President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step aboard the USS Arizona Memorial where the President laid a wreath. Accompanying them is Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, and his wife Donna.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are pictured on the boat of U.S. Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, after they attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor
Mornin’ Chips and welcome back! Glad to see you are well-rested from your most highly deserved break. Thanks for all you do to keep this wonderful blog going for our President 🙂
let me be the first to say our first lady looks fabulous in this photo! we are truly blessed that our president and his family are so solidly intelligent, sane, good-hearted, and wise. what a bonus that they’re also beautiful!
Thanks Chips for these photos. They are a welcome change from all of this Iowa nonsense. I know this sounds bad, but I am praying that Romney does not win in Iowa. He is alreadycocky and he is measuring the drapes with his lying and flipflopping a**. People really need to start paying attention to what he really stand for. I can’t wait for PBO and the campaign start pointing out his flaws.
I forgot about Hillary Anniebella. Thanks for the reminder. One theme I heard on the cable shows this afternoon was PBO’s strong organization in Iowa. I also think that they are overplaying this “lack of enthusiasm” meme on the Democratic side, especially when PBO has not started to campaign.
Last Presidential election we were able to use the meme that the GOP did not even mention middle class in their side of the debates. Mitt is undoing that by trying to show he is middle class with the word we used like he is part of the middle class and saying he has only 2 bedrooms in his place and I’m unemployed too utterances on the campaign trail. I hope Mitt’s real worth and ties to the 1% will kill his caring for the middle class theme.
I noticed the talking fast, high pitched nervous laugh, and almost stuttering that happens when Mitt gets nervous. Just look at the hand on Perry’s shoulder, $10,000 bet, during the debates and shifting in his seat with leg crossing in the interview at Fox. This should be equal to the Nixon sweat during the Kennedy/Nixon debate.
COS, I’m fed up with the lack of enthusiam B.S. too. I might not run to the voting booth like I did in 2008, but you better believe I will make it to that voting booth if I have to crawl. Because this election is to dog gone important. I do not trust the radical Republicans and what they want to do to the middle class and poor people of this country.
There was also some tea party guy in Alaska who won the Senate Republican primary and started bragging about his office in Washington and who he would hired. He got soundly beaten by a write-in Lisa Murkowski. Arrogance goeth before a fall.
Don’t anybody count Barack Obama out? See that lying flip flopper Mitt Romney can take his pot shots at President Obama, but the President can’t come back at him, not now. But if that lying flip flopper is the GOP candidate he will have to deal with Barack Obama, and he better not under estimate POTUS .
I can’t wait…the american people haven’t heard willard stumble and studder yet…when PBO get a hold of him, he his going to sound like he is speaking a whole newly created language, willard is not even going to be able to understand himself…it is ging to be hilarious…as my Mama would say, PBO is going to show the american people and willard who “the man” is…and let’s not forget, PBO got US…it is going to be on and popping like popcorn…I can’t wait 🙂 🙂 🙂
P.S. Tweety can ask as many people as he want to about who would be a better VP, Biden or Hillary…he can ask that question until the cows come home, Hillary will not be VP. PERIOD
http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-job-creator Good takedown of Romney’s lies about jobs and regulations even chides him for his failure to follow Christian injunction against lying. I think for Romney the ends justifies the means and he will tell whoppers every day since he knows the media is in the tank for the GOP. Thank God for the Internet, FB, Twitter,
I love the way POTUS and FLOTUS are always holding hands. Remind me of the recent interview with Barbara Walters were Walters said you’re holding hands, and she ask them how long they have been married and POTUS said it will be twenty years next year. And rubbing POTUS hand FLOTUS said he is very affection.
POTUS and FLOTUS are real in their concern and honor for our Troops. They won’t try to use them for political reasons like the clowns on the GOP side. POTUS and FLOTUS really care.
I totally agree. They are such an outstanding first couple.
This was the first tourist spot my family visited on a trip to Oahu a couple years back. It was serene and poignant. If you make the trip over there, it’s should definitely be on your list. http://pacifichistoricparks.org/pearl-harbor-hawaii.php
So true Dudette, My first and so far only visit to HI my friend and I went to the pearl harbor memorial. I was so quiet, serence, and calm…there was not a lot of loud chatter, everyone was just naturally respectful that we were over people at rest.
Glad all of you liked that…I thought it was funny. Then I worried after I hit the “post” button…if it would have been more appropriate on another thread…I guess I was fine to put it here! Thought that about covered it
President Barack Obama will travel to Cleveland the day after the Iowa caucuses as he seeks to draw a contrast with Republicans running for president.
The White House says the president’s Jan. 4 trip to Ohio will focus largely on the economy.
Republican presidential candidates will face off in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. It’s the first nominating contest of the 2012 campaign.
Obama won Ohio in 2008. But the state has been hard-hit economically during the president’s term, and is sure to be a political battleground in next year’s presidential election.
You’re welcome Jovie! Thank you – and everyone – for the terrific links the past few days (I’m only getting to catch up properly now), you kept things going beautifully 😉
From the story … “as he seeks to draw a contrast with Republicans running” …
Ha! President Obama could draw a more favorable contrast with Republicans running, if he just stood in place. Unbelievable, some of this wording. Of course, I’m 100% for Obama-Biden 2012, so no wonder it gets me!!!!!
Shave Ice, anyone? President Obama and his “entourage” pictured last year..visited there again today..
“President Obama’s Christmas vacations in Hawaii are a series of deja vu outings: He visits the same places each year. Last night, with the First Lady and a group of family and friends, he visited Alan Wong’s Restaurant in Honolulu for dinner, as he’s done each year of his presidency. Today, after spending four hours at Pyramid Rock Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, he brought the First Family for their annual pilgrimage to Island Snow, a surf shop that serves the best shave ice on Oahu. It’s located in a shopping mall in Kailua, close to the Presidential vacation compound. (Above: Last year, the White House released this photo of the President’s Island Snow run on Dec. 27, with daughters Malia and Sasha and friends)”
Please forgive my being rather pushy about the following effort:
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@Messina2012 Halt Voter Suppression – Request @whitehouse instruct State to issue FREE Passports to all Americans of voting age by 6Nov2012
Your support in the days/weeks ahead will be much appreciated, particularly by all those who would be disenfranchised by the neoconfederate, neoconster, KochMafia, Teabagger terrorists striving to destroy the American Dream
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@H_Clinton Halt Voter Suppression – Urge #PresObama to authorize State to issue FREE Passports to all Americans of voting age by 6Nov2012
Great to know you have been having a relaxing, energizing holiday, Chipsticks!
I like the idea but you still have to provide a birth certificate to get a passport and if older, poor, americans have to get them from the states (especially states that have voter restrictions) may not provide those documents in a reasonable time frame.
Those pictures are so beautiful and respectful. They bring memories back to me. We were there many years ago when I was pregnant. The tour had to get me off the memorial and back to shore before everyone else. Being pregnant all those spirits were affecting me, I just sat down and cried and cried.. it was so heart wrenching for me, I still get chills thinking about it. I remember hearing g the planes coming over the hill.
Goodnight Chips and TOD Family. Chips so happy to have you back. Not the same without you. However, even happier to have you take some time to relax. You are so valuable to all of us, and especially to POB. Love you for all that you do, Chips. You give me so much joy here on your beautiful site. It truly is a beautiful haven for us.
My heart was tired of the foolishness of the GOP mess, so I decided to read about our POTUS and then decided to curl up on a chaise and watch “The American President,” and then “The President’s Photographer.” Thinking of how hard our President works to get things done for all of us and the world carried me into a very serious and pleasant world tonigh. Why the people around him are so important, and how he has been so blessed with brains, caring, compassion, and a style of fun and intense personal interacting with the American people and his WH Cabinet and Staff members makes me desire even more and more to help this man win this reelection. I came away with the heavy and gratefulness of having President Barack Obama as our President.
I cried, smiled , and felt a strong sense of pride for the Office of the President of the United States ,and especially for the man who is in that Oval Office, and with all of our hardwork will be reelected to stay there for 4 more years. What a tremendous honor to serve us, and what a blessing and joy to see him do his job with grace and honor.
This is always a part of me that has to shed the nonsense around me, and totally focus on the real work and importance of how to get the task before us done. When I had to study voice in college, I always got alone and just listened, and listened, and read, and read to get the sense of what I had to deliver in the final performance. This is going to be a performance that we all need to prepare for in this 2012 election. I suggest for some of us that this might be the road that many, if not all of us will and must try to focus on. Be not destracted with the foolishness going on now. So I try to read Plouffe’s book,”The Audacity To Win”, and “Reading Obama” and several others to get my mind set on winning this election. That works for me. Each of us will have to find our own way, But please try to find it. We have much, much work to get done. However, we will prevail, I do believe. We have to. (((((((Hugs to all of you)))))))HZ
You ARE the best! What a wonderful way to spend time….watching those great movies, and reading those books…though I must admit, I don’t have David Plouffe’s book….I may have to get that 🙂 Hugs back at you, HZ!
Perfect comment, HZ. Just perfect. I, too, have had to focus before musical performances. I did so in total solitude. I love meditation. I chose not to spin my wheels and waste my energy on agita about the media, pundits, other candidates. It’s useless. Time to focus and let the distractions go.
PEARL HARBOR…SOLEMN MOMENTS…WE WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET. AMERICA IS SO BLESSED TO HAVE PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE WILL AND MUST WIN IN 2012…OUR NATION’S EXISTENCE DEPENDS ON IT! AMERICANS MUST WAKE UP TO THE PRIORITIES NEEDED IN THIS COUNTRY. COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER IS THE KEY TO MAINTAINING THE FREEDOMS THAT HAVE UPHELD AMERICA’S STRENGTH. WITHOUT THAT INGREDIENT…GOD WILL TURN HIS BACK ON OUR FUTURE!…RIGHTFULLY SO!
I listed my fundraising link if you are inclined to give before the end of the year. I have a very lofty goal and I really hope to meet it. In a few days I will be asking for a dollar in donation for every new voter I register in Florida. Hope you all want to give to re-elect the President.
One of my favorite pictures. I love the story it tells. It’s of PBO and VPB and House Dem leadership. It was taken november 1st but cant remember what was going on then, horrible memory. The story I infer from the body language in the picture is that someone on Joe’s side of the picture said something ridiculous to the president. Before PBO could tell the guy to go fuck himself, Joe grabs PBO’s arm and began a swift and righteous defense of PBO and his decisions. Look to the right of the photo, look at Nancy Smash’s reaction to whatever Joe is saying. It’s like her body language is saying “no, he didn’t mean that, what he’s trying to say is…..” best of all is the look on PBO’s face as he watches Joe go to bat for him. Nothing says love or loyalty better. Love me some Joe Biden.
I think your interpretation is right on the money lisa! That’s why I had to scold some of our friends on Twitter who started speculating about Biden being “off” recently, whatever the hell that means. I think they eventually (albeit reluctantly) got my point that they were simply providing unnecessary fodder for RW and other anti-Obama groups. Sure enough, shortly afterwards Robert Reich’s baseless PUMA article about Hillary replacing Biden started circulating. There is a tremendous amount of essential behind-the-scenes stuff that Biden does that we don’t even see. But our President sure knows what’s what, and he’s not about to let some foolish desire for “optics” destroy his campaign. Biden is our President’s greatest asset and anyone who tries to suggest differently does not have the President’s interests to begin with.
these photos are fabulous and some make me feel misty. like the photo with PBO and the NYFD having a beer together. the fist bump of the little child from behind the door in Rio. FLOTUS laughing when PBO is whispering something to her. Really good stuff. Pete Souza’s a genius.
Chips, glad you recharged your batteries, but please don’t hesitate to take time whenever you need it. Your strength and energy keep us all going and we don’t want to have you tiring of the load in the next year. So may the New Year bring you boundless energy, good health and a happy spirit.
I don’t think we have to worry about “enthusiasm” issues in next year’s election. The R’s have been sucking a lot of oxygen out of the air with this endless Iowa coverage. It’s a depressing and increasingly boring freak show. When the time is right and the president is in full campaign mode, the enthusiasm will be there on our side. And we will make sure it takes millions of people to the polls in waves to vote Obama/Biden.
I was just checking out the latest polling going into the final weekend before the IA caucus and really anyone who says negative ads make no difference isn’t paying attention. Newt was creamed in IA due to those negative ads. This guy had a substancial lead in IA and was gaining in NH when those Romney Super PAC’s went after Newton Leroy guns blazing and now he is practically dead in the water. The lastest poll has him in 5th place.
We are going to need to raise a heck of a lot of money to compete with that mess next year.
Here is Chips Fundraiser. Do what you can TOD’ers:
He didn’t have the money to fight-back. Only now this weekend (when its probably too late) are his Super PAC’s making a major ad by to counter the attacks. You have to counter that stuff immediately because we live in a fickle society that can be easily swayed. Just look at how the Presidents numbers swing all over the place from week to week even when nothing major happens negatively. I understand that no one poll matters its the trends that tell you the story. This has got to be the most impatient electorate that I have seen in my lifetime.
We are going to have to work our fannies off to get the numbers we need to the polls next year. Thank God for OFA!!!!
I agree. And OWS are pests, for both sides. 90% of what they are against is republican bs, but yet, they give the President just asuch heckling.
They have fizzled out, however, but me thinks they have paid staffers and are campaigning themselves.
That said, where is axelrod and dws? They took this week off?
That was a mistake!
Not to worry Jovie. DWS has young kids so it’s good that she spends some time with them while recharging her own batteries for the campaign ahead. Ditto for Axe. Let the Republicans have usual their Talking Points Sunday when no one is even paying attention this New Year’s Weekend. People will be traveling back from vacation, or driving out from NYC or in bed sleeping after being up all night.
They will be back next week – just like our President and will be ready for everything.
Of course, cristie is stumping for Romney today. Where is msnbc, you say? Not to far behind.
Andrea Mitchel has, what she says, a one on one with the nj stalwart, at 1pm! Oh boy, oh boy!
The Romney/ cristie lovefest is scary!
As 2o11 draws to a close, it is a good time to thank the owner of this blog for the wonderful pictures and updates about
President Obama and Mrs. Obama. It is greatly appreciated. We have an outstanding President who has earned 4 more years.
My family, along with you all, will work very hard to see that become a reality in 2012.
Once again, I would like to thank you and all the members here for this place and I wish all you a Happy, Healthy, and
Prosperous New Year.
For Gingrich, it’s a struggle to stay on message
Dec 30, 4:10 AM (ET)
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – As he scrambles to stop a slide in Iowa, Newt Gingrich’s strategy amounts to this: hammer home a message about jobs and the economy while wrapping himself in the mantle of Ronald Reagan. But the loquacious former House speaker keeps struggling to stay on message.
On a 22-stop bus tour of Iowa, Gingrich finds himself unloading on his GOP rivals and reviving talk of a Greek cruise that nearly sank his campaign earlier this year. He fields questions about his work for mortgage giant Freddie Mac, ethics allegations and whether his three marriages make him a polygamist. 😉 http://apnews.excite.com/article/20111230/D9RUO0800.html
Good morning everyone! These last few days of Iowa are going to be entertaining.
They might be entertaining for some, but if Romney is going to be the eventual winner it is really a kill joy. The popcorn gets stale. 😦 He is going to be babified and coddled in the MSM. I agree completely with Jovie in this respect.
Never thought of it. Maybe he doesn’t feel the need to wear them in the back of the car, or maybe there is a special type that doesn’t go around his shoulder. Oh and I love seeing Bo riding in the Beast!
yes. the only reason I know this is because I remember Sasha and Malia in Rome, waiting for their parents to finish with the Pope, and the door was open for FLOTUS, and the girls were strapped into visible seat belts.
Federal immigration officials Thursday announced the creation of a telephone hotline to ensure that detainees held by local police are informed of their rights.
The toll-free number, (855) 448-6903, will field queries from detainees held by state or local law enforcement agencies if the detainees “believe they may be U.S. citizens or victims of a crime,” the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said in a statement.
An ICE official in Washington said agency representatives had not been authorized to comment about the hotline but that more information soon would be posted online.
I usually love the First Lady’s looks but I’m not a fan of her wearing her hair back in a bun
Nice pics of them at the ceremony. Shows the president is never truly on vacation.
Saw on the news today where McCain was criticizing Arpaio for the Justice Dept’s findings of the sex cases he passed off. I guess there’s no love lost between those two, otherwise McCain would be doing triple axle somersaults to kiss Arpaio’s ass.
TD…Of course he was…slimey cretin that he is. Not only am I NOT a coupon clipper, I won’t buy the AZ Republic rag for all the RW gibberish that’s in there! Why do you ask?? 🙂
I read a coupon board over at Slick Deals and there is a poster with your username.
You’re so right about the right wing slant of the AZRepublic. Having said that, I do subscribe to Sunday and Wednesday paper so I can get the coupons and store circulars. /shame face
December 29, 2011
Gingrich, now among the nouveau riche
Delightful news, in that Newt can torment Mitt for weeks longer:
Newt Gingrich has raised $9.2 million with three days to go before the end of the financial quarter … allow[ing] him to stay in the race even if he doesn’t have a strong finish in Iowa.
Lately I’ve watched political pros on various cable-news shows venture their studied opinion that Newt has run out of options in his anti-Mitt campaign; that about all he can do is fuss and fidget over Mitt’s woefully unfair, anti-Newt attacks. The above cash helps to correct these pros, of course, but in terms of a short-term strategy I haven’t yet figured out why Gingrich doesn’t do to Romney what Romney is presently doing to President Obama: simply lie in the most outrageous manner about the former governor’s record.
I don’t mean merely distort, or twist, or exaggerate whatever Romney did as a chief executive. I mean, just entirely make stuff up — which is, after all, about as characteristically GOP as it gets
The biggest surprise to me in this campaign is the extent of Willard’s lying. He never makes an appearance or does an interview without telling an out and out lie. Yet, he is never called on it. Sure many politicians fudge the truth and lie occasionally, but I have never seen anyone like Willard.
Well too bad there are only three scheduled debates (in October) for Americans to make a distinction between PBO and the LIER. I wish there were debates scheduled throughout the summer and fall of 2012.
The Great Right-Wing Overreach Continues
Posted on 12/29/2011 at 6:00 pm by JM Ashby
This is why I remain entirely unconvinced that the Republican party has any chance of winning the presidency next year.
Officials in Troy, Michigan, worked for years to build a local transportation center, and the Obama administration agreed to fully fund the project with federal stimulus money. In fact, the local community would have received an $8.5 million grant to cover all of the costs, with no strings attached.
But Troy’s elected leaders decided to turn down the money. Their Tea Party principles told them it was a bad idea. […]
It’s true that years of neglect and overlooking the fundamental rule that “all politics are local” has left the Democrat party in a position where 39 of 50 states are controlled by Republican legislatures, but it’s also true that in nearly every case of local Republican dominance, the Republicans in control have completely screwed their constituents. And this is not lost on average voters, because all politics are local.
People may not pay attention to their state senators and representatives, but they do notice when their school board votes to slash the number of teachers at their children’s schools, or the city council votes to turn down millions, or billions, of dollars in federal grant money. It’s all fun and games until it affects you, the individual.
Fire Walker Chronicles: Home Field Shutout
by Zandar
Looks like not only will Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker get his day in court to argue that the state’s recall process is unconstitutional, but that Democrats will be locked out of the case, unable to present arguments to defend the recall.
A judge in Wisconsin has ruled that Democratic recall organizers cannot challenge a lawsuit brought by the state GOP against election officials — a suit that claims Gov. Scott Walker’s constitutional rights are being violated by the state’s petition review process.
This means that barring a hypothetical appeal, any continuing litigation in this matter will be conducted exclusively between the state GOP and the election board’s attorney, without the Dems themselves being able to participate and present legal arguments.
“I was a little surprised,” said Jeremy Levinson, the attorney for the recall committee, in an interview with TPM. “It’s the first time I can recall — let me rephrase — it’s the first time I’m aware of a recall-related lawsuit where only the official who is being targeted for recall gets to be a party, and the folks who are working to recall that official are shut out of the process.”
It does seem rather pointedly ridiculous that Walker’s argument is that the burden of challenging recall signatures is “unconstitutional” abridgement of his rights, but being able to challenge that very argument in court is apparently completely unnecessary, and that the rights of the people of Wisconsin to exercise their free speech in a state-mandated recall process doesn’t actually matter so much compared to being Governor.
Please OFA Ohio help Marcy win, I want Kucinich gone.
WASHINGTON — Two longtime Ohio House Democrats will face off against each other in 2012, victims of a redistricting process that combined their congressional seats.
On Wednesday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) filed paperwork to run in the newly created 9th district. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), the longest-serving woman in the House, filed her papers on Monday.
Because of the population losses recorded by the 2010 U.S. Census, Ohio lost two congressional districts and the borders of the remaining districts were redrawn. The new map combines the districts of Kaptur, who represents what is currently the 9th district, and Kucinich, who represents the 10th.
“My political base is in the district. My house is in the district. There are 40 years of work in the district. I have a lot of supporters in the district. It makes sense from every standpoint,” Kucinich told The Huffington
Post when asked why he decided to run in the newly created 9th district. “All the work I’ve done in servicing people has been in the area that’s in the Cleveland part of the district over the many years, and I have a strong base of support there.”
Kaptur told The Hill that her “ability to reach consensus and to work with a broad range of interests toward achieving very specific goals for our region and for the country” distinguishes her from Kucinich.
Rovian politics. Say something mean about the other side, before they say it about you.
The President was asked a question about the stimulus and Romney has twisted it to him bein Marie antoinette.
If he keeps repeating it, with no pushback…
I agree TrumpDog. Willard is just running around getting overconfidence. The Obama campaign knows what they are doing and if Willard want a fight then a fight is what he will get.
Yep. And as we see today, people have moved on from the Antoinette comments and are focusing on Mitt’s birther son and the fact that Romney won’t release his tax records.
Things will ebb and flow and we can’t get caught up on certain things, wringing our hands asking where DWS is. The O campaign is very seasoned and disciplined. Romney has many more crash and burn moments ahead.
He thinks Barack Obama is a modern-day Marie Antoinette who, unlike Mitt Romney, I presume, doesn’t care about the poor. Seriously.
Now I’m sure he had a plan in mind in saying that. But … well … Mitt Romney comparing Obama — the guy who was raised by a single mother and then by his grandparents, whose mom died haggling with health insurers and who experienced having his family live on food stamps when he was a kid and went to college on scholarship — he compared that guy, to Marie Antoinette, who inherited her wealth from the Austrian royal family and then married the king of France.
Romny isn’t even original. Remember when they tried to compare FLOTUS to Marie Antoinette after she took that Spain vacation. Same shit, different day.
This memorial is very emotional for me. We were there when I was young and pregnant. I became so emotional when I was there I couldn’t stop crying. I could feel the souls of the sailors and hear the planes as they came over the hill., The tour had to take me back to land before the others. I still get very emotional when I think about it.
Our POTUS and FLOTUS are such wonderful compassionate people.
Sandra Day O’Connor talks about the need for civics education because kids in school have NO IDEA about how their govt. works….some Governors (Perry) and Newt ( I’ll just disregard any Supreme Ct decision I don’t like) have NO IDEA how govt works!
I have passed this site along to the teachers in my school that teach Social Studies, in hopes that they can incorporate this into their lesson plans. Pass this iCivics site along to anyone you know that could benefit…..kids included! Games on there for them to play 🙂
The Obama Diary 
Good night Chips, Good night TOD!
Poignant pictures. Thank goodness for our Commander in Chief.
Night PJ. My holidays are over, posting should be back to normal tomorrow, thank you for helping keep the ship afloat! 😉
Chips – Hope you totally relaxed and enjoyed yourself. We appreciate everything you do for President Obama so much.
Ah, thank you Jacqueline! Batteries recharged, fired up and ready to go – more than ever! 😉
Thank you, Chips…welcome back home…..we missed you……hope you had lots of naps and spent time doing things that made you happy and filled your bucket 🙂
Thank you SO MUCH, Chips, for this island of BEAUTY, TRUTH AND SANITY in a sea of ugliness, lies and insanity. We greatly appreciate ALL that you do!
Mornin’ Chips and welcome back! Glad to see you are well-rested from your most highly deserved break. Thanks for all you do to keep this wonderful blog going for our President 🙂
You’re the best, Chips! We appreciate all you do. Your rest was well-deserved. Take good care ♥ ♥ ♥
let me be the first to say our first lady looks fabulous in this photo! we are truly blessed that our president and his family are so solidly intelligent, sane, good-hearted, and wise. what a bonus that they’re also beautiful!
When you’re beautiful inside, sometimes it shows outside!
Thanks for bringing us these photos, Chips. I’m so glad they made this visit – very special.
Noted that even Mark Knoller was tweeting respectfully about the visit. First time I ever RT’d anything he wrote. Hope it continues.
Thanks Chips for these photos. They are a welcome change from all of this Iowa nonsense. I know this sounds bad, but I am praying that Romney does not win in Iowa. He is alreadycocky and he is measuring the drapes with his lying and flipflopping a**. People really need to start paying attention to what he really stand for. I can’t wait for PBO and the campaign start pointing out his flaws.
COS, Mitt is getting alittle cocky. He maybe measuring the drapes, but let’s remember Hillary was measuring them too, weren’t she?
I forgot about Hillary Anniebella. Thanks for the reminder. One theme I heard on the cable shows this afternoon was PBO’s strong organization in Iowa. I also think that they are overplaying this “lack of enthusiasm” meme on the Democratic side, especially when PBO has not started to campaign.
His arrogance will be only one part of his downfall 🙂 Don’t forget that. HE is NOT every man.
Have you noticed that every time Mitt gets nervous he talks way too fast. As if he’s trying to out run his lies.
Last Presidential election we were able to use the meme that the GOP did not even mention middle class in their side of the debates. Mitt is undoing that by trying to show he is middle class with the word we used like he is part of the middle class and saying he has only 2 bedrooms in his place and I’m unemployed too utterances on the campaign trail. I hope Mitt’s real worth and ties to the 1% will kill his caring for the middle class theme.
I noticed the talking fast, high pitched nervous laugh, and almost stuttering that happens when Mitt gets nervous. Just look at the hand on Perry’s shoulder, $10,000 bet, during the debates and shifting in his seat with leg crossing in the interview at Fox. This should be equal to the Nixon sweat during the Kennedy/Nixon debate.
COS, I’m fed up with the lack of enthusiam B.S. too. I might not run to the voting booth like I did in 2008, but you better believe I will make it to that voting booth if I have to crawl. Because this election is to dog gone important. I do not trust the radical Republicans and what they want to do to the middle class and poor people of this country.
There was also some tea party guy in Alaska who won the Senate Republican primary and started bragging about his office in Washington and who he would hired. He got soundly beaten by a write-in Lisa Murkowski. Arrogance goeth before a fall.
100% agree Jackie.
Don’t anybody count Barack Obama out? See that lying flip flopper Mitt Romney can take his pot shots at President Obama, but the President can’t come back at him, not now. But if that lying flip flopper is the GOP candidate he will have to deal with Barack Obama, and he better not under estimate POTUS .
I can’t wait…the american people haven’t heard willard stumble and studder yet…when PBO get a hold of him, he his going to sound like he is speaking a whole newly created language, willard is not even going to be able to understand himself…it is ging to be hilarious…as my Mama would say, PBO is going to show the american people and willard who “the man” is…and let’s not forget, PBO got US…it is going to be on and popping like popcorn…I can’t wait 🙂 🙂 🙂
P.S. Tweety can ask as many people as he want to about who would be a better VP, Biden or Hillary…he can ask that question until the cows come home, Hillary will not be VP. PERIOD
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-job-creator Good takedown of Romney’s lies about jobs and regulations even chides him for his failure to follow Christian injunction against lying. I think for Romney the ends justifies the means and he will tell whoppers every day since he knows the media is in the tank for the GOP. Thank God for the Internet, FB, Twitter,
Evidently Mormons can Lie and Gamble with impunity. Williard is a Terrible example of someone who is a Mormon.
Every time willard open his lying mouth, I think the same thing, “Willard is a Terrible example of someone who is a Mormon.”
tweeted
The man keeps working even on hi holidays. Did dubya ever do such thing ?
Reverent. That’s the word that comes to mind for me. They are consistently that way, and I feel proud.
I love the way POTUS and FLOTUS are always holding hands. Remind me of the recent interview with Barbara Walters were Walters said you’re holding hands, and she ask them how long they have been married and POTUS said it will be twenty years next year. And rubbing POTUS hand FLOTUS said he is very affection.
POTUS and FLOTUS are real in their concern and honor for our Troops. They won’t try to use them for political reasons like the clowns on the GOP side. POTUS and FLOTUS really care.
Very affectionate is what I should have said.
I love the way he loves and protects her!!!
I love that too…I have a client who has been married almost 40 years, she and her husband still hold hands…it is so lovely to see real love!
I totally agree. They are such an outstanding first couple.
This was the first tourist spot my family visited on a trip to Oahu a couple years back. It was serene and poignant. If you make the trip over there, it’s should definitely be on your list.
http://pacifichistoricparks.org/pearl-harbor-hawaii.php
So true Dudette, My first and so far only visit to HI my friend and I went to the pearl harbor memorial. I was so quiet, serence, and calm…there was not a lot of loud chatter, everyone was just naturally respectful that we were over people at rest.
Thank you for the photos, have a great night all.
Fair winds and following seas to all you TODers and Chips to you a smooth sea…..TAPS!
Ok. Pretty funny.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2011/12/29/203254/86
Love it!
Very. Just tweeted it.
Very, very funny, DF! Thanks for sharing.
Terrific, it’s a homerun.
Ha! Spot on! 🙂
Glad all of you liked that…I thought it was funny. Then I worried after I hit the “post” button…if it would have been more appropriate on another thread…I guess I was fine to put it here! Thought that about covered it
12th! goodnight!
Oh, well, sweet dreams and restful passage all!
Goodnight Pamela
President Barack Obama will travel to Cleveland the day after the Iowa caucuses as he seeks to draw a contrast with Republicans running for president.
The White House says the president’s Jan. 4 trip to Ohio will focus largely on the economy.
Republican presidential candidates will face off in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. It’s the first nominating contest of the 2012 campaign.
Obama won Ohio in 2008. But the state has been hard-hit economically during the president’s term, and is sure to be a political battleground in next year’s presidential election.
http://m.miamiherald.com/mh/db_42944/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=eaIiFvzc
Btw- thanks for the pictures chips!
You’re welcome Jovie! Thank you – and everyone – for the terrific links the past few days (I’m only getting to catch up properly now), you kept things going beautifully 😉
Did you hear?
Batman endorsed Mitt Romney.
(To the bat cave).
Batman wouldn’t go near that flip flopping liar. Not so sure about Robin, he reminds me of Matt Damon.
From the story … “as he seeks to draw a contrast with Republicans running” …
Ha! President Obama could draw a more favorable contrast with Republicans running, if he just stood in place. Unbelievable, some of this wording. Of course, I’m 100% for Obama-Biden 2012, so no wonder it gets me!!!!!
Where Florida fits in the Presidents re-election strategy-
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/where-fla-fits-obamas-re-election-strategy
nice.
Was their lack of enthusiasm on the democratic side in Ohio and Wisconsin?
Good night all.
Shave Ice, anyone? President Obama and his “entourage” pictured last year..visited there again today..
“President Obama’s Christmas vacations in Hawaii are a series of deja vu outings: He visits the same places each year. Last night, with the First Lady and a group of family and friends, he visited Alan Wong’s Restaurant in Honolulu for dinner, as he’s done each year of his presidency. Today, after spending four hours at Pyramid Rock Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, he brought the First Family for their annual pilgrimage to Island Snow, a surf shop that serves the best shave ice on Oahu. It’s located in a shopping mall in Kailua, close to the Presidential vacation compound. (Above: Last year, the White House released this photo of the President’s Island Snow run on Dec. 27, with daughters Malia and Sasha and friends)”
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/12/shave-ice-run-president-obama-visits.html
Thanks again, Chips, for all the historical pics of this Obama Presidency.~
Please forgive my being rather pushy about the following effort:
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@Messina2012 Halt Voter Suppression – Request @whitehouse instruct State to issue FREE Passports to all Americans of voting age by 6Nov2012
Your support in the days/weeks ahead will be much appreciated, particularly by all those who would be disenfranchised by the neoconfederate, neoconster, KochMafia, Teabagger terrorists striving to destroy the American Dream
#YesWeCanDOMoreTogether
Our4thEstate Bobfr
@H_Clinton Halt Voter Suppression – Urge #PresObama to authorize State to issue FREE Passports to all Americans of voting age by 6Nov2012
Great to know you have been having a relaxing, energizing holiday, Chipsticks!
#PRESSON
We have to fight this voter suppression any way we can.
DITTO…tweeted
I like the idea but you still have to provide a birth certificate to get a passport and if older, poor, americans have to get them from the states (especially states that have voter restrictions) may not provide those documents in a reasonable time frame.
Those pictures are so beautiful and respectful. They bring memories back to me. We were there many years ago when I was pregnant. The tour had to get me off the memorial and back to shore before everyone else. Being pregnant all those spirits were affecting me, I just sat down and cried and cried.. it was so heart wrenching for me, I still get chills thinking about it. I remember hearing g the planes coming over the hill.
Goodnight Chips and TOD Family. Chips so happy to have you back. Not the same without you. However, even happier to have you take some time to relax. You are so valuable to all of us, and especially to POB. Love you for all that you do, Chips. You give me so much joy here on your beautiful site. It truly is a beautiful haven for us.
My heart was tired of the foolishness of the GOP mess, so I decided to read about our POTUS and then decided to curl up on a chaise and watch “The American President,” and then “The President’s Photographer.” Thinking of how hard our President works to get things done for all of us and the world carried me into a very serious and pleasant world tonigh. Why the people around him are so important, and how he has been so blessed with brains, caring, compassion, and a style of fun and intense personal interacting with the American people and his WH Cabinet and Staff members makes me desire even more and more to help this man win this reelection. I came away with the heavy and gratefulness of having President Barack Obama as our President.
I cried, smiled , and felt a strong sense of pride for the Office of the President of the United States ,and especially for the man who is in that Oval Office, and with all of our hardwork will be reelected to stay there for 4 more years. What a tremendous honor to serve us, and what a blessing and joy to see him do his job with grace and honor.
This is always a part of me that has to shed the nonsense around me, and totally focus on the real work and importance of how to get the task before us done. When I had to study voice in college, I always got alone and just listened, and listened, and read, and read to get the sense of what I had to deliver in the final performance. This is going to be a performance that we all need to prepare for in this 2012 election. I suggest for some of us that this might be the road that many, if not all of us will and must try to focus on. Be not destracted with the foolishness going on now. So I try to read Plouffe’s book,”The Audacity To Win”, and “Reading Obama” and several others to get my mind set on winning this election. That works for me. Each of us will have to find our own way, But please try to find it. We have much, much work to get done. However, we will prevail, I do believe. We have to. (((((((Hugs to all of you)))))))HZ
Hugs back to you, HZ. You’re the best.
You ARE the best! What a wonderful way to spend time….watching those great movies, and reading those books…though I must admit, I don’t have David Plouffe’s book….I may have to get that 🙂 Hugs back at you, HZ!
Perfect comment, HZ. Just perfect. I, too, have had to focus before musical performances. I did so in total solitude. I love meditation. I chose not to spin my wheels and waste my energy on agita about the media, pundits, other candidates. It’s useless. Time to focus and let the distractions go.
Love you for your words of wisdom! ♥ ♥ ♥
PEARL HARBOR…SOLEMN MOMENTS…WE WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET. AMERICA IS SO BLESSED TO HAVE PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE WILL AND MUST WIN IN 2012…OUR NATION’S EXISTENCE DEPENDS ON IT! AMERICANS MUST WAKE UP TO THE PRIORITIES NEEDED IN THIS COUNTRY. COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER IS THE KEY TO MAINTAINING THE FREEDOMS THAT HAVE UPHELD AMERICA’S STRENGTH. WITHOUT THAT INGREDIENT…GOD WILL TURN HIS BACK ON OUR FUTURE!…RIGHTFULLY SO!
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/Globalzero
I listed my fundraising link if you are inclined to give before the end of the year. I have a very lofty goal and I really hope to meet it. In a few days I will be asking for a dollar in donation for every new voter I register in Florida. Hope you all want to give to re-elect the President.
Peace to all,
Sue
That’s a great goal Sue. One Voter. One dollar. Cool idea. Wish you the best.
Beautiful Sousa 2011 year in photos—–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157628633082149/
WOW!!! Beautiful……but remember, he can’t connect. 😦 SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yee gad, you just can’t fix stupid!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my favorite pictures. I love the story it tells. It’s of PBO and VPB and House Dem leadership. It was taken november 1st but cant remember what was going on then, horrible memory. The story I infer from the body language in the picture is that someone on Joe’s side of the picture said something ridiculous to the president. Before PBO could tell the guy to go fuck himself, Joe grabs PBO’s arm and began a swift and righteous defense of PBO and his decisions. Look to the right of the photo, look at Nancy Smash’s reaction to whatever Joe is saying. It’s like her body language is saying “no, he didn’t mean that, what he’s trying to say is…..” best of all is the look on PBO’s face as he watches Joe go to bat for him. Nothing says love or loyalty better. Love me some Joe Biden.
I think your interpretation is right on the money lisa! That’s why I had to scold some of our friends on Twitter who started speculating about Biden being “off” recently, whatever the hell that means. I think they eventually (albeit reluctantly) got my point that they were simply providing unnecessary fodder for RW and other anti-Obama groups. Sure enough, shortly afterwards Robert Reich’s baseless PUMA article about Hillary replacing Biden started circulating. There is a tremendous amount of essential behind-the-scenes stuff that Biden does that we don’t even see. But our President sure knows what’s what, and he’s not about to let some foolish desire for “optics” destroy his campaign. Biden is our President’s greatest asset and anyone who tries to suggest differently does not have the President’s interests to begin with.
these photos are fabulous and some make me feel misty. like the photo with PBO and the NYFD having a beer together. the fist bump of the little child from behind the door in Rio. FLOTUS laughing when PBO is whispering something to her. Really good stuff. Pete Souza’s a genius.
UT would know!!
These are terrific pictures! I’ll be referring to them often.
Chips, glad you recharged your batteries, but please don’t hesitate to take time whenever you need it. Your strength and energy keep us all going and we don’t want to have you tiring of the load in the next year. So may the New Year bring you boundless energy, good health and a happy spirit.
I don’t think we have to worry about “enthusiasm” issues in next year’s election. The R’s have been sucking a lot of oxygen out of the air with this endless Iowa coverage. It’s a depressing and increasingly boring freak show. When the time is right and the president is in full campaign mode, the enthusiasm will be there on our side. And we will make sure it takes millions of people to the polls in waves to vote Obama/Biden.
Good Morning
I was just checking out the latest polling going into the final weekend before the IA caucus and really anyone who says negative ads make no difference isn’t paying attention. Newt was creamed in IA due to those negative ads. This guy had a substancial lead in IA and was gaining in NH when those Romney Super PAC’s went after Newton Leroy guns blazing and now he is practically dead in the water. The lastest poll has him in 5th place.
We are going to need to raise a heck of a lot of money to compete with that mess next year.
Here is Chips Fundraiser. Do what you can TOD’ers:
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/TheObamaDiary
Have a great productive day everyone!
But Gingrich did not fight back! His advisers suck!
He didn’t have the money to fight-back. Only now this weekend (when its probably too late) are his Super PAC’s making a major ad by to counter the attacks. You have to counter that stuff immediately because we live in a fickle society that can be easily swayed. Just look at how the Presidents numbers swing all over the place from week to week even when nothing major happens negatively. I understand that no one poll matters its the trends that tell you the story. This has got to be the most impatient electorate that I have seen in my lifetime.
We are going to have to work our fannies off to get the numbers we need to the polls next year. Thank God for OFA!!!!
I agree. And OWS are pests, for both sides. 90% of what they are against is republican bs, but yet, they give the President just asuch heckling.
They have fizzled out, however, but me thinks they have paid staffers and are campaigning themselves.
That said, where is axelrod and dws? They took this week off?
That was a mistake!
Not to worry Jovie. DWS has young kids so it’s good that she spends some time with them while recharging her own batteries for the campaign ahead. Ditto for Axe. Let the Republicans have usual their Talking Points Sunday when no one is even paying attention this New Year’s Weekend. People will be traveling back from vacation, or driving out from NYC or in bed sleeping after being up all night.
They will be back next week – just like our President and will be ready for everything.
Can’t get to far behind. Just saying.
Btw- nobody in Iowa went after Romney- it’s strange!
Obama’s approval rating ticks up in Iowa
The poll also shows an improvement in President Barack Obama’s approval rating in Iowa.
Forty-five percent of registered voters in the state approve of him, while 43 percent disapprove.
Last month, those numbers were upside down, with 43 approving and 46 disapproving.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9822616-nbc-poll-mitt-romney-ron-paul-neck-and-neck-in-iowa-newt-gingrich-in-5th
Romney beating Paul in Iowa, but it’s all about turnout!
No wonder Cenk is going crazy.
Cenk got informed, that anybody can vote for anybody, same day registration in Iowa.
Basically, he is telling democrats to vote for old Ronnie!
Of course, cristie is stumping for Romney today. Where is msnbc, you say? Not to far behind.
Andrea Mitchel has, what she says, a one on one with the nj stalwart, at 1pm! Oh boy, oh boy!
The Romney/ cristie lovefest is scary!
Stomping for Romney while admitting to have failed NJ schools. Nice endorsement right there.
And yet, if Andrea mitchel could, she would ask him to marry her.
Hmmm…Mitchell and Christie? My, my…what a lovely couple!!!!
And I will leave it at that.
The pig and the sow. What’s wrong with that ? 🙂
As 2o11 draws to a close, it is a good time to thank the owner of this blog for the wonderful pictures and updates about
President Obama and Mrs. Obama. It is greatly appreciated. We have an outstanding President who has earned 4 more years.
My family, along with you all, will work very hard to see that become a reality in 2012.
Once again, I would like to thank you and all the members here for this place and I wish all you a Happy, Healthy, and
Prosperous New Year.
I’ll second that MayMirabella! Thank you so much Chips and the TOD family!
Happy New Year Everyone!
For Gingrich, it’s a struggle to stay on message
Dec 30, 4:10 AM (ET)
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – As he scrambles to stop a slide in Iowa, Newt Gingrich’s strategy amounts to this: hammer home a message about jobs and the economy while wrapping himself in the mantle of Ronald Reagan. But the loquacious former House speaker keeps struggling to stay on message.
On a 22-stop bus tour of Iowa, Gingrich finds himself unloading on his GOP rivals and reviving talk of a Greek cruise that nearly sank his campaign earlier this year. He fields questions about his work for mortgage giant Freddie Mac, ethics allegations and whether his three marriages make him a polygamist. 😉
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20111230/D9RUO0800.html
Good morning everyone! These last few days of Iowa are going to be entertaining.
They might be entertaining for some, but if Romney is going to be the eventual winner it is really a kill joy. The popcorn gets stale. 😦 He is going to be babified and coddled in the MSM. I agree completely with Jovie in this respect.
Also love this pic:
Ps- hiya Chips! Hope you had a fantabulous Christmas. Thanks also for keeping us plugged.
Do y’all realize I’ve never seen PBO wearing seatbelts in this car? Doesn’t the Beast have seatbelts?
Never thought of it. Maybe he doesn’t feel the need to wear them in the back of the car, or maybe there is a special type that doesn’t go around his shoulder. Oh and I love seeing Bo riding in the Beast!
I don’t think they are required to be worn in the back seat are they?
yes. the only reason I know this is because I remember Sasha and Malia in Rome, waiting for their parents to finish with the Pope, and the door was open for FLOTUS, and the girls were strapped into visible seat belts.
Federal immigration officials Thursday announced the creation of a telephone hotline to ensure that detainees held by local police are informed of their rights.
The toll-free number, (855) 448-6903, will field queries from detainees held by state or local law enforcement agencies if the detainees “believe they may be U.S. citizens or victims of a crime,” the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said in a statement.
An ICE official in Washington said agency representatives had not been authorized to comment about the hotline but that more information soon would be posted online.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/feds-create-new-hotline-form-for-immigration-detainees.html
I usually love the First Lady’s looks but I’m not a fan of her wearing her hair back in a bun
Nice pics of them at the ceremony. Shows the president is never truly on vacation.
Saw on the news today where McCain was criticizing Arpaio for the Justice Dept’s findings of the sex cases he passed off. I guess there’s no love lost between those two, otherwise McCain would be doing triple axle somersaults to kiss Arpaio’s ass.
That’s nice…where was he when Arpiao was rounding up all the brown people just because they were brown?!
Probably doing and saying whatever he could to get reelected.
O/T: Are you a coupon clipper?
TD…Of course he was…slimey cretin that he is. Not only am I NOT a coupon clipper, I won’t buy the AZ Republic rag for all the RW gibberish that’s in there! Why do you ask?? 🙂
I read a coupon board over at Slick Deals and there is a poster with your username.
You’re so right about the right wing slant of the AZRepublic. Having said that, I do subscribe to Sunday and Wednesday paper so I can get the coupons and store circulars. /shame face
The answer: two RACISTS are peas in a pod. 😡
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Good Morning Chips and fellow Obamabots 🙂
Here’s the best of West Wing Week:
From one Trini to another, Good morning Ms Donna. Good morning All. Good Morning ms Chips. Chips, how’s about a wish list for 2012?
Awww, that was great! Reggie in the cow-car at 0:32 was hilarious!
December 29, 2011
Gingrich, now among the nouveau riche
Delightful news, in that Newt can torment Mitt for weeks longer:
Newt Gingrich has raised $9.2 million with three days to go before the end of the financial quarter … allow[ing] him to stay in the race even if he doesn’t have a strong finish in Iowa.
Lately I’ve watched political pros on various cable-news shows venture their studied opinion that Newt has run out of options in his anti-Mitt campaign; that about all he can do is fuss and fidget over Mitt’s woefully unfair, anti-Newt attacks. The above cash helps to correct these pros, of course, but in terms of a short-term strategy I haven’t yet figured out why Gingrich doesn’t do to Romney what Romney is presently doing to President Obama: simply lie in the most outrageous manner about the former governor’s record.
I don’t mean merely distort, or twist, or exaggerate whatever Romney did as a chief executive. I mean, just entirely make stuff up — which is, after all, about as characteristically GOP as it gets
http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2011/12/gingrich-now-among-the-nouveau-riche.html
The biggest surprise to me in this campaign is the extent of Willard’s lying. He never makes an appearance or does an interview without telling an out and out lie. Yet, he is never called on it. Sure many politicians fudge the truth and lie occasionally, but I have never seen anyone like Willard.
During the debates he will not be able to get away with those lies.
I agree, Hopefruit. I cannot wait.
Well too bad there are only three scheduled debates (in October) for Americans to make a distinction between PBO and the LIER. I wish there were debates scheduled throughout the summer and fall of 2012.
The Great Right-Wing Overreach Continues
Posted on 12/29/2011 at 6:00 pm by JM Ashby
This is why I remain entirely unconvinced that the Republican party has any chance of winning the presidency next year.
Officials in Troy, Michigan, worked for years to build a local transportation center, and the Obama administration agreed to fully fund the project with federal stimulus money. In fact, the local community would have received an $8.5 million grant to cover all of the costs, with no strings attached.
But Troy’s elected leaders decided to turn down the money. Their Tea Party principles told them it was a bad idea. […]
It’s true that years of neglect and overlooking the fundamental rule that “all politics are local” has left the Democrat party in a position where 39 of 50 states are controlled by Republican legislatures, but it’s also true that in nearly every case of local Republican dominance, the Republicans in control have completely screwed their constituents. And this is not lost on average voters, because all politics are local.
People may not pay attention to their state senators and representatives, but they do notice when their school board votes to slash the number of teachers at their children’s schools, or the city council votes to turn down millions, or billions, of dollars in federal grant money. It’s all fun and games until it affects you, the individual.
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2011/12/the-great-right-wing-overreach-continues.html
good stuff!
Fire Walker Chronicles: Home Field Shutout
by Zandar
Looks like not only will Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker get his day in court to argue that the state’s recall process is unconstitutional, but that Democrats will be locked out of the case, unable to present arguments to defend the recall.
A judge in Wisconsin has ruled that Democratic recall organizers cannot challenge a lawsuit brought by the state GOP against election officials — a suit that claims Gov. Scott Walker’s constitutional rights are being violated by the state’s petition review process.
This means that barring a hypothetical appeal, any continuing litigation in this matter will be conducted exclusively between the state GOP and the election board’s attorney, without the Dems themselves being able to participate and present legal arguments.
“I was a little surprised,” said Jeremy Levinson, the attorney for the recall committee, in an interview with TPM. “It’s the first time I can recall — let me rephrase — it’s the first time I’m aware of a recall-related lawsuit where only the official who is being targeted for recall gets to be a party, and the folks who are working to recall that official are shut out of the process.”
It does seem rather pointedly ridiculous that Walker’s argument is that the burden of challenging recall signatures is “unconstitutional” abridgement of his rights, but being able to challenge that very argument in court is apparently completely unnecessary, and that the rights of the people of Wisconsin to exercise their free speech in a state-mandated recall process doesn’t actually matter so much compared to being Governor.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/12/30/fire-walker-chronicles-home-field-shutout/
This is extremely disturbing.
And hopefully grounds for appeal. Seems like Koch has the judges bought and paid for as well.
Good morning, TODville.
Timeline of 2012 Presidential Primaries and Caucuses
http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/timeline-of-2012-presidential-primaries-and-caucuses-20111229
I got a 96 dollar raise on my VA check.
Woopdie doo!
Good for you Jovie 🙂
Please OFA Ohio help Marcy win, I want Kucinich gone.
WASHINGTON — Two longtime Ohio House Democrats will face off against each other in 2012, victims of a redistricting process that combined their congressional seats.
On Wednesday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) filed paperwork to run in the newly created 9th district. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), the longest-serving woman in the House, filed her papers on Monday.
Because of the population losses recorded by the 2010 U.S. Census, Ohio lost two congressional districts and the borders of the remaining districts were redrawn. The new map combines the districts of Kaptur, who represents what is currently the 9th district, and Kucinich, who represents the 10th.
“My political base is in the district. My house is in the district. There are 40 years of work in the district. I have a lot of supporters in the district. It makes sense from every standpoint,” Kucinich told The Huffington
Post when asked why he decided to run in the newly created 9th district. “All the work I’ve done in servicing people has been in the area that’s in the Cleveland part of the district over the many years, and I have a strong base of support there.”
Kaptur told The Hill that her “ability to reach consensus and to work with a broad range of interests toward achieving very specific goals for our region and for the country” distinguishes her from Kucinich.
Willard just repeated to someone in the crowd his “let them eat cake” comment. He thinks he has a real winner with his new phrase. Unbelievable.
The MSM will just repeat it ad nauseum.
Rovian politics. Say something mean about the other side, before they say it about you.
The President was asked a question about the stimulus and Romney has twisted it to him bein Marie antoinette.
If he keeps repeating it, with no pushback…
I think you’re giving that comment too much credence.
I also think the Obama campaign knows what they are doing.
I agree TrumpDog. Willard is just running around getting overconfidence. The Obama campaign knows what they are doing and if Willard want a fight then a fight is what he will get.
Yep. And as we see today, people have moved on from the Antoinette comments and are focusing on Mitt’s birther son and the fact that Romney won’t release his tax records.
Things will ebb and flow and we can’t get caught up on certain things, wringing our hands asking where DWS is. The O campaign is very seasoned and disciplined. Romney has many more crash and burn moments ahead.
MITT ROMNEY – THE “QUARTER- BILLION- DOLLAR MAN”
===============================================
Romney’s clueless Marie Antoinette gaffe
How out of touch is Mitt Romney?
He thinks Barack Obama is a modern-day Marie Antoinette who, unlike Mitt Romney, I presume, doesn’t care about the poor. Seriously.
Now I’m sure he had a plan in mind in saying that. But … well … Mitt Romney comparing Obama — the guy who was raised by a single mother and then by his grandparents, whose mom died haggling with health insurers and who experienced having his family live on food stamps when he was a kid and went to college on scholarship — he compared that guy, to Marie Antoinette, who inherited her wealth from the Austrian royal family and then married the king of France.
Mitt? I think we need to talk.
http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/12/romney-marie-antoinette-gaffe/#more-27399
Romny isn’t even original. Remember when they tried to compare FLOTUS to Marie Antoinette after she took that Spain vacation. Same shit, different day.
Why does Mitt refuse to release his income taxes ??
Because he only pays 12-15 % ?
Willard just kissed Mrs. Greenspan in the Iowa crowd. I did not make this up.
See!
OOoooof.
Forgive me for what I’m about to say, but Romney just kiss that Andrea Mitchell bitch.
😉
Morning Donna! Ha, great minds – just put that video in the Rise and Shine post, love it!
It’s pro forma Friday: the Senate will meet at 11am, and the House will meet at 1pm. For just a few seconds, no doubt.
This memorial is very emotional for me. We were there when I was young and pregnant. I became so emotional when I was there I couldn’t stop crying. I could feel the souls of the sailors and hear the planes as they came over the hill., The tour had to take me back to land before the others. I still get very emotional when I think about it.
Our POTUS and FLOTUS are such wonderful compassionate people.
Good Morning Mtmarilyn. You are such a beautiful soul. (((((((((((Hugs to you dear one))))))))))))))HZ
Morning HZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good Morning Chipsticks and TOD Family. Hope all will have a great day.
Interesting read
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/us/politics/gop-field-has-broad-views-on-executive-power.html?_r=1&hp
http://www.icivics.org/
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-civics-20111227,0,3247832.story
Sandra Day O’Connor talks about the need for civics education because kids in school have NO IDEA about how their govt. works….some Governors (Perry) and Newt ( I’ll just disregard any Supreme Ct decision I don’t like) have NO IDEA how govt works!
I have passed this site along to the teachers in my school that teach Social Studies, in hopes that they can incorporate this into their lesson plans. Pass this iCivics site along to anyone you know that could benefit…..kids included! Games on there for them to play 🙂
Neat! Thanks df!
Pass it on!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂