GSM has no coverage at Camp David for the G8 Summit

Seal of the Executive Office of the President of the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is not something new. When cellular was first introduced at Camp David, GSM did not have a US network. Verizon Wireless was the only network to install towers and coverage onsite at Camp David. Because the White House uses Verizon as their main carrier, and the President is the main resident of Camp David, there was not reason to expand to GSM.

Well, at least not until now. When President Obama decided to move the G8 Summit away from the NATO Summit in Chicago, he moved it to Camp David. When he did this I immediately reached out to all the G8 Embassies to inform them of pending issues to make sure they were aware they had to have Verizon Wireless connectivity for their delegations going to the G8 Leader’s Summit.

I was called on this by the State Department EOP (Executive Office of the President) who told me my claims were false and that they had invited AT&T to boost their signal at Camp David for the event. The concern was legitimate since having GSM onsite would allow foreign leaders to roam on their home networks (also GSM). As the weeks rolled by it became apparent that AT&T would not be able to do what the State Department required.

So, where is this now? Back to my original information, no GSM at Camp David for the G8 Summit. So, how do you get Verizon Wireless for the event? You cant get it from Verizon since they dont have a rental program. There is one company in the USA that does have a rental program with Verizon Wireless. They have assured me that they will be able to provide devices and connectivity to all the delegations and visiting press to Camp David this May.

The provider is Cellhire USA. Toll Free #800 423 4805. You can also reach them by replying to this post.

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Presidential Proclamation — National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2012

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

December 30, 2011

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Nearly a century and a half ago, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — a document that reaffirmed the noble goals of equality and freedom for all that lie at the heart of what it means to live in America.  In the years since, we have tirelessly pursued the realization and protection of these essential principles.  Yet, despite our successes, thousands of individuals living in the United States and still more abroad suffer in silence under the intolerable yoke of modern slavery.  During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we stand with all those who are held in compelled service; we recognize the people, organizations, and government entities that are working to combat human trafficking; and we recommit to bringing an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse.

Human trafficking endangers the lives of millions of people around the world, and it is a crime that knows no borders.  Trafficking networks operate both domestically and transnationally, and although abuses disproportionally affect women and girls, the victims of this ongoing global tragedy are men, women, and children of all ages.  Around the world, we are monitoring the progress of governments in combating trafficking while supporting programs aimed at its eradication.  From forced labor and debt bondage to forced commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude, human trafficking leaves no country untouched.  With this knowledge, we rededicate ourselves to forging robust international partnerships that strengthen global anti-trafficking efforts, and to confronting traffickers here at home.

My Administration continues to implement our comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking in America.  By coordinating our response across Federal agencies, we are working to protect victims of human trafficking with effective services and support, prosecute traffickers through consistent enforcement, and prevent human rights abuses by furthering public awareness and addressing the root causes of modern slavery.  The steadfast defense of human rights is an essential part of our national identity, and as long as individuals suffer the violence of slavery and human trafficking, we must continue the fight.

With the start of each year, we commemorate the anniversaries of the Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective on January 1, 1863, and the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and submitted to the States for ratification on February 1, 1865.

These documents stand as testaments to the gains we have made in pursuit of freedom and justice for all, and they remind us of the work that remains to be done.  This month, I urge all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking.  Together, and in cooperation with our partners around the world, we can work to end this terrible injustice and protect the rights to life and liberty entrusted to us by our forebears and owed to our children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1.  I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

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The Clear Thinker picks apart the President’s sales pitch.

So what my plan does is it starts with combing the budget for savings wherever we can find it. And we had a good start a few weeks ago, when both parties came together around a compromise that cut spending but also kept the government open (kept Federal Workers employed and Recession Free) and kept vital investments in things that we (“we” = USA Inc.) care about (WARS and the Recovery Act?). We need to build on those savings, and I’m not going to quit until we’ve found every single dime of waste and misspent money. We don’t have enough money to waste it right now. (does this suggest he will waste it later???) I promise you that. We’re going to check under the cushions — you name it. (Laughter.)

But finding savings in our domestic spending only gets you so far. We’re also going to have to find savings in places like the defense budget. (Applause.) As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not cut a penny if it undermines our national security. But over the last two years, the Secretary of Defense Bob Gates has taken on wasteful spending that doesn’t protect our troops, doesn’t protect our nation — old weapons systems, for example, that the Pentagon doesn’t want, but Congress sometimes keeps on stuffing into the budget. Well-connected special interests get these programs stuck in the budget even though the Pentagon says we don’t need these particular weapons systems. (ask them about why they continue to pay excessive roaming rates on their cell phones. Including Gates and Obama? Check out their phone bills. WASTE!!!)

So we’ve begun to cut those out. And Secretary Gates has found a lot of waste like that and has been able to save us $400 billion so far. I believe we can do that again. Four hundred billion dollars — even in Washington, that’s real money. That funds a lot of Pell Grants. That funds a lot of assistance for communities like this one. (Applause.)  (Show how these moneys will go to Pell Grants. Kind of like saying their is a fund for Social Security. Laughter?)

We’ll also reduce health care spending, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid through some common-sense reforms that will get rid of, for example, wasteful subsidies to insurance companies. (Applause.) Reforms that can actually improve care — like making it easier for folks to buy generic drugs, or helping providers manage care for the chronically ill more effectively. And we can reform the tax code so that it’s fair and it’s simple –- (applause) — so the amount of taxes you pay doesn’t depend on whether you can hire a fancy accountant or not. (Actually, if you know how to read you can do your own taxes)

And we’ve also got to end tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. (Applause.) (How about the President volunteering t0 pay back HIS tax cuts as an example and stop the “rhetoric”. Why wait for a law to be passed if you REALLY believe this!!!) Let me say, this is not because we want to punish success. I suspect there are a bunch of young people in this gym that are going to end up being wealthy, and that’s good. We want you to. We want you to be able to go out there and start a business and create jobs and put other people to work. That’s the American way. But we are going to have to ask everybody to sacrifice. And if we’re asking community colleges to sacrifice, if we’re asking people who are going to see potentially fewer services in their neighborhoods to make a little sacrifice, then we can ask millionaires and billionaires to make a little sacrifice. (Applause.)

We can’t just tell the wealthiest among us, you don’t have to do a thing. You just sit there and relax, and everybody else, we’re going to solve this problem. Especially when we know that the only way to pay for these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is by asking seniors to pay thousands of dollars more for their health care, or cutting children out of Head Start, or doing away with health insurance for millions of Americans on Medicaid — seniors in nursing homes, or poor children, or middle-class families who may have a disabled child, an autistic child. (All politics!!! How will you do this Mr. President?)

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IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?!?

Since the beginning of March, the US Department of Defense has reported the loss of 7 American War Heroes, relative to Operation Enduring Freedom. Average age 23 years old.

Is this what we want continuing to happen to our young men and women in uniform.

It seems to me that the US Media has stopped counting the number of American dead.

VOA News Online still hacked!

America has been cyber attacked. VOA News is the only dependable news source on what is happening in Africa.

Follow
http://www.voanews.com

Letter from the White House

 

	Good afternoon, Today the House of Representatives plans to vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act, landmark health reform legislation that President Obama signed into law last March. My White House colleague Stephanie Cutter explains the harmful effect repeal would have on the nation’s economy – and your own pocketbook – in our latest White House White Board video: President Obama is willing to work with Democrats and Republicans to improve the Affordable Care Act, but we can’t afford to go backward. It’s fair for all of us to ask, “What does health reform mean to me?” – particularly if you already have insurance you like. Without the health care law, we would return to the days when insurance companies could deny, limit or cap your care.  Insurance companies could continue to place lifetime limits on coverage even if you need it, increase premiums without any accountability or recourse for consumers, and deny children health care due to pre-existing conditions.   Under the law, families will pay less for their insurance premiums than they would if the law is repealed. An insurance company that tries to implement an unreasonable premium increase will be forced to publicly justify it.  And your premium dollars will go further thanks to a provision of the law that requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of your premium dollars on your health care, rather than executive compensation and advertising. Health reform is about much more than protecting American consumers – it also boosts the American economy, lowering costs and creating jobs.   And since the health care law was passed last year, our economy has created over 1 million private sector jobs and has grown at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent.  There’s a lot more work to be done, but repealing the Affordable Care Act would be a step backward for our economy. In fact, Harvard economist David Cutler estimates repeal would cost us between 250,000-400,000 jobs per year, which means millions of new jobs lost over the next decade.   As conversations about health reform bubble up in news shows and at water coolers over the coming days, I hope you’ll find this information helpful.  Everyday we’re working hard to implement this important legislation, and we will certainly keep you updated with our progress. Sincerely,   Nancy-Ann DeParle Director of the White House Office of Health Reform

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New Jobs Numbers & New Hands on Deck to Keep Them Growing

Image via Wikipedia

The White House Blog

New Jobs Numbers & New Hands on Deck to Keep Them Growing

Posted by Jesse Lee on January 07, 2011 at 01:23 PM EST

This morning the President was at Thompson Creek Manufacturing in Landover, Maryland to see an example of a company that is beginning to thrive, and to hear what role his Administration’s actions have had.  For Thompson Creek, it wasn’t just the 16 tax cuts for small business, as it turned out they manufacture energy-saving windows that help other businesses cut costs – and so the President’s incentives for that have given them a huge boost.  As the President explained (watch the video), it’s stories like these that are helping our country get back on track:

So incentives like these are helping companies across America.  And the jobs numbers released this morning reflect that growth.  The economy added more than 100,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate fell sharply.

Now, we know these numbers can bounce around from month to month.  But the trend is clear.  We saw 12 straight months of private sector job growth.  That’s the first time that’s been true since 2006.  The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year.  And each quarter was stronger than the previous quarter, which means that the pace of hiring is beginning to pick up.  We’re also seeing more optimistic economic forecasts for the year ahead, in part due to the package of tax cuts I signed last month, including a payroll tax cut for workers and a series of tax cuts to encourage investment and innovation and hiring.

And I fought for that package because, even though our economy is recovering, we’ve still got a lot to do.  This was a brutal recession that we went through, the worst in our lifetimes.  It left a lot of destruction in its wake.  More than 8 million jobs were lost.  So even though we’ve created 1.3 million jobs and we saved a whole lot of jobs, you’ve still got a whole bunch of folks who are out there looking, still struggling.  We’ve got a big hole that we’re digging ourselves out of.

The President also went on to introduce the new members of his economic team who will looking for every possible avenue to give America’s recovery further support:

And so our mission has to be to accelerate hiring and to accelerate growth.  And that depends on making our economy more competitive so that we’re fostering new jobs in new industries, and training workers to fill them.  It depends on keeping up the fight for every job and every business and every opportunity to spur growth.  And so standing with me here today are men and women who will help America fulfill in this mission.  Let me just introduce each of them.

We’re joined, first of all, by Gene Sperling, who I have appointed Director of the National Economic Council.  Give Gene a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Now, Gene has been an extraordinary asset to me and this administration over the past two years.  He’s been working with me.  He led our efforts to pass the small business jobs bill to help companies all across America.  He also helped negotiate the tax compromise that we passed at the end of this year.  He’s a public servant who has devoted his life to making this economy work -– and making it work specifically for middle-class families.

Now, one of the reasons I’ve selected Gene is he’s done this before.  This is his second tour of duty heading up the NEC, and in his tenure in the Clinton administration during the late ‘90s, he helped formulate the policies that contributed to turning deficits to surpluses and a time of prosperity and progress for American families in a sustained way.  Few people bring the level of intelligence and sheer work ethic that Gene brings to every assignment he’s ever taken.  And few do so with such decency and integrity.  So, Gene, we are lucky to have you back at the NEC.  And I know you’re going to do a terrific job.

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