Students, from left, Gaby Dempsey, 12, Kate Murray, 13, and Mackenzie Grewell, 13, read in the Red Room of the White House after setting up their science fair exhibit, Feb. 6, 2012. The three girls, part of the Flying Monkeys First Lego League Team from Ames Middle School in Ames, Iowa, will participate in the second annual White House Science Fair with over 100 students from 45 states. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
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10:35 AM: PBO views science fair projects.
11:25 AM: PBO delivers remarks at the White House Science Fair.
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Washington Post: President Obama will use the backdrop of a White House science fair Tuesday to highlight a nationwide shortage of math and science teachers and unveil a plan to invest $100 million to help train 100,000 new educators over the next decade.
Under his proposal, Obama will ask Congress for $80 million to support new Department of Education grants for colleges that provide innovative teacher-training programs. The president also is set to announce a $22 million commitment from private companies that will support the effort, according to White House officials.
More here
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We Will Not Play by Two Sets of Rules By Jim Messina
In 2010, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case opened the door to a new wave of so-called Super PACs—non-candidate political committees that can receive and spend unlimited money from special interests. For the first time, these committees could accept money from corporations, not just wealthy individuals.
The decision has accelerated a dangerous trend toward a political system increasingly dominated by big-money interests with disproportionate power to spend freely to influence our elections and our government…..
More here
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Frank Schaeffer: President Obama Will Be Vindicated
As Ryan Lizza writes in the New Yorker: “Obama didn’t remake Washington. But his first two years stand as one of the most successful legislative periods in modern history. Among other achievements, he has saved the economy from depression, passed universal health care, and reformed Wall Street.”
So when are President Obama’s critics, people like Paul Krugman and Mitt Romney, going to offer President Obama an apology? Both have often loudly predicted that he made the economy worse and was putting America on the wrong economic path. Both are being proved wrong by the economic comeback we are in. I mention them not to pick on Krugman, who I respect or even on Romney (who I regard as a vapid twit bought and paid for by corporate interests) but to make a point: President Obama is going to have the last laugh on his critics, no matter what ideological spectrum they hail from.
More here
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Morning everyone, I’ll be out for a few hours but will update when I get back – until then, chat away 😉
The Obama Diary 
Good morning Chips and TOD!
Morning Nintendowii!!!
Now this is a wonderful picture to wake up to. 🙂
Damn right!
(drool swoon drool)
Oh yeah. I need the fainting couch!! 😉
I think I’m hogging it up.
Sorrrryyyyy!
yes yes yes!!!
Morning Mr. President. Oh and morning to the rest of you all too. 🙂
Sigh!
I mean..1st to give nintendowii10 congrats 😆
·oooO·.·.·.·.·.·.·.
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·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·
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·.·Rock Wuz Here.·.
·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·
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FIRED UP…!!
READY TO GO..!!! 😀
Good morning TodObots! One and all!
hehe…First..!! 😀
Sorry Willard… no Go here 😆
Morning Rock, you deserve a PBO smile too for all your outstanding Twitter work 😉
I’ll be later everyone, see you then.
Not quite, but we love you Rock.
goodmorning. 🙂
GOOD MORNING TOD FAMILY…AWESOME WAY TO START THE DAY W/ PBO’S GREAT SMILE! LOVE THE TOON OF THE TWO MOPHEADS…WHAT A GRUESOME PAIRING OF TWO DEEP-POCKETED PILFERING,POMPOUS PUNDITS…OUR PRESIDENT IS WAY ABOVE THESE SWAGGGGGERING CORPORATE FOOLS! GO OBAMA..NO DRAMA…WE WILL DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR! 4 MORE FOR 44!
WILL HAVE TO MISS PBO SPEAKING AT THE SCIENCE FAIR…MY SOUND DOES NOT WORK ON WH.GOV…WILL CATCH YOUR VIDEO LATER….ERRANDS TO RUN…BBL…BLESSINGS ALL!
http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/02/06/419726/chrysler-clint-eastwood-super-bowl/
The team behind both ads is Wieden + Kennedy, based out of Portland, Oregon. And they have a strong track record of creating inspiring advertising with communal messaging that even if it’s not specifically progressive, feels resonant with progressive values. They’re the team behind the Go Forth campaign for Levi’s that used Walt Whitman’s poem to argue “we must march, my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger”:
OFA…can you see this??
Morning DF. Would be good to have these guys doing ads for us. Hope we scoop them up. But can you imagine them working for Mitt? As good as they are, it would be really tough for them. Mitt, I swear is an empty can. His biggest message is that PBO is the “other,” which he tries to subtlely ease into his speeches.
He has not presented one plan or policy for the country. It is like McCain when he told us that he knew how to get Bin Laden, but was not telling his plan.
The GOP has no message. My new hashtag for them on twitter is #DoomandGloomers.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY…I LOVE YOUR NAME!…:)
Morning to you, africa! 🙂 Sure WOULD be great to have these guys doing the ads! I hope someone in charge already thought of that!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line A virtual plethora of good little reads!!!
* Rust Belt revival? Good stuff from Josh Kraushaar explaining why Obama’s apparent rebound among blue collar whites is so important and may even prove a turning point.
Re Obama’s approval rating of 43 percent among them: “Democratic strategists view 40 percent as the Mendoza line for Obama among this group.”
* Ron Brownstein, meanwhile, looks beneath the toplines in the head to head matchup of Obama versus Romney and finds evidence that Obama’s coalition may be re-emerging.
http://www.barackobama.com/jobsrecord With updates!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72498.html
Republicans are pounding Barack Obama on Solyndra, but it may be a complicated argument for their front-runner to maintain: While Mitt Romney was governor, Massachusetts also picked some winners and losers with energy subsidies.
And like Obama, some of the companies Romney’s state invested in came out on the losing end.
Good morning TOD. Thanks Chips for coming early with the pics this morning. Seeing our President’s smile makes my day!
US President Barack Obama has said he believes he deserves a second term in the White House.
His declaration, in an interview with NBC, came as a new poll showed his approval ratings moving past 50% for the first time since May 2011.
The ABC News/Washington Post survey also suggests Mr Obama would beat Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.
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Mr Obama’s NBC interview was broadcast ahead of the Super Bowl, the most-watched TV event of the year.
It came two days after improved employment figures prompted analysts to suggest his prospects for securing four more years in the White House were improving.
“I deserve a second term, but I am not done,” Mr Obama said. “We’ve created 3.7 million jobs in the last 23 months.
“We’ve created the most jobs since 2005, the most manufacturing jobs since 1990, but we’re not finished.
“What I’m going to just keep on doing is plodding away, very persistent. And you know what? One of the things about being president is you get better as time goes on.”
The ABC News/Washington Post poll – carried out over the end of last week and into the weekend – indicated that some of the positive economic data of the past few months could be filtering through to the electorate.
Asked directly to choose a president if an election were being held now, 51% of the 1,000 respondents chose Mr Obama, with Mr Romney on 45%.
Matched against former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is running second in the Republican race, Mr Obama came out ahead by a wider margin, 54% to 43%.
/
Despite his winning record in primary season, Mr Romney has endured a barrage of hostile advertisements from rivals, and a lengthy focus on his wealth and business interests.
Some 52% of those polled said the more they learn about the former Massachusetts governor, the less they like him. [ 🙂 🙂 🙂 ]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-us-canada-16913174
PBO DESERVES A SECOND TERM IN THE WH…BECAUSE HE HAS EARNED IT SINCE DAY ONE! THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER SEE A BETTER PRESIDENT.
Indeed Sue. Heck, left to me, I would choose him for at least 4 terms.
🙂 🙂
What exactly do these folks expect Pres. Obama to say? “No, I don’t deserve a second term. I’m running just for kicks and giggles.”
Yeah, okay. whatever.
You know, I was thinking the same damn thing. What a stupid question – but expected from the yahoos in the media.
Great handy, dandy rundown ! This one’s a printout 🙂
http://timtpost.com/2012/02/07/hit-you-damn-right-president-obama-deserves-4-more-years-suffering-with-obama-derangement-syndrome-dont/#more-194
This Komen Thingy got way more play than the contraceptive Thingy.
Why?
The contraceptive Thingy is the thing the far right is freaking out about and not one word from house democrats, senate democrats, Emilys list and planned parenthood.
Nope, it’s all on the President
He is going to have to give a religious speech because this is getting out of control!
Unreal how everybody abandons the President when he makes a decision like this!
Bingo jovie. I was thinking the same thing, where the fuck are the dem surrogates on this ? Fucking cowards all.
So true! But something stinks on the horizon…the Catholic church and contraceptives. I tried to get the skinny on it from Rev. Al last night. He had Kathleen Kennedy and some chick who opposed employees receiving contraceptives paid by a Catholic employer. She rambled on and said, ” If we had known Obama’s health care was going to be like this we would not have supported it because it supports abortion”. WHAT? Kathleen Kennedy said, ” abortion and birth control are two separate things”.
I get the feeling some Catholics…the Newt kind are going to use this as a big wedge issue. The GOP has to have a wedge issue.
G’day y’all. Jeez, you guys hit the deck early around here. 😉 . Howsomever, I might be alone here but the Catholics got a bigger problem than birth control. I wondering when they’re gonna get a grip on their pedophile problem?
Good afternoon yardarm756 & Todville
How ’bout that money laundering scandal in addition to pedophilia ?
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13226
The truth is, any Catholics using this as a wedge issue were just looking for some reason to create a wedge. If anyone bothers to read even the one page blog entry on whitehouse.gov, they’ll see that this is about organizations with multi-faith employees. It doesn’t force anyone who doesn’t want to take contraceptives to take them – so, if your faith prohibits it, and you’re not one of the 98% of Catholic women who use contraceptives anyway, then you don’t have to take advantage of this part of your insurance.
In my opinion, if the Catholic church could annul Newt Gingrich’s marriage, even though children were produced in that marriage and he was adulterous (a mortal sin), then they don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to any issue of morality. If they employ non-Catholics and provide insurance to those employees, and those catholic purchase contraceptives, then they should cover the cost. Nothing to do with abortion – abortion costs are explicitly excluded from coverage.
Axelrod is coming up on morning Joe!
Thanks for the heads up Jovie.
So sad for us women. Turned on tv to see Joe Scarborough fake freak out over the fact that institutions…religious and non religious…have to cover birth control and other women’s health procedures if the offer health insurance. Oh, the horror!! I have seen very few women on the right freaking out over this rule. Its all men. And i fear the admin will change their mind if this fake outrage continues. Im frankly surprised this rule is becoming so controversial. The right is making such a big deal over this and are mischaracterizing this big time.
I am Catholic and a huge Obama supporter but I have to say that this ruling IS A BIG PROBLEM for Obama. This problem is only going to get bigger as time goes on. I hope that the Obama team will change course to the point where they allow states to adopt the Hawaii method that will allow Catholic institutions to not have to provide birth control but women who are employed by them still have have access to birth control via a third party.
This problem CAN be solved and I think that the Obama team needs to solve it ASAP and definitely before the general election starts which is this Summer.
Obama can’t afford to lose the Catholic vote in November or he will not get re-elected.
Knowing the Obama team they are not dumb and they will solve this problem.
Enough with the pandering, especially given the reality.
Any proof that he is losing the catholic votes ?
This is another bright object by the rw and their sock-puppet msm and the left, as usual,falls for it.
Death panels again!!!
Why do you believe this issue will cause PBO to “lose the Catholic vote”? Most of the people I hear complaining are old white men who would not for for PBO under any circumstances. They seem to be attempting to create an issue for political reasons. Willard and Newton Leroy did not complain when the rule was adopted in their home states.
I just heard Axelrod on Morning Joe this morning and it looks like that they are working on solving this dilemma. I think that this dilemma can be solved and so there won’t be a problem.
I am glad I listened to Axelrod this morning. He made me exhale. Now I believe that this issue will be taken care of.
I also heard Axelrod this morning but have no idea how it “will be taken cae of”. It would be a bigger problem if these women are denied contraceptions.
There will be a ‘ problem’ if Obama capitulates. Obama has had to make deals with the devil (read: DINO’s) over and over and over again in order to get anything passed. But at some point, it is necessary to stand up for 21st century values and the rights of all women, not just Catholic women who pledge allegiance to the Pope. Interestingly, that in Italy employers have to payments for birth control, but the U.S. of A. is more beholden to the Pope than Italy is.
So your ‘problem’ might be solved but it will further inflame many of the progressive base. So who, really, wins? Caving to theocratic demands or standing up for the rights of women?
He may lose votes no matter what. Since there is a sense, even from some Catholic Obama supporters, that Catholics vote as a monolithic voting block, do you think capitulating on this is going to get Obama 90% of the Catholic vote?
If Catholic hospitals want to force their beliefs on everyone else, then they can give up tax exempt status and get their hands off our taxpayer money.
The President would stand up for values but he gets NO support.
Everybody heads for the hills anytime an issue comes up.
That is a fact!
Exactly, as someone else posted on a different blog – where are all the women’s groups with their support?
DrDemocrat, 98% of Catholic women use contraceptives. So they are going to not vote for PBO based on this stupid ruling? I seriously doubt that. This is NOT a big deal as the media and the RW are trying to make it. I thought the media had said that it was the economy and jobs that were going to determine whether or not PBO wins? Now that the economy seems to be improving, they are feverishly trying to come up with some wedge issue to divide voters? Oh please.
I am a daily mass, rosary & novena praying pro-life Catholic who has read DrDemocrat’s many presumptuously categorical posts on this very fake controversy…
Sorry, but there are so many Catholics who don’t think this is the big deal DrDemocrat (alongside the poster formerly known as Halo) insists it is for **President** Obama…
Many in the hierarchy of the Catholic church have been hard at work trying to force-feed the sheep republican ideology and political candidates affiliated with the GOP establishment…
The Catholic church through its leadership continues to be as infinitely racist and manipulative as ever…and the weak attempts to hide the racially based disdain of the vocal handful in the Catholic leadership behind conveniently resurrected culture wedge issues such as this, is simply pathetic…
If Catholic hospitals want to force their beliefs on everyone else, then they can give up tax exempt status and get their hands off our taxpayer money.
**************************
THISSSSSSSSSSSSS
I wonder how the 90-something percent of Catholic women that use birth control will vote. Will they just listen to what the leaders say, even though they know the issue affects them? I am not Catholic, but I went to Catholic boarding school, including masses until I was in my late teens.
I am still fighting to understand some of the hypocrisy sometimes that we see in the church. I hardly saw some of the faux outrage coming from some of the usual suspects on this issue as we did with the blistering news about priests abusing kids.
Lots of Catholic women use birth control, I hesitate to think that they will allow this issue to sway them. I hope I am not wrong. Just common sense, despite what the church says.
Off to work. Have a good day everybody!!
I hope he stays strong on this. Yes, there are many Catholic women who won’t vote for President Obama because of this decision (my mother-in-law.) But they are the old women who can’t bear children anymore. They will use this as their “reason” so they won’t have to use the other reason (the color of his skin.) These people would never have voted for him anyway. If Catholic organizations want to be in the insurance business and health care business and they accept government funding, then they can darn well follow the law.
If Catholic organizations want to be in the insurance business and health care business and they accept government funding, then they can darn well follow the law…
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THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Presssssssssssss ON!
I come from a very strong catholic family, and from what I konw my sister used birth control and we
all have advice our girls to protect themselves and yes including birth control pills, and by the way
the younger catholics think diferent than the old this is a personal decision for each individual, and
yes they will be voring for PBO the rightwingers assholes are traying to make on issue for religous
reasons, But not to wooried Obama will do just fine amoung catholics, and by the way my family
is so multi-cultural.
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/100432/obamacare-contraception-catholic-hospital-medicaid
Frankly I don’t see the difference between the HHS rule and what you’re proposing. Why should non-Catholic employees of a Catholic run institution be denied insurance coverage for birth control pills. And it is not the Catholic Church paying for them, but the third party insurer. If you are a church that employs Catholics ONLY you don’t have to provide birth control insurance. Why is this hard to understand when it’s already common practice in 28 states? Catholic hospitals and universities get a lot of federal money and the federal government is asking them to abide by Federal rules. Why should a Protestant, Jew or Muslin employee of a Catholic Institution suffer prejudice? This is a ginned up Republican controversy that has nothing to do with reality. ‘ Reasonable’ people understand that they can’t shove their religion down other people’s throat. I was born in a Catholic family and have many Catholic friends and relations, but can’t think of one person I know who objects to birth control pills.
Sounds to me there are some out there who is trying to make a big deal out of this. You know trying to make something out of nothing. Just my opinion.
Then these organizations can give up taxpayer funding. This slippery slope toward theocracy has to stop.
Catholics have no right to add burdens to the rest of us. You don’t want contraception? Don’t use it. But don’t take away my legal benefits.
The entire Catholic community will vote en masse against Obama on this issue? None of my Catholic friends believe this. You do not speak for all Catholics.
Educate people that this applies to employers and not the church instead of demanding that Obama inflict someone else’s religion on the rest of us.
I choose enlightenment over ignorance.
Kindly refer to the President as President Obama. Give him his title, that’s the least you can do.
The President does not need to fix anything. He will win the election with or without the votes of Catholics that cannot accept the realiity of what is right from wrong.
You accept tax dollars you have to give contraception to women who ask for it.
What I think should happen, at least for a while, is for Planned Parenthood to stop funding the 3% abortions that they are allegedly doing and use that money to take care of women that do not want or need an unwwanted baby. Then when the babies are born, wrap them in a nice warm blanket, put them in a basket and leave them at the doors of Catholic churches and at the homes and offices of all those Congressmen who value the babies in the wombs and do nothing for them when they emerge from the wombs and are mistreated, killed, maimed and sexually abused,
You posted this yesterday and a string of commenters here gave you the facts on the Catholic vote.
Are we going to do this again? Didn’t we just get through having this same conversation with a concern troll? Seems to me that someone new has just joined the blog and taken up the baton where the last concern troll dropped it.
Tien Le, I think you nailed it.
You can expect this every couple of days per week until November. While I understand some people have real concerns I wish they’d stop with the “Obama is in trouble with whatever group” line. We’ve been seeing these ginned up controversies since before January 21, 2009.
You are right Tien Le let’s flush he/she fucker out of here, we should not be talking about this issue at all.
so troll who ever you are fuck off.
This line of thinking is really too much. If you disagree with me (or other people) mentioning this issue as a concern for our side, then do that without cursing. It’s really unfair to label anyone who is concerned with how our side is handling a certain issue a troll who should be flushed out of here.
I’m not naive, I came from the OFA blog so I know a thing or two about trolls. Not everyone who isn’t 100% positive on everything the president is doing is a troll.
I must have missed a part of this convo but I don’t think they are referring to you. No not everyone that disagrees with the Pres is a troll but someone who uses the same vocab as a winger and is constantly hyperventilating on these threads just might be a troll. I visit several blogs every day and its easy to spot one.
Rev. Al posed this question. The Catholic church doesn’t believe in divorce, what if they refused to hire anyone divorced. Many thousands of women work for Catholic hospitals and universities who are not Catholic but use birth control. Will the Catholic church utilize this statement in the future, “Catholics only apply” .
The Catholic church does not advocate divorce and shuns Democratic politicians that are pro-choice and pro-gay rights such as Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry…
The Catholic church and its very corrupt establishment will however gush endlessly, proudly embrace and shamelessly endorse adulterous republican politicians such as Newt Gingrich, Rudy Gulliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger who ironically at least with the latter two, claim to be just as pro-choice and pro-gay marriage as Nancy and Kerry …
Blatant hypocrisy and double standards on display by the Catholic church in its perpetually selective application of the churches ‘teachings’, when and to whom it applies…
Whatever you say, Halo.
Hmmmm….
DRDEMOCRAT, THATS PRESIDENT OBAMA…NOT OBAMA!!!!
THANK YOU
I must interject an observation here. You all may think DrDemocrat is a concern troll……fine…..but to insist he/she address PBO by President, also fine, has to be across the board, if you’ll read a couple comments above, there is more than one who has addressed PBO as just Obama. Just saying, let’s be fair in our reprimands. Makes it more legit. Just sayin.
“I am Catholic and a huge Obama supporter but I have to say that this ruling IS A BIG PROBLEM for Obama.”
Then let it be a problem. Get in line.
All women deserve the right to choose whether to obtain contraceptives or not. That is the core of the issue.
If ensuring that all women maintain their rights then by all means don’t vote come November.
PO should keep it moving.
Who the hell are you? It’s The President first of all and your tone is off putting.
Have you read the actual ruling? The institutions aren’t providing birth control. They are providing for coverage under their health insurance plans. Two different things. If people take time to inform themselves before getting outraged, then this matter will stop spiralling, and they’d have more credibility with regards to their objections.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/01/health-reform-preventive-services-and-religious-institutions
I also am Catholic and feel this could be a turnoff for Catholics for the ACA as it has been framed by Newt and Santorum. I wrote an email to the WH about it. I then read a post the next day on this blog showing that 28 (I think) states that already have a similar law in their state saying large religious organizations such as hospitals and universities employing people of all faiths and no faiths need to supply insurances giving them choices. The direct church hiring itself was exempted from this rule. After reading the info I felt relieved but still know the general Catholic will only get the FOX type story about it. The question of birth control in the Catholic church in general has been widely ignored by most Catholics for a long time whereas abortion has not. Abortion is not the issue though and has been widely left out of the ACA funding from what I can see. I feel it would be wise to come up with a compromise that still provided the women wanting and needing birth control with the same results others experience. Take the argument away from the opponents before they get it too hyped and jeopardize the ACA. Why do some act like it must be defended against any changes? This entire ACA was an act of many compromises to start with and those involved said it would need tweeking to get it right.
I wish this wasn’t the case, but I do think this part of ACA will be changed. As jovie said, there is no support from Dems and women’s organizations on this issue so Newt and Co. are gaining traction, tho unfair.
I hate when men try to dictate what a woman should do for her health.
Bingo.
I agree I am a father and a grandfather we men sometimes are pretty dumb.
It’s becoming ‘controversial’ because folks are getting desperate. They know that Pres. Obama is marching, marching, marching, toward a second term. And they all slinging everything they can find to try to stop him.
And as usual, he will let them play their hand all the way out. Folks on both sides will get worked into a lather. He’ll then know where folks stand. and he will make his move. I go back to a twitter quote from Samuel CookeIII
Let me be clear–As a Democrat, there is not a single policy disagreement I have with Obama that can be solved by electing a Republican
“Let me be clear–As a Democrat, there is not a single policy disagreement I have with Obama that can be solved by electing a Republican”
True..
I don’t understand the issue at hand. I don’t watch the MSM unless something spectacular happens so I largely rely on the people on this blog to report. But answer me this — I thought the rule only applied to religious institutions that provide health care and NOT churches?
You are correct, it does not apply to churches.
that is exactly right collegekay. That is the rule.
It applies to organizations that employ multi-faith employees, and it’s about insurance coverage. Doesn’t force churches or religious institutions to dole out contraceptives or to force anyone to take them.
X 100000000
“Let me be clear–As a Democrat, there is not a single policy disagreement I have with Obama that can be solved by electing a Republican “
Amen amk for obama.
Hit it in one, isonprize.
JG,
Amen to that!
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together – WE MUST!
YES.WE.CAN, Again…Obama/Biden 2012!
WE CAN’T WAIT/WE CAN’T GO BACK…So, LET’S STAY TOGETHER 2012! 😉
PRESS ON!
thank you, isonprize, for bringing us back to that essential point:
there is not a single policy disagreement i have with pbo that can be solved by electing a repug. (with that i include allowing a repug to be elected, because i don’t vote, or i don’t counter the foolish talk i hear with solid information.)
i agree the ‘controversy’ is in quotes because it is a trumped up, scraped from the bin non-starter of an issue. obamagrandmama said above, she had concerns–until she read the source docs! the repugs are spinning this to stir up a bit of smoke and distraction–because they have nothing of substance to run with!
that said, it is up to chips if this site will include the option of airing controversy. it may be we get enough of that elsewhere, and this is a place of peace and support only. that’s her call.
for me–i don’t like the name calling. i hope we can stop that.
I am a catholic and attend services every week. I am very dishearten to see this road that the catholic leaders are taking. No wonder people are leaving the catholic church. As a wife, a mother of three boys, I don’t think the church should get involved in contraceptives issues for women. Why aren’t they upset that in Italy the government requires the church to provide contraceptives to their followers? I think it will backfire and backfire hard on the church leaders.
Morning Chips and TOD.
Question: For those who’ve purchased totes and tote bags from the Obama campaign store; my question is how big are the tote bags? Are they big enough for a college student to use as a replacement for a backpack? Do they have enough space and compartments for books and stuff? I really want to get one, but I need to know if its big enough for school and school accesories. Thanks.
p.s. The bags in mention are the nylon grey-pink bag and the black rising sun messenger bag.
I bought the tote with the 2012 pattern and no it is not big enough to accomodate books and does not have any compartments. It isn’t as deep as I thought it would be either. I still like it, but I can only see myself using it to carry shoes or my lunchwith a bottle of water or a sweater. You may be able to to carry 1 – 2 books but no more than that comfortably. If you want a cute bag to carry on the weekend like a purse or for light shopping, it ‘s a good choice.
I also have the pink and grey one, while I love it, it really is just a sack – no pockets, pouches, cell phone slip etc….. But I think it’s a great size. I use it by putting my day sack with tea mug, snacks, extra vitamin C drops etc, inside it, with room left for a fleece vest and a pair of gloves. The straps are a perfect shoulder length, but I still need my leather (purse sized) backpack for wallet, phone, glasses, other stuff.
I have the white one with the 20012 stitching and I use it for groceries.
I love it. Plus it has a long leather strap and is quite sturdy.
the white tote with blue bottom is nice and big. On days I don’t have clients I stuff my texts, netbook, BB playbook, food and all sorts of stuff in it. I love it! very spacious. Next paycheck gonna get the one with the 2012 pattern and the waterbottle ooooh!!! and the bracelets!!!……….okay, maybe the next couple paychecks. 😐
Did anyone buy the messenger bag? I like the looks of it, but don’t know if it is big enough to accomodate a couple of regular-sized files and a rather large appointment book. I sent an email to the store, but have not heard from them. If anyone has bought it, what are the dimensions? Thanks so much.
The noose tightens again for Iran.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/06/obama-orders-central-bank-iran-sanctions
Axelrod did good explaining that religious Thingy about contraceptives.
They need to keep hitting like that, for about 1 month. Put this issue to rest.
Axelrod said that this dilemma will be resolved. He said the problem wasn’t “messaging” but rather finding a solution and they are working on that solution.
Doesn’t matter what the church says, Catholic women will continue to use the pill. They are living in the dark ages. I am Catholic and use the pill, same goes for my friends. Get real it ain’t gonna stop.
There is already a solution.
As part of the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy project, 30 turbines are being installed along the strait that connects the Long Island Sound with the Atlantic Ocean in the New York Harbor. The project, led by Verdant Power, Inc., is the first ever commercially licensed tidal energy project in the United States.
The turbines are scheduled to be fully installed by 2015 and will use the flow of the river and tides to generate 1,050 kilowatts of electricity — enough to power 9,500 New York homes.
The turbines will also collect important data about environmental impacts on fish and river sediment and provide jobs to a team of technicians who will maintain and monitor the equipment.
http://energy.gov/articles/turbines-nyc-east-river-will-create-enough-energy-power-9500-homes
Their goes Secretary Chu again designing new clean energy stuff. GE would love to patent this technology!
February 06, 2012
Of gamesmanship and respect
The anatomy of political gamesmanship, at the country’s expense:
Republicans first opposed a one-year payroll tax-cut extension, even though tax cuts are the GOP’s universal answer to all maladies great and small, from recessions to toothaches. Further, they insisted payroll tax cuts must be paid for, although tax cuts for the excessively affluent need never be paid for, since tax cuts pay for themselves — until President Obama wanted one. So Obama and the congressional Democratic leadership pared the tax cut’s duration to two months — figuring something was better than nothing — upon which Republicans instantly threw themselves into violent opposition because, they argued, the deal should extend to one year, which they had just got through opposing. They would fight, fight, fight for a one-year deal, or nothing.
Now they have their chance. And what do we hear? “It’s far from a done deal,” says one House Republican, while another says the longer extension is merely “a gimmick to try to get [Obama] reelected.” One Senate Republican calls the extension a “very slippery slope,” while another says that for him, “it’ll be a hard sell.”
The very essence of Republicanism is presently teetering betwixt a Marx Brothers movie and a Bram Stoker novel. It is yet to plunge all the way, that is, entirely one way or t’other, so for now it’s suspended in a kind of comedic lugubriousness, or, if you prefer, a lugubrious comedy of errors.
–Mahatma Phil
http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2012/02/of-gamesmanship-and-respect.html
February 06, 2012
The bigger ass is the wiser choice
Although the Washington Post-ABC News’s latest polling on an Obama-Romney matchup is good news, for now this contest is more about trends, and they’re even better.
To put it somewhat more broadly than statisticians, somewhat less exactingly than political scientists, and with a decorum befitting the blogosphere’s rather ill-mannered directness, Americans, on average, think Romney an unendurable ass.
Or, as the Post put it, with a trifle more sophistication: “By better than 2 to 1, Americans say the more they learn about Romney, the less they like him.” Remarkable restraint then seized Dan Balz, Jon Cohen & Editors, which prevented them from adding the straight-reportorial assessment, “It’s nearly enough to restore one’s faith in American democracy.”
Not just a plurality, but a majority — outside the margin of error — “of those who are closely following the campaign say they disapprove of what the GOP candidates have been saying.” When narrowed to Romney, even the GOP aborigines give as many thumbs down as thumbs up. What’s more, he’s bleeding independents.
http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2012/02/the-bigger-ass-is-the-wiser-choice.html
NRCC Finance Chairman Flubs His Own Finances
Posted on 02/06/2012 at 6:30 pm by JM Ashby
From the department of “you can’t make this shit up.”
The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) has found that Representative Vern Buchanan (R-Derp) has failed to disclose 17 sources of income on his financial disclosure forms.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) failed to disclose income on his disclosure forms and didnt report 17 positions he held at various companies and organizations from 2007 through 2010, according to an Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) report released Monday.
The report was issued to the House Ethics Committee on Nov. 8 but disclosed publicly on Monday. The House Ethics Committee said in a statement that it had decided to “gather additional information necessary to complete its review.” […]
Buchanan has been under an ethics cloud in recent months and is currently the subject of several ongoing investigations involving his finances and alleged violations of campaign finance law. His campaign claimed a Federal Election Commission report had exonerated him of the later allegations, but the FEC general counsel report actually said that several of his statements were not credible
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2012/02/nrcc-finance-chairman-flubs-his-own-finances.html
tweeted rikyrah.
Another Pale Shadow of His Old Man
by Anne Laurie
Michael Tomasky, in the New York Review of Books, has a nice compact summary of the life of Willard Mitt Romney so far:
George Wilcken Romney, the former automobile executive who became the centrist Republican governor of Michigan in 1963, was considered a presidential possibility leading up to the 1964 election. Moderate Republicans around the country were getting awfully nervous about this Goldwater fellow and seeking out plausible alternatives. But Romney, a tall and square-jawed man with impressive hair, had made a commitment to the voters of his state that he would serve four years, and Romney was a man who meant what he said, so a 1964 run was out of the question. The task of opposing Barry Goldwater fell to other moderates—Nelson Rockefeller and Pennsylvania’s William Scranton. Romney did, however, leave his mark on the campaign: having deemed Goldwater an enemy of civil rights, which he backed ardently, he walked out of the party’s convention at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. He had his seventeen-year-old youngest son, Mitt, in tow, and thus Mitt, too, occasionally gets credit (at www .aboutmittromney.com, for starters) for stalking away from his party on a matter of the highest principle.
Today, as the younger Romney struggles to secure the GOP nomination that seemed his for the taking until his crushing loss to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina, to think about that anecdote and his father’s towering influence on him, to read these two balanced but essentially unflattering books, and to watch Willard Mitt Romney run a campaign in which he has charged as hard and fast to the right as he could on almost every issue you can think of lead inevitably to comparisons between the two Romneys, comparisons in which the younger Romney comes up dramatically short…
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/02/07/another-pale-shadow-of-his-old-man/
This is a good assessment by Anne Laurie, rikyrah. Mitt can’t hold a candle to his father in terms of honesty and integrity. Romney Sr cared about civil rights and was deeply concerned about poverty in America. Junior has no qualms about stamping on the poor and overturning every civil right in the book. Romney Sr’s politics would be considered liberal today and he would be drummed out of the GOP. Given a choice between his son and President Obama, I think George Romney would have been hard-pressed to choose between common sense and family loyalty.
Right on Jackie. The problem in today’s Republican party is if he were anywhere close to what his father was his numbers would be to the South of Jon Huntsman. Romney wants the presidency so bad that he’ll deny his father ever existed if that’s what it takes.
From what I understand, Michelle can fundraise for super pacs!
Is that what you get?
I think she , Dr. Jill Biden, PBO, and VP Biden are exempt from campaigning for Super Pacs. Cabinet officials and Democratic officials can campaign for Super Pacs.
* Obama favors constitutional amendment on Citizens United: Perhaps the most important news in Obama campaign manager Jim Messina’s announcement about Super PACs is this:
The President opposed the Citizens United decision. He understood that with the dramatic growth in opportunities to raise and spend unlimited special-interest money, we would see new strategies to hide it from public view. He continues to support a law to force full disclosure of all funding intended to influence our elections, a reform that was blocked in 2010 by a unanimous Republican filibuster in the U.S. Senate. And the President favors action — by constitutional amendment, if necessary — to place reasonable limits on all such spending.
There’s an argument to be made that a strong case for it would dovetail neatly with the Obama campaign strategy of painting Mitt Romney — who favors doing away with all limits on campaign contributions — as emblematic of all the ways the current system is rigged for the rich and corporations and against average Americans.
67 senators have to vite yes and 2/3rds of the House.
Then 3/4 of the States have to ratify it.
Nope! This citizens united thing is not going anywhere, for quite sometime!
Maybe he’s hoping for some help here! Let’s elect those that would enable to move in that direction!
They can change that 2/3rd rule, can’t they ? Or is it only for filibuster ?
I don’t think so. Amendment requirements are set in the constitution.
Thanks 57.
Depends on how sick people get of these Pacs and their ugly ads and if they start working against Republicans. If the R’s feel the heat, there will be bi-partisan support for an amendment. An amendment can move quickly if the zeitgeist is right–consider how quickly Prohibition was overturned when people had had enough. PBO is seeding the ground–he knows this is a long-range effort and it wouldn’t surprise me if he takes this on as a cause when the leaves the WH is 2016.
Good point. Think twice before you feed the snake. 🙂
The state’s wait for a presidential visit is about to come to an end. President Barack Obama is on his way.
Obama, seeking a second term, will be in Burlington on March 30 “to participate in campaign events,” the White House confirmed to the Burlington Free Press on Monday afternoon — and the news delighted people of divergent political perspectives.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told the Free Press that Obama’s trip is well-timed — a day after the senator’s birthday.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120206/NEWS03/120206025/Obama-Coming-to-Vermont
But
the picture up top is absolutely adorable 🙂
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Next Target Of GOP “Otherization”: Business
Posted by Zandar
I wonder how the US Chamber of Commerce feels about Karl Rove declaring open season on every business that took stimulus money, starting with US automakers.
During a segment with Fox News, the network’s current contributor and the former Deputy Chief of Staff said he was “offended” by Chrysler’s “Halftime in America” commercial which featured a pro-Detroit revival sentiment and a gravelly, rousing Clint Eastwood telling viewers, “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch, we get right back up again.” (Come on Rove, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.)
“I was, frankly, offended by it,” Rove stated about the ad that suggests that America’s “second half is about to begin,” adding, “I’m a huge fan of Clint Eastwood, I thought it was an extremely well-done ad, but it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising and the best-wishes of the management which is benefited by getting a bunch of our money that they’ll never pay back.”
Rove hits all the dog whistles in about 10 seconds there: “Chicago-style”, “minions”, “our tax dollars” “never pay back”. President Kenyachurian Comesforyourdaughters will redistribute everything you have to THUG LYFE POSSE.
If the “crony capitalism” message sounds familiar, it’s because Rove is channeling his buddy Mittens.
………………………………………………
Rove is putting American business on notice: If you tell the truth and admit that the federal government helped you in any way over the last three years, the Republicans will destroy you. The GOP message has to be “Barack Hussein Otherbama is destroying businesses with SOSHULIZM!” Anyone who admits otherwise, like Chrysler, immediately becomes a potential target for House Republican subpoenas.
http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2012/02/next-target-of-gop-otherization.html
In a contest for public approval between Karl Rove and Clint Eastwood, I pick Clint in a walk. If I were KR, I would STFU before I would say one more thing to undermine a universally admired man like Eastwood. This hissy fit tells me Rove is losing his touch.
I am, frankly, offended by Karl Rove.
@ ut, the jedi master
could you tell me how to upload pics on twitter and post the pics (not just linkys) directly here ? I tried twitpic but the linky here doesn’t post the pics.
In the comment box on twitter when you click on it in the lower left side a camera will pop up. Click on the camera and it will let you browse your hard drive for pictures. Select your picture and it will be on your comment. Once you tweet it go to the tweet and click on the time stamp (date and time) then go up top to the URL address and copy then paste it here.
Apparently only the blog admistrator can post actual pictures on wordpress. So we are not able to post “only” pictures to TOD. I know, I haz a 😦 about that as well.
Ut might be in class so I hope this helps.
You’re the new twitter jedi master, donna. The damn camera doesn’t even show up in FFF.
/bows the head
This cartoon is a figment of the GOP’s imagination. Nothing remotely close to reality. That’s all!
why hf ?
I think I understand Hopefruit’s confusion. I had to look at it carefully to get it.
My interpretation is that President Obama is juggling so many big things and he’s holding all the balls in the air, but here comes the GOP ready to screw things up for him just to be malicious and a bunch of morons who don’t care about America.
But initially, at first glance, I thought it was a cartoon insinuating that President Obama is incompetent and will fail at his major tasks.
I saw it as how cool how cool he is juggling those things regardless of what the disgusting, traitorous rethugs are doing at the other end.
Especially the healthcare gift.
I like that the world is also being juggled. It would have been more accurate if the GOP elephant was just dreaming that he was setting fire to the rope. Should have one on either side – since they started the mess, and now want to prevent it from being fixed, and take the country back to the disaster.
I honestly don’t see how flip flop Romney will be able to get the American people to buy what he is selling. This of course went under the radar don’t know how but a few days ago Senator Santorum said that Romney was a one note message peddler. He specifically targeted the every day improving economy. He said that Romney will not have anything to run on as the economy get a death grip on recovery. Romney has nothing!
Mormon also? Just curious.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Last Call
Posted by Zandar
The Law Of Unintended Consequences has apparently bitten the Maine GOP so hard in the ass that they’re scrambling to scuttle their own voter ID law.
Though Republicans enjoy full control over Maine’s lawmaking process, they’ve dropped a push to require certain photo identification in order to vote.
Though Maine Republicans were considering voter ID legislation at the beginning of the year, Democrats vociferously objected because the bill could prevent thousands of Mainers from voting, particularly elderly individuals. On Friday, Republicans acceded to those objections, striking the voter ID language from an election law bill. This is the second time voter ID has failed to pass the GOP-controlled Maine legislature. Last year, a voter ID bill failed in the Senate after first being passed by the House.
And that’s actually the unofficial reason. The actual reason they’re scrapping their own voter ID laws? The people told them to sit the hell down back in November.
http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2012/02/last-call_06.html
The media is really making a mountain out of a molehill with President Obama using money from the one SUPER PAC, and of course the emoleft is sniveling about him “caving” to the right wing. Is the President supposed to let the Citizens United people win, or fight fire with fire?
And on top of it, the emoleft is sniveling about the Dems in the Senate passing the “anti union” FAA bill. Both the emoleft and hard right continue to demonstrate that they are 100% about political grandstanding and 0% about getting ANYTHING substantial accomplished.
Just as I suspected y’day. Didn’t take much time for the libural klowns, did it ?
The msm has had their tidy narrative overturned about the rich GOP outgunning the poor Dems. They hate the thought of PBO fighting fire with fire. He is, after all, supposed to just cave to the greater glory and $s of the Republican Superpacs.
As for the emoprogs, their hot air so endless it could power a factory. They cannot live through a day without something to complain about and God forbid it should be something real like Republican obstructionism or the full-bent commitment of a national political party to kill public education and the middle class.
Indeed – they should be raising their voices in support of the President’s position on contraceptives and women’s health. They could be raising their voices on this voter suppression move by the GOP assemblies all over this country. They could be raising their voices against all the lies being told by the GOP candidates about President Obama and his agenda and many accomplishments.
Instead, they’re raising their voices to demand that the President not fight for re-election with the same weapons being used against him. They’re as bad as those on the right, voting against their interests.
Study tried this b.s. in 2008. There is nothing negative about our president choosing to not unilaterally disarm.
By the time the administration is done with this,it will feed into the populist message: do you want a few anonymous billionaires buying the election?
“They” have i said how much i hate these little keyboards.
Yesterday at the Las Vegas Car Dealers Convention Bush took credit for the Auto Bailout.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/bush-tells-dealers-he-avoided-gamble-in-bailing-out-automakers.html
He forgot to mention that President elect Barack Obama met with him 6 days after the election and asked him to do it.
Also, the terms of the loan (we have to stop calling it a bailout) were set by the Obama administration. If you think Bush was going to demand that the US auto industry start acting like it’s the 21st century, you’re deluded.
oh, that’s just disgusting–and right in character. stupid little bush. can he possibly think anybody believes a word he says?
A “fun” new interactive that let’s you see how long it takes Mitt to make YOUR salary!
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/01/romney_income_calculator_how_much_does_mitt_make_how_long_would_it_take_him_to_earn_your_salary_.html
Holy crap.It’s embarrassing. Pass THAT along!
tweeted, df. Holeee crap indeed.
It would take me 43 years 3 months 26 days 12 hours 44 minutes and 48 seconds to make what Mitt made in 2010.
Scary shit. I KNOW! 🙂
Fk, I would be the richest the richest man in grave by then. 🙂
Reading on HuffyFluffy how Al Gore begged Olberloon to go to Current TV, now there’s a desperate man for ya!
Whatever:) They made their bed….
gore has the golden touch of choosing losers – from choosing that CT moron to losing the elections to ……
Not exactly true. I like Jennifer Granholm.
Yes, Jennifer is a hood democrat, unlike his other two hosts!
Lol! Good dEmocrat!
Are you inflicted with little keyboard syndrome, too?
LOL! I was wondering what the hell is a “hood Democrat!”
I’m doing my best to support her show. This is what I envisioned from ‘progressive’ tv and talk.
She can ask questions about some position of the President, without name-calling, without destruction. The lion’s share of her show is pro-Obama and a marathon toward progress, if not a sprint. She’s got a bit of a learning curve, but all new hosts do. I recommend that everyone give her show a little support.
I run like the wind at the sight of Cenk. My husband is much better than I am at finding the good that Keith says rather than the things I find outrageous. If all of Current programming were like Cenk, I’d say to stay away. But if Current is going to give someone like Jennifer granholm a shot, we have to show that this is the kind of progressive tv we want.
So please give Jennifer Granholm a try, if you haven’t already. She needs the support.
Agreed!
I’ve been alternating between tivoing Granholm and Maddow. Speaking of Maddow, I hope we will take some time to drop a comment or 2 on a Benen post: I don’t want his genious to be left to the unappreciative emoprogs.
Anyway, I agree, 57, that Cenk was a horrible hiring decision…Olbermann not much better. And while we’re on the subject, I ‘m trying to support both Martin Bashir and Rev. Al.
Too little, too late. Typical gore.
Well here in Minnesota today we are caucusing (and all the other parties are too). got my clipboards and signs ready to try and round up some volunteers and fill out my little piece of heaven with teams working to re-elect PBO. I’ll try to take some pictures and tell you how it went!
Have fun Alice. Off to work in a bit so I am just reading the blog today. Not turning on MSM at all….better with facts than fiction.
Good luck!
Have a great day, alice!! And thank you for all you are doing for Minnesota and our POTUS. Looking forward to your report!!
Okee doke kids back to work i go. 🙂
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/americans-gaining-energy-independence-with-u-s-as-top-producer.html
Tweet this to Ben labolt!
This is a serious must-read. Thanks, df.
🙂 I don’t Tweet…so if someone can do that..it would be great! Off to work…
Already done, df. You should get on this tweety thingy. Plenty of good stuff out there. And no, I am not talking pr0n. 🙂
Good morning, TODville.
PBO today on Intrade:
58.1%
Yes we can!!
Romney: 35%
Excellent.
Former Liberian rebel leader George Boley is to be deported from the US over his role in the West African country’s civil war in the 1990s.
A US judge said evidence that the ex-Liberian Peace Council leader had been involved in killings and recruited children was grounds for his removal.
Mr Boley, who has been in custody for two years, denies the accusations.
Around a quarter of a million people died during Liberia’s 1989-2003 conflict.
The BBC’s Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, says at the height of the civil war there were seven armed groups fighting – and the LPC was one of the largest.
In 1995, Mr Boley joined other warlords, including Charles Taylor, to lead an interim council for about a year. After presidential elections in 1997, the conflict resumed.
US immigration officials said it was the first time the use of child soldiers had been used as a grounds for removal from the US.
The case was brought by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), which said there was evidence from Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that Mr Boley’s rebel group had burned dozens of captives accused of witchcraft in 1994.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-africa-16924744
I was listening to BBC last night, and they were playing calls from people inside Syria. People who destroy their own countrymen and children deserve the worse type of punishment. I hope this Mr. Boley gets the book thrown at him. What was he doing here, anyway?
🙂
THE CITIZENS UNITED RULING IS MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR DEMOCRACY
The GOP is asking the Democrats to just give up and let them take over. Bottom line, President Obama is supposed to fight with one arm tied behind his back while the Republican Party has at it’s disposal the support from the list below.
– Supreme Court Citizens United Ruling – “Corporations Are People My Friend”
– Super Pacs (Anonymous Donors)
– Fox Network 24X7 negative stories about President Obama
– Rush Limbaugh and the plethora of right wing radio stations
– Feckless Mainstream Media that carries water for the GOP
– Republican National Committee
– Republican Party Presidential Nominee
– Chamber of Commerce
– Koch Brothers
– ALEC
– Lobbyists
– Special Interests
This is one more necessary fight we must have. We can never depend on the MSN, but we have Liberal-Progressive voices now to represent us. Of course we can always count on the PL to cry ‘hypocrisy’, ‘cave in’, ‘betrayer’.
This President will be owed a great big apology after his re-election victory. We will see who is ‘big enough’ to give him one.
You forgot – “the morons that follow them”.
that’s the real issue, theo. if everyone was educated, thoughtful, wise, and generous, the super pacs and fox etc would have no impact.
again and again, education tops my list of essential concerns, for this very reason.
SAM COOK, III – “MORAL VICTORIES DON’T COUNT WHEN AGAINST THE GOP”
———-Tweet————-
I’m sure the “Pro Left” will accost Obama for assenting to Super PAC spending. But not me. MORAL VICTORIES DON’T COUNT WHEN AGAINST THE GOP.
——————————-
http://twitter.com/SamuelCookIII
Oh goodie! Nader coming up on msnbc to slam the Presudent on Suoer pacs.
Nader and buddy Roemer sound the same!
Predictable..predictable…
I don’t recall seeing EITHER of them slamming Mitt Romney? I don’t recall seeing EITHER of them forming a movement to overturn the citizens United ruling? They are upset because they realize that the President is now going to derive benefit from something they would have liked to be exclusively the prerogative of Republican candidates. Sorry, as the Obama campaign said, you can’t have one set of rules for one party and a different set for another party.
Of course, msnbc gives them both a platform!
Once again the vultures circle. And, once again, we will plod on.
Foot soldiers win the war. Generals take the credit. True leaders recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of all.
Gee whiz! Everywhere I look, their is a bad article about, the President is doomed.
Out in full force this morning!
Jovie they can’t let him ride that 243K jobs and improving approval ratings for long. THEY HAZ A RACE TO SELL. I honestly believe the media is the main divider of this country. I read an article by Al Hunt of Bloomberg that said the Prez and his team are being arrogant..Why? Because the Prez decided to leave the Alfalfa dinner after his speech and didn’t wait to listen to Jeb Bush…the same Jeb (and George Sr) the President received in the oval office. You can’t make this ish up.
That is correct. The media is very divisive and a threat the progress in this country. I wish people would spend less than attacking the administration for so-called “messaging” problems and more time going after the corporate media and exposing them and their dirty agenda. People are paying monthly cable/Internet bills upwards of $200 for what? Just to stuff the pockets of some overpaid sub-par pseudojournalist who is nothing more than a 7th-grade level hack propagandist?
Eric Metaxas, the National Prayer Breakfast speaker, is on MSNBC comparing the birth control directive to Nazi Germany. This discussion is getting out of hand.
I’m so glad I’m watching Alien vs Predator instead and not wasting a second on these fringe nuts.
Gee I didn’t know 28 States are being run by Nazi’s……. although I do live in Nazi Georgia
That is a nice Autobahn you have around Atlanta.
That was despicable. He had the nerve to compare this to people not speaking up about the Nazis. Sick. Just the other day he was grinning in the President’s face and begging him to read his book. He was preaching about God and faith. What a hypocrite.
Wish I had contact info him.
Proud, the creep has a blog full of photos of himself with PBO. Simply google his name.
Proud, thanks for the idea, I just emailed him.
I sent that fake a message too. What a phony trying to make a name for himself.
Lol, someone needs a history lesson on Nazi Germany and the Catholic Church.
Good Morning TOD, I can’t stop watching the Clint Eastwood Chrysler ad, Rove called it
“Chicago style politics” I wonder if he saw that no amount his Fox appearances or Pac money
could reach over 111 million Americans….can’t put the genie back in bottle, sucker!!!
Handel quit the Komen Foundation!
Good News…..Now I hope she does not come back to Georgia
Look at this pathetic headline in the AJC website
” Karem Handel quits Planned Parenthood ”
Karem ?
And it makes it appear like she worked for Planned Parenthood.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/karem-handel-quits-planned-1336545.html
They cleaned it up.
Lying Hag Handel is still claiming the decision to change their granting criteria wasn’t aimed at PP. If that’s so, why weren’t they pulling funding from Penn State and Florida A&M both of which are under investigation for criminal offenses? You’re busted, lady and you’ve ruined Komen’s reputation. Shut up and go home.
Of course she won’t be shutting up. Meet your new Fox News Pundit…
President Obama Views Science Fair Projects – 10:35 AM EST: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-views-science-fair-projects
Watching Repubs go after this ad is hi-larious. Bring attention to what Obama has does for the American worker and American manufacturing — try to make it a negative. Go right ahead.
I’m expecting some half-wit Republican to open an investigation to whether the “Chicago thugs” paid for the ad.
Every time they whine about this ad, the President looks great and they look like they’re rooting against the American worker. Nice going.
When you have anonymous billionaires buying an election, exactly what moral ground do you have to stand on, Karl Rove?
Repugnants hate this ad so much because it is positive, makes people feel good and hopeful about the economy and the future. Repugs want the people, mad, sad, scared and depressed.
REPUBLICANS FINALLY REALIZE THEY’RE HELPING OBAMA
By Jonathan Chait
================
The larger problem is that President Obama has rehabilitated his own political standing in large part by highlighting the opposition of congressional Republicans. The Republican strategy has been to block and delay Obama’s agenda at every turn, and Obama has absorbed most of the backlash from a public that tends to hold the president singularly responsible for all political outcomes. Obama’s campaign of publicly highlighting Republican opposition has simultaneously helped to absolve him of at least part of the blame and made him look more like a strong leader.
I was skeptical last October that Obama’s initiative would help his approval ratings, but it looks like I was wrong. Obama’s poll numbers have climbed over the last several months, with his net job-approval rating, which had bottomed out at minus ten percentage points, approaching parity. The improving economy surely has helped. But it’s notable that the economy hasn’t helped Congress, which has seen its approval actually fall over the same span. It has all helped Obama’s strategy of making voters judge him against a concrete alternative, one that happens to be pervasively unpopular.
================
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/02/republicans-finally-realize-theyre-helping-obama.html
Guess they didn’t learn from the 2008 cycle, do not underestimate that skinny guy with the funny name! 🙂
?, why would the improving numbers help Congress? They have done nothing! :-). Yep, Chess baby!
I saw that and thought the same thing. Why should they get any credit when they’ve impeded progress, with the exception of many of the Senate Democrats who’ve beaten back much of their radicalism? I’m glad the polling distinguishes between the Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
The fact that Karen Handel of Komen has resigned proves that, as Speaker-for-Life Pelosi said, when women and men of good will stand up, we WIN.
Wish it were this quick to get rid of the haters like Handel in other parts of our daily lives.
I am reposting this item from The People’s View because it was beyond brilliant.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation Thinks You’re Stupid
=========================================
It’s an unpleasant truth, I know. But based on the recent statements coming from their leaders and affiliates, there is no other conclusion to be had. Nothing illustrates the organization’s deep-seated hubris better than this snarkalicious Facebook comment from one Cheryl Roberts:
————–
We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that resulted in completely unexpected scrutiny of our CEO’s unconscionably high salary, obscenely high overhead to actual good ratio, longstanding links to Republican politicians, huge budget for taking oppressive legal actions against other charities that dare use the word ‘cure,’ vast marketing and lobbying budgets, and long-standing history of secretly lobbying against federal assistance to women with breast cancer. Based upon the last ten years, we truly had no idea that we couldn’t do whatever the hell we wanted with gullible contributors’ money. We thought that the corpse of our CEO’s sister was an impenetrable shield that protected all of our actions from scrutiny or accountability. We appreciate your support while we try to figure out WTF has changed.
—————-
===========================================
Read the full post here
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/02/susan-g-komen-foundation-thinks-youre.html
Lawyer Behind Citizens United Endorses Romney
In a letter emailed out by the Romney campaign, conservative lawyer James Bopp endorsed Mitt Romney. James Bopp has crusaded against campaign finance laws for decades and filed the Citizens United case that is responsible for the huge amounts of special interest money flooding the election today. Bopp has not only fought against campaign finance restrictions but also disclosure laws. In his endorsement, Bopp cited Romney’s conservative record as governor of Massachusetts as the reason for the endorsement.
—
The same man said this on February 1st.
Citizens United Lawyer: I Hate Super PACs Too
It’s ridiculous. Does every American have to publicly endorse soemone? They shoudl be forced to list the reasons why they’re endorsing the person, so we can see what they stand for.
I endorse President Obama. See here for reasons why: http://obamaachievements.org/
Optimism has a well known liberal bias
By Steve Benen – Tue Feb 7, 2012 9:28 AM EST.
Following up on a segment from last night’s show, if yesterday was any indication, it might be a while before the right stops complaining about Chrysler’s Super Bowl ad.
………………………..
It’s “halftime in America,” Eastwood told viewers. “People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.” The point of the ad, though, was to draw a parallel between the American auto industry and the nation as a whole — Detroit nearly collapsed, but “now Motor City is fighting again.”
The ad continues, “[A]fter those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll make one…. This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin.”
For Rove and the right, there are two principal concerns here — one related to policy, the other about themes. There’s a strong case to be made that conservatives are wrong on both counts.
——————————————————————————–
On the former, Chrysler and U.S. auto industry itself survived because the Obama administration rescued it in 2009. Republicans were apoplectic about the policy, and told anyone who would listen that the White House policy would be a disaster and a fiasco.
We now know the right was wrong about the policy. Obama took a gamble and it worked — the rescue saved millions of jobs, the companies themselves, and the backbone of American manufacturing. The “Halftime in America” ad rubs salt in the wound, reminding conservatives not only of the fact that they were wrong about the industry at a time of crisis, but also of the fact that government intervention in the marketplace can work.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10340219-optimism-has-a-well-known-liberal-bias
So, the rumor is, the GOP will not extend the payroll taxcuts and UE insurance, until around September, after maximum damage to economy.
Boner is already blaming democrats for not proposing a payfor!
What a mess!!!
When they pay for the two wars, the Medicare prescription drug benefit and the Bush tax cuts — they can stand on moral ground.
Only tax cuts to the middle class need to be paid for? Not the Bush tax cuts?
Effing frauds.
Llet’s not go by rumors. Facts only.
A rumor might or might not be true. We shall see.
I think it has become clear now that Rove has completely lost his touch. This is just the latest in a string of things he has said and done that points to his complete break from reality. He believes his own hype and has been feeding the beast at Fox for so long that he can no longer find the pulse of America. His threats are empty and he knows it. Show me anyone who has suffered even a tiny bit of real harm as a result of being hauled before this current Congress to testify in a hearing. Pretty much everyone who goes to the Hill right now is giving Congress the middle finger because the House has lost all credibility with the American people. These hearings have no gravitas and are not being taken seriously by anyone but Fox News. It’s a side show.
(Sorry, I messed up with my login so my first attempt to post this comment got sent to moderation.)
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE SCIENCE FAIR…OUR PBO HAS HIS PRIORITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
Feingold haz a sad about PBO’s campaign finance decision. This is the high and might principles guy who’s sitting at home because he LOST his election.
Yes… I am laughing….he lost to Big Money and is still whining.
For all his ‘librul’ grandstanding, doesn’t satint russ’ senate record say exactly the opposite.
Why, yes it does! PL hypocrisy alert!
Closing Guantanamo Bay comes to mind.
ARGH, just recalling that makes my blood boil.
Extending middle class tax-cuts. These are just under this admin. His record under shrub isn’t great either.
Because he wouldn’t run a decent campaign and actually show why his opponent was a bad choice for WI.
I know a lot of people think Feingold is some kind of progressive god, but he’s had a number of questionable votes and is tone-deaf politically. I was born and raised in WI and now live in Chicago, so I’ve followed his career closely. He is not what he is perceived to be in many cases.
He seems to like losing on principle. As Rumsfeld said, “you fight with the military you have”. Well, this awful CU decision is the de facto law of the land, and the President must not unilaterally disarm.
\
Russ who? You mean, the loser? This is America; since when do losers have influence?
I have a new phrase: “Republican war against patriotism”.
Evidently putting Americans back to work building actual cars that actual Americans will drive is somehow the purview of Obama and democrats — just ask Karl Rove.
“THE REPUBLICAN WAR AGAINST PATRIOTISM”
=======================================
I love it. Let’s get that to Bobfr and blast it out far and wide. Here is just another example of the GOP knee jerk reaction of being against everything President Obama is for biting them in the arse. The spectacle yesterday of Karl Rove being “offended” by the Clint Eastwood commercial broke the hypocrisy meter.
I actually tweeted it myself, and I tweet very little. Since the airwaves are full of b.s. this morning, let’s change the narrative.
Fantastic
Oops, as Rick Perry would say. Didn’t mean to hit “post”. I love it because Karl Rove was “offended” by a pro-American commercial. I also love it because the repubs have done their best to make America fail in these grave times. Well, it’s HIGH-time they wer called out…overtly and loudly.
Three Current Supreme Court Justices Will Turn 80 Before The End Of The Next Presidential Term
By Ian Millhiser on Feb 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm
In an excellent piece highlighting the impact a second Obama term could have on the federal judiciary, the AP’s Mark Sherman provides an important reminder of what is at stake in this election:
The next president, whether it’s Obama or a Republican, also has a reasonable shot at transforming the majority on the Supreme Court, because three justices representing the closely divided court’s liberal and conservative wings, as well as its center, will turn 80 before the next presidential term ends.
The three justices are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the leader of the court’s liberal wing, conservative Antonin Scalia, and Anthony Kennedy, who leans conservative but on some issues provides a decisive vote for the liberals.
Kennedy, of course, does a whole lot more than simply “lean” conservative. Although his moderate views on issues such as gay rights and detainee treatment are welcome, Kennedy consistently places the interests of wealth individuals and corporations ahead of the more than 99 percent of Americans who cannot afford to buy and sell elections. Kennedy authored the egregious Citizens United decision that unleashed unlimited corporate efforts to buy elections and which led to the creation of Super PACs that empower billionaires to buy off candidates. He’s also consistently voted to allow corporations to force consumers and workers into a privatized, corporate-owned court system that overwhelmingly favors corporations.
If Obama is reelected, however, he could have the opportunity to replace Scalia or Kennedy and transform a Court that has bent over backwards for the one percent into a Court interested in enforcing laws enacted to benefit all Americans. Perhaps this is why super-wealthy donors taking advantage of Kennedy’s error in Citizens United are overwhelming using their vast fortunes to try to defeat Obama.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/06/419148/three-current-supreme-court-justices-will-turn-80-before-the-end-of-the-next-presidential-term/
There will be a minimum of FIVE SCOTUS appointments between now and 2017.
Oh, holy shit.
Russ Feingold – do you really want to lose this election on ‘principle?’ I hate the PL.
Allan Grayson redux…except he might be a little quiet on THIS particular issue since he may be relying on PBO’s coat tails. If not he will be another big loser because he’s not running to serve his constituents in a very purp;e district.
THE PAYROLL TAX CUT EXTENSION NEGOTIATIONS ARE A MESS IN THE MAKING, with Republicans accusing Democrats of dragging out negotiations to score political points and Democrats blasting the GOP for attaching policy riders to the bill. Among the policy points complicating the talks: EPA’s regulations on industrial boilers. POLITICO’s Seung Min Kim and Jake Sherman have the behind-the-scenes story of a disaster in the making: http://politi.co/wbzwsC.
Jovie, I’m sorry but this is all political theatre (which by the way the media thrives on) and we have been down this rabbit hole before. I refuse to hyperventilate over this ridiculous posturing by the Republicans in Congress. They think they can make this President and the Dems in Congress look bad playing these silly games with our economy.
The payroll tax cuts will be done before they expire. Full Stop! End of discussion.
It’s half time American. And the second half is about to begin!
It just makes sense for the republicans not to extend them!
Think about it?
Hyperventilate??? Lol!
I am putting on some tinted glass on my doors in my house.
If I were losing my breath, I would have a heart attack.
— Draft Interior Department regulations (http://politico.pro/xpzW7g) requiring natural gas operators on public lands to disclose their recipes for fracking fluids made headlines Monday, but Pros have been in the know since Talia Buford broke the news on Thursday: http://politico.pro/yBKJZQ.
I forced myself to half-listen to Ralph Nader on MSNBC just now. He has a six-point (or 100-point – who knows – he’s such a boring speaker) plan to get President Obama re-elected. The only two I remember are to save the Postal Service and increase the minimum wage. I’m for both of them, so that was okay. He said if the Democrats just act smarter, they will keep the White House, take back the House, and get better numbers in the Senate – and win in a landslide. Go, Ralph. Yawn. But this is the first presidential election year in a while that I didn’t hear him say that he (Nader) is the answer to the country’s problems.
Chris Jansing of MSNBC asked him follow-up questions and – for the first time that I’ve heard – would end them with “as President Obama has been doing.” She actually pointed out that President Obama has these “plans” already or they are already in the works.
I don’t think this week is gloom and doom, as some on different venues seem to be implying. There are all kinds of positive signs out there – I suggest we all enjoy the ones we see and #PressOn!
Maybe he finally drank some reality juice.
If he only did that for Gore we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now. Plus Ralph is too old and would have been marginalized to run in 2012 since Ron Paul has all his supporters hehehehe :).
I saw him on book TV last week and he made a lot of sense there also.
Are these things that Congress has to vote on? If they are I’m not really interested in any outside advice at this time. Let the Congressional Dems and the WH deal with Congress/legislation. What I want to hear from others are ideas that we can implement on our own.
What has this country come to when birth control is considered “controversial”? SMH
I had just added Dave Weigel to my ‘follow’ list and then he was awful on MSNBC. “Maybe there IS a war against religion’. O my effing GOD, Dave Weigel!
I certain am vehemently pro-choice but I can understand that some people consider abortion murder. But putting a burden on women for nothing more than theocratic reasons is completely unacceptable. Contraception can only be considered ‘murder’ if you are a theocrat and your position has no place in American law.
Axelrod signaled some kind of compromise. This will do no one any good at all. The screamers about this issue were never going to vote for Obama or Democrats anyway. And these people vote. A compromise will demoralize the base, and our side loves to look for reasons NOT to vote.
Stand up for what’s right: these institutions take tons of taxpayer money. They hire nurses because someone is a good nurse, not because she’s a good Catholic, so they have no right to place a burden on all women, forcing them to pay for medications that are legal.
This is a complete media controversy.
I know right?
APNewsBreak: Komen official quits breast cancer charity over Planned Parenthood dispute
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PLANNED_PARENTHOOD_KOMEN?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Good riddance.
Handel still needs to go.
She’ll be the next host or regular contributor on Fox News.
It’s her.
Now let’s everyone remember that Mitt Romney said yesterday that he agreed with Komen’s original decision to defund Planned Parenthood
I’m really enjoying watching the President interact with the young inventors.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-views-science-fair-projects
I am enjoying this science fair. I like the fact that The President is truly interested as well as the way he put’s these kids at ease. These young people are quite impressive.
Me too. There were some very impressive projects from these young people and the President was just awesome. I can’t remember when anyother president has done anything like this before.
Foreclosure deal of 20+ billion dollars to consumers, has support of 40 states, the other 10, not so much.
Thus, it looks dead!
Back to the drawing board!
Now it’s 25 billion.
Take the settlement!
The negotiations are still going on. Let’s wait and see before thinking its dead.
The young girl sitting on the right of the setee could pass for a young Hillary Clinton!
Heard in Wisconsin: ‘Ignore the public comments’
By Laura Conaway – Tue Feb 7, 2012 10:40 AM EST.
@_kristy_/flickr
From the March 2011 protests in Wisconsin.
Since the 2010 elections, new Republican majorities in the states have been using government to weaken the Democratic electorate. That’s why so many states have been going after unions, which tend to vote Democratic and fund Democratic campaigns. That’s why so many states have been making it harder for students, the poor and the elderly to vote, because those groups tend to vote Democratic.
In Wisconsin today, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Republican lawmakers committed $400,000 in public money to a redistricting process that they kept secret along the way and that they used to bolster incumbent Republicans.
As legislative leaders secretly developed new election maps last year to strengthen their majority, Republican lawmakers were told to ignore public comments and instead focus on what was said in private strategy sessions, according to a GOP memo that became public Monday.
Other newly released documents also show almost all Republican lawmakers signed legal agreements promising not to discuss the new maps while they were being developed.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10340521-heard-in-wisconsin-ignore-the-public-comments
Maybe one day before my “Big Chill, the electorate will come to the understanding that Republicans do not play by the rules. Period. Full Stop. I sure hope I live to see the “AWAKENING”.
This is one of my favorite events of the year at the White House. I’m not science oriented so I really enjoy seeing and hearing the students’ presentations and it sure looks like POTUS does, too. That was a really impressive and sweet group of student he just met. The nuclear science kid was too much!!
Happy 200th birthday to Charles Dickens!! Looking forward to all the recreations of his work this year. PBS will air Great Expectations when Downton Abbey is done.
The city of Denver became what it is today because of a railroad. After the Denver Pacific Railroad connected the city to the Transcontinental Railroad in 1870, thousands of tourists and millions of pounds of freight were hauled into the city in the first month, and the population grew by a reported 100 residents per day.
Railroads were so revered that Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans observed, “Colorado without railroads is comparatively worthless.”
Yesterday, I saw a modern-day extension of Denver’s rich rail history when I toured construction on the city’s latest rail artery, the FasTracks West Rail transit line. And just as the early Denverites cheered the arrival of the Denver Pacific Railroad, the enthusiasm in yesterday’s crowd was electric.
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/02/west-rail-line-denver.html
Jovie this is so cool!!! I have family who will be served by this who live and work in the Denver area. They can hardly wait until it is all completed. My daughter says there are plans for this to expand more in the future. Thanks for sharing this here.
Cornel West Settling Scores With Melissa Harris-Perry
Cornel West, one of President Obama’s fiercest critics among black academicians, turns his fire on MSNBC’s newest host, Melissa Harris-Perry, in an apparent attempt to settle scores as he is interviewed for the Feb. 2 issue of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
“West says that the attacks by his former colleague, Melissa Harris-Perry, in the Nation and on cable news were strictly personal,” Jamal Eric Watson writes.
“. . . West was responsible for bringing her to Princeton from the University of Chicago after the two met at a conference. . . . She held a joint appointment between the Center for African American Studies and later turned on him and [Dr. Eddie] Gluade, the chairman of the department, calling them ‘hypocritical leftists.’ ‘I have a love for the sister, but she is a liar, and I hate lying,’ says West. . . . She’s become the momentary darling of the liberals, but I pray for her because she’s in over her head. She’s a fake and a fraud. I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was.’
“Harris-Perry declined to be interviewed for this story.”
“Melissa Harris-Perry” is to debut on MSNBC on Saturday, Feb. 18, airing Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, Eastern time.
Harris-Perry told Journal-isms she would have no comment
http://mije.org/richardprince/roland-martin-and-glaad
Cornel West; the expert on fake and a fraud
I wonder why MSNBC didn’t offer him his own show.
Translation: Look at me! Oh please look at me! I’m relevant..Did I use the word plutocrat today?
I receive emails from our OFA CA Communications Press Secretary every day, sometimes a few times throughout the day. This is a good one that clarifies several key aspects:
Obama for America to Support Priorities USA to Counter Outsize Influence of GOP Super PACs
Key Point: The Obama campaign will not unilaterally disarm while the Republican nominee benefits from unlimited spending.
* Obama for America has decided to support Priorities USA to help counter the weight of the Republican Super PACs. The campaign
will do so knowing and expecting all of Priorities USA’s donations to be fully disclosed to the Federal Election Commission, as required by
law.
* Some campaign, White House and Cabinet officials will attend and speak at Priorities USA fundraising events. They will fully comply
with all FEC guidelines.They will not raise money and will only appear at events to demonstrate support.
* The President, Vice President, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will not participate. They will stay focused on raising money for the Obama
campaign.
* The campaign is facing the reality of the law as it currently stands. Republican Super PACs have already spent $40 million, almost all of it on negative ads. Too much is at stake to allow two sets of rules, whereby Democrats unilaterally disarm while
the Republican nominee benefits from unlimited spending.
* Last week’s FEC filings showed that the Super PAC affiliated with Mitt Romney’s campaign raised $30 million last year from just 200
contributors.
* Romney personally helped raise money for this group, which is run by some of his closest allies.
* Other outside groups opposing the President are expected to spend half a billion dollars in addition to what the Republican nominee and
party will spend to try and defeat the President.
* The Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision allowed these Super PACs to receive and spend unlimited special interest money
from both corporations and wealthy individuals. This accelerated a dangerous trend toward a democracy increasingly dominated by big-money
interests, who can more disproportionately influence our elections and government.
* The President has consistently supported campaign finance reform and efforts to limit the influence special interests have over the political process. Mitt Romney supports unlimited contributions to campaigns and wants to roll back existing campaign-finance reforms.
Lots of good info here.
This is an excellent fact sheet that needs to be sent to all of the networks. Seriously, there is a lot of willful ignorance going on with the mainstream media reporting. They have a narrative they want to run with so they are pretending they don’t know all of the facts about this decision. It’s shameful. But par for the course.
Thanks, Ladyhawke. I hope people will take some or all of it and circulate where appropriate.
Mitt Romeny’s New Policy for The Poor: H/T MoveOn.org
I left the Catholic Church years ago. Raised catholic, my younger brother is a priest, my uncle was a priest and my parents go to church everyday. Candles burning everyday, crucifixes in every room. The church has failed me and so many others, I could go on and on. I am not anti Jesus I am anti-organized church dictated ideology. Contraceptives are death panels? Give me a break! OCP’s are also used for other medical purposes, dysmennorhea (painful menese), irregular periods, cystic acne etc. These religious organizations pay no taxes and use their bully pulpit to tell their parishioners how to vote, the evils of contraception and yet they had no shame when young children were abused for years, and covered up for their priests. They are men who are holier than thou. Ask us the abused how much we respect what they say. The Catholic church failed me, they continue to fail those that need the most protection. Those that are Catholics I ask why? My parents are old, it is all they know and the church gives them comfort. There are plenty of other religions (if one desires such) that can feed the soul and not blacken it. I had such guilt when I left the church, but guilt no longer controls me. Saint Francis (I love him) would abhor what the church has become.
Gandhi – “I like your Christ, it’s your christians I have problem with”. 🙂
I appreciate you bringing up other reasons for contraception. they are good points indeed. But the bottom line is: theocrats are trying to shove their beliefs into our laws and make their religion apply to everyone. That is un-American.
The woman earning next to nothing cleaning toilets at a Catholic-affiliated hospital should not have to pay for contraception out-of-pocket. If Catholic hospitals want to make being a good Catholic more important than the skills of a good nurse, so be it. But they can’t take my taxpayer money and wage a war on women for their own theocratic reasons.
yeah, I’m passionate about this.
Hear! Hear!
I agree with everything you say. I am tired of the constant war on women’s reproductive rights. My entire family is catholic. We attend mass every single Sunday and I abhor what the church is trying to do. Contraceptives such as condoms, not only protect a woman from becoming pregnant, but from getting STDs and so forth. I just had a conversation with my grandmother, and I told her, in all my 38 years, I’ve never gone against her, but if the catholic church keeps doing what they are doing, I’m going to leave the church. I’ve had it!
Cheryllou, my heart goes out to yours. It is so difficult to stand against tradition and family but you must do what you think is right. I hope your Granny will forgive you. I am sure she loves you and this is painful for you both. One thing that pains me so much is that religious faith, which should be a source of comfort and spiritual sustenance, can be so twisted by those in control of the “true word” that so many are harmed. I wish you well whatever you decide to do ♥
Commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (
Valerie Jarrett’s blog: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/07/commemorating-national-black-hivaids-awareness-day
————————
The Strategic Leadership Council directs, plans, and organizes NBHAAD with support from the CDC. The 2012 theme is “I am My Brother’s/Sister’s keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS”.
Events commemorating the day (find them in your state): http://www.nationalblackaidsday.org/
Handel out. Brinker is next.
Speech is starting!!
I want to see if this works.
https://twitter.com/#!/tienle47/statuses/166927541137977344
Okay, so how come the tweet and pic didn’t show up. I copied the url from the time stamp, but it didn’t work. Hmmm.
See donna dem for obama’s tips above. The pic has to be loaded directly from twitter comment box suing the camera icon at the lower left corner.
I did that, per her instructions. The picture loaded in twitter. I clicked on the time stamp. Copy and pasted the url. Didn’t work.
Let’s see if this works.
https://twitter.com/#!/tienle47/status/166927541137977344
How did you get it to show up in a box like that? I must be clicking on the wrong thing.
I went to your tweet and press the time stamp which takes me to another screen with your twitter background and then I copy and pasted the URL address.
Ummm..It must doesn’t like yfrog???
I posted the same picture a few days ago from twitter and it worked.
Let me try and post mine to see if it works.
Okay, so yfrog comes from tweetdeck. Maybe need to use browser and go directly to twitter. But am I using the right url for the tweet itself?
See my note just above your comment here.
Tien you can’t directly upload from websites. You have to frigging store that image in your ‘puter and load it from there.
At least, that’s how I did it.
From Steve Benen:
“As part of her departure, Handel “openly acknowledge[d]” her role in the Planned Parenthood decision, which is curious given her comments to NBC’s Andrea Mitchell last week, when she said she wasn’t involved in the decision.”
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_nv/more/section/archive?author=steve-benen
Can someone explain to me how lying is ‘moral’ to these morality preachers? How does Mitt Romney lie so much and is able to wrap himself in piety? How the hell does this work?
Simple: IOKIYAR
It was brinker with mrs greenspan that said that lie. For once mrs greenspan did a good job.
Brinker’s been lying from the beginning of this issue. And yes, I loathe Mrs. Greenspan but she has been good on this issue.
This is what I keep asking. They lie all the time and expect it to be believed because they are the so called moral people. I really dislike our msm.
PBO: DON’T LET YOUR ROBOTS WONDER OFF
I am not ashamed to say it gives me goosebumps to see our President Barack Obama speaking at the Science Fair. I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This is just terrific. I am so proud of PBO and these amazing young scientists. It is a trill to see them, their teachers and their parents get the recognition they deserve.
He just asked the mainstream media to give this event the coverage it deserves. Good for him. It’s embarrassing that all the msm wants to do is cover controversy. That’s exactly why so many of the accomplishments of the Obama administration are not common knowledge with the American people.
PBO ends by telling everybody to keep an eye on their robots. Don’t let them wonder off. Too cute. I am crazy about this man. He is a treasure.
I thought that was so cute. He can relate to anybody. As someone said the other day “The man is a pro!”
I love it when POTUS said if we can invite the football, baseball camps to the White House, why not invite these science and inventors winners to the White House. POTUS is so right, these kids are our future and we need to support and encourage them.
That is champs, not camps.
I totally agree anniebella. I have heard him say that before and it just makes sense. President Obama is a leader and a visionary. There is no one in the Republican Party that can hold a candle to him. You would never hear any of the GOP presidential candidates speak so eloquently and passionately about the importance of science in our lives because they don’t believe in science.
One of the most powerful statements that President Obama made was when he nominated Nobel Prize winning scientist Steven Chu as head of the Energy Department (by the way, he is one of my favorite cabinet members). The same for the amazing EPA Director Lisa Jackson who is a chemical engineer. PBO wanted his cabinet to represent excellence. It wasn’t about appointing cronies who were not qualified for the position.
I still marvel at the cabinet members. The media ignores the fact that this is one of the most efficiently and competently run administrations in history. Just look at Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation. He is awesome. Look at the amazing work that Kathleen Sebelius is doing at HHS. She is an unsung hero. And ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior. And how can we forget Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner. And Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. And Attorney General Eric Holder. President Obama is making government cool again.
Wow, what a great event. CHEERS to all those students who work so hard to make their dreams come true.
Just imagine if McConnell, Boehner, Cantor, and all the radical Republicans had put country above politics. But to them they don’t give a dam about the people out there suffering, to them it’s all about defeating our POTUS. What idiots like Karl Rowe don’t understand, and yes I said idiot, Clint Eastwood was supporting our hard workers, our Auto Industry. He was supporting America.
It is an entire generation of Republican elected officials who don’t get that at all. I think we’re stuck with this mindset from Republicans for the next generation. The question is, how well will we marginalize them? How will we effectively push them to their fringes and limit their damage?
YEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAH…THIS MADE MY DAY…GOT TO SEE PBO SPEAK ON MSNBC….PRECIOUS…ALL THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND LOOK AT THE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE! PUT ME TO SHAME…PBO’S WORDS WERE SO IMPORTANT…THESE STUDENTS ARE AMERICA…THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE IN THIS COUNTRY…EDUCATION! AND INDEED…DON’T PUT THIS SCIENCE FAIR ON THE BACK PAGE OF A NEWSPAPER…IT SHOULD BE UP FRONT…RANKING WITH OUR GREAT SCHOOL TEACHERS…THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR TOMORROWS SHOULD BE! THANK GOD WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE IT BELONGS…OFF AND RUNNIN’ BLESSINGS!
NOW I CAN LEAVE ON THIS GREY DAY WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE…SUCH GREAT WORDS AND OUR CHILDREN NEEDED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
Another Half-Time In America Remix:
Sweet! Let’s tweet 🙂
Done.
gobrooklyn, I really like that.
Two words: FREAKIN AWESOME
I love it. Brilliant!
Tweeted, Facebooked and Emailed!
Thanks gobrooklyn!
Linky – http://voteview.com/blog/?p=317
This is really interesting. the Truman comparison, if not perfect, does show parallels. But the Presidents who truly changed policy in a progressive direction: LBJ and Obama. This is really fascinating.
This chart will certainly make some waves in the blogosphere. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. However, I have to say I’m uncomfortable with that type of chart. It doesn’t take into account the political environment within each president has had to work.
Another note: I will certainly try to find out what are their criterias for jusging a particular policy more moderate than another one. Did they put the most emphasis on budget and taxes? I mean… Isn’t Barack Obama more liberal than Bill Clinton on social issues and financial regulations for example?
@smartypants’ “take” on that graph: 😉
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together – WE MUST!
YES.WE.CAN, Again…Obama/Biden 2012!
WE CAN’T WAIT/WE CAN’T GO BACK…So, LET’S STAY TOGETHER 2012! 😉
PRESS ON!
This is very cool, thanks Chips, I love how POTUS loves science & math so much. My eldest son’s significant other is a math teacher of teachers.. so I have emailed this info to her.
DrDemocrat sounds alot like ‘halo’ – just my opinion.
we are of the same opinion lol
Count me in too.
Co-Sign.
Ditto.
It’s almost midnight in my part of the world. Got lotsa things to do ‘morrow. Gunnite, tod’ers. Fight on you crazy things.
Sweet Dreams, amk. You’re the best.
Since the jobs report, the whole conversation has switched to the Bible against the Government!!
Good morning, my TOD family. What a beautiful morning here in NYC. The parade is going on and the weather is absolutely pleasant for a parade. (I sympathize for the people in Europe.)…. I am sure we will get more snow before the winter season is over.
I have watched theHalf-time video(not as muchts as our President singing Al Green). But what came in my mind was Psalm 110:1 and Matthew 22:24. I know this is not a religious blog. But Our President is very spiritual and has no shame in his faith which was so evident at this year’s 2012 Prayer Breakfast.
The Scripture reads, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
I share this with you because there is no need for us to get anxious or fret over what is being said. Before this election is over there will be people who hated POB, who will end up voting for him. And they will not be able to explain it and some will. Our President is of “goodwill” for everyone, even all over the world and very spiritual, so even Clint Eastwood(of all people) will help us win this election whether he votes for POB or not. it does not matter. The change that POB initiated in 2008 is coming about not only for us, the opposition as well.
Can you just imagine white blue collar workers filling up the voting booths along with TOD family which includes a diverse circle of love . Also, the burnt out disgusted OWS who let a momentum slip away from their fingers. The PL who urged people not to vote in 2010. The Clintonites who have run out of steam and finding nothing to point their fingers at POB. Nothing to find fault. Of course, their will be a teaspoon of the so-called tea party left with the carl roves and rush limpballs,Tavis and cornball will still be on the bus riding around gas on emoty.
Even Ralph Nader is calming down. There will be some who will defect, hopefully not any of us. CBC bedroom slippers are in the closet.
If we don’t see the writing on the wall, so to speak and give in to all the negative media , we can see this happening and embrace it. It is not all about us winning four more years. This is a lifetime change for generations to come. I am grateful for the vision of our President that he accepted the call and took the hits(still taking them) along with his family. This is Half-time……the second half, “A Change Is Gonna Come .”
I cannot agree with you MORE.
PBO walks the walk. He is a man of GRACE. The embodiment of it.
He is a living example of Jesus’ teachings – whether or not you are the follower of any ‘religion’ – Jesus the man had awesome ideas.
Let the congregation say, Amen!
“there will be people who hated POB, who will end up voting for him. And they will not be able to explain it and some will.”
His obvious political talent notwithstanding, I have always maintained this as a phenomenon. To myself, with all the obvious bigotry still left in the nation, his calling and subsequent election was due to the winds of necessary change – perhaps divine (which I also maintain). This in no way denies PBO of all the hard work he put forth to win and achieve, but his intellect also was God-given, as are all of our talents. He has done us all proud and to me he is such an inspiration for the ages.
Spot on, LDS!!!
with that, I am out.
found this comment over at Balloon Juice about the President and the SUPERPAC money:
79.Martin – February 7, 2012 | 12:27 pm · Link
And I don’t think people fully understand the possible implications here. The Buffet Rule is projected to raise about $50B per year off of about 100,000 people. Most of that money would be raised off of a handful, though – guys with names like Koch and Adelson and Walton. They have to look at a value proposition here – if they can gang together and dump $1B into GOP SuperPACs and knock Obama out of office so the Buffet Rule can’t get signed, that’s a GREAT deal, and they can easily afford the $1B.
Obama has been raising about $80 per donor. There are about 55 million registered Democrats in the US. Obama would need to raise $20 from every registered Democrat in the nation in order to match the donation that a dozen super-wealthy individuals not only could put forward, but likely have a financial incentive to put forward.
This is the notion of asymmetrical warfare taken to an extreme. It could quite literally come down to the entire country vs enough guys to fit in a minivan.
Ok.One more
Two new polls out today that show people, including Catholics, support Pres Obama on the birth control issue. YES! Que the GOP whining.
Click to access PPP_Polling_Memo_on_Birth_Control_Benefit_020712.pdf
http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/02/january-tracking-poll-2012/
But but I’ve heard on the ground…
Gay marriage ban in CA just declared unconstitutional!
New post everyone – at last!
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/02/07/rocket-science/