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Harold Pollack (Washington Monthly): ….. Many progressives – me, for instance – worry that OWS will promote destructive alienation from the hard and sustained work of conventional politics. If a sizeable chunk of progressive youth are passive in 2012, that is the functional equivalent of a Nader candidacy.
The best way to prevent this is to find an aspect of conventional politics that can genuinely excite and move these protesters into positive action that serves their own values and long-term goals …. Perhaps earnest substantive emails about health reform should do that – given the Affordable Care Act’s impact on millions of low-income people….
Ari Berman’s fantastic reporting describes Republican efforts across the country to establish subtle (or not-so-subtle) roadblocks to hinder voting among minorities, poor people, ex-felons, and the young … This is an obvious effort to turn the 2012 electorate into an older and whiter group that resembles the 2010 electorate rather than the 2008 electorate that brought Barack Obama to the White House.
…. Occupy Wall Street organizers: I believe you should resonate with this issue. GOP officials are trying to disenfranchise people like you: college students with university IDs not gun permits, young people and minority urban residents who don’t drive, and so on.
Full post here
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Original video here
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President Barack Obama talks with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a break at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Nov. 4. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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The Obama Diary 
Absolutely beautiful in mind, heart, spirit, …and body!
The Occupy movement has taken an interesting turn, first by Occupying McConnell’s office and now this:
“Occupy Koch – Protesters v police – people getting knocked down at Americans for Prosperity Dinner. Organizers worried. – via @clare_OC”
http://yfrog.com/gyuxklcmj
The French know…..our President is an American Star!!! How long before our media realize thisand catch up with the rest of the world!!! Actually….he is a world Star.
“World Star” indeed Carolyn…..
No wonder the GOP are so mad and jealous….lol
He’s just Beautiful inside and out…
Yes, Carolyn, Kasai and Theo67. We have one of the BEST!.
Confession to make(please forgive me Chips) but seeing those two, POB and Sec. Tim Geithner can set off some fireworks in my head. Brains, fine men, and looks to melt a heart.
I just think that along with our beautiful Chipsticks, we just have some classy ladies here who recognize Fineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Men who are so darn intelligent. Plain and simple.HZ
Indeed.
The american press is jealous too.
You have said the truth for sure on that one JoJothcat. Most of them really are, and it is so sad. But we will continue to enjoy our POTUS.
What time will the President be arriving back in D.C.?
The White House timeline shows him landing at Andrews at 10:10pm (EDT) and then at the White House by 10:25. An hour to go.
The book is written from the perspective of her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly. But Giffords herself delivers the last chapter — a single page of short sentences and phrases called “Gabby’s Voice” in which she says her goal is to get back to Congress.
“I will get stronger. I will return,” she wrote.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ap-exclusive-giffords-vows-book-return-congress-describes-14881494
Thanks Saintroscoe. Good to see you here again. I can’t wait to for it to come out on the 15th. Love this couple.HZ
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@whitehouse Please wave the fee for a US Passport for every citizen eligible to vote on 8 Nov 2012. Crush voter suppression, now.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@The99Percent Please support my request to #PresObama that he wave the fee for US Passport & You help every eligible voter obtain a valid ID
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@OpWallStreet Please support my request to #PresObama that he wave the fee for US Passport & You help every eligible voter obtain a valid ID
Every young person in America, eligible to vote on 8 Nov 2012 could not only be guaranteed a valid photo ID, but they could be motivated to help seniors, the disabled, the infirm, those without transportation, those unaware of the opportunity and thereby contribute to the largest turnout in American history and crush the Republican effort to suppress voters.
#YesWeCanDOMoreTogether
I think this is a great idea. I’ll retweet it, often.
Thank you so much, Shahidah!
#WaiveTheFee_PreserveTheVote
Oh just a typo correction – it’s waive not wave.
Yep, saw that one!! Thanks for correcting 🙂
#WaiveTheFee_PreserveTheVote
You would need to submit a certified copy of your birth certificate to get a passport. It is a state department issue. I know in Florida you have to submit a certified copy of a birth certificate. Either way most people would still need to spend money to be compliant.
Can he do an EO on that ? If he can, that would be a great way to short-circuit the rethug shenanigans. I read earlier that the dem caucus had written to the election commissioners (?) not to be partisan. Finally, the dem caucus is realizing their own asses are on line.
He certainly can. All US Passports are issued by the State Department. He can instruct the State Department to waive fees for any US citizen eligible to vote on 8 Nov 2012. I suggested in my letter to him that for any person making less than $250,000 per year that they not be charged the fee 😉 The White House and State Department could encourage young people who have some means of transportation to not only get their Passport in time to vote but to assist the elderly, disabled and those without transportation – in their communities – to get to the nearest US Post Office that processes Passport applications.
#WaiveTheFee_PreserveTheVote
http://blog.recovery.gov/
LoOk at this photo if them renovating the reflecting pool at the Lincoln memorial?
Courtesy of the recovery act…
To bad nobody liked the recovery act, it sure was good!
More importantly, look at the construction workers at work, courtesy of the Recovery Act.
Hi TOD family. Doin the droid thang. Well some concerned supporters on my job were repeating the rightwing and emoprog talking points. According to the MSM Romney is the man to beat for the Whitehouse. PBO is now the underdog and will have dig himself out of a ditch. Exasperated, All I had the pati
Keith, my opinion, that’s alot of B.S.
Thanks annie. I finished my post below. We must stay positive and spread the truth. Back to work now. 😀
Keith calm down I think david Plouf knows who the candidate will be David Plouff took it to Mitten
pretty hard he said that Mitten does not have a cord, and so the MSM is playing us pretty much
just like in 2008 I will not worried that much right now.
My last posted without me finishing. All I had the patience to say is there are numerous sites you can go to to get more accurate news and information. I also told them to not get wrapped up in the polls. I reminded them that PBO was not supposed to deafeat Hilliary or McCain either. Lets keep on working and stay tuned.
Keith, are you sure you’re not fond of Romney, you keep telling us how formidable he’ll be for the President! 😆
Shame on you Chips. You know that Romney makes my skin crawl. All I have done is predicted he would win the GOP nomination. I know one on one he can not hold a candle to PBO. Romney will have plenty of help to cover his plethora of weaknesses. Its our job to get the truth out. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012.
Hold it a minute Keith. You attacked rikyrah today for posting ‘gloom and doom’ links here, which was completely untrue – since when did Steve Benen = gloom and doom? Yet you repeatedly post panic comments about Romney and about the awful things your friends are saying about the President – and then, as Audrey said, you finish up by telling everyone to keep their spirits up …. despite having just tried to deflate them!
We all know, and have for months, that Romney is likely to be the GOP nominee, and probably everyone expects it to be a tough fight – even if he has a comically awful history – unless the economy picks up before next year.
We know that Keith. So relax. There’s really no need to tell us every day how tough it will be!
And please, enough of the panic-laden gloom and doom.
Bingo. I was about to point that out to keith.
Thanks Chips. You said a lot of what I wanted to say after reading the posts!!
Hey girl – check your email. I had a moment.
Will do this minute!
Tally, you’re beyond amazing – just posted your masterpiece, thank you so much.
Never fear, Keith. PBO has always liked being the underdog. It’s just that much sweeter when he wins and wipes all the nay sayers faces in his victory.
Keith, what is with throwing out these wierd hair on fire posts about Romney and then ending it with the keep positive thing. You confuse me frankly and if I understand correctly, you’d said that you volunteer with OFA where you live. How do you help your team keep focused with your confusing messages.
The President and his people have said the election will be close. But I am just not into all this doom and gloom. The president has a chance to be re-elected. I feel like people are listening to the media and these know it all pundits to much. And none of my friends would ever come to me talking bad about the President. They know how I feel and I will stand up for my President any time. Yes Romney or whoever the President face it won’t be easy, but it won’t be easy for Romney either. It will be a battle and instead of feeling doom and gloom I’m ready to fight for this President, to do whatever I can to help get him re-elected. People say no President has ever been re-elected with unemployment at 9%. Well there is a first time for everything isn’t it. There never ever was a black man elected President before. First time, 2008 Barack Obama. So enough with the doom and gloom, please.
Ok, unemployment is at 9% NOW, but it is slowly (not fast enough for our President or me) pulling up. We have exactly 365 days (12 months) until election day. With all of us working we will make sure our President is re-elected. To be fair to Keith I do have to admit that I have nightmares about some stealth candidate surfacing at the last moment. All we can do is get busy. Get trained and well versed on the talking points (thanks chipsticks for the help in that area) and step out of our comfort zones and get Barack Obama re-elected.
Rep. Louie Gohmert said Obama put troops at risk and “now we’ve got the al Qaeda flag flying in Libya.”
Wwwwwhhhhhaaaatttt the…
Jovie, that’s the same man who ranted and raved about “terror babies”
Do NOT take what he says seriously, he’s a certifiable RWNJ (right wing nutjob)
Who voted for this fool? How could anyone with a conscience inflict a person like this on the rest of the country??
Did you see his eyes? He looks like Bachmann, eyes all crazy. Aahhh Texas and Arizona they bring the crazy.
It’s the foreigners coming here to have babies to make it easier become citizens. Most law abiding, but the GOP are afraid of these people coming here to get “free” stuff. This gomer guy is mentally inept. What district does he represent? My God this is an embarrassment no wonder congress polls at 9%.
This Gomer guy is sick, I mean Gohmert.
GOOBER. He’s definitely missing a few strands of DNA
Oh my, he seems to mentally disturbed…seriously. Paranoia? 😯
How is it possible…
How can Americans be proud of ignorant scum like these two reps from Texas…
How is it possible…
It is possible because people do not evaluate or think things or people through. They vote blindly once their is an R behind the name, and let’s face it, we are most of the time scratching our heads in disbelief at the quality,humanity and personality of most R’s.
Woooow!!! Chipsticks you are realy fantastic poor georgy boy looks so pathetetic next to our
brilliant President Thank you Thank you.
Chips,
We know who is ALL WET!!! And, it isn’t President Obama!
You made me laugh out loud!
Now you’re just being bad Chipsticks!!!!
Please keep the PBO “wet” photo in constant rotation. Me likeeeee very very much 😀
Our president is not afraid of a little rain is he.
Dubya is such a dufus.
LOL……Chips has me hollering right now at that double pic. You are right…….Dubya is a dufus.
Agreed. But he knows for the most part how to keep his mouth shut after leaving office. Something I sure wish Bill Clinton would emulate.
Hahahaha.
That picture should be in its own separate post. I almost didn’t see this hilarious update! I have to keep scrolling down… I miss stuff at the bottoms of these long posts!! Arrrgh… But is IS hilarious!
lmao. perfect contrast – the maroon and the master.
LOL!
Is there ANYTHING that guy can’t screw up?
Hahahaha……..just stop !! My jaws are hurting laughing at you guys 😀
LOL!!!! Too funny Meta….hahahahaha
the brainproof vs the rainproof.
Yessir! Even the rain likes him (remember the night his grandmother died during the campaign?).
Another good before and after pic would be the comparison of Dumbya trying to give Merkel a shoulder massage and her reacting like a colicky baby versus her leaning into our Prez when he went to hug her.
Mmmmhmm. 😎
I know…W giving Merkel a back rub compared to PBO and Merkel hugging each other. I bet W said to Laura, “she didn’t want me to touch her”.
Chip..You Are a Genuis:-) a millions thanks !!!
What a contrast!!!!!! Good Lord!!!!! Are you sure that’s our President!!!! (pinch self)
Hollywood, GQ..Or any other Agencies would pay Millions..If they could find someone with just 25% of Awesomeness:-)
(hugs)
Totally awesome Chipsticks!
Our4thEstate Bobfr
#WaiveTheFee Crush voter suppression & inspire the young – urge #PresObama to wave the fee for a US Passport for every voting age citizen
Maybe we can get #WaveTheFee trending along with #WaveTheFee_SaveTheVote
Chips – That … er … rainy-day comparison of W and President Obama is PRICELESS. Still chuckling. You are so funny!
i concur, it is the best Chips!
A friend sent me this one today because I was sad about how far we have fallen since PBO was elected. How its okay:
http://objflicks.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm
Enjoy!
Really cool video. I am a child of the 50’s so this was a walk down memory lane. This did not change as fast as it does today. Many of the items in one of the shots, most of the things and cars were built in the USA, know none of those things are manufactured here anymore.
‘…sad because of how far we’ve fallen since PBO was elected…’
Elicits some serious head-scratching this one even if the construction was unintended…
The President looks delicious dripping raindrops 🙂
Chips that comparison with W is PURE GOLD! 🙂 I almost fell off my chair with
laughter and my sides are still splitting. You are PURE GOLD….Just Sayin…
I haven’t been able to comment much but I try to keep up even at the expense
of household and other chores, as some others here have confessed.
I have read all the comments on the ‘wet’ picture of our gorgeous PBO.
Love, love, love the humour. Is any room left on the Naughty Mat?
There’ll always be room on the naughty mat for you HOPE44!!!! 😉
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/world/europe/greek-vote-european-debt.html?_r=1&hp
Good news in Greece!
Thanks Jovie and wow was it close.
African American Ministers Leadership Council Launches Nationwide 2012 Get Out the Vote Program
On Sunday, November 6, People For the American Way Foundation’s African American Ministers Leadership Council, a nationwide network of African American clergy, will launch a yearlong program to turn out the vote in the 2012 elections. The VESSELS program will work with at least 400 clergy from across the country to respond to widespread attacks on voting rights by educating, training and turning out voters.
The effort will focus on twelve key states with large African American populations that have been hit by right-wing attacks on voting rights, including suppressive voter ID laws.
http://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/2011/11/african-american-ministers-leadership-council-launches-nationwide-2012-get-ou
Bookmarked, and shall follow up. This needed to happen. Thanks Donna.
Thank you Donna….Great news, I am so glad they on top of it…I was beginning to worry.
Excellent. Hope they concentrate on voter registration first and them getting them the proper documents.
FANTASTIC. That’s what I’m talking about!
Thank you donna 🙂 Will tweet.
Good news Donna. Thanks for sharing.
awesome news! thanks donna for that info!
They are going to wish for Acorn, they have no idea how powerful the African-American Leadership Council can turn out the vote.
Thanks for that news, Donna.HZ
HI HZ. Didn’t get chance to respond to you yesterday. Thanks for your kind words. Things are OK with me. I have been here sparingly because I am in training for my new job which takes me away largely during the day. I stop by during the evening hours to catch up on all the events of the day here.
Periodically on by break during the day I check in too. I miss being part of the instant conversation daily.But at least in the evenings I am able to catch up.
Hope all is well with you, HZ. Take good care!!
Went to Twitter, Donna. Thanks so much.HZ
HZ, what’s your twitter handle?
Awesome, awesome. Thanks for sharing this Donna!!
OMG Chips, that last picture with our lovely President and old whats his name 43 is priceless. The picture of Obama in the rain is now on my desktop. I can’t wait for the interview with Gabby & Mark. Thanks for all the great pictures, etc here. This is the greatest place!!!
“old whats his name 43”
😆 You’re welcome Marilyn!
As others have said, President Obama not only works best as an underdog, but he has a superb sense of timing and will know when it’s time to pull out all the stops for re-election. He’s told us repeatedly, he’s waiting for the final decision on who the R nominee is and he will be ready to roll. It will be up to every one of us to know what the rules are for voting and to make sure we DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. There will be massive OFA efforts underway to make this happen. And we, too, will be ready. Right now. PBO is giving the R’s a lot of rope to hang themselves with. Their demented candidates and their total and absolute disregard for the nation’s welfare will weigh on them like an anchor. What he is doing now to call them out is child’s play to what will happen as we get nearer the election. PBO wants to finish what he set out to do and he’s told us he needs more time, i.e., a second term. He will focus like a laser to make that happen and his unequaled campaign team will be there to help him. Plus he has millions of us who will not surrender to the hacks who want to destroy every decent thing we represent as Americans. We can do this and we will.
THIS – I totally agree, JG. I actually feel confident with this president. Not overly confident, or snobbishly confident, just confident.
Am I the only one not surprised that Cain hasn’t been hurt by this “scandal?” I was with you all when the news dropped and the only thing that struck me about it wasn’t the sexual harassment claims. It was the way it was dropped. Through politico, a bunch of anonymous people feeding the story, and no specifics about what happened.
Then you have the way the media went full-bore into it. It was weird how much they wanted this story to do him in. The analysis right off the bat was “this is his downfall” absent any proof that it would be. The left media went wild. The “mainstream media” went wild speculating. The right circled the wagon.
The fact is that the shady way this story was dropped is the REAL story, rather than the who, what, where, and why surrounding the sexual harassment charges unfortunately.
The same thing could be said about Perry and that drunken video. I watched the clip from Rachel on here, and she seemed so certain that it was the end of Perry – but, I really haven’t heard anyone talking about it since the first couple of days, and the media has completely forgotten about/buried it. It’s a travesty that this media looked the other way when Bush lied about Iraq, looked the other way when sarah palin was making millions at the expense of this country’s dignity, and now they’re looking the other way while these pathetic candidates skate on by with scandal after scandal that would defeat any normal candidate in any normal time. For heaven’s sake, Howard Dean’s candidacy was destroyed over one ill-timed squeal. These jokers are still going strong and fundraising off their despicable deeds.
I don’t think these scandals have necessarily been buried by the media…especially Cain’s new scandal. The problem is that we are living in interesting times. What I mean is that whether we like it or not, when Barack Hussein Obama won the presidency, nothing in politics was ever going to be the same. For whatever reason, folks lost their minds. McCain went crazy and picked Palin knowing she was unqualified to be VP. Tea partiers were allowed to take over the Repub party even though they are the typically ultra conservative/libertarian types that should be marginalized.
Nothing that we think will make sense will truly make sense when it comes to our politics. I hope Plouffe and Axelrod are thinking outside of the box. We are in one of those fights that happen every now and then when this country has to redefine itself. We have to decide what we want for the future and we have to keep pushing for it more and more, over and over.
Another good read:
HEADLINE: A Reporter Really Doing His Job Exposes Michael Moore as a Liar and a Hypocrite
// The Michael Moore Appropriate the Occupy Movement Holy Papal Tour continues (coupled with a book-signing tour). This is blatant fame whoring. Arianna Huffington must be chewing nails and pissing rust at such shameless self-publicizing. I don’t know what is more embarrassing – Moore’s grifting or the naivete in the people in these protests to give blanket belief that Moore, or indeed, any passing celebrity, would really, really, really be paying more than lip service sympathy to their cause? //
Read more…
http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com/2011/11/reporter-really-doing-his-job-exposes.html?spref=tw
Hey Chips, Check this out!!!!
Oh nintendowii10, that video is just magnificent – thank you SO much for sharing it, you’re a gem. Just posted it.
Love it…can’t wait to see it aired on teevee.
This is absolutely fantastic…
I can’t wait to share this…
It captures so succinctly the promises this spectacular President made even as he warned that it would be a long rough road building our damaged country back up and that he would need every single one of us to do our part…
It then goes on to show all he has been able to achieve and the many accomplishments and promises kept in 3 short years and in the face of unprecedented attacks and obstruction from every front…
May God continue to bless, keep, protect, guide, guard and defend this magnificent and all around amazing President…
SERIOUSLY???????????????? Microsoft?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/11/04/361929/microsoft-funds-kochs-climate-denying-tea-party-conference/
What?!?!?! This is just beyond belief. I want to hear Bill Gates explain this RIGHT now.
And that Silver Sponsor “Altria” is Philip Morris. The tobacco company.
He’s home 😉
New thread here: http://theobamadiary.com/2011/11/04/it-belongs-to-you/
The wonderful Smartypants has a timely reminder:)
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/11/three-years-ago-today.html We need to bust a hump and get this done. Again.
OMG!!! It looks like President Obama is wearing an earring. WHAT??? No, that can’t be! But he would be so cool with an earring. Does anyone remember Ed Bradley, the COOLEST reporter ever? I wish he would have lived to see Barack Obama elected POTUS.
We keep praying, being in our meditations of thinking on these things that are pure, good, gentle, and loving for others, and let these people move out of the reach of our good energy.
It is a daily focus to move around these ugly spirited people. But we will do it. We have so much goodness to still get done and to live with and by in our lives. Evil and there gloom will not dwell within our beautiful space because we will not allow it.HZ
I’m so glad that ad reinforces what he said election night…..The change is not already here, we have to WORK for the change, there is so much to do. It seems as if most people just blanked that out and decided he could carry the load alone. He never promised easy, he never promised a short road…..do people ever truly LISTEN to him? I don’t think so. He has never promised more than could be delivered, and always promised work and sacrifice. I still get chills listening to that speech.
The Europeans get him….why don’t we????
This Goemert, goober, gomer, whatever, Is CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.