Job Creation under Obama

Birthers Birthday Card for the President

Found this on the Huffington Post and had to post it.

Irony not dead, but contemplating suicide

Irony not dead, but contemplating suicide

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MustardGate

Do any adults still watch these idiots?

The Imaginative Crowd

I'm having a great time watching Obama respond to criticism from the right wing nuts in our country. After being criticised for being too friendly to the evildoer Chavez and even (gasp) shaking his hand, Obama had this to say:
Venezuela is a country whose defense budget is probably 1/600th of the United States’. They own Citgo. It’s unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States. I don’t think anybody can find any evidence that that would do so. Even within this imaginative crowd, I think you would be hard-pressed to paint a scenario in which U.S. interests would be damaged as a consequence of us having a more constructive relationship with Venezuela.
Several people on the news have also pointed out the hypocrisy of the RWN's for being critical of Obama for "bowing" to the Saudi King when W held hands with him and even kissed him.
Polls have shown that the majority of people in this country have faith and confidence in Obama and are tired of these ridiculous attacks from people who will do or say anything to see him fail even if it means failure for our country.

I didn't know this but when a president takes office, he/she is allotted $100,000 of tax payer money for renovations for the Oval office and their private residence. No big surprise that the Obamas are not using this money or money from the White House Historical Association but will be paying for any renovations themselves. $100,000 isn't a lot of money, but at a time when so many people are losing their homes, it's a wonderful gesture, something the previous residents would never have thought of.

The Real Reason Obama Ran for President

Springsteen's new album Working on a Dream is being released tomorrow and every review I've read says it is as good or better than his last album Magic which I have been playing almost non-stop since it came out. It's nice to know that our wonderful new president loves Springsteen too. This is what he said at a concert before the election:

"... the reason I'm running for president is I can't be Bruce Springsteen. I can't be Billy Joel. I can't sing like John Legend and India Arie," he said. "All I have is words. In some ways words are always inadequate. You guys have just heard four of the finest musicians in the world."

Barack Obama's letter to his daughters

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.
She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.
I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.
These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.


Love, Dad

Here's what I've been working on in my spare time, a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

YES PECAN

In case you are wondering what to eat on inauguration day, Ben and Jerry's has come up with a new flavor to celebrate our new president called YES PECAN. It's described as an inspirational blend with amber waves of buttery ice cream with roasted non-partisan pecans. If you go to a Ben and Jerry's shop during the month of January and order a scoop, the proceeds will go to the Common Cause Education Fund, a "nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process. They are committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy. Their Education Fund conducts research, education, and outreach activities." For more info: http://www.commoncause.org/ If you join Common Cause or donate a dollar to the education fund, Ben and Jerry's will match your one dollar donation.

President elect Obama and his family spent Thanksgiving eve working at a church food bank in Chicago. You can read about it here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/26/161241/77/358/666796

Everybody probably knows by now that Obama's favorite pie is Sweet Potato. If you are wondering where Obama will be able to get his favorite pie for the next 8 years, here is a really wonder video about Henry's, a famous soul food restaurant in Washington DC: Slate V - Presidential Pie

His pies are so popular they are now sold online http://www.henryssweetpotatopie.com/

Barack Obama Elementary School

On Thursday night, the Hempstead School District in Long Island voted to rename Ludlum Elementary School, Barack Obama Elementary School. The school is diverse with a large Latino and African American student body and the students and staff requested the name change to honor this diversity and the election of the first African American president. Before the election, the students had mock debates and a mock election. Stories like this make me feel like we can be a great country again and I think this is just the first of many, many places in the US and all over the world that will be named in honor of our new President.

More good news:
A poll taken by the CNN Opinion Research Corp. found that 75 percent of Americans think Obama will be a good or great president. This is interesting because the number is so much higher than the 53 percent who voted for him.

I think most people would be more than happy to send W to the ranch early and have Obama take over the country now before things get worse. This is what Thomas Friedman had to say on the subject:

"If I had my druthers right now we would convene a special session of Congress, amend the Constitution and move up the inauguration from Jan. 20 to Thanksgiving Day. Forget the inaugural balls; we can’t afford them. Forget the grandstands; we don’t need them. Just get me a Supreme Court justice and a Bible, and let’s swear in Barack Obama right now — by choice — with the same haste we did — by necessity — with L.B.J. in the back of Air Force One. "

Front Pages

This web site has the front pages from 735 newspaper from 67 countries from November 5, 2008, the day after Obama won the election. It seems that the whole world was celebrating with us. http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default_archive.asp?fpArchive=110508

Obama

The World Reacts to Obama's Election

I am so proud of my country today. When Obama's victory was announced it seemed that the entire world was cheering alongside the millions of supporters in the United States.
Here are some of the reactions:
From the German paper the Bild: "Cheering on all continents: hula dances in Germany, frenzied joy in Japan, India and Africa - and in Kenya, the home of Obama's father, the 6th November was even made a holiday! The world celebrates the new U.S. president Barack Obama, 47."
This is from the Russian newspaper Pravda:
Only Satan would have been worse than the Bush regime. Therefore it could be argued that the new administration in the USA could never be worse than the one which divorced the hearts and minds of Americans from their brothers in the international community, which appalled the rest of the world with shock and awe tactics that included concentration camps, torture, mass murder and utter disrespect for international law. Yet in choosing Obama, the people of America have opted to come back into the international fold. Welcome back, friends!
From the British newspaper The Sun: "one giant leap for mankind."
Rama Yade, France's junior minister for human rights said this on French radio:
"This is the fall of the Berlin Wall times ten. America is rebecoming a New World.
On this morning, we all want to be American so we can take a bite of this dream unfolding before our eyes."
From Nelson Mandela: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said "At a time when we have to confront immense challenges together, your election raises great hopes in France, in Europe and in the rest of the world."

A Landslide

SUPERBARACK

Obama Biden Tax Calculator

Using the full calculator I will save a little over $1,000 a year. Under McCain $0.

More Bigotry in the News

Four students at George Fox University, a Christian (why am I not surprised) University in Oregon have been suspended for hanging a cardboard cutout of Barack Obama from a tree on campus. A message on the cutout said "Act Six Reject" which refers to a scholarship plan for minority and low income students at Christian colleges. The FBI is investigating the action to see if any civil rights were violated.

Confused?

I have no idea who wrote this but it is definitely worth reading:

I'm a little confused. Let me get this straight...

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic, different.”

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack, you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well-grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.

If your husband is nicknamed “First Dude,” with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.