President Obama and President Putin did speak with each other on the margins of the leaders lunch. It was an informal conversation not a formal bilateral meeting, Rhodes said. Obama and Putin Draw Cheers and Laughs When They Smile on Split Screen Obama and Putin were first spotted together at a picture for the heads of state attending the luncheon, including Queen Elizabeth II, who wore a white and green dress with a green hat. In the group photo, Obama and Putin stood with three people between them. (Regis Duvignau/AP Photo) As the leaders started to return to the Chateau, Obama checked on Queen Elizabeth while Putin spoke with Hollande.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/06/obama-and-putin-talk-at-d-day-celebration/
“Congress has passed a law and [Obama] has signed a law that he will not close Guantanamo, California GOP Rep. Buck McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN on Sunday. Whatever his desires are, that does not conform to the law and he is the chief administrator of the law of the nation and should uphold his constitutional obligation to follow the law.” National Security Adviser Susan Rice recently suggested an increased focus on Obama accomplishing some of his major political goals as he nears the end of his second term — which would likely include closing Guantanamo. “It is a very important part of my job, particularly at this stage in the president’s tenure, to not just be fighting fires and the headlines, which to some extent is unavoidable, but to make sure that the things he cares about — his legacy interests, issues, accomplishments — are nurtured and carried into the end zone,” Rice recently told The Associated Press. “We are trying to put points on the board.” Obama has argued that the prison, built on foreign soil during the Bush administration with congressional approval in the aftermath of 9-11 terror attacks, is expensive and has outlived its purpose because the U.S. cannot continue to hold terror suspects without a trial, a more pressing situation as consolidating student loans the last of American troops leave Afghanistan in the war on terror.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/07/lawmakers-obama-releasing-taliban-detainees-with-no-notice-first-step-in/
Tahmooressi has said he was handcuffed and taken to prison, and that he was beaten after he tried to escape. He said guards hit him so many times in face that he felt his jaw fall out of place, Fox News reported. Tahmooressi, who served two tours in Afghanistan, reportedly suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. Since the U.S. brought Bergdahl out of Afghanistan last week in exchange for five Taliban captives being held at Guantanamo Obama has been widely criticized by many veterans as well as lawmakers from both parties in Congress. “We have a Marine down in Mexico for a couple months. You only hear drips and drabs on that.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/08/vfw-demands-obama-get-marine-from-mexico/
Obama: I “absolutely” want to go off on Congressional climate deniers – Salon.com
The baseline fact of climate change is not something we can afford to deny. And if you profess leadership in this country at this moment in our history, Obama added, then youve got to recognize this is going to be one of the most significant long-term challenges, if not the most significant long-term challenge, that this country faces and that the planet faces. The good news, Obama went on to say, is that the public may get out ahead of some of their politicians. He expressed confidence that as the costs of the climate crisis grow more apparent to Americans, theyll begin to demand more seriousness about the issue from their elected representatives. In Obamas view, that kind of broad-based popular sentiment is key to enacting policies significant enough to stave off a climate crisis. Obama cited Abraham Lincolns famous quote on public opinion to argue that one of the most important things he and climate activists can do is shift the publics views. [P]art of my job over these next two and a half years and beyond, Obama said, is trying to shift public opinion. And the way to shift public opinion is to really focus in on the fact that if we do nothing our kids are going to be worse off. Elias Isquith is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on politics.Follow him on Twitter at @eliasisquith , and email him at eisquith@salon.com .
Source: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/08/obama_i_%e2%80%9cabsolutely%e2%80%9d_want_to_go_off_on_congressional_climate_deniers/
Adventures of An Aussie Mum 