State of the Union
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President Barack Obama walks through the colonnade of the White House in Washington February 12, 2013. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
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The U.S. must embrace a growth agenda
By Lawrence Summers
There should be little disagreement across the political spectrum that growth and job creation remain America’s most serious national problem. Ahead of President Obama’s first State of the Union address of his second term, and further fiscal negotiations in Washington, America needs to rethink its priorities for economic policy.
Full commentary here -
For investors, Obama's tone more important than substance
By Wanfeng Zhou
NEW YORK - Investors have had plenty of reasons to worry about what goes on in Washington, from "fiscal cliff" fears to concerns about a debt default or government shutdown. But President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night is unlikely to be one of those reasons.
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Obama to focus on economy in State of Union speech
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Apple CEO, gun victims, "Mohawk Guy" to attend Obama speech
President Barack Obama will not be the only one delivering a message during the State of the Union address on Tuesday. Members of Congress along with the White House will also be making symbolic statements with the guests they invite to attend the annual speech.
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Via one of our live bloggers tonight, Gabriel Debenedetti: The White House has released excerpts of President Obama's speech ahead of tonight's activities. Here they are, via CNN:
It is our generation's task, then, to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class.
It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country – the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love.
It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great nation of ours.A growing economy that creates good, middle-class jobs – that must be the North Star that guides our efforts. Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills needed to do those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?"
Tonight, I'll lay out additional proposals that are fully paid for and fully consistent with the budget framework both parties agreed to just 18 months ago. Let me repeat – nothing I'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime. It's not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth.
Reuters' first take, from Roberta Rampton, is here. -
Obama’s legacy of secrecy
By David Rohde
John Brennan’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday was a microcosm of the Obama administration’s approach to counterterrorism: The right assurances, with little transparency.
Read full commentary here -
A TV camera points toward the Capitol before President Barack Obama arrives to deliver his State of the Union speech in Washington, February 12, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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As the WSJ reported today, 32-year-old Cody Keenan, who will be taking over for Jon Favreau after his famed eight-year run as Obama's head speechwriter, has taken the lead on tonight's address. See also: Binyamin Appelbaum deconstructs How the Union's State Got So 'Strong' in the NYT.
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The U.S. Capitol, where preparations are underway for President Barack Obama's annual State of the Union speech, is pictured as the sun sets in Washington. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Obama's announcement tonight that half of the 66,000 US troops now in Afghanistan will be heading home is significant. But it won't answer the biggest question hanging over the country: how large an American residual force will remain in the country after Afghans take over security in 2014? As Jeffrey Dressler of the Institute for the Study of War told Reuters earlier today, "The real question now is what the post-2014 presence will be, which in my mind, is a far more important question." -
"I feel great," Pres Obama just told a reporter as he exited the WH with Mrs Obama for the motorcade to the US Capitol.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 13, 2013 -
www.whitehouse.gov, a colleague reports is showing a video on honey production and now Jimmy Fallon on the White House lawn as a countdown clock runs for SOTU. -
Still time to fit in a couple more pre-speech reads: former head Clinton speechwriter Michael Waldman argues that Obama needs "the power of surprise" tonight, and Peter Dykstra recounts past SOTU green promises that have come up short.
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Security at the Capitol is incredibly tight - police along all the sidewalks, sniffer dogs, troops, barricades.
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Every state of the Union one member of the cabinet does not attend - in case something happens - this year Energy Secretary Steven Chu is the designated non-attendee. He has also announced that he is leaving the administration.
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Ted Nugent (center) is seen at the U.S. Capitol before the start of President Obama's annual State of the Union address. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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Ah, our first Ted Nugent picture's in below. Yes, the rock-and-roller and staunch gun-rights supporter was invited to the address tonight by Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman. The Nuge vows he will be "respectful," the WSJ reports.
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CNN has a double-screen tonight between the House Chamber and the burning cabin in Big Bear Lake, California.
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State of the Union pomp and circumstance. The senators gather and then walk together over to the House chamber, where the president delivers the State of the Union address. Members of the House, hoping for good seats, send aides to grab good seats during the day.
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Obama has arrived at the Capitol. Here's the White House press pool report: Motorcade left the White House at 8:33pm, arrived at the Capitol at 8:39. Uneventful ride.
Pool now holding in a hallway in the House side of the Capitol, with chairs set up in front of a TV screen to watch Obama's State of the Union address.
A handful of senior administration officials were walking out of the Capitol as the pool was heading in. Among them, Jay Carney, who jokingly said as he passed by, "We're heading to the bar." -
Michelle Obama still has the bangs. She's wearing a sleeveless dress that reminds me of her election night 2008 outfit.by Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/13/2013 2:00:16 AM -
There's newly confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry - dealing with North Korea days into the job - walking in with the cabinet.by Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/13/2013 2:01:25 AM
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Michelle Obama arrives prior to President Obama's annual State of the Union Address. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Apple CEO Tim Cook (Top L), and parents of Hadiya Pendleton, Cleopatra (bottom R), and Nathaniel Pendleton whose daughter was killed in Chicago days after marching in the Presidential Inaugural parade, are pictured before the State of the Union address. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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One thing to watch for tonight is a change in Obama himself. As Jackie Calmes wrote about in the NYT today, Obama appears to be more relaxed and confident since winning re-election. Democrats call that leadership. Republicans call it over-reach.
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This is the public's first view of part of the new-look cabinet, with Secretary of State John Kerry on display. New White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough is also in attendance. Meanwhile, cabinet nominees such as Chuck Hagel (Defense) and Jack Lew (Treasury) are still awaiting Senate confirmation. -
Obama walks in at 9:10 p.m. Not too bad for a 9 p.m. speech. #SOTUby Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/13/2013 2:10:26 AM
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Many members of Congress are wearing green ribbons in honor of the Newtown victims. The debate over gun control has been raging in Congress.
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Obama will call for raising the federal minimum wage to $9.00/hour.by Ryan Lizza via twitter 2/13/2013 2:11:36 AM -
One of the guests in the first lady's box is another luminary whose hairstyle hsa drawn attention, NASA "Mohawk guy" Bobak Ferdowsi.by Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/13/2013 2:13:55 AM
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What is the name of the chief Capital Police guy who leads POTUS in? He used to be spokesperson for DC police dept -
That looked like a reasonably cordial handshake between Obama and Boehner. Looking forward to the pix of the hand gesture with Biden.by Patricia Zengerle via twitter 2/13/2013 2:15:09 AM
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Secretary of State John Kerry is seen before the start of President Obama's annual State of the Union address. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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There's a theory that this is Obama's most important State of the Union speech - setting an agenda for his second term, when he is no longer worrying about being re-elected. And early enough in his second term that he is not a lame duck.
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Spoiler alert, here's the prepared #SOTU speech: bit.ly/X6vu3w
— Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) February 13, 2013 -
Huh. Looks like no mentions of Abraham Lincoln — I was expecting at least one (it's his birthday).by Gabriel Debenedetti via twitter 2/13/2013 2:18:59 AM -
And here's full text of the White House's fact sheet on Obama's policy proposals tonight. There's *a lot* here: washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog…
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) February 13, 2013 -
Obama: "It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country... to make sure that this government works on behalf the many, not just the few."
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President Obama shakes the hand of Speaker of the House John Boehner before the start of the president's annual State of the Union Address. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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You can see Biden's green Newtown ribbon behind Obama. Boehner is not wearing one.
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In its strongest warnings yet, the White House separately gave examples of what it said program cuts would mean: 1,000 fewer FBI officers, mass layoffs of government meat and food inspectors, and aid benefits slashed for hundreds of thousands of low-income women and children.
- White House warns of damaging sequestration cuts -
RT @tnyCloseRead: Obama: big cuts to programs like Medicare "even worse" than sequester. #SOTUby Jim Roberts via twitter 2/13/2013 2:24:01 AM -
The U.S. Capitol is seen during President Obama's annual State of the Union Address. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Freeport Indonesia says death toll rises to 28 after tunnel accident
JAKARTA - The death toll from a tunnel collapse at the world's second largest copper mine run by Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc's Indonesian unit was raised to 28 on Wednesday as rescuers gave up hope of finding any more survivors.
- Japan considers resuming talks with North Korea: media
- North Korea sends top Kim Jong-un aide to Beijing
- Syrian foes move towards talks but fighting rages
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- Iran bars candidates for presidential election
- Attacks in Iraq kill over 40, sectarian tensions high
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- Guatemala trial of Rios Montt has likely collapsed: lawyers
- Senate panel backs arming Syria rebels
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