President Barack Obama awards US Army Sgt. First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, from Santa Fe, N.M., the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
ABC: At a White House ceremony today, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, an Army Ranger, will become only the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Petry lost his right hand while throwing a live grenade away from his fellow soldiers.
… on May 26, 2008, Petry and his fellow Rangers were conducting a rare daylight raid on a Taliban compound in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktia Province … after securing a building in the compound, Petry and Pfc. Lucas Robinson entered a courtyard to take on three enemy fighters readying to fire on soldiers at the other end of the courtyard.
They immediately came under fire and Petry was shot by a round that went through both of his legs. Although wounded, Petry led Robinson to take cover behind a chicken coop … but a short time later another grenade landed in their midst … It was at that moment that Petry, already wounded in the legs, lunged for the live grenade to throw it away from his fellow Rangers.
…. But just as he did so, the grenade exploded in his right hand… Remarkably, Petry placed a tourniquet on his right arm then reported by radio that he and the other two Rangers had been wounded and were still under enemy fire.
… Petry now wears a high-tech robotic artificial hand … He continues to serve on active duty as a liaison officer with wounded warriors and plans to remain a soldier. The married father of four recently re-enlisted for another eight years of Army service.
More here
The Obama Diary 
AWESOME…MADE IT BACKJUST IN TIME. IT’S A COOKER OUT THERE!
THIS IS CERTAINLY A TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR MILITARY…THE TEMPERATURES WHERE THEY ARE…118 DEGREES…THEN THINK ABOUT ALL THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE TO WEAR!
Ron paul is retiring from congress in 2012 to focus on presidential run! Pfffftt!
lol 😆
Huh, he never gives up doesn’t he? I think he has runned for President since the Clinton days, lol
I guess that’s his hobby, running for President Lol
Well run on, mr Racist. I guess If he ever got to be President, he’ll probably want to send all the AA back to Africa, you think?
He’s 75 and still collecting a paycheck from Uncle Sam. Now he wants to run for President for the bazillionth time so he can collect an even higher paycheck. Yet he calls himself a libertarian who likes a hands off approach to everything and doesn’t want government to interfere in anything. Hypocrisy thy name is Ron Paul
So when he lose, he will be done, right. Now we need to get rid of that nutty son of his.
Ron Paul said yesterday people should be allowed to carry guns on airplanes. If so 9/11 would have been prevented.
He’s an idiot. In the panic of 9/11, the people on the planes would be shooting indiscriminately and stray bullets would have killed many an innocent bystander. Why would anyone want guns on college campuses, bars, restaurants and planes? It’s just ludicrous.
I just called rubios office in DC, and my congressman bill young(both republicans) and told them to stop messing with the debt ceiling.
They say they are flooded with angry calls on the debt ceiling matter!
So, I ask you all to please call congress in DC to viice your displeasure.
It is the only thing that works!
Very moving….
thank you Sgt Petry
Thank you for that link, Chipsticks. Of all the ways I treasure POTUS, seeing him preside over ceremonies like this make me most proud. And congrats, Staff Sargeant Petry, such bravery. And I’m not even a military type. I think POTUS has broadened my worldview in this, as the religious TOD members have in religion. It’s all good, LOL. We just need him for four more years. Or more…
Thank you for your service, Sir, thank you!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY AND SUCH A COURAGEOUS,SELF-SACRIFICING HERO! GOD SPEED SGT. PETRY!
That ceremony was great! And all our soldiers over there do stuff like this everyday. They are remarkable young men and women!
Yes it was Jovie and thank you for your service. You too have given much for this country and we salute you as well.
From my twitter timeline:
RT @BreakingNews: More: Senate Minority Leader McConnell proposes giving Obama authority to raise debt limit alone – @TPM http://bit.ly/qLNfZ5
Desperate McConnell, Boehner forced to lash out
By Steve Benen
These are the efforts of politicians worried about being blamed.
The top two Republicans in Congress sought Tuesday to put the onus on President Barack Obama for failure to resolve a fight over how to increase the government’s borrowing authority. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said a deal with Obama is “probably unattainable” and House Speaker John Boehner said the specter of default is “his problem.”
The unusually blunt and combative language came just hours ahead of another White House meeting aimed at finding an accommodation on a package of spending cuts to accompany an increase the debt limit.
At the surface, the increasingly-foolish rhetoric is impossible to take seriously. But just below the surface, it seems pretty obvious that the rhetorical escalation is the result of a deliberate GOP strategy. It’s not complicated — these guys are scrambling because fear they’re losing the public relations fight.
And they’re almost certainly correct.
Adam Serwer wasn’t commenting specifically on the GOP leaders’ comments, but his piece this morning about the bigger picture rings true.
Republicans are furious because President Obama’s gambit — to make himself look like the “adult in the room” by offering Republicans a disastrous but sweeping debt reduction deal that would combine tax increases with cuts to the social safety net — appears to be working. It’s working in the sense that it has revealed for all to see that Republicans aren’t really interested in cutting the debt.
It’s really not even close. On the one hand we have President Obama, who has proven himself eager (perhaps too much so) to compromise, ready to make concessions that anger his base, prepared to pursue $4 trillion in debt reduction, and even willing to make risky changes to entitlement programs. When the president told reporters yesterday he’s “bent over backwards to work with the Republicans,” no one anywhere suggested he was wrong.
On the other hand, we have congressional Republicans, who’ve taken the debt limit hostage for the first time in American history, are threatening to crash the economy on purpose, want less debt reduction than the White House, and refuse to compromise on anything.
It’s precisely why David Brooks wrote last week, “If the debt ceiling talks fail, independents voters will see that Democrats were willing to compromise but Republicans were not. If responsible Republicans don’t take control, independents will conclude that Republican fanaticism caused this default. They will conclude that Republicans are not fit to govern. And they will be right.”
Today’s hysterical cries from Boehner and McConnell, then, were about desperation — they fear this entire fiasco is falling on their shoulders, probably because it is.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/desperate_mcconnell_boehner_fo030814.php
The fourth from last para is PL crap.
Fuck. I made the hugest mistake after reading a comment from another thread about Turtle possibly allowing for PBO to raise the debt ceiling without any spending cuts so i debated it and finally turned to MSNBC to see if the claim was being reported. Instead, Martin shows a clip of Bernie Sanders having a conniption fit on the floor of congress, red faced and yelling at the president about SS. He said that whenever people have doubts about politicians basically being cagey, it’s bc people like PBO don’t keep their promises. Martin reported that Sanders went on to read a list of PBO’s campaign promises- I assume to somehow lie and twist facts to show that PBO isn’t a man of his word–I don’t know, I got fucking pissed and immediately turned back to That 70’s Show. Bernie Sanders is a dumb fuck who has outlived his uses. He needs to get the hell gone. Fucker. I don’t care what his history is, I don’t care what he’s done for anyone, that shit I saw on Martin’s show should not be tolerated. It’s disrespectful and dumb. He’s an ass who obviously doesn’t know how politics works which is surprising since he’s been in politics for some time. This absolutist bullshit needs to end now. Nothing is absolute. No one gets 100% of what they want. I bet he’s just won himself a place on the Maddcow and Cenk’s shows in perpetuity. Fucker.
ps- somone posted this on another thread. I read it and it was fracking awesome:
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/07/12/progressive-pundits-punching-down-k-o-kos-disabled-lady/
It’s basically about PL front man Keith Olbertool getting his fat ass served to him by a 66 yo woman after he covertly threatened that he wouldn’t vote for PBO in 2012 -even though everybody and their mother knows that shithead doesn’t vote- if PBO raised SS from 65 to 67, same shit Sanders was having a heart attack over.
pps- sorry, I try not to insult the elderly, I try to respect them because of the very commonplace idea that they are wiser. Obviously, somewhere along the way Sanders lost his fucking mind and therefore, in my estimation, doesn’t deserve my respect.
Sanders lost credibility with me when he teamed up with Teabagger Hero Jim Demint to filibuster the tax cut deal that POTUS came up with.
As for Keith, I quit watching him during the Gulf Oil Crisis, not to mention sexist and misogynist attacks on Bristol Palin during one of his Worst Person segments. I’m no Bristol fan either, but the attacks Keith was giving her were undeserved and over the line, even if she is a hypocrite on abstinence and daughter of the Quitter from Wasilla.
Professional leftwing gasbags like Keith are irrelevant because they preach too much to the choir, they do NOTHING for independents or swing voters other than to convince them to vote Republican. That’s what happened when Ed “I want to primary every bluedog Democrat in the Nation” Shultz did when he stated last fall that he didn’t want anyone to vote for Democrats. He’s doing it again by saying he doesn’t want anyone voting for President Obama. This turned off independents, and convinced them to vote Republican last fall, and will turn off SOME independents next year. But we, the Obama Nation will turn out and prove the naysayers wrong, just like we did in 2008.
Yes We Can… Do More Together!
http://blog.energy.gov/blog/2011/07/11/troops-energy-jobs-opens-new-doors-veterans
Troops to energy jobs helps veterans in need!
Arizona sheriff Arpaio will be on Rev Al’s show tonight. Must see TV/
what station is rev Al on?
MSNBC filling in for Cenk. at 6pm EST
I hope the good old Rev Al rips him a fresh new one
as for Sanders and Olberman fuck ’em
Who is Rev Al covering for now? Or did he get his own show? He deserves one – a voice of reason.
Could someone help me understand what this Mitch McConnell mess is really about? It seems as if he’s caved and the right wing is pissed at him. But I have to admit I’m confused.
He’s basically saying let’s give PBO the authority to pass the debt limit on his own, i.e., expand Presidential authority over the debt limit crisis. He’s hoping the Repubs will look clever for letting the Dems take all responsibility for increasing the debt limit and spending. But in reality, it really just looks like an abdication of responsibility of Congress and I don’t see how Dems wouldn’t win the PR war just on the fact that they are avoiding a complete financial meltdown and taking responsibility for the nation’s financial future. It’s bizarre, really.
It also lets Repubs vote against the debt ceiling for their Tea Party overlords without it having any effect on the outcome. It’s sheer cynicism.
I hope the President doesn’t bite and calls them back to eat their damn peas!
McConnell is an asshole plain and simple and it is pass time the President lets out Cantor’s Treasury side deal to the public
I just had to write that weasel that is Bernie Sanders or I wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep today.
Hi meta, I called Sen. McConnell’s office this morning and gave them (with respect) better than he will ever be, a nice little talk of how the Sen. is doing business in DC. I told him about his hateful words, attitude and words about the President and his total disrespect for President Obama. The young lady heard me, and at least their workers know that we hear, and see them(their bosses) and we know what type of evil people they are working for and with. I am not being accusatory, but the truth is the truth. Maybe some of these misguided young people who are working in some of these evil senators and representatives office will want no part of their evila ways, and leave and find a job working for a more honest, compassionate, and just person. At least do not get soil in such early age that they can’t live with their consciences. Maybe I did her a favor today just by listening to me. I did not let up on anything.
Thanks for doing your part. We are all giving a push and I know we will prevail.
Hmmm, this is interesting. Jay Newton Small at Times Swampland:
Cantor’s in a box
In the Monday White House meeting, Cantor proposed cuts to Medicare benefits, but nothing that might entice Democrats. Go learn the definition of “shared sacrifice,” Obama scoffed. He assigned Cantor homework: We are short of the $2.4 trillion goal that will get us past the 2012 elections, find some cuts that Republicans don’t particularly like to put on the table, we’ve already offered you a bunch of cuts Democrats don’t like. You must, Obama said, work to meet us in the middle.
…
Boehner hardly said a word in the meeting. His stance seems to be: if Cantor didn’t like the grand bargain, he’s welcome to negotiate one on his own. Republicans left the meeting noticeably subdued. Few had anything they wanted to say about it. And Cantor may have just jumped from the frying pan of Biden’s debt talks and into the fire of Obama’s. He has little experience hammering out legislative deals — particularly at this level. He wanted a smaller deal, and now Boehner’s sitting back and watching silently as Cantor flounders. A deal without at least some symbolic revenue increases, even if they’re offset with an Alternative Minimum Tax or another fix, cannot pass the Senate. Cantor is quickly learning that the purism that plays with the freshmen doesn’t work in the Oval Office. It will be interesting to see how long he lasts as the loudest negotiator, especially if the markets start to freak out. The Dow dropped nearly 200 points on Monday. Give it a week and we’ll be near TARP levels of panic.
I’m loving it. Fuckin’ amateurs!
WORD. PBO can smell what their cooking. INFIGHTING. Among a bunch of worthless dummies. This stuff just writes itself.
I love that the article basically said Cantor had to be quiet because he doesn’t know how to negotiate with the big boys. Same thing goes for the Class of 2010 Tea-Idiots. A bunch of knuckledraggers who have no idea how governance works.
One of the most brilliant things PBO ever did was make a Senate veteran — Joe Biden — his VP. Biden has probably forgotten more congressional procedural rules than these clowns have ever known.
Yes especially about the freshman Tea Party fat boys. Rusty has a really unruly bunch of twits to manage and he is not up to the task. Nancy Smash would never put up with that mess. She’s a coalition builder. Rusty is a golfer.
“Nancy Smash” — I like that 😀 .
Orangina is learning that it’s impossible to control a bunch of anarchists, nihilists, know-nothings and do-nothings.
You’re right. This is interesting. Here’s the link:
http://swampland.time.com/2011/07/11/cantor-in-a-box/
Thank you, lisa!!
😉 Np chica . This was spot on. Thanks so much from telling us about it. 🙂
NEW MC CONNELL PLAN: WE GET EVERYTHING WE WANT ON DEBT CEILING, PLUS 12 OPPORTUNITIES TO BASH OBAMA
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing a new plan that would give the Republicans everything they want — $2.5 trillion in spending cuts — plus 12 new chances to blame Obama for everything. Under the McConnell plan:
1. Obama would have to request and increase in the debt ceiling along with “a plan to reduce spending by a greater amount.”
2. Either chamber could pass a “Resolution of Disapproval” blocking the plan. Since the GOP knows they don’t have enough votes in the Senate, this method ensures the House would pass such a resolution, sending it back to the President.
3. Obama would then have an opportunity to veto the resolution.
4. Obama would have to round up enough Democratic votes to avoid the veto from being overridden.
Each of these unnecessary steps would repeated three times giving Republicans a chance to bash Obama on 12 separate occasions, while avoiding any accountability for the debt ceiling increase or spending cuts. The largest of the three debt limit increases under the McConnell Plan is scheduled for the summer of 2012, to maximize political opportunities against Obama.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/12/267031/new-mcconnell-plan-we-get-everything-we-want-on-debt-ceiling-plus-12-opportunities-to-bash-obama/
MC CONNELL’S CONTINGENCY PLAN:
Garance Franke-Ruta described this as “one of the clearest statements of legislative cowardice I’ve ever seen.”
The right, meanwhile, doesn’t seem fond of the idea — Erick Erickson is equated McConnell with “Pontius Pilate” and said it’s time to “burn” the Senate Minority Leader “in effigy.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/mcconnells_contingency_plan030815.php
Boner and Turtle need to go sit down. It’s ’bout to get real ugly for them. Couldn’t happen to two bigger asses.
The debt ceiling will be raised. Lunches will be eaten.
Checkout this post from Joy Reid…….. You can tell that Boehner, Cantor and McConnell are freaking out. The prospect of an Oval Office address to the American people should get the GOP attention.
Obama plays the seniors card, says Social Security checks may not be in the mail without debt hike
So Boehner can literally only watch as the debate continues to get away from Republicans, some of whom (especially in the House) have no idea they’re losing. Boehner does know, which is why while trying to rally Republicans this morning:
Politico reports “he did warn them that they will quickly lose leverage in the debate as the country grows closer to the Aug. 2 debt default deadline and Wall Street and business leaders pressure them to cut a deal.”
And some Senate GOPers are figuring it out too, which is why they’re starting to grasp at straws (Dave Weigel picks apart Mitch McConnell’s exit strategy here.)
It’s almost painful to watch. But as long as the president continues to demand that the revenue side be addressed — in other words, that Republicans vote to raise taxes — and as long as he continues to fight this way; by being the reasonable party, willing to “put everything on the table” and buck his own side, he will remain at the head of the class. Progressives need to understand that this strategy could only work this way. If the president was railing at the rich like Bernie Sanders, he wouldn’t be in a position to be the grownup in this drama, and he wouldn’t have the moral high ground with the country’s moderate majority.
Meanwhile, the White House clearly understands that in short order, Republicans will have to either come his way, and find some face-saving way to get sufficient votes for revenue increases (to go with the votes Nancy Pelosi is going to bring to the table), or risk having to sit through a primetime presidential speech to the nation on August 3rd about how partisanship and an insistence on not asking the rich to share in the nation’s sacrifices is preventing the government from meeting its obligations, to the world, to our creditors, and to our seniors, military, and our most vulnerable citizens. And whoever gives the GOP response will come across, by default and by dint of the symbolic power of the presidency (and the lack of a “big” counterpart among Republicans), small and mean by comparison. Maybe they should let Eric Cantor do it, because Paul Ryan has pricy wined himself out of contention, most of the Republican governors are deeply unpopular, and Boehner will probably spend that evening in tears.
Good luck with that, fellas.
http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/07/obama-plays-the-seniors-card-says-social-security-checks-may-not-be-in-the-mail-without-debt-hike/
not only in tears but in tears drunk 🙄
Clowns!
i trully love how you have phrased this anticipated outcome and especially the last two sentences.
i particularly know whose lunch will be eaten – and it is not that of President Obama!!
what politicaljunkessa states above will indeed be the final solution
Exactly. PBO pulled off the bandaid and all they could do was buy another round of Slurpees. LOSERS.
If the electorate can’t see that this isn’t working, then I don’t know what to say.
Arms too short to box with PBO!
Just when you think this idiot couldn’t sink any lower.
I really hope Reid doesn’t bring this up to a vote. This does nothing, but give the GOP cover since they’ve boxed themselves in a corner. Make them do the heavy lifting and do their jobs. What assholes.
I am prayed up, down, side, front, and back. I have had my quiet and loud time with my Scriptures, music of praise, thanksgiving, pray for my enemies,(we are told to do so) meditated in songs, and I feel great.. Ready for the Battle. And I have prayed and ask for wisdom, patience in the waiting, working for the best, and complete protection, provisions, and goodness of our President to show forth with encouragment from all of us.
Now, let’s get together and Stand, Stand, and Stand for the best. I love my family here. Thanks to Chipsticks for all that is done with respect on this beautiful haven of sincere concern for our President and fellow citizens. We are going to make this.
Prayer works. Thanks HZ. Love your words of wisdom. 😉
You are too sweet, HZ. :-).
I told you all, sanders us seeing how much money he can raise to see if he can primary the president!
ha, ha, that is the biggest joke I ever heard. but just for the fun of it, sanders can try finding out how many votes of the real dem base he will get
Less than 5% in Iowa is my guess. But he will have 20 million in the bank from kos and Adam greens crowd! Lol!
Sanders is an Independent. He can’t primary the President.
That is even worse, a general election lefty??? Not good!
I think he will come tO his senses, he is probably believing the pl noise!
Let’s hope Sanders fine what common sense he use to have. Don’t go down this road Mr. Sanders.
W at Betty Ford’s funeral.He looks like utter shit.Must have been drinking since the death of OBL 😉
Secretary Clinton is chatting away with him. What a scene. LOLz.
I wondered if the seating was political. Hillary made sure she sat between Bush and Miche. But it still looked awkward for the longest time as Bush kept looking at Miche and she was busy reading her program. Then finally Hillary started talking to him for the longest time. I wonder what the etiquette is supposed to be between Bush and Miche. She didn’t even look his way when she was being seated. Awkward 😐
Miche didn’t even look at W even once 😆
Maybe Michelle is sick and tire of what the Republicans are putting her husband through, and the stupid ass media.
LOL.
I was talking to my financial adviser, and he was explaining to me what will happen if the debt ceiling is not raise, he said the hedge fund people will make a killing. Because when the stock market crash, that’s when they make their money, by buying everything at a lost. That is why you have Ryan wining and dining with these people, for they are planning to collapse the stock market, because that’s the reason they are sitting on 3 trillion, to spend during that time. So, he told me to take what I need to last me for two years, because everybody who are not rich, is going to lose a lot of their 401k, and pension.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is a special place in hell for Wah Wah Ryan and his lowly ilk.
Sad. But remember Fred, we know the conscience will tell the world about you in your face.
Former First Lady Betty Ford’s funeral service is being shown live on KABC 7 and probably being streamed live on their website. FLOTUS Michelle Obama is there along with Hiliary, GW Bush, Rosalind Carter and Nancy Reagan.
Also here: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Betty-Ford-Remembered/10737422795-1/
Thanks for the heads up. I just turned it on.
Mrs. Carter’s voice is so beautiful. So southern and lovely.
Yes, very soft and full of warmth. It’s a rare occasion to actually hear her speak.
PBO’s meeting about debt/deficit just ended after 2 hours.
Any news meta?
I’m not seeing anything yet. I will take it as a very good sign if there are no comments.
Mark Knoller:
Sen GOP Ldr McConnell says of today’s deficit/debt limit meeting: “We had a good conversation….it went just fine.”
Turtle the Loser. Cry me river. Don’t forget to watch PBO on CBS Evening news.
thanks for the reminder MeO! 🙂
Here is the newest WH blog, designed to appeal to younger Americans and college kids:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/youngamericans/blog
Hi Chipsticks and fellow TODers! 🙂
Just saw the tail end of the Betty Ford funeral. Actually I tuned in just in time to see Michelle saying her good byes and leaving along with the other specially invited guests. She looks lovely as usual.
Sgt. First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, thank you for your service sir. we are also grateful to the continuing sacrifice that your family is making on behalf of this nation
I saw a nice photo on Getty Images which had Sgt. First Class Leroy Arthur Petry whisphering in the ear of President Obama and POTUS was laughing – I wonder the medal of honor recepient was telling his CIC!!!