Those are some lovely pictures. It almost remind you of Daddy coming home from work and the kids, wife and dog greet Daddy at the door. Well the wife and kids weren’t there, but the dog was and I love the pictures.
Seamus is in dog heaven. He is in a better place. Someone said and I agree that the Missis is just as bad as the wicked man that strapped Seamus on the roof. I agree, she shoud have stepped in. Tie the man on the roof and bring in the dog!
I love alllll animals and BO is super special, he’s so sweet, well trained and handsome, its always a joy to see pics of him… and then theres that guy that he’s friends with, who’s kinda special too 😉
oh I’m sorry to hear that Hachiko.. I lost my pal Prince a few years back after 13 very happy years with him- he was about as sweet & gentle as he could be.. still miss him.
There’s nothing more heartbreaking. I’ve been through it several times. But when the heartbreak clears, I wouldn’t change a minute of the time I had with my beloved dogs. They are worth everything, even the heartbreak when we lose them.
I just love Bo. I so want to meet and hug that dog. Can I ask where you get your awesome pictures? I occasionally want to repost one on another site (Knitters for Obama on ravelry.com) and I don’t want to hot link. If I find the photo on flickr, I do always provide a link to your post with a “via the Obama Diary” credit.
Awww Bo and BO. That series is really – I know we’ve all said it – but it’s CUTE. Bo looks like he’s actually doing the dog smile thing and you can tell PBO is just as happy to see his furry pal. Animals are great I’m so glad they are able to have an animal friend to hang out with! 😀
“Oh, and George Clooney came up to say hi. Not since Jon Hamm came out as a Dish reader at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner did such a shiver go up my leg.”
I just finished reading an article on Mitten’s dog on car problem still in the news. Contrast that to POTUS’ relationship with Bo, It says a lot about the character of the two.
Hey Chips. I’ve been finding that even though I am signed in (because I see my “A” icon and my email address) I find Word press gives me an error message. And I have to ‘like’ your blog and re-sign in that way at the top of the page before it will accept my comment. (not hard to do – you’re always so great). But it is kinda weird.
I’m just glad it works – otherwise I’d be talking to my monitor and people here at work and home would start looking at me funny…….oh wait they already do……. 😉
wp account sign-in. but zapped their effing toolbar at the top with ad-block plus.
If you want sign via twiitter, fucking wp wants the key to your house (acces to your twitter account including your access to your fucking password) . Highly intrusive. I don’t know which genius thought of this plan.
okay, so this is my first comment of the day. I usually can come right on, since I clicked “remember me” more than a few weeks ago when I got the little box in the upper right that shows responses to comments.
Today, I had to fully sign in below and sign into WordPress. Not a problem, just a few more steps that seem unnecessary. But hey, they didn’t exactly ask my opinion, now did the? 😆 😆
Hey Chips. I use a WordPress account to sign in and so far no problems. I go to http://www.wordpress.com sign in, the tool bar pops up. I can see the button which flashes orange if people have replied to my comments. Everything’s good. *Knock on wood*
I have to re-log in——–about once a month—out of the blue—-and again last night. And it’s always kindof an ordeal for different reasons. And the weirdest thing after signing in last night was that I was getting 180 email alerts for every one of your posts—-about 5 every minute. “183 unread”—–that was a strange one.
My information is logged in and all I do is hit “Post Comment” button and voila! BTW, Byron Tau accused me of having no humor. I really wanted to say, “Well we’re equal because you have no journalistic skills.” I refrained. 🙂
I just goggle to thesite, it pops up, I read and comment in the usual way. I have not had any problems whether I am using my laptop or my myriad e-toys.
Hey guys how is everyone doing? I just got back from a conference for work – I’m having a screening event at my house tonight and it’s over capacity! Yikes I’m going to have to shoe horn everyone into my house! But I just didn’t want to turn anyone away who wanted to be a part of the viewing experience. Wish me luck. Wish you guys could be there that’d be fun!
Posted at 09:08 AM ET, 03/15/2012
The Morning Plum: Romney putting GOP at risk with Latinos
By Greg Sargent
You constantly hear top Democrats and neutral commentators warning that Mitt Romney’s embrace of extreme positions on immigration has effectively dashed his hopes of making inroads among Latinos in the general election. But as Glenn Thrush reports in a must-read this morning, this sentiment is now being privately voiced to the Romney campaign by top Republicans, who worry his lurches to the right are undoing years of what they are calling GOP outreach to a consistuency whose share of the vote will only grow in the years ahead.
The worry has been prompted by a recent poll showing only 14 percent of Latinos support Romney over Barack Obama:
One top GOP operative said that number needs to be closer to 33 percent: “We lose Hispanics this bad, we lose the whole election. Period.”
That opinion is growing. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn and other top party brass have made it known to Romney’s campaign that the party risks losing Hispanic voters by a historic margin, creating a downward draft on Senate and House candidates, according to two Hill sources.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has also made clear that the tone of the campaign is political suicide for the party, the sources said.
Finally got cleared to comment again. I think Lindsay Graham has some nerve pinning this whole fiasco on the horrid Romney when he and his party have spent years trashing Hispanics, tolerating and supporting draconian anti-Hispanic policies in the south and refusing to even consider discussing the Dream Act. The Republicans have been launching smelly chickens into the Hispanic Community for years and the rotten eggs have come home to roost in their nest. I’m all for pointing out Romney’s vast flaws, but Graham needs to look in the mirror before he throws stones.
I actually like it that they are using Romney as a scapegoat. It means they are not looking inward at the systemic problems, so won’t fix them. All the better for us.
Incredulous! Really they are JUST comming to this realization of what their crazy behind anti immigrant, anti non- white folks talk is doing. Would not even help pass the dream act. All their rhetoric like all they need is “real Americans, white male Americans are all they need to have power. When things go south I sure hope they do not try to leave Mitt holding the bag, like this mess was all his fault.
Personlly yes let them loose the hispanic, the woman, the poor, middle class and plain old NOT RWNJ vote for a few generations! We have work to do rebuilding this country 🙂
Posted at 12:14 PM ET, 03/15/2012
The national right wing’s top Senate target: Ohio
By Greg Sargent
Liberals and Dems across the country are understandably paying very close attention to Elizabeth Warren and the Massachusetts Senate race. But there’s another Senate contest that deserves to be watched just as closely, and may be just as pivotal to Dem hopes of holding the Senate: The battle over Sherrod Brown’s seat in Ohio.
In what may come as a surprise to many Democrats, the Ohio Senate race appears to be the target of more spending by GOP-aligned outside groups than the Warren contest or any other Senate race in the country.
Outside conservative groups have spend nearly $5 million on ads attacking Senator Brown, according to data provided by the Brown campaign and its media tracker. National Dems who track ad spending say no other race in the country has been targeted by so much outside money.
Follow the money and you can see that conservative groups seem to view Senator Brown’s seat as key to the GOP’s efforts to take back the Senate. The 60 Plus Association, a self-proclaimed advocacy group for seniors, has spent over $1.4 million on ads targeting Brown. The U.S Chamber of Commerce has spent around $2.4 million on ads, the source says, over $1 million of that in the last couple months.
Never used WP until I was RTing one of your diaries, & it said that Obama Diary suggests you follow WP. So, the past 2 days, I couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden I couldn’t comment. Thanks for putting the links up to WP & the “like” part. I would rather just use twitter ot sign in since I’m no tech wiz. Let us know the WP status. Can I just “unfollow” them, since I don’t blog?
Now We’re Just Negotiating the Price
by Steve M.
Thu Mar 15th, 2012 at 08:58:00 AM EST
We’ve heard for a while that Ron Paul is in cahoots with Mitt Romney, but now Time’s Alex Altman claims to have an idea of what’s about to transpire:
…Paul’s campaign has sent discreet signals to Camp Romney that the keys to Paul’s shop can be had for the right price.
… four legislative priorities would top the Texas Representative’s wish list: deep spending cuts that lead to a balanced budget; the restoration of civil liberties; a commitment to reclaim the legislative branch’s right to declare war, which it abdicated to the executive branch in recent decades; and reforms that shore up the U.S. monetary system, such an audit of the Federal Reserve or competing-currency legislation. The Texas Representative might also be enticed, says campaign chairman Jesse Benton, by the prospect of serving as a presidential adviser, a Cabinet position for someone in his orbit or “perhaps a vice presidency.”
Not for himself, but rather his son. Rand Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky and a Tea Party icon, is expected to launch his own White House bid in 2016. Being on the ticket now — or even being mentioned for it — would be a helpful step. Says one Paul adviser: “If you’re talking about putting Rand on the ticket, of course that would be worth delivering our people to Romney.” …
Hard to reach the yung’uns when they’re stoned out of their minds! But we see why Ron Paul was allowed to continue on. Rethuglicans are focused on enslaving everyone not white, male, over 50 and Catholic/Protestant/Baptist/Methodist. 1984 come to life 28 year later.
Not one of these four wishes is founded in reality. They need to get specific. Tell us exactly what programs will be included in those “deep spending cuts”, so people know what they’re voting for (especially recipients of social security and medicare). Tell us exactly what “civil liberties” are in need of restoration – people are pretty free right now, and no-one apart from the GOP are trying to take peoples rights away (right to vote, right to have a secure wage, right to medical care, right to choice about your own body). The “declaration of war” thing is a non-starter, given that Congress can’t agree to the most basic of things, let alone matters of life and death. George W Bush had Congress’ blessing to enter an illegal war in Iraq – what difference did that make? And lastly, give us the specifics about the modetary system changes that Ron Paul wants to bring about – the pursuit of a gold standard would destroy the world economy even more drastically than before, and it would result in the world’s richest country being declared in some country in Africa – where gold is plentiful. I don’t think Ron Paul has thought that one through any more than the rest of his hairbrained ideas.
Plus, I thought “quid pro quo” was illegal. How can Ron Paul be asking for a cabinet or advisory position in exchange for his delegates? Something’s fishy. Didn’t Blagojevich just end up in prison for 14 years for doing something similar?
Lastly – how will Rand Paul run for President in 2016 when his Daddy is having to barter for stuff in his name? Pathetic.The guy had to create his own medical board in order to get licensed as an optometrist? They can’t be serious!
Just heard that our man George Clooney is in the white house right now speaking with PBO about the situation in Sudan and South Sudan. I watched George Clooney’s and John Prendergast’s testimony on Capitol Hill about Sudan, Darfur, their work with the Enough Project and the Satellite Sentinel Project. It was informative and eye opening. They’re doing good work.
Hey Chips…..Next Friday marks the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Can you do something highlighting the anniversay and the benefits of the bill?? With the court battle coming up, I think it would be great if we started to highlight the benefits as well as ppl who maybe benefitting from it.
NAACP Brings U.S. Voting Rights Problems Before UN Human Rights Commission
An NAACP delegation is in Geneva, Switzerland this week to bring the issue of voting rights in the United States before the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The group — the first NAACP delegation of its kind in decades — plans to bring global attention to attempts by dozens of states to limit voter participation by limiting the forms of acceptable identification, shortening early voting opportunities, restricting where and when eligible voters may register, and banning formerly incarcerated citizens from the polls. The new legislation threatens the voting rights of millions of US citizens, with people of color affected disproportionately.
“The United States has always been a beacon of democracy for other nations,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. “When we do not uphold the highest standard, it can have major implications for democracy advocates across the globe.”
The Geneva appearance is part of an NAACP strategy rooted in the 1940s and 1950s, when the group looked to the United Nations and the international community for support in its domestic battle for civil rights for blacks and against lynching.
“It was in 1947 that W.E.B. Dubois delivered his speech and appealed to the world at the U.N.,” NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous said (last) Thursday. “Now, like then, the principal concern is voting rights. The past year more states in this country have passed more laws pushing more voters out of the ballot box than any point since Jim Crow.”
Political AnimalBlog
March 15, 2012 2:23 PM
Who’s Got the Wedge Issue Now?
By Ed Kilgore
My how the worm does turn.
Last month Republicans were beside themselves with joy at the perception that they had found a sure-fire “wedge issue” in the administration’s contraception coverage mandate, which was under siege by the Catholic bishops and was drawing criticism from some Democratic Catholics as well.
Some of them are still looking for evidence in the polls that this remains the case (much like the proverbial child looking for the pony in a room full of manure), but for the most part, GOPers would just as soon not talk about “women’s issues” at the moment, thank you very much. But now they’ve got a new problem, and it’s on Capitol Hill, notes the New York Times’ Jonathan Weisman:
With emotions still raw from the fight over President Obama’s contraception mandate, Senate Democrats are beginning a push to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the once broadly bipartisan 1994 legislation that now faces fierce opposition from conservatives….
Republicans are bracing for a battle where substantive arguments could be swamped by political optics and the intensity of the clash over women’s issues. At a closed-door Senate Republican lunch on Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska sternly warned her colleagues that the party was at risk of being successfully painted as antiwoman — with potentially grievous political consequences in the fall, several Republican senators said Wednesday.
Some conservatives are feeling trapped.
“I favor the Violence Against Women Act and have supported it at various points over the years, but there are matters put on that bill that almost seem to invite opposition,” said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, who opposed the latest version last month in the Judiciary Committee.
“I favor the Violence Against Women Act and have supported it at various points over the years, but there are matters put on that bill that almost seem to invite opposition,” said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama,
Hey Chipsticks, I just finished listening to POTUS’ Prince George CC speech. He was firing on all cylinders – HA!
As far as being able to comment here at TOD, I must be using the antiquated version, because I just click on my TOD icon via Google and there is my email and name still listed at the bottom and I make my comments.
If it ain’t broke, I’m not gonna mess with it 🙂
I would lose my mind if I was unable to view and comment here at TOD!!!!!
I know what you mean GGail. My computer died two weeks ago. I think it is the battery but not sure. I am expecting a replacement to be delivered today but a least before April 1. I have had to come to work to post here. It is definitely like trying to quit drinking. The withdrawal is miserable.
Talking Jim Crow Blues, in Texas and Beyond
By Charles P. Pierce at 1:17PM
It was only a matter of time before someone tried it, but now, the state of Texas has amended its response to the Department of Justice’s objection to its voter-ID law to include an assault on the Voting Rights Act itself. The truly nervous-making part of the whole thing is that line at the end of the news story in which we are told that both Chief John Roberts and Justice Clarence Thomas have “raised concerns” about the pre-clearance provisions “needs.” Which, one supposes, are based on the argument that, because the nation has triumphed over racism and even elected a black guy president, the pre-clearance provisions of the VRA are now obsolete. If the Supreme Court has a couple more justices with these concerns, the whole structure of what was achieved at great cost in the 1960’s could be sticks and splinters in a very short time.
The obvious rejoinder to all this is the staggering welter of voter-suppression laws that has erupted in the various states in the aftermath — and, I would argue, as a result — of the country’s having elected a black guy as president. They have their roots, of course, in the assorted voter-suppression tactics that came to light conspicuously in 2000 in Florida, but, in writing the spirit of those tactics into law over the last couple of years, Republican officeholders out there in the Laboratories of Democracy have committed themselves to a reestablishment of an element of American apartheid that people bled and died to reverse. If I thought the concept of shame still applied to some of these people, I’d send them all to talk to John Lewis for a few minutes.
It’s been a bad couple of weeks for the vote suppressors. In addition to the DOJ’s chucking of the Texas statute, a judge threw out Wisconsin’s voter-ID law. Which is probably part of the reason that Texas decided to shoot the moon here. Sometimes, the most depressing thing about politics is how impermanent the real victories are.
Rikyrah, I’ve been spending the whole day trying to fight the new PA voter suppression law. I’ve been calling every agency I can think of to take part in a massive lawsuit against the state. The implementation time they’ve given for this massive change in voting requirements is simply too short. I’m hoping for at least an injunction to “stay” the implementation until after the election. Have been in a number of meetings with fellow Democrats trying to rally a major voter registration effort and a big campaign to organize voters, find funds to help with transportation to the DMV AND copies of birth certificates and also get out information about the new requirements. I’m finding white hot anger among Democrats and the most energized group of people I’ve seen in a long time.
And when we call it racism, the first thing they say if anyone disagree with Obama you are call a racists. No, I disagree. Every Republican who disagree with President Obama is not a racists, but most of them are. A hell of alot of them are.
It’s like the poll which said 50%,45% of Mississippi, Alabama folks believe President Obama is a Muslim. Well who was it that said that Muslim was their new word for the “N” word.
I wish a big truck would run into this car right where the sign is. Ram it hard then ram it again then drive off and get away with it. Sorry, that’s what I wish.
Maybe mine is antiquated too, but it’s so easy. TOD is in my list of favorites, I just bring that list up, click on TOD and I’m good to go, to both read and comment.
Love the Prez and Bo together! As Harry Truman said: “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog!” We have a black poodle with some white markings who looks so much like Bo, I sometimes pretend that’s a picture of Chanel and she’s famous!!! She is to us. I believe dogs are one of God’s greatest gifts to humankind. We need to treat them well. They give us so much more than we can give them I think. Total trust, loyalty, affection…..We have two right now. Have had as many as four when the kids were home and brought some home. All of ours have been rescues one way or another, and they are marvelous.
Watching Scotty Go, Part MCMXIII
By Charles P. Pierce at 1:00PM
It has not been the best of months for Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus now serving as local sales director of the Koch Industries subsidiary once known as the state of Wisconsin. First, the John Doe investigation into what allegedly was the pure political hackery that Walker’s entourage engaged in while he was the county executive in Milwaukee has intensified to the point where Walker has lawyered up. Quoth the governor:
“To assemble additional background information, I hired counsel to insure that I am in the best position possible to continue aiding the inquiry.”
Translation: I’m throwing all of you sorry bastards who used to work for me right under the 4:10 Hiawatha to Chicago.
Then, yesterday, the decks were cleared for a whole spate of recall elections. The recall primaries will be on May 8, and the elections themselves will take place be on June 5 .Not only are Walker and lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch under the gun, but recalls were also approved for four Republican state senators, including senate majority leader Scott Fitzgerald. Three of the four senators under the ax are from districts that the president carried in 2008. Even some of his allies in the state legislature have taken to ignoring him. Yesterday, the state assembly’s joint finance committee essentially killed a multimillion dollar railroad maintenance project in Milwaukee, a move that doomed a rail-improvement proposal that Walker supported.M Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, whom Walker defeated in 2010 and who may well turn out to be a candidate in the recall primary, fumed against what he called “an ideological war on trains,” which it certainly is. But, more obviously, in terms of your political life in Wisconsin, Scott Walker has become Typhoid Mary. By the end of it, he may not even have a train under which to throw those former aides of his.
I just log in from below and I’m in. I am a lurker, but since I’m on, I may as well do a shout out to Chips and the regulars, thanks for everything, I’m here everyday, enjoying the pics, reading the comments, chasing after the links and generally laughing out loud!!! Bye now.
Chips,
I have never had a problem with commenting. I think I am always signed in. So I just commment and post. 🙂 I just like making things easy for myself. I have a WP account, but damned if I know what it is, same with disqus, that one is a pain too. I had to redo everything on that one and so I have this stuff written down now, except WP. And I go in my favs to get to this site and all sites I visit, I don’t have an icon for you or WP. I am happy so far.
Good luck for all of you that are having a problem.
ok – I’m sure this was posted already at some point since Chips started this AWESOMEST BLOG EVER, but I missed it. I just found it, and thought – FUCK YEAH.
Question: What’s the cost to a company of one disgruntled former employee?
Answer: About $2 billion if it’s Goldman Sachs.
That’s how much of the bank’s market value was wiped out after one of its directors, Greg Smith, resigned from the company and penned an op-ed piece in The New York Times attacking the firm’s culture and treatment of clients.
The bank’s shares fell 3.3 percent in trading Wednesday as London-based Smith’s article set Wall Street and the media ablaze with discussion about the behavior of big banks bailed out by taxpayers after the financial crisis. The share price decline meant Goldman lost some $2 billion in market value. Its market capitalization is currently just short of $65 billion.
(UKPA) – 2 hours ago
A drop in oil prices triggered by a joint US and UK move to release strategic reserves has pulled energy stocks and the wider FTSE 100 Index into the red.
Britain and America have reportedly agreed to co-operate to dampen high oil prices in a bid to prevent higher costs from hitting economic growth, causing the price of Brent crude in London to dip nearly 1% to 123.4 US dollars a barrel.
The FTSE 100 Index closed 4.7 points lower at 5940.7 despite the boost given to markets by upbeat jobs figures in the US, which revealed unemployment benefit claims hit a four-year low in February. The drop in oil prices hit the FTSE 100, with Cairn Energy falling 4.9p at 331.4p, BP sliding more than 1% or 6.5p at 620.5p and BG Group dipping 14p at 1527p……
No problem posting but I always use Word press to log in.
My co-workers son is 19 years old and attends PGCC. He got his first taste of “Obamamania” today (his words not mine). Devon said he had never seen anything like that before in his life. He will be able to vote for the first time this year and asked his mom what he needed to do to register. Of course she came to me to tell me this story and I directed them to the online voter registration application for Maryland.
Here’s the thing with Scott Brown that I don’t understand: Didn’t he vote against tabling the Blunt Amendment? I would think Elizabeth Warren could make hay with that.
New GOP Medicare Privatization Plan: Obamacare For Seniors Only?
Brian Beutler- March 15, 2012, 12:45 PM
You’re a Republican senator. How do you sell a plan to privatize Medicare?
One way is to fashion the massive overhaul as an extension of the private system members of Congress enjoy — the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan — and then trumpet the merits of that system over existing Medicare.
“We have to convince [seniors] this is something better,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), flanked by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rand Paul (R-KY), authors of a new Medicare privatization plan, at a Capitol press conference on Thursday. “If we thought Medicare was better, we would be on it as senators.”
DeMint is 60 years old. Graham is 56. Paul is 49. Medicare eligibility age is 65.
The plan itself is remarkably similar to ObamaCare, but for seniors. The senators say the system they envision would go a long way toward fixing Medicare’s solvency problem, though the details don’t support the claim.
People 65 and older do NOT like change. People who are on Medicare, have gotten familiar with it and rely on it, do not want ANYONE coming in and mucking with “their” program. Medicare is not an easy program to understand, so when you finally think you’ve nailed it and settled on a supplement choice, the last thing you want is some politician coming in to give you more choices. As a “senior” myself I can tell you that trying to convince seniors to change something they like is a losing proposition. Frankly the ads against this just write themselves.
Rick Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, you need to speak English
“As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law. And that is that English has to be the main language,” Santorum told San Juan newspaper El Vocero on Wednesday….
Currently, there is no federal law designating English as the country’s official language. But there are some states, including Florida, that have declared English the official language.
But critics say Santorum’s latest remarks could alienate Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans who live on the U.S. mainland.
Santorum’s comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico’s Republican presidential primary on Sunday
———
Romney will stump in Puerto Rico beginning on Friday.
More proof that it’s the whole rotten Republican Party turning off Hispanic voters. There are a lot of Puerto Ricans living in the US who VOTE, but Little Ricky seems oblivious to the impact of these kinds of statements on this significant voter bloc. What a dunderhead.
And this man is running for President. Okay, so he wants English to be spoken in Puerto Rico..good luck with that Rick. Good luck stumping, Hope you fall over a stump and bust your lip. That might shut you up for a minute. Loco…
Okay, wanted to try posting before all the instructions disappeared, so I’ll see how this works, and will take the opportunity to thanks Chips for this utterly amazing and wonderful blog, and for all the energy she pours into it. It’s unbelievable! And to thank everyone else for all the great things you bring to the TOD family.
Me too; can barely wait. I plan to watch on the laptop and blog on the Ipod (get ready for bad spelling; hate that automatic so-called corrector). I have had a s___t of a day. Parents who want me to give a grade for a plaigiarized essay and a principal who sat there when one of them implied that I was a liar. Good thing that I learned to stand up for myself a long time ago, but it is scenes like this that discourage teachers from staying in a profession that needs us badly (teacher shortages in my state). Anyway, I need to see something that reminds me of all that is good and right about our country. See everyone at 8:00 EST.
I HAVE AN ‘O’ HOUSE MEETING ON THE PHONE TONITE AND AM TRYING TO DEFROST 100 PCS. OF STUBBORN CHICKEN FOR THE HOMELESS ON SATURDAY…IT’S GOING TO BE A LATE NITE AT THIS RATE…HOPE TO GET TO THE ‘O’ MOVIE AT SOME TIME.
“The future of American education undoubtedly includes a laptop on every desk and universal internet access in every home,” Secretary Duncan said last week at SXSWedu (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas. “But a great teacher at the front of the classroom will still make the biggest difference in the lives of our students.”
Duncan addressed a large audience of educators and tech entrepreneurs at the annual conference that focuses on innovations in learning. The Secretary spoke to the importance of technology in education, and noted that the Department of Education remains committed to doing “all we can at the federal level to support the use of technology.”
The 14 points of Fascism ..aka…The Republican Platform…every one of them
# 5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Hiya Chipsticks!
You are quick! 🙂
Ha!, I was listening to POTUS’ speech when I got the notification, I’ll go back to listen to the rest now…
I’m First?
Wooo Hooooo!
Too cute
How cute are those two!
lovely pics. lovely dog. lovely man. ’nuff said.
A man and his dog. Nothin’ better
Adorable pictures!!
Now this man knows how to treat his dog. I am so proud of our President! He’s just a great guy!
Makes me smile 😛
Bo is one lucky dog!
Those are some lovely pictures. It almost remind you of Daddy coming home from work and the kids, wife and dog greet Daddy at the door. Well the wife and kids weren’t there, but the dog was and I love the pictures.
Every time I see President Obama with his dog Bo, I can’t help but think of Romney’s dog. Feel sorry for that dog.
Seamus is in dog heaven. He is in a better place. Someone said and I agree that the Missis is just as bad as the wicked man that strapped Seamus on the roof. I agree, she shoud have stepped in. Tie the man on the roof and bring in the dog!
I love alllll animals and BO is super special, he’s so sweet, well trained and handsome, its always a joy to see pics of him… and then theres that guy that he’s friends with, who’s kinda special too 😉
Well really, Bo has the exact personality of the Obamas, Warm, Friendly, and Respectable, Oh, and soooooooooooo lovable 🙂 🙂
I love Bo and his lopsided socks!
I keep thinking these two can’t get any cuter. I wuz wrong.
Those pictures bring tears to my eyes as I consider the love between me and my own dog and the possibility of losing him.
oh I’m sorry to hear that Hachiko.. I lost my pal Prince a few years back after 13 very happy years with him- he was about as sweet & gentle as he could be.. still miss him.
Sis…Is Tucker sick?
There’s nothing more heartbreaking. I’ve been through it several times. But when the heartbreak clears, I wouldn’t change a minute of the time I had with my beloved dogs. They are worth everything, even the heartbreak when we lose them.
Keep us posted.
Hey guys. Sorry to alarm. Tucker is not sick. He’s fine. I just might have to give him up for adoption.
omg, I’m so very very sorry to hear this Hachiko.. I really hope that doesn’t happen.. putting out lots of positive vibes for you & Tucker.
Thank you, Sheri. Appreciate your support over the years.
I don’t have pets at the moment, have had a few great dogs in my lifetime. I get my fix by watching Cesar Milan (Dogwhisperer), lol.
This is how a real pet lover/owner treats his dog. The joy PBO receives from Bo and likewise is so beautiful. That is one gorgeous dog.
so true. you’ll never catch Bo in a carrier on top of The Beast.
You cannot fake the love between a man and his dog. There is no better stress reliever than petting your puppy.
Now I wanna go home and pet my puppies……..
Woof! That means “I love it.”
I love Bo! My Bo Easter egg will be on the way as of Monday! Hey, anyway it helps the campaign, and adds to my collection of very very cool stuff!
I just love Bo. I so want to meet and hug that dog. Can I ask where you get your awesome pictures? I occasionally want to repost one on another site (Knitters for Obama on ravelry.com) and I don’t want to hot link. If I find the photo on flickr, I do always provide a link to your post with a “via the Obama Diary” credit.
Thanks for having such a wonderful site!
pls check daylife photos
Bo is super-cool. Each time I see Bo, I think of Uncle Teddy & thank him for giving the First Family such a wonderful family pet….
Awww Bo and BO. That series is really – I know we’ve all said it – but it’s CUTE. Bo looks like he’s actually doing the dog smile thing and you can tell PBO is just as happy to see his furry pal. Animals are great I’m so glad they are able to have an animal friend to hang out with! 😀
OMG Sully dishes about the WH dinner. So effing cool that he was there and hints that Obama told him that he reads the Dish.
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/03/about-las.html
I loved this….
“Oh, and George Clooney came up to say hi. Not since Jon Hamm came out as a Dish reader at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner did such a shiver go up my leg.”
🙂
Yes!
POTUS and his best friend. Both are so lucky. I still miss my little Snowball.
I just finished reading an article on Mitten’s dog on car problem still in the news. Contrast that to POTUS’ relationship with Bo, It says a lot about the character of the two.
Hiya everyone, I’ve got a few emails from people today who haven’t been able to sign in at all on the blog since WordPress made some (stupid) changes.
There’s a whole thread about it here at their support forum:
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-must-be-logged-in-to-comment?replies=24
Just want to check, those of you who have been able to sign in, do you all have WordPress accounts?
If not, how are you signing in?
Thanks everyone.
Hey Chips. I’ve been finding that even though I am signed in (because I see my “A” icon and my email address) I find Word press gives me an error message. And I have to ‘like’ your blog and re-sign in that way at the top of the page before it will accept my comment. (not hard to do – you’re always so great). But it is kinda weird.
“I have to ‘like’ your blog and re-sign in ”
What??????
Oh crikey Alice, that’s completely nuts!!!
WordPress users are not happy about this –
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-must-be-logged-in-to-comment?replies=24
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/pattidunncomcastnet?replies=8
– I’m seriously hoping this is fixed, very VERY soon.
I’m just glad it works – otherwise I’d be talking to my monitor and people here at work and home would start looking at me funny…….oh wait they already do……. 😉
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Chips, I come here through Facebook, but have been unable to comment, because it says I have to go to WordPress, which I have never done before. Help!
wp account sign-in. but zapped their effing toolbar at the top with ad-block plus.
If you want sign via twiitter, fucking wp wants the key to your house (acces to your twitter account including your access to your fucking password) . Highly intrusive. I don’t know which genius thought of this plan.
Flippin’ heck, what are they at?? Thanks amk.
test
okay, so this is my first comment of the day. I usually can come right on, since I clicked “remember me” more than a few weeks ago when I got the little box in the upper right that shows responses to comments.
Today, I had to fully sign in below and sign into WordPress. Not a problem, just a few more steps that seem unnecessary. But hey, they didn’t exactly ask my opinion, now did the? 😆 😆
I didn’t have any problems when signing in this morning.
Thanks Symmetry, do you use a WordPress account to sign in?
Yes..That is the way I have always signed in.
Thanks Symmetry.
I have to get on the way a4alice does also.
Hey Chips. I use a WordPress account to sign in and so far no problems. I go to http://www.wordpress.com sign in, the tool bar pops up. I can see the button which flashes orange if people have replied to my comments. Everything’s good. *Knock on wood*
Thanks UT, I’ll pass the info on to the locked-out folks 😦
I had to sign in last night (home laptop) and this morning (work computer) through my WordPress account.
Thanks PJ, why didn’t they leave things as they were??
They’re bored, probably.
I have to re-log in——–about once a month—out of the blue—-and again last night. And it’s always kindof an ordeal for different reasons. And the weirdest thing after signing in last night was that I was getting 180 email alerts for every one of your posts—-about 5 every minute. “183 unread”—–that was a strange one.
Oh hell Dotster, 180 alerts? I think I’m going to cry….
Chips,
My information is logged in and all I do is hit “Post Comment” button and voila! BTW, Byron Tau accused me of having no humor. I really wanted to say, “Well we’re equal because you have no journalistic skills.” I refrained. 🙂
I have a wordpress account. Makes everything so much easier.
I just goggle to thesite, it pops up, I read and comment in the usual way. I have not had any problems whether I am using my laptop or my myriad e-toys.
Hey guys how is everyone doing? I just got back from a conference for work – I’m having a screening event at my house tonight and it’s over capacity! Yikes I’m going to have to shoe horn everyone into my house! But I just didn’t want to turn anyone away who wanted to be a part of the viewing experience. Wish me luck. Wish you guys could be there that’d be fun!
Thanks Chips for all the cool pics!
Posted at 09:08 AM ET, 03/15/2012
The Morning Plum: Romney putting GOP at risk with Latinos
By Greg Sargent
You constantly hear top Democrats and neutral commentators warning that Mitt Romney’s embrace of extreme positions on immigration has effectively dashed his hopes of making inroads among Latinos in the general election. But as Glenn Thrush reports in a must-read this morning, this sentiment is now being privately voiced to the Romney campaign by top Republicans, who worry his lurches to the right are undoing years of what they are calling GOP outreach to a consistuency whose share of the vote will only grow in the years ahead.
The worry has been prompted by a recent poll showing only 14 percent of Latinos support Romney over Barack Obama:
One top GOP operative said that number needs to be closer to 33 percent: “We lose Hispanics this bad, we lose the whole election. Period.”
That opinion is growing. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn and other top party brass have made it known to Romney’s campaign that the party risks losing Hispanic voters by a historic margin, creating a downward draft on Senate and House candidates, according to two Hill sources.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has also made clear that the tone of the campaign is political suicide for the party, the sources said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-romney-putting-gop-at-risk-with-latinos/2012/03/15/gIQAHrx2DS_blog.html
What exactly is turning off the Hispanics ? Crazy immigration vitriol or the crazier contraceptive vile poison ?
Still trying to figure out how to comment, since all avenues shut me out.
Finally got cleared to comment again. I think Lindsay Graham has some nerve pinning this whole fiasco on the horrid Romney when he and his party have spent years trashing Hispanics, tolerating and supporting draconian anti-Hispanic policies in the south and refusing to even consider discussing the Dream Act. The Republicans have been launching smelly chickens into the Hispanic Community for years and the rotten eggs have come home to roost in their nest. I’m all for pointing out Romney’s vast flaws, but Graham needs to look in the mirror before he throws stones.
I actually like it that they are using Romney as a scapegoat. It means they are not looking inward at the systemic problems, so won’t fix them. All the better for us.
Incredulous! Really they are JUST comming to this realization of what their crazy behind anti immigrant, anti non- white folks talk is doing. Would not even help pass the dream act. All their rhetoric like all they need is “real Americans, white male Americans are all they need to have power. When things go south I sure hope they do not try to leave Mitt holding the bag, like this mess was all his fault.
Personlly yes let them loose the hispanic, the woman, the poor, middle class and plain old NOT RWNJ vote for a few generations! We have work to do rebuilding this country 🙂
Pool reporter to Obama: “Does Bo think you should release the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?”
No answer from POTUS.
WTF?
juvenile …
Oh my gosh!
And you know what the sad part is? I don’t even have to wonder if you are joking. That’s a damn shame.
I was just thinking the same – nothing surprises me from the pathetic media, anymore.
POTUS to Pool reporter: “Did your corporatemasters come up with that question or was that all on you?”
Posted at 12:14 PM ET, 03/15/2012
The national right wing’s top Senate target: Ohio
By Greg Sargent
Liberals and Dems across the country are understandably paying very close attention to Elizabeth Warren and the Massachusetts Senate race. But there’s another Senate contest that deserves to be watched just as closely, and may be just as pivotal to Dem hopes of holding the Senate: The battle over Sherrod Brown’s seat in Ohio.
In what may come as a surprise to many Democrats, the Ohio Senate race appears to be the target of more spending by GOP-aligned outside groups than the Warren contest or any other Senate race in the country.
Outside conservative groups have spend nearly $5 million on ads attacking Senator Brown, according to data provided by the Brown campaign and its media tracker. National Dems who track ad spending say no other race in the country has been targeted by so much outside money.
Follow the money and you can see that conservative groups seem to view Senator Brown’s seat as key to the GOP’s efforts to take back the Senate. The 60 Plus Association, a self-proclaimed advocacy group for seniors, has spent over $1.4 million on ads targeting Brown. The U.S Chamber of Commerce has spent around $2.4 million on ads, the source says, over $1 million of that in the last couple months.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-national-right-wings-top-senate-target-ohio/2012/03/15/gIQA3ZaMES_blog.html
Never used WP until I was RTing one of your diaries, & it said that Obama Diary suggests you follow WP. So, the past 2 days, I couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden I couldn’t comment. Thanks for putting the links up to WP & the “like” part. I would rather just use twitter ot sign in since I’m no tech wiz. Let us know the WP status. Can I just “unfollow” them, since I don’t blog?
Now We’re Just Negotiating the Price
by Steve M.
Thu Mar 15th, 2012 at 08:58:00 AM EST
We’ve heard for a while that Ron Paul is in cahoots with Mitt Romney, but now Time’s Alex Altman claims to have an idea of what’s about to transpire:
…Paul’s campaign has sent discreet signals to Camp Romney that the keys to Paul’s shop can be had for the right price.
… four legislative priorities would top the Texas Representative’s wish list: deep spending cuts that lead to a balanced budget; the restoration of civil liberties; a commitment to reclaim the legislative branch’s right to declare war, which it abdicated to the executive branch in recent decades; and reforms that shore up the U.S. monetary system, such an audit of the Federal Reserve or competing-currency legislation. The Texas Representative might also be enticed, says campaign chairman Jesse Benton, by the prospect of serving as a presidential adviser, a Cabinet position for someone in his orbit or “perhaps a vice presidency.”
Not for himself, but rather his son. Rand Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky and a Tea Party icon, is expected to launch his own White House bid in 2016. Being on the ticket now — or even being mentioned for it — would be a helpful step. Says one Paul adviser: “If you’re talking about putting Rand on the ticket, of course that would be worth delivering our people to Romney.” …
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/3/15/8580/27465
OMG…how sad.
Eat it, yung’uns. This is the pathetic pos you’ve been wasting your time, money and energy on for so many years.
Hard to reach the yung’uns when they’re stoned out of their minds! But we see why Ron Paul was allowed to continue on. Rethuglicans are focused on enslaving everyone not white, male, over 50 and Catholic/Protestant/Baptist/Methodist. 1984 come to life 28 year later.
Yeah, but when you read the article it turns out to be all speculation. Time Magazine has too much ‘Time’ on its hands.
Not one of these four wishes is founded in reality. They need to get specific. Tell us exactly what programs will be included in those “deep spending cuts”, so people know what they’re voting for (especially recipients of social security and medicare). Tell us exactly what “civil liberties” are in need of restoration – people are pretty free right now, and no-one apart from the GOP are trying to take peoples rights away (right to vote, right to have a secure wage, right to medical care, right to choice about your own body). The “declaration of war” thing is a non-starter, given that Congress can’t agree to the most basic of things, let alone matters of life and death. George W Bush had Congress’ blessing to enter an illegal war in Iraq – what difference did that make? And lastly, give us the specifics about the modetary system changes that Ron Paul wants to bring about – the pursuit of a gold standard would destroy the world economy even more drastically than before, and it would result in the world’s richest country being declared in some country in Africa – where gold is plentiful. I don’t think Ron Paul has thought that one through any more than the rest of his hairbrained ideas.
Plus, I thought “quid pro quo” was illegal. How can Ron Paul be asking for a cabinet or advisory position in exchange for his delegates? Something’s fishy. Didn’t Blagojevich just end up in prison for 14 years for doing something similar?
Lastly – how will Rand Paul run for President in 2016 when his Daddy is having to barter for stuff in his name? Pathetic.The guy had to create his own medical board in order to get licensed as an optometrist? They can’t be serious!
Dag nabbit! PO was at PGCC and I didn’t know about it???/ Darnit! I could’ve gone to that! 😦
It was all over the news last night 🙂
I was just too busy here at work but I was itching to take off and go.
Just heard that our man George Clooney is in the white house right now speaking with PBO about the situation in Sudan and South Sudan. I watched George Clooney’s and John Prendergast’s testimony on Capitol Hill about Sudan, Darfur, their work with the Enough Project and the Satellite Sentinel Project. It was informative and eye opening. They’re doing good work.
Hey Chips…..Next Friday marks the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Can you do something highlighting the anniversay and the benefits of the bill?? With the court battle coming up, I think it would be great if we started to highlight the benefits as well as ppl who maybe benefitting from it.
Great idea. +1.
NAACP Brings U.S. Voting Rights Problems Before UN Human Rights Commission
An NAACP delegation is in Geneva, Switzerland this week to bring the issue of voting rights in the United States before the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The group — the first NAACP delegation of its kind in decades — plans to bring global attention to attempts by dozens of states to limit voter participation by limiting the forms of acceptable identification, shortening early voting opportunities, restricting where and when eligible voters may register, and banning formerly incarcerated citizens from the polls. The new legislation threatens the voting rights of millions of US citizens, with people of color affected disproportionately.
“The United States has always been a beacon of democracy for other nations,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. “When we do not uphold the highest standard, it can have major implications for democracy advocates across the globe.”
http://www.naacp.org/news/entry/naacp-brings-u.s.-voting-rights-problems-before-un-human-rights-commission
————–
For more on how you can protect your right to vote, visit: http://www.thisismyvote.org/
The Geneva appearance is part of an NAACP strategy rooted in the 1940s and 1950s, when the group looked to the United Nations and the international community for support in its domestic battle for civil rights for blacks and against lynching.
“It was in 1947 that W.E.B. Dubois delivered his speech and appealed to the world at the U.N.,” NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous said (last) Thursday. “Now, like then, the principal concern is voting rights. The past year more states in this country have passed more laws pushing more voters out of the ballot box than any point since Jim Crow.”
Great blog post from Smartypants http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/03/upside-to-uncovering-obamas-radical.html?showComment=1331837551038#c7974939275347820302
Political AnimalBlog
March 15, 2012 2:23 PM
Who’s Got the Wedge Issue Now?
By Ed Kilgore
My how the worm does turn.
Last month Republicans were beside themselves with joy at the perception that they had found a sure-fire “wedge issue” in the administration’s contraception coverage mandate, which was under siege by the Catholic bishops and was drawing criticism from some Democratic Catholics as well.
Some of them are still looking for evidence in the polls that this remains the case (much like the proverbial child looking for the pony in a room full of manure), but for the most part, GOPers would just as soon not talk about “women’s issues” at the moment, thank you very much. But now they’ve got a new problem, and it’s on Capitol Hill, notes the New York Times’ Jonathan Weisman:
With emotions still raw from the fight over President Obama’s contraception mandate, Senate Democrats are beginning a push to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the once broadly bipartisan 1994 legislation that now faces fierce opposition from conservatives….
Republicans are bracing for a battle where substantive arguments could be swamped by political optics and the intensity of the clash over women’s issues. At a closed-door Senate Republican lunch on Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska sternly warned her colleagues that the party was at risk of being successfully painted as antiwoman — with potentially grievous political consequences in the fall, several Republican senators said Wednesday.
Some conservatives are feeling trapped.
“I favor the Violence Against Women Act and have supported it at various points over the years, but there are matters put on that bill that almost seem to invite opposition,” said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, who opposed the latest version last month in the Judiciary Committee.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_03/whos_got_the_wedge_issue_now036081.php
🙄
Gawwwwd I can’t stand that smarmy man.
Hey Chipsticks, I just finished listening to POTUS’ Prince George CC speech. He was firing on all cylinders – HA!
As far as being able to comment here at TOD, I must be using the antiquated version, because I just click on my TOD icon via Google and there is my email and name still listed at the bottom and I make my comments.
If it ain’t broke, I’m not gonna mess with it 🙂
I would lose my mind if I was unable to view and comment here at TOD!!!!!
I know what you mean GGail. My computer died two weeks ago. I think it is the battery but not sure. I am expecting a replacement to be delivered today but a least before April 1. I have had to come to work to post here. It is definitely like trying to quit drinking. The withdrawal is miserable.
Talking Jim Crow Blues, in Texas and Beyond
By Charles P. Pierce at 1:17PM
It was only a matter of time before someone tried it, but now, the state of Texas has amended its response to the Department of Justice’s objection to its voter-ID law to include an assault on the Voting Rights Act itself. The truly nervous-making part of the whole thing is that line at the end of the news story in which we are told that both Chief John Roberts and Justice Clarence Thomas have “raised concerns” about the pre-clearance provisions “needs.” Which, one supposes, are based on the argument that, because the nation has triumphed over racism and even elected a black guy president, the pre-clearance provisions of the VRA are now obsolete. If the Supreme Court has a couple more justices with these concerns, the whole structure of what was achieved at great cost in the 1960’s could be sticks and splinters in a very short time.
The obvious rejoinder to all this is the staggering welter of voter-suppression laws that has erupted in the various states in the aftermath — and, I would argue, as a result — of the country’s having elected a black guy as president. They have their roots, of course, in the assorted voter-suppression tactics that came to light conspicuously in 2000 in Florida, but, in writing the spirit of those tactics into law over the last couple of years, Republican officeholders out there in the Laboratories of Democracy have committed themselves to a reestablishment of an element of American apartheid that people bled and died to reverse. If I thought the concept of shame still applied to some of these people, I’d send them all to talk to John Lewis for a few minutes.
It’s been a bad couple of weeks for the vote suppressors. In addition to the DOJ’s chucking of the Texas statute, a judge threw out Wisconsin’s voter-ID law. Which is probably part of the reason that Texas decided to shoot the moon here. Sometimes, the most depressing thing about politics is how impermanent the real victories are.
Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/texas-voter-id-challenge-7358705#ixzz1pDJ4W7Xo
Rikyrah, I’ve been spending the whole day trying to fight the new PA voter suppression law. I’ve been calling every agency I can think of to take part in a massive lawsuit against the state. The implementation time they’ve given for this massive change in voting requirements is simply too short. I’m hoping for at least an injunction to “stay” the implementation until after the election. Have been in a number of meetings with fellow Democrats trying to rally a major voter registration effort and a big campaign to organize voters, find funds to help with transportation to the DMV AND copies of birth certificates and also get out information about the new requirements. I’m finding white hot anger among Democrats and the most energized group of people I’ve seen in a long time.
the picture is racist
but,
BECAUSE THIS IS WHO THEY ARE:
This is disgusting!
That has been around for a while….it is pathetic.
Welcome to 21st century GOP; still wishing for slavery and the days of Jim Crow.
on no, please no.
And when we call it racism, the first thing they say if anyone disagree with Obama you are call a racists. No, I disagree. Every Republican who disagree with President Obama is not a racists, but most of them are. A hell of alot of them are.
It’s like the poll which said 50%,45% of Mississippi, Alabama folks believe President Obama is a Muslim. Well who was it that said that Muslim was their new word for the “N” word.
And if they are not racist, they sure seem awfully OK with the racism shown in their party. The GOP could speak out. Instead, they pander to them.
Is it really a mystery why Black/African Americans don’t embrace the Republican party???
stinking shithead!
I wish we could see the license plate so we know which State this is from
I was curious, too, Linda. Guess it doesn’t matter..it could be any freakin’ where.
I wish a big truck would run into this car right where the sign is. Ram it hard then ram it again then drive off and get away with it. Sorry, that’s what I wish.
God, I fervently hope that a black state trooper pulls his ass over.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC AND TYPICAL FOR THE PROBLEMS IN THIS COUNTRY! I’M NOT SURPRISED!
Maybe mine is antiquated too, but it’s so easy. TOD is in my list of favorites, I just bring that list up, click on TOD and I’m good to go, to both read and comment.
Love the Prez and Bo together! As Harry Truman said: “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog!” We have a black poodle with some white markings who looks so much like Bo, I sometimes pretend that’s a picture of Chanel and she’s famous!!! She is to us. I believe dogs are one of God’s greatest gifts to humankind. We need to treat them well. They give us so much more than we can give them I think. Total trust, loyalty, affection…..We have two right now. Have had as many as four when the kids were home and brought some home. All of ours have been rescues one way or another, and they are marvelous.
testing testing wordpress ghost. If this works Rasmussen has PBO leading Romney by 3 in Florida but down 11 in Arizona.
That buper sticker is beyong awful. And Republicans try to tell us it’s his “policies”…
carolyn, that’s B.S. It’s about the color of his skin.
testing123
Watching Scotty Go, Part MCMXIII
By Charles P. Pierce at 1:00PM
It has not been the best of months for Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus now serving as local sales director of the Koch Industries subsidiary once known as the state of Wisconsin. First, the John Doe investigation into what allegedly was the pure political hackery that Walker’s entourage engaged in while he was the county executive in Milwaukee has intensified to the point where Walker has lawyered up. Quoth the governor:
“To assemble additional background information, I hired counsel to insure that I am in the best position possible to continue aiding the inquiry.”
Translation: I’m throwing all of you sorry bastards who used to work for me right under the 4:10 Hiawatha to Chicago.
Then, yesterday, the decks were cleared for a whole spate of recall elections. The recall primaries will be on May 8, and the elections themselves will take place be on June 5 .Not only are Walker and lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch under the gun, but recalls were also approved for four Republican state senators, including senate majority leader Scott Fitzgerald. Three of the four senators under the ax are from districts that the president carried in 2008. Even some of his allies in the state legislature have taken to ignoring him. Yesterday, the state assembly’s joint finance committee essentially killed a multimillion dollar railroad maintenance project in Milwaukee, a move that doomed a rail-improvement proposal that Walker supported.M Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, whom Walker defeated in 2010 and who may well turn out to be a candidate in the recall primary, fumed against what he called “an ideological war on trains,” which it certainly is. But, more obviously, in terms of your political life in Wisconsin, Scott Walker has become Typhoid Mary. By the end of it, he may not even have a train under which to throw those former aides of his.
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Scott_Walker's_Latest_Bad_Month#ixzz1pDM9jFv0
“Walker has become Typhoid Mary.” HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Indeed.
Have you seen this ad…it is really great.
Walker is out of touch & running out of time–on 6/5/12 WI voters need to give Walker his pink-slip!
I just log in from below and I’m in. I am a lurker, but since I’m on, I may as well do a shout out to Chips and the regulars, thanks for everything, I’m here everyday, enjoying the pics, reading the comments, chasing after the links and generally laughing out loud!!! Bye now.
Hey Boazwife – welcome. Please comment more!
Chips,
I have never had a problem with commenting. I think I am always signed in. So I just commment and post. 🙂 I just like making things easy for myself. I have a WP account, but damned if I know what it is, same with disqus, that one is a pain too. I had to redo everything on that one and so I have this stuff written down now, except WP. And I go in my favs to get to this site and all sites I visit, I don’t have an icon for you or WP. I am happy so far.
Good luck for all of you that are having a problem.
ok – I’m sure this was posted already at some point since Chips started this AWESOMEST BLOG EVER, but I missed it. I just found it, and thought – FUCK YEAH.
enjoy
He looks scary, nothing like President Obama.
Question: What’s the cost to a company of one disgruntled former employee?
Answer: About $2 billion if it’s Goldman Sachs.
That’s how much of the bank’s market value was wiped out after one of its directors, Greg Smith, resigned from the company and penned an op-ed piece in The New York Times attacking the firm’s culture and treatment of clients.
The bank’s shares fell 3.3 percent in trading Wednesday as London-based Smith’s article set Wall Street and the media ablaze with discussion about the behavior of big banks bailed out by taxpayers after the financial crisis. The share price decline meant Goldman lost some $2 billion in market value. Its market capitalization is currently just short of $65 billion.
http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/15/10700472-goldman-sachs-roiled-by-muppetgate-loses-2-billion
If anyone missed Joe Biden’s speech to UAW today, it’s on c-span. Joe was fired up!!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i1U9DXJ-4_J8KUm91Y9-QEM6oDVw?docId=N1094331331716362283A
Markets fall after oil prices drop
(UKPA) – 2 hours ago
A drop in oil prices triggered by a joint US and UK move to release strategic reserves has pulled energy stocks and the wider FTSE 100 Index into the red.
Britain and America have reportedly agreed to co-operate to dampen high oil prices in a bid to prevent higher costs from hitting economic growth, causing the price of Brent crude in London to dip nearly 1% to 123.4 US dollars a barrel.
The FTSE 100 Index closed 4.7 points lower at 5940.7 despite the boost given to markets by upbeat jobs figures in the US, which revealed unemployment benefit claims hit a four-year low in February. The drop in oil prices hit the FTSE 100, with Cairn Energy falling 4.9p at 331.4p, BP sliding more than 1% or 6.5p at 620.5p and BG Group dipping 14p at 1527p……
I don’t see this on any US News sites….. hmmm.
Oil at 75.00 dollars a barrel would be perfect.
If gas prices drop for consumers, few people are going to care if the cost is a drop in energy stocks. Now will this show up at the pump?
It’s not even showing up as NEWS on US NEWS SITES, so my guess is, No Fucking Way.
Best leave the ignorant Americans in the dark so they can whine more about PBO doing nothing about gas prices. The better to gouge the public.
No problem posting but I always use Word press to log in.
My co-workers son is 19 years old and attends PGCC. He got his first taste of “Obamamania” today (his words not mine). Devon said he had never seen anything like that before in his life. He will be able to vote for the first time this year and asked his mom what he needed to do to register. Of course she came to me to tell me this story and I directed them to the online voter registration application for Maryland.
Count another one in our column 🙂
That crowd was really something else. Congrats on the new voter!! One by one….
Just visited GOPolitico and their lead story is “How Scott Brown got his mojo back.” Made me sick to my stomach.
Here’s the thing with Scott Brown that I don’t understand: Didn’t he vote against tabling the Blunt Amendment? I would think Elizabeth Warren could make hay with that.
Cheney is stuck in the US!
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/13/10672649-former-vice-president-dick-cheney-cancels-trip-to-canada-says-its-too-dangerous
Still trying to comment. Lost my gravitar. Grrrr.
Does anyone know how to change your avatar. I’m going around in a circle.
Your avatar looks good Jackie and I can see your comments.
Thanks, Donna. I called my husband in for help and he finally got me out of WP jail.
Sorry about all this Jackie, WordPress have made a complete mess of this, lots of fed up people on their support forum:
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-must-be-logged-in-to-comment?replies=34
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/pattidunncomcastnet?replies=17
So I’m hoping they’ll undo whatever they did yesterday. Crazy stuff.
New GOP Medicare Privatization Plan: Obamacare For Seniors Only?
Brian Beutler- March 15, 2012, 12:45 PM
You’re a Republican senator. How do you sell a plan to privatize Medicare?
One way is to fashion the massive overhaul as an extension of the private system members of Congress enjoy — the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan — and then trumpet the merits of that system over existing Medicare.
“We have to convince [seniors] this is something better,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), flanked by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rand Paul (R-KY), authors of a new Medicare privatization plan, at a Capitol press conference on Thursday. “If we thought Medicare was better, we would be on it as senators.”
DeMint is 60 years old. Graham is 56. Paul is 49. Medicare eligibility age is 65.
The plan itself is remarkably similar to ObamaCare, but for seniors. The senators say the system they envision would go a long way toward fixing Medicare’s solvency problem, though the details don’t support the claim.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/gop-senators-back-new-medicare-privatization-plan—-and-even-call-it-that.php?ref=fpb
People 65 and older do NOT like change. People who are on Medicare, have gotten familiar with it and rely on it, do not want ANYONE coming in and mucking with “their” program. Medicare is not an easy program to understand, so when you finally think you’ve nailed it and settled on a supplement choice, the last thing you want is some politician coming in to give you more choices. As a “senior” myself I can tell you that trying to convince seniors to change something they like is a losing proposition. Frankly the ads against this just write themselves.
Good afternoon TOD family
Chips the pictures of the state dinner we so beautiful
Bo is looking good.
now for an encouraging story
Study Shows Pregnancy Prevention Programs Cost Effective
Duh…..
http://www.whatisworking.com/2012/03/study-shows-pregnancy-prevention.html
Rick Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, you need to speak English
“As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law. And that is that English has to be the main language,” Santorum told San Juan newspaper El Vocero on Wednesday….
Currently, there is no federal law designating English as the country’s official language. But there are some states, including Florida, that have declared English the official language.
But critics say Santorum’s latest remarks could alienate Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans who live on the U.S. mainland.
Santorum’s comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico’s Republican presidential primary on Sunday
———
Romney will stump in Puerto Rico beginning on Friday.
More proof that it’s the whole rotten Republican Party turning off Hispanic voters. There are a lot of Puerto Ricans living in the US who VOTE, but Little Ricky seems oblivious to the impact of these kinds of statements on this significant voter bloc. What a dunderhead.
And this man is running for President. Okay, so he wants English to be spoken in Puerto Rico..good luck with that Rick. Good luck stumping, Hope you fall over a stump and bust your lip. That might shut you up for a minute. Loco…
Senators target Facebook with bill that would close stock-option loophole
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senators-target-facebook-with-bill-that-would-close-stock-option-loophole/2012/02/29/gIQAIFuGjR_story.html?hpid=z3
Yippee!!
I just got an email notification with the link to watch the premier of the movie at 8:00PM EST tonight.
It also says that right after the film David Axelrod will be answering questions on twitter using the hashtag: #RoadTraveled
Sorry if this has already been discussed but I’ve been tied up at work today.
seriously. like minded. I was watching Joe’s speech and thought to myself: “isn’t today 03/15? where is that movie???!!!!” —thanks Donna!
Okay, wanted to try posting before all the instructions disappeared, so I’ll see how this works, and will take the opportunity to thanks Chips for this utterly amazing and wonderful blog, and for all the energy she pours into it. It’s unbelievable! And to thank everyone else for all the great things you bring to the TOD family.
SO, TODville, are we having a viewing party tonight?
Here is the link to the premiere of The Road We’ve Traveled:
http://www.youtube.com/barackobama
EXCITED!!
Me too; can barely wait. I plan to watch on the laptop and blog on the Ipod (get ready for bad spelling; hate that automatic so-called corrector). I have had a s___t of a day. Parents who want me to give a grade for a plaigiarized essay and a principal who sat there when one of them implied that I was a liar. Good thing that I learned to stand up for myself a long time ago, but it is scenes like this that discourage teachers from staying in a profession that needs us badly (teacher shortages in my state). Anyway, I need to see something that reminds me of all that is good and right about our country. See everyone at 8:00 EST.
when is TeamObama gonna release the movie?!!!!!!!
8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific
grazie!!!
Just saw the movie will be on tonight at 8!
I HAVE AN ‘O’ HOUSE MEETING ON THE PHONE TONITE AND AM TRYING TO DEFROST 100 PCS. OF STUBBORN CHICKEN FOR THE HOMELESS ON SATURDAY…IT’S GOING TO BE A LATE NITE AT THIS RATE…HOPE TO GET TO THE ‘O’ MOVIE AT SOME TIME.
OMG! I can’t wait to see the movie tonight. My husband and I will watch with the kids and then contribute to President’s reelection team.
Leaving in a few minutes to meet a friend and we will head downtown (Knoxville) to see the movie. EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talking Tech at SXSWedu
“The future of American education undoubtedly includes a laptop on every desk and universal internet access in every home,” Secretary Duncan said last week at SXSWedu (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas. “But a great teacher at the front of the classroom will still make the biggest difference in the lives of our students.”
Duncan addressed a large audience of educators and tech entrepreneurs at the annual conference that focuses on innovations in learning. The Secretary spoke to the importance of technology in education, and noted that the Department of Education remains committed to doing “all we can at the federal level to support the use of technology.”
This sequence of pictures with the president and Bo, may be my favorite of all…..it just touches my heart.
Former SEC Official Slams House JOBS Act: ‘It Won’t Create Jobs, But It Will Simplify Fraud’
http://thinkprogress.org/
All this War on Woman Legislation ?
The 14 points of Fascism ..aka…The Republican Platform…every one of them
# 5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
http://www.favreau.info/misc/14-points-fascism.php
just checking