46 Responses to “west wing week: ‘magic mountains and volcanoes’ (july 1, 2011)”


  1. 1 Fred
    July 1, 2011 at 8:40 am

    good morning TOD family
    may GOD guide;guide and guide the President during his talks with the Tea’s and bless and protect him and may he;the First Lady and the girls have a great weekend

    MSNBC Should Fire Mark Halperin Today

    Mark Halperin, the brainless political analyst for MSNBC, should be fired today.

    Immediately. Right now. No seven-second delay.

    MSNBC suspended Halperin indefinitely for an off-color remark he made about President Barack Obama on the “Morning Joe” program Thursday.

    “I thought he was a dick yesterday,” Halperin said on Thursday’s show during a discussion about Obama’s news conference on Wednesday.

    Halperin quickly apologized on the air Thursday. MSNBC suspended him indefinitely hours later, saying Halperin’s comment was completely inappropriate and unacceptable. The network apologized to Obama.

    Not good enough.

    If these are remarks that political analysts like Halperin make on the set of MSNBC, imagine what people like Halperin are saying about Obama behind closed doors. Halperin’s tainted comments may have reflected the deep-rooted feelings of some of his colleagues who are smart enough not to speak their truth on national television.

    And Halperin, if you can believe it, is supposed to be one of television’s more liberal political pundits. This wasn’t Fox News, where radical conservatives hate on Obama daily. This was MSNBC, home to Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post and progressive dynamo Rachel Maddow.

    Perhaps Halperin is just the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. One Washington, D.C. insider told me that Halperin initially refused to accept responsibility for his screwball comments and tried to blame a producer for his perverted remarks.

    Halperin showed America exactly what he thinks of America’s first black president. He revealed to a national audience that he has no respect for Obama or the presidency.

    Maybe Halperin called the president that name because Obama stood firm Wednesday and challenged Republicans to help families who are struggling, insisting that Republicans agree to raise taxes on wealthy Americans and eliminate tax breaks for oil companies and corporate jet owners.

    Halperin may have been annoyed that Obama – a black man – is pushing back against a Republican assault, and that show of steadfast determination, in Halperin’s view, was objectionable.

    Whatever was going on inside Halperin’s warped mind, Obama didn’t deserve to be called a dick.

    The White House certainly didn’t appreciate Halperin’s off-color remark. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the comment was an inappropriate thing to say about any president. Carney also said he had expressed that sentiment to network executives.

    Halperin had prefaced his remark by asking, “Are we on the seven-second delay?” and said after that “I hope it worked.”

    It didn’t.

    Halperin was referring to a brief delay in a television show that gives a producer the chance to quickly silence offending remarks before it airs on live TV. An MSNBC producer, however, pushed a wrong button, and Halperin’s remarks were not edited out.

    “I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the president, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers,” Halperin said. “My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it.”

    The only way Halperin will seriously regret his comments will be if MSNBC fires him. MSNBC should send a strong message to all television political analysts that it’s not appropriate to denigrate the president of the United States.

    There are many Americans who probably agree with Halperin’s characterization of Obama and are privately hoping that this calamity blows over. But if MSNBC gives Halperin a pass and he returns to his network job to analyze Obama, then MSNBC is no better than Fox.

    Where do you think Roland Martin would be now if he called George Bush a dick while broadcasting on CNN?

    http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/baw_commentary_news/29958

  2. 2 Bill
    July 1, 2011 at 8:44 am

    A customer service representative at Starbucks just told me the company has no control over what is said on Morning Joe and to contact MSNBC. What a way to promore their image. I now have a reason to never buy Starbucks again.

    • July 1, 2011 at 9:43 am

      Good morning everyone, yes I got the same response from Starbucks as well 😦

      • 4 Tally
        July 1, 2011 at 12:38 pm

        Now multiply your experiences ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY because you know you aren’t the only two people who did that in a Starbucks in the last 24 hours.

        Go to their website, and make a comment. Say that “you would regret to have to boycott them, but America is more important than Starbucks, and they had BETTER have a say on a show that uses their logo so prominently.”

        You two x millions have just sparked a bush fire which hopefully will burn Mark’s ass and their ilk with the fury of a thousand suns!

    • July 1, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Wow- I too will never walk into or purchase from a starbucks ever again… they absolutely have control over who/what they sponsor. What a BS response. They make their living off of US.. so EFF them.

  3. 7 Debra
    July 1, 2011 at 8:53 am

    I am watching Morning Joe and they are currently having a pity party on how they been questioned about not having enough democrats on the show who support the President. Scarborough had the nerve to say they do but they don’t support the President as much. Morning Joe is a Morning joke. They have the same mild manner half supportive Democrats on who are to scared to say anything. They don’t really talk about the issues they just want to bash the President. Lastly if President Obama didn’t have any real supporters where is Halperin.

    • 8 Bill
      July 1, 2011 at 8:58 am

      I watched Morning Joe today as long as I could stomach him and heard no mention of Halperin, as though nothing happened.

      • 9 Fred
        July 1, 2011 at 9:07 am

        now don’t tell me you were expecting Joe and Mika to comment on taking personal responsibility which is one of their favorite motto’s as Republicans and own up to egging Halperin on to badmouth the President.

        It is good to hear Halperin say how he really feels about the President once again and it’s good to see Joe and Mika react;it says more about them than the President.What came out of Halperin’s mouth came out of his heart;he felt it and meant it;I do NOT want his forced and fake apology and I hope the President NEVER speaks to Halperin ever again!

      • 10 lisalovesobama
        July 1, 2011 at 10:05 am

        Joke and his trusty sidekick are never going to apologize. They are repugs, they never think they are wrong. They always believe that they are the right hand of god. I don’t watch that crap, haven’t for 5 months, I’m not giving them any ratings uptick. Even if satan himself went on that show and I was curious, I wouldn’t turn to that station on. As to Joe’s lament about repugs in dem clothing: Joke is just that: a joke. the only true dems that have been on his show are Debbie, Al, Tom Hanks, Oprah (though I believe she’s an Inde) and Valerie-bet you that won’t be happening again. Joke is duplicitous by his very nature and disingenuous by party affiliation. Never expect the truth out of his mouth. As an O supporter, if I wanted to get castigated and flogged, I’d just run down to my nearest S&M dungeon, not listen to a third-rate politician with a two-bit personality and his idiot sidekick 🙄

    • 11 SUE DUVALL SMITH
      July 1, 2011 at 9:29 am

      AMEN TO THAT DEBRA…I SAW IT THIS MORNING. THEY HAVE BEEN ‘FOREVER’ BASHERS AND NOW IT’S CATCHING UP TO THEM. I GO BACK TO MY SAME OLD STATEMENT…’WHAT GOES AROUND…COMES AROUND’ AND SOONER OR LATER IT WILL BITE YOU ON THE TAILGATE!

    • July 1, 2011 at 9:45 am

      Listen here, Morning joke and company, know that they s*%#@ed and stepped In It. Trust me they know It

    • 13 dotster
      July 1, 2011 at 9:54 am

      They only invite milquetoast Dems on who allow themselves to be bullied by Joe. They appear afraid to displease him. So everything they say is slanted rightward. Or at least the false “both sides are guilty” argument. And an extra star for any AA Dem who is willing to criticize Obama—-they love them on Mornin’ Joe. And those guests make me furious, so weak-willed and seem unaware of any reason for defending Obama and of how they’re being used. What in the world??? I was outside doing stuff this a.m. and husby came out laughing as he left for work—–he said he just heard the latest bad news for Obama on Morning Joe——that he always has a “bad summer”. OMG.

  4. July 1, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Awwwww…..the President with Bo at the end is too cute. Bo is plum tuckered out. Maybe a new series of photos/videos of PBO and BO is in order? 🙂 .

    I also liked the shot of PBO’s little jog to the platform to speak at Alcoa. Everything this man does he does with energy and he just keeps on going — I don’t know how he does it.

    Have a great day, everyone :mrgreen: !

  5. 17 SUE DUVALL SMITH
    July 1, 2011 at 9:33 am

    I ALWAYS LOVE WEST WING WEEK…PORTRAITS OF A REAL AND GENUINE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WORKING FOR WE THE PEOPLE. AS FOR CONGRESS…PASS THE SUNSCREEN,THE GOLF TEES AND THE ‘WHINER BIBS!’ THE REPUBLICANS ARE AT FAULT FOR ANY AND ALL THINGS LAGGING IN THIS COUNTRY. AND GEORGE BUSH WILL NEVER HAVE ANY SORT OF LEGACY TO LEAVE BEHIND IN THE PAGES OF OUR AMERICAN HISTORY!

  6. July 1, 2011 at 9:41 am

    The directors of the US wildlife fish and game and the NRC, both were confirmed yesterday from the senate!

    Glory be!

  7. 20 isonprize
    July 1, 2011 at 9:45 am

    I am reposting my question…

    Does any one know if President Obama has a “presidential look-a-like” or “body double” that rides in the Presidential motorcade. The last sentence of this article caught me totally off-guard. In today’s Metro (the freebie paper that you can get when you ride SEPTA)

    http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/905501–vocal-crowd-welcomes-obama-to-philly

    • July 1, 2011 at 10:01 am

      That’s bizarre isonprize, I never heard that he had a look-a-like in the second car?! Is that true??

      • 22 lisalovesobama
        July 1, 2011 at 10:21 am

        It’s not surprising that he would have a double. Though i think no one is supposed to know or better yet, talk, about it, as the double would be meant to confuse anyone who planned to harm the president. If it’s true, why that idiot reporter felt the need to add that is truly mind-boggling. Or he could just be trying to make waves, didn’t like the lead of one sentence: “hundreds of people” basically waiting to protest the president- I thought it was only about 100- and he only cited one woman who had PBO’s flyer and was supportive of him. Hm.

      • 23 meta
        July 1, 2011 at 10:21 am

        I really doubt that’s true. I’ve never heard or seen such a thing!

      • 24 SUE DUVALL SMITH
        July 1, 2011 at 10:22 am

        HE COULD HAVE AND IF HE DOES…THE PUBLIC DOESN’T NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT. ANYTHING…TO PROTECT THE MAN!!!!!

        • 25 isonprize
          July 1, 2011 at 11:44 am

          Okay, at least I’m not going crazy. If it’s true, why the need to mention it at all. If it’s not true, why lie? I swear, these “reporters” are so shady, I don’t believe much of anything they say…

    • July 1, 2011 at 10:50 am

      No, I think that is just poor sentence construction on part of the writer/blogger.

      There are two CARS in the presidential motorcade that look practically identical. So, one of the CARS is a “look-alike.” However, I have never read anything(and I’ve read a lot) about there being a presidential body double that rides in one of the cars while the President rides in another. (Motorcade geek here 🙂 )

      • July 1, 2011 at 11:03 am

        Thank you Motorcade geek! 😆

      • 28 isonprize
        July 1, 2011 at 11:48 am

        PJ, except that the sentence is: From a second car, the presidential look-alike waved to supporters, foes and everyone else.

        the presidential look-alike….. Are you saying that the writer meant that the ‘presidential look-a-like’ was the limousine? If so, he is a really, really REALLY bad writer.

        • 29 lisalovesobama
          July 1, 2011 at 2:04 pm

          hahahhahahahhahahahahahahahahaha. How about that last part of the excerpt: “waved to supporters, foes and everyone else.” — when did protestors trying to get attention for jobs and HIV related issues become “foes”? This guy is a hack.

  8. July 1, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Awww Bo is so tired. He reminds me of my dog, Jazz. She’s a 15-year-old Lhasa Apso and all she does is sleep.

    Hey, did anyone see the coverage of Mittens at the shuttered plant whose closing he tried to blame on PBO? I shouldn’t make fun, oh yes I should, but he had on jeans and a checkered shirt trying to look cool. He looked like such a dork. Then he started walking. Lord, the man has no swagga at all.

    Also, I’ve been on Twitter this morning reminding Time and MSNBC that Halperin’s suspension is not good enough. Gonna tweet Color of Change and ask about a boycott of Starbucks and MSNBC sponsors. They made 400 sponsors leave Glenn Beck. They can handle MSNBC and Time too.

    • 31 AnitaW
      July 1, 2011 at 10:09 am

      That’s exactly what my Mr. Darcy does after we play fetch. Looks for a cool spot on the bathroom tile floor.

      • July 1, 2011 at 10:17 am

        Mr Darcy? Love it!!!!

        • 33 AnitaW
          July 1, 2011 at 12:50 pm

          I’m always recommending Jane Austen to my book club.

          And, my Mr. Darcy is more a Mr. Knightly, but it didn’t have the same ring.

          • 34 lisalovesobama
            July 1, 2011 at 2:06 pm

            Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. I’ve read it too many times to count. I prefer it to the movies- well one movie in particular, the most recent adaptation with Kiera Knightly (?)—- what do you think?

    • 35 busbus
      July 1, 2011 at 11:50 am

      It’s great to know that my Lhasa Apso is not the only one sleeping all day!

      Hi Jazz! As soon as Buster wakes up, I’ll be sure to tell him about you. He turned 16 in April.

  9. 36 Bill
    July 1, 2011 at 10:20 am

    NBC’s First Read, something Chuck Todd puts out every morning, has no mention of Halperion being suspended.

    • 37 lisalovesobama
      July 1, 2011 at 10:27 am

      Don’t you just love how they cover for their own? Nothing from Lawry last night about what his idiot colleague did- well i’m not sure, i caught the 11pm re-airing and in the first 8 minutes when he said nothing about it, i switched stations. Was i wrong?

  10. July 1, 2011 at 10:21 am

    ISM manufacturing index spending better than expected. New orders netter than expected.

    The Dow us reacting positively.

    Maybe one more so so employment number before we get back to 250k jobs per month!

  11. 40 SUE DUVALL SMITH
    July 1, 2011 at 10:23 am

    OFF AND RUNNIN’ HERE…BLESS YOU ALL…WILL CATCH UP LATER!…:)

  12. July 1, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Dnc fundraiser on cspan.

  13. 42 dotster
    July 1, 2011 at 10:30 am

    My sister reminded me this week that I have been to Ross’. She used to live in Bettendorf, Ia. and when we were visiting once, she and I decided to sneak in for a guilty pleasure—not a magic mountain but an old fashioned maid-rite, remindful of our youth. We were joyfully munching away at the counter when we noticed 2 guys at the table over there who looked familiar—-our husbands who had just come from golfy and had also decided to sneak in for some of Ross’ fine dining delights.

  14. 43 lisalovesobama
    July 1, 2011 at 10:37 am

    I love the way the owner of the restaurant hugs him. It’s so familiar and it expressed how she really felt about him 🙂 I really love Bo, he probably just came in from his job overseeing the WH gardeners and Park Services people. Oh Bo-bear, hard day, eh? He’s probably had lunch and about to take el pequeno siesta. You go, Bo! you probably do more work in a day than Congressional repugs. We should pay you for it baby.

  15. 44 Africa
    July 1, 2011 at 11:11 am

    “And Halperin, if you can believe it, is supposed to be one of television’s more liberal political pundits.”

    Really? If Halperin is a liberal pundit, then I am Mother Teresa returned to earth.

    And this:

    “An MSNBC producer, however, pushed a wrong button, and Halperin’s remarks were not edited out.”

    Oh yeah? How can they be sure that the producer pushed the “wrong” button? Perhaps he was tired hearing their daily insults to this president and decided enough was enough. How sweet that would be if this was actually the case, right?

  16. July 1, 2011 at 11:18 am

    “An MSNBC producer, however, pushed a wrong button, and Halperin’s remarks were not edited out.”

    Oh, yeah?

    How can they be sure that the producer pushed the “wrong” button?

    Perhaps he was tired of hearing their daily abuse directed at this president and decided enough was enough. How sweet that would be if that was the case, right?

    Also if Mark Halperin is a liberal pundit, then I am Mother Teresa reincarnated!!

    If this is a double post, please forgive me. I posted something similar earlier but it did not register.

  17. 46 isonprize
    July 1, 2011 at 11:58 am

    O-M-G!!! 😯 Michelle probably had a BIRD!!! 😯 He’s having volcanoes and she’s trying to get people to MOVE!!! Wooooo, that meal probably has 6,000 calories! 😀 😀


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