Video: President Obama's Opening Statement At Colorado Health Care Town Hall Meeting

Video: Sorting Out Fact From Bull Pucky

Video: Montana Health Care Town Hall

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President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Video: Montana Town Hall - President Obama takes question from skeptical conservative and NRA member

At President Obama's town hall meeting in Belgrade, Montana, Obama takes a question from Randy, a "proud NRA member" who says he gets his news from "cable networks", to which Obama says, "be careful". Skeptical about who will foot the bill for health care reform, Randy asks the President how he doesn't expect to raise taxes on the middle class.

Obama says: "You're absolutely right that I can't cover 46 million people for free... We're going to have to find money from somewhere." But he stood by his promise that the middle class would not see their taxes raised. And he also explained why some of this is the problem of the Bush administration.

Video: 11-year-old reporter, Damon Weaver, interviews President Obama

Student Reporter Damon Weaver was invited to come to the White House to talk about education with President Obama

Video: President Obama - New Hampshire Town Hall on Health Care Reform, August 11, 2009

Transcript

New Hampshire Town Hall: The Man in the Middle

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Senate Vote Confirms New Supreme Court Justice

68-31, which does not include John McCain. Congratulations soon-to-be when sworn in on Saturday, Associate Justice Sotomayor!

Video: More from Wakarusa, Indiana

This video comes from David, at The Indiana Line. This is the winding down at the end of the day according to David. I was not present at this point as my bladder had been full for quite a few hours while waiting for the President to arrive and there were no facilities available. More on my thoughts from my visit to Wakarusa can be found right here.

Looks like the two sides of the debate were intermingling at this point. The woman on the bull horn was one of the cheer leaders for the supporters of the President. I think in this economic climate, chanting 'get a job' doesn't carry the same weight in the argument as it may have during boom times.

At the end the chant of 'U.S.A! U.S.A!' appears to be the common ground that we all share. We all cherish our freedoms and we all love our country and want the very best for our nation and our citizens. As those promoting fear and conspiracy will continue to divide us, it is clear that we all want a strong, resilient and prosperous country. We are all patriots.

I still believe that health care reform needs to include a public option. I have pondered the chant of the other side which frequently includes the word 'Freedom!'. People who do not have access to affordable health care coverage do not exactly feel free. Certainly not free from worry that the next medical crisis will be economic doom.

My visit to Wakarusa, Indiana

Marine One did a couple swings by us as we cheered for health care for all, and held signs promoting our causes. There were quite a few helicopters that flew in and behind the facility. We were not able to see the landing. Some lucky folks whose backyard adjoined the landing spot did not miss it though.

I wasn't sure at the time that the helicopter that actually flew unaccompanied by others and towards us at least two times was the one that was carrying President Obama to Monoco Coach Products in Wakarusa, Indiana, but after seeing the AP photograph of Marine One, I am sure.

We may not have been able to see the President, but he acknowledged our presence. Not just his supporters either, but also his adversaries who were also out in full force.

I don't know if the opposition's numbers were greater than ours or not, mostly because when when we walked onto the property they occupied, not realizing it was reserved for those against the President's policies, a new friend I had just made, her daughter and I were questioned about which side we were on.

After disclosing our support for President Obama, we were then told something to the affect of 'You do know this is 'Private Property, don't you?' We made our apologies and headed back to the area designated for the supporters of President Barack Obama. I thought of Forrest Gump on the bus. You cain't sit here.

It also occurred to me that I had just been profiled. Didn't bother me none, as I am pretty tickled with the side I find myself on these days.

Union members added to our numbers. There were some wonderful women there leading us in chants in support of health care and the public option.

There were some young people, high school age I suspect, being lead by an older woman donning placards with statements against abortion. They walked single file and stood amongst us in formation. A few people appeared to want to engage with this group, but everyone was well behaved from my vantage point.

I was glad to make a new friend today. She parked next to me and I called her telephone so she could locate it. I'm not really able to tell you exactly where she found it, but suffice to say that it was a comical first acquainting. She looked out for me when I was getting a bit dehydrated by locating a cooler full of water bottles, and some snacks that were being passed out. She found a place for me to sit down and I appreciated her wonderful assertiveness more than she will ever know.

There was a gentleman standing behind me who called out the name of a young man who was standing directly in front of me. The name sounded so familiar, and as they continued to converse, I looked at the name tag of the young man, and I realized it was an Obama organizer from a neighboring county that I had hoped to meet during the campaign, but it just had never happened. Check out his blog at The Indiana Line. Very cool to finally meet him.

This was my first time going out to support President Obama at an event. I have been kind of chicken to attend these types of events, during the election cycle and since, but after having gone to the meeting with Congressman Pete Visclosky this week, I believed I could handle it, and I did. I will do it again and I think as a civic life experience, everyone should at least once in life participate in our Democracy in this way.

I think I need a camera though and a video recorder. Next time. Thanks for listening.

Until I get a camera, there's some photos on Facebook.com courtesy of The Indiana Line showing both sides of this debate.

Video from The Bubble: Letters to The President

From The White House Blog:

The "Letters to the President" video follows the journey of your message as it winds its way from your home to the President’s desk in the Oval Office. This is the first in a series of exclusive "Inside the White House" videos that will be available here at WhiteHouse.gov.

Video: Strange days indeed... most peculiar mama

Hawaii officials confirm Obama's original birth certificate still exists (Again!)

I know. I know. It's a forgery. That's what you're going to say. Don't trust FactCheck.org, and the Annenberg Foundation which was formed by a conservative, Walter Annenberg. I get it. Annenburg wasn't a really conservative. I totally get it. Nothing is going to convince you.

Obama's birth announcement

Video: Republicans on Capitol Hill questioned about 'The Birther' issue

Woops. I meant to say 'non-issue'.

From Think Progress:

Blogger-activist Mike Stark has been staking out Capitol Hill recently, trying to get Republican congressmen on the record about whether or not they believe President Obama was born in the United States.

Video: President Obama Talks Strategery and Economic-D With China

'Strategery' is a throwback from the Bush era. My apologies. I could not help it. I just needed some self amusement today.

President Obama addresses the opening session of the first U.S-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, saying the relationship between the two countries will shape the 21st century. The President called for deeper cooperation on issues like financial regulation and clean energy. July 27, 2009. (Public Domain)

Video: Detroit Shock gets big welcome at The White House

President Obama invites the Detroit Shock to the White House to honor their WNBA championship. In his remarks, the President says the WNBA serves as inspiration to his two daughters. July 27, 2009. (Public Domain)

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

World Peace and a Cold One

In an earlier post I concluded saying that I believed that the ball was in Professor Gate's court. It appears that the Professor has taken that ball and is running with it, as evidenced by an e-mail sent to The Boston Globe.

Gates said in an email to the Globe that he was pleased to talk to the president today and to be asked to meet with Crowley, adding, "I said I would."

"My entire academic career had been based on improving race relations, not exacerbating them. I am hopeful that my experience will lead to greater sensitivity to issues of racial profiling in the criminal justice system. If so, then this will be a blessing for our society. It is time for all of us to move on, and to assess what we can learn from this experience," he said.

After having cringed at the word 'stupidly' the other evening, I thought to myself, this is one of those moments that is going to make going forward on multiple fronts extremely difficult. I am fairly certain that I am going to turn out to be wrong.

I will be so grateful to be wrong. I have often wondered why so many men in this world cannot seem to find the joy in being wrong. There are times when it is actually very good stuff. I think it has a lot to do with pride. Anyway.

The President, once again, has surprised me and if he can sort this thing out and turn it around and into something good and positive, I believe he can facilitate peace in the Middle East.

I hope I don't sound like I am in any way undermining the gravity of the situation that occurred wherein Professor Gates was arrested. That is not my intention at all. Sitting here in the Hoosier state, it is impossible for me to begin to judge the situation or the motivations of either the police officer or the Professor. I do know that there are two sides to every story, and each side needed to be heard.

One thing I do feel fairly confident regarding is that Rush Limbaugh was right today. Barack Obama is indeed a black man.

Video POV: Prof Gates, Sgt. Crowley, President Obama & 'Stupidly'