FLOTUS, Michelle Obama donates inaugural gown to Smithsonian (Pictures)

First Lady Michelle Obama with dress designer Jason Wu during an event where she donated her inaugural gown to the Smithsonian Museum of American History on March 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. Mrs. Obama continues a long tradition of first ladies who have donated their inaugural gown to be on display at the Smithsonian.





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President Obama speaks at National Prayer Breakfast (Video)

The President speaks about the power of prayer to foster civility and bridge divisions in remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.


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Another President's Question Time, this time with Senate Democratic Caucus

President Obama will perform another Q&A, this time with the Senate Democratic Caucus. As the House GOP Retreat, which electrified many, this too, will be televised.

Let's hope some calling out on obstructionist Senate Democrats is in order, or this will be a yawn.

Less than a week after his electrifying parley with House Republicans, President Obama will be doing another televised question-and-answer session tomorrow morning -- this one with the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Staffers from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office and White House aides tell the Huffington Post that the president will meet with the caucus at the Newseum, where the senators will be assembled for an issues conference to discuss policy, strategy and message for the coming year.

White House advisers were thrilled with Obama's defiant, substantive and engaging dialogue at a House Republican retreat last Friday; tough and sometimes misleading questions seemed to bring the best out in him.

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President Obama's speech at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church service commemorating ML King Day (Video)

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FLOTUS, Michelle Obama with Malia, Sasha and Bo Obama visits Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C. (video)

First lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha (C) and Malia try to get their dog Bo to stop barking at Santa Claus as they read Christmas stories to children at the Children's National Medical Center on December 22, 2009 in Washington, DC. The first lady toured the hospital visiting the Heart and Kidney Unit before greeting 200 patients and hospital staff.


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President Obama's speech on jobs and job recovery at the Brookings Institute (Video, Transcript)

Overall a good speech, good digs at the obstructionists in the Republican Party, but asking folks to spend money to get us out of this mess is a bit much to ask. Especially, when many don't have jobs or are fearful of losing their job. And from recent polling, Obama is losing ground on the economic front.



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President Obama Celebrates Kennedy Center Honorees (Video/Pictures)

The President speaks at a reception to pay tribute to this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees -- Dave Brubeck, Mel Brooks, Grace Bumbry, Robert DeNiro and Bruce Springsteen. December 6, 2009.


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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) hosts the 2009 Kennedy Center Honorees at an East Room reception in the White House December 6, 2009 in Washington, DC. The group was gathered for the taping of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors tribute program to be aired December 29th. (L-R) Honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert DeNiro, and Bruce Springsteen.

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President Obama lights the National Christmas Tree (Video)

The President, joined by the First Family and Vice President and Dr. Biden, hosts the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse. December 3, 2009.



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President Obama's Speech at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC (Video)

MSNBC Video
Vimeo Video

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The Obamas celebrate their 17th Wedding Anniversary

President Barack Obama (R) and first lady Michelle Obama depart the Blueduck Tavern in the Georgetown section of Washington after a dinner celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary October 3, 2009.

All the information on the date, here.



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Washington Doesn't Get It: We Need More Jobs

Ouch. And I mean a big ouch.

I have been writing consistently about the bleak job news. The Obama Administration has been preparing us for 10% unemployment, but the question is this, "How long are people going to sit out and continue for this to be ok?"

Right now, Obama has temporary cover called the Bush Administration, but by this time next year that cover will be gone. Next year, Americans will want to start seeing MOVEMENT in job growth and wages. If we don't, the economy will continue in a free fall, people will start to point that finger at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and all that fairy dust that many have on Barack Obama will disappear.

This is from Dan Froomkin, Huffington Post, a must worth read:

Nowhere is the massive disconnect between Washington D.C. and the rest of the country more striking than when it comes to the issue of jobs.

Inside Washington, it is almost universally considered a foregone conclusion that unemployment will remain near, at, or even above 10 percent -- not just for months, but for years to come. (The unemployment rate in September, we just found out this morning, ticked up yet again, to 9.8 percent.) As White House economic guru Larry Summers dispassionately told reporters last month (while otherwise taking credit for turning the economy around), "The level of unemployment is unacceptably high and will on all forecasts remain unacceptably high for a number of, for a number of years."

This situation creates no sense of urgency in Washington. Ask Summers what he's going to do about it, for instance, and he hems and haws about recovery act programs that have yet to take full effect. To our political elite, jobs are simply nowhere near as critical an issue as the other economic indicators, the stock market, or the financial health of the nation's top bankers.

Outside the Beltway, however, it's a different story. According to a new poll by Hart Research Associates for the Economic Policy Institute, unemployment and the lack of jobs "remains the dominant problem on the economic agenda for voters across party lines." In fact, it's not even close. Asked to name the most important economic problem facing the country, registered voters cited unemployment twice as often as they mentioned the deficit or even the cost of health care; and four times as much as the housing crisis or problems with the banking system.

A whopping 83 percent see unemployment as either a fairly big or very big problem; and 81 percent say the Obama administration hasn't done enough to deal with it. read more here....

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President Obama at Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards, September 26, 2009 (Transcript and Video)

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The Obamas at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 32nd Annual Awards Gala (Pictures and Video)

US President Barack Obama (L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (R) wave as they arrive at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 32nd Annual Awards Gala in Washington, DC, September 16, 2009.








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FLOTUS, Michelle Obama will be at opening of a new DC Farmers Market

Yes, FLOTUS on that eating correct tip, and we ALL SHOULD BE...

First Lady Michelle Obama will be on hand Thursday for the opening of a new farmers market a few blocks from the White House.The market in the 800 block of Vermont won a permit with an assist from the White House. Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and food initiative coordinator, spoke in favor of the market during a community meeting a few weeks ago.

Kass, who was the Obama's chef in Chicago, was instrumental in creating Mrs. Obama's White House garden. He's a fan of farmers markets; I ran into him one Saturday a few months ago checking out the produce at an open air market on U Street near 14th.

Besides Mrs. Obama, other speakers at the FRESHFARM martket will be Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

From the White House: "This market will provide fresh fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats, cheeses, and fresh baked breads to the people in the neighborhood, including many federal employees from the White House, Veterans Affairs, GSA, the Export-Import Bank and the Treasury Department. As an employer, the White House is eager to encourage farmers' markets and other efforts to help achieve a healthier workforce since, as many private companies have demonstrated, making employee wellness a priority can save health care costs down the road and make for a stronger workplace."

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President Obama and President Mubarak Speak to the Press, August 18, 2009 (Video)

President Barack Obama and President Mubarak of Egypt address the press after meetings at the White House on the prospects of peace in the Middle East. August 18, 2009.



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President Obama's remarks on the new GI Bill (Video and Transcript)

Transcript and GI Bill information link

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In case you missed it: FLOTUS, Michelle Obama at opening of Caroline Family Practice Health Center (Video and Transcript)

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RNC Chairman, Michael Steele's speech at the National Press Club (Video)

Think Progress, Michael Steele's Quotes

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Obama addresses Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner (Video)

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Shooting at Washington DC Holocaust Museum (Video)

Shooting at the US Holocaust Museum.

A lone gun man shot 3 people, one is in critical condition. The shooter was shot. This is unbelievable.

Updating as information comes in.

Shots were fired at the Washington, D.C. Holocaust Museum Wednesday. According to NBC News and Fox News, two people, one of them a guard, have been shot. The Park Police, according to MSNBC, have said three people were shot.

Police say the suspect walked into the museum with a rifle.

The shooting is believed to have taken place inside the museum, according to Park Police.

One person is in custody in connection with the crime.

From MSNBC:

Authorities say at least two people have been shot at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes says a person walked into the museum with a gun and shot a guard. Hughes says the shooter was also shot.

Hughes says the victims' conditions were not known. Both were being rushed to a hospital.

U.S. Park Police gave slightly different information, saying three people had been shot.

The museum normally has a heavy security presence with guards positioned both inside and outside the museum. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened.

The museum, just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, is a popular tourist attraction. It draws about 1.7 million visitors each year.

More information on shooter here:

gunman exchanged fire with security guards inside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday. One security guard and the gunman were taken to a hospital.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as James Wenneker von Brunn, born in 1920, from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, NBC News reported. NBC said he may have had connections to hate groups or anti-government groups.

D.C. police spokeswoman Traci Hughes said the suspect walked into the museum at about 1 p.m. ET with a rifle and shot a guard. U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser says one or more guards at the museum returned fire, hitting the suspect.

UPDATE

One casualty, Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns, murdered by the right winged extremist and white extremist, James W. von Brunn. Video here.

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