I think I may have blinked. Can someone point me to what happened with Van Jones and the PL? Or give me the Reader’s Digest version? I didn’t realize he was no longer in their good graces.
A while back, I believe he sent out tweets supporting PBO and going against them in a way they deemed touchy (a novel concept for him since he hitched his wagon to Huff Po & OWS) and they decided he wasn’t pure enough for them, so they kicked him out of the hate Obama party.
This pied piper photo is so revealing of PBO’s character. There is no way that any of the republican Pretenders would have a moment like this, while it happens to PBO all of the time all over the world.
All over the world indeed. Remember in Brazil when he went in poor neighbourhoods and played a bit of soccer with the kids? The photos and videos we’ve seen are absolutely wonderful. They show that President has a genuine affection for those kids, and the kids love him too; children just KNOW when someone is authentic.
I’m watching. This is another consequence of people listening to the media and PL in 2010 and ignoring PBO when he said vote. vote. VOTE! Dr. Berwick got shafted, screwed, and demonized by Sen. John Kyl and other GOP senators and now his recess appointment year is over.
The interview was good. He praised PBO for fighting hard for ACA and never giving up. I believe he also called health care reform : The miracle law or something like that. 🙂
That was the Tucson Memorial Service in Arizona. After the shooting of Gabby Giffords and others. That moment was when he was talking about Christina Taylor Green and he had to take a moment to pause and gather himself.
Meta, that photo was at the memorial service at Tucson Arizona after the shooting – I think the event was called ‘Together We Thrive’ or something similar. He is such a loving, compassionate man.
You are welcome! I remember the event well, it was so moving and I realized then (not for the first time) how blessed we are that Barack Obama is President.
That was the Tucson, AZ memorial service when Gabby Giffords and others were shot. That moment was when he was talking about nine year old Christina Taylor Green who died and he had to pause due to overwhelming emotion.
Morning guys. Had a guilt-ridden big breakfast of grits, bacon, eggs, and a few glasses of mimosa. Should go to the gym but feeling lazy this morning. Anyway, I missed Cain’s suspension speech, but saw on the news that Glo was right up on the podium with him, grinning and waving while he bowed out. Talk about a strange relationship…stand by your man as he basically bends to the pressure of so-called false allegations. I’m debating over watching the am shows today since Gibbs and Axe are scheduled to be on. Think I may have to break my boycott.
I missed the big Cain Train Rolling To A Stop announcement but seeing news clips of Gloria standing back there clapping may be the most pitiful of the whole CainWreck. I don’t understand women like that, willing to put up with anything, with such low self-esteem. Again—it’s not the events in your life which define you, it’s how you react to them. She should have at least stayed home and not allowed herself to be used and shamed again by her selfish, narcissistic. long-philandering husband.
She said she believes him and stands behind him completely, part of her wanted him to stay in the race. She’s either part of the whole charade or in very serious denial. Either way, I’m sorry to say I don’t feel any sympathy for her.
I watched the first 6 minutes of the speech, (and the long walk to the podium), and then changed the channel, screaming the whole time. It was so offensive. It was sickening how Herman wouldn’t let go of Gloria’s hand, even when it made walking difficult, because he wanted everyone to see that they were walking hand in hand. Even if he is innocent of all charges, the humiliation of his entire campaign – his unpreparedness, disregard for education and reading, and his bigoted and misogynistic statements and actions – have been an embarrassment to his family, himself and anyone who supports him.
I have always wondered how women can stay in an abusive marriage. Herman Cain may not be physically abusing Gloria but his philandering is definitely abusive. Sometimes women become accustomed to not working and having the luxury of a nice home and conveniences so do not want to divorce. They put up with a lot to have these privileges. I think they lack courage and confidence to start over on their own. They may not even mind the lack of sexual exclusivity since they may have not loved their man for quite sometime. They may feel guilty having sex with someone they do not love. Sounds like I am speaking from experience but I am not. I am speaking from watching and reading too many romance type plots. LOL
I think that we can heap alot of things on Gloria…but the fact that he was able to stand this long in the Presidential race says much more about the culture in this society…….
Good morning to all. It’s bright and sunny this am in my part of PA and I’m trying to inject some Christmas spirit in my life despite the string of unreformed Ebenezer Scrooges on the right who are doing their darndest to tarnish this or any joyful season. Yesterday I went to a hometown Christmas parade with music, Girl and Boy Scouts and, of course, Santa. Everybody was cheering and singing songs and the kids were wild with excitement and candy. Today we’re going to a Christmas concert at the local college to listen to beautiful music from the college’s three choirs. The outside of our house is now decorated and this Wednesday we welcome the Christmas tree into our living room. I want to use this Christmas as a period of inspiration as well as a fun time with family and friends. We will need to call on our deepest resources of strength to go out into the new year and face whatever dragons and challenges come our way in the good fight to re-elect our president. Pull in all the love you can this holiday and use it to light the way through the long days ahead. We’re luckier than most. In addition to our own families, we have this giant TOD family to share love, laughter, and inspiration with. And we have a president we can love without reservation and with total pride in our hearts.
You’re an inspiration, Jackie. Sounds like you’re enjoying the gifts of the season. We will be in for a tough road ahead in 2012 but I’m very certain our hard work will pay off in grand style. Let’s all stick together on this!!
Jacke, wonderful comment! I am in PA too! Sun is shining here also. It has been a rough year, and am looking forward to a better 2012. I am behind POTUS 1000%! We will win this state again!
What a great post. I think you’re absolutely right – the year will start as we mean to continue, and I’m hoping to be more optimistic and not let the media and GOP get to me as much as they have of late.
I think this is why it’s so important for President Obama to get his full Christmas vacation – without having to spend a single extra day with the do-nothings in Congress. Some are complaining about his vacation, saying the “optics” aren’t good. I challenged someone on Twitter for that statement the other day, because the optics of a President who is this hardworking can’t be any worse than a GOP who has spent the last three years of economic crisis doing absolutely nothing in Congress, and then have spent this entire year ignoring the people who they promised to make jobs their first priority. President Obama has to rest and refresh – he’s got a busy year ahead of him. And so do we.
Good morning everyone. Yesterday I registered voters for OFA Detroit at a yearly holiday event called Noel Night. I registered 18 voters over a 4 hour period about half of whom were 17 but would be 18 by Election Day. I was hoping for many more but I can tell you the reason there weren’t more is because everyone was registered and seemed ready to vote, like yesterday. While it was a mixed crowd, it was majority AAs and I sensed a resolve and a steely determination to see PBO re-elected. I could tell there was a seething anger about the way PBO has been treated and how Republicans are passing laws to prevent us from voting in large numbers. These folks emphatically responded, “Yes I’m registered…Yes everything is up to date…Yes, we’ve got to help PBO…and Yes, we must stop those Republicans. I felt very encouraged and inspired by the postive energy about PBO. I even registered a brand new citizen yesterday who will be voting for the first time. So even though the numbers were small, they were small for a good reason. Folks are paying attention and they are Fired up and ready to go!
Not to end on a sour note, but I really wish that would have been true in 2010. We ended up with a horrible Republican governor and state legislature. I wish Democrats could more consistently connect our votes to our everyday lives and stop playing angry defense all the time and start playing some tough offense (a little football reference in honor of today’s games). These days there is too much at stake to do otherwise.
Thanks for your work and thanks for the news on the ground. I’m happy that this time around more voters are paying attention and are involved because we need to lock in as many early electoral college votes as we can and the more people are closely paying attention, the more they can swing votes our way. The GOP will once again rue the day they pissed of the minority vote. They don’t seem to realize that African-Americans are especially paying attention to the disgusting, vile, and sometimes downright prejudiced way PBO has been treated this past three years or so and they will be out en masse on and before November 6, 2012 to met out due justice.
L3, registering 18 people to vote is considered a HUGE number for a volunteer. Thank you. I’ve walked my city for hours without 1 because everyone is already registered. So consider that a big win for us. And I just looked at our top national numbers for contacts for volunteers and 1-on-1s and they look very good, especially in NV, CA and FL. We are on the road to laying a terrific foundation for the election, one block at a time. Let’s keep going.
Thanks for your work – it’s great to see this type of detail too to better understand what’s happening out there. I live in Obama’s very blue home state so I will be traveling to Indiana and/or Wisconsin on weekends to help keep those states blue. Thanks again for all your work yesterday L3.
Obama voters let him down in 2010 by not bothering to show up to vote. Electing him was not the end, it was the beginning. We have seen the disastrous outcome of that negligence.
Thank you L3 for your work. Nothing will be more important than registering new voters and making sure those who are already registered, comply with whatever goofy law are out there. It is good to know that people do see how PBO is being treated and are determined to re-elect him!!
We are getting petition signatures to place the President’s name on the ballot in our state. People are fired up and ready to start the campaign. Thanks for your work.
If ever there was evidence needed that David Gregory shills for the GOP and is a closet birther then this morning’s Meet The Press just provided one. RNC Chair Reince Priebus said President Obama “came into this country” and David Gregory didn’t correct him or object to that birtherism code BS but just let him continue spouting crap. He didn’t object to that crap and soundly repudiate that line of nonsense and tell Priebus that PBO was born in Hawaii! This isn’t the first time, Gregory has done this before or let his guests get away with such crap but for fucks sake this is the RNC chair not some Joe the Plumber.
Tweet. email and/or call MSNBC and David Gregory. His ratings are very low and I guess they have to be in the gutter before MSNBC gets a clue. David is awful. Not just because he shills for Repubs but also he is superficial and a light weight.
And msnbc is airing Priebus’ despicable, dishonest comments without comment or clarification, as if his lies about Obama deserved to be spread far and wide.
That is a good read, africa. It is amazing how much the msm ignores this administration. Yesterday, I was telling my husband about VPBiden’s trip to Iraq and Turkey, and that Camp Victory was turned over to the Iraqis, he said he didn’t know anything about that. He was disappointed that he has to get big news from me.
Yes, Debz, I thought this was a very good read. The media bends over backwards to blackout PBO and the amazing and unprecendented things he’s done to the delight of the GOP. But they can’t erase history.
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s military said on Sunday it had shot down a U.S. reconnaissance drone aircraft in eastern Iran, a military source told state television.
good morning TOD family.May the potus and flotus have a wonderful time at the KC today and may God watch over our country and guide potus today and the rest of the week and protect him as he heads out of Washington this week
The media is so out of touch. I don’t know of anyone who cares about the Bowles-Simpson commission and that the president didn’t put his back into their ideas.
I think many in the left need to take a basic class in poker – forget about chess – lets start with poker. People on the far left seem to believe that the President should lay all his cards on the table so they can see what he has and can determine exactly what moves he’ll make. They’re pathetic.
I didn’t watch the show but Kyle said there is a compromise plan on payroll tax estension in the Senate. Interesting. I’m sure it’s something the President will sign if Reid is proposing it. And then Boehner will have go along with it and beg Pelosi for votes.
I was watching Up With Chris and Jared Bernstein a former economics advisor to VP Biden said he was also getting wind that there might be a compromise on payroll tax extension on the way.
Marvin Nicholson will be assuming his duties. He’s been the travel coordinator for years and the super tall guy you see everywhere. I wonder though if sooner or later PBO will need a new body man.
Measuring Obama
Turning to the general election in Iowa and New Hampshire, President Barack Obama’s approval rating remains underwater in both states.
Forty-three percent of registered voters in Iowa approve of his job performance, which is up one point from October. In New Hampshire, 40 percent of registered voters approve of his job performance, up two points.
Yet — with one exception — he leads all GOP challengers in hypothetical match-ups in the Hawkeye State. He’s ahead of Romney by seven points among registered voters (46 percent to 39 percent), Gingrich by 10 points (47 percent to 37 percent) and Perry by 11 points (48 percent to 37 percent).
The one exception: Paul ties him at 42 percent for each.
In New Hampshire, Romney leads Obama by three points (46 percent to 43 percent), although that’s down from Romney’s nine-point advantage in October.
But Obama leads all other Republicans in the state — Paul (by two points), Gingrich (by 10) and Perry (by 15).
Somebody needs to find a picture of Christie holding one of those big ass fake checks that were passed out from the stimulus in NJ…..and hit him with it!
SPECIAL REPORT DECEMBER 2011
The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers
Foreign Policy presents a unique portrait of 2011’s global marketplace of ideas and the thinkers who make them.
# 11 BARACK OBAMA President/Washington For leading from behind–and showing that it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Conservative critics of the White House may have turned the idea of “leading from behind” into a punch line as soon as it appeared as an anonymous quote from an administration advisor 9,000 words into a New Yorker article, but it is quickly becoming Barack Obama’s most enduring foreign-policy legacy — and not necessarily as the insult his rivals saw it. Certainly, Obama has led: Although he came to office promising to curtail America’s military adventurism abroad and focus on nation-building at home, he has nevertheless presided over more dramatic political shifts in the Middle East than ever achieved by his pugnacious predecessor, even if they are the result of events that he was reacting to rather than driving himself.
As the Arab Spring remade the region in 2011, Obama adapted as both American values and interests demanded. When protests in Cairo reached a fever pitch, he cast aside the caution of his advisors and unambiguously told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a 30-year American ally, that it was time to go. And when Libya’s Muammar al-Qaddafi responded to an uprising by threatening to hunt down his rebellious subjects “home by home, alley by alley,” the president joined a French- and British-led coalition that ousted the mercurial dictator, though only after securing clear regional support for the mission. It is hard to imagine Arab societies being focused so intently on internal politics — or welcoming Western military intervention with open arms — during the Age of Bush.
In Asia, the president has managed the difficult balancing act of reducing the U.S. military footprint, navigating the rise of China, and striking blow after blow against al Qaeda. He vowed to pull out of Iraq and established a timetable for withdrawing from Afghanistan, a decade-long war that few Americans now see as worth the sacrifice, over the objections of his hawkish critics and even his own generals, while urging a long-overdue refocus on U.S. alliances in East Asia. And, of course, his gutsy call to order a risky commando raid deep inside Pakistan, which resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden, may be the one decision that all Americans can agree was the right one.
10 Reasons Why Obama Will Win in 2012
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
~snip~
The electoral map says it will be close. But already Republican overreaching has pushed Ohio back toward Obama. The Republican hope re: Florida, Marco Rubio has suffered some self-inflicted wounds. Virginia gets bluer by the day. It’s close … but it’s trending toward the President.
And so, while making predictions a year out is a sucker’s game, for those of you who watched the Saturday debate and were disheartened there is at least all the above to suggest that none of it mattered that much anyway. As of right now the favorite to be the next president of the U.S. has to be the current president of the U.S.
Gibbs and axelrod were very good this morning, both on message and easily answering loaded questions from Gregory and scheffer!
Funny how FTN and mtp had the same questions for Gibbs and axelrod!
House votes to end public funding for presidential campaigns
The House voted along party lines Thursday to abolish public funding for presidential campaigns and eliminate the Election Assistance Commission, the latest salvo in separate battles over deficit reduction and alleged voter suppression. The chamber approved Rep. Gregg Harper’s (R-Miss.) bill on a 235-190 vote, with no Democrats voting for it and just one Republican opposed. The measure seems unlikely to come up for a stand-alone vote soon in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The bill would end the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account and transfer the roughly $200 million contained in those funds to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the deficit. The measure would also abolish the EAC, which was created by the 2002 Help America Vote Act as an independent commission that would create election guidelines and give grants to states to update their voting equipment.
Republicans in state legislatures across the country have spent the past year mounting an all-out assault on voting rights, pushing a slew of voter ID and redistricting measures that are widely expected to dilute the power of minority and low-income voters in next November’s elections. Now that effort has come to Capitol Hill, where the House* will vote Thursday on a GOP-backed bill to eviscerate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)—the last line of defense against fraud and tampering in electronic voting systems around the country.
[UPDATE: The bill passed 235-190 on a mostly party-line vote.]
Demos Announces Landmark Registration of 1 Million New Low-Income Voters Among The 99%
November 22, 2011
As public concern grows over deepening economic and political inequality, there’s good news to report in five states: 1 million additional members of the 99 percent have filled out voter registration forms at public assistance agencies since 2007. This milestone reflects Demos’ work helping five states — Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia and Illinois — to fully implement the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), specifically the often-neglected public agency registration requirements, otherwise known as “Section 7”. It is proof that when laws to protect peoples’ democratic rights are put into practice, they can have a major impact on bringing more voices into the political process. If more states follow suit, millions of additional lower-income Americans will have the opportunity to participate in our democracy in coming years.
They register, but do they vote? Not so sure they do, especially in mid-terms and off years. But if they are inclined to vote in 2012, I’d be happy about it.
Good Morning One and all! That opening picture+caption is so true – once you get hold of TOD {or more truthfully, once it gets hold of you 😉 } you never let go! Hope everyone is having a productive Sunday so far, even if ‘productive’ for you is catching up on comments here. 😀
In my previous posts, I’ve covered some of the aspects of “basic politics.” Over the past three years, I’ve realized that many of the so-called “Left,” including many media pundits, don’t really seem to grasp basic politics, let alone the more advanced aspects. They’re the equivalent of people trying to explain a game in terms of three-dimensional chess, without knowing the rules of three-dimensional chess, and not recognizing that the game being played is checkers. It may be fascinating to read, but it isn’t going to help you that much. So I thought I’d continue on with some of the reasons for the points in my previous post.
My point #2 was “if you don’t vote, you don’t count.“ Now, I’ve seen a number of people elsewhere say that politicians do need to address their concerns in order to get them into the voting booth. After all, they need the votes! How could politicians consider them “unreliable,” or “nice to have, but not necessary?” Here’s how:
New Hampshire poll conducted Nov. 28 — 30, 2011. Margin of error 2.1 points.
Halperin’s Take
Make no mistake: these are very good numbers for the White House. Along with Friday’s jobs numbers, these digits will help create a new Obama-is-the-favorite conventional wisdom.
…How long before the MSM gives him a good talking to. On another note, Ever notice how GOPolitico never goes after Romney. They go after Cain, Gingrich, Bachmann and Perry HARD…but Mittens not even with kid gloves. The NH Union endorsement of Gingrich was a BFD seeing how Romney has courted them since 07. The hardrive cleansing of Romney’s MA staff was a BFD, the Bret Baier FOX inteverwiew was a BFD, but somehow it is in a post, and not full blown Druge baiting story. Me thinks GOPolitico wants Romney v Obama.
Why Does Health Care Cost So Much in the United States?
By: Sarah Clune and Jason Kane
November 25, 2011 at 10:32 AM EDT
Staying healthy in the United States is expensive. In fact, in 2009, the average annual cost of health care was $7,960 per person — two and a half times what it was in Japan for the same year. That’s just one of the numbers we pored over in the new report out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which compared health care costs across all 34 of its members. The report illustrates significant variation between costs in different countries.
~snip~
MATTHIAS: High spending by the U.S. on health must either be because the price of healthcare is higher than in other countries, or else because it provides more health activities than other countries, or a combination of the two. Evidence suggests that both factors are important, but particularly prices. The same set of hospital interventions (including the normal delivery of a baby, a Caesarean section, a hip or knee replacement, etc.) cost 60 percent more in the United States than in a selection of other countries. Similarly, 50 high-selling pharmaceuticals cost 60 percent more in the United States than in Europe. But the United States also uses a lot of expensive diagnostic tests, such as MRI and CT scans, and performs a lot of interventions where it is not always clear-cut whether the procedure is necessary or not — tonsillectomies, knee replacements, and so on. On the other hand, perhaps surprisingly, the U.S. does not have many doctors relative to its population, not many hospital beds, and people do not spend long in hospital when they have to be admitted. Overall, therefore, high prices are the main reason for high health care spending in the United States.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Good morning!
Good morning, Chips!
Beautiful morning in NE Fla.
Good morning, TODville.
I think I may have blinked. Can someone point me to what happened with Van Jones and the PL? Or give me the Reader’s Digest version? I didn’t realize he was no longer in their good graces.
A while back, I believe he sent out tweets supporting PBO and going against them in a way they deemed touchy (a novel concept for him since he hitched his wagon to Huff Po & OWS) and they decided he wasn’t pure enough for them, so they kicked him out of the hate Obama party.
Oh, ok, I see. Since I unfollowed him, I lost track. Thanks.
He went against them in tweets in favor of PBO? I thought it was just because he used to work for Pres.Obama?
Here is the article: Van Jones can’t occupy us http://www.salon.com/2011/11/23/van_jones_cant_occupy_us/
This pied piper photo is so revealing of PBO’s character. There is no way that any of the republican Pretenders would have a moment like this, while it happens to PBO all of the time all over the world.
Have a great day TOD family!
Obama/Biden 2012
All over the world indeed. Remember in Brazil when he went in poor neighbourhoods and played a bit of soccer with the kids? The photos and videos we’ve seen are absolutely wonderful. They show that President has a genuine affection for those kids, and the kids love him too; children just KNOW when someone is authentic.
That is exactly how I think of him when I see him with children.
Good Morning.
Anyone watching Chris Hayes ? He has Dr Berwick on today.
I’m watching. This is another consequence of people listening to the media and PL in 2010 and ignoring PBO when he said vote. vote. VOTE! Dr. Berwick got shafted, screwed, and demonized by Sen. John Kyl and other GOP senators and now his recess appointment year is over.
The interview was good. He praised PBO for fighting hard for ACA and never giving up. I believe he also called health care reform : The miracle law or something like that. 🙂
I don’t even have to watch that video to know Perry has NO IDEA what Alito and Roberts have done or will do.
Morning! I suggest you visit Smartpants this morning and see her favorite photos 🙂 Start your day with a smile!
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/12/year-in-photos.html
Thanks DF. You know what amazes me? I’m so connected and tuned in to this administration, that I knew what event every picture was taken at. Wow. 🙂
I remember most but when and what occasion was the close-up photo of his face looking very, very expressive – maybe even sad – taken?
That was the Tucson Memorial Service in Arizona. After the shooting of Gabby Giffords and others. That moment was when he was talking about Christina Taylor Green and he had to take a moment to pause and gather himself.
Meta, that photo was at the memorial service at Tucson Arizona after the shooting – I think the event was called ‘Together We Thrive’ or something similar. He is such a loving, compassionate man.
Thank you, Sam.
You are welcome! I remember the event well, it was so moving and I realized then (not for the first time) how blessed we are that Barack Obama is President.
Definitely one of his very best speeches. I believe it really contributed to a sense of healing for so many. I’ll never forget it.
I know! But like meta, I’m not sure about the close up of him where he looks a little teary eyed….can’t remember that one.
That was the Tucson, AZ memorial service when Gabby Giffords and others were shot. That moment was when he was talking about nine year old Christina Taylor Green who died and he had to pause due to overwhelming emotion.
I thought so but the date on the photo is Aug. 19, 2011. Maybe it’s just the photographer’s cataloguing.
Thanks 🙂 Makes sense now.
Morning guys. Had a guilt-ridden big breakfast of grits, bacon, eggs, and a few glasses of mimosa. Should go to the gym but feeling lazy this morning. Anyway, I missed Cain’s suspension speech, but saw on the news that Glo was right up on the podium with him, grinning and waving while he bowed out. Talk about a strange relationship…stand by your man as he basically bends to the pressure of so-called false allegations. I’m debating over watching the am shows today since Gibbs and Axe are scheduled to be on. Think I may have to break my boycott.
Morning, vero!! Sounds like a great feast to be fully enjoyed.
I missed the big Cain Train Rolling To A Stop announcement but seeing news clips of Gloria standing back there clapping may be the most pitiful of the whole CainWreck. I don’t understand women like that, willing to put up with anything, with such low self-esteem. Again—it’s not the events in your life which define you, it’s how you react to them. She should have at least stayed home and not allowed herself to be used and shamed again by her selfish, narcissistic. long-philandering husband.
She said she believes him and stands behind him completely, part of her wanted him to stay in the race. She’s either part of the whole charade or in very serious denial. Either way, I’m sorry to say I don’t feel any sympathy for her.
I watched the first 6 minutes of the speech, (and the long walk to the podium), and then changed the channel, screaming the whole time. It was so offensive. It was sickening how Herman wouldn’t let go of Gloria’s hand, even when it made walking difficult, because he wanted everyone to see that they were walking hand in hand. Even if he is innocent of all charges, the humiliation of his entire campaign – his unpreparedness, disregard for education and reading, and his bigoted and misogynistic statements and actions – have been an embarrassment to his family, himself and anyone who supports him.
I have always wondered how women can stay in an abusive marriage. Herman Cain may not be physically abusing Gloria but his philandering is definitely abusive. Sometimes women become accustomed to not working and having the luxury of a nice home and conveniences so do not want to divorce. They put up with a lot to have these privileges. I think they lack courage and confidence to start over on their own. They may not even mind the lack of sexual exclusivity since they may have not loved their man for quite sometime. They may feel guilty having sex with someone they do not love. Sounds like I am speaking from experience but I am not. I am speaking from watching and reading too many romance type plots. LOL
I think that we can heap alot of things on Gloria…but the fact that he was able to stand this long in the Presidential race says much more about the culture in this society…….
Some women are hooked on the power and the money. Surely we can name a few. Even if the Dem Party.
Good morning to all. It’s bright and sunny this am in my part of PA and I’m trying to inject some Christmas spirit in my life despite the string of unreformed Ebenezer Scrooges on the right who are doing their darndest to tarnish this or any joyful season. Yesterday I went to a hometown Christmas parade with music, Girl and Boy Scouts and, of course, Santa. Everybody was cheering and singing songs and the kids were wild with excitement and candy. Today we’re going to a Christmas concert at the local college to listen to beautiful music from the college’s three choirs. The outside of our house is now decorated and this Wednesday we welcome the Christmas tree into our living room. I want to use this Christmas as a period of inspiration as well as a fun time with family and friends. We will need to call on our deepest resources of strength to go out into the new year and face whatever dragons and challenges come our way in the good fight to re-elect our president. Pull in all the love you can this holiday and use it to light the way through the long days ahead. We’re luckier than most. In addition to our own families, we have this giant TOD family to share love, laughter, and inspiration with. And we have a president we can love without reservation and with total pride in our hearts.
Bless your heart Jackie. Hope you have a great day! 🙂
You, too, utaustin. Hope you get free of studies soon and get to enjoy the holidays.
You’re an inspiration, Jackie. Sounds like you’re enjoying the gifts of the season. We will be in for a tough road ahead in 2012 but I’m very certain our hard work will pay off in grand style. Let’s all stick together on this!!
Jacke, wonderful comment! I am in PA too! Sun is shining here also. It has been a rough year, and am looking forward to a better 2012. I am behind POTUS 1000%! We will win this state again!
Yes we will!!!
What a great post. I think you’re absolutely right – the year will start as we mean to continue, and I’m hoping to be more optimistic and not let the media and GOP get to me as much as they have of late.
I think this is why it’s so important for President Obama to get his full Christmas vacation – without having to spend a single extra day with the do-nothings in Congress. Some are complaining about his vacation, saying the “optics” aren’t good. I challenged someone on Twitter for that statement the other day, because the optics of a President who is this hardworking can’t be any worse than a GOP who has spent the last three years of economic crisis doing absolutely nothing in Congress, and then have spent this entire year ignoring the people who they promised to make jobs their first priority. President Obama has to rest and refresh – he’s got a busy year ahead of him. And so do we.
Yes, indeed.
Thank you for such an awesome comment Jackie…..
Wisconsin’s “Solidarity Singers” Keep Eyes on the Prize (Beautiful Photos and Video)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/03/1042082/-Wisconsins-Solidarity-Singers-Keep-Eyes-on-the-Prize-%28Beautiful-Photos-and-Video%29?via=siderecent
LOL…Ariana Huffington looks like a weirdo on the panel of This Week. She’s sitting there with her mouth hanging open, looking confused.
just catching flies for morning breakfast. 🙂
Wonder if she is supporting Newton Leroy Gingrich for President?
Well she was gung ho for him in 1995 and heavily supported him running for President then. She could be secretly doing the same again.
This is from yesterday, but it’s hilarious:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/dont_go_away_mad_herman_just_g033883.php
Good morning everyone. Yesterday I registered voters for OFA Detroit at a yearly holiday event called Noel Night. I registered 18 voters over a 4 hour period about half of whom were 17 but would be 18 by Election Day. I was hoping for many more but I can tell you the reason there weren’t more is because everyone was registered and seemed ready to vote, like yesterday. While it was a mixed crowd, it was majority AAs and I sensed a resolve and a steely determination to see PBO re-elected. I could tell there was a seething anger about the way PBO has been treated and how Republicans are passing laws to prevent us from voting in large numbers. These folks emphatically responded, “Yes I’m registered…Yes everything is up to date…Yes, we’ve got to help PBO…and Yes, we must stop those Republicans. I felt very encouraged and inspired by the postive energy about PBO. I even registered a brand new citizen yesterday who will be voting for the first time. So even though the numbers were small, they were small for a good reason. Folks are paying attention and they are Fired up and ready to go!
Not to end on a sour note, but I really wish that would have been true in 2010. We ended up with a horrible Republican governor and state legislature. I wish Democrats could more consistently connect our votes to our everyday lives and stop playing angry defense all the time and start playing some tough offense (a little football reference in honor of today’s games). These days there is too much at stake to do otherwise.
Thanks for your work and thanks for the news on the ground. I’m happy that this time around more voters are paying attention and are involved because we need to lock in as many early electoral college votes as we can and the more people are closely paying attention, the more they can swing votes our way. The GOP will once again rue the day they pissed of the minority vote. They don’t seem to realize that African-Americans are especially paying attention to the disgusting, vile, and sometimes downright prejudiced way PBO has been treated this past three years or so and they will be out en masse on and before November 6, 2012 to met out due justice.
L3, registering 18 people to vote is considered a HUGE number for a volunteer. Thank you. I’ve walked my city for hours without 1 because everyone is already registered. So consider that a big win for us. And I just looked at our top national numbers for contacts for volunteers and 1-on-1s and they look very good, especially in NV, CA and FL. We are on the road to laying a terrific foundation for the election, one block at a time. Let’s keep going.
Thanks for your work – it’s great to see this type of detail too to better understand what’s happening out there. I live in Obama’s very blue home state so I will be traveling to Indiana and/or Wisconsin on weekends to help keep those states blue. Thanks again for all your work yesterday L3.
Obama voters let him down in 2010 by not bothering to show up to vote. Electing him was not the end, it was the beginning. We have seen the disastrous outcome of that negligence.
Thank you L3 for your work. Nothing will be more important than registering new voters and making sure those who are already registered, comply with whatever goofy law are out there. It is good to know that people do see how PBO is being treated and are determined to re-elect him!!
We are getting petition signatures to place the President’s name on the ballot in our state. People are fired up and ready to start the campaign. Thanks for your work.
Good Morning Chips and Gang!
It’s a sunny beautiful morning here in Trinidad. Have a wonderful day everyone.
If ever there was evidence needed that David Gregory shills for the GOP and is a closet birther then this morning’s Meet The Press just provided one. RNC Chair Reince Priebus said President Obama “came into this country” and David Gregory didn’t correct him or object to that birtherism code BS but just let him continue spouting crap. He didn’t object to that crap and soundly repudiate that line of nonsense and tell Priebus that PBO was born in Hawaii! This isn’t the first time, Gregory has done this before or let his guests get away with such crap but for fucks sake this is the RNC chair not some Joe the Plumber.
Goodmorning TOD Family. That is shameful that David Gregory let that idiot spew that birtherism on his show without being challenged.
Tweet. email and/or call MSNBC and David Gregory. His ratings are very low and I guess they have to be in the gutter before MSNBC gets a clue. David is awful. Not just because he shills for Repubs but also he is superficial and a light weight.
Priebus is so sleazy he makes Eric Cantor look warm and fuzzy.
That must be why he is the head of the RNC.
And msnbc is airing Priebus’ despicable, dishonest comments without comment or clarification, as if his lies about Obama deserved to be spread far and wide.
Attack Watch?
That is desperation!
Arriana sticking up for Newt and slamming the President.
But but but Daily Kos says she is a liberal and…
That is no surprise. She is a newt gingrich republican.
He’s her vacay buddy, her long time friend. They deserve each other—-they’re both “ewwwwwwww”.
This should out her if nothing else has as a hypocrite. I won’t click on a link to her site no matter what.
How is she sticking up for Newt Gingrich? What did she say?
I don’t know if anyone posted this already, but it is a very, very good read on people ignoring the PBO’s presidency
http://prospect.org/article/ignoring-obama-presidency#.TtuE47czdU8.twitter
That is a good read, africa. It is amazing how much the msm ignores this administration. Yesterday, I was telling my husband about VPBiden’s trip to Iraq and Turkey, and that Camp Victory was turned over to the Iraqis, he said he didn’t know anything about that. He was disappointed that he has to get big news from me.
Yes, Debz, I thought this was a very good read. The media bends over backwards to blackout PBO and the amazing and unprecendented things he’s done to the delight of the GOP. But they can’t erase history.
They shot down a stealth drone in Iran-
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s military said on Sunday it had shot down a U.S. reconnaissance drone aircraft in eastern Iran, a military source told state television.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE7B30CQ20111204?irpc=932
In tact, so it will be given to Russia. WTF?
good morning TOD family.May the potus and flotus have a wonderful time at the KC today and may God watch over our country and guide potus today and the rest of the week and protect him as he heads out of Washington this week
The media is so out of touch. I don’t know of anyone who cares about the Bowles-Simpson commission and that the president didn’t put his back into their ideas.
And Ryan voted against it, so it was a setup!
I think many in the left need to take a basic class in poker – forget about chess – lets start with poker. People on the far left seem to believe that the President should lay all his cards on the table so they can see what he has and can determine exactly what moves he’ll make. They’re pathetic.
I didn’t watch the show but Kyle said there is a compromise plan on payroll tax estension in the Senate. Interesting. I’m sure it’s something the President will sign if Reid is proposing it. And then Boehner will have go along with it and beg Pelosi for votes.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/04/us-usa-taxes-reid-idUSTRE7B30DG20111204
I was watching Up With Chris and Jared Bernstein a former economics advisor to VP Biden said he was also getting wind that there might be a compromise on payroll tax extension on the way.
Does anyone know who replaced Reggie Love?
Marvin Nicholson will be assuming his duties. He’s been the travel coordinator for years and the super tall guy you see everywhere. I wonder though if sooner or later PBO will need a new body man.
thanks!
Measuring Obama
Turning to the general election in Iowa and New Hampshire, President Barack Obama’s approval rating remains underwater in both states.
Forty-three percent of registered voters in Iowa approve of his job performance, which is up one point from October. In New Hampshire, 40 percent of registered voters approve of his job performance, up two points.
Yet — with one exception — he leads all GOP challengers in hypothetical match-ups in the Hawkeye State. He’s ahead of Romney by seven points among registered voters (46 percent to 39 percent), Gingrich by 10 points (47 percent to 37 percent) and Perry by 11 points (48 percent to 37 percent).
The one exception: Paul ties him at 42 percent for each.
In New Hampshire, Romney leads Obama by three points (46 percent to 43 percent), although that’s down from Romney’s nine-point advantage in October.
But Obama leads all other Republicans in the state — Paul (by two points), Gingrich (by 10) and Perry (by 15).
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/04/9202435-gingrich-takes-control-in-iowa?ocid=twitter
Ron Paul? He will not be the nominee, but the PL loves him- especially Rachel. He wants to dismantle the Federal Government! Sigh!
Andrew Sullivan loves Ron Paul as well.
Stormfront loves Paul, too.
I will be taken this poll with a grain of salt. PBO has not started to campaign.This is also a old poll.
Herman Cain on his own:
http://www.theroot.com/views/blacks-herman-cain-you-re-your-own?page=0,1
he ALWAYS was and he had folks going when he defended Rick “n*ggerhead” Perrry
PLEASE spread this
The Truth-O-Meter Says:
http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2011/dec/04/chris-christie/chris-christie-claims-barack-obama-did-nothing-t/
Somebody needs to find a picture of Christie holding one of those big ass fake checks that were passed out from the stimulus in NJ…..and hit him with it!
He MUST have accepted something because the state got over $718,000,000!
http://www.recovery.gov/TRANSPARENCY/RECIPIENTREPORTEDDATA/Pages/RecipientReportedDataMap.aspx
There were lots of photos of PBO and Gov. Christie buttering up to him after the storm damage.
Just tweeted it.
Morning All.
Some people are on the job to get the word out:
Is David Gregory employed by mitt Romney?
Gee whiz!
David Gregory is hired by the GOP.
Good morning, everyone!~
SPECIAL REPORT DECEMBER 2011
The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers
Foreign Policy presents a unique portrait of 2011’s global marketplace of ideas and the thinkers who make them.
# 11 BARACK OBAMA President/Washington For leading from behind–and showing that it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Conservative critics of the White House may have turned the idea of “leading from behind” into a punch line as soon as it appeared as an anonymous quote from an administration advisor 9,000 words into a New Yorker article, but it is quickly becoming Barack Obama’s most enduring foreign-policy legacy — and not necessarily as the insult his rivals saw it. Certainly, Obama has led: Although he came to office promising to curtail America’s military adventurism abroad and focus on nation-building at home, he has nevertheless presided over more dramatic political shifts in the Middle East than ever achieved by his pugnacious predecessor, even if they are the result of events that he was reacting to rather than driving himself.
As the Arab Spring remade the region in 2011, Obama adapted as both American values and interests demanded. When protests in Cairo reached a fever pitch, he cast aside the caution of his advisors and unambiguously told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a 30-year American ally, that it was time to go. And when Libya’s Muammar al-Qaddafi responded to an uprising by threatening to hunt down his rebellious subjects “home by home, alley by alley,” the president joined a French- and British-led coalition that ousted the mercurial dictator, though only after securing clear regional support for the mission. It is hard to imagine Arab societies being focused so intently on internal politics — or welcoming Western military intervention with open arms — during the Age of Bush.
In Asia, the president has managed the difficult balancing act of reducing the U.S. military footprint, navigating the rise of China, and striking blow after blow against al Qaeda. He vowed to pull out of Iraq and established a timetable for withdrawing from Afghanistan, a decade-long war that few Americans now see as worth the sacrifice, over the objections of his hawkish critics and even his own generals, while urging a long-overdue refocus on U.S. alliances in East Asia. And, of course, his gutsy call to order a risky commando raid deep inside Pakistan, which resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden, may be the one decision that all Americans can agree was the right one.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/28/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0,10#thinker11
10 Reasons Why Obama Will Win in 2012
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
~snip~
The electoral map says it will be close. But already Republican overreaching has pushed Ohio back toward Obama. The Republican hope re: Florida, Marco Rubio has suffered some self-inflicted wounds. Virginia gets bluer by the day. It’s close … but it’s trending toward the President.
And so, while making predictions a year out is a sucker’s game, for those of you who watched the Saturday debate and were disheartened there is at least all the above to suggest that none of it mattered that much anyway. As of right now the favorite to be the next president of the U.S. has to be the current president of the U.S.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/15/10_reasons_why_obama_will_win_in_2012?page=0,1&wpisrc=obinsite
h/t David Rothkopf
Wow….I like that…
So the implosion of the GOP begins(smile).
Kent Conrad looked like he could barely suppress a laugh.
Gibbs and axelrod were very good this morning, both on message and easily answering loaded questions from Gregory and scheffer!
Funny how FTN and mtp had the same questions for Gibbs and axelrod!
I think that the Media Research Center faxes them to all News shows, not just Fox
House votes to end public funding for presidential campaigns
The House voted along party lines Thursday to abolish public funding for presidential campaigns and eliminate the Election Assistance Commission, the latest salvo in separate battles over deficit reduction and alleged voter suppression. The chamber approved Rep. Gregg Harper’s (R-Miss.) bill on a 235-190 vote, with no Democrats voting for it and just one Republican opposed. The measure seems unlikely to come up for a stand-alone vote soon in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The bill would end the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account and transfer the roughly $200 million contained in those funds to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the deficit. The measure would also abolish the EAC, which was created by the 2002 Help America Vote Act as an independent commission that would create election guidelines and give grants to states to update their voting equipment.
~snip~
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/house-votes-to-end-public-funding-for-presidential-campaigns/2011/12/01/gIQAc8SaHO_blog.html
h/t Ben Pershing
Republicans in state legislatures across the country have spent the past year mounting an all-out assault on voting rights, pushing a slew of voter ID and redistricting measures that are widely expected to dilute the power of minority and low-income voters in next November’s elections. Now that effort has come to Capitol Hill, where the House* will vote Thursday on a GOP-backed bill to eviscerate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)—the last line of defense against fraud and tampering in electronic voting systems around the country.
[UPDATE: The bill passed 235-190 on a mostly party-line vote.]
~snip~
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/war-voting-comes-washington
h/t Siddhartha Mahanta
Demos Announces Landmark Registration of 1 Million New Low-Income Voters Among The 99%
November 22, 2011
As public concern grows over deepening economic and political inequality, there’s good news to report in five states: 1 million additional members of the 99 percent have filled out voter registration forms at public assistance agencies since 2007. This milestone reflects Demos’ work helping five states — Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia and Illinois — to fully implement the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), specifically the often-neglected public agency registration requirements, otherwise known as “Section 7”. It is proof that when laws to protect peoples’ democratic rights are put into practice, they can have a major impact on bringing more voices into the political process. If more states follow suit, millions of additional lower-income Americans will have the opportunity to participate in our democracy in coming years.
~snip~
http://www.demos.org/publication/demos-announces-landmark-registration-1-million-new-99-voters
h/t Youjin B Kim| Lisa Danetz
They register, but do they vote? Not so sure they do, especially in mid-terms and off years. But if they are inclined to vote in 2012, I’d be happy about it.
Good Morning One and all! That opening picture+caption is so true – once you get hold of TOD {or more truthfully, once it gets hold of you 😉 } you never let go! Hope everyone is having a productive Sunday so far, even if ‘productive’ for you is catching up on comments here. 😀
Thank you, Norbrook! 🙂
Politics 102: Why You Need Politics 101
In my previous posts, I’ve covered some of the aspects of “basic politics.” Over the past three years, I’ve realized that many of the so-called “Left,” including many media pundits, don’t really seem to grasp basic politics, let alone the more advanced aspects. They’re the equivalent of people trying to explain a game in terms of three-dimensional chess, without knowing the rules of three-dimensional chess, and not recognizing that the game being played is checkers. It may be fascinating to read, but it isn’t going to help you that much. So I thought I’d continue on with some of the reasons for the points in my previous post.
My point #2 was “if you don’t vote, you don’t count.“ Now, I’ve seen a number of people elsewhere say that politicians do need to address their concerns in order to get them into the voting booth. After all, they need the votes! How could politicians consider them “unreliable,” or “nice to have, but not necessary?” Here’s how:
~snip~
http://cendax.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/politics-102-why-you-need-politics-101/
Uh oh Looks like someone kidnapped Mark “Dick” Halperin again…
President leads Romney in Iowa and shrinks the Bay Stater’s 9-point New Hampshire advantage from Oct. survey.
IA: Obama 46 — Romney 39
NH: Romney 46 — Obama 43
Iowa poll conducted Nov. 27 — 29, 2011. Margin of error 1.8 points.
New Hampshire poll conducted Nov. 28 — 30, 2011. Margin of error 2.1 points.
Halperin’s Take
Make no mistake: these are very good numbers for the White House. Along with Friday’s jobs numbers, these digits will help create a new Obama-is-the-favorite conventional wisdom.
…How long before the MSM gives him a good talking to. On another note, Ever notice how GOPolitico never goes after Romney. They go after Cain, Gingrich, Bachmann and Perry HARD…but Mittens not even with kid gloves. The NH Union endorsement of Gingrich was a BFD seeing how Romney has courted them since 07. The hardrive cleansing of Romney’s MA staff was a BFD, the Bret Baier FOX inteverwiew was a BFD, but somehow it is in a post, and not full blown Druge baiting story. Me thinks GOPolitico wants Romney v Obama.
Hi everyone, new post here:
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/04/famous-five-2/
Why Does Health Care Cost So Much in the United States?
By: Sarah Clune and Jason Kane
November 25, 2011 at 10:32 AM EDT
Staying healthy in the United States is expensive. In fact, in 2009, the average annual cost of health care was $7,960 per person — two and a half times what it was in Japan for the same year. That’s just one of the numbers we pored over in the new report out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which compared health care costs across all 34 of its members. The report illustrates significant variation between costs in different countries.
~snip~
MATTHIAS: High spending by the U.S. on health must either be because the price of healthcare is higher than in other countries, or else because it provides more health activities than other countries, or a combination of the two. Evidence suggests that both factors are important, but particularly prices. The same set of hospital interventions (including the normal delivery of a baby, a Caesarean section, a hip or knee replacement, etc.) cost 60 percent more in the United States than in a selection of other countries. Similarly, 50 high-selling pharmaceuticals cost 60 percent more in the United States than in Europe. But the United States also uses a lot of expensive diagnostic tests, such as MRI and CT scans, and performs a lot of interventions where it is not always clear-cut whether the procedure is necessary or not — tonsillectomies, knee replacements, and so on. On the other hand, perhaps surprisingly, the U.S. does not have many doctors relative to its population, not many hospital beds, and people do not spend long in hospital when they have to be admitted. Overall, therefore, high prices are the main reason for high health care spending in the United States.
~snip~
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/11/why-does-healthcare-cost-so-much.html