Tag: President Obama

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U.S. Economy Adds 156K Jobs In December, Extends Longest Job Growth In American History To 75 Months

The economy added 156,000 jobs in December, extending the longest streak of total job growth in U.S. history to 75 straight months, with U.S. businesses adding 15.8 million jobs over the recovery.

Average hourly earnings for all private workers increased 2.9 percent over the past year, the fastest twelve-month pace since the end of the recession and above the pace of inflation in 2016.

The unemployment rate has been cut by more than half since its peak in 2009, falling much faster and further than expected. After peaking at 10.0 percent in October 2009, the unemployment rate fell rapidly over the course of the recovery, and by mid-2015 had recovered fully to its pre-recession average. Since then, it has fallen even further, standing at 4.7 percent at the end of 2016.

And while we’re at it, just a few more facts to add as Obama closes out his run as president:

(source)

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Donald Trump Responds To News Of Sanctions Against Russia For Cyber-Hacking During Election

Statement from President-elect Donald J. Trump regarding today’s announced sanctions by the U.S. government against Russia for cyber-attacks during the recent presidential election:

“It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.

“Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and it’s great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”

A couple of thoughts here:

1. The “time to move on” line sounds like Trump is so very afraid to admit he didn’t win the White House on his own. Pal, you get the White House. No one is taking it from you at this point. Chill.

2. Line 2’s “in the interest of our country” seems like he’s doing us a favor by doing his job. In light of all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies agreeing with certainty that Russia did indeed interfere with our election, he should at least appear to be concerned about this issue.

Also, saying he will meet with intelligence leaders next week in order to be “updated on the facts” sure seems like his not informed on the issue. Can you imagine President Reagan saying “I’ll get to the Russians hacking our systems some time next week….?”

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President Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrate Final Christmas In White House

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama celebrate their final holiday season at the White House.

Join them in supporting America’s service members at JoiningForces.gov.

“Merry Christmas everybody!…Celebrating the holidays in the White House over these past eight years has been a true privilege. We’ve been able to welcome over half a million guests, our outstanding pastry chefs have baked 200,000 holiday cookies, and Barack has treated the American people to countless dad jokes. Although a few got a Frosty reception.”

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President Obama On Agreeing With Hecklers On Issues Like DADT

Speaking to The Atlantic, President Obama notes some of the difficulties in trying to get things done as president:

There have been times where, let’s say on LGBT issues, when we were trying to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I got the Pentagon and Bob Gates, a Republican holdover from the Bush administration, to authorize a study of how you might end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, headed up by Jeh Johnson, who at that time was a council to the Justice Department. And it was going to take a year to conduct that study, issue a report, and figure out how it might be implemented, what effect it would have on unit cohesion and military effectiveness.

And I had laid out this strategy because if I could get the Pentagon’s imprimatur on this thing, then I knew that we could end up getting legislation passed to reverse the policy, and we could get the branches of all the military to implement it.

But during the course of that year, probably every speech I gave, I’d have gay activists just screaming at me during rallies. And you just say, ‘Come on, man. Not only do I agree with you, but I’ve actually got a strategy to execute, we are executing it, and in what sense do you think that you yelling at me here is going to advance your cause?’”

(h/t Queerty)

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Obama On Hillary: “I Don’t Think She Was Treated Fairly During The Election”

At his final White House press conference for 2016, President Obama told reporters:

“I couldn’t be prouder of Secretary Clinton, her outstanding service; I think she’s worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people. And I don’t think she was treated fairly during the election.”

And he’s right.

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Obama On Russian Hacking: ‘We Need To Take Action. And We Will’

Speaking to NPR, President Barack Obama said that the U.S. will take action against Russia for cyber-hacking activity meant “to impact the integrity” of the 2016 presidential elections.

From Politico:

“I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action,” the president told NPR. “And we will at a time and place of our own choosing.”

Without providing further specifics, the president said some U.S. actions may be “explicit and publicized” while others “may not be.”

The Obama administration has repeatedly condemned Russian hacks of American computer systems during the election, but Obama’s comments Thursday serve as the harshest public rebuke yet. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday that the U.S. would deliver a “proportional” response to any Russian hacking.

The president also added that he had made his thoughts on the matter clear to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“Mr. Putin is well aware of my feelings about this, because I spoke to him directly about it,” Obama said.

The Kremlin denied reports Thursday that Putin had been “personally involved in the covert Russian campaign.” And on Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman called the U.S. accusations “unseemly.”

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President Obama Orders Investigation Into Election Interference By Russians

From CNN:

President Barack Obama has ordered a full review into 2016 election hacking by the Russians, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser Lisa Monaco said Friday.

“The President has directed the Intelligence Community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process. It is to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders,” she said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. “This is consistent with the work that we did over the summer to engage Congress on the threats that we were seeing.”

Monaco said the administration would be mindful of the consequences of revealing the results of their review publicly.

The review is intended to be done before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

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Unemployment Drops To 4.6% – Lowest Since August 2007

Remember all the cries by Obama bashers who called him “worst president ever!” and “he’s made EVERYTHING worse!”

Well, I’m happy to report that the Bureau of Labor Statistics informs us today that the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.6% – the lowest rate since August 2007.

Kind of a funny definition of “the worst,” huh?

By all metrics this is fantastic news for the U.S. considering the incredibly deep hole the Bush administration left the country in. As Bush departed the White House, the U.S. economy was hemorrhaging over 700,000 jobs a months for several months.

American businesses have added 15.6 million jobs over more than 6.5 years of job growth.

During the month of November, the U.S. economy saw total nonfarm employment increase by 178,000 jobs.

Additionally, reports show that average hourly earnings increased by 2.5% compared with 12 months ago.

Donald Trump says he’s going to “make America great again.” His mantra was “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”

Well, he’s being handed an economy in pretty great shape.

If the unemployment rate goes anywhere but down, it will be a clear black mark on his administration.

(source)

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President Obama Meets President-Elect Trump In Oval Office

(image via Twitter)

The first meeting between President Obama and President-elect Trump took place today at the White House.

The two men had never met before today.

Both were cordial in brief remarks at the end of the hour and a half meeting.

I’ll update with video as soon as available.