Biden Bits: “Working Hard to Make it Happen”…

October 27, 2023 12:05 pm EDT Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: “Working Hard to Make it Happen”…
Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Friday…

President Biden’s public schedule for 10/27/2023:

10:00 AM
Presidential Daily Brief		The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Closed Press
4:50 PM
Leaves the White House		The President departs the White House en route to a campaign reception in Washington, DC
North Grounds In-Town Travel Pool
6:00 PM
Campaign Event		The President participates in a campaign reception
Restricted In-Town Travel Pool
7:15 PM
Leaves Fort Lesley J. McNair		The President departs Fort Lesley J. McNair en route to New Castle, Delaware
In-Town Travel Pool
8:10 PM
Arrives in New Castle, Delaware		The President arrives in New Castle, Delaware

Lewiston, Maine Tweets

From Thursday…

His full statement:

Once again, our nation is in mourning after yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting. Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief. 
 
I also urge area residents to heed the warnings and guidance of local officials. Numerous Federal law enforcement personnel are on the scene and actively working with state and local partners. As I told Maine Governor Janet Mills, Senators Collins and King, and Congressman Golden last night, I have directed my administration to provide everything that is needed to support the people of Maine. We will continue to be there every step of the way.
 
For countless Americans who have survived gun violence and been traumatized by it, a shooting such as this reopens deep and painful wounds. Far too many Americans have now had a family member killed or injured as a result of gun violence. That is not normal, and we cannot accept it.
 
While we have made progress on gun safety through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the two dozen executive actions I’ve taken, and the establishment of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, it’s simply not enough.

Today, in the wake of yet another tragedy, I urge Republican lawmakers in Congress to fulfill their duty to protect the American people. Work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. This is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars — physical and mental — of this latest attack.

White House.gov. 10/26/2023.

Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris on the Mass Shooting in Lewiston, Maine

Yesterday, Lewiston, Maine became yet another community torn apart by senseless gun violence. This time a bowling alley and a restaurant have been turned into scenes of unimaginable carnage.

Doug and I join the President and Dr. Biden in mourning those who were killed, praying for the many who were injured, and grieving for so many more whose lives are forever changed.

The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to provide full support to local authorities in Maine. I join President Biden in urging area residents to follow the warnings and guidance of local officials as the investigation proceeds.

Let us also continue to speak truth about the moment we are in. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in our nation. It does not have to be this way.

It is a false choice to suggest we must choose between either upholding the Second Amendment or passing reasonable gun safety laws to save lives. Congress can and must make background checks universal. Pass red flag laws. Ban high-capacity magazines. And renew the assault weapons ban.

In the meantime, President Biden and I are not waiting around. Through the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, we will continue to work to save lives.

We do not have a moment to spare, nor a life to spare.

White House.gov. 10/26/2023

A Proclamation on Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Lewiston, Maine

     As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, October 30, 2023.  I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

White House.gov. 10/26/2023.

Yesterday, officials confirmed that 18 people were killed and 13 people were wounded, following shootings at two separate locations, in Lewiston, Maine.

The suspect was still at large as of Friday morning.

In the early hours of the shooting reports suggested that Robert Card, the suspect, worked as an Army firearms instructor–I learned yesterday evening that is incorrect according to ABC News:

An Army spokesperson also confirmed Thursday that there are no records to indicate Card instructed or participated in any of the training.

Card was not trained by the Army as a firearms instructor, “nor did he serve in that capacity for the Army,” the spokesperson, Bryce Dubee, added.

“We take matters such as this very seriously, and our primary concern is ensuring that all legal and appropriate actions are taken in accordance with our commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct among our Soldiers and civilian personnel,” Dubee said in a statement. “We will continue to collaborate [with] and support local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.”

Card’s military service awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

ABC News.com. 10/26/2023.

CBS News also confirmed:

Card is enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and has an active military ID, which gives him access to any military base, according to a Maine law enforcement bulletin seen by CBS News. Officials previously said Card was a firearms instructor in the Army Reserve stationed in Saco, Maine, but later said that was not the case.

A U.S. Army spokesperson told CBS News on Thursday that Card enlisted in the reserves in December 2002 and serves as a petroleum supply specialist. 

He has no combat deployments, the spokesperson said. Card has received a number of awards for his service, including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

CBS News.com. 10/27/2023.

National Medal of Science and National Medal of Tech and Innovation Tweet

From Thursday…

The video clip is 1 minute and 11 seconds long.

Remarks by President Biden at National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation Ceremony

The National Medal of Science is given for outstanding contributions to the knowledge — to knowledge in the sciences, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for outstanding contributions to the promotion of technology for the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social and — and social well-being of the United States.

With this year’s recipients, “outstanding” may be an understatement.  They’re extraordinary.

[snip]

To all the honorees: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your courage, for your perseverance, and maybe most importantly for your integrity.

[snip]

Because of the greatness of a country is measured not only by the size of its economy or the strength of its military.  It’s — the strength of the nation is also measured by its boldness of its science, the quality of its research, and the progress it helps bring forth for not only the country but whole the world.

In this administration, America will be the place where great science happens.  

[snip]

We just have to remember who in God’s name we are.  We’re the United States of America.  There is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity if we set our mind to it and do it together.

White House.gov. 10/24/2023.

GDP/Economy Tweets

From Thursday…

BEA.gov said on Thursday:

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2023 (table 1), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 2.1 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (refer to “Source Data for the Advance Estimate” on page 2). The “second” estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on November 29, 2023.

BEA.gov. 10/26/2023.
Real GDP: Percent change from preceding quarter

The increase in real GDP reflected increases in consumer spending, private inventory investment, exports, state and local government spending, federal government spending, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a decrease in nonresidential fixed investment (table 2). Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

The increase in consumer spending reflected increases in both services and goods. Within services, the leading contributors were housing and utilities, health care, financial services and insurance, and food services and accommodations. Within goods, the leading contributors to the increase were other nondurable goods (led by prescription drugs) as well as recreational goods and vehicles. The increase in private inventory investment reflected increases in manufacturing and retail trade. Within nonresidential fixed investment, a decrease in equipment was partly offset by increases in intellectual property products and structures.

Compared to the second quarter, the acceleration in real GDP in the third quarter reflected accelerations in consumer spending, private inventory investment, and federal government spending and upturns in exports and residential fixed investment. These movements were partly offset by a downturn in nonresidential fixed investment and a deceleration in state and local government spending. Imports turned up.

BEA.gov. 10/26/2023.

I did not copy over their whole statement.

President Biden’s full statement:

I always say it is a mistake to bet against the American people, and just today we learned the economy grew 4.9% in the third quarter.  I never believed we would need a recession to bring inflation down – and today we saw again that the American economy continues to grow even as inflation has come down. It is a testament to the resilience of American consumers and American workers, supported by Bidenomics—my plan to grow the economy by growing the middle class.  The unemployment rate has been below 4% for 20 months in a row, real wages are up over the last year, and median wealth for American families has grown by a record amount accounting for inflation. Just yesterday, the UAW and Ford reached a historic tentative agreement that provides a record raise to auto workers and is a testament to our strategy for a powerful manufacturing future made in America, with good, union jobs.  I hope Republicans in Congress will join me in working to build on this progress, rather than putting our economy at risk with reckless threats of a shutdown or proposals to cut taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, while slashing programs that are essential for hard-working families and seniors.

White House.gov. 10/26/2023.

Israel/Gaza Tweets

From Thursday…

From the White House…

10/07/2023:

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Advisory Commission Tweet

From Thursday…

I can only find this from the White House YouTube:

Presidential Advisory Commission for Black Americans Inaugural Meeting Oct. 26, 2023; it’s 8 hours and 11 minutes long.

The YouTube description: Please join the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans for its inaugural meeting. Commissioners will be sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris and conduct their first official day of business. The Commission is led by Representative Malcolm Kenyatta.


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About Tiff 2562 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.