Show your appreciation by volunteering, donating or sending a message of thanks for the troops.
VOLUNTEER
- Find a service opportunity- Search for service opportunities by zip code or interest and take action in your community here. Powered by allforgood.
- Pledge service hours - Pledge service hours in honor of the service military families, veterans and service members here. Powered by allforgood.
DONATE TO A CHARITY THAT HELPS OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY
- Better Business Bureau’s List of Veterans & Military Charities http://charityreports.bbb.org/national/veterans-and-military/
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SEND A MESSAGE OF THANKS
- Send a message of support to a military family through a simple web form here. Powered by USO. All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9.
For more information:http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
All Times Eastern
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President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey.
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President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters participate in a service event.
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November 23, 2011
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
10:30 AM EST
President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey.
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CNN http://live.cnn.com
10:30 AM EST
President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey.
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CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
10:30 AM EST
President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey.
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Annual-White-House-Thanksgiving-Turkey-Pardon/10737425738/
Holiday Mail for Heroes
Posted by Brad Cooper on November 04, 2011
In the Hall of the historic American Red Cross headquarters, I heard from several current and former members of the military who spoke poignantly about what it meant to receive a touch of home during the holiday season. I was inspired to sign my own card and now want to make sure to let the American people know how they can participate in the program, too.
If you’d like to make a hero feel special this holiday season, please consider sending a card to
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9.
If you’d like to help us spread the word about this program, or to find tips for getting your friends, church members, scout troops, and family together to make and send cards together, the American Red Cross encourages you to visit their blog. Over the last four years, millions of cards have been sent to support our services members. By joining forces, our military will continue to get the support we all want them to feel this holiday season and throughout the year.
Brad Cooper is the Executive Director of Joining Forces
Weekly Address: Giving Thanks for Those Who Serve
From: whitehouse | Nov 24, 2010
The President expresses gratitude to America’s military men and women and their families, and discusses the steps his administration is taking to help create jobs so that next Thanksgiving, Americans can give thanks for a stronger economy.
The First Lady Shares her Message of Thanks to the Troops and their Families
From: whitehouse | Sep 9, 2010
First Lady Michelle Obama shares her Message of Thanks to the Troops and their Families. Submit your message of thanks as a video response, and see if your message is featured on Whitehouse.gov/salute
Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden shares her salute to the troops
From: whitehouse | Aug 27, 2010
Visit Whitehouse.gov/Salute and share your message on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or Youtube.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Sifting Fact from Fiction
MARCH 16, 2012 David Stone BY THE WORLD ⋅
Summary: One of the most misunderstood aspects of homecoming is post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anchor Marco Werman asks David Stone to separate fact from fiction.
Stone is a veteran himself and a counselor at the Boston Vets Center.
For the audio interview: http://www.theworld.org/2012/03/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-sifting-fact-from-fiction/
NATIONAL CENTER for PTSD Home
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster.
To learn more: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
Welcoming Home Our Veterans
Published on Jul 23, 2012 by BarackObamadotcom
Learn more: http://OFA.BO/ooJZtN
Since day one, President Obama has made it a priority to keep the sacred trust we hold with those who wear the uniform of the United States and their families.
In advance of the President’s remarks at the VFW Convention in Reno, Obama for America released this video that discusses the President’s commitment to keeping our nation’s sacred promise to our veterans. This video highlights a St. Louis parade organized to welcome our servicemembers home from Iraq.
Learn how President Obama continues to better serve those who have served this nation and how you can get involved with Veterans and Military Familes for Obama: http://OFA.BO/ooJZtN
Karl Marlantes on What It’s Like to Go to War
July 27, 2012 billmoyers
Summary: Bill talks to Karl Marlantes — a highly-decorated Vietnam veteran, Rhodes Scholar, author, and PTSD survivor — about what we on the insulated outside need to understand about the minds and hearts of our modern warriors. Marlantes shares with Bill intimate stories about how his battlefield experiences both shaped and nearly destroyed him, even after returning to civilian life.
“’Thou shalt not kill’ is a tenet you just do not violate, and so all your young life, that’s drilled into your head. And then suddenly, you’re 18 or 19 and they’re saying, ‘Go get ‘em and kill for your country.’ And then you come back and it’s like, ‘Well, thou shalt not kill’ again. Believe me, that’s a difficult thing to deal with,” Marlantes tells Bill. “You take a young man and put him in the role of God, where he is asked to take a life — that’s something no 19-year-old is able to handle.”
For the audio interview: http://billmoyers.com/segment/karl-marlantes-on-what-its-like-to-go-to-war/
The ‘Darkhorse’ Battalion And Wartime Sacrifice
11/22/11 NPR
NEAL CONAN, HOST:
This is TALK OF THE NATION. I’m Neal Conan in Washington. Just over a year ago, the Marine’s Darkhorse Battalion left Camp Pendleton for a tour in Afghanistan’s Sangin District, seven months when they lost 25 men killed and over 200 injured, the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit in Afghanistan.
Still, they say it was worth it. The experience of this famous unit is just one example of the enormous sacrifices of the U.S. military, sacrifices many civilians struggle to grasp. A recent Pew study found that more than 80 percent of recent veterans say the American public has little or no understanding of the problems they face in the military, and most of the public agrees.
Lance Corporal Jake Romo served with Darkhorse, the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marines. He was on his first deployment when he lost his legs in an explosion in February. He joins us today from the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, where he does physical therapy. Nice to have you with us today.
LANCE CORPORAL JAKE ROMO: Hey, how are you doing?
CONAN: Good, well, that’s my question to you: How are you doing?
(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)
ROMO: I’m great.
CONAN: And maybe, is one of the things we don’t understand, somebody able to say, after losing two of their legs, I’m doing great?
ROMO: Yes, it’s hard for people to wrap their heads around for sure.
CONAN: How is it that you explain it to them, or do you?
ROMO: Well, I guess it depends on the person asking because, you know, I mean, the question by itself, you know, is presented a lot. But it depends, you know, how they’re – it really depends how they’re asking it. And so a lot of people are sympathetic. A lot of people, you know, have a lot of pity. It’s – you know, it just depends.
You know, to me it doesn’t seem nearly as big a deal as people make it out to be, I guess.
CONAN: And pity, I suspect pity is not one of those things that’s all that welcome.
ROMO: No, no. You know, not that – I should say first that me and my family are very, very grateful at all the well-wishes that people have. But pity is just not – I would say it’s almost insulting for those who have sacrificed, I mean, just to see that coming back at them. It’s just not – I don’t know how you – any other way to say it.
CONAN: And I wonder: This must have happened to you both before and after the IED explosion that cost you your legs. People come up to you and say thanks for your service.
ROMO: Oh sure, all the time.
CONAN: And how does that make you feel?
ROMO: Well, yeah, I mean, I’m very appreciative. I mean, it’s – it’s definitely well-received, but there’s a lot of – there’s a lot that you can tell people don’t understand about it. You know, like I said, you can tell a lot of what people feel is pity. You know, people seem to think that we’re taking it harder than we actually are.
You know, we all went into Afghanistan knowing that we – I should say that we already made the sacrifice before we even went. We knew what we were getting ourselves into, and we made that sacrifice willingly. Of course, there’s exceptions. You know, people weren’t expecting – you know, it’s one thing to play it out in your mind, another to actually live it.
But I can say for the vast majority of people who have lost, and I can speak with confidence for those who didn’t come back, knowing them, that they would do it again.
For the entire article and audio interview: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142661874/the-darkhorse-battalion-and-wartime-sacrifice
Thank you President Obama! Has there ever been an Administration that worked so hard for our troops, veterans and miltary families? Have a First and Second Lady ever been such active partners?
I second that appreciation to our troops, veterans and military families!
November 16, 2011
Presidential Proclamation — Thanksgiving Day, 2011
THANKSGIVING DAY, 2011
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
One of our Nation’s oldest and most cherished traditions, Thanksgiving Day brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives. The observance recalls the celebration of an autumn harvest centuries ago, when the Wampanoag tribe joined the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony to share in the fruits of a bountiful season. The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives. We take this time to remember the ways that the First Americans have enriched our Nation’s heritage, from their generosity centuries ago to the everyday contributions they make to all facets of American life. As we come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate, let us set aside our daily concerns and give thanks for the providence bestowed upon us.
Though our traditions have evolved, the spirit of grace and humility at the heart of Thanksgiving has persisted through every chapter of our story. When President George Washington proclaimed our country’s first Thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing God for shepherding our young Republic through its uncertain beginnings. Decades later, President Abraham Lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the worst of civil war, and to restore the Nation “to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”
In times of adversity and times of plenty, we have lifted our hearts by giving humble thanks for the blessings we have received and for those who bring meaning to our lives. Today, let us offer gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their many sacrifices, and keep in our thoughts the families who save an empty seat at the table for a loved one stationed in harm’s way. And as members of our American family make do with less, let us rededicate ourselves to our friends and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand.
As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come.
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 Thursday, November 24, 2011, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to come together whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in North America had originated from a mix of European and Native traditions. Typically in Europe, festivals were held before and after the harvest cycles to give thanks for a good harvest, and to rejoice together after much hard work with the rest of the community. At the time, Native Americans had also celebrated the end of a harvest season. When Europeans first arrived to the Americas, they brought with them their own harvest festival traditions from Europe, celebrating their safe voyage, peace and good harvest. Though the origins of the holiday in both Canada and the United States are similar, Americans do not typically celebrate the contributions made in Newfoundland, while Canadians do not celebrate the contributions made in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
Obama to pardon thanksgiving turkey
Nov 19, 2011 By ANI – ANIK
Washington, November 19 (ANI): President Obama is going to honour the tradition reportedly started by his predecessor and pardon a turkey at this year’s Thanksgiving.
He will pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey On Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in a ceremony in the Rose Garden.
The President will celebrate the 64th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation, reflect upon the time-honored traditions of Thanksgiving, and wish American families a warm, safe, and healthy holiday, a White House release said..
After the pardoning, the turkeys will be driven to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. The National Thanksgiving Turkey will be on display for visitors during ‘Christmas at Mount Vernon,’ a special program through January 6.
After the holidays, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate will live in a custom-made enclosure at Mount Vernon’s nationally recognized livestock facility. (ANI)
Turkey Basics by USA.gov
* Top Ten Turkey Safety Tips
* Fresh or Cooked, Domestic or Wild
* Turkey Thawing Chart
* Safely Stuffing a Turkey
* Turkey Roasting Techniques & Recipes
* Roasting Chart
* How to Carve a TurkeyTurkey
* Leftover Turkey
US soldiers mark last Thanksgiving in Iraq
Nov 20, 2011 By W.G. Dunlop – AFP
US soldiers gathered for an early Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday due to an impending switch to field rations at a base near Baghdad, saying they are glad they will soon be going home.
The official Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is later this week, but the last “dining facility,” or DFAC, at the sprawling Victory Base Complex (VBC) on Baghdad’s outskirts closed on Sunday, as US forces prepare to depart.
Soldiers and contractors, about 6,600 of whom are still at VBC, dined at tables decorated with colourful paper turkeys and “Happy Thanksgiving” signs hanging overhead.
“We’re going to do the Thanksgiving meal here today instead of on Thursday, because we’re closing out,” said 38-year-old Staff Sergeant Christopher Quimbly, the DFAC manager.
“Today on the menu, we have crab legs, turkey, ham, dressing, yams, green beans, rolls, corn bread, mashed potatoes, (and) a variety of deserts,” he said.
“Over 2,000 pounds (almost 900 kilograms) of turkey, over 2,000 pounds of ham” and “probably about 3,000 pounds of mashed potatoes” are being served, he said.
But starting with dinner on Sunday, soldiers will have to make do with bagged field rations, Quimbly said.
“I’m thankful for everything here, I’m thankful every day. … This means a lot. I’ve started off over here, seen this DFAC stood up, and I’m over here when it’s closing down,” he said.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/us-soldiers-mark-last-thanksgiving-iraq-155103470.html
Thanksgiving MRE
From: DODvClips | Nov 21, 2011
Airmen stationed at Sather Air Base in Iraq ate a Thanksgiving meal of MREs to show solidarity for the airmen at Ali Base who chose to have their Thanksgiving meal early, on the last day their dining facility served hot meals.
Economy would suffer if tax cut, jobless aid end
11/22/11 By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER | AP – 3 hrs ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A tax cut that reaches 160 million Americans and government aid for the long-term unemployed will expire at the end of the year — and suck $165 billion out of the economy next year — unless Congress takes action.
Economists hoped the so-called congressional supercommittee would decide whether to extend both measures. But the committee couldn’t even agree on how to reach its main goal, cutting $1.2 trillion from the federal budget deficit.
If the tax cut goes away, the average family would pay about $1,000 more in taxes next year, the equivalent of an extra tank of gas every two weeks. Someone earning $100,000 would pay $2,000 more.
And if long-term unemployment benefits are allowed to expire, about 6 million people would lose weekly checks averaging about $300. For most of the long-term unemployed, that is their main source of income.
“There’s an awful lot of uncertainty ahead,” said Michael Hanson, senior U.S. economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Both changes would leave Americans with an estimated $165 billion less to spend. The Federal Reserve expects the economy to grow only 2.7 percent next year, and economists say the expiration of the two programs could reduce growth by a full percentage point.
The government said Tuesday that the economy grew at a 2 percent rate in July, August and September, down from earlier estimates of 2.5 percent.
To bring unemployment down significantly, the economy has to grow more than twice as fast as it grew this summer.
Congress could extend the tax cut and unemployment benefits when it returns from Thanksgiving recess next week. But the same partisan philosophical differences that sank the supercommittee could complicate the debate.
At the same time, Congress may be unwilling to force what is essentially a tax increase on tens of millions of Americans just as an election year begins.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/economy-suffer-tax-cut-jobless-aid-end-221438156.html
President Obama’s Record on Taxes
Posted by Matt Compton on November 22, 2011
Right now, President Obama is going all out to extend the payroll tax cut for the middle class — and expand it for 2012.
And that effort underscores an important fact: This President has proposed and enacted thousands of dollars of tax relief for American families and small businesses.
In his first year in office, President Obama cut taxes for 95 percent of working families through the Recovery Act with the Making Work Pay tax cut.
With that same piece of legislation, he created the American Opportunity Tax Credit — which is currently helping more than 9 million families afford the cost of college.
The Recovery Act also lowered the threshold for refunds through the Child Tax Credit — providing a tax cut to 11.8 million working families.
The President also expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit for families with three or more children — giving them a tax cut of up to $640 this year.
President Obama has passed tax cuts for small businesses 17 times. These measures range from allowing corporation to expense 100 percent of their new investments until the end of 2011 to creating a new deduction for health care costs for the self-employed.
And just this week, the President also signed legislation to create tax credits for businesses that hire veterans.
If Congress passes the American Jobs Act, a typical family of four would see their taxes decrease an additional $2,325 — bringing their total tax relief to about $5,425 for the President’s first term. That number goes up if the family is helping their kids pay college tuition.
That number goes up if the family is helping their kids pay college tuition.
This lower tax rate hasn’t come about through happenstance. It’s a product of hard work from President Obama. Those of us in the middle class have more money in our pockets because the President made it a priority.
And it’s going to take more hard work between now and the end of the year to keep things that way.
See more about Taxes
Veterans Get Boost as Obama Signs Tax Credits Into Law
Nov. 21, 2011 By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. – American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON,– President Barack Obama delivered a clear message today when he signed two new tax credits into law to increase the hiring of military veterans and wounded warriors.
“For businesses out there, if you are hiring, hire a veteran,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do for you, it’s the right thing to do for them, and it’s the right thing to do for our economy.”
In August, Obama called on Congress to enact tax credits, included in the American Jobs Act, that will help to get unemployed veterans back to work.
“While we’ve added more than 350,000 private-sector jobs over the last three months, we’ve got 850,000 veterans who can’t find work,” the president said. “And even though the overall unemployment rate came down just a little bit last month, unemployment for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan continued to rise.”
Obama said “that isn’t right,” and he lauded veterans as the “best that America has to offer.”
“They are some of the most highly trained, highly educated, highly skilled workers that we have,” he said. “If they can save lives on the battlefield, then they can save a life in an ambulance.
“If they can manage convoys moving tons of equipment over dangerous terrain,” he continued, “they can manage a company’s supply chain. If they can track millions of dollars of assets in Iraq, they can balance the books of any company here in the United States.”
For the entire article: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66181
CBO: Obama stimulus helping economy
11/22/11 By Erik Wasson – The Hill
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Tuesday that President Obama’s 2009 stimulus package continues to benefit the struggling economy.
The agency said the measure raised gross domestic product by between 0.3 and 1.9 percent in the third quarter of 2011, which ended Sept. 30. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that GDP in that quarter was only 2 percent total.
CBO said that the stimulus also lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.2 and 1.3 percentage points and increased the number of people employed by between 0.4 million and 2.4 million.
“CBO estimates that, compared with what would have occurred otherwise, [the stimulus] will raise real GDP in 2012 by between 0.1 percent and 0.8 percent and will increase the number of people employed in 2012 by between 0.2 million and 1.1 million,” a Tuesday report adds.
By CBO’s numbers, the $800 billion stimulus added up to 0.9 million jobs in 2009, 3.3 million jobs in 2010 and 2.6 million jobs in 2011. As the effects of the stimulus wind down, Obama has been pushing Congress to enact a $447 billion jobs bill that includes infrastructure spending and tax cuts.
Good Wednesday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Please join me in lighting a candle for the President, the First Family and the Nation.
Gratfulness Candles http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=pbo
Durable goods orders ex-transportation up in October
11/23/11 Reuters – 10 mins ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New orders for a range of long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly rose in October, but sharp downward revisions to the prior month’s data and weak spending plans by businesses suggested manufacturing was taking a breather.
The Commerce Department said on Wednesday durable goods orders excluding transportation rose 0.7 percent after a downwardly revised 0.6 percent increase in September.
Economists had forecast this category unchanged from the previously reported 1.8 percent rise.
But weak demand for transportation equipment saw overall orders falling 0.7 percent after declining 1.5 percent in September.
Economists had forecast overall orders dropping 1.0 percent last month.
Durable goods range from toasters to big-tick items such as aircraft which are meant to last three years and more.
Overall orders were dragged down by a 4.8 percent drop in bookings for transportation equipment as orders for civilian aircraft dropped 16.4 percent last month. Boeing received only 7 orders for aircraft, according to the plane maker’s website, down from 59 in September.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/pD08p
Consumer spending up slight 0.1 percent in October
11/23/11 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER | AP – 5 mins ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers barely increased their spending in October but their incomes rose by the most in seven months. The rise in take-home pay could boost spending during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that spending increased 0.1 percent last month, the poorest gain in four months. But incomes increased 0.4 percent, the best showing since March.
Private wages and salaries drove the income gain.
The slight October gain in consumer spending represented a big slowdown from a 0.7 percent September increase. Spending on durable goods such as autos showed a solid increase but spending on nondurable goods such as food and clothing fell.
Some economists predicted spending would slow because consumers spent more over the summer while earning less. Consumer spending is important because it makes up 70 percent of economic activity.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/consumer-spending-slight-0-1-percent-october-133735621.html
Fact-Checking The GOP Debate: What The Candidates Said On National Security
11/23/11 Bill Adair – NPR
Bill Adair, editor of PolitiFact.com and Washington bureau chief for The St. Petersburg Times, wrote about about how candidates at Tuesday night’s GOP debate rated on PolitiFact’s Truth-O-Meter for PolitiFact.com and It’s All Politics:
The CNN Republican debate on national security Tuesday night had some of the most lively and substantive discussion of the campaign. The eight candidates answered questions posed by policy experts from the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation.
The result was some fresh insight into how the candidates agreed and disagreed on style, diplomacy and military strategy.
Asked about his plans for dealing with Iran, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he planned to close the country’s main bank. “When you sanction the Iranian Central Bank, that will shut down the economy.” We checked that claim with experts and found a mixed reaction about whether it would have that big an impact. PolitiFact Texas rated it Half True.
Mitt Romney repeated a claim we’ve heard a few times before, that President Obama “apologizes for America.” We’ve looked in detail at Obama’s speeches and found that’s not true. We’ve rated it Pants on Fire.
In a discussion about the need to attract more skilled immigrants, Michele Bachmann said that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had told Obama he had to build a factory in China because it had the 30,000 engineers that were needed. Bachmann’s account matches a description in the new biography of Jobs by Walter Isaacson. We rated her claim True.
Newt Gingrich touted his proposal for overhauling Social Security, which he said is based on a pair of private-sector retirement-security programs — one in the South American nation of Chile and one in Texas. He said, “In Chile, for example, they have 72 percent of the GDP in savings.” We initially gave that a rating of False. But we’ve gotten some additional information about the claim, so we’ll be publishing a revised item soon at PolitiFact.com.
Next Up…
10:30 AM EST
President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey.
The White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Annual-White-House-Thanksgiving-Turkey-Pardon/10737425738/
November 23, 2011
Remarks by the President at the Pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey
North Portico
10:40 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Well, it is wonderful to see all of you here today. Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome to the White House.
Tomorrow is one of the best days of the year to be an American. It’s a day to count our blessings, spend time with the ones we love, and enjoy some good food and some great company. But it’s also one of the worst days of the year to be a turkey. (Laughter.) They don’t have it so good.
The rare exception, of course, are the two birds who’ve joined me today. Now, is Peace here, or just Liberty? Just Liberty is here, but Peace is back here somewhere. Some of you may know that recently I’ve been taking a series of executive actions that don’t require Congressional approval. (Laughter.) Well, here’s another one. We can’t wait to pardon these turkeys. (Laughter.) Literally. Otherwise they’d end up next to the mashed potatoes and stuffing.
I want to thank Richard Huisinga, the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation, and his wonderful family for donating this year’s turkey from his farm in Willmar, Minnesota. The turkey’s name is Liberty — there he is — and along with his understudy named Peace, he has the distinction of being the luckiest bird on the face of the Earth. Right now, he’s also probably one of the most confused. (Laughter.)
Liberty was chosen from a flock of about 30 other contestants for the honor of being here today. And for the first time in history, these two turkeys were raised by four students from nearby Willmar High School.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/23/remarks-president-pardoning-national-thanksgiving-turkey
I’m not pardoning any of them.
Both of you are so funny! Love the cartoon.
Happy and HOPEful Thanksgiving Eve, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
Happy and HOPEful Thanksgiving Eve Kat!
Happy Thanksgiving, Kat!
For Thanksgiving, Debunk Your Family’s Chain Emails
11/23/11 by BILL ADAIR – NPR
At Thanksgiving dinner, there’s probably a good chance you’ll end up sitting beside your uncle.
You love your uncle, but you could do without all those chain emails that he forwards to you, the ones that claim the government is forcing you to get rid of your light bulbs, that “Obamacare” is going to put a tax on home sales and that President Obama fits the biblical description of the Antichrist. (Note to uncles: We’re not singling you out. Chain emails get forwarded by aunts, grandparents and plenty of other relatives.)
So as part of our Message Machine partnership with NPR, PolitiFact has put together this handy guide to chain emails and other viral messages. Hide it under the green bean casserole and you can pull it out if your uncle brings up the chain emails.
You should start by telling tell him that the emails are nearly always wrong. PolitiFact has checked 104 claims from emails and rated 80 percent of them “False” or “Pants on Fire.” Only 4 percent of the claims have earned a “True.”
The emails, heavy on exclamation points and ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, are typically sent by conservatives who dislike Obama. Lately, though, we have seen a new phenomenon on Facebook, where liberal supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement have been spreading messages, some of which aren’t accurate. (More about them in a moment.)
The chain emails cover a few broad themes:
Obama is unpatriotic! E-mails have said Obama complained that the troops were whiners (Pants on Fire), that he refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance (False) and that he wants soldiers to take a loyalty oath to him rather than the Constitution (Pants on Fire).
Democrats have passed a secret tax! Some recent emails claim that because of “Obamacare,” monthly Medicare premiums will more than double by 2014 (Pants on Fire) and that home sales will be taxed 3.8 percent (Pants on Fire) to pay for the new health care law. Another one in this genre says Obama’s finance team is seeking a 1 percent tax on all financial transactions (Pants on Fire).
Perks of office. Another theme in the emails is that members of Congress get excessive perks. The emails say members of Congress get full retirement pay after one term (Pants on Fire) and that congressional staffers and members don’t have to repay their student loans (Pants on Fire).
The government is coming for your guns/health data/light bulbs! Some of the conspiracy theories are truly wacky. During the health care debate, one claimed that under the public option for health care coverage, people would be implanted with data-storing microchips (Pants on Fire). A more recent email claimed the government was mandating that everyone get rid of their existing light bulbs (Pants on Fire). Another email said you must list your guns on your tax return (Pants on Fire).
We’re not sociologists, so we don’t speculate on why conservatives have been spreading most of the chain emails — or why liberals have recently adopted a similar technique on Facebook for messages supporting Occupy Wall Street.
This week, we checked a widely circulated Facebook post that said 1 percent of Americans are millionaires compared with 47 percent of House members and 56 percent of senators. We found the numbers were off, particularly for the share of Americans who are millionaires (actually 9 percent), so we rated it Half True.
Likewise, many people were posting a message that said Republicans in Congress have introduced dozens of bills on religion, marriage, abortion and gun control, but zero bills on job creation. We found that was ridiculously false because the blog post it was based on included bills from both parties and there was no category for job creation. We rated it Pants on Fire.
The Facebook messages and the chain emails have this in common: They are spread by people who are passionate about their political beliefs. That’s not a new phenomenon, of course, but what’s different today is that people can spread their passion so quickly, to so many people, through emails and Facebook. They impulsively forward the emails and postings without bothering to see if they are accurate.
So tell your uncle to stop passing along the false emails — or check PolitiFact first. But it would be great if he could just pass the mashed potatoes.
Bill Adair is editor of PolitiFact.com and Washington bureau chief for the St. Petersburg Times.
Great idea to read before the upcoming holiday!
4:20 PM EST
President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters participate in a service event.
DC area, Washington
The First Family Visits Capital Area Food Bank For Thanksgiving Community Service
NOVEMBER 23, 2011 obamafoodorama.blogspot
On the chilly, drizzly eve of Thanksgiving, the First Family on Wednesday afternoon continued a longstanding tradition of holiday community service with a visit to Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast Washington, DC. President Obama, First Lady Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha and First Grandmother Marian Robinson chatted with patrons as they handed out recyclable green shopping bags full of holiday groceries to a crowd of excited visitors.
“Happy Thanksgiving to you!” President Obama said repeatedly, and asked people their names and holiday plans.
For the entire article: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/11/first-family-visits-capital-area-food.html
GOODBYE, SALEH
11/23/11 POLITICO44
On a quiet day at the White House, President Obama released a statement approving of the Gulf Cooperation Council agreement that will usher Yemen’s president out of power.
“This represents an important step forward for the Yemeni people, who deserve the opportunity to determine their own future,” Obama is quoted as saying in the statement.
“I welcome today’s action by the Yemeni government and the opposition to sign a political agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council to form a government of national unity within 14 days and hold early presidential elections within 90 days. In particular, the United States welcomes President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s decision to transfer executive powers immediately to the Vice President in accordance with the agreement. This represents an important step forward for the Yemeni people, who deserve the opportunity to determine their own future.
“For ten months, the Yemeni people have courageously and steadfastly voiced their demands for change in cities across Yemen in the face of violence and extreme hardship. Today’s agreement brings them a significant step closer to realizing their aspirations for a new beginning in Yemen. The United States urges all parties to move immediately to implement the terms of the agreement, which will allow Yemen to begin addressing an array of formidable challenges and chart a more secure and prosperous path for the future. The United States will continue to stand by the Yemeni people as they embark on this historic transition. We also acknowledge the important work done by our GCC partners in supporting this step forward.”
November 23, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on Bahrain
We welcome today’s report by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which provides a thorough and independent assessment of events in Bahrain since protests first erupted in February. King Hamad’s decision to establish the Commission was a courageous one, and we commend him for it. We commend the chairman of the Commission, Cherif Bassiouni and the other commissioners for their thorough and painstaking efforts over nearly 5 months. The report identifies a number of disturbing human rights abuses that took place during this period, and it is now incumbent upon the Government of Bahrain to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and put in place institutional changes to ensure that such abuses do not happen again.
We welcome King Hamad’s commitment to carry out the report’s recommendations and will closely follow the implementation process. More broadly, we believe the Commission’s report and subsequent steps taken to implement its recommendations can serve as a foundation for advancing reconciliation and reform. Bahrain is a long-standing partner of the United States, and we urge the government and all parties to take steps that lead to respect for universal human rights and to meaningful reforms that meet the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
All Times Eastern
President Obama receives the daily briefing
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November 24, 2011
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/
Hi, CR and O’family – Just wanted to make sure I wished y’all a most Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone is with family and/or friends on the big day, or otherwise enjoys a peaceful day of rest!
You are all special to me as fellow Obama supporters – and because of all of the other attributes you bring to this blog and our mutual “cause” in other venues! (That cause would be: Obama-Biden 2012!)
Have a great day tomorrow, all! And, CR, thanks for reminding us to never forget our brave military folks around the world who are working so hard to keep us secure – and (as you also have reminded us) to never forget “all the ships at sea”!
Luv ya, all.
CR, Kat, Jacqueline and friends I just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your dinner and don’t eat to much.
HOPE that you have a happy Thanksgiving also COS!
HOPE you have a happy Thanksgiving Ms O’Boomer!
Happy Thanksgiving and much love to ALL you O-friends!
>^..^<
West Wing Week 11/24/11 or “Your Best You”
From: whitehouse | Nov 23, 2011
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, the President wrapped up an 8 day tour demonstrating American leadership and opening up economic opportunity for America in the Asia Pacific region. Upon his return he signed legislation to help our veterans find jobs, traveled to New Hampshire to urge Congress to cut payroll taxes for workers and small businesses, and pardoned two turkeys. That’s November 18th to November 24th or “Your Best You.”
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The White House
From my family to yours, I’d like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Like millions of Americans, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will spend the day eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are.
As Americans, each of us has our own list of things and people to be thankful for. But there are some blessings we all share.
We’re especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas. To all the service members eating Thanksgiving dinner far from your families: the American people are thinking of you today. And when you come home, we intend to make sure that we serve you as well as you’re serving America.
We’re also grateful for the Americans who are taking time out of their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters, making sure their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay. This sense of mutual responsibility – the idea that I am my brother’s keeper; that I am my sister’s keeper – has always been a part of what makes our country special. And it’s one of the reasons the Thanksgiving tradition has endured.
The very first Thanksgiving was a celebration of community during a time of great hardship, and we have followed that example ever since. Even when the fate of our union was far from certain – during a Civil War, two World Wars, a Great Depression – Americans drew strength from each other. They had faith that tomorrow would be better than today.
We’re grateful that they did. As we gather around the table, we pause to remember the pilgrims, pioneers, and patriots who helped make this country what it is. They faced impossible odds, and yet somehow, they persevered. Today, it’s our turn.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/23/weekly-address-thanksgiving-grateful-men-and-women-who-defend-our-countr
Thank a Hero
Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on November 24, 2011
Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise phone call to Jessica Allen, the wife of an Army veteran who was deployed in Afghanistan earlier this year, to thank her and her family for their service and sacrifice. Check out the video their conversation.
There’s no better time than the holidays to let our servicemembers know how grateful we are for everything that they do. That’s why Joining Forces has partnered with the USO to create a nationwide interactive thank you card. Just fill out a note and it will be added to a map along with messages from people all over the country, showing our troops and their families just how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. If we each do our part, our veterans and their families will get the recognition they deserve this holiday season.
Today, First Lady Michelle Obama encourage all Americans to send a message of Thanks From Everywhere in a message to the White House email list. If you didn’t get the email, be sure to sign up.
Every Thanksgiving, Barack sits down to call some of our troops and thank them for their service.
When he tells me about these conversations, it always reminds me of how blessed we are to live in a country where men and women will stand up to protect our freedoms and preserve our way of life. And whenever I’ve had the chance to meet with these heroes and their families, I’ve always walked away inspired by their courage and in awe of their strength.
I can’t think of any better way to spend Thanksgiving than letting our servicemembers know how grateful we are for everything that they do. So this year, we’re making it easy to do just that.
We’ve partnered with the USO to create a program called Thanks From Everywhere. To get involved, simply visit JoiningForces.gov/Thanks and write a quick note that troops and veterans all over the world will be able to see.
Add your message to Thanks From Everywhere http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/11/24/thank-hero
Panetta Issues Thanksgiving Message to Troops, Families
Nov. 22, 2011 American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today offered his gratitude to service members and their families in a Thanksgiving message.
Here is the secretary’s message:
For the past 10 Thanksgivings, our nation has been at war. For 10 Thanksgivings, our troops have been deployed to the battle zones and around the world, defending our freedom and putting their lives on the line.
We are thankful for your service and for your steadfast commitment to keeping all of us safe. Our thoughts and prayers will also be with your families, whose love, support and sacrifice are essential to your success.
I know that this can be a difficult time for service members and their loved ones who must spend it apart from each other. To those deployed away from home, and to their families: You are making a real difference every day and keeping our country strong and safe.
As all Americans pause to take stock of our blessings of freedom and liberty, I want you to know that we can only do so because of your willingness to bear the burden and hardship of providing for our security.
For the entire article: http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=66206
Chairman, Senior Enlisted Advisor Send Thanksgiving Wishes
Nov. 23, 2011 American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the chairman’s senior enlisted advisor, signed a joint letter today wishing service members and their families a happy Thanksgiving.
Here is the text of their letter:
Happy Thanksgiving! This year, as every year, we give special thanks to you in uniform who serve our Nation. We are truly blessed by your service. We also want to thank our military family – the spouses, children, parents and grandparents of our troops – for all its sacrifices. We are proud of you, and we admire your courage.
America faces grave economic challenges, and we want you to know that we are working with our Nation’s leaders to address those challenges. We will remain the best military in the world, and we will keep faith with you, your families, and our veterans. We promise that we will demonstrate as much courage in meeting this challenge as you demonstrate every day, around the world, protecting our country.
Wherever you are serving on this Thanksgiving Day, in uniform or out, know that we are thankful for your service.
Logistics Agency Provides Thanksgiving Meals
Nov. 21, 2011 By Nick Sistrun – Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support
PHILADELPHIA, – Service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as U.S. State Department employees serving there, will be able to savor the familiar taste of home on Thanksgiving Day thanks to the efforts of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support workers here.
More than 270 dining facilities have received their food deliveries and are postured to serve the special Thanksgiving holiday fare.
Deliveries included 168,000 pounds of turkey, 37,800 pounds of stuffing, 93,876 pounds of beef, 43,560 pounds of sweet potatoes, 24,000 pounds of shrimp, 34,560 pies and 25,800 pounds of cranberry sauce, along with other holiday treats.
“America’s military is a special group of heroic men and women who continually make sacrifices for our freedom,” said Navy Rear Adm. David Baucom, DLA Troop Support commander. “It is our duty and covenant to show our gratitude by providing them the very best our country has to offer for the holidays.”
As the U.S. military mission winds down in Iraq, the State Department has been increasing its personnel there and using DOD’s food supply chain infrastructure. As a part of the arrangement, State Department employees and service members eat together in the same dining facilities.
For the entire article: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66167
Getting Turkey To The Troops
November 23, 2011
Summary: Guy Raz speaks with Rich Faso, director of customer operations for the Defense Logistic Agency’s Troop Support Subsistence supply chain. Faso is in charge of the effort to get Thanksgiving meals to American troops overseas for the holiday.
For the audio interview: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/23/142723598/getting-turkey-to-the-troops
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Happy and HOPEful Thanksgiving, CR and all friends! I am thankful for three years of President Obama — looking forward to five more!! I am also thankful for ProPresObama.org!
>^..^<
Now to work — time to feed the cat and bake pumpkin bread!
Happy and HOPEful Thanksgiving Kat!
I too am thankful for President Obama! I am also thankful for of YOU!
Obama/Biden 2012
Taliban leader captured
11/24/11 By POLITICO STAFF
Wali Mohammad, a Taliban leader, and four others were detained on Thursday while traveling from Pakistan to southern Afghanistan, according to Lt. Gregory P. Keeley from the NATO International Security Assistance Force. The five were carrying “a quantity of bomb making materials,” Keeley added, saying that security forces seized those materials in the Nahr-e Saraj district.
Mohammed fled Afghanistan during a 2008 raid and was “closely connected” to Taliban leadership, Keeley said.
Asking For Quiet: How To Defuse Thanksgiving Spats
11/24/11 by NPR STAFF
The Thanksgiving holiday offers a chance to connect with family and enjoy a relaxing meal. But it doesn’t always happen that way — especially when political arguments break out at the table. We asked our audience to share their stories on NPR’s Facebook page, and the responses came rolling in.
Stef Work echoed the sentiment of many, saying, “I don’t think I am alone when I find the visits too long and the social graces too few.”
And Kat Burdick wrote: “My parents are Catholic, Republican, Penn State alums. This year at Thanksgiving, we’ll feature six straight hours of talking about the cats.”
To help navigate the rocky waters of politics and family, we consulted a member of what some consider America’s biggest and most dysfunctional family: Congress.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican, is the co-founder of the House Civility Caucus, a group she began along with Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, “to try to bring to Congress respectful and civil debate,” she tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep.
“I think we both recognize that the language, the disrespect and the volume is too high, and too cutting,” Capito says. “So we’re trying to reach across the aisle; we’ve had a couple of breakfasts, to just get to know each another a little bit better.”
For the entire article and audio interview: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/24/142659850/asking-for-quiet-how-to-defuse-thanksgiving-spats
Happy Thanksgiving CR and Kat. I echo everything you all said about PBO. Have a besautiful Thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey.
I feel so blessed and thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to our troops.
Happy Thanksgiving COS!
Happy Thanksgiving COS!!
And pie. DOn’t anybody forget the pie.
President Obama likes his pie
2011 Obama White House Thanksgiving Menu
NOVEMBER 24, 2011 obamafoodorama.blogspot
President Obama and the First Family are celebrating Thanksgiving in the White House with a traditional menu starring turkey and six different kinds of pie, including Pumpkin Pie and Banana Cream Pie. The Obamas will share their Thanksgiving with unidentified “friends, family and staff,” according to the White House. The feast will be created with bounty from First Lady Obama’s Kitchen Garden, according to assistant chef Sam Kass. Honey from the White House Beehive will also be used for the dishes.
“Like millions of Americans, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will spend the day eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are,” President Obama said today.
In addition to turkey, the Thanksgiving table will be laden with ham, two kinds of stuffing, five side dishes including macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole, and dinner rolls. The show-stopping pies also include Apple, Cherry, Huckleberry, Sweet Potato, and Pumpkin. The President is a fanatic for pie, and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses has said that Banana Cream Pie is his favorite. Yosses’ Apple Pie recipe is here.
2011 Obama Family White House Thanksgiving Menu
Turkey
Ham
Cornbread Stuffing
Oyster Stuffing
Side Dishes
Greens
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Macaroni and Cheese
Dinner Rolls
Dessert
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Banana Cream Pie
Cherry Pie
Huckleberry Pie
For the entire article: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/11/2011-obama-white-house-thanksgiving.html
YUM.
Obama Makes Thanksgiving Calls To Troops
NOVEMBER 24, 2011 obamafoodorama.blogspot
In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, President Obama made calls to US military service members this morning, at around 9:00 AM ET from the Oval Office.
According to the White House, “President Obama called 10 members of our armed services – two from each the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy – deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. The President thanked each of them for their service and sacrifice and wished them and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.”
The President’s weekly address also thanked the troops, and today First Lady Michelle Obama sent out an e-mail asking Americans to join the Joining Forces/USO “Thanks From Everywhere” campaign.
On Wednesday morning, President Obama granted a Thanksgiving pardon to turkey Liberty and his alternate Peace during the annual White House ceremony. In the afternoon, the First Family packed holiday grocery bags at a local food bank.
A Surprise Call From The First Lady
From: whitehouse | Nov 23, 2011
The First Lady makes a surprise call to Military Spouse Jessica Allen, mother of two, who spends all of her free time trying to help other young wives in the same situation she is in. Her husband, Charles (Chaz) Allen is in the Army and was injured while deployed in Afghanistan earlier this year. He lost both of his legs and is currently recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Jessica has been by his side throughout his recovery all while maintaining her career as a Tax and Financial Advisor at her own tax preparation business. She works with wounded warrior spouses, especially at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The hospital calls her a Model Military Spouse and the Command has asked her to be a liaison between spouses and the Command.
Bless him!
President Obama is a wonderful human being
Giffords serves Thanksgiving meal at Ariz. base
11/24/11 By BOB CHRISTIE and MATT YORK | AP – 39 mins ago
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords helped serve a Thanksgiving meal to service members and retirees at a military base in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz.
Giffords arrived in the dining hall at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base at midday Thursday wearing a ball cap and an apron with her nickname of “Gabby” sewn on the front. She was accompanied by her retired astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, who also donned an apron.
Giffords used only her left hand as she served, a sign that physical damage remains from the injuries she suffered when she was shot in January.
Kelly supported her from her left side as she worked the turkey station on the serving line. He served ham.
Afterward, she mingled with service members, exchanging pleasantries and mostly one word greetings and responses.
She did tell Airman 1st Class Millie Gray, of Kansas City, Mo., “Happy Thanksgiving, thank you for your service.”
Gray said she had intended to only grab a plate and head back to her dorm to eat, until she heard that Giffords was going to be there.
“She’s such an inspiration and her story is so inspirational, it really made me proud. I felt very proud and very humble,” Gray said. “It just feels really good to see that she is out here supporting the troops, and just continuing to be an inspiration and a strong role model for Americans in general.
“She was very warm, asked how our meal was, which, of course, was amazing. The food is awesome,” Gray said. “She and her husband were very, just delightful and asked a lot of questions. It was just very warm-hearted, and I told her she was an inspiration and she was very thankful for that.”
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/giffords-serves-thanksgiving-meal-ariz-204134168.html
Rep. Giffords sounds like an incredible person!
Did you see the TV interview with her and her husband a couple of weeks ago? Amazing woman. And a great partenrship. Both very strong.
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