President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One under a rainbow at Norman Manley International Airport prior to departure from Kingston, Jamaica en route to Panama City, Panama, April 9, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama [2013 file photo].

A petition at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Bring charges of treason upon Barack Hussein Obama

1. Surrendering sovereign U.S. war-making to foreign powers and international authorities by attacking Libya without consulting Congress, in violation of U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 8 and U.S. Code Title 50, Chapter 33:1541-1548;

2. Refusing to secure our broken borders from illegal alien invasion, international criminal incursion, and terrorist cadre penetration, in violation of U.S. Constitution, Article III, Section 3 and Article IV, Section 4

3. Adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort, as witnessed by consorting with, supporting and installing to powerful Federal positions persons who in writing, word and deed have called for and promoted the overthrow of America’s constitutionally guaranteed Republican form of government, and the overthrow [sic]

Published Date: Mar 11, 2015

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief, Veterans and Military Families

Signatures needed by April 10, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 94,160

Total signatures on this petition 5,840

[emphasis added]

“We petition the Obama Administration to: Bring charges of treason upon Barack Hussein Obama…”

“…consorting with, supporting and installing to powerful Federal positions persons who in writing, word and deed have called for and promoted the overthrow of America’s constitutionally guaranteed Republican form of government…”

Think about that for a second.

So, does Congress have a petition web site? Just asking.

I guess people who signed this feel secure in the knowledge that the government is non-despotic enough that they can sign up at a government web site to say that the head of state is a despot. Or, the government is despotic and they’re really stupid.

Meanwhile:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.

[….]

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, Government Reform

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 289,417

[emphasis added]

Now, if people would actually bother to turn out to vote in off year elections…

Previously:

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): Next! (March 9, 2015)

Is Roy Blunt a “traitor,” “reckless and feckless,” or simply an embarrassment? (March 10, 2015)

Well, that went over like a lead balloon (March 10, 2015)

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): “It was a joke” as an excuse? (March 12, 2015)

Ladies and gentlemen, your handy dandy all in one guide to right wingnut paranoia and delusions of persecution in the form of a concurrent resolution introduced today by Representative Mike Moon (r):

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 54 [pdf]

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MOON.

2614L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

WHEREAS, the Rules and Manual of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, officially titled Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual and Rules of the House of Representatives, contains the fundamental source materials describing procedures in the House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Section 603 of Section LIII of Jefferson’s Manual provides that impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state or territory; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida and the former territory of Mississippi have established precedent by transmitting charges to the House of Representatives, which in each case resulted in an investigation by a committee of the House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama in the office of President of the United States of America has repeatedly and intentionally violated the Constitution and other laws of the United States of America, causing the people of the State of Missouri to call into question the integrity of President Barack Obama and to believe that the official actions of President Obama have constituted high crimes and misdemeanors; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States of America and, to the best of his ability, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has willfully corrupted and manipulated the executive branch to increase its power and destroy the balance of powers between the three branches of government that is established by the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the means used to implement this course of conduct or scheme included one or more of the following acts:

(1) Shortly after being sworn in for his first term as President of the United States, Barack Obama began creating new departments and appointing Czars to oversee these departments. These Czars were never submitted to the United States Senate for approval as required by Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution. In addition, these Czars and the Departments have budgets that are not subject to being controlled by Congress as provided for by Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. He also made recess appointments when the Senate was not in recess and these appointments were struck down by the Supreme Court;

(2) Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution mandates that the President of the United States “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed…”. Barack Obama, in violation of his oath of office has repeatedly ignored this Constitutional mandate by refusing to enforce laws against illegal immigration, defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and refusing to enforce Federal voting laws;

(3) Article 1 of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the United States government and sets forth the powers of the Senate and House of Representatives to make laws. These powers are exclusive and the Constitution does not grant the President the power to either make laws or amend them on his own. Barack Obama has ignored these provisions and made or changed laws by either issuing unconstitutional executive orders or instructing governmental departments to take illegal and unconstitutional actions. Specific actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(a) Ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to implement portions of the Cap & Trade bill that failed to pass in the United States Senate;

(b) Ordering implementation of portions of the “Dream Act” that failed to pass in Congress;

(c) Orchestrating a government takeover of a major part of the automobile industry in 2009;

(d) Ordering a moratorium on new offshore oil and gas exploration and production without approval of Congress;

(e) Signing an Executive Order on March 16, 2012, giving himself and the Executive branch extraordinary powers to control and allocate resources such as food, water, energy, and health care resources, in the interest of vaguely defined national defense issues. It would amount to a complete government takeover of the United States economy;

(f) Signing an Executive Order on July 6, 2012, giving himself and the Executive branch the power to control all methods of communications in the United States based on a Presidential declaration of a national emergency;

(g) Signing an Executive Order on January 6, 2013, that contained 23 actions designed to limit the individual right to keep and bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution;

(h) Amending portions of the Affordable Healthcare Act and other laws passed by Congress without Congressional approval as required by Article 1 of the Constitution;

(i) Issuing Executive orders in January 2014 amending the HIPPA law to allow the turning over of confidential medical records to Federal agencies if there is any information to be used to add individuals to the NICS list to prohibit them from purchasing firearms;

(j) Having the EPA impose regulations on the coal industry that will force many utility companies and coal mines out of business. This will cost the United States economy thousands of jobs and dramatically increase the cost of energy to the public. This is being done without Congressional approval;

(k) Hindering the ability of the United States Border Patrol Agency to not only stop illegal immigration, but to stop human and drug trafficking;

(l) Removing the work requirement from welfare reform legislation without Congressional approval; and

WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution mandates that from time to time the President “shall give to Congress information on the State of the Union…”. Implicit in this is an obligation for the President to be truthful with the Congress and the American people. Barack Obama has repeatedly violated his oath of office and the requirements of the Constitution by willfully withholding information on important issues or actively taken part in misleading the Congress and the American people. Specific actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(1) Using Executive privilege to block Congress from getting documents relating to the Department of Justice’s Operation Fast and Furious and the death of United States Border Patrol Brian Terry;

(2) Had members of his administration provide false information about the act of terrorism committed in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, and refusing to allow the State Department and other federal agencies to cooperate in the Congressional investigation;

(3) Falsely labeled the mass murder of American soldiers at Ft. Hood, Texas as2 “workplace violence” instead of the act of Islamic terrorism it was;

(4) Falsely labeling the IRS targeting of conservative and Christian groups as a “phony” scandal and refusing to order an active pursuit of the investigation into who was ultimately responsible;

(5) Refusing to order an independent investigation of the actions of Eric Holder and the Department of Justice in targeting the phone records of members of the news media;

(6) Telling the American people on a television show that the NSA was not prying into the emails and phone calls of Americans when the facts prove otherwise; and

WHEREAS, the oath of office of the President of the United States requires him to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. This obviously includes what may be the most important part of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Barack Obama has repeatedly violated his oath of office by seeking to limit both the individual rights and the rights of the States guaranteed in the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Specific actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(1) Having the Department of Health and Human Services order religious institutions and businesses owned by religious families to provide their employees free contraception and other services that are contrary to their religious beliefs. This is being done under the auspices of the Affordable Health Care Act and violates the religious freedom clauses of the First Amendment;

(2) Having the military place restrictions on the religious freedom of Chaplains and other members of the military in order to favor gay rights advocates and atheists in violation of the First Amendment;

(3) Having the military place restrictions on the freedom of speech of members of the military and the civilian employees of the Department of Defense in violation of their rights under the First Amendment;

(4) Using Executive orders and government agency actions to limit Second Amendment rights. This includes actions by the Veterans Administration to disarm American veterans without due process as required by the Fifth Amendment;

(5) Having the National Security Agency intercept and monitor the private communications of millions of Americans without a court order and in violation of the Fourth Amendment;

(6) Joining with foreign governments in lawsuits against sovereign states of the United States to prohibit them from enforcing immigration laws. This is in violation of the Tenth Amendment;

(7) Filing suits under the Voting Rights Act against sovereign states of the United States to prevent them from enforcing Voter ID laws despite rulings by the Supreme Court upholding these laws. This is another violation of the Tenth Amendment and the balance of powers;

(8) Having the IRS propose new regulations on conservative 501 (C)(4) organizations to limit their freedom of speech and political activities during election cycles in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution;

(9) Having the FCC prepare new rules on internet neutrality in violation of the ruling by the United States Supreme Court striking down such regulations;

(10) Having the FCC institute a plan to place agents in newsrooms of radio and television stations as well as print media to monitor whether they are providing the “proper” news content to the public, a direct violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution;

(11) Having the Secretary of State sign the United Nations Small Arms Treaty despite the opposition of a majority of the United States Senate and with full awareness that the implementation of the treaty would violate the Second Amendment rights of American citizens; and

WHEREAS, under Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution, the President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of the United States military and as such is responsible for using them in a manner that best serves the national security of the United States and protects our soldiers from unnecessary risks and harm. Barack Obama has violated his oath of office in this regard. Specific actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(1) In the name of “political correctness”, he imposed unnecessary and dangerous rules of engagement on our troops in combat causing them to lose offensive and defensive capabilities and putting them in danger. Many American service personnel have been killed or wounded as a result of this policy;

(2) Releasing the identity of American military personnel and units engaged in dangerous and secret operations such as the killing of Osama bin Laden by Navy Seal team 6;

(3) Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to declare war. Yet, without consulting Congress President Obama ordered the American military into action in Libya;

(4) Having the Attorney General tell Secretaries of State that they do not have to comply with the Federal law requiring states to timely send absentee ballots to military personnel; and

WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution establishes the President as Commander in Chief of the United States Military. This requires him to use his power and authority to oversee the proper use of the military to properly protect and defend the people and territory of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. He is further responsible for using the United States military in a manner that is effective and protects members of the military and takes proper care of veterans. The President takes an oath of office that encompasses these duties. Barack Obama has consistently violated these duties and violated his oath. Specific actions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(1) Imposing Rules of Engagement on the active military in war zones that have unnecessarily endangered the lives of American soldiers;

(2) Allowed the leaking of classified information about United States military operations to the media in order to enhance his political image. Such leaks place the lives of United States soldiers in danger;

(3) Despite being informed in 2009 of problems in the Veterans Administration involving treatment of veterans, took no action to improve the situation, but instead ordered the VA to spend a major part of its budget on green energy projects at VA facilities instead of on veteran care;

(4) Endangered the lives of members of the American military and American civilians by negotiating with terrorists to trade five high level Taliban leaders in exchange for an American soldier who deserted his post and his fellow soldiers. In addition, he did the foregoing action in violation of Federal law since he did not provide the legally required thirty-day notice to members of Congress of his intent to release prisoners from Guantanamo Bay;

(5) Continues to refuse to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress in violation of Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution, and further has used illegal and unconstitutional Executive orders to grant amnesty or de facto amnesty to illegal aliens currently in the United States;

(6) Has deliberately destroyed the morale and effectiveness of Border Patrol agents by interfering with their attempts to fulfill their oath of office and enforce laws legally passed by the United States Congress;

(7) By his deliberate actions encouraged parents of thousands of children in Central America to send their children, often unaccompanied by adults, across the United States border and then asking for billions of taxpayer dollars to care for these children;

(8) Ordered the Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security to place thousands of these children on buses or planes and dumping them in communities around the country; often without any prior notifications to the local elected officials in these communities;

(9) Allowed the TSA to let these children, as well as possible teenage gang members and unidentified persons to fly in United States Airlines at taxpayer expense without proper identification required by Federal law;

(10) Has refused to respond to lawful requests by Governors of the southern Border States to close the Southern border to any further illegal immigration and has created a severe financial crisis for Border States and other states in order to advance his own political agenda;

(11) Has ordered the release of thousands of illegal aliens who have been convicted of serious crimes in the United States to be released and stay in the country after they have served their sentences. This violates the requirements of Federal law that such people be immediately deported;

(12) Ordered the immediate release of approximately 68,000 other criminals in Federal prisons that have been convicted of drug offenses. These actions endanger the lives and property of honest and law-abiding American citizens that the President is legally and constitutionally required to protect;

(13) Has authorized the IRS, HHS, BATF, DHS, and EPA to propose new regulations not authorized by Congress that will adversely affect the rights of Americans protected by the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution; and

WHEREAS, in all of this, Barack Obama has undermined the integrity of his office, has brought disrepute on the Presidency, has betrayed his trust as President and has acted in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-eighth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby request the Missouri Congressional delegation to cause to be instituted in the Congress proper proceedings for the investigation of President Barack Obama, to the end that he may be impeached and removed from office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.

[emphasis in original]

He left out the Obama Administration’s “conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids”.

It’s what the right wingnut republican controlled Missouri General Assembly does best.

Previously:

HB 216: Agenda 21! (December 14, 2014)

HR 99: Are those instructions good for Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) and Rep. Ann Wagner (r)? (January 20, 2015)

HR 99: Because words mean nothing? (February 10, 2015)

Mike Moon: The sexism is expected; the cruelty is is the problem (February 10, 2015)

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Same process, different letter.

Angry White House and G.O.P. Senators Clash Over Letter to Iran

By PETER BAKER

MARCH 9, 2015

WASHINGTON – The fractious debate over a possible nuclear deal with Iran escalated on Monday as 47 Republican senators warned Iran against making an agreement with President Obama and the White House accused them of undercutting foreign policy.

In an exceedingly rare direct congressional intervention into diplomatic negotiations, the Republicans sent an open letter addressed to “leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran” declaring that any agreement could be reversed by the next president “with the stroke of a pen….”

Senator Roy Blunt’s (r) signature on the letter. [pdf]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D) had a few choice words:

Senator Harry Reid (D): As I speak here today President Obama and his administration are engaged in negotiations to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. This negotiation is unprecedented and very critical to our country and the world. The stakes really couldn’t be higher. We as leaders should do everything we can to help these negotiations succeed. When it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb we should put partisanship way to one side.

Sadly, though, the judgment of my Republican colleagues seems to be clouded by their abhorrence of President Obama. Today Republican senators actually sent a letter to the Iranian leadership aimed at sabotaging these negotiations. Let’s be very clear. Republicans are undermining our commander in chief while empowering the ayatollahs.

Just last week President Benjamin Netanyahu was here in the capitol decrying the evil intent of Iranian leadership. Republicans at that speech, which took place down the hall where we all stand today in the House chambers, stood, applauded, stomped their feet and yelled supporting what the Prime Minister of Israel had to say.

Now, today, these same Republicans are trying to negotiate with these very same leaders in Iran that Netanyahu said we shouldn’t be negotiating with. This simply doesn’t make sense.

The outcome of the negotiation between the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia and the entire world is so important. The main participants in this negotiations are the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia. Even though we’re the negotiators, one of the negotiators, the negotiation affect the entire world as I’ve said.

This letter is a hard slap in the face of not only the United States, but our allies. This is not a time to undermine our commander in chief purely out of spite.

We should always have a robust debate about foreign policy. But it’s unprecedented for one political party to directly intervene in an international negotiation with the sole goal of embarrassing the President of the United States.

Throughout the eight years of President Bush’s presidency Democrats, I, disagreed with his foreign policy. I spoke about it here on the floor lots of times. We know the disaster of that war in Iraq. But even at the height of disagreements with President George W. Bush senate Democrats never considered sending a letter to Saddam Hussein or other Iraqi leaders at the time. Never considered it. It would have been an embarrassment to the commander in chief, George W. Bush.

So I say to my republican colleagues, do you so dislike President Obama you would take this extraordinary step? Obviously so.

Barack Obama is the President.                

This is an extraordinary step. And why it was taken I really don’t understand, other than the dislike of the President.

Barack Obama is President. I’ve agreed with him on certain things and I’ve disagreed with him on certain things. But he is my president and he’s all of our president.

It’s time for republicans to accept that the citizens of our country twice elected President Obama by large margins as president of the United States

Obviously, Republicans don’t know how to do anything other than attempt these seemingly juvenile political attacks against the President.

Congressional republicans don’t know how to get things done. They don’t know how to govern. And if you don’t believe what I just said, look at the press today. Read a newspaper, look at the news. The pundits all agree that the Republicans are in a state of disarray here in the Congress of the United States. They don’t know what to do or how to do it.

Today’s unprecedented letter originated by a United States Senator who took his oath of office sixty-two days ago is a kind of pettiness that diminishes us as a country in the eyes of the world.

Republicans need to find a way to get over their animosity of President Obama. I can only hope they can do it sooner rather than later.

“…Today’s unprecedented letter originated by a United States Senator who took his oath of office sixty-two days ago is a kind of pettiness that diminishes us as a country in the eyes of the world…”

Evidently they get to printing the letterhead pretty quick.

“…I can only hope they can do it sooner rather than later.”

They’re incapable of doing so.

“….So let me say at this at outset of my remarks.  I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign. [applause][cheers] And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine. [cheers][applause]….” – then Senator Barack Obama (D), Independence, Missouri – June 30, 2008

Via Twitter, from Representative Steve Cohen (D):

Steve Cohen@RepCohen

Rudy Giuliani questioned how much,or even if, President Obama loves America.Maybe he thinks he loves it 3/5 as much as Giuliani & his pals 9:00 AM – 20 Feb 2015

Rudy Giuliani (r) and his pals probably don’t get it.

Previously:

Barack Obama in Independence, MO: the speech transcript (July 2, 2008)

Iowa – full circle, of sorts (July 11, 2012)

Senator Roy Blunt (r), via Twitter,

Senator Roy Blunt ‏@RoyBlunt

After careful review, I have decided to oppose Pres Obama’s DOD & DOJ nominees. Unfortunately, I believe both will uphold his flawed agenda. 12:05 PM – 12 Feb 2015

2008. 2012.

Some of the responses:

Angry Pens Gnome ‏@AngryPensGnome

@RoyBlunt Careful review. That’s hilarious, man. Just try a little honesty. You didn’t give them a second thought. What a joke. 12:13 PM – 12 Feb 2015

Not buying it.

Not holding anything back:

Ned ‏@nedmiller

@RoyBlunt how long are you going to keep being an obstructionist? Do something besides block the President. Yes, he’s black. Get over it. 12:20 PM – 12 Feb 2015

Skepticism:

Larry Bilyeu ‏@KutKu_Slayer

@RoyBlunt lol. You always oppose anything Obama puts forward. You don’t need to pretend like you actually considered otherwise. 12:35 PM – 12 Feb 2015

From an editor:

Zach Weaver ‏@ZachWeaver85

@RoyBlunt After careful review, I’ve decided to continue the Republican strategy of obstruction rather than effectively governing. Fixed it 1:22 PM – 12 Feb 2015

Blunt!:

carl klopfenstine ‏@Carl23b4

@RoyBlunt You decided to oppose Obama in 2008 period.. 2:02 PM – 12 Feb 2015

Sharon Williamson ‏@shay1kaye

@RoyBlunt after careful review my a$$. What did you review and why is this your position? crickets 2:08 PM – 12 Feb 2015

You’ve just got to love social media.

President Obama spoke yesterday in Lawrence, Kansas at the University of Kansas. Jerry Schmidt photographed the event:

President Obama spoke yesterday in Lawrence at the University of Kansas – January 22, 2015. Photo: Jerry Schmidt

Photo: Jerry Schmidt

Photo: Jerry Schmidt

Photo: Jerry Schmidt

On the rope line. Photo: Jerry Schmidt

Previously:

President Obama in Kansas – January 21, 2015 (January 21, 2015)

President Obama in Lawrence, Kansas – January 22, 2015 – White House transcript (January 22, 2015)

President Obama arrived in Topeka aboard Air Force One the night before his speech in Lawrence at the University of Kansas.

The White House transcript of President Obama’s January 22, 2015 remarks – as delivered:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

January 22, 2015

Remarks by the President on Middle-Class Economics — University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

11:30 A.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Kansas!  (Applause.)  Rock Chalk!  (Applause.)  Can everybody give Alyssa a big round of applause for the great introduction?  (Applause.)  It is good to be at KU! (Applause.)  I’ve got to admit, I took a moment to meet with Coach Self and the KU basketball team.  (Applause.)  I mean, we’re here for other business, but while I was here — (laughter) — I thought I should talk to some basketball players.  And it is January, so that means that the Jayhawks are at the top of the Big 12, hunting for your 11th straight conference title.  (Applause.)

I want to thank your Chancellor, Bernadette Gray-Little.  (Applause.)  I want to thank Mayor Amyx for having me.  I recently heard from Bob Dole, as well.  He told me he’s very proud of his Institute of Politics here.  (Applause.)  Any school of politics named for Bob Dole is one I’d be proud of, too, because he is a great Kansan and a great American.  (Applause.)

And it’s good to be back in Kansas.  (Applause.)  I’ve got deep roots in Kansas.  (Applause.)  As you know, my mom was born in Wichita.  (Applause.)  Her mom grew up in Augusta.  Her father was from El Dorado.  (Applause.)  So I’m a Kansas guy.  (Applause.)  I’m a Kansas guy.

Now, that helped me in the caucus here in 2008.  (Applause.) It didn’t help me as much in the general election.  (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re sorry!

THE PRESIDENT:  Coach Self won 10 straight — I lost two straight here.  (Laughter.)  But that’s okay.  Listen, I love you — and I might have won sections of Lawrence.  (Applause.)  That’s possible.  That’s a possibility.  (Laughter.)  But, look, this is exactly why I’ve come back to Kansas today.

On Tuesday, I gave my State of the Union address.  (Applause.)  And I just want you to know, today I will be shorter.  (Laughter.)  But I want to begin where I finished on Tuesday, because I talked about in the State of the Union how, over a decade ago, in Boston at the Democratic Convention, I gave a speech where I said there is no liberal America or  conservative America, there’s a United States of America.  We’re all supposed to be on the same team.  (Applause.)

And I know it can seem sometimes like our politics is more divided than ever; that in places like Kansas, the only blue stands for KU.  (Laughter.)  And so because of those divisions the pundits in Washington, they hold this up as proof that any vision of a more hopeful politics must be naïve or misguided.  But, as I pointed out, I still believe what I said back then.  I still believe that we, as Americans, have more in common than not.  (Applause.)  And I have seen too much of the good, generous, big-hearted optimism of the American people over these past six years to believe otherwise.

I will never stop trying to make our politics work better.  That’s what you deserve, and that’s how we move this country forward.  And, Kansas, we’ve got some big things to do together. (Applause.)  We’ve got some big things to do.

We start this year with some good news.  Our economy is creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999.  (Applause.)  Our deficits are shrinking.  Energy production is booming.  Our troops are coming home.  (Applause.)  We have risen from recession in a better position, freer to write our own future than any nation on Earth.  So now we’ve got to choose what our future will look like.  And when I look out at this crowd, it’s your generation in particular that’s going to have to decide what this future looks like.  Are we going to accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?  Or do we commit ourselves to an economy that generates opportunity and rising incomes for everybody who’s willing to work hard and make an effort?  That’s a choice we’ve got to make.  (Applause.)

For six years, we’ve been working to rebuild our economy on a new foundation.  And what I want people to know is, thanks to your hard work, thanks to your resilience, America is coming back.  We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing and draw new jobs to our shore.  And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.  (Applause.)

We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet at the same time.  (Applause.)  And today, America is number one in oil and gas, but we’re also number one in wind power.  And every three weeks, we bring as much solar power online as we did in all of 2008.  We have doubled wind power production.  (Applause.)  And thanks not just to lower gas prices, but also higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about 750 bucks at the pump.  (Applause.)

We believed that we could prepare our kids for this more competitive world, 21st century economy.  And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record.  Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high.  And more young people like you are finishing college than ever before.  (Applause.)

We believed that sensible regulations should encourage fair competition, and shield families from ruin, and prevent the kind of crisis that we saw in 2007, 2008.  So today we’ve got new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts.  And in the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans have finally gained the security of health coverage.  (Applause.)  We’ve gotten that done.

Now, at every step we were told that we were misguided, or too ambitious, or the laws we pass would explode deficits or crush jobs or destroy the economy.  I just want everybody to remember that.  (Laughter.)  Roll back the tape.  (Laughter.)  Roll back the tape.  And instead we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade.  We’ve seen the deficits cut by two-thirds.  People’s 401ks are in better shape because the stock market has doubled.  (Applause.)  We have put ourselves in a position in which the economy potentially can grow not just for next year, or the year after that, but over the next decade, and generate the kind of jobs that all of you will fill.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT:  So the verdict is in:  Middle-class economics works.  (Applause.)  Providing opportunity for everybody works.  The ruling on the field stands.  (Laughter.)  And these policies are going to continue to work as long as we don’t let politics get in the way.  Especially politics in Washington.  (Applause.)  We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance.  We’re not going to get rid of the rules we put in place to check recklessness on Wall Street.  If those efforts come to my desk, I will veto them — (applause) — because we’re moving in the right direction.

And here’s what’s most important.  Today because the economy is growing at a faster pace, we’re starting to actually see wages tick up for the first time in a very long time.  And a survey of small businesses showed they are more likely to provide raises to their employees than any time since 2007.  (Applause.)  So we’ve got to make sure that all people have the tools and the support that they need to take advantage of this growing economy.  It’s not good enough just to not screw it up — let’s build on the momentum and move it even further.  Let’s keep it going.  Let’s keep it going.  That’s what we’ve got to focus on.  (Applause.)  That’s what we’ve got to focus on.

So how do we restore this link between hard work and being able to get ahead?  How do we make sure that everybody is doing their fair share, everybody has a fair shot, and everybody is playing by the same set of rules?  How do we make sure that everybody not only shares in success but also is able to contribute to the success of the United States of America?  That is middle-class economics.  That’s our project.  (Applause.)  And that’s something that, by the way, shouldn’t be a Democratic or a Republican issue.  That should be an American issue.  (Applause.) All of us should want that kind of success for the middle class and everybody who’s willing to work hard to try to get into the middle class.  (Applause.)

So what does middle-class economics require?  Well, the first thing is trying to give people a sense of security at a time when they economy is so rapidly changing, so dynamic, that people can’t rely on being in one place, in one job for 30 years, 40 years.  That’s not going to be the career that young people like you have.  You’re going to be doing a whole range of things, and it’s going to be fluid.  And you’re going to have to be taking advantage of opportunities, and you’re going to have to adapt to new circumstances.

And so part of what we have to do is to make sure that we’re giving families some sense of security in the midst of all this change.  And that means helping folks afford child care.  It means helping folks afford college.  (Applause.)  It means helping folks get paid leave at work.  It means making sure people have health care.  (Applause.)  It means helping the first-time homebuyer.  It means helping folks save for retirement — although you guys don’t have to worry about that for a while. (Laughter.)  He raised his hand, “actually, I do.”  (Laughter.)

And so I’m sending Congress a budget, a plan, that’s going to help a family with all of these issues — lowering the taxes for working families by thousands of dollars, putting money back into their pockets so that they can have a little bit of cushion in their lives.  We can do that.  And today I want to focus on one of those ideas, and that’s child care.  (Applause.)

Now, I mentioned my grandparents were from Kansas.  Well, my grandfather, Stanley Dunham, he went to Europe to fight in World War II.  And while he was gone, my grandmother, she was like Rosie the Riveter — Madelyn.  She worked on an assembly plant for bombers.  And because it was a national priority, having women in the workforce was critical.  My grandmother worked at a bomber assembly line in Wichita.  And by that time, my mom had already been born.  So this country provided universal child care because they understood that if women are working, they’re going to need some help — right?  They understood that.  (Applause.)  And research shows that it was good for the kids, good for the parents.  But we stopped doing it, even though almost every other advanced country on Earth continued to do it — learned from us and did it.

Now, in today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, affordable, high-quality child care and early childhood education — these aren’t just nice-to-haves, this is a must-have.  (Applause.)  And studies show that children who get a high-quality early education earn more over their lifetimes than their peers who don’t.

So think about that.  You give somebody — you give parents support and you give a child that little boost at the beginning, it lasts a lifetime.  Which means that the entire economy is more productive for a lifetime, for a generation.  Young people who get that good early start are more likely to finish school; they’re less likely to get in trouble with the law.  And access to child care can lead to higher employment and incomes for the moms — which means the whole family is doing better.  (Applause.)

So the point is, if we knew how to do this back in 1943 and ’44, and here we are in 2015, what’s the holdup?  It is time that we stop treating child care as a side issue or a “women’s issue.” This is a family issue.  (Applause.)  This is a national economic priority for all of us.  We can do better than we’re doing right now.  (Applause.)

And right now, in 31 states, high-quality child care costs more than a year of tuition at a state university.  Think about that.  By the way, this is personal for me because Michelle and I remember what it was like trying to — and we had good jobs.  But trying to figure out how to manage child care costs was extraordinary, at the same that you’re paying back student loans. So this is something you have a deep interest in — all of you.  Because I’m assuming some of you are going to have a little bit of school debt.  (Laughter.)  Just a little.  And then you start a family, and now you want to start saving for their college education.  But in the meantime, you’re already paying the equivalent of college tuition just to make sure that they’re okay at home.  This is a strain that cuts — and by the way, Republican families feel it just as much as Democratic families. They don’t — there’s no distinction.

I don’t want any family to face the choice between not working, or leaving their children in unsafe or poor-quality child care.  We are a better country than that.  We’re a better country than that.  (Applause.)

So that’s why my plan will make quality child care available and affordable to every middle-class and low-income family in America with young children.  We’re going to expand access to high-quality care for more than 1 million children, and we’re going to offer a tax cut of up $3,000 per child per year.  (Applause.)  I don’t want anybody being “daycare poor.”

And we’re going to build on a bipartisan law that I signed last year to improve the quality of child care options so that parents know their children are well cared for, because we also want to lift up the quality of the facilities there.

And I just had the chance to visit the Community Children’s Center, which is a Head Start center here in Lawrence.  (Applause.)  Had a chance to spend time with 48 lucky kids.  (Laughter.)  Because they’re teachers are wonderful, not because they’re — although they all say, “I know you.”  (Laughter.)  “I see you on TV.”  (Laughter.)  That’s what they always say — “I see on TV.”  I say, yes.  Yes.  (Laughter.)  “You’re the President.”  (Laughter.)

So you have these wonderful teachers, and the light in all of these children’s eyes, the sense of possibility and potential for these kids, made me just that much more determined to keep strengthening and keep promoting and expanding early childhood education, to give all of our children a strong start.  (Applause.)  I want to support expectant mothers.  I want to make sure we’ve got universal child care to preschool for all.  It’s the best investment we can make.  It is the right thing to do.  We can do more to help families make ends meet.  (Applause.)

Now, even as we’re doing these things there are some other things we’ve got to do to help families who are middle-class or working their way into the middle class.  Higher wages helps — which means Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work.  (Applause.)  I mean, come on, now — it’s 2015.  (Applause.)  This should be sort of a no-brainer.  Congress still needs to raise the minimum wage.  (Applause.)  Like I said on Tuesday, if there are members of Congress who really believe that they can work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, they should try it.  (Applause.)  And if not, they should vote to give millions of hardworking people across America the raise that they deserve.  (Applause.)

And if we’re going to make sure that more and more people are earning higher wages down the road as the economy continues to transform, then we’ve got to help to make sure that more Americans like all of you are in a position to upgrade your skills.  That’s what you’re doing here.  And that’s the second part of middle-class economics.  That’s why we’ve been working to help more young people access and afford college.  That’s why I took action to help millions of students cap payments on their loans at 10 percent of their income.  (Applause.)  So if you want to go into teaching, or you want to go into public service, or you want to go into basic research — any field that doesn’t pay you a huge amount of money — you can do it.  (Applause.)

I want to work with Congress to make sure every student who’s already burdened with loans can find a way to refinance and reduce your monthly payments.  (Applause.)  And that’s why I’m sending Congress a bold, new plan to lower the cost of community college to zero.  (Applause.)  Down to zero.  In the new economy, two years of college should be as free and as universal as high school is today.

The third part of middle-class economics means we’ve got to build the most competitive economy in the world, and that means building the best infrastructure, and opening new markets so we can sell products around the world, and investing in research so we keep on being the creators of new products and businesses can keep creating jobs right here in Kansas and around the world — and sell them around the world.  (Applause.)

Now, the good news is Lawrence gets it.  (Applause.)That’s why you’re encouraging private companies to compete against one another to offer high-speed broadband at better prices.  And now you’ve got networks as fast as some of the best in the world:  There’s Hong Kong; there’s Tokyo; there’s Paris — and there’s Lawrence.  (Applause.)

So, helping families feel more secure, including helping with child care costs and improving the quality of child care option; making sure that you have the capacity to finance, constantly upgrading your skills; making sure that we’ve got a competitive economy, including not just roads and bridges and traditional infrastructure, but the new infrastructure of the 21st century — those are the things we need to do to keep the momentum going.

Now, Republicans in Congress may disagree with some of my ideas.  You know, I didn’t get as much applause from them as I was hoping.  (Laughter.)  But the truth, is when it comes to infrastructure and research, both parties generally agree that it’s important.  They say that to me privately; they just can’t applaud it publicly.  (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, right.  (Applause.)

So, too often, where we get stuck is how to pay for these investments — because these things cost money.  Roads don’t build themselves.  Power grids and sewer lines and basic research — those things don’t pay for themselves.

And as Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, as long as everybody else does, too.  (Applause.)  The problem we’ve got is we’ve got lobbyists that have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others are paying full freight.  We’ve got the super rich getting giveaways they don’t need, and middle-class folks not getting the breaks that they do need for things like child care.

So what I told Congress is let’s just close those loopholes. Let’s stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad; reward companies that are creating jobs right here in the United States. (Applause.)  Let’s close loopholes that let the top 1 percent, or .01 percent avoid paying certain taxes — use that money to help more Americans pay for college and child care.  Let’s have a tax code that truly helps working Americans get a leg up in this new economy.  It’s a good investment that will ultimately be good for everybody.  (Applause.)

So that’s what I believe in:  Helping hardworking families make ends meet.  Giving everybody the tools they need to find good-paying jobs in the new economy.  Keeping our economy strong and competitive.  Making sure we’ve got a tax code that is fair so that we can get all these things done and grow the economy well into the future.  That’s where I think America needs to go. And that’s where I believe Americans want to go.  It’s going to make our economy stronger not just a year from now, or 10 years from now, but deep into the century ahead.

And I understand Republicans who disagree with my approach. So what I’ve said to them is, fine; show me your ideas to pay for things like R&D and infrastructure.  (Applause.)  Explain to me how you want to help families pay for college and for child care.

It’s perfectly fair for them to say, we’ve got a better way for meeting these national priorities — and then to specify what those ideas are.  What you can’t do is simply pretend that issues like child care or student debt aren’t out there, that they’re not important.  You can’t pretend that there’s nothing we can do to help middle-class families get ahead — because I’ve seen how we’ve been able to help middle-class families get ahead when we make an effort.

The answer can’t just be no to everything.  (Applause.)  I don’t mind hearing no to some things, but it can’t be no to everything.  At some point, you got to say yes to something.  (Applause.)  I want to get to yes!  (Applause.)  Tell me what you want to do.  Let’s get to yes on helping more families get by.  I want to get to yes on child care.  I want to get to yes on more young people going to college and not being loaded up with debt. That’s what I want to get to.  (Applause.)  

I want to get to yes for folks like Steve Ozark, from right here in Lawrence.  Where is Steve?  I know I saw him.  He was around here.  There he — you’re not Steve.  (Laughter.)  There he is right there.

So, last year, Steve wrote me a letter about his vision for this country — a place where every American, he said, has “a place at the table.”  And 25 years ago, Steve and his girlfriend, now his wife, were living paycheck-to-paycheck, with a baby on the way.  And for a while, they turned to food stamps to get by.  nd then they took out students loans so that his wife could go to college and get a job, and climb the ladder of success.  And today, they spend their time helping others in their community find a place at the table, because, as Steve wrote in his letter, it’s “what God and Grandma taught us to do.”  (Applause.)  God and Grandma — now, that’s some good authority right there.  (Applause.)  

The point is, is that we’re going to disagree on politics sometimes, but we don’t have to be so viciously divided as a people.  We all know what God and Grandma taught us to do.  (Laughter.)  Whoever we are — Republican, Democrat, male, female, young, old, black, white, gay, straight — we all share a common vision for our future.  We want a better country for your generation, and for your kids’ generation — a place where, as Steve wrote, everybody has “a place at the table.”  I want that country to be one that shows the world what I know is still to be true, that we are still not a collection of just red states and blue states; we are still the United States of America.  (Applause.)

So we’ve made it through some hard times, but we’ve laid a new foundation, Jayhawks.  We’ve got a new future to write.  The young people here are going to write a new future for America.  Let’s get started right now.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END

12:05 P.M. CST

Previously:

President Obama in Kansas – January 21, 2015 (January 21, 2015)

Yeah, this is a process story once again involving the President and Air Force One. Since we cover politics and government in the area and President Obama has a big event in Lawrence, Kansas tomorrow we’ve been going through the process to be able to cover the various components of his trip. The President arrived this evening in Topeka on Air Force One. And since the President may or may not choose to speak to the media upon arrival we took a chance and decided to show up to cover it.

There was a lot of hurry up and wait. And more waiting. We waited in a hanger-like building. Then, in a hallway. Towards the end of our wait Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (r) walked by, stopping to shake hands and say hello as he worked his way past the line of waiting media.

Shortly before the arrival of Air Force One we were escorted out on the tarmac. It was cold. Really cold. It was dark. Really dark.

Air Force One landed and taxied about 150 feet from the media riser (an old flatbed trailer). We tried to take photographs in the cold and darkness.

The President was greeted at the base of the stairs by Governor Brownback (r). They spoke briefly. Then the President entered the presidential limousine and the motorcade drove off.

President Obama arriving in Topeka – January 21, 2015.

At the foot of the stairs – Governor Sam Brownback (left) and President Obama (right) – January 21, 2015.

Governor Sam Brownback (r) speaking with the media on the tarmac – January 21, 2015.

After the President’s motorcade left Governor Brownback and a small group of individuals started walking back to the hanger-like building. Someone in the media area started yelling questions. Governor Brownback hesitated briefly and then turned to walk back toward the media area. The media as a whole descended on the spot from the riser and surrounding area. The noise of generators from the lights and media satellite trucks and the impenetrable media scrum made it impossible for us to hear the questions and answers which ensued. Evidently we’re not pushy enough. We did get some photos.

Previously: President Obama flew to St. Louis on Air Force One and then threw the first pitch… (July 15, 2009)

Senator Roy Blunt (r) [file photo]

The junior senator from Missouri weighed in via social media on President Obama’s address to the nation on immigration:

Senator Roy Blunt ‏@RoyBlunt

Pres Obama can’t ignore the law. Congress will act to stop his executive over-reach. [….] 5:27 PM – 20 Nov 2014

You can also ignore Presidents Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II.

And, as always, there are some interesting replies:

James Overholt ‏@JamesOverholt

@RoyBlunt you’re an idiot. 5:27 PM – 20 Nov 2014

Now, now, that’s unfair. He just probably thinks the rest of us are gullible idiots.

Gary Hood ‏@ghoodmo52

@RoyBlunt can’t wait to vote against you. 5:28 PM – 20 Nov 2014

ArmaDoc ‏@ArmaDoc

@RoyBlunt If Congress had done its job POTUS would not have had to do this! 5:47 PM – 20 Nov 2014

Nancy Goth ‏@ngoth

@RoyBlunt POTUS acted because Congress did not. It’s a temp stay. #PassABill on #ImmigrationReform The sooner the better. 6:11 PM – 20 Nov 2014

They’re a might skeptical.

Previously:

President Obama: On Immigration (November 20, 2014)

Sen. Claire McCaskill: On Immigration (November 21, 2014)