Thursday, January 31, 2013

31 Jan 2013, Thu, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

9:15 a.m.
Secretary Clinton meets with the assistant secretaries, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

9:30 a.m.
Secretary Clinton attends a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

10:45 a.m. Secretary Clinton hosts the award presentation of the Holbrooke Award and Heroism Awards, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks on American Leadership, at the Council on Foreign Relations. Please click here for more information. Secretary Clinton’s remarks will be streamed live on www.state.gov
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS

11:00 a.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with Ambassador of Qatar to the U.S. Mohamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES

3:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides meets with General Lloyd Austin, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel to Agra and New Delhi, India from January 26 through 31. Under Secretary Hormats’ visit to India will highlight our efforts to expand and enhance the U.S.-India economic relationship, U.S. support for broader regional economic cooperation, and our engagement with India on environmental and conservation issues.

9:30 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Tarun Das, Chief Mentor of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats holds a discussion of HFCs with MOEF Special Secretary Mira Mehrishi and other stakeholders, in New Delhi, India.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

1:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats delivers remarks at Ministerial Session 1: Ensuring Energy, Water and Food Security at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, in New Delhi, India.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Ministry of Environment and Forests Secretary Shri V. Rajagopalan, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

4:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Agriculture Ministry Secretary Ashish Bahuguna, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

6:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a AmCham Roundtable discussion, in New Delhi, India.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

7:30 a.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in South Central Asia, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine meets with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

5:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine delivers remarks on Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in 2013: The View from State, at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER

10:15 a.m. Acting Under Secretary Gottemoeller attends the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Strategic Forum, in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER

11:00 a.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer attends the swearing in of the new Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Carissa Etienne, at PAHO Headquarters. Please click here for more information.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer attends Secretary Clinton’s remarks on American Leadership, at the Council on Foreign Relations. Please click here for more information. Secretary Clinton’s remarks will be streamed live on www.state.gov
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)


ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS FREDERICK BARTON

Assistant Secretary Barton is on foreign travel from January 28 through February 1 to participate in the Development and Cooperation-EuropeAid, the European External Action Service, and NATO meetings in Brussels. Assistant Secretary Barton will co-host the Stabilization Leaders Forum with Lindy Cameron, the Director of the UK’s Stabilisation Unit. .
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION TOM COUNTRYMAN


4:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Countryman meets with Westinghouse Senior Vice President for Nuclear Power Plant Business and Project Development Sandy Rupprecht, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ


1:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez participates in a Live at State virtual press conference highlighting the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship, at the Department of State.
(MEDIA AS DETERMINED BY HOST)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez participates in a roundtable discussion with the diplomatic corps from Central America and the Caribbean, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON

2:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson meets with Ali Moshiri, Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY ANN STOCK


12:30 p.m. Assistant Secretary Stock delivers remarks to welcome Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program Participants, at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, in Washington, DC.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE


Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend official meetings regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER

10:00 a.m.
Ambassador Verveer joins Secretary Clinton at a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS KRIS BALDERSTON

10:00 a.m.
Special Representative Balderston delivers remarks at a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS RETA JO LEWIS

Special Representative Lewis is on foreign travel in Paris, France through February 1, where she will promote subnational engagement at the Global Conference on Local Elected Women.

11:00 a.m. LOCAL Special Representative Lewis speaks about sub-national engagement during the Roundtable on Participation of Women in Decision Making, at the Global Conference of Elected Women, in Paris, France.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)






31 Jan 2012, Thu, Pres and VP Schedules

http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule

Not much going on publically today for either man:

10:00 am The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Amazon lost money, but people are happy?

Sad state of affairs:

RUSH: Amazon. There's an object lesson here. Amazon reported its quarterly earnings yesterday. I don't have the data right in front of me, but Amazon did not report a profit. They did not report growth. They did not report anything that was positive, and the stock market just went up through the roof. Apple reports record revenue, the fourth most profitable quarter ever, and the bottom fell out for them. One analyst speculated, had a theory as to why Amazon's doing well. Are you ready for this? "Investors appreciate a company willing to lose money." Honest to God, that's the summarization. That's the summary of what this guy said. Amazon selling stuff at prices that can't possibly earn a profit, that deserves to be rewarded.
That means Amazon cares about people. That means Amazon's not trying to exploit their customers. So people are investing in Amazon. Their stock price went up. They're reporting losses. And the same people beating up Apple for inexplicable reasons are claiming that -- well, just one analyst. I haven't seen this as a blanket explanation, but one analyst said, "Oh, man, Amazon, you gotta love these guys. They're selling things at prices they can't possibly earn a profit. They've got the consumer in mind. You gotta really appreciate what Amazon's doing." Well, that's all well and good, but who in the heck would put their money into a company that's not going to show a profit? But people are doing it.

What in the world is up in Chicago?

And who is the black community blaming for it?

The below story is a terrible tragedy. Of course all those poor kids in Chicago murdered by gang members who care less who they kill are teagedies. Rush is a bit too flippant here for my tastes, but the essence of what he has to say is true...

Time for Holder to travel to Chicago and have a frank conversation about the animals that inhabit gangs - whether they are black, Latino or white.

Teenage Girl Who Attended Obama Inaugural Shot Dead in Chicago
RUSH: A 15-year-old high school student, Hadiya Pendleton, drum majorette who attended Obama's recent inauguration and performed at several inaugural events with a band and a drill team, was shot and killed in Chicago last night. A 15-year-old high school student shot and killed in Chicago. You heard about this? She attended Obama's immaculation events, probably the victim of gang shooting. But you're not gonna hear about this because an assault rifle wasn't used, so it can't be used to advance the Democrat media agenda.
Besides, it happened in Chicago, where there's a Democrat mayor. They're not gonna talk about stuff that happens. It didn't happen. And I don't even know how newsworthy it really is anyway since Chicago's already had at least 40 murders this month. We had 30 days go by in Chicago and everywhere else this month so far, 40 murders. That means that Chicago is on pace to have a record 500 murders this year. Never mind Chicago has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. It already has an assault weapons ban in Chicago. So the 15-year-old high school student, it wasn't an assault rifle used, so it doesn't further the agenda.

30 Jan 2013, Wed, Rush Limbaugh Headlines

--Liberals Misread Rubio Interview
--Your Host Will Not Abandon You
--Navy SEALs Remind Us What's Still Possible
--Amazon Praised for Losing Money
--Wizards of Smart Surprised by Shrinking Economy
--Ray Lewis: What Difference Does It Make?
--Why the Regime Wants Your W-2 to Tell You Exactly How Much Your Employer is Paying for Your Health Insurance
Stack of Stuff
--Teenage Girl Who Attended Obama Inaugural Shot Dead in Chicago
--Ex-Playboy CEO Blames Murder Rise on Climate Change
--Leaked UN Climate Report: Global Warming Overestimated
--NAACP Leader: Blacks Doing Worse Under Obama
--Top Frozen Pizza Makers Accused of Poisoning Customers...

30 Jan 2012, Wed, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

9:45 a.m.
Secretary Clinton meets with the Management Team, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

10:00 a.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at the signing of the “Declaration of Learning,” at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

10:45 a.m. Secretary Clinton holds a final town hall meeting with Department of State personnel, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:30 p.m.
Secretary Clinton has lunch with President Obama in the Private Dining Room of The White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

2:30 p.m.
Secretary Clinton holds a bilateral meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade, at the Department of State.
(CAMERA SPRAY PRECEDING MEETING)

****

DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS

10:00 a.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Eduardo Medina Mora, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES

4:30 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel to Agra and New Delhi, India from January 26 through 31. Under Secretary Hormats’ visit to India will highlight our efforts to expand and enhance the U.S.-India economic relationship, U.S. support for broader regional economic cooperation, and our engagement with India on environmental and conservation issues. Please click here for more information.

9:30 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Indian Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:00 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Indian Deputy Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

1:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats attends a roundtable discussion with Economic journalist and editors hosted by Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Lu, in New Delhi, India.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

3:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats delivers remarks on regional economic integration co-hosted by FICCI and USIBC, in New Delhi, India.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

5:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Indian Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

6:15 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Indian Transportation Secretary Shri Chandrashekhar, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

7:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats delivers remarks at a young business leaders reception, in New Delhi, India.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

8:00 a.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in the Middle East and North Africa region, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

9:00 a.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in Europe, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine meets with visiting Brazilian Youth Ambassadors, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS CVOERAGE)

ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER

10:45 a.m. Acting Under Secretary Gottemoeller speaks to the National Security Executive Leadership Seminar (NSELS), at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL AMBASSADOR CAPRICIA PENAVIC MARSHALL

10:00 a.m.
Ambassador Marshall participates in the signing ceremony for the Declaration of Learning hosted by Secretary Clinton in honor of the Inter-Agency Partners for Education, at the U.S. Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 9 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 9:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


12:00 p.m. Ambassador Marshall hosts a State of the Administration briefing for members of the Diplomatic Corps featuring Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications at the White House, at Blair House.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS FREDERICK BARTON


Assistant Secretary Barton is on foreign travel from January 28 through February 1 to participate in the Development and Cooperation-EuropeAid, the European External Action Service, and NATO meetings in Brussels. Assistant Secretary Barton will co-host the Stabilization Leaders Forum with Lindy Cameron, the Director of the UK’s Stabilisation Unit. .
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS JOHNNIE CARSON


Ambassador Carson is on foreign travel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the African Union Summit and Donors Conference on Mali.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ

11:45 a.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez participates in a Direct Line call to discuss opportunities in Latvia’s IT and shared services sectors.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez hosts the Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy meeting in conjunction with Committee Chairman Theodore Kassinger, at the Department of State.
(OPEN TO REGISTERED MEDIA)

8:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez meets with Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS MIKE HAMMER

10:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Hammer attends the signing ceremony for the Declaration of Learning hosted by Secretary Clinton in honor of the Inter-Agency Partners for Education, at the U.S. Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 9 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 9:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON

10:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson participates in Deputy Secretary Burns’ meeting with Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Eduardo Medina Mora, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson attends a farewell lunch in honor of departing Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan, in Washington.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:30 p.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson participates in Secretary Clinton’s meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade, at the Department of State.
(CAMERA SPRAY PRECEDING MEETING)

COORDINATOR FOR INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS DAWN MCCALL

Coordinator McCall attends the National Academy of Engineering and United States Institute of Peace Roundtable on Technology, Science and Peacebuilding, at the United States Institute of Peace.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POPULATION, REFUGEES, AND MIGRATION ANNE RICHARD

Assistant Secretary Richard is on foreign travel in Kuwait to attend the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS LUIS CDEBACA

12:40 p.m.
Ambassador CdeBaca delivers keynote remarks at the Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium, sponsored by Deloitte, at Georgetown University
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE AND U.S. GLOBAL AIDS COORDINATOR ERIC GOOSBY

9:00 a.m. Ambassador Goosby meets with Chevron’s global health programs team, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:00 a.m. Ambassador Goosby attends the David E. Barmes Global Health Lecture by Sir Mark Walport, the incoming chief science advisor to the British government, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend official meetings regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER

9: 00 a.m.
Ambassador Verveer meets with Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Director General Kim, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

9:30 a.m.
Ambassador Verveer meets with Georgetown University’s Muslim Chaplain Imam Yahya Hendi, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

10:30 a.m.
Ambassador Verveer meets with Liechtenstein Ambassador to the U.S. Claudia Fritsche, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m.
Ambassador Verveer meets with journalist and author of “The Dressmaker of Khair Khana” Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m.
Ambassador Verveer delivers remarks at the Partners in Peace and Security Panel Discussion on the First Anniversary of the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security: Progress and Challenges, at the U.S. Institute for Peace. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

7:00 p.m. Ambassador Verveer attends a dinner in honor of Ambassador of Singapore Ashok Kumar Mirpuri and Mrs. Gouri Mirpuri, at the Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS RETA JO LEWIS

Special Representative Lewis is on foreign travel in Paris, France through February 1, where she will promote subnational engagement at the Global Conference on Local Elected Women.
7:00 p.m. LOCAL Special Representative Lewis meets with Michele Sabban, President, Assembly of European Regions, Anne Hidalgo, First Deputy Mayor of Paris, and Hélène Conway-Mouret, Minister for French Nationals Abroad, in Paris, France.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

8:00 p.m. LOCAL Special Representative Lewis attends the opening reception for participants in the Global Conference of Local Elected Women, in Paris, France.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

30 Jan 2012, Wed, Pres and VP Schedules

http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/president

10:15 am The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:30 pm The President and Secretary Clinton meet for lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

3:55 pm The President is interviewed by Jose Diaz Balart of Telemundo
The Library
Closed Press

4:15 pm The President is interviewed by Maria Elena Salinas of Univision
The Library
Closed Press
THE VP HAS NO OTHER SCHEDULE THAN THAT LISTED ABOVE.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Americans About to Have Themselves Socially Modified

It's so good I have to post the entire transcript.

"Your Freedom is Likely to be Someone Else's Harm"
RUSH: The Associated Press, you know, this is pretty wild even by AP standards.  This story is, I think, an apology for a random act of journalism they had last week.  Remember the story we had, AP reported the penalties on smokers, the fines in Obamacare starting in 2014.  The insurance premium penalty.  They gave two examples, somebody 55 years of age, some 60 years of age, and the 60-year-old smoker, under Obamacare, one year from now, in addition to whatever his health care premium is, will pay a penalty of $5,100.  This has suddenly been discovered in Obamacare, and that, as I say, implements next year. For the smoker that's age 55, the penalty is I think $4,500, on top of the premium.
I started joking last week about, "Well, why stop there?  Why don't they put a penalty in there for obesity?" And, lo and behold, AP has a story:  "Do Penalties for Smokers and the Obese Make Sense? ... Attempts to curb smoking and unhealthy eating frequently lead to backlash: Witness the current legal tussle over New York City's first-of-its-kind limits on the size of sugary beverages and the vicious fight last year in California over a ballot proposal to add a $1-per-pack cigarette tax, which was ultimately defeated. ... Why provoke a backlash? If 1 in 5 U.S. adults smoke, and 1 in 3 are obese, why not just get off their backs and let them go on with their (probably shortened) lives?"

This is the AP story.  Why not just get off their backs and let 'em go on with their shortened lives?  And then AP answers it.  "Because it's not just about them, say some health economists, bioethicists and public health researchers. 'Your freedom is likely to be someone else's harm,' said Daniel Callahan, senior research scholar at a bioethics think-tank, the Hastings Center." And after all, that's why the left really wanted Obamacare in the first place, because your freedom is somebody else's harm.
So now everything we eat and anything we do or don't do will affect everybody else's health insurance rates, and this is why they wanted health care.  Once they are allowed to regulate your behavior and what you eat, what you do, you don't eat, and relate that to health care costs, they have the power to control it, and that's why they wanted this.  That's why they wanted Obamacare.  It isn't about making health care better.  It's not about improving insurance.  It's not about any of that.  It is about control.  And it's about control because you don't know what's best for you, and therefore, you could do great damage to society.
So somebody raised the question, "Well, look, if somebody wants to smoke, let 'em.  They'll just die sooner and they'll be less of a burden on everybody," and then that's when the bioethicist said, "Well, wait a minute, that smoker's freedom is somebody else's harm."  And so they said, "What do you mean by that?"  "Well, he's just not gonna die.  He's gonna get sick first, require all kinds of treatment for cancer, maybe lung cancer, health treatment. So this guy's freedom to smoke is gonna cost all the rest of us a bunch of money."  So the bioethicist is making the case for all these outstandingly huge fines for all the behavior that the government sees as unsuitable.  And they've now added obesity into this.
Not only does AP contend that the smoker penalty's a good thing, they now say there should be a penalty for being overweight, and it's exactly what I predicted on Friday when I did this story. I was laughing about it, I said, "Well, you know, if they do this on smoking, they're going to have to come in and do the same thing on obesity."  And now they've done it.  We discussed this smoker penalty last week.  I'll never forget it, and I started joking.  "Well, how come the obese get an exemption?"  I'm sure you remember.  How come the obese get an exemption?  Here comes AP saying they went out and talked to bioethicists, "You know, the obese shouldn't get an exemption. The obese ought to pay a health insurance fine if they're overweight because that's gonna cost all the rest of us, because the freedom that they engage in that results in their obesity is costing all the rest of us money."
And so in two AP stories we actually get the truth, for people willing to acknowledge it, and the truth is that your freedom is the problem, particularly if your exercise of your freedom is in an unapproved way.  If the exercise of your freedom happens in a way they don't approve and it leads to higher costs for everybody else, then you're gonna pay a fine, buddy.  And that's why they wanted Obamacare.  Now they can legislate all kinds of behavior, even behavior that has nothing to do with health per se, but they'll claim it does because of the costs.  Gun control is not about guns. It's about control. It's about people control.  Gun control is about people control.  Pure and simple, and nothing more.

28 Jan 2013, Rush Limbaugh headlines

A day late with these, apologies.

--Obama Opens Second Term the Same Way He Started First... Talking About Me
--The President of the United States Tries to Goad Me Into Saying Something Extreme (Like That Would Ever Happen)
--See, I Told You So: Obama Hastens the End of Football
--Smiley and West: Rush Is Right
--Bob Costas Missed the Point
--The Rest of the Country Doesn't Know Sandy Victims are Still Suffering
--Fear Rules the GOP on Immigration
--Low-Information America Trusts Barack Obama to Run Things He Has No Clue About
--CBS News Trashes the Constitution
Stack of Stuff
--US Evacuates Cairo Embassy
--"Your Freedom is Likely to be Someone Else's Harm"
--Norway Data: Global Warming Less Severe Than Feared...

29 Jan 2012, Tues, SoS and Staff

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

9:30 a.m. Secretary Clinton holds a “Global Townterview” where she will engage with people around the world by interacting live with audience members from six international outlets as well as through Twitter, Skype, Facebook and YouTube, at the Newseum.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton meets with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

5:15 p.m. Secretary Clinton attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES

5:15 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel to Agra and New Delhi, India from January 26 through 31. Under Secretary Hormats’ visit to India will highlight our efforts to expand and enhance the U.S.-India economic relationship, U.S. support for broader regional economic cooperation, and our engagement with India on environmental and conservation issues.

9:30 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats attends a briefing on press issues with Public Affairs Officer Walter Douglas and Embassy Spokesman Peter Vrooman, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

10:00 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats attends a limited country team meeting, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:00 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with ECON-coned officers, in New Delhi, India.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Ministry of External Affairs Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and other senior Government of India officials followed by lunch, in New Delhi, India.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

2:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a roundtable discussion with Indian and international environmental NGOs and nonprofit groups on wildlife trafficking issues, in New Delhi, India.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

8:00 a.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in Africa, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

10:30 a.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in the Western Hemisphere, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER


6:00 p.m. Acting Under Secretary Gottemoeller attends a Council on Foreign Relations event, “A Conversation with George Shultz,” in Washington, DC.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS FREDERICK BARTON


Assistant Secretary Barton is on foreign travel from January 28 through February 1 to participate in the Development and Cooperation-EuropeAid, the European External Action Service, and NATO meetings in Brussels. Assistant Secretary Barton will co-host the Stabilization Leaders Forum with Lindy Cameron, the Director of the UK’s Stabilisation Unit.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS ROBERT BLAKE

10:30 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Blake meets with Caroline Vandedrinck of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER

2:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Brimmer meets with the Ambassador of Spain to the U.S. Ramon Gil-Casares to discuss multilateral issues, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON

12:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson attends a farewell lunch in honor of Argentine Ambassador to the U.S. Jorge Arguello, in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

COORDINATOR FOR INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS DAWN MCCALL


Coordinator McCall attends the National Academy of Engineering and United States Institute of Peace Roundtable on Technology, Science and Peacebuilding, at the United States Institute of Peace.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POPULATION, REFUGEES, AND MIGRATION ANNE RICHARD

Assistant Secretary Richard is on foreign travel in Jordan to discuss the humanitarian situation in and around Syria.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE AND U.S. GLOBAL AIDS COORDINATOR ERIC GOOSBY

10:00 a.m.
Ambassador Goosby meets with Dr. Roger Glass, Director of the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in Pretoria, South Africa to participate in Justice Rapid Response conference on “Investigating Cases of Sexual and Gender-based Violence as International Crimes” and meet South African officials regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER

2:00 p.m.
Ambassador Verveer attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

4:00 p.m.
Ambassador Verveer meets with Ambassador-designate to Lithuania Deborah McCarthy, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS RETA JO LEWIS

Special Representative Lewis is on foreign travel in Paris, France through February 1, where she will promote subnational engagement at the Global Conference on Local Elected Women.

29 Jan 2013, Tues, Pres and VP Schedules

http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule
9:20 am
The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn
Open Press

9:35 am
The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route Las Vegas, Nevada
Travel Pool Coverage

2:25
The President arrives in Las Vegas, Nevada
Local Event Time:
11:25 AM PST
McCarran International Airport Open Press

2:55 pm
The President delivers remarks on the need to fix the broken immigration system so that it is fairer for and helps grow the middle class by ensuring everyone plays by the same rules [Does he mean...doesn't break the rules we already have in place? Illegal immigrants should play by the same rules as legal immigrants? Is that what he means?]
Local Event Time:
11:55 AM PST
Del Sol High School
Open to pre-credentialed media

5:00 pm
The President departs Las Vegas, Nevada
Local Event Time:
2:00 PM PST
McCarran International Airport
Open Press

9:00 pm
The President arrives Joint Base Andrews
Travel Pool Coverage

9:20 pm
The President arrives the White House
South Lawn
Open Press

THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS NO PUBLIC SCHEDULE

Monday, January 28, 2013

28 Jan 2013, Mon, SoS and Staff

The SoS Schedule has not been updated, presumably because there's a transition between Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

28 Jan 2013, Mon, Pres and VP Schedules

http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/president 10:30 am The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:15 am The President and the Vice President meet with representatives from the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association to discuss the common-sense policies put forward by the President to reduce gun violence The Roosevelt Room
Pool Spray at the Top
(Final Gather 10:50AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

12:30 pm The President and the Vice President meet for lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

No other schedule for the VP

Friday, January 25, 2013

Social engineering: Pricing people out of smoking

They can't have health care unless they pay their premiums, and they can't afford to pay their premiums if they smoke.

Of course the question is, how will someone know if you smoke. If you light up in the privacy of your own home - how are they going to know? Are those smart meters going to tell them - I don't doubt that, I'm afraid!

And you don't think fat people will have to start paying higher premiums?

What about women who get pregnant. They should have to pay higher premiums also, because if you're having a baby there's always a chance something could go wrong.

Anyone whose family has a hereditary disease should have to pay higher premiums also,,, if a woman whose family has a history of cancer goes ahead and has a baby...that baby could get cancer too! So charge 'em more!

RUSH:For those of you who smoke, I told you yesterday that in Oregon they're gonna try to make cigarettes available only by way of prescription. The AP via Yahoo News is reporting today via Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar: "Millions of smokers could be priced out of health insurance because of tobacco penalties in President Barack Obama's health care law, according to experts who are just now [fleshing] out the potential impact of a little-noted provision in the massive legislation. The Affordable Care Act -- 'Obamacare' ... -- allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50% higher premiums starting next Jan. 1."

See, this thing doesn't start fully implementing 'til 2014. And one of these things is next January, a year from now, smokers who buy individual policies will automatically face a premium increase of 50% above what already is being charged. For a 55-year-old smoker, that penalty could reach nearly $4,250 a year. A 60-year-old smoker could wind up paying nearing $5,100 on top of the premium. The $4,250 is on top of his premium. That's the penalty for smoking. And don't forget, the sales tax revenue from tobacco sales is funding children's health care programs. Little known provision. Oh, there are so many of these.

This story about the penalty on smokers that kicks in one year from now, Obamacare, I mentioned that -- and the story says it's an AP story -- a 55-year-old person that smokes, the penalty will be $4,250 a year. That penalty, so there's no misunderstanding, is added to your already existing health insurance premium, whatever that is. The penalty is $4,250 if you smoke. There's a smokers penalty, 4,200 bucks for a person of 55. They average out what the premium would be, calculate the penalty. The older you are, the higher your premium is gonna be, therefore the higher your penalty. So a 60-year-old will end up paying $5,100 on top of their premium.

Now, I know, a lot of you are saying, "Well, so what? I don't smoke. To hell with smokers."

Smokers are among the most hated people in our country, even though I think they deserve a medal. I think smokers deserve national gratitude. The sales tax revenue from cigarette sales is funding child health care. Cigarette smokers are abused. They are shunned. They are discriminated against. They are true, second-, third-class citizens. There has been a genuine hatred ginned up against smokers.

It's not enough that you might disagree with what they do. If you see somebody smoking, other than in a movie, if you've seen a movie, it looks kind of cool. If you see it on a TV show, hey, looks kind of cool. But if you see somebody light up near a restaurant you're going into, you just hate 'em. You get mad because this has been the objective. And yet these people continue to put up with the abuse. If they're told they can only smoke in subfreezing weather outdoors in the wintertime, they do it. It is they who are primarily funding a couple of children's health care programs.

Houston Four Seasons Sues the NAALCP

This is kind of funny:

RUSH: Houston's Four Seasons Hotel is suing the NAALCP, the National Association for the Advancement of Liberal Colored People. Wait 'til you hear about this. This is typical. "Houston's Four Seasons Hotel is suing the NAACP, claiming the association owes the hotel almost $100,000 ... for a summer banquet. The lawsuit claims that the NAACP owes the Four Seasons $99,597 for various unpaid charges from July to November for an event held at the downtown hotel...

"The suit alleges that the payment was due on Nov. 27 and remains unpaid after a second request for payment in December of last year. An invoice submitted as evidence shows banquet charges of $34,401 and $39,909 in room charges, among other items on the list. The hotel claims the entire bill was not paid." Who do they think they are? What do they mean, "paid"? The hotel didn't get the memo that this is a donation?

You're telling me the Four Seasons had an NAALCP convention and expected to get paid? What kind of bias is that? You see, this is the kind of racism that is way, way, way too frequent in this country, and it's way too blatant, and it is way too obvious. I mean, it's one thing to quietly expect to be paid. That's typically racist. But then to file a lawsuit and call people's attention to it?

This is why African-Americans vote Democrat, and the sooner the Republicans figure this out, the faster they're gonna be able to repair the breach. This hotel... Whoever runs this hotel's gonna have to go back to training or something, 'cause you don't expect to get paid when the NAALCP has a convention. Talk to the people who have hosted Al Sharpton events. It just doesn't happen. Those are called donations, contributions.

The Four Seasons didn't get the memo on that.

It will be interesting to find out the whole story.

Of course the NAACP is not the only one who doesn't pay their bills. There's the Cardinals baseball coach who borrowed several millions to take advantage of a real estate boom, except real estate crashed and he stopped making payments, and now he';s disputing how much he owes... all kinds of things like that going around these days.

25 Jan 2013, Fri, Rush Limbaugh headlines

--Federal Appeals Court Tells Obama He Violated the Constitution and Abused Power
--Sandy Victims Shivering in the Cold?
--The Sports Media Jihad Against Mickelson
--Tahrir Square, Two Years Later
--"Enlightened" Liberals Compare Every Issue to Slavery Because of Spielberg's Lincoln
--NFL Faces Jerome Boger Controversy
--Dems Set Sights on Texas
--Didn't We Do Women in Combat in the '90s?
--Macs, PCs and Viruses
Stack of Stuff
--Houston Four Seasons Sues the NAALCP
--Obamacare Adds Smoking Penalty to Your Insurance Premium
--Fight Breaks Out at East St. Louis Food Stamp Office
--Hilarious! Fournier Worries Obama Set Expectations Too High
--Communists Cheer Obama's Gun Grab

25 Jan 2012, Fri, SoS Clinton and Staff

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

9:15 a.m.
Secretary Clinton meets with the regional bureau secretaries, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III host the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS

3:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Burns delivers remarks and joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


4:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with UK Ambassador to the U.S. Sir Peter Westmacott, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

4:30 p.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES

8:00 a.m.
Deputy Secretary Nides attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

12:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides meets with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


USAID ADMINISTRATOR RAJ SHAH

Administrator Shah is on foreign travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Administrator Shah attends several meetings focused on agriculture, health, public/private partnerships, economic growth and development. He will also participate in bilateral meetings with Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and United Nations Development Programme Director Helen Clark.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS WENDY SHERMAN

10:00 a.m.
Under Secretary Sherman meets with Ambassador of Japan to the U.S. Kenichiro Sasae, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:30 p.m. Under Secretary Sherman meets with Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S. Eduardo Medina Mora, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel in New Delhi, India to participate in the Confederation of India Industry (CII), through February 1.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

3:00 p.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


CHIEF OF PROTOCOL AMBASSADOR CAPRICIA PENAVIC MARSHALL

3:00 p.m. Ambassador Marshall joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS RICK BARTON

8:30 a.m. Assistant Secretary Barton participates in a discussion hosted by Save the Children, in Washington, DC .
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS ROBERT BLAKE

11:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Blake meets with Uzbekistan Ambassador to the U.S. Ilhom Nematov, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Blake meets with Eric Stewart, Executive Director of the U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER

11:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Brimmer joins Holocaust survivors, members of the diplomatic corps, and philanthropic leaders at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Museum, in the Museum’s Hall of Remembrance.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION TOM COUNTRYMAN

9:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Countryman attends a meeting at the White House.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ


Assistant Secretary Fernandez is on foreign travel to Mexico City, Mexico, through January 24 to participate in economic dialogues with cabinet officials from President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration. In addition to senior government officials, the group will meet with local business leaders and business organizations. Please click here for more information.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ANN STOCK

3:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Stock joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS LUIS CDEBACA

3:00 p.m.
Ambassador CdeBaca joins Secretary Clinton and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in celebrating the launch of the Diplomacy Center, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre set for video cameras: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 2:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel to Geneva, Switzerland to attend official meetings regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER

Ambassador Verveer is on foreign travel to Davos, Switzerland through January 25 to participate in events associated with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Please click here for more information.
 

25 Jan 2012, Fri, Pres and VP Schedules

The President recieves no daily briefing today, apparently.
12:10 pm The President makes a personnel announcement
The East Room
Open Press Vice President
11:00 am The Vice President holds a roundtable discussion on the Administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence
Virginia Commonwealth University
Pooled TV, Open to Correspondents

Thursday, January 24, 2013

My goodness Windows 8 sucks

I've probably complained about it before now and I'll probably complain about it again...

All new computers these days are sold with Windows 8 and it is just awful.

So many things people used to be able to do that were so intuitive...now they're not even going to know what used to be possible!

I mean, my dad has a McAfee license for three computers. When we bought my mom's new computer it came with Norton, which we never installed. We installed McAfee instead. But Norton kept popping up with a dialog box saying, "Install now, renew now, ya da ya da," and my mom, who is not that up on computers, kept getting all worried that her computer was at risk, etc.

So...if you don't know how to get to the Control Panel and remove Norton from your computer, how are you ever supposed to do it in Windows 8? Folks new to computers who only know Windows 8 won't even know what a Control Panel is or how powerful it is!

Should Phil Mickelson have apologized for complaining about taxes?

For my part, I wonder why he brought up his taxes in the first place!

Why do people "in the news" like athletes or golfers (I'm sorry, golf is not a sport!) feel like they've got to share their personal lives with the public.

Yes, if your wife has cancer and you're going to start a foundation to combat that cancer, mention it. But if you're going to move from California to some other state because your taxes are outrageous -don't mention the reason!

I suppose in a sense it could be seen as insensitive. 40% of a gazillion dollars is still more money in one *paycheck* then most people will make in a year, so don't expect the Joe Schmoes living on less than $20,000 a year to care that you're having 60% of your earnings taken in taxes...

Obviously it's not right - don't get me wrong - just don't expect people who have to get by on a helluva lot less to have any sympathy for you when you make all that money playing a game!

24 Jan 2013, Thu, Rush Limbaugh Headlines

--Every Man in Hillary Clinton's Life Sends Her Out to Lie for Him -- and I'm the One Who Disrespects Women?
--Rich Lowry: Rush Was Right About Obama
--Why Everyone Hates Apple
--While Phil Mickelson Begs for Forgiveness, Derek Jeter Pushes Climate Change
--All the Hot Low-Information News
--John Kerry (Who Served in Vietnam) Will Be Your Next Secretary of State... But What Difference Does It Make?

24 Jan 2013, Thu, SoSClinton and Staff Schedule

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

10:00 a.m.
Secretary Clinton introduces nominee for Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, at his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY SFRC)

2:15 p.m.
Secretary Clinton hosts the launch of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre-set time for cameras: 1:00 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for writers and still photographers: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


3:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

4:35 p.m. Secretary Clinton attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

****

DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS

3:15 p.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

4:00 p.m.
Deputy Secretary Burns meets with UK Ambassador to the U.S. Sir Peter Westmacott, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES

1:15 p.m.
Deputy Secretary Nides meets with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Miriam Sapiro, at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

3:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides meets with U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

USAID ADMINISTRATOR RAJ SHAH


Administrator Shah is on foreign travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Administrator Shah attends several meetings focused on agriculture, health, public/private partnerships, economic growth and development. He will also participate in bilateral meetings with Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and United Nations Development Programme Director Helen Clark.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS

Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel in Davos, Switzerland to participate in the World Economic Forum through January 25. He also travels to New Delhi, India to participate in the Confederation of India Industry (CII), through February 1.

8:45 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a Governors Session entitled Governors Meeting for Utilities and Technology and Renewable Shapers: Powering our Future – Part II, in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

11:00 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Kazakhstan's Minister for Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova, in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a lunch session entitled “Breakthrough Policies for Reigniting Energy Efficiency,” in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Paolo Scaroni, Chief Executive Officer of ENI, in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:00 p.m. LOCAL
Under Secretary Hormats meets with Dr. Craig Emerson, Australia Minister of Trade and Competitiveness, in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:45 p.m. LOCAL
Under Secretary Hormats meets with UK’s Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

7:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a dinner entitled “Financial Inclusion,” in Davos, Switzerland.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE

2:15 p.m.
Under Secretary Sonenshine attends the launch of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, hosted by Secretary Clinton, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre-set time for cameras: 1:00 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for writers and still photographers: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


6:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine attends a dinner hosted by H.E. Zhang Yesui, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in celebration of the Launch of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, at Ambassador Zhang’s residence.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

6:30 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine attends a reception in honor of the Republic Day of India, at the Indian Ambassador’s Residence.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER

6:30 p.m.
Acting Under Secretary Gottemoeller attends a reception in honor of the Republic Day of India, at the Indian Ambassador’s Residence.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

CHIEF OF PROTOCOL AMBASSADOR CAPRICIA PENAVIC MARSHALL

6:30 p.m.
Ambassador Marshall attends a reception honoring the 2nd Anniversary of the January 25th Egyptian Revolution, hosted by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt His Excellency Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik, in Washington, DC.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS RICK BARTON


1:30 p.m. Assistant Secretary Barton briefs the Senate Foreign Relationships Committee, on Capitol Hill.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY SFRC)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS ROBERT BLAKE

11:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Blake meets with David Phillips of the Program on Peace-Building and Rights at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights Columbia University, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS KURT CAMPBELL

2:15 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Campbell attends the launch of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, hosted by Secretary Clinton, at the Department of State. Please click here for more information.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Pre-set time for cameras: 1:00 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access time for writers and still photographers: 1:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.


ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION TOM COUNTRYMAN

10:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Countryman attends a meeting at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY WHITE HOUSE)

2:00 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Countryman attends a meeting at the Nuclear Energy Institute to discuss views from the nuclear energy industry, in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ


Assistant Secretary Fernandez is on foreign travel to Mexico City, Mexico, through January 24 to participate in economic dialogues with cabinet officials from President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration. In addition to senior government officials, the group will meet with local business leaders and business organizations. Please click here for more information.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON

9:00 a.m.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson meets with a delegation of Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Relations members, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson attends a lunch with Mexican Under Secretary for North America Sergio Alcocer Martinez de Castro and Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Eduardo Medina Mora, in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson meets with Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Lemmons, Director of the Inter-American Defense College, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

2:30 p.m.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson delivers remarks at the Inter-American Defense College.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST)

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in London, UK attending official meetings regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER

Ambassador Verveer is on foreign travel to Davos, Switzerland through January 25 to participate in events associated with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. Please click here for more information.

24 jan 2013, Thurs, Pres and VP Schedules

24 Jan 2013

10:45 am The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:35 pm The President meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

The Vice President has no other schedule except the daily briefing.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Jan 11, 2013 , Friday, headlines from Rush

Sorry about being late with these, I had a hectic several days last week!

--Low-Info News (Now With Update Theme!)
--My New Year's Resolution Could Be Doomed Because I Just Cannot Be Boring
--Rolls-Royce Sales Spike? So What?
--Media Blames Flu for Economic Downturn
--Happy Birthday, El Rushbo!
--Guess What? Digitized Health Records Don't Save Any Money Like Obama Promised
--Regime Press Propagandists Only Cover Stories They Think Will Harm Republicans
--Flashback: Pelosi Claimed Jobless Benefits Were Economic Stimulus
--Man Sets House Mouse Free Only to See It Killed by a Hawk
--Think You're Stupid
--Republicans Begin Gun Cave

Thursday, January 10, 2013

"All My Babies' Mamas"

You do have to wonder how much the media is responsible for the coarsening of America today....

Yesterday Rush was talking about some rapper who had 11 children by 10 different mothers - none of whom he was married to, of course, which is why they are "baby mamas" and he is a "baby daddy."

And Oxygen - which at one point was supposed to be a network devoted to women but now seems to just be devoted to garbage - is putting on this Reality Series, for one reason as Rush pointed out. They KNOW there's an audience for it.

Just as there's an audience for "Teen Mom" and "Princesses and Tiaras" and all the other crap that is dumbing and coarsening down America.

I suppose it would be interesting to learn right from the horse's mouth why a woman would want to get pregnant from a guy - whom she must know has already gotten 10 other women pregnant as well...

Is it because he's so rich and she thinks she can get lots of money out of him, both for himself and her baby.

Or would she do it even if the guy had no job, and no prospects of getting one. If he's willing to have sex with her, even the lowest of the low, does this subconsciously make a woman feel good, like "Yes, I *am* attractive to a man, and here's the baby to prove it....even if he was not so attracted to me as to want to marry me."

I have to admit it... I don't understand why a woman would want to have a baby unless she had a husband - or at least a steady partner - to help raise the baby. Nor do I understand why 14 year old, 15 year old, 16 year olds want to tie themselves with children, when the whole wide world is in front of them... they can go anywhere they want, do anything they want...and instead they get pregnant and drop out of school, to be stuck forever in one place.... 

10 Jan 2013, Thurs, Rush Limbaugh headlines

--Clueless CNN on El Rushbo and Guns
--Federal Regulators Admit That Clinton's Mortgage Scam Caused the Economic Crisis
--Watch the Fallout from Seau News
--DC Mayor: Redskins Must Change Name
--Father of the Year Goes on Gun Rant
--MLB Writer Blames HOF Vote on Tea Party!

And from yesterday

--For-Profit Medicine Under Attack
--WaPo Columnist: The Racist Redskins Name Blew Out RGIII's Knee
--Biden Threatens Executive Orders on Guns
--David Brooks on Why Obama Chose Hagel
--And Now a Little Low-Info News
--Oxygen Stands by "All My Babies' Mamas"

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Posting reumes Thursday

I know I've been saying this periodically but this will be the last time I say it...I'm visiting relatives and although they have Wi fi I don't have a private room to work. I'll be home Thursaday and will get back into the swing of things then.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

No one has any idea what happened in Benghazi!

But they think they do because they believe the mainstream media...

Rush hit it right on the head.

Tech Blog Libs Have No Idea What Happened in Benghazi
RUSH: I mentioned to you often that I read voluminously and I read omnivorous. I read everything, not just politics and stuff, and I am learning a lot as I do this. One of the great advantages of reading a lot of different sources is you get a very good idea how effective the left is with their message and permeating virtually every corner of the world. Now, my hobby is high-tech stuff. I love it.

I absolutely, physically enjoy learning about high-tech stuff and staying up to speed on it all. So I read some of these blogs. And every day, sometimes more than one instance, I literally stop myself when I read something and realize how effective our opposition is at persuading people of lies and convincing them that BS is the truth. This latest example is stupefying. I don't believe it. Well, I do believe it. I'm just dumbfounded by it.

See, I think the truth is not hard to find. I don't think it's hard to find at all, and I think finding the truth only requires a little curiosity and being a little dubious, being a little suspicious, of everything you hear from everybody. Benghazi. Is it not widely...? Maybe I'm wrong about this. Is it not widely known now that the video had nothing to do with that event that killed four Americans?

My perception is that, for the first two or three weeks, the administration blamed the video? Susan Rice, Obama, Hillary doing ads in Pakistan? For three weeks or two weeks, they blamed that video. And all during those weeks, there was an entire media-industrial complex on the right that knew it wasn't true and that was getting the message out that it wasn't true, that the video had nothing to do with it.

But all the while the mainstream media was promoting the fact that the video had everything to do with what happened in Benghazi. The mainstream media wanted to get nowhere near what really happened in Benghazi, and then the latest development was that four State Department officials were fired. But they weren't. Well, no! I take it back. They were "fired," but they were not made to leave.

They were "fired" and they stayed on the job.

More theatrics.

So, anyway, my point is when I run across people who even now still believe that the video led to the death of four Americans, I'm sorry, but I have trouble processing it. How can people be so stupid? But here is an entry in a tech blog, and this is probably a 24- or 25-year-old kid, and what they have done is they've written a piece here on how the film was made. Let me just read this brief excerpt: "Back in July a controversial film appeared on YouTube.

"The low budget, poorly made film appeared to have been made with a main goal of offending and inflaming Muslims... A lot of controversy resulted when the video went viral..." It didn't "go viral" folks. Nobody saw it! This video never went viral. But this kid at this tech blog thinks it did. "A lot of controversy resulted when the video went viral: YouTube pulled it from several markets when it was rumored to be a source of protests that broke out in Benghazi, Libya[,] in September that attack resulted in the killing of" our ambassador.

None of that's true! There were no protests. There was a terrorist incident. There were no protests. This is last September. This tech blog happened on January 1st. And people read this stuff. These are supposedly smart kids, smart in one area. Look how duped they are. There wasn't a protest, the video didn't go viral, and the video had nothing to do with the murder of the ambassador or the other three Americans.

So, yeah, I'm dumbfounded by this, when the truth is "widely known" but it isn't widely known. And, of course, then I say, "What can we do about this?" This is how lies, disinformation, misinformation, propaganda get believed. I mean, intellectually I know it all works, but this? Have we not succeeded in exposing this by now? The vast majority of Americans still think the video led to protests which led to the death of the ambassador?

And then I have to say, "Yeah, it's probably the case. Because nobody's really paid a price for this." I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't be so shocked and surprised. Maybe I'm not. I'm just disappointed, I guess. I guess the other aspect is these are not low-information people. I mean, these are... Well, it turns out they are, but they're not stupid. Not intellectually. They have the ability to learn, comprehend, and understand the truth.

In fact, the whole "film" was never even posted! It was 30-second clips of the film that were on YouTube. And the guy is in jail! The filmmaker is still in jail and none of these civil libertarians on the left have the slightest problem with it.

3 Jan 2012, Thurs, Rush Limbaugh headlines

--The News Low-Information America Wants to Hear About: Kim Kardashian is Pregnant!
--Obama Gets GOP Confession: Fiscal Cliff Deal "Enshrines Principle" That Tax Cuts Hurt the Economy
--Cliff Deal Left Asset Wealthy Untouched
--Searching for Something Positive Amid the Theatrics
--The Left's Refrain: It's All Limbaugh's Fault!
--Algore Sells TV Station to Al-Jazeera
--Nobody Cares About Economic History
Stack of Stuff
--Tech Blog Libs Have No Idea What Happened in Benghazi
--Matt Damon Makes Anti-Fracking Movie, But IS NOT an Idiot
--Twit: Unemployment Benefits Will Result in Economic Growth

Rush returns today!

So my blogging gets back on track.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Obscene profit break: Article Spinning: The Crusade for Quality

I've written a small book on how to do article spinning and why it is necessary to produce quality work.

The book is on both the Nook and the Kindle.

Here's the URL for the Kindle version:

http://www.amazon.com/Article-Spinning-Quest-Quality-ebook/dp/B00AUGX3R6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357099985&sr=1-1&keywords=article+spinning

And here's the website I've set up for the book.

http://volcanoseven.com/ArticleSpinning/

In addition to talking to clients of article spinners, I talk to the writers themselves - sharing many examples of how to write correct English sentences.

5 female teachers and 2 aid workers murdered in Pakistan

Gee. I wonder why.

Happy New Year!

As Mark Steyn predicted yesterday, the little bit of theatre that was the fiscal cliff negotiations ended yesterday.

But the US is still headed toward disaster because even though taxes have been raised, spending has not been cut.

As a matter of fact, Congress - or at least Joe Biden - got himself a raise!