President Barack Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office, Nov. 29, 2011. Senior Advisors David Plouffe and Valerie Jarrett are seated on the couch. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
****
Seriously, is there no end to this creature’s pitiful flip-flopping?
The problem for the real powers that be in the Republican Party (the money people) is that they aren’t thrilled with Romney, but the rest of the field scares the heck out of them. They feel that Romney is the only one of the current crop that has a chance to beat the President, but also that the chance is slim. So don’t be surprised if over the next month or so, they take pot shots at him mainly to draw out somebody else that mau have a better chnce.
Unfortunately, for them, is that they have forgotten that although they have the money, dollar bills don’t vote. The current motivated part of the party demands ideologicl adherence to policies that can’t win in a general.
The fact is, based upon who is now running, there are only two ways the President loses next year. The first is a complete bottoming out of th economy and the second is if the Republicans through disenfranchisement and placing special items on local ballots (see 2004) can increase the Republican turnout and diminish the Democratic turnout.
In terms of the first, if the message continues to be spread that the Republicans are not only against economic growth in terms of jobs, etc but actually want the economy to go backwards, then if that happens, they are the ones who will suffer the most.
In terms of the second, that is handled through two means. First, motivate, motivate, motivate and get the vote out. Second is try to findsome Dem friendly ballot initiatives on the local that will bring out voters.
Agree with your analysis Japa. On number 2, I would add getting to know your state voting laws cold, so you know what to tell voters and how to help them get the right IDs. If they have to go to the DMV, organize car pools to take them there and help raise funds to pay any fees, if necessary. Make sure you have well-trained poll watchers at every polling place and fast access to lawyers who are on call. If the poll watchers know the law, they can successfully fight back if they see improprieties going on. And make sure you not only motivate voters, but flush them out on election day.
I was doing a little surfing and came across Rachel’s discussion of Repubs changing the electoral rules in PA. Ed Rendell is her guest. It seems as if the Repubs pass this law and President Obama wins PA the way he did in 2008, he would get ONE (1) electoral vote INSTEAD of the 21.
I think you are mistaken on the Pa issue. He might have had a net gain of one vote, meaning they would have been split 11-10 in his favor, but there is no way he’d just get one of the 21 EV’s. They were thinking about a proportional split vs winner-take-all, but that has been defeated for the time being because it’s a toss up state and it gets lot of Presidential focus as a result, if they did go to the split, they’d basically be neglected as they would basically be worth 1-2 net vote gain tops and not worth the money it costs to run in Pa with the split Pittsburgh and Philly markets.
SR, you’re right. The tens of millions of dollars that pour into PA would dry up and those businesses that count on this four year influx of money would suffer. Many also warned that there would be such intense campaigning by both parties in the Republican districts that many of the R’s precious jobs at the state and congressional level would be threatened. Right now this legislation is stalled in committee because there was so much outcry about it and no one wants to risk that much political capital at the moment. Plus R’s think that a Republican can take the state and they don’t want to be responsible for denying that person all of their electoral votes and thus lessening their clout with an R administration. I don’t care what their reasoning, I just want them to bury the idea deep under ground.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and European Union agreed Tuesday to reduce red tape related to cargo security and pledged to work toward tearing down tariffs and regulatory barriers between the world’s largest trading partners.
“The leaders have asked to look at all aspects of our relationship and see what we can do to strengthen our economic ties and support good jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic,” White House international economics adviser Michael Froman told reporters at the end of the annual U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC).
Those options range from simply expanding the TEC into new areas to negotiating a full-fledged free trade agreement, Froman said at the joint news conference with European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
“Everything is on the table, from tariffs to non-tariff barriers to enhanced regulatory cooperation,” Froman said.
I really have to wonder what’s going through Willard’s plastic head when he keeps taking this beating about him being so unlikeable. This isn’t the first time he’s had this problem. Same thing in 2008. People don’t like him and the other candidates were hostile to him. Now there’s been a whole cycle of Not-Romneys, further solidifying this message that conservative want anybody but him. He’s got to be hearing what is being said about him. It’s really fascinating.
Compare this GOP primary with the Democratic primary of 2008. Media kept trying to tell us that there was going to be this huge split, but really there were many candidates that excited Democratic voters, and once our nominee was chosen, those voters came on board for the most part. Nobody thought Barack or Hillary were unlikeable per se. In fact, lots of people liked both of them and wanted them to run together. There was a tiny faction of PUMAs, but for the most part, there wasn’t this disdain for the nominee, especially not stretching back to the very beginning of the process.
Even when/if Willard gets the nomination, we will have a full year and a half of this message floating around that the dude is unlikeable. That’s a long time! Who is the last unlikeable president that was elected? !?! Nixon?
That story really blew me away. With all he has on his plate, he had the presence of mind to make her day by asking for her autograph, and then remembering at the end of the meal! He really cares about people. What a great guy.
Senate agrees to reauthorize small business programs
By Josiah Ryan – 11/29/11 07:07 PM ET
The Senate agreed by unanimous consent Tuesday evening to an amendment that would reauthorize funding for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs for eight years. That amendment was tacked on to the underlying defense authorization bill.
Both programs are designed to assist small businesses in expanding.
–/
Good Lord. So that clinches it? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more lame excuse for still supporting somebody; i.e., he didn’t make a move on attractive me, so everything will be okay for the rest of you dogs.
Google search her. The woman is a freaking nutcase! We have LOTS of nutjobs running around AZ govt! Oh, and by the way..she packs a pink gun….in the state house…at work….seriously. Russell Pearce said she could.
I truly despised Nixon and disagreed with everything he stood for, but he was very well liked by Republicans and actually very smart and knowledgeable. He was a little like Romney in being socially awkward and he was deeply dishonest and ruthless. But he was also passionate about things, which led you to believe that there was some core of iron inside him. There have been many lightweights who have been president and a great many despicable people who have run for the office, like George Wallace. But Romney is the only one I’ve ever seen or read about who seems so empty, as if there literally isn’t anything there but naked ambition. I don’t think people dislike him so much as they instinctively distrust someone who doesn’t seem real.
But Romney is the only one I’ve ever seen or read about who seems so empty, as if there literally isn’t anything there but naked ambition. I don’t think people dislike him so much as they instinctively distrust someone who doesn’t seem real.
THIS
THIS
THIS
people know it…they can feel it….
there’s nothing ‘there’.
the ONLY thin g he believes in…is that HE should be President.
Romney seems really desperate, too. Every time I see him these days, his hair is flying, he’s got bags under his eyes, and he has a sick grimace on his face like he just wants it all over and to move into the White House already.
He also kind of looks scared or something, I think. Scared he might win or scared he might not, in addition to the level of desperation you mentioned. Who knows.
I feel this about him as well. He is just empty to me. Now he a person who does not connect with people. There just seem to me that he is talking over me, or trying to race so fast because he feels like he deserves this regardless.HZ
Ah ha! Christmas decorations! So the Obama’s are celebrating Christmas, afterall. I thought the wingers said they were getting rid of Christmas this year. Poor wing nuts, wrong again.
So Gingrich is rising in the polls because they would love to see him debate PBO? I say be careful what you wish for. Republicans may like bullies and meaness but I don’t think most people will fall for that.
Newt believes he is the smartest man in the world. He has some conservative supporters believing the same some how. Why isn’t Newt dominating the debates with the likes of Santorum, Cain and Bachmann?
Newt’s big plan is to challenge Pres. Obama to Lincoln-Douglas debates around the country and if Pres. Obama turns him down, he will follow Pres. Obama around the country and give speeches 4 hours after Obama from the exact stage where Pres Obama gave his speech. He says this would force Pres. Obama to accept his LD challenge, otherwise he’d be ceding the final word to Gingrich at every stump stop.
Newt says he’d make this challenge during his acceptance speech if he wins the nomination.
Okay, since President Obama can cover the qualities of both Lincoln and Douglas in any debate, with intellect left over, who does that leave Newt to play?
The pomposity of Newt to already be planning his acceptance speech shouldn’t be lost on Republican voters. But it probably is.
Newt’s big plan is to challenge Pres. Obama to Lincoln-Douglas debates around the country and if Pres. Obama turns him down, he will follow Pres. Obama around the country and give speeches 4 hours after Obama from the exact stage where Pres Obama gave his speech
LOL!
Sounds very jr. high to me. And a little stalker-ish.
Plus wouldn’t that be an ultimate waste of campaign time?
But whatever. I’d love to see Newt waste time sniffing after Pres. Obama and doing dumb debates by himself.
Can you imagine the slap in the face to Newtie IF his audience for these stalker speeches turn out to be much smaller than PBO’s? With such obvious contrast it would probably only take 2 or 3 of this type of response for Newt’s strategists to start bussing in the audience or, in the manner of Cain, ‘reassessing’ this strategy. Come to think of it, wonder if Newt is proposing the idea in order to pimp off PBO’s ability to draw an audience? Hmmmm.
I’m sure the president is quaking in his boots over the prospect of debating Newton, or, maybe he’s just laughing at the idea of this musty, archaic ploy. I would like to know the number of people in the US today who have any idea what the Lincoln/ Douglas debates were or even care. People in those days had great patience for lengthy oral arguments and were accustomed to spending hours “listening.” Fat chance finding “listeners” in today’s audience. Newt’s “clever” idea just amounts to two people giving speeches in the same location on the same day with all the expensive logistics that would entail for local police and the disruptions in traffic. What possible advantage he could see for himself for acting like Tweedle Dum to the president’s Tweedle Dee is beyond me. It’s simply stupid and shows a candidate with his mind in the past, casting romantic images about himself with not a clue about the actual world he’s living in.
Oh my gosh.that guy is such a fricking a$$h***!! I can’t believe I watched the 2:56 minute clip of that rat bastard. He’s such a bad liar that he keeps backing himself in a corner. How does that tool live with himself. He makes me wannapuke out my guts.
I like the Netherlands Prime Minister. Seems like a straight up nice guy. Like his talk about jobs jobs jobs. Also like the idea of the President visiting the Netherlands. We might be seeing windmills and tulips soon. Another overseas vacation with the President. Yea!
Chipsticks, here is a video clip of a 1% stating he doesn’t think the 99% has contributed much to society.. I think this should have center stage tomorrow in the am and we should drop him an e-mail, fax, or phone call to give him a roll call.
Barack Obama.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Oprah Winfrey
Marvin Gaye
Jim Kruse
Senior Managing Director
Los Angeles South Region
Beverly Hills, California
T 310.550.2698
F 310.203.9624 jim.kruse@cbre.com
Okay, so then what is “society” if 99 percent of the people don’t contribute to it. Is society just a gated community of rich people who rub each other’s backs and tell each other how wonderful they are. So they don’t rake money in from the 99 percent, exploit them to clean, run the transportation, electrical and water systems, build the highways and their homes, farm their food, teach their children, etc., etc. etc. This is the face of those who believe that have an inherent right to control the country, democracy be damned. These remarks need to be heard around the country.
The sad thing is that this video needs very, very little updating! Powerful! Very powerful! IMO, it’s also sad that each election the fight centres around the same core issues. There seems to be little growth from year to year in the minds of the general electorate. One would think that by more they would be able see the pattern of GOP behaviour and send them a strong message of repudiation. One would think!
Read FDR speeches. Same old same old. People like to say that Republicans were so “different” decades ago. Well they may not have been as nasty, but their politics were pretty much the same.
PUSAN, South Korea — When Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives in Burma on Wednesday — the first U.S. secretary of state to do so in half a century — she will enter a country vacillating between pessimism and hope.
Its authoritarian government is talking loudly of reform. Its opposition leaders are desperate for change but deeply suspicious of the government’s overtures. Meanwhile, its ethnic minorities, who have suffered killings and rape by the Burmese military, are split between fighting back and pursuing another cease-fire when past ones have failed.
Confrontation or negotiation? Working with or against the government? These are questions that the people of Burma have faced for decades, and ones Clinton will face as she flies from an international aid conference in South Korea to Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw. But the most pressing question of all is this: Just how serious is Burma’s government about reform?
There have been promises before, seeming breakthroughs that devolved into crackdowns on democratic and opposition groups. But even those harboring suspicion say some things feel different this time.
In recent months, the nominally civilian government of President Thein Sein — who, like many members of the leadership, is a former military officer — has released some political prisoners, allowed greater media freedom and outlined an agenda of political and economic opening.
TAMPA — They decided to look the part of people who could afford to contribute $2,500 apiece to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
One wore a black dress and high heels. One a crisp business suit. One a tie; another, pearls.
But not long after gliding into the Tampa Museum of Art, where the GOP candidate held a fundraiser Tuesday evening, the interlopers showed their hand.
Wall Street is bankrolling Romney’s campaign, they read from notes. And “Occupy Tampa wholeheartedly rejects this.”
Security and police officers rushed toward them in a scene that unfolded in front of the roughly 75 protesters watching through the museum’s glass atrium walls.
“Shame! Shame!” protesters on the outside shouted as they saw their brethren on the inside get booted.
The original Monday 12 AM deadline passed without incident. Both sides were complimentary of how peaceful things were. Let’s hope it stays peaceful now that the real deadline is here.
VETO THREAT: Via POLITICO Pro: “President Obama today threatened to veto the “Regulatory Accountability Act” (H.R. 3010), a bill the House is set to take up this week that would revamp the regulatory process. In a Statement of Administration Policy, the White House said the bill “would impose unprecedented procedural requirements on agencies that would prevent them from performing their statutory responsibilities. It would also create needless regulatory and legal uncertainty and increase costs for businesses, as well as state, tribal, and local governments, and further impede the implementation of commonsense protections for the American public.”
The White House also threatened to veto the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
If you proclaim to BE a Christian, then you would NEVER call someone a Muslim terrorist just because they are BLACK & BRILLIANT & President.
A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows that support for the Tea Party — and with it the Republican Party — has dropped precipitously in the last year. Now just 20% say they agree with the Tea Party, less than the 27% who disagree. But the news gets worse for Republicans: their favorability has dropped even further in Tea Party districts.
So, the FED and World central banks have pumped lots of money into financial systems to stave off a global recession.
Stocks are through the roof.
Thank you Janice Yellen!
NAY PYI DAW, Myanmar — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here on Wednesday to measure the depth of the political and economic opening the country’s new government has unexpectedly begun.
Rachel mentions Ron Paul almost every day, the fact he is an isolationist, but never discusses how he wants to dismantle the Federal government.
It’s pretty obvious, she supports him!
I don’t know that she supports him, IN TOTAL. I think that she is intrigued with certain aspects of what he says…and the fact that he’s about the only guy up there that, like it or not, has the convictions of his positions. They’re dangerous and lame, but he has never wavered. Can’t say that about ANY of the others! Paul has no chance in hell of going anywhere…and I believe that he said he’s retiring after this.Now if we can just get rid of the looney tunes son….
She, like many on the left, only look at two of his positions, legalize pot and getting out of Afghanistan.
Those positions ate inherently dangerous, but sound great.
The rest of his positions put us on path to become Somalia.
If that is conviction, then I would take Romney over this guy any day!
Just saying!
I’m beginning to think that Ron Paul is less a person to people than someone you just project your own feeling on. People idealize him without understanding anything he stands for. Where we see a grouchy, homely, infinitely selfish and heartless old man, they see their imaginary savior. If they only kiss him, he will turn into a prince. Unfortunately for the dreamers, he really is just a frog.
Do people have absolutely NO memory of Bush and his lies? The lives lost in both countries? The displacement of millions of Iraqis? The absolute squandering of resources, the money lost?
Good morning Meta. The results of this poll proves that, it all depends on who are asked to participate in these polls. I am shocked that people have really forgotten tha Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
It’s because Afghanistan is now taking all the heat.
Afghanistan, because this President has tripled troops there, is now under heat almost daily.
Me thinks, the NATO meeting in may will be some more policy news in afghanistan, those 1700 more trainers and maybe down to 50k by the election!
What Gingrich doesn’t want us to talk about
By Steve Benen
Over the last three decades, wealth has become increasingly concentrated at the top. The middle class is struggling with stagnant wages and a growing class gap; poverty rates are soaring; the jobs crisis seems never-ending; and a growing number of Americans are suggesting it’s time for a larger conversation about economic inequalities and tax fairness.
Newt Gingrich believes that conversation must not occur. In fact, the Republican presidential candidate questions the patriotism of those who choose to draw attention to the problem.
“I repudiate, and I call on the President to repudiate, the concept of the 99 and the 1. It is un-American, it is divisive, it is historically false…. You are not going to get job creation when you engage in class warfare because you have to attack the very people you hope will create jobs.”
Even for a candidate who says truly ridiculous things on a daily basis, this is extraordinary.
Jackie, so is Mitt the flip flopper liar Romney, Herman the 999 women I couldn’t keep my handsoff of Cain, Michele the dumbass airhead Bachman, John “who” Huntsmats, Rick “the dumbass” Perry, all of them are “A” holes. Even the two I didn’t name.
The Obama Diary 
Fired up, peoples!
Hell Yeah!
I dare say we all are!
That is quite the political firepower sitting on that couch in the Oval Office. To be a fly on that wall!
I know right?
I think that fox guy did a good job with the Flip-Flopper in chief. If Willard is going to debate PBO like that, i smell a landslide.
The problem for the real powers that be in the Republican Party (the money people) is that they aren’t thrilled with Romney, but the rest of the field scares the heck out of them. They feel that Romney is the only one of the current crop that has a chance to beat the President, but also that the chance is slim. So don’t be surprised if over the next month or so, they take pot shots at him mainly to draw out somebody else that mau have a better chnce.
Unfortunately, for them, is that they have forgotten that although they have the money, dollar bills don’t vote. The current motivated part of the party demands ideologicl adherence to policies that can’t win in a general.
The fact is, based upon who is now running, there are only two ways the President loses next year. The first is a complete bottoming out of th economy and the second is if the Republicans through disenfranchisement and placing special items on local ballots (see 2004) can increase the Republican turnout and diminish the Democratic turnout.
In terms of the first, if the message continues to be spread that the Republicans are not only against economic growth in terms of jobs, etc but actually want the economy to go backwards, then if that happens, they are the ones who will suffer the most.
In terms of the second, that is handled through two means. First, motivate, motivate, motivate and get the vote out. Second is try to findsome Dem friendly ballot initiatives on the local that will bring out voters.
Agree with your analysis Japa. On number 2, I would add getting to know your state voting laws cold, so you know what to tell voters and how to help them get the right IDs. If they have to go to the DMV, organize car pools to take them there and help raise funds to pay any fees, if necessary. Make sure you have well-trained poll watchers at every polling place and fast access to lawyers who are on call. If the poll watchers know the law, they can successfully fight back if they see improprieties going on. And make sure you not only motivate voters, but flush them out on election day.
Great suggestions. Fully agree.
I was doing a little surfing and came across Rachel’s discussion of Repubs changing the electoral rules in PA. Ed Rendell is her guest. It seems as if the Repubs pass this law and President Obama wins PA the way he did in 2008, he would get ONE (1) electoral vote INSTEAD of the 21.
I’m also concerned about Diebald machines.
Both are concerns. Plus stuff under the radar that the Republicans are cooking up …
So the basic answer is GOTV – in every state.
We must get President Obama re-elected, or there will be a mass exodus to Canada! 🙂
heh. I’m looking at Barbados if that happens.
Good choice
Me too!! I love Barbados
You are all welcome to Vancouver!
I think you are mistaken on the Pa issue. He might have had a net gain of one vote, meaning they would have been split 11-10 in his favor, but there is no way he’d just get one of the 21 EV’s. They were thinking about a proportional split vs winner-take-all, but that has been defeated for the time being because it’s a toss up state and it gets lot of Presidential focus as a result, if they did go to the split, they’d basically be neglected as they would basically be worth 1-2 net vote gain tops and not worth the money it costs to run in Pa with the split Pittsburgh and Philly markets.
SR, you’re right. The tens of millions of dollars that pour into PA would dry up and those businesses that count on this four year influx of money would suffer. Many also warned that there would be such intense campaigning by both parties in the Republican districts that many of the R’s precious jobs at the state and congressional level would be threatened. Right now this legislation is stalled in committee because there was so much outcry about it and no one wants to risk that much political capital at the moment. Plus R’s think that a Republican can take the state and they don’t want to be responsible for denying that person all of their electoral votes and thus lessening their clout with an R administration. I don’t care what their reasoning, I just want them to bury the idea deep under ground.
Plouffe! 😀
Love HIM!!!
Yes, indeed. That is a room full of ALL Brains!!!!! We are so blessed.HZ
By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and European Union agreed Tuesday to reduce red tape related to cargo security and pledged to work toward tearing down tariffs and regulatory barriers between the world’s largest trading partners.
“The leaders have asked to look at all aspects of our relationship and see what we can do to strengthen our economic ties and support good jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic,” White House international economics adviser Michael Froman told reporters at the end of the annual U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC).
Those options range from simply expanding the TEC into new areas to negotiating a full-fledged free trade agreement, Froman said at the joint news conference with European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
“Everything is on the table, from tariffs to non-tariff barriers to enhanced regulatory cooperation,” Froman said.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE7AT01U20111130?irpc=932
I really have to wonder what’s going through Willard’s plastic head when he keeps taking this beating about him being so unlikeable. This isn’t the first time he’s had this problem. Same thing in 2008. People don’t like him and the other candidates were hostile to him. Now there’s been a whole cycle of Not-Romneys, further solidifying this message that conservative want anybody but him. He’s got to be hearing what is being said about him. It’s really fascinating.
Compare this GOP primary with the Democratic primary of 2008. Media kept trying to tell us that there was going to be this huge split, but really there were many candidates that excited Democratic voters, and once our nominee was chosen, those voters came on board for the most part. Nobody thought Barack or Hillary were unlikeable per se. In fact, lots of people liked both of them and wanted them to run together. There was a tiny faction of PUMAs, but for the most part, there wasn’t this disdain for the nominee, especially not stretching back to the very beginning of the process.
Even when/if Willard gets the nomination, we will have a full year and a half of this message floating around that the dude is unlikeable. That’s a long time! Who is the last unlikeable president that was elected? !?! Nixon?
I am very much liking the body language between our President Obama and the Prime Minister. Very positive and open.
He sprinkles magic Obama dust on all world leaders. I’m convinced! 🙂
I think you’re right. No-one (except Netanyahu, BP or the GOP) ever leaves the Oval Office in a bad mood or not smiling.
We can rest our case!
Gavel Down, JB! Amen.HZ
http://www.barackobama.com/news/entry/my-appetite-flew-right-out-the-window?source=ssn
NICE READ Especially PBO asking the Lady for an autograph.
That story really blew me away. With all he has on his plate, he had the presence of mind to make her day by asking for her autograph, and then remembering at the end of the meal! He really cares about people. What a great guy.
Senate agrees to reauthorize small business programs
By Josiah Ryan – 11/29/11 07:07 PM ET
The Senate agreed by unanimous consent Tuesday evening to an amendment that would reauthorize funding for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs for eight years. That amendment was tacked on to the underlying defense authorization bill.
Both programs are designed to assist small businesses in expanding.
–/
Well, what do you know?
Cain is INNOCENT!! With unquestionable proof – http://www.mediaite.com/online/herman-cain-state-chair-lori-klein-we-want-a-virgin-to-do-a-hookers-job/
Lori Klein, an Arizona state Senator and Cain’s Arizona state chairman, told CBS News she stands by Cain.
She says she has known him for 12 years and he’s “never been anything but a gentlemen – and I am not an unattractive woman.”
Good Lord. So that clinches it? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more lame excuse for still supporting somebody; i.e., he didn’t make a move on attractive me, so everything will be okay for the rest of you dogs.
Surreal.
She’s not a troll but she ain’t all that cute either. Cain has his type and she wasn’t it.
Google search her. The woman is a freaking nutcase! We have LOTS of nutjobs running around AZ govt! Oh, and by the way..she packs a pink gun….in the state house…at work….seriously. Russell Pearce said she could.
I truly despised Nixon and disagreed with everything he stood for, but he was very well liked by Republicans and actually very smart and knowledgeable. He was a little like Romney in being socially awkward and he was deeply dishonest and ruthless. But he was also passionate about things, which led you to believe that there was some core of iron inside him. There have been many lightweights who have been president and a great many despicable people who have run for the office, like George Wallace. But Romney is the only one I’ve ever seen or read about who seems so empty, as if there literally isn’t anything there but naked ambition. I don’t think people dislike him so much as they instinctively distrust someone who doesn’t seem real.
But Romney is the only one I’ve ever seen or read about who seems so empty, as if there literally isn’t anything there but naked ambition. I don’t think people dislike him so much as they instinctively distrust someone who doesn’t seem real.
THIS
THIS
THIS
people know it…they can feel it….
there’s nothing ‘there’.
the ONLY thin g he believes in…is that HE should be President.
why?
‘just because’.
no core.
no nothing.
people smell it from a mile away.
And yet he’s mostly been their frontrunner. Not one of their candidates is what the rest of the world would call “normal.”
Either that or everybody’s definition of normal has really, really changed.
Except – luckily – within the Democratic Party. Yee-haw!
Romney seems really desperate, too. Every time I see him these days, his hair is flying, he’s got bags under his eyes, and he has a sick grimace on his face like he just wants it all over and to move into the White House already.
It would be sad if it weren’t so ludicrous.
He also kind of looks scared or something, I think. Scared he might win or scared he might not, in addition to the level of desperation you mentioned. Who knows.
That just about sums up Mitt – scared to win, and scared he might not. Perfect!
theo67, has Romney nose started to grow yet?
I feel this about him as well. He is just empty to me. Now he a person who does not connect with people. There just seem to me that he is talking over me, or trying to race so fast because he feels like he deserves this regardless.HZ
Ah ha! Christmas decorations! So the Obama’s are celebrating Christmas, afterall. I thought the wingers said they were getting rid of Christmas this year. Poor wing nuts, wrong again.
Anybody else notice gas prices are dropping?
I just paid $3.09/galloon! Back to filling my tank for under $20 — Woot!
I loves my Prius!
Yes, been dropping Knoxville for past week to 10 days. Please continue!!!!!!
I paid $2.98 a gallon this evening. I hope that it keeps falling.
Sweet!
So Gingrich is rising in the polls because they would love to see him debate PBO? I say be careful what you wish for. Republicans may like bullies and meaness but I don’t think most people will fall for that.
I don’t believe Newt wants to debate the President. Newt’s got to know only not-so-intelligent people think he’s intelligent.
Newt believes he is the smartest man in the world. He has some conservative supporters believing the same some how. Why isn’t Newt dominating the debates with the likes of Santorum, Cain and Bachmann?
Newt’s big plan is to challenge Pres. Obama to Lincoln-Douglas debates around the country and if Pres. Obama turns him down, he will follow Pres. Obama around the country and give speeches 4 hours after Obama from the exact stage where Pres Obama gave his speech. He says this would force Pres. Obama to accept his LD challenge, otherwise he’d be ceding the final word to Gingrich at every stump stop.
Newt says he’d make this challenge during his acceptance speech if he wins the nomination.
Pathetic.
Newt can’t force President Obama to do anything. This little success is going to that fat ass head.
Okay, since President Obama can cover the qualities of both Lincoln and Douglas in any debate, with intellect left over, who does that leave Newt to play?
The pomposity of Newt to already be planning his acceptance speech shouldn’t be lost on Republican voters. But it probably is.
Newt is totally pathetic. POB can debate Newt on any level. Newt has allowed his Ph.D not get to his head, BUT his entire body. HZ
LOL!
Sounds very jr. high to me. And a little stalker-ish.
Plus wouldn’t that be an ultimate waste of campaign time?
But whatever. I’d love to see Newt waste time sniffing after Pres. Obama and doing dumb debates by himself.
Can you imagine the slap in the face to Newtie IF his audience for these stalker speeches turn out to be much smaller than PBO’s? With such obvious contrast it would probably only take 2 or 3 of this type of response for Newt’s strategists to start bussing in the audience or, in the manner of Cain, ‘reassessing’ this strategy. Come to think of it, wonder if Newt is proposing the idea in order to pimp off PBO’s ability to draw an audience? Hmmmm.
I’m sure the president is quaking in his boots over the prospect of debating Newton, or, maybe he’s just laughing at the idea of this musty, archaic ploy. I would like to know the number of people in the US today who have any idea what the Lincoln/ Douglas debates were or even care. People in those days had great patience for lengthy oral arguments and were accustomed to spending hours “listening.” Fat chance finding “listeners” in today’s audience. Newt’s “clever” idea just amounts to two people giving speeches in the same location on the same day with all the expensive logistics that would entail for local police and the disruptions in traffic. What possible advantage he could see for himself for acting like Tweedle Dum to the president’s Tweedle Dee is beyond me. It’s simply stupid and shows a candidate with his mind in the past, casting romantic images about himself with not a clue about the actual world he’s living in.
😉 I like this summary of Newtie’s idea Jackie. I I really do, particularly the final sentence. 😉
Oh my gosh.that guy is such a fricking a$$h***!! I can’t believe I watched the 2:56 minute clip of that rat bastard. He’s such a bad liar that he keeps backing himself in a corner. How does that tool live with himself. He makes me wannapuke out my guts.
Lisa, I love the way you put things.
Watching ‘Chelsea Lately’. They are making fun of Herr 999. Hilarious!
I like the Netherlands Prime Minister. Seems like a straight up nice guy. Like his talk about jobs jobs jobs. Also like the idea of the President visiting the Netherlands. We might be seeing windmills and tulips soon. Another overseas vacation with the President. Yea!
Chipsticks, here is a video clip of a 1% stating he doesn’t think the 99% has contributed much to society.. I think this should have center stage tomorrow in the am and we should drop him an e-mail, fax, or phone call to give him a roll call.
Barack Obama.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Oprah Winfrey
Marvin Gaye
Jim Kruse
Senior Managing Director
Los Angeles South Region
Beverly Hills, California
T 310.550.2698
F 310.203.9624
jim.kruse@cbre.com
Okay, so then what is “society” if 99 percent of the people don’t contribute to it. Is society just a gated community of rich people who rub each other’s backs and tell each other how wonderful they are. So they don’t rake money in from the 99 percent, exploit them to clean, run the transportation, electrical and water systems, build the highways and their homes, farm their food, teach their children, etc., etc. etc. This is the face of those who believe that have an inherent right to control the country, democracy be damned. These remarks need to be heard around the country.
“NOT DISAPPOINTED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA” by JAKE LAMAR
I Remember !
Sabreen–It’s a powerful statement, but what year was this? Whenever it was, it needs to be updated for 2012.
The sad thing is that this video needs very, very little updating! Powerful! Very powerful! IMO, it’s also sad that each election the fight centres around the same core issues. There seems to be little growth from year to year in the minds of the general electorate. One would think that by more they would be able see the pattern of GOP behaviour and send them a strong message of repudiation. One would think!
Read FDR speeches. Same old same old. People like to say that Republicans were so “different” decades ago. Well they may not have been as nasty, but their politics were pretty much the same.
PUSAN, South Korea — When Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives in Burma on Wednesday — the first U.S. secretary of state to do so in half a century — she will enter a country vacillating between pessimism and hope.
Its authoritarian government is talking loudly of reform. Its opposition leaders are desperate for change but deeply suspicious of the government’s overtures. Meanwhile, its ethnic minorities, who have suffered killings and rape by the Burmese military, are split between fighting back and pursuing another cease-fire when past ones have failed.
Confrontation or negotiation? Working with or against the government? These are questions that the people of Burma have faced for decades, and ones Clinton will face as she flies from an international aid conference in South Korea to Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw. But the most pressing question of all is this: Just how serious is Burma’s government about reform?
There have been promises before, seeming breakthroughs that devolved into crackdowns on democratic and opposition groups. But even those harboring suspicion say some things feel different this time.
In recent months, the nominally civilian government of President Thein Sein — who, like many members of the leadership, is a former military officer — has released some political prisoners, allowed greater media freedom and outlined an agenda of political and economic opening.
http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/rss.jsp?rssid=613&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fworld%2fasia_pacific%2fclinton-arrives-in-a-hopeful-burma%2f2011%2f11%2f28%2fgIQAn5jW9N_mobile.mobile&cid=-1
Take a look at the redistricting map in Florida, not good-
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/analysis-senate-maps-perform-well-some-gop-not-so-others-and-packs-dems
TAMPA — They decided to look the part of people who could afford to contribute $2,500 apiece to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
One wore a black dress and high heels. One a crisp business suit. One a tie; another, pearls.
But not long after gliding into the Tampa Museum of Art, where the GOP candidate held a fundraiser Tuesday evening, the interlopers showed their hand.
Wall Street is bankrolling Romney’s campaign, they read from notes. And “Occupy Tampa wholeheartedly rejects this.”
Security and police officers rushed toward them in a scene that unfolded in front of the roughly 75 protesters watching through the museum’s glass atrium walls.
“Shame! Shame!” protesters on the outside shouted as they saw their brethren on the inside get booted.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/dressed-like-wealthy-donors-protesters-try-to-disrupt-romney-fundraiser-at/1204079
If this happened to the President, it would be played in a loop on cable for 3 days!
Yep.
The deadline to de-OccupyLA is here. Busloads of police have arrived. Here’s a livestream:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupyla-2
The original Monday 12 AM deadline passed without incident. Both sides were complimentary of how peaceful things were. Let’s hope it stays peaceful now that the real deadline is here.
This doesn’t bode well for TP OR Republicans…who knew?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/support-cools-for-the-tea-party-and-the-gop/2011/03/04/gIQAJqfz9N_blog.html
VETO THREAT: Via POLITICO Pro: “President Obama today threatened to veto the “Regulatory Accountability Act” (H.R. 3010), a bill the House is set to take up this week that would revamp the regulatory process. In a Statement of Administration Policy, the White House said the bill “would impose unprecedented procedural requirements on agencies that would prevent them from performing their statutory responsibilities. It would also create needless regulatory and legal uncertainty and increase costs for businesses, as well as state, tribal, and local governments, and further impede the implementation of commonsense protections for the American public.”
The White House also threatened to veto the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011.
11:30 AM
Michelle Obama delivers the keynote address at Partnership for a Healthier America’s inaugural Building a Healthier Future summit.
12:00 PM
Obama receives the presidential daily briefing.
12:30 PM
Michelle Obama welcomes military families to the White House for the first viewing of the 2011 holiday decorations.
12:40 PM
Obama departs the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews.
12:55 PM
Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Scranton, Pa.
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
Obama arrives in Scranton, Pa.
2:00 PM
2:05 PM
Obama meets with a Scranton family.
2:45 PM
Obama delivers remarks at Scranton High School.
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
4:10 PM
Obama departs Scranton, Pa., en route to New York City.
4:55 PM
Obama arrives in New York City.
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:05 PM
Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
9:05 PM
Obama delivers remarks at a campaign event.
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
11:10 PM
Obama departs New York City en route to Joint Base Andrews.
Thanks for the schedule Jovie. Also, Kathleen Sebellius goes to Ohio to announce a “We Can’t Wait” action (as per Dan Pfeifer on Twitter).
how does he it? if he’s taking a vitamin or eating extra spinach I want to know cuz I’ll do that too! 🙂
Don’t worry, the WH press corps, out of spite, will not cover him.
Btw- Coming up next on cnbc, Valerie Jarrett.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
If you proclaim to BE a Christian, then you would NEVER call someone a Muslim terrorist just because they are BLACK & BRILLIANT & President.
#YesWeCanDOMoreTogether
and, we MUST
You Bob are absolutely brilliant!! Thanks for all you do, I’m happy to be on your side, give ’em hell 😉
Thank you JC!
#PRESSON
You’re a legend Bob, love ya 😉
Good morning TOD
A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows that support for the Tea Party — and with it the Republican Party — has dropped precipitously in the last year. Now just 20% say they agree with the Tea Party, less than the 27% who disagree. But the news gets worse for Republicans: their favorability has dropped even further in Tea Party districts.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/new-poll-republicans-suffering-in-tea-party-districts.php?ref=fpb
But but but CNN said…
You mean TeaNN……
Cyber Monday spending up 22% from last year to 1.25 billion.
Dow futures are through the roof on central bank news!
Good morning!
So, the FED and World central banks have pumped lots of money into financial systems to stave off a global recession.
Stocks are through the roof.
Thank you Janice Yellen!
NAY PYI DAW, Myanmar — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here on Wednesday to measure the depth of the political and economic opening the country’s new government has unexpectedly begun.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/world/asia/clinton-arrives-in-myanmar-to-assess-reforms.html?_r=1
http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com/2011/11/surprise-surprise-david-sirota-misses.html
Great piece! She rips David Sirota and Ron Paul a new one!
Rachel mentions Ron Paul almost every day, the fact he is an isolationist, but never discusses how he wants to dismantle the Federal government.
It’s pretty obvious, she supports him!
I don’t know that she supports him, IN TOTAL. I think that she is intrigued with certain aspects of what he says…and the fact that he’s about the only guy up there that, like it or not, has the convictions of his positions. They’re dangerous and lame, but he has never wavered. Can’t say that about ANY of the others! Paul has no chance in hell of going anywhere…and I believe that he said he’s retiring after this.Now if we can just get rid of the looney tunes son….
She, like many on the left, only look at two of his positions, legalize pot and getting out of Afghanistan.
Those positions ate inherently dangerous, but sound great.
The rest of his positions put us on path to become Somalia.
If that is conviction, then I would take Romney over this guy any day!
Just saying!
I’m beginning to think that Ron Paul is less a person to people than someone you just project your own feeling on. People idealize him without understanding anything he stands for. Where we see a grouchy, homely, infinitely selfish and heartless old man, they see their imaginary savior. If they only kiss him, he will turn into a prince. Unfortunately for the dreamers, he really is just a frog.
Marion is a hoot! She nailed him 🙂
Yes she did!
OK, this is downright depressing:
Pew study: Americans divided on whether decision to invade Iraq was right or wrong – 48% yes, 46% no
http://pewrsr.ch/sqULdt
Do people have absolutely NO memory of Bush and his lies? The lives lost in both countries? The displacement of millions of Iraqis? The absolute squandering of resources, the money lost?
Good morning Meta. The results of this poll proves that, it all depends on who are asked to participate in these polls. I am shocked that people have really forgotten tha Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
It’s because Afghanistan is now taking all the heat.
Afghanistan, because this President has tripled troops there, is now under heat almost daily.
Me thinks, the NATO meeting in may will be some more policy news in afghanistan, those 1700 more trainers and maybe down to 50k by the election!
meta, so I am to assume that if these people think it was alright to invade Iraq, then they must want our troops to remain in Iraq.
Who did Pew study call? Senator Lieberman, Graham, McCain.
The Republicans caved, they are all for the payroll tax cut holiday.
Glory be!
Not done yet…..how do we pay for it?? same shit, different day…still looms.
No pay for- on the credit card!
Yes, the devil is in the details.
I don’t trust any Republicans. Not one!
Adp reports that US companies added 206k jobs.
We shall see on Friday, but that ain’t too bad.
Do they do seasonally adjusted?
November 29, 2011 3:40 PM
What Gingrich doesn’t want us to talk about
By Steve Benen
Over the last three decades, wealth has become increasingly concentrated at the top. The middle class is struggling with stagnant wages and a growing class gap; poverty rates are soaring; the jobs crisis seems never-ending; and a growing number of Americans are suggesting it’s time for a larger conversation about economic inequalities and tax fairness.
Newt Gingrich believes that conversation must not occur. In fact, the Republican presidential candidate questions the patriotism of those who choose to draw attention to the problem.
“I repudiate, and I call on the President to repudiate, the concept of the 99 and the 1. It is un-American, it is divisive, it is historically false…. You are not going to get job creation when you engage in class warfare because you have to attack the very people you hope will create jobs.”
Even for a candidate who says truly ridiculous things on a daily basis, this is extraordinary.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_11/what_gingrich_doesnt_want_us_t033780.php
Newt Gingrich is a Class A, Number One Asshole!
Jackie, so is Mitt the flip flopper liar Romney, Herman the 999 women I couldn’t keep my handsoff of Cain, Michele the dumbass airhead Bachman, John “who” Huntsmats, Rick “the dumbass” Perry, all of them are “A” holes. Even the two I didn’t name.
Morning everyone!
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/11/30/rise-and-shine-32/