This is easy way to get date and datetime. It use str().

easytime.py

>>> from datetime import datetime
>>> now = datetime.now()
>>> now.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') #hard
'2013-10-06 07:59:20'

>>> str(now)
'2013-10-06 07:59:20.532184'
>>> str(now).split('.')[0] #easy
'2013-10-06 07:59:20


>>> from datetime import date
>>> today = date.today()
>>> today.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')   #hard
'2013-10-06'

>>> str(today)                   #easy
'2013-10-06'