Marketwatch: The U.S. economy gained 200,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the Labor Department said Friday.
Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast the U.S. would add 150,000 jobs last month, with the jobless rate edging up to 8.7% from an initially reported 8.6% in November.
Subtracting another decline in government jobs, the private sector boosted payrolls by 212,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% last month to $23.24 and hours worked edged up to 34.4. Job gains for November and October were little changed. The U.S. created 1.64 million jobs in 2011.
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Steve Benen: Mitt Romney will probably find today’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics very discouraging. The rest of us, though, have reason to smile.
…. when monthly job growth reaches 200,000, that’s genuinely good news, and the drop in the overall unemployment to 8.5% puts the figure at nearly a three-year low, which is also encouraging. Under the circumstances, this is one of the best jobs reports since the recession began four years ago.
Full post here
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It’s a bad day for Rusty 😥
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Reuters: The young men in business suits, gingerly picking their way among the millwrights, machinists and pipefitters at Kansas City’s Worldwide Grinding Systems steel mill…. “They looked like a bunch of high school kids to me. A bunch of Wall Street preppies,” says Jim Linson, an electronics repairman who worked at the plant for 40 years….
Apparently they liked what they saw. Soon after, in October 1993, Bain Capital, co-founded by Mitt Romney, became majority shareholder in a steel mill that had been operating since 1888.
…. Less than a decade later, the mill was padlocked and some 750 people lost their jobs. Workers were denied the severance pay and health insurance they’d been promised, and their pension benefits were cut by as much as $400 a month…..
Full article here
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Paul Krugman: ….. Mr. Romney claims that Mr. Obama has been a job destroyer, while he was a job-creating businessman …. his claims about the Obama record border on dishonesty, and his claims about his own record are well across that border.
….. the president inherited an economy in free fall, and can’t be held responsible for job losses during his first few months, before any of his own policies had time to take effect. So how much of that Obama job loss took place in, say, the first half of 2009?
The answer is: more than all of it. The economy lost 3.1 million jobs between January 2009 and June 2009 and has since gained 1.2 million jobs. That’s not enough, but it’s nothing like Mr. Romney’s portrait of job destruction.
Incidentally, the previous administration’s claims of job growth always started not from Inauguration Day but from August 2003, when Bush-era employment hit its low point. By that standard, Mr. Obama could say that he has created 2.5 million jobs since February 2010.
Full article here
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Washington Post editorial: ….. Republicans may well be correct that Mr. Obama is playing politics with these appointments …. But so what? Both the consumer bureau and the labor relations board are agencies of the U.S. government, created by Congress, and it is inexcusable that congressional obstructionism would leave them unable to function. If Republicans don’t like the structure or purpose of either agency, they should try to alter them through legislation. Meanwhile their filibustering against qualified nominees to make political points or extort concessions from the White House cripples government and discourages good people from serving. That is the real poisonous practice, in which both parties have engaged. Until there is a de-escalation, the country will continue to pay a high price.
Full article here
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New York Times: Obama administration officials announced on Friday that they will propose a fix to a notorious snag in immigration law that will spare hundreds of thousands of American citizens from prolonged separations from immigrant spouses and children.
The change that immigration officials are offering would benefit United States citizens who are married to or have children who are illegal immigrants. It would correct a bureaucratic Catch-22 that those Americans now confront when their spouses or children apply to become legal permanent residents.
Full article here
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Ha ha! Romney was in the middle of a rally condemning PBO in SC when the good jobs numbers rolled in. Boehner reflexively poo pooed them.Oh my let me get some pop corn
ooh me first? Happy day to me!!!
Morning, already! Yes, ALL READY, and FIRED UP TOO!
😆 A very happy day to you Zizi. Morning everyone!
Chip can a sister get a Friday’s good?
I didn’t forget LOL, I … well … yes ….. I …. forgot 😳
His voice is just so reassuring……we are very fortunate.
Yay!
Friday’s definitely good today!
Just so you know, it has been over 5 years since I have had weekends, even during the week! Mostly as self-employed I have worked 6 and 7 days a week, year long, as most new business owners must do. Suddenly, since early December, I have hd a schedule which actually allows 2 consecutive days which happen to be Saturday and Sunday! So this fantastic video really breathes new life into my week! I love love love love love it! And cannot play it enough!
Mornin’ Chips!! 😀
Thanks Chips. You are a Godsend….you make us happy no matter what craziness is being jiggered out there by wingjnuts. Are you sure you are mortal? Me no thinks so.
zizi, good to see you.
did you see this?
TPV is looking for columnists. I wish you’d apply.
Really? Better look into it. I’ve become a Twitter junkie, but I gotta stretch my long prose writing legs sometime soon.
Zizi and GGN to TPV. Welcome additions!
zizi, I haven’t seen The Weepers response to the December jobs numbers, but I am reminded of an article at Slate back in June 2011 that we could probably just use each time the jobs numbers are released no matter if the results are good or bad. It’s groundhog day.
THIS IS WHY THE UNITED STATES IS DOOMED (6/3/11)
======================================
The GOP response to the jobs report: The Earth is flat and two plus two equals five
The Hill reports the House Republican response to Friday morning’s distressing jobs report.
House Republicans pinned the blame for Friday’s disappointing jobs report squarely on the White House, saying the Obama administration’s “over-taxing, over-regulating and over-spending” has stifled economic growth.
“One look at the jobs report should be enough to show the White House it’s time to get serious about cutting spending and dealing with our ailing economy,” Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said.
How many blatant untruths can a Republican speaker of the House stuff into one sentence? Quite a few!
=====================================
http://www.salon.com/2011/06/03/this_why_the_united_states_is_doomed/
Just saw this on CNN: apparently Santorum said that the reason the job reports is good is because investors are optimistic that the republicans will keep the House! Gosh, the man definitely has a talent for making a fool of himself ha ha ha !!!
Idiot!
http://www.angryblacklady.com/2012/01/05/tweet-of-the-day-melissa-harris-perry-whats-in-a-name/totd-melissa-harris-perry-brings-the-funny/
New name for Melissa Harris-Perry’s new show?
hahahha… I like her….
Me too 🙂
She is awesome smart, thinks on her feet, and it’s obvious she knows what she is talking about, not just talking! Brighter days are not far ahead !
We do like Melissa for a long time I was thinking that she should get her own show, She is very
smart with a great personality, so good luck melissa we will be watching.
Clicking on the link, you’ll find a spot to add a comment, everyone — if you’d like to. I did and discovered that, so far, I’m the only one. We should all wish her luck, all of The Obama Diary. She’s a great spokesperson, a great, very impressive voice.
If you have not seen this ….I highly recommend it…..It is long but well worth it.
Melissa Harris Perry talked about the history of race relations in the United States, comparing race relations through history with current racial politics. Topics included the tea party movement, raising the debt ceiling, and the 2010 health care law. In her remarks she talked about African-American characters in popular culture, including the book and movie The Help. After her speech, she answered written questions submitted by audience members. The talk, “Reconstruction Lessons: Current U.S. Racial Politics and the Lessons of the Civil War,” was the year’s final Chautauqua Amphitheater Lecture.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Meliss
I watched it twicel. She is beyond brilliant. I am thrilled that she will have her own show on MSNBC. She’s a natural in front of the camera and boy can she do a good interview.
ADORABLE 🙂
That really is adorable. He’s like the pied piper.
Remember this? The last photo is of a little boy hugging his leg. Too cute.
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/08/15/childs-play-6/
Those photos are among my favorites EVER. President Obama genuine love for all these young americans.. The way those kids feel happy and completely secure in his presence. Makes my heart sing and melt at the same time.
Yay! Great news good morning everybody. Have a great day.
I ALWAYS WATCH THE NEWS FROM THE MIDEAST. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND THE U.S. NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO STOP IT. THE NEWS FROM BAHRAIN IS HORRIFIC. THEIR CIVILIANS ARE BEING POUNDED WITH TEARGAS THAT IS BEING MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S…PENNSYLVANIA TO BE EXACT. THIS TEARGAS IS BEING USED BY THEIR POLICE AND BECAUSE OF ITS ABUSE..SEVERAL HAVE DIED. THE MIDEAST NEWS REPORTERS ARE POINTING FINGERS AT THE U.S. PRODUCTION AND SALE OF THIS HORRIFIC GAS! THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE ALSO HAVE TO STOP MANUFACTURING THIS INHUMANE GARBAGE AND SELLING IT TO OTHER NATIONS. SOMEONE PLEASE GET THIS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO CAN INVESTIGATE WHAT IS GOING ON. INHUMANITY TO MAN WILL NEVER BIRTH DEMOCRACY!
I TWEETED ABOUT THIS EARLY THIS MORNING…THE VIDEOS COME ACROSS MOSAIC AND ALJEZEERA NEWS…BABIES..YOU NAME IT ARE BEING BLASTED WITH THIS GARBAGE. IT’S WRONG! WE NEED TO PUT A STOP TO IT!
Excellent news. Looks like Romney is going to take S. Carolina. It is a done deal for the nomination. Team Obama is ready. The Dec. Job figures are encouraging.
That’s two weeks away – three or four debates away and probably a lot of attack ads against him away. Not to mention S.Carolina loves it’s gutter smear politics, so probably a whisper campaign or two away.
Ppp puts Romney ahead in SC by 10 points!
That is significant!
I understand that, but how many were locked in committed? S.Carolina is a evangelical state and a tea party state – if he wins it, it is over. However I’ll wait to see how the next two weeks play out before declaring Romney the winner.
Sue, the U.S Government can’t stop it. It’s part of the Military Industrial Complex and free capitalism. All of these defense companies manufacturing these weapons and they can sell them to whatever country they want (unless its Iran). The Medal Of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer protested a company he worked for because they were trying to sell high powered laser rifles to Pakistan—and he said these people (Pakistanis) were trying to kill him when he was in Afghanistan. The sale didn’t go through, but if he had not protested, I’m sure it would have. Its sad but its the world we live in. These Defense companies are the reason that the DoD budget never get cut, they lobby congress and those morons start saying funding is being cut for the troops, and that’s more or less a third rail in American politics.
THIS IS SO SAD…THIS WILL COME AGAINST US IN GOD’S BOOK! WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.
I know….another one of Bush jr’s legacy. Although, I can’t blame him completely. When we started going to war alot of these defense weapons companies popped up. And If the U.S did not see them as enemies, they could sell them weapons. If we sold weapons to Egypt in 1998 because we didn’t see them as enemies, I’m sure they were used against their own people in 2011.
And Dakota Meyer was swiftboated for it.
Mornin’ TOD family! Have a great day today!!
Obama Campaign Teams in Early States Dwarf Republican Operations
The biggest presidential primary campaign team in New Hampshire is tucked on a Manchester side street inside a four-story brick building and it belongs to the best-financed candidate seeking nomination: President Barack Obama.
The office is one of seven in the state and his re-election campaign has about 20 paid employees. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, the two front-runners in the Republican presidential primary after they emerged first and second in the Iowa caucuses, each have one office. Romney has nine paid staffers in the state and Santorum has eight.
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who skipped Iowa to campaign full time in New Hampshire, showed up at more than 150 public events and recruited almost 1,000 volunteers, said Michael Levoff, a Huntsman spokesman. Since Obama announced his candidacy, his Granite State volunteers have held 500 events, including house parties, phone banks and training sessions.
The Obama camp’s short-term goal is the same as the Republican primary rivals, to turn out the vote on Jan. 10, primary night. While his nomination isn’t on the line, his support in the state has plunged. His team can use the event to test its operations and score bragging rights if the party’s turnout measures competitively with that in the contested Republican primary.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-06/obama-campaign-teams-in-early-states-dwarf-republican-operations.html
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/private_sector_jobs_looking_mu034559.php
With easy to understand pretty pictures for those people we all know that may have a hard time understanding 🙂 If you know what I mean….:)
January 06, 2012 9:10 AM
Private sector jobs looking much stronger
By Steve Benen
In the previous post, we talked about the new monthly jobs report, but in keeping with tradition, here’s a slightly different chart — one showing just the private sector job market.
Overall, the U.S. economy added 200,000 jobs in December, but as has been the case for a long while, it’s the private sector that continues to fare better. Last month, businesses added 212,000 jobs, making it one of the best months since the recession began.
For the 2011 calendar year, BLS data shows the U.S. private sector has now added 1.89 million jobs in 2011, well ahead of last year’s private-sector total of 1.2 million, and the best year for businesses since 2005. Since March 2010, American businesses have created 3.13 million jobs. (In 2008, the private sector lost 3.8 million jobs, and in 2009, the private sector lost 5 million jobs.)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/private_sector_jobs_looking_mu034559.php
YooHoo, Chipsticks! It IS Friday!
Good Morning Chipsticks and my TOD Family. Good news this morning. We thank you, Mr. President.HZ
Huff-n-Puff is on meltdown.
Unemployment % goes down……Yeah Boehner
Unemployment % goes up……..Boo Obama
LMAO
I can’t go there — are they seriously crediting Boehner?!?!
Yes…..it is a riot…
When the stock market is down it’s because of President Obama’s policies. When the stock market is up we get “crickets”.
Not surprised! HuffPuff is on a mission to get Romney elected.
Huff Puff ain’t worth doo-doo, like it’s owner.
The pace of approvals for solar and wind projects in the U.S. is picking up under the Obama administration, with two new plants in California and Oregon winning approval this week.
The Interior Department says it has now pushed through 27 renewable-energy projects totaling 6,500 megawatts since 2009, compared with about 1,800 megawatts in all prior years, the result of more staff working on a fast-tracked permitting process.
“When we came to the Department of Interior almost three years ago, there was very little going on with respect to renewable energy,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said recently.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204632204577130610167499148.html?grcc=349b597e69cd520696eca4c7ae9dacc4Z9&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_business
Love all the great and encouraging economic news and also love this story in local news this a.m.: A group of residents who live around our namesake lake here noticed a young doe, “doe a deer, a female deer”, stranded in the middle of the partially frozen lake (thank you global warming). She was flailing and sprawled, could not get traction on the wet ice and was looking like she was getting tired out. Everyone who noticed wanted to do something to help her, but the ice was in a precarious condition. At one point they scared away a group of foxes who were gathering and looking on, licking their chops. They called the police and fire dept, who said they could not help. One guy tried to go out to her in his kayak but the ice was too thick in spots. So one lady called her husband at work and he came home and put on his waders and wet suit and pulled a row boat, so he could ride where there was water, walk where there was ice, and he and another guy made it out to the deer, got a rope around her, pulled her to shore, toweled her off and sent her on her way, back to her family. I like it when there is proof that there are people with hearts and souls and compassion for all living creatures, who go out of their way to do the right thing.
That’s the sheer goodness and hope of people right there. Thanks for a very uplifting story.
Thank you oir sharing this story about the finer, more exalted qualities of human nature… We all need to hear more of thus quality news!
🙂 Humanity at its finest.
That woman must be beaming and saying, “that’s my husband”! What good thinking – it must have been horrifying. If you’ve ever come across a wild animal that’s wounded, it’s heartbreaking, because you want to help, but have to take care for your own safety as well. This is a good story with a happy ending.
Thanks for that beautiful story Dolster. Fortunately there were no Conservative NRA folks around witnessing the deer in distress for they would have had their rifles out ready for a kill. Thank God there are still animal loving humans around. GO PETA!!
Krugman still had to get a little dig in against Obama — ‘job destroyer’ “borders” on dishonesty?!?!?!
Yeah, I smiled at that 57 – Krugman remains a very, very bitter anti-PBO man, but even if he couldn’t avoid writing a few facts that showed Romney to be the liar that he is.
And to think how much I used to love Krugman. …..
Strangely, Krugman was an economic adviser fro Saint Ronnie!
Go figure!
Also …his Nobel Prize was for ” Foreign Trade” not Domestic Economy…. He seems like a manic-depressive to me.
I am not a Krugman defender, and I am as a strident supporter of PBO as anyone here, but reading Krugman’s entire op-ed I did not get the sense it was anti-Obama, but rather supportive. Krugman did not think the stimulous bill was large enough, but he has indicted he understood the political realities of it not being larger. He is not a warm and fuzzy guy.
Excuse me. “indicated”.
And Jim Messina is referencing it and telling peeps to read it, so I don’t think he feels it is damaging.
Krugman is a grump, but his understandong of the economy in his twice a week op-ed pieces in the NYTimes should be required reading.
It wasn’t an anti-Obama article. My point was that he couldn’t get through an entire article without getting at least one dig in, albeit minor for Krugman.
I found it particularly ironic that he had to dishonestly give Romney wiggle room on “borderline honest” in an article about honesty. I found that to be ‘dishonest’ on Krugman’s part. To call the attack on Obama as a job destroyer being ‘borderline dishonest’ was an unnecessary, and untrue, dig.
Yes – I agree with you. Article was good, but that “borderline” comment irked me, too. Perpetuates the lie.
Totally agree. It’s a very good article. When Krugman is right, we should spread him as much as we can. Like it or not, not many economists are more respeced.
Krugman may now admit to the political realities facing Obama on the stimulus, but if you look back on the first two years of the Obama administration, Krugman took great pains to blame Obama, and he did it repeatedly.
Paul Krugman was one of my heroes for many, many years. I found it disgraceful that someone of his obvious intelligence could jump on the PL bandwagon and do great damage to the public perception of this president. He has backed off somewhat in recent months, but he was merciless at the beginning of the administration.
Yes, this particular article was extremely helpful in laying out great pushback against Romney and it should be cited by the left. Had Krugman been consistent in blaming Republicans throughout the first years of the Obama administration, maybe 2010 would not have been the bloodbath it was. He consistently downplayed the political realities working against Obama through those first two years and laid damn near the entire blame on Obama because Obama wasn’t Hillary (as if Hillary would have been some liberal firebrand — my ass). I am grateful that he’s less strident now, but one useful article does not undo the damage the PL has done. This little dig in this article is evidence that he is still being petty.
This is hysterical
Linda, that is just delicious!!!
good one linda!
I loved that show and I remember Julia. This video needs to go viral!
A Vanity Fair/CBS poll shows only 6% of Americans know Romney’s first name is Willard. Rev. Al needs to get to work.
I crack up every time Rev Al says “Williard”.
I do also. Rev. Al has a wonderful sense of humor.
Bill,How many Americans knows Mitt is a liar.
Great question, not enough.
Obviously very too few annie. That is what are job is to change that.
Kansas House speaker O’Neal apologizes for “Mrs. YoMama” e-mail
Read more here: http://midwestdemocracyproject.org/blogs/entries/kansas-house-speaker-defends-e-mail/#storylink=cpy
Don’t give this garbage hits, people. It’s just another article about nasty racist hate mail targeted at Mrs. Obama. And I’m sure the comments are sickening.
itgurl_29, I am right with you on this B.S. We know exactly what it is all about, we know these people can’t stand to see a Black President and his Black wife in the White House. They claim it’s not racists, but it is. Believe me I know racism when I see it. As far as I am concern that Kansas house speaker and the people who is like him can go straight to you know where. We know there are racists people out there, but thank God there are good people out there too. I am proud of FLOTUS, she is a dam good First Lady. A great First Lady.
Justice Department updates legal definition of rape – http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-ag-018.html
“The new definition of rape is: “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” The definition is used by the FBI to collect information from local law enforcement agencies about reported rapes.”
“The longstanding, narrow definition of forcible rape, first established in 1927, is “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” It thus included only forcible male penile penetration of a female vagina and excluded oral and anal penetration; rape of males; penetration of the vagina and anus with an object or body part other than the penis; rape of females by females; and, non-forcible rape.”
About damn time. The old definition would have been laughable if not so tragic. .
That old definition is terrible.
Graphic, but necessary. I don’t know how many victims have lost justice because of the old definition, but this is good news for anyone coming forward from this day on.
Livestreaming – Democrats say it’s time for Republicans to come back to work: http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews
Help! Tweets – I click on the “time stamp”, I copy the url and paste it here. Why doesn’t it work 😦 😦 :9
It worked Sabreen!!! Often it takes a minute or two for the actual tweet to show up, yours is perfect 😉
Oh bless you Chips. I followed your instructions and was beginning to think that I really am technically challenged 🙂
After watching this morning’s edition of “Morning Joe,” whatever respect I had for Eugene Robinson is long gone. Who could Eugene come on Joe’s show and allow himself to get punked the way he did? Eugene had a solid and reasonable opinion about Santorum’s run for the Presidency. But the moment he goes on Joe’s show, he lets Joe bully him into changing his opinion.
IMO, Eugene Robinson has been wishy washy for a while. He doesn’t seem to have strong convictions. I’ve seen him bullied off his opinions more than once. It’s not as though others are giving him facts to change his mind he just seems to bend to their opinions.
Eugene is pathetic. He’s always been like that. He’d sit on Morning Joe at 8a.m. and agree with every single thing Joe said. Then at 8 p.m., he’d go on Olberman and agree with everything Keith said. He has no convictions.
But it gets him on the air and that’s all he is worried about.
I totally agree Eugene Robinson is wishy washy. What makes it worse is that it takes him for ever to get across his wishy washy opinions. He rarely takes a position one way or the other without a BUT you never know escape hatch. He seems to turn into mush when he is on Morning Joe.
I turn him to mute…..
I have the sense that Joe will not invite people back who disagree with him and/or stand up to him. I have no idea what people are paid to appear, but it must be meaningful to them.
I’m glad you guys watch the cable yak shows. I would throw things at my nice flat screen, which would be bad.
You should feel sorry for us. It is a major character flaw.
US Navy rescues 13 Iranian sailors being held hostage by pirates in Arabian sea (no link yet)
Hmmm…. will Iran say ‘thank you President Obama’?!
MSNBC has it up now , Chips.
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/06/10005159-despite-tensions-us-rescues-13-iranian-seamen-from-pirates
What a remarkable turn of events? It is going to be fascinating to see how this unfolds. Thanks for the link linda.
That’s what happens when your navy consists mostly of speedboats.
Don’t tell me this guy is not racist….WOW. i have a strong dislike for Huntsman but this is out of line.
Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman says Rep. Ron Paul’s campaign is out of line with a web ad that uses images of Huntsman’s adopted daughters to argue that he doesn’t hold American values.
The ad includes video footage of Huntsman, the former ambassador to China, speaking Chinese to his now-12-year-old daughter Gracie as an infant. In Concord Friday, Huntsman called the ad “stupid” and said he objects to suggesting that there is something sinister in his decision to adopt Gracie, and later another daughter from India.
Huntsman has spoken movingly of his daughters while on the campaign trail. Gracie was abandoned at a market at two months of age. Huntsman’s other adopted daughter was left to die on a roadside in India the day she was born.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/huntsman-objects-to-paul-ad-featuring-adopted-daughters/2012/01/06/gIQATO7xeP_story.html
Granted it’s one of his supporters—-but how dirty is that. His supporters are classless.
Good grief, Ron Paul supporters truly are the scum of the earth.
The ad has nothing to do with the Ron Paul Campaign. It’s done by somebody with a “NHLiberty4Paul” account who has one video posted under that account. Far from a official video and no different than if somebody posted that very ad and called themselves “NHObamaSupporter”.
Hell, a Huntsman staffer could have easily posted it themselves.
I’m sure thats true saintroscoe, but in light of Ron Paul’s newsletter history and views on the Civil Rights Act, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if these are exactly the class of people he attracts. After all, Stormfront and David Duke like him.
I just think it’s fishy as hell – why would Ron Paul or anybody really focused on his campaign even worry about Huntsman? This reeks false flag op to me.
Huntsman gets free publicity to play the victim and defend his kids (who were not even the focus – Huntsman speaking Mandarin was), while Paul is smeared. Looking at winners and losers, I don’t think Paul or a supporter of his is behind this at all. Huntsman, Gingrich, Perry or Santorum are more likely behind the “NHLiberty4Paul” account than any Paulite.
If we apply that logic SR then why would they send out that snide tweet to Huntsman the day of the caucus? I’m not saying they were associated with this at all but the Paul campaign has “issues” IMO.
If its true, it speaks volumes about the Huntsman campaign and Huntsman himself. I just think we are getting to a dangerous place in politics. This is the same thing that happened to McCain in 2000 in SC.
Ron Paul should denounce it, as should all other candidates. Just like they should have been denouncing all racist attacks against President Obama’s patriotism, citizenship, love of family and country. These kind of attacks just pull everyone into the gutter, and have nothing to do with qualifications for the Presidency, unless people are planning to hang a “whites only” sign at the borders.
Now the Republicans are using the same vile tactics on themselves they have been using on President Obama.
I’LL BE WATCHING PBO…PERHAPS RUSTY SHOULD GRAB A BOX OF KLEENEX! SUCH A NAUGHTY PRESIDENT…HE JUST WOULDN’T BOW TO THE GOP’S SELFISH,GREED-RIDDEN AGENDA!…LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! 4 MORE FOR 44!
I came across the news regarding Wendi Deng’s spoof twitter account (Rupie’s wifey), so I went to check out Twitters website about the verification process……….I reached the bottom of the site page….. and how awesome was THIS!
https://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics/topics/111-features/articles/119135-about-verified-accounts
Their verified account example that Twitter posted was of POTUS & FLOTUS…….with their fan-made unofficial accounts 😆
Obama administration redefines the definition of rape for the first time. Am so proud of Obama today. 🙂
Then again I’m always glad that Obama’s doing such a good job getting this country out of this mess and fixing long over due problems.
Heads up everyone:
11:40: The President visits staff and delivers brief remarks at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
Thanks Chips! Watching the CNN stream now. Whitehouse is audio only. Waiting….. 😛
Audio only….grrr. CNN always freezes up my computer.
Oh great, CNN stream says “no audio” and Whitehouse stream says “audio only” — LOL.
that is really funny pj!
Open two windows and collapse the audio one and presto you have audio and vid.
MSNBC’s live link. By the way, where’s the Presidential seal?
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news-live/45899557#45899557
David Frum took a job at the Daily Beast. Does anyone care ?
He does believe his Republican party has gone nuts and can be funny about it.
Yes. Believe he created the “axis of evil” line, which he can now use to refer to Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum, methinks.
MSNBC will show it live.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-santorum-jeered-after-comparing-gay-marriage-to-polygamy-20120106,0,4108242.story
This isn’t greatest article, but the college kids clearly gave it to him! LOL!
I was just going to link that! So glad I searched the page first!
Tavis Smiley ousted from MLK luncheon due to complaints!!! HAHA! Love it! Obots are standing up for the President! We have his back!
While that totals only 30 people who requested refunds, Alma Brown, a city employee and key organizer of the luncheon, said she has received so many complaints about Smiley she is worried about ticket sales.
About 1,220 tickets had been sold as of Wednesday.
Brown said she usually gets “tons” of calls for tickets right after Christmas.
“That isn’t happening this year,” she said. “Bottom line is this is hurting the luncheon, and I’m not going to let anything hurt the luncheon.”
The group still is negotiating Smiley’s cancellation fee, according to Brown. He was supposed to have been paid $37,500 to speak.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x2023109848/Smiley-out-as-speaker-for-Peoria-MLK-luncheon
Wow…..
Love it…sweet sweet karma 🙂
Wow. itgurl_29 I had no idea how much Tavis had damaged his brand:
“In a letter published in the Journal Star, retired Bradley University professor Barbara Penelton, along with members of her book club, said they preferred to send money to Obama’s re-election campaign rather than pay to hear Smiley.”
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x2023109848/Smiley-out-as-speaker-for-Peoria-MLK-luncheon
glad Judas Tavis is getting axed.This arsehole needs to be reminded that he never was and never will be qualified to speak mess about potus
Tavis is now persona non grata in the black community. It started waaaay back in ’07 during the primaries. When he was on Tom Joyner’s show, he would basically call black people stupid and ignorant for supporting Barack Obama. He would lie about Barack Obama’s record, claim he wasn’t really black, claimed that we owed the Clintons loyalty, all kinds of nonsense. People were so upset, he had to leave the show. Then when POTUS got elected, he was brought back on, only to be driven away again. And after that is what you see today. An isolated sad pathetic man hosting forums and radio shows where he obsessively attacks this President. And now he’s getting dropped from events in the black community because we cannot stand him. His goal is to bring down the first black President. Why should black people have to pay their good money to sit and listen to that hater?
Good on all the people who let the organizer know they wouldn’t support the event as long as Tavis was on the list of speakers.
Oh I have followed Tavis nonsense. He was in a fit of pique when then-Senator Obama was campaigning to become President and didn’t attend his precious forum. Somehow he believes that the President is beholden to him. It’s an illness that I don’t get. Dr. Corny and Maxine have it too. ‘We were here first. Therefore you owe us.’ seems to be there position.
Rev. Lowry was there before all y’all and he doesn’t have that problem. He doesn’t disrespectfully the President and try to shame him with poverty bus tours or threats to “unleash” folks on him.
If they didn’t know before, maybe this Tavis incident will help them understand: millions of us are all in. We’ve got his and his family’s back, side, front, middle, feet and head.
That is absolutely precious!
Nothing he has to say was worth no damn $37,500. 👿
Serves the arrogant A-Frame right!
In a letter published in the Journal Star, retired Bradley University professor Barbara Penelton, along with members of her book club, said they preferred to send money to Obama’s re-election campaign rather than pay to hear Smiley.
How ya like them apples?
love it!
Censorship! Chicago politics! Obama thugs!!
Yes! I’ll stand in line for some of that!
I caught a glimpse of Smiley’s show on PBS the other night, before switching away so I wouldn’t give him any ratings. His promos are always touting the fact he’s had that show for seven years or something. I was thinking maybe he should be gone from PBS, as well. In fact, think I’ll start writing PBS to “let him go,” signing it as a member of the public, which is what the “P” in PBS is all about.
Also finally cancelled my HBO subscription yesterday. When COMCAST asked why, I said it was because I couldn’t abide the President Obama basher, Bill Maher, anymore. They do take notes, so got that on their desk. I’m just one little subscriber, but I’m sure I’m not the only one that also wants Maher gone.”
I figure if there’s some future “special” on HBO about and following President Obama’s re-election, I can hurry up and get my subscription back, at that point!
itgurl_29, I wonder how much of that $37,000 would have went to help the black community?
I’ll tell you exactly how much Annie. $0. Exactly zero dollars out of $37500 would have gone back to the black community.
I’m so glad he is getting his “blah” butt kicked to the curb.
🙂
🙂 [That was so funny, Donna! Thanks for the laugh!]
I just couldn’t stop laughing. Good for the soul.
Sweet. Tavis is a grifter and a hater. Karma is sweet. And I agree – there is nothing he could say that’s worth a quarter let alone $37,500.
January 06, 2012 11:10 AM
GOP refuses to let House Dems speak
By Steve Benen
There was a bizarre scene on the House floor a couple of weeks ago, when Democratic lawmakers tried to bring up a bill, and House Republicans simply shut down the chamber. When Dems tried to at least have their say on the issue, GOP leaders shut off the cameras.
This morning, we saw a nearly-identical display.
The House is holding pro-forma sessions, apparently in the hopes of blocking President Obama’s recess-appointment power (which he’s choosing to exercise anyway). Since the chamber would be open for business anyway, Assistant House Minority Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) decided he’d make some remarks about the payroll tax break.
But like two weeks ago, House Republicans refused to let him speak, banged the gavel, left the room, and again turned off the cameras.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/gop_refuses_to_let_house_dems034562.php
I wish the cameras would just run the shot of the empty room. Since C-Span is not paid for by government, why can’t the cameras stay on?
i called and leveled a complaint to my GOP rep today about this situation. He asked me if I saw it on C-span very specifically. He didn’t try to defend the GOP action. Next thing the Republicans will try to do away with Cspan coverage.
All we have is the audio of the President’s remarks on white house.gov. No tv coverage at all after they said they were going to cover it. Shameless.
They are really going out of their way to diminish this very important moment. Just sickens me.
This is why the President has to have his own media. The event is over. I am still waiting for video to load on MSNBC. CNN went to Newt Gingrich.
Is he on yet?
The audio was still good. I plan to tweet the video – we don’t need no stinkin’ media!
—-Obama Team Dwarfs GOP in Early State—-
The biggest presidential primary campaign team in New Hampshire is tucked on a Manchester side street inside a four-story brick building and it belongs to the best-financed candidate seeking nomination: President Barack Obama.
The office is one of seven in the state and his re-election campaign has about 20 paid employees. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, the two front-runners in the Republican presidential primary after they emerged first and second in the Iowa caucuses, each have one office. Romney has nine paid staffers in the state and Santorum has eight.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-06/obama-campaign-teams-in-early-states-dwarf-republican-operations.html
Newt slams Romney in new ad-
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/01/newt_mitt_is_timid.html
It’s about time!
Sick.of.them. They certainly know how to cancel each other out. Can’t wait for both Newt and Santorum to be gone with the wind. I cannot stomach Romney, but he’s so laughable, I’d rather have him – for the President to pounce on, since Romney can’t take any criticism. Ha ha ha.
9.9.9! Whatever!
Instead, Alex Wagner puts on Herman Cain! WTF?
What is going on ? Did the media totally black this out ?
Yes- they hate Obama and love Herman Cain!
I cannot believe this…..I missed even the audio.
good morning TOD family.Hope everyone is doing well.I thank God for this site and for POTUS.Mom is doing well and is one her way to her generalist for a check-up.
Mitt Romney can choke on the job numbers and I pray they continue to improve on a weekly basis until November.See ya’ll soon.
Good morning Fred, how are things with you? You have been in my prayers.
I am doing well MT today.Mom is out so I am enjoying an hour of freedom 😆
how are you? Thank for those prayers Mt;I appreciate them. Hope all is well with you 😉 see you soon 😉
Great to ‘see’ you Fred, I hope your Mom is doing better? And I hope you’re looking after yourself?
Hello Fred. My thoughts are coming with the same energy as Chips and the rest of your TOD family. Good to hear that your Mom is healing. You are in my prayers and thoughts.
Fred, so happy to hear that you are taking that precious time to refresh as well. You have good energy coming from our homes to yours.
Love you so much, Fred. Please take care and share when you have time to do so. (((((((((Hugs to you))))))))))HZ
That unemployment rate and jobs figure are making me SING.
Think how much better they would be with 9-9-9. Alex Wagner is promoting Herb Cain, today.
Media BLAH out! Again!
Ha!
I can’t believe Alex Wagner and her programmers devoted the whole first half hour of her show to insignificant Cain and his attempt to grab one last nickel from his 999 fake campaign. And ignore President Obama completely. I know the former host on MSNBC was planning to air it, they showed the screen shot and Thomas Roberts said they would cover Obama’s event. Just idiotic decisions on our “news” media. Utter stupidity, priorities all screwed up. Still talking now about unimportant “Cain Train”, suggesting Cain may leap back into the race. OMG. And OMG again, now Huntsman’s wife.
New CNN SC poll-
The Jan. 10 New Hampshire primary is followed by the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary and the latest CNN/Time poll out Friday shows Mitt Romney comfortably ahead, Rick Santorum catching up, rolling up support after his strong showing in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus. Newt Gingrich, who was in the South Carolina lead last month, experienced the most dramatic drop.
Below, from CNN/Time….
SOUTH CAROLINA
1. If the Republican presidential primary were held today, please tell me which of the following people you would be most likely to support. — former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, or former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (RANDOM ORDER)
Jan. 4-5 Nov. 29 – Dec. 6
2012 2011
Romney 37% 20%
Santorum 19% 4%
Gingrich 18% 43%
Paul 12% 6%
Perry 5% 8%
Huntsman 1% 1%
Someone else (vol.) * *
None/ No one (vol.) * *
Bachmann N/A 6%
No opinion 6% 11%
Wow! Not so weak with his base afterall!
I absolutely cannot believe it!!! I sat there waiting for PBO’s statement and
NOBODY carried it !!!! They had a total blackout? With herman cain’s NONSENSE
as a substitute. Someone please talk me down. I am beyond angry. Best job numbers
plus Cordray appointment and the don’t show it!!!
Blah- out!
your “blah-out” is spot on jovie!
I am so furious…….
i missed it too. i kept thinking maybe the President had been delayed due to the pirate situation, but I guess i was wrong about that.
See my comment below. I too am beyond livid. We need the video up asap. I should have watched in on WhiteHouse livestream instead of thinking MSNBC would show it as they themselves advertized. Shame on them. But this a Koch-powered media blackout on the President. We should make the media pay dearly for this.
So I said:
And Jon Carson said:
OOPS! Chips if you can please delete one of these I’d much appreciate it.
Done! No worries! 😉
Go GoBrooklyn! That is an awesome suggestion and I am glad to see there’s at least one spot in Washington where people can be heard and receive a genuine response.
Wonderful!
NICE!!!!!!
My “NICE!!!!!!!” was supposed to go here! 🙂
I am excited for the SOTU! It’s going to be fantastic this year because I think Obama will really be able to say that we’re at the beginning stages of a robust State of the Union.
Yep. And I suspect President Obama will repeat In the SOTU some parts of his wonderful speech in Kansas. This time with a HUGE audience.
I’d like PBO to set the record straight about the good things happening from (yes I actually like the term as it gives an historic credit) Obamacare.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The federal worker pay freeze might be over.
The White House will propose a 0.5% pay increase for federal workers in its 2013 budget proposal, an official from the Office of Management and Budget said Friday.
PrintComment
Federal pay has been frozen since December 2010, when Congress signed off on an Obama administration proposal to freeze federal worker pay for two years in the name of deficit reduction.
The administration is expected to release its new budget in February, and any proposed increase in federal pay will require the approval of Congress.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/06/news/economy/federal_worker_pay/
That would make many federal workers happy (during this election year) including military personnel, right? I had hear a wife of a navy man complaining about the pay freeze previously, now she couldn’t complain about that!
I can’t recall exactly, been retired a while, but think federal employee pay is a separate entity from military pay. I’ll try to look that up, since I think I may be recalling that the military didn’t undergo a freeze. Of course, enlisted military are not paid much. And – what most people don’t realize – federal civilian pay is not comparable to private industry pay, either. There’s a “pay comparability act,” which every President gets to waive; otherwise, payroll costs would skyrocket. The only thing saving civilians in non-executive jobs is that those in higher-cost areas get locality pay added on to their pay rates.
oh, thanks for the info jacqueline. if you find out anymore let me know.
Alex Wagner is a koch paid shill masquerading as a liberal. The corporate paymasters are jittery about the way President Obama has big-footed their Klown Kar Presidential caucuses/primaries this opening week of the New year, and they are scrambling to stop the crescendo. This was a deliberate sabotage and Wagner has the tip of the spear to accomplish that. This is an existential war we are fighting against tr5uly venal corporate powers including the kochtopus. Cain is their tool and this was a deliberate set up. I sent Rev Al a tweet not to have Alex on her show anymore.
I too missed PBO’s CFPB event as I waited and waited and got shyster pimp Cain instead. We must all tell MSNBC about our displeasure. They must realize that we are the reason they are not dead last in the cable line up. If they piss us off we must make them pay dearly.
Me too, zizi! I’ve been tweeting them like crazy. We have to make this empty headed woman pay for this.
let me get this straight. they didn’t have POTUS on, but had that MINSTREL?
G-T-F-O-H
Big oil says they will raise prices of oil, 4 dollars a gallon by summer, according to Time article.
So, that is how the Republicans will slow down economy?
The President will release reserves and say something on the order of “we can’t wait”. Maybe “we can’t let ourselves be gouged”.
The US has increased domestic oil/energy production. The export of oil has increased. Gas prices are increasing – and some are saying that it’s because of the increased tensions with Iran (even though the increased domestic production is supposed to reduce dependence on foreign oil). So, that completely negates the right wing claim that increased domestic oil production will lower gas prices and reduce the dependence on foreign oil. And it’s another rationale for increased investment in alternative fuels. All good points for us to argue during the presidential campaign.
Alex W. must have been bombarded with complaints about not carrying Obama because she just said they didn’t go to it live because the pool feed was down. And so they aired tape of Obama saying one sentence. Over and out.
Nothing but a lie is what I say!
I’m hardly a violent person, but if I ever see Alex W standing in front of me, I may slap that smirk off her face. Is it me? There’s just something about her that’s unlikable. Sneaky or something.
I’ll try to be good! (But as my now-42-y/o son said, in fifth grade, “I’m tired of being good! I want to be bad!”)
I am livid as well. I waited and waited. Hit the mute buttom, changed the stations. Everything. This is shameful. I need to express myself.HZ
Andrea Mitchell pitching her interview today with Jon Huntsman, the media going whole hog for one last hopeful push for Huntsman.
And his beautiful kids are all over the place!
The media is probably afraid that the suspense will be over after South Carolina. If Mitts wins there by a significant margin, it’s all over. No excitement for the rest of the primaries. If Huntsman gets some traction however… The race becomes more interesting and that means more ratings and more money…
I hope Huntsman gets out after New Hampshire.
MSNBC Customer Service e-mail
http://www.customerservicephonenumber.me/2413/msnbc.html
Ok, not sure how old this poll is, but wow.
Political AnimalBlog
January 06, 2012 10:35 AM
Obama to make major green-card reform
By Steve Benen
For thousands of American families, this reform will have a tremendous impact.
Obama administration officials announced on Friday that they will propose a fix to a notorious snag in immigration law that will spare hundreds of thousands of American citizens from prolonged separations from immigrant spouses and children.
The change that immigration officials are offering would benefit United States citizens who are married to or have children who are illegal immigrants. It would correct a bureaucratic Catch-22 that those Americans now confront when their spouses or children apply to become legal permanent residents.
Although the tweak that officials of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services are proposing appears small, immigration lawyers and advocates for immigrants say it will make a great difference for countless Americans. Thousands will no longer be separated from loved ones, they said, and the change could encourage Americans to come forward to apply to bring illegal immigrant family members into the legal system.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/obama_to_make_major_greencard034561.php
Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama, said the administration supported the update and worked with DOJ on the matter.
The Department of Justice has broadened its definition of rape to lead to more comprehensive statistical reporting of the crime nationwide.
Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday announced the changes to the Uniform Crime Report’s definition of rape, which the Justice Department said better reflect state criminal codes and focus on the various forms of sexual penetration understood to be rape.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/202757-department-of-justice-expands-definition-of-rape-to-increase-reporting
This is ” de bomb “.
GOP OBSTRUCTION ON CFPB DIRECTOR WAS A PERFECT ISSUE FOR OWS, BUT THEY IGNORED IT
I am still baffled why the ows protesters ignored the Republican Party obstruction of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform legislation. This was a tailor made grievance to get the attention of the American people and congress. The Republicans were protecting the 1% because they just didn’t like the idea of the 99% having a watchdog looking out for them. For some reason, ows got mangled up in the “both sides do it” meme. But clearly, that’s a bogus charge as it relates to financial reform. I am hoping the impact of President Obama’s recess appointments will open some eyes about their approach, but I won’t hold my breath. But really, which side do they think is fighting for their interests? Never mind, the question answers itself.
Obama Shows The GOP The Consequences Of Their Obstruction
==========================
If the Occupy movement needed proof that Republicans support the 1% over the rest of the population, or that President Obama is committed to making government work for the 99%, then this one incident should alleviate any lingering doubts as to which side of the Occupy movement Obama is on. Republicans risk isolating themselves from 99% of the population in an election year and yet they do not care. Their entire focus is obstructing and repealing legislation that protects 99% of Americans and this is the great lesson from President Obama’s recess appointments. It is true that Republican outrage demonstrates the height of hypocrisy, Wall Street and corporate banking protection, and anti-worker agenda, but it speaks more to Republicans’ intent on making government ineffective and therefore useless.
==========================
http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-gop-consequences
I totally agree with this article. I think the fact that OWS didn’t bother to fight for Dodd-Frank implementation or Richard Cordray’s confirmation showed their true colours.
Now just think if President Obama came out on day one of his Presidency and made demands. Instead he came out wanting to work with the Republicans, he talked bi-partisanship day and night, and he compromised day and night, sometime to the detriment of his own party. And with total obstruction by the Republicans he still was able to pass landmark legislation. Fast forward to January 4, 2012, President Obama comes out swinging with four recess appointments. President Obama has thrown down the gauntlet and the Republicans are crying. President Obama just didn’t find strength, he’s always had strength. He wanted to work with the Republicans because that’s what people who want to get things accomplished do, they are willing to work with those that even have a different point of view. Another strength that President Obama has is the strength of patients. Only a person with great patients can slowly walk the entire Republican Party up to the edge of a cliff and have that party push their own selves over that same cliff.
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
Exactly, he was patient and gave them just enough rope to hang themselves. It’s a self inflicted wound. And now they are squealing like stuck pigs. Seriously, cry me a river. It is suddenly dawning on the GOP that their Party of No routine is a train wreck. They have nothing to show for the last three years. Nothing but sabotage and hostage taking as a governing strategy. The party is radical and unhinged. They are beginning to smell big time and they know it.
I was shocked to see this editorial in The Washington Post:
Obama’s justifiable ‘power grab’ on recess appointments
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-justifiable-power-grab-on-recess-appointments/2012/01/05/gIQACoIidP_story.html
Two days after defying Republicans and appointing Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, President Obama took a little time to gloat.
Making a victory lap of sorts at the independent agency, Obama cracked a joke, telling employees that he came by to help their new director move in.
More seriously, a seemingly content Obama called the man he tapped a “great director who is tailor made to lead this agency.”
“Now that Richard is your director you can finally exercise your responsibilities under the law,” Obama said standing before a packed room of more than 100 CFPB employees. “We can help give people the clear and transparent information they need” to make the right financial decisions, he said.
“We have a responsibility to make sure the economy we’re rebuilding is one where middle class families can get ahead again,” Obama said.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/202773-obama-takes-victory-lap
Mitt Romney will ignore the jobs report and continue to ask why the economy is not improving under Pres. Obama. No one in the media will dare call him out and point to the job figures – the best in a long time (unemployment at its lowest since ’09) because, well, they just don’t do that in the good ol’ U.S of A.
Seriously, though, maybe they do.
http://news.yahoo.com/unexpected-boost-obama-jobs-160322210.html;_ylt=Aufh49M7pikZll_TH_zWP3Ss0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNtOGhudDRiBG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gRlAEcGtnAzBkZjRhYmE2LTBlNjAtM2NkMS04N2M5LTM2NmE4MmQ4ZjMzMARwb3MDMQRzZWMDanVtYm90cm9uBHZlcgMzNDQ4MDUxMC0zODgwLTExZTEtOGJlMS1kN2I3Mjk2MzJiZTc-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3
The thing about the economy is that it’s often perception based. Sure, it’s more complex than that, but it also feeds, or starves, on its numbers.
When there is a good jobs report, it bolsters consumer confidence. When consumers are confident, they spend more. When they spend more, more things are sold and when more things are sold, more jobs are forced to make more hires – which starts the cycle all over again.
Like I said, it can, and is, more complex than that – but for a recovery to work, you’ve got to have an optimistic consumer base. So, hopefully, these numbers, coupled with ACTUAL growth (confidence means little if there is no true growth) will spark a new development in this recovery.
And I think I win the award for longest-link-ever. Sorry about that.
no worries… The link worked, and that’s really all that matters!!
By Alex Guillén
URANIUM MINING BAN COMING: The Interior Department is planning a 20-year ban on new mining claims on around 1 million acres of federal land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is set to announce the moratorium at a Monday event at the National Geographic Museum in Washington.
Existing mining claims will still be able to be developed, and eight mines have been developed in the area over the past two decades, according to an Interior Department official. The move, a win for environmentalists concerned about waterway pollution, is likely to draw ire from Republicans in the House, where a bill that would block the ban is in committee. Patrick Reis has more, for Pros: http://politico.pro/xzBtrT
Wis. Judge Rules For GOP On Recall Procedures
Eric Kleefeld| January 6, 2012, 11:20 AM
A judge in Wisconsin threw a curveball Thursday evening into the recall campaign targeting Republican Gov. Scott Walker, ruling that state election officials must make a greater effort to screen out fake or duplicate petition signatures — rather than abide by the pre-existing rules, which have placed more of the burden on the Walker campaign.
Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/wis-judge-rules-for-gop-on-recall-procedures.php?ref=fpa
The vote miscount in Iowa is getting some play. Heard it on our morning news today (KTLA), and here:
http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/moulton-man-challenges-iowa-caucus-results/article_6669a8b8-3813-11e1-abcc-001871e3ce6c.html
I’ve been following this, and I also want to know if that solder was reprimanded for speaking at Racist Ron’s rally in his Army uniform.
Ha!
U.S. urges ‘responsible’ handover of Afghan prison
By Agence France-Presse| Thursday, January 5, 2012
The United States said Thursday the transfer of a US military prison to Afghan control should be handled in a “responsible” way, after Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered that the handover take place in a month. “We have been working… for some time with the Afghan government on appropriate timing and pace for transfer of the detention facilities” at Bagram, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “We need to do this in a manner that is maximally responsible. That’s what we want to do. And we’re going to… keep working on it,” she added.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/05/u-s-urges-responsible-handover-of-afghan-prison/
Lead story on the Yahoo Mail page:
An Unexpected Boost for Obama on Jobs.
Consumers need to wake up and look around for themselves. Every [good] restaurant is filled to capacity, with long lines on weekends. Planes are still full with people travelling. Mall parking lots are full. Theaters are still packing them in – both movies and live performances. People are saving. Long lines for consumer goods like apple products. The fact that US car manufacturers saw 13 million in car sales – when a good economy usually produces 14 million – so close.
In addition, trade deals are being signed that are helping the country move away from a consumer driven society, allowing some of the burden of consumption to be carried by emerging markets. The dollar is helping to drive trade.
Then look at the actual economic indicators – leading and lagging. Employment is the very last (lagging) indicator to signal economic improvement, so there have been a host of other hints at an improving economy for months now. Housing construction. Improving trade orders for US goods. Capital expenditures for businesses, buying equipment, etc.
The media’s job is to keep people feeling pessimistic. The reality of the economy is that it’s been steadily improving over time, and now that it’s reached unemployment improvement, it’s affecting the very last indicator that shows an improving economy. The truth is out there – just have to look. People should Google “economic indicators” and they’ll find easy guides on how to read these signs for themselves. Bypass the media.
Today, House Democratic Leaders hold a news conference in which they call on House Republicans to immediately begin working with Democrats on a long-term agreement to extend the payroll tax cut.
http://www.c-span.org/Events/House-Dems-Discuss-Payroll-Tax-Conference-Committee/10737426896-1/
To right’s dismay, Santorum was active in passing controversial Medicare drug bill
By Bob Cusack – 01/06/12 06:03 AM ET
During a CNN interview Wednesday following his strong performance in the Iowa caucuses, the former senator said, “One of the reasons I held my nose and voted for it was because we did have the private sector model for Medicare prescription drugs…” But Santorum’s role in passing the law is larger than he has suggested. As the third-ranking Senate Republican leader nine years ago, Santorum urged his colleagues to vote for the drug benefit.
In an October 2003 memo to Senate Republicans, Santorum warned that Democrats had gained traction on domestic issues. Santorum wrote that passage of the Medicare drug plan was key to winning over independent voters, adding that “the political consequence is clear if the GOP does not act,” according to a media report at the time.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/202675-to-rights-dismay-santorum-played-active-role-in-passing-medicare-drug-bill
Shocking Yahoo! headline and article:
An unexpected title for Obama: Jobs creator
“If current trends continue, Obama will have some upbeat news to run on. The economy has already added about 2.7 million jobs since employment bottomed out at the beginning of 2010. If the economy keeps adding 200,000 jobs per month, on average, it would mean another 2 million new jobs by the time Election Day rolls around. That would allow Obama to say–accurately–that under his stewardship, the economy has added nearly 5 million new jobs over the last two years….
If the current string of job gains continues, Obama will have 26 straight months of job gains behind him, besting Reagan’s run.”
You betta believe it! 😉 😀
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together – WE MUST! (Bobfr @our4thestate) 😉
PRESS ON!
Posted the same article before you did! GMTA. 😀
I’m thinking about buying a lottery ticket, since it is such a rare Yahoo! occurrence.
It will be interesting to watch the President speak directly about job creation with Mitt Romney, who ranked 47th out 50 in job creation under a Republican President and Congress. May the positive job trends continue and may Europe get its act together.
Are any DC/MD/VA Obamacrats/Obots goin’ to this:
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together – WE MUST! (Bobfr @our4thestate) 😉
YES.WE.CAN, Again…Obama/Biden 2012!
FIRED UP & READY TO GO!
PRESS ON!
GOP Proven Wrong Again As ObamaCare Created 23,000 Jobs In December
By Ray Medeiros| January 6, 2012
The numbers are out for job creation and it looks pretty good. The unemployment rate went down to 8.5% from 8.7% and 200,000 jobs were created. Here is the hidden gem. While looking into the different sectors, I found that the healthcare sector added 23K jobs in December and a total of 315K jobs in 2011. But if we listened to the right wing meme, the Obamacare law should have caused layoffs. Especially considering Obamacare DIRECTLY regulates the health insurance and healthcare industries.
Read more: http://www.politicususa.com/en/obamacare-job-creator
The NAACP has issued a response to Newt Gingrich’s desire to “go to the NAACP convention, and explain to the African-American community why they should demand paychecks instead of food stamps.” Here’s the statement:
“It is a shame that the former Speaker feels that these types of inaccurate, divisive statements are in any way helpful to our country,” said Jealous. “The majority of people using food stamps are not African-American, and most people using food stamps have a job.”
According to Talking Points Memo and other sources, Gingrich was quoted as saying, “I will go to the NAACP convention, and explain to the African-American community why they should demand paychecks instead of food stamps.”
“We invited Speaker Gingrich to attend our annual convention several times when he was Speaker of the House, but he declined to join us,” Jealous continued. “If he is invited again, I hope that he would come, with the intention to unite rather than divide.”
“Gingrich’s statement is problematic on several fronts, most importantly because he gets his facts wrong.”
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/3694
I just heard on our local news radio station that POTUS is downtown here at lunch with the contest winners from the third quarter
We know you’re there with him, and just not telling us, Donna. We know you don’t want us to cry, wishing we were there, too!
JOB I wish I was there with them but I don’t want to have to eat in front of PBO. I would make a total fool of myself and have to live with the embarassment the rest of my life 🙂
They are at a Restaurant not too far from my office.
Yes. Obama Foodorama has a post on it and a great video at the bottom of the page. Check it out: http://obamafoodorama.com/. It’s the 3rd post from the top.
The Republican Primary Candidates – They Definitely Aren’t One of “Us”
Monday, January 2, 2012
Fortunately for Americans, every Presidential election cycle, Presidential candidates have to file Personal Financial Disclosures that outline their net worth (within predetermined brackets) and their sources of income. For this posting, I will take a more detailed look at the finances of several of the Republican Presidential candidates, I will include screen captures showing salient points about their investing strategies and their overall net worth, particularly as it relates to their status in American society.
First up and the top of the heap, Mitt Romney.
Read more: http://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2012/01/republican-primary-candidates-they.html
h/t A Political Junkie
Obama Administration Pushes Back On Liberal Criticism Over NDAA’s ‘Indefinite Detention’
The Obama administration thinks many in the liberal blogosphere are mistaken in their belief that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed by the president on New Year’s Eve authorizes the indefinite detention of citizens captured on U.S. soil.
Many progressive and libertarians have argued that the NDAA codifies the president’s ability to detain a U.S. citizen captured on American soil until the war on terrorism is declared over. The administration believes that the NDAA doesn’t specifically allow for the indefinite detention of American citizens, but concedes that it doesn’t specifically ban the practice either.
“We have said as a policy matter that this administration will not put U.S. citizens in indefinite detention,” the senior administration official said. “Could a future administration hold a U.S. citizen in military detention? Yes, if the [2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force] allowed it, but that would have been true with or without this bill.”
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/obama_administration_pushes_back_on_liberal_criticism_over_ndaas_indefinite_detention.php
David Axelrod To Appear On ABC’s ‘This Week’ On Sunday
Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod will appear on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, George Stephanopoulos’ first taping since returning to host the news show.
Finally, I can watch This Week without cringing. Gonna go set the DVR!
Top trending on Yahoo? Job numbers!
How Romney’s Firm Drove Steel Plant Into Bankruptcy, But Still Profited Thanks To Federal Bailout
By Travis Waldron on Jan 6, 2012 at 10:56 am
Romney, whose time as CEO of Bain Capital has been a centerpiece of his campaign, as he has criticized President Obama for not having experience in the “real economy,” opposed both the 2008 bank bailouts under President George W. Bush and Obama’s rescue of the auto industry. But when Kansas City’s Worldwide Grinding Systems went belly-up less than a decade after Bain became its majority stakeholder, the company, which had been in operation since 1888, had to turn to a federal insurance agency to bailout its pension program in large part because Bain had “saddled” it with “such a heavy debt load”:
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/06/399117/romney-bain-federal-bailout/?mobile=nc
Class war! Socialism! Chicago thug politics!
Story here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/irs-contacts-1-8-millionaires-203931288.html
John McCain accidentally criticized Mitt Romney for his stance on earmarks while giving a campaign speech intended to boost the Republican frontrunner.
Addressing the crowd at a Romney campaign event in South Carolina on Friday, McCain was in attack mode as he spoke about pork-barrel spending, one of the Arizona senator’s signature issues. But he unintentionally painted Romney in the same negative light as current rival Rick Santorum:
“Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint have joined with me time after time to go to the floor of the Senate to fight against the earmark pork-barrel corruption,” he said. “Earmarks are a gateway to corruption, and I can tell you that neither Mitt Romney nor Rick Santorum share that view.”
—
This old coot needs to retire immedicately.
Why? He’s starting to the truth… Go John! Go!! 🙂
Maybe he meant Newt instead of Mitt?
Two slips of the tongue in the same week! Is McCain beginning to lose some faculties? Seriously?…
Jesus. He may consider himself a Catholic, but he stands way outside of traditional Catholic teaching on social and economic justice.
Santorum To Mother Of Cancer Survivor: Sick To Blame For Pre-Existing Conditions, Should Be Charged More
By Igor Volsky on Jan 6, 2012 at 12:06 pm
During a town hall in Keene, New Hampshire this morning, Rick Santorum told a mother whose son survived cancer that people with pre-existing conditions should pay more for health care coverage because they make poor health care choices. While specifically exempting the woman’s child from personal blame, Santorum insisted that the sick cost more to insure and insurers should charge them higher premiums:
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/01/06/399357/santorum-to-mother-of-cancer-survivor-sick-are-to-blame-for-their-pre-existing-conditions-insurers-should-charge-them-more/
But But he values “the sanctitiy of life”. Sheesh!!!
The only thing most so-called “pro-lifers” value is the sanctity of privilege, control, and the sense of moral superiority.
Man, I’m posting the same things as everyone else at the same time. There’s some cosmic convergence going on here at TOD.
😆
Not only is this heartless, it’s also absolutely, completely stupid from a medical point of view. As if people were always responsible for being sick? My God, the fact that this delusional clown is considered a serious contender for the republican nomination is the proof that that party is intellectually and morally bankrupt.
Ha! We don’t have no stinkin enthusiasm gap!
The group of voters most excited about voting this year, tied with the Tea Party, is African Americans. The thought that black voters are going to stay home and let the country’s first black President lose for reelection because everything hasn’t gone perfect is wishful thinking on the part of Republicans. I will be surprised if there is any dropoff in turnout from African Americans this year.
The group tied for the third most excited out of the 18 we looked at here? Young voters. And when you take a deeper look at the folks under 30 who say they’re ‘very excited’ about voting this fall, they support Obama by a 69-31 margin over a generic Republican opponent. Those folks are going to be out again this fall as well.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/01/enthusiasm-and-the-2012-election.html
Wow. Thanks for that link Donna!
So happily surprised about the young people. I admit that I’be been concerned lately about a possible impact of Ron Paul among young Obama voters of 2008. I guess I should be careful not to pay attention to a few loud voices of the blogosphere.
AWKWARD – NFL and THE INDIANA ANTI-LABOR BILL
NFL Players Call On Indiana Republicans To Drop Their Anti-Labor Bill Before Indianapolis Super Bowl
Indiana Republicans have, so far, not backed down in their desire to move the bill through the legislature. But as MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow put it, the GOP may want to rethink that strategy considering that “”America’s most celebrated union members (the NFL players) and a whole lot of national media are coming to town.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-justifiable-power-grab-on-recess-appointments/2012/01/05/gIQACoIidP_story.html
Rachel Maddow segment:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#45894457
New Ad Mocks API’s Vote 4 Energy Campaign: “I Vote, But I Prefer to Buy Other People’s Votes”
By Stephen Lacey on Jan 6, 2012 at 9:34 am
The American Petroleum Institute rolled out it’s latest multi-media assault this week to convince voters and politicians to continue supporting the fossil-fueled status quo. The campaign comes just as the primary election season reaches a fever pitch, and is designed to keep political hopefuls focused on “brown jobs.”
API’s newest television ad, which supposedly portrays grassroots supporters expressing their love of oil and gas, was recently shown by undercover activists to be nothing more than a scripted job. Not much of a surprise, perhaps. Here’s an ad mocking the “I Vote 4 Energy” television spots, produced by PolluterWatch:
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/01/06/398514/ad-mocks-api-vote-4-energy-campaign-buy-votes/
Emails Rebuff Republican Suggestion That Bush-Era ‘Gun Walking’ Was Always Coordinated With Mexico
Ryan J. Reilly January 5, 2012, 7:03 PM| Updated: Jan. 6, 10:43AM
One of the distinctions that Republicans have drawn between Operation Fast and Furious, the flawed investigation that allowed weapons to “walk” into Mexico during the Obama administration, and Operation Wide Receiver, which did the same during the Bush administration, is that authorities who took part in the earlier investigation were coordinating their efforts with Mexican authorities.
But new documents DOJ disclosed to congressional investigators on Thursday appear to indicate that ATF officials didn’t even consider looping Mexican authorities in on their operation until several months after the investigation began and ATF had already lost track of weapons that likely ended up in Mexico.
Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/emails_refute_republican_suggestion_that_bush-era_gun_walking_was_coordinated_with_mexico.php?ref=fpnewsfeed
Afternoon all!
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/01/06/afternoon-all-20/
😉
There is something wrong with the order of the comments or is it just me?
I noticed that too, donna dem.~
It’s a WP bug. Anytime Chips moves a comment it becomes stuck at the bottom of the page rather than slotting in at it’s posted time.
It’s not you Donna, it’s all gone bonky!!!! 😦
The 1 Percent Solution: Koch Brothers Bankroll Right-Wing ThinkProgress Clone [UPDATED]
By Judd Legum on Jan 5, 2012 at 9:27 am
The Koch Brothers are worth $50 billion. They’ve bankrolled the Tea Party, the campaign against climate change science, and entire university departments to advance their right-wing agenda. The newest item on their shopping list: their own Center for American Progress.
This morning in Politico, Ben Smith breaks the news that the Koch Brothers and others on the right are launching a new organization explicitly modeled after ThinkProgress:
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/01/05/398169/the-1-solution-koch-brothers-bankroll-right-wing-thinkprogress-clone/
Good Morning TOD family
Bummed that I can only write a few quick notes and then go to meeting.
Yippee do dah about all this good news.
I have so many tabs open with articles I want to read that Firefox is about to pop.
Here is my encouraging story of the day
“Health care tax credits huge boon to small businesses”
http://www.whatisworking.com/2012/01/health-care-tax-credits-huge-boon-to.html
Newt : Obama will ‘laugh’ at Mitt Romney
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71148.html#ixzz1ihrHmnaA
“Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast the U.S. would add 150,000 jobs last month, with the jobless rate edging up to 8.7% from an initially reported 8.6% in November”.
Hi everyone. I happened to listen to ABC channne 7 news this morning and the statement above was announced; only it was not a presented as a forecast but as a factual occurrence: that 150 00 jobs were created but this would not help President Obama because the employment rate now stood at 8.7%. So, imagine my surprise when I checked in here and saw a different picture.
I want to tell ABC that we outside the US do not appreciate this falsifying of information, especially when we get mostly US television news channels. That’s why I pray each day for the strengthening, prosperity and longevity of this blog, as it allows us to get the truth.
Thanks Chips for giving us the facts.