Fareed Zakaria GPS: Panel discuss Obama's speech to the Muslim World in Cairo, Egypt (Video)

CNN's Fareed Zakaria talks to a panel of experts to discuss President Obama's Cairo speech and Muslim reaction.



Home Page

First Ladies in Paris

maureen, over at East Wing Rules is at it again. The continuous comparison of the Kennedys and Obamas. Oh, and the press and their over the top reporting of why the Obamas did not dine with the Sarkozys? Heads of State participate in something called protocol, which many of us forget when it comes to the Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama was in France for the celebration of D-Day, along with celebrating Sasha's 8th birthday. Though the Sarkozys did have lunch with Michelle and the girls, as Barack left, the Obamas had no commitment to dine with the Sarkozys. Remember, when President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy ventured into Paris, France it was a State Visit, which is vastly different from the Obamas visit to Paris. Protocol, folks, protocol.

But, maureen breaks it all down here:

No first lady will be the recipient of the wild adoration that enveloped Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy when she landed in France in 1961 as the spouse of a head of state. For her in a sense, it was going home, back to a beloved city where she received her junior year of education on the Left Bank at the prestigious La Sorbonne. The 31 year-old was there for a European state visit with all the pomp trimmings and managed to charm the irascible President Charles de Gaulle with her Française, élan and savoir faire. She ably served as the interpreter between the French and American presidents. The French state dinner was a feast in the Hall of Mirrors at the palace of Versailles followed by a Jackie Kennedy favorite performance art, the ballet, as Rendezvous pirouetted in the Louis XV Theater.

On June 8, 1994 another First Lady stood in Paris in the shadow of Jackie and embraced her. Mrs. Onassis had recently passed away and it was a sad opportunity for Hillary Rodham Clinton to pay tribute to her. Five years later, Hillary was in Paris again to present an award at the Sorbonne. By that time Parisians embraced her and what she represented as a woman with grace weathering through triumph and tragedy in the White House. It is remarkable how many modern First Ladies travel to Paris in June. First lady Laura Bush in Paris, France June 11, 2008, for a cultural evening with the American Ambassador to France, Charles Stapleton on the evening before the International Support Conference for Afghanistan. read more and view the video, here

Home Page

Gingrich, Huckabee tells Christians to get involved in the political process

Yes, they did.

Two leading voices of the Republican Party's evangelical wing visited Rock Church on Friday for a forum aimed at recapturing some of the movement's political momentum.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee urged Christians to get involved in politics to preserve the presence of religion in American life.

"I think this is one of the most critical moments in American history," Gingrich said. "We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism."

Paganism? Well, it is all good to tell people to get involved in their government. People should. It is voices and pressure that makes a difference in congress votes, but the Republican Party already has this section of the vote within its own party. It is everyone else, meaning the rest of the country, that folks have an issue with the Republican Party.

They need to speak about how Iraq was an illegal war, a war of choice, not neccesity. How many people within the church are struggling with high health care costs or don't have any due to job loss or other factors. What about starting there? But when you ask for solutions from within the Republican Party, there are none.

Huckabee told the audience he was disturbed to hear President Barack Obama say during his speech in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday that one nation shouldn't be exalted over another.

"The notion that we are just one of many among equals is nonsense," Huckabee said. The United States is a "blessed" nation, he said, calling American revolutionaries' defeat of the British empire "a miracle from God's hand."

Did Huckabee understand what Obama meant? Obviously, not. The United States of America is not and should never have been a nation builder and one to tell other nations what to do. Case and point, IRAQ. We are one of equals, it is obvious that the damage done by the Bush Administration will require many hands to help resolve it in the Middle East. Yes, we are the leader and need to show leadership, but in that leadership requires tolerance, understanding and relation building.

I believe in God, firmly, but I don't believe God wanted us to march into Iraq and turn the Middle East into what it is now, a WORSE burning war zone. Thanks to the United States of America's interference.

This is why a definitive line should be crossed between Church and State. People go to church to get their souls, beings healed and yearned for God's word; not for the continuous use of the pulpit to misdirect folk for political rhetoric.

Finally, Newt Gringrich is the last person to tell any Christian what to do. His exemplary life, itself, is enough to disqualify him. To start, serving a current wife, (at that time) who is in the hospital struggling with cancer divorce papers, so he can marry his mistress? How hypocritical is that? No, Newt is surely not the one to speak about Christian values and what any Christian should or could do.

Home Page

Obamas sightseeing in Paris (Video)

And of course, Barack and Michelle dined quietly, last night.

The US media is of course missing the critical part of the story, which is what they ate. Naturally the AFP has that covered. President Obama had the leg of lamb and île flottante while the First Lady had filets de boeuf and crèmes brûlées. Both are very classical French dinners.

AFP

Home Page

It is health care time and Obama will lead the charge

He must.

I wrote here last week, that the GOP will fight against the public option.

Why?

It will more than likely put their insurance cronies out of business, that is why. (And don't think it is only the GOP, we have some spineless Democrats on our side that will be pressured by the insurance companies checkbook, so don't be shocked.) Big Pharma and insurance companies are working overtime to kill the public option in the health care bill. To be honest, why even have a health care bill, with only options from insurance companies? That is not a bill, it is a waste of time and a showing commitment that lobbyists still run it on the Hill.

I'ved poked around Washington today, talking with friends on the Hill who confirm the worst: Big Pharma and Big Insurance are gaining ground in their campaign to kill the public option in the emerging health care bill.

You know why, of course. They don't want a public option that would compete with private insurers and use its bargaining power to negotiate better rates with drug companies. They argue that would be unfair. Unfair? Unfair to give more people better health care at lower cost? To Pharma and Insurance, "unfair" is anything that undermines their profits.

So they're pulling out all the stops -- pushing Democrats and a handful of so-called "moderate" Republicans who say they're in favor of a public option to support legislation that would include it in name only. One of their proposals is to break up the public option into small pieces under multiple regional third-party administrators that would have little or no bargaining leverage. A second is to give the public option to the states where Big Pharma and Big Insurance can easily buy off legislators and officials, as they've been doing for years. A third is bind the public plan to the same rules private insurers have already wangled, thereby making it impossible for the public plan to put competitive pressure on the insurers.

This fight must be lead not only by President Obama, but must have a voice at the grassroots level. It must be the will of the people. Since President Obama sent a letter to Sens. Baucus and Kennedy with the insistance that public option must be a part of the health care bill, the Republicans are now digging in and saying no. In doing so, President Obama will ramp up his image and go straight out to the people.

After months of insisting he would leave the details to Congress, President Obama has concluded that he must exert greater control over the health care debate and is preparing an intense push for legislation that will include speeches, town-hall-style meetings and much deeper engagement with lawmakers, senior White House officials say.

Mindful of the failures of former President Bill Clinton, whose intricate proposal for universal care collapsed on Capitol Hill 15 years ago, Mr. Obama until now had charted a different course, setting forth broad principles and concentrating on bringing disparate factions — doctors, insurers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions — to the negotiating table.

But Mr. Obama has grown concerned that he is losing the debate over certain policy prescriptions he favors, like a government-run insurance plan to compete with the private sector, said one Democrat familiar with his thinking. With Congress beginning a burst of work on the measure, top advisers say, the president is determined to make certain the final bill bears his stamp.

Again, I don't trust insurance companies, if their product and service was so exceptional, cost efficient there should be no issue, but that is not the case. We all know this show and we all have had issues with health insurance coverage in this country, cost and care. If you want to continue to pay the high priced premiums with not much to show for it, go ahead do nothing. But if you are one of the millions where this issue has bankrupted you, cost you, provided not enough for you, then you need to have your voice heard and now.

Now Mitch McConnell, the House Minority Leader states the following:

...."the key to a bipartisan bill is not to have a government plan in the bill."

This is about insurance companies keeping and retaining the iron clamp on this issue and to keep running the health care business (that is how they at look health care) more of same, nothing of change.

Time to get organzed and it starts here, find a meeting near you.

Lastly, congress has the best medical care in this country. Why they are holding back and siding with the insurance checkbooks against their constituents, the very people that PAY THEIR SALARIES is a question they need to answer. Why we, the people, can not have the same coverage and care is beyond me?

Sen. Kennedy Releases Draft of Health Care Reform Bill; Obama Pushes Reforms
NYT
h/t Terri @ Daily Kos

Home Page

Michelle Obama's East Wing (Video)

See NBCs Inside the Obama White House, all the video and extra clips here

NBC Obama Store

Home Page

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in Normandy, France for 65th Anniversary of D-Day (Pictures, Video)

American Cemetery, Normandy, France
























Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Gordon Brown, Stephen Harper, Nicholas Sarkozy



MSNBC Video
Transcript
D-Day Video Clips

Home Page

President Obama Weekly Radio Address, June 6, 2009 (Video and Transcript)

President Obama Outlines Goals for Health Care Reform



download .mp3 or .mp4 (51.1 Mb) | also available youtube | read transcript

Home Page

Pat Buchanan is a Cracker.

Repost from Margaret and Helen blog. A must read.

Margaret, this old gal has clearly lived too long. Never in my life did I think I would see a bunch of old, white men claiming they are being discriminated against. I am sure the Hispanic women who cleaned their houses today are having a good laugh… or a good cry. Honestly, the absurdity of it all is more than I can take. Stick me in a hole and throw some dirt on top of me. I’m done.

If you are born a white, male Christian in today’s world and life didn’t turn out the way you wanted, you probably have only yourself and the Rush Limbaugh Show to blame. Some exceptions probably do exist, but if you’re a commentator on a cable news channel you’re probably the rule and not the exception.

Pat Buchanan is an idiot. I mean it. Really

Helen, dear, I sent an email to that talented Susan Boyle telling her that I thought she had the voice of an angel and that I wanted her to sing at my funeral. Her response said she was free next Thursday.

That says it ALL about Pat Buchanan.

Home Page

Here comes GOP token, Michael Steele, weighing in on Judge Sotomayor (Video)

Again, the token has spoken.....

"And God help you if you’re a white male coming before her bench."

That from RNC Chairman, Michael Steele.



Home Page

FLOTUS w/girls at the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Michelle Obama is in Paris with Malia, Sasha and Grandma.

US First Lady Michelle Obama took her two daughters up the Eiffel Tower for a birds-eye view of Paris at sunset Friday after flying in to France to join President Barack Obama, who arrived from Germany.

Hundreds of onlookers screamed "Michelle" as she stepped out of a Chevrolet to wave to the crowd before shepherding Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, into the landmark tower by a discreet side entrance in the south pillar.

The Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe was on hand to welcome the US party at one of the world's most visited attractions, with six million visitors a year.

The iron-laced monument, emblem of the Paris skyline, remained open throughout the family's 30-minute tour with tourists climbing its steps and milling about below.

The family left just as the tower, soaring 324 metres (710 feet) above the Paris skyline, suddenly lit up the night sky with thousands of sparkling lights.

The first family arrived as President Barack Obama flew in to Orly airport, just outside Paris, after visiting Germany.

He was to stay overnight with the family at the US embassy residence, a large 19th-century building with a vast garden located close by the French presidential office, the Palais de l'Elysee.

Source

From Gossip on the Ground in France

A dispatch from one of my French connections about the Obama family landing in Paris on Friday.......How they did it, I don't know, but they arrived in Paris all together.
The Faubourg Saint-Honore, one of the very chic-est street in Paris (Hermes, Sotheby's, Lanvin, etc.) where the ambassador's residence and the Elysee palace are, has been blocked all day and there are many complaints.....Tomorrow's dinner at the Jules Vernes seems to be on.....

and a note from one of my French spies....The program has been disclosed by the AFP....The 3 girls (First Lady Michelle, Malia and Sasha) went to the Tour Eiffel ....They'll go to Notre Dame tomorrow. Then: private dinner.....They'll go to the Modern Art Museum on Sunday....Then Michelle will go to the Elysée to see Carla + Nicolas Sarkozy and kids
......Then shopping spree in a children's store in VI ème arrondissment (Rive Gauche / Upscale)

Home Page

King Rush: At Buchenwald Obama is "ripping" Germans "over something they did 60 years ago" a day after praising Islam

I guess Obama's success and showing leadership is just a tad bit too, much for the King, maybe he is taking too much of that oxycotin.....



Home Page

Utah man who was on a "mission" to kill Obama is charged

Yes, we have to continue to deal with the crazys in this country. God watch over President Obama. for real.

Federal authorities in Utah search for a man who allegedly made threats against President Obama.

Daniel James Murray has been charged with making threats against Obama, after telling a bank teller he was part of a "mission" to kill the president. The Secret Service says Murray has at least eight registered firearms. His whereabouts are unknown.

Murray entered Zion's First National Bank in St. George, Utah, May 19, to open a savings account with an $85,000 check, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Salt Lake City today.

Murray allegedly asked if the bank was solvent and then stated, according to the complaint, "With all this mess going on under President Obama with banks and the economy, I'm sure if citizens happen to lose their money, they will rise up and we could see killing and deaths." read more here....

Source

Home Page

President Obama's Pictures from Buchenwald, Germany

Elie Wiesel's words from Buchenwald with President Obama (Video)
President Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel's Press Conference in Dresden, Germany (Video)
President Obama's visit to Buchenwald Concentration Camp and his remarks, Video
Full Transcript of remarks by Chancellor Merkel, President Obama and Elie Wiesel at Buchenwald

Home Page