Night owl chat – Happy

Try not being happy watching these takes on Pharrell’s “Happy”.

Glasgow

Düsseldorf

A Tweet or Two

RT to share how President Obama’s already made progress to expand #OpportunityForAll in 2014: http://t.co/1e7Z1Dj69f pic.twitter.com/ETsTdzbnkm

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 24, 2014

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The next time they #BlameObama pic.twitter.com/c7UrwQLawy

— Donna NoShock (@NoShock) February 24, 2014

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Ooooh, love this: First Lady greets Boston students after they performed for Gov. Assoc. spouses (by Amanda Lucidon). pic.twitter.com/ovNA6JsbAE

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) February 25, 2014

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Today’s #LetsMove “focus group”: 1. The First Lady 2. Will Ferrell 3. Adorable kids Watch → http://t.co/c5lac56dgf

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) February 24, 2014

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No end to it RT @SabrinaSiddiqui: AFP’s new anti-Obamacare ad buy features Republican activists http://t.co/pnT4troqcB

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) February 24, 2014

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John Dingell: Great American

President Obama talks with Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., along with members of his family, in the Oval Office, June 13. Rep. Dingell is the longest-serving Member in the history of the United States Congress (Photo by Pete Souza)

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White House: Statement from the President on the Retirement of John Dingell

Serving nearly six decades in the House of Representatives, John Dingell has earned the distinction of being both the longest-serving Member of Congress in U.S. history and one of the most influential legislators of all time.  After serving his country in the Army during World War II, John was first elected to Congress in 1955 – representing the people of southeastern Michigan in a seat previously held by his father.  In Washington, John risked his seat to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964, fought to pass Medicare in 1965, and penned legislation like the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act that have kept millions of Americans healthy and preserved our natural beauty for future generations.

But of all John’s accomplishments, perhaps the most remarkable has been his tireless fight to guarantee quality, affordable health care for every American.  Decades after his father first introduced a bill for comprehensive health reform, John continued to introduce health care legislation at the beginning of every session.  And as an original author of the Affordable Care Act, he helped give millions of families the peace of mind of knowing they won’t lose everything if they get sick.  Today, the people of Michigan – and the American people – are better off because of John Dingell’s service to this country, and Michelle and I wish him, his wife Debbie, and their family the very best.

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U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-MI) at the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (You see the distinguished bald man way in the back on the far right wearing glasses? John Dingell is the man next to him. He’s wearing Ray Ban style glasses.)

The Trip to Bountiful

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4:05 EST: The First Lady Speaks at a Screening of The Trip to Bountiful

White House Live

First Lady Michelle Obama reacts as she introduces the cast of “The Trip to Bountiful” after a screening of the movie in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex

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And from earlier …..

Chat Away

I love them to the moon and back. #GrandbabiesRTheBest pic.twitter.com/z8Oipp5Wkr

— Donna NoShock (@NoShock) February 24, 2014

Rise and Shine

On This Day: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden in the Blue Room of the White House before the National Governors Association Dinner, Feb. 24, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today (all times Eastern):

11:0: President Obama delivers remarks to the National Governors Association; State Dining Room

1:15: Jay Carney briefs the press

1:45: President Obama meets with governors of western states

4:05: The First Lady Speaks at a Screening of The Trip to Bountiful

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The Week Ahead:

Tuesday: The President will hold an event on the economy at the White House. In the evening, he will attend an OFA event in Washington DC.

Wednesday: The President will travel to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area for an event on the economy.

Thursday: The President will host an event on his ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative.

Friday: The President will attend a DNC event in Washington.

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27,000 Americans will die this year because “pro-life” GOP Governors rejected #Medicaid expansion #GOPGovsGottaGo pic.twitter.com/SO95USkJn8

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) February 24, 2014

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Brian Beutler: The right’s sociopathic new scam: Using Americans to harm their own health plans

GOP-aligned groups are now exploiting innocent people who need Obamacare — by having them campaign for its demise

Every time an enemy of the Affordable Care Act promotes a new Obamacare “horror story,” the law’s supporters, and a handful of diligent reporters, are given an exciting new opportunity to assess whether the story really stands up to scrutiny, or whether it’s a product of exaggeration, ignorance, malice, prejudice or a combination thereof.

But at the same time, it places Democratic politicians on the horns of an awkward dilemma, because even if the story is completely bunk, it’s still a human tale, and no elected official comes out well by questioning a constituent who claims to have been harmed in some way.

More here

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Real Twitter bio: “Jesus taught us how to forgive. Pro-Guns, Pro-Life, Pro-Death Penalty”

— John (@linnyitssn) February 24, 2014

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TPM: The Obamacare Hail Mary That Could Save The Senate For Democrats

The 2014 handicapping is underway, and the consensus is clear: Democrats face a tough battle to maintain control of the Senate. They’re defending too many seats in red states where President Obama and his signature health care reform law are unpopular.

They’re also at a structural disadvantage. Turning out the base, conventional wisdom and historical precedents say, is the key element for midterm elections, and Republicans have done it better.

But Democrats might have a secret weapon in a couple of those key Senate races. Activist groups and state lawmakers are working to get Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion on the ballot in Louisiana and Montana, where they have vulnerable candidates and GOP officials have refused to adopt the provision.

More here

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New Stonekettle Station: Arizona Goddam. http://t.co/jdNOdDPGk6

— Jim Wright (@Stonekettle) February 23, 2014

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Uganda President Yoweri Museveni signs controversial antigay bill into law. http://t.co/EsZBz8f6xm

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 24, 2014

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Steve Benen: Susan Rice, vindicated, has no regrets

National Security Adviser Susan Rice appeared on “Meet the Press” yesterday, and host David Gregory noted that the last time she appeared on the show was shortly after the Benghazi attacks in September 2012. “As you look back at your involvement in all of that,” he asked, “do you have any regrets?” Rice replied:

“No, because what I said to you that morning, and what I did every day since, was to share the best information that we had at the time. The information I provided, which I explained to you, was what we had at the moment. It could change. I commented that this was based on what we knew on that morning, was provided to me and my colleagues, and indeed, to Congress, by the intelligence community. And that’s been well validated in many different ways since.

….. Rice’s defense has the benefit of being true. For reasons that have never been fully explained, she was the target of an aggressive smear campaign, which may have derailed her chances of becoming Secretary of State as President Obama began his second term.

More here

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Great column. MT @Eugene_Robinson Eugene Robinson: I’m black, don’t shoot me http://t.co/6ln0x8lzNF

— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) February 21, 2014

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Steve Benen: Walker dodges questions on email controversy

At the National Governors Association meeting over the weekend, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), caught up in a new/old controversy, did his very best to direct reporters in a different direction.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) bridge scandal, Walker said to reporters in D.C., is “just beginning.” Christie “addressed it early on, but obviously he’s not out of the woods yet,” the Wisconsin Republican added.

It was a pretty obvious “Hey, look over there!” moment, but it didn’t have much of an effect…..

More here

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Just when you think these people can’t be any more disgusting……

TPM: Senate Candidate Joked About Graphic X-Rays He Posted Online

The Tea Party challenger to Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) in Kansas posted on Facebook graphic x-ray images of deceased patients who suffered serious injuries and poked fun at the images, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported on Saturday.

Dr. Milton Wolf, a radiologist, told the Capital-Journal that the images were uploaded legally. Wolf’s personal Facebook account, where he published the x-rays, was disabled when he launched his bid for Senate.

Wolf would not say whether he continued to post such images to social media sites. “I’m not going to play these kinds of gotcha games,” he told the Capital-Journal.

More here

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Instagram of the State Dining Room tonight before the Governors Ball pic.twitter.com/9KpaE8IA2k

— petesouza (@petesouza) February 23, 2014

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ThinkProgress: What You Need To Know About This Weekend’s Dramatic Events In Ukraine — And What Lies Ahead

After three months of protests turned exceptionally violent this week, supporters of Ukraine’s anti-government movement are now in power after President Viktor Yanukovych fled the capital city of Kyiv and parliament voted to hand over the president’s powers to parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchynov.

On Sunday, residents in cities from east to west took to the streets in droves — this time to mourn the victims.

Yanukovych’s whereabouts remain a mystery. In a video message released Saturday, recorded in an undisclosed location, Yanukovych compared the protests in Ukraine to the movement that brought the Nazis to power in the 1930s and refuted claims that he had stepped down, saying defiantly, “I am a legitimately elected president.” He then fled Kyiv, reportedly for eastern Ukraine….

More here

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Cheer up, @piersmorgan, I’m sure one of the Kardashians could use a butler.

— Allan Brauer (@allanbrauer) February 24, 2014

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On This Day:

President Obama has a moment alone with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Senior Advisor David Axelrod before addressing the Joint Session of the United States Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama hugs Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as he arrives to address a joint session of congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on February 24, 2009

President Obama greets Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as Vice President Biden watches on prior to addressing a joint session of congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on February 24, 2009

President Obama addresses the Joint Session of the United States Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Feb., 24, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Ty’Sheoma Bethea, a student from Dillon, South Carolina, who was pointed out during a speech by President Obama as he addressed a joint session of congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on February 24, 2009

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NSC Senior Director for Russian Affairs Mike McFaul briefs President Obama in the Oval Office, Feb. 24, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama talks with family members of Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum of Ghana, during a credentialing ceremony in the Oval Office, Feb. 24, 2010 (Photo by Samantha Appleton)

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First Lady Michelle Obama greets, from left, John Legend, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, and Bob Santelli in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House before the Motown Music Series student workshop, Feb. 24, 2011 (Photo by Samantha Appleton)

President Obama talks with Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, Feb. 24, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

Recording artist Stevie Wonder receives a standing ovation during “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records, in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie sits next to First Lady Michelle Obama as President Obama welcomed the National Governors Association to the 2013 Governors Dinner at the White House, Feb 24, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama announces the Best Picture Oscar to Argo live from the Diplomatic Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MoooOOOooorning!

Early Bird Chat

On This Day: Vice President Joe Biden, joined by daughter Ashley Biden, left, wife Dr. Jill Biden, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, react to a joke made by performing artist Jamie Foxx during “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records, in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MoooOOOooorning Early Birds – Happy Monday!