President Barack Obama talks about extending payroll tax cuts in the White House’s Brady Briefing Room
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President Obama put out a statement commending Phil Schiliro, who is leaving the administration: “As my advisor and chief liaison to Congress during one of the most productive legislative periods in our history, Phil Schiliro helped shepherd through a series of historic accomplishments on behalf of the American people, from health care reform that will make coverage more affordable and accessible to Wall Street reform that will protect consumers and our economy. The White House will not be the same without Phil, but more importantly, the country would not be the same without his steady leadership and tireless effort over the past three years.”
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Time: Andrew Kaczynski digs up a 2004 video of Mitt Romney explaining to fellow Republicans why flip-flopping is so devastating to a presidential candidate. He was talking about John Kerry of course. But this kind of footage presents all kinds of opportunities for devious ad-makers to slice and dice Romney, and his repeated use of “this guy,” which, taken out of context, could be made to seem self-referential, seems destined for some absolutely brutal attack ad.
The Obama Diary 
First!
Thanks for the heads up Chips. 😀
Wadda ya say ut? And G’day all. and my sweetheart Chips. 😉
♥ ♥ ♥ Good Day Chips! Good Day TOD Family! ♥ ♥ ♥
Barack Obama Quote O’ The Day
Have a great afternoon, everyone! 😛
I love this – I wish people had listened.
I do, too, theo. We’re here today because of apathy. Damn shame.
Decades of apathy and people who only get upset when it is too late.
Just wonderful what you do! President Obama’s wise, insightful words are so important for our time, as are Mrs Obama’s beliefs because both of them are living examples of the correctness of their philosophy. All of the groups the President mentions here exemplify the spirit of struggle, the essence of struggle—the faith to keep going in a united direction towards progress, no matter how long, or how difficult. I hope it is not too late for the well-intentioned amongst OWS to digest this wisdom.
Thank you for doing this and kudos to you for WiW’s intention to facilitate your endeavor going viral.
Amen, fancieful. 🙂
Thanks for today’s O’Quote, PJ! Enjoy the rest of your afternoon too.
😀
I’ll be watching Chipsticks. Thanks for the heads up.
I was roaming around on Twitter and found
http://twitter.com/#!/VoterTide
They track political tweets and what they are about. You know politicians are going to watch indicators like that so it gives more power to your tweets. I do call my congresscritters, for one reason, because they are all GOP. But I wonder if they keep stats on it and if the aides pass on what I say. Twitter is out in the open plus countable. I think calls are effective, but I can see the power of Twitter, too.
I will try and feature a story about OFA volunteers or groups every day. I wanted to emphasize OFAs in the sing states. Today is Florida’s turn. All you folks who live in Florida, have relatives there, or just want to spread a story of a senior who is making a difference, this story is for you.
Ready to vote at 98-years old
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/12/ready-to-vote-at-98-years-old.html
Hey Linda for your “Contact Congress” link on your WiW website, the twitter handle for Rep. John Carter from Texas is @RepJohnCarter and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison from TX is @kaybaileyhutch. Hope this helps. 😀
It does indeed – thanks for the info.
Good Morning TOD family
So good to read your comments and share this day with everyone.
CALL TO ACTION
We have not had one of these in a while – so lets get to work.
We need to call our Senators and tell them 2 things
1. Extend the “payroll tax cut” and make millionaires pay for it.
2. Approve the nomination of Richard Corday to the Consumer Agency, we need someone fighting for us.
If you have even more energy you can call the Democratic Senators who voted against it
Manchin, Tester? (I may not have that right)
And then if you are super duper energetic contact Nancy Peolosi and Harry Reid and ask them to hang tough because the people are on their side.
Contact info for the Senate can be found here
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/05/contact-congress-address-phone-twitter.html
Press On.
Thanks for the reminder, Whats Working. Yes, I think it pays to keep contacting the GOP about this. I did a little research while I was waiting for the President to speak and I think the GOP is concerned. They offer their same BS solutions, but the message is getting out to the people about them selling out the middle class for the wealthy and they know it.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/05/politics/congress-payroll-tax-cut/index.html
“Some Republicans worried about the political fallout for their party if the public holds them responsible for holding up middle-class tax relief.”
Smartypants had a good analysis too.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/12/watching-republican-strategies-backfire.html
“What the Republican leadership knows is that the last thing they want to see happen going into the 2012 election cycle is for Republicans to be cast as the party that fought to the death to preserve tax cuts for the wealthy and at the same time were opposed to tax cuts for the middle class. But their rank and file members seem to see that as a betrayal of their total obstruction all the time strategy.
And so on every level what we see is that the strategies employed by the Republicans are backfiring. And if not mitigated, could very well deal a fatal blow to their party.”
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/05/politics/congress-payroll-tax-cut/index.html
“Tell them to put country before party,” the president said. “Put money back in the pockets of working Americans. Pass these tax cuts.”
You are AWESOME Linda – thanks!!!
CBS did a nice story on the economic recovery and I combined it with the WH Press release and the famous “bikini graph”.
Economic recovery gaining momentum
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/12/economic-recovery-gaining-momentum.html
GO Mr. President!! Hope everyone gets the message with this statement including the public. Seeings how the First Family is going on a 17 day vacation over the holidays I wonder how he is going to get Congress to stay and work if he isn’t in town? He warned that if they did not pass this tax legislation that no one would be going on break. hmmm…………………
Harry Reid can do it by not allowing them to recess.
As usual, the children will behave like children. The ladies will leave for their vacation, and the prez will join them 3 days before Christmas.
Exactly.
PO already said he would join his family AFTER Congress did their work.
Keith, Keith, Keith…
What to make of your mixed messages…
Compare and Contrast
Newton and Callista at Kennedy Honors
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/2011-kennedy-center-honors/1-241629?ref=fpblg
Barack and Michelle at Kennedy Honors
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/2011-kennedy-center-honors
…Life can be so cruel.
Wow….I guess she did not have time to touch up those roots…..or is that look in now.?
Does anyone know whether Calista suffers from some eye condition. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with such weird eyes as if they were stuck at startle and couldn’t relax. Wonder if she sleeps with her eyes open.
I have had my eyes done….I think she just had a bad plastic surgeon.
I clicked on the link for Newt and Calista and the computer in my college computer lab shut down. Proving once again how fucking toxic they are.
ROFL – UT please give us fair warning when you are going to be this funny!
I’m suppose to be working right now. 🙂
LMAO UT
Scary eyes strikes again!!!!
UT – you are too funny!
I wonder if her jewelry is from Tiffany’s.
It is really beautiful though. It looks like Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystal .
“Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystal” I had to look that one up, Linda! Turns out Amazon.com has quite a collection of them, all very pretty and all looking fairly fake.
Also, I scrolled back to have another look at Calista’s roots. They do look pretty dark. Calista’s eyes, though, I find so distracting I miss things like the color of her hair. I never thought it could be a bad eye job, I thought she was just trying to look happy, excited.
Or something.
I saw those on Amazon too…..and you are correct they look fake. I actually had some of the good ones I got from my mother in law years ago. I just gave them to my grand daughter.
Someone said that Newton Leroy’s wife is in her 40’s. Is this true?
Mrs O is 47 years old and she looks at least 15-20 years older than the First Lady. Seriously!
Apparently Calista is 45. A very very very messed up 45. Sheesh! the woman looks like she has no idea that blinking is part of the evolutionary process.
She is younger than the First Lady!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Calista is younger than our wonderful FLOTUS, but she can’t compare to FLOTUS, no way, no how, never, never, never!!!!!!!!!!!
I keep thinking how much Cindy McCain and Calista Gingrich look alike. It seems the GOP men that found other women while married pick women that look the same.
I’m hoping that the resemblance will remind people of McCain. I still haven’t forgotten that Cindy McCain made a deceptive speech about President Obama voting not to extend military funding, and yet it was not in context, and her own husband voted against the same funding. It will be interesting to see what lies Callista plans to spread for her husband.
The term “Stepford Wives” might fit.
That’s the term Yard…in looks and behavior.
Every time I see Callista, I see that gigantic swinging head that Chipsticks uses to scare the bejeeezus out of us
😆
I’m still waiting on the live stream from Whitehouse.gov. Has he not arrived yet?
I am waiting too. I think the are running late.
Ok… we’re live.
Whoops…
Former Romney Business Partner: ‘I Never Thought Of What I Do For A Living As Job Creation’
2012 GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has been pinning his campaign to his economic record, claiming that his time as an investment executive gives him the necessary experience to boost the nation’s moribund job creation. Bain’s model for creating profit was to buy up companies and, as the Los Angeles Times put it yesterday, maximize profits “by firing workers, seeking government subsidies, and flipping companies quickly for large profits.” In fact, one of Romney’s former partners at the firm said that he never saw his role as that of a job creator, undermining one of Romney’s top selling points:
~snip~
Bain managers said their mission was clear. “I never thought of what I do for a living as job creation,” said Marc B. Walpow, a former managing partner at Bain who worked closely with Romney for nine years before forming his own firm. “The primary goal of private equity is to create wealth for your investors.”
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/04/381512/romney-partner-no-jobs/
h/t Pat Garofalo
Newsflash!!! Live stream is up now on Whitehouse.gov. The Prez is about to walk in. Darn its time for me to get ready for work.
Sounds like something hilarious just happened offscreen.
One of the aides came out and took the speech off of the podium and took it in the back.
I’ve noticed the MSNBC/CNN feeds are almost 10 seconds behind the WH feed.
Hey Jackals….talk louder…I want to hear what you are gossiping about.
Religious Groups Already Offer Contraception Coverage In 28 States
By Igor Volsky on Dec 2, 2011 at 12:25 pm
The Obama administration has come under considerable pressure from religious organizations to broaden the definition of which institutions can avoid the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to provide preventive health care services to women without additional cost sharing. These groups are accusing Democrats of waging a religious war against Christians by requiring they provide services — such as birth control — that may violate Church teaching. But as NPR’s Julie Rovner reports this morning, Christian affiliated groups already offer coverage for contraception in 28 states, eight of which don’t include the kind of conscience protections that are part of the administration’s proposed regulation:
~snip~
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/12/02/380740/religious-groups-already-offer-contraception-coverage-in-28-states/
So – if a place offers abortions and birth control, and one’s religion is against abortions and birth control, does that mean that these one would be forced to use those services? I heard about this issue last week, and I thought to myself that these so-called Christians are implying that women are being forced to have abortions or use birth control, and don’t have any willpower to stick to their religious beliefs. This sounds like a lot of the Sharia Law type logic that they say they’re so scared of. If these Christians don’t believe in birth control or abortions, then why wouldn’t they be able to resist the temptation of using any of these services? Nonsense.
JUJITSU
Will The Senate GOP Continue Its War On Excellence Tomorrow?
By Ian Millhiser on Dec 5, 2011 at 9:50 am
Tomorrow, the Senate will attempt to break a conservative filibuster on Caitlin Halligan, President Obama’s nominee to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that has been vacant for more than six years. By all objective measures, this should be an easy vote. Halligan is a former Supreme Court clerk. She is a top appellate litigator who once served as solicitor general of New York, and she received the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association.
~snip~
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/12/05/381596/will-the-senate-gop-continue-its-war-on-excellence-tomorrow/
The bully pulpit! He has them in a box! Now, time for the media to spin.
When A.B. Stoddard agrees with Tamron and says PBO has put the Repubs in a box you know “the ground has shifted”….She even blames Repubs for not preparing for the expiration of unemployment and the payroll tax cut and agrees that their stance on it is inconsistent…wow…way to go PBO!
And the President knows it. How do they like being on defense?
And they can only blame themselves. He bent over backwards to let them save face and participate in solving the country’s problems. They laughed at him. I guess none of them were listening to his inauguration speech, when he said the people will judge them on what they can build, not destroy. He also warned them that he would extend his hand if they unclenched their fist. Well, now they have to pay the piper.
That was one of my favorite lines from his inaugural speech. It certainly stuck with me.
Theo I hope from today on Potus makes sure to not give the Tea’s an opportunity and time to save face.The Tea’s are bastards that have to go away
But – just think: If he had been rough on them from the beginning, how would people have reacted? The GOP would have been the underdog. And the media would have savaged President Obama even more. Remember that week when the media called President Obama the underdog, and then as soon as he confirmed that he was the underdog, they went crazy and asked him how he can call himself the underdog when he’s so strong? I think the President has handled the psychology of these psychopaths brilliantly. They have done the damage to themselves. I’m sure Mitch McConnell wishes he wasn’t on tape saying that him and every active Republican have a primary goal of defeating President Obama.
That’s exactly it! He had to make a good faith effort first! It wasn’t ‘naive’ and it wasn’t ‘caving’. It was doing what he said he would do: treat people with respect and be honestly prepared to compromise. Now he is in a position to say “We have given them every opportunity and they chose their party above their country.” It was so frustrating that his own supporters did not see this at the time and even now I see people saying, “Well he’s finally learned his lesson.” No, he’s carrying forward his plan and giving THEM a lesson. And even now, he goes after them, but he’s not shrill, he’s not disrespectful, and he doesn’t have to lie or spin because they have given him exactly what he needs.
PBO gave them room (rope 😆 ) to show their ugliness to the world. In other words, he outed them 😆 .
Mary, word for word, and sentiment by sentiment this is exactly how I see the President’s actions vis a vis the Repubs!
And funny enough, to those who might say he played them just right, I’d answer, I don’t think he has been PLAYING at all. More and more over the years I’ve seen evidence that President Obama says EXACTLY what he means, period. If Repubs and media, AND supporters, choose to assign their own interpretations, doubts and skepticism, that’s been THEIR problem though they later seek to foist it onto him. Once I came to the realization that the President says what he means, it’s been much easier to listen to him carefully and wait with him while the dissenters stumble around before coming to rest at the place he had intended given the dynamics he faced. IMO Prez O is a ‘visionary’ who is also realistic. We are going to do OBAMA/BIDEN 2012! I can taste it already! 😉
Yes! He is a man of his word. You’re right – he’s not playing games. Had they tried to compromise, he would have compromised. Having given it a fair trial he is now doing exactly what he said he would do. I love this man.
THISSSSSS
Time to make the calls! First up Indiana GOP senators Coates and Lugar. Then my GOP rep Dan Burton.
I relish the calls!!
Extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits. Make millionaires/billionares pay their fair share to pay for it! No games.
Called my GOP rep Wolf here in VA. Could not reach DC office so called local office. Gave her a piece of my mind — nicely and she agreed with me! Support the 99% and make the “so called job creators” which is a laugh pay their fair share.
I love the visuals of the clock ticking down.
me too
I was not surprised that one of the jackals actually questioned the use of the countdown clock. The premise was that the administration didn’t like the use of the countdown clock during the debt ceiling debate. So why is it ok to use a countdown clock now?? The mind reels.
Ha! President Obama schooled the Gop on their own message. Now dems follow suit or STHU
The Republicans response- leak info that FAA administrator got attested for DUI.
Childish!
Yay!!-
PARIS (Reuters) – The leaders of France and Germany agreed a master plan on Monday for imposing budget discipline across the euro zone, saying the EU’s basic treaty will need to be changed in the search for a sweeping solution to its debt crisis.
President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel said their proposal included automatic penalties for governments that fail to keep their deficits under control, and an early launch of a permanent bailout fund for euro states in distress.
They said they wanted treaty change to be agreed in March and ratified after France wraps up presidential and legislative elections in June. “We need to go fast,” Sarkozy said.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE7B30AO20111205?irpc=932
Very very Important and the WH team is on it!
This will happen and thanks to the WH!!
Defazio blames the President for the post office Thingy.
He takes no responsibility, he is above it all. I hate defazio, just as much as I hate cantor.
What’s the difference?
What? This is a direct result of the law passed in 2006. Who was in charge of Congress and in the White House.
Defazio is a whinny complainer. I wonder how he voted on that in 06.
Unreal. I hate everyone in congress, they are all rich and mean bastards.
DeFazio is a jerk – a so-called Progressive Dem – and I have written to him in lieu of my own Congresscritter David Wu wh got booted out. I really dislike DeFazio’s bad-mouthing the President. On the other hand, I LOVE my Senator, Jeff Merkley who lives his beliefs and advocates for the middle class and the poor. He is far, far fom being wealthy.
We are hard at work in OR Congressional District 1 trying to elect Suzanne Bonamici to replace Wu. She is smart and a strong consumer advocate. Emily’s List has given their support.
I think he voted for the balanced budget amendment.This guy is going to run away from Obama during the campaign season. He may lose he district if he goes that route.
I can’t believe Nora O’Donnell just asked who is it that PBO believe is not being given a fair shot? Lawd have mercy on her!!! Maybe I heard wrong.
She’s another wolf in sheep’s clothing. Started out guest-reporting on MSNBC years ago (Chris Matthews hung on her every word, and I’m pretty sure was responsible for getting her hired), sweet and nice and not dripping with GOP talking points. Ever since she’s been part of the White House Jackal Corps, she’s been vile. Even her facial expression has turned scary. Maybe she was that vile all the time in between, but I barely watch MSNBC anymore.
The Republicans are playing games, now, they want to pay fir the tax cuts ny eliminating the new boiler rules the EPA is enacting.
It’s a big game to them!
And here is another tweet from a republican-
Repealing obamacare can pay for tge payroll taxcut for 13 years. Liar- that law reduces the deficit.
These guys keep pandering…
Hmm, there is a red line saying that amy comment is awaiting moderation.
Ed Henry is a douche. He’s raising his voice, saying the President “attacked” the GOP, and asking how “beating up on the GOP” is going to get them closer to a deal. Why does America have to put up with so-called “journalists” carrying water so blatantly for a party that has actively worked against the country’s recovery. Jay deserves an award.
He just reads the email that the rnc provides him, while running back to report for Shawn hannity on his show
Tonite.
The press has an all star cast of tea baggers.
How dare you denigrate a douche. At least it has a useful function. Henry is a parasite that only thrives on the host.
I stand corrected! 🙂
OT: Chips, my guy, Robert De Niro, was at The Kennedy Center last night with his lovely wife:
http://news.daylife.com/photo/0eR68eE8Fk8Hf?__site=daylife&q=Robert+De+Niro
DeNiro looks great.
Yes, Mr. De Niro is looking quite dapper!
My second favorite Meryl Streep film (after The French Lieutenant’s Woman) is Falling in Love, and her co-star was Robert DeNiro. Such a romantic movie!
Sigh.
Hi-five on that one. Loved that movie!
Okey dokey, I’m going to use Chips “Contact Congress” link and spread the message on Twitter. The GOP and some Democrats need to hear our voices and pass the payroll tax cut.
Obama Uses Fight Over Consumer Chief to Push Populist Message
President Barack Obama is setting up to campaign as a populist defender of the middle class, using the fight over his nominee to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the extension of a payroll tax cut.
The president will be “aggressively” campaigning for Richard Cordray’s confirmation ahead of a likely Dec. 8 Senate vote, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters yesterday.
That follows Obama’s travel in recent weeks to battleground states such as Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, where he accused Republicans of hypocrisy for refusing to let Bush-era tax cuts expire while blocking extension and expansion of a payroll tax cut that the president has said would save the typical family more than $1,000 a year next year.
“From nominations to economic proposals, the point right now is for the administration to show that they’re looking for economic solutions and that Republicans are looking to obstruct them,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University in New Jersey.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-05/obama-presses-cordray-consumer-confirmation-with-populist-re-election-bid.html
Republicans caught between a tax break and a hard place
GOP leaders in Congress see political peril in ending one for workers, but they’re having trouble convincing the rank and file.
By Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau
December 4, 2011, 7:55 p.m.
Reporting from Washington— When President Obama called for extending the payroll tax cut for workers during an address to Congress three months ago, only a few Republicans stood to applaud.
The head of the House GOP campaign arm called the tax breaks a “horrible idea.” Conservatives likened it to “robbing Peter to pay Paul” and piling onto the national debt.
Now, with American workers facing an average $1,000 tax increase on Jan. 1, GOP leaders in Congress are engaged in a message makeover. They are struggling to convince their rank-and-file lawmakers that blocking Obama’s proposed tax break would be politically toxic, not to mention a breach of the party’s decades-old commitment to cutting taxes.
The prospect of a split within the party’s ranks, so soon after Republican-led efforts to preserve tax breaks for wealthier Americans last year, has presented an opening that Democrats are trying to exploit for maximum political gain.
“Republicans are giving themselves whiplash on the issue of taxes: Republicans have one position on taxes for the wealthy and another position when it comes to everyone else,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), a chief campaign strategist for Democrats. “Republicans have had the advantage on tax issues over Democrats, but that is changing.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop-tax-breaks-20111205,0,6931958.story
And one of their GOP presidential candidates, Michele Bachmann, has stated unequivocally that she thinks the Payroll tax cut for the middle class is a drain on the economy.
Good news-
Toyota nnounced that they will export US made camera to south Korea, due to the free trade bill signed. Creating 27k jobs in Kentucky.
Camrys not cameras! Lol!
amazing – is there a link Jovie?
Never mind – will hit teh Google 🙂
Okay, my two Senators and Congresswoman Donna Edwards are all in for the extension of UI and the Payroll Tax Cuts.
Are Manchin and Tester the only Dems who are balking at the extensions?
Lieberman and Sanders too!
I am beginning to think Sanders is having old age issues.
No he knows exactly what he is doing. It’s the same mess we went through with Feingold. He is standing on principle because he says it takes money away from SS so he is not in favor of the tax cut. The PL will make excuses for him just like they did good ole Russ.
And of course blame Pres. Obama.
Of course.
donna, how can it take money away from Social Security? Did Sanders explain that?
FICA takes 6% out to pay for SS.
Instead of 6%
It will be 3%
.
but it will be replenished by the general fund!
What Jovie said.
A GOP reality-show race, thanks to the Tea Party
By E.J. Dionne Jr., Published: December 4
The contest for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination has been described as a reality show and a circus. But what’s happening inside the GOP is quite rational and easily explained.
The obvious Republican nominee was Texas Gov. Rick Perry — obvious because his government-bashing, ideology-mongering, secessionist-flirting persona was a perfect fit for a Republican primary electorate that has shifted far to the right of Ronald Reagan.
The yearning for someone like Perry was inevitable. He combined the right views — actually, very right views — with experience as a chief executive that made him seem like somebody who was ready to be president.
Consider that even before he had gotten into the race, mere word that he might run sent Republican voters scrambling his way. He already had 18 percent to Romney’s 23 percent in a late July Gallup poll. Michele Bachmann was next at 13 percent. At that point, Newt Gingrich was at 6 percent and Herman Cain was at 4 percent.
………………………………………………….
But what’s going on is not just a Romney problem. The Republican Party’s core electorate has changed radically since 2008 — and even then John McCain won the nomination against the wishes of many on the Republican right because the opposition to him was splintered.
A party that lived by the tea crowd in 2010 is being severely hobbled by it now. The Republican right wants the kind of purity that led it to take candidates such as Cain and Bachmann with great seriousness for a while. The same folks took Sharron Angle, Christine O’Donnell and Joe Miller seriously in the 2010 Senate primaries, too. None of them got elected.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-gop-presidential-circus-thats-steeped-in-tea/2011/12/02/gIQAnLesTO_story.html
This was such a nice gesture on their behalf…
Three Connecticut wealth managers who won a $254 million jackpot followed through on their promise to put the money toward philanthropy, today announcing donations to five charities that assist veterans.
The first recipients will each receive $200,000. They are: The Bob Woodruff Foundation, Building Homes for Heroes, Services for the Under Served, Operation First Response and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
~snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/money-managers-good-promise-philanthropy-195951763.html
Brilliant – really nice gesture. That’s why this broad brush of 1% vs 99% isn’t always accurate. A few bad apples are making it seem like the whole crop is bad. This is nice news.
Theo, here’s some more nice news! 🙂
Oprah’s South African School Graduates First Round of Students
All 72 young women studying at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has been accepted into universities in South Africa or the United States and many have won scholarships to aid them, the Washington Post reports.
After spending more than $40 million dollars to build a campus that includes a computer and science lab along with a wellness center, Winfrey is ready to hand diplomas to the young women at the graduation ceremony in January.
~snip~
http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/743575/oprah%E2%80%99s_south_african_school_graduates_first_round_of_students/
h/t Joi-Marie McKenzie
It is my understanding they are donating $1 million out of the $254 million winnings. Tiger won $1.2 million yesterday playing golf and is giving it all to charity. I would hope the wealth managers could step up their donation from the $254 winnings from a $1 lotto ticket a bit.
Agree with you Bill…
They can do so much better than a million dollars out of 254 million for goodness sake…
Bringing this to TOD’ville’s attention in case it hasn’t yet been shared (Sorry, haven’t had enough time to catch up yet. 🙄 VC)
‘Know anyone who wants to go above and beyond to help re-elect President Obama in 2012?
Obama for America and Organizing for America are looking for bright, motivated people for our Organizing Fellowship Program — a 12-week program that will be held three times in 2012: during the spring, the summer, and the fall.
Here’s why you should think about it, or pass this along to someone who might be interested in applying: If you’re an Obama organizing fellow, you’ll gain hands-on campaign experience and strengthen your leadership skills, while working in a fast-paced environment. You’ll also learn firsthand about the grassroots efforts that drive this campaign — including recruiting volunteers and developing relationships with supporters in communities across the country.
You’ll also be on the front lines of the work that it will take to win on November 6th, 2012.
….
Applications are being accepted and processed on a rolling basis until the program is full, but it always fills up quickly. Get started here to apply for an organizing fellowship in your state, or make your friends owe you one by passing on this link:
http://my.barackobama.com/Organizing-Fellows
I’m looking forward to hearing from you,
Sara
Sara El-Amine
My goodness, how many ways will President Obama call out the repubstructionist and make them look like fools, this is getting embarrassing almost to a fault. President Obama has out flanked the repubstructionist across the entire political landscape. They have to defend every anti middle class position they have taken. And now they are in a race against time, the President has already told them he does not mind canceling Christmas.
And he’s doing it alone. One man against the entire machinery. One thing this Presidency has shown is that the big, bad GOP machinery is not smart – it just relies on everyone else being either stupid or uninformed.
Great point!
Chips thanks for posting this wonderful video. It touched my heart. Especially the part about the elderly lady who will be attending. I have shared the video already with others.
You’re welcome COS, I hope we get to see her tomorrow, she sounds like an amazing woman.
I understand the historical nature of choosing Osawatamie for the speech but am disturbed that they chose such a small venue. Kansas may be ruby red but eastern Kansas is a solid blue. Even red’s I know wouldn’t pass up a chance to see our President. I especially hope that they make an exception and give Auntie a prime seat with a hug from the President. Have my fingers crossed. I figured out the reason for the helicopters yesterday flying overhead. A rare noise in KC. The President is landing at the International Airport and I am sure he will going by helicopter to Osawatamie. They were just making a few practice passes over my house in KC which is in line with their trip.
There are huge security issues to consider…
Eastern Kansas may be blue, but there are determined and hate-blinded racists who will cross state and county lines…
Something very pertinent security-wise determined the size of the audience. People will just have to understand that there are the dastardly who exist among us…
Like the terrorists who’ve taken the joy out of flying, we have home-bred partisan and race-driven terrorists who have made it impossible for the President to travel and move freely as he would like, among the people he works on behalf of and loves dearly…
Blame them…
Chipsticks – THANKS! I absolutely loved watching this video!!! These people in Kansas are soooo excited about the upcoming visit from President Obama.
Thanks so much for finding it and sharing it.
You are simply the BEST!
Those credit agencies love to stall recovery. The timing of this stinks. Just when tge Europeans agree on a bailout and austerity package, the credit agency is threatening to downgrade Germany.
Planned?
Love the little video and cannot wait to see the whole thing on the 27th. Thank you Chips!
CNN says Sen. Al Franken came up with the idea for any senators who wish to participate (apparently, 58 are) in a Secret Santa gift-giving event. Said he got the idea from grade school when he picked the name of somebody who was bullying him.
One of the benefits of having a former comedian in the Senate. Hehehe.
BTW, when I first heard this, I thought it was a ridiculous idea (the Senate plays, while Rome burns). Then I realized it was all tongue-in-check by Al Franken – to make further fools out of the GOP bullies.
Toyota announced today it will export Camry sedans from Kentucky and Indiana to South Korea, making it the sixth U.S.-built vehicle the Japanese automaker exports. About 7,000 Camry sedans will ship from assembly plants in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind., next year, Toyota says, with shipments arriving in Korea in January.
The move comes on the heels of the U.S.-Korean Free Trade Agreement, which reduced auto tariffs and streamlined environmental and safety regulations for U.S.-made vehicles exported to the country. The exports shouldn’t affect the redesigned 2012 Camry’s reported 92% domestic-parts content (59% for the Camry Hybrid), which could make it a DPC champ once the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration releases figures for 2012. The prior Camry, whose DPC ranged from 70% to 80% for non-hybrid models, has topped Cars.com’s American Made Index three years running.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2011/12/toyota-to-export-us-built-camrys.html
Awesome. Thanks so much for the news Jovie. Off to spread it.
Conservative writer George Will on Newtie (so funny):
“Gingrich…embodies the vanity and rapacity that make modern Washington repulsive … There is almost artistic vulgarity in Gingrich’s unrepented role as a hired larynx for interests profiting from such government follies as ethanol and cheap mortgages …Gingrich, who would have made a marvelous Marxist, believes everything is related to everything else and only he understands how … ”
More fun quotes at:
http://blogs.e-rockford.com/applesauce/2011/12/04/george-will-says-newt-gingrich-is-the-least-conservative-of-the-gop-candidates/
Good times.
Well damn! 😆
Keep in mind that Will’s wife is an adviser for the Perry campaign so it does make you wonder if he’s truly being bipartisan or has other motives here. Not saying he’s wrong- just the reason for his vocal opposition.
Spot on…
Each team and their preferred flavor of crazy are only fighting for who eventually gets access to and the big appointments should their particular crazy win…
It has absolutely nothing to do with loyalty or confidence in their chosen ones ability…
It’s all about potential access to power and influence and the amassing of wealth…
Crooks every one of them – wife, husband, offspring and siblings. It’s now a family wide hustle, just ask James Carville and Mary Matlin…
The Republicans are freaking out! I love it!
WOW…
Check this out-
BREAKING NEWS : S&P to place all 17 Euro nations on credit watch negative at 4:00 pm ET: EU officials.
—
Coincidence? They are trying to blow up that deal agreed to today!
Just making themselves irrelevant.
S&P seems drunk on power as if they are getting a high from manipulating the world economy with their threats. They badly need to get their wings clipped.
No reporting on that here yet….weird.
Thanks Jovie, more here:
Standard and Poor’s (S&P) is reportedly set to put all 17 eurozone countries on “credit watch” due to fears over the impact of the debt crisis.
It means that countries with top AAA ratings including Germany and France would have a 50% chance of seeing their rating’s downgraded.
The news came as a surprise to investors and saw stocks fall back on early gains as the euro also fell.
S&P has refused to comment on the reports which quote unnamed sources.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16042346
Chips, you need to send Meryl a “naughty mat.” You need evidence?
Exhibit a: http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/2011-kennedy-center-honors/1-241620
Exhibit b: http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/2011-kennedy-center-honors/1-241617
You’re so right Alycee, we need to find her address to send the mat on!! 🙂
This one is lovely too:
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/2011-kennedy-center-honors/1-241629
😐
👿
😆 😆
STOP IT Chipsticks!!!!!!
Chips, Halloween is over!!!! Please, no more scarey pics!
Wait – that wasn’t a photo from a wax museum?
I must admit I was not expecting all that ugly 🙂
Too cruel!!!
At what point does showing pictures of Nightmare Barbie™ stop being funny? Soon I hope.
😦
seriously, Chips. You are soooooooo wrong! 😈
ooooooo…..that was like being “rick rolled”……ouch Chips
My goodness! Mrs. Obama’s back is perfect!!! (Exhibit B)
Yes it is. So pretty!
I LOVE Meryl. Her talent is extreme. She’s gripping PBO like he was Clint Eastwood in “Bridges of Madison County.” I see you Meryl. Mmmmhmm.
*I see you Meryl* 🙂
I don’t think Meryl cares!
Great Speech
As the offical “pesty one” of the group we all need to get on the phone, email, tweet the 4 Senators who are dragging their feet
Manchin @Sen_JoeManchin (202) 224-3954
Tester @Tester, Jon (202) 224-2644
Lieberman dont know twitter (202) 224-4041
Sanders @SenatorSanders (202) 224-5141
add more names if I have forgotten some. Even if you don’t live in their state – call them.
I called the one I detest the most – Manchin – and left a message with his aide, giving my name and introducing myself as a coal-miner’s granddaughter. Very cold-hearted female aide said, bored, that she would give him my message.
Think I’ll go have some chocolate.
You deserve a chocolate break, it does help, even if they pretend it doesn’t.
Left voicemail for my R senator Kirk of Illinois (luckily, Dick Durbin is my REAL senator!), since I didn’t want to talk to a Republican aide – ran out of holy water to sprinkle around the phone, if I had.
My implication in the message was that I could be a Republican (well, I didn’t lie) (okay, I lied) – ha ha.
I keep extra bottles (holy water) just for these occasions 🙂
This is the time when I am so mad at Tester I could spit. He says this won’t create jobs. But I said it will be taking money out of my kids pockets at a time when they can’t afford it. I just don’t understand why. There is more to this for Tester than I know. He really is a good guy. I have had long conversations with him in the past. I will try to get thru to his office again. All the phones have been busy. I called the office in another town and spoke to someone.
re: the people waiting in line. I remember in 2008 when Obama came to Lansing Michigan to give a speech. I was so excited my sisters and I booked a lavish hotel room downtown right across the street from the event. We made it a pajama party LOL.
The next morning we were able to get in line about 500 back from the front. I don’t even remember what Obama said and I could not get close enough to shake his hand but I will never forget how I felt.
Good for you aamom. Great way to celebrate and how exciting it must have been.
Is anyone else having trouble viewing photos at Daylife?
http://news.daylife.com/topic/Barack_Obama?__site=daylife
http://news.daylife.com/photo/0592ctRf6w5lB?__site=daylife&q=Barack+Obama
😦
Daylife is working fine for me Chips.
Really COS? Flip.
Err, maybe they’ve banned me for stealing their pics 😳
When you go to this link do all the photo thumbnails show up okay?
http://news.daylife.com/topic/Barack_Obama?__site=daylife
They all show up for me, Chips. I have never had trouble with daylife.
So far.
Thanks Joan, it’s getting stranger and stranger. Maybe they’re Newt fans and don’t want me putting nice pics of the President on the blog? Or maybe I just need to shoot my computer?
Yes, everything looks fine. They should have banned me 61 volumes ao. 🙂
Thanks COS – I haz a very big Daylife sad now 😦
LOL.
I can’t view the photos at all on my iPad I thought I was the only one with the Problem last night.
Thanks M4O, I can’t see them on any device I’ve tried, including my laptop. When I go here:
http://news.daylife.com/search?q=obama
I just get the Daylife header, but no photos. Weird.
Sometimes KARMA reaches out and touches…..even a lovely Dictator….hmmmmmmm?
It is weird. I get all the photo when I click on your link.
Works just fine for me.
Thanks Donna, I’m mystified – again!
PS Phew, I’m not alone!
http://getsatisfaction.com/daylife/topics/search_feature_not_working_on_http_news_daylife_com
I see…. 😦
I see ’em.
Thanks PJ, looks like they’re just picking on me and M4O 😦
Try this link http://www.daylife.com/topic/Barack_Obama/photos/1/grid?__site=daylife
Thanks collegekay, but that won’t work for me either! I’m assuming, like all the problems with this site when the gremlins attack, it’s a browser issue – but I noticed one of the people with the same problem on the Daylife support section can get the site to work alright on Firefox. I can’t!
Did you try google chrome?
Will give it a try, thanks.
Works a little slower than normal for me Chips, but it does work.
Thanks Dudette, I’ll keep working on a solution!
Chips, it works for me too…….
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got my White House Christmas card today! It pictures Bo in front of the fireplace.
I hope Meryl sees the ribbing some of you naughty ones are giving her. I love her too.
Chips, I have a huge favor to ask you. Will you please tell me how to put 2012 Obama Logo on the #TheWetOne. My brother suggested I should put 2012 logo on it to promote the 2012 campaign though I would love to leave it untouched. Thanks.
Hiya M40, if you had a photo program thingie you could just find the 2012 logo and paste it on to the, um, wet one pic. I could give it a try, but I’m not too hot with this kind of thing. Where do you want the logo exactly?
Thanks Chips, you can put the LOGO at the bottom where it’s visible so we don’t block the million dollar smile. I tried to tinkle around with it but it’s failing to come out the way I want it.
I’ll give it a try M4O. Is it this logo:
Or just the O?
Yes. Thanks for your time Chips. I really appreciate your help.
M4O are you talking about these: http://www.picbadges.com/obama-2012-6/2087880/
Ohhhh, sad about Phil Schiliro leaving…..Hope they get a powerhouse to replace him.
Yes – I think he really served the President well. I hope he’s going on to something rewarding – he has changed lives in this country for the better!
I had to bring this over from the previous thread.
She’s so emotional and awe struck by the event, she can’t help but to tear up.
She has always been a calss act!
Please forgive my spelling.
BRAVO!~
Al Jazeera Opens New Chicago Bureau
Al Jazeera, the network that has owned coverage of the Arab Spring, is coming to the heartland. On Monday, Al Jazeera announced it will open a new bureau in Chicago next month. John Hendren, formerly a White House correspondent with ABC News, will work at the Chicago bureau.
~snip~
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/2435
Oh creolechild that is so exciting. I really enjoy seeing the real thing as it’s happening and Al Jazeera is the place to go. Maybe we can get some real news now.
Irony?!!
Now Political Buddies, Gingrich Once Accused Trump Of Manipulation |
Dec 5, 2011 at 3:27 pm
While Newt Gingrich and Donald Trump teamed up today to launch an apprenticeship program for poor students, and will appear together at an upcoming GOP debate, the former speaker used to be no fan of the real estate mogul. As Slate’s Dave Weigel reports, in 1989, Gingrich said Trump “manipulates” the market. “New York hasn’t ended up a dream world for the poor. It has become a place where Donald Trump manipulates the game,” Gingrich said.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/12/05/382316/gingrich-trump-manipulation/
h/t Alex Seitz-Wald
PolitiFact voting on the Lie of the Year. I really disagree with some of their choices!
ThinkProgress refutes one of the “Lies” as being a true statement
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/12/02/381180/politifacts-finalist-for-2011-lie-of-the-year-is-100-percent-true/
“Oddly, the year’s most significant policy claim — the Democrats’ charge that the Paul Ryan budget will end Medicare — made the list, even though it’s 100 percent true!”
List of finalists: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2011/dec/02/2011-lie-year-finalists/
Vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3V2DVHZ
You can add vote and add comments — it’s a way to have our voice heard.
I thought the Dems always said that Paul Ryan’s budget “would end medicare as we know it”, because they want to voucherize it. I never heard any Democrat say that it would end medicare.
please dear heavenly father, please, please let the words outta 2004 Willard Mitt Romney’s mouth come back and bite him on the ass. please let the dnc and all pro-Obama pacs use his words to skewer his pale, crusty-ass backside. and please dear lord, let Willard collapse under the weight of his gigantic lying ass mouth. amen.
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
Hey what time is the Kansas osawati speech
DNC Fights Back Against Voter Suppression
December 05,2011
With model legislation provided by the America Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the new wave of Republican state legislatures elected in the 2010 midterms proposed a series of similar bills across the country. Some states, like North Carolina, still had Democratic governors to veto the legislation, and in others such as Maine, the voters turned against the new bills.
Yesterday, the DNC launched a flashy website alongside an extensive report. There isn’t much new information in the report, but it distills the extensive threat from the new laws and fact-checks Republican claims of voter fraud. For example, RNC Chair Reince Priebus alleged that 5,000 noncitizens voted in Colorado’s closely contested senate race last fall, but the DNC’s report looks at the basis for that claim and notes that the original speculation Priebus referenced had no investigation backing it up. So if there isn’t a widespread threat of voter fraud, just why are Republicans pursuing this regulation? This handy chart tells the full story:
~snip~
http://prospect.org/article/dnc-fights-back-against-voter-suppression
h/t Patrick Caldwell
Rev Al is on fire. Tell it sir.
Visas for dollars: Give me your Gucci-clad masses
Dec 3rd 2011
“GIVE me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,” reads Emma Lazarus’s ode to immigration inscribed on a plaque beneath the Statue of Liberty. More than a century later, however, it is the jet-lagged and rich who are receiving the warmest welcome at America’s borders. Two senators, Charles Schumer, a Democrat, and Mike Lee, a Republican, recently introduced legislation to fast-track visas for foreigners spending $500,000 on residential property. Their Visit USA Act would allow purchasers and their families to live in America for as long as they owned their houses, though not to work there or receive any federal benefits.
~snip~
Initially EB-5 came laden with stringent conditions: immigrants had to invest $1m either in a new enterprise that would create at least ten full-time jobs, or in a failing one to preserve the same number. They were required to manage the business themselves, and even to dedicate some of the jobs to exports. If a company failed in its first two years, investors would lose both their money and their green cards. With the exception of the two-year rule, these restrictions have now melted away. Investors today can choose to buy into all sorts of packaged projects, created by regional centres that oversee their day-to-day management.
http://www.economist.com/node/21541054
New post here:
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/05/evening-all-10/