“No doubt the election was not 100 percent clean. There have been reports of hijinks (misconduct), games, of maneuvers on both sides. We need to emphasize that, on both sides, McCawley said. By world standards,the election was surprisingly good. The election authorities in Indonesia were well-organized, the count was well-organized, and the ballot boxes have been protected. There is some dispute about some voting in some parts of Indonesia, but the best observers say any faults in the system are minor. And, they certainly do not undermine the overall result, he added.
Source: http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-seeks-stronger-ties-with-widodo-indonesia/1964118.html
Obama grants gay and transgender employees US bias protection – CSMonitor.com
Photo by Baz Ratner/Reuters The Obama administration asked Congress to fast-track Israels request for an additional $225 million for the Iron Dome anti-missile system. The administration cited Israeli needs arising from the Gaza war in pressing for the extra funding. The Government of Israel has requested $225 million in additional funding for Iron Dome in order to accelerate production of Iron Dome components in Israel and maintain adequate stockpiles, Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, told JTA in an email. The Department of Defense has reviewed and supports this urgent request, she said. Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, Iron Dome has saved countless Israeli lives. In a meeting Wednesday of Democratic senators and Jewish leaders, some of the senators said they had already started the procedure to include the new money in this years appropriations. A day earlier, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrote to leaders of the U.S.
Source: http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/obama_administration_presses_for_225m_addition_to_iron_dome_funding
Obama administration presses for $225M addition to Iron Dome funding | Nation |
Jewish Journal
But he noted that more states allow same-sex marriage than prohibit gay discrimination in hiring. “It’s not just about doing the right thing, it’s also about attracting and retaining the best talent,” Obama said. The change for federal contracting will affect some 24,000 companies with 28 million workers, or one-fifth of the US workforce. Many large federal contractors already have employment policies barring anti-gay workplace discrimination. However, the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School estimates that the executive order would extend protections to about 14 million workers whose employers or states currently do not have such nondiscrimination policies.
Source: <a private student loan forgiveness Obama href=’http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0722/Obama-grants-gay-and-transgender-employees-US-bias-protection’ >http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0722/Obama-grants-gay-and-transgender-employees-US-bias-protection
Obama visits Los Altos area
“I’m not going to give him advice about how to allocate his time, but he’s certainly not spending the kind of time with the people he needs to pass legislation and convince people who have a vote, who were sent here to legislate, of the virtues of whatever position he has,” McConnell said. White House officials, however, say Obama is able to do his official duties while traveling for political purposes. “In terms of fundraising, it’s a responsibility that presidents in both parties for generations have been responsible for,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “And the president, like his predecessors, is interested in supporting members of his party who are on the ballot in 2014.” Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, greeted the president as his Marine One helicopter landed at a Foothill College soccer field.
Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/rss/ci_26203030?source=rss
Obama, in Silicon Valley for fundraisers, touts accomplishments – ContraCostaTimes.com
In the wake of his visit, unknown persons, apparently no fans of Obama, put up several posters yesterday around downtown Los Altos (such as the one at right) sarcastically referencing his $32,000-per-plate appearances while accusing him of ignoring recent international crises. Several of the posters have since been taken down. Photo courtesy of Lina Broydo Glorious Fourth Phil Aaronson 7 Hours Ago As written above, certainly Ms. Logan has been all… common Sense 8 Hours Ago Having a lock step board where everyone was from o… John Locke 8 Hours Ago Uhhh…
Source: http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/news/48021-obama-s-coming-to-town
BlueJar 