Illegals Cut 9287 Holes in Obama-Era Border Fence CNSNews.com (CNSNews.com) - During a six-year stretch of the Obama presidency, people illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border cut 9,287 holes in the pedestrian fencing that currently covers only 354 miles of the 1,954-mile border, according to a report ... |
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Illegals Cut 9287 Holes in Obama-Era Border Fence - CNSNews.com
New York Times | Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking New York Times WASHINGTON In the Obama administration's last days, some White House officials scrambled to spread information about Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election and about possible contacts between associates of President-elect Donald ... Obama Officials 'Fought to Preserve Evidence' of Russian Election Meddling Obama officials worked to leave investigators a trail on Russia: report Obama Officials Left Intelligence Trail on Russia, Report Says |
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Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking - New York Times
The unlikely pair have often been photographed together during formal events. When Obama embraced Bush at the opening ceremony for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture last September, the photo of their warm interaction went viral.
"She kind of likes my sense of humor. Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like," Bush said.
The pair are often seated next to each other during events, including the interfaith memorial service for the victims of the Dallas police shooting in July, last year's funeral for former first lady Nancy Reagan and the 2015 commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
"I can't remember where else I've sat next to her, but I probably have a few wisecracks and she seemed to like it OK," Bush said. "I needle her a little bit and around her, I'm fairly lighthearted. (The Obamas) are around serious people all the time and we just took to each other."
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George W. Bush explains his fondness for Michelle Obama - CNN
Former US president Barack Obama has begun settling into his civilian life, but many arent ready to let him go. The pangs of longing arent exclusive to Americans. In fact, avid Obama fans are calling for him to run for president againin France.
A French petition pleading for Obama to run for the French presidency, because he has the best CV in the world for the job, has amassed over 40,000 signatures, which is not restricted to French citizens. The campaign, named Obama 2017, has blanketed Paris with red-white-and-blue posters showing Obamas portrait and the French translation of his famous motto, Oui on peut (Yes, we can). The campaigners, who have so far remained anonymous, hope to amass one million signatures by March 15 (its unclear why they are aiming for one million).
Spearheading the operation is a group of disenfranchised voters in Paris unhappy with the current slate which includes far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. While Obama cant actually run to be Frances next presidentcandidates must be Frenchthe organizers picked him for the campaign because at a time when France is about to vote massively for the extreme right, we can still give a lesson of democracy to the planet by electing a French President, a foreigner, the petition notes.
For Obama to get on the ballot he needs not just citizenship, but signatures from 500 mayors by March 17 (there are more than 35,000 mayors across France). In 2012, Le Pen of the Front National faced an uphill battle to get the enough signatures by the deadline.
Le Pen appears to be a much stronger candidate this year; she continues to have a strong lead in the polls, ahead of independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and the center-right candidate Franois Fillon, who are second and third, respectively. The candidates have been described as lackluster against Le Pen; Macrons attempts to build support from the middle ground has drawn ire from the right and left, while a financial scandal has sunk Fillon in the polls. The French socialists have failed to inspire much support, with their candidate Benoit Hamon in fourth place in every major poll.
Le Pen, whose popular anti-immigration rhetoric aligns with Trumps rise in the US, is expected to make it to the final round of voting, but tactical voting may prevent her from winning. The presidential election consists of two rounds; if a candidate fails to win more than 50% of the vote, then the two leading candidates face off in a second round.
In 2002, Le Pens father lost the presidential election in the second round to his opponent Jacques Chiracwith a remarkable margin of 82% to 18%after the left reluctantly sided with Chirac under the slogan vote for a crook, not for a fascist. A point the Obama 2017 initiative picks up on, saying it should be possible for France to vote for a president and not against a candidate.
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There's a petition to elect Barack Obama president of France - Quartz
Former President Barack Obama is getting ready to jump back into the political pool, former US Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday.
Holder said he has been talking with Obama about different ways to help the new National Democratic Redistricting Committee, according to Politico. Obama asked Holder to be chairman of the group last year.
Hes ready to roll, Holder told reporters at a briefing.
Obama and other top Democrats are focusing efforts on state-level races and ending the reconfiguring of voting districts through the political process known as gerrymandering a combined effort to end Trump-ism and help their party regain control of Congress and legislatures across the country.
Politico reported that the group seeks to direct resources into winning certain state elections, push ballot initiatives for nonpartisan district-drawing commissions and wage legal wars over existing maps.
By accomplishing their goals, the group hopes it would put Democrats at a better advantage in state legislatures and the House of Representatives.
Obama indicated last fall before leaving the White House that his short-term, post-presidency focus will be on General Assembly races and redistricting after the 2020 Census. Voting districts are redrawn after a federal Census to reflect the changes in population and other demographic. Much of the redistricting across the country is done by the political party that controls the state legislature.
Marc Elias, a top election lawyer advising the group, said they expect states to file new lawsuits to change the districting maps and are guiding states on where they could see legal victories.
Holder said the fight will be more difficult with Jeff Sessions running the Justice Department. He added that the decision to throw out a challenge to voter laws in Texas was disheartening.
This is really a battle for our democracy, Holder said. The notion that people are denied their ability to cast a meaningful vote is inconsistent with who we say we are, inconsistent with what we say our democracy is about.
Fox News Joseph Weber contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Fox News.
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Holder: Obama preparing to get back into political spotlight - New York Post