43 American presidents + 234 years = Two women in the Supreme Court.
Barack Obama + 19 months = Two women in the Supreme Court.
Oh, well.
At some point maybe people will learn that it's actually not a bad thing to have a cool, calm, smart and focused president. One can only hope.
Carville: Obama played his cards right on BP
CNN) -- My mother, Ms. Nippy Carville, was a woman of many talents. Two in particular stand out. She was a superb cook (the author of a successful cookbook), and she was an excellent bridge player.
She always cautioned me that it was important that one "review the bidding" before the play. Now that it's becoming apparent that the efforts to cap the well at Deepwater Horizon are going to be successful, we should pause and pay homage to Ms. Nippy's advice by reviewing the bidding.
Any fair assessment would have to conclude that in spite of some people's criticism of the early response, (and by "some people" I mean Ms. Nippy's firstborn son James), one also must give credit to a much improved and vigorous response to the environmental catastrophe in the Gulf.
// snip
I don't know many people -- and no Democrats -- who were as tough on the Obama administration as I was when the oil started gushing.
But for now I'll take Mississippi governor -- and chairman of the Republican Governors' Association -- Haley Barbour saying President Obama has "done more right than wrong." In fact, I'll up Gov. Barbour's bid one and say that as of late, President Obama has done a lot more right than wrong.
*
*
*
*************************************************************************
*
*
*
The president isn't wasting his time on the echo chamber. Today he toured Ford assembly plant in Chicago, where he both delivered some excellent news, and had a great time.
Ford plans to add 1,200 jobs for a second production shift at this particular plant - nearly doubling the size of the current workforce - where it expects to start building a new version of Ford Explorer SUV later in 2010.
This hiring boom is a result of a loan guarantee from the The U.S. Export-Import Bank, that will finance $3.1 billion in exports of cars and trucks to customers in Canada and Mexico. The bank’s loan guarantee will cover more than 200,000 Ford vehicle export sales, representing 15 percent of the company’s 2009 production. Plants in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio will manufacture the vehicles.
The plant in Chicago was actually built by Henry Ford and was retooled with help from a $400 million Energy Department loan extended to help the company make more fuel efficient vehicles. The Explorer is a leaner and greener makeover of the classic mega-hit SUV.
*
WATCH IT! :)
*
*
********************************************************************
*
*
*
The new health care reform will keep Medicare financially safe for 12 years longer than projected a year ago — until 2029.
The New York Times:
WASHINGTON — Medicare will remain financially solvent for 12 years longer than projected a year ago — until 2029 — because of the cost-cutting measures in President Obama’s recently enacted health care legislation, the program’s trustees reported on Thursday.
// snip
Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund should remain solvent until 2029, or 12 years more than projected in last year’s report, the trustees said. The long-term, 75-year shortfall for the hospital fund also is reduced, as are the projected costs of the separate Medicare Supplementary Insurance program. But both parts of the Medicare system will require additional reforms to be financially sustainable, the trustees say.
// more
*
*
*
**********************************************************************
*
*
*
Henry Waxman is not following the memo. Via Booman:
As a chairman who spent months shepherding both healthcare and energy legislation through his committee, [Henry] Waxman doesn’t express much sympathy for Democrats who took weeks, if not months, to decide how to vote on the high-profile bills.
He tells a story he heard about President Obama showing some tough love to a wavering Democrat, whom he did not identify. The member, Waxman said, told the president: " ‘If I vote for what you want, I’m just going to lose.’
"And the president said, ‘Look at you, look how you’re reacting. It’s almost as if you’ve lost already. You’ve got to have fight. You’ve got to fight for what you want to do here, and then you’ve got to fight to get elected, and convince your constituents that this is what is in their interest and it’s important.’ "
So did Obama get the lawmaker’s vote? "I’ll tell you after the election," Waxman quipped.
Unlike many on the left, Waxman is "very pleased with this administration."
Waxman has worked extensively with the White House during the 111th Congress. Phil Schiliro, Waxman’s longtime aide, now serves as Obama’s chief liaison to Congress.
"I give [the administration] high marks," he said. Waxman lauded Obama’s skills both as a public spokesman for his ambitious agenda and his behind-the-scenes handling of Congress. "My frustration," Waxman said, "is more with members of Congress than with the administration."
Specifically, he is fed up with the Senate and what he calls "the tyranny of 60 votes."
*
*
*
***********************************************************************
*
*
*
US to Attend Hiroshima Memorial for First Time
HIROSHIMA, Japan - Sixty-five years after a mushroom cloud rose over Hiroshima, the United States will for the first time send an envoy this Friday to commemorate the bombing that rang in the nuclear age.
Its World War II allies Britain and France, both declared nuclear powers, will also send their first diplomats to the ceremony in the western Japanese city in a sign of support for the goal of nuclear disarmament.
// snip
The United States has never apologised for the twin attacks which, surveys show, most Americans believe were necessary to bring a quick end to the war and avoid a land invasion that could have been more costly.
Others see the attacks as unnecessary and perhaps experimental atrocities.
The US ambassador to Japan, John Roos, is due to attend and lay a wreath "to express respect for all of the victims of World War II", the US State Department said.
// more
*
*
*
***********************************************************************
*
*
*
1.4 million people signed president Obama's birthday card, and each one of them received this mail today:
I want to thank you for signing my birthday card.
Michelle told me that she was planning something a little different this year, and I was overwhelmed by the kind words I received from so many supporters like you.
This job has a way of offering humbling moments. And the support you have shown me, time and time again, has sustained me through any number of difficult days. It is more than any president deserves, and I could not be more grateful.
On my birthday, I spent some time considering what the year ahead will bring -- a new set of challenges and opportunities, some that we can foresee and some that we cannot.
If we continue to stand together, I know we will continue to move America forward and win these fights for change.
Thank you again for taking a moment to sign my card. As far as birthdays go, it is hard to imagine topping this one. But then again, Michelle always has a way of surprising me.
Sincerely,
Barack
*
*
*
************************************************************************
*
*
*
Here's the president today in Chicago. If a picture is worth 1000 words, get ready for around 27,000. All by AP.
*
*
*
*