President Obama at the 71st General Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism
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First Lady Michelle Obama delivers toys and gifts to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC on December 16
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Hi everyone, just a reminder, I don’t allow anonymous comments appear on the site – please remember to sign in with your chosen name and email address (which won’t be visible to others). You can also sign in using your Twitter or Facebook accounts (see here).
Sorry about the hassle, but it’s the only way of keeping Fire/Teabaggers out of the place 😉
The Obama Diary 
Am i the 1?
U.R.
I heard that about you..!
🙂
of course you are! 🙂
!!!!!
Wooooooooooooot!
😆
G’day Chips. How’s it goin’? Is it loose like a goose or hard like lard? 😉
G’day to you my beloved Yardarm – happy to report, it’s awake like a snake. 😕
Make sure ya stay away from them call boxes :ooops:
😆 😆
You guys crack me up!
♥ ♥ ♥ Good Day Chips! Good Day TOD Family! ♥ ♥ ♥
Barack Obama Quote O’ The Day
Have a great afternoon, everyone! 😛
WaaaaHooooo! Turn on all the lights and call the law. They’re coming to collect all naughty mats. I’m sure we’ll all be on our best behavior since Donna’s call last night…….NOT! 😀
House just passed the spending bill-
Afternoon TODers. I want to thank Chips and all the contributors to this site that navigate all the negative spin cycles in the MSM. I just can not handle it. You all report it here for push back and then we get the TRUTH. This site is the best thing going in Obamaland and I am bringing more followers here. They love it. I thank all of yall again. We are working the ground here in Ohio so keep us in your prayers. We want this state to turn blue again for PBO in 2012. Gots to get ready for work. I will check back later on my DROID. Peace All 😉 😀 Obama/Biden 2012!!
Thanks Keith.
Hi Chips and TOD family. First, let me say congrats to Donna on the phone call with our magnificent president. It was such a thrill to read her report. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.
Chips a few days ago Donna and others posted some great ideas about how to fight the media. We really got to get in gear. My home town paper ran a story about Pres Obama’s speech at Fort Bragg. It was the AP report and it was written with such disdain I just about threw up. Many papers because of costs just use the AP feed. This is one organization I feel we really need to target because so many papers use their reports. That Ben Feller writes this garbage and he needs to be stopped.
Is there a way to develop a page to this site where we could exchange our ideas and do our planning? Or should we just develop a team and do all of our planning via email? Please let me know. I’m so sick of the media’s lies, the way they cover for the repubs and the way they try to ignore our president.
Today I had to tweet Chris Jansing because she did a segment on Christmas at the White House and did not even mention the First Lady’s team and the wonderful decorations. Instead she had some hack on who’d written a book about past WH Christmas. This is the kind of willful ignoring we must stop. Whether they like it or not, President Obama and Michelle are in the WH.
My main areas to target would be:
AP – Ben Feller
Morning Joe
All of MSNBC
Sorry for rambling. I’m really pissed today.
Hiya Proud, how are ya? Lots of great ideas there which I really, really want to get to work on. My job is bonkers busy at the moment, but I have 10 days off from next Wednesday – woot! – so I’m definitely going to use some of that time to try to work on ideas like you suggested, and maybe make another couple of videos to make you smile. Leave it with me 😉
I’m good, Chips. We don’t want you to have to do all the work. Let us know what we can do to help. This has got to be a constant, vigilant fight against this corrupt media. They think they can get away with this and we must show them they can’t. What do you think of petitions? Do they work at all? And of course letters to sponsors.
Hi Proud, I’m not too clued in on what’s the best way of fighting back, but I do love the idea of co-ordinated pushbacks on Twitter/emails to newspapers/television channels, etc. There’s power in numbers! Maybe we can get more organized here that way?
Yes, I do believe we can. If we plan ahead for a targeted pushback, we could even help each other compose newspaper letters, etc, then have our ammunition ready before we start bombarding the ill-informed.
well whatever kind of action you guys are working on count me in.
remember too that WiW has got that media page where she has been collecting local as well as national links to various media sites.
That’s why the HGTV special was so important (and it is reairing multiple times this month), as well as the First Lady doing Extreme Makeover, Nate Berkus, sending WH staff to Martha Stewart and a bunch of other shows. That’s why you see the First Couple in People, Parade, and just about every magazine they can get….they both know what MSM and cable are doing. They have to go around them so that people know who they are and what they’re accomplishing. That’s why the media is complaining about the “overexposure” because the President still has a high likeability factor because POTUS and FLOTUS have been very busy making their rounds to reach the public without granting Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Rachel and the gang personal interviews.
OT: I would urge those of us who are upset today at the PL craziness NOT to watch “Down with Chris Hayes” (that’s what I call it) this weekend. You know what is going to be said and the venom in which it will be said—-and if you do watch it, don’t be surprised. I’ve watched his show 2x for about 5 min. each time and I can’t take his smugness and know-it-all attitude with PL hotheads and Clintonites.
You are right, Janelle. I will be out getting more signatures for the President, so I won’t even be tempted.
Janelle, I’ve thought this for some time now but from the perspective of his visits to different states, cities, local stores and restauraunts. I believe PBO loves being president and he loves being around regular, everyday people. He knows that between right wing media, the corporate-owned “mainstream media” and the PL media that he is unlikely to get a fair hearing so in addition to everything you mentioned above, PBO is trying to touch in some way every single person in this country. Think about how long he spends shaking hands with people and taking pictures. In meeting people face to face, he gives them a positive, alternative view to what they hear everyday in the media. Each person he meets is likely to share their experience and impression of him with everyone in their circle who in turn will tell everyone in their circle and so on and so on. It may be one of the reasons his likeability ratings are always so high. He’s probably shook the hand of many of the people being polled.
Think about Donna’s phone call yesterday. He touched her, and she in turn was able to touch everyone in that store, everyone on this blog and everyone in her circle. PBO’s contacts with the people of this country are like little pebbles dropped in a pond creating a postive and unending ripple effect around this country that should serve him well on Election Day and beyond.
Very well put, L3.
What makes me crazy is that these people were all about ending the war in Iraq. And the week that the war ends, they move on to complain about other stuff, that most people don’t care about, or that most people don’t even understand. When people are this ungrateful, then they run the risk of demoralizing good people and making them not even want to try anymore.
Ok, I’m in. I am in Canada so will support you however I can, already ONLY DVR Martin Bashir and politicsnation. Will watch lo, but that ED and RACHEL hit and miss, mostly miss. They pissed me off when they were “advising the President what to do”, who the *&$# did they think they were I ask. Since I can’t make a contribution, I don’t think, so I talk to my family in the US and they support the President. Encouraging them not to forget to vote.
As for Hayes, I agree with you about his know-it-all attitude.
As our largest trading partner presently, we also have a vested interest in the outcome of the election.
‘Is there a way to develop a page to this site where we could exchange our ideas and do our planning?’
PofO & Chips. I would add my vote to this option if it’s feasible and not too much extra work for Ms C once it’s set up, mainly because I think it would make coordination easier & simpler. After all we all come here anyway.
proud…that’s why we have the sign up for individual states over at WiW’s site…to push back on this very thing on YOUR LOCAL LEVEL! On a national level, I think that if you saw or heard something that was false or wrong, you could let us know here and we would ALL be able to help with the push back together. CALL your local paper, write on their blogs and TV news sites when they pull this shit! That’s what that idea was all about 🙂 We hear you….that said, talking more next week if that’s what you want to do, is fine with me….only work Monday/Tuesday….then school’s out for break.
Proud, you are so correct about MSNBC and Morning Joe. Joe is going to be a big problem in the general election. When I watch him I find myself sending him a couple of emails every morning, and not complimentary
CNN link for speech:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
Don’t much care for Salon, but it’s media hack list for 2011 is priceless. Our favorite is at No. 1.
http://www.salon.com/topic/salon_hack_list_2011/
Aw, poor Dick Halperin 😆 Actually, I’d put Greenwald ahead of him …. but Salon were hardly going to pick their own Ego-in-Chief 🙄
Well, they certainly got it right with Dick Halperin and Jennifer Rubin. She’s unbelievably insufferable.
OT: This is a test to see if i can embed the countdown clock that Smartypants has at her site.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/countdown/widget.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/countdown/widget.html
rats
Yesterday I was stopped at a red light and I noticed the truck in front of me had a bumper sticker, PROUD UNION MEMBER, along side was an Obama sticker. Next to me was a car driven by an elderly lady. She had a homemade poster in the window, SAVE MEDICARE VOTE DEMOCRAT. How bout’ that?
I love it! Thanks for letting us know. I really should keep my eyes open for that little piece of happiness out on the road.
My college is pretty full of liberals; professors and students alike, but it’s still been a real joy seeing people bust out their Obama 2012 bumper stickers. It’s also lovely to see Obama 2012 bumper stickers on the road. It makes me feel giddy with excitement! 😀
Oh, well, foiled again!
I clicked on it, F, and the clock was working, and it didn’t take me back to Smartypants. So I guess you were partially successful. 😉
Hmmmm……
@lynnsweet Lynn Sweet
#urjbiennial Confirmed. Obama to huddle backstage with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak before speaking to Reform Jewish conference
Ehud Barak had magnificent things to say about PBO recently. 🙂
Listening to the intro of PBO; damned shame he’s lost the Jewish vote! ~snark~
They love him, they really, really love him!!
Spiffy new tie.
Meta you beat me. I was just getting ready to say that tie is smokin! 🙂 Love it.
Hee.
You guys crack me up….you even know when he gets new clothes.
🙂
He cracks me up! Too funny.
Oh em gee. Look at him! He has a new tie and looks oh so handsome. Swoon.
First thing I notice also, beside that beautiful smile. He has been wearing some lovely ties. I love to see a great tie on a beautiful man. Thank you, Mr. President!!!HZ
First thing I noticed also, and ofcourse that beautiful smile. He has been wearing some lovely ties lately. I love to see a great tie on a beautiful man. Thank you, Mr. President.HZ
December 16, 2011 2:00 PM
GOP leaders: Keystone XL or else
By Steve Benen
As of last week, congressional Republicans, especially in the House, had a lengthy list of demands they expected to have met before extending the payroll tax break. As of today, the ransom note has been winnowed, basically to a single condition.
Regarding that legislation, Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emails me with the following statement: “The Leader will not support any bill without the Keystone XL language as part of the agreement.”
House Speaker John Boehner is also insisting that he’ll amend any Senate-passed payroll tax cut bill to add the Keystone provision to it, if it’s not already in there. So Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama now have a choice: stick to their guns and object to the provision — at the risk of allowing the payroll tax cut (and unemployment insurance and the Medicare “doc fix”) to expire? Or give in to the GOP.
Are Republican leaders seriously taking the position that taxes should go up for 160 million Americans unless they get the Keystone XL pipeline? Yes, that’s pretty much the GOP position.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/gop_leaders_keystone_xl_or_els034153.php
December 16, 2011 1:10 PM
Turning the ‘sabotage’ question on its head
By Steve Benen
After the debate last night, Mitt Romney spoke to Fox News’ Sean Hannity and made a rather remarkable claim. Here’s a transcript of the relevant portion:
Hannity: The president has been using class warfare as we know. He says Republicans want dirty air, dirty water. Says Republicans want old people, kids with autism and Down’s syndrome to fend for themselves. Pretty outrageous charges.
Romney: Shameful. It’s really shameful.
Hannity: Explain, and how do you counter that if you get this nomination?
Romney: You know, I think the president has gone from being a failed presidency, a guy over his head, to someone who is now so desperate to get re-election that he’s doing things that are very much counter to the interest of the country and he knows it. In the past I think he was just misguided. Now I think he really knows that his decision in Afghanistan to pull the troops out a couple of months earlier than commanders suggested. That was not a wise, not a wise thing for the country. The Keystone pipeline, he knows we need that oil, he knows the consequences.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/turning_the_sabotage_question034152.php
I dislike Romney more than I dislike Gingrich…..He is just nasty
The thing that makes Romney more disgusting than Gingrinch is he tries to act like he’s a reasonable, sane person when he’s anything but. You know exactly what you’re getting with Newt. But Mitt thinks he can wear expensive suits and slick his hair down and seem like he’s truthful and caring. He’s the worst kind of liar.
What is he talking about ? What did they do last night ?
Go POTUS! Go POTUS! Go POTUS! We got your back!
PBO is EN FUEGO.
Mucho Fuego muy caliente?, I jsut watched PBO speech to the Reform Judaism Organization and
he was just amazing the people just loved him. so for any fuck that tell us that he is loosing
the Juwish vote thank again. PBO has done more for Israel than any other administration, and those
are the fact, Please everybody watch the speech.
December 16, 2011 12:30 PM
‘A Promise Kept’
By Steve Benen
Obama for America unveiled this video earlier today, called, “Ending the War in Iraq: A Promise Kept.” It sketches out President Obama’s opposition to the war before it began, shows his commitment to ending the conflict over the course of several years, and takes us through to this week, when he welcomed home U.S. servicemen and women at Fort Bragg.
Clearly, when it comes to listing his first-term accomplishments, Obama will put a very big check mark next to “end the war in Iraq” on his presidential to-do list. With each of the leading Republican candidates criticizing the withdrawal, and calling for an indefinite military presence in Iraq, it will be a point the president and his team will be eager to emphasize.
What I find interesting, though, is to realize the muted political impact.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/a_promise_kept034151.php
Am currently listening to Rev Al, and there is a caller saying his whatever group have people they plan to run as third party, that any of their candidates can beat PBO, and that he supports the governor of Wisconsin who wants to employ private sector and not union. I am at work, and I want to scream…..J-A-C-K-A-S-S….LOL. And this is a dumb ass black dude, who claims he gets called n-word and sell-out. If I were in front of his face, he’d get both those words from me. I just have to say wow. He even sounds like a Herman Cain, talking about he’s a business guy and believes in corporate America. Rev Al is setting him straight as I speak. I cannot stand these money grubbing corporate types—black, white, glowing -in- the- dark orange. I had a discussion with an old friend last night who says he always voted R because of the hook-ups. I explained to him that this is what is wrong with Rs. I laid it out to him how the best programs benefitting the multitudes came from Democrats, and that all the Rs I’ve always met were so because of financial gain. He couldn’t say anything after this. I just wanted to add something to the mix.
It probably was Sperman Herman Cain. I mean, look at this video on the page, and I will not link to it.
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/christmas-hathos-alert.html
“Sperman Cain”
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
I am listening to Randy Rhodes and they are talking about the virtues of Rand Paul and how POTUS is in a lot of trouble. David Sirota is the hosting.
“Don’t let anybody tell you, otherwise – it is a FACT!”
Thank You Mr. President!
You tell it Mr. President!!!!!
He was saying don’t listen to those lying Republicans lying.
I cannot find an e-mail address for Romney on his website.
Right now none of the cable stations are covering this important speech about what Pres Obama is saying about Israel and Iran. But they will cover every lie the GOP tells. We have got to stop this.
[{{{{SLAMS THE PODIUM}}}}}
😆
I missed it!
I am glad you all confirmed the podium slap. I wasn’t sure. He was responding to all of the negative criticism about his policy toward Israel, especially the group of thugs running for President. this forum gave him a chance to respond.
Woot….Podium Slap !
He smacked that podium 🙂 He was feelin’ it.
Blog
December 16, 2011 9:30 AM
Playing telephone with a controversial quote
By Steve Benen
On Monday, we talked about an odd line that has worked its way into Mitt Romney’s stump speech: he wants to “keep America American.” I argued that the line is kind of creepy, and Steve M. noted that the same three-word phrase was used in the 1920s by the KKK. A day later, John Aravosis tied the threads together in a piece that generated a fair amount of attention.
As campaign stories go, this was largely a blip on the radar, but the history of “keep America American” was noticed by a few major outlets — the Washington Post noted that the phrase was also used by the nativist Know-Nothing Party in the 1850s — and MSNBC briefly mentioned this briefly on Wednesday morning.
And that apparently proved problematic.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/playing_telephone_with_a_contr034142.php
Whether there was an “n” in the second “America” reference or not, the term “keep America America” is just as useless, harsh, incendiary, etc., as Romney meant it to be.
Somebody said yesterday on the teevee that Newt is a mean guy and that comes to the surface quite quickly, but that Romney is just as mean but has more “skills” in hiding it than Newt. Shouldn’t their families be so proud of them?
December 16, 2011 2:55 PM
What the DNAA does
By Steve Benen
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $662 billion spending bill that finances the military, was the focus of a contentious fight in recent months, including a formal veto threat from the White House. This week, however, there was considerable movement, including 11th-hour changes to the language, the withdrawal of the veto threat, and passage of the bill in both the House and Senate. President Obama will, by all accounts, grudgingly sign it into law.
The question, then, isn’t whether the bill is disappointing. Rather, it’s appreciating just how disappointing it is.
Adam Serwer, who’s covered the ins and outs of the NDAA fight better than anyone, has a helpful piece today summarizing what the bill does (and just as importantly, what it doesn’t do).
[The NDAA] says that the president has to hold a foreign Al Qaeda suspect captured on US soil in military detention — except it leaves enough procedural loopholes that someone like convicted underwear bomber and Nigerian citizen Umar Abdulmutallab could actually go from capture to trial without ever being held by the military.
It does not, contrary to what many media outlets have reported, authorize the president to indefinitely detain without trial an American citizen suspected of terrorism who is captured in the US. A last minute compromise amendment adopted in the Senate, whose language was retained in the final bill, leaves it up to the courts to decide if the president has that power, should a future president try to exercise it. But if a future president does try to assert the authority to detain an American citizen without charge or trial, it won’t be based on the authority in this bill.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/what_the_dnaa_does034154.php
But but but Ed Shultz said…
Employees at the Energy Department’s annual holiday party were greeted with many familiar sights – festive decorations, sugar cookies, and a tree in sparkling lights. In addition to the traditional holiday fare, guests were presented with something new. For the first time ever, the lights used to decorate the holiday tree were powered by a clean, efficient fuel cell.
Fuel cells produce clean electricity from a number of domestic fuels, including renewables, natural gas, and hydrogen, and can provide power for virtually any application—from cars and buses to holiday lights. Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied.
The portable fuel cell used at this year’s holiday party is made by Trulite. The fuel cell generates about 150 watts of power—making it ideal for recharging laptops, cell phones, and other everyday appliances.
http://energy.gov/articles/fuel-cell-powers-festivities-secretary-chu-s-holiday-party
Are you guys watching the WH Presser?
Jay is answering questions re Payroll Tax Cut.
What happened, did Jay Carney cut Jake Tapper?
Sorry, ASF, I took off to Twitter so didn’t see your question earlier. I pay little attention to the names of the press jokers so I can’t usually identify them. I was just ticked off that they kept bringing up the Keystone stuff in relation to the payroll tax.
AH I MISSED IT! Good to see that he slapped the podium. It means he’s FIRED UP and READY TO GO!
Maybe he’ll slap Boehner and McConnell next. Oh, wouldn’t that be funny?
Boehner will call him a bully (and, all of a sudden, be for “anti-bullying”) and cry us a river.
McConnell will say, “Our main job is to make sure you’re a one-term president, so there!” Oh, never mind, already happened.
How can you not listen to our President and not realize he is doing this because he cares. He has a heart. That is what really piss me off about this caving B.S I am sick and tired of this caving crap. About him being a disappointment. He is not a disappointment. I am proud of my President. I voted for him in 2008, and plan to do the same in 2012.
Same here, anniebella.
I can’t vote here (but I pay beaucoup taxes), and I’m incredibly proud of President Obama and what he’s done for the whole world, along with just being an amazing person.
Did I just hear the reporter from the WH tell Martin Bashir that the KeystoneXL pipeline will stay in the unemployment and payroll tax bill ?
Oh….Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Oh well, we have a divided government! What do you want?
Btw- if the state dept does not have enough time, it can still disapprove! 60 days!
Linda, the fact that the pipeline issue is included does not mean they are going to approve it. In fact they might just disapprove it faster.
It is the game playing that gets under my skin……
Yes.
I’m looking for that reporters twitter handle so I can tweet him. Mike somebody. Martin asked him to clarify how many jobs the pipeline would actually create. He said he didn’t know the economics of it, but he knew the politics. Now, if he didn’t know, shame on him because it’s his job to know the facts. If he did know, then he’s lying and covering for the GOP. Still shame on him. This is how the health care debate went wrong: media refusing to tell the facts.
Thank you. As I said on Twitter, everything about our news media is UGLY. And proud, I will be the first to join you in targeting the vile disgusting low down dirty scum tactics of this media. I will be calling my cable company (Comcast) and threatening them with a petition to get people to unsubscribe to cable if they continue pushing the corporate agenda, misrepresenting facts, lying, distorting,deceiving the American people while taking our money to stuff their pockets and that of their dishonest fake story-tellers who are overpaid at our expense and grossly under-qualified.
Sorry for the run-on sentence and rant, but I had to get this out of my system. I just so damn disgusted with the media right now.
Found him: @mikviq. His name is Mike Viqueira. Covers the WH everyday and “can’t speak to the economics of the pipeline.” What a liar. I tweeted him about it.
Thanks…I also tweeted him a copy of this report (by Cornell University Global Labor Institute) which details the number of expected jobs created from the project which are well below 20,000 that the company claimed. Please see page 3 for a summary of key findings.
Click to access GLI_KeystoneXL_Reportpdf.pdf
Saw it. Thanks so much. They think we’re idiots but we’re on to them and we know where to go and get info.
Oh no, I am sorry to read I missed the podium slap live! You will post video, right Chips?
WASHINGTON — At least two New Hampshire Republicans are accusing Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign of making illegal political telephone calls.
Jim Foley, chairman of the Derry GOP, on Friday filed a complaint against Gingrich with the state attorney general’s office. Foley is not affiliated with any presidential campaign.
“I think it’s a real lack of understanding, almost arrogance, in the Gingrich campaign staff about how things are done in New Hampshire. I can’t stand idly by,” Foley told The Associated Press.
He was joined by former state House Speaker Donna Sytek, a Mitt Romney supporter, who filed a separate complaint with state prosecutors.
—-
NH has laws against political calls to numbers on the Do not Call Registry
Some idiot “journalist” asked Jay about the FLOTUS/girls taking a different plane from the President to Hawaii and how much it costs…blah..blah.. and Jay slammed his arse by repeating ”
“As previous First Ladies have done….”
In any case if congress had done it’s job, they would all be flying on the same airplane.
They ask these racist questions to get jay angry and say something he should not.
Luckily, he knows this and is very adept at shrugging off this nonsense!
I am sooooooooooooooo tired of this.
Tomorrow’s headlines today:
FLOTUS leaving PBO — He’s lost even the family vote
FLOTUS accepts Date — USMC undercuts CinC
FLOTUS travels separately – doesn’t want to be seen in public with PBO
FLOTUS travels in separate military aircraft – is seriously considering leaving PBO for military pilot.
BWAH!!!! too funny…!!!
POB Says,”ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!! That will shut them up.HZ
“The class war is practically over, and it’s clear who is winning.”
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 3:33 pm by GottaLaff
Today’s L.A. Times letter to the editor, because our voices matter:
The roots of the class war
Re “The president fired the first shots of the class war,” Opinion, Dec. 9
A president did indeed fire the first shot of the class war, but that president was not Barack Obama.
Ronald Reagan‘s administration began the class war 30 years ago with a major reduction in upper-income-bracket tax rates. Under President George W. Bush, tax reductions again benefited the wealthiest. Because many lawmakers have pledged never to increase taxes, we’re stuck with the Reagan/Bush tax cuts in perpetuity.
It should be no surprise that in the last 30 years, the income of the wealthiest Americans increased 275%, much higher than increases of others, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The class war is practically over, and it’s clear who is winning.
Sam McCarver
San Juan Capistrano
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2011/12/14/the-class-war-is-practically-over-and-its-clear-who-is-winning/
h/t Sam McCarver
His Majesty (not) Ronald Reagan also hated federal government workers, and not just his treatment of the air traffic controllers. I remember we all felt that way, when I worked for the Navy as a civilian.
Sounds pretty much the same way today’s Republicans feel about those dreaded “government workers” (federal, state, and local). Yet, they still call the rest of us un-American.
Oh Good Grief ..Wyden is on the RATigan show…. I turned it off.
Ratigan said that Medicare is a monopoly and they want to create an “exchange “. Duh Medicare is not a monopoly…Does he not know about Medicare Advantage which is an alternative to Traditional Medicare and run by the private insurance companies.
I cannot take this !!!!!!!!!!
WH came out against this plan!
I was watching Martin Bashir and forgot to turn the channel, and the first thing I saw was RATigan leading his show with this Ron WydenRyan crap? Why in the world would a Democrat give talking points to republicans on Medicare. He is just opening the flood gates for lies by the republicans to say that the Dems want to end medicare.
So funny, COS, I almost was forced to listen to the putrid Dylan but hit the mute in time!
Ignore the “new Medicare” stuff. Never gonna happen.
Wyden clearly has a childish, petty, ignorant (and yes, maybe racist too) axe to grind with PBO about some shit from since the HCR debate in 2009. So he runs to the first Libertarian “progressive” to yap about nothing and feed his bloody worthless ego.
Hi everyone, I’ve started updating the post with photos – including ones of the First Lady.
Thanks for the pictures chips. If you listen to the press, it’s all doom this doom that. These pictures certainly change that narrative…
A photo is definitely worth a thousand words!
Ricky Perry retires. But it’s all about padding his income, not relieving Texans from his misrule.
Gov. Rick Perry has much to say about entitlement programs. He wants to partially privatize Social Security and muck up Medicaid and Medicare.
When it comes to his own retirement account, however, the country’s longest-serving governor is already collecting big bucks, even though he’s still got three years left in his current term. That’s because Perry retired in January. It’s perfectly legal for him to do that under Texas law. So, while he complains about other people getting benefits that he claims are on the way to bankrupting the Treasury, he now collects a handsome $92,376 extra each year that is added to the $150,000 he makes as the state’s chief executive. He is also still eligible for Social Security benefits as well as state-funded health care for the rest of his life.
“Perry was legally able to begin collecting the employee class annuity under the ‘rule of 80.’ The combination of his U.S. military service, state service and age exceeded 80 years and qualifies him for the annuity under Texas Government Code 813.503 as amended in 1991,” [Perry spokesman Ray] Sullivan said. “Perry continues to pay into the Employees Retirement System with a 6.5 percent withholding from his state salary.”
Saw Donna’s fine governor Martin O’Malley on Bashire Live. Great spokesperson.
I saw him, too. For a minute there, I didn’t recognize him but I was thinking how great of a spokesperson he was – mild mannered, soothing voice. He wrote a short, to-the-point, open letter to PBO:
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/blog/?p=3214&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-open-letter-to-president-obama
But probably his biggest fan (donna dem) has already posted this!
He’s my Governor too.
You are so lucky. I’m got the evil midget Mitch Daniels.
Oh wow! Look at that picture of Mrs. Obama holding that little kid at the Toys for Tots event. He has a juice stain around his mouth (Just like a regular kid) and may possibly have wet his pants. There she is–just a loving women with a kid. Can you imagine Calista doing that?
First of all, the poor kids would be scared out of their little minds after one look at that horrific Joker’s mask-like face. Wouldn’t want our kids being traumatized in that way.
No, you did not go there, Hopefruit2. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for truth. HZ
So… when do the emoprogs start attacking Congress for ‘caving’?
December 15, 2011
So we have a deal … we think … on a bill to fund the government. So when does the carping about Congressional Democrats “caving” begin? From Yahoo! News, it appears that Dems gave in on the millionaires surtax, and got in return, something about Cuba… seriously…
Remember that Congressional Democrats hold the leverage this time around, as any hike in the payroll tax would clearly have been framed as the fault of Republicans insisting on protecting the rich.
It will be interesting to see whether the emo crowd finally goes after Congress for an apparent cave, or whether they wait around for President Obama to sign a budget and then go after him, the way it’s normally done. Tick tock…
~snip~
http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/12/so-when-do-the-emoprogs-start-attacking-congress-for-caving/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reidreport%2FbHvp+%28The+Reid+Report%29
Chips, is there a link to PBO’s speech from today? This Reform Jew missed it… 😦
I have it AJ
http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-Addresses-Reform-Judaism-Organization/10737426375-1/
You’re a star Linda, thank you!
:o).
I am relistening and rewatching the end of the war video to keep me calm today…
I am so angry with the Republicans I could spit nails.
Thank you, Linda! xox!
Surviving the Second Gilded Age
Wednesday 14 December 2011
By: Henry A. Giroux
It has become difficult to not recognize that we are firmly in the grip of a second Gilded Age. Not only is this return obvious in the homage – if not hysteria – that marks a return to the dream worlds of consumption, commodification and a survival-of-the-fittest ethic, but also in the actions of right-wing politicians who want to initiate policies that take the country back to the late 19th century – a time in which the reforms of the New Deal, the Great Society and the Progressive Era did not exist.
This was a period in which robber barons, railroad magnates and the super-rich spread their corrupting influence throughout the political, economic and cultural landscapes – without having to deal with irritating social reforms such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, child labor laws, environmental protections, affirmative action, civil rights, union rights, antitrust laws, a progressive income tax and a host of other reforms.
This was a period when money flowed and privilege shaped practically all aspects of American life, making a mockery out of democracy and imposing massive amounts of suffering on the vast majority of Americans. Women could not vote and were seen as second-class citizens, blacks were treated harshly by Jim Crow policies, young people were exploited through harsh labor, education was limited to the elite, inequality in wealth and income reached extreme disparities, slums festered, and politics was corrupted by the moneyed classes.
~snip~
http://www.truth-out.org/surviving-second-gilded-age/1323871214
Great find. Off to read it. Thanks.
This is a terrible, terrible “joke” (just can’t help myself) but wonder whether Christopher Hitchens went to heaven or hell?
One of my all-time dearest friends isn’t quite sure she believes in God, and thanks me on occasion for not trying to “talk her out of that.” I told her once that we all make choices as to whether to believe or not, and that I choose to believe in God “with the free will that God gave me.” Luckily, she got the joke and didn’t hit me.
I was just thinking this morning that Christopher Hitchens knows today whether he was right or wrong about that…
A rule change that led to a yearlong Congressional fight that, this summer, caused a brief shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration, has been upheld on appeal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Friday in favor of the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) decision to allows employees of companies that fall under the Railway Labor Act to form unions if a majority votes in favor. The decision affirms a ruling reached by a lower court.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/labor-employment/200007-court-upholds-change-to-transportation-union-election-rules
Great pics. Look at Mr. Prez in that tie and Michelle in plaid — both look like a million bucks. 🙂
Russia drafts surprise UN resolution on Syria
Amanda Morrow| December 16, 2011 05:47
Russia has toughened its stance on Syria, drafting a surprise United Nations Security Council resolution on the violence in the country, Al Jazeera reported. In the proposal, Russia strongly condemns the violence by “all parties,” including what it termed the “disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities.” While western nations on Friday welcomed the move aimed at resolving the country’s crisis, they said the document fell short because it did not mention sanctions, the BBC reported.
Both Russia and China have vetoed efforts by western countries to have the UN Security Council act on the crackdown on protests by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The draft called on all parties in Syria to “immediately stop any violence irrespective of where it comes from,” Al Jazeera reported. It comes a day after activists said army defectors in Syria killed 27 soldiers and members of Syria’s security forces, Agence France Presse reported.
~snip~
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/111216/russia-drafts-surprise-un-resolution-syria
Obama and Black Caucus reach common ground
3:53 PM on 12/15/2011
By Shawna Thomas
NBC News
It wasn’t on the president’s public schedule, but Tuesday morning he and Valerie Jarrett held a meeting with the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and 12 African-American business leaders on job creation. Chairman Cleaver remarked, “I thought that the meeting was as good a meeting as I’ve ever had with a president and I’ve been going to the White House for meetings with presidents since the early 1980’s” dismissing talk of the occasionally icy relationship between black members of Congress and the White House.
More: http://www.thegrio.com/politics/obama-and-black-caucus-reach-common-ground.php
Russia accepted into the World Trade Organization
Lynn La| December 16, 2011 12:40
Eighteen years is a long time to get into a club. But that’s how long it took Russia to be admitted into the World Trade Organization, according to Al Jazeera. The foreign trade body, which consists of 153 other nations, officiated the deal today when Nigerian Trade Minister Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga struck his gavel and announced, “The ministerial conference so agrees.” The deal is predicted to stimulate the failing economy of the WTO’s biggest trading partner, the European Union, by increasing the EU’s exports up to 5.45 billion dollars a year.
For Russia, being admitted into the WTO will mean it can buy goods made in Europe more easily and inexpensively. It also means Russia can sell its own oil and gas more efficiently. This will boost its economy by tens of billions of dollars per year. BBC News reported that Russia is “the biggest economy yet to join the global trade body.” After China’s 15-year bid and final admittance in 2001, Russia became the last member of the Group of 20 to join the WTO.
~snip~
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/111216/russia-accepted-the-world-trade-organization
Very interesting and curious developments coming out of Russia.
PBO fought hard on their behalf after Medvedev cooperated on START II treaty, Libya & Iran. Good for them.
Wonder if that’s not also the reason why they are harder on Syria now too. Their oil and gas will be sold more effecienttly for them and as sanctions against Iran and Syria have escalated, well more, let me count my Rubles.
meant more oil and gas will be sold.
The GOP’s Corporate Oligarchy Has Pushed Half Of America Into Poverty
December 16, 2011
By: Rmuse
It is doubtful that throughout history, any country witnessed their own demise as it was occurring, or realized that their representatives in government were quietly handing power over to a few wealthy elites. Many Americans are not yet aware that Republicans have nearly destroyed the great middle class as well as the function of government through obstruction and perpetual preferential treatment for the oligarchs who really run this country. Political observers have known for at least a decade that the GOP intends on establishing an oligarchy to replace our representative democracy and now that nearly half of Americans are living at or near poverty, it is just a matter of time until the wealthiest 1% controls the government and all the wealth and the rest of the population are peasants.
There are two recent reports that should serve as a wake up call for all Americans who believe that American exceptionalism will prevent the decline of the country, and each is telling in its own right. One gives a bleak vision of a once-great country with an admirable standard of living that has fallen so fast and low into a land of peasants that it is nearly unbelievable. The other poll gives an indication that the American people now have a clear view of who is responsible for the gridlock and dishonest rhetoric that contributed to half of the country’s residents joining the ranks of the destitute and is no surprise that Americans blame Republicans for the dysfunctional Congress.
~snip~
http://www.politicususa.com/en/gop-oligarchy-poverty
Good news for Pres Obama in New Mexico, despite PL love for Gary Johnson.
From PPP
“Paul is also the only one of the Republicans who manages to improve on John McCain’s 2008 peformance in the state. He trails by 13 points at 51-38. He’s the only GOP hopeful who leads Obama with independents, at 46-38, and the 14% of Democrats he gets ties Romney for the highest level of crossover support any of the Republicans receives. Paul as the strongest of the Republican candidates with independents has become more the rule than the exception in our recent polling across the country.
Romney matches McCain’s 15 point margin of defeat, trailing 53-38. Most of the undecideds are Republicans though so he would probably pull closer if he actually ended up being the nominee. Rounding out the field Gingrich trails 56-39, Michele Bachmann is down 56-36, and Rick Perry has a 56-35 deficit.”
PPP also says its finding Paul doing well with independents. What is wrong with these people?
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/12/barack-obama-is-considerably-less-popular-in-new-mexico-now-than-he-was-in-2008-he-won-57-of-the-vote-there-but-now-has-an.html
But, but, but…
Romney: I didn’t know what Medicaid was ‘before I got into government’
By David Edwards| Friday, December 16, 2011
Millionaire Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney admitted Friday that he wasn’t sure what Medicaid was before being elected as governor of Massachusetts at the age of 55. “Medicaid, you wonder what Medicaid is, those that are not into all this government stuff,” Romney told voters at a campaign event in Sioux City, Iowa. “You know, I have to admit I didn’t know all the differences between these things before I got into government.”
“Then I got into it, and I understood that Medicaid is the health care program for the poor,” he explained. The candidate said that as president, he would work to turn Medicaid over to the states in a block-grant program.
~snip~
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/16/romney-i-didnt-know-what-medicaid-was-before-i-got-into-government/
He is either lying or just pathetic. Did they not have Medicaid when his Father was the Governor of Michigan . Didn’t Romney campaign and work for him ?
Also…when he was at Bain they bought a Hospital that most of their revenue from Government Programs Medicare/Medicaid.
Maybe Romney thinks he’s being “cute” by his ignorance. It isn’t cute.
Well Mitt is a neurotic liar.
I have never seen any pol blatantly lie as much as Romney. What a disgusting human being. I just wish someone would start calling him out on his incessant lies.
Imagine being married to a pathological liar. It boggle my mind.
I think I saw it here, but needs to be repeated, “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it”. Frederic Bastiat
Oh, my. Only heard a couple of sentences from the Rabbi’s opening remarks, and I’m already crying. Thank you to this group, for the warm welcome to him.
Fla. governor tries relating to black students with public housing tale
Friday, December 16, 2011
By Stephen C. Webster
Stereotypes…it just never gets old…for some people! (sigh)~
Confronted by a group of angry Florida A&M students outside his home on Thursday night, Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) attempted to generate some empathy by telling the mostly black crowd that he grew up in public housing. The students were protesting the governor’s call for James Ammons, president of Florida A&M, to be suspended following the hazing death of one of the school’s students.
Students from the school, which has a mostly black constituency, showed up on Scott’s lawn to let him know they weren’t happy with his decision. Scott, who’d just arrived back from a trip to Israel, reportedly came out wearing sweatpants and offered to address the crowd.
“The white guv bizarrely attempted to quell the mostly black crowd by beginning his speech with some version of: ‘Hey, I grew up in public housing,’” the Miami New Times explained. “To which students protested, ‘We’re not poor!’” He ultimately reinforced his decision, telling students that he would not rescind the call for Ammons’ suspension.
~snip~
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/16/fla-governor-tries-relating-to-black-students-with-public-housing-tale/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29
I want to share this video with TOD about stereotypes. It’s beautifully told by Chimamanda Adichie, a young Nigerian author.
Thank you for posting this; she’s a wonderful storyteller. I read her first book, Purple Hibiscus, several years ago; I’ll have to checkout her newer works.
Thank you so much, creolechild, for sharing this clip. Ms. Adiche is really an excellent writer and story teller. In this clip she was brilliant in the way she unmasked stereotypes.
Very sad that the governor shamelessly assumed that those beautiful students of many hues, from many diverse backgrounds, BUT surely not all from “public housing.” He showed how out of touch he is with the people of the state he represents. And especially such a great university as FAMU. Read your history of the great schools within your states, Governor Scott. FAMU, Bethune Cookman, etc.
Those beautiful students at FAMU are very intelligent, diverse in their thinking and actions should not have to face their governor with such remarks. I pray that those students will rise up within the law and continue to put this governor and those serving in positions like him on notice that they will not be put down with such comments. And most of all what is so wrong about someone having to live in “public housing? Maybe, before you speak the next time governor, you might want to listen first and try to measure your words better.
Just because you are trying to tear the people and the state of Fl down to a level that is so ugly does not mean you demean the students who are trying to get a great education and be great leaders within their communities wherever they may come from. That is what makes this nation a great nation.
Maybe you should have a summit at your office governor with these same students that your are accused of insulting with your words. Maybe, just maybe you could learn something worthwhile that will make you a better person and encourage the students to continue to make great success with their lives. Try that governor. I do not like Anyone insulting students anywhere!!!!! HZ
December 16, 2011 3:40 PM
Romney’s healthcare competence called into question
By Steve Benen
The conventional wisdom keeps telling me that Mitt Romney, for all his many faults (chronic dishonesty, incessant flip-flopping, cowardice, etc.), is at least a smart guy who cares about policy. Romney may lack integrity, we’re told, but at least he’s a vaguely technocratic wonk.
Except, I’m not at all convinced this guy is any smarter than his hapless Republican rivals. Romney speaks in complete sentences, which makes him look like a genius compared to Rick Perry, but consider some of the things the former governor says about his understanding of public policy. Here’s a gem from Iowa earlier today:
“Medicaid. You wonder what Medicaid is; those who aren’t into all this government stuff. You know, I have to admit, I didn’t know the differences between all these things until I got into government. Then I got into it and I understood that Medicaid is the health care program for the poor, by and large.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/romneys_healthcare_competence034155.php
Excellent speech by our President!! Very inspiring.
That Marine in the last photo, Leeks, is quite fine and could be PBO’s little brother. Too cute. I’ll take him right now!
I noticed that too. He is gorgeous. No wonder they have two pics!!!
New post here, I think my head is about to explode:
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/16/lies-lies-lies-3/
Chips – It’s Friday!
Ha, I remembered for once Jacqueline, see the end of the Rise and Shine post!
Chips, I think JOB means it’s Friday, so don’t go letting your head explode. 😉
Ah, okay! I’ve taken a deep breath and all’s good again! But sheesh, I friggin’ hate the media. 😦
I love the First Lady Michelle Obama she is so beautiful. She is a wonderful advocate for military families. FYI she is leaving tonight to start her vacation in Hawaii be ready for the right wingers to start screaming their heads off.
Oh they’ve already started! Today WH Press Corps asked repeatedly why, for their vacation, she and the girls were traveling on a separate military plane than the Pres at a time of budget restrictions, or some such.
As we all know the media are the mouthpiece for the Republican Party. I knew this would come up, when I hear the First Family might go ahead early, while the President wait to see what can be work out.
No First Lady had to deal with the B.S. that FLOTUS had to deal with. They hate the Obamas that much. What a shame.
I’ge heard it all before get over it people. She is the First Lady of the United States I mean seriously do they think Secrete Service will let her fly commercial. No way no how. They do not play. Trust me I know not because I tried anything. I am a proud former WH intern. I will go to bat for them every time. I mean seriously people if she waited for him what would change she cannot vote and she does not have the power to issue an executive order. Have fun FLOUTS we have your back. Wish I was there. Four more years Obama. Biden 2012!
Hi ashlee, don’t forget to fill in your name when you’re posting comments, otherwise they won’t show up automatically. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up Chips. I love this website will all the negative sites out there I am very thankful for TOD.