President Barack Obama greets Fermi Award recipients Dr Burton Richter, right, and his wife Laurose, and Dr Mildred S Dresselhaus, third from right, and her husband Gene, in the Oval Office, May 7. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Yes, I was so close 😉 Greetings to all everyone from Prague. Its 2.45AM here, had no internet connection for several hours but had to check this site before I go to bed…See how addicted I am?
Holy shit! The view outside my window is insane. Severe thunderstorms, winds, rain, lightning, etc. It looks like the end of the world. Sheesh….Damn you Mayans!
It’s holding steady now but the whole building keeps randomly shaking, the electric lines outside my window keep randomly swaying, I have bloody train tracks and lines right outside my window. I tried going outside, almost got blown over and I figured hmmm…..I don’t fancy being struck by lightning.
I’m cool with storms but this one is different. It’s hitting a ton of counties and it’s severe to the max.
Be safe ut and don’t you dare go outside! I like rain/thunderstorms, but this one sounds a bit much! I think this is Mother Nature expressing extreme anger at Rick Perry, Willard, Boner and Cantor, and of course, the media.
Congrats, LunarSea:) Maybe Chips will put up a very special “something” for us..You! How are things? We were wondering how all is going with Hachiko…have not seen her here lately…or I missed her:) Hope you are all doing well. You are an angel
Yeah…But he has been leading in almost all of the polls and he has more money. I think the reason national dems want him is that being mayor of Milwaukee…he is more or less known . It’s much easier for your opponent to define you if no one knows you. Also, the guy is literally a flipping hero. He confronted a man who was attacking a woman a few years back at a state fair…you can’t buy that kind of good Publicity.
One thing that will be interesting this political season is whether the topic of Mitt’s five sons not going into the military in a time of war comes up. I have no qualms about people not wanting to join the finest force in the world for whatever reason. HOWEVER, I do object when someone is so willing to send other peoples’ kids to fight their war.
LOL. But if the son truly said this and he was disinherited and I believe I heard it on one of the MSNBC shows, well, son of Willard, come on over to our side. The water is great and so are the people.
Well folks, its the end of an era. My VCR/DVD machine has completely died. Kaputz! Had to disassemble it to get my DVD out and tape out. I kid you not. Every machine (except this computer) in my place needs to be replaced.
ha.. everything on my microwave went out a couple of months ago.. except the popcorn button 🙂 so we just hit the popcorn button and keep an eye on what we’re cooking, lol.
and my dvd/vcr went out too – last year.. but since the tv doesn’t work.. oh well 🙂
Our microwave went out months ago…only used the thing to reheat coffee and pop popcorn…now the family makes popcorn on the stove, the old fashioned way! Healthier 🙂
My oven is a piece of crap. I rent so I’m not going to replace that just gonna get a Breville toaster oven soon and do most of my baking/roasting there. Its just me so its ok.
My microwave should have been put out to pasture long ago. Actually considering not buying another one.
I bought my microwave back in 1983/84 for less than $100. It has a dial that you turn for High, Medium, Low and Defrost and a dial for 1 minute to 35 minutes. The light went out just 20 years ago. I told my beautian that I have a blow dryer that I bought in 1978 and it still works. I bought a Zenith VCR in 1984 for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics and I had it for 16yrs then I bought a plastic Panasonic DVD player and it did not last two years.
IMHO I do believe MY President believes, supports Gay Marriage. Right now whether he comes out & publically say it is up to him. He has done so much for equality for the LGBT community that I wouldn’t want him to alienate any one & mobilize conservatives that are so cool on Willard & always keep in mind that this election might be decided by a thin margin. There is too much at stake & PBO knows it. Let’s be wise & chose our battles & fights knowing that the future rewards those who press on & keep an eye on the BIG PRIZE. #Obama2012
I will stick my neck out on this right now: I believe that PBO WILL come out for gay marriage before this is all said and done. But he will do it at a time of his choosing. Secy Duncan and VPOTUS are trial balloons. Mark my words.
I agree LL I want him to come out on his choosing but NOT be pressured. His heart is in the right place. God knows how much I want him to say it now but also I know the Politics of it.
2nd that Ihope the LGTB do not put presure on PBO, they have to give them some breading space. and
yes VBIDEN and Duncan are trial ballons , but the question is does the mayority of Americans will support IT?
my family are O>K with the gay community we think this should be about human rights.
I agree he will make gay marriage a topic for further discussion. I believe he avoided stating his position because he understands taking a position would have actually hurt the forward movement of gay marriage in all states. The right would run with the issue if he had stated a position. Now that many have already signaled support, and the issue is clearly stated as civil and human rights, the President will not hurt the political forward movement of the issue. Hopefully, he will discuss the issue in a speech that firmly details the civil rights and the human rights that are involved in gay marriage issues. Timing is important in these matters.
Hello everyone, have been lurking here for a while. Decided to overcome my shyness and join the group and finally post a comment. I am a newly graduated pediatrician. I have seen in this short time the actual difference PBO’s policies have made on lives of my patients. Policies matter! Elections matter! We cannot go backwards. I was so moved by the president’s rallies in VA and OH. I am going to try and dedicate some time (what ever I can spare) in trying to get him elected. I am IN!!!
Welcome, jerseygirl, or should I say,Drjerseygirl:) Congratulations on your becoming a pediatrician…and helping to keep the little ones healthy. Good for you! You see ,first hand, the impact that Obamacare has on real life individuals and their families…you should write something about this and let the WH know how important this is for those that you see.
So glad that you delurked and joined the family…you know what an informed yet raucous bunch we are….and you still love us:) That says a lot. Welcome, and good luck in your practice. Appreciate all that you do.
Aww… thanks for your warm welcome; I am just glad to find this oasis of sanity. I am not quite in practice yet. I am doing a fellowship. Thanks to NIH grants that fund my position :). thank you again President Obama!
Children are the primary beneficieries of ACA. I remember the time when we went out to protest the repeal of SCHIP by then President Bush as a medical student. Not only had the president restored SCHIP, the provisions of protecting against pre-existing conditions, being covered by parents insurance until 26. Those are all my patients :). As I said elections matter!
Thank you for your contribution. I hope many doctors and nurses raise their voices to explain to americans how the ACA is helping so many people. People who work in the health care system have a lot of credibility and they can give concrete examples of how the system is changing.
Welcome jerseygirl! Glad to have you with us and on board with PBO’s re-election. Congrats on your hard-earned degree and commitment to making a difference in the lives of children. And thanks for sharing with us your first-hand experiences with Obamacare! 🙂
Welcome Jersey girl. I too am a physician (Family Practice). Please join fellow physicians that support the ACA.
Please check out this site: Physicians For America http://www.drsforamerica.org/
Yeah!!! My husband is a pediatrician here in CA also. He loves Obama and is also seeing how much ObamaCare is helping the lives of his patients. Welcome jerseygirl!
Welcome Jerseygirl. So glad that you went from loyal lurker to hopefully a regular poster and fellow TOD’er. I look forward to hearing more about what how the ACA has helped your young patients and their parents.
I’ve seen angels and I don’t come close. Things are good but Maine is really a lousy job market and we all know how being unemployed for too long can be. Not to mention that there is a huge culture shock coming to the middle of nowhere in Maine from NY. But she is a strong, wonderful soul and I hope it’s more good than not for her.
Of course Tucker seems 5 years younger running in circles in the yard and he always seems to be smiling.
Please keep Hachiko in your thought and prayers that her employment situation turns soon and don’t hesitate to send any leads her way.
I’ll let her know you asked. I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you have her in your thoughts.
thank you for the update LunarSea.. my best to all three of you and i will definitely keep my positive thoughts going for her to find happy employment soon.
I had the misfortune of catching that too, Hope. My response was the same. The president has the right to his own personal opinion (whether it’s for or against), doesn’t mean he hasn’t done as much as he can for the cause and it doesn’t mean he won’t do more in the future. Librul media should stop the angst and focus on denying Willard the presidency cause we all know what will happen to women and the LGBT if a repuke comes into office now.
But right now the people are more concern about jobs , and if the economy keeps improving it will
make it easier to tackle the gay isssus,rught now PBO has to many bigger issues Al-Qaida the
middle east, but jobs, jobs are the maine concern in all the communities.
woohoo! I just got polled 🙂 first time for me. They basically asked the same question over: am I repub or dem.. who would I vote for ND senator and who for President.. did I support anything about the tea party.. was I a strong dem.. was I a liberal dem.. am I pro choice or pro life.. who’d I vote for pres in 2008. All straight forward questions.. no biased type questions. The survery was done by: Call Research and he said he didn’t know who it was commissioned by.
oops they also asked if I thought the country was going in the right direction, was POTUS doing a good job.. all the responses were choices of strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, favorable, unfavorable, somewhat unfavorable, strongly unfavorable.
lol.. I was strongly favorable on all things dem and POTUS.. it felt good to put in my two cents. They asked me also about the ND US senator race between Rick Berg & Heidi Heitcamp.. Berg is a tea bagger and has spent all of one year in the House doing nothing.. and Heitcamp is prolly the closest thing to a dem they’ll get here, but I’m not thrilled by her and said so… though I’d vote for her if I was still here. They also asked me if I’d I seen any tv ads on either of those candidates.. which makes me suspect that its possibly one of them that commissioned the poll.
The guy asking the questions did an outstanding job of not sounding at all biased in any way.
just read this on twitter. Today Rush told a caller it was okay to go out and apply for unemployment even if they didn’t need it, to push the unemployment numbers up to hurt the President. This needs to get out. Rush needs to be brought down. This is fraud. This is the tweet.
Rush is stupid. I don’t think people can do that. I’m sure there are ways of knowing whether someone is receiving money as in paid employment. For example, employers are required to submit a “new hire” list to the state EVERY week. They also file quarterly payroll reports, and every pay period, they pay into an “unemployment insurance” fund for each person that they hire. So one way or the other, the government will find out if someone is on someone else’s payroll and still receiving unemployment payments.
HF, great minds think alike. Especially since the company has to pay up for employees that they lay off. The company has to show that the person wasn’t fired. In fact, if I was a company and somebody tried this, I would fire them for fraud. What an idiot!!
Just goes to show Rush is just as out of touch as Robme and apparently has not collected unemployment in over three decades. Since the late 80’s there have been computer systems in place to match filers with employers. I hope those ditto heads do it and get into loads of trouble…then sue Rush.
Honestly, (this is not gonna be a pure thought….) if someone is dumb enough to do it, I hope they get locked up for it. So, they can scream about how this country doesn’t follow the constitution!! 😆 😆
LOL. Such a patriot, that Rush :roll:. This smacks of nothing but desperation. I hope he sets up a legal defense fund for the saps who will be stupid enough to engage in this fraud.
After I thought about it, I was sure it couldn’t be done. But I was so upset when I read it i didn’t think it thru. What an idiot that man is and all his listeners!!!
I was listening to Randi Rhodes this afternoon and this conservative started spewing the lie that he has friends who milk unemployment by not looking for work. First of all if you are only getting unemployment that’s $500 a week at the most. If you earned enough to get the max unemployment you are used to a higher life style and $500 a week won’t pay all the bills. My brother was recently laid off and his company is giving him six months severance and he can also collect unemployment. His wife works so they will be able to survive and just cut down on some expenses. If I had a dollar for all the conservatives who have “friends” milking unemployment benefits as though the employer is the one who paid into the fund. Unemployment is not welfare…Rush you idiot!
PBO may not be comfortable with same sex marriage, but he still should come out in clear support of it. As the gutsy president that he is, he has done a lot of things that he’s not comfortable with over the past three years, and I’m pretty sure that a lot of it he really hated but he still did it. This is Barack Obama, the first AA president, a transformational great man, the face of hope and change and equality for the whole world. He can not be on the wrong side of history here, he can’t be to the right of most of his base and the country. And honestly, I refuse to believe that at this point he’s still against gay marriage, it goes against everything I know about this man. I’m quite sure that this is politics, which I could accept – it’s an election year and nothing is more important than re-elect him – but IMO it’s not even good politics at this point.
As I speculated above, bwd, to me the optimal time would be in his acceptance speech at the DNC. Agree with you that I hope he does it sufficiently in advance of the Election as possible. Mitt is so totally anti-LGBT that the contrast could not be starker & it will certainly add even more support from the LGBT community at the time it’s really going to matter – the weeks and days before 6 Nov 2012 when GOTV will be a maximum push.
BWD I have to respectfully disagree. I whole heartedly believe with all my heart that PBO is fully comfortable with same sex marriage. After he is re-elected he will REPEAL DOMA & on inauguration day he will come out publically for gay marriage when the whole world is watching. History will always be kind to him regarding equality.
It has been pretty clear to me that PBO supports same-sex marriage, but that he believes that there should be a legal process of repealing the current DOMA law and replacing it with legislation that would provide full rights and entitlements for gay/straight couples alike. This is very similar to his strategy with DADT. In hindsight, we see that his strategy with DADT was far superior to any of those quick-fix Executive Order, or emotional and patronizing lip service responses that many were advocating for.
Okay let’s say that PBO announces tonight that he supports gay marriage, now what? Other than the media, GOP and others demagoguing it to death or the goalposts being moved (as is typically the case) to some other thing he MUST to do demonstrate that he REALLY supports it as he says?
When Abraham Lincoln took steps to end slavery, no one asked him how he personally felt about blacks – in fact, he explicitly stated his personal opinion that Blacks could never be equal to whites. Yet to this date, we focus on Lincoln’s ACTIONS towards improving equality for Blacks by ending slavery, not his personal opinions/beliefs one way or the other.
Exactly, Hopefruit. I’m just glad Lincoln freed my people- he did the right thing. Whether he believed about slavery is between him and God.
From the previous post:
Doreen, if anybody can make sense of this, he can. I feel he will, since he hasn’t backed away from anything else.
I look forward to hearing his thoughts when he does.
@BWD It may not be good politics in some places, but having seen people leave my denomination because it was recently voted that homosexuals could be ordained, I can assure you that this is extremely fragile ground.
I sense that the republicans know how to drive a wedge; that’s why they have been trying to separate AA’s and gays. Sometimes I believe our side is more idealistically naive than the other side.
For years we thought that things might be getting better for us too ( AA’s, that is) but then PBO was elected. How naive we have been!
I have no doubt that PBO Is thinking hard on this. But I think it is more than political; I think he is wrestling with this in his soul. Many people are- that’s why they can respect him for not jumping in whole hog until he is ready.
He believes that the constitution provides freedom to marry whom one wills. And he has stood up for that, time and again.
I do not see why his inner struggle is so important. What he actually has done is.
I agree with you and Hopefruit that Abraham Lincoln deserves some credit for starting the ball rolling about freeing slaves. However, I also think it’s important to separate the myth of Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves from the reality of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation for military purposes and not for humanitarian purposes. That is why Lincoln’s proclamation was a limited document that left over a million slaves, in loyal states and parts of Confederate states that were loyal to the United States, in slavery. The Proclamation only applied to states that were still in rebellion against the United States as of Jan.1, 1863. Lincoln was assassinated before the Thirteenth Amendment (which legally abolished slavery) was ratified. This means that he died before the slaves in the loyal states were entitled to freedom. The tragedy, of course, is that not very many people take time to read the actual Emancipation Proclamation. And yet we all have been brought up to regard Abraham Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” who freed all the slaves.
Hepefruit is absolutely right that Lincoln did not believe in racial equality. In fact if he had his way he would have expelled all Blacks and resettled them somewhere else as he believed that this should be a white country. May be Lincoln, if he lived, might have evolved on the question of human equality; but the fact of the matter is that he believed in white superiority and black inferiority. Lincoln was also a politician who understood very well that he would not be re-elected in 1864 if he freed all the slaves and proclaimed racial equality. He would have lost the support of loyal slave states as well as the support of the the majority of Northern whites who strongly believed in white supremacy.
VPB said that where gay marriage is allowed, he is comfortable with those couples having the same legal and civil rights as any married couple. Contrary to what we’ve heard all day, this was not an endorsement for gay marriage, rather acknowledging that marriages should be treated the same. I do believe that PBO should continue to hold his own counsel on how he feels personally about it. His actions speak clearly that everyone, regardless of identity, should be treated fairly. DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell exemplifies that. The LGBT community know he is their ally in this and there should be no undo pressure for PBO to make this a political issue. I don’t think his being an AA man has anything to do with it.
BWD, I have always suspected PBO’s public stance on gay marriage has been based on political caution – that sounds like criticism, and, well, it is. I honestly don’t believe for a minute, based on what we know about him, that, on a personal level, he opposes it.
And I have never believed that he is has a religious-based objection to it, I have always felt, especially after reading his books, that he has a gentle faith, but is not and never has been governed by hardcore religious doctrine. Otherwise he wouldn’t have repealed DADT, stopped defending DOMA, etc, etc.
Needless to say, I adore the man, but I just think he is wrong on this, I wish he had come out in favor of gay marriage a long time ago, the problem now is that if he did it he would be accused of pandering to a section of his base. It’s a no-win.
I’ll spit it out, there is an extreme section of the gay rights lobby that is, I believe, depressingly bigoted, some of them racist to their core. I’ve read their anti-PBO bile so many times on supposedly liberal sites, from even before he was elected, most of it laden with racist venom.
Sometimes that viciousness almost leads me to oppose their cause, but that’s actually what they want, that extreme need to remain ‘victims’, being finally ‘granted’ their rights would probably make them miserable (eg Dan Choi after DADT was repealed, he didn’t know what to do with his venom). So, I won’t stoop to their level.
Gay marriage shouldn’t even be up for discussion, I wish this ‘debate’ would end right ****ing now.
And I wish PBO would just put a full stop on it all – again, I don’t believe for a minute that he personally opposes it.
Chipsticks, I think you need to read Hopefruit’s comments. It has a lot of observations that will broaden your perspective. President Obama should be judged by his actions not by what the media and leftwing want him to spout. We remember leaders for what they did, for the actions they undertook, for the laws they passed not just for what they said. Words are cheap. Actions speak louder.
Here is hopefruit’s comment:
It has been pretty clear to me that PBO supports same-sex marriage, but that he believes that there should be a legal process of repealing the current DOMA law and replacing it with legislation that would provide full rights and entitlements for gay/straight couples alike. This is very similar to his strategy with DADT. In hindsight, we see that his strategy with DADT was far superior to any of those quick-fix Executive Order, or emotional and patronizing lip service responses that many were advocating for.
Okay let’s say that PBO announces tonight that he supports gay marriage, now what? Other than the media, GOP and others demagoguing it to death or the goalposts being moved (as is typically the case) to some other thing he MUST to do demonstrate that he REALLY supports it as he says?
When Abraham Lincoln took steps to end slavery, no one asked him how he personally felt about blacks – in fact, he explicitly stated his personal opinion that Blacks could never be equal to whites. Yet to this date, we focus on Lincoln’s ACTIONS towards improving equality for Blacks by ending slavery, not his personal opinions/beliefs one way or the other.
UT, I think PBO’s strategy on DADT was masterful, he left his Firebagger haters mopping the egg from their faces when he repealed it.
This is different, though, he made his opposition to DADT clear from day one, he has never come out in support of gay marriage.
I know people here disagree strongly about this, especially those with relgious-based opposition to equality, but much as I love him, I just wish he’d bite the bullet and lend his moral authority to the cause of gay marriage. Again, it would be the right thing to do.
After he comes out in favor of gay marriage then what? The media and firebaggers move the goal post again? He comes out for gay marriage and you think the goal posts won’t be moved again? I believe in gay marriage but I am not going to constantly demand that the most progressive President on LGBT issues show his bona fides time and time and time again to prove that he’s worthy of my vote. He has repealed DADT, he has asked his DOJ to stop defending DOMA, he is backing the bill in congress that supports marriage equality, he has come out against NC’s Amendment One, he wholeheartedly supported NY in their legalization of gay marriage. What more do you want? Seriously What more do you want?
I love you Chips but you don’t get to demand that this President come out for gay marriage. You don’t get to dictate what he should and shouldn’t do. You don’t get to demand a timeline of President Obama as to when he comes out for gay marriage or not. This President has hired over 225 LGBT professionals, Romney fired his gay adviser. This President has signed so many laws into existence for the LGBT community. This President has signed so many benefits into law for the LGBT community.
Do we want him to bleed for us until we decide he is 100% worthy of our vote? Do we want him to be in lockstep with every issue under the sun that matters to us before we decide he is 100% worthy of our vote? This man has fought for every freaking demographic in this country and in other locations around the world yet we cannot give him time and space to come to a decision? This is a very personal decision. He might support gay marriage secretly but has looked at the political landscape and decided we need to win an election for the progress of LGBT rights to continue.
Do you know that Amendment One in NC is likely to pass? Do you also know that we need NC to become blue again this November? Do you know that NC hasn’t been blue in decades before PBO won the state? Do you know that only about 14K votes helped PBO win in NC? Do you know that if 7K votes or more swung Romney’s way Pres. Obama would lose NC; a very crucial state in the election? Do you also know that a lot of conservative Democrats in NC back Amendment One for whatever warped reason? Do you know that a lot of the Latino vote in NC which we need to win does not support gay marriage in huge numbers? Do you know that a lot of conservative Democrats around the country do not support gay marriage and could switch to the other column in November? We have an election to win. I will repeat that. We have an election to win. If PBO has looked at the landscape and decided this is too politically risky for the Democrats who are we to judge him? If he decides the political landscape is ok and he comes out for gay marriage, who are we to judge him? Do you think a Romney presidency would magically provide 100% equality for the LGBT community? Words are cheap. Actions speak louder.
We have an election to win Chips. We have an election to win. Every state is crucial in this election and as much as I love you, you don’t get to dictate to President Obama how he goes about in laying the groundwork and winning.
I agree with you, UT, about Lincoln. What is even amazing is that despite the fact that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not even free all the Slaves and despite the fact that Lincoln believed in white supremacy, he was hailed, and is still hailed as the “Great Emancipator” who freed the slaves. It’s true Lincoln hated slavery. But it is also true Lincoln shared the racial sentiments of the vast majority of whites. Besides, Lincoln had no power to mandate racial equality beyond the military. The military remained segregated but Lincoln, perhaps mainly for military necessity, took the courageous step of allowing Blacks in the military.
Here is a highly relevant tweet from someone who is actually from the LGBT community.
I know I don't care for str8 emoprog pundits trying to tell me how I should feel POTUS' "personal" feelings about SSM.
— ScottHenriksenFinley (@ScottyBurberry) May 8, 2012
This whole same-sex marriage meme is another media-driven nontroversy – similar to the Hilary Rosen nontroversy a few weeks back. Obviously the LGBT community overwhelmingly supports PBO otherwise the GOP/MSM wouldn’t feel a need to repeatedly attempt to drive a wedge between PBO and that community. They tried with the Black voters, Jewish voters, Latino voters, women voters, and to a certain extent even the youth (AKA OWS).
And Chips, knowing what I now know about Romney donating to an organization that vowed to drive a wedge between LGBT community and PBO, I would wager that even some of those online vile racist comments are not coming from actual individuals, but from paid RNC or GOP operatives, or online media staffers/editors, whose job is to poison the atmosphere, instigate controversy and distraction, drive wedges between the LGBT community and PBO, fracture PBO’s base by pitting different groups who support PBO against each other.
I disagree on the ‘no-win’ comment. If Pres.Obama comes out in full support of gay marriage, he will be cheered for it. Trust me. The only ones who will claim pandering will be the Romney camp and the rest of the bigots on the right. Pres.Obama has done too much for the gay community for anyone to accuse him of pandering. Like Axelrod always says, If Romney wants to talk about ‘pandering’ to the base, we can have that debate.’
hf2 got it right and both you & bwd got it wrong. After all he has done on lgbt front and without even knowing what would do in the coming months, it is ridiculous to ask to pressurize him to “do the right thing.”
Ah, okay amk, we’ll agree to differ! I just don’t think anyone should need to be pressured to ‘do the right thing’, they should just go with their conscience and, well, do it.
You can disagree with me, but you can’t say that I’m wrong. This all “evolving” thing sound ridiculous now, and there’s no way in the world that PBO doesn’t get what the affect that his words will have on millions of gays and not only gays. This is not about changing DOMA in Congress, this is about changing hearts and minds.
I know a gay couple, they’re together for 10 years now. 3 years ago they adopted a little boy. The only reason they were allowed to have him was because he’s been very sick and had short time to live and no other couple wanted to take him. They were the most amazing parents for two years, until he died at the age of 5. These two great guys can’t get married. This is unecceptable and if PBO really is against gay marriage, it’s a real heartbreak for me. That’s why I really hope that this is politics – Yet even that is very bad politics IMO.
Well, there is a big difference being right and sounding righteous. And Obama’s excellent record on lgbt issues (in the face of stiff opposition) shows that he does not any lectures on ‘doing the right thing’.
I hear you. But the thing is, he is already doing everything in his power to make it happen. Even if he comes out now and publicly screams from the rooftops what is obvious to everyone, there is nothing he can do about it except continue to work on the defeat of DOMA. So is it the symbolic gesture that is being demanded of him or is it the rights themselves? Because he is working and has worked very hard on realizing these equal rights and has made great progress.
Again, a man like Barack Obama coming out supporting gay marriage will do more for equality than anything congress will or won’t do. PBO is the first to talk about changing hearts and minds.
I agree that it would be a very powerful and persuasive moment. I am not challenging that point whatsoever.
I also see PBO as a man of action. He wants deep in his heart to deliver the goods. When he speaks about gay people, especially those in his inner circle, I see a clear sincerity and love. So I believe that his heart and mind are in harmony. But I also strongly believe that the deep, deep need – a steel-eyed, deap-seated drive – to make tangible progess in his DNA – yes, It’s in his DNA. If he is single-minded about anything, it is this.
There are ugly, racist, vile people in every sector. It shouldn’t matter here, and I’m sure it’s not. I agree, Gay marriage shouldn’t even be up for discussion and there’s a way for us to finish it. If we’re the campaign of “Forward”, then PBO can’t be behind Joe Biden. It just can’t be.
BWD, keep your eyes looking forward and your ears open…I have a gut feeling something wonderful is about to explode (besides the heads of the right). The ground under us is rumbling….our President is just waiting for the right moment, this will be HUGE!
Yeah, I agree BWD, all I’m confessing is that my absolute support of gay marriage has, stupidly, weakened at times by my gut reaction to the hate coming from the extreme wing of the gay rights movement – including creatures like Choi, Greenwald and Aravosis, all of them right-wingers at heart and by political origin. But **** them, I support gay marriage 100%.
That’s why I got so furious with Snake Tapper today when he defended his asinine behavior today at the DPB by bringing up Aravosis with one of our twitter buddies.
With all due respect, I am not sure what is to be achieved by the President’s public pronouncement that he supports same sex marriage? Is it not possible that his pronouncement would be twisted by the GOP to defeat him and the Democrats who are not in predominantly Blue states. You saw what happened in so called Blue California.
Let me be clear: I support the rights of gays to marry but I also know many dedicated Democrats who support the rights of gays but who have honest religious reservations about gay marriage. So making this a political issue may be short sighted. Besides, what exactly can a President do, under his Constitutional powers, to bring about gay marriage?
I am a product of the 60s. I do not recall people fighting for AA civil rights putting pressure on Presidents Kennedy and Johnson to publicly support interracial marriages. In my humble opinion only the courts — and especifically the Supreme Court–will resolve the issue of gay marriage. As far as I am concerned President Obama has demonstrated, through actions, that he cares deeply about the rights of gays.And as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. What all of us who support the rights of gays to marry should be focused on is to ensure that we elect a President and a congress that would nominate and confirm judges and justices that will nullify state laws and the stupid DOMA that deny gay people the right to marry. Just to emphasize: It was the Supreme Court, and not the President or the Congress, that finally legalized interracial marriages throughout the United States. I just don’t see why in the middle of this crucial election we should hand the republicans an emotional issue that could be used to defeat President Obama when there is absolutely nothing concrete to be gained that will immediately result in legalizing gay marriages. I understand the importance of symbolism but why risk loosing everything that has been achieved to advance the rights of gay people over feel good symbolism? Just my two cents!
Y’all have GOT to check this out!! Nice pictures (Photo credits: Anne C. Savage) and some very cool panoramic picture of PBO and FLOTUS at the OHIO rally. You can scroll around the whole arena. If you were there, you may even be able to find yourself!!! Link is to eclectablog. WOW!! Enjoy, it’s like you were really there!!
Very cool——all those masses of joyful people. I can’t believe Chuck Toad and his cohorts had the nerve to say anything about the size of that crowd. That is just unethical, partisan reporting. It’s beyond idiotic.
amk, Aside from not believing the FABULOUS MESSAGE OUR PRESIDENT GAVE, here’s something else for Myth R-money’s campaign managers not to believe. it is science, after all. Since they actually attended a rally, I’m sure to them, it was just an optical illusion. 😆 😆
So I see peeps on tv are making hay about gay marriage. Really? Crazy, nasty Repugs undermining the constitution and the citizens of these united states, a Rubber Stamp running for prez with psychos ready to lead him off the cliff and harassing the president about gay marriage is the big news of the day? Seriously? If this is what the crazy left wants to expend precious political capital on, well then make way for president Willard. I’m sure he will endorse gay marriage and gay adoption and gay everything. Instead of getting distracted by shiny objects, the so called progressive media should be solidifying behind PBO and going after Willard and the Repugs like gangbusters. But of course, leave it to ‘libruls’ to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Whether or not we believe PBO is for gay marriage, he’s worked very hard for the LGBT population in terms of equal rights under the law, especially when it comes to civil unions where he believes that they should be afforded the same legal rights as straights. I don’t like the fact that activists feel like they need to browbeat the president into admitting that he believes or doesn’t believe something. He has the right to his own opinion and he’s done everything in his power to preserve and expand LGBT rights. If activists can’t tolerate that then they can sit on their hands and welcome Willard and the Mormon church into the most important office in the land because we all know how much the church loves anything or anyone not white, not straight and not male.
Many of the so called lgbt ‘activists’ have only poisoned the well for all the future dem admins (I sure don’t see any rethug admin even giving them the time of the day) by the way they treated Obama and his specific successes. No dem admin is even to going openly about these issues if Obama goes down in 2012. By their clownish antics in front of the media and blogs, they have only deeply hurt their own brothers and sisters.
That’s what they don’t get: radicalism/militantism doesn’t work. It just turns people off. I was a women’s studies minor in college and I read so many books and articles about building alliances in terms of feminism and gay rights. It’s about changing hearts and minds, the more you do that, the easier it becomes for changes in policy on racism, sexism and anti-LGBT rhetoric and acts. This change in public perception didn’t happen because of the Dan Choi’s and the Maddcow’s of this world, it happened because of the careful, persistent, strong and dedicated work of people who built alliances across communities I.e.: more straights learning about and being friends with people from the LGBT community and the straights in turn educating other straights about gay and transgendered people. That’s how change happens. Screw so-called activist who drew the wrong lessons from Martin Luther King. MLK left that kind of activism up to Malcolm X, it’s angry and loud and it doesn’t really get us where we want to be. Instead, MLK partnered up with JFK , and set us on the road to the Civil Rights Act signed by LBJ. That’s how change happens, by building alliances and changing hearts and minds on the ground.
“I don’t like the fact that activists feel like they need to browbeat the president into admitting that he believes or doesn’t believe something. He has the right to his own opinion and he’s done everything in his power to preserve and expand LGBT rights. ”
I watch both and I disagree slightly. I think there are amazing people on the Voice, especially the final 4, but I also find that the top 3 have amazing voices on American Idol as well. As a person who can’t sing myself, I am enjoying these young people and their courage to get out there and sing!
CH filling in for Rachel, nothing but Leftwing Libertarian hackjob, and now for the lovefest of Ron Paul!
Ok CH, we get it, you are voting for Ron Paul, now quit trying to convince everybody to do the same!
So RP supports gay marriage? Him and Rachel should go vote for Willard then cause we all know Rand is going for a spot in a Willard Admin in exchange for delegates.
Exactly. People should stop pushing him or demanding crap from him. Actions speak louder than words. He has been the most progressive President on LGBT issues. He has worked his ass off for each and every demographic in this freaking country. Yet we demand that until he conforms to our wishes, he is not worthy of our vote. Enough is enough. Will we rest when he takes a knife and cuts himself up to show that oh yes, he’s lockstep with us? This President has worked his ass off. I will say it again. THIS PRESIDENT HAS WORKED HIS ASS OFF. Enough is enough with the hysterical demands.
He will come out for gay marriage when he is good and ready. If he wants to stay silent for political reasons, so be it. Our focus is to win an election, get PBO reelected, and give him a Democratic majority not natter way at nontroversies.
If he wants to stay silent for political reasons, so be it.
Bingo. Everyone hates the ‘politics’ of it all and yet wants this man to walk into that political buzzsaw willingly, without even realizing the ironic outcome of it.
I want that pic of “everyone stfu, I got this” pic badly.
The rethugs and the msm yet again the threw the shining object and successfully projected weak willard’s negatives on to PBO while mehmney’s surrender to rwnj monkeys is already forgotten.. Amazing how they yank our chains.
Chips, I love you dearly but you don’t get to dictate that. PO has said he supports civil unions and equal rights for same sex couples as heterosexual couples. He has signed legislation supporting LGBT issues and more.
How about giving this grown man the courtesy and respect to work through this personal thing on his own.
I agree, ck. Why does he has to be pressured to do this? The questions I have been asking is why are there gay repugs? AA repugs? Women repugs? Will somebody please ask them why? This is man of sound mind and I am sure he has thought this out. He never said that he was a perfect man nor a perfect President. I appreciate that.
If he does say this at the DNC I personally would feel that it was under pressure and for political gain. I do not if I can respect that.
This is between him and God. I respect that. Either way, it will not change the hearts and minds of others.
POB is the President on the U.S. he is not God.
The Senate confirmed three of President Obama’s judicial nominees, completing a deal made the chamber’s leadership to confirm 14 nominees in two months.
Kristine Baker was confirmed for the Eastern District of Arkansas by voice vote, John Z. Lee was confirmed for the Northern District in Illinois by voice vote, and Jacqueline Nguyen was confirmed 91 to 3 for the 9th Circuit Court in California. The confirmations complete an agreement made by Senate leaders to confirm 14 of 17 nominees for judicial vacancies picked by President Obama.
WASHINGTON–First Lady Michelle Obama will show off her South Side Chicago neighborhood to spouses of NATO leaders in Chicago on May 20 for the Summit–and host a dinner for them later that day at the Art Institute.
Mrs. Obama who speaks often of growing up in a small apartment at 7436 S. Euclid, will take the spouses to the Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside.
The White House said Monday the spouses will tour of the center and attend a performance by the South Shore Dance Drill Team–based at the Comer Center -and the Muntu Dance Theater. The lunch for the spouses will be at Comer with Chef Paul Kahan–of Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St. -assisted by Comer youths
Kewl, my granddaughter performed with the South Shore drill team until about 2 years ago. Now why didn’t FLOTUS visit then? I would have been all over her. Those kids are superb.
I need your assistance please. I just returned from NY & NJ, while there I confirmed from the family I met up with they were in PBO camp and will vote. NOW, a young college age cousin who voted for PBO 08, was wavering because she didn’t feel enough was done. Well IHad to educate her, including asking her whose health care she was under, etc. she agreed maybe she better review what she thinks she knows, after I had a fit I had to ask her if she took civics and understand how your gov’t works. She thought Robme was advancing fast and was looking at him. Didn’t even know the damn issues. Needless to say after I informed her about that lying man, I showed her the TOD site and a few others I could remember, she was surprised, will like it on her Facebook too. I think I scared her. Lol. Anyway where else can I send her a link to? This is a college student, how many more like her, sigh.
Another college student I met in NJ where she was working at the hotel I stayed at wasn’t sure but said her Mom will be voting for PBO because she liked what he did with health care. After another conversation, I informed her that Mom was smart and do what she will do. Also get informed it’s your future.
My cousin is popular so if I can give her more info. She can be BETTER INFORMED and can pass it on.
Any assistance would be appreciated, it’s the best I can do as non res.
The People’s View…actually, ANY of the places on Chips blogroll would be great…but as a college student, she might appreciate TPV..written in a clear, fact based way. No BS, just the facts. If you sent her here…that’s all she needs to know..she’ll find the rest:) You did a great job, Smoothscotch. Having those conversations with others that are based in fact, means everything.
WTF? She was considering Romney? Must be that Ken Doll look. Well Ken Doll’s grandfather. Geesh. Other than the campaign website there is this one I think should be spread:
This is happening whether we want to believe it or not. My #2 has talked of many of her college friends who were gung-ho in ’08 are now wavering and actually considering Rmoney. These are educated young people, full of book learning, but seems to be lacking in political know-how. Anyway, she’s so upset that she and a roomate have put together a web site/blog where they will sell t-shirts with appeal to a younger group to create more buzz. The site is set to go up later this month and will be called Eighties Babies for Obama. Percentage of the proceeds on shirt sales will go to the campaign. I’ve seen some of the prototypes, and while my ol arse couldn’t wear them, I imagine the yougsters would. She’s already asked me to send her stuff to put on the site that relates to the election. I’m thinking, the funny political cartoons. and tweet-like blurbs. They will not take the time to read articles. Maybe some enthusiasm pics.
Romney!?!? The Biggest Favor they could do themselves, the Planet, and Future Generations is Investigate Romey’s LIES. Why would they want a sociopathic, pathological LIAR in our White House to give America to KOCHS?
If you have the time, this is a MUST WATCH. He will be added to my summer reading list, to be sure. Living in AZ, I find this to be an ESPECIALLY must see and read his writing. His books have been “boxed” (BANNED) by the Tucson Unified School District and their Mexican American Studies. You read that right. BANNED! Words escape me.
Their ate 2 poison pills in the House GOP version of the Highway bill, both riders.
Keystone and repealing EPA rules on Coal ash.
As a result, both sides are not budging!
Here we go again…
Good. I want NO COMPROMISE on EITHER of those issues. DON’T BUDGE. America needs to start paying attention to WHO/WHAT these Republicans are fighting for…big ass clue…It’s NOT THEM!
The A$$hole escaped from the Twilight Zone. Which part of “LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT” says Save the Auto Industry? willard’s just fucking with everyone so we can be arguing about this and not give PObama the CREDIT HE DESERVES!
In the end..willard will regret being such a fuckwad.
Why must we always be led around by the latest RW or LW talking point du jour? I don’t take my lead from whatever these nuts are obsessing or intellectually masturbating over. These are simply people who like to hear themselves talk. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s just noise.
I take another view PD. It has been my experience that people do things for confirmation bias or dollars and in a lot of cases dollars are that bias. The more b.s. and confusion the more it needs to be analyzed and talked about. Ergo the talking heads make another payday……..My two cents. 🙂
Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein wrote an article last week that stated the Republican Party obstruction was rendering our government dysfunctional. Below is a very troubling example of that obstruction. The fact that this is not being reported more widely in the mainstream media is criminal.
GOP OBSTRUCTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
———————————————————————————-
Alliance for Justice Report Details President’s First-Term Record on Judicial Nominations and Calls for End of Election-Year Obstruction
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron echoed the report’s conclusions, stating that, “The American people deserve a federal court system that is fully staffed and able to fulfill the promise of justice for all. The country cannot afford to wait any longer for the confirmation process to return to a rational and fair basis. With confirmations lagging at historically low levels, every opportunity must be taken to nominate and confirm new judges at a pace commensurate with the scope of the crisis we face. The upcoming elections must not be used as an excuse to perpetuate obstructive behavior. Every nominee the president puts forward in 2012 deserves a yes-or-no vote in 2012. Time may be short, but the need for action has never been greater.”
The report includes detailed data on the personal and professional characteristics of the President’s nominees, the historically sluggish pace of confirmations, and statistics comparing President Obama’s record with those of his immediate predecessors.
I know most of you turned off CH. I was on the treadmill so kept watching though was on the phone for a few minutes. Anyway, he did a segment about openings on Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a segment on all the devastating openings on the bench. Of course, the jist of both segments was the major obstruction of the R’s. I’ve never said this on TOD before: I HATE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are evil and hate American. TREASON!!!!
I am fuming over this. I feel very nervous now. I am so angry. And where is the media reporting on this? The White House Press Corps spent most of the press briefing today asking various iterations of the gay marriage question. It’s infuriating that the GOP obstruction just doesn’t get covered.
SENATOR VITTER OBSTRUCTION OF FEDERAL RESERVE NOMINATIONS (He just doesn’t want the Fed to do it’s job.)
When Republicans close off every avenue
By Steve Benen
——————————————————-
We know the GOP is willing to fight tooth and nail to reject any efforts at public investment to create jobs and spur economic growth. What’s less known is that Republicans are equally disgusted by the idea of Fed intervention to improve economic conditions.
.
.
For those who suspect congressional Republicans are deliberately trying to drag down the economy in the hopes of undermining the Obama presidency, the GOP’s actions with regard to monetary policy offer powerful evidence.
Over the last three years, congressional Republicans have gone to almost comical lengths to stop the Fed from even trying to improve the economy (while fighting equally hard to stop Congress from also trying to improve the economy). In November 2010, GOP lawmakers went so far as to say they wanted to change the Federal Reserve’s mandate so that it would stop taking steps to lower unemployment. As recently as a couple of weeks ago, National Journal reported that Republicans have effectively bullied the Fed into paralyzed inaction, and since Obama’s choices to fill vacancies are blocked by knee-jerk, incoherent opposition, nothing changes.
Posting again, for anyone who may have missed these FABULOUS PICTURES…
Speaking of Science…
Y’all have GOT to check this out!! Nice pictures (Photo credits: Anne C. Savage) and some very cool panoramic picture of PBO and FLOTUS at the OHIO rally. You can scroll around the whole arena. If you were there, you may even be able to find yourself!!! Link is to eclectablog. WOW!! Enjoy, it’s like you were really there!!
The Obama Diary 
sweet
Winner! Helloooooooo LunarSea 😉
Niiiiiice!
So niiiiiiiice, PJ!
Am I first? Yuppieeeeeeee…from Prague, Czech Republic..how is everyone doing?
Sooooooooo close!
Yes, I was so close 😉 Greetings to all everyone from Prague. Its 2.45AM here, had no internet connection for several hours but had to check this site before I go to bed…See how addicted I am?
Hello in Prague!
right place at the right time?
Lots of smarts in the room!
Stole my post! Was going to say lots of brains in that room.
tied fred… 😆
Thanks,I was very close…hope you are doing great..
Holy shit! The view outside my window is insane. Severe thunderstorms, winds, rain, lightning, etc. It looks like the end of the world. Sheesh….Damn you Mayans!
We are all Mayans now.
BTW, having a viewing party for Chelsea v. Bayern. Will hold a cocktail for you.
I love thunderstorms and rain – esp at night, when I’m safe and snug at home or in my bed 🙂
Inside looking out is a nice place to be in this weather.
‘It looks like the end of the world.’ Shouldn’t you then be praying instead of damning the Mayans! 😉
Everyone looks happy!
did I miss this? Is there a clip?
@uta: and you’re online? electric lines always get hit here.
stay safe
It’s holding steady now but the whole building keeps randomly shaking, the electric lines outside my window keep randomly swaying, I have bloody train tracks and lines right outside my window. I tried going outside, almost got blown over and I figured hmmm…..I don’t fancy being struck by lightning.
I’m cool with storms but this one is different. It’s hitting a ton of counties and it’s severe to the max.
Be safe ut and don’t you dare go outside! I like rain/thunderstorms, but this one sounds a bit much! I think this is Mother Nature expressing extreme anger at Rick Perry, Willard, Boner and Cantor, and of course, the media.
Congrats, LunarSea:) Maybe Chips will put up a very special “something” for us..You! How are things? We were wondering how all is going with Hachiko…have not seen her here lately…or I missed her:) Hope you are all doing well. You are an angel
I love that the President respects science! These guys look so delighted to be there with our handsome and w
(hit the button too soon) ……..welcoming Prez!
Anyone knows who’s the best candidate for us in Wisconsin? We really can’t let that son of a bitch Walker win.
Looks like Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett…probably be the best candidate in the running.
Shouldn’t we hope for the woman? (I know, how it sounded…;).
I’m hoping for whomever can kick Walker’s stinking ass.
Not if she isn’t likely to beat Walker. We hope for the best Dem. candidate.
Yeah…But he has been leading in almost all of the polls and he has more money. I think the reason national dems want him is that being mayor of Milwaukee…he is more or less known . It’s much easier for your opponent to define you if no one knows you. Also, the guy is literally a flipping hero. He confronted a man who was attacking a woman a few years back at a state fair…you can’t buy that kind of good Publicity.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/53347442.html
I was hoping for the same thing the lady , I hope the DEMOS do not crew this UP they are very close.
I’m voting Barrett.
TY chipschica unfortunately my ‘droid does not allow me to comment/reply to posts, hence I’m out of sinc.
***woo hoo doing the happy dance***
One thing that will be interesting this political season is whether the topic of Mitt’s five sons not going into the military in a time of war comes up. I have no qualms about people not wanting to join the finest force in the world for whatever reason. HOWEVER, I do object when someone is so willing to send other peoples’ kids to fight their war.
Slightly off-topic, but which one of Willard’s sons said that President Obama was great a few months ago?
Hmmm…I don’t remember that. I do remember one of those morons saying something birtherish about the prez.
vitaminlover,That off shore account for that son was close the very next day.
You’re serious?!
LOL! annie I believe is joking but knowing Willard, that very well may have been the case!! 🙂 🙂
LOL. But if the son truly said this and he was disinherited and I believe I heard it on one of the MSNBC shows, well, son of Willard, come on over to our side. The water is great and so are the people.
Mitt says that he love America, would he send to WAR if he is elected to IRAN? we should ask him
the question .
NSFW….but a must see. Republicans, get in my vagina! Another one from Funny or Die
Well folks, its the end of an era. My VCR/DVD machine has completely died. Kaputz! Had to disassemble it to get my DVD out and tape out. I kid you not. Every machine (except this computer) in my place needs to be replaced.
Aww, my microwave went out yesterday. Granddaughter says, ‘just zap stuff in the oven’. Oven zapped popcorn….mmmm mmmm good.
ha.. everything on my microwave went out a couple of months ago.. except the popcorn button 🙂 so we just hit the popcorn button and keep an eye on what we’re cooking, lol.
and my dvd/vcr went out too – last year.. but since the tv doesn’t work.. oh well 🙂
Our microwave went out months ago…only used the thing to reheat coffee and pop popcorn…now the family makes popcorn on the stove, the old fashioned way! Healthier 🙂
My oven is a piece of crap. I rent so I’m not going to replace that just gonna get a Breville toaster oven soon and do most of my baking/roasting there. Its just me so its ok.
My microwave should have been put out to pasture long ago. Actually considering not buying another one.
I bought my microwave back in 1983/84 for less than $100. It has a dial that you turn for High, Medium, Low and Defrost and a dial for 1 minute to 35 minutes. The light went out just 20 years ago. I told my beautian that I have a blow dryer that I bought in 1978 and it still works. I bought a Zenith VCR in 1984 for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics and I had it for 16yrs then I bought a plastic Panasonic DVD player and it did not last two years.
Isn’t that how it always is? lol.
I’m glad this is getting attention on news sites—–“Romney stands silent when supporter charges Obama with treason”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-romney-stands-silent-as-supporter-charges-obama-with-treason-20120507,0,1875701.story
As I said, “Mr. Romney’s No Good, Very Bad Day.” I hope to read it at my next Storytime. 😆
Yep.
Shared this message with many … many of whom have probably blocked me by now ….
#PRESSON
IMHO I do believe MY President believes, supports Gay Marriage. Right now whether he comes out & publically say it is up to him. He has done so much for equality for the LGBT community that I wouldn’t want him to alienate any one & mobilize conservatives that are so cool on Willard & always keep in mind that this election might be decided by a thin margin. There is too much at stake & PBO knows it. Let’s be wise & chose our battles & fights knowing that the future rewards those who press on & keep an eye on the BIG PRIZE. #Obama2012
I will stick my neck out on this right now: I believe that PBO WILL come out for gay marriage before this is all said and done. But he will do it at a time of his choosing. Secy Duncan and VPOTUS are trial balloons. Mark my words.
I agree LL I want him to come out on his choosing but NOT be pressured. His heart is in the right place. God knows how much I want him to say it now but also I know the Politics of it.
2nd that Ihope the LGTB do not put presure on PBO, they have to give them some breading space. and
yes VBIDEN and Duncan are trial ballons , but the question is does the mayority of Americans will support IT?
my family are O>K with the gay community we think this should be about human rights.
I agree he will make gay marriage a topic for further discussion. I believe he avoided stating his position because he understands taking a position would have actually hurt the forward movement of gay marriage in all states. The right would run with the issue if he had stated a position. Now that many have already signaled support, and the issue is clearly stated as civil and human rights, the President will not hurt the political forward movement of the issue. Hopefully, he will discuss the issue in a speech that firmly details the civil rights and the human rights that are involved in gay marriage issues. Timing is important in these matters.
Secy Duncan and VPOTUS are trial balloons. Mark my words….
***********************************
marking your words!
FORWARD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Agree. If I had to guess, his acceptance speech at the DNC.
#PRESSON
Agreed
Hello everyone, have been lurking here for a while. Decided to overcome my shyness and join the group and finally post a comment. I am a newly graduated pediatrician. I have seen in this short time the actual difference PBO’s policies have made on lives of my patients. Policies matter! Elections matter! We cannot go backwards. I was so moved by the president’s rallies in VA and OH. I am going to try and dedicate some time (what ever I can spare) in trying to get him elected. I am IN!!!
Welcome, jerseygirl, or should I say,Drjerseygirl:) Congratulations on your becoming a pediatrician…and helping to keep the little ones healthy. Good for you! You see ,first hand, the impact that Obamacare has on real life individuals and their families…you should write something about this and let the WH know how important this is for those that you see.
So glad that you delurked and joined the family…you know what an informed yet raucous bunch we are….and you still love us:) That says a lot. Welcome, and good luck in your practice. Appreciate all that you do.
Aww… thanks for your warm welcome; I am just glad to find this oasis of sanity. I am not quite in practice yet. I am doing a fellowship. Thanks to NIH grants that fund my position :). thank you again President Obama!
Children are the primary beneficieries of ACA. I remember the time when we went out to protest the repeal of SCHIP by then President Bush as a medical student. Not only had the president restored SCHIP, the provisions of protecting against pre-existing conditions, being covered by parents insurance until 26. Those are all my patients :). As I said elections matter!
Thank you for your contribution. I hope many doctors and nurses raise their voices to explain to americans how the ACA is helping so many people. People who work in the health care system have a lot of credibility and they can give concrete examples of how the system is changing.
What’s your fellowship in? My husband did one in pediatric infectious diseases and another one in medical microbiology.
Bien venida con mucho gusto nuestra casa es su casa!!!!!!!!!!!!= We are very happy to welcome you and our house
is your hose.
Welcome, jerseygirl, from a former Jersey Girl! Glad to have you here, and to know that you are IN!!!
Welcome jerseygirl! Glad to have you with us and on board with PBO’s re-election. Congrats on your hard-earned degree and commitment to making a difference in the lives of children. And thanks for sharing with us your first-hand experiences with Obamacare! 🙂
Welcome Jersey girl. I too am a physician (Family Practice). Please join fellow physicians that support the ACA.
Please check out this site: Physicians For America http://www.drsforamerica.org/
Yeah!!! My husband is a pediatrician here in CA also. He loves Obama and is also seeing how much ObamaCare is helping the lives of his patients. Welcome jerseygirl!
Welcome Jerseygirl. So glad that you went from loyal lurker to hopefully a regular poster and fellow TOD’er. I look forward to hearing more about what how the ACA has helped your young patients and their parents.
I’ve seen angels and I don’t come close. Things are good but Maine is really a lousy job market and we all know how being unemployed for too long can be. Not to mention that there is a huge culture shock coming to the middle of nowhere in Maine from NY. But she is a strong, wonderful soul and I hope it’s more good than not for her.
Of course Tucker seems 5 years younger running in circles in the yard and he always seems to be smiling.
Please keep Hachiko in your thought and prayers that her employment situation turns soon and don’t hesitate to send any leads her way.
I’ll let her know you asked. I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you have her in your thoughts.
thank you for the update LunarSea.. my best to all three of you and i will definitely keep my positive thoughts going for her to find happy employment soon.
You’re our angel. if I may ask, what does she do? What kind of job is she looking for?
Thanks for the update, LunarSea. We will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers!
Awesome! My focus in 2008 was voter registration. I think I’m gonna double down on that this year.
Never a bad idea.
Chris Hayes is subbing for Rachel Maddow. Not surprisingly, he starts off on the administration and VP Biden’s remarks about same-sex marriage.
My response: *CLICK*
I had the misfortune of catching that too, Hope. My response was the same. The president has the right to his own personal opinion (whether it’s for or against), doesn’t mean he hasn’t done as much as he can for the cause and it doesn’t mean he won’t do more in the future. Librul media should stop the angst and focus on denying Willard the presidency cause we all know what will happen to women and the LGBT if a repuke comes into office now.
My response: *CLICK*
Me too!
Right behind you Marlz, the same for LO.
hopefruit2, I was sick of Hayes and this same sex- marriage too. I didn’t watch it either. How much time did they spend on the treason comment?
Good question – but I wouldn’t know because my TV was on another channel!
But right now the people are more concern about jobs , and if the economy keeps improving it will
make it easier to tackle the gay isssus,rught now PBO has to many bigger issues Al-Qaida the
middle east, but jobs, jobs are the maine concern in all the communities.
woohoo! I just got polled 🙂 first time for me. They basically asked the same question over: am I repub or dem.. who would I vote for ND senator and who for President.. did I support anything about the tea party.. was I a strong dem.. was I a liberal dem.. am I pro choice or pro life.. who’d I vote for pres in 2008. All straight forward questions.. no biased type questions. The survery was done by: Call Research and he said he didn’t know who it was commissioned by.
oops they also asked if I thought the country was going in the right direction, was POTUS doing a good job.. all the responses were choices of strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, favorable, unfavorable, somewhat unfavorable, strongly unfavorable.
Call it whatever you want, had we had anyone less spectacular than President Obama we’d be in a Great Depression or worse ….
#AmericaThisIsNotATest
#PRESSON
@sherijr that’s so kewl. I keep waiting for them to call me so I can say I’m rethug and then give them what for
lol.. I was strongly favorable on all things dem and POTUS.. it felt good to put in my two cents. They asked me also about the ND US senator race between Rick Berg & Heidi Heitcamp.. Berg is a tea bagger and has spent all of one year in the House doing nothing.. and Heitcamp is prolly the closest thing to a dem they’ll get here, but I’m not thrilled by her and said so… though I’d vote for her if I was still here. They also asked me if I’d I seen any tv ads on either of those candidates.. which makes me suspect that its possibly one of them that commissioned the poll.
The guy asking the questions did an outstanding job of not sounding at all biased in any way.
Mine too!
just read this on twitter. Today Rush told a caller it was okay to go out and apply for unemployment even if they didn’t need it, to push the unemployment numbers up to hurt the President. This needs to get out. Rush needs to be brought down. This is fraud. This is the tweet.
Promoted to LGF front page: Rush Limbaugh Tells Right Wingers to Commit Fraud to Make Obama Look Bad http://lgf.bz/Jc1PPK https://twitter.com/#!/Lizardoid/status/199659491447410689
Thank you for the link, Marilyn ….
#PRESSON
Rush is stupid. I don’t think people can do that. I’m sure there are ways of knowing whether someone is receiving money as in paid employment. For example, employers are required to submit a “new hire” list to the state EVERY week. They also file quarterly payroll reports, and every pay period, they pay into an “unemployment insurance” fund for each person that they hire. So one way or the other, the government will find out if someone is on someone else’s payroll and still receiving unemployment payments.
HF, great minds think alike. Especially since the company has to pay up for employees that they lay off. The company has to show that the person wasn’t fired. In fact, if I was a company and somebody tried this, I would fire them for fraud. What an idiot!!
Just goes to show Rush is just as out of touch as Robme and apparently has not collected unemployment in over three decades. Since the late 80’s there have been computer systems in place to match filers with employers. I hope those ditto heads do it and get into loads of trouble…then sue Rush.
Honestly, (this is not gonna be a pure thought….) if someone is dumb enough to do it, I hope they get locked up for it. So, they can scream about how this country doesn’t follow the constitution!! 😆 😆
oh yeah, like if someone is really working, they will have the necessary proof that they got laid off. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!
LOL. Such a patriot, that Rush :roll:. This smacks of nothing but desperation. I hope he sets up a legal defense fund for the saps who will be stupid enough to engage in this fraud.
After I thought about it, I was sure it couldn’t be done. But I was so upset when I read it i didn’t think it thru. What an idiot that man is and all his listeners!!!
I was listening to Randi Rhodes this afternoon and this conservative started spewing the lie that he has friends who milk unemployment by not looking for work. First of all if you are only getting unemployment that’s $500 a week at the most. If you earned enough to get the max unemployment you are used to a higher life style and $500 a week won’t pay all the bills. My brother was recently laid off and his company is giving him six months severance and he can also collect unemployment. His wife works so they will be able to survive and just cut down on some expenses. If I had a dollar for all the conservatives who have “friends” milking unemployment benefits as though the employer is the one who paid into the fund. Unemployment is not welfare…Rush you idiot!
Bringing my comment from the previous thread:
PBO may not be comfortable with same sex marriage, but he still should come out in clear support of it. As the gutsy president that he is, he has done a lot of things that he’s not comfortable with over the past three years, and I’m pretty sure that a lot of it he really hated but he still did it. This is Barack Obama, the first AA president, a transformational great man, the face of hope and change and equality for the whole world. He can not be on the wrong side of history here, he can’t be to the right of most of his base and the country. And honestly, I refuse to believe that at this point he’s still against gay marriage, it goes against everything I know about this man. I’m quite sure that this is politics, which I could accept – it’s an election year and nothing is more important than re-elect him – but IMO it’s not even good politics at this point.
As I speculated above, bwd, to me the optimal time would be in his acceptance speech at the DNC. Agree with you that I hope he does it sufficiently in advance of the Election as possible. Mitt is so totally anti-LGBT that the contrast could not be starker & it will certainly add even more support from the LGBT community at the time it’s really going to matter – the weeks and days before 6 Nov 2012 when GOTV will be a maximum push.
#PRESSON
BWD I have to respectfully disagree. I whole heartedly believe with all my heart that PBO is fully comfortable with same sex marriage. After he is re-elected he will REPEAL DOMA & on inauguration day he will come out publically for gay marriage when the whole world is watching. History will always be kind to him regarding equality.
It has been pretty clear to me that PBO supports same-sex marriage, but that he believes that there should be a legal process of repealing the current DOMA law and replacing it with legislation that would provide full rights and entitlements for gay/straight couples alike. This is very similar to his strategy with DADT. In hindsight, we see that his strategy with DADT was far superior to any of those quick-fix Executive Order, or emotional and patronizing lip service responses that many were advocating for.
Okay let’s say that PBO announces tonight that he supports gay marriage, now what? Other than the media, GOP and others demagoguing it to death or the goalposts being moved (as is typically the case) to some other thing he MUST to do demonstrate that he REALLY supports it as he says?
When Abraham Lincoln took steps to end slavery, no one asked him how he personally felt about blacks – in fact, he explicitly stated his personal opinion that Blacks could never be equal to whites. Yet to this date, we focus on Lincoln’s ACTIONS towards improving equality for Blacks by ending slavery, not his personal opinions/beliefs one way or the other.
Exactly, Hopefruit. I’m just glad Lincoln freed my people- he did the right thing. Whether he believed about slavery is between him and God.
From the previous post:
Doreen, if anybody can make sense of this, he can. I feel he will, since he hasn’t backed away from anything else.
I look forward to hearing his thoughts when he does.
@BWD It may not be good politics in some places, but having seen people leave my denomination because it was recently voted that homosexuals could be ordained, I can assure you that this is extremely fragile ground.
I sense that the republicans know how to drive a wedge; that’s why they have been trying to separate AA’s and gays. Sometimes I believe our side is more idealistically naive than the other side.
For years we thought that things might be getting better for us too ( AA’s, that is) but then PBO was elected. How naive we have been!
I have no doubt that PBO Is thinking hard on this. But I think it is more than political; I think he is wrestling with this in his soul. Many people are- that’s why they can respect him for not jumping in whole hog until he is ready.
He believes that the constitution provides freedom to marry whom one wills. And he has stood up for that, time and again.
I do not see why his inner struggle is so important. What he actually has done is.
I agree with you and Hopefruit that Abraham Lincoln deserves some credit for starting the ball rolling about freeing slaves. However, I also think it’s important to separate the myth of Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves from the reality of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation for military purposes and not for humanitarian purposes. That is why Lincoln’s proclamation was a limited document that left over a million slaves, in loyal states and parts of Confederate states that were loyal to the United States, in slavery. The Proclamation only applied to states that were still in rebellion against the United States as of Jan.1, 1863. Lincoln was assassinated before the Thirteenth Amendment (which legally abolished slavery) was ratified. This means that he died before the slaves in the loyal states were entitled to freedom. The tragedy, of course, is that not very many people take time to read the actual Emancipation Proclamation. And yet we all have been brought up to regard Abraham Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” who freed all the slaves.
Hepefruit is absolutely right that Lincoln did not believe in racial equality. In fact if he had his way he would have expelled all Blacks and resettled them somewhere else as he believed that this should be a white country. May be Lincoln, if he lived, might have evolved on the question of human equality; but the fact of the matter is that he believed in white superiority and black inferiority. Lincoln was also a politician who understood very well that he would not be re-elected in 1864 if he freed all the slaves and proclaimed racial equality. He would have lost the support of loyal slave states as well as the support of the the majority of Northern whites who strongly believed in white supremacy.
VPB said that where gay marriage is allowed, he is comfortable with those couples having the same legal and civil rights as any married couple. Contrary to what we’ve heard all day, this was not an endorsement for gay marriage, rather acknowledging that marriages should be treated the same. I do believe that PBO should continue to hold his own counsel on how he feels personally about it. His actions speak clearly that everyone, regardless of identity, should be treated fairly. DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell exemplifies that. The LGBT community know he is their ally in this and there should be no undo pressure for PBO to make this a political issue. I don’t think his being an AA man has anything to do with it.
BWD, I have always suspected PBO’s public stance on gay marriage has been based on political caution – that sounds like criticism, and, well, it is. I honestly don’t believe for a minute, based on what we know about him, that, on a personal level, he opposes it.
And I have never believed that he is has a religious-based objection to it, I have always felt, especially after reading his books, that he has a gentle faith, but is not and never has been governed by hardcore religious doctrine. Otherwise he wouldn’t have repealed DADT, stopped defending DOMA, etc, etc.
Needless to say, I adore the man, but I just think he is wrong on this, I wish he had come out in favor of gay marriage a long time ago, the problem now is that if he did it he would be accused of pandering to a section of his base. It’s a no-win.
I’ll spit it out, there is an extreme section of the gay rights lobby that is, I believe, depressingly bigoted, some of them racist to their core. I’ve read their anti-PBO bile so many times on supposedly liberal sites, from even before he was elected, most of it laden with racist venom.
Sometimes that viciousness almost leads me to oppose their cause, but that’s actually what they want, that extreme need to remain ‘victims’, being finally ‘granted’ their rights would probably make them miserable (eg Dan Choi after DADT was repealed, he didn’t know what to do with his venom). So, I won’t stoop to their level.
Gay marriage shouldn’t even be up for discussion, I wish this ‘debate’ would end right ****ing now.
And I wish PBO would just put a full stop on it all – again, I don’t believe for a minute that he personally opposes it.
Do the right thing, PBO.
“Gay marriage shouldn’t even be up for discussion, I wish this ‘debate’ would end right ****ing now.”
———THIS!!! F-ing THIS!!
Chipsticks, I think you need to read Hopefruit’s comments. It has a lot of observations that will broaden your perspective. President Obama should be judged by his actions not by what the media and leftwing want him to spout. We remember leaders for what they did, for the actions they undertook, for the laws they passed not just for what they said. Words are cheap. Actions speak louder.
Here is hopefruit’s comment:
It has been pretty clear to me that PBO supports same-sex marriage, but that he believes that there should be a legal process of repealing the current DOMA law and replacing it with legislation that would provide full rights and entitlements for gay/straight couples alike. This is very similar to his strategy with DADT. In hindsight, we see that his strategy with DADT was far superior to any of those quick-fix Executive Order, or emotional and patronizing lip service responses that many were advocating for.
Okay let’s say that PBO announces tonight that he supports gay marriage, now what? Other than the media, GOP and others demagoguing it to death or the goalposts being moved (as is typically the case) to some other thing he MUST to do demonstrate that he REALLY supports it as he says?
When Abraham Lincoln took steps to end slavery, no one asked him how he personally felt about blacks – in fact, he explicitly stated his personal opinion that Blacks could never be equal to whites. Yet to this date, we focus on Lincoln’s ACTIONS towards improving equality for Blacks by ending slavery, not his personal opinions/beliefs one way or the other.
UT, I think PBO’s strategy on DADT was masterful, he left his Firebagger haters mopping the egg from their faces when he repealed it.
This is different, though, he made his opposition to DADT clear from day one, he has never come out in support of gay marriage.
I know people here disagree strongly about this, especially those with relgious-based opposition to equality, but much as I love him, I just wish he’d bite the bullet and lend his moral authority to the cause of gay marriage. Again, it would be the right thing to do.
After he comes out in favor of gay marriage then what? The media and firebaggers move the goal post again? He comes out for gay marriage and you think the goal posts won’t be moved again? I believe in gay marriage but I am not going to constantly demand that the most progressive President on LGBT issues show his bona fides time and time and time again to prove that he’s worthy of my vote. He has repealed DADT, he has asked his DOJ to stop defending DOMA, he is backing the bill in congress that supports marriage equality, he has come out against NC’s Amendment One, he wholeheartedly supported NY in their legalization of gay marriage. What more do you want? Seriously What more do you want?
I love you Chips but you don’t get to demand that this President come out for gay marriage. You don’t get to dictate what he should and shouldn’t do. You don’t get to demand a timeline of President Obama as to when he comes out for gay marriage or not. This President has hired over 225 LGBT professionals, Romney fired his gay adviser. This President has signed so many laws into existence for the LGBT community. This President has signed so many benefits into law for the LGBT community.
Do we want him to bleed for us until we decide he is 100% worthy of our vote? Do we want him to be in lockstep with every issue under the sun that matters to us before we decide he is 100% worthy of our vote? This man has fought for every freaking demographic in this country and in other locations around the world yet we cannot give him time and space to come to a decision? This is a very personal decision. He might support gay marriage secretly but has looked at the political landscape and decided we need to win an election for the progress of LGBT rights to continue.
Do you know that Amendment One in NC is likely to pass? Do you also know that we need NC to become blue again this November? Do you know that NC hasn’t been blue in decades before PBO won the state? Do you know that only about 14K votes helped PBO win in NC? Do you know that if 7K votes or more swung Romney’s way Pres. Obama would lose NC; a very crucial state in the election? Do you also know that a lot of conservative Democrats in NC back Amendment One for whatever warped reason? Do you know that a lot of the Latino vote in NC which we need to win does not support gay marriage in huge numbers? Do you know that a lot of conservative Democrats around the country do not support gay marriage and could switch to the other column in November? We have an election to win. I will repeat that. We have an election to win. If PBO has looked at the landscape and decided this is too politically risky for the Democrats who are we to judge him? If he decides the political landscape is ok and he comes out for gay marriage, who are we to judge him? Do you think a Romney presidency would magically provide 100% equality for the LGBT community? Words are cheap. Actions speak louder.
We have an election to win Chips. We have an election to win. Every state is crucial in this election and as much as I love you, you don’t get to dictate to President Obama how he goes about in laying the groundwork and winning.
I agree with you, UT, about Lincoln. What is even amazing is that despite the fact that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not even free all the Slaves and despite the fact that Lincoln believed in white supremacy, he was hailed, and is still hailed as the “Great Emancipator” who freed the slaves. It’s true Lincoln hated slavery. But it is also true Lincoln shared the racial sentiments of the vast majority of whites. Besides, Lincoln had no power to mandate racial equality beyond the military. The military remained segregated but Lincoln, perhaps mainly for military necessity, took the courageous step of allowing Blacks in the military.
Here is a highly relevant tweet from someone who is actually from the LGBT community.
This whole same-sex marriage meme is another media-driven nontroversy – similar to the Hilary Rosen nontroversy a few weeks back. Obviously the LGBT community overwhelmingly supports PBO otherwise the GOP/MSM wouldn’t feel a need to repeatedly attempt to drive a wedge between PBO and that community. They tried with the Black voters, Jewish voters, Latino voters, women voters, and to a certain extent even the youth (AKA OWS).
And Chips, knowing what I now know about Romney donating to an organization that vowed to drive a wedge between LGBT community and PBO, I would wager that even some of those online vile racist comments are not coming from actual individuals, but from paid RNC or GOP operatives, or online media staffers/editors, whose job is to poison the atmosphere, instigate controversy and distraction, drive wedges between the LGBT community and PBO, fracture PBO’s base by pitting different groups who support PBO against each other.
I disagree on the ‘no-win’ comment. If Pres.Obama comes out in full support of gay marriage, he will be cheered for it. Trust me. The only ones who will claim pandering will be the Romney camp and the rest of the bigots on the right. Pres.Obama has done too much for the gay community for anyone to accuse him of pandering. Like Axelrod always says, If Romney wants to talk about ‘pandering’ to the base, we can have that debate.’
The only people who won’t vote for him because of that, wouldn’t vote for him anyway.
hf2 got it right and both you & bwd got it wrong. After all he has done on lgbt front and without even knowing what would do in the coming months, it is ridiculous to
askto pressurize him to “do the right thing.”Ah, okay amk, we’ll agree to differ! I just don’t think anyone should need to be pressured to ‘do the right thing’, they should just go with their conscience and, well, do it.
You can disagree with me, but you can’t say that I’m wrong. This all “evolving” thing sound ridiculous now, and there’s no way in the world that PBO doesn’t get what the affect that his words will have on millions of gays and not only gays. This is not about changing DOMA in Congress, this is about changing hearts and minds.
I know a gay couple, they’re together for 10 years now. 3 years ago they adopted a little boy. The only reason they were allowed to have him was because he’s been very sick and had short time to live and no other couple wanted to take him. They were the most amazing parents for two years, until he died at the age of 5. These two great guys can’t get married. This is unecceptable and if PBO really is against gay marriage, it’s a real heartbreak for me. That’s why I really hope that this is politics – Yet even that is very bad politics IMO.
Well, there is a big difference being right and sounding righteous. And Obama’s excellent record on lgbt issues (in the face of stiff opposition) shows that he does not any lectures on ‘doing the right thing’.
Totally spot on!!!
I hear you. But the thing is, he is already doing everything in his power to make it happen. Even if he comes out now and publicly screams from the rooftops what is obvious to everyone, there is nothing he can do about it except continue to work on the defeat of DOMA. So is it the symbolic gesture that is being demanded of him or is it the rights themselves? Because he is working and has worked very hard on realizing these equal rights and has made great progress.
Again, a man like Barack Obama coming out supporting gay marriage will do more for equality than anything congress will or won’t do. PBO is the first to talk about changing hearts and minds.
I agree that it would be a very powerful and persuasive moment. I am not challenging that point whatsoever.
I also see PBO as a man of action. He wants deep in his heart to deliver the goods. When he speaks about gay people, especially those in his inner circle, I see a clear sincerity and love. So I believe that his heart and mind are in harmony. But I also strongly believe that the deep, deep need – a steel-eyed, deap-seated drive – to make tangible progess in his DNA – yes, It’s in his DNA. If he is single-minded about anything, it is this.
There are ugly, racist, vile people in every sector. It shouldn’t matter here, and I’m sure it’s not. I agree, Gay marriage shouldn’t even be up for discussion and there’s a way for us to finish it. If we’re the campaign of “Forward”, then PBO can’t be behind Joe Biden. It just can’t be.
BWD, keep your eyes looking forward and your ears open…I have a gut feeling something wonderful is about to explode (besides the heads of the right). The ground under us is rumbling….our President is just waiting for the right moment, this will be HUGE!
Yeah, I agree BWD, all I’m confessing is that my absolute support of gay marriage has, stupidly, weakened at times by my gut reaction to the hate coming from the extreme wing of the gay rights movement – including creatures like Choi, Greenwald and Aravosis, all of them right-wingers at heart and by political origin. But **** them, I support gay marriage 100%.
That’s why I got so furious with Snake Tapper today when he defended his asinine behavior today at the DPB by bringing up Aravosis with one of our twitter buddies.
I don’t mean to be rude Meta ….. well, I do …… but **** Aravosis.
He’s yet ANOTHER of the media darling ‘liberals’ who was, not so long ago, a Republican – he was even a ****ing adviser to Ted ****ing Stevens!!!
A complete and total fraud, just like Cenk Uygur and other hardcore rightwingers …. who ‘converted’ when they saw more bucks in being ‘progressives’.
I have never liked him and he can STFU. He is a BIGOT.
MWJ @MWJ1231
Hey @jaketapper I can name a lot of things you and the press could delve into besides Pres. Obama’s personal view on same sex marriage.
Jake Tapper @jaketapper
@MWJ1231 why don’t you tell @aravosis and @chrisgeidner how irrelevant same sex marriage questions are….thanks
With all due respect, I am not sure what is to be achieved by the President’s public pronouncement that he supports same sex marriage? Is it not possible that his pronouncement would be twisted by the GOP to defeat him and the Democrats who are not in predominantly Blue states. You saw what happened in so called Blue California.
Let me be clear: I support the rights of gays to marry but I also know many dedicated Democrats who support the rights of gays but who have honest religious reservations about gay marriage. So making this a political issue may be short sighted. Besides, what exactly can a President do, under his Constitutional powers, to bring about gay marriage?
I am a product of the 60s. I do not recall people fighting for AA civil rights putting pressure on Presidents Kennedy and Johnson to publicly support interracial marriages. In my humble opinion only the courts — and especifically the Supreme Court–will resolve the issue of gay marriage. As far as I am concerned President Obama has demonstrated, through actions, that he cares deeply about the rights of gays.And as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. What all of us who support the rights of gays to marry should be focused on is to ensure that we elect a President and a congress that would nominate and confirm judges and justices that will nullify state laws and the stupid DOMA that deny gay people the right to marry. Just to emphasize: It was the Supreme Court, and not the President or the Congress, that finally legalized interracial marriages throughout the United States. I just don’t see why in the middle of this crucial election we should hand the republicans an emotional issue that could be used to defeat President Obama when there is absolutely nothing concrete to be gained that will immediately result in legalizing gay marriages. I understand the importance of symbolism but why risk loosing everything that has been achieved to advance the rights of gay people over feel good symbolism? Just my two cents!
Very, very well said!!!
Speaking of Science…
Y’all have GOT to check this out!! Nice pictures (Photo credits: Anne C. Savage) and some very cool panoramic picture of PBO and FLOTUS at the OHIO rally. You can scroll around the whole arena. If you were there, you may even be able to find yourself!!! Link is to eclectablog. WOW!! Enjoy, it’s like you were really there!!
http://eclectablog.com/2012/05/first-official-obama-rally-of-2012-in-columbus-ohio.html#disqus_thread
Very cool——all those masses of joyful people. I can’t believe Chuck Toad and his cohorts had the nerve to say anything about the size of that crowd. That is just unethical, partisan reporting. It’s beyond idiotic.
Wow. Thanks so much for the link. It’s breathtaking in its beauty. Anne Savage is so freaking talented. Tweeted.
Thanks isonprize. The 360 degree panoramic view at the bottom shows how the stadium is packed.
amk, Aside from not believing the FABULOUS MESSAGE OUR PRESIDENT GAVE, here’s something else for Myth R-money’s campaign managers not to believe. it is science, after all. Since they actually attended a rally, I’m sure to them, it was just an optical illusion. 😆 😆
I would like to see a 360 degree of the mittbot crowd. Let’s send Anne there. Even the camera would get bored and shut itself down 🙂
Thanks for the heads up! i left a comment over there. I remember his wife’s great photography from his posts at dailykos. These are beautiful pics.
Just WOW
Governor son pickets the pickets . . .
http://twitpic.com/9ilhae
Look at the look on his face. Amazing. He looks like he’s quite moved by the love and energy from the crowd.
So I see peeps on tv are making hay about gay marriage. Really? Crazy, nasty Repugs undermining the constitution and the citizens of these united states, a Rubber Stamp running for prez with psychos ready to lead him off the cliff and harassing the president about gay marriage is the big news of the day? Seriously? If this is what the crazy left wants to expend precious political capital on, well then make way for president Willard. I’m sure he will endorse gay marriage and gay adoption and gay everything. Instead of getting distracted by shiny objects, the so called progressive media should be solidifying behind PBO and going after Willard and the Repugs like gangbusters. But of course, leave it to ‘libruls’ to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Whether or not we believe PBO is for gay marriage, he’s worked very hard for the LGBT population in terms of equal rights under the law, especially when it comes to civil unions where he believes that they should be afforded the same legal rights as straights. I don’t like the fact that activists feel like they need to browbeat the president into admitting that he believes or doesn’t believe something. He has the right to his own opinion and he’s done everything in his power to preserve and expand LGBT rights. If activists can’t tolerate that then they can sit on their hands and welcome Willard and the Mormon church into the most important office in the land because we all know how much the church loves anything or anyone not white, not straight and not male.
Many of the so called lgbt ‘activists’ have only poisoned the well for all the future dem admins (I sure don’t see any rethug admin even giving them the time of the day) by the way they treated Obama and his specific successes. No dem admin is even to going openly about these issues if Obama goes down in 2012. By their clownish antics in front of the media and blogs, they have only deeply hurt their own brothers and sisters.
That’s what they don’t get: radicalism/militantism doesn’t work. It just turns people off. I was a women’s studies minor in college and I read so many books and articles about building alliances in terms of feminism and gay rights. It’s about changing hearts and minds, the more you do that, the easier it becomes for changes in policy on racism, sexism and anti-LGBT rhetoric and acts. This change in public perception didn’t happen because of the Dan Choi’s and the Maddcow’s of this world, it happened because of the careful, persistent, strong and dedicated work of people who built alliances across communities I.e.: more straights learning about and being friends with people from the LGBT community and the straights in turn educating other straights about gay and transgendered people. That’s how change happens. Screw so-called activist who drew the wrong lessons from Martin Luther King. MLK left that kind of activism up to Malcolm X, it’s angry and loud and it doesn’t really get us where we want to be. Instead, MLK partnered up with JFK , and set us on the road to the Civil Rights Act signed by LBJ. That’s how change happens, by building alliances and changing hearts and minds on the ground.
Let the church say AMEN!
This!
“I don’t like the fact that activists feel like they need to browbeat the president into admitting that he believes or doesn’t believe something. He has the right to his own opinion and he’s done everything in his power to preserve and expand LGBT rights. ”
worth repeating
Beautiful voices on The Voice! Makes Amer. Idol look like some rinky dink karoke contest.
Well, “The Voice” is all about the voices, not the couture. My wife is a faithful viewer.
I watch both and I disagree slightly. I think there are amazing people on the Voice, especially the final 4, but I also find that the top 3 have amazing voices on American Idol as well. As a person who can’t sing myself, I am enjoying these young people and their courage to get out there and sing!
CH filling in for Rachel, nothing but Leftwing Libertarian hackjob, and now for the lovefest of Ron Paul!
Ok CH, we get it, you are voting for Ron Paul, now quit trying to convince everybody to do the same!
So RP supports gay marriage? Him and Rachel should go vote for Willard then cause we all know Rand is going for a spot in a Willard Admin in exchange for delegates.
PBO will endorse gay marriage when he’s ready. That’s all I’ll say about it.
Ditto!!
smart kid.
Exactly. People should stop pushing him or demanding crap from him. Actions speak louder than words. He has been the most progressive President on LGBT issues. He has worked his ass off for each and every demographic in this freaking country. Yet we demand that until he conforms to our wishes, he is not worthy of our vote. Enough is enough. Will we rest when he takes a knife and cuts himself up to show that oh yes, he’s lockstep with us? This President has worked his ass off. I will say it again. THIS PRESIDENT HAS WORKED HIS ASS OFF. Enough is enough with the hysterical demands.
He will come out for gay marriage when he is good and ready. If he wants to stay silent for political reasons, so be it. Our focus is to win an election, get PBO reelected, and give him a Democratic majority not natter way at nontroversies.
Words are cheap. Actions speak louder.
If he wants to stay silent for political reasons, so be it.
Bingo. Everyone hates the ‘politics’ of it all and yet wants this man to walk into that political buzzsaw willingly, without even realizing the ironic outcome of it.
I want that pic of “everyone stfu, I got this” pic badly.
The rethugs and the msm yet again the threw the shining object and successfully projected weak willard’s negatives on to PBO while mehmney’s surrender to rwnj monkeys is already forgotten.. Amazing how they yank our chains.
Agreed!
It’s more like “EVERYBODY, CHILL THE FUCK OUT.. I GOT THIS.” Emosuckers Hate it!
Thank you. Perfect.
Thank you.
The time is now, Collegekay.
Chips, I love you dearly but you don’t get to dictate that. PO has said he supports civil unions and equal rights for same sex couples as heterosexual couples. He has signed legislation supporting LGBT issues and more.
How about giving this grown man the courtesy and respect to work through this personal thing on his own.
Yes, leave him alone.
I agree, ck. Why does he has to be pressured to do this? The questions I have been asking is why are there gay repugs? AA repugs? Women repugs? Will somebody please ask them why? This is man of sound mind and I am sure he has thought this out. He never said that he was a perfect man nor a perfect President. I appreciate that.
If he does say this at the DNC I personally would feel that it was under pressure and for political gain. I do not if I can respect that.
This is between him and God. I respect that. Either way, it will not change the hearts and minds of others.
POB is the President on the U.S. he is not God.
The Senate confirmed three of President Obama’s judicial nominees, completing a deal made the chamber’s leadership to confirm 14 nominees in two months.
Kristine Baker was confirmed for the Eastern District of Arkansas by voice vote, John Z. Lee was confirmed for the Northern District in Illinois by voice vote, and Jacqueline Nguyen was confirmed 91 to 3 for the 9th Circuit Court in California. The confirmations complete an agreement made by Senate leaders to confirm 14 of 17 nominees for judicial vacancies picked by President Obama.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/225877-senate-confirms-last-three-of-14-judicial-nominees
WASHINGTON–First Lady Michelle Obama will show off her South Side Chicago neighborhood to spouses of NATO leaders in Chicago on May 20 for the Summit–and host a dinner for them later that day at the Art Institute.
Mrs. Obama who speaks often of growing up in a small apartment at 7436 S. Euclid, will take the spouses to the Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside.
The White House said Monday the spouses will tour of the center and attend a performance by the South Shore Dance Drill Team–based at the Comer Center -and the Muntu Dance Theater. The lunch for the spouses will be at Comer with Chef Paul Kahan–of Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St. -assisted by Comer youths
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/05/michelle_obama_hosting_nato_sp.html
Kewl, my granddaughter performed with the South Shore drill team until about 2 years ago. Now why didn’t FLOTUS visit then? I would have been all over her. Those kids are superb.
Hello TOD family,
I need your assistance please. I just returned from NY & NJ, while there I confirmed from the family I met up with they were in PBO camp and will vote. NOW, a young college age cousin who voted for PBO 08, was wavering because she didn’t feel enough was done. Well IHad to educate her, including asking her whose health care she was under, etc. she agreed maybe she better review what she thinks she knows, after I had a fit I had to ask her if she took civics and understand how your gov’t works. She thought Robme was advancing fast and was looking at him. Didn’t even know the damn issues. Needless to say after I informed her about that lying man, I showed her the TOD site and a few others I could remember, she was surprised, will like it on her Facebook too. I think I scared her. Lol. Anyway where else can I send her a link to? This is a college student, how many more like her, sigh.
Another college student I met in NJ where she was working at the hotel I stayed at wasn’t sure but said her Mom will be voting for PBO because she liked what he did with health care. After another conversation, I informed her that Mom was smart and do what she will do. Also get informed it’s your future.
My cousin is popular so if I can give her more info. She can be BETTER INFORMED and can pass it on.
Any assistance would be appreciated, it’s the best I can do as non res.
Show her the Road We’ve Traveled film on PBO’s youtube channel. Tell her to watch the ads
Also, the Truth Team is good. http://www.barackobama.com/truth-team/?source=tt-home-btn
http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/
Try this!
The People’s View…actually, ANY of the places on Chips blogroll would be great…but as a college student, she might appreciate TPV..written in a clear, fact based way. No BS, just the facts. If you sent her here…that’s all she needs to know..she’ll find the rest:) You did a great job, Smoothscotch. Having those conversations with others that are based in fact, means everything.
Hear Hear. The People’s View and Smartypants are my two favorites. What Is Working is uplifting, too.
Yes, DF! Your basic Reality Based Sites. There are a few of them that don’t have Profit For LIES as their bottom line.
WTF? She was considering Romney? Must be that Ken Doll look. Well Ken Doll’s grandfather. Geesh. Other than the campaign website there is this one I think should be spread:
Chronicling Mitt’s Mendacity (aka his many many lies) : http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/10/10374854-chronicling-mitts-mendacity There are about 16 volumes for her to read.
The Incomplete Greatness Of Barack Obama by Washington Monthly http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/march_april_2012/features/the_incomplete_greatness_of_ba035754.php Washington Monthly is a fantastic blog by the way.
The Meaning of Mitt http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/02/mitt-romney-201202.print
You should also send her to The People’s View blog and What Is Working.
Gosh, there is so much more…. 🙂
This is happening whether we want to believe it or not. My #2 has talked of many of her college friends who were gung-ho in ’08 are now wavering and actually considering Rmoney. These are educated young people, full of book learning, but seems to be lacking in political know-how. Anyway, she’s so upset that she and a roomate have put together a web site/blog where they will sell t-shirts with appeal to a younger group to create more buzz. The site is set to go up later this month and will be called Eighties Babies for Obama. Percentage of the proceeds on shirt sales will go to the campaign. I’ve seen some of the prototypes, and while my ol arse couldn’t wear them, I imagine the yougsters would. She’s already asked me to send her stuff to put on the site that relates to the election. I’m thinking, the funny political cartoons. and tweet-like blurbs. They will not take the time to read articles. Maybe some enthusiasm pics.
Thank you all, I will post a few links for her to access.
Cookemom, once you know of that site you mentioned, please post it.
Forward
Romney!?!? The Biggest Favor they could do themselves, the Planet, and Future Generations is Investigate Romey’s LIES. Why would they want a sociopathic, pathological LIAR in our White House to give America to KOCHS?
I have another EXCELLENT, MUST GO TO site…that would be ThinkProgress.org
If you have the time, this is a MUST WATCH. He will be added to my summer reading list, to be sure. Living in AZ, I find this to be an ESPECIALLY must see and read his writing. His books have been “boxed” (BANNED) by the Tucson Unified School District and their Mexican American Studies. You read that right. BANNED! Words escape me.
http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-between-two-worlds-life-on-the-border/
I’m going to my school’s presentation of this in a few!
Excellent! Let us know how it goes…this is SUCH an important conversation.
Their ate 2 poison pills in the House GOP version of the Highway bill, both riders.
Keystone and repealing EPA rules on Coal ash.
As a result, both sides are not budging!
Here we go again…
Good. I want NO COMPROMISE on EITHER of those issues. DON’T BUDGE. America needs to start paying attention to WHO/WHAT these Republicans are fighting for…big ass clue…It’s NOT THEM!
If I hear one more thing about that stupid Politico poll, I’m gonna go off. 😡
Don’t sweat it. National polls are worthless. What matters is the EC.
I know. It just really, really annoys me that they use faulty data without compunction. Bastards.
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them is a satirical book on American politics by comedian, political commentator and now Senator Al Franken,
Ya know what? I think he was on to something, even back then……
I guess all those tweets that was sent to Lawrence today about the polls didn’t really help.
The Liberal press is just cynical. At least the right wing press, talks highly about their own Party.
Sorry Chips and everyone totally disagree. Don’t see what the presiden’t personal feelings have to do about anything if fact it shouldn’t.
Amen.
Wow, Millie Dresselhaus is still around! She used to be the busiest woman in science and that was 20+ years ago.
Bless your heart for this tweet Hopefruit. People need to read this and focus on what’s real not on nontroversies.
So true.
hf nailed it.
Romney must be on crack.
WHAT? I hope PBO bitchslaps him to his face on this in the debates. Dirty liar.
Myth Romney. JUST SAY NO. Serioulsy. NO.
LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT should be engraved on his epitaph.
The A$$hole escaped from the Twilight Zone. Which part of “LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT” says Save the Auto Industry? willard’s just fucking with everyone so we can be arguing about this and not give PObama the CREDIT HE DESERVES!
In the end..willard will regret being such a fuckwad.
Why must we always be led around by the latest RW or LW talking point du jour? I don’t take my lead from whatever these nuts are obsessing or intellectually masturbating over. These are simply people who like to hear themselves talk. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s just noise.
+1,000,000,000 Completely concur PJ.
By the way, this phrase “intellectually masturbating” ——-> EPIC WIN. 😀
Yeah, I was liking that myself. EPIC WIN is right!
😆 Girl, they’re just jerking themselves, and their buddies off!
A circle jerk! How cozy.
😆 😆 😆 A circle jerk is JUST what I had in mind! Tee hee!
🙂
I take another view PD. It has been my experience that people do things for confirmation bias or dollars and in a lot of cases dollars are that bias. The more b.s. and confusion the more it needs to be analyzed and talked about. Ergo the talking heads make another payday……..My two cents. 🙂
My “analysis” begins and ends with calling it bullshit. They’ve been doing this forever and will continue doing this forever. It’s what they do. 😉
Okay PD. That works for me too. Just tryin’ to be un-sailor like. 😀
I’m totally loving the Fischer v. Willbot fight going on. Hahahahahahaha!! I wonder how many hoops the Right will force the Willtard through?
Omg!!
LOL!
If we won’t kick his ugly butt, this will stick and the media is going to give him cover. But we’re taking the high road, of course.
AN INDICTMENT OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein wrote an article last week that stated the Republican Party obstruction was rendering our government dysfunctional. Below is a very troubling example of that obstruction. The fact that this is not being reported more widely in the mainstream media is criminal.
GOP OBSTRUCTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
———————————————————————————-
Alliance for Justice Report Details President’s First-Term Record on Judicial Nominations and Calls for End of Election-Year Obstruction
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron echoed the report’s conclusions, stating that, “The American people deserve a federal court system that is fully staffed and able to fulfill the promise of justice for all. The country cannot afford to wait any longer for the confirmation process to return to a rational and fair basis. With confirmations lagging at historically low levels, every opportunity must be taken to nominate and confirm new judges at a pace commensurate with the scope of the crisis we face. The upcoming elections must not be used as an excuse to perpetuate obstructive behavior. Every nominee the president puts forward in 2012 deserves a yes-or-no vote in 2012. Time may be short, but the need for action has never been greater.”
The report includes detailed data on the personal and professional characteristics of the President’s nominees, the historically sluggish pace of confirmations, and statistics comparing President Obama’s record with those of his immediate predecessors.
——————————————————————————-
http://www.afj.org/press/05032012.html
(h/t The Rachel Maddow Show)
I know most of you turned off CH. I was on the treadmill so kept watching though was on the phone for a few minutes. Anyway, he did a segment about openings on Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a segment on all the devastating openings on the bench. Of course, the jist of both segments was the major obstruction of the R’s. I’ve never said this on TOD before: I HATE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are evil and hate American. TREASON!!!!
Ladyhawk filled you in better than I did. Chris had the lady from the alliance on. Thanks, LH.
I am fuming over this. I feel very nervous now. I am so angry. And where is the media reporting on this? The White House Press Corps spent most of the press briefing today asking various iterations of the gay marriage question. It’s infuriating that the GOP obstruction just doesn’t get covered.
I can’t wait for the Debates! A great opportunity for the President to get his message out, and embarrass GOP and media for lying all the while!
Nail. Meet the hammer.
MORE INDICTMENT OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
SENATOR VITTER OBSTRUCTION OF FEDERAL RESERVE NOMINATIONS (He just doesn’t want the Fed to do it’s job.)
When Republicans close off every avenue
By Steve Benen
——————————————————-
We know the GOP is willing to fight tooth and nail to reject any efforts at public investment to create jobs and spur economic growth. What’s less known is that Republicans are equally disgusted by the idea of Fed intervention to improve economic conditions.
.
.
For those who suspect congressional Republicans are deliberately trying to drag down the economy in the hopes of undermining the Obama presidency, the GOP’s actions with regard to monetary policy offer powerful evidence.
Over the last three years, congressional Republicans have gone to almost comical lengths to stop the Fed from even trying to improve the economy (while fighting equally hard to stop Congress from also trying to improve the economy). In November 2010, GOP lawmakers went so far as to say they wanted to change the Federal Reserve’s mandate so that it would stop taking steps to lower unemployment. As recently as a couple of weeks ago, National Journal reported that Republicans have effectively bullied the Fed into paralyzed inaction, and since Obama’s choices to fill vacancies are blocked by knee-jerk, incoherent opposition, nothing changes.
——————————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/07/11582025-when-republicans-close-off-every-avenue?lite
This is what matters.
Posting again, for anyone who may have missed these FABULOUS PICTURES…
Speaking of Science…
Y’all have GOT to check this out!! Nice pictures (Photo credits: Anne C. Savage) and some very cool panoramic picture of PBO and FLOTUS at the OHIO rally. You can scroll around the whole arena. If you were there, you may even be able to find yourself!!! Link is to eclectablog. WOW!! Enjoy, it’s like you were really there!!
http://eclectablog.com/2012/05/first-official-obama-rally-of-2012-in-columbus-ohio.html#disqus_thread
With that, I am out. I am disappointed with the tone of the blog today.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/05/07/oh-crikey-look-at-all-those-empty-seats/
PBO gets surplus
Running late. Enjoy a day in the live of PBO