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Preview Of President Obama’s View Interview

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:15:13 +0000

President Obama and the View hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, and Elisabeth Hasslebeck (ABC) President Obama’s historic* visit to The View will air at 11 a.m. tomorrow (*historic because he’s the first sitting president to visit a daytime talk show), but ABC has provided a preview—Barbara Walters asks him about his life’s pleasures and challenges, “In the last month what has been the rose? And what has been the thorn?” Video is below and a transcript is after the jump: He also explained why he’s not going to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding , “I was not invited to the wedding because I think Hillary and Bill, properly, want to keep this thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband,” and joked, “You don’t want two presidents at one wedding. All the secret service, guests going through (metal detectors), all the gifts being torn apart.” Joy Behar has been Tweeting about the President lately—here are some from yesterday and today, “Herr Limbaugh says I will need knee pads when I interview President Obama. Please, the man is tall” (HA!), “I’m getting ready to interview President Obama. There’s so much security here at the View, you’d think Justin Bieber was back” ( heh ), “The President is here. Finally some good food in the Green Room,” and “With President Obama in the Green Room at The View. http://twitpic.com/29j28u” President Obama: Well in the last month the rose has to be a couple of days we took in Maine with Michelle and Sasha and Malia, and we went on bike rides and hikes, and the girls are getting old enough now where they’re not quite teenagers yet, so they still like you (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER), but they are full of opinions and ideas and observations, and it’s just a great age. Malia just turned 12 and Sasha just turned nine, and it couldn’t have been a better couple of days. Barbara Walters: Thorn? President Obama: Well, where do I begin here? (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER) Barbara Walters: At the top. President Obama: Obviously the country has gone through a tough stretch since I took office. When I was sworn in, I know you showed the Inauguration, we were losing at that time 750,000 jobs per month, the economy was shrinking at a pace of about 6.5%, which is unheard of since the Great Depression, and so the last 20 months has been a non-stop effort to restart the economy, to stabilize the financial system, to make sure that we’re creating jobs again instead of losing them, and in the midst of all that we’ve also had the oil spill, we’ve also had two wars, we’ve also had a pandemic, H1N1, that we had to manage, and a whole host of other issues. What has been gratifying is the fact that the economy now is starting to stabilize and grow again, and what’s been satisfying is seeing how resilient the American people are. As much as you said it’s been tough for me, the truth is, it’s not tough for me; you know I’ve got people, pundits on the news who may say things about me. Barbara Walters: You noticed? President Obama: Of course, you think about what the American people have gone through, losing jobs, seeing their home values go down, their 401Ks declining, those are the folks who I draw inspiration from because I get letters every night from them and I read them. And as tough as it’s been, they remain hopeful, they remain optimistic about America, and so I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about me. I spend a lot of time worrying about them.

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Preview Of President Obama’s View Interview

Obama In NJ, NYC Today

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:15:53 +0000

Barricades set up outside the View studios on West 66th Street (Jen Chung/Gothamist) President Obama is visiting the Garden State and Big Apple today, so everyone should just get ready for the inevitable gridlock headaches. According to the AP/1010 WINS , “Obama was to speak Wednesday at a sandwich shop in Edison, N.J., to tout a lending initiative aimed at small businesses. From there he was to travel to New York to tape an interview with the daytime talk show ‘The View’ and attend two high-dollar fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee.” From what we’ve gleaned: NJ Governor Chris Christie will greet Obama at Newark Liberty International Airport between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Then he’ll head to the Tastee Sub Shop in Edison, NJ . As for exact street closures in Manhattan, the NYPD hasn’t disclosed any but the View tapes on West 66th Street, off West End Avenue, so expect some gridlock in the Lincoln Center/Upper West Side area Also, NYC Transit sent out this advisory: President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Manhattan on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. As a result, based on street closures (frozen zones) instituted by the U.S. Secret Service and the New York City Police Department, many local and express bus routes in Lower and Midtown Manhattan are expected to be either severely delayed or detoured between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., especially the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M9, M11, M14/14A/14D, M15, M20, M21, M31, Q32, M50, M66, M72, M98, M101, M102, M103, M104, BxM1, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, BxM6, BxM7, BxM7a, BxM9, BxM10 and BxM11. In addition, some subway station entrances/exits along the motorcade route may be temporarily closed. If you have photographs of the President, motorcade, gridlock, etc., you can share them by emailing them to photos@gothamist.com or tagging them “gothamist” on Flickr. Update : Of course Gridlock Sam (former NYC Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz) has details. He Tweets : “FDR Drive frozen below 71st St. both directions around 3pm, around 6pm, & again around 8pm Wed. for President Obama visit,” “President Obama’s 1st NYC stop is the UWS in the 60s & West End Ave. for taping of ‘The View’,” “President Obama will attend fundraiser on 57th & Park Ave. around 5:30pm. Park Ave. & 57th St. will be frozen in all directions,” and “Prez Obama heads to the W. Village in the evening. Avoid the area btwn W. 3rd St. & Houston St. from LaGuardia Pl. to Sixth Ave.”

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Obama In NJ, NYC Today

Are Asser Levy Park Concerts Still Breaking Noise Code?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:17:55 +0000

Last month , two synagogues filed suit against the city and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz claiming the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Asser Levy Park was violating noise code. That code stated that the “use of electronic sound amplification equipment at any location within 500 feet of houses of worship during hours of worship” is not allowed. The city quickly moved to tweak that law. Now the Brooklyn Paper reports that the concerts may be violating the new law which was passed last month! The new law states that performances are allowed as long as the noise spillover doesn’t exceed 10 decibels above typical ambient sound. The paper recorded a concert last week, however, and readings outside of the venue would jump over the 10 decibels allowed. They believe this will go even higher on July 29th when George Thorogood plays the series. The question is: why is the borough’s local paper trying to kill this concert series?!

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Are Asser Levy Park Concerts Still Breaking Noise Code?

Meanwhile, on Roosevelt Island…: If we’re understanding this City Room…

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:37:13 +0000

If we’re understanding this City Room story correctly, a recent successful coup against the president of Roosevelt Island’s operating corporation may lead to residents taking up arms and fighting for their independence . Something like that. As usual we turn to blogger Roosevelt Islander to decode this land of mystery. Verdict: total shitshow! But who cares, the robots will soon arrive to eliminate the humans, anyway. [City Room; RI]

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Meanwhile, on Roosevelt Island…: If we’re understanding this City Room…

British PM Promises Review of Lockerbie Bomber Release

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:00:43 +0000

David Cameron and Diane Sawyer Before his first meeting with the President today, British Prime Minister David Cameron sat down for an interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer. The hot topic was the controversy over Scotland’s release of convicted Pan Am 103 bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was returned home to Libya on “compassionate” grounds last year because he has pancreatic cancer. But Megrahi is still alive, and there’s speculation that BP played a role in his release to win lucrative oil contracts in Libya. While acknowledging that Megrahi’s release was a mistake, Cameron still insists that BP had no influence on Scotland’s decision. Nevertheless, in an attempt to soothe ruffled feathers here, Cameron announced that he’s “asking the cabinet secretary in the UK to go back over all the paperwork and see if there’s anything else that should be released so there’s the clearest possible picture out there of what decision was taken and why.” BP has admitted that it lobbied for a prisoner swap between Libya and the UK, but the company says it never specifically pushed for Megrahi’s release, nudge nudge, wink wink. Cameron also said, “I don’t need an inquiry to tell me what I think I already know, which is it was a bad decision to release him and it was a bad decision to even contemplate this. He was convicted of the biggest mass murder in British history. In my view that man should have died in jail.” Senators from New York and New Jersey, where the majority of the victims were from, formally called on Cameron to meet with them personally during his visit, and after initially declining, he decided to make room in his schedule. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has also called on Scotland and Britain to review Megrahi’s release , has said that the the decision on whether to release him fell exclusively to the Scottish government under local law. Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill stands by his decision, and said, “I reflected and followed the rules and laws of Scotland.” And in a letter to Congress , British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “There is no evidence that corroborates in any way the allegations of BP involvement.” During a White House press conference following his three hour meeting with Cameron, President Obama called America’s relationship with the UK “truly special.”

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British PM Promises Review of Lockerbie Bomber Release

Obama’s Maine Vacation Draws Criticism

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:43:41 +0000

The Obamas at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Maine (AP) Enjoying weekends are so much harder for President Obama: His weekend family trip to Maine is drawing all sorts of criticism and analysis . The Republican National Committee even has a website showing what Obama has been doing besides focusing on the Gulf oil spill, while some suggest that the Obamas should be vacationing in the Gulf (thought wouldn’t that be tricky , sunbathing while people are dealing with rescuing baby animals ?) For some reason, the voices of reason might be former Bill Clinton adviser Paul Begala and former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer. Fleischer, who worked at the Western White House , told the Times, “I just think that people should leave the president alone and not make a political issue of where he takes vacation or how he takes vacation. He and his family are perfectly entitled to do whatever works for them.” And Begala, now a CNN talking head, pointed out , “The president is the president wherever he is. I thought it was silly when people attacked Bush for going on vacation, so I’ll be consistent and say it’s silly when people attack President Obama for going on vacation. Of all of the concerns that Americans may have, they do not need to worry whether President Obama is a hard-working man. They may agree or disagree with his policies, but there is just no doubt that the guy is busting his rear end.”

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Obama’s Maine Vacation Draws Criticism

Underwear Run Sprints Through Central Park

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:15:45 +0000

Yesterday, the annual Jamaica Underwear Run took place in Central Park, attracting 500 runners for the 1.7 mile jog they day before the New York City Triathlon. Last year, the underwear run broke the world record for the most people gathered in one place in their underwear—though in sports bras, speedos or shorts, most people looked like they were just in standard running gear. But a few went all out, donning lacy panties and boxers in the sweltering heat yesterday evening. Of course, this is just a precursor to “National Go Topless Day ” on August 22nd! And remember, in New York, both men and women can go topless any day of the year .

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Underwear Run Sprints Through Central Park

Bloomberg Insists He’s Not Running For President In 2012

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:20:31 +0000

Photograph of Mayor Bloomberg at Dartmouth courtesy of Dartmouth Mayor Bloomberg is sticking to his story that he won’t run for President in 2012 . During a “presidential lecture” at his girlfriend Diana Taylor’s alma mater, Dartmouth College (the “presidential” refers to Dartmouth president Jim Yong Kim), he explained —jokingly—that his positions “[cut] off half the country… I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights. I’m pro-immigration. I’m against guns. I believe in Darwin. It’s down to Diana, my mother and me left, and I’m not sure about my mother.” Then he emphasized, “No, I’m not running. Make that clear,” and said , “I’m gainfully employed. I’ve made a commitment [to serving as mayor] for the next 1,263 days… Arguably being the mayor of New York is the best political job in the world. We have our own foreign policy, I’ve got the eighth biggest army in the NYPD, we’ve got a budget that’s bigger than most countries’ GNP.” However, Bloomberg also discussed the White House during a Q&A: The Dartmouth reports that he spoke of expanding the power of the executive branch, “The President [of the United States] can impose, the President can cajole, the President can influence. But it’s Congress that writes the legislation. The public’s safeguard is every four years at the ballot box.”

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Bloomberg Insists He’s Not Running For President In 2012

Probe Blasts Upstate Teen Prison For "Shocking Orgy"

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:54:59 +0000

A study from the state Commission on Correction ripped on the Office of Children and Family Services for hosting a sexually charged “winter social” last December. The report called for disciplinary action against the Goshen Secure Center’s top administrators, who allowed a “suspected prostitute” to attend the party with convicted murderers too young to be immediately placed in state prisons. The night allegedly ended sexual encounters caught on surveillance tape. The OCFS hosted the party as a part of a new policy under Commissioner Gladys Carrion, who believes the mixed-sex socials will help the psychological development of the inmates. But the study said , “There was far less planning, organization and precaution than one would expect at a conventional high-school prom,” and the night ended in “residents and guests from engaging in sexual activity.” Inmates were allegedly allowed to choose which girls they wanted to attend, and chose four girls, ages 17 to 20, to be bused in from Albany. Cameras caught one couple in a lap dance and another engaging in oral sex. The report says, “In essence, the senior management of OCFS and the line staff took what was a questionable practice and then poorly implemented it.”

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Probe Blasts Upstate Teen Prison For "Shocking Orgy"

Senate Passes Wall Street Reform Bill 60-39

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:23:15 +0000

Via Senate TV The Senate passed the Wall Street reform bill , 60 to 39, with Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Scott Brown of Massachusetts joining 57 Democrats for the vote. The 60 Senators were also able to limit debate and move the bill forward; President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law next week, said , “From now on every American will be empowered with the clear and concise information they need to make financial information that are best for you. This bill will crack down on unscrupulous mortgage lenders.” The Wall Street Journal reports the bill “marks a potential sea change for the financial-services industry. Mammoth financial firms such as J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. face changes to almost every part of their businesses, from debit cards to derivatives trading and the ability to invest in hedge funds.” And: “The process now hands off to 10 regulatory agencies the discretion to write hundreds of new rules governing finance. It will be this process—accompanied by a lobbying blitz from banks—that will determine the precise contours of this new landscape, how strict the new regulations will be and whether they succeed in their purpose. The decisions will be made by officials at new agencies, obscure agencies and, in some cases, agencies tagged with failure in the run-up to the financial crisis.” Russ Feingold of Wisconsin was the lone Democrat vote against the bill, saying it didn’t go far enough. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said, “[This bill] is widely expected to stifle growth and kill jobs.” But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said , “We want to make sure this disaster never happens again… No more bailouts. No bank is too big to fail.”

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Senate Passes Wall Street Reform Bill 60-39