We conduct those strikes because they are necessary to mitigate ongoing actual threats, to stop plots, prevent future attacks and, again, save American lives. These strikes are legal, they are ethical and they are wise.White House Press Secretary Jay Carney • Speaking on a recent Justice Department memo made public, asserting the government’s right to target citizens for drone strikes if it’s deemed they’ve been involved in attacks against the United States, circumventing the due process of law that Americans are traditionally Constitutionally entitled to. The memo itself seems to strive for a standard under which the U.S. drone killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, for example, a U.S. citizen suspected of terrorist activity when he was slain in Yemen, would be considered legal. This is an interesting policy area for the odd political bedfellows it draws together, as both left and right wing criticisms of the targeted killing program are prevalent, and President Obama’s nominee to head the CIA, his 1st term counterterrorism chief John Brennan, has a Senate confirmation ahead of him. Brennan in his old job was a central figure in the U.S. drone program, and as such we’d anticipate even some bipartisan congressional grilling on this topic during his hearing. source
Important! There is an official White House petition to make the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. You know what to do, America.
(via @noahchestnut)
Best part: A fantasy football site started it.
Today, President Obama announced sweeping set of policies, including 23 executive orders, aimed at reducing gun violence. The unveiling was the result of the Joe Biden-led task force Obama formed last month in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, and proposed policies include an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, and improved access to mental health care. The Washington Post calls it “the most expansive gun-control policies in a generation,” and the fact that the president issued no less than 23 executive orders suggests that he wants to avoid congress as much as possible with this (which, given his first term, is understandable). Here’s the flashy White House document outlining the proposals, here’s a list of the executive orders (one of which, somewhat amusingly, is “Nominate an ATF director”), and here’s audio of the event (courtesy of Matt Keys). Photo credit: AP source
When we launched We the People, none of us knew how popular it would be, but it’s exceeded our wildest expectations. Through the past year, interest in We the People exploded and we’re closing in on 10 million signatures.
When we first raised the threshold — from 5,000 to 25,000 — we called it “a good problem to have.” Turns out that “good problem” is only getting better, so we’re making another adjustment to ensure we’re able to continue to give the most popular ideas the time they deserve.
Starting today, as we move into a second term, petitions must receive 100,000 signatures in 30 days in order to receive an official response from the Obama Administration. This new threshold applies only to petitions created from this point forward and is not retroactively applied to ones that already exist.
In the last two months of 2012, use of We the People more than doubled. In just that time roughly 2.4 million new users joined the system, 73,000 petitions were created and 4.9 million signatures were registered.
Note: Petitions that have already hit the lower mark will still get responded to, but new petitions have to reach the higher standard.
It is doubtless that such a technological terror in the hands of so primitive a world would be used to upset the peace and sanctity of the citizens of the Galactic Empire. Such destructive power can only be wielded to protect and defend by so enlightened a leader as Emperor Palpatine.Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of the Outer Rim Territories • In response to the White House’s official statement on a We The People petition which urged President Obama to authorize the construction of a Death Star. A response from the “Galactic Empire” has been posted on StarWars.com, and you’ll definitely want to take a minute to check it out. Today’s been a pretty great day for parodies, don’t you think? source
After the Sandy Hook shootings in Newton, Connecticut I started a petition urging the Obama Administration to work with Congress to limit access to guns. I first posted it here on tumblr and it quickly took off, making it’s way to Twitter and Facebook, eventually going viral.
In a few days it became the most popular petition on the “We The People” White House petition site, and even prompted a video response from the President. Here’s the fun part… I found out a few days ago that I am invited to the White House this Wednesday.
While details are up in the air, I know there will be an interview, and a good chance to meet the king of Dad Sneakers and his #2, as well as some other fun stuff. So with that said, here’s a big thanks to everyone who supported the petition, because it does matter. If you have any questions/comments please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them. Wish me luck (I need a haircut and a shave).
Now this is awesome. Best of luck!
The Short Answer is No, but Keep Reading.OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE TO: We request that Obama be impeached for the following reasons. Read - We the People: Your Voice in Our Government (via brooklynmutt)
Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?The official White House response to the Death Star petition is pure comedy.
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Here’s a hidden feature that shipped in...
Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
“President Barack Obama issued a video response Friday to a petition on the White House website calling for the stricter gun control measures in the wake of last week’s mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.
“Like the majority of Americans, I believe that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms,” Obama said in the video. “It’s encouraging that many gun owners have stepped up this week to say there are steps we can take to prevent more tragedies like the one in Newtown.”
Obama continued: “Here’s what I think we should do. This week I called on Congress to take up and pass common-sense legislation that has the support of the majority of the American people, including banning the sale of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips, and making sure criminals can’t take advantage of legal loopholes to get their hands on a gun.”
The gun control petition, which had close to 200,000 signatures as of Friday morning, is the most popular effort ever championed on the White House’s “We The People” platform.”
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Way to go to tumblr! This never would have happened without everyone pitching in.
Heed the President’s words though: “If we’re going to succeed, it’s going to take a sustained effort from mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, law enforcement, and responsible gun owners. Organizing, speaking up, calling their members of congress as many times as it takes, standing up and saying enough on behalf of all our kids. That’s how change happens.”
Major props to perzadook for the petition, and bringing the issue to the forefront in a way where Obama responded directly.
Here’s Obama’s response to the gun control petition launched by Perzadook.
It’s a banner week for White House petitions which deserve support. This one, which encourages the White House to classify the Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group, has the backing of Anonymous, which is actively trying to stop the church from picketing the funerals of Sandy Hook shooting victims. It’s already topped the 25,000 signature mark requiring the White House to formally respond.
Here’s the conservative response to the prior, more successful, petition. No comment. (Side note: Hey, did you know you can create your own petition on Whitehouse.gov, and if it gets enough signatures, The White House must respond? That’s the fun part of democracy. You get both sides involved.)
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