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09 Sep 2009 23:37

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Politics: “Liar”-yelling Joe Wilson: He apologized, but does it ring hollow?

  • This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill.
  • Rep. Joe Wilson • On his yelling of “Liar” during the president’s speech. He apologized later, saying “While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable.” Well, of course they were! You’re the top trending topic on Twitter. You gave your political enemies something to rally around after your side finally had the hard-fought upper hand. This is how you lose the upper hand, bro. • source

09 Sep 2009 21:50

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Politics: The response to the Obama speech: Hugely positive, no cats

  • Allow me to sum up the President’s speech as it relates to his opponents tonight: Beep beep, mother(#(%%^@.
  • An e-mail to Andrew Sullivan • Summing up the response (Road Runner-style) to what’s shaping up to be a major political victory for the president. In other news, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson is currently wearing a scarlet letter after yelling “Liar!” at Obama during the speech. • source

08 Sep 2009 23:54

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Tech, U.S.: Barack Obama sez you should watch your back on Facebook

  • Well, let me give you some very practical tips. First of all, I want everybody here to be careful about what you post on Facebook, because in the YouTube age, whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in your life.
  • President Barack Obama • Discussing the danger of posting your entire personal life on Facebook – because, as everyone with half a brain knows, that stuff comes back to haunt you like a child you had with a filmmaker you were working with. Or a bunch of AIM messages with a congressional page. Or a lewd bathroom encounter in a Minneapolis airport. Or a stash of money hidden in a freezer. We could go on, but you get the idea. • source

08 Sep 2009 10:02

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U.S.: Obama’s education speech: Officially capitalist, not socialist

  • And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. … You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
  • President Barack Obama • In lengthy prepared remarks to students, which he’ll say later today. Obama’s been getting lots of unfounded criticism lately about attempting to indoctrinate the kids into socialism with his speech. Yeah, whatever. This speech is as American as apple pie and tea bagging. • source

07 Sep 2009 11:13

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Politics: Obama could make or break his presidency on health care

  • It goes without saying that a lot is riding now on his ability to re-energize the health care debate and bring it home to a successful conclusion. Nothing will influence the perception of the presidency more than whether he can be successful in getting a health care bill through the Congress.
  • Obama adviser John D. Podesta • On Obama’s need to win the health care debate. There’s a lot riding on it – if he loses this fight, it could irreparably damage his presidency. So, as he gets back to work from his vacation, watch closely – these next few weeks are critical for the president. • source

05 Sep 2009 10:27

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Politics, U.S.: This Obama school speech thing has legs. Why?

  • The thing that concerned me most about it was it seemed like a direct channel from the president of the United States into the classroom, to my child. I don’t want our schools turned over to some socialist movement.
  • Pearland, Tex. parent Brett Curtis • Describing the reason why he’s keeping his three children home. Why is this a story? Because Web sites and conservative talk show hosts started giving it attention on Wednesday, despite the fact that it had been planned for weeks. We hate the fact that this is now a big story. Teachers are largely in a cruddy situation because of the controversy: If they show it, conservatives are up in arms. If they don’t, they’re disrespecting the president. We don’t like this one bit. • source

02 Sep 2009 09:45

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U.S.: Not news: Barack Obama is considering a major health care speech

  • He gives major speeches every freaking day. If Obama is anything, he’s a guy that likes to give speeches – often on live television, just to anger major networks. And now he wants to give another on on health care. It’s kind of necessary, because he needs to clearly define the debate, but another speech? The goal, as David Axelrod sums up, is to unify the points of the debate: “We’re entering a new season. It’s time to synthesize and harmonize these strands and get this done.” But another speech? source
 

29 Aug 2009 11:18

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U.S.: (Most of) the presidents came out to wish off Ted Kennedy

Missing from this photo: George H.W. Bush, who couldn’t travel. In this photo: Everyone else, including Jimmy Carter and Bush’s son. source

27 Aug 2009 20:45

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U.S.: Obama’s vacation got screwed up, so he’s taking another one

  • Dammit, Ted. Ted Kennedy’s death has put a damper in Obama’s plans to chill at Martha’s Vineyard for a few days and then get back to work. So, Obama’s trying to rush in some R&R, head up to Boston for Kennedy’s funeral tomorrow night, go back to D.C. on Sunday, and … head to Camp David on Wednesday. How did Barack Obama spend his summer vacation? Having to work, then immediately taking another one to make up for lost relaxation. source

27 Aug 2009 10:16

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U.S.: Obama’s honeymoon with independent voters is over

  • 66% Obama’s approval rating in May from independent voters source