Two years ago today
****
USA Today: Nuclear weapons are very much on the mind of the Obama administration today as they monitor events in North Korea following the death of dictator Kim Jung Il.
Obama spoke with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak shortly after North Korea announced Kim’s death overnight.
On the domestic front today, Obama aides will wait and see if House Republicans vote down a Senate plan to extend the payroll tax cut for two months. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says the extension should be for a year, as reported by USA TODAY’s Aamer Madhani.
If the House does reject the Senate plan, lawmakers will resume negotiations — as Obama stresses, the payroll tax cut expires at the end of the year.
****
****
Steve Benen: The pieces were in place. Senate leads from both parties agreed to a temporary compromise that looked pretty sensible: Dems would get a two-month extension of the payroll tax break and a clean extension of unemployment benefits, while GOP lawmakers would get an expedited decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. It was quickly approved with overwhelming, bipartisan support, 89 to 10.
…. But Boehner then took this victory to his caucus … the Speaker quickly realized his job is to take, not give, orders from his right-wing members: “It’s pretty clear that I and our members oppose the Senate bill.”
…. Why is it, exactly, that Boehner called the compromise a “good deal” and a “victory” on Saturday, only to say he opposes the deal on Sunday?…
Indeed, the House will likely take up the Senate deal later today, simply to prove it can’t pass the lower chamber. In the bigger picture, it’s pretty amazing: House Republicans are going to kill a bipartisan compromise on a middle-class tax cut, which just passed the Senate 89 to 10, the week before Christmas.
…. If Americans find all of this ridiculous, they should have been a little more careful before the 2010 midterms.
Full post here
****
****
ThinkProgress: The Florida Family Association has managed to do a lot of damage with its All-American Muslim boycott over the last week and a half, whether by convincing companies like Lowe’s and Kayak to absolutely humiliate themselves, or by stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment against the cast of a touching and totally uncontroversial reality show.
But fortunately one thing sanctimonious moralizers do well is make lists, and they’ve kept track of advertisers who stuck to their guns and either continued to advertise on the show after the FFA started its campaign.
So if you’re withdrawing your business from Lowe’s and Kayak and, during the holiday season, looking for new places to spend some money, you can use their list against them. Those advertisers include:
– Big Lots
– Conagra’s Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes
– Discover Card
– Disney for The Muppets
– GeicoHonda North America, for the Accord and Odyssey
– HTC Phones
– Mucinex
– Delsym
– Resolve Clean
– Drano
– Glade
– Scrubbing Bubbles
– Kay Jewelers
****
****
NYT: Almost 13 years ago, Mitt Romney left Bain Capital, the successful private equity firm he had helped start, and moved to Utah to rescue the Salt Lake City Olympic Games and begin a second career in public life.
Yet when it came to his considerable personal wealth, Mr. Romney never really left Bain.
In what would be the final deal of his private equity career, he negotiated a retirement agreement with his former partners that has paid him a share of Bain’s profits ever since, bringing the Romney family millions of dollars in income each year and bolstering the fortune that has helped finance Mr. Romney’s political aspirations.
More here
****
****
I had to read this headline twice. Just as well they remembered that comma:
****
Morning everyone 😉
The Obama Diary 
First!
nintendowii10, you’re on a roll!
How can it be? Top of the morning from Seattle!
Good Morning…
I just cannot take those two screamers this early in the morning.
SO glad that you posted that here, Nin! I saw this on The Ed Show…and it was both riveting and horrifying at the same time. THE MOST IMPORTANT INFO WE NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW….They are their very own oppressive regime. The most horrifying thought, is that we may already be too late.
Good morning desert and TOD. I am hoping that in states where these suppression tactics have passed, Dems have a ground game to get as many people registered with whatever ID is required. Probably some people will fall through the cracks, but I know many people are working to get folks registered now.
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Morning rikyrah, morning everyone 😉
Morning to you, Chipsticks. I’m looking for words to say to you
about the contribution you are to freedom, sanity, graciousness,
kindness . . . in this political context. Extraordinary. Making
a huge difference to us. Thank you, Chipsticks. xoxoxox
I think you found the words, Sara (on behalf of all of us). Thanks to you – and Chips!
Good morning Chips and TODville. Another crazy day in DC.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Strange Definition Of “Not Hating”
Posted by Zandar
Michele Bachmann doesn’t hate Muslims, she just wants to compare them to Nazi Germany as the greatest threat to America right now.
Fox News host Mike Huckabee told Bachmann Saturday that he had never seen her act like she hated Muslims.
……………….
“Let’s address that specific allegation that you hate Muslims,” Huckabee pressed. “Do you hate Muslims?”
“Of course not,” Bachmann insisted. “I don’t hate Muslims. It’s outrageous to say that, but I do recognize that we have a very real threat. Just like when Hitler was building up the threat prior to World War II. All of the signs were there and they were evident, and there were people that wanted to bury their heads in the sand.”
http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2011/12/strange-definition-of-not-hating.html
The Morning Joe crew were all praising Michele Bachmann this morning for being such a good campaigner. No mention of her policies, her family’s federal subsidies, the number of votes she has missed in Congress, or her numerous lies. The “liberal” network is hopeless.
Good morning everyone,
Haha what a surprise, the MJ crew praising a RWNJ.
This.
Halperin said Newt’s performance on Face the Nation was Great ! I think he has now surpassed Bill Kristol as the pundit who is wrong about everything.
hahahaha
As did Joe and Mika.
♥ ♥ ♥ Good Morning Chips! Good Morning TOD Family! ♥ ♥ ♥
Barack Obama Quote O’ The Day
Have a great day, everyone! 😛
Morning PoliticalJunkessa, thank you for your beautiful quotes, a perfect way to start the day!
Hi Sweetie! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Beautiful, PJ…..he’s talking to us:)
PJ as always! Gold I tell yez! 🙂
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Last Call
Posted by Zandar
Looks like the two-month payroll tax extension hashed out in the Senate on Friday was never going to pass the House in the first place as Orange Julius completely changes his tune.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said today that House Republicans oppose the Senate bill to extend for two months the payroll tax holiday and other measures, setting up a major legislative clash a week before Christmas.
Translation: Oh no you don’t, we’re going to get everything we want now or else the Middle Class gets it. That’s why it was vitally important to have the deal worked out in the Senate first, a deal that passed overwhelmingly. 89-10. On Saturday, Boehner called the Senate plan a “good deal” and a “victory”. 24 hours later, he opposes it and promises it will get voted down.
The Tea Party nutjobs in the House will burn 160 million Americans to get what the 1% want.
http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2011/12/last-call_18.html
And ABC news last night only presented the Boehner side of things, showing his appearance on MTP saying that he and House Repubs were only interested in getting the best deal for the middle class, not that lousy Senate deal for 2 months. Our news media failed again, leaving a false impression with their viewers. This is the biggest struggle of our time, imho, this effort to combat the lies and misleading info imparted by the present day “news” biz.
*Orange Julius*
Perfect!
pssst.
Willard’s Daddy was BORN IN MEXICO
But, like John McCain being born in frigging PANAMA…this is never brought up…I wonder why?
………………………………………………..
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Re-Birther Of The Uncool, Part 2
Posted by Zandar
The Birthers are at it again, and they will never, ever stop. This time Georgia Republicans are trying to get President Obama removed from the ballot there because TEH BERF CERTIFICUT IS A FAAAAAAAKE!!one!11!
Georgia State Representative J. Mark Hatfield (R-Waycross) will plead the case before the Office of State Administrative Hearings on behalf of Mr. Kevin R. Powell of Duluth, Georgia, who filed the suit on the grounds that “Obama does not satisfy the ‘natural born Citizen’ requirement of Article II, Section I, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution. Obama’s father, Barack Obama, Sr., was a native of Kenya and a British subject who never became a United States citizen.”
Presumably the lawsuit does not address the question of the nationality of President Obama’s mother, whose status as a U.S. citizen would confer citizenship upon her son, no matter the nationality of his father.
The challenge, which Georgia Politico reports is styled “Kevin Richard Powell v. Barack Obama,” was submitted to Secretary Kemp’s office on November 28, and has been referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for further action.
http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2011/12/re-birther-of-uncool-part-2.html
Does Secretary Kemp NOT understand the concept of “frivolous lawsuits”?
Once again, I hang my head in shame as Georgia RWNJs insist on showing their hatred and ignorance in word and deed.
Never mind that the first few Presidents also weren’t “natural born citizens”, by their definition.
Good morning all! So yeah, a comma can make all the difference! Enjoy the day all you fabulous TOD people!
Julie
December 19, 2011 8:00 AM
When ‘a done deal’ unravels
By Steve Benen
The pieces were in place. Senate leads from both parties agreed to a temporary compromise that looked pretty sensible: Dems would get a two-month extension of the payroll tax break and a clean extension of unemployment benefits, while GOP lawmakers would get an expedited decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. It was quickly approved with overwhelming, bipartisan support, 89 to 10.
What about the House? Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) noted Saturday, “This is probably a done deal in the House; it should be.” None other than House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) seemed relieved, calling the bipartisan compromise a “good deal” and a “victory.”
But Boehner then took this victory to his caucus, and as we’ve seen many times before, the Speaker quickly realized his job is to take, not give, orders from his right-wing members.
The House Republican leader on Sunday flatly rejected a short-term, bipartisan Senate measure to extend a payroll tax break and unemployment insurance, setting the stage for a bitter year-end Congressional collision and the potential loss of benefits for millions of Americans.
In an interview on “Meet The Press” on NBC, Speaker John A. Boehner said his members broadly opposed the two-month extension that passed the Senate 89 to 10, believing that it would be “just kicking the can down the road.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/when_a_done_deal_unravels034184.php
Thanks rikyrah. I was mentioning this in the last post and this is basically what I wrote (from listening to NPR). I just wanted to make sure that I had my facts right.
So does that mean that we don’t have to call congress critters in the house to pass this? or are we? I remember that at some point yesterday we were talking about doing that but I don’t know if this has changed enough to warrant not doing it.
am i making sense or do i need more coffee?
December 19, 2011 8:40 AM
Gingrich bounces off his Iowa ceiling
By Steve Benen
Remember, about 10 days ago, when Newt Gingrich was soaring in Iowa, had claimed the national lead, and looked well positioned to win three of the first four nominating contests?
Well, forget it. The boom-and-bust pattern that has taken down so many Republican presidential candidates appears to be affecting the disgraced former House Speaker, too.
We saw the first hints of trouble for the Gingrich campaign late last week, and overnight, a new survey from Public Policy Polling confirms that Iowa’s alleged frontrunner has quickly slipped from first to third.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/gingrich_bounces_off_his_iowa034185.php
😯 at the close up of Oops Perry. They keep telling me that he and Willard are the “handsome,” “vibrant,” presidential-looking candidates. Ummm, I don’t think so.
I think Perry looks like the Geico Caveman from the commercials.
With a lower IQ.
Read he was stroking and tugging on beards at his events in Iowa over the weekend. Interesting tactic to attract voters, bearded ones.
😆
PJ, how can you not see that’s he a dreamboat? 😯
More like a nightmareboat. Good gravy!
dreamboat? More like shipwreck!
Blech.h.h.
A very disturbing look at the role of religion in Repub. pres. candidates’ campaigns. They ALL our appealing to the evangelical vote in Ia., about 40% of Repub voters there. They are not talking about just further blurring the separation of church and state but eliminating it altogether. “What ultra-conservative evangelicals are seeking is an official endorsement and legitimization of Christianity as the one true religion.” A Baptist minister who advocates for the separation of church and state said about the Repub candidates, “There is definitely an effort to appeal to those who would create a Christian society. It is not enough for the evangelical movement for a candidate to say he/she believes in Jesus. They have to agree with evangelicals on all key points. And the evangelical Christian vision does not include Catholics, devotees of Islam, or Jews.”
http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/12/18/candidates-see-faith-as-important-influence/
It’s time for moderate religious leaders to speak out to stop the radicals in their tracks. I wish many more will follow the example of this baptist leader.
Jonathan turley on cspan right now lying about the defense bill. Saying Obama has destroyed civil liberties and can’t understand why any libertarians are voting for him. Saying anybody that likes him is a cult- (guess turkey is another libertarian pretending to be a leftie). IMHO- this pl fantasy of Ron Paul is a cult!
Turley must think libertarians are democrats because the pl is.
Uh huh, uh huh!
Turley is a PL tool of the Glenn Greedywald cloth.
I remember him from when he was a regular on Rachel Maddow…..
I haven’t seen him in a while.
I read an article he wrote a few months ago……it was disgusting….something about the President being the worst President in history when it came to civil liberties………….
Something Glenn Greenwald would wrote…..
He will probably become a regular on Cenk’s new show on Current then.
Yup. It’s like a pl clique they have of libertarians.
Talk about a cult! Jeesh!
Best to keep them all in one place, where nobody is watching them. I still don’t understand why Randi Rhodes is so desperate to join the losers on Current – and I’ll never understand why Jennifer Granholme joined them over there – she’s actually a good fighter and knows what she’s talking about. By joining Current, she’s effectively taken herself off the circuit as a really good surrogate. That’s a real shame.
Turley Greenwald, etc, etc, etc are a cult of lying assholes. I don’t care what they call themselfves.
From his wiki page.
He worries that the Supreme Court is injecting itself into partisan politics.[28] He has frequently expressed the view that recent nominees to the court hold extreme views.[29][30]
However, Turley has a strong libertarian streak and sometimes infuriates the left[10] with a contrarian position.[22] For instance, he has said, “It is hard to read the Second Amendment and not honestly conclude that the Framers intended gun ownership to be an individual right.”[8] In May 2009 the Daily Kos said that, “Jonathan Turley is an embarrassment!” because Turley had suggested that supreme court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor was not “brilliant” enough for the job.[22][31] Moreover, Turley testified in favor of the Clinton impeachment.[32]
In another commentary that outraged progressives, Turley defended Judge Henry E. Hudson’s ruling declaring the individual mandate unconstitutional for violating the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, saying: “It’s very thoughtful—not a screed. I don’t see any evidence this is motivated by Judge Hudson’s personal beliefs. . . . Anybody who’s dismissing this opinion as a political screed has obviously not read the opinion
Another libertarian masquerading as a leftie. They are trying to confuse democrats.
MR.TURLEY HAS NEVER SUPPORTED THIS PRESIDET…HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PRESIDENTS CHOICES FOR THE SUPREM COURT…SO GO JUMP OFF A CLIFF TURLEY!!!!
Good morning Chips and TOD family! Twas the week before Christmas and the House is a Mess!
LOL!
December 18, 2011 10:52 PM
“A Liar Needs a Good Memory”
By Mark Kleiman
And Mitt doesn’t have one.
Steve Benen recites the facts.
Daniel Larison proposes a theory:
Romney] has reinvented himself so thoroughly that he can no longer remember what is true and what isn’t, and he has absorbed and appropriated so many new positions over the years that it all gets jumbled together and re-mixed according to whatever the political need of the moment happens to be. It’s easy to lose track after the fourth or fifth incarnation.
Larison goes on to propose an alternative theory: ”More likely, he is so contemptuous of the people he tells these lies to that he never thinks he will be found out.” The second theory seem to me exactly half right. Romney has contempt and to spare, but it’s actually for the reporters and editors he relies on not to call him out on his mendacity.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2011/12/a_liar_needs_a_good_memory034179.php
Sometimes my comments show up, and sometimes they don’t. Weirdy.
My comment previous to this had a link. Is that the problem? This is a new phenomenon here.
Hi Dotster, will look for that comment. I haven’t changed anything at all, but the past few days the WordPress spam detector is blocking lots of good people, even when they don’t have links in their comments. I have no clue what’s going on!
Maybe they got buried in the “snow” 🙂
Haha.
12-19-2011 8:52 AM
Perry Denies Fracking Causes Pollution
At an event in Iowa over the weekend, Rick Perry responded to a question about fracking by denying that it caused pollution, reports the Des Moines Register:
Show me the paper. I am truly offended that the American public would be hoodwinked by stories that do not scientifically holdup. If that was true, it would be on the front page of every newspaper. It would be on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News. Everybody would be running that story.
As the Register points out, such papers do exist.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/2931
That clip of Willard’s lies re: his missionary time in France is hilarious. I really don’t understand how people can stand to listen to him talk. He’s an awkward, wooden, fake mess.
You know PJ, if he wins the nomination Team Obama won’t know where to begin with ads about him next year ….. the material is endless!
Don’t take it from me… GOPers feel their side got rolled on the temporary payroll tax extension – The Reid Report
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Take it from the folks at RedState.com. The Republicans and their hapless leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell lost the December budget showdown … — their second December fail in two years. And so, RedStater Daniel Horowitz writes:
“Over Friday and Saturday, 61% of House Republicans and 34% of Senate Republicans voted for the omnibus megabus bill. In doing so, not only did they violate their pledge pertaining to bundled (1200-page) bills and the 72-hour layover rule and agree to fund Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, Planned Parenthood, the EPA, the PLO and the UN; they actually agreed to spend almost $9 billion more than last year. Overall, budget authority will be $33 billion higher than the House budget, while appropriations for non-defense spending will be $45 billion more. One of the members who voted in the affirmative even agreed that he had voted for a “crap sandwich.”
More Here: http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/12/dont-take-it-from-me/
Bohner knows he’s going to eventually have to take this deal. As for the Red State whining. When your side gets offered a 3 to 1 deal in your favor and you turn it down more than once then don’t expect people to take you seriously.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Jeb Bush weighs in…coincidence?
Perhaps I’m over-reacting, but I find two things that happened today to be very interesting. First of all, Republican heavy-weight Bill Kristol ponders the possibility of a brokered Republican convention (he prefers the word “deliberative”).
Thus, once every three-quarters of a century or so, the delegates to an American political convention deliberate, and their deliberations produce a notable and impressive outcome. It could happen again in 2012. It could fall to the Republican delegates convening in Tampa, after they have cast their committed first ballot vote and failed to produce a majority for any candidate, to act as a real deliberative convention. It could fall to them to use their judgment to select the best possible nominee for their party and the best possible president for their country.
It would be exciting. It would be nerve-wracking. It would be unpredictable. It hasn’t happened in quite a while. But it could happen. And it could be a good thing for the Republican party.
He’s not talking about delegates deliberating about choosing one of the current candidates.
So…is this all just a coincidence? Or is the Republican establishment preparing to offer us a Bush redux? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/12/jeb-bush-weighs-incoincidence.html
Posted by Smartypants at 7:43 AM
With Jeb Bush having said he will not run there has been little talk about a third Bush president, but I cannot concieve of the country accepting the possibility even though the ever shrinking Republican establishment would love it.
yes, this is what I think they are planning to do at the convention – pick someone other than who is currently running now. Think Christie or someone like him. I don’t think Bush has a chance at all because of his name.
There is no chance this happens – Gingrich is cratering, Paul has no real support base and polls in the single digits outside of Iowa and NH. Paul has money to spend in Iowa and NH to look like he’s well funded, but wait until he has to spend in major markets. He gets no institutional Republican support – big business knows he’s way too radical, MIC hates his non-interventionalist guts and the Israel lobby will do everything they can to destroy him.
Romney will have it all sewn up by Feb 1st.
A brokered convention would give the new candidate and VP two months as I believe the GOP convention is in late August 2012.
Rubio affiliates now working for Gingrich indicates shift of support for the new front-runner
By Marcos Restrepo
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 10:13 am
Some of the biggest and deep-pocketed Republican heavy-hitters opened their wallets Monday for Sen. Marco Rubio’s Reclaim America PAC, which pulled in an easy $200,000.
Organizing the event: Rubio fundraiser Esther Nuhfer, whom we just learned is going to be Gingrich’s finance director.
The Herald also reported Monday that “Republican presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich has hired” Jose Mallea, “U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s former campaign chief [to] be his Florida director.”
According to the Herald, Mallea “has ties to former Gov. Jeb Bush’s political machine as well as Miami City Hall” and “brings Gingrich’s campaign a wealth of connections to Florida Republicans and Miami-Dade’s Hispanic community. Mallea is also a co-owner of Local Craft Food & Drink in Coral Gables.”
The conservative political blog Shark Tank writes that Mallea’s “hire may be an indicator of a significant shift of support towards Gingrich, as there is speculation around the state that a good portion of former Rubio staffers and operatives- including many others from current and ‘suspended’ presidential campaigns are lining up to get on board Gingrich’s campaign.”
http://www.americanindependent.com/207188/rubio-affiliates-now-working-for-gingrich-indicates-shift-of-support-for-the-new-front-runner
They may choose the “best possible nominee for their party”, but they certainly won’t be choosing the “best possible president for their country”. The best possible president is already in the job.
markknoller Mark Knoller
Either way, Pres. Obama won’t need his snorkling gear for a few more days at the earliest.
I’m sure that jerk is happy about it
Good morning TODville love the snow.
If Newt was such a serious candyidate, why did he make a surprise appearance at wife’s book signing event instead of staying Iowa? Newt is a greedy, money hungry individual who only threw his hat in the ring to sell books and make speaking engagements. Make that lobbying or offerings historical perspectives as Newt puts it; his own version of history at that. It backfired when Herman Cain was forced to put his campaign in suspension.
I agree. Newt, like Cain, never expected to be a front-runner or actually win the nomination. Most of these folks were trying to follow the Huckabee – Palin model to fame and money. Run for office, elevate your profile, lose, make money, get a TV show and sell your endorsement to the highest bidder. Being president requires too much hard work and doesn’t pay enough for these people.
L3
Can you believe Sarah Palin is supposedly holding back her support? She told Fox Business Network “Not before Iowa will she be endorsing a candidate ,”
She said she was “most interested” in seeing in who Ron Paul, if he does not win the nomination, endorses, citing his strong record on “domestic spending issues.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/285215/palin-wont-endorse-iowa-caucuses-katrina-trinko
=========================================================================
I don’t suppose she knows Ron Paul is a racist?
10 Quotes That Make Ron Paul Sound Racist
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/09/07/10-quotes-that-make-ron-paul-sound-racist/
She may know and not have a problem with it. I still find it unbelievable that anyone would care what an idiot like her thinks about anything.
relellit why would you ask that? Sarah Palin is a RACIST as well. Blind hate leading blind hate. Why should Ron Paul’s bigotry effect her?
In the case of Gingrich, it’s not just about money and fame I think. He wants to have power within his party. Maybe he wants to be the vp candidate. Maybe he wants to get enough votes in the primary so other candidates (Romney, Huntsman, or another surprise candidate in a brokered convention) will just kiss his *** to get his endorsement.
One thing is for sure, this guy suffers from a personality disorder and he is dangerous.
The Florida Family Association has managed to do a lot of damage with its All-American Muslim boycott over the last week and a half, whether by convincing companies like Lowe’s and Kayak to absolutely humiliate themselves, or by stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment against the cast of a touching and totally uncontroversial reality show.
But fortunately one thing sanctimonious moralizers do well is make lists, and they’ve kept track of advertisers who stuck to their guns and either continued to advertise on the show after the FFA started its campaign.
So if you’re withdrawing your business from Lowe’s and Kayak and, during the holiday season, looking for new places to spend some money, you can use their list against them. Those advertisers include:
– Big Lots
– Conagra’s Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes
– Discover Card
– Disney for The Muppets
– GeicoHonda North America, for the Accord and Odyssey
– HTC Phones
– Mucinex
– Delsym
– Resolve Clean
– Drano
– Glade
– Scrubbing Bubbles
– Kay Jewelers
http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2011/12/16/391197/supporting-all-american-muslim-advertisers/
Apparently the “Florida Family Association” is not truly an association, but is really ONE dude. Another scamming family-values nut grifting for a dollar. Probably with a closet full of skeletons, as is the norm for these crusaders.
I think I read or heard on TV that the FFA has only one member…him.
Then there is this.
Evangelical Zealot Who Got Ads Pulled From All-American Muslim Is A Recovering Porn Addict. ( He wrote a book about it )
http://jezebel.com/5867750/evangelical-zealot-who-got-ads-pulled-from-all+american-muslim-is-a-recovering-porn-addict
The evangilical hard-right is good at recruiting people who have personality problems, addiction problems. A must read on the subject: “Republican Gomorrah” by Max Blumenthal.
Almost 13 years ago, Mitt Romney left Bain Capital, the successful private equity firm he had helped start, and moved to Utah to rescue the Salt Lake City Olympic Games and begin a second career in public life.
Yet when it came to his considerable personal wealth, Mr. Romney never really left Bain.
In what would be the final deal of his private equity career, he negotiated a retirement agreement with his former partners that has paid him a share of Bain’s profits ever since, bringing the Romney family millions of dollars in income each year and bolstering the fortune that has helped finance Mr. Romney’s political aspirations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/us/politics/retirement-deal-keeps-bain-money-flowing-to-romney.html?_r=1
Just a thought…If Boner thinks that doing the payroll tax for 2 months is “kicking the can down the road” and wants it for a year…(good)…then let them change the words “2 months” to “1 year” and call it a day! Is that what he’s screaming about???
Reminds me of Lynne Truss’
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
I like how I can be awake at *looks at the time*… 03:00 on a Tuesday morning… and see it snowing on my screen even though we have the opposite weather to the U.S, celebrating a Summer (Pool Parties + BBQ) Christmas here in NZ! What a festive banner with the cartoon President, it looks awesome! I’m not a ‘Christmassy’ kind of person lmao but this has definitely led me to get into the Christmas spirit even if I am not one to celebrate it much! Chips thank you for all the hard-work that you do, you’re a gem!! Have a wonderful and productive day TOD fam *hugs* and I will definitely be lurking in and out of TOD site throughout the week for more great posts!!!
Summer pool parties and BBQs? 😯
😆 Sounds great NZ, thanks for dropping in, have a perfect day!
Chips, how’s about hot sunny days, cool night breezes, parang parties and house to house serenading? That’s us right about now here in Trinidad ..and not to mention slaving away, sprucing up for the season, especially kitchenwise. This week it’s the making of the black fruitcake (the fruits have been soaking with plenty rum/ cherry brandy/sherry), pastelles, garlic pork, ham, turkey, souse; the drinks, sorrel, gingerbeer, and of course ponche -de – creme ( like eggnog but laced with an overabundance of rum). and lots of carols and parang music in the air. A great atmosphere, I must say, even through all the hard work!
Mmmmmm!
The Most Rational Summary of the NDAA
Adam Serwer does a nice job of summarizing the National Defense Authorization Act without getting apoplectic about it. To summarize his summary:
1) The bill codifies indefinite detention.
2) The bill does not permit indefinite detention of U.S. citizens.
3) The bill is dangerous.
My view of the bill is closely in line with Serwer’s.
Here’s what can be done at this point.
Contact your senator and ask them to oppose a veto override. Why? Because even if the president were to veto the bill, there are enough Senate votes to override the veto and automatically pass the bill (a presidential veto would be merely symbolic).
The other thing we can work on is to suggest a signing statements for the president to add. If the president declares an end to “hostilities” in a signing statement, then the indefinite detention language becomes moot.
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2011/12/the-most-rational-summary-of-the-ndaa.html
Encourage a signing statement because no way in hell all those who voted would oppose a veto override.
OK so let me restate so I understand We need to contact our SENATORS and tell them to oppose a veto override to the NDAA bill in addition to this we should also encourage a signing statement. But encouraging a signing statement – would that be to President Obama or to the senators as well?
I know. I’m asking a whole lot of questions today. I feel like my brain is moving through mud. must be all the christmas treats…….
thanks in advance
Signing statement would be for Pres.Obama.
thx GB! 🙂
Good morning to all, Should we be calling Boehner and our reps today? It doesn’t seem to matter what the working folks think. But if a call in, fax, tweet, etc. barrage is necessary, I’m in.
I think it’s a good idea. It sure can’t hurt.
Romney: Obama Is ‘The Great Divider’
Mitt Romney, in his first Sunday morning news show appearance in almost two years, sat down for a wide-ranging, but tame, interview on Fox News Sunday.
On the Iraq War — which officially came to an end Sunday morning — Romney expressed concern over the United States’ complete withdrawal.
“I think we’re going to find that this president, by not putting in place a status-of-forces agreement with the Iraqi leadership, has pulled our troops out in a precipitous way and we should have left 10-, 20-, 30-thousand personnel there to help transition to the Iraqi’s own military capabilities,” he said, adding, “I hope it works out.”
On President Obama, Romney repeated a familiar refrain: the president “does not understand how this economy works,” and has failed the country. Asked if Obama will paint him as a corrupt “Gordon Gecko” character, Romney said “of course he will.” Obama is “the great divider,” Romney said, adding that Obama himself has “done very, very well over the last several years.”
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/romney-obama-is-the-great-divider.php
Romeny attacks on a personal level….I do not think it will work.
To say that President Obama doesn’t understand something is ridiculous. One has only to look at his foreign policy record, and the fact that the hardest nuts to crack (i.e. the US military commanders) are praising him and comparing him to 35 year military veterans – that says it all to me. This President is a quick study, and he takes his job very seriously. If there’s a problem to solve, I trust President Obama to solve it in the best possible way – which is sometimes not so pretty. Romney is a lying fool.
Boner = Worst Speaker Ever. He’s totally incompetent, and just plain dumb. Can’t wait til Nancy gets the gavel back. I’m sure Boner himself will be relieved. This governing thing is hard, especially when you have to appear sober.
Yeah, he can go back to sitting back and saying no. He lets important bills begin in the Senate, says yes, goes to his party who rejects it, then says it was a bad deal….then says NO. What a lazy s.o.b.
To be fair, he has to deal with a bunch of lunatics.
Oh, I can see the snow this morning! It is really cute!
Oops…my old log in name appeared above!
Reposting link from previous thread for those awaiting news of Obama family in Hawaii:
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/135842778.html?id=135842778
Thanks for this – I was looking for news of their safe arrival this weekend.
BillO was the Today Show’s featured Republican. Today features a Republican every day at the top of the show, may be running out of prospective guests. They are not at all interested in the Democratic view. BillO was selling another book and saying even tho Obama was a nice enough fella, he’s failed the economy and the country.
Why don’t any Democratic leaders, the WH., somebody!!! insist that a Democrat needs to be seen and heard from periodically, say after every 10 Republican appearances?
Good morning everyone! Today is gonna be a great day cause it’s my b’day! Sure hope POTUS will bring me some cake! 🙂 🙂 :).
Happy b’day, debby.
Where is the beer ? (yes, we men are pigs).
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Happy Birthday Debby….
Tomorrow is my son’s B-Day….he will be 44. I cannot believe how YOUNG I LOOK ! teehee.
Have a wonderful day.
Have a perfect day DebbyeOh!!!!!
Almost a Christmas baby, may you have a joyous day.
Happy birthday, DebbyeOh!
Happy Birthday Debbieoh! Many blessings to you.
happy happy birthday! 🙂
Thank you all for your warm wishes! I had a wonderful day, and my cake was delivered by a CiC with a megawatt smile!! :).
Happy birthday debbyeOh!
Happy Birthday, debbyeoh!!! Hope you have a very special day!
Happy Birthday to you, debbyeOh! I hope PBO brings you a cake too!
Happy Birthday!
May your day and coming year be filled with Love, Peace & Joy! 🙂
*~*~*~*~*~*Happy Birthday and many more! *~*~*~*~*~*
I think you’d have a better chance looking for pie. The man LOVES pie… This video was from when Candidate Obama did 4 stops in Philadelphia in one day!!!
HAPPY Great BIRTHDAY, debbyeOh.
Happy Birthday!!! Have a wonderful day. 🙂 🙂
Happy Birthday – and many more!!
Happy Happy!
Good morning and happy holidays to Chips and the TOD family, with a special shout out to all of our friends from other countries. Be safe, be well and have the best time ever with those you love.
The greatest secular gift that we have received is the ground swell of people all over the world turning their yearning to be free into action and the downfall or demise of dictators. Situations that looked hopeless for so many years are changing at a breathless speed. We do indeed live in interesting times. Cannot wait to see what more the new year will bring.
Until later,
Off to enjoy the Florida weather.
Thought this was interesting—-about the wealthy Dallas suburb of Highland Park, which gives the highest percentage of donations to Repubs in the country—-“God, guns and gazillionaires”—
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/highland-park-texas-gop-stronghold
Spain’s incoming conservative Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has promised deep public spending cuts while offering tax breaks for companies.
He told the Spanish parliament he aimed to cut the budget deficit by 16.5bn euros (£14bn; $21.6bn) next year.
He said his Popular Party (PP) government would make more companies eligible for low corporate tax rates.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-europe-16248432.
What part of right wing political philosophy do the voters not get despite their history ? Sheesh.
New Hampshire newspaper endorses Huntsman 🙂
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/2938
weird willard must be sweating bullets now.
Ha ! !
And a headline on the Raw Story front page: RON PAUL IS NOW FRONT RUNNER.
Sometimes it doesn’t pay to read the news.
To add to the post that Chips put up earlier about Romney and his investment income…that he pays VERY LITTLE TAXES ON……
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/19/391813/romney-bain-retirement-taxes/
So true…
Don’tcha just LOVE Joy Reid and her Reid Report!!?? This is SO TRUE!!!
Except when she’s defending Matthews for saying the President and First Lady need to show more gratitude for being in the White House.
Exactly, StRoscoe. She did good the other day on defending PObama against Wilder attacks too as through TOD. I was like..wowowwow.
Good Morning TOD family
Love the snow.
CALL TO ACTION CONFUSION
I would love to lead a charge for calling elected officials, but need the advice of folks here as to what we say. Do we push for the Senate plan, tell Nancy to hang tough and make Boehner come to her, thank senate dems for their efforts, yell at Republicans in the House, or all of the above.
Advice from the politically savvy among us would be a good thing.
hey linda – i think i asked something similar go up to post #74. I’m wondering too which would be the best use of resources.
I agree, I’m confused, too. Also what if the Dems voted together to support the bill? How many R’s would it need to pass? I also don’t understand what happens if it doesn’t pass. Does the Senate have to come back? What’s next?
Morning, WIW. I’m all for positive action, and optimism — you all know this. But these corrupt mofos aren’t listening to anybody right now except for the gremlins in their heads, Grover Norquist, and the Koch Brothers. I’ll wait til PBO says sumptin’ before I pick up a phone or write an email.
I think we need to see what the House does today. Things will definitely change and it will be clearer what is going. Even if they choose to go to conference, it will get messy.
OK I think we’ve reached a consensus. I’ll wait to see what happens too. thanks ppl 🙂
Another heart warming OFA volunteer story
Making a commitment
”When you’re enlisted, it’s critical you follow the commander in chief no matter who that is and what you might think of their policies. Now that I’m a veteran I want to make sure our active duty brothers and sisters are following a commander in chief who stands up for them.
That’s one reason why I’m working as an organizer for the campaign in Florida. I’ve seen President Obama be someone with a real commitment to our troops and their families, and that’s important to me”
A veteran who is supporting the President
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/12/making-commitment.html
some lolz from http://dearblankpleaseblank.com./
Dear Pencil,
I put you down like 2 seconds ago…
Sincerely, not in the mood to play hide and seek.
Dear little brother,
Yes, we know you like girls… but that does not make you a lesbian.
Sincerely, you have so much to learn.
Dear Kindle,
Guess what doesn’t die during class when you need it the most?
Sincerely, books.
Dear science major,
I still don’t think those are real words, but I’m tired of arguing with you.
Sincerely, spell check.
LOL…:) 🙂
Montana Entrepreneur Says President Obama’s Plan Will Help Her Create New Jobs
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/12/montana-entrepreneur-says-president.html
Thanks for that WIW! I will pass this on to my conservative friends here in MT.
Automakers Gain Speed at Year-End as U.S. Shoppers Return
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/12/automakers-gain-speed-at-year-end-as-us.html
In the history of political gamesmanship, Speaker Boehner might be the first politician to ever buy the Brooklyn Bridge twice. During the debt crisis debate Boehner proudly proclaimed that he had gotten 98% of what he wanted, only to find out later it was the wrong 98%. And now word is that the Senate has put him in a box by agreeing to an extension that his house membership refuse to accept. Like all con- men, Boehner forgot the number one rule when running a con. Make sure you aren’t the mark.
so what’s the outcome? What now???
Barbara Walters asks Obama—-a wasted question, imho—–What superhero would you be, what superpowers would you want? Ay. PBO said he would like to be able to fly, thinks that would be kinda cool, but other than that he says he wishes he could speak foreign languages fluently, play a musical instrument, all the things he should have been doing when he was a kid, goofing off. Walters was promoting her Fri. night interview with the first couple, said they were cute together, asked them one of those Vanity Fair questionaires—-when do they lie (????) and what irks them about the other etc. Michelle gave her WH xmas cookies for View panel.
I think the obvious answer is Wonder Woman. Because she had the “lasso of truth” or whatever and you could say that you could force all politicians to tell the truth, all the bankers to tell the truth etc.
No SR, we don’t want President Obama to say he wants to be a female super hero. 🙂
🙂
Rasmussenites Swing Left
Eventually, as this joke of a GOP continues to play politics with a depression, the voters out there will get antsy. 50 percent of Rasmussen’s older, whiter, more Republican voters are worried the government will not do enough to help the economy. 39 percent fear too much.
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/rasmussenites-swing-left.html
Chips, again thanks for all the truth and positivity you bring .
Since I love your snow and the Holiday Season thought you might like me adding this to the Holiday Spirit.
December 19, 2011 9:35 AM
‘It’s not a huge tax cut’
By Steve Benen
Mitt Romney appeared on “Fox News Sunday” yesterday, the former governor’s first Sunday show appearance in nearly two years, and Chris Wallace brought up an interesting subject: Romney’s tax plan. From the transcript:
WALLACE: You talk about helping the middle class but your plan that would eliminate the tax on capital gains and dividends doesn’t help them. A recent study showed that a family making $75,000 a year in terms of what they would receive by eliminating capital gains and dividends, $167, sir.
ROMNEY: Well, first of all, $167 is not zero. And number two, one of the reasons people don’t save their money is that they don’t see an incentive to do so…. What I do is allow middle-income families to finally be able to save their money tax free. No tax on interest dividends or capital gains for middle income Americans.
WALLACE: But the argument is middle class people can’t afford, they don’t have enough money to have a lot of capital gains and dividends.
ROMNEY: Look, I recognize it’s not a huge tax cut. It is a tax reduction and it allows middle-income folks to participate in making a brighter future for themselves and for saving.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/its_not_a_huge_tax_cut034186.php
Romney is a fool. The more he talks, the more obvious his cluelessness becomes. How could you not laugh out loud at a multi-millionaire telling a middle class family that $167 is not zero. $167 is probably the amount of loose change Romney takes out of his pockets each night. He has not one idea in the world of what it’s like to live a middle class life.
Romney is rich, he have no idea what it is like to struggle, to worry about paying the bills, or putting food on the table. You are so right the entire GOP field are fools. And America better wake up and realize things are tough, but we have a President who is trying his hardest to make things better for them, the middle class and poor. The Republicans are taking care of the rich.
Plus – if he’s touting $167 as something to cheer about, then why was he dissing $1500 as a mere “band-aid”? Which one is true – if any?
People that watch Fox Noise should pay more attention.
December 19, 2011 10:00 AM
McConnell’s abuses continue unabated
By Steve Benen
The Senate was able to make some temporary progress on tax policy over the weekend. The chamber had far less success on filling lingering vacancies.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Saturday afternoon blocked more than 50 judicial and executive branch nominees, demanding assurances that President Obama not make recess appointments during Christmas break.
Republicans are wary of Obama appointing a director to the new agency tasked with implementing Wall Street reform during the congressional recess. […]
“We are ready and willing to move forward, by consent, with a package of nominations to positions in both the executive and judicial branches,” McConnell said. “Just as soon as I receive confirmation from the administration that it will respect practice and precedent on recess appointments, we can get these people confirmed.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/mcconnells_abuses_continue_una034187.php
What a hateful and evil man.
that man is such a disgusting troll. 😡
gopolitico (warning it’s byron)
Richard Corday recess appointment hopes won’t die
The Wall Street Journal reports today that Republican parliamentary tactics in the Senate may not be enough to deny President Obama an opportunity to appoint Richard Corday to head the Consumer Financial Protect Bureau — something that POLITICO also reported earlier this month.
“Even if the Senate remains in ‘pro forma’ session, legal experts say Mr. Obama could install his nominees after the Senate goes home and before any placeholder session convenes. Or he could wait until Jan. 3—just before the new congressional session formally starts,” the Journal reports. They go on to note that President Theodore Roosevelt made recess appointments during a half-day congressional break.
The White House isn’t in any hurry to knock down the reports that they may still try a recess appointment, declining to weigh in at all on the matter. The president has been under pressure from the left and from his base to circumvent the Senate and install Corday during a congressional break.
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2011/12/richard-corday-recess-appointment-hopes-wont-die-107995.html
McConnell knows this as well, which is why he;s threatening to hold up that package of nominees if Pres. Obama does recess appoint Corday. I say screw McConnell and his treats and recess appoint Corday and a whole bunch of others.
Yup. Obama should call his bluster and let the chips fall where they may,
I can’t believe Americans are letting the GOP get away with holding up nominees 75% into a President’s term. These are positions that people have signed on to, many at great personal financial cost, simply to serve their country and their President. And for the GOP to play games with people who want to serve their country, especially in a time of recovery from crisis – it’s unforgivable, I would think.
I can’t stand Mitch McConnell either.
The Stupid is Getting Very Aggressive
by BooMan
Mon Dec 19th, 2011 at 10:56:13 AM EST
This Washington Post article about public planning in Virginia shows how bad the Aggressively Stupid has become. All across the Commonwealth, public meetings are being disrupted by deranged Tea Partiers who think public planning is some kind of sinister plot directed by the United Nations and the environmental movement. The worst of it is taking place in Hampton Roads, which is sinking even as the ocean level is rising. This combination necessitates pro-active planning.
The residents’ opposition has focused on a central point: They don’t think climate change is accelerated by human activity, as most climate scientists conclude. When planners proposed to rezone land for use as a dike against rising water, these residents, or “new activists,” as [acting executive director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, Lewis] Lawrence calls them, saw a trick to take their property.
“Environmentalists have always had an agenda to put nature above man,” said Donna Holt, leader of the Virginia Campaign for Liberty, a tea party affiliate with 7,000 members. “If they can find an end to their means, they don’t care how it happens. If they can do it under the guise of global warming and climate change, they will do it.”
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2011/12/19/105613/44
Let their houses sink, and then let them face the music from the federal disaster fund cuts enacted by their own Republican party.
Another religion in politics editorial in an Ia. newspaper. I think a few peeps are a little nervous about the heavy role of religion in the Repub campaigns. The motivator for this was the fact that a group of ministers is going around Iowa endorsing Michele Bachmann, saying she is “the most biblically qualified candidate”. I think all of this is very troubling, creepy:
http://globegazette.com/news/local/john-skipper-column-why-politics-and-religion-do-not-mix/article_3a3bcf88-2a07-11e1-abde-001871e3ce6c.html
Sharia law.
Supreme court to hear hcr law arguments march 26-28th!
Hopefully the Administration has a good read on Kennedy.
Oh My Gosh!!! wasn’t it signed March 23 or something like that? So 3-5 days after its anniversary? Wow.
Good catch. Signed into law March 23, 2010.
Well, this is good, because the Administration will have every excuse to do a media blitz, celebrating the two year anniversary of the HCR, and all the good it’s done. And that will raise awareness. Then, the Supreme Court will have all that fresh information in their minds as they start deliberating.
Political AnimalBlog
December 19, 2011 11:25 AM
Rick Perry’s double-dipping
By Steve Benen
For a presidential candidate who wants to dismantle much of the government, slash much of the public-sector workforce, and eliminate many public-sector benefits, this should be a fairly significant political problem.
Rick Perry has done something his opponents have been hoping he’d do for years: retire. But it’s not what the governor’s detractors had in mind.
Perry officially retired in January so he could start collecting his lucrative pension benefits early, but he still gets to collect his salary — and has in turn dramatically boosted his take-home pay.
Perry makes a $150,000 annual gross salary as Texas governor. Now, thanks to his early retirement, Perry, 61, gets a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 net. That raises his gross annual salary to more than $240,000.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/rick_perrys_doubledipping034189.php
How does a person retire, and yet still hold the job and earn a salary? I can’t understand this.
You just fill out the forms and get them processed. You can keep working for as long as you want and still collect your SSA benefit. We pay into it when we work, we collect when we retire.
We stopped that double dipping in California with a Dem Governor…Unfortunately enough people don’t vote in Texas because they were told it won’t do any good due to Gerrymandering, but this is a state wide vote and if enough Dems register and vote, they could vote him OUT!
“Now” with Alex Wagner and featuring Meghan McCain may be the worst public affairs teevee show of all time.
Only if you watch it.
So Newt poll numbers are falling and dear old Mittens’ numbers are rising again. Is anyone surprised?
The media was so terrified of Newt they went into relentless attack mode to make sure Romney has a better shot.
Yep. And it’s “Mitt-mentum” day on MSNBC.
I sorta laughed at the tweet which noted that the media seems happier today. They “did good” taking down the Newtster and boosting their “great white hope”, Willard, to frontrunner status.
Perry, who does not believe in evolution or climate change, using science to argue his point is hilarious.
Hi everyone, an early heads up for Jay Carney’s press briefing:
https://obamadiary.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/heads-up-82/
President Obama signs an Executive Order
From The Peoples View:
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2011/12/pres-obama-signs-executive-order_19.html