What drove the U.S. economy in 2011? And can it last?
12/28/2011 Posted by Brad Plumer – washingtonpost
Through the first three quarters of 2011, the U.S. economy expanded at a 1.2 percent annual rate. So where did this (middling) growth come from? The Council of Foreign Relations serves up a handy graph breaking things down:
The left-hand side shows the drivers of economic growth — both up and down. Government layoffs and budget cuts, particularly at the local level, slashed growth by about half a percentage point. On the positive side, meanwhile, the biggest driver of growth was an increase in personal consumption. Americans were buying more stuff. Trouble is, it’s unclear how sustainable even this modest spending binge will prove to be.
As the bar graph on the right shows, 44 percent of the increase in consumption this year came because incomes were growing and people were actually getting richer. By contrast, 36 percent of the consumption bump came because Americans were saving less, while 20 percent of the spending boost came thanks to the payroll tax cut, which is set to expire in two months unless Congress extends it again.
NOW YOU CAN HELP BY CONTACTING YOUR CONGRESS PERSON TO EXTEND THE PAYROLL TAX CUT!
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Friday, January 27,, 2012
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9:45 AM
President Obama Speaks on College Affordability
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Open Press
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
Vice President Biden delivers remarks at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md.
Cambridge, Maryland
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11:00 AM
President Obama departs Michigan en route to Joint Base Andrews.
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12:00 PM
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President Obama arrives at Joint Base Andrews.
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12:30 PM
President Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Cambridge, Md.
1:00 PM
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President Obama Remarks to House Democratic Caucus in Cambridge, MD
Cambridge, Maryland
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President Obama arrives at the White House.
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President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with Secretary of State Clinton.
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President Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
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January 27, 2012
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
9:45 AM EST
President Obama Speaks on College Affordability
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1:20 PM EST
President Obama Remarks to House Democratic Caucus in Cambridge, MD
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CNN http://live.cnn.com
9:45 AM EST
President Obama Speaks on College Affordability
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
10:30 AM EST
Vice President Biden delivers remarks at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md.
1:15 PM EST
President Obama Remarks to House Democratic Caucus in Cambridge, MD
4:30 PM EST
President Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
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CSPAN http://www.cspan.org/
7:00 AM EST
Sec. Geithner Address to World Economic Forum http://www.c-span.org/Events/Sec-Geithner-to-Address-to-World-Economic-Forum/10737427573/
8:45 AM EST
The PEW Center’s Election Initiatives hosts a summit on innovative approaches to reach voters outside of the country. http://www.c-span.org/Events/Summit-Examines-New-Ways-to-Gather-Military-amp-Overseas-Votes/10737427689/
9:15 AM EST
Center for Strategic & Int’l Studies: Implications of FY13 Defense Budget http://www.c-span.org/Events/CSIS-Panel-Reviews-the-FY-13-Defense-Budget/10737427687/
9:45 AM EST
President Obama Speaks on College Affordability http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-Discusses-College-Costs/10737427574/
10:30 AM EST
Vice President Biden delivers remarks at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md. http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-and-Vice-President-Biden-at-House-Democratic-Retreat/10737427685/
1:15 PM EST
President Obama Remarks to House Democratic Caucus in Cambridge, MD http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-and-Vice-President-Biden-at-House-Democratic-Retreat/10737427685/
4:30 PM EST
President Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
By the Numbers: $40
Posted by Megan Slack on December 19, 2011
If Congress fails to extend the payroll tax cut, the typical family making $50,000 a year will have about $40 less to spend or save each week. Over the year, that adds up to about $1,000.
Opponents of the payroll tax cut dismiss its impact by insisting $40 a week isn’t a lot of money, but that’s not the case for many families who are already working hard to make ends meet. Forty dollars buys a tank of gas or a fridge and pantry full of groceries. It covers a water bill or the cost of a prescription.
The payroll tax cut doesn’t just benefit the 160 million American workers who receive it, however. It also helps the economy as a whole. People spending money on goods and services generate business for stores and companies, who can then hire more workers, creating more jobs across the country.
President Obama says that this is a make or break moment for the middle class, and those trying to reach it. The defining issue of our time is whether we can build an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded. And the President will continue to fight to make sure that working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home, and secure their retirement.
Payroll tax negotiations open amid optimism
1/23/12 By ANDREW TAYLOR | Associated Press – 1 hr 26 mins ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations to renew a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more kicked off on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with both sides optimistic of an agreement despite last year’s bitter battles over President Barack Obama’s jobs proposals.
The House-Senate talks will focus chiefly on finding ways to finance the $10 billion a month cost of a 2 percentage point cut in Social Security payroll taxes that awards a worker making a typical $50,000 salary a tax cut of about $20 a week. Lawmakers also need to pay for the $45 billion or so cost of renewing jobless benefits for people out of work for more than half a year and the $20 billion a year cost of making sure doctors aren’t hit with massive cuts to their Medicare payments.
Negotiators face a Feb. 29 deadline under a temporary measure enacted amid great acrimony just before Christmas.
The daunting challenge facing the negotiators is a cost of roughly $160 billion to extend the tax cut, jobless benefits and Medicare payments through the end of the year.
“We should be able to get it done,” said top Senate GOP negotiator Jon Kyl of Arizona, who says last year’s failed effort by a congressional deficit panel produced lots of proposals that can be used “offset” the cost of the payroll tax measure. “The Joint Select Committee identified a lot of good offsets and so the opportunity for us to get it done is there.”
“It’s our job to work together here to make sure this tax cut doesn’t expire,” said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the lead Senate negotiator. “We need to show we can rise above politics for the good of the country.”
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/payroll-tax-negotiations-open-amid-optimism-222713798.html
Senate Democrats promise to push Obama tax agenda
1/25/12 By ANDREW TAYLOR | Associated Press – 4 mins 55 secs ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s Democratic allies in the Senate are promising to press ahead this year with his proposals to require millionaires to pay at least 30 percent in taxes and curb tax preferences for companies that ship jobs overseas.
Senate Democratic leaders promise votes soon on such tax “fairness” initiatives, which a key theme of Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.
The move would build on last year’s drive to renew the payroll tax cut. It comes immediately after GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney revealed that he pays an effective tax rate of less than 15 percent despite income exceeding $20 million a year.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the decision by Republicans to embrace the payroll tax cut despite widespread reservations bodes well for the upcoming debate.
“Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule. If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You’re the ones who need relief.”
President Obama- January 24, 2012 State of the Union Address
We need to stop a tax hike on a 160 miliion people ….pass the payroll tax cut without delay
Change the tax code and stop the tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires (stop subsidizing the ultra rich like Romney) they should pay 30%
Buffett Rule Facts and Fictions
Gene Sperling September 21, 2011
On Monday, the President proposed the Buffett Rule as one of five principles for comprehensive tax reform. This is a rule of simple fairness—no household making over $1 million annually should pay less in federal taxes than middle-class families pay. Contrary to some misconceptions, the Buffett Rule is not designed as the sole or main source of raising new revenues, but one of five principles that should be achieved by tax reform:
* Cut rates
* Cut inefficient and unfair tax breaks
* Cut the deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years
* Increase investment and growth in the United States
Observe the “Buffett rule.”
Of these principles — all of which we believe are key to reform — the Buffett rule has received the most attention. It has been attacked with claims of “class warfare” that are completely without merit. How can it be class warfare to ensure that there is greater parity between the taxes paid by the most well-off and those paid by tens of millions of hardworking families?
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/21/buffett-rule-facts-and-fictions
State of the Union – White Housde Follow Up Events
Friday, January 27, 2012
All Day Submit your questions for President Obama to answer 1/30 at youtube.com/whitehouse
9:00 am EST
Disability Issues: Kareem Dale, Deputy Assoc. Director of Public Liaison
9:45 AM EST
President Obama will deliver remarks at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, MI
10:00 am EST
Rural Issues: Doug McKalip, Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs
11:00 am EST
Foreign Policy: Ben Rhodes, Deputy NSA for Strategic Communications & Speechwriting
12:00 pm EST
Education: Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy
1:00 pm EST
Health: Jeanne Lambrew and Nick Papas
2:00 pm EST
Energy: Heather Zichal and Dan Utech
3:00 pm EST
Consumer Protections: Brian Deese, Deputy Director National Economic Council
4:00 pm EST
Economy: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director National Economic Council
5:00 pm EST
Job Opportunities: Portia Wu, Senior Policy Advisor for Mobility & Opportunity Policy
6:00 pm EST
Urban Issues: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility & Opportunity
West Wing Week: 1/27/12 or “The State of the Union Edition”
Uploaded by whitehouse on Jan 26, 2012
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President prepared for and delivered his State of the Union Address, welcomed the Boston Bruins to the White House, and took his message West to Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. That’s January 20th to January 26th or “The Special State of the Union Edition of 2012.”
California lawmakers move to limit protests at funerals
1/26/12 By Greg Lucas | Reuters – 4 hrs ago
SACRAMENTO, Calif (Reuters) – California’s state Senate approved a bill on Thursday to restrict protests at funerals in a move aimed at limiting the impact of controversial demonstrations like those led by a fringe Kansas-based church against homosexuality.
The measure, unanimously approved by the Democrat-led Senate despite criticism from civil liberties advocates, would require protesters to remain 500 feet away from funeral services. It will now go to the state Assembly for consideration.
Previous legislation aimed at ending funeral protests in California was vetoed last year by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown, who said that such a law violated the free speech protections in the U.S. Constitution.
The measures are a response to the protests by the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist splinter group whose members have gathered at funerals around the nation using explicit signs to protest homosexuality, among other issues.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ted Lieu, said he believed the latest incarnation addresses the governor’s concerns about free speech by cutting the buffer zone in half, from 1,000 feet to 500 feet.
“Since time immemorial, society has respected the dignity and sacredness of putting the dead to rest,” Lieu, a Democrat, said in a statement after the bill’s passage.
“This bill recognizes the sanctity of funerals by placing reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on disruptive protesters,” he added.
But opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said that even a 500-foot buffer zone unfairly restricts free speech.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, which has no affiliation with the mainstream Baptist church, espouse a belief that God hates homosexuality and is punishing America for its tolerance of homosexuals.
The splinter group, comprised primarily of Fred Phelps and his extended family, entered the national spotlight in 1998 when it picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young Wyoming man beaten to death in 1998.
The group’s right to conduct such protests has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. But more than 40 states have placed some form of restrictions on protests at funerals. Ohio, for example, has a 300-foot buffer.
Members of the church most recently picketed the Golden Globe Awards on January 17.
Westboro Baptist Church are NOT anything at all what true Christians stand for.
Empowering AAPIs in an America Built to Last
Posted by Chris Lu on January 27, 2012 at 03:40 PM EST
Earlier this week, in his annual State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out his Blueprint for an America Built to Last. This includes our Administration’s unwavering commitment to preserving the American dream for all, including the nearly 17 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across our nation. Below, read more about how the Initiative will help carry the President’s message to AAPIs across the country. Also, learn about our upcoming Weekly Web Chat Series and other exciting federal work.
In his State of the Union Address, the President laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values. The President believes this is a make or break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. What’s at stake is the very survival of the basic American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put enough away for retirement.
The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent; no debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while more Americans barely get by, or we can build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. At stake right now are not Democratic or Republican values, but American values – and for the sake of our future, we have to reclaim them.
Over the next few weeks, the White House Initiative on AAPIs will have many opportunities for you to take an active role in the work of our government. Here’s what’s coming up:
January 27, 2012: Columbus, OH, WHIAAPI roundtable with the Ohio Asian American Advisory Commission and other community leaders
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/27/empowering-aapis-america-built-last
U.S. growing at 2-3 percent rate: Geithner
1/27/12 Reporting by Paul Carrel and Janet McBride -Reuters – 1 hr 37 mins ago
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – The U.S. economy is growing at 2-3 percent but still faces big challenges to repair damage wrought by the financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday.
“I think if you look at the Fed’s forecast and the consensus of private forecasters, people are pretty clustered in that area but it is still dependent how the world unfolds. We’re still repairing the damage done by the financial crisis,” Geithner told the World Economic Forum.
“On top of that we face a more challenging world. We have a lot of challenges ahead in the United States.”
Good Friday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
Excellent thread topic CR. Love it!
Thanks! American’s need the Payroll Tax Cut extended to help them financially.
Good morning everyone. HOPE you have a wonderful Friday.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, First Lady and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Good Friday morning and thank you Jackie!
!!!
57 candles from 3 countries!
U.S. growth quickens in Q4, but speed-bumps ahead
1/27/12 By Lucia Mutikani | Reuters – 4 mins ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 1-1/2 years in the fourth quarter of 2011, but a strong rebuilding of stocks by businesses and a slower pace of spending on capital goods hinted at softer growth early this year.
U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2.8 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday, a sharp acceleration from the 1.8 percent clip of the prior three months and the quickest pace since the second quarter of 2010.
It was, however, a touch below economists’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 3 percent rate, and nearly 2 percentage points was due to the build-up in business inventories.
The report supported the Federal Reserve’s ultra easy monetary policy stance to nurse the recovery.
“This seems consistent with the Fed’s view that the U.S. economy is going to need all the help it can get to hit escape velocity in the next couple years,” said David Watt, a senior currency strategist, RBC Capital, Toronto
U.S. stock index futures turned negative after the data, while government debt prices pared losses. The euro held gains against the dollar.
Growth in the fourth quarter got a temporary boost from the rebuilding of business inventories, which was the fastest since the third quarter of 2010, after they declined in the third-quarter for the first time since late 2009.
Inventories increased $56.0 billion, adding 1.94 percentage points to GDP growth. Excluding inventories, the economy grew at a tepid 0.8 percent rate, a sharp step-down from the prior period’s 3.2 percent pace.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/XgXNH
Advance Estimate of GDP for the Fourth Quarter of 2011
Alan Krueger January 27, 2012
Today’s report shows that the economy posted its tenth straight quarter of positive growth, as real GDP (the total amount of goods and services produced in the country) grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of last year. For 2011 as a whole, GDP rose by 1.7 percent, raising the level of real GDP 0.7 percent above where it was at the start of the recession in the fourth quarter of 2007. While the continued expansion is encouraging, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the recent downturn and to reduce long-term unemployment.
Positive contributions to real GDP growth in the fourth quarter included consumer spending (1.5 percentage points) and fixed investment (0.4 percentage point). Overall government purchases fell (4.6 percent), with substantial declines in Federal defense spending (12.5 percent) and State and local spending (2.6 percent).
As President Obama has said, this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and those who are struggling to get into the middle class. That is why the President announced on Tuesday his Blueprint for an America Built to Last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.
Now Streaming…
9:45 AM EST
President Obama Speaks on College Affordability
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/Pres-Obama-Discusses-College-Costs/10737427574/
January 27, 2012
Remarks by the President on College Affordability, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
10:00 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Michigan! (Applause.) Oh, it is good to be back in Ann Arbor. (Applause.)
Thank you, Christina, for that introduction. I also want to thank your president, Mary Sue Coleman. (Applause.) The mayor of Ann Arbor, John Hieftje, is here. (Applause.) My outstanding Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is in the house. (Applause.) We have some outstanding members of Congress who are here as well, who are representing you each and every day. Give them a round of applause — come on. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, President Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)
So in terms of — boy, we’ve got all kinds of members of Congress here, so — (laughter.)
Where’s Denard? (Applause.) Denard Robinson is in the house. (Applause.) I hear you’re coming back, man. (Applause.) That is a good deal for Michigan. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Denard Robinson in 2012! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, oh, come on. They’re trying to draft you for President. (Laughter.) He’s got to graduate before he runs for President. (Laughter.) There’s an age limit. (Laughter.)
Well, it is wonderful to be here. I want to thank all of you for coming out this morning. I know for folks in college, this is still really early. I remember those days. It is good home — good to be in the home of the Sugar Bowl champion Wolverines. (Applause.) And with Denard Robinson coming back, this will be a team to be reckoned with. I understand your basketball team is pretty good this year, too. (Applause.) All right — go, Blue! (Applause.) It’s always good to start with a easy applause line. (Laughter.)
But the reason I’m here today — in addition to meeting Denard Robinson — (laughter) — is to talk with all of you about what most of you do here every day — and that is to think about how you can gain the skills and the training you need to succeed in this 21st century economy. And this is going to be one of the most important issues that not just you face, but this entire country faces: How can we make sure that everybody is getting the kind of education they need to personally succeed but also to build up this nation — because in this economy, there is no greater predictor of individual success than a good education.
Today, the unemployment rate for Americans with a college degree or more is about half the national average. Their incomes are twice as high as those who don’t have a high school diploma. College is the single most important investment you can make in your future. And I’m proud that all of you are making that investment. (Applause.)
And the degree you earn from Michigan will be the best tool you have to achieve that basic American promise — the idea that if you work hard, if you are applying yourself, if you are doing the right thing, you can do well enough to raise a family and own a home and send your own kids to college, put away a little for retirement, create products or services — be part of something that is adding value to this country and maybe changing the world. That’s what you’re striving for. That’s what the American Dream is all about.
For the entire article; http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/27/remarks-president-college-affordability-ann-arbor-michigan
January 27, 2012
FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Blueprint for Keeping College Affordable and Within Reach for All Americans
“Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid… States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.”
President Barack Obama
State of the Union, January 24, 2012
In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values. As an important part of keeping the American promise alive, the President called for a comprehensive approach to tackling rising college costs. In today’s global economy, a college education is no longer just a privilege for some, but rather a prerequisite for all. To reach a national goal of leading the world with the highest share of college graduates by 2020, we must make college more affordable.
President Obama has emphasized the responsibility shared by the federal government, states, colleges, and universities to promote access and affordability in higher education, by reining in college costs, providing value for American families, and preparing students with a solid education to succeed in their careers. Over the past three years, the Obama Administration has taken historic steps to help students afford college, including reforming our student aid system to become more efficient and reliable and by expanding grant aid and college tax credits.
This year, President Obama is calling on Congress to advance new reforms that will promote shared responsibility to address the college affordability challenge. If these proposals are passed, this will be the first time in history that the federal government has tied federal campus aid to responsible campus tuition policies.
President Obama will begin the third day of his post-State of the Union travels with an event at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, focusing on the importance of tackling rising college costs to ensure America’s students and workers can obtain the education and training they need so that we have a workforce prepared for the jobs of the 21st century.
• Reforming student aid to promote affordability and value
• Creating a Race to the Top for college affordability and completion
• A first in the World competition to model innovation and quality on college campuses
• Better data for families choose the right college for them
• Federal support to tackle college costs
For the entire article; http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/27/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-blueprint-keeping-college-affordable-and-wi
Barack Obama: A blueprint for renewing American values
1/26/2012 By Barack Obama – Special to the Mercury News
After World War II, a generation of heroes returned home to build the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. Today, as another generation of brave troops comes home, we have a similar opportunity.
In my State of the Union address, I laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last — an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers and a renewal of American values.
When it comes to American manufacturing, the rebirth of the American auto industry should give us new confidence. Over the past few years, it’s become more expensive to do business in places such as China, while America is becoming more productive. For a lot of companies, it’s making more business sense to bring jobs back home.
We have to seize this opportunity to help these companies succeed. But right now, companies get all kinds of tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas, while companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. That makes no sense. It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America.
The blueprint for an economy built to last also means making sure American workers have the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. At a time when millions of Americans are looking for work, I hear from business owners who can’t find workers with the skills they need. That’s inexcusable, and we know how to fix it. Let’s train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. Let’s forge partnerships between businesses and community colleges. Let’s turn our unemployment system into a re-employment system that puts people to work.
These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today. But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier. That means giving schools resources to keep good teachers on the job and extending the tuition tax credit, which saves middle-class families thousands of dollars and gives more young people the chance to earn their way through college.
For the entire article: http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19828573
10:30 AM EST
Vice President Biden delivers remarks at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md.
Remarks to follow
Consumer sentiment rises in January for fifth gain
Jan. 27, 2012, 10:15 a.m. EST By Steve Goldstein, MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — A measure of consumer sentiment rose in January for the fifth straight monthly gain, according to data released Friday, as job gains helped put worries about U.S. government finances in the background.
The final January reading of the University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters gauge of consumer sentiment reached 75.0, compared to a preliminary report of 74.0 and a December reading of 69.9.
Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected the final reading to be 74.3.
The sentiment gauge, which covers how consumers view their personal finances as well as business and buying conditions, averaged about 87 in the year before the start of the most recent recession.
The current conditions subindex rose to 84.2 from 79.6 in December, and the consumer expectations subindex rose to 69.1 from 63.6.
Sentiment has been on an upswing since tumbling when the U.S. lost its Triple-A debt rating from Standard & Poor’s following protracted negotiations to lift the debt ceiling.
Recent job growth has been improving, though still well below the pace needed to bring unemployment significantly below the 8.5% rate it was last month.
“Although the current level of confidence has nearly regained its highest level since the recession, this is the third consecutive year that confidence has mounted a comparable rally,” said Richard Curtin, who is chief economist of the survey.
“All prior rallies failed when consumers concluded that the improvement they had anticipated had failed to materialize. The recent gains in confidence are now critically dependent on continued job gains.”
The Commerce Department said earlier on Friday that the U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% clip in the fourth quarter, though much of that growth came from inventory building.
Good and HOPEful Friday, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
Good and HOPEful Friday Kat!
I just watched Bob Schieffer’s reaction to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer’s behavior toward the President of the United States. Mr. Schieffer used words like vulgarity, coarseness, incivility and rudeness to describe what politics has become. He said he’s never seen a President step off Air Force One and be so treated. He said we are a better people than this. I think and HOPE his words will carry weight among TV viewers.
January 27, 2012
Statement from the President on the Departure of Aneesh Chopra
WASHINGTON, DC — The White House today announced the departure of Aneesh Chopra, Assistant to the President and the federal government’s first Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
President Obama said, “As the federal government’s first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra did groundbreaking work to bring our government into the 21st century. Aneesh found countless ways to engage the American people using technology, from electronic health records for veterans, to expanding access to broadband for rural communities, to modernizing government records. His legacy of leadership and innovation will benefit Americans for years to come, and I thank him for his outstanding service.”
Deadline Saturday: Submit Your Questions for President Obama
Katelyn Sabochik January 27, 2012
On Tuesday, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address and laid out his Blueprint for an America that is built to last, a nation where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for their actions. All week, Vice President Biden and over 30 White House officials have been taking your questions on Twitter.
And, on Monday January 30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, President Obama will answer questions that have been submitted by Americans from across the country in the first completely-virtual interview from the White House.
The deadline to submit your questions is midnight on Saturday January 28, so head over to the White House YouTube Channel now to submit a question or vote for your favorite question.
Then don’t forget to tune in at Monday at 5:30 p.m. when the President will join a special Google+ Hangout from the West Wing. He’ll be answering several of the most popular questions that have been submitted through YouTube, and some of the people who submitted questions will even be invited to join the President in the Hangout and take part in the live conversation.
Next Up…
1:20 PM EST
President Obama Remarks to House Democratic Caucus in Cambridge, MD
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-and-Vice-President-Biden-at-House-Democratic-Retreat/10737427685/
January 27, 2012
Remarks by the President at the House Democrats Issues Conference
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Cambridge, Maryland
1:36 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you. All right, everybody have a seat. Now, let me begin by saying I was told that on a CD that I’ve just received — (laughter) — that all of you participated in a rendition of Al Green. (Laughter.) What I did not realize was that you also had a reverend who can preach as good as Al Green in John Larson. (Applause.) I kept on looking for the collection plate getting passed. (Laughter.) But, John, thank you for that rousing introduction.
To the leader of this august body and soon to be once again Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi — (applause.) To the rest of the leadership team — Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn, Xavier Becerra, and the best possible chair we could have for the DNC, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. (Applause.) We’ve got an all-star team assembled and ready to get to work.
I know that you guys have been here quite a bit. You already had to suffer through a relatively long speech from me this week, so I’m not going to speak too long. What I wanted to do, first of all, was just say thank you.
So many of you have served this country, your districts, for years, through good times and through bad times. And let’s face it, public service doesn’t always get the credit that it deserves. But knowing each and every one of you personally, understanding the sacrifices that you and your family members — some who are here today — make each and every day, understanding how much your heart bleeds when you see constituents are going through a tough time and how much you want to make sure that government serves as a force for good in their lives, I just want to say thank you for everything that you do.
You guys are putting it all on the line because you believe in an America in which everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share and everybody plays by the same set of rules. That’s what you have been about, that’s what this caucus is about, and that’s the vision that we’re fighting for, this year and in years to come.
Now, as I said at the State of the Union, the critical debate in this country right now, the defining question that faces all of us, is whether we are going to restore that sense of an American promise where if you work hard, if you’re carrying out your responsibilities, if you’re looking out for your family, if you’re participating in your community, if you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, you have the chance to get a job that allows you to support your family, you won’t be bankrupt when you get sick, you can send your children to college, you can retire with some dignity and some respect, you can expect that the next generation — your children and grandchildren — will do better than you did — that American promise, that central driving force in what has created the greatest country, the largest economy, and the broadest middle class on Earth, that promise has been eroding for too many people. And all of you know it.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/27/remarks-president-house-democrats-issues-conference
Americans Abroad to Get Bigger Say in 2012 Election
January 27, 2012 By BRIAN KNOWLTON – nytimes
WASHINGTON — Laws now in force in nearly every U.S. state, the widespread use of electronic ballot transmission, and an accelerated military mail system should make it easier this year for Americans abroad not just to receive and cast ballots in elections but also to be sure that they are counted, according to research by overseas groups, a U.S. election-watch organization and the military.
As recently as 2009, 25 states and the District of Columbia failed to provide the 45 days for ballot transmission to overseas voters that federal legislation signed into law that year requires. That, along with confusion about addresses, contributed to sometimes high rates of ballots being requested from abroad but not being returned, often because they were received too late or not at all. Mississippi had a 40 percent non-return rate in 2008; Indiana, over 50 percent.
Now, however, 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing sufficient time for ballot transmission, providing for electronic transmission of unvoted ballots, and eliminating requirements that ballots be notarized or witnessed — often a serious impediment overseas. They also expand use of a federal write-in absentee ballot that can be used when a ballot fails to reach a voter.
“What we’ve really seen in the past several years is tremendous progress,” said David Becker, director of election initiatives at the Pew Center on the States, in a new study on overseas voting. “It’s safe to say that in 2012, the rights of military and overseas voters will be better protected than ever.”
The upbeat remarks from those working with overseas voters stand in contrast to the darker tone of only a few years ago, when the same experts bemoaned the unpredictable results of a system often described as being based on antiquated methods, using outdated registration systems and built on a patchwork of state laws and procedures.
As new laws and the Internet have simplified voting for civilians, the military has also made progress.
In the past, voting materials mailed to a service member overseas had to make a sometimes tortuous series of stops.
“Total one-way transit time could be from as little as three days to as long as 30 or 40 days,” according to a report by the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Pentagon unit devoted to helping service members and overseas civilians vote.
Now, most ballots can be sent to military personnel overseas electronically, and the military’s return-mail process has been streamlined — using a special express-mail label created jointly by the U.S. and military postal services — to allow an average ballot return time of 5.2 days, according James E. Clark, a chief warrant officer who heads operations for the Military Postal Service Agency.
For the entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us/americans-abroad-to-get-bigger-say-in-2012-election.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Next Up…
4:30 PM EST
President Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
WhiteHouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN http://live.cnn.com
CSPAN http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-and-Vice-President-Biden-at-House-Democratic-Retreat/10737427685/
Remarks to follow…
California passes new auto emission rules
1/27/12 By JASON DEAREN | Associated Press – 8 mins ago
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Seeking to influence other states and Washington, California air regulators passed sweeping auto emission standards Friday that include a mandate to have 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025.
The California Air Resources Board unanimously approved the new rules that require that one in seven of the new cars sold in the state in 2025 be an electric or other zero-emission vehicle.
The plan also mandates a 75 percent reduction in smog-forming pollutants by 2025, and a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from today’s standards.
Automakers worked with the board and federal regulators on the greenhouse gas mandates in an effort to create one national standard for those pollutants.
“Today’s vote … represents a new chapter for clean cars in California and in the nation as a whole,” said Mary Nichols, the board’s chairman. “Californians have always loved their cars. We buy a lot of them and drive them. Now we will have cleaner and more efficient cars to love.”
California’s auto emissions standards are influential and often more strict than federal rules. The state began passing regulations for cleaner cars in the 1960s to help ease some of the world’s worst smog, and has since helped spur the auto industry’s innovations in emissions-control technology.
Currently 14 other states — including New York, Washington and Massachusetts — have adopted California’s smog emissions rules as their own.
California has also previously set zero-emissions vehicle mandates, which 10 other states have also currently adopted.
Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday supportive of the new standards.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/4Sf3u
Saturday, January 28 , 2012
All Times Eastern
President Obama receives the presidential daily briefing
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
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7:00 PM
7:15 PM
President Obama delivers remarks at the 99th annual Alfalfa Club Dinner in Washington. First Lady Michelle Obama attends.
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
January 28, 2012
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/
Obama hosts George H.W. and Jeb Bush at White House
1/27/12 By DONOVAN SLACK – POLITICO44
Unbeknownst to the press, President Obama met Friday evening with former president George H.W. Bush and his son, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, in the Oval Office.
White House officials did not list the meeting on the president’s schedule but released a photo on Flickr. According to the photo’s time stamp, the meeting occurred shortly after 5 p.m., about the time the president returned to the White House from a fundraiser.
When asked what the men discussed and why it wasn’t on the schedule, the White House released a statement saying, “The three men enjoyed a personal visit in the Oval Office – as they have done on previous occasions when President Bush is Washington.”
The Bushes are in town to attend the exclusive Alfalfa Club dinner Saturday, an annual get-together for Washington power brokers that Obama also is scheduled to attend, according to the Associated Press.
The meeting came at an interesting time politically, just one day after Obama, in an interview with ABC News, blamed predecessor George W. Bush for policies that brought on the greatest recession since the Great Depression. He also blamed him for initiating the expansion of food stamp rolls.
Jeb Bush has also played a critical role in the GOP presidential primary contest in Florida — primarily by saying he wouldn’t play a role. His endorsement would have been key in the race, currently neck and neck between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, but Jeb Bush said last week that he would remain neutral.
American economy not healthy yet, but it’s healing
1/27/12 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER | Associated Press – 14 hrs ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The American economy may not be truly healthy yet, but it’s healing.
The 2.8 percent annual growth rate reported Friday for the fourth quarter was the fastest since spring 2010 and was the third straight quarter that growth has accelerated.
Experts cautioned, however, that the pace was unlikely to last and that it’s not enough to sharply drive down the unemployment rate.
Unemployment stands at 8.5 percent — its lowest level in nearly three years after a sixth straight month of solid hiring. And Friday’s Commerce Department report suggests more hiring gains ahead.
For the final three months of 2011, Americans spent more on vehicles, and companies restocked their supplies at a robust pace.
Still, overall growth last quarter — and for all of last year — was slowed by the sharpest cuts in annual government spending in four decades. And many people are reluctant to spend more or buy homes, and many employers remain hesitant to hire, even though job growth has strengthened.
The outlook for 2012 is slightly better. The Federal Reserve has estimated economic growth of roughly 2.5 percent for the year, despite abundant risk factors: federal spending cuts, weak pay increases, cautious consumers and the risk of a European recession.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/american-economy-not-healthy-yet-healing-225654100.html
Good morning CR and everyone. HOPE you all have a safe and productive Saturday.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, First Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Hello Jackie and thank you for the candle link!
January 28, 2012
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President’s Blueprint Includes Renewal of American Values
WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama discusses the blueprint he put forward this week in the State of the Union Address for creating an economy built to last. After focusing on American manufacturing, American energy, and skills for American workers during each of the last three days, he used his weekly address to highlight his commitment to a renewal of American values. The President is challenging leaders in Washington, DC to follow the model set by our men and women in the military, end the gridlock and start tackling the issues that matter – without regard for personal ambition.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Saturday, January 28, 2011
The White House
On Tuesday, in my State of the Union Address, I laid out a blueprint for an economy built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.
This week, I took that blueprint across the country, and what I saw was people who work hard and believe in each other. They believe in the America that’s within our reach. But they’re not sure that the right thing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or the year after that. And frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical?
Just two days ago, a senator from Utah promised to obstruct every single American I appoint to a judgeship or public service position – unless I fire the consumer watchdog I put in place to protect the American people from financial schemes or malpractice.
For the most part, it’s not that this senator thinks these nominees are unqualified. In fact, all of the judicial nominees being blocked have bipartisan support. And almost 90 percent have unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee.
Instead, one of his aides told reporters that the senator plans to, and I’m quoting here, “Delay and slow the process in order to get the President’s attention.”
This isn’t about me. We weren’t sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other. We were sent here to serve the American people. And they deserve better than gridlock and games. One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.
The truth is, neither party has been blameless in tactics like these. But it’s time for both parties to put an end to them. I’m asking Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stop this kind of behavior by passing a rule that allows all judicial and public service nominations a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days.
We should also stem the corrosive influence of money in politics. The House and Senate should send me a bill that bans insider trading by Members of Congress, and I will sign it immediately. They should limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. And they should make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa.
During my Address on Tuesday night, I spoke about the incredible example set by the men and women of our armed forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together.
If you agree with me that leaders in Washington should follow their example, then make your voice heard. Tell your Member of Congress that it’s time to end the gridlock, and start tackling the issues that really matter – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, American skills and education, and a return to American values. An economy built to last.
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/28/weekly-address-president-s-blueprint-includes-renewal-american-values
Obama urges public to call Congress to support his ‘blueprint’
1/28/12 By Kevin Bogardus – TheHill
President Obama asked Americans to call on Congress to pass his plan to strengthen the economy.
In his weekly address, Obama repeated several of the proposals that he laid out in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. After the speech, the president traveled to five battleground states to tout his plan.
“This week, I took that blueprint across the country, and what I saw was people who work hard and believe in each other. They believe in the America that’s within our reach. But they’re not sure that the right thing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or the year after that. And frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical?” Obama said.
The president said a senator had pledged to block his nominees until Obama rescinded his recess appointment of Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“We weren’t sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other. We were sent here to serve the American people. And they deserve better than gridlock and games. One senator gumming up the whole works for the entire country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned,” Obama said.
For the entire article: http://thehill.com/video/administration/207179-obama-urges-public-to-call-congress-in-support-of-his-blueprint
South Carolina Democratic primary, 2012
The 2012 South Carolina Democratic primary will be held on January 28, 2012. It is a straw poll held in conjunction with State Party run Precinct Reorganization meetings, similar to the Republican caucuses in Iowa. Each precinct will elect a president, three vice presidents, a secretary, treasurer and a representative to the county party’s executive committee. Delegates will also be elected to the party’s county convention which will be held on March 19
Democrats say they’ll sit out GOP primary
January 19, 2012 By: JOHN SWEENEY | SCNow
Republicans have touted this year’s presidential primary as one of the most important in the party’s history
Democratic leaders say they will let the GOP have their moment without disruption, even though state voting rules would allow them to be pretty disruptive, if they so desired.
Because South Carolina voters don’t register by party, Democrats are welcome to vote in the GOP Primary.
Dick Harpootlian, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said the party is actively discouraging members from participating in the “First in the South Primary.” The party is even going so far as to penalize those who do vote by not allowing them to serve as a delegate at the party’s national convention in Charlotte, NC, on Sept. 3-6.
“We will be checking voter lists during the process and if you vote in the Republican primary you’d be disqualified,” Harpootlian said. “We’re discouraging Democrats from voting in the Republican primary because you’d be rubbing elbows with some pretty despicable people.”
Voting lists are matters of public record, although the contents of the ballots themselves remain secret.
Speculation has been robust, if not exactly rampant, on prospective Democratic plans to disrupt Saturday’s results. Various schemes have been posited, and there’s certainly a track record.
For the entire article: http://www.scdp.org/news/democrats-say-theyll-sit-out-gop-primary/
Empowering AAPIs in an America Built to Last
Posted by Chris Lu on January 27, 2012 at 03:40 PM EST
Earlier this week, in his annual State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out his Blueprint for an America Built to Last. This includes our Administration’s unwavering commitment to preserving the American dream for all, including the nearly 17 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across our nation. Below, read more about how the Initiative will help carry the President’s message to AAPIs across the country. Also, learn about our upcoming Weekly Web Chat Series and other exciting federal work.
In his State of the Union Address, the President laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values. The President believes this is a make or break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. What’s at stake is the very survival of the basic American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put enough away for retirement.
The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent; no debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while more Americans barely get by, or we can build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. At stake right now are not Democratic or Republican values, but American values – and for the sake of our future, we have to reclaim them.
Over the next few weeks, the White House Initiative on AAPIs will have many opportunities for you to take an active role in the work of our government. Here’s what’s coming up:
January 28, 2012: Columbia, MD, WHIAAPI Advisor Tuyet Duong to keynote a conference of Mid-Atlantic Union of Vietnamese Student Associations
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/27/empowering-aapis-america-built-last
White House Hispanic Community Action Summit in Phoenix, Arizona
On Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., please join us at the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit in Phoenix, Arizona.
In collaboration with Arizona State University, the summit will connect senior Obama Administration officials from diverse policy areas with community leaders, business owners, and other stakeholders to discuss issues critical to the Hispanic community, Phoenix, and the nation.
Event information
Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Address: Arizona State University, A. E. England Building, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/white-house-hispanic-community-action-summit-phoenix-arizona
Good Saturday morning everyone! I HOPE that you have a good day!
GOP Candidates Court Hispanic Voters
January 28, 2012 NPR
Summary: Republican candidates’ efforts to win Hispanic voters have intensified in advance of the Florida primary, airing ads in Spanish and contending over immigration. Host Scott Simon speaks with Maria Elena Salinas, co-host of Noticiero Univision, about Hispanic voters’ role in the Republican primary and the upcoming presidential election.
For the entire article and audio interview: http://www.npr.org/2012/01/28/146024081/gop-candidates-court-hispanic-voters
Latino Mormons speaking out against Romney
2/20/12 By RUSSELL CONTRERAS | Associated Press – 5 hrs ago
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — When Honduran-born Antonella Cecilia Packard converted to the Mormon Faith 20 years ago, she said it was like “coming home.”
The Catholic-educated Packard, who grew up in “the middle of Mayan ruins,” appreciated the faith’s strong sense of family and conservative values. She also saw her own history in the Book of Mormon with stories of migrations, tragedies and triumphs of a people many Mormons believe are the ancestors of some present-day Latinos.
But two decades after her conversion while a college student at Mississippi State, the 43-year-old Packard finds herself on a new mission: defeating Mitt Romney and any Mormon politician who betrays what she sees as a basic Mormon principle of protecting immigrants.
As Romney continues to seek the Republican presidential nomination while rarely discussing his faith, a growing number of vocal Hispanic Mormons say they intend to use Mormon teachings as a reason to convince others not to vote for him. They have held firesides (equivalent to a tent revival) on immigration, protested outside of Romney campaign events and have traveled across state lines to help defeat other Mormon politicians with similar harsh immigration stances.
“Yes, we are happy that we have a Mormon running for president,” said Packard, a Saratoga Springs, Utah, resident and member of Somos (We are) Republicans. “But a lot of us aren’t supporting him because of his stance against immigrants.”
While stressing the Mormon faith’s historic connection to converting immigrants, Latino Mormons point directly to immigration stories in the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ recent statements against policies targeting immigrants. They also view Romney’s stance against proposals giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship as hypocritical since Romney’s great-grandfather, Miles Park Romney, who had five wives and 30 children, sought refuge in Mexico after passage of an 1882 law that barred polygamy.
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/latino-mormons-speaking-against-romney-081631712.html
7:15 PM EST
President Obama delivers remarks at the 99th annual Alfalfa Club Dinner in Washington. First Lady Michelle Obama attends
Remarks and video to follow
President Obama pokes fun at himself at annual Alfalfa Club dinner
1/29/12 By Meghashyam Mali – TheHill
President Barack Obama spoke at Saturday night’s Alfalfa Club dinner in Washington poking fun at himself and fellow leaders.
The annual black-tie banquet is an exclusive gathering of many of Washington’s business and political elite.
“You’ve heard it from the pundits: ‘Obama is cloistered in the White House.’ ‘He’s aloof.’ ‘He’s in the bubble.’ He’s not connecting,’” said Obama. “And that’s why one of my big goals this year was to get out and be among every day, ordinary Americans — like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club.”
The president, who broke into song at a recent fundraiser in New York City, also joked about his singing. “At least my harshest critics can agree… I have a promising future as an Al Green impersonator,” he said.
Obama also earned laughs at the expensive of Republican rivals, highlighting rumors of tensions between House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
“Speaker Boehner, it is good to see you at the head table. I know how badly Eric Cantor wanted your seat,” he said.
“John, I want you to know: I am eager to work with members of Congress to be entertaining tonight. But if Congress is unwilling to cooperate, I will be funny without them,” he added.
The president has been pressuring congressional leaders to adopt many of his proposals to boost job growth and has cautioned them that he will implement efforts on his own without their cooperation.
For the entire article: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/207229-obama-pokes-fun-at-himself-at-annual-alfalfa-club-dinner
Special election set for June 12 to fill Giffords’ seat
1/27/12 By David Schwartz | Reuters – 21 hrs ago
PHOENIX (Reuters) – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Friday ordered a special general election to be held on June 12 to fill a congressional seat vacated by Tucson Democrat Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned to focus on recovering from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Republican governor also set an April 17 primary to choose the candidates who will vie to replace Giffords in what has proved to be a highly competitive district in southern Arizona.
Giffords left office on Wednesday, cutting short her third term representing Arizona’s 8th congressional district as she continues to recover from a gunshot wound that left her with faltering speech and physical impairments.
She was shot at close range by a gunman who opened fire at a meet-and-greet for constituents outside a Tucson supermarket on January 8, 2011. Six people were killed and 12 others were wounded.
Giffords, in a resignation letter read aloud on the floor of the House of Representatives by close friend and fellow Democrat Deborah Wasserman-Schultz, said her district “deserves to elect a U.S. representative who can give 100 percent to the job.”
Giffords won re-election by a slim 4,000 votes during the last election in 2010, brightening Republican hopes that the seat may again be within their gasp. Before Giffords, it was held by Republican Jim Kolbe for 22 years.
Republicans now hold a voter registration advantage of 6 percentage points over Democrats in the district.
District voters will go to the polls twice more this year, with the regular election primary scheduled for August 28 and the general election on November 6. The regular election will be held under redrawn congressional lines that all but make it a dead-even split between Republicans and Democrats.
Possible Republican candidates for Giffords’ seat include state Senator Frank Antenori, who on Friday became the first to announce his bid in both elections, as well as Dave Sitton, a University of Arizona sports broadcaster, and Jesse Kelly, who lost to Giffords in 2010 and had strong Tea Party backing.
Among Democrats believed to be considering at run are Steve Farley, a state representative and assistant majority leader, state Senator Paula Aboud and state Representative Matt Heinz.
Also mentioned as a possible candidate has been Giffords’ husband Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut. But Kelly quashed speculation that he might run for her seat during a video-conference call with Arizona reporters on Wednesday.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/O0TrP
Sunday, January 29, 2012
All Times Eastern
President Obama receives the presidential daily briefing
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
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
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
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10:00 PM
January 29,, 2012
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/
Sunday talk show tip sheet
1/27/12 By ZACK HALE – POLITICO44
(Democratic excerpts only)
Fox also has House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). ABC also has House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). And NBC has as well President Barack Obama’s longtime political strategist, David Axelrod – and hosts a debate between Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who’s backing Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination, and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), a Gingrich surrogate.
CBS’s “Face the Nation” has a face-off, too, with the national party chairs: Republican Reince Priebus and Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Florida congresswoman. Plus there’re freshman Florida Reps. Allen West and Mario Diaz-Balart, both Republicans; Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who’s abandoned her White House bid; and Donald Trump, the New York real estate magnate who continues to toy with mounting his own presidential campaign.
And TV One’s “Washington Watch” visits with Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett.
For the entire article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72097.html
Trade cheats beware: new U.S. team will come after you: Kirk
1/2912 By Warren Strobel | Reuters – 3 hrs ago
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – A new team of U.S. trade enforcers will make countries think twice about putting up unfair barriers to American exports, President Barack Obama’s top trade official said.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told Reuters that the team, announced by Obama last week, will include intelligence officials as well as representatives of other agencies in order to beef up U.S. resources and crack open markets.
“We want to make sure we aren’t resource-constrained. Other countries know our budget and our resources … and so they’ll game the system because they know that we’re very discriminating on which cases we make,” Kirk said in an interview.
“We don’t want them to make … that bet that we don’t have the resources to come after them if they’re intentionally and unfairly discriminating against American exporters,” Kirk said, speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He did not identify countries that could attract the attention of the unit, but Obama is under pressure to show business and voters he is taking a tough stance against China.
For the entire article: http://goo.gl/t5DFX
APNewsBreak: Obama to protect US goods globally
1/25/12 By JOHN HEILPRIN | Associated Press
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — President Barack Obama has adopted a new strategy declaring for the first time that the United States has a national security interest to protect the nation’s economic goods against terrorists, criminals and natural disasters in all corners of the globe.
The new U.S. policy unveiled Wednesday by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Switzerland is called the “National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security,” according to a White House document provided to The Associated Press.
It says potential economic threats to goods dependent on supplies from beyond U.S. borders are now a matter of national security and that the government must “resolve threats early.”
And that’s not just cargo shipments — all “cyber and energy networks” also are affected.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, she called Obama’s policy “a look across all of U.S. government” preparing for the worst. “When the unknown occurs, you have no time,” she said.
Businesses have often sought to cut costs by farming out many parts of their operations, leaving them potentially more at risk to disruptions outside the confines of their traditional areas of management. But with the economy increasingly globalized, businesses are becoming more dependent on each other — and more exposed to these risks.
“The global supply chain provides the food, medicine, energy and products that support our way of life,” the document says.
“Many different entities are responsible for or reliant upon the functioning of the global supply chain, including regulators, law enforcement, public-sector buyers, private-sector business, and other foreign and domestic partners,” it says. “The system relies upon an interconnected web of transportation infrastructure and pathways, information technology, and cyber and energy networks.”
Daniel J. Brutto, president of UPS International, said more such cooperation internationally would not only address supply chain threats but also speed up trade. “Many countries want a paper chain system, an archaic system, that slows down commerce,” he said. “When there are disruptions, you are penalized very strongly and I don’t think the financial institutions take that into account.”
For the entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-obama-protect-us-goods-globally-144814656.html
“I Will Go Anywhere in the World to Open New Markets for American Products”
January 25. 2012 ustr.gov
Did you see President Obama’s State of the Union last night? If not, you can watch a clip about trade and exports below. You can also read his remarks below the video.
“We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years. With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule. (Applause.) And soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago. (Applause.)
“I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration –- and it’s made a difference. (Applause.) Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.
“Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China. (Applause.) There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you -– America will always win.”
Good morning CR and PPO Family. HOPE you have a great Sunday.
Please join me in lighting a candle for our President, Firs Family and the Nation.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Good Sunday morning and thank you Jackie!
Done — 19 now.
Who are the victims of this ‘class warfare’?
Jan 27, 2012 By Cynthia Tucker – cynthiatucker.com
“Since when do we in America accept this alien and discredited theory of social and class warfare? Since when do we in America endorse the politics of envy and division?” — Ronald Reagan, 1982
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When Ronald Reagan spoke those words, the American economy was still a colossus astride the globe — its workers unchallenged by the Chinese, undaunted by the Japanese and South Koreans, barely aware of low-wage Mexicans. American factories still hummed with the hustle of well-paid workers assembling automobiles, stitching garments and making reams of silver halide film.
That was then. Over the intervening years, Korean and Japanese manufacturers downsized Detroit, Chinese laborers seduced Steve Jobs, and technological advances virtually killed Kodak. The loss of those jobs and the wages they provided is the central dilemma of our time.
As the U.S. manufacturing sector has withered, so has the prosperity that fueled the hopes and dreams of a large and stable working class. The factory jobs that boosted high school graduates (or even drop-outs) into middle-class lifestyles — complete with health insurance and comfortable pensions — are now on the endangered species list.
It’s no wonder, then, that the trite old phrase “class warfare,” which Republicans still wield, sounds so stale and outdated. Too many Americans are aware that they are the casualties of an economic cataclysm — if not an actual war. The old drumbeat of “class warfare” won’t dismiss their questions about a system that increasingly favors the fat cats.
A recent Pew Center study underlines the impotence and emptiness of that bromide. The study found that 66 percent of Americans now see class conflict as looming large in the civic landscape, a more potent force, they believe, than racial conflict.
For the entire article: http://cynthiatucker.com/2012/01/who-are-the-victims-of-this-class-warfare.html
Robert Gibbs back on Obama payroll
1/29/12 By GLENN THRUSH – POLITICO44
Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs is back on the Obama payroll as a roving surrogate and strategic consultant for the president’s reelection effort, two campaign sources tell me.
Gibbs, who left the West Wing about a year ago, will continue to take other consulting and speaking jobs, but for months has been present on conference calls with Obama, campaign manager Jim Messina, senior campaign strategist David Axelrod and senior White House adviser David Plouffe, the sources said.
The contract represents a ‘formalization’ of the relationship between the Chicago-based campaign and Gibbs, who has had an informal relationship with the campaign since last May. It’s not clear how much he’ll be paid, but that’s what quarterly campaign filings are for.
The Alabama-bred Gibbs is known for his blunt style and candor with Obama, and a person close to Obama said one of the reasons he was being brought closer to the campaign is his willingness to deliver tough messages to the president, a role he’s played for five years of governing and campaigning.
For the entire article: http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/robert-gibbs-back-on-obama-payroll-112709.html
Good and HOPEful Sunday, CR and all friends!
>^..^<
Good and HOPEful Sunday Kat!
Museum trip
1/29/12 6:58 PM EST POLITICO44
The Obamas walked to the Corcoran Gallery of Art on Sunday evening. The museum is usually closed on Sunday nights, so presumably they have the venue to themselves.
The Corcoran is nearing the end of a special exhibit called 30 Americans, which focuses on such African American artists of the last three decades, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker and Shinique Smith.
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titled: “WH Google+ Hangouts & Oregon Special Election ”
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