Obama, Nancy Pelosi And Harry Reid Joining OFA Meeting

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By KEN THOMAS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is meeting Monday with his most loyal supporters to discuss ways to promote his agenda on issues like immigration reform and the economy as lawmakers prepare to return home for their annual summer break.

Obama was being joined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California at a meeting of Organizing for Action, a super political action committee formed from the president's 2012 re-election campaign.

The meeting comes ahead of Congress' annual August recess, when many lawmakers return to their districts and hold town hall meetings with constituents. It was during the same period in 2009 that many tea party activists rallied against Obama's health care proposal, which the White House is now working to implement.

Democrats are trying to build momentum on issues like immigration reform, which cleared the Senate but faces an uncertain future in the House; expanded background checks for certain firearm purchases, which are stalled in Congress; and measures to curb climate change, which the president outlined last month.

Obama also plans a series of economic speeches beginning this week that will be aimed at building support ahead of upcoming budget deadlines this fall and the potential for another fight with Republicans over the nation's borrowing limit.

Organizing for Action, which is run by former White House and campaign aides, has tried to build public pressure on members of Congress to enact the president's second-term agenda. The group raised more than $8 million between April and June.

Attendees at an "Action August" summit were receiving an update from Reid and Pelosi at the meeting, along with news from Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which has been active in opposing sweeping new abortion restrictions in Texas.

Obama was scheduled to speak at the summit and then at a dinner for the organization later in the evening.

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Harry Reid: I Feel Sorry For John Boehner (VIDEO)

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WASHINGTON -- Harry Reid feels sorry for John Boehner. Sort of. But not in a good way.

The Democratic Senate Majority Leader did declare such a feeling for the Republican Speaker of the House Tuesday. But first, he reeled off a string of what he sees as Boehner's failures, from the Ohio Republican's inability to pass a farm bill just before the July 4 break to the House's lack of action on the Senate's budget bill, Internet sales taxes and postal reforms, among other items.

"Pick an issue," Reid (D-Nev.) said. "He has dissension in his own ranks. We know that."

The farm bill failed when too many of Boehner's fellow Republican members voted against the bipartisan measure -- after Boehner granted them an amendment on food stamps that cost the bill support among Democrats.

Reid laid into Boehner after he was asked about the House speaker's refusal to bring up the Senate's immigration reform measure, which passed Reid's body with 68 votes, including 14 Republicans. Reid has snipped at Boehner before over immigration, saying the Ohio Republican is being driven by the "crazies" in his caucus. He has also vowed not to help Boehner stall for time on the farm bill, which expires at the end of September.

"I guess I feel sorry for the Speaker," Reid concluded, not sounding all that sorry.

Michael McAuliff covers Congress and politics for The Huffington Post. Talk to him on Facebook.

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Harry Styles and Liam Payne fight cancer: members of the boy band equipment to raise money for awareness (VIDEO)

1 D boys are characterized by being pretty goofy, but recently, two of the five boy band members took a break from showing his silly side - and his next projects - to talk about something more serious.

In a new video, Harry Styles and Liam Payne sat down to explain that one of every three people develop cancer at some point in their lives, reason by which come along with prizeo.com to create awareness.

"Cancer that affects us all in some way and all we know of someone he had, whether it is a parent, a member of our family, a friend or a neighbor", says Harry. Message watch Liam and Harry in the above video.

According to MTV.com, coworkers are asking for donations in an effort to educate about lifestyle options to help prevent cancer among young people. By donating, fans are put automatically in the race by a large (read: amazing) reward.

Partnering with Trekstock - an organization that supports youth with cancer - the winner of the Grand Prize will be to fly to London with a friend to go out at night in the city with the guys. The winner will be selected at random.

What could be better than a trip to London? Exit with two-fifths of 1 d, obviously.

What do you think of Liam and Harry's message? What would you do if you could hang out with them? Tell us in the comments, or tweet @HuffPostTeen!

[h/t MTV.com]

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Emma Watson was Adorable in his days of 'Harry Potter', where you forgot (GIF)

Emma Watson's star shines bright these days, with "The Bling Ring" and "This is the end" in theaters. The beautiful 23-year-old girl has been taking red carpets by storm throughout the world, and although he recently stated "I wanted never to grow too fast,", is difficult today it to remember anything other than her new sexy image.

That is, until you see these pictures adorable recoil from his days of Hermione. In this scene from "Harry Potter and the sorcerer stone", Watson is so dear as it reminded one time you.

APPEARANCE:

h/t imgur

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Harry Belafonte Joins 'Stand Your Ground' Protest In Florida Capitol (PHOTOS)

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Singer and entertainer Harry Belafonte on Friday called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to listen to protesters who are asking for a special legislative session to examine the state's self-defense laws after the acquittal of George Zimmerman.

Protesters have occupied the Capitol since July 15 – or three days after a jury cleared Zimmerman of charges in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The group wants Scott to call a special session so legislators can change the state's contentious "stand your ground" law but Scott has steadfastly refused.

Belafonte – who had never been to Tallahassee previously – joined the protest on Friday afternoon. The 86-year-old celebrity said the sight of the protesters "makes my autumn heart dance like it was spring."

Belafonte said Scott still has a chance to act before the protests intensify and the situation becomes "ungovernable."

"At the moment all of this is governable, all of this is in a place where it can be debated and analyzed and discussed in a very peaceful, calm, productive way," said Belafonte, who first rose to fame during the 1950s.

Belafonte – who has had a history of civic activism for several decades – said he was not predicting violence but said the amount of protests of the state could mount and make the state come to a "grinding halt."

Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, was acquitted earlier this month of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death last year of Martin, an unarmed black teenager. Zimmerman's attorneys maintained he shot Martin in self-defense, but the delay in arresting him sparked an outcry among civil rights groups and others. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.

The main group leading the Capitol protests – the Dream Defenders – have maintained a constant presence for 11 straight days. While protesters come and go during the workday, a small band of them has spent every night sleeping in the hallways since the protest began.

So far police have allowed them to remain. In the last few days the number of those camped out at the Capitol has begun to grow reported law-enforcement authorities. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported that 86 people spent Thursday night inside the building.

FDLE has spent nearly $51,000 on overtime costs since the protest began. The state has spent more than $140,000 on overall security costs over the 11-day period but that includes normal security expenses.

The protest was sparked by the Zimmerman verdict but the protesters want state officials to look at racial profiling, school district "zero tolerance" policies for students as well the "stand your ground" law that allows someone to use deadly force if they believe their life was threatened.

Scott met with several protesters last week where he told them he would not call a special session. The protesters are now trying to utilize a clause in state law that allows for individual legislators to ask for a special session.

Under the law the Secretary of State can poll all 160 members about a special session if 32 legislators ask for a special session in writing. It would then take a three-fifths vote for a session to be authorized.

Ciara Taylor said the Dream Defenders have gotten 28 legislators to back the idea.

But she said that she and others are prepared to remain at the Capitol for weeks in order to get what they want.

I'm prepared to spend a whole month, a whole season," said Taylor. "I'm prepared to be here till next legislative session if that's necessary."

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