At Trump Tower before the State of the Union.

January 21, 2015. (Official Photo by Heather Reed)

--

This official Speaker of the House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the Speaker of the House or any Member of Congress.

Military spouse Amy Williams reacts as her husband U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams acknowledges the applause of the crowd after making a surprise appearance during the State of the Union address Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., returning home from his fourth Middle East deployment. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

Military spouse Amy Williams reacts as her husband U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams makes a surprise appearance during the State of the Union address Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., returning home from his fourth Middle East deployment. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

Here are my photos from an incredible week in Cleveland. I have been very fortunate over my career to get to record some very historic moments in politics. I've photographed campaign events, events at the White House, Inaugurations, been to an Inaugural Ball, I was there when President Bush officially won reelection, State of the Unions, but the one thing I had never covered was a Presidential Convention. When I heard that the RNC was going to hold their convention in Cleveland (45 minutes from our home), I knew I had to apply. I owe some thank yous to some people for helping me finally make the decision to take the time off from work, but I am very proud to say I have finally checked a convention off my bucket list.

To be 100% honest, if it was the DNC that was holding their convention in Cleveland, I would have been there too, it wasn't a political decision. When you get the opportunity to photograph anything regarding the Presidency your political leanings don't apply anymore. You say yes.

I hope you enjoy my photos. It really was an amazing week. There were some hiccups as I learned how things worked (when Trump entered the arena on Wednesday I went with a ton of other press to photograph him, and Secret Service cleared us out of there and made us go up these steps to clear out the area so the isle wasn't blocked. I was surprised at that, and when I realized they took us off the floor and up to the main level by concessions, I walked back to the media area and headed back down to the floor only to find out Secret Service had closed the floor. They said the Fire Marshal said we were at the max limit, but personally (no facts to back this up), my belief is that Trump was on the floor so the Secret Service locked it down so nobody new was going on the floor. It's ok, I understand that. I wasn't happy I had to miss Pence's speech, but I understand how security works.

Every Delegate I met was incredibly friendly (one even gave me a cool pin from Texas - it's in my collage photo).

The City of Cleveland did an amazing job, the police were incredible, and there was not a single moment I felt unconfortable, even walking back to my car at 12:45am a 1/2 mile from the arena. They did an amazing job.

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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One of the pictures taken during the second State of the Union address delivered by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on 15 September 2021 in Strasbourg.

It was followed by a debate with Members of Parliament where they assess the work accomplished by the Commission in the preceding twelve months and discuss future challenges.

Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/priorities/soteu...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons license CC-BY-4.0 and must be credited: "CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2021 – Source: EP".

via Instagram ift.tt/2fzDbQH

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden greet Kathy Pham, First Lady's State of the Union box guest, and brother Captain David Pham in the Blue Room of the White House, Jan. 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson).This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. .

President Joe Biden prepares for his upcoming State of the Union address, Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Camp David. Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, left, and Senior Adviser Mike Donilon work with Director of Speechwriting Vinay Reddy. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

#SOTEU: Let’s make the most of the momentum to shape an ambitious future.

* Roadmap to EU 2025 built on democratic values and efficient decision-making

* Complete Defence, Security, Energy, Digital, Monetary and Capital Markets Union

* Offer equal opportunities to all citizens and strengthen industrial competitiveness

* Create EU agencies for workers’ rights, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism.

Political groups welcomed Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s ambitious vision for a strong and united Europe 2025 in the annual “State of the Union” debate this morning.

Plans on defence, security, legal migration, international trade, social equality and on how to strengthen the Union’s budgetary capacity and democratic decision-making process were discussed by political group leaders in a three-hour debate.

www.soteu.eu

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At Trump Tower before the State of the Union.

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

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From left, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Associate Director for Science Carl Wieman, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, Billings, Montana Central Catholic High School student Mikayla Nelson, Phoenix, Arizona South Mountain Community College student Diego Vasquez, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren, sixteen-year-old high school junior from Richardson, Texas Amy Chyao, West Philadelphia High School student Brandon Ford and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden pose for a group photo at the New Executive Office Building, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 in Washington. The students are all young achievers in science and technology and will be amongst other guests seated in the First Lady’s Box in the U.S. Capitol during the President’s State of the Union Address. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

President Juncker called for the EU to speak and act as one on a global stage, defend its democratic values and turn its back on poisonous nationalism.

“The EU is a global payer, but must also become a global player”, said Jean-Claude Juncker in his speech on the State of the Union 2018. “There are no guarantees that our allies of yesterday will remain our allies of tomorrow”, he added, announcing further proposals to strengthen the Defence Union, step up protection of EU external borders and reinforcethe Euro as an international currency. ”It is absurd that the EU pays 80 % of its bill for energy imports in dollars...whilst only 2% of those energy imports come from the US”, he said.

Juncker highlighted the difference between enlightened patriotism and unhealthy nationalism. “Article 7, must be activated where media freedom and the rule of law are under threat”, he said. “There is no democracy without a free press. (...) Respecting judiciary decisions is not an option, but an obligation”. Europe must also shield its democratic process from international and private interests.

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180906IPR1210...

These photos are free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2018 - European Parliament" (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). No model release form if applicable. If you need higher resolution files do not hesitate to contact us. Please do not forget to send the link or a copy of the publication to us: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack meets with Braeden Mannering, 3B Brae’s Brown Bags guest of First Lady Michelle Obama for the State of the Union at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. Mannering a 12 year old middle school student at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School in Bear, Del. began his own nonprofit called 3B Brae's Brown Bags, providing hope and nourishment to homeless and low-income individuals after attending the White House Kids' ";State Dinner"; as part of the First Lady's Let's Move! Campaign. USDA photo by Bob Nichols.

State of the Union address delivered by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on 14 September 2022 in Strasbourg.

This year's guest of honour was Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine.

It was followed by a debate with Members of Parliament where they assess the work accomplished by the Commission in the preceding twelve months and discuss future challenges.

Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20220...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons license CC-BY-4.0 and must be credited: "CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2022– Source: EP". (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) No model release form if applicable. For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

U.S. President Donald J. Trump participates in a photo opportunity with the First Lady’s State of the Union guest, David Dahlberg, Forest Service USDA firefighter, Tuesday, January 30, 2018, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

Fordham, North Carolina - 1865

A bullet missed me by two feet, reminding me that I had to get out of here. I took Jim's rifle and revolver. I ran for the saloon.

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

16 October 2019, Roundtable discussion "State of the Union: The view from teh regions and cities"

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

President Juncker called for the EU to speak and act as one on a global stage, defend its democratic values and turn its back on poisonous nationalism.

“The EU is a global payer, but must also become a global player”, said Jean-Claude Juncker in his speech on the State of the Union 2018. “There are no guarantees that our allies of yesterday will remain our allies of tomorrow”, he added, announcing further proposals to strengthen the Defence Union, step up protection of EU external borders and reinforcethe Euro as an international currency. ”It is absurd that the EU pays 80 % of its bill for energy imports in dollars...whilst only 2% of those energy imports come from the US”, he said.

Juncker highlighted the difference between enlightened patriotism and unhealthy nationalism. “Article 7, must be activated where media freedom and the rule of law are under threat”, he said. “There is no democracy without a free press. (...) Respecting judiciary decisions is not an option, but an obligation”. Europe must also shield its democratic process from international and private interests.

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180906IPR1210...

These photos are free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2018 - European Parliament" (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). No model release form if applicable. If you need higher resolution files do not hesitate to contact us. Please do not forget to send the link or a copy of the publication to us: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

State of the Union address delivered by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on 14 September 2022 in Strasbourg.

This year's guest of honour was Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine.

It was followed by a debate with Members of Parliament where they assess the work accomplished by the Commission in the preceding twelve months and discuss future challenges.

Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20220...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons license CC-BY-4.0 and must be credited: "CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2022– Source: EP". (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) No model release form if applicable. For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160909IPR41712...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons licenses and must be credited: "© European Union 2016 - European Parliament".

(Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CreativeCommons licenses creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

For bigger HR files please contact: webcom-flickr(AT)europarl.europa.eu

The morning after President Obama’s State of the Union address, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew provided remarks on the state of the U.S. economy and the Administration's priorities for 2015, with a particular focus on building shared prosperity for all Americans and business tax reform.

On January 21, the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at Brookings hosted Secretary Lew. Vice President and Director of Economic Studies Ted Gayer introduced the Secretary, and Director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy and Senior Fellow David Wessel moderated. Photography by Chris Maddaloni.

Europe is faced with unprecedented challenges, from globalisation to migration, terrorism and unemployment. How can the EU best meet people’s expectations on these?

The annual State of the Union debate is the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at these issues. On 14 September MEPs will review what the European Commission has done recently and scrutinise what it intends to do with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

As the EU’s only directly-elected institution, the European Parliament is the ideal platform for a discussion on how to ensure an EU that delivers.

Follow the debate live on www.soteu.eu

One of the pictures taken during the second State of the Union address delivered by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on 15 September 2021 in Strasbourg.

It was followed by a debate with Members of Parliament where they assess the work accomplished by the Commission in the preceding twelve months and discuss future challenges.

Read more: www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/priorities/soteu...

This photo is free to use under Creative Commons license CC-BY-4.0 and must be credited: "CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2021 – Source: EP".

Here are my photos from an incredible week in Cleveland. I have been very fortunate over my career to get to record some very historic moments in politics. I've photographed campaign events, events at the White House, Inaugurations, been to an Inaugural Ball, I was there when President Bush officially won reelection, State of the Unions, but the one thing I had never covered was a Presidential Convention. When I heard that the RNC was going to hold their convention in Cleveland (45 minutes from our home), I knew I had to apply. I owe some thank yous to some people for helping me finally make the decision to take the time off from work, but I am very proud to say I have finally checked a convention off my bucket list.

To be 100% honest, if it was the DNC that was holding their convention in Cleveland, I would have been there too, it wasn't a political decision. When you get the opportunity to photograph anything regarding the Presidency your political leanings don't apply anymore. You say yes.

I hope you enjoy my photos. It really was an amazing week. There were some hiccups as I learned how things worked (when Trump entered the arena on Wednesday I went with a ton of other press to photograph him, and Secret Service cleared us out of there and made us go up these steps to clear out the area so the isle wasn't blocked. I was surprised at that, and when I realized they took us off the floor and up to the main level by concessions, I walked back to the media area and headed back down to the floor only to find out Secret Service had closed the floor. They said the Fire Marshal said we were at the max limit, but personally (no facts to back this up), my belief is that Trump was on the floor so the Secret Service locked it down so nobody new was going on the floor. It's ok, I understand that. I wasn't happy I had to miss Pence's speech, but I understand how security works.

Every Delegate I met was incredibly friendly (one even gave me a cool pin from Texas - it's in my collage photo).

The City of Cleveland did an amazing job, the police were incredible, and there was not a single moment I felt unconfortable, even walking back to my car at 12:45am a 1/2 mile from the arena. They did an amazing job.

The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Capitol, houses the Swamp from each state of the Union.

In his State of the Union Address, the President laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to

last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

The President believes this is a make or break moment for the middle class and those trying to

reach it. What’s at stake is the very survival of the basic American promise that if you work hard,

you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put a little away for retirement.

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent; no

debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people

do really well, while more Americans barely get by. Or we can build a nation where everyone gets

a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. At stake right

now are not Democratic or Republican values, but American values – and for the sake of our future, we have to reclaim them.

The fact is, the economic security of the middle class has eroded for decades. Long before the

recession, good jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Hard work stopped paying off for too many Americans. Those at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but the vast majority of Americans struggled with costs that were growing and paychecks that weren’t.

In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. Mortgages were sold to people who couldn’t afford or

understand them. Banks made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. It was a crisis that cost us more than eight million jobs and plunged our economy and the world into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover.

Three years later, thanks to the President’s bold actions, the economy is growing again. Over

the past 22 months, our businesses have created 3.2 million jobs. Last year, we added the most

private sector jobs since 2005. American manufacturing is creating jobs for the first time since

the late 1990s. The American auto industry is back. Today, American oil production is the highest

that it’s been in eight years. Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion. The

President signed into law new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like the one we’ve endured never happens again.

When we act together, in common purpose and common effort, there is nothing the United States of America cannot achieve. That’s why the President’s blueprint for action contains policies that businesses can take, actions that Congress needs to take, as well as actions that the President will take on his own.

We have come too far to turn back now. We cannot go back to an economy based on outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. The President intends to keep moving forward and rebuild an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded – an economy built to last.

I. Manufacturing: Create New Jobs Here In America, Discourage Outsourcing, And Encourage

Insourcing

• Take away the deduction for outsourcing, make companies pay a minimum tax for profits and

jobs overseas, and reward companies for bringing jobs back to America.

• Lower tax rates for companies that manufacture and create jobs in the United States.

• Get tough on trade enforcement.

• Create more jobs and make us more competitive by rebuilding America using half of the savings from ending foreign wars.

II. Skills: Give Hard-Working, Responsible Americans A Fair Shot

• Forge new partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train and place 2

million skilled workers.

• Reform job training and Unemployment Insurance and create one website that dislocated

workers can use to help them get back to work.

• Attract, prepare, support, and reward great teachers to help students learn.

• Call on every state to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.

• Double work-study jobs and take steps to hold down college costs for middle-class families.

• Build a 21st century immigration system and give responsible young people a chance to earn

their citizenship.

• Put veterans to work protecting our communities and preserving our natural resources.

• Secure equal pay for equal work.

• Help start-ups and small businesses succeed and create jobs by reforming regulations and

expanding tax relief.

• Help spur innovation by investing in research and development.

III. Energy: Make The Most Of America’s Energy Resources

• Promote safe, responsible development of the near 100-year supply of natural gas, supporting

more than 600,000 jobs while ensuring public health and safety.

• Incentivize manufacturers to make energy upgrades, saving $100 billion over the next decade.

• Create clean energy jobs in the United States.

IV. Values: Ensure Every American Plays By The Same Set Of Rules And Pays Their Fair Share

• Make the tax code fairer and simpler for the middle class and make sure millionaires and

billionaires follow the Buffett Rule by paying at least 30% in taxes.

• End subsidies for millionaires.

• Prevent tax increases for working families by extending the payroll tax cut.

• Call on Congress to give every responsible homeowner the opportunity to refinance.

• Make sure Wall Street plays by the same rules.

• Reduce the influence of money and lobbyists and do away with procedures that stop Congress

from working on behalf of the American people.

• Pass a balanced, fair deficit reduction

plan.

A Blueprint to Create New Jobs Here in America,Discourage Outsourcing, and Encourage Insourcing

Take away the deduction for outsourcing, make companies pay a minimum tax for profits

and jobs overseas, and reward companies for bringing jobs back to America: The President

believes that we need comprehensive corporate tax reform that will close loopholes, lower rates,

and eliminate incentives that make it more attractive to ship jobs overseas – corporate tax reform

that will:

• Remove tax incentives to locate overseas through an international minimum tax: The President

is proposing to eliminate tax incentives to ship jobs offshore by ensuring that all American

companies pay a minimum tax on their overseas profits, preventing other countries from

attracting American business through unusually low tax rates.

• Stop letting companies take a tax deduction for moving overseas and instead provide a credit for

moving jobs back home: The President wants to eliminate the tax deduction companies receive

for the cost of shutting down factories and moving production overseas, and create a new tax

credit to cover moving expenses for companies that close production overseas and bring jobs

back to the United States.

Lower tax rates for companies that manufacture and create jobs in the United States:

• Create new incentives to increase manufacturing in the United States: At the same time

he proposes to close special-interest loopholes, the President is proposing to ensure the

next generation of manufacturing jobs is created here in America by reducing tax rates for

manufacturers and doubling the tax deduction for high-tech manufacturers.

• Support companies that make new investments in the communities hardest hit by major job

losses: The President is proposing a new tax credit that provides support for companies seeking

to finance new factories, equipment, or production in communities that have been hardest hit by a company choosing to relocate or a military base shutting down.

Get tough on trade enforcement: The President has worked to ensure Americans can sell

their products all over the world, and last year he signed into law new trade agreements with

Panama, Colombia, and South Korea, helping to put the United States on track to reach the goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014. But the President refuses to stand by when our international competitors don’t play by the rules. To level the playing field by improving trade enforcement, the President is announcing:

• A new trade enforcement unit: The President announced the creation of a new trade enforcement unit that will bring together resources and investigators from across the Federal Government to go after unfair trade practices in countries around the world, including China.

• Enhancing trade inspections: The President called for enhancing trade inspections to stop

counterfeit, pirated, or unsafe goods before they enter the United States.

• Putting American companies on an even footing: When competitors like China offer unfair export financing to help their companies win business overseas, the United States will provide financing to put our companies on an even footing.

Create jobs by using half of the savings from ending foreign wars to rebuild America: To

help ensure we have the infrastructure so that companies can ship their goods more efficiently

throughout the country and the world, the President is calling for new efforts to revitalize American

infrastructure. The President’s plan will protect taxpayer dollars by fixing existing roads and by

directing funding to the best projects instead of earmarks, and will continue investments in highspeed rail. To pay for these investments, the President is proposing to use approximately half of the savings that we will achieve from winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the 6 year period of the infrastructure plan with the other half going towards paying down the debt. The President also announced that within the coming weeks, he will sign an Executive Order clearing the red tape that can slow down new infrastructure projects, accelerating those projects that have already been funded.

A Blueprint To Give Hard-Working, Responsible Americans A Fair Shot

Forge new partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train and place 2

million skilled workers: Many industries have difficulty filling jobs requiring specific technical

skills, even with many Americans still looking for work. In coming years, America will need to

fill millions of mid- and high-level skilled positions in industries from healthcare to advanced

manufacturing, clean energy to information technology. The President proposed a new initiative

to train and place two million Americans in good jobs through partnerships between businesses

and community colleges that give workers the skills employers explicitly need. The program is

modeled on efforts by employers and community colleges from Charlotte and Chicago to Orlando and Louisville. To address future workforce needs, the President will support partnerships between high schools and industry to create more career academies, which combine instruction in academic subjects and industry skills.

Reform job training and Unemployment Insurance to help put more Americans back to work:

The President believes we need to reform outdated and inefficient unemployment insurance and

job training systems and restore the basic bargain that if you are willing to do the work, you deserve the chance to gain the skills you need to find a job or land a better one. The President called on Congress to move forward on reforms to the Unemployment Insurance program by requiring workers to undergo eligibility assessments in order to receive emergency federal benefits, while at the same time offering new tools to help workers find new jobs. He also proposed streamlining training and employment services for dislocated workers so that those workers are able to access a single program, visit a single location, and go to a single website to find the help they need about job services and training opportunities in their communities.

Attract, prepare, support, and reward great teachers to help students learn: Teaching is a profession and should be treated like one. The latest research says a great teacher could

increase the lifetime income of an entire classroom by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The

President is fighting to protect our schools from being hurt by the recession by providing states and communities with funds to prevent teacher layoffs, and avoid increases to class sizes or decreases in the number of school days. The President is also asking for a new competitive program that will challenge states and districts to work with their teachers and unions to comprehensively reform the teaching profession by:

• Reforming colleges of education and making these schools more selective;

• Creating new career ladders for teachers to become more effective, and ensuring that earnings

are tied more closely to performance;

• Establishing more leadership roles and responsibilities for teachers in running schools; improving professional development and time for collaboration among teachers; and providing greater individual and collective autonomy in the classroom in exchange for greater accountability;

• Creating evaluation systems based on multiple measures, rather than just test scores;

• Re-shaping tenure to raise the bar, protect good teachers, and promote accountability.

Keep students in high school: The President challenged state governments to live up to their

responsibilities by calling on every state to do what 20 states have already done: require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18. Studies show that stronger dropout laws keep students in school longer and increase their lifetime earnings as a result. Raising compulsory school requirements, in conjunction with the Administration’s historic investments in low-performing schools, will curb the high school dropout crisis and set students down a path of academic and career success.

Double work-study jobs and take steps to hold down college costs for middle-class families:

College costs are escalating at an unsustainable pace. Even after adjusting for inflation, the average published cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public university has increased by 136% in the last 20 years. This Administration has made college more affordable by continuing to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by more than $800 and creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college. The President called on Congress to help keep college costs within reach for middle-class families by:

• Keeping tuition from spiraling too high: The President is proposing to shift some Federal aid away from colleges that don’t keep net tuition down and provide good value.

• Preventing student loan interest rates from doubling: The President called on Congress to stop

the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans from doubling on July 1 of this year, so

young people don’t have as much debt to repay.

• Doubling the number of work-study jobs: The President wants to reward students who are willing to work hard by doubling over five years the number of work-study jobs for college students who agree to work their way through school.

• Permanently extending tuition tax breaks that provide up to $10,000 for four years of college: The President is proposing to make the American Opportunity Tax Credit permanent, maintaining a tax cut that provides up to $10,000 for tuition over four years of college.

Build a 21st century immigration system and give responsible young people a chance to

earn their citizenship: The President recognizes that our immigration system is broken, and is

committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform to build a 21st century immigration system that meets our nation’s economic and security needs. The President’s vision for reform includes continuing to make border security a federal responsibility; holding accountable businesses that break the law by exploiting undocumented workers; making those living in the United States illegally take responsibility for their actions by passing a background check, paying fines, and getting right with the law before they can get on a path to legalization; and creating a legal immigration system that meets our diverse needs. We must also stop expelling talented young people, whether they were brought here by their parents as children or came from other countries to pursue college and advanced degrees.

Put veterans to work protecting our communities and preserving our natural resources:

Building on tax cuts already passed for hiring unemployed veterans, the President proposed a

new Veterans Job Corps that will provide our communities funding to hire veterans as cops and

firefighters, and to put them to work rebuilding and enhancing our parks, forests, and natural

resources – so that America is as strong as those who have defended her.

Secure equal pay for equal work: Women make up half of the U.S. workforce and two-thirds of

our families rely on a mother’s wages for a significant portion of their income. Yet women generally make 23 cents on the dollar less than their male counterparts. The first bill the President signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, helps women who face discrimination recover their wages.

He then created an inter-agency Equal Pay Task Force to crack down on equal pay law violations.

The President is committed to closing the pay gap once and for all.

Help start-ups and small businesses succeed and create jobs by reforming regulations and expanding tax relief: Start-ups and small businesses create most of the new jobs in this country.

The President is proposing to build on measures he has already taken to enact 17 small business tax cuts and expand access to capital for small businesses by reforming regulations that prevent entrepreneurs from getting financing and by expanding tax relief to start-ups and small businesses that are creating jobs and increasing wages.

Help spur innovation by investing in research and development: The President made clear that

we need to maintain our commitment to funding research and development that can support our

economy and improve our quality of life.

A Blueprint to Make the Most of America’s Energy Resources

Promote safe, responsible development of the near 100-year supply of natural gas,

supporting more than 600,000 jobs while ensuring public health and safety: In 2009,

we became the world’s leading producer of natural gas. Tonight, the President directed the

Administration to ensure safe shale gas development that, according to independent estimates,

will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. These actions will include moving

forward with common-sense new rules to require disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking

operations on public lands.

Incentivize manufacturers to make energy upgrades, saving $100 billion over the next

decade: The President announced a new proposal to increase the energy efficiency of

the industrial sector by providing new incentives and breaking down regulatory barriers for

manufacturers to upgrade equipment and eliminate wasted energy in their facilities, saving $100

billion from the nation’s energy bills and reducing the amount of energy we import from foreign

countries.

Create clean energy jobs in the United States: The President called on Congress to build on

our success in positioning America to be the world’s leading manufacturer in high-tech batteries

and reiterated his call for action on clean energy tax credits and a national goal of moving toward

clean sources of electricity by setting a standard for utility companies, so that by 2035, 80% of the

nation’s electricity will come from clean sources, including renewable energy sources like wind,

solar, biomass, hydropower, nuclear power, efficient natural gas, and clean coal. Because Congress has not yet acted on this and other key steps to achieve a clean energy economy, the President announced that the Department of the Navy will make the largest renewable energy purchase in history – one gigawatt. In addition, the President is directing the Department of Interior to permit 10 gigawatts of renewables projects by the end of the year, enough to power three million homes.

A Blueprint to Return to America’s Values - Ensuring Everyone Plays by the Same Set of Rules and Pays Their Fair Share

Make the tax code fairer and simpler for the middle class and make sure millionaires

and billionaires follow the Buffett Rule by paying at least 30% in taxes: In September, the

President announced five principles for tax reform. The President is now announcing additional

details to those principles on how we should fundamentally reform our tax code to make it simpler and fairer for middle-class Americans:

• A “Buffett Rule” to ensure those making over $1 million pay a minimum effective rate of at least

30%: Last year, the President called for tax reform that follows the Buffett Rule – the principle

that no household making over $1 million a year should pay a smaller share of its income in taxes than middle-class families pay. In support of this rule, the President is now specifically calling for measures to ensure everyone making over a million dollars a year pays a minimum effective tax rate of at least 30%. The Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equitable, including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributions.

• Eliminating tax deductions for those making over $1 million: As part of his effort to reform

inefficient and unfair tax breaks, the President is proposing to eliminate tax subsidies for

millionaires that they do not need. There is no reason that those making over $1 million per year

should get any tax subsidies for housing, health care, retirement, and child care.

• Protecting taxpayers below $250,000: The President reiterated his commitment that taxes

shouldn’t go up on those with incomes under $250,000.

End subsidies for millionaires:

The President joined Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) in calling onWashington to stop giving federal subsidies – Food Stamps, unemployment benefits, and farm

subsidies – to millionaires, because they don’t need it and the country can’t afford it.

Prevent tax increases for working families by extending the payroll tax cut: The President

challenged Congress to strengthen the economic recovery by extending the payroll tax cut – which provides $40 per paycheck for the typical family – for the rest of the year so that taxes don’t go up on American workers.

Call on Congress to give every responsible homeowner the opportunity to refinance: Millions

of Americans who try to refinance are given the runaround from the bank even though they are

current on their payments. Building on the action he already took this fall to make four million

Americans eligible for lower interest rates without that hassle, the President announced that he will send Congress a plan that will allow responsible homeowners who are current on their payments to save $3,000 a year on their mortgage by refinancing at historically low interest rates. The President is proposing to use some of the Administration’s proposed bank fees to cover the cost of the refinancing plan, since financial institutions helped cause the housing crisis from which borrowers and the economy are still trying to recover.

Make sure Wall Street plays by the same rules: Under current law, some individuals in the financial industry violate major anti-fraud laws because there’s no real penalty for being a repeat offender. As the Administration continues to implement Wall Street reform to prevent practices that helped lead to the financial crisis, the President is proposing to hold banks and financial companies accountable and make sure that everyone is playing by the same rules. The President is directing the Attorney General to establish a Financial Crimes Unit of investigators to work with U.S. Attorneys to go after large-scale financial fraud so that Americans’ investments are protected. He also called on Congress to pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count – so that firms don’t just see punishment for breaking the law as the price of doing business.

Reduce the influence of money and lobbyists and do away with procedures that stop Congress

from working on behalf of the American people: The President made clear that we need to take

steps to fix the corrosive influence of money in politics, which has undermined America’s trust in

Washington. He called for new safeguards to prevent Members of Congress from profiting from their positions:

• Ban insider trading by Members of Congress: The President is calling for legislation that clarifies that Members of Congress are subject to the same insider trading laws that apply to everyone else.

• Holding Congress to same conflict-of-interest standards as the Executive branch: The President is calling on Congress to hold itself to the same conflict-of-interest standards as the executive branch by, for example, prohibiting Members from owning securities in companies that have business before their committees or taking official action on a matter that would affect the

Member’s personal financial interests.

• Prohibit lobbyists from bundling, and bundlers from lobbying: The President called for prohibiting lobbyists from fundraising in support of federal candidates they have lobbied within the past two years, and likewise prohibiting campaign bundlers from lobbying federal officeholders for whom they have fundraised within the past two years.

• Give nominations an up-or-down vote: As one step to fix the way business is done in Washington, the President called on the Senate to pass a rule that after 90 days, all judicial and public service nominations must receive a simple up or down vote.

• Eliminate roadblocks in the Senate by reforming the filibuster: Senators who want to filibuster

should vocalize their objection on the Senate floor.

Pass a balanced, fair deficit reduction plan: The President called on Congress to reduce the deficit in a balanced way that asks everyone to do their part, so no one has to bear the entire burden and everyone – including millionaires and billionaires – has to pay their fair share. The President has already laid out a plan to reduce the deficit by more than $4 trillion over the next decade including the over $2 trillion in deficit reduction that the President already signed into law in the Budget Control Act.

This would bring the country to a place where current spending is no longer adding to our debt and deficits are at a sustainable level.

Hosts for the American Sunday morning political talk shows.

Left to Right

- George Stephanopoulos host of This Week on NBC.

- Bob Schieffer, aka Bob Schieffer host of Face the Nation on CBS.

- Candy Crowley host of State of the Union on CNN.

- Chris Wallace host of Fox News Sunday on Fos.

- David Gregory host of Meet the Press on NBC.

Source images:

George Stephanopoulos - PD* Wikimedia.

Bob Shieffer - PD available via Wikimedia.

Candy Crowley - CC* Wikimedia.

Chris Wallace - CC Wikimedia.

David Gregory - CC Wikimedia.

CC* Creative Commons licensed photo

PD* Public Domain

President Juncker called for the EU to speak and act as one on a global stage, defend its democratic values and turn its back on poisonous nationalism.

“The EU is a global payer, but must also become a global player”, said Jean-Claude Juncker in his speech on the State of the Union 2018. “There are no guarantees that our allies of yesterday will remain our allies of tomorrow”, he added, announcing further proposals to strengthen the Defence Union, step up protection of EU external borders and reinforcethe Euro as an international currency. ”It is absurd that the EU pays 80 % of its bill for energy imports in dollars...whilst only 2% of those energy imports come from the US”, he said.

Juncker highlighted the difference between enlightened patriotism and unhealthy nationalism. “Article 7, must be activated where media freedom and the rule of law are under threat”, he said. “There is no democracy without a free press. (...) Respecting judiciary decisions is not an option, but an obligation”. Europe must also shield its democratic process from international and private interests.

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Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

Read more details here:

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We attended the 2011 MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The pre-game ceremony honored the victims of the January 8, 2011 shooting in Tucson Arizona.

mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110712&content_id=...

PHOENIX -- John Green said his daughter, Christina-Taylor Green, would have been right here at Chase Field on Tuesday, watching the 82nd All-Star Game with rapt attention.

"Oh, she definitely would have been here," Green said. "This is definitely right down her alley."

Christina, 9, the granddaughter of former Major League pitcher, manager and executive Dallas Green, was the youngest of six victims shot and killed in a Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson, Ariz. On Tuesday night, a moment of silence was held for victims of the tragedy, and the names of those lost were shown on the giant scoreboard in center field.

In a moving pregame ceremony, John Green and his wife, Roxanna, were escorted by All-Star managers Bruce Bochy and Ron Washington to home plate, where they delivered the lineup card.

"It was very emotional, but it was a fitting place to honor our daughter and the other families who lost people in the Tucson tragedy," John Green told MLB.com while sitting behind the first-base dugout along with Roxanna and their son, Dallas. "Our baseball community got behind us. We always felt that, but one thing, it showed the other families how good the baseball industry is at taking care of people. We appreciate it. It meant a lot to us for our son to be here. Christina would have loved to have been here."

"We're very honored to be here," Roxanna added.

During the pregame ceremony, Daniel Hernandez, the local hero who helped save the life of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords during the shooting, threw out the ceremonial first pitch along with Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Garagiola.

"The whole week, actually, having my son and wife involved, was special," said John Green, a Dodgers scout. "We're with Danny Hernandez again, who was with us for the State of the Union address, and all of the events that surrounded the Tucson tragedy. It was nice seeing other people who went through all of that. It's kind of a healing thing.

"We still miss our daughter unbelievably. One of the things we didn't want is for people to forget. Maybe they learned whatever lessons you can learn from these things."

The Greens asked people to continue to help The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation by visiting Christina-TaylorGreen.org.

"Anyone who wants to contribute or buy the merchandise we have for sale there, they have to reach out to the website," Roxanna said.

"Christina is kind of our beacon of hope, born on 9/11, and then she passed away during this tragedy," John said. "But with her foundation we are running, we are doing things helping those less fortunate -- things she would have been involved with. Helping school children with all the budget cuts and things like that, we're trying to give back to the community in that way. That's something Christina would have been proud of."

The Greens said they especially enjoyed the ceremony, because of what it meant to little Dallas.

"They were nice," John said of Bochy and Washington. "It's not often you get a chance to be around that gang. And they were a little looser than they would be normally, during an All-Star Game. To have my son down there, and Andre Ethier came up, and he's wearing Christina's bracelet. I didn't know he was wearing it. That was pretty special. He's an Arizonan, so he understands, and he's a Dodger, so he knows what we went through."

Bochy said after the game that the lineup-card ceremony was "pretty emotional" for him and Washington.

"It breaks your heart what happened," he said. "It was a beautiful young girl, and for her family to go through that, it was emotional for everybody. The players were talking about it, so it was nice to have them out there, and I told them that it was a special moment, I thought, but a very tough moment, for us and for the family."

With a giant U.S. flag unfurled in the outfield, Arizona's own Jordin Sparks delivered a stunning national anthem, befitting a 2007 "American Idol" winner.

"I get nervous every time I sing the national anthem. That and 'American Idol' make you nervous," said Sparks, just back from touring. "The national anthem is a song that everyone knows, and they'll know if you mess up. It's definitely a lot of pressure. But it's such an honor to be able to sing it, as well, because it's the nation's song."

Taylor Sturges, 17, representing the Metropolitan Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs of America, had the honor of delivering the game ball for Roy Halladay to throw the first pitch. Since 2005, a lucky B&GCA youth has been able to handle that assignment.

"I'm amazed and I'm so honored to be here," she said. "This is my first All-Star Game ever. I brought my little brother and all my family, so I'm really excited."

Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. You also can leave comments on his MLB.com community blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Christina-Taylor Green, 9, of Tucson.[106] Green was killed in the shooting in Tucson that wounded US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Because her date of birth was September 11, 2001, she had appeared in the book Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11 (page 41).[108][109][110] She was the granddaughter of former Major League Baseball player and manager Dallas Green.[109][111]

www.flickr.com/photos/alanenglish/sets/72157627136385548/

IMGP9873

February 1, 2006 -

"Air Force One" departing Nashville's runway two zero center on the return flight to Andrews Air Force Base (KADW) outside of Washington, D.C.

President George W. Bush came to Nashville that morning to explain his 2006 agenda to a packed house at Opryland's Grand Ole Opry House. He also used the opportunity to further explain some of the remarks he made the night before during the yearly State of the Union address to the nation.

January 20, 2015. (Official Photo by Caleb Smith)

--

This official Speaker of the House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the Speaker of the House or any Member of Congress.

"The test of a civilization is in the way it cares for its helpless members."

-Pearl S. Buck (21st Century Dictionary of Quotations)

Everyone

Anyone

Each has a name.

Mrs. Johnson seeks this spot to sit and absorb the warmth of the sun whenever it shines. She is a friendly and generous person with a remarkable sense of humor and loves to tell jokes.

“My husband told me: If a man wants to lead a happy life, he shouldn’t marry a pretty woman.

That’s why he married me. He’s a happy man. Yes, he’s still alive.” She chuckles.

She knows which addresses to visit for a warm meal in the city and pads thick felt between her clothing for extra insulation. She had slept in a shelter and had breakfast that morning in a nearby church. Next to her was some wash drying on the stone. A large bag of frozen strawberries that apparently had been discarded at a hotel or restaurant were her treat for a few days to come.

She was evicted from her apartment in the downtown area. There are some days Mrs. Johnson just gets confused. She needs a bit more help than the average person. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York and has a number of sons. She doesn’t regret the life she lives and is a very proud woman, happy to reach out to anyone who crosses her path in life.

"The first priority today is and must be tackling the refugee crisis", said Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker during the 2015 State of the Union debate at the European Parliament this Wednesday 9 September. "EU Facing migration, the economic crisis and wars in its neighborhood, we have to contribute to solution to these challenges", stated Martin Schulz, EP's President, at his opening remarks.

For more dateils click here:

www.soteu.eu

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Populism, unemployment and social injustice are among the key challenges for the EU, said Commission President Juncker in his annual State of the Union speech in the EP on Wednesday. The refugee crisis, Brexit and counter-terrorism were also debated with political groups’ leaders and other MEPs, who put forward their visions of how to address people’s deepest concerns about the future.

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Almost two years after the presentation of the EU Global Strategy and more than a year after Jean Claude Juncker’s white book on the future of Europe, the European Union still struggles with major challenges and threats that seem to undermine the stability of the security environment within its borders and in its neighbourhood. In the aftermath of Brexit and with the proximity of to the European Parliament elections in 2019, the third International Conference Europe as a Global Actor (Lisbon, May 24 & 25, 2018) will discuss the role the EU can play in the current global transformations, as well as the domestic and external obstacles it faces as a global actor.

The Center for International Studies of ISCTE-IUL organized the third edition of the International Conference “Europe as a global actor”, on 24 and 25 May.

The opening lecture was given by the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, on May 24, at 09:30 am.

The Conference Program also included a debate on the state of the Union with the presence of Portuguese MEPs, panels and round-tables on the challenges of the Common Security and Defense Policy, the future of European security and defense, the EU’s relationship with other global players and the future of the European Union as a global player. In addition to the presence of several invited scholars, in plenary sessions moderated by Portuguese journalists, the program also included the presentation of communications by around 40 international researchers in this area of knowledge.

May 24th

9h00 | Registration – Floor 2, Building II

09h30 | Opening Remarks (Aud. B203) – session in Portuguese

Keynote Speaker: Augusto Santos Silva, Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs

Helena Carreiras (Director, School of Sociology and Public Policies, ISCTE-IUL)

Luís Nuno Rodrigues (Director, Center for International Studies, CEI-IUL)

10h45 – 11h00 – Coffee Break

11h00 | Round Table I: CSDP: challenges and opportunities (Aud. B203)

Moderator: António Mateus (RTP)

Laura Ferreira-Pereira (Universidade do Minho)

Jochen Rehrl (EEAS – ESDC)

Ana Isabel Xavier (CEI-IUL)

12h30 – 14h00 – Lunch

14h00 – 15h45 | Parallel Sessions I

Panel 1 –The future of European Security and Defence (Room C201)

Moderator: Ana Isabel Xavier (CEI-IUL)

Stefano Loi (CEI-IUL): “The PESCO agreement and the future of the European common defence”

Lorinc Redei & Michael Mosser (University of Texas at Austin): “The European Union as a Catalyst in European Security”

Patricia Daehnhardt (IPRI-NOVA): “The EU and transatlantic relations: the end of the Euro-Atlantic security community?”

Panel 2 – The European policy on migration and asylum (Room C301)

Moderator: Giulia Daniele (CEI-IUL)

João Barroso (CEI-IUL): “The EU and the refugee crisis: a literature review”

Tommaso Emiliani (College of Europe): “EU Migration Agencies: More “Guarding”, Less “Support for Asylum”? An Assessment of How the European Board and Coast Guard and the European Asylum Support Office Pursue Their Relations with Third Countries in Light of the So-Called ‘Refugee Crisis’.”

Emellin de Oliveira (NOVA): “The Securitization of Migration through Technology: an analysis of the PNR Directive”

Panel 3 – The state of the Union and the future of Europe: reflections and scenarios (Room C302)

Moderator: Ana Lúcia Sá (CEI-IUL)

Luís Machado Barroso (CEI-IUL; IUM) & Marco António Ferreira da Cruz (IUM): “It is not enough to be… It needs to be seen”: the analysis of EUGS implementation 1st Year report”

Ricardo Alexandre (CEI-IUL): “The Western Balkans Euro-fatigue and the impact on EU of potential alternatives to integration”

Dina Sebastião (University of Coimbra): “The persistence of Portuguese Atlanticism as a block for a supranationalization of European defence policy”

15h45 – 16h00 – Coffee Break

16h00-18h00 | Round Table II – The EU & other global players (Aud. B204)

Moderator: Helena Tecedeiro (Diário de Notícias)

Thomas Diez (University of Tübingen)

Maria Raquel Freire (CES-UC, Coimbra)

Luís Tomé (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa)

Bruno Cardoso Reis (CEI-IUL, Lisbon)

18h00 – 20h00 | Parallel Sessions II

Panel 4 – Brexit (Room C401)

Moderator: Bruno Cardoso Reis (CEI-IUL)

Sanja Ivic (Institute for European Studies, Serbia): “The Question of European Identity in Light of Brexit”

Allan F. Tatham (Universidad San Pablo-CEU): “‘Breaking up is Hard to Do’: The evolution of the EU’s withdrawal criteria”

Christopher Pitcher (ISCTE-IUL): “‘I voted remain’ a look at the social and political divides within Brexit Britain through qualitative analysis of the narratives and attitudes of British citizens who voted remain”

Luana Lo Piccolo (ISPI – Milan): “Brexit: an increasing fragmentation of the international architecture”

Panel 5 – The EU and its Neighbourhood (Room C402)

Moderator: Cátia Miriam Costa (CEI-IUL)

Petar Georgiev (Council of the EU): “Pursuit of greener pastures in the Eastern neighbourhood: reconciliation of EU’s security interests and normative ambitions”

César García Andrés (Universidad de Valladolid): “The role of Ukraine within the European neighborhood policy and its effects on relations with Russia”

Mónica Canário (CEI-IUL): “Why do we need a real gender policy in the EU?”

Filipe Lima (CEI-IUL): “The EU and Israel and Palestinian Conflict”

Panel 6 – Transnational threats (Room C502)

Moderator: Ana Margarida Esteves (CEI-IUL)

Sofia Geraldes (ISCTE-IUL): “Digital Battlefields: Assessing the EU soft security actorness countering social media information warfare activities”

Marc de Carrière (Amarante International): “Going beyond NATO’s Article 5: A EU-NATO Blockchain to deter cyber warfare”

Davoud Gharayagh-Zandi (IRS; Shahid Beheshti University) & João Almeida Silveira (FCSH-NOVA): “The European Union security actorness within EU-Iran relations in the Post JCPOA Era”

Henrique Miguel Alves Garcia: “Radicalization in Belgium and EU security environment”

Susana Pedro

Sen. Paul, R-Ky., said he did not know who he would be sitting with at the State of the Union address. (Shirley Li/Medill)

Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.

2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept

SOLD

Engine 6.4L

Trans 6-Speed

Color Tungsten Grey

Interior Blue/Black

HIGHLIGHTS

o Ford Special Project Codename: Daisy

o Built by Ford with full cooperation and participation of Carroll Shelby

o Driven and tested for more than 150 miles by Carroll Shelby at Irwindale Speedway in California

o Carroll Shelby said of Project Daisy, “There are so many things left in the world that I want to do … and building a new Cobra is number one.”

o Chris Theodore, former Ford VP of Product Development, oversaw the design and build of Daisy along with Carroll Shelby and J Mays, GVP Ford Design

Introduced at the 2004 Detroit North American International Auto Show, where it was awarded Best in Show by “Autoweek” magazine

o 1 of 1 fully functioning Project Daisy concept car intended for production

o Prototype engineered welded and bonded space frame, made up of billet aluminum plus castings and extruded aluminum sections sourced from the Ford GT

6.4L/605 HP DOHC 40-valve aluminum V-10 with dry sump lubrication—1 of 4 specialty V-10 engines produced by Ford

o Advanced Powertrain

o Power is transferred through a torque tube to the rear mounted Ricardo 6-speed

o Ford GT manual transaxle

o Currently owned by Chris Theodore, who purchased Daisy in November 2017

o Proceeds of Chris Theodore's purchase were used towards the restoration of the Fair Lane mansion, the home of Henry and Clara Ford

o Restored to running form by Technosports of Livonia, Michigan, assembler of the original Cobra Concept chassis

o Fitted with a new twin-plate clutch, flywheel, wiring harness, spark plugs, mufflers and all fluids

o New output shaft made to original specifications by Livernois Motorsports of Dearborn Heights, Michigan

o Hydraulically operated power hood

o Tungsten Grey Metallic exterior with Silver stripes

o Blue and Black interior with aluminum trim

o Daisy is barely longer than a Mazda Miata, yet thanks to the rear mounted traxsaxle, provides a spacious interior with more legroom than a Ford Crown Victoria

o 2005 Ford GT front and rear suspension, o Power assisted rack-and-pinion steering and Brembo cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston monoblock calipers

o Includes both original BF Goodrich Racing Slicks (not for road) mounted on BBS Billet show car wheels, and the BBS 3-piece wheels and Goodyear tires fitted during Carroll Shelby's drive at the Irwindale Speedway

o Featured on one hour “Rides” television episode “Codename: Daisy”

o Driven by Jay Leno on “Jay Leno's Garage” Season 6, Episode 1 with Donald Osborn and Chris Theodore

o Hero car driven by Ice Cube in the movie “XXX: State of the Union”

o Appeared at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

o Shown at the 2018 Concours d'Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan

o Subject of the award-winning book, “The Last Shelby Cobra” by Chris Theodore

Letter of Authenticity from Ford Motor Company included

o Build book presented to Ford CEO, Nick Scheele, included

o Ford Shelby Cobra Promotional Brochure included

o Extensive photographs taken during design and development with Carroll Shelby included

o Listed in the Shelby Registry

o Sold with Montana title

o Must be sold to an out of state resident or a licensed dealer

It’s fondly known as “Daisy”—a one-of-one, fully functional concept car—and it’s now slated to cross the Mecum auction block in Monterey this August. When Carroll Shelby and Chris Theodore announced at Pebble Beach in August of 2003 that “Ford and Shelby were joining forces to develop high-performance vehicles,” few knew that a secret project, code-named Daisy, was already underway to design and develop a new Cobra. Intended as a follow-on product to the 2005 Ford GT, Daisy was more than a typical concept car. Built by Ford with the full cooperation and participation of Carroll Shelby, Daisy was developed as a fully functional prototype to establish production feasibility. Working with Carroll Shelby, Chris Theodore, former Ford Vice President of Product Development, and J Mays, Group Vice President of Product Design, oversaw the design and build. The entire design and build process was documented on the one hour “Rides” television episode “Codename: Daisy,” during which Shelby stated, “There are so many things left in the world that I want to do … and building a new Cobra is No. 1.”

The 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept is powered by a 6.4L/605 HP 40-valve aluminum V-10 with dry-sump lubrication. It is one of four experimental engines produced by Ford’s Advanced Powertrain group (the other three remain in Ford’s possession). Power is transferred through a torque tube to the rear-mounted Ricardo 6-speed Ford GT manual transaxle.

The all-aluminum space frame chassis was designed by Ford’s Advanced Product Creation team, utilizing Ford GT extrusions and castings, along with a bespoke billet aluminum front structure. The front and rear independent suspensions are from the Ford GT, tuned specifically for Daisy. Steering is power-assisted rack-and-pinion, and stopping power is provided by Brembo cross-drilled and ventilated discs with four-piston monoblock calipers. The show car was fitted with custom BF Goodrich Racing Slicks (not for road use) mounted on unique seven-spoke BBS billet wheels, and it was fitted with BBS three-piece wheels and Michelin tires for Shelby’s drive at the Irwindale Speedway.

To cope with the stresses of a high-performance car, the body is made of a double-wall fiberglass construction with a foam core for rigidity. The one-piece tilting hood is hydraulically operated to show off the unique engine and chassis. Exterior details include billet aluminum A-pillars, bumperettes with carbon fiber splitters, rockers and rear diffuser.

Thanks to the rear-mounted transaxle, weight distribution is approximately 50/50, and Daisy is barely longer than a Mazda Miata, yet the interior provides more legroom than a Ford Crown Victoria. The bespoke interior is all custom, with a billet aluminum dashboard, headrests and novel interior release handles along with carbon fiber details. The custom leather-covered Sparco seats are made of carbon fiber with four-point Sparco seatbelts.

By December of 2003, Daisy was ready for a photo shoot with Carroll Shelby followed by two days of testing at the Irwindale Speedway in California. During those two days, Shelby put more than 150 miles on Daisy doing high speed runs around the oval, taking journalists for rides, and doing a flurry of donuts on the infield. At the end of day two, he said, “It turned out just beautiful, didn’t it? I’m very happy with the car. At 81 years old, how lucky can you get to be part of a continuation of something that happened 40 years ago? It’s going to be a real ass kicker!” Perhaps Matt Stone of Motor Trend summed it up best; after a test ride with Shelby, Stone noted that it was of little concern to Shelby “that he was driving a multimillion-dollar hand-built prototype, as he stabs the gas and takes the racer’s low line through a long, sweeping corner,” and concluded, “There’s one final reason Ford should—no, must—give us the Cobra: to put the final, iconic punctuation mark on Carroll Shelby’s extraordinary life, with a car that’s worthy of the name.”

The Shelby Cobra Concept was introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit by Bill Ford and Carroll Shelby to great fanfare. Autoweek magazine awarded Daisy Best-in-Show. The Cobra Concept continued on the auto show circuit for many years and starred as the hero car in the movie “XXX: State of the Union,” driven by Ice Cube.

Although Daisy was intended for production in 2007, the looming “Great Recession” precluded progam approval, making this car one of one and “The Last Shelby Cobra.” To Theodore’s delight, he purchased the Shelby Cobra Concept at a charity auction, with proceeds going towards the restoration of the Fair Lane mansion, the home of Henry and Clara Ford. Ford disabled Daisy for liability purposes, so Theodore took her to the very team that had assembled the chassis: Technosports in Livonia, Michigan. It was restored to running condition by fitting a new transmission output shaft manufactured to original specifications by Livernois Motorsports of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and it was also fitted with a new twin-plate clutch, flywheel, wiring harness, spark plugs and mufflers, and all fluids were replaced as well. The car was shown at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and 2018 Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan. In 2020, it was featured on “Jay Leno’s Garage” Season 6, Episode 1 with Donald Osborn and Chris Theodore. Daisy is also the subject of the award-winning book, “The Last Shelby Cobra, My Times with Carroll Shelby” by Chris Theodore.

Designed and built by Ford in cooperation with Carroll Shelby, racer, team owner, manufacturer and “The most interesting man in the world,” Daisy received Shelby’s signature of approval after his Irwindale test drive. Appropriately, Daisy is now ready for the next chapter in its storied history as it heads for the Mecum auction block this August at Monterey 2021—the site of the Shelby/Ford announcement 18 years earlier. Accompanying Daisy will be a Letter of Authenticity from Ford Motor Company, a detailed Daisy build book presented to Ford COO Nick Sheele, extensive photographs taken during design and development with Carroll Shelby, and a certificate from the Shelby Registry.

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Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.

Hosts for the Sunday morning political talk shows.

Left to Right

- George Stephanopoulos host of This Week on NBC.

- Chris Wallace host of Fox News Sunday on Fox.

- Jake Tapper host of State of the Union on CNN.

- Chuck Todd host of Meet the Press on NBC.

- John Dickerson host of Face the Nation on CBS.

Source images:

George Stephanopoulos - PD* Wikimedia.

Chris Wallace - CC* Wikimedia.

Jake Tapper - CC* Wikimedia.

John Dickerson - PD* Wikimedia.

Chuck Todd - CC* Steve Jozefczyk's Flickr photostream.

CC* Creative Commons licensed photo

PD* Public Domain