Brooks and Shields Say no Immigration Reform This Year

Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks say immigration reform won't happen this year. But they both agree that Arizona's new immigration law is misguided. They also talk about the financial reforms. All signs point to passage. The $50 billion fund that they talk about would be funded by the banks.

Browner Says Climate Legislation This Year

Since Lindsey Graham threw a fit the other day, there's been talk that climate legislation is going to be put on the back burner while the democrats take up immigration reform. Carol Browner, director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, says the legislation will happen this year:

Browner’s full statement: "We believe the only way to make progress on these priorities is to continue working as we have thus far in a bipartisan manner to build more support for both comprehensive energy independence and immigration reform legislation. "We commend Senators Kerry, Graham and Lieberman for the tremendous work they have done to date to seize this moment and build a new coalition of business and environmental leaders and their efforts to craft a bill that will garner the votes to pass the Senate. Politico

Obama to Meet With Billy Graham in North Carolina

Check out Day one of the Obamas' getaway in Asheville, N.C. here. Day two here.

Update on Obama's meeting with Billy Graham:

1:40 p.m.

The first lady departed just now in a separate plane from Asheville Regional. No sigh yet of the presidential motocade. Reports via twitter are that the meeting between President Obama and Billy Graham lasted 30 minutes.

1:35 p.m.

Montreat resident Nancy Simpson said she’s glad the president and the Rev. Billy Graham met.

“I think president Obama can learn from Mr. Graham and Mr. Graham can learn from him,” Simpson said.

Also, she said its good they met because it will dispel rumors of any “rift” between the men. CT

Obama will spend a couple of more hours in North Carolina before he heads to West Virginia for the miners' memorial service. The Citizen-Times has been blogging Obama's trip:

President Barack Obama is taking time during his North Carolina weekend vacation to meet with evangelist Billy Graham.

A White House spokesman, Bill Burton, says Obama will visit the 91-year-old Graham at Graham's home in Montreat later Sunday.

Burton says that when Obama last spoke with Graham, in a telephone call in November on Graham's birthday, they said they'd get together as soon as possible.

Obama is spending the weekend in Asheville and plans to speak at a memorial service later in the day in West Virginia for the 29 coal miners killed in an explosion on April 5.

Graham's last crusade was in 2005. Since his wife's death nearly three years ago, he has spent most of his time at his North Carolina home. Public appearances have been rare.

Michelle Obama is not expected to accompany her husband to meet Graham.

More on the meeting with Graham.

Check out some of the Citizen-Times reader submitted photos of the Obamas' trip. I included three of them in this post. Love the secret service in the golf cart.

Dodd and Shelby on Meet the Press April 24

Chris Dodd and Richard Shelby were getting on so well, David Gregory didn't know what to do with himself. The bottom line is financial reform legislation is coming and it's coming soon.

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Most of the roundtable agrees that Arizona's new immigration law is a bad one and John McCain's shame:

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The roundtable on financial reforms and why I respect David Brooks:

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Obama's Schedule April 24 Eulogy in West Virginia

Sen. Robert Byrd plans to attend the memorial service as well as Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Bank does good: JP MorganChase bank plans to give children of the 29 miners' families $25,000 scholarships. The memorial starts at 3:30. It is likely to be live streamed at msnbc.com.

New Hubble Photo

From the Hubble site:

This brand new Hubble photo is of a small portion of one of the largest seen star-birth regions in the galaxy, the Carina Nebula. Towers of cool hydrogen laced with dust rise from the wall of the nebula. The scene is reminiscent of Hubble's classic "Pillars of Creation" photo from 1995, but is even more striking in appearance. The image captures the top of a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars. The pillar is also being pushed apart from within, as infant stars buried inside it fire off jets of gas that can be seen streaming from towering peaks like arrows sailing through the air.

The Obamas in Asheville North Carolina Video

More video from Asheville:

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Graham Threatening Once Again To Take His Toys Home

CNN's headline reads: "Graham move imperils Obama agenda," which is really funny. Graham is threatening not to cooperate on climate change if democrats take up immigration reform (I don't know why they can't do both). CNN's dramatic flair:

In a stunning move that could throw a major roadblock in front of two of President Obama's biggest legislative initiatives, Sen. Lindsey Graham abruptly declared Saturday he's abandoning talks on climate change legislation because he believes Democratic efforts to bring up a separate immigration reform package is undermining the legislative process.

"Moving forward on immigration - in this hurried, panicked manner - is nothing more than a cynical political ploy," the South Carolina Republican wrote in a sharply-worded letter obtained by CNN. cnn

Here Graham is in March, threatening that if healthcare passes, immigration is dead.

That's Lindsey Graham. He's childish in that regard. He doesn't imperil Obama's agenda. But it sure did make for a dramatic headline on CNN's part.

Obama to West Virginia to Deliver Eulogy April 25

The view from the Grove Park Inn golf course

Obama got in five hours of golf today, but tomorrow at 1:50 pm eastern, Obama leaves Asheville, North Carolina and arrives in Beckley, West Virginia at 2:40 p.m.

At 3 pm, Obama and Joe Biden will meet with the families of the miners who died in the Upper Big Branch mine, and at 3:30 pm, Obama and Biden will attend the memorial service. Obama will deliver a eulogy, which might be live streamed at MSNBC.com.

Obama will leave Beckley at 5:20 pm eastern

Obama golfing:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Obama Golfs in Day 2 of His Weekend Getaway in Asheville

The view from the golf course

Update April 24: See day one here.

Tonight the Obamas and friends ate at the Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village, according to the Citizen-Times.

Mark Knoller tweets:

A very s--l--o--w round of golf for Pres. Obama today. Teed off at 730a and finished at 1254p. That's 5 hrs 24 mins. L-e-i-s-u-r-e-l-y.

Twitpic from CBS WH reporter Mark Knoller

The photo below is of the Grove Park Spa, where Michelle probably is! Beautiful. Apparently, the Grove Park Inn is a honeymoon spot

Obama is golfing with his long-time friends Eric Whitaker Marvin Nicholson and Marty Nesbitt.

About 30 people gathered to watch Obama put his ball at the 7th hole and tee off at the 8th hole. Many were out for their morning walk or run, and knew something was going on when they saw the streets blocked by secret service and police cars. The spectators came in their pajamas and running clothes, with their dogs and cups of coffee.

Haley Gettinger, 13, lives in a house on the Grove Park Inn golf course. She had been looking for Obama since he arrived and was out at 7:45 Saturday morning looking for the president. Her persistence paid off with a chance to see him at the 7th and 8th holes.

"It was really exciting because I've never seen a president before and it's a once in a lifetime experience," she said.

Gettinger called her friend Millie Weeks to come over as soon as she found out the president would be golfing near her home. Weeks, also 13, arrived wearing a purple Obama T-shirt.

"It was really, really exciting," Weeks said. "I don't think I'm ever going to see him again and he talked to us."

After the eighth hole, Obama and his golf buddies were no longer in sight. Read more at the Asheville Citizen-Times blog, where they're dutifully blogging the Obamas' trip

A rundown of the Obama family trips.

A CBS News log of the president's time away from the White House shows they've taken four holiday trips from the White House:

a long weekend back home in Chicago in February '09
a few days out west in August '09 during which the president went
fly-fishing in Montana & took the family to see Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon
eight days on Martha's Vineyard at the end of August '09
and a week and a half in Hawaii over last Christmas and New Year's
Their time away totals all or part of 26 days, not including 13 visits to Camp David totaling all or part of 30 days.

During the same period of time, President George W. Bush had made 11 visits to his Texas ranch spanning all or part of 78 days. He also visited Camp David 32 times spanning all or part of 99 days. CBS' MK

Michelle apparently played tennis while Obama golfed. Michelle talked about how the family is taking tennis lessons Thursday. Another anecdote from Citizen-Times:

Reader Meredith Stanley sent in a bunch of photos from Grove Park Inn as the president played golf today. She has a great anecdote from the 12th hole.

The president greeted everyone and a little girl shouted out, "You're the best president ever!"

Obama responded: "Thanks, but you're only like seven."

After he finished teeing off, he brought her a golf ball with the presidential seal on it.

Axelrod on Leno April 23 Video

Axelrod was from NYC. He said he was sold on politics at five when his babysitter took him to see JFK. He's known Obama for 18 years. Axelrod says Obama loves cheeseburgers and has a weakness for pie. Full video

Axelrod calls Obama

Axelrod on the investigation that broke yesterday that as the economy tanked, SEC employees watched porn. The SEC punished 33 employees, including 17 senior staffers making $100,000 to $200,000 a year. I wonder how they were punished. I hope that means fired.

Joe's weakness is his strength

Obama Speaks on the Recovering Auto Industry

Update on the silence. GM still owes $60 billion and it's not certain if they intend to pay that back.

Funny, for all the hollering about government taking over the car companies, there was virtual silence when GM announced Wednesday that they paid off all their loans--with interest-- to the government. The auto industry has added 45,000 jobs since the downturn, says Obama in his weekly address.

FDIC's Bair Says Financial Reform Bill a Good One

Sheila Bair, head of the FDIC, should know. The FDIC has been winding down the nation's failed banks since the recession began. She says when big banks fails, bankruptcy doesn't work. Under reform, Wall Street (investment) BANKS WILL BE PAYING into a $50 billion fund (contrary to Mitch McConnell's lie) to pay for their funeral expenses if they fail. Bair says 140 banks failed last year and 50 failed this year. (see a list of failed banks) But the pace of bank failure is slowing and they're mostly small banks. NPR had a great story last year on how the FDIC seamlessly takes over a failed bank.

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White House Calls for Iran to Release Hikers

The Obama administration is seeking Visas from the Iranian government so that their families can visit the hikers. From the White House:

The United States remains deeply concerned by the case of three American hikers, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd, who have been detained in Iran without charge or access to legal representation since July 2009. While we welcome the decision by the Iranian authorities to allow Shane, Sarah and Josh to receive another Swiss consular visit at long last, we were deeply alarmed to learn from the families today of their physical and emotional state of health. We fear their well-being will suffer even more unless their case is resolved without delay. We strongly believe these urgent developments are additional reasons for the government of Iran to release them immediately.

These three innocent Americans have been in detention in Iran for almost nine months without formal charges or access to legal representation as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. There is absolutely no justification for their detention, and they should be released without further delay.

As always, we urgently call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to resolve the cases of all missing and detained American citizens in Iran, including Robert Levinson who has been missing in Iran since March 2007.

Arizona Governor Says She Won't Tolerate Racial Profiling

But isn't the legalization of racial profiling exactly what this bill does? From the bill:

A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.

Just what is probable cause? How do you know someone is illegal? Here's what else it does:

It also makes it a state crime, a misdemeanor, to not carry immigration papers. It also allows people to sue local governments or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced. NYT

Arizona has a big immigration problem but it picked the wrong way to deal with it. John McCain ought to be ashamed of himself for supporting it. He told Fox that illegal immigrants are intentionally causing accidents on the freeway. I'm glad that I don't live in Arizona, and hey, it's a grand day for law and order. Did you hear that Utah is going to kill a murderer on death row by firing squad? Who does that anymore?

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Obamas Eat at 12 Bones Then Hike Blue Ridge in N.C.

The Obamas hike the Blue Ridge Parkway, photo below is the Grove Park Inn, where they're staying

Update April 24: See Day 2 here and Obama golf video here.

The Obamas are in Asheville, N.C. for a weekend getaway. CBS reporter Mark Knoller tweets:

Greetings from Asheville. Obamas begin their weekend getaway stopping at 12 Bones Smokehouse. Order 2 rib plates.

Eats:

Obamas ordered ribs, greens, baked beans, corn pudding, mac&cheese & corn bread. & a couple of sweet teas.

Hike off the eats:

The Obamas are now hiking on a trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Elevation above 3200 feet. Pretty steep too.

Asheville, North Carolina's Citizen-Times' coverage. Check out photos here.
Video at 12 Bones Smokehouse:

Obama Speaks at Naturalization Ceremony April 23 2010

West Wing Week Video April 23

The fourth in a weekly series by the White House that gives the rundown of the week. To see the others, just search this blog for "west wing week." There's a treat at the end.

Obama Slams Arizona's Pending Law Against Immigrants and its Citizens

Update: Arizona governor signs the law making people with brown skin suspect of breaking the law. Read the bill here.

Obama spoke this morning at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members. See the video below. The danger of the new law is that if you have brown skin, you could be suspect.

President Barack Obama on Thursday criticized a pending Arizona law that would make it a state crime to be in the United States illegally and require anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to produce identification.

Such legislation could "threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans," the president said during a naturalization ceremony for members of the United States Armed Services. MSNBC

Arizona has a huge immigration problem. But wouldn't it be nice if right wing types could talk about immigrants as if they were actually people. Instead, they blame them for every social ill. They use hate speech and they discriminate. Mexicans come here to do the low-wage jobs that Americans won't do.

Why not crack down on the employers that are exploiting people? If companies had to pay a legal and livable wage, then there wouldn't be illegal immigration, because Americans would sign up for those jobs.

Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation's busiest border crossing point.

Other provisions of the bill allow lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, said it would remove "political handcuffs" from police and help drive illegal immigrants from the state.

John McCain, fighting for his Senate seat, supports the legislation. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer could veto the bill, but 70% of people in Arizona support it.

These are Obama's comments on Arizona's pending law at the end of the ceremony. I'll post full video when it comes available.

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Obama's Schedule April 23 Includes Air Force One to North Carolina

This is Obama's schedule for the weekend.

Obama will speak around 10 am eastern at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members. Watch the live stream here.
Around noon, the Obamas will take off for a weekend getaway in Asheville, North Carolina. Who knew that Asheville is Beer City USA? They have a brew waiting for Obama. The Asheville Citizen Times is on Obama watch.

On Sunday, Obama and Joe Biden head to West Virginia. Obama will deliver a eulogy for the miners recently killed at the Upper Big Branch mine.