew our calls for the authorities to: free Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, cease systematic violations of human rights, begin to hold human rights violators accountable, and welcome pro-democracy and ethnic minority groups into a long-overdue dialogue. Only genuine, inclusive dialogue can place Burma on the path to a truly representative democracy which upholds human rights and builds a better future for its citizens.
Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi released
11/13/10 AP
YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military government freed its archrival, democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Saturday after her latest term of detention expired. Several thousand jubilant supporters streamed to her residence.
A smiling Suu Kyi, wearing a traditional jacket and a flower in her hair, appeared at the gate of her compound as the crowd chanted, cheered and sang the national anthem.
“If we work in unity, we will achieve our goal. We have a lot of things to do,” she told the well-wishers, who quickly swelled to as many as 5,000. Speaking briefly in Burmese, she said they would see each other again Sunday at the headquarters of her political party.
The 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, whose latest period of detention spanned 7 1/2 years, has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation ruled by the military since 1962.
The release from house arrest of one of the world’s most prominent political prisoners came a week after an election that was swept by the military’s proxy political party and decried by Western nations as a sham designed to perpetuate authoritarian control.
Supporters had been waiting most of the day near her residence and the headquarters of her party. Suu Kyi has been jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/9mhn7O
AP, Nov. 13, 2010:
Obama welcomes release of Aung San Suu Kyi
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — President Barack Obama on Saturday welcomed Myanmar’s decision to release a “hero of mine,” democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, following the expiration of her latest term of detention.
In a statement issued from Japan where he was attending a regional economic summit, Obama said he welcomed Suu Kyi’s “long overdue release” and issued a new call for the military leadership in Myanmar, also known as Burma, to free its remaining political prisoners.
Obama said Suu Kyi’s release doesn’t change the fact that she and the political opposition she represents has been “systematically silenced” and denied an opportunity to take part in political processes that could change her country.
“While the Burmese regime has gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace, and change in Burma,” Obama said. “She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world.”
“The United States welcomes her long overdue release,” he said….
http://bit.ly/azpmRH
POTUS calls for release of all political prisoners in Burma:
…. “Whether Ms Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political Opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced, incarcerated and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes that could change Burma,” he said from Japan, winding up an Asian trip. “It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one.” ….
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/international/obama-seeks-release-all-political-prisoners-948
Obama calls for earmark reform, GOP calls for ban
11/13/10 By JULIE PACE, AP
WASHINGTON – Confronting the nation’s mounting deficit, President Barack Obama is urging Congress to limit spending on pet home-state projects, while Republicans are challenging him to support an outright ban.
In his weekly radio and online address Saturday, Obama said that with the economy still struggling to recover from the recession, the U.S. cannot afford unnecessary spending on so-called earmarks, items lawmakers slip into spending bills without a full examination or debate.
“When it comes to signaling our commitment to fiscal responsibility, addressing them would have an important impact,” Obama said from Asia, where he was wrapping up a 10-day trip.
However, Obama stopped short of calling for a full ban on earmarks, saying some of them “support worthy projects in our local communities.” While he said steps must be taken to limit wasteful spending, he offered no specific proposals for how to do so.
The top Republicans in the House, Reps. John Boehner of Ohio and Eric Cantor of Virginia, issued a joint statement welcoming Obama’s remarks on earmark reform. But they also raised the stakes, challenging Obama to immediately agree to veto any spending bills that include earmarks.
“Washington has failed to prioritize the way that taxpayer dollars are spent, and shutting down the earmark process is a good first step to begin righting the ship,” Boehner and Cantor said in the statement.
Boehner and Cantor said House Republicans, including all newly elected lawmakers, will vote next week on a measure that would ban earmarks when the new session of Congress starts in January.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/97OpuF
Leadership struggle averted by House Democrats
11/13/10 By DAVID ESPO, AP
WASHINGTON – House Democrats averted a messy leadership struggle, clearing the way for Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer to become second in command of their new minority without a challenge from South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn.
Under an arrangement worked out in private, officials said late Friday that Clyburn would instead receive a new position, title unknown and duties undescribed, explicitly labeled the third-ranking post in leadership.
The maneuvering was described by Democratic officials after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a vaguely worded statement saying she intends to nominate Clyburn to a new No. 3 post. The statement made no mention of Hoyer, and officials who filled in the details did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not permitted to speak publicly about the matter.
Pelosi is assured of remaining Democratic party leader when the new Congress convenes in January under a Republican majority. She has drawn no opposition for the post even though several members of the rank and file have said they would prefer she step aside after historic election losses. The GOP gained at least 60 seats in midterm elections, more than enough to return to power after a four-year absence.
A race between Hoyer, D-Md., and Clyburn, D-S.C., for the post of party whip took shape in the days following the election and quickly took on racial overtones. Clyburn is the most powerful African-American in Congress, and he drew a formal endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus. But he failed to generate enough additional support to overcome Hoyer’s strength among liberals and conservatives alike, and it appeared his only options were to run against Hoyer and lose or else concede the obvious and step aside.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/dnKU93
Seven House races still undecided
11/12/10 By ALEX ISENSTADT & KASIE HUNT | POLITICO
Republicans gained at least 59 House seats in last week’s election, but they are positioned to win more. While Democratic incumbents hold leads in two of the still-contested races, they trail in five others, with thousands of ballots still to be counted.
Democrats Trailing
Illinois 8th District
Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean still trails Republican challenger Joe Walsh by about 250 votes, but she’s heading back to Washington next week anyway. “Trends show the gap has been narrowing…we do think things are going to continue to narrow,” Bean said on a conference call Friday. Walsh has already declared victory and will also be in Washington for a training session for new members.
Texas 27th District
Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz, who trails Republican challenger Blake Farenthold by about 800 votes, has asked for a manual recount and the paperwork was finalized Friday. State officials started notifying counties that a recount would begin shortly, and Ortiz has deposited $12,000 to cover costs in the event the recount does not change the election’s outcome. “Given the well-documented irregularities that have already come to light, it’s vitally important to have a full and accurate counting of every vote,” the Ortiz campaign said in a Friday statement.
North Carolina 2nd District
Democratic Rep. Bobby Etheridge is requesting a recount in his race against Republican Renee Ellmers, whom he trails by 1,489 votes — a margin of less than 1 percent. Local election officials completed their recanvass on Friday, and the recount is expected to be wrapped up by the end of next week.
New York 25th District
Republican Ann Marie Buerkle picked up 25 votes as Cayuga County completed its counting of absentee ballots on Friday, expanding her lead over Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei to 711 votes. Local election officials are set to begin the process of counting around 9,000 absentee and provisional ballots early next week.
New York 1st District
Republican Randy Altschuler is leading Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop by 383 votes as local election officials continue the process of auditing the ballots that were cast. Bishop’s campaign has called for a full manual recount.
Democrats Leading
California 11th District
Rep. Jerry McNerney is still leading Republican challenger David Harmer as the final votes continue to trickle in. McNerney declared victory earlier this week, though Harmer has yet to concede the race and the Associated Press hasn’t called it for McNerney.
California 20th District
Democratic Rep. Jim Costa still leads Republican challenger Andy Vidak by more than 1,200 votes, though VIdak has yet to concede the race and the Associated Press hasn’t called it. Officials expect the few remaining ballots to break for Costa.
Good morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Good Saturday Morning Everyone
It’s been a long week…..Please join me in lighting a candle for the President, his family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=pbo
Good morning and thank you Donna!
Good morning everyone. My candle is lit.
I was just reading the comments on the previous thread. Someone needs to pay a visit to Sarah Palin. I don’t know what protocol is, but this kind of crap needs to stop. We all need to figure out how to fix this mess we are in now. It keeps me up at night. How leaders are allowed to go out of this country and make all kinds of promises is beyond me. All I can say is this: The world saw how these same “leaders” behaved in the last decade and have seen much better days since President Obama has been in office. The American people are the only ones that are stupid enough to listen to these idiots and buy into what they and the media are selling. I am so done with all of them. No more cable news or news shows for me. No more clicking on Huffington Post even if it is a positive article. At some point we just have to say no to the foolishness.
Good morning Jackie
Good morning CR. How are you feeling? I hope you have a great Saturday.
Thanks for asking I’m getting better everyday! How are you doing?
CR – I’m just reading this, and am so glad you are doing better! Keep it up!
I was going to comment on this as well. Why would the Chinese listen to Winky-blinky-also too? Something does not seem right with this reporting of her having all this power. I’ve spent a lot of years dealing with the Chinese people of PRC, HK & S’pore, in their respective countries. Most prefer to deal with the male species; they will nod & smile and it takes a long time to understand “face”. I just don’t believe they would align themselves with WBAT after one visit a while back.
Yep. I believe it is another media narrative that tries to show someone has power and popularity when they do not. I am so done with them. John McCain lost. I think he doesn’t realize that he is only there because he is a “war hero.” We all know he is a blowhard. It is time that we just turn our backs to anything they have to say. My hope is the power of people will win, eventually.
Hi CanadaBarb! LOL….Winky-blinky-also
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
November 13, 2010
This weekend, I’m concluding a trip to Asia whose purpose was to open new markets for American products in this fast-growing part of the world. The economic battle for these markets is fierce, and we’re up against strong competitors. But as I’ve said many times, America doesn’t play for second place. The future we’re fighting for isn’t as the world’s largest importer, consuming products made elsewhere, but as the world’s largest manufacturer of ideas and goods sold around the world.
Opening new markets will not only help America’s businesses create new jobs for American workers. It will also help us reduce our deficits – because the single greatest tool for getting our fiscal house in order is robust economic growth. That kind of growth will require ensuring that our students are getting the best education possible; that we’re on the cutting edge of research and development; and that we’re rebuilding our roads and railways, runways and ports – so our infrastructure is up to the challenges of the 21st century.
Given the deficits that have mounted up over the past decade, we can’t afford to make these investments unless we’re also willing to cut what we don’t need. That’s why I’ve submitted to Congress a plan for a three-year budget freeze, and I’m prepared to offer additional savings. But as we work to reform our budget, Congress should also put some skin in the game. I agree with those Republican and Democratic members of Congress who’ve recently said that in these challenging days, we can’t afford what are called earmarks. These are items inserted into spending bills by members of Congress without adequate review.
Now, some of these earmarks support worthy projects in our local communities. But many others do not. We can’t afford Bridges to Nowhere like the one that was planned a few years back in Alaska. Earmarks like these represent a relatively small part of overall federal spending. But when it comes to signaling our commitment to fiscal responsibility, addressing them would have an important impact.
For the entire article; http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/13/weekly-address-president-obama-calls-earmark-reform
whitehouse | November 12, 2010
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The President explains his push for exporting American goods in Asia, and urges Congress to address earmarks as a signal of fiscal reform.
Administration: Mrs. Obama was powerful in India
11/13/10 Boston.com
YOKOHAMA, Japan—During three days in India, Michelle Obama danced with children and then danced some more. She played hopscotch and clasped hands with each of the 15 schoolgirls she joined for a museum field trip.
Images of her dancing with the children in Mumbai ran virtually nonstop on TV and were plastered across the newspapers.
For that, Mrs. Obama won glowing praise Saturday from administration officials who said the events she did on her own in India were among the most successful of President Barack Obama’s 10-day, four-country tour of Asia.
“She clearly reached the Indian people through her direct interactions with young Indians,” Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser to the president, told reporters Saturday.
Rhodes said events where the first lady engaged young people and spoke with them about their concerns sent “a very powerful message that we’re not just speaking to the Indian elite. We’re speaking to the broad Indian populace.”
Before introducing Obama at a town hall last Sunday in Mumbai, Mrs. Obama told a gathering of college students that she never imagined, growing up in a working-class Chicago neighborhood, that she would serve her country as first lady.
She kicked off her flats to shake her hips with children, and after touring the crafts museum she sat with the girls beneath a canopy of trees, sharing mango juice and entertaining their questions.
She urged the girls to get an education and study hard.
“I think her star power and her ability to send a positive message about America to the world was a real key takeaway of the Indian trip,” Rhodes said.
For the entire article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/11/13/administration_mrs_obama_was_powerful_in_india/
Here’s another nice writeup of our dear FLOTUS in case you haven’t seen it.
http://bit.ly/by9zCY
Love our FLOTUS!!
Obama’s iPad: iReggie
11/13/10 By: CNN White House Producer
Washington (CNN) – Apparently President Obama doesn’t need an iPad; he’s got an aide for that: iReggie.
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ retreat in Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday, a print pool reporter was within earshot of a brief exchange between the president and an iPad owner, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
“So you like your iPad?” Obama asked.
The Thai leader nodded and asked Obama if he had one.
“These days mostly I have someone carrying my books. So that’s my iPad,” Obama said, referring to personal aide Reggie Love.
Obama said as much in a New York Times interview last month. “I have an iReggie, who has my books, my newspapers, my music all in one place,” he told the newspaper.
For the entire article: http://bit.ly/dqnVCD
Happy Saturday, everybody!
CR, thank you for all the valuable information in this thread.
The “Daily Kat” has a new diary at Daily Kos:
The President at APEC: “America is leading again in Asia.”
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/13/920250/-The-President-at-APEC:-America-is-leading-again-in-Asia.
Kat, this is a dynamite diary. Thank you for getting the positive word out although the media choose to focus on the negative.
Thanks Cos. Every day as long as the computer and I still function!
Happy Saturday and thank you Kat!
Hi guys. I hope you’re all having a nice weekend . I just read this chilling diary and o have to rec it to you:
http://webkit.dailykos.com/stories/2010/11/13/920337/-.html
Good afternoon and thanks BWD
POTUS travels again next week, to Lisbon for meetings with NATO, the EU and Russia:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Obama-Prepares-To-Meet-With-NATO-EU-Medvedev-107585633.html
Thank Kat!
Hi guys. Kat, I tipped and rec’d your diary earlier today and posted that here, but it did not show up. Very strange. Anyway, thanks for all the positive info about our great President.
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
11/12/10 By John Boudreau – San Jose Mercury News
Excerpt:
Q How would you describe the popularity and image of President Obama and the United States in the Middle East now?
A You know, when he first took office, there were very high expectations. First and foremost, people were very optimistic that he would be instrumental in trying to solve the Middle East issue. His Cairo speech was inspiring to all in the Middle East. People were quite euphoric, actually. Unfortunately, the last round of Middle East peace talks have not given the results people were hoping for. So I think his popularity — how he is viewed — is very much contingent on progress in the Middle East peace process. So the more progress we see there, the more positively predisposed people (will be toward the United States).
For the entire article: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_16587606?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1
Good evening everyone! Hope you had a great Saturday.
Hi Sandy!
Obama’s Quiet Revolution
As the pundits scream, the president is revitalizing government
by John B. Judis, from The New Republic – July-August 2010
These days, liberals don’t know whether to feel betrayed by or merely disappointed with Barack Obama. From his health care plan to Afghanistan to Wall Street, Obama has thoroughly let down his party’s left flank.
Yet there is one extremely consequential area where Obama has done just about everything a liberal could ask for—but done it so quietly that almost no one, including most liberals, has noticed. Obama’s three Republican predecessors were all committed to weakening or even destroying the country’s regulatory apparatus: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the other agencies that are supposed to protect workers and consumers by regulating business practices. Now Obama is seeking to rebuild these battered institutions. In doing so, he isn’t simply improving the effectiveness of various government offices or making scattered progress on a few issues; he is resuscitating an entire philosophy of government with roots in the Progressive era of the early 20th century. Taken as a whole, Obama’s revival of these agencies is arguably the most significant accomplishment of his first year in office.
http://bit.ly/a6eOya
Thanks for that article Sandy!
Thanks, Sandy.
I found this on another site – it’s a letter someone sent to the president, and it moved me so much, i just had to bring it here for you to read:
Dear Barack, November 11, 2010
I am a 71-year old man, well educated, retired, and financially solvent. I’m a great fan of yours. I write in the wake of the election, which had to be even harder on you than it was on me. May I offer a word of encouragement?
First, thank you for giving yourself, heart, soul, and mind, to the task of being our president. Thank you for working so hard and so ably to save a country in dire straits from the follies of the last administration. You’ve done a wonderful job. Thank you for changing the way America was regarded in the world. Thank you for the emergency measures you took to avert a depression. Thank you for health care reform, for reining in the financial industry, for all you have done for education, for tax cuts for the middle class. Thank you for closing out our war in Iraq, for your commitment to ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, for your efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. Thank you for at least starting to call the country to the changes we need to make to save the planet.
I’ve never prayed for a president before. But you are such a rare gift, and in such a critical time, that I am stirred to do it. You are easily the best president of my lifetime, a person both intelligent and good, a rare phenomenon in the White House. I have prayed for you often–that God protect you, keep you strong, give you wisdom. What you are doing is so important, not just for our country but for the world. And, against powerful wealthy interests, it is all so difficult to do. All their stratagems show that they will stop at nothing to destroy you.
Will you stay the course for us nevertheless? Will you keep leading, keep holding up a vision, keep saying and doing the right thing even if it continues to meet misrepresentation and opposition? That is the hope that I and so many others repose in you.
I don’t see how you can possibly do it without spiritual resources, and I know you have them. I could be wrong, but I have this idea that, while in the Senate, you felt a call. You saw the needs. You saw the leadership vacuum. And you offered yourself. You knew it would be difficult. You just didn’t know it would be this difficult.
Abraham Lincoln, I believe, is one of your heroes. He is one of mine also. He suffered in the White House, day after day, in the long bleak winter of the Civil War. He held out, and the right thing was finally done.
I see your situation in much the same terms. And the question that troubles me is: If you don’t do it, who will?
I pray that you will not lose heart, Barack, even though the going just got even harder, but will find the strength deep inside yourself to carry on. May Michelle help you keep your perspective and your dedication. May the kids continue to bring you the joys that only kids can give. And may God continue to be your refuge and your strength.
Thank you for everything you have done. God bless you as the journey continues.
Thank you so very much BWD for sharing that with us!
BWD – Thank you, thank you, thank you!
CR – Duh – I can’t figure out how to cut and paste that letter from your wordpress blog. Is it not doable? (Signed: Anonymous in Illinois)
Hi Ms O’Boomer!
If you have trouble with your copy function try clicking the mouse outside of the browser area and then come back into the browser area and try highlighting the desired area and then instead of clicking on your mouse to copy use the functions on your menu screen.
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, CR! In a round-about way, it worked!
What a magnificent letter … which I’ve now forwarded to several folks who will enjoy it as much as I!
BWD, this letter is so touching. I sure hope this letter makes it to PBO’s desk. This would be such an inspiration for him. Thanks for sharing.
Obama responds to Japan paper
11/12/10 By MJ LEE | POLITICO
The biggest newspaper in the world, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, is reporting that it has received the “first interview granted to the Japanese press” by President Obama.
The newspaper said Friday, just before Obama attended a host of economic meetings in Yokohama, that th president had sent in a “written response” the day before to submitted questions. The Yomiuri Shimbun says Obama’s response touched on a number of issues, such as the Japan-China controversy over the Senkaku Islands, the Japanese-U.S. alliance and North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
“We look to China to assume responsibilities for addressing regional and global problems,” Obama wrote in his response.
The paper says Obama’s responses “appear to be an expression of caution against what many see as recent hegemonic behavior by China in the South and East China seas.” It also says Obama’s statement that China should abide by international laws “could be interpreted as a rejection of China’s attempt to unilaterally change the status quo concerning the Senkaku Islands, which Japan controls and administers as part of Okinawa Prefecture.”
Obama reportedly didn’t respond to the paper’s question about trade policies recently adopted by Japan.
Asian-Pacific leaders vow to work for freer trade
11/13/10 By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP
YOKOHAMA – Asian-Pacific leaders endorsed a blueprint for future growth Sunday that calls for pushing ahead with free trade agreements and rolling back protectionist measures put in place during the financial crisis.
Wrapping up the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the leaders of 21 economies put aside differences over currency policies to voice a strong commitment to increasing the trade and investment crucial to the region’s growth and resilience.
Leaders representing the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and other regional economies also agreed on the need to reduce trade imbalances and government debt and avoid sharp, potentially disruptive fluctuations in exchange rates.
While many participants remained at odds over currency policies and other issues, they appeared to agree on the vital role freer trade can play in sparking growth.
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving free and open trade and investment in the region,” the leaders said in a declaration released after the talks ended Sunday.
The leaders also agreed to take “concrete steps toward realizing a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific,” but set no timetable. The declaration said this goal should build on regional groupings such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a U.S.-backed free trade agreement that nine APEC members are negotiating.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/9Kvdxx
Obama tells Medvedev START vote is ‘top priority’
11/13/10 BEN FELLER- AP
YOKOHAMA, Japan – President Barack Obama, capping a far-flung Asian trip of mixed results, assured Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday that getting the Senate to ratify the START nuclear weapons treaty is a “top priority” of his administration.
“I reiterated my commitment to getting the START treaty done during the lame-duck session,” Obama said, noting that Congress returns next week for its postelection session.
In talks with Medvedev on the sidelines of the summit of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Obama also reiterated his support for bringing Russia into the World Trade Organization, calling Russia “an excellent partner.”
His bilateral talks with Medvedev took place on the final day of Obama’s 10-day Asian tour, his longest trip away from the White House. He left Washington still reeling from a stunning electoral defeat on Nov. 2 in balloting that allowed the Republicans to recapture control of the House from Obama’s Democratic Party.
The GOP already has set afoot an ambitious legislative plan of its own for the new Congress that convenes in January. But before that, a lame-duck session will have to confront lingering issues, including not only the START treaty but also decisions on whether to extend Bush era tax cuts and on the administration’s push for Congress to pass a law repealing the military’s ban on homosexuals serving openly in the service.
The START treaty, which has been pending in the Senate for months,would reduce the limit on strategic warheads to 1,550 for each country from the current ceiling of 2,200. It also would set up new procedures to allow both countries to inspect each other’s arsenals to verify compliance.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/cFUjzP
Remarks of President Obama and President Medvedev after bilateral meeting:
http://thepage.time.com/2010/11/13/198629/
RussiaToday | November 14, 2010 -
Russia and the U.S. have reaffirmed their commitment to slashing their countries’ nuclear arsenals. President Obama says ratifying the START treaty will be a top Senate priority. It came on fringe talks with Dmitry Medvedev at the Asia-Pacific summit, which has wrapped up in Japan.
Sunday Nov. 14, 2010
All Times Eastern
12:00 AM
12:10 AM
Pres Obama visits the Great Buddha of Kamakura.
1:00 AM
1:35 AM
Pres Obama departs Tokyo, Japan en route Anchorage, Alaska.
2:00 AM
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7:50 AM
Pres Obama arrives in Anchorage, Alaska.
8:00 AM
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Pres Obama departs Anchorage, Alaska en route Andrews Air Force Base.
10:00 AM
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12:30 PM
VP Biden delivers remarks at the opening dedication ceremony of the National Museum of American Jewish History.
1:00 PM
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Pres Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base.
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Pres Obama arrives at the White House.
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Nov 14 Live Feed Schedule
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
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CNN http://live.cnn.com/
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CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
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Kōtoku-in (高徳院?) is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo shū sect in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
The temple is renowned for its “Great Buddha” (大仏, daibutsu?), a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha which is one of the most famous icons of Japan.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha Buddha located at the Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The bronze statue probably dates from 1252, in the Kamakura period, according to temple records. It was preceded by a giant wooden Buddha, which was completed in 1243 “after five years of continuous labor”, the funds having been raised by Lady Inadano-Tsubone and the Buddhist priest Joukou of Toutoumi. That wooden statue was damaged by a storm in 1248, and the hall containing it was destroyed, so Joukou suggested making another statue of bronze, and the huge amount of money necessary for this and for a new hall was raised for the project.
Details
* Weight; 93 tons
* Height; 13.35m
* Length of Face; 2.35m
* Length of Eye; 1.0m
* Length of Mouth; 0.82m
* Length of Ear; 1.90m
* Length from knee to knee; 9.10m
* Circumference of thumb; 0.85m
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtoku-in
AP, Nov. 13, 2010:
Obama makes return visit to sacred Buddha statue
President Barack Obama made a return visit to the Great Buddha statue in Japan, noting “I was only 6″ the last time he visited the sacred site….
Obama sat with his hosts and ate a green tea ice cream treat — the same kind he had there as a child — and toted away a bag of gifts.
“It is wonderful to return to this great treasure of Japanese culture. Its beauty has stayed with me for many years,” Obama wrote in the guest book, the White House said.
The president noted he bought two bracelets at the site for his daughters, Malia and Sasha.
http://bit.ly/bBmiq1
President Obama in Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Japan
http://theobamadiary.com/2010/11/14/obamatcha/#comment-4358
Hi, CR – I couldn’t access the video of the Great Buddha visit from that site (looks like they are referring folks to youtube).
Here it is, in all its sweetness, from youtube:
Did anyone see this. It was made before the elections, but is spot on.
Hi, I ‘m a Tea Partier
Netanyahu presents U.S. settlement plan to cabinet
11/14/10 By Ari Rabinovitch Ari Rabinovitch -Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a U.S. plan to his cabinet on Sunday that would extend a freeze on West Bank settlements for 90 days in return for diplomatic and security incentives.
Washington wants Israel to renew a freeze on settlement building in efforts to resume peace talks with Palestinians, who in September halted negotiations after just a few weeks when Israel refused to extend a 10-month settlement freeze.
Under the U.S. proposal, if Israel extended the freeze Washington would pledge not to seek further extensions and to veto any attempts at the United Nations to force a unilateral peace settlement.
U.S. security aid to Israel would also be upgraded.
“I will insist that in any proposal Israel’s security needs will be addressed, both in the immediate term and regarding the threats facing us in the coming decade,” Netanyahu said in public comments before the cabinet meeting.
The prime minister has previously said any settlement moratorium will not apply to areas around East Jerusalem that Israel captured during a 1967 war and the Palestinians want as the capital of a future state.
One official in Netanyahu’s office said the proposal had “positive elements.” Israeli political sources said a narrow majority in Netanyahu’s security cabinet, which is ultimately responsible, would likely support accepting the U.S. proposal.
For the entire article: http://yhoo.it/9sZ60i
Good morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Good morning CR. HOPE you have a great Sunday.
Good morning Jackie!
We have fallen down on the job of keeping the candles lit. Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, First Family and the Nation. Welcome Home Mr. President!
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Thank you Jackie!
I have had two candle lit during POTUS & FLOTUS’ Asia trip; one for a successful productive trip and one for our nation.
Today I will light two candles; one for our nation and another for POTUS and FLOTUS to have a safe return trip home to the White House.
AMERICANS BETTER WAKE UP SOON BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS KIND OF PROTEST IN OTHER STATES! DON’T LET YOUR STATE FOLLOW ARIZONA.
Neo-Nazi march met by protesters in Phoenix
PHOENIX — Members of a neo-Nazi group had to be escorted by police as they marched through downtown Phoenix today on their way to rally in support of anti-immigration efforts.
Protesters in opposition to the neo-Nazis blocked streets and tried to disrupt the march at a number of points along the way. Phoenix police officers in riot gear were forced to use pepper spray to disburse the protesters, who were throwing rocks at the marchers and at officers.
The marchers were headed to the Federal Court building at 400 W. Washington Street. Protesters blocked the march route at Jefferson Street at 8th Avenue and refused to leave when ordered to by police.
Police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said no serious injuries were reported and two individuals were arrested for throwing rocks at officers.
In recent years, members of the Neo-Nazi group known as the National Socialist Movement have held a number of marches in Arizona in support of tougher anti-immigration efforts.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Tear-gas-used-to-break-up-neo-Nazi-107801469.html
So sad
It really is sad. The report doesn’t even make clear that the Neo-Nazi’s were there to support SB1070. The report says anti-immigration efforts, which is a totally watered down description. I would like to know if national news picked it up at all. I quit cable so I have no idea.
UH (University of Hawaii) is 1 of 2 universities eyeing an Obama library
11/14/10 HERBERT A. SAMPLE, AP
HONOLULU – Barack Obama hasn’t even finished the second year of his first term in the White House, but officials with two universities that are interested in building his presidential library are already positioning themselves to win the Hawaii-born president’s favor.
The University of Hawaii is well into early preparations — including preliminary searches for potential sites, talks with National Archives officials and deliberations on what if any new academic center might accompany an Obama library and museum.
The University of Chicago, located in the city where Obama’s political career began, signaled an interest a year ago but is saying very little now.
And Obama is saying even less. Asked to discuss Obama’s views about a presidential library, a White House spokesman simply said, “No comment.”
Nonetheless, Hawaii is unabashed in wanting to be ready when the time comes to bid.
“This is something that presidents typically think about toward the end of their presidency, and Obama hopefully is still toward the beginning of his presidency,” said Robert Perkinson, an American Studies professor who is helping lead UH’s effort.
“So it’s not surprising that (Obama) doesn’t want to think about it. But those of us who are interested in bidding, we have to think about it a lot earlier than he does,” Perkinson said.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101114/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_library_hawaii
Good afternoon O friends.
Whoever wins the bid for PBO’s libray will be lucky. I visited Clinton’s Presidential library and I could have stayed all day. I can imagine how fascinating PBO’s library will be. Thank God that he made it back safely. Welcome home Mr. President.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0gBR4RLg6kaX0?q=barack
Welcome home President Obama and First Lady Michelle!
http://theobamadiary.com/2010/11/14/home-5/
We are on the same wavelenghth CR.
Hope you are having a great Sunday.
City of Obama, Japan (Obama, Fukui)
Obama (小浜市, Obama-shi?) is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It faces Wakasa Bay due north of Kyoto, and is about four to five hours by train from Tokyo. As of October 1, 2005, the city had an estimated population of 32,185 and a density of 138.22 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 232.85 km².
Obama gained much publicity in the United States and elsewhere in 2008 because it shares its name with the then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. The city is a popular tourist attraction with major attractions such as Obama Castle.
The city of Obama has received much publicity because it shares the name of U.S. President Barack Obama. It began when Obama as a Senator gave a 2006 interview to Japanese television network TBS where he noted that, when passing through customs in Narita Airport, an official looking at his visa said that he was from Obama. The Obama City Hall heard about the interview and the mayor, Toshio Murakami, sent Senator Obama a set of the city’s famous lacquer chopsticks, a DVD about the city and a letter wishing him the best. As Senator Obama’s presidential campaign progressed, more local businesses began to organize primary parties and put up “Go Obama!” posters, sell “I love Obama” T-shirts, and produce manjū (a type of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama’s face on them. A hula group began in the town in honour of Senator Obama’s home state of Hawaii. The troupe visited Honolulu in June to perform at the Pan Pacific Festival.
President Obama has since thanked the town for their gifts and support, saying “I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better, freer world”.
There are a number of Japanese with the surname Obama. Though the American President is of Kenyan Luo heritage, it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike. As a result of the victory by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, the Mayor of Obama City announced to the Japanese press that he intends to commission a statue of Barack Obama to be put in front of the city hall “as a token of the great historical moment for the name Obama”.
On January 20, 2009, the day that Barack Obama was sworn into office, the city of Obama celebrated with women dancing the hula at the Hagaji Temple to celebrate the inauguration.
On November 14, 2009, President Obama sent out his “greetings and gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan” in his Asia policy speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
Source: Wikipedia
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Hashi (chopsticks) from Obama, Japan
The letter says:
Dear Mayor Murakami,
I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to the city of Obama for your support and encouragement and thank you for your thoughtful gifts.
I understand that Obama is a city of rich culture, deep traditions, and natural beauty. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is exciting to hear that you are engage in debates that reach beyond your shores. We share more than a common name; we share a common planet and common responsibilities. I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better future world.
I am touched by your friendly gesture and I wish you all the best.
Barack Obama
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Travel diary of Obama, Japan
http://www.michaelpanda.com/blog/2009/12/2008-autumn-roadtrip—part-x.html
Obama talks to pool on AF1 on ride back to DC.
PRESS GAGGLE BY THE PRESIDENT
Aboard Air Force One En Route Joint Base Andrews
2:17 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: All right, what do you got?
Q. Highlight of trip for you, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: What’s that?
Q. What’s your takeaway from the trip? What’s your sense of –
THE PRESIDENT: You know, the — a couple of things. Number one, I think all of Asia is eager for American engagement and leadership. We saw that in India; we saw it in Indonesia; we saw it in — during the G20 and we saw it during APEC.
Read more: http://thepage.time.com/2010/11/14/potus-speaks/#ixzz15J454jA3
Thanks COS!
Happy Sunday night, everybody!
Our computer has been down and may be down again. But my daily DK diary is pubished:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/14/920432/-Remember-November:-Presidential-Proclamations-linked-by-Affordable-Care-Act
Now I will scroll backward here to see what’s been happening!
>^..^<
There you are!!!!
Kat that is a great and informative diary. I recommended it.
Kat – Great diary! Why does every subject sound even more special and precious when PBO recognizes it? He gives everything he touches a bit of grandeur, I think. He beckons us to reach a higher level within ourselves, each and every day.
I’m a little late, but still want to recognize this great diary. Shame that DK is all but lost any connection to reality. They really have no idea how bad they are now.
Thanks, Kat.
Oh, just wanted to add that i didn’t tipped it because i can’t tip and recommend anymore. But i really appreciate your hard work.
Kat did you or CR watch David Plouffe today on C-span discussing the elections? I really enjoyed it. Since this interview was on November 10, I am probably a little behind. He is confident that PBO will be elected for a second term. He also discusses the tea party and how they have made any moderate or normal republican afraid to run for president.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/237473
No, I missed it…thanks COS!
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