Results tagged “obama”

     

Obama, who is currently in town for a Democratic National Convention fundraiser at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, was met with protesters from both the left and right sides this evening, the majority of which vocalized their stance on Obama's health care reform plan.

Two days before President Barack Obama touched ground in San Francisco, an indictment was issued against John Gimbel, 59, of Crescent City, accused of threatening to kill the President in an electronic message sent to an unidentified recipient.

Without giving any specifics,,President Barack Obama pledged to end the U.S. military's dated and bizarre ban on openly queer homosexuals serving in the military. During a speech at the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday, Obama said, "I will end 'don't ask-don't tell."

We received the following missive from an angry Texas resident (or troll) early this morning. While she doesn't directly point to it, we assume it is in response to this. She writes to us, saying:

On Saturday, your grandfather and his Shriner buddies protested Barbara Boxer's book signing in Danville. According to Mercury News, "[a]bout 100 people, many with picket signs, covered the sidewalks outside Rakestraw Books on Hartz Avenue and chanted such slogans as 'Boxer must go' and ''Save our freedoms'" and other things a drug-addled radio personality told them to say.

        

Yesterday, July 14, St. Louis played host to the 80th All-Star Game, which was the most watched since 1999‎. With an appearance by President Obama’s and a somewhat exciting game, along with a 4-3 AL victory, the annual exhibition game was a hit with audiences.

As we pointed out, First Lady Michelle Obama was in town yesterday to promote voulenteering. You know, working for a good cause pro bono? Donating your time and elbow grease Similar to writing for a blog? That stuff. Anyway, what we want to know is, did she inspire you to give back to your community?

            

Yesterday morning, a new cable care for tourists was unleashed onto the streets of San Francisco. And yes, you will need sunglasses to enjoy these images of the shockingly colored car.

       

In an effort to promote "volunteerism," First Ladies Michelle Obama and Maria Shriver kicked off a national community service campaign today (United We Serve) at the playground of Bret Harte Elementary School. But Obama wasn't just talk; she joined more than 500 local volunteers to redo the school's playground. The new kid-space will include "an edible garden that will have a farmer's market stand where kids and seniors can sell vegetables to raise money for the school," reports NBC Bay Area. The playground is is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. today. (Say what you will about the Obama administraion, you would never have found Laura Bush doing manual labor in the Bayview-Hunter's Point hood.)

Today marks the Iranian holiday of Nowruz--translated as "new day" and marking the beginning of Spring--and Barack, being the first actual 21st Century President, decided to make a YouTube video and post it on the White House blog as a goodwill gesture to all Iranians. We have to admit it still feels provocative and new to have a President who does things like make warm-hearted videos celebrating foreign holidays and saying things like "at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together."

He's getting green on us again.

Brittney Gilbert over at Eye On Blogs stumbled across this gem: delicious chicken snacks named "Obama Fingers," made in Deutschland and featuring the Golden Gate Bridge on the package.

We keep noticing this Prius around town, particularly near 7th and Bryant, and we just want to buy this guy/gal one of those scraper tools and a bottle of Goo Gone so that s/he can turn this ride from embarrassing anachronism into a usable vehicle again. Call us persnickety, but this is kind of like leaving the Christmas tree up past January 15th, or like leaving rotting jack-o-lanterns on your stoop until Christmas. The Age of Obama may have us feeling too complacent and like it's all going to work out now, but isn't it about time this person removes the sign from their window that says "Troops Home by Christmas?" Or at least cross out "Christmas" and write "Arbor Day"? Maybe because Nader didn't win this car owner is holding onto the signs as an act of silent protest?

In his most recent smack down of the old regime, President Barack Obama plans on reversing President George W. Bush's stem cell research policy that claimed, more or less, embryos to create additional stem cell lines made him feel all icky inside. Today, Obama plans on signing an order that will be "fulfilling a campaign promise that could set in motion a broad push on research to find better treatment for ailments from diabetes to paralysis." Today's legislation signing will affect how stem cell research gets its dough, lifting the limit on federal funding. Advocates like former first lady Nancy Reagan, Michael J. Fox, and other reasonable people have "called for ending restrictions on research spending."

Oh, Orange County. We do miss you sometimes.

President Obama's controversial economic recovery plan passed the Senate, and is now on its way to House-Senate negotiations. According to AP, "Just three Republicans helped pass the plan on a 61-37 vote and they're already signaling they'll play hardball to preserve more than $108 billion in spending cuts made last week in Senate dealmaking. Obama wants to restore cuts in funds for school construction jobs and help for cash-starved states." But Republicans are still snippy about the entire thing "This is a spending bill, not a stimulus bill," whined Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. The stimulus bill could cost up to $838 billion.

Gothamist reports on popular Greenwich Village bakery Lafayette French Pastry's latest sweet treat, a "Drunken Negro Face" cookie in "honor" of President Obama. Actually, bakery proprietor Ted Kefalinos calls them "Drunken [N-word] Face" cookies, at least according to a My FOX NY report. He allegedly told a customer, "Would you like some drunken negro heads to go with your coffee? They're in honor of our new president. He's following in the same path of Abraham Lincoln; he will get his."

While this shouldn't be news, it is. President Barack Obama mentions San Francisco in his most recent blog post honoring Chinese New Year. Eeee! See, it's been, let's see, about eight years since anybody in the Oval Office mentioned Baghdad by the Bay without fire-and-brimstone condemnation.

Oh, things. They're anticipating that Obama will overturn DOMA (which is like the national version of Prop 8), and they've already taken steps to stop him.

Anti-smoking gestapo are asking President Barack Obama to "provide a teachable moment and become the 'First Quitter,'" by getting help for his nicotine addiction. While not a pack-a-day kind of guy, Obama bills himself as a part-time smoker. Still, according to Dr. Joseph DiFranza, Professor of Family Health at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, "There are a few people who really truly are social smokers, who aren’t addicted, and they just smoke for whatever pleasure they can get out of the cigarette. They might just do it once a year, or when they’re in a bar for instance ... I wouldn’t call them recreational smokers if they’re having a hard time quitting. Anyone who has a hard time quitting is addicted by my definition.” We think waiting a year would be a better idea of the President Obama; we'd hate for him to have to focus on recovery while trying to get through his first year in the Oval Office. If you recall, President Bartlet also had trouble chasing the nicotine dragon. He smoked two cigarettes a day but did it outside.

Nothing makes a statement like a simple Scotch taped sign.

For those of you who went out last night to one of the many parties going on, here is Barack and Michelle Obama's inaugural dance. They were serenaded by Beyonce, who later, after the dance, went back stage and broke down in tears over the new administration. Sasha Fierce told an ABC reporter that yesterday was "the most important day of [her] life, that Obama made her want to "be smarter" and "be more involved." Aw. Good luck with that, B.

While women screamed hysterically at the site of Barack Obama making the trek to the White House -- like he was some sort of Rick(y) Schroder! -- the stock market didn't agree with them. The Dow, according to reports, is down more than 210 points, just above 8,000. As Owen Thomas points out, "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned." So starting tomorrow and moving on, Obama needs to earn today's bombastic and lavish praise. But seeing as how Wall Street folks are pretty much afraid to do anything right now, new administration or not, it will take some time for Obama to help make a dent in our plummeting economy.

by Tiffany Maleshefski

Senator Edward Kennedy had a seizure during today's Inaugural luncheon at the National Statuary Hall. (Leave it do a Kennedy to steal Obama's thunder! ) According to reports, Kennedy's seizure lasted several minutes and he had to be taken out via wheelchair. It was a "very tense moment." He has been whisked away to Boston for treatment. He was on an oxygen during his time in DC today. No word yet on his condition. But, you know, it's not good. Kennedy, if you recall, has been battling cancer and a tumor for the last year. UPDATE: Word now is Kennedy was "just exhausted." (Which... we guess means he was on too much disco dust at Club Hyde?) We're going to assume it was a seizure. Anyway, he is reportedly in "good condition."

             

SFist's Jonathan Hunt is live at Civic Center this morning where hundreds thousands have gathered to watch the Inauguration live.

A tipster tell us that as of this morning, "All of the Bush Street signs have been changed to Obama again. ALL of them." (Well played, San Francisco.) NBC Bay Area reports that the stunt, which also happened in November during the election, went down just before sunrise on Inauguration Day.

Want to watch the Inauguration at work? Or at a cafe? Of if it's just you and your laptop stuck on Muni? Check it out at any major news network -- CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, C-SPAN and BBC -- or over at Hulu, who will be streaming it live.

      

In what will most likely will be the most widely watched address delivered, at least according to the Chronicle, the finishing touches are being put on tomorrow's inaugural festivities. The Guardian's reporter/photographer team of Paula Connelly and Rebecca Frank are over there now, so you can get the SF-y scoop on tomorrow's electric scene from them tomorrow. DCist will also be coming at you live as well.

Sure, there are lots of parties going on tomorrow night, celebrating Barack Obama's swearing in, but what about when he's actually handed the baton? Well, you can check out the live ceremony tomorrow morning (9 a.m.-ish) at all Starbuck's stores with TV screens (only in Seattle, N Y or San Francisco). We're not sure of any ma & pa-owned cafes in San Francisco screening this HISTORIC OCCASION, but since most cafes might have killed their TVs, or view Obama as a bit too right-leaning for their tastes, Starbucks might be your best bet. (Make sure you pick up a Rice-Krispie treat while you're there. They have little M&Ms in them.)