Me too mj. Youtube videos are not playing at all. It looks like the gremlins are back. I am still trying to trouble shoot this problem. It just started happening for me late yesterday. Very strange. All I get is the black box with the title and the play arrow. When I click on the arrow, nothing happens.
The article is really good, but the Ron Paul supporters have refused to see the light – per their comments at the end of the article. One thing I’ve noticed about these people on the right is that they never ask themselves the question: “and then what”. Sure, his ideas sound like a hippy’s dream – no rules and regulations, no laws against drugs, no wars. But, they never ask themselves what will happen when all drugs are legalized and there is no recourse for those harmed by those who can’t handle drugs? What about the fact that in addition to ending wars (which President Obama is already doing), Ron Paul also advocates eradicating national security agencies – and letting everyone protect themselves? what about the fact that people need protection from greed and corruption – hence the reason why we have rules and regulations to begin with? Never mind about his white supremacy roots and supporters – that’s a whole other argument, there. The world that Ron Paul advocates can be found in Somalia, or any third world country.
For anyone to think that Newton Leroy or Willard Mitt has a chance against President Obama in the debates is delusional. “To thine own self be true” is possibly the most important character trait in a leader. PBO is more true to himself than any leader I have ever witnessed. Newton Leroy and Willard Mitt have no clue who they are. That is why either one will be destroyed in the head to head debates with the President.
“For anyone to think that Newton Leroy or Willard Mitt has a chance against President Obama in the debates is delusional. ”
Bill I thought it was just me. I don’t see any competition at all. They can allow for the first time for both men to go up against PO and they would still be crushed. That has nothing to do with the fact that I support President Obama. It is just the reality of the situation.
The problem with Newt is that the Republicans have decided that they ignore all facts that don’t support their position. They ignore everything, distort what they need and make up the rest. So, Newt is able to slide past their angel Romney, even though both of them have flipped on basically all the same positions. They claim they’ve forgiven Newt’s indiscretions. They’ve created their own reality – so they are basically all insane. You can’t reach them.
Love it when I can point out truth to emoprogs & PUMAs like Traister & shut her BS up. Thanks for the rant Chips. I used it in a loooooong twitter conversation with @rtraister to point out how full of crap her article aka personal rabid rant was. Another day; another emoprog BS shut down. 😀
ut, as soon as I saw that you were on the case I was delighted. I knew you were going to give her the 411 by providing the facts. The rant from Chips was absolutely glorious. I printed out a hard copy for safe keeping because it was freakin awesome.
I’m late, but I just posted this on the thread from yesterday. Hoos Left, gives a scathing rant of the firebaggers and their “pissing” (her word) on the President over this issue of 12 + year olds and birth control.
Chris Hayes on MSNBC just now said that the losers this week were the 16 year old girls who can’t get the morning after pill OTC.
Chips and I share the same mindset. I consider myself a serious, principled liberal, especially on women’s rights. But I have a problem with children having access to something that they may not take safely or use instead of precautions. I understand and am seriously concerned about the girl who gets taken advantage of at a party or some far more serious offense. But going to Walgreen’s should not replace legal, counseling and parental help for those cases.
So I ask Chris Hayes who has small children — what would be the age where he wouldn’t want to see a girl walk up to the pharmacy counter and get the pill to terminate a pregnancy? Since “16” bothers him, is it 15? 14? 11? 10?
Just asking.
I no more believe that every girl at any age is competent to make these decisions than I believe that everyone should be able to own any and every gun they desire. To me, these are extremes, from both sides.
OK, so he’s the brand new parent of a baby daughter and he’s acting so cavalier about access to Plan B for any young girl? Wow. More important to him to be politically correct.
About this time in the 2008 I remember our favorite Civil Rights Hero when he moved from then Senator Clinton to how President Obama, he said he didn’t want to be on the wrong side of history. Fix News realizes that regardless of the opponent President Obama will be reelected. Acts 9:5.
And this is before President Obama has started campaigning. The fact is, he’s been winning a second term since the day he was elected. The media accuses him of perpetually campaigning, but when a person gets a job – everything they do is part of their performance evaluation. You don’t just get judged on the few months before you get your review!
But, when he actively goes into campaign mode, and asks for the votes of the thinking people of this country, they’ll remember how he got the job in the first place.
Epic rant Chips….I think they can stop beating around the bush and come out and say that they haven’t gotten over Hillary’s loss. My personal feeling is to side with HHS on this one. If I need to show ID to get some cough syrup….I don’t mind showing ID to get birth control pills.
Good morning all. I read the rant and I was unaware of the issue. Thank you for the information since I never go to those sites it just reinforce why I find them useless.
Using the henpecked message comment emmasculates PBO while using the paternalistic comment makes it as if he is the authoritarian in charge with no regard for others feelings. Which is it? Whatever works is my guess without regard to consistency of argument. Just another person lobbing grenades from the sidelines.
Someone needs to translate for her: he’s not “hen pecked”; he just respects and loves his wife. He wasn’t being “paternalistic”; he was being paternal – to his own kids. It makes you wonder what kind of relationships these people are in…
Well done ut.. thank you for speaking up to her. I find it amazing that POTUS is supposed to be both ‘paternalistic’ and ‘henpecked’. Way to attack both the President and the First Lady in one fell swoop. The strength and character these two show daily in all their endeavors puts a lie to all this nonsense spewed by these self-appointed ‘lefter than left’ folk.
Hahaha. That’s why I love twitter. One can push back on BS faster than lightning. And these “journalists” like Chuck Todd, Joan Walsh, and Rebecca Traister read their tweets. I’ve entangled with them and others and when you point out their BS they get huffy or they get silent when presented with evidence. Joan Walsh tweeted me an apology a while back after I politely but very firmly reamed her out for going after PBO for something he never said! Don’t mess with me when it comes to having PBO’s back. 😀
UT, I’m not on Twitter but like I told people on POU the other day, keep on those press folks who like to spew garbage unquestioned. Get on them and let them know people will call them out on their crap, which will make them act more balanced.
I’m not on Twitter either so I ask this question without the personal knowledge of how it works. When you engage in a battle of words back and forth on Twitter does it go out to other people besides those that are conversing? If not that is a shame. If it does then those that read the tweet in the first place can get straightened out and it isn’t a waste of time to respond.
Yes. Whatever you tweet can be read by others in your timeline if they follow you or look up your twitter handle. The only way others can’t read your tweets is if you send a direct message to someone. So if you’re having a battle of words with a “journalist,” others can read your tweets and get enlightened, agree/not agree with you, and retweet your tweets so that others who follow them and don’t follow you can also read the tweets. Very effective tool.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha! I’ve read some of UT’s takedowns on Twitter. And believe you me, those “journalists” should be afraid — be very afraid. In the words of Antoine Dodson, my advice to them is this (singing in my best ‘ghetto’ voice):
You don’t have to come and confess
[She] lookin’ for you
[She] gon’ find you
[She] gon’ find you
So you can run and tell that,
Run and tell that
Run and tell that . . .
They have been doing this since the beginning of OFA. Nothing new here. IF the Progressive sites have poor moderation the infiltrations will be successful with causing disruption and confusion. PRESS ON!!
A couple of days ago, someone here, I think it was Donna4Obama, suggested we strategize to become our own “armed forces” or national brigade to protect PBO’s image so that we can more effectively get out the word of his accomplishments by using any means necessary to reach the masses: including twitter, email, postal mail, telephone calls, canvassing, Facebook, letters to the editor of local papers, and the like. I know we are currently doing a lot of these things on an individual basis but perhaps we can take it a step further in a more organized and wide-range fashion. I think WIW (whatISworking) has offered some strategies in the past.
Here’s one of my suggestion relating to Troll Patrol. We can copy the Repubs and start posting more comments on sites that are read by the masses and become POSITIVE VOLUNTEER TROLLS for the President. Popular internet sites like Yahoo and youtube videos featuring the President’s current events can be infiltrated with comments from us Obots. Believe it or not, a lot of people view the popular sites as their only news source! My son who’s in the Marines thinks Yahoo News (yuck) is God, and he reads and believes the wacky and biased headlines and articles that attack the President–including those horrible comments posted on Yahoo too. If we organize effectively, we might be able to start chipping away at the iceberg of negative media that has formed against President Obama since 2008.
Does anyone know if it was Donna4Obama who recently suggested we strategize and organize our efforts. And has there been any follow up efforts since her post?
Yes, I read that and IMO a must read for everyone, especially those from Salon and fair-weather friends of the President who don’t even understand the issues.
FACTS, FACTS, FACTS…that’s what’s up. It gets them every time they feel the need to express “outrage” toward President Obama over an issue which they *usually* haven’t thoroughly researched or considered from another perspective. Thank you, UT, Chips, TOD, and our brother and sister sites on the prag blogroll!
China’s global reach: lending more than the World Bank
European officials may have flown to Beijing with their begging bowl underarm, but for developing countries, China’s cheque book comes to you.
Over the past few years, delegations from China’s big banks have been criss-crossing the globe signing a plethora of billion dollar deals with some of the world’s poorest nations.
“Last year China provided more loans to the developing world than even the World Bank,” says Jamie Metzl from the US-based Asia Society. “The role of China is large, it’s growing and it’s critically important.”
As the lender to go to for credit-poor governments, China’s yuan is replacing World Bank dollars as the cash behind new roads, power stations, hospitals and other infrastructure.
Where to invest?
In 2010, the World Bank agreed $11.4bn worth of loans to some 36 African countries. China also agreed a host of loans to African governments. One of them, a loan facility to Ghana, reportedly is worth almost $13bn alone.
But as Dr Zhao Changhui from China’s Export Import Bank happily points out, his country has $3tn sat waiting to be spent. The nation’s politics may be red, but the balance sheet is most definitely black.
So where to invest?
“Countries all across Latin America are surely the most eye catching in the last few years, but on top of that countries in Africa and Asia are also very pleasing,” replies Dr Changhui.
As someone who has travelled to Southern Africa, I can attest to the China outreach. Disclaimer: my knowledge is only at the surface and through second hand information, but there is a fair deal of money laundering included, too. Mafia-type units set up as coffee shops, restaurants, etc., but which are used to launder sums of money. Shops are flooded with cheap quality Chinese goods, that don’t hold up to the slightest use – and which crowd out the field for local products. Also, government support to crowd out local producers to make way for Chinese products. In exchange for the cash – most of which ends up in the bank accounts of the political fat cats – the country gives away a lot of its mineral wealth.
There are some good things happening out of these dubious arrangements, though. Schools, clinics, short term entrepreneurship. But, generally, these arrangements aren’t built for the long term. They’re making as much money, as quickly as they can.
I listened to Randy Rhodes yesterday. She loves to tout herself as a “nomad” because some of the professional elite have snubbed her. This is why I am so perplexed by her love for Nicole Sandler, Cenk Uygur, Keith Obermann, Michael Moore and many other Obama bashers. She loves Cenk Uygur and watches his show…thinks he’s brilliant! According to her, Al Sharpton is a joke and MSNBC has become a joke hiring him. This is what is confusing; her support for the president is in total contrast to the “PL” she believes are brilliant. In 2007 her chant was, “We need a Clinton-Obama ticket. Hillary should be president, Obama can run in 8 years when he has more experience”. Does she deep down want to be one of the professional elite?
If she said that about Al Sharpton, then she may be jealous because the networks won’t give her a show. And she may not need her own show with the company that she keeps.Also if Al is a joke then why his show has high ratings.
Al’s show is one of two on MSNBC that I still watch regularly (Martin Bashir is the other). Rev. Al’s show is filled with facts, charts, background, news, support for the President and Democrats – all mixed with humor and clever snark and a wonderful way of storytelling. He also takes down the clowns. Same with Martin’s show.
They are both almost as good as Fareed Zakaria, whose brilliance in world affairs and recognition of a leader – when he sees a leader – top everybody, from my POV.
Some whites (liberal and otherwise) demonize Rev Sharpton as “racial pimp and hustler”. Usually these people are racists. Sure Rev Al has made some mistakes in his life – who hasn’t it? But he’s matured and he picks his battles. I think his detractors are elitists and/or racists. No, he does not speak “the king’s English” to perfection, but the man has a world of common sense. I don’t agree with all his positions, e.g. he was against Libya. But he didn’t bash and attack the President. He simply made his points as to why he was not in disagreement. I don’t have a problem with this type of disagreement. Maybe Randy needs to pull her head out and look around. I don’t trust many of these so-called Professional Lefties. I don’t care if they are on TV or radio. How is she such a big supporter of the President on one hand and love Michael Moore on the other. The same Michael who not only bashes the President, never apologizes when he’s wrong (he double downs) and then tells his followers (most are somewhat young) that VOTING is not that important. All the while knowing, I am sure, that Repubs are attempting to suppress the vote, especially among the young and minorities? Sounds like Randy is on the purity bandwagon, but she’s smart enough to know that if she really comes out against the President she’ll lose a lot of her audience and which translates into $$$$$
I haven’t listened to Randi for awhile. I don’t doubt your points. But she was off the “Hillary” wagon pretty damned early. It cost her her job. She fell off the Hillary wagon when she saw in NH what I saw: a kind of attack from a Democrat against another Democrat the likes of which we had never seen. That was January, 2008. Randi was horrified by Hillary’s behavior and stepped into the fray of primary politics, when she wanted to stay away until we had a nominee. I don’t ever remember Randi saying she wanted a Clinton-Obama ticket and that Hillary should be President. Certainly never after the primaries heated up.
As I said, I don’t get a chance to listen to her very often and haven’t in the last few months. If she has a love affair with Cenk I of course have a serious problem. But as recently as a few months ago she was a HUGE Obama supporter.
I was never on the Hillary wagon, frankly, but would have supported her had she been the nominee. The PL is deluded to think that Hillary would have been progressive (the Clintons are only progressive when they campaign, not when they govern). And other than the black guy, there is no one they hate more than the Clintons. We would have been barraged with Bill transgressions and hearing and accusations and Bill’s foot in her Presidency. It would have been Clinton Derangement Syndrome.
Her comedy act in San Francisco I believe knocked her off the Hillary bandwagon…by the Clintons. According to her they were behind Air America cutting her.
Honestly you couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried.
Karma is sweet…..
“A birther in Tennessee, previously seen trying to indict President Obama for treason, was arrested and charged with tampering with government documents for allegedly stealing confidential paperwork from his local courthouse.”
Interesting….both Fitzgerald and Huff are connected to that nut Bill Looman from Waco Ga who caused that dust up a couple weeks ago when he said his company would not hire anyone until President Obama is gone.
Thank you Chips for your eloquent rant. Thank you UT for your intelligent and informed
responses to the negative garbage.
PBO did not appoint cabinet secretaries like Sebelius just to be figureheads. The position
allows them/her to have a certain amount of autonomy, hence making certain decisions.
It’s not like he asked her to make a decision on nuclear warheads…something totally
outside her field. This was about the welfare and HEALTH of young girls. I could be wrong
but that sounds like it would fall under ‘health and human services’…of which she is the head!!!
He can’t do everything by himself. That would be the essence of micro-managing. Thanks for your
fighting spirits ladies. Great job. We will PRESSON.
Interestingly, before serving two terms as Governor of Kansas, Kathleen spent eight years as Insurance Commissioner. She successfully blocked BlueCrossBlueShield from merging with Indiana BCBS, a first successful block against the insurance company.
Sebelius is the daughter of former Democratic Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan, and thus they became the first father/daughter governor pair in the United States after her election. Following passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, she pointed out another father-daughter connection: her father had been in the House of Representatives when Medicare was originally passed in 1965.
She held her own in a showdown/threat with the Catholic Archbishop of Kansas City and is ruled by her own conscience and not Church Demagogues.
She also had a dynamite picture in Vogue magazine a few years ago. POTUS did a fantastic job in swaying her to accept the position, since she was going to run for Bownbacks seat in the Senate. We were sad but I am glad she is where she is.
The rant about Rebecca Traister was the best thing I have read here Chips–and that’s saying something–since there have been so many great posts from you and other people here. As a parent, grandparent, feminist, and decent human being, I have learned that there are shades of gray in most issues–abortion being high on the list. One needs to look at issues from many angles. Raising a grandchild, I am having my second go-round at this parenting thing. Using information I am currently living doesn’t make my opinion less factual. President Obama looking at the Plan B issue with an eye towards his feelings about his daughters gives his opinion greater depth. Far left folks like Rebecca have as much depth in their views as the GOP with their no new tax stand.
Well said, auni. Especially loved your declaration as a “decent human being.” That’s the number one thing we have in common with President Obama! He’s a decent human being, too, and some people in this country are forgetting what that looks like. I think it’s as basic as that.
I have four granddaughters and several honorary granddaughters, and I support the decision. For goodness sake, no “decent human being” would let a very young girl take Tylenol, much less Plan B, without their knowledge. Where are the adults?
If Kathleen advised the President about her decision in advance, that – to me – would be perfectly normal. If he had overrun her decision, that would be normal, too – it’s his administration. This is Rome burning and the PL and RWNJs playing, once again.
“For goodness sake, no “decent human being” would let a very young girl take Tylenol, much less Plan B, without their knowledge. Where are the adults?”
There have been so many good points made since Chips’ epic rant, but to me this is the bottom line. If we have a lot of 11 year old girls needing a morning after pill, we have a much more serious problem on our hands than how they get it.
PLAN B <<<<<<<<<<<< JOBS, AJA, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION. hmmm……….what is most important and concerns the American people the most? Hopefully the national discussion stays on what is relevent. PBO and his admin will have to stay focused and not allow the EMOPROGS to take us off course. We are not going to win a battle of social wars when it comes to Abortion and womens health with the social conservatives. We must keep the message on where we are the strongest. THE ECONOMY………..(BTW foreign policy is probably his ace in the hole).
Inspite of what the Rethugs believe PBO still has the upper hand on economic issues. The public still trust his judgement more than Congress or the GOP as a whole. PRESS ON! KEEP HOPE ALIVE!! Obama/Biden 2012
It may just be me because I tend to be cynical, but I find it curious that whenever the President hands the GOP their collective azzes and receives increased public support on specific issues such as the jobs bill or the payroll tax extension a “distraction”– either legitimate or otherwise–miraculously takes center stage and temporarily disrupts the momentum. Something to think about…
Awww—–tears falling down my cheeks—-Trump may scrub his fine debate. He’s really mad at Bachmann—-thought they were besties! But there was some promising news—Trump may jump in again—-because the campaign has lost a little bit of the crazy with the Cain Train derailing —-there may be a clamoring call for another round of the big headed buffoon. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20111209/us-trump-republicans/
Josh Marshall is unsure:
Mitt’s got a tight and iffy pivot to make super fast and in a climate where it’s hard to break through and people may not be eager to walk through a campaign charnel house. But he has to make it in the next four weeks to prevent the difficult to imagine possibility that Newt could sweep the opening primaries.
“Difficult to imagine?” Just look at the polls. First Read likewise thinks that attacking Gingrich will prove difficult:
Here’s why: the attacks themselves on Gingrich are not easy to sell. Why? Because he has one golden ticket with most conservative Republicans: he did it; he led conservative Republicans out of a 40-year desert. So no ONE thing (Freddie Mac, three marriages, health-care mandate, Pelosi/global warming, criticizing Paul Ryan) will take him down like it could for another politician.
Personally, I don’t think there’s any positive reason for the Newt love-fest. I think they want him simply because they believe he can humiliate the President during a debate. They believe that the GOP machinery will reign him in if he wins – for those who think past the next five minutes. But, the majority (in their juvenile brains) just want to beat President Obama. Someone mentioned a few days ago that their visiting relatives said that Newt will put President Obama in his place when he tries to act like the “smartest guy in the room”. This is all they’re focused on. These people have the right to vote – and they will.
On Alex Wagner—-irritating and annoying to the max—–Chris Hayes just said the “loser of the week” was “16 yr. old girls who will not have access to Plan B medication”——falling into line with the PL outrage, as usual. And WHY IS Lady DeRoshchild, or whatever her name is, on this panel??? She said the loser of the week was the American people, that we have no good people in government, where are the CLINTONS and the Kennedys etc., just nonsense, and another attack on Obama. As she has repeatedly demonstrated, she is not fond of our darker complected president. Now she’s on another Obama rant, saying everything is about him, it’s all about him, nothing he does is for the American people. She is making me furious——-oh no—–now she’s gone rt. wing conservative, saying Obama’s all about “the government will take care of you”. Why in the world is she on the panel? Who needs to hear her junk? Need feedback—-bad!
Wagner is a rightwing tool and Chris Hayes is a far left loon. IMO of course.
Last night I was flipping channels and landed on Current at the very end of the new Cenk Uyger show where he addresses tweets and e-mails.
Someone complained that all he does is negative stories about PBO and why can’t he focus on the Positive things the President has done.
His answer was… ” If you want All positive all the time..then watch Rev. Al “… I guess he is still pouting about losing his show that was never really his show in the first place. What a crybaby.
EXACTLY! With friends like the PL who needs enemies. Both sides take on the negative news. The GOP atleast have one safe place that they can depend on positive news. Sometimes I feel PBO gets more bashing from his own side in the guise of setting him straight than he gets from the opposition. I guess that will keep him tough ready for the election campaign.
My turn away from Alex is more nuanced: I heard her on Bill Maher — she’s as progressive as we are, and articulately so. But in order to have a job at MSNBC it is clear that she answers to corporate voices and has no problem espousing their views rather than stand up for what’s right for the country. She’s not racist, she’s not right wing but willing to say and do whatever it takes to earn a six figure salary at MSNBC.
Mike Papantonio is a jackass and for a lawyer, he should not lie as much as he does on TV and the radio but I agree with him on one thing: when the right was taking over the airwaves, the left should have gotten its foot in the door and crated an institutional counterbalance. I’m talking 15, 20 years ago. The left decided that laughing at the crazies was good enough, while the right took over American discourse.
This is a good point. It’s the same thing with the elections. Democrats get fixated on charismatic personalities who say all the right things (many of whom also believe in those things), and don’t think about the whole system. Case in point: I love Elizabeth Warren and I think she has her head screwed on straight. But, she’s only one person and she hasn’t been in politics and is unproven in the political realm. Plus, her views are not commonly held throughout the country – if they were, then we wouldn’t be fighting so hard to support President Obama. The GOP plays multiple levels at the same time – local municipalities, state government, Congress, TV and radio. The whole system is important.
But, it concerns me when people start with the “Elizabeth Warren for President” chanting. Let her become Senator first. Let her find her way within the halls of Congress. Let her decide if she wants to run for President. Don’t put her on a pedestal that will focus the GOP machinery on her like a laser – possibly dooming her before she even begins. What people should be doing is finding more progressive voices. Encouraging people to give progressive ideas a chance. supporting the progressive, level-headed people who are already in Congress, and the President, so they know that when they take risks they will be supported. Even if Elizabeth Warren gets into Congress, she’s going to be one of 535 voices. She won’t be able to perform any miracles, especially if the majority of public opinion isn’t with her. When one looks at the polls today, after months of President Obama educating people on the GOP agenda, people still can’t pick up the phone to make their voices heard. Bills are languishing in Congress – even though they will help people enormously.
I guess my point is that President Obama and Eilzabeth Warren are the exact kind of people we want in Washington, making important decisions. But, instead of putting pressure on them to perform impossible miracles, we need to encourage more people to get into Congress, and then assure them that the public will have their backs. One person can’t make the change – but a whole system thinking and acting progressively can perform miracles.
“she’s as progressive as we are, and articulately so. But in order to have a job at MSNBC it is clear that she answers to corporate voices and has no problem espousing their views rather than stand up for what’s right for the country. She’s not racist, she’s not right wing but willing to say and do whatever it takes to earn a six figure salary at MSNBC. ”
Her willingness to do and say anything to earn $$$ even it it is contrary to her personal beliefs says what about her character?
How is that trait any different from say. . . Romney’s?
Lady de Rothschild, born in NJ, who has raised money for Hillary, endorsed McCain, and has raised money for Jon (no H) Huntsman, is one of the most irritating women on earth. She is in the same class as the half term governor, except she is educated and knows how to read.
Completely concur with your comment Bill. She pretends to be on our side, yet every opportunity she gets she attacks PBO in a very personal and very negative way. Nothing is ever good enough for her. She galivants around raising money for Huntsman and screams that PBO is selling Democrats and the middleclass out. What a load of hogwash!
STOP watching these wackos. I don’t care if it’s FOX or MSNBC. They are both corp owned and have an agenda. It is infotainment, plain and simple. They’re primary purpose – ratings !! And it that means tearing down the President, so be it. These people are in for the money. The core is money. Chris Hayes is clueless. Does he have pre-teen or teenage daughters? He can’t see any further than the tip of his. When I heard he was getting a show, I just smh. We all know what the ex-Republican Cenk is now, was and will be in the future. He’s a grifter. A pretend progressive. Just like Arianna Huffington. They saw a way to make money so it became very convenient to pretend to be progressives. They will say anything to make the $$$$. This is not hard to understand.
Chris Hayes is part of the PL. I don’t understand why MSNBC keep giving the stupid PL shows cause all they do is repeat the bs that they heard on lefter than thou blogs.Can they please get someone that’s not going constantly bash the president? Why is lady DeRoshchild on there? She part of the 1% and she’s a racist. She funding the America’s Elect group. It’s like the media is trying to brainwash everyone that Obama is bad.I don’t think many people watch these shows though.
Again, great rant Chips. I just posted a reply to someone in the previous thread, but I’ll re post it here:
… I believe that at the root of all this, there is simply a desire for many people in our society to avoid talking to our children about tough and personal issues, including sex. Some would rather give kids access to all the ways to prevent or end pregnancy as long as they (as adults and parents) never have to know about it. Even if it means never knowing about sex abuse or physical anomalies or secret mental anguish of the girls…they figure it’s easier to let them raise themselves. It’s part of the disconnect we have in our society. Why aren’t we communicating with each other? Why is everyone afraid of comprehensive sex education? Have you read the great blog post by Emilia:
She covers some important points about the difference between education and access. Ironically, as “liberal” as some people claim to be, there is still a deep-rooted discomfort and shame surrounding sex and sexuality, and they’d rather avoid their own feelings on the subject and let young girls deal with it alone.
I was just about to post this from the BBC’s live feed:
Writing in the Spectator magazine, Alex Massie’s take on David Cameron’s stance is that “the price of a short-term tactical success may be a longer-term strategic defeat”. He goes on: “With Britain out of the picture – on many issues and, I fancy, more than we presently imagine – France is stronger and Germany, whose views are often closer to the British position than is sometimes thought, has lost a counterweight to French protectionism.”
So what Cameron may have done was to make France the driving force in the EU, which may eventually lead to the UK being gently booted out.
When the euro was introduced, the UK and Denmark negotiated a permanent opt-out from adopting the currency. The other 8 EU countries that are not currently in the eurozone will have to adopt it sooner or later. So the UK is in the EU, but has a very different vision of what the EU should be. Eventually it’ll have to fish or cut bait.
Yvan Duvant from Olargues, France writes: What I understand as a French person and as a European is that the UK is slowing down the EU integration, and they have always done that. So what’s the point of keeping this country in the EU? The British people should put pressure on their government to quit. Maybe The British would do better without the EU. Europe will definitely do better without the UK.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the prime minister had “mishandled these negotiations spectacularly”.
“It’s a terrible outcome for Britain because we are going to be now excluded from key economic decisions that will affect our country in the future,” he said.
Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had not “put in the hard yards of negotiation” that were necessary to build alliances and strengthen his position.
“What I find incredible is that he simply ended the negotiations yesterday and said that was it. He could have carried on negotiating today to get a better outcome for Britain.”
‘Tough rules’
Mr Sarkozy said Mr Cameron’s insistence on a protocol allowing London to opt out of proposed changes to the rules governing financial services was “unacceptable”, because a lack of regulation was behind much of the debt crisis.
German Chancellor Mrs Merkel said: “I didn’t think David Cameron sat with us at the table.
“We had to get some sort of agreement and we couldn’t make compromises, we had to meet tough rules.”
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said the outcome was “the worst of all worlds” for the UK, leaving the country in Europe but without power.
‘Absolutely nothing’
Labour and UKIP both warned that Mr Cameron had actually secured no new safeguards for the City of London – despite stating that that was a priority.
Mr Farage said: “We finish this summit with Cameron having gained absolutely nothing, with the prospect of us repatriating powers having disappeared completely and with the City of London, that he sought to protect, now more vulnerable than it has ever been.”
Foreign Secretary William Hague said earlier that signing up to the amended EU treaty would have led to the UK handing over more national sovereignty to Brussels.
But German MEP Elmar Brok said the rules would have had “no impact” on Britain because they only applied to eurozone countries and said Britain was now “isolated and marginalised”.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg – whose Liberal Democrat party is more pro-European than their coalition partners – said he regretted the failure to reach an agreement with all 27 EU states but said Mr Cameron had simply been seeking a “level playing field” across Europe.
What I see is that the UK wanted to have its cake and eat it, too. If Europe goes down, how does Cameron think that the UK won’t be affected? And I’m sure the other countries won’t easily forget that Cameron basically said to them, “you’re on your won”. They want to trade with Europe, but they don’t want to shoulder the burdens with them. I think that the investors have decided they only want the ECB to just print money, and they are hesitant to accept any other solution that might take longer and involve some risk. Typical of the bankers to just want to wipe away the debt without any consequence for their folly.
Plus, he sounded like a whining baby in the clip I heard on the radio. I think he knows his action was a bit rash, and may have long-term consequences.
Whats in the Republican Bill
1. permit for keystone pipeline
2. EPA regulatory relief (this is so that Republican can halt the EPA regulation)
3. Extension of the 100 percent business expensive
4. Unemployment compensation (include drug testing of applicants) what a joke
5. Restore State flexibility to improve the Unemployment Program(this is so the Republican States can denied unemployment ins.)
6. Extension of the Pay Limitation for Federal employees (NO raise for federal worker for another year)
7. End unemployment and nutrition program for millionaires (no kidding)
8. And For the Democrat, Temporary extension payroll tax cut until 2012 (wow!) Some democrat like, The chairman of the Black Caucus Mr. Cleaver stated they are for all this just to get an extension on the Payroll tax cut until 2012. They are bought and Paid for by big business, because its don’t not make sense.
I hope the President or Jay Carney lists these items when he explains the state of affairs. From what I gather, the House plans to pass this bill, and then skip town, declaring that they’ve passed the Payroll Tax Cuts, aided and abetted with some weak Democrats. When the President knocks it down, I hope he actually says, “this is why”. In any case, we need to spread this far and wide.
Kathleen spent eight years as Insurance Commissioner before being elected to a two term governorship She is the first person to be successful in a block against BCBS who wanted to merge Kansas and Indiana BCBS.
Sebelius is the daughter of former Democratic Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan, and thus they became the first father/daughter governor pair in the United States after her election.[3] Following passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, she pointed out another father-daughter connection: her father had been in the House of Representatives when Medicare was originally passed in 1965.[4]
She also held her own in a stance against the Catholic Archbiship of Kansas City. She proved that she stands by her conscience and can’t be intimidated by Church Demagogues.
Thanks to all of you on TOD for your excellent information. Chips great stand and UT, I love your tweets. I believe BWD tweets frequently and drops in every once in awhile. Keep it up everyone with your own speciality.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
For the first time this is showing up as a black box for me. 😦
Me too mj. Youtube videos are not playing at all. It looks like the gremlins are back. I am still trying to trouble shoot this problem. It just started happening for me late yesterday. Very strange. All I get is the black box with the title and the play arrow. When I click on the arrow, nothing happens.
Good Morning Chip!
Here’s an article in Mother Jones called “Don’t Believe the Ron Paul Hype.” It’s good ammunition to use when you hear people cheerleading for him.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/dont-believe-ron-paul-hype
The article is really good, but the Ron Paul supporters have refused to see the light – per their comments at the end of the article. One thing I’ve noticed about these people on the right is that they never ask themselves the question: “and then what”. Sure, his ideas sound like a hippy’s dream – no rules and regulations, no laws against drugs, no wars. But, they never ask themselves what will happen when all drugs are legalized and there is no recourse for those harmed by those who can’t handle drugs? What about the fact that in addition to ending wars (which President Obama is already doing), Ron Paul also advocates eradicating national security agencies – and letting everyone protect themselves? what about the fact that people need protection from greed and corruption – hence the reason why we have rules and regulations to begin with? Never mind about his white supremacy roots and supporters – that’s a whole other argument, there. The world that Ron Paul advocates can be found in Somalia, or any third world country.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition of these two videos:
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/12/then-i-will-crush-them.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FlpjFg+%28Smartypants%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Love that Mary Jones! Thanks for the link!
For anyone to think that Newton Leroy or Willard Mitt has a chance against President Obama in the debates is delusional. “To thine own self be true” is possibly the most important character trait in a leader. PBO is more true to himself than any leader I have ever witnessed. Newton Leroy and Willard Mitt have no clue who they are. That is why either one will be destroyed in the head to head debates with the President.
“For anyone to think that Newton Leroy or Willard Mitt has a chance against President Obama in the debates is delusional. ”
Bill I thought it was just me. I don’t see any competition at all. They can allow for the first time for both men to go up against PO and they would still be crushed. That has nothing to do with the fact that I support President Obama. It is just the reality of the situation.
The problem with Newt is that the Republicans have decided that they ignore all facts that don’t support their position. They ignore everything, distort what they need and make up the rest. So, Newt is able to slide past their angel Romney, even though both of them have flipped on basically all the same positions. They claim they’ve forgiven Newt’s indiscretions. They’ve created their own reality – so they are basically all insane. You can’t reach them.
One of my favorite videos of then candidate Obama…”I will crush them”.
Love it when I can point out truth to emoprogs & PUMAs like Traister & shut her BS up. Thanks for the rant Chips. I used it in a loooooong twitter conversation with @rtraister to point out how full of crap her article aka personal rabid rant was. Another day; another emoprog BS shut down. 😀
Chips and UT thanks for speaking up and out and fighting the fight! Love you both for it!
ut, as soon as I saw that you were on the case I was delighted. I knew you were going to give her the 411 by providing the facts. The rant from Chips was absolutely glorious. I printed out a hard copy for safe keeping because it was freakin awesome.
Thanks for your persistence applied intelligently, ut!!
I’m late, but I just posted this on the thread from yesterday. Hoos Left, gives a scathing rant of the firebaggers and their “pissing” (her word) on the President over this issue of 12 + year olds and birth control.
http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com/2011/12/pissing-on-president-joan-walsh-katha.html
Chris Hayes on MSNBC just now said that the losers this week were the 16 year old girls who can’t get the morning after pill OTC.
Chips and I share the same mindset. I consider myself a serious, principled liberal, especially on women’s rights. But I have a problem with children having access to something that they may not take safely or use instead of precautions. I understand and am seriously concerned about the girl who gets taken advantage of at a party or some far more serious offense. But going to Walgreen’s should not replace legal, counseling and parental help for those cases.
So I ask Chris Hayes who has small children — what would be the age where he wouldn’t want to see a girl walk up to the pharmacy counter and get the pill to terminate a pregnancy? Since “16” bothers him, is it 15? 14? 11? 10?
Just asking.
I no more believe that every girl at any age is competent to make these decisions than I believe that everyone should be able to own any and every gun they desire. To me, these are extremes, from both sides.
OK, so he’s the brand new parent of a baby daughter and he’s acting so cavalier about access to Plan B for any young girl? Wow. More important to him to be politically correct.
My thoughts, exactly.
UT, you and Ms Chips are awesome! Keep shutting them up with facts and rationality!
I have to say this site is the greatest. Great rant, Chips. The use of logic seems to be a foreign language to some people.
Ditto, ditto, ditto. We love you, your site, and your rant, Chips.
That is all…carry on. ;0
The Foxnews Poll always provide me with great hilarity. This month Obama leads both Romney and Gingrich and bottom line was this question:
40. Regardless of how you plan to vote, who do you think will win the 2012 presidential election? [OPEN ENDED. DO NOT READ LIST.]
(Obama) 44% (Gingrich) 16 (Romney) 15 (Perry) 2 (Bachmann) – (Paul) 1 (Other Republican) 3 (Independent candidate) 1 (Don’t know) 19
http://www.foxnews.com/interactive/politics/2011/12/08/fox-news-poll-gop-presidential-race/
About this time in the 2008 I remember our favorite Civil Rights Hero when he moved from then Senator Clinton to how President Obama, he said he didn’t want to be on the wrong side of history. Fix News realizes that regardless of the opponent President Obama will be reelected. Acts 9:5.
And this is before President Obama has started campaigning. The fact is, he’s been winning a second term since the day he was elected. The media accuses him of perpetually campaigning, but when a person gets a job – everything they do is part of their performance evaluation. You don’t just get judged on the few months before you get your review!
But, when he actively goes into campaign mode, and asks for the votes of the thinking people of this country, they’ll remember how he got the job in the first place.
Epic rant Chips….I think they can stop beating around the bush and come out and say that they haven’t gotten over Hillary’s loss. My personal feeling is to side with HHS on this one. If I need to show ID to get some cough syrup….I don’t mind showing ID to get birth control pills.
Good morning all. I read the rant and I was unaware of the issue. Thank you for the information since I never go to those sites it just reinforce why I find them useless.
Hey Meta, I know you wanted to see some of the twitter convo between me and Traister. Here’s some the BS she used to justify her article.
hen pecked image? WTH….these people are beyond left field. Where do they come up with this stuff???
Using the henpecked message comment emmasculates PBO while using the paternalistic comment makes it as if he is the authoritarian in charge with no regard for others feelings. Which is it? Whatever works is my guess without regard to consistency of argument. Just another person lobbing grenades from the sidelines.
Someone needs to translate for her: he’s not “hen pecked”; he just respects and loves his wife. He wasn’t being “paternalistic”; he was being paternal – to his own kids. It makes you wonder what kind of relationships these people are in…
UGH. What a dimwit. I’m sorry these lightweights get paid to spout this nonsense. And what’s worse, that some fools even choose to believe it.
ut, as Chips would say, you’re a total star.
Apparently the carnival barker is not sure the “show will go on”
What a joke!
http://mediamatters.org/blog/506975
Hey, Donald, as Cain would say: Blame Yourself!
Here’s some of what I tweeted in the covo between Traister and me that shut her BS up.
Well done ut.. thank you for speaking up to her. I find it amazing that POTUS is supposed to be both ‘paternalistic’ and ‘henpecked’. Way to attack both the President and the First Lady in one fell swoop. The strength and character these two show daily in all their endeavors puts a lie to all this nonsense spewed by these self-appointed ‘lefter than left’ folk.
*Grabs the popcorn* UT you should have asked her after you bitch slapped her with some facts….U mad bro? 🙂
Hahaha. That’s why I love twitter. One can push back on BS faster than lightning. And these “journalists” like Chuck Todd, Joan Walsh, and Rebecca Traister read their tweets. I’ve entangled with them and others and when you point out their BS they get huffy or they get silent when presented with evidence. Joan Walsh tweeted me an apology a while back after I politely but very firmly reamed her out for going after PBO for something he never said! Don’t mess with me when it comes to having PBO’s back. 😀
Keep up the ass kicking ut.
Oh UT, I am sending a virtual hug your way! Thank you for all you do!
UT, I’m not on Twitter but like I told people on POU the other day, keep on those press folks who like to spew garbage unquestioned. Get on them and let them know people will call them out on their crap, which will make them act more balanced.
I’m not on Twitter either so I ask this question without the personal knowledge of how it works. When you engage in a battle of words back and forth on Twitter does it go out to other people besides those that are conversing? If not that is a shame. If it does then those that read the tweet in the first place can get straightened out and it isn’t a waste of time to respond.
Yes. Whatever you tweet can be read by others in your timeline if they follow you or look up your twitter handle. The only way others can’t read your tweets is if you send a direct message to someone. So if you’re having a battle of words with a “journalist,” others can read your tweets and get enlightened, agree/not agree with you, and retweet your tweets so that others who follow them and don’t follow you can also read the tweets. Very effective tool.
You my hero UTA.
You rock!! Slam it on chirpstory and then post the link to everybody on twitter!!
http://chirpstory.com/
Bravo UT, Bravo.
Well done!! Very well done !!!!
UT, you’re just a legend – there is no other word!!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha! I’ve read some of UT’s takedowns on Twitter. And believe you me, those “journalists” should be afraid — be very afraid. In the words of Antoine Dodson, my advice to them is this (singing in my best ‘ghetto’ voice):
You don’t have to come and confess
[She] lookin’ for you
[She] gon’ find you
[She] gon’ find you
So you can run and tell that,
Run and tell that
Run and tell that . . .
🙂 🙂 🙂
So apt – great work, UT! Fantastic.
UT is always kicking ass. Sometimes I don’t have patience for twitter — which I why I don’t tweet as much as I used to. Keep up the good work.
Tried it. I am not a twitter personality.
ut – I just love you.
Bravo, Ut. Thank you and Chips for articulating what so many of these PLs just don’t understand.
From my twitter timeline:
RT @reelectobama012: GOP Site Plans To Infiltrate Liberal Sites With “Trolls” http://bit.ly/uZWGe8 #p2 #news
Oh yuck! At least they won’t have any luck here!
Why is this news? They’ve been doing it all along.
yes, maybe not news, but a good heads up/reminder to be on the look out anyway.
They have been doing this since the beginning of OFA. Nothing new here. IF the Progressive sites have poor moderation the infiltrations will be successful with causing disruption and confusion. PRESS ON!!
A couple of days ago, someone here, I think it was Donna4Obama, suggested we strategize to become our own “armed forces” or national brigade to protect PBO’s image so that we can more effectively get out the word of his accomplishments by using any means necessary to reach the masses: including twitter, email, postal mail, telephone calls, canvassing, Facebook, letters to the editor of local papers, and the like. I know we are currently doing a lot of these things on an individual basis but perhaps we can take it a step further in a more organized and wide-range fashion. I think WIW (whatISworking) has offered some strategies in the past.
Here’s one of my suggestion relating to Troll Patrol. We can copy the Repubs and start posting more comments on sites that are read by the masses and become POSITIVE VOLUNTEER TROLLS for the President. Popular internet sites like Yahoo and youtube videos featuring the President’s current events can be infiltrated with comments from us Obots. Believe it or not, a lot of people view the popular sites as their only news source! My son who’s in the Marines thinks Yahoo News (yuck) is God, and he reads and believes the wacky and biased headlines and articles that attack the President–including those horrible comments posted on Yahoo too. If we organize effectively, we might be able to start chipping away at the iceberg of negative media that has formed against President Obama since 2008.
Does anyone know if it was Donna4Obama who recently suggested we strategize and organize our efforts. And has there been any follow up efforts since her post?
Yep it was me newcenturywoman. 🙂
Here’s a wonderful article!
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2011/12/africanamerican_liberals_know033985.php
Yes, I read that and IMO a must read for everyone, especially those from Salon and fair-weather friends of the President who don’t even understand the issues.
FACTS, FACTS, FACTS…that’s what’s up. It gets them every time they feel the need to express “outrage” toward President Obama over an issue which they *usually* haven’t thoroughly researched or considered from another perspective. Thank you, UT, Chips, TOD, and our brother and sister sites on the prag blogroll!
China’s global reach: lending more than the World Bank
European officials may have flown to Beijing with their begging bowl underarm, but for developing countries, China’s cheque book comes to you.
Over the past few years, delegations from China’s big banks have been criss-crossing the globe signing a plethora of billion dollar deals with some of the world’s poorest nations.
“Last year China provided more loans to the developing world than even the World Bank,” says Jamie Metzl from the US-based Asia Society. “The role of China is large, it’s growing and it’s critically important.”
As the lender to go to for credit-poor governments, China’s yuan is replacing World Bank dollars as the cash behind new roads, power stations, hospitals and other infrastructure.
Where to invest?
In 2010, the World Bank agreed $11.4bn worth of loans to some 36 African countries. China also agreed a host of loans to African governments. One of them, a loan facility to Ghana, reportedly is worth almost $13bn alone.
But as Dr Zhao Changhui from China’s Export Import Bank happily points out, his country has $3tn sat waiting to be spent. The nation’s politics may be red, but the balance sheet is most definitely black.
So where to invest?
“Countries all across Latin America are surely the most eye catching in the last few years, but on top of that countries in Africa and Asia are also very pleasing,” replies Dr Changhui.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/business-16092634
As someone who has travelled to Southern Africa, I can attest to the China outreach. Disclaimer: my knowledge is only at the surface and through second hand information, but there is a fair deal of money laundering included, too. Mafia-type units set up as coffee shops, restaurants, etc., but which are used to launder sums of money. Shops are flooded with cheap quality Chinese goods, that don’t hold up to the slightest use – and which crowd out the field for local products. Also, government support to crowd out local producers to make way for Chinese products. In exchange for the cash – most of which ends up in the bank accounts of the political fat cats – the country gives away a lot of its mineral wealth.
There are some good things happening out of these dubious arrangements, though. Schools, clinics, short term entrepreneurship. But, generally, these arrangements aren’t built for the long term. They’re making as much money, as quickly as they can.
Bravo UT, Bravo! Thank you for this, you did us proud!
I listened to Randy Rhodes yesterday. She loves to tout herself as a “nomad” because some of the professional elite have snubbed her. This is why I am so perplexed by her love for Nicole Sandler, Cenk Uygur, Keith Obermann, Michael Moore and many other Obama bashers. She loves Cenk Uygur and watches his show…thinks he’s brilliant! According to her, Al Sharpton is a joke and MSNBC has become a joke hiring him. This is what is confusing; her support for the president is in total contrast to the “PL” she believes are brilliant. In 2007 her chant was, “We need a Clinton-Obama ticket. Hillary should be president, Obama can run in 8 years when he has more experience”. Does she deep down want to be one of the professional elite?
If she said that about Al Sharpton, then she may be jealous because the networks won’t give her a show. And she may not need her own show with the company that she keeps.Also if Al is a joke then why his show has high ratings.
Al’s show is one of two on MSNBC that I still watch regularly (Martin Bashir is the other). Rev. Al’s show is filled with facts, charts, background, news, support for the President and Democrats – all mixed with humor and clever snark and a wonderful way of storytelling. He also takes down the clowns. Same with Martin’s show.
They are both almost as good as Fareed Zakaria, whose brilliance in world affairs and recognition of a leader – when he sees a leader – top everybody, from my POV.
Some whites (liberal and otherwise) demonize Rev Sharpton as “racial pimp and hustler”. Usually these people are racists. Sure Rev Al has made some mistakes in his life – who hasn’t it? But he’s matured and he picks his battles. I think his detractors are elitists and/or racists. No, he does not speak “the king’s English” to perfection, but the man has a world of common sense. I don’t agree with all his positions, e.g. he was against Libya. But he didn’t bash and attack the President. He simply made his points as to why he was not in disagreement. I don’t have a problem with this type of disagreement. Maybe Randy needs to pull her head out and look around. I don’t trust many of these so-called Professional Lefties. I don’t care if they are on TV or radio. How is she such a big supporter of the President on one hand and love Michael Moore on the other. The same Michael who not only bashes the President, never apologizes when he’s wrong (he double downs) and then tells his followers (most are somewhat young) that VOTING is not that important. All the while knowing, I am sure, that Repubs are attempting to suppress the vote, especially among the young and minorities? Sounds like Randy is on the purity bandwagon, but she’s smart enough to know that if she really comes out against the President she’ll lose a lot of her audience and which translates into $$$$$
I haven’t listened to Randi for awhile. I don’t doubt your points. But she was off the “Hillary” wagon pretty damned early. It cost her her job. She fell off the Hillary wagon when she saw in NH what I saw: a kind of attack from a Democrat against another Democrat the likes of which we had never seen. That was January, 2008. Randi was horrified by Hillary’s behavior and stepped into the fray of primary politics, when she wanted to stay away until we had a nominee. I don’t ever remember Randi saying she wanted a Clinton-Obama ticket and that Hillary should be President. Certainly never after the primaries heated up.
As I said, I don’t get a chance to listen to her very often and haven’t in the last few months. If she has a love affair with Cenk I of course have a serious problem. But as recently as a few months ago she was a HUGE Obama supporter.
I was never on the Hillary wagon, frankly, but would have supported her had she been the nominee. The PL is deluded to think that Hillary would have been progressive (the Clintons are only progressive when they campaign, not when they govern). And other than the black guy, there is no one they hate more than the Clintons. We would have been barraged with Bill transgressions and hearing and accusations and Bill’s foot in her Presidency. It would have been Clinton Derangement Syndrome.
Her comedy act in San Francisco I believe knocked her off the Hillary bandwagon…by the Clintons. According to her they were behind Air America cutting her.
Honestly you couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried.
Karma is sweet…..
“A birther in Tennessee, previously seen trying to indict President Obama for treason, was arrested and charged with tampering with government documents for allegedly stealing confidential paperwork from his local courthouse.”
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/birther_who_tried_to_indict_obama_for_treason_arre.php?ref=fpnewsfeed
Interesting….both Fitzgerald and Huff are connected to that nut Bill Looman from Waco Ga who caused that dust up a couple weeks ago when he said his company would not hire anyone until President Obama is gone.
Karma is sweet. Am I crazy or are more and more of these loonies getting caught?
The good thing is – they’re not that bright. Probably fairly easy to catch them.
Thank you Chips for your eloquent rant. Thank you UT for your intelligent and informed
responses to the negative garbage.
PBO did not appoint cabinet secretaries like Sebelius just to be figureheads. The position
allows them/her to have a certain amount of autonomy, hence making certain decisions.
It’s not like he asked her to make a decision on nuclear warheads…something totally
outside her field. This was about the welfare and HEALTH of young girls. I could be wrong
but that sounds like it would fall under ‘health and human services’…of which she is the head!!!
He can’t do everything by himself. That would be the essence of micro-managing. Thanks for your
fighting spirits ladies. Great job. We will PRESSON.
Interestingly, before serving two terms as Governor of Kansas, Kathleen spent eight years as Insurance Commissioner. She successfully blocked BlueCrossBlueShield from merging with Indiana BCBS, a first successful block against the insurance company.
Sebelius is the daughter of former Democratic Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan, and thus they became the first father/daughter governor pair in the United States after her election. Following passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, she pointed out another father-daughter connection: her father had been in the House of Representatives when Medicare was originally passed in 1965.
She held her own in a showdown/threat with the Catholic Archbishop of Kansas City and is ruled by her own conscience and not Church Demagogues.
She also had a dynamite picture in Vogue magazine a few years ago. POTUS did a fantastic job in swaying her to accept the position, since she was going to run for Bownbacks seat in the Senate. We were sad but I am glad she is where she is.
The rant about Rebecca Traister was the best thing I have read here Chips–and that’s saying something–since there have been so many great posts from you and other people here. As a parent, grandparent, feminist, and decent human being, I have learned that there are shades of gray in most issues–abortion being high on the list. One needs to look at issues from many angles. Raising a grandchild, I am having my second go-round at this parenting thing. Using information I am currently living doesn’t make my opinion less factual. President Obama looking at the Plan B issue with an eye towards his feelings about his daughters gives his opinion greater depth. Far left folks like Rebecca have as much depth in their views as the GOP with their no new tax stand.
Well said, auni. Especially loved your declaration as a “decent human being.” That’s the number one thing we have in common with President Obama! He’s a decent human being, too, and some people in this country are forgetting what that looks like. I think it’s as basic as that.
I have four granddaughters and several honorary granddaughters, and I support the decision. For goodness sake, no “decent human being” would let a very young girl take Tylenol, much less Plan B, without their knowledge. Where are the adults?
If Kathleen advised the President about her decision in advance, that – to me – would be perfectly normal. If he had overrun her decision, that would be normal, too – it’s his administration. This is Rome burning and the PL and RWNJs playing, once again.
“For goodness sake, no “decent human being” would let a very young girl take Tylenol, much less Plan B, without their knowledge. Where are the adults?”
There have been so many good points made since Chips’ epic rant, but to me this is the bottom line. If we have a lot of 11 year old girls needing a morning after pill, we have a much more serious problem on our hands than how they get it.
PLAN B <<<<<<<<<<<< JOBS, AJA, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION. hmmm……….what is most important and concerns the American people the most? Hopefully the national discussion stays on what is relevent. PBO and his admin will have to stay focused and not allow the EMOPROGS to take us off course. We are not going to win a battle of social wars when it comes to Abortion and womens health with the social conservatives. We must keep the message on where we are the strongest. THE ECONOMY………..(BTW foreign policy is probably his ace in the hole).
Inspite of what the Rethugs believe PBO still has the upper hand on economic issues. The public still trust his judgement more than Congress or the GOP as a whole. PRESS ON! KEEP HOPE ALIVE!! Obama/Biden 2012
It may just be me because I tend to be cynical, but I find it curious that whenever the President hands the GOP their collective azzes and receives increased public support on specific issues such as the jobs bill or the payroll tax extension a “distraction”– either legitimate or otherwise–miraculously takes center stage and temporarily disrupts the momentum. Something to think about…
I noticed that 2 years ago creo. There is a method to PBO’s enemies’ madness. 😕
Awww—–tears falling down my cheeks—-Trump may scrub his fine debate. He’s really mad at Bachmann—-thought they were besties! But there was some promising news—Trump may jump in again—-because the campaign has lost a little bit of the crazy with the Cain Train derailing —-there may be a clamoring call for another round of the big headed buffoon.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20111209/us-trump-republicans/
Hahahaha. More good news. 😆
Though I would have kinda loved more and more voters being exposed to his and the slate of clown car candidates horrific policy platforms for America.
Karma is such a sweet beeyotch.
Does Romney Have Time To Go Negative?
Josh Marshall is unsure:
Mitt’s got a tight and iffy pivot to make super fast and in a climate where it’s hard to break through and people may not be eager to walk through a campaign charnel house. But he has to make it in the next four weeks to prevent the difficult to imagine possibility that Newt could sweep the opening primaries.
“Difficult to imagine?” Just look at the polls. First Read likewise thinks that attacking Gingrich will prove difficult:
Here’s why: the attacks themselves on Gingrich are not easy to sell. Why? Because he has one golden ticket with most conservative Republicans: he did it; he led conservative Republicans out of a 40-year desert. So no ONE thing (Freddie Mac, three marriages, health-care mandate, Pelosi/global warming, criticizing Paul Ryan) will take him down like it could for another politician.
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/does-romney-have-time-to-go-negative.html
Personally, I don’t think there’s any positive reason for the Newt love-fest. I think they want him simply because they believe he can humiliate the President during a debate. They believe that the GOP machinery will reign him in if he wins – for those who think past the next five minutes. But, the majority (in their juvenile brains) just want to beat President Obama. Someone mentioned a few days ago that their visiting relatives said that Newt will put President Obama in his place when he tries to act like the “smartest guy in the room”. This is all they’re focused on. These people have the right to vote – and they will.
Chips,
I love your website! This is my first time posting and I wanted to give you a link to an article I read today about a woman apologizing to PBO for not supporting his healthcare plan now that she herself is benefiting from it: http://blacklikemoi.com/2011/12/news/obamacares-breast-cancer-patient-writes-open-apology-to-obama-for-not-supporting-healthcare-plan/
Welcome! Keep posting. This is a great place.
Welcome, cocobell83! Post more often! 🙂
On Alex Wagner—-irritating and annoying to the max—–Chris Hayes just said the “loser of the week” was “16 yr. old girls who will not have access to Plan B medication”——falling into line with the PL outrage, as usual. And WHY IS Lady DeRoshchild, or whatever her name is, on this panel??? She said the loser of the week was the American people, that we have no good people in government, where are the CLINTONS and the Kennedys etc., just nonsense, and another attack on Obama. As she has repeatedly demonstrated, she is not fond of our darker complected president. Now she’s on another Obama rant, saying everything is about him, it’s all about him, nothing he does is for the American people. She is making me furious——-oh no—–now she’s gone rt. wing conservative, saying Obama’s all about “the government will take care of you”. Why in the world is she on the panel? Who needs to hear her junk? Need feedback—-bad!
Wagner is a rightwing tool and Chris Hayes is a far left loon. IMO of course.
Last night I was flipping channels and landed on Current at the very end of the new Cenk Uyger show where he addresses tweets and e-mails.
Someone complained that all he does is negative stories about PBO and why can’t he focus on the Positive things the President has done.
His answer was… ” If you want All positive all the time..then watch Rev. Al “… I guess he is still pouting about losing his show that was never really his show in the first place. What a crybaby.
That person should have responded back by saying….if i want ALL negative all then time, then I would watch FoX.
EXACTLY! With friends like the PL who needs enemies. Both sides take on the negative news. The GOP atleast have one safe place that they can depend on positive news. Sometimes I feel PBO gets more bashing from his own side in the guise of setting him straight than he gets from the opposition. I guess that will keep him tough ready for the election campaign.
I love that he’s still pissed about Rev. Al taking his show. And I love Rev. Al’s has the ratings to prove the naysayers wrong and embarrass Cenk.
My turn away from Alex is more nuanced: I heard her on Bill Maher — she’s as progressive as we are, and articulately so. But in order to have a job at MSNBC it is clear that she answers to corporate voices and has no problem espousing their views rather than stand up for what’s right for the country. She’s not racist, she’s not right wing but willing to say and do whatever it takes to earn a six figure salary at MSNBC.
Mike Papantonio is a jackass and for a lawyer, he should not lie as much as he does on TV and the radio but I agree with him on one thing: when the right was taking over the airwaves, the left should have gotten its foot in the door and crated an institutional counterbalance. I’m talking 15, 20 years ago. The left decided that laughing at the crazies was good enough, while the right took over American discourse.
This is a good point. It’s the same thing with the elections. Democrats get fixated on charismatic personalities who say all the right things (many of whom also believe in those things), and don’t think about the whole system. Case in point: I love Elizabeth Warren and I think she has her head screwed on straight. But, she’s only one person and she hasn’t been in politics and is unproven in the political realm. Plus, her views are not commonly held throughout the country – if they were, then we wouldn’t be fighting so hard to support President Obama. The GOP plays multiple levels at the same time – local municipalities, state government, Congress, TV and radio. The whole system is important.
But, it concerns me when people start with the “Elizabeth Warren for President” chanting. Let her become Senator first. Let her find her way within the halls of Congress. Let her decide if she wants to run for President. Don’t put her on a pedestal that will focus the GOP machinery on her like a laser – possibly dooming her before she even begins. What people should be doing is finding more progressive voices. Encouraging people to give progressive ideas a chance. supporting the progressive, level-headed people who are already in Congress, and the President, so they know that when they take risks they will be supported. Even if Elizabeth Warren gets into Congress, she’s going to be one of 535 voices. She won’t be able to perform any miracles, especially if the majority of public opinion isn’t with her. When one looks at the polls today, after months of President Obama educating people on the GOP agenda, people still can’t pick up the phone to make their voices heard. Bills are languishing in Congress – even though they will help people enormously.
I guess my point is that President Obama and Eilzabeth Warren are the exact kind of people we want in Washington, making important decisions. But, instead of putting pressure on them to perform impossible miracles, we need to encourage more people to get into Congress, and then assure them that the public will have their backs. One person can’t make the change – but a whole system thinking and acting progressively can perform miracles.
“she’s as progressive as we are, and articulately so. But in order to have a job at MSNBC it is clear that she answers to corporate voices and has no problem espousing their views rather than stand up for what’s right for the country. She’s not racist, she’s not right wing but willing to say and do whatever it takes to earn a six figure salary at MSNBC. ”
Her willingness to do and say anything to earn $$$ even it it is contrary to her personal beliefs says what about her character?
How is that trait any different from say. . . Romney’s?
Lady de Rothschild, born in NJ, who has raised money for Hillary, endorsed McCain, and has raised money for Jon (no H) Huntsman, is one of the most irritating women on earth. She is in the same class as the half term governor, except she is educated and knows how to read.
Completely concur with your comment Bill. She pretends to be on our side, yet every opportunity she gets she attacks PBO in a very personal and very negative way. Nothing is ever good enough for her. She galivants around raising money for Huntsman and screams that PBO is selling Democrats and the middleclass out. What a load of hogwash!
STOP watching these wackos. I don’t care if it’s FOX or MSNBC. They are both corp owned and have an agenda. It is infotainment, plain and simple. They’re primary purpose – ratings !! And it that means tearing down the President, so be it. These people are in for the money. The core is money. Chris Hayes is clueless. Does he have pre-teen or teenage daughters? He can’t see any further than the tip of his. When I heard he was getting a show, I just smh. We all know what the ex-Republican Cenk is now, was and will be in the future. He’s a grifter. A pretend progressive. Just like Arianna Huffington. They saw a way to make money so it became very convenient to pretend to be progressives. They will say anything to make the $$$$. This is not hard to understand.
Chris Hayes is part of the PL. I don’t understand why MSNBC keep giving the stupid PL shows cause all they do is repeat the bs that they heard on lefter than thou blogs.Can they please get someone that’s not going constantly bash the president? Why is lady DeRoshchild on there? She part of the 1% and she’s a racist. She funding the America’s Elect group. It’s like the media is trying to brainwash everyone that Obama is bad.I don’t think many people watch these shows though.
You answered your own question: they are hired precisely because it’s potent to have a roster full of Obama bashers from the left.
Again, great rant Chips. I just posted a reply to someone in the previous thread, but I’ll re post it here:
… I believe that at the root of all this, there is simply a desire for many people in our society to avoid talking to our children about tough and personal issues, including sex. Some would rather give kids access to all the ways to prevent or end pregnancy as long as they (as adults and parents) never have to know about it. Even if it means never knowing about sex abuse or physical anomalies or secret mental anguish of the girls…they figure it’s easier to let them raise themselves. It’s part of the disconnect we have in our society. Why aren’t we communicating with each other? Why is everyone afraid of comprehensive sex education? Have you read the great blog post by Emilia:
http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com/2011/12/pissing-on-president-joan-walsh-katha.html
She covers some important points about the difference between education and access. Ironically, as “liberal” as some people claim to be, there is still a deep-rooted discomfort and shame surrounding sex and sexuality, and they’d rather avoid their own feelings on the subject and let young girls deal with it alone.
EU says FU to cameron.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-europe-16115373
camie boy’s biggest blunder.
I was just about to post this from the BBC’s live feed:
Writing in the Spectator magazine, Alex Massie’s take on David Cameron’s stance is that “the price of a short-term tactical success may be a longer-term strategic defeat”. He goes on: “With Britain out of the picture – on many issues and, I fancy, more than we presently imagine – France is stronger and Germany, whose views are often closer to the British position than is sometimes thought, has lost a counterweight to French protectionism.”
So what Cameron may have done was to make France the driving force in the EU, which may eventually lead to the UK being gently booted out.
Typical rw thatcherite arrogance. And camie ain’t no maggie.
When traveling in Europe euros are not used in Britain but pounds are still used there. I did not think they were in the EU now.
When the euro was introduced, the UK and Denmark negotiated a permanent opt-out from adopting the currency. The other 8 EU countries that are not currently in the eurozone will have to adopt it sooner or later. So the UK is in the EU, but has a very different vision of what the EU should be. Eventually it’ll have to fish or cut bait.
EU is not about single currency alone. It’s also about business and commerce interests.
Expect many more reactions like this:
Yvan Duvant from Olargues, France writes: What I understand as a French person and as a European is that the UK is slowing down the EU integration, and they have always done that. So what’s the point of keeping this country in the EU? The British people should put pressure on their government to quit. Maybe The British would do better without the EU. Europe will definitely do better without the UK.
Yup. camie proved to be proverbial straw. You should see merkel’s and sarkozy’s tongue lashing of camiie boy.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the prime minister had “mishandled these negotiations spectacularly”.
“It’s a terrible outcome for Britain because we are going to be now excluded from key economic decisions that will affect our country in the future,” he said.
Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had not “put in the hard yards of negotiation” that were necessary to build alliances and strengthen his position.
“What I find incredible is that he simply ended the negotiations yesterday and said that was it. He could have carried on negotiating today to get a better outcome for Britain.”
‘Tough rules’
Mr Sarkozy said Mr Cameron’s insistence on a protocol allowing London to opt out of proposed changes to the rules governing financial services was “unacceptable”, because a lack of regulation was behind much of the debt crisis.
German Chancellor Mrs Merkel said: “I didn’t think David Cameron sat with us at the table.
“We had to get some sort of agreement and we couldn’t make compromises, we had to meet tough rules.”
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said the outcome was “the worst of all worlds” for the UK, leaving the country in Europe but without power.
‘Absolutely nothing’
Labour and UKIP both warned that Mr Cameron had actually secured no new safeguards for the City of London – despite stating that that was a priority.
Mr Farage said: “We finish this summit with Cameron having gained absolutely nothing, with the prospect of us repatriating powers having disappeared completely and with the City of London, that he sought to protect, now more vulnerable than it has ever been.”
Foreign Secretary William Hague said earlier that signing up to the amended EU treaty would have led to the UK handing over more national sovereignty to Brussels.
But German MEP Elmar Brok said the rules would have had “no impact” on Britain because they only applied to eurozone countries and said Britain was now “isolated and marginalised”.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg – whose Liberal Democrat party is more pro-European than their coalition partners – said he regretted the failure to reach an agreement with all 27 EU states but said Mr Cameron had simply been seeking a “level playing field” across Europe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-politics-16116276
What I see is that the UK wanted to have its cake and eat it, too. If Europe goes down, how does Cameron think that the UK won’t be affected? And I’m sure the other countries won’t easily forget that Cameron basically said to them, “you’re on your won”. They want to trade with Europe, but they don’t want to shoulder the burdens with them. I think that the investors have decided they only want the ECB to just print money, and they are hesitant to accept any other solution that might take longer and involve some risk. Typical of the bankers to just want to wipe away the debt without any consequence for their folly.
Plus, he sounded like a whining baby in the clip I heard on the radio. I think he knows his action was a bit rash, and may have long-term consequences.
Correction: “you’re on your own”.
Whats in the Republican Bill
1. permit for keystone pipeline
2. EPA regulatory relief (this is so that Republican can halt the EPA regulation)
3. Extension of the 100 percent business expensive
4. Unemployment compensation (include drug testing of applicants) what a joke
5. Restore State flexibility to improve the Unemployment Program(this is so the Republican States can denied unemployment ins.)
6. Extension of the Pay Limitation for Federal employees (NO raise for federal worker for another year)
7. End unemployment and nutrition program for millionaires (no kidding)
8. And For the Democrat, Temporary extension payroll tax cut until 2012 (wow!) Some democrat like, The chairman of the Black Caucus Mr. Cleaver stated they are for all this just to get an extension on the Payroll tax cut until 2012. They are bought and Paid for by big business, because its don’t not make sense.
Oh my effing God…..
I hope the President or Jay Carney lists these items when he explains the state of affairs. From what I gather, the House plans to pass this bill, and then skip town, declaring that they’ve passed the Payroll Tax Cuts, aided and abetted with some weak Democrats. When the President knocks it down, I hope he actually says, “this is why”. In any case, we need to spread this far and wide.
Hi everyone, new post here:
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/09/afternoon-all-14/
WHO’S THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILEY GUY IN THE BACK? MUST BE OUR AWESOME,WONDERFUL PBO ENJOYING HIS ‘O’ JOURNEY TO KANSAS!
Kathleen spent eight years as Insurance Commissioner before being elected to a two term governorship She is the first person to be successful in a block against BCBS who wanted to merge Kansas and Indiana BCBS.
Sebelius is the daughter of former Democratic Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan, and thus they became the first father/daughter governor pair in the United States after her election.[3] Following passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, she pointed out another father-daughter connection: her father had been in the House of Representatives when Medicare was originally passed in 1965.[4]
She also held her own in a stance against the Catholic Archbiship of Kansas City. She proved that she stands by her conscience and can’t be intimidated by Church Demagogues.
Thanks to all of you on TOD for your excellent information. Chips great stand and UT, I love your tweets. I believe BWD tweets frequently and drops in every once in awhile. Keep it up everyone with your own speciality.