by hgerhard
Good morning TOD family ….. I want to comment on the now familiar subject of the best way to help the President win re-election.
I believe that those who say that we must stay on top of all the developments and not bury our heads in the sand are perfectly right. However, I know from personal experience how much I get energized by a clear positive statement from a someone I don’t know and I meet by chance.
Just a few days ago I had the opportunity to attend an event with the First Lady. I arrived at the place well ahead of the opening and went to a nearby restaurant to kill some time. Since I didn’t want to order food, I sat at the bar and ordered a fruit juice.
There was a lively conversation taking place, obviously related to the visit of Michelle Obama. Some of it was toxic and I experienced the familiar dread of having to listen to the lies and distortions about the President and his administration.
But then the woman next to me spoke up and told the rest of the crowd that she disagreed and supported the President. What happened then really amazed me: several of the people who had sat and listened silently joined in and brought up their own issues in support of the President – everything from health care to Wall Street reform, from the rescue of the auto industry to bringing the troops home from Iraq. A quick count of the people talking made it clear that the pro Obama voices were in the majority.
And yet, I am convinced that I would have left that place with a dark cloud around me, if it had not been for that one woman making a simple statement.
It reminded me of the 2008 campaign and how one voice can change everything.
So, yes, I will continue to inform myself about all the issues that come up, I will continue to read and tweet Attack Watch and all the positive news I find. But the real lesson is to speak up whenever I hear people talk about the President and the issues at hand. We all must be that one voice that enlightens and encourages others.
That’s how we win.
The Obama Diary 
Me?
Hey Congrat Diane…!!!!
Congrats Diane and bjw2 for 1st and 2nd place. Once again, I grab the bronze medal.
If first is first and second is nowhere ….. crikey Hopefruit, where does that leave 3rd?
😆
OOOh Thanks Chips! 🙂 I came 3rd twice in a row. Obviously, 33 is my lucky number this week. Off to tell the media about it! They’ll have something to report on finally.
Hey Hopefruit, let Mark Knoller know, he just loves that numbers stuff …. well, so long as it’s negative for PBO.
Yup- Mark is the first one on my list!
First they’ll lift you up and then tear you down HF2. They’ll lick your boots then poll the number 33 and screeeeeeeeeeeam doom and gloom for you. They’ll tell you to drop the number 33 because it’s a bad sign according to the wing nuts & emoprogs. Then next week when you’ve dropped the number 33, they’ll call you stupid and a political neophyte.
p.s. run, run, run, ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun for your life!
LOL – I’m not scared. I’ve hired Mankini’s campaign manager to help me deal with the media.
You!
Congrats Diane!
I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS! This is my all time favorite photo!! Sizzlin hot! Thanks so much Chips!!
My pleasure Diane!!
Ok I may be first.
Almost, but you still deserve a prize 😉
Awh… look at Chips, making all her children feel special today…:D 😀
But bjw2, you kids are special every day! 😆
They are so adorable.
From lurker to first? Oh my…
You should play the lottery today..LOL.
I thought the same thing–so I think I will!
Doonesbury strip on Texas abortion law dropped by some US newspapers
——————————————————-
Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau has defended his cartoon strip about abortion, which several US newspapers are refusing to run, saying he felt compelled to respond to the way Republicans across America are undermining women’s healthcare rights.
The strip, published on Monday and scheduled to run all week, has been rejected by several papers, while others said they were switching it from the comic section to the editorial page.
In an email exchange with the Guardian, Trudeau expressed dismay over the papers’ decision but was unrepentant, describing as “appalling” and “insane” Republican state moves on women’s healthcare.
——————————————————
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/11/doonesbury-strip-texas-abortion-law
However, Mr. Trudeau, it’s online at http://www.gocomics.com/comic/explore/141396/7. The same thing happened some years ago with a “For Better or for Worse” strip describing the trauma of the teenage boy facing his best friend coming out as gay. And there it was — as long ago as that — online.
Thank you Chips for posting hgerhard’s great comment. Bravo to that woman for having the courage to speak up. Obama has many “silent” supporters and we can tell by the huge crowds he gets and people’s reaction to him on Twitter, FB, the success of Al Green’s hit single just because he sang one bar, the increase in the number of NEW small donors, etc…
Chips you are exactly right. I come here to be uplifted. I find it easy to know what is going on from this site. MY FAVORITE THING IS WHEN OTHERS GIVE USEABLE TALKING POINTS! I pass these on to all my volunteers. Just the way some of you word things helps me. You are all so informed and knowledgeable. You make things much easier for me. My time is limited. I have been meaning to thank you all for helping me. Thanks.
On that topic, people have found these Memory Cards useful: http://otrainofthought.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/memory-cards/
I have heard no reports that the Davy Crockett balad has had increased sales since Willard “sang” it at a campaign appearance in TN. He also lost TN to Santorum.
‘also lost TN to Santorum.’
Bill you think the singing had anything to do with it? 😆 😆
Is willard runing for American Idol? oh yea and Willard likes cheesy Grits WTF?
hopefruit2, what you said…
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/REBUILD TOGETHER 2012! 😉
PRESS ON!
THERE IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!………………..AMEN!….4 MORE FOR 44!!!!!!
Awesome story
Love our President and thanks Chips for all you do for all of us.
I love these few sentences and as we know now, it can change the world.
Amen HgerHard, we all should draw on that courage to be that one voice.
Thank you for your words.
Agreed, thank you Hgerhard. Your experience with one person reflects the President’s words perfectly.
I believe this is a rhetorical question.
……………………………………..
Posted at 11:39 AM ET, 03/12/2012
Is there any limit to Mitt Romney’s dishonesty?
By Greg Sargent
The other day, David Bernstein argued that there’s been an “important tipping point” where many national media figures have come to understand that “in the Romney campaign, they are dealing with something unlike the normal spin and hyperbole.” Bernstein suggested they are realizing Romney has crossed into groundbreaking levels of dishonesty.
I wish I were as optimistic. I’d argue that much of the national media is still treating Romney’s nonstop distortions, dissembling, and outright lying as par for the course, as business as usual.
Here’s a test case: The debate over Medicare — and Romney’s embrace of the Paul Ryan plan — is about to dominate the conversation. Romney is moving to get ahead of the story by accusing Obama of being the one who would “end Medicare as we know it.” Here’s the Romney campaign’s statement this morning:
“There are two proposals on the table for addressing the nation’s entitlement crisis. Mitt Romney — along with a bipartisan group of leaders — has offered a solution that would introduce competition and choice into Medicare, control costs, and strengthen the program for future generations. President Obama has cut $500 billion from Medicare to fund Obamacare and created an unaccountable board with rationing power — all while America’s debt is spiraling out of control and we continue to run trillion-dollar deficits.
“If President Obama’s plan is to end Medicare as we know it, he should say so. If he has another plan, he should have the courage to put it forward.”
The claim that Romney supports a solution favored by a “bipartisan group of leaders” is a reference to the plan authored by Ryan and Dem Senator Ron Wyden. The idea that this represents “bipartisan” suppport is laughable.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/is-there-any-limit-to-mitt-romneys-dishonesty/2012/03/12/gIQAIIwQ7R_blog.html
I am furious at my Senator, Ron Wyden, for giving Paul Ryan cover on this. We emailed him at his Senate address and got a boilerplate b.s. response which sounds just like the Romney crap above. What’s gotten into Wyden lately?
I get the sense Wyden thinks he can make a name for himself by reaching across the aisle. It will not work with the current GOP.
I both called the WA DC and OR Wyden offices and emailed both really angry at his stand on signing onto the Ryan plan. I got back a nonsensical email then that did not even have anything to do with Health Care. When I signed the online petition I got an email response that was atleast about healthcare and explained his reasoning. I still am mad about his decision. I had been a supporter last time around and even got my Inaugural tickets for ’09 through his Senate office. I’d never switch to the Republican candidate but am sorry Wyden has gone there.
After seeing the video of Romney’s “cheesy grits” and the roach, I have to say, that man just isn’t right. The talking heads say he’s awkward, no, awkward was Bush 41 not knowing what a grocery store scanner was. Romney seems to have a serious lack of social skills. For all the talk of what a great business man he is, I have to wonder how he could have been the one conducting any business, other than providing the money to his friends. There is something wrong with him. All he has is lies and talking points, nothing more.
Good day TODers!!
#PRESSON
#LandslideOBAMA2012
Let’s Get It Done
Thank you hgerhard! You are so right!
Hello TOD!
I agree with one voice. In my very red State I hear negatives about my president often. Without being mean I tell my story. I explain without the affordable care act my and my husband’s life would be left to the luck of the draw. A horrible car accident almost seven years ago left me unable to work. For the first year I was in hospitals and rehab facilities relearning most of the things we all take for granted–like how to feed and dress myself, relearning to stand and walk, and much later regaining my ability to drive. During this time my husband worked every day, took care of three teenagers, and came to the rehab hospital (3 hour round trip) 4 times a week to visit me. Eventually all of this stress caused him to have a mild stroke.
My husband is self employed and we depended on my insurance to cover our family. After my husband became ill my company dropped our family insurance. Because of the affordable care act our lives are now great! We are all insured, We don’t have to worry about losing our home, our kids went to college.
When people hear a non-threatening story that reminds them “yet but for the grace of God…” they respond. I haven’t convinced everyone, but I have changed some people’s hearts and their votes using my one voice.
Thank you for sharing your story, Diane. Hope many will read it and this may help …
#PRESSON
Hey Bob quick question. How do you obtain a link to Diane’s comment and post it on twitter? I’d like to know what you did on TOD to get the tinyurl.com link. Thanks.
You just click on the number to the right of the username. That’s the permalink to the comment.
Sweeeeeeeeeet. I’d actually done that before but never fully understood what it meant. Thanks LL aka Rusty Venture.
Ah, LL, already responded!!!! 🙂
Cheers!
#PRESSON
Sorry, ut, got out of a meeting a few min ago and just saw your ?
Under the username, e.g., Diane, you’ll see a date/time, right click on that and select ‘copy link’ and you’ve got it 🙂
#PRESSON
Thanks. I now have two methods of getting the link. 🙂
And I now have my new stuff learned today entry. 😉 Thanks LL, UTAL & Bobfr.
Thanks for telling us your story Diane and also for sharing it with people that you meet. I love hearing stories about how ACA positively impacts peoples lives for the better. Grumpy Young Man another TOD’er also had a wonderful story to tell about how ACA worked wonders for his wife’s healthcare bill.
If PBO’s campaign sells ACA the way I believe they can and will, it’ll have a hand in changing the game because it touches everyones lives regardless of race, gender, and age.
I am always amazed at how uninformed or mixed up well meaning people are. The other day when I went to Great Clips for my final haircut before my surgery next Monday I ended up in conversation with the young woman who was cutting my hair. We were talking about my upcoming knee surgery and she was talking about an auto accident she had years ago and how standing on her feet was bothering a place in her body. It ends up she doesn’t have insurance with her current job. I suppose it is one of those places that does not give the employees enough hours to qualify for insurance. I started telling her about the ACA and some of the portions in it that have already been enacted. i was telling her it was my number one reason for wanting to get this President re-elected. I mentioned birth control being required to be covered under the insurance without co-pay. I think this is when she actually mentioned she had no insurance. Anyhow, she said I heard Obama is going to charge us $1,000 for birth control. Somehow she had it totally backwards. Maybe she had listened to Romney. I didn’t have a long enough appointment to totally inform her but gave her the WH.gov site to go to. I just decided to try to give my opinion to whomever I could and include what I like about the changes I have seen dealing with my Mom’s healthcare as well as my own. Personal one on one stories even to strangers in a nonthreatening in a passive way seems to work best. Pushing too hard just turns them off and makes them suspicious of you.
Bless you Diane
Thank you hgerhard. Just the message I needed to hear!
Thank you for this report Hgerhard. This is so encouraging and inspiring.
I hope we all become that one voice wherever we go.
Glad to see this comment elevated to a feature post. Gotta keep our eyes on the prize!
Here is Deaniac’s analysis of the ABC/WaPo poll.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/03/explaining-dip-obama-approval-rating.html
He explains it all!
I was just about to post that link. If you survey more Republicans, well, yes, you might get different results.
I read Deaniac’s post. My first thought when i saw the poll was, did they only poll white republican men? How convenient that a poll would reflect the gop talking point, blaming PBO for gas prices.
Deaniac is brilliant!!! This is exactly why a poll’s internals are so important. Our lazy media could have done this, but that would have taken real intelligence a teeny bit of work. Plus, well, who want’s reality when blown-up fantasies are so much more sensational.
I don’t want to disagree with you, JG, but given my contempt for the media I feel compelled to point out that our lazy media COULDN’T have done this because it ‘would have taken real intelligence and a teeny bit of work’. 😉
YEP, YEP AND YEP!!!
I appreciate this info concerning the fix ABC/WaPo poll.
The results always depend on who’s ox is gored.
yardarm756 you do have a way with words!! Always makes me smile 🙂
Hope I didn’t confuse anybody?
Glad to be of service. 😉
Thanks for posting this article as even though this was a good news day for my daughter and my surgery plans are coming together I was feeling a little down due to PBO’s poll numbers dropping. I try to take the poll news with a grain of salt, but still get excited about good polls and depressed about it when they go the other way. It was nice to see that my suspicions were correct.
Now about my daughter’s good news. She went to Germany to be involved with a young professional exchange program over a year ago learning the language and training in both the goverment and private end of their program. She had been working in Aviation Law in DC for four years prior to that. She had her Masters in International Studies and her Law Degree. She was not liking her 24/7 hours and lack of balance in her life with the law firm (top ten firm in the world). She will be keeping her US Citizenship and working for a Company dealing in space and aviation in Munich, Germany now. She will be traveling the world using her law and her International experiences in this job for them. She is mandated to take 6 weeks of vacation each year and her hours will be for the most part regular hours. She is thrilled and I am happy she is happy. We will need to see if it is as it seems. She had to wait 6 months for the red tape to get the job though. It tested her patience. Now when I get this new knee maybe I can go visit her.
#NEWSTAINER Alert 🙂
#PRESSON
Deaniac’s excellent analizis of the polls, this am the MSM were saying that PBO polls were going
down and I was very surprise, however I did not believe whatever the MSm specially when it comes
to polls they use their own fucking narrative, and they are yes fucking lazy on their reporting.
Deaniac is brilliant.
I agree with hgerhard. I live in a very red district in Indiana and when I’m somewhere folks are dissing the President what I say is that I just love that man. They stop with their mouths open and most of the time ask me why. I tell them things they can understand. I really do love him and that shines through all of what I say. And I know that all they know are the Fox News and right wing church talking points. They truly DO NOT KNOW him and when they do, they will appreciate him like I do.
The ideas of the far right have been around for decades. Now they’re out in the open and people are beginning to see that the GOP is not walking their talk. The more people become aware of that, the better so it is very good that it’s out in the open. I don’t think we need to pay attention to negativity unless there is action for us to take. Otherwise it’s a drain on energy. The extremes of the right and left are in thought bubbles and I think the reason is that they are not dealing in facts. Both extremes are kind of paranoid. And they have others around them that reinforce their beliefs. I do think it is very effective that we let congress, corporations and media know that we are watching and don’t share their opinion if they are negative. I also think it’s more effective if the feedback is firm, civil and fact based.
Loved hgerhard’s article — excellent!
These are great stories Suzanne. I’m fortunate enough to have lived only in blue districts/states since I became eligible to vote. So I am very grateful for the courage and efforts put forth by TODers and others like you who reside in red districts/states.
You have no idea how lucky your are, HF. I have not had that experience in a long time and I do miss the joy of living in a blue state.
^^^This.
Thanks for sharing, Suzanne.
Suzanne, I have the same experience here in a red county. But I especially like putting stupid emoprogs down when I tell them how much I love and admire our president and how proud I am of his many accomplishments. When I add that I would walk over hot coals to vote for him, they inevitably close their mouths and stop the whining.
“I tell them things they can understand. I really do love him and that shines through all of what I say. I know that all they know are the Fox News and right wing church talking points. They truly DO NOT KNOW him and when they do, they will appreciate him like I do.
……
I also think it’s more effective if the feedback is firm, civil and fact based.”
Here is that personal touch again! Thanks Suzanne. TODville is getting the message over and over today that despite all the media is NOT doing, we can accomplish a lot by speaking up personally. It’s like our buying, or not buying, a product based on a personal endorsement/criticism. Somehow that seems more meaningful than the words of the actors in the ad.
Thanks Suzanne for your “up beat” comments. Like you, I loved hgerhard’s comment and I am glad Chipsticks decided to give it more exposure. Although I live in a barely blue congressional district, most of San Diego County is as red as it gets. Like you, whenever I encounter people who hate the President, and who are quick to regurgitate everything they hear on FOX or on right wing talk radio, I calmly respond by listing the reasons, based on facts, why I support the President.
Suzanne, I remember in 2008, I called Indiana with the computer application the campaign supplied. I remember talking to one woman who was sure Indiana would never vote for Obama, how racist they were. Look what happened?! It was a squeeker sure, but it happened! I live in a conservative area in California. I proudly drive what one of my work mates calls my “Obama car” with the stickers and wear my President Obama 2012 shirt. It sounds like you handle their comments well.
They may have been in another post, but this article is from today at noon at ABC and I appreciated it. I think this documentary will be very effective in getting the message out about what the President has accomplished. This will be an excellent and easy way for people to hear and understand.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/bill-clinton-on-obl-raid-i-hope-thats-the-call-i-would-have-made/
Bill Clinton on OBL Raid: ‘I Hope That’s the Call I Would Have Made’
Former President Bill Clinton says in a forthcoming Obama campaign documentary that he hopes he’d have made the same decision as President Obama to authorize the daring raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
“He took the harder and more honorable path,” Clinton says in a newly released excerpt of “The Road We’ve Traveled.” “When I saw what had happened, I thought to myself, ‘I hope that’s the call I would have made.’”
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Dieter’s Dream Brunch:
1. Ann’s Boring Breakfast Salad – a slice of tomato served on a bed of lettuce – 29.00
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too funny lol
Wisconsin Triggers New Round Of State Senate Recalls
Wisconsin took major steps Monday towards triggering the state’s recall elections for later this spring.
The Government Accountability Board (GAB), which is made up of retired judges selected for the board in a mostly non-partisan manner, unanimously approved the recalls targeting four key Republican state senators — Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, plus Sens. Pam Galloway, Terry Moulton and Van Wanggaard….
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/wisconsin-triggers-new-round-of-state-senate-recalls.php
————–
Also:
Wisconsin Election Officials Recommend Recall Date: June 12 (Still WIP)
The next issue, however, has to do with the big main events — the statewide recalls targeting Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch — and how to finalize the review of those petitions. And after that, the board must work out the precise issue of timing.
Under state law, the GAB originally had 31 days to review the petitions. In late January, Dane County Judge Richard Niess granted the GAB a further 30 days, for 61 days total through March 19.
The March 19 deadline also meant that the primary would be held on May 1, and the general election on May 29 — with the latter coming right after Memorial Day, which would wreak havoc on local governments.
Optimally, they find this works out to asking for a further two-week extension — for primaries on May 15, and the general election on June 12….
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/wisconsin-election-officials-recommend-recall-date-june-12.php
HgrhardI love that story and I have found it to be true many times! I was doing voter registration this Saturday, when I asked an African American gentlemen if his registration was up to date. He had just moved into my community. I was thrilled to update his registration. Then he said something that almost knock me over. He said he wasn’t sure he was voting for President Obama. My knee jerk was just about to kick in and I was getting warm and somehwat annoyed. How could he possibly say that in this hostile anti everybody climate of the GOP? I asked him who he thought he might vote for and he said Rick Santorum! I thought I would faint. Then he quickly added that he thought he would not get the nomination so that probably was not going to happen.
I took a deep breath and remained calm and asked him why was he disappointed in the President. He said he thought the President did not support energy. He said he knew we needed to go to alternative fuel, but that would take some time and because the President was against energy our gas prices were rising. I calmly explain to him that oil drilling had gone up over 300 percent with this President. He said he did not know that and seemed very surprised. I added we are exporting more than we are importing and that we are using less oil than we have in years. I told him that gas prices were being manipulated by speculators and the oil industry, perhaps to punish the President for not supporting oil subsidies. He seemed to become more interested.
He asked what about the Keystone Pipeline? I told him how the Republicans had forced an early inspection timeline tied to their debt ceiling debacle and that they knew when they did it that it went against the time line of the inspectors. The President refused to allow the pipeline to go forward because it might endanger the environment. He was looking me right in the eye then.
I told him we met every Thursday in our neighborhood meeting right down the street from our voter registration site and we shared information about many misconceptions about the President all the time. He made sure to get the address and said he would be there. I have had many discussions like that during voter registrations and just chats with people. I have talked with people who don’t even KNOW the President is running for reelection, (yes, there are some) to people who do not know how the ID laws might be affecting the election. I try not to judge and just share my story and as much information as I know.
Many are just grateful to know they are not alone and many are grateful that you talk to them and not try to lecture them, I know I have gone on and on, This will probably be my last comment for a while, so I wanted to make it as throrough as possible. But remeber, even if you don’t hear from me. I am here everyday about seven times a day and I am alsways sending others this way. Thanks everybody!
Thank you for sharing, Frenchie08 and thank you for doing the voters registration!!!! We must be out there educating!!!!
Good for you Frenchie08. One on one contact with people is a wonderful tool. By enlightening him, you have done not only him a service, but the people he will go forth and correct their misconceptions.
Frenchie, thanks much for your patience, and your unwillingness not to judge. I respect you for that. Now, let me have at this one-trick pony. He was willing ot forgo everything PBO fought and worked hard for, just for one f-ing issue. I wonder how many times he agrees with his wife, or his children, or anyone with whom he has a relationship with, but still manages to accomodate them. These kind irk me to no end, and test my already impatient commitment to canvassing. If I could afford to I’d just donate to the hilt, and write LTEs. I had never worked in a campaign before until 2008 because I’m not a fan of politics in general. But I would do anything to elect PBO. We all do things we hate at times, for the total good, but these kind really piss the s–t out of me. So I end my mini-rant about short-shrift people. SMDH.
And I see all kinds of grammatical errors in that rant. Back to my green tea 😀
I know how you feel edp4bho! I was talking with a couple that looked like they had been married a long time. The wife was a supporeter of the President and wanted to make sure we knew that dispite the fact that her husband obviously did not. The husband was very short and terse with me. He said that Obama had disappointed him and he would not vote for him. I asked them how long they had been married they said about 40 years. I asked them both had either one of them been dsappointed by the other. They went on and on saying yes, of coursed. And I said with wide-eyed amazement and your are still married? The man’s face turned red as he tossed his groceries in the back of the van and got in the dirver’s seat. He never answered, but I know he thought about that questions.
And please excuse my typo’s also too! In my best SP voice.
Good on you Frenchie08. You give meaning to ONE VOICE. Don’t stop.
Excellent efforts, Frenchie. Thank you!!
#PRESSON
Awwh. Thank you so much Bobr!
Oops I mean Bobfr!
Thank you for educating others about PBO. I am doing that as I come in contact with people too especially keeping his previous supporters current on politics. I have a batch of campaign buttons I keep in my purse and offer people I knew were supporters a choice of one. I have noticed most all of the previous voters are very excited to get another button. They love looking through all of them and choosing. It also allows discussion time. That tells me he still has support. I think I’ll be getting some more buttons soon. The postman just told me he picked the one with Obama’s photo and his name on it as the one that just had the logo and the year was not pronounced enough. He can’t wear the button in a Federal job at work but will wear it outside of work.
The Randi Rhodes Show just started. She starts the show talking about Game Change.
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/main.html
Thanks for the reminder!!!
Great comment, hgerhard!
(WARNING: SNARK BELOW AND DO NOT CLICK LINK IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RODENTS)
Ya know how R-money always copies anything his leader President Barack Hussein Obama does? Well, he’s done it again, after all the success of the new Obama campaign movie, and looks like he went out and made his own movie about his trials and tribulations in courting his fellow Repubs for support. Here’s the trailer:
That was simultaneously creepy and hilarious. 😆 😆 😆 Willard sure is desperate.
Ummm, ohkay!
-____-
.
A majority of them – AL & MS – also think PBO is a muslim to which my response is so fuck what if he is? Their depiction of Christianity leaves a lot to be desired. In 2012 for someone to think interracial marriage should be illegal shows just how hateful, ignorant, and prejudiced a lot of people are. Most especially rightwingers. I watched Real Time with Bill Maher over the weekend and Alexandra Pelosi interviewed a lot of people in Mississippi and their ignorance was shocking. A lot of them didn’t like PBO because “he’s muslim” and that’s disrespectful and unAmerican. Another didn’t like PBO because he’s black. Another didn’t like PBO because he’s black and being black is an abomination. Another didn’t like PBO because according to his warped mind PBO was going to come into his shack and steal his guns. Another didn’t like PBO because he wants to give them government hand outs. The irony of this last guy is that due to multiple GOP Governors and their insane policies, MS is now the poorest State in the Union so he’s been on food stamps and other government aid for years. Because of PBO fighting for ingrates like him, his government aid has increased. He gets healthcare, food, etc. But he’s been voting GOP and will continue to do so because he doesn’t want hand outs from a black man and seems to think that if the GOP get into power that this time trickle down economics will work for him and he’ll be a millionaire. Another man said he’d rather starve than have MS accept government aid from a black man that helps improve lives, education, and the health of people.
Left to ignoramuses like those mentioned above, we’d be back in the days of slavery. This is another reason why more sane people need to vote because if these racists are left to be the majority voting in any election, we’ll be a nation run by teabaggers.
“Another didn’t like PBO because according to his warped mind PBO was going to come into his shack and steal his guns.”
LOL! I wonder how many teefus this joker has in his mouth ? 😀
😆 You can’t do anything about willfully ignant folk who luxuriate in religiosity and bigotry. There’s a lot of money and power invested in keeping them just the way they are. They’re not unreachable, just unreachable by outsiders. The only person/people that could get through to them would have to be one of their own — and it would be miraculous if some such person did rise up. I won’t hold my breath.
Thanks UT. As you see from my post, you articulated very well what I just couldn’t put into words out of sheer astonishment.
utaustinliberal, it is ashame that we have people like that, ignorant racists people. Have America come along way? It has but we should not kid ourselves there are people out there who don’t like this President because he is black, forget the Muslim, the guns, big government, etc., etc., it is all about him being black.
I remember reading on another thread that we should hope Gingrich and his supporters do all go live on the moon. I’d throw in Santorum and Romney and their supporters too.
*UT*, my mouth Is still hanging open, over those Ignorant comments, wowwwwwwwwwww 🙄
It’s like the Beverly Hilbillys want a Colin Powell to be their butler while Mitt would be Mr. Drysdale….I’m still tryin’ to grapple with disrespectful and un-American. Wonder if they could spell them. Then see if they can find Russia on an unmarked map. Especially since their gal Sarah can see it from her house.
Wisconsin judge put a halt to voter law recently instituted, says Rev Al.
Wisconsin judge issues permanent halt to voter ID law
A Wisconsin judge issued a permanent injunction on Monday blocking the state from implementing a new law requiring voters to present identification at polling stations.
WisPolitics.com said the decision by a Dane County judge in Madison follows a temporary halt issued by another judge on March 7.
Wisconsin is the second state to have its voter identification law blocked on Monday. Earlier, the U.S. Justice Department halted a Texas law, saying it discriminated against Hispanic voters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/12/us-usa-politics-wisconsin-idUSBRE82B15O20120312
Thanks for expanding. No time much here at work.
Oh lucky Wisconsin!!!
That’s our DOJ doing the people’s work. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your experience. What a potent reminder to us all to be positive ambassadors to all we meet, and to not be afraid to speak up, even in the face of lies, distortion, ignorance, and just plain misguidedness. One voice can change a roo
m….and change the world!
Robney team just sent a memo that says Obama wants to end Medicare as we know it.
Thus Is Rovian politics, accuse the other guy if what you are doing, it confuses people.
Makes the identical attack on you, muted!
Excellent! I am using this at our next team meeting!
Jovie, that’s our LYING Mitt Romney.
EXCLUSIVE: 141 Companies Drop Advertising From Rush Limbaugh
ThinkProgress has obtained an internal memo from Premiere Radio Networks listing 96 national companies that have “specifically asked” their advertisments not be played during the Rush Limbaugh Show. Premiere is the distributor of Limbaugh’s program. The advertisers have also requested to be excluded from other right-wing hosts including Michael Savage, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. According to the memo, the listed companies’ advertisements should be excluded from these programs because they have been “deemed to be offensive.”
The existence of the memo was first reported over the weekend by Radio-info.com, an industry newsletter. Radio-info did not publish the full list of companies. The memo was posted website of the Traffic Directors Guild of America, an association of professionals who distribute paid advertisements to radio stations. It was quickly deleted but ThinkProgress obtained a copy from a Google snapshot of the site taken on March 9.
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/12/442673/141-companies-advertisng-rush-limbaugh/
Thanks for posting, even the U. S. Postal Service and beer companies are pulling their ads….
Also, it’s time for the Pentagon to drop Rush from broadcasting on AFN.
Thanks for the reminder: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/sec-panetta-get-rush-limbaugh-armed-forces-radio-now-no-tax-money-abusive-divisive-insulting/p439GWMm?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl Needs fewer than 3,000 more signatures to get the attention of the White House.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) predicted on Monday afternoon that an amendment to the highway bill creating a new tax incentive for companies to use natural gas-powered vehicles will probably not pass the Senate this week.
“This is the first chance to come to the Senate floor and have a vote,” Burr said of the amendment. “And you know what? It probably is not going to pass. That’s the disappointing thing of it.”
–
This is the Pickens Plan, and the Kochs are lobbying against it! Pickens vs. Kochs!.
This is one of the few positions Burr has taken recently that makes sense. He was against the insider trading bill and in favor of the Blunt-Rubio bill.
Via CNN, here’s Rick Santorum in Mississippi Sunday saying that TelePrompters should be made illegal in presidential campaigns.
The quote:
“See, I always believed that when you run for president of the United States, it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter. Because all you’re doing is reading someone else’s words to people.”
—
What an assh*ole.
OHIO BILL WOULD REQUIRE MEN SUBMIT AFFIDAVIT FROM SEX PARTNER CONFIRMING IMPOTENCE BEFORE RECEIVING VIAGRA:
An Ohio State Senator is turning the tables on men seeking to regulate women’s access to reproductive health. Sen. Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) has introduced legislation regulating men’s access to erectile dysfunction drugs. The Dayton Daily News has the details:
Before getting a prescription for Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs, men would have to see a sex therapist, receive a cardiac stress test and get a notarized affidavit signed by a sexual partner affirming impotency…
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/03/11/442208/affidavit-confirming-impotence-viagra/
Martin Bashir is going to do a segment on Game Change
It was well done and as usual done with wit.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) charged Senate Republicans on Monday of gumming up the Senate’s judicial confirmation process in order to embarrass President Obama, and said he plans to file cloture to force votes on 17 of the outstanding nominees in the near future.
“People have a right under our rules to hold up the next judge in line for 30 hours … that will show what this is all about … that will show it’s an effort to embarrass the president and not take into consideration 160 million people who don’t have an ability to have their cases tried in a orderly manner,” said Reid.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/215515-reid-republicans-clogging-judicial-confirmation-process-to-embarrass-obama
It’s good that the Majority Leader is speaking out, but why is it always action will be taken in the near future to force a vote on the judicial nominees and other nominees? It’s time for action–now–like today!
“…It’s time for action–now–like today!”
I wholeheartedly agree…like yesterday! 😉
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together – WE MUST!
PRESS ON!
🙂
Today I got the new letter from FLOTUS in the mail, with the family picture! It is beautiful. I’m so glad I’m giving enough to get the pictures. I treasure them! Just watched this trailer, wow! Also watched the Conan O’Brien segment….that was delightful! Glad it’s still available.
Also, finished reading and commenting on my college freshmen research papers…..what a relief. Give them back tomorrow, have short conferences about them, then they have to go work on them some more. Their topics are interesting, so the work is not bad.
What a great write-up and words to live by. If we, as staunch Obama supporters, do not speak up, who will? And in order to speak up, we need to educate ourselves so that we can debate topics informatively and convincingly. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of all the different policy subjects, it’s rather overwhelming, but pick one or two (may be ACA, Education, Environment, Women’s Health… whatever) and learn the details. I have picked Healthcare (ACA) and Education. There are a lot of resources. Sites like http://www.healthcare.gov/ have a tremendous amount of information. Found a very handy timeline: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html and just today, saw the FAQ site: http://www.barackobama.com/health-care?source=socnet_20120312_BO_LR_HEALTH_CARE_TOOL_SIGNUP&utm_medium=lr&utm_source=bo_lr&utm_campaign=socnet_20120312_BO_LR_HEALTH_CARE_TOOL_SIGNUP. Good luck!!
Carloyn, thank you for teaching the freshmen class; because, in a flash they’ll be running things… 🙂
Gallup Poll on PBO:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
Bobfr has great tweet about it!
Oh, it’s good news. Quite the opposite of ABC/WaPo.
Hello all from the rainy 😦 Island of Jamaica. Where will the new mini movie about PBO air? Is it on a channel or do I have to log in on my Computer?
Sign up to be the first to see the full film: http://www.barackobama.com/road-traveled
I click on the link and your name and address came up. You should log out.
JER – it would be good if Ms Chips edited the URL you posted because the “source=20120308-HP” portion should be deleted. That portion points to your address info.
Thanks for the heads-up!
#PRESSON
Chips: Would you do the necessary edit on this one. Thank you.
Done JER – thanks Bob.
Of course, my friend! 🙂
Thank you JER. I guess I won’t be able to watch though as I have no Zip code 😥 Serve me right from living smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.
20500 That’s the zip code for the White House. It’s just a form, it doesn’t track anything other than a location.
I want those who blame President Obama for gas prices being high to explain to me how is that it’s President Obama’s fault. In just plain old simply English, explain it to me.
He beat the oil company CEO’s at a round of golf and is reducing their subsidies. It’s called pay back.
😉
Exactly…explain how it is that only one man on the entire planet has that kind of power to affect the GLOBAL price of oil.
THE OBAMA ENERGY AGENDA (GAS PRICES)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/gasprices
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/12/blueprint-secure-energy-future-one-year-progress-report?utm_source=031212&utm_medium=topper&utm_campaign=daily
Thanks for this post, Chips. I’m always struck by the lack of any FACTS when right-wingers denegrate our president. It’s always hype, innuendo, rumors, fear-mongering and lies. Never ever ever any FACTS. Oh, he’s taking away our rights and our guns and making everyone gay and stealing all our money to give to lazy people. You can hear that all the time, but ask for ONE EXAMPLE of any of these lies anywhere in this country at any time since this man took office and you get crickets. Nada. Zip. I won’t stand for it.
A few days ago, I sent the text of PBO’s speech to AIPAC to all my Jewish friends and family, including one Orthodox Jewish woman who I’ve counted as a dear friend for almost 40 years. She responded by sending my ENTIRE, PERSONAL EMAIL CONTACT LIST a trumped up anti-Obama propaganda piece about how baaaaaad he is for Israel. I was shocked, amazed, outraged and disgusted – not just by the creepy video, but that she would send it to my PERSONAL CONTACTS. I told everyone on that list how sorry I was that a former Bush supporter would have their email addresses and publically called her out and ended our relationship. This is what the righties have done to our country. Turned us against each other with lies and deceit.
Stand up, speak out and let them know they’re LIARS and we’re not gonna take it anymore! If you can’t give me any FACTS that prove President Obama SUX then STFU. Period.
Sorry. It’s still totally making me crazy that she did that.
Love you guys. Peace.
Peace back at you, Little L. Sorry your former friend did that to you. It’s good, but sad that this President’s leadership has brought so much that was in the dark out into the open. Peace
Thanks VC for helping to tweet out to the media regarding the Republican blocking Dodd-Frank oil regulations.
I answered you comment on the previous page.
This is why when I send an email to a list of non-related people, I put my own email address in the TO: line and everyone else’s email address in the BCC: line. That way no one on the list can see the other people’s email addresses.
First time today checking in – in response to the “one voice” notion – I agree 100%. I have decided that whenever possible, if I hear somebody trashing the president, all I have to do is chime in and say “Well I disagree with you. I think he’s doing a great job.” That’s all that’s necessary. If we wait for the perfect response, wait to organize the facts in our head, we won’t say anything. I think you just have to have an automatic button that you press.
I remember being on the little commuter bus at Dulles airport some years back and some right wing a-hole started a monologue harping on whoever – maybe it was Kerry back then. Nobody said anything. I wished afterwards I had just said, “I disagree with you.”
At work one day we were doing rounds and one of the doctors made some flip comment about Obamacare and I challenged her. Everyone in the group looked embarrassed and so did she, but I held my own. I wasn’t rude but I just couldn’t let it pass.
In_DEED, Elly, we must not ‘let it pass.’ Agree, that a calm, “I disagree & think he is doing an outstanding job’ or some such quick rejoinder is important. No need to argue.
I typically follow it, would you like to discuss facts, if so, ‘let’s start with the state of ours and worlds economy in Jan 2009 and look at where we are today – 2nd great depression averted, GM & Chrysler saved and robustly growing, 23 months of job growth …. ‘ 🙂
#PRESSON
There you go Lt. clearing the water with facts. You went and fixed the evaporators after the rwnj’s keep trying to destroy them. 🙂
I totally agree with you, Elly! We must politely speak up whenever someone is unfairly trashing the President.
My tweet to George Stephanopolous and ABC news:
@ABCNews @GStephanopolous Now faked polling result & headline, what”s next-patriotic lapel pins and ’08 redux? thepeoplesview.net/2012/03/explai…
Ask him why he goes on Bill O’Reilly’s show…..too
Thanks for the reminder, Hgerhard! As your experience once again underlines, one voice really can make a difference. Reading your comment and some of the earlier comments in response, I remembered a challenge one TODer shared a few weeks ago. It’s along the same lines as one person using his/her ‘voice’. Now seems a good time to refresh BEBE’s challenge, which she asked that we do from time to time
Pledge to …
• expand OUR team by one new voter per month for the next 9 months [recently-qualified-to-vote family members/friends & older previously disengaged voter]
• ensure each person is registered appropriately to vote in 2012
• ensure that each of our recruits does vote.
• encourage him/her to vote early if possible
• give him/her a ride, or go with him/her for company
• give OFA an actual, physical helping hand in whatever capacity fits our life situation/abilities
IMO the woman who spoke out in that bar, actually ‘gave OFA an actual, physical helping hand in a way that fit her life situation’ at that moment. Even if she didn’t realize the ripple effect of her speaking up, may she feel the positive effects in November’s verdict on the presidency!
Just How Angry at Republicans Are Hispanic Voters?: The Ticker
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-09/just-how-angry-at-republicans-are-hispanic-voters-the-ticker.html
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/03/12/camera-hog/
Interesting and disturbing story on the base in Washington state where the Afghan shooter was based. It has been plagued “by a series of suicides, killings and domestic violence”, all likely stemming from war-related mental illnesses:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-nn-afghanistan-shooting-lewis-mcchord-20120323,0,6884763.story
This is not unique to Washington…….pbs ‘s The Wounded Platoon
Third Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division .
Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/woundedplatoon/roster/#ixzz1owOPLrMF
Coal Powers Less Than 40 Percent Of US Electricity, Lowest In 33 Years
http://thinkprogress.org/green/2012/03/09/441776/coal-powers-less-than-40-percent-of-us-electricity-lowest-in-33-years/?mobile=nc
How The Affordable Care Act Could Quash The GOP’s Dream Of Medicare Privatization
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/how-the-affordable-care-act-could-quash-the-gops-dream-of-medicare-privatization.php
Is this about me? I think this is about me…
Probably not. I’m not that important.
I worry. I worry because I know the mindset of the American people. We’re quick to throw good people out and blame them for our lot in life. We did it with Carter in ’80, even though he was not the reason for our problems, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we did it again in ’12.
Do I think Obama will win? Yes. Am I 100% confident he’ll win? No. Mostly because there is just so much time between now and election day. Gas prices concern me. Iran concerns me. Afghanistan concerns me. This isn’t a ho-hum period like it was in 1996 when Clinton rolled Dole and I think that’s what has been adding to my anxiety. This isn’t going to be easy. We’re going to see some big bumps in the road.
But I have faith Obama knows what he’s doing. I think he senses the gas debate is undermining his reelection bid and he’ll get out in front of it. Now you just have to trust the American people buy into what he’s saying.
I always go back to ’08 and a quote Obama said to, I believe Axelrod, the night before the election. He said that he felt they were going to win, but that he was at ease because he knew he did everything possible. I have no doubt Obama will lay it all out there. It’s up to us to pull him across the finish line.
Love this hgerhard. Thank you so much for these words and for your story!