Left-Centric

Photos: Nobel Peace Prize

 


Nobel Peace Prize laureate U.S. President Barack Obama poses with his diploma and medal after receiving the prize at the award ceremony in Oslo City Hall December 10, 2009




Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus hold hands, during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony


Toby Keith




U.S. actor Will Smith and his daugther Willow, left, applauds President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, at the end of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony






People watch a large TV screen in a park as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo December 10, 2009. The United States must uphold moral standards when waging wars that are necessary and justified, Obama said on Thursday as he accepted the Nobel Prize for Peace. In a speech at the award ceremony in Oslo, Obama said violent conflict would not be eradicated "in our lifetimes", there would be times when nations would need to fight just wars and he would not stand idle in the face of threats to the American people.








Protester Silke Tudor (L), 38, holds a cardboard coffin in Times Square as she and others protest against U.S. President Barack Obama's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize and the war in Afghanistan, in New York City December 10, 2009.


US President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Barack Obama, centre right, and wife Michelle, wave to the crowd from a balcony on Grand Hotel after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize during a ceremony at City Hall in Oslo










Chinese pianist Lang Lang looks at his mobile device while attending the Nobel banquet in Oslo December 10, 2009. Lang Lang played earlier today at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for U.S. President Barack Obama.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Obama at Ceremony in Oslo to Accept Nobel Prize (nytimes.com)
• Obama Arrives in Oslo for Nobel Ceremony (thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Obama: All nations must follow standards for war (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Poll: Approval for War Strategy Jumps After Obama's Speech (cbsnews.com)
• Obama accepts Nobel peace prize (guardian.co.uk)

Obama Pushes Lobbyists Off Federal Advisory Boards

In a little-noticed blog post published on the White House website in September, President Obama's special counsel for ethics and government reform Norm Eisen announced that the administration no longer wanted federally-registered lobbyists appointed to agency advisory boards and commissions.

via www.huffingtonpost.com

PHOTOS: President Obama makes surprise visit to Silver Spring school

President Obama paid a surprise lunchtime visit to Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring Monday.

Montgomery County schools spokeswoman Kate Harrison said the visit lasted just 30 to 45 minutes, and that officials had been told to keep it secret. Obama "really just wanted to interact with students and he wanted to do it during lunch," Harrison said.

According to a pool report, the president visited with third- and fifth-graders. Ben Finkenbinder, a White House press aide, said Obama chose Viers Mill because in 2005 it became the first Montgomery County school with a large population of low-income students to be designated a National Blue Ribbon School for significantly closing the achievement gap. Such schools qualify for Title I federal funding.

"It's wonderful. I'm just so happy for the kids," Harrison said. "What a thrill. To be just sitting there eating your lunch, and all of a sudden the president of the United States walks in. It's so exciting."


















School children encourage their classmates to shake hands with U.S. President Barack Obama (L) as he greets third and fourth grade students at Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland, October 19, 2009. Obama visited the school where the students had improved their standardized test scores.

Pelosi: I'm In My Place. I'm Speaker of the House.

Good for Pelosi. Being Speaker she should be given some respect and a comment like that would not have been made about any other congressMAN. Just Saying. Start the video at :23 to get the gist.

Dylan Ratigan's Best Interview to Date!

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PHOTOS: Michelle Obama meets the Queen of Denmark

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama waves as she arrives at the Royal Palace in Copenhagen for a meeting with Denmark's Queen Margrethe Thursday Oct. 1.



U.S. first lady Michelle Obama shakes hands with Denmark's Prince Henrik, the husband of Denmark's Queen Margrethe, center, outside the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, Thursday Oct. 1, 2009.


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) poses for a photo with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at a hotel in Copenhagen October 1.


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (C), accompained by senior White House advise Valerie Jarrett (L), meets International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at a hotel in Copenhagen October 1.


.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) poses for a photo with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at a hotel in Copenhagen October 1.

Reid Cancels Columbus Day Recess to Focus on Health Care

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2....php?ref=fpblg

Be still my heart. Reid follows through on a threat.

Quote:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has made good on a threat to cancel a week-long October recess to continue work on health care. "I talked to the Republican leader about this last week," Reid said on the Senate floor this morning. "But the Columbus day is fast approaching. It's the week after next. And with all the things going on here, it just would not be right for us to take that week off. So what we're going to do, as I explained to the Republican leader last week, we'll be off that Monday, which is the holiday, Columbus day, and the following Friday." Once the Finance Committee finishes work on its health care legislation, Reid will merge it with a different bill, and then bring it to the Senate floor. The week of October 12 seems a bit early for the floor debate to have kicked off, but this could at least prevent any further delays

.

PHOTOS: The opening reception of the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi


Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero


South Africa's President Jacob Zuma and his wife Nompumelelo Ntuli


Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and his wife Filippa


European Commission President Manuel Barroso and his wife Maria Margarita Barroso




Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and wife Laureen




British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife Sarah


India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur


South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok


Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese


Argentina President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner


Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva






France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy




Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana


Chinese President China Hu Jintao


Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva


Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine




Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his wife Miyuki


Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala

Earlier in the day...

PHOTOS: 24 Hours

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 32nd Annual Awards Gala









The opening of the Freshfarm Market in Washington







The Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Army Sgt 1st Class Jared C Monti from Raynham, Mass, who died during his service in Afghanistan, Sept 17, 2009, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington.




President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Paul Monti, father of Army Sgt. 1st. Class Jared C. Monti



Health care rally at the University of Maryland




President Barack Obama hugs cancer survivor Rachel Peck










Anti-choice protester




Two members of the audience use their arms to form an 'O' while US President Barack Obama speaks

Photos: Sept. 17

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Photos: Sept. 15

General Motors Plant in Warren, Ohio Sept 15











AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh Sept 15













Arlen Specter fundraiser in Philadelphia Sept 15









The Welcoming Party



























....after a long day

PHOTO: The Class of 2009

Official photo released today:


Seated from left: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.

Standing second row, from left: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan E. Rice, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Back row, from left: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, and Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Photos: Habitat for Humanity

Residents of a North East Washington neighbourhood wait to catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle


President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama tour a home being constructed by Habitat for Humanity in North East Washington

PHOTOS (Sept 11)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stand with White House staff members after a moment of silence marking the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks








President Barack Obama greets family members of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks after speaking at the Pentagon Memorial










Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Barack Obama

R.I.P. Teddy

Today, the lion is at rest.

Senate bought and paid for by Health Insurance Companies

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8...lthcare-Debate

Democrats on a House committee are seeking detailed financial records from dozens of large insurance companies, officials disclosed Tuesday, part of an investigation into ''executive compensation and other business practices'' in an industry opposed to President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul health care.

The request included records relating to compensation of highly paid employees, documents relating to companies' premium income and claims payments, and information on expenses stemming from any event held outside company facilities in the past 2 1/2 years.


This will shine more light on this

Notice some familiar names?



The senate is bought and paid for and the house is about to call them on their bullshit. The public option is far from dead. Thanks to Waxmnan and our progressive caucus in the house.

Is The Tide Turning?

Health Reform Supporters Start To Outnumber Critics At Town Halls



Reform Supporters Outnumber Critics At Town Halls

Finally

Obama's Message

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125064215795641841.html

Sounds like Obama's regrouping, starting today:



I dunno about the switch to speeches- he's gotten some good questions from his town halls. But hopefully, this + burying the bipartisanship myth can get momentum going into the vote.

NYT Article: Democrats Set To Go Alone

Here's the article: Democrats Seem Set to Go Alone on a Health Bill "Seem" being the operative word. There's absolutely no new information in it whatsoever. Not off the record, background comments, not on the record interviews, nada. It just cites "top Democrats" and then rounds up the latest news from the past couple of days. Maybe they got some tip from the White House that they're moving in this direction. But it seems like they're trying to round up the latest developments and put a spin on it rather than break some news.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Photos: The Obama family visit Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, August 15, 2009.

Obama's Favoriablity Numbers Ticking Back Up.

Quote:

Obama Job Approval Rating (Gallup) August 4-6 Approve 58% Disapprove 36%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Ga...-Approval.aspx

So when is the media going to talk about Obama's numbers getting better?

Chris Matthews and Bill Maher

a funny back and forth between two good ole' liberals...

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PHOTOS: Moving In

James Pogue installs the name plate of Sen. elect Al Franken (D-MN) on his new office in the Hart Senate Office building on Capitol Hill July 6, 2009 in Washington, DC.