Obama Statements and Releases: Veto Message to the Senate: S. 1, Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act

President Barack Obama meets with John Podesta, Counselor to the President, in the Oval Office, Jan. 29, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

From Denny:  President Obama's only veto in five years.  He vetoed it citing America's national security.  Actually, it was a clever political move to box in the Republicans.  It's easy for them to be against any and all things environmental, even financial burdens on the taxpayers - but national security?  Nope.  Not in an election cycle when the Republicans are hoping to take back the White House.  To go against a presidential decision about national security would be political suicide.

Besides, Americans have nothing to gain by giving a foreign country and their Big Oil easy profits but with no liabilities.  If there would an accident or an act of terrorism it's the American people who would be on the hook financially, not to mention a very toxic clean-up as tar sands oil is exceedingly toxic unlike normal crude oil.  Good move, Mr. President!

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

February 24, 2015

Veto Message to the Senate: S. 1, Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I am returning herewith without my approval S. 1, the "Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act."  Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest.

The Presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously.  But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people.  And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest -- including our security, safety, and environment -- it has earned my veto.

BARACK OBAMA

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Obama Statements and Releases: Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

President Barack Obama, framed between a computer keyboard and monitor, works at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Feb. 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

From Denny:  Check out the day to day business coming out of the White House.  This release details the current presidential nominations sent to the Senate.  Who knows?  By the time that President Obama leaves office he might actually have 50 percent of his vacant positions finally filled.  Yes, the Republicans have refused to allow this Democrat government to govern, which hurts all of us.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

February 25, 2015

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Mickey D. Barnett, of New Mexico, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2020.   (Reappointment)

Katherine Simonds Dhanani, of Florida, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Amias Moore Gerety, of Connecticut, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Cyrus Amir-Mokri, resigned.

Sheila Gwaltney, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic.

Willie E. May, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, vice Patrick Gallagher, resigned.

Cono R. Namorato, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General, vice Kathryn Keneally, resigned.

Monica C. Regalbuto, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Environmental Management), vice Ines R. Triay, resigned.

Anne Elizabeth Wall, of Illinois, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury, vice Alastair M. Fitzpayne, resigned.

* * *  Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

Subscribe in a reader to Dennys Global Politics

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Latest Roundup on Health Care Reform News 23 Dec 2009

From Denny: Not since 1963 has the Senate been in session for a Christmas Eve vote. Well, guess what, dearest politicians, not since the Great Depression in the 1930's has 20% of America been out of work and 20 million people have their homes foreclosed. Yeah, times are desperate so we really don't care any more if politicians are cranky about their own stubbornness that put them in this predicament in the first place.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It took far longer than it should have but at least Obama is a President who is willing to slog through the Capitol Hill mess to get the American people what they truly need: health care reform.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hold out Senator Nelson from Nebraska finally made it possible to cinch the required 60 votes to over ride the insurance lobbyists aka Republican Senators.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

*** THANKS for visiting and have a great holiday! Let's hope they get it right tomorrow morning...

4 Videos: Remembering the Lion of the Senate Ted Kennedy

From Denny: It's an end of an era and the beginning of a new one with the passing of the torch from Senator Ted Kennedy to the next generation. The man certainly paved the way for the next generation of liberal social issue politicians who are as concerned for creating a better and more equal society for all.

The Kennedy legacy is well known worldwide as theirs was a wealthy family strongly involved in politics. They put their money - and their daily work - where their mouth was.

Kennedy's character stain upon his name and legacy came during his alcoholic years and crescendoed with the drowning of an aide in a car accident from which he fled. Much of the public figured he drank so heavily because of the not one, but two assassinations of his political brothers: one, President John Kennedy, killed in 1963, and two, Robert Kennedy was killed as he was running for President in 1968.

What exacerbated his alcoholism was a plane crash in the early sixties where he broke his back and was forever left with extreme pain and that "hunch and shuffle" kind of walk that became so distinctive. Back then there were not the pain relievers available today and many people chose to self-medicate through alcohol. Unfortunately, too much alcohol and eventually a person tips over into alcoholism as did Ted Kennedy.

To his credit, trying to sober up and do right again, that sad accident and tragic death of a young woman startled him into getting his act together. He went hard-charging into social reforms across the board. He led on education and health care reform right up until his death, fighting for better health care for twenty long years. Kennedy fought to shape America's political future for 50 years, leaving a longer-lasting legacy than both of his equally popular brothers combined. He was the brother of which the least was expected and he ended up doing the most for his country.

The lion-like Kennedy championed workers' rights, pushing to constantly raise the miserable minimum wage. He demanded civil rights and voting rights for African-Americans. Kennedy championed womens' rights and helped pushed the womens' movement into the public spotlight and into the heart of the Democratic Party. Lately, he was working on immigration reform in a more positive vein than the Republicans.

For decades his life was threatened by Republican supporters who constantly issued death threats if he ever dared to run for President. Even the military threatened to kill him if he did so. Such was the sixties and early seventies. To his credit, Kennedy ran anyway. He lost to unexpected dark horse Jimmy Carter who later became President Carter. Carter was doomed to become a one term president because he was outmaneuvered by Reagen. Behind his back while he was still President, it was candidate Reagen who traded guns for those American hostages in Iran. President Reagen created the Iranian Revolution and terrorist mess in Iran today from this foolish action. Reagen may have won the Presidency with his back-stabbing of a current sitting President but it's the next generation who had to deal with the consequences.

Senator Ted Kennedy's goodbye words were defiantly declared after that fateful loss to Carter and are appropriate all these years later as his epitaph: "The Work goes on, the Cause endures, the Hope still lives, and, the Dream never shall never die."

Kennedy was 77, passed away on Tuesday night from an extended illness with brain cancer. He will be greatly missed but his work was done. Now it is time for the next generation to lead. Thank you for your service, Ted, thank you, from a grateful nation...





President Obama bestows the Medal of Freedom upon Senator Ted Kennedy



Larry King interviews Kennedy about his life in the Senate back in 2006



Kennedy stood up for Obama when others were hesitant in the Democratic Party. Senator Edward Kennedy, the patriarch of the first family of Democratic politics, died at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.




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