This Is An Open Thread
Good morning, everyone. I hope you had an awesome weekend. Boss took a couple days off to recharge so … you get me!
Let’s cut loose.
I know: so lame. But I couldn’t resist. 😂
In case you missed it, or were, you know, off living in a cave somewhere, this happened Saturday:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
Feb. 4, 2023
This afternoon, at the direction of President Biden, U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the water off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace. The balloon, which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters. On Wednesday, President Biden gave his authorization to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path. After careful analysis, U.S. military commanders had determined downing the balloon while over land posed an undue risk to people across a wide area due to the size and altitude of the balloon and its surveillance payload. In accordance with the President’s direction, the Department of Defense developed options to take down the balloon safely over our territorial waters, while closely monitoring its path and intelligence collection activities. This action was taken in coordination, and with the full support, of the Canadian government. And we thank Canada for its contribution to tracking and analysis of the balloon through NORAD as it transited North America. Today’s deliberate and lawful action demonstrates that President Biden and his national security team will always put the safety and security of the American people first while responding effectively to the PRC’s unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.
This wasn’t the CCP’s first, or third, rodeo. I suppose the recovery is now more likely in the shallows off the coast of South Carolina as the below additional news release states.
Maybe it is giving them more credit than they deserve, but maybe that was the plan as they calculated the winds and probable trajectory.
Ahh, okay. Here we go. It was a matter of having to calculate trajectory, at least with the debris fall. Although, I have to admit questioning how is that not a capability of someone within the DoD? I get NASA would be better equipped with that sort of debris fall, but are there no fking engineers at the Pentagon? Seriously? I find that hard to digest.
Finishing up Friday, February 3, 2023:
@POTUS Bits:
(Nice troll with this next one 👇)
White House Briefing Room Bits:
Remarks by President Biden on the January Jobs Report
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
SPEECHES AND REMARKS
Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Widespread Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan and the Potential for a Deepening Economic Collapse in Afghanistan
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
Letters to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Widespread Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan and the Potential for a Deepening Economic Collapse in Afghanistan
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
President Biden Announces Appointments to the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting With Baltic and Polish National Security Advisors
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
Weekend stuff
Cherry picked @POTUS Bits:
White House Briefing Room Bits:
Remarks by President Biden in Press Gaggle
FEBRUARY 04, 2023
SPEECHES AND REMARKS
3:15 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: On Wednesday, when I was briefed on the balloon, I ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down, on Wednesday, as soon as possible. They decided — without doing damage to anyone on — on the ground. They decided that the best time to do that was as it got over water, outside — within our — within the 12-mile limit.They successfully took it down. And I want to compliment our aviators who did it. And we’ll have more to report on this a little later.
Thank you.
Q Mr. President, what does this say about China? What’s your message to China?
Q You were saying the recommendation from your — was from your national security —
THE PRESIDENT: I told them to shoot it down.
Q On Wednesday?
THE PRESIDENT: On Wednesday.
Q But the recommendation from them —
THE PRESIDENT: They said to me, “Let’s wait till the safest place to do it.”
3:16 P.M. EST
How to Watch President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address
FEBRUARY 04, 2023
BLOG
Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, 9 PM ET
Where can I watch the State of the Union livestream?
To watch the State of the Union speech live, visit WH.gov/sotu. Tune into the official social media streams of the White House for President Biden’s State of the Union address.
YouTube: President Biden’s Second State of the Union (Español)
Twitter: @WhiteHouse or @POTUS
Facebook: White House on Facebook or President Biden’s Facebook
The White House feed will include ASL interpretation for accessibility.
When does the State of the Union start?
The President will address a Joint Session of Congress at the United States Capitol on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 9 PM ET.
What was in President Biden’s first State of the Union address?
Visit WH.gov/sotu-2022 to view last year’s speech and full remarks. Or read excerpts from his address.
Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Earthquake in Turkiye and Syria
FEBRUARY 05, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
Hicks adds:
Replying to @seismo_steveJust seeing the early & truly devastating imagery of damage from the M7.8 Turkey earthquake, it is clear the impact we be huge & this event will go down in history. One of the largest instrumentally-recorded onshore strike-slip earthquakes to take a direct hit at a populated area
This was almost immediately followed by a strong aftershock:
And then within hours later another 7.5-7.6. Incredible.
Monday, February 6, 2023
Official Presidential Schedule
| 9:30 AMOfficial Schedule | The President receives the President’s Daily Brief Closed Press |
| 11:30 AMPool Call Time | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 12:00 PMOfficial Schedule | The President arrives at the White House South LawnOpen Press |
| 2:15 PMPress Briefing | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
@POTUS Bits:
Snort, a cookie and coffee for breakfast. That is my kind of morning. 😂
White House Briefing Room Bits:
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Earthquakes Impacting Turkiye and Syria
FEBRUARY 06, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
FACT SHEET: Update on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America
FEBRUARY 06, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Public-Private Partnership Has Generated More than $4.2 Billion in Private Sector Commitments for Northern Central America
FEBRUARY 06, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Launches Next Phase of Public-Private Partnership for Northern Central America
FEBRUARY 06, 2023
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
White House youtube channel Bits:
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Brian Deese Scheduled for 2:15 pm EDT
That is all for today. See y’all tomorrow and down yonder in the comments. Stay groovy.
This Is An Open Thread