FLOTUS, Michelle Obama talks childhood obesity (Video and Transcript)

First Lady Michelle Obama kicks off a campaign to confront the problem of childhood obesity at a YMCA in Alexandria, VA. She is joined by Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Dr. Judith Palfrey, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.


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President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, January 27, 2010 (Full Video and Transcript)

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Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner is GRILLED by congress (Video)

Again, when is this guy going to bounce from the Obama Administration....



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Health care went from "soloist" to "choir" (Video)

If you did not get the memo that the train LEFT on the health care fight, then it took Howard Fineman on Keith Olbermann's Countdown to just say it:



The road to win for November is a Jobs Bill and watch one pushed through in record speed. But, if not, then this White House will go back to being criticized for being "leaderless". Make the Republicans voted on a Jobs Bill and vote NO to the American Public. This is how elections are won.

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Chris Matthews forgets President Obama is black (Video)

and had the nerve to say this out loud?

In other words, to me, Matthews looks at a person first because of color? Please write NBC on this one. Unbelievable. h/t sluggahjells posting @ Daily Kos



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Obama apologizes for not being transparent

Thanks.

For me, after the big pharmaceutical back room, smoke deal my eye turned critical. Remember, Obama said the negotiations would be on television, on C-SPAN, but once he assumed the Oval Office that was another thing scratched off the "campaign promise" list.

Now, the president "regrets" transparency. whatever....

In Diane Sawyer's interview with President Obama today, she asked him if going forward all the conversations should be on C-SPAN.

"I think your question points out to a legitimate mistake that I made during the course of the year," the president said, "and that is that we had to make so many decisions quickly in a very difficult set of circumstances that after awhile, we started worrying more about getting the policy right than getting the process right.

"But I had campaigned on process," the president continued. "Part of what I had campaigned on was changing how Washington works, opening up transparency and I think it is -- I think the health care debate as it unfolded legitimately raised concerns not just among my opponents, but also amongst supporters that we just don't know what's going on. And it's an ugly process and it looks like there are a bunch of back room deals.

Mr. Obama said, "I think it's my responsibility -- and I'll be speaking to this at the State of the Union -- to own up to the fact that the process didn't run the way I ideally would like it to and that we have to move forward in a way that recaptures that sense of opening things up more."

This was a remarkable admission considering how much others in the White House have acted as if President Obama kept his promise to -- as he pledged as a candidate -- "have the (health care reform) negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so the people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents and who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies."

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Rachel Maddow takes down the White House guy on Obama's spending freeze (Video)

Bravo, Rachel!!! Boo, on the flip/flop White House!!!



The White House guy is Economic Adviser, Jaret Bernstein.

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Barack, Barack, Barack, a big pander to the independent voters, if it works (Video)

First a must read, Obama Embraces Hooverism



Unimaginable stupidity

So the Obama Administration is preparing to announce a freeze on Federal discretionary spending through 2013.

And they are proposing it in the middle of a the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Apparently, it's a political decision made in response to a single election. Great. A single U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts is now dictating fiscal policy for the next three years.

It might at least make some sense if it were a smart political decision. But there's nothing to suggest that it's anything but unalloyed idiocy.

In 1937, FDR followed the same course, pulling back his stimulus programs that had been boosting the economy. The results were catastrophic. The economy tanked. And so did the fortunes of the Democratic Party. Predictably, Republicans won 79 seats in the 1938 midterms.

Fortunately, FDR recognized his mistake and reversed course, increasing spending and boosting the economy -- even before the start of World War II.

Flash forward seventy years, and President Obama is making the same mistake, probably with the same consequences.

Except this time he's got the benefit of history. But he's refused to learn history's lesson.

It seems impossible to believe, but there it is. One of the worst decisions -- if not the worst decision -- that the administration could make. And they've made it.

Such a waste.

This move can lose his base, like they are happy with this administration, anyway. Oh, and this great, fantastic idea from none other than Senator Evan Bayh from Indiana.

P.S., Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has a big announcement tomorrow, probably to say, "It's been one", and I am not sorry to see HER GO.

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Winning in November is about JOBS.

I have been out here on the street, talking to people, co-workers, neighbors, etc.; since the summer and all people care about right now is jobs.

Unemployment is 10% this is a psychological message to many Americans, the big double dip. People have become more caution on spending, starting to save a bit more, and are mired with worry of "Will it be me or my spouse next?"

All of these worries are valid.

We must create a jobs bill, demand and bring change on the financial regulatory front and stick with it to win in November.

The health care fight has exhausted many resources, time and energy. It is a much worthy cause, but at this time this ship has sailed the port. Can some things be done to fix it? Sure, but until the bill is reconciled, the standoff will continue. And let me be clear, the finger pointing and anger must cease among Democrats. No fraction of this party is at fault, the blame is on who crafted this disastrous bill and who did not champion it. The crafting is from Baucus and lobbyists, the one who did not champion it to make sure it was pulled over the final line is Barack Obama. Period.

No more blaming conservadems, moderates, centrists, progressives or liberals, the State of the Union's full focus is on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS and this economy which has been sorely ignored by this White House. And don't argue that the White House has not ignored it, from polling after polling; many Americans believe that this White House has not handled, nor focused on the economic issues. The reality is this, if the public believes that, if it comes up in polling numbers, it will come out at the ballot box. Remember that. Massachusetts was convoluted and hard to read for many things, but one thing was consistent, the voters did not believe this White House was working hard enough on getting people back to work.

That is about to change, the course correction is evolving and this is the new fight for November.

President Barack Obama's chief political adviser says the president will focus on job-creating plans in his State of the Union address Wednesday night.

Strategist David Axelrod says the White House takes only "cold comfort" from the fact that the president's stimulus program saved about 2 million jobs - given the millions lost in the deepest economic downturn in decades.

Axelrod says that the administration continues to share the public's "consternation" with the financial sector, which was bailed out with public money and has returned to massive profits and huge bonus pay-outs.

Axelrod spoke Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

This is the immediate reality: jobs, unemployment, bank bailouts, anger at Wall Street, and the perception of no help on My Street.

That is what needs to be tackled and we are in the position to do so, but with some changes, in my opinion.

The Jobs Bill must and will be passed through congress and with Republican support. How? Why?

It is called taking their "balls to the wall on this one". This is an easy win. Democrats can champion putting people back to work immediately, helping small businesses, helping Americans with education to qualify for jobs, all of this can be done and it must come from the loudest bully pulpit of President Obama. This is a fight that is winnable. Paint the Party of "NO" with saying "NO to helping American Families get back on their feet, "NO" help with education in changing job careers, "NO" help with the small business sectors of this country. Make the Republicans take that NO vote and see how it turns out. Then run with it all the way to the polls in November.

That's how you win elections.

The anger at these bank bailouts and Wall Street is not a myth it is real. Every time we hear of more bonus money or record profit that these banks made off of our taxpayers’ money, it enrages folks and that is understandable. Also continuing to have Tim Geithner and Larry Summers in the White House, does not help matters on the message front.

This perception does not help, but hurt us:

The vaunted White House economic team may have called some shots right, but the members aren't helping much in getting a concise message out, critics said.

High-powered and experienced in Washington policymaking, the group has included former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers, ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and onetime New York Fed chief -- and current Treasury secretary -- Timothy F. Geithner, as well as such respected academic economists as Christina Romer.

Now, even some Democrats see the team as conventional in its economic thinking, too cozy with Wall Street and ineffective in communicating how its policies would benefit ordinary people.

The problem, said Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University, stems from the president and his economic team focusing on pragmatic, nuts-and-bolts responses to the economy's woes.

"He wants to create jobs. He wants to restore the viability of our financial systems . . . make our economy more green. There is a set of well-defined objectives he's trying to achieve," Stiglitz said.

"Part of a pragmatic approach is you make a list. It's not a vision."

Obama seemed to acknowledge the problem last week.

"If there's one thing that I regret this year," he said in an interview on ABC-TV, it was that "we were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises that were in front of us, that I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are."

If we are going to run as a party that will not tolerate the raping of Americans by Wall Street and these Banks, we need to have people to champion that message. So far, the job has been dismal. Neither Geither nor Summers is good on television and the arrogance of Summers stating the recession is over is not felt on My Street when many are unemployed. The President needs to make a decision to keep either or both around. Geithner has had his own problems, the obvious that his policies are helping Wall Street and not My Street, whether that is a fair assessment is not for me to call, but it is an assessment that the public believes. The miscalculation of the public's anger at Wall Street stops at the White House. The White House needs to clean this perception of being cozy to Wall Street up. A strong bill for Wall Street is doable, again paint the Party of "NO" to wanting to continue lining the coffers of Wall Street and the banks, and believe me it can work.

Bringing in David Plouffe is a good thing, but remember he is there to work on getting Democrats elected he is not the silver bullet or silver lining. In my view, this White House has been on campaign mode since 2008 and the people of this country are in meltdown from its message. Going forward the message must be simple, concise, cohesive and decisive for the American Public to grasp. No more, "I will fight for you", unless you can deliver that punch line. It is time for the Commander in Chief to tell congress what he wants, tell the American Public what he wants and show that he means business.

Winning in November is easy, but the changes must be made along with the course correction. And the best thing out of all of this? It happened in January (Massachusetts special senate election), which means we have 10 months to get it together. Communication is the key for getting a cohesive message out. Our team has been pathetic on the messaging. From polling many Americans think the stimulus package is part of the bailout package to banks. (Video Below)



Folks, this is a "Houston we got a problem" alert. The Obama White House needs to be cleaned up on the Communication effort. We all can argue from here to Timbuktu about it, but the fact is really simple, if the American Public believes this then we just did a bad job in conveying how the stimulus package was/would be good for them. This is too simple and just needs to stop from the White House.

Going forward, the economy and jobs should be the focus of our message, along with understanding the public's frustration at Wall Street. The President should demand banking and Wall Street overhaul in new laws. We should use this populist message to push change and put in place mechanisms that Wall Street and these banks will never come to the financial brink again. The time to push this is NOW.

Finally, today the President announced a tax break for the Middle Class, this is a step in the right direction for My Street.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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President Obama's Weekly Address, January 23, 2010 (Video and Transcript)

Fighting for the Public Against Special Interests

The President talks about his first year fighting against special interests and barring lobbyists from his Administration, as well as the fight to come in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision.


Transcript

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President Obama pitches that he will fight for you at a Ohio Town Hall Meeting (Video)

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Keith Olbermann's Special Comment of the Supreme Court ruling on corporations can spend unlimited money in federal campaigns (Video)

Since when are corporations PEOPLE....no matter what side of the aisle you are on, this decision is bad for democracy and will silence PEOPLE. Corporations will have their hand picked people in office bought and sold. Chief Justice Roberts will go down as one of the worst justices EVER for this decision.



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RESIGNATION TIME: Tim Geithner, Larry Summers, Rahm Emanuel must go

First off, I am glad that President Obama has decided to challenge banks, it is ABOUT TIME. Is it too late? For me, too early to decide, but devil is always in the details and until we see BOLD ACTION, it is another wait and see time for this White House.

Action against these banks should have happened DAY ONE when he stepped into the White House, not Day Two of Year Two.

Poll numbers and losing that senate seat in Massachusetts can be a huge wake up call that you can not ignore. Public anger is real, so the eyes are on President Obama and his action on this. Not words, ACTION. This means calling congress out by NAME if need be, going all over this country to make sure the public KNOWS what all this mean, no more too cute by half words, but this in lay man speak so my average Joe neighbor GET IT, it means using the power of the presidency as never before.

If Obama does not do this, the Democratic Party will be painted (as it already is starting to be) as the friends of Wall Street. Who wants to run on that one?

Tim Geithner needs to go. He never should have been confirmed. Today's revelation has shown us that maybe, just maybe, this White House is starting to NOT LISTEN TO GEITHNER. The move to back the Paul Volcker populist plan on reigning in these banks was a much needed breath of fresh air. Again, elections have consequences and I am really hoping it means the end of Geithner. Tim Geithner is compromised, always has been. His alliance has always been with Wall Street and these banks. It has been his bad advice to this administration and lack of movement that has now painted this White House as "Friends of Wall Street". He has not been honest or forthcoming of his past with this industry and it has spilled over to the street. He needs to go and I mean yesterday.

President Obama ask for his resignation and let the door knob hit him.

Larry Summers has advised this White House and President in horrible fashion. He and Geithner works in tandem, that means protecting the big banks and Wall Street. Remember, it was the arrogance of Larry Summers who proclaimed the "recession is over".



For this statement alone, he should have been ASKED, PRONTO for his resignation. How in the holy hell can you go to the American Public whose lives are in turmoil with unemployment, home loss, money loss, wages loss, no jobs around and have your number one man say this? HE NEED TO GO.

President Obama ask for his resignation and just remind yourself, "A bad choice for these times."

Rahm Emanuel has been NOT LIKED by many Democrats. Let's put it this way, for me, I tolerated him because President Obama has the right to pick and choose who he puts in his White House and Cabinet. But when they don't deliver, turn on members of the party with nasty rhetoric, misread the populus on what they wanted for healthcare, it is time to go. I state this because healthcare was to be Barack Obama's signature piece, we all know this, look at it now? Whether you agree with what it is about, if you even understand it, it was handled atrociously. And who is left with egg on his face? The President of the United States.

President Obama ask for his resignation and tell him good luck in running for Mayor of Chicago

I am a former member of the Navy, a proud member, when 16:30 arose on the 1MC one word was stated, "Sweepers".

It is time for President Obama to perform sweepers, instill and put people in these jobs that will serve him justice, pick up the pieces, listen to the public and move on.

Having a president out of touch when the anger is so intense is not a good thing, especially for us, but retooling and some fucking firing is a step in a right direction to getting his message back on track.

Finally, President Obama, taking your suit coat off and rolling up your sleeves to start fighting is not only justified but much NEEDED right now from you, FOR US.

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Bad news from the Supreme Court, "Corporations run this country" (Video)

If you think corporations run this country, not only are you correct but now corporations can spend millions to back any federal election. If you think congress is bought and sold, you are correct, they are.





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President Obama announces "The Volcker Rule" for big banks (Video)

This is a good start, now back it up with ACTION.


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Barack Obama is out of touch.

Barack Obama conveyed to Robert Gibbs that he was surprised and frustrated by the Massachusetts race.

One question to our president, "Are you hiding under a rock?"

This utter statement speaks VOLUMES of Barack Obama.

It says to me, as a friend wrote to me in an email:

What Obama said through Gibbs was that he was "Surprised and Frustrated" about this election.

What does that say?

"Surprised" = I wasn't listening to the voters

"Frustrated" = Don't blame me

Where are his damn advisors and are they telling him the damn truth???

As we continue to parse over the Massachusettes election, remember who won here. A teabagger in fake Independent clothing, denouncing his Republicanism and embraced the public's frustration of Washington, D.C. not doing anything. And he won.

Barack Obama is in a danger zone. And all these people on this site who continue to say he can do no wrong continues to lead us to down a more ugly path. It is time to wake up, we are in trouble.

The loss of Ted Kennedy's senate seat is one of a larger issue, the issue of voter anger. The very same independents that voted with us are now voting against us and the question must be why?

There are four things that have stuck out for me as I have been listening to many people on the ground since the summer. These four things are what Barack Obama campaigned on.

* Fixing the housing situation

* Stopping the bailouts * Reel in spending

* Put in place finanacial regulations on the banks that brought this country to the brink

* Work on the economy and create jobs

The question now is this, "Has he done anything?" We saw the answer yesterday from Massachusetts and it is NO.

The public is not stupid. They are struggling and have been waiting. But we, the Democrats used our political capital for a health care bill, no insurance bill that is favored for the insurance companies and NOT US. In poll after poll this country wanted a public option, the independents wanted it, the democrats wanted it but this damn congress and White House was so entrenched with the lobbyists and insurance companies that they totally ignored it and us.

A disaster for failure.

Now the President is frustrated?

This is a weak statement, assessment, answer or whatever you want to call it. Barack Obama it is time to reboot and it starts in your White House.

Get rid of Rahm Emanuel, Jim Messina, Tim Geithner and David Axelrod.

Why?

What have they produced? Not a damn thing but continue to point you to the direction of disaster.

How this White House is so out of touch is unbelieveable. Utterly, unbelievable.

Stop the whining, complaining or shock. The mood of this country and its anger has been out here for months. You saw it first hand this summer when the teabaggers took over the health care debate, your communication and message has not been able to recover since.

Show some damn leadership. I mean, how often does this need to be written. There is no fear from you and your congress knows this. Howard Dean said it best:



The Democrats and you must get tougher.

People are fed up. They voted you and the Democrats into office with a mandate and to make changes. When people continue to perceive and look at you and the Democrats doing nothing, why should they continue to vote for you?

Massachusetts said it all. If you want to continue to cater to King Lieberman, Queen Snowe, Countess Collins and President Nelson with the Republicans it is a diasater for November.

You have about three months to start making decisive moves, changes and decisions. Your speech making days are over. Don't get me wrong, you are the best orator out there, but continuing these speeches with empty promises and no action the public can see means nothing.

Folks this is our president, we put him in office. At the same token, it is our government and we have every right to let them know how we feel. The days of "It is not Barack Obama's fault" is over. He is the leader of our party and look where he led us.

If we are not strong enough to acknowledge problems, then many have more crying days to come. If you thought yesterday was bad, continue on this disastrous path and November will make you go hide in a cave.

Again, the days of Rahm Emanuel, Jim Messina, Tim Geithner, Larry Summers should be OVER. Reboot time and boot them OUT.

Reality is a bitch, but this is our reality and we need to fix it.

Update [2010-1-20 14:13:14 by icebergslim]:

Stopping the bailouts is dubious. As Obama voted for the TARP monies, he has since monitored it. But the message is clear from the public. They did not like bailing out the banks, Wall Street, AIG, etc. They don't like the bonuses then and now. And this has hardened many on this administration and its relationship with Wall Street.

Update [2010-1-20 14:27:7 by icebergslim]:

Obama says hold off for HCR until Brown is seated.

For all those who say push this health insurance plan through, it is not to be. Do you think we will get anything with this decision? Again, sigh.... and this is for many levels....

Update [2010-1-20 14:49:4 by icebergslim]:

Labor will not support house passing senate bill as is

Update [2010-1-20 15:8:19 by icebergslim]:

You left out firing Tim Kaine and rehiring Dean

AMEN on that one, AMEN...

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

AND...

"Massachusetts voters who backed Barack Obama in the presidential election a year ago and either switched support to Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown or simply stayed home, said in a poll conducted after the election Tuesday night that if Democrats enact tougher policies on Wall Street, they'll be more likely to come back to the party in the next election.

A majority of Obama voters who switched to Brown said that "Democratic policies were doing more to help Wall Street than Main Street." A full 95 percent said the economy was important or very important when it came to deciding their vote.

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