Mostly about Obama
Obama isn't sure which side he will be on (he has to pick a side or Americans will overwhelmingly want him gone)
Washington Post statement of the dinner Obama held at the Whiote House Ramadan dinner: President forcefully joins debate, saying opposing project near Ground Zero is at odds with American values.
And the lede paragraph in the Washington Post today was: One day after President Obama defended the freedom of Muslims to build an Islamic complex near New York's Ground Zero, he offered a less forceful version of that position on Saturday: Yes, Muslims have that right, Obama said -- but that doesn't mean he believes it is the right thing for them to do.
Forcefully versus a less forceful ... he pandered to the Muslims at the dinner and now he backtracks for the general public. Both sides of the fence. It WILL NOT work this time Mr. Obama. The American people may be fooled once. Not twice.
The American people may help him decide -
Obama "has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see," the group said.
"Now this president declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must bear another burden. We must stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots."
Building the mosque "is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah," the group claimed.
He may invite them to the White House for beer.
Then again, he has a lot of people to invite. Gallup released a poll showing 49% of the American people (of those polled) disapprove of him.
He needs to listen. He may be trying ... that may help explain why EVERYTHING is a TOP PRIORITY with him. NOTHING is less than a TOP PRIORITY - from CBS News:
How Many "Top Priority" Issues Does Obama Have?
Posted by Mark Knoller
August 13, 2010 3:34 PM
(Credit: AP) After the Senate passed that $600 million Border Security Bill yesterday, President Obama issued a statement asserting that securing the southwest border has been "a top priority" since he took office.
But if you think Mr. Obama can have but a single "top priority," you'd be wrong. He's got a load of them.
In an Address to the Nation two months ago, Mr. Obama declared "our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American."
More than any other issue, he has used the phrase "top priority" about digging the economy out of the recession and creating jobs. And on this issue, he drew a distinction between "a" top priority and "the" top priority.
"Creating jobs in the United States and ensuring a return to sustainable economic growth is the top priority for my Administration," he said in an Executive Order last March on his National Export Initiative.
Early in his administration, Mr. Obama also assigned the "top priority" label to his campaign promise to overhaul America's health care system. But a check of his speeches since taking office, reflect a bevy of other "top priorities:"
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS: "...that's something that's going to be a top priority." (4/27/10)
ENERGY SECURITY: "And that's why my energy security plan has been one of the top priorities of my Administration since the day I took office." (4/28/10)
EDUCATION REFORM: "To train our workers for the jobs of tomorrow, we've made education reform a top priority in this Administration." (2/24/10)
STUDENT LOAN REFORM: "This is something that I've made a top priority." (2/1/10)
EXPORTS BY SMALL BUSINESSES: "This is going to be a top priority." (12/3/09)
HEALTH ASSISTANCE TO 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS: "I'm not just talking the talk, we've been budgeting this as a top priority for this Administration." (2/3/10)
END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS: "I've also directed (Veterans Affairs) Secretary Shinseki to focus on a top priority: reducing homeless among veterans." (8/17/09)
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS: "Our top priority is ensuring the public safety. That means appropriate sheltering in place or if necessary, getting as many people as possible out of harm's way prior to landfall." (5/29/09)
H1N1 FLU VACCINATIONS: "And throughout this process, my top priority has been the health and the safety of the American people." (5/1/09)
SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: "These military families are heroes too. And they are a top priority of Michelle and me. And they will always have our support." (5/30/09)
STRENTHENING TIES WITH CANADA AND MEXICO: "We're going to make this a top priority..." (10/16/09) [Which by the way - he didn't do. Prime Minister Harper would rather have a root canal than talk to Mr. Obama and the Canadian government is not at all impressed.]
CONSUMER PROTECTION: "During these challenging times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my Administration." (2/11/09)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: "So this is going to be a top priority generally improving our environmental quality." (11/5/09)
The dictionary defines "top" as a singular entity: "the part of anything that is first or foremost."
By designating a multitude of "top priorities," Mr. Obama can be seen trying to score political points with the constituencies for all of these issues.
To Swim in the Gulf or Not
It is all in the meaning of 'gulf' which of course is very technical.
President goes for a swim in the Gulf – or does he?
By Guy Adams
Monday, 16 August 2010
The Independent
President Barack Obama wanted to convince America that the Gulf of Mexico remains open for business. But perhaps he didn't want the world to catch another glimpse of his hairless chest.
So when he and his daughter, Sasha, took a dip in the sea off Florida this weekend, only the White House photographer was allowed to capture proceedings.
The official picture was intended to provide evidence that the region's beaches are back to normal. Yet it soon emerged that the private beach on which it was taken, off Alligator Point in St Andrew Bay, north-west Florida, isn't technically in the gulf.
Cynics complained that the supposed family holiday was more of a whistle-stop press tour. Barack, Michelle and Sasha Obama, plus their dog, Bo, spent just 27 hours in the important swing state. The first family went on a boating trip yesterday that saw them catch a view of local porpoises. On Saturday, they played crazy golf and Sasha, 9, scored a hole-in-one off the first tee.
Rats Abandoning the Ship (wait, can you adandon something when the captain has already abandoned ship)
Eighteen months into President Barack Obama’s term, some of his first-generation team are turning in White House badges and BlackBerrys.
Even in calmer times, the place is a pressure cooker, but add to that the nonstop, partisan intensity of the e-mail-Internet-cable era, and it takes a toll.
Peter R. Orszag, budget director, recently clocked his last day; Christina Romer, head of the Council of Economic Advisers, is returning to California; and Camille Johnston, the first lady’s communications chief took a high-level corporate job.
Some other notables gone: Mark Lippert, National Security Council chief of staff; Ellen Moran, communications director; Desiree Rogers, social secretary; and Jackie Norris, the first lady’s chief of staff.
Orszag told friends that he felt liberated now having only one BlackBerry.
Rangel: A Closet of Ethical Problems Come Home to Roost
Rep. Charles Rangel is frustrated his case won’t be heard by the ethics committee until September:
“Don’t leave me swinging in the wind. I deserve and demand a right to be heard.”
The New York Democrat used a rare point of personal privilege to speak last week, admitting conduct that may have been “stupid” or “negligent,” but was not “corrupt.”
“This has to stop sometime,” he said. “If I can’t get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot at getting rid of me through expulsion.”
Formally charged with 13 violations of House ethics rules, Rangel had been urged to accept a formal reprimand rather than let the case continue on. He rejected the idea.
Gibbs: How low can you go
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs flared last week at “the professional left,” saying some were never happy with Obama.
“These people ought to be drug tested,” he told The Hill newspaper. “They will be satisfied when we have Canadian health care and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon. That’s not reality. They wouldn’t be satisfied if Dennis Kucinich was president.”
A later Gibbs statement: He had spoken “inartfully.”
“I watch too much cable, I admit,” he said.
More Gibbs: “There’s no truth to the rumor that I’ve added an inflatable exit to my office.”
How about more free time to watch it, Bob?
In response, Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida called Gibbs “Bozo the Spokesman.”
“I don’t think he should resign, I think he should be fired. He’s done a miserable job,” Grayson said. “He’s so far in over his head he’d have to reach up to touch his shoes.”
Obama Ship is Sinking
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