****
****
Rolling Stone: …. When Obama 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe likened the campaign’s email list to a television network in his campaign memoir, it was a rough analogy. But for the revamped Obama 2012 campaign, the meaning is quite literal. The YouTube and social media revolution of the last four years has given the campaign the power to produce and disseminate powerful video content that it can broadcast to a highly targeted audience of millions, effectively for free.
….. The folks in Chicago have spent next to nothing on television ads. Yet the campaign’s digital team – the biggest squad by far in Obama 2012’s massive headquarters in a downtown skyscraper – is quietly churning out nearly a video a day, designed to reengage Obama supporters, activate new volunteers, or persuade fence-sitting independents.
…. We’re seeing something really new in the history of presidential politics develop out of Chicago. This is a social-media-optimized campaign …. All of this direct communication with targeted voters is happening without the advice or consent of the mainstream media, in ways that David Plouffe could scarcely have imagined just four years ago. Meanwhile, the Mitt Romney campaign website looks like it’s still trying to catch up to Obama 2008.
More here
Thanks BWD
****
Pew Research: The gender gap in presidential politics is not new. Democratic candidates have gotten more support from women than men for more than 30 years. Even so, Barack Obama’s advantages among women voters over his GOP rivals are striking.
In the Pew Research Center’s most recent national survey, conducted March 7-11, Obama led Mitt Romney by 20 points (58% to 38%) among women voters. It marked the second consecutive month that Obama held such a wide advantage over Romney among women (59% to 38% in February).
More here
Thanks Loriah
****
MSNBC: …. a new NBC News/Marist poll shows President Obama holding a sizable advantage over his Republican opposition in Wisconsin, which he carried in 2008 but where Republicans made big gains in the 2010 midterms.
Obama leads Romney in Wisconsin among registered voters, 52 percent to 35 percent, with 13 percent undecided. And he edges Santorum, 51 percent to 38 percent, with 11 percent undecided….
Benefitting Obama is growing optimism about the state of the economy (52 percent believe the worst is behind them), as well as a more negative perception of the Republican Party (48 percent say the Democratic Party does a better job in appealing to those who aren’t hard-core supporters, while just 32 percent say that about the GOP).
What’s more, there’s a significant gender gap: Obama leads Romney among women by 25 points (55 percent to 30 percent) and men by 12 points (50 percent to 38 percent). The president’s job-approval rating in Wisconsin stands at 50 percent.
More here
****
Thanks Meta
****
****
****
😆
****
****
****
Collegekay’s still leading ….. but Marilyn is closing in. The deadline for donations is tomorrow midnight, if you could help that would be brilliant.
Collegekay: “I saw someone on facebook asking for multiple $3 donations and it counts!”
The Obama Diary 
Morning!
Way to go!
Winner!!!!
WOW Chips, how did you know how much I love the innaguration dance ??? I have viewed their dance so many times – OK most times I need a lift up.
Thanks Chips, I am never first on anything and your choice is fantastic!!1
Ps, May be this is a sign that our group at work may win something from the Mega Million. If I won, a great chunk of my winnings would go to Obama2012 – that is how badly I want him to win!!!
You’re welcome Linda!
If we win the $550m I suggest we donate $549m to Obama/Biden 2012, and spend the rest on wine and cheesy puffs. Good idea?
I’m in.
Morning Hopefruit 😉
Hiya Chips! If I win the lottery, the first thing I’m doing is calling my President. I don’t know his phone number, but I’m calling him to tell him the good news anyway.
Hold on – the second thing you’ll do is call the President, the first will be to inform us of the good news and shower us with free Cheesy Puffs. Right?
I thought you appetite for cheesy puffs flew out the window yesterday after somebody said they looked like something we don’t want to mention this early in the morning.
I really don’t want to win the $554 million because then I’d be part of the 1% crowd and everybody would hate me.
Thank you for reminding me of that Cheesy Puff comparison, Japa.
It’s true, we’d probably turn against you if you won the $554m (unless you shared it with us), we might even start posting stuff like:
Japa21, if you give it away you will still be in the 99% like the rest of us….or even if you keep it, you’ll still be an honorary 99%’er here at TOD.
I’m in too, we could be POTUS superpac.
Throw in some arugula and we’re THERE.
Deal!!! 😆
You elitist liberal! 😆
Meta, don’t forget his favorite sweets: Salted Caramel from Chicago. A friend is gifting me with some. Order should be here anytime now. I will share.HZ
Count me In, too!
Yes, I was thinking about forming an Obamadiary Superpac. I would gladly use 549 Mill for the superpac in support of PBO as long as he signs I dollar bill of it for me and then kicks willard the liar’s political butt really hard
Love that picture of POTUS and FLOTUS.
Every time I see that picture I think of Beyonce singing At Last and the First Couple dancing.
Woot! Good morning TOD Family.
And as I said on the last thread— multiple donations DO count…. that’s why I’ve lost my lead. I didn’t know that! lol
Oh crikey, is that right Collegekay? I thought just ‘unique’ donors counted??
yep that’s right!!! look at the leader board again. I saw someone on facebook asking for multiple $3 donations and it counts!
Thanks TOD keep it coming 😀
Ah, thanks Collegekay, I didn’t realize that at all.
Kay, I happily sent 10 donations your way 🙂 GOOD LUCK my friend!!!
thank you sooo much!
My pleasure! I hope you win.
Ah wow, Collegekay’s number of donors has gone from 77 to 91 in a few minutes! You’re a legend Hopefruit – and everyone else who has helped.
Didn’t know that either, it was a bit confusing, but we will do our best to keep you at the top!
And since it’s only FRIDAY today, we still have today and tomorrow to keep it building! Right Chips? 😉
*** Cough *** I’m still waiting for congratulations on me remembering it’s Friday.
Congrats on remembering it is Friday. To be honest, this is the one day of the week that I do remember what day it is.
Thank you Japa, feeling very proud of myself. I think I have a Friday problem because it’s the day before my busiest spell work-wise, ie Saturdays and Sundays – so I think I just try to blot it out!
And it is for the opposite reason that I do remember it.
Yea, hip, hip, hooray you remembered It’s Friday!!
Ok.
Thank you Sonjia! 😆
Anything for you!
That wasn’t a poke at YOU, dear Chips-without-whom-we-are-mere-blogging-fools….. Not at all! You never forget the Fridays Good vid, do you? 🙂
Well, I can’t remember if I ever forgot, Pamela. Did I? 😆
Thanks for remembering it’s Friday Chips…I can’t start my day without that video.
I’ll do my best later today. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks 57!
I need to make sure: the link above: Include. Empower. Win. That’s you, right?
that’s correct! 😉
Good Morning, Chips:)
Morning rikyrah, morning libra, morning Pamela, morning eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeryone!
Good morning 🙂
Happy Good Friday, I’ll be donating today. Keep up the good work, later…..
My own assessment of the oral arguments about ACA is that they only happened with such vernom from the SCOTUS, just because the law was approved and supported by PBO. Because it is PBO, everything that was always taken for granted as constitutional is now manipulated as unconstitutional just because the gop hates this President with such intensity.
Personal accounts of those who benefit from ACA should mean something if ONLY the conservative judges were not so full of hate and need to score political points.
the SCOTUS that stole our election for bush now wants to steal our healthcare
I talked to a couple of pretty accomplished lawyers who teach law and after they listened to all the tapes, they were blown away at the tenor of the questioning from the Justices and how partisan it was. Ugly.
We expected better from the Supreme Court, but really I don’t know why that is when you have Thomas and Scalia who is bought and paid for by the Koch Brothers and they don’t even attempt to hide it.
That’s the general consensus of knowledgeable people. It’s particularly telling when many conservatives are appalled.
Scalia in particular but certainly not alone, was questioning from talking points from Redstate. His questions had nothing to do with law. It is a level of partisanship that is conscionable.
Solicitor General’s Critics Wrong About his Defense of Obamacare
The government’s chief advocate got hammered for his defense of Obamacare before the Supreme Court. Former Solicitor General Charles Fried on what his critics got wrong.
by Charles Fried Mar 29, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
=====================================
That is what I am sure Solicitor General Donald Verrilli expected to do when he walked into the courtroom; he expected to do his job, which is to defend the constitutionality of an act of Congress (whatever he may thinks of it personally).
What he encountered instead was a barrage of hyperbolic, hostile rhetoric redolent of Tea Party–inspired slogans (we even had the broccoli canard) masquerading as questions, which are supposed to clarify the presentation and probe for weaknesses. I know some were disappointed by Verrilli’s performance. What did they expect? He did his job and he did it very well.
=====================================
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/29/solicitor-general-s-critics-wrong-about-his-defense-of-obamacare.html
Mahalos mucho for that article, Ladyhawke~
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE…HOPE ALL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY…WAITING FOR MY BROTHER TO ARRIVE FOR HIS VISIT…OH HAPPY DAY FOR SUE!…:)
🙂
Good morning TOD. I wish you all a day full of Hope and Peace.
I have been obsessed with the Trayvon Martin case to the point that I am even watching Nancy Grace. The NYD is reporting that a former coworker at a security firm says Zimmerman was fired for anger issues.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/george-zimmerman-lost-job-party-security-guard-aggressive-ex-co-worker-article-1.1053223
I understood Zimmerman has had three prior arrests – each involving cases of “anger” related assaults. He attended “anger management” classes in one instance – I guess to avoid going to jail.
The brother on Piers last night looked like an uptight, major control freak. Everything about him was too picture perfect, not a hair out of place. perfect teeth, perfect skin, shaven and shorn. Everything he said was carefully rehearsed. What a family!
The right wing want to bring up Trayvon’s past, okay fair is fair. Let’s did into George Zimmerman ‘s past.
I couldn’t even stand to look at Zimmerman’s brother on Piers Morgan last night.
People talk about Zimmerman right to defend himself. Didn’t Trayvon have a right to defend his self, after all he was the one being follow and stalked by Zimmerman.
What irked me was one of GZ’s spokesmen on Nancy Grace comparing GZ to a police man, I was so glad Nancy Grace yelled at him saying GZ is NOT A POLICE MAN.
The evidence just mounts and mounts against Zimmerman, and still he’s free. And even if absolutely nothing else was known about this case other than the fact that he pursued an unarmed Trayvon, against the advice of the guy on the phone, that should be enough. How is that standing your ground?? Going after an unarmed young man who made no threats?? How is that self defense?
The logic of the Zimmerman defenders absolutely blows me away. They acknowledge that he followe Martin. They don’t dispute that he was told not to. They acknowledge that he is much bigger than Martin. So, put yourself in Trayvon’s shoes. Wouldn’t you perceive Zimmerman to be threatening you under those circumstances? Thus, if they follow the whole concept of the Stand Your Ground law, if in truth Trayvon did try to beat up Zimmerman (which I don’t for a moment believe), then Trayvon was in the right to do so. He was Standing His Ground. So that would still make Zimmerman wrong, because in the very act of stalking Trayvon he created the threatening situation.
If the situation had been reversed, and Trayvon had been stalking Zimmerman, and Zimmerman, unarmed, decided to go after Trayvon because he was feeling threatened, and Trayvon shot him, then Zimmerman would be held up as a hero, killed while trying to defend himself by the gun toting Trayvon. And the mere fact that Trayvon would have ahd the gun would have been proof that he was a gang banger and not worth being given the benefit of the doubt.
So true Japa, I hadn’t thought about it like that, if anyone was ‘standing their ground’ it was actually Trayvon, he was the innocent unarmed victim of an armed aggressor who pursued him. Although, whatever happened during the confrontation, Trayvon was walking away initially, not threatening anyone – so ‘standing his ground’ only came when the armed aggressor caught up with him. No one disputes that.
The defense of Zimmerman is mind-blowing to me too, the irony is that those doing the defending accuse everyone else of playing the race card – when if they removed race as an issue from this story they wouldn’t support Zimmerman for one second. How could they? He has no defense.
This “stand your ground law” is so arbitrary, yesterday I read that these two young guys stole stereo equipment out of this guys truck, the truck owner ran down the two young guys with a knife and caught up with one of them and told him to drop the equipment, he claims the guy swung at him and the truck owner swung back stabbing the guy with the equipment, the truck owner took his equipment and went home, the young kid died from the stabbing….they ruled this as justified killing under the “stand your ground law”.
I agree. The SYG law, while faulty and needing to be changed or repealed altogether, is simply a red herring in this case. Zimmerman followed Trayvon and most likely confronted him first. Zimmerman’s story keeps changing across time, and across witnesses. If Trayvon indeed attacked him first, there would have been one and only one version of the story which would stand on its own. But the fact that the story keeps changing depending on what evidence comes out, or who is telling the story – is a major indication that Zimmerman was clearly the aggressor in the first place.
Funny tweet from Andy Borowitz:
“If George Zimmerman tells one more lie he’s going to get his own show on Fox.”
https://twitter.com/#!/BorowitzReport
LOL!
“The fact that the story keeps changing depending on what evidence comes out, or who is telling the story – is a major indication that Zimmerman was clearly the aggressor in the first place.”
+1,000,000,000
If he’s so innocent, why isn’t his story straight??
I have to say that this case is really getting to me. I felt so depressed about it yesterday, I didn’t think I could read any more. It almost feels like we’re back in the 50s where people did the most horrific things and were so blatantly racist and got away with it. I feel sickened by it all and each day that goes by and that murderer isn’t in jail, it demeans our entire justice system and our nation.
The only bright light that I can see is that it is raising consciousness, the Sanford Police department will never be the same and the Stand your Ground law is being seriously questioned. However, I know what you mean, like Trayvon’s Mom, I can’t rest until Zimmerman is arrested.
I was hoping we calm down , PBO has allready spoken about this issue, and we should let the
DoJ and FBI do their investigation I have to tuned the TV for a while. Trayvon will gey justice I am sure,
but there are many in the MSM that they want tention and get ugly.
I am not so sure if justice will be done..this after all is Florida. If he is tried he will be before a jury of people who have the same mindset that voted for this law, there’s a scary black kid with a not so sqweeky clean background, and what so many people don’t understand is when you are in a court room, the judge sets the ground rules on how to convict, if you have people who don’t understand or have their own agenda, there might not be justice served even based on all the evidence we are seeing. Once in the court room, his defense will paint a totally different picture.
He also followed a Black man home all the way to his front door. His wife told a reporter that. The man is lucky he didn’t kill him. I’m sure he had hhis gun with him that night.
Good Morning Chips! Good Morning TOD!
That Willard Slash-n-Burn map is devastating. I love it! *insert evil laugh*
*evil laugh inserted* MUAHAHAHAHAHA……..
Good morning everybody.
I want to thank everybody again for their comments yesterday.
Go collegekay.
And just to get a little philosophical, as usual, when I left for work this morning, my mother-in-law said “Have a good day.” I thanked her and, as usual, said “Every day is a good day. There is no such thing as a bad day.”
That is our normal interaction in the morning. But it is truly my philosophy in life. Just because we may face some disappointments, even pain, in life does not mean that the day itself is bad. It is up to us to always work to make every day a good day, if not externally, at least internally. I do realize that nobody can be upbeat all the time. But even when we do get beaten down, we have to try to keep a spark inside us alive to fan the flames of hope in our hearts. It is easy to be upbeat when everything is going our way. The real test of our belief and faith in the world, in ourslves and our President is how we react when things are not going our way.
I know that sounds sappy, but that’s the kind of guy I am. Not a sap, just sappy.
Japa, do you think FLOTUS or your would mind so much if I said I love you too? Your thinking is a gift and a blessing, as is your ability to stay in that peace-filled center of Being. All around you benefit from your presence..
I completely agree, japa.
Well keep the sappiness going. Thanks for the words of wisdom. 🙂
@edwina3
Please read this for the best commentary to date on the Trayvon Martin case. It is unbelievably good.
http://www.stonekettle.com/2012/03/trayvon-martin-license-to-kill.html
Jim has always been a pleasure to read.
Thank you, I forget about stonekettle and he is always a voice of sanity.
Thanks eveingeorgia. I’ll have to put his blog in my favorites.
Only Chuck Todd can spin a 17 point defect for Robney.
Unbelievable!
Can somebody send this jerk Chuky the The Pew Research regardinf women advantage that
PBO has over Willard, and not to metion the Young people,Latinos. AA, and many others’if this asshole wants
to report something he should tell us the truth.
Oh why doesn’t he take his magic erase markers and go to Fox Business Channel already and let’s get a decent journalist to head political news for MSNBC.
I cannot tell you how great it is to find liberal news in the a.m. on Current with Bill Press and Stephanie Miller. Highly recommend it.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Obama administration and five states have reached an agreement to speed up approval of offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes, which have been delayed by cost concerns and public opposition.
Under the deal, which administration officials disclosed to The Associated Press ahead of an announcement scheduled for Friday, state and federal agencies will craft a blueprint for speeding regulatory review of proposed wind farms without sacrificing environmental and safety standards. The Great Lakes have no offshore wind turbines, although a Cleveland partnership announced plans last year for a demonstration project that would place five to seven turbines in Lake Erie about 7 miles north of the city, generating 20-30 megawatts of electricity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/obama-administration-5-states-reach-deal-to-quicken-approval-of-wind-farms-in-great-lakes/2012/03/30/gIQARZxakS_story.html
The information you posted about Romney should be on HuffPost. Many more voters can see it.
In case anyone missed this video from this morning’s post:
There was a spring in the step this morning:
It was a “swagga swing” 🙂
Good Morning Chips!
Morning Donna!
I love that he takes the time to talk with the staff. The moment when he starts up the stairs and the escort salutes him just melts me.
Ah, I’m with ya Meta.
Me three, meta and Chips. I cry when I see the respect that he get when he is boarding Marine One and AF1. To see him board those two and the salute is just awesome, and to think that we help get him there. Oh, my heart is shaking now. My heart swells with pride, gratefulness, and a special bond to POB when I see that. We are so blessed to have him as our POTUS.
Did you all hear him say in his speech at VT., PRESSON!!! That reminded me of Bobfr and all of us. PRESSON!!!! Love our President.HZ
I just loved the Ellen-Michelle push up challenge. Can you imagine any other First Lady being so real?
Oh I don’t know anniebella, I can just imagine Callista doing those push-ups with Ellen. 😕
Good morning, folks. Have u seen this? Santorum – did he or didn’t he call PBO the N word?
Nig????? I heard that.
It sounded like nic, who knows what that pervert was trying to say, anti-war, nic ? does that mean lil pricky is pro-war…is that what the people want more war?
This is a hate ego tripping ugly and self-centered person. Just remember, when you have a grace of favor, your enemies do not have a hold on you.
POB’s spirit and soul is too fine for an ugly and hateful person like this man. And Santorum talks about values, and Christianity. There is not Christ-likeness in this man’s actions. This is a hateful and greedy power hunger man.
We have not use for this ugly and hatefulness in our future. Santorum will go no place close to the Oval Office. Fact.HZ
I’m going with NINJA.. Government Ninja.. as one commenter put it (at the youtube site) 🙂 POTUS as Ninja ~
On a serious note… my feeling is this – that someone in that audience definitely believed what they heard.. enough to make it known to the rest of us. I cannot think of another word he might have been trying to say- than the N word. Frankly, its just not a stretch to believe that Santorum would use such a word in his conversations.. and how easily it may slip into an off the cuff moment.
Completely brillant! Morning amk 😉
Morning chips. I finally tweaked your site to my liking. Now it’s prefectObama. 😉
How did you do that amk?!?!?! I need all the tweaky advice I can get, what did you do??
I changed the background color of the comment box and the text color (thanks to an excellent BJ teacher) and posted it here for anyone to use with just a click.
http://userstyles.org/styles/63309/theobamadiary-make-comment-box-pure-black?r=1333113076
This is the first style format for TOD. 🙂
I have been struggling over an year with a very light grey background with white text, which was a nightmare. (I blame all my post fuck-ups on this. 🙂 ).
Now I have got a pleasing grey background with white text while the whole site is in very light grey (which I have set universally for all sites I visit with Nosquint addon).
Did I confuse you enough ? 😉
Aw amk, your brain is enormous – that looked almost frightening.
I’m sure it’s possible to make that change permanent here …. if only I knew what code to put in the CSS thingie here. I asked WordPress for help on it about, ooooh, 18 months ago – they haven’t got around to replying yet. If I tried using your code would my computer explode?
No. The beaut is that you can turn off and turn on the style by clicking the “Stylish” button at the bottom left corner. You need to turn on the addon bar in firefox (by right clicking the top menu bar) to see it at the bottom.
Unreal! Ain’t it the truth?
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeautiful!!!!!
woot, woot. Retweeted. Hope the dems don’t fuck up this time.
Yes!
JOY!!!!
Yes!
Happy Damn Day!!!
I’m gonna win the megamillion lottery and start The Obama Diary Super PAC!
Donna, I was just thinking the same thing!!!!
Wooooot! Does that mean I’d get all the money?
Nope! Our beloved PBO gets all the money…ok ok I’ll give you an administrative fee. Will 100K hold ya! 😉
One cent. Anything over, you’re just burning money.
MITT ROMNEY’S “SEVERELY” LACKING FOREIGN POLICY CHOPS CHALLENGED
Pushing Back
President Barack Obama’s advisors fire back at Mitt Romney.
====================================
We are prepared to engage your advisors on these and other issues. While they were criticizing the president, they have failed to answer the following basic questions about your national security proposals:
.
.
• Why have you not outlined any policies to achieve U.S. objectives and end the war in Afghanistan? How would you change the president’s plan, which has the full support of NATO and our closest allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia?
• What did you mean when you said, “It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person,” referring to Osama bin Laden? Given the clear successes of President Obama’s counterterrorism policies, why and how would you change the current approach to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda?
• Why did you call Russia “without question our number one geopolitical foe,” especially when strategic cooperation with Russia is essential for countering the Iranian nuclear threat? What do you think is gained by casting Russia in this role? Do you believe there are other entities that pose greater challenges to American economic and strategic interests in the 21st century?
====================================
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/03/28/an_open_letter_to_mitt_romney_explain_your_national_security_ideas?page=0,0
Note: I am re-posting this item from last night’s thread because everyone needs to see this.
Thank you for this, LH. Tweeting……
Excellent! Put willard and his golden gaffe advisor under fire with intelligent questions!
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/03/30/the-maine-man-2/
The Obama campaign rolled out an impressive text-messaging tool this week that allows recipients to donate via cell phone.
The campaign sent out a solicitation Wednesday to tens of thousands of people, asking them to simply press reply with the amount they wanted to donate, according to TIME’s Michael Scherer.
The response was so good – 20 times that of previous text appeals – that the campaign plans to repeat the ask, over and over, throughout the next seven months until Election Day.
The key to the new tool is the credit card technology, a first for a presidential campaign, that allows donors who give even a few dollars to let the campaign to save their credit card information. The campaign can then charge their saved credit card whatever amount the donor elects via text message.
With individual donor limits of $5,000, that would mean someone could pledge $25 as many as 200 times. And they could be hit up by the campaign many more times than that.
–
Good idea!