Recovery Act 2000TH Project For Dept Of Transportation

On April 14, 2009, in Presidential Actions, by Obama Watcher

Before I discuss the purpose of my visit to the Department of Transportation today, I want to take a moment to say how pleased I am about the rescue of Captain Phillips and his safe return to the USS Boxer this weekend.   His safety has been our principal concern, and I know this came as a welcome relief to his family and his crew.
 
 I had a chance to talk to his wife yesterday and, as she put it, she couldn't imagine a better Easter than seeing his safe return.  And I am very proud of the efforts of the U.S. military and many other departments and agencies that worked tirelessly to resolve this situation.  I share our nation's admiration for Captain Phillips' courage and leadership and selfless concern for his crew.
 
Pledging a renewed international effort to stem the rise of piracy in that region, he then turned back to the ongoing concern of most Americans: the state of the economy and the President’s plan to address it, starting with the Recovery Act:
 
Today, I think it's safe to say that this plan is beginning to work.  We see it in the clean energy companies rehiring workers; in police departments cancelling planned layoffs; in health care clinics planning to expand to care for more folks in need.  We see it in the 120 million families who are already taking home larger paychecks because of our Making Work Pay tax cut.
 
And we see it particularly in the work of this department --in the plans underway to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges, modernize our airports and shipyards, develop high-speed rail networks and restore aging public transit systems.  All told, we are making the largest new investment in America's infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System back in the 1950s.
 
But what is most remarkable about this effort -- and what I'm here to talk about today -- isn't just the size of our investment, or the number of projects we're investing in -- it's how quickly, efficiently, and responsibly those investments have been made.
 
Today, because these projects are getting approved more quickly than we thought, thanks to in large part the outstanding work of the TIGER team and folks here at the Department of Transportation, and because these projects are costing less than we thought, we can utter a sentence rarely heard in recent years:  This government effort is coming in ahead of schedule and under budget.  (Applause.)
 
Giving a nod to construction workers from Maryland and Virginia in the audience, he applauded their hard work rebuilding the country in more ways than one.  He then concluded with a smile: "We don't want to keep them too long.  They've already got their hard hats.  (Laughter.)  They are going to go straight into their cars and they're going to go back to work."
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White House Easter Egg Roll A Huge Success In 2009

On April 14, 2009, in White House Activities, by Obama Watcher

The annual Easter Egg Roll or hunt is a tradition at the White House started by President Bush. As The president said its the peoples house.

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody -- that's Malia, our technical advisor. (Laughter.)

It is wonderful to see all of you today. Welcome. I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter. This is one of the greatest White House traditions because it reminds us that this is the people's house. And to see so many children out here having a great time just fills Michelle and myself and the entire family with a whole lot of joy.

So I'm not really in charge here today. My sole job, in addition to thanking Fergie for that wonderful rendition of our National Anthem and thanking my buddy, the Easter Bunny, for being here, is to introduce my First Lady, your First Lady, Michelle Obama.

MRS. OBAMA: All right -- okay, it's working. Welcome everybody. I don't have much to say. I want to welcome you all to the 2009 White House Easter Egg Hunt. Yay!

Our goal today is just to have fun. We want to focus on activity, healthy eating. We've got yoga, we've got dancing, we've got storytelling, we've got Easter egg decorating. Oh, we've got basketball -- (applause) -- a little soccer, as well. And we want everybody to think about moving their bodies, get out -- we don't have tennis; it's on the tennis court -- the peanut gallery back here. (Laughter.)

So the goal today is to have fun, to get out and play. And let's get things started with the Easter Egg Roll. Thank you all for coming today. Have fun. Thanks so much.

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Easter With Barack Obama, Weekly Address: Passover & Easter

On April 11, 2009, in Site News, by Obama Watcher

This week the President discusses the multitude of problems and opportunities before the world through the prism of Passover and Easter: "These are two very different holidays with their own very different traditions. But it seems fitting that we mark them both during the same week. For in a larger sense, they are both moments of reflection and renewal. They are both occasions to think more deeply about the obligations we have to ourselves and the obligations we have to one another, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what faith we practice.

A very fitting speech for the criticism President Obama received this week. If you haven't been watch his trip overseas he bowed to the Saudi King. Well know one has seen a sitting president do this.

Cable news networks jumped on this saying he is bowing down to foreign governments. It was also said that he is moving America away from religion.

We realy need to watch President Obama and decide for ourselves if we like the direction he is going. No cable news network can do that for any of us.

Please feel free to leave comments on this weeks topics

Happy Easter

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