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President Obama Wants to Prevail on His Terms This Time Around

January 22, 2013 by 1 Comment
president obama inaugural speech 2013 300x191 President Obama Wants to Prevail on His Terms This Time Around

President Obama Wants to Prevail on His Terms This Time Around

Dan Balz: “President Obama has never lacked for confidence, but rarely has that attribute been on display as clearly as on Monday in an inaugural address that underscored the distance he has traveled after four contentious years in office. This was not the politician who campaigned in 2008 on themes of transcending the divisive politics of the past, though there were ritual calls for the country and its political leaders to seize this moment together. Instead, it was a president who has accepted the reality of those divisions and is determined to prevail on his terms.”

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White House Corrects Conference Call Number After Directing Reporters to Sex Line

April 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Apparently the White House mistakenly distributed a phone sex number to phone sex operator 1 main Full White House Corrects Conference Call Number After Directing Reporters to Sex Linejournalists. When the conference call number was dialed, the participants were greeted by a seductive female voice requesting a credit card number from callers who”feel like getting nasty.” They were supposed to be listening to a briefing call with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Advisor Jim Jones to discuss the NATO summit.
I agree that it was stupid for FOX News to cover this as a bonafide news story. However, the folks at the White House really need to be more careful in order to stop giving ammunition to critics who are happy to yell incompetence:
“In a press release, the White House accidentally listed a phone sex number for journalists seeking an ‘on-the-record briefing call with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a

Journalists seeking to talk a little foreign policy with high-profile Obama administration officials live from the G20 meetings in London this week were solicited for phone sex instead after ringing up the toll-free number given by the White House.

After several efforts to make sure that the phone number was correctly dialed, a call to the White House resulted in a corrected press release. “If you are having trouble dialing into the call, please try this number as an alternative,” and listed the international line included for reporters abroad to dial.

By this time, the conference call was already under way.

Asked for comment about this mishap, Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton responded: “A corrected phone number on a press release is probably one of the stupider things FOX News has covered lately.” Source: Fox News

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Military mortuary open to media for first time since 1991

April 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
artcasketssoldiersgi Military mortuary open to media for first time since 1991The Obama Administration has reinstated media coffin coverage, and I think that it’s a good thing. Media coverage of military coffins was suspended in 1991 after President George H.W. Bush was criticized for appearing too jovial as the first casualties of the first Iraq War came home.

I’m glad that the coverage of these dead soldiers is being reinstated, because these images help to make the wars abroad real for people here in America. The fact of the matter is that lives are being lost, and seeing the flag-draped coffins ought to be a constant reminder of that:

“WASHINGTON (CNN) — For the first time since media coverage was banned in 1991, the return of the body of a fallen member of the U.S. armed forces was opened to news outlets late Sunday. The U.S. Air Force informed media on Sunday that the family of Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers consented to allowing coverage of his casket being returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Virginia, was a member of an engineering unit based in Britain. He died Saturday in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military reported.

In February, President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates overturned a policy that dated back to the first Persian Gulf war. They agreed to allow reporters to observe the remains of American troops being returned to the U.S. military mortuary at Dover, as long as families agreed.” Source: CNN

Do you think that the media should be allowed to film the coffins of soldiers returning from the wars abroad?

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Kathleen Sebelius Pays Back Taxes, more trouble for the Obama Administration?

April 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Yet another Obama Administration nominee is under scrutiny for income tax inconsistencies. We recently told you about Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius’ in the article, Kansas Governor Signs Bill on Offering Ultrasounds Before Abortion.

Now Sebelius has admitted to paying over $7,000 in back taxes in what she characterizes as “unintentional errors:”
kathleen sebelius Kathleen Sebelius Pays Back Taxes, more trouble for the Obama Administration?
In her letter to Baucus and Grassley, Sebelius wrote that the accountant discovered these errors:
–Charitable contributions over $250 are supposed to include an acknowledgment letter from the charity in order for a deduction to be taken. Out of 49 charitable contributions made, three letters couldn’t be found.
–Sebelius and her husband took deductions for mortgage interest that they weren’t entitled to. The couple sold their home in 2006 for less than what they owed on the mortgage. They continued to make payments on the mortgage, including interest. But since they no longer owned the home they weren’t entitled to take deductions for the interest. The same thing happened with a home improvement loan. Sebelius said they ”mistakenly believed” the payments were still deductible.
–Insufficient documentation was found for some business expense deductions. Source: New York Times
At this point, I would like to see exactly how much of the $7K was from each of the areas Sebelius noted in her statement. Even though 7K is a lot of money, this may turn out to be a whole lot of fuss over nothing. Based on the statement, it doesn’t sound that bad,but of course that was the point…
Do you think this latest revelation will cause Sebelius to withdraw her nomination for Health and Human Services?
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Obama Nominee, Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas Governor Signs Bill on Offering Ultrasounds Before Abortion

April 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
governorsebelius Obama Nominee, Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas Governor Signs Bill on Offering Ultrasounds Before AbortionIt’s a good idea to require facilities providing abortions to allow women to see the ultrasound image of their fetus for the purposes of ensuring that an informed decision is being made.
On another note, the timing of the passing of this bill is interesting considering that Gov. Sebelius is nominated to lead the Health and Human Services Department.
From the article:
“The measure, which the governor signed on Friday, requires abortion providers who use ultrasound or monitor fetal heartbeats to give their patients access to the images or sound at least 30 minutes before an abortion. The amended law takes effect July 1.” Source: New York Times
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A few words from the late mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson

March 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment
WSBN38005%20 %20ATL%20 %20MAYNARD%20JACKSON%20TNAIL nologo A few words from the late mayor of Atlanta, Maynard JacksonFor those of you who don’t know who Maynard Jackson is, he was the first African-American mayor of a major Southern city (Atlanta).

A few days ago I watched a segment of the PBS Series, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Movement, and found something that Maynard Jackson said to be very pertinent in todays social and political climate:

“Being the first black mayor is what you wish on your enemy. I say that with tongue in cheek… a great pride to be mayor of Atlanta. And every black mayor who’s been the first black mayor I’m sure has felt the same thing, but it truly is part hell…”

“First of all start with exaggerated black expectations… heaven will come on earth, and it’s all because the black mayor’s been elected, and things just don’t work that way. The obligation that I felt was to try with everything in my power, in every legal and ethical way that I could, to move things as quickly as possible in that direction.”



Maynard Jackson

First Black Mayor of a Major Southern City (Atlanta)

Terms: January 1974 – January 1982, January 1990 – January 1994

Source: Episode 13 Eyes on the Prize America’s Civil Rights Movement

Upon hearing his statement I could not help but think about our newly elected President, Barack Obama, and the high expectations placed upon him by many blacks. I believe that people ought to stop looking for a savior and save themselves.

As a point of clarification, I am not saying that people should not look to their leaders for guidance, but instead that they should understand that change does not occur based on the will of the leader alone. There are no shortcuts, and people will have to take change into their own hands on an individual basis. Until they do this, the will continue to look for a savior in each promising leader within the community.

I’m interested in reading your thoughts on this one…

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Jesse’s Tears: If those tears were real, then let your actions henceforth show it…

November 6, 2008 by Leave a Comment
By Cheri Thomas

If you were watching Obama’s first speech as President-Elect, live from Grant Park in Chicago, then you probably jesse Jesses Tears: If those tears were real, then let your actions henceforth show it...saw Jesse Jackson Sr. crying big tears at the sight of the first black President of the United States of America.

First, let me say that I do not profess to know why Jesse Jackson was so emotional. According to a recent interview, Jesse says that he became emotional thinking of all of the people in the struggle who were not there to witness that moment.

I don’t doubt that Jesse’s reflection on how far blacks in this nation have come made him emotional. It made me emotional too. However, what I take issue with is the hypocrisy of Jesse’s recent inappropriate backbiting and hateful comments during a hot mic slip-up on Fox News and him standing there crying. I cannot blame others for questioning why Jesse was crying.

My respect for Jesse Jackson, Sr. has steadily decreased as he as made it clear that he is little more than a media whore who loves the spotlight. However, my respect for Jesse hit an all time low when he showed his true colors by suggesting that he wanted to essentially castrate Obama during the slip-up on Fox news.

Let’s take a closer look at why Jesse was pissed off with Obama. Jesse was pissed with Obama because he essentially circumvented the black political establishment and didn’t ask their permission to run for President. Jesse feels that he is the mouthpiece for black America, and who is this Obama to come and inspire “his” people without asking Jesse’s permission.

One of the things I love about Obama is that he understood that change wasn’t going to happen by waiting for Jackson and his cronies to ordain that it should be so. In many ways these old fashioned, so-called black leaders are part of the problem. The day has come and gone when black people need one mouth piece to speak for the community.
____________________

Dear Jesse Jackson,

Rather than celebrating the dawn of a new day for black people in this country, you worked to undermine Obama throughout the campaign; saying one thing, yet doing another. You have consistently put yourself before the cause.

Mr Jackson, Obama realized one thing that makes him far more relevant that you. Obama realized that this was not about him, but rather about the people that he works to serve. Among his greatest attributes is his transparency. You would be well-served to to take notice of this and modify your own behavior appropriately if you expect to help the cause in the future.

My advice to you? Please be willing to show up, even if the TV cameras do not. Please be willing to step aside if need be. Please be willing to roll your sleeves up and get the job don, even when nobody is watching. Please try to put your ego aside for the greater good. Ultimately, please redeem yourself from your previous actions. I forgive you for your transgressions against the community you profess to serve.

In the end, I don’t know what your tears were all about, and in many ways it’s irrelevant. However, if you truly want to help the black community, then let your actions henceforth show it.

Respectfully,

Cheri

pixel Jesses Tears: If those tears were real, then let your actions henceforth show it...
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