Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.
The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of Dr. King. The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994. Since 1996, the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service. has been the largest event in the nation honoring Dr. King. In honor of MLK, volunteers across the country donate their time to make a difference on this day.
Explore the mlkday.gov site to learn more about MLK Day and how you can participate. Below area few links to get you started.
Monday, January 16 , 2012
All Times Eastern
President Obama receives the presidential daily briefing
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
Vice President Biden Speaks at 17th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9:50 AM
President Obama Speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Volunteers
Washington, DC
The first family participates in a service project.
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama attend the Let Freedom Ring Celebration
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
January 16, 2012
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
9:00 AM EST
Vice President Biden Speaks at 17th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Audio Only)
9:50 AM EST
President Obama Speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Volunteers
Washington, DC (Audio Only)
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
9:50 AM EST
President Obama Speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Volunteers
Washington, DC
—-
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
8:00 AM EST
National Action Network: Annual King Day Breakfast
9:50 AM EST
President Obama Speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Volunteers
Washington, DC http://www.c-span.org/Events/National-Action-Network-Hosts-Martin-Luther-King-Day-Breakfast/10737427120/
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern era and a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. His charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world.
Following in the footsteps of his father, in February 1948, at the age of 19, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. entered the Christian ministry and was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In 1954, upon completion of graduate studies at Boston University, he accepted a call to serve at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. While there, he was an instrumental leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, made famous by the nonviolent resistance and arrest of Rosa Parks. He resigned this position in 1959 to move back to Atlanta to direct the activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1960 until his death in 1968, he also served as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dr. King was arrested 30 times for his participation in civil rights activities.
While Dr. King preached about justice, empowerment, love and peace, in the final months of his life, his attention was turned to fighting poverty. Sadly, more Americans live in poverty today than during Dr. King’s lifetime. Forty-seven million Americans currently fall below the poverty line.
Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and died on April 4, 1968. He had gone to Memphis to help lead sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable working conditions.
Learn more about Dr. King’s life from The King Center website at http://www.thekingcenter.org
Martin Luther King, Jr. by USA.gov
MLK Day of Service, Jan. 16, 2012 http://mlkday.gov/
Biography http://www.thekingcenter.org/history/about-dr-king/
MLK Day Legacy Videos http://mlkday.gov/promote/videos.php
Timeline and Documents http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/chronology_contents
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial http://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm
Historic Speeches and Interviews http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/king/
About Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 17, 2011 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.
What is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service?
After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986, making 2011 the 25th anniversary of the King federal holiday.
In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” . The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”
http://mlkday.gov
MLK Day Legacy of Service – 25th Anniversary
Uploaded by nationalservice on Jan 14, 2011
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the course of history and inspired us to build what he called “the beloved community.” The King Legacy of Service 25th Anniversary video tells the story of how Dr. King’s birthday evolved into a national day of service. Featuring civil rights luminaries such as Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, and Ruby Bridges, the 6-minute video reminds us of the importance of keeping Dr. King’s legacy of service alive and challenges us to make service a part of our lives ─ everyday of the year.
January 13, 2012
Presidential Proclamation — Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2012
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., FEDERAL HOLIDAY, 2012
- – - – - – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On a hot summer day nearly half a century ago, an African American preacher with no official title or rank gave voice to our Nation’s deepest aspirations, sharing his dream of an America that ensured the true equality of all our people. From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired a movement that would push our country toward a more perfect Union.
At a time when our Nation was sharply divided, Dr. King called on a generation of Americans to be “voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion.” His example stirred men and women of all backgrounds to become foot soldiers for justice, and his leadership gave them the courage to refuse the limitations of the day and fight for the prospect of tomorrow. Because these individuals showed the resilience to stand firm in the face of the fiercest resistance, we are the benefactors of an extraordinary legacy of progress.
Today, Dr. King is memorialized on the National Mall where he once spoke, a symbol of how far our Nation has come and a testament to the quiet heroes whose names may never appear in history books, but whose selflessness brought about change few thought possible. Dr. King’s memorial reminds us that while the work of realizing his remarkable dream is unending, with persistence, progress is within our reach.
On the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we celebrate the man who fought for the America he knew was possible. Dr. King’s faith in a God who loves all His children and a Nation grounded in the promise of equality would not let him rest until victory was won. As we work to meet the challenges of our time from fixing our schools so every child gets a world class education to ensuring all Americans have access to strong and secure economic opportunity let us draw strength from Dr. King’s stirring affirmation that “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” In his memory, let us continue climbing toward that Promised Land, one more fair and more just for all people.
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 January 16, 2012, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service
projects in honor of Dr. King, and to visit http://www.MLKDay.gov to find Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service projects across our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
January 16, 2012
President Obama, Cabinet Secretaries, and Senior Administration Officials Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service by Participating in Community Service Projects and Events Throughout the Country
WASHINGTON, DC – To honor the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service and Dr. King’s life and legacy, the President and Mrs. Obama, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, and other senior administration officials participated in community service projects and events throughout the country. Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the King Center, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for all Americans to come together to help meet the needs of their communities and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year.
“Today, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And we should honor that legacy by acting as drum majors for service and lifting up those less fortunate – not just today, but every day,” President Obama said. “All of us can find a way to give back to our communities, to gain new skills, and to pull together, even when times are hard. That’s what Dr. King believed in, and that’s what will make our country stronger.”
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/16/president-obama-cabinet-secretaries-and-senior-administration-officials-
2012 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PRAYER BREAKFAST
January 16th, 2012 – 08:00am
MLK Day 2012
2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Prayer Breakfast
“King, Don’t Just Celebrate,
Emulate“
Monday, January 16th, 2012
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Highlights:
Berry Gordy, Founder of Motown Records
Alexis Herman, First African American to be appointed as U.S. Secretary of Labor
Reverend Sharpton Presiding
http://nationalactionnetwork.net/events/80/2012-martin-luther-king-jr-day-prayer-breakfast/
Great information as always, CR!
Thanks Kat!
Hey CR, this is a fantastic thread. I am looking forward to watching allf the King Day celebrations tomorrow.
Hey COS! Yes, I am looking forward to all the events as well
President Obama, First Family Will Mark MLK Day With Community Service And Concert
JANUARY 16, 2012 obamafoodorama.blogspot
President Obama, his Cabinet Secretaries and top Administration officials will mark the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and the legacy of Dr. King in Washington, DC, and around the US on Monday. At 9:50 AM, the President and the First Family will participate in a community service project in the Washington, DC area, according to the White House. It is an annual tradition: For their 2011 service project, the First Family painted smiling vegetables on the cafeteria walls of Stuart Hobson Middle School in Northeast DC. MLK Day fell on First Lady Obama’s birthday last year; she turns 48 tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 17th.
In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama will attend the Let Freedom Ring Celebration at the Kennedy Center at 6:00 PM. The concert features Grammy Award–winning vocalist Bobby McFerrin and includes the Let Freedom Ring Choir, led by Rev. Nolan Williams.
Meantime, on Monday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Chicago, Illinois, to speak to Rainbow PUSH to “highlight USDA advancements on Civil Rights and the Obama administration’s settlement of the Pigford lawsuit,” according to the White House. The $1.5 billion settlement for Pigford II; the longstanding racial bias suit brought by African American farmers against USDA was certified by a federal judge last October, after President Obama signed into law the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, on Dec. 8, 2010. In 2011, USDA released a report on its progress with civil rights issues; download the full report here [PDF] and the summary here.
For the entire article: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/01/president-first-family-will-mark-mlk.html
Bobby McFerrin and the Let Freedom Ring choir
washingtonpost
The Grammy Award-winning singer headlines an annual free performance celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights champion Martin Luther King Jr. The concert is held jointly with Georgetown University. Free tickets (up to two per person) will be distributed at 5 p.m. the day of the concert in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations. At the Concert Hall.
Good Monday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Next Up…
9:00 AM EST
Vice President Biden Speaks at 17th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Audio Only)
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Remarks to follow
Next Up…
9:50 AM EST
President Obama Speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Volunteers
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live (Audio Only)
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/National-Action-Network-Hosts-Martin-Luther-King-Day-Breakfast/10737427120/
January 16, 2012
Remarks by the President at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service Event
Browne Education Campus
Washington, D.C.
9:57 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Well, good morning, everybody!
AUDIENCE: Good morning!
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, this looks like an outstanding group, I can already tell. I’m not going to make a long speech, because we’re here to do some work. But mainly what I want to do is just to say thank you to all of you for participating. I know there are a lot of organizations that are represented here today. We are so glad to be at this outstanding school where we’re going to be doing a whole bunch of stuff to make it — make the facilities even better than they already are.
But this is the third year now that Michelle and Malia and usually Sasha is here — she couldn’t make it today — that we provide or engage in some sort of service on Dr. King’s birthday. And there’s no better way to celebrate Dr. King than to do something on behalf of others.
I know there’s been a lot of controversy lately about the quote on the memorial and they’re changing it and making some modifications, but if you look at that speech talking about Dr. King as a drum major, what he really said was that all of us can be a drum major for service, all of us can be a drum major for justice. There’s nobody who can’t serve. Nobody who can’t help somebody else. And whether you’re seven or six or whether you’re 76, then you can find opportunities to make an enormous difference in your community. And at a time when the country has been going through some difficult economic times, for us to be able to come together as a community, people from all different walks of life, and make sure that we’re giving back, that’s ultimately what makes us the strongest, most extraordinary country on Earth, is because we pull together when times are good, but also when times are hard. And you guys all represent that.
So on behalf of our family, we want to say thank you. I’m sure Dr. King, were he here, he’d want to say thank you. And I look forward to spending some time next to you guys. Hopefully I have some good instructors here so that I don’t mess anything up. So if you’re putting a paintbrush in my hands, make sure that I’ve got some very clear lines, and I’ll try to stay within them.
All right? Thank you, everybody. God bless you. Thank you. (Applause.)
END
10:00 A.M. EST
How we should celebrate Dr. King in 2012
Posted by Rev. Al Sharpton on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 3:07 p.m. ET
Every year, we pay homage to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the month of January. Most offices are closed, kids are home from school, and people generally enjoy the day off from their normal routines. But how many of us take the time to emulate Dr. King’s teachings? How many of us actually understand the fight he waged on our behalf? How many of us emulate his nonviolent dedication to defending the poor and seeking economic justice in society? In 2012, instead of just verbally praising Dr. King, we should continue his quest for equality and tackle today’s greatest civil rights challenges. Then and only then will we truly understand the depth and meaning of celebrating Dr. King’s life, legacy, and purpose.
One of Dr. King’s last efforts prior to his untimely death was the Poor People’s Campaign. Combatting issues of economic injustice and housing for the poor, the campaign included an “Economic Bill of Rights” and efforts to lobby elected officials to pass progressive legislation. Because Dr. King intently understood that the most vulnerable and disenfranchised in society were the poor, he dedicated much of his own life to giving them a platform, fighting for their rights and creating a society where they would no longer be dehumanized. Today, as many politicians cut vital programs like food stamps and unemployment insurance, the poor are increasingly watching their concerns fall on deaf ears and their voices drowned out in a sea of political wrangling. That is precisely why we cannot sit silently in the face of oppression. Until the weakest among us are afforded the same opportunities as the wealthiest, we cannot in good conscience accept that the fight for justice is complete.
For the entire article: http://www.democrats.org/news/blog/category/MLK
PBO can turn any problem into a teaching moment and get us focused on what really matters. And the message is always, we are in this together and we can make it work together. So good.
Of course they should have gotten the quote right to begin with. PROOFREADING before carving in stone.
Obamas home after Kennedy Center event
1/16/12 8:41 PM EST POLITICO44
The first couple attended “Let Freedom Ring” featuring Bobby McFerrin. According to the pool report, “The president, wearing a dark suit and tie, and Mrs. Obama, in a black dress, waved as they were greeted with a standing ovation and cheers from the audience.”
At one point during the musical tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, “The Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr., music director for Let Freedom Ring, told the story of the 1961 “Freedom Riders’’ who rode interstate buses to make their point that it was illegal to discriminate in public transportation. The riders were arrested when they crossed into Mississippi and confined behind bars in Jackson, Miss., where they sang ‘Buses Are A-coming’ to taunt their jailers. The Rev. Williams suggested to the president that this song might be tweaked into a good campaign slogan, as in ‘Buses Are Still A-coming.’ “
Good morning CR and PPO Family. HOPE you have a terrific Monday.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our beloved President, First Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Good Monday morning and thank you Jackie!
Wow!!! 66 candles from 4 countries now!!
I posted the candle link on the Obama Diary and asked that we light 80 candles, as Dr. King turned 80 on January 15. It took only a few minutes and it reached 81. Very pleased.
Good and HOPEful Dr. King Day, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
Good and HOPEful Dr.King Day Kat!
2 Americans honored for catching terrorist suspect
1/16/12 By DAVID RISING | Associated Press – 1 hr 37 mins ago
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s government presented the nation’s highest civilian award Monday to two Americans who helped apprehend an Islamic extremist after he attacked a U.S. Air Force bus last year and killed two airmen.
Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich awarded the Federal Cross of Merit to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Trevor Brewer and civilian airport employee Lamar Conner, both of whom chased the suspect until police could apprehend him, saying their deeds “were an example for all of us.”
Arid Uka, a 21-year-old Kosovo Albanian, is currently on trial for the March 2 slayings and has admitted to the charges. He faces up to life in prison, and a verdict and sentence are expected Thursday.
It was the first Islamic extremist act carried out on German soil, and Friedrich said Brewer and Conner set an admirable precedent.
“It was an important signal that in the first Islamic extremist act in Germany the suspect was stopped in the course of committing his crime by courageous people and arrested,” Friedrich said at a small ceremony in the Interior Ministry attended by U.S. Ambassador Philip Murphy.
Uka gave a teary confession as his Frankfurt state court trial opened in August, saying that the night before the attack he had seen a video on Facebook that purported to show American soldiers raping a teenage Muslim girl. It turned out to be a scene from the 2007 Brian De Palma anti-war film “Redacted,” taken out of context.
Uka told the court the video prompted him to do anything possible to prevent American soldiers from going to Afghanistan. Under German law, the court is still required to hear all evidence in the case, even though Uka has confessed.
The defendant had already killed two U.S. airmen when he turned his pistol on Brewer, a 23-year-old from Gray, Tennessee, who was on the bus waiting with others to be taken to nearby Ramstein Air Base to fly to Afghanistan.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/2-americans-honored-catching-terrorist-suspect-123806014.html
Apps give political junkies a quick fix
1/13/2012 By Reid Kanaley – mercurynews
The presidential primaries are on, so expect a growing list of new and updated smartphone and tablet applications to cover every inch of the 2012 campaign. The Economist Group, for example, this last week released Electionism, a tablet app that aggregates election news, including candidate tweets.
Here are some more to get started with.
The CNN App for Android and Apple (AAPL) devices, from CNN Interactive Group, is free. For live feeds from the news network, the app requires users to have a cable-company account. But even if you don’t, there’s a lot of very fresh video and text, and much of it is focused on the primaries and campaigns.
CNN said last week that a Windows Phone version would be out within the month.
CNN iReport is a feature of the app that makes it easy for users to send in video or photos. There’s a request posted for voters to share them on election days — but not from inside a polling place. The network calls these requests “assignments. “Snap a photo or do an interview, and share it with iReport,” the 2012 election-assignment suggests. Submissions may end up on CNN, it says.
Politico, the free app by Politico, is a wonk’s dream come true for Apple and Android. Among the app’s many sections is 2012 Live, which is all about the elections. Content pours in from the Politico.com website fire hose.
For the entire article; http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_19738919?source=rss
Thanks for this article CR. I already have the Apple iPad2 and I just upgraded to the iPhone. I am solwly but surely adding new Apps. BTW, hope you had a nice MLK day.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
All Times Eastern
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
Vice President Biden meets with Ambassador to China Gary Locke
10:00 AM
President Obama and Vice President Biden receive the presidential daily briefing.
Oval Office
Closed Press
10:15 AM
President meets with the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
State Dining Room
Pool Spray at the Top
10:30 AM
President Obama meets with senior advisers.
Oval Office
Closed Press
11:00 AM
11:30 AM
Vice President Biden meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan
12:00 PM
12:30 PM
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet for lunch.
Oval Office
Closed Press
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
2:15 PM
President Obama hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House.
Local Event Time: Oval Office
Pool Spray at the Bottom
3:00 PM
3:05 PM
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honor the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
East Room
Open Press
4:00 PM
4:35 PM
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Panetta.
Oval Office
Closed Press
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
January 17, 2012
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
10:15 AM EST
President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
2:15 PM EST
President Obama hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House.
3:05 PM EST
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honor the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
—-
CNN http://live.cnn.com
10:15 AM EST
President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Syria and North Korea.
2:15 PM EST
President Obama hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House.
3:05 PM EST
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honor the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
—-
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
8:25 AM EST
Politico Playbook Breakfast
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was interviewed by Mike Allen. http://www.c-span.org/Events/House-Democratic-Leader-Nancy-Pelosi-Talks-with-Politicos-Mike-Allen/10737427157/
9:30 AM EST
Aspen Institute: DHS Panel Discussion with Sec. Janet Napolitano http://www.c-span.org/Events/Homeland-Security-Officials-Discuss-International-Cooperation/10737427168/
10:15 AM EST
President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House http://www.c-span.org/Events/Presidents-Council-on-Jobs-to-Meet-at-White-House/10737427145/
12:00 AM EST
The U.S. Conference of Mayors hosts this event on employment, including discussscussions on summer jobs http://www.c-span.org/Events/Nation39s-Mayors-Talk-Job-Creation/10737427166/
12:30 PM EST
State Department briefing
The State Department holds its daily briefing with reporters. Topics expected to be discussed include the situations in Syria and North Korea.
2:15 PM EST
President Obama hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House. http://www.c-span.org/Events/US–Jordan-Talks-Focus-on-Middle-East-Peace-Unrest-in-Syria/10737427167/
3:05 PM EST
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honor the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
January 06, 2012
President Obama to Meet with President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
WASHINGTON, DC – On January 17, President Obama will convene a meeting at the White House with the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to discuss initiatives and policies to strengthen the economy, promote and accelerate job growth and bolster America’s competitiveness around the world. The President will hear from a variety of leaders and continue the discussion focused on identifying practical ways the government and business can work together to foster growth and create jobs.
The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness was created to provide non-partisan advice to the President on ways to strengthen the economy and ensure the competitiveness of the United States. The Jobs Council is made up of representatives of various sectors of the economy who offer diverse perspectives from the private sector, employers, and workers on how the Federal Government can best foster growth, competitiveness, innovation, and job creation.
The Jobs Council held their first meeting at the White House on February 24th, focusing on finding new ways to promote growth, encouraging hiring, educate and train our workers to compete globally, and attract the best jobs and businesses to the United States. The Council has held two additional meetings – in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina in June and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September.
U.S. Conference of Mayors: 80th Winter Meeting
The 80th Winter Meeting will take place January 18-20, 2012 in Washington, D.C. with a special pre-meeting on job creation and workforce development taking place on the 17th. The Winter Meeting is the premiere forum for Mayors and Washington leaders to come together and discuss pressing issues impacting our cities and metro areas.
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION
(Congressional) (All Mayors, CEOs, Small Business Leaders, Workforce Development
Professionals Welcome)
Job Creation and the Employability Crisis: Preparing the Future
Workforce as a Competitive City Strategy
America stands on the brink of an employability crisis – with an over-supply of available workers and an under-supply of qualified talent. During this working session, Mayors, CEOs, Small Business Leaders and Workforce
Development Professionals will share best practices and strategies on developing the workforce of tomorrow.
http://www.usmayors.org/80thWinterMeeting/
Happy Birthday First Lady Michelle!
I love this little photo CR. I hope FLOTUS get a lot of twitter birthday wishes tomorrow.
Today: First Lady Michelle Obama Turns 48, Marks Third Birthday In The White House
JANUARY 17, 2012 obamafoodorama.blogspot
On the heels of making her debut as a sitcom actor on iCarly on Monday night, First Lady Michelle Obama today celebrates her 48th birthday. It is Mrs. Obama’s third in the White House: In 2009, she turned 45 right before President-Elect Obama’s inauguration. In years past, Mr. Obama has feted Mrs. Obama with special birthday dinners at local restaurants, but there is no such event listed on the President’s official schedule for today, because private dinners never are. Still, White House watchers are wondering.
On the heels of making her debut as a sitcom actor on iCarly on Monday night, First Lady Michelle Obama today celebrates her 48th birthday. It is Mrs. Obama’s third in the White House: In 2009, she turned 45 right before President-Elect Obama’s inauguration. In years past, Mr. Obama has feted Mrs. Obama with special birthday dinners at local restaurants, but there is no such event listed on the President’s official schedule for today, because private dinners never are. Still, White House watchers are wondering.
For the entire article: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/01/today-first-lady-michelle-obama-turns.html
Good morning CR and everyone. HOPE you all have a terrific Tuesday. Happy Birthday to Michelle Obama.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our beloved President, First Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Good Tuesday morning and thank you for the candle link Jackie.
It is 22 degrees here this morning! Brrr
Good Tuesday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Next Up…
10:15 AM EST
President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Presidents-Council-on-Jobs-to-Meet-at-White-House/10737427145/
January 17, 2012
Opening and Closing Remarks by the President to the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness
State Dining Room
11:13 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Please, have a seat, everybody. For those of you who I have not seen since before the break, Happy New Year.
I am extraordinarily grateful for all the work that you have done. I want to start off by thanking Jeff for his continued outstanding leadership of this Jobs Council. I think that the plan is for me to maybe just open up with a few remarks and then we’ve got a whole bunch of presentations, so I don’t want to take too much time. Is that all right with you, Mr. Chairman?
MR. IMMELT: That’s great.
THE PRESIDENT: One of the things that’s been striking about this Jobs Council is how focused and how hard-working everybody has been around this table. This has not been a show council. This has been a work council. And because of the extraordinary commitments that each and every one of you have made, we have generated I think as good a set of proposals as we have seen coming out of the private sector to help to guide and steer our economic agenda and our approach to jobs and growth over the next couple of years.
In each of the earlier meetings, we discussed the key role that we all play in accelerating growth and improving America’s competitiveness, and that the economic recovery has to be driven by the private sector. We have moved aggressively to implement your recommendations. As I think you’ve heard, of your 35 executive action recommendations, we’ve taken action on 33 of them; we’ve completed the implementation of 16 of them. And I’ll highlight a couple of examples.
Building on some of the Job Council’s National Investment Initiative recommendations, last week the Vice President and I hosted a forum on the increasing trend of insourcing — companies choosing to invest in the United States. And Intel and DuPont participated, along with several dozen other companies. We discussed tangible ways that we can encourage domestic investment, and I announced a number of new initiatives and new tax proposals to provide further incentives for companies to increase investment in the United States, including expanding on SelectUSA, one of the recommendations in your last report. And we actually had a company there that had benefitted from the services of SelectUSA, and it confirmed the power and capacity of one-stop shops and a coordinated approach from the federal government for somebody who is interested in investment here in the United States.
I’ve personally emphasized to the White House team and to the Cabinet the importance of aggressively implementing the recommendations of this Job Council. I have been tracking implementation of your recommendations. And we’ve seen substantial progress across the board.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/17/opening-and-closing-remarks-president-council-jobs-and-competitiveness
President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Approves New Report
From: whitehouse | Jan 17, 2012
The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness votes to approve a new report detailing recommendations to the President on strengthening our economy. January 17, 2012.
January 17, 2012
President Obama Meets with President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama convened a meeting at the White House with the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to discuss initiatives and policies to strengthen the economy, promote and accelerate job growth and bolster America’s competitiveness around the world. The White House has recently implemented a number of Jobs Council recommendations, including policy steps to help support companies bringing jobs back to the United States and make government more efficient and effective.
“The Jobs Council has been critical in finding new ways to encourage the private sector to hire and invest in American competitiveness. I’m proud that we’ve taken action on a majority of the Council’s recommendations on issues ranging from insourcing to permitting to clean energy. But we also know there’s a lot more work to do, which is why we’re committed to continuing to invest in strategies that support job growth.”
Today, the Council presented additional ideas to spur job growth in a new Jobs Council report available on the Council’s website at http://www.jobs-council.com. Of the 35 Council recommendations that don’t require legislative action, the Administration has taken action on 33 and completed implementation on 16. Today’s report highlights some of these implemented actions and focuses on new recommendations from three new streams of work focusing on long-term competitiveness:
• Invest in Our Future with Education and Innovation: This strategy is focused on ensuring Americans have the right education and skills to realize their full potential, and cultivating a vibrant innovation ecosystem that supports new ideas.
• Build on Our Strengths in Manufacturing and Energy: This strategy is focused on the manufacturing sector and how we can scale up and support clean energy while responsibly accessing unconventional supplies.
• Play to Win through Regulatory and Tax Reform: This strategy is focused on instituting longer term regulatory and corporate tax reform to support job creation.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/17/president-obama-meets-president-s-council-jobs-and-competitiveness-white
11:30 AM EST
Vice President Biden meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan
New York manufacturing growth accelerates in January
1/17/12 Reuters – 2 hrs 19 mins ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A gauge of manufacturing in New York State showed growth picked up in January, rising to the highest level in nine months as new orders and employment improved, the New York Federal Reserve said in a report on Tuesday.
The New York Fed’s “Empire State” general business conditions index rose to 13.48 from a revised 8.19 in December, topping economists’ expectations of 11.0. It was the highest level since April 2011.
New orders climbed to 13.70 from a revised 5.99, while inventories also gained to 6.59 from minus 3.49.
“This is consistent with the string of stronger-than-expected data we saw at the end of last year. It looks like we are seeing it continue into the new year,” said Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica in Dallas.
“The economy seems to be stronger than what we had thought, but we have be vigilant about the risks outside the U.S., predominantly coming from Europe.”
The survey of manufacturing plants in the state is one of the earliest monthly guideposts to U.S. factory conditions. Activity in the region has been growing steadily since October, following a drop off through the summer months as the broader manufacturing sector slowed.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/york-manufacturing-growth-accelerates-january-140012820.html
On policy, Romney is far to Bush’s right
1/17/2012 Posted by Ezra Klein – washingtonpost
Mitt Romney is the most moderate candidate in the Republican primaries. Yes, even more so than the recently departed Jon Huntsman, whose tax-cut proposal was more radical and more regressive, and whose endorsement of Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget put him well to Romney’s right on entitlements.
But compared with recent Republican nominees, Romney’s policy platform is quite conservative, and arguably even a bit extreme. George W. Bush, for instance, looks like a Kenyan socialist in comparison.
“Renewing America’s Purpose,” the collection of policy speeches that detailed Bush’s 2000 policy platform, didn’t begin with tax cuts or Medicare reforms or austerity. It began with education. In fact, it began with an education speech delivered to the Latin Business Association, and before it even got to education, it talked about the “Latino economic miracle” and said “the Latino market will demand the attention of our whole economy.” Then and only then did it go on to address Bush’s proposal to vastly expand federal control and financing of America’s education system.
For the entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/on-policy-romney-is-far-to-bushs-right/2011/08/25/gIQAtIOW5P_blog.html
Announcing the State of the Union Tweetup at the White House
Kori Schulman January 17, 2012
On Tuesday, January 24th, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union Address from Capitol Hill. Back at the White House, we’re hosting a Tweetup where some of our Twitter followers will be invited to watch the President’s address live, attend a panel with Administration officials after the speech, and of course tweet!
Interested in joining? Sign up for your chance to join other @WhiteHouse followers to watch the President’s annual address to the nation.
Next Up…
2:15 PM EST
President Obama hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House.
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/US–Jordan-Talks-Focus-on-Middle-East-Peace-Unrest-in-Syria/10737427167/
January 17, 2012
Remarks by President Obama and His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan
Oval Office
3:07 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody. It is a great pleasure for me to once again welcome His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan, as well as his delegation.
We have very few countries around the world that are better friends and better partners than the Jordanians. The fact that they are in such a difficult neighborhood makes the relationship between our two countries that much more important.
And so I want to publicly express my appreciation for His Majesty’s leadership not only in forging a strong bilateral relationship, but also all the multilateral efforts that he is engaged in to encourage peace and prosperity during what has been an extraordinary time.
The last time we met, the face of the region was very different. Since that time, you’ve seen new governments emerging in Egypt, in Libya; transitions taking place and a new government in Tunisia; transitions taking place in Yemen; and now obviously great volatility in Syria. Throughout this period we consulted closely with the Jordanians, and we value the advice and the thoughtful leadership that His Majesty provides.
We spent a great deal of time discussing a number of key subjects. We talked about the importance of us continuing to consult closely together to encourage the Palestinians and the Israelis to come back to the table and negotiate in a serious fashion a peaceful way forward. And the Jordanians have taken great leadership on this issue, and we very much appreciate their direction on this issue.
We discussed as well the extraordinary efforts that have been made by His Majesty, as well as the Prime Minister, in guiding political reform inside of Jordan. I think His Majesty has been ahead of the curve in trying to respond to the legitimate concerns and aspirations, both politically and economically, of the Jordanian population. And so we have said that we want to be as helpful as we can in encouraging this ongoing reform process that’s taking place.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/17/remarks-president-obama-and-his-majesty-king-abdullah-jordan
Good and HOPEful Tuesday, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
We are snowed in! But we have food for cat and people (notice who comes first) so it's all good.
Take care, keep warm and safe Kat!
Next Up…
3:05 PM EST
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honor the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
January 17, 2012
Remarks by the President and First Lady Honoring the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals
East Room
3:33 P.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Please be seated. Hello, everyone.
AUDIENCE: Happy birthday!
MRS. OBAMA: Oh, thank you!
THE PRESIDENT: It’s her birthday!
MRS. OBAMA: It’s my birthday.
THE PRESIDENT: It’s her birthday today.
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. And this is a great way to spend — no, you don’t have to sing, that’s very sweet of you. My husband is not used to me being at these events, because I usually don’t come, but I had to be here and welcome you all to the White House.
And I want to thank you all for being here as we celebrate another world championship for the St. Louis Cardinals. (Applause.)
And that is not easy to say as a Cubs fan. (Laughter.) But I have to say, you all make it a lot easier to say with all of the good work that you do in the community, especially everything that you all do for military families — and that is why I’m here. (Applause.) And I got to see that firsthand when Jill Biden and I visited Game One of the World Series, which was very cool, which Major League Baseball dedicated to our nation’s military families. And that was just amazing. I mean, you all threw out all the stops. It was a powerful experience for all of us, and we’re grateful. It truly captured the strength, service and sacrifice of our troops, veterans and their families. As an example, we have two special guests with us here today — Marine Lance Corporal James Sperry and Hannah. Hey, Hannah! Would you guys stand up? (Applause.)
I had the pleasure of hanging out with these guys in the box, and Hannah stayed awake for most of the game. (Laughter.) She ate a lot of hot dogs. She had a great time. And it was a wonderful experience. And I just have to tell you that Lance Corporal Sperry is a perfect illustration of what our troops and wounded warriors display every day throughout this country. He’s a veteran of Iraq, and he sustained multiple wounds from a rocket-propelled grenade, and he still feels the effects today. But since he’s returned home, that hasn’t stopped him. And that’s what we see. It hasn’t stopped him from being a first responder during last spring’s devastating tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri; it hasn’t stopped him from being a mentor to other wounded warriors; and it certainly hasn’t stopped him from being a phenomenal dad to a very beautiful, brave little girl — who I really like a lot. (Laughter and applause.)
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/17/remarks-president-and-first-lady-honoring-2011-world-champion-st-louis-c
January 17, 2012
President Obama Announces Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients
WASHINGTON, DC – Today the White House announced that current Deputy Director for Management and Chief Performance Officer Jeffrey Zients will serve as the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“I’m pleased to designate Jeff Zients to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Since day one, Jeff has demonstrated superb judgment and has provided sound advice on a whole host of issues,” said President Obama. “With decades of experience, Jeff has been a tremendous asset to our team and I’m confident in his ability to help us rebuild an economy where hard work and responsibility pay off and the middle class has a chance to get ahead.”
Jeff Zients was confirmed by the Senate on June 19, 2009 as the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget and the nation’s first Federal Chief Performance Officer, and served as OMB’s Acting Director from July-November 2010. Mr. Zients has twenty years of business experience as a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur with a deep understanding of business strategy, operations and process improvement, and financial management. His expertise extends across a broad range of industries and geographies.
Mr. Zients served as CEO and Chairman of The Advisory Board Company and Chairman of the Corporate Executive Board, firms that are leading providers of performance benchmarking and management best practices for senior executives at over 5,000 businesses.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/17/president-obama-announces-acting-director-office-management-and-budget-j
January 17, 2012
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of President Saakashvili of Georgia
President Obama will host President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia for a meeting in the Oval Office on Monday, January 30th. This year marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of Georgia and the two presidents will discuss further strengthening the U.S. – Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership by enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism, energy, science, education, culture, and security. President Obama will underscore the importance of our defense cooperation with Georgia, including Georgia’s substantial contributions to international security operations in Afghanistan. The President will reconfirm U.S. support for the integrity of Georgia’s territory within its internationally recognized borders. The President also looks forward to discussing upcoming elections in Georgia and the reforms that will ensure Georgia’s continuing transformation into a vibrant and stable democratic state.
Dinner out for the Obamas
1/17/12 7:21 PM EST POLITICO44
President Obama is taking Michelle out for dinner tonight to celebrate her 48th birthday.
The first couple is dining with friends at BLT Steak, just a few blocks from the White house, according to the White House pool report.
Guests include senior adviser and longtime friend Valerie Jarrett.
January 17, 2012
Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on Violence in South Sudan
The United States continues to be deeply disturbed by the recent interethnic clashes in Jonglei State in the Republic of South Sudan that are causing tremendous human suffering, displacement, and death. The long-running cycle of violence between certain tribes, particularly the Murle and Lou Nuer, has escalated to an alarming series of revenge attacks in recent weeks, and we urge all sides to refrain from further provocative or retaliatory acts.
We welcome the South Sudanese government’s launch of an investigation into these attacks and its deployment of additional military and police forces to the region, and we support efforts by the UN and non-governmental organizations to provide urgently-needed humanitarian assistance to those who fled the fighting. We believe that it is important for the South Sudanese government to respond not only with immediate measures to stem the escalating cycle of attacks between these tribes, but also to address the root causes of violence between them. In particular, we urge the South Sudanese government to address the lack of security in these communities, and we urge the leaders of these communities to engage each other in a peaceful manner to come to a long-term resolution to the violence. We also note the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with respect to conflict prevention and civilian protection, and call upon the South Sudanese government and the UN to continue working closely together on this vitally important mission. We further call upon the UN to provide any additional support that is needed by UNMISS to carry out its responsibilities in South Sudan.
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