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Today:
11:15 AM: President Obama and VP Biden honor the 2012 National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS award winners
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Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address for North Carolina A&T University’s graduation ceremony – not sure what time this is on. There’ll be live streaming here.
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Two supporters from Montana show their Obama 2012 pride at a base camp on Mt. Everest.
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Robert Shrum: Obama’s gay-marriage endorsement is a moral and political win – Pundits are eager to pontificate on how supporting same-sex marriage will cost Obama in November. They couldn’t be more wrong
Forty-nine years ago this spring, as he proposed the landmark civil rights reforms of the 1960s, John F. Kennedy became the first president to declare that ending racial discrimination was a moral issue …. Now Barack Obama has taken the next step in the unfinished journey toward that ideal: He cut through a cacophony of political advice, the calculus of pre-election caution, to become the first president to endorse marriage equality – and thus to affirm that gay rights are fundamental human rights.
It was fitting that this historic moment came, as JFK’s did, from a president who himself had to overcome generations of prejudice to be in the White House in the first place.
…..this president, who has repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, pushed through a hate crimes law, and refused to defend the shameful Defense of Marriage Act has now sealed his legacy as the champion of a 21st century birth of freedom in America.
That should be rewarded, not punished, in November – and I think it will be. Americans are a decent people; sometimes it just takes time.
Full post here
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Morning everyone
The Obama Diary 
Morning!
Morning taiping1, morning everyone 😉
awwww too sweet
This baby is the COOLEST!
Kind of like that little ground squirrel (?) that popped up in the photo and everyone photoshopped it into their pictures. Who knows how to photoshop the baby?
I remember that day!
Love the picture! And babies love PBO (as do we)!
I remember that pic, Chips! It had the cutest caption at the time.. Something like: “Can You Believe It? I Get To Hang Out With These Guys!!” YEAH!!
great pics
Particularly the base camp 2012 pic – how kewl is that, that in an environment where only the essential is carried in, they took their 2012 flag with them. Now THAT’S Dedication!
Oh yeah! This is a brilliant statement! I love them for it!
Good morning everyone! I am so proud of those Montanan’s!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes when you live in a purple state you forget how many people do support the President. I really have hopes for this fall. It is crucial here in Montana. We will be choosing a new governor, a new congressperson and hopefully reelecting our Senator Tester. They will be spending huge amounts of money here. They already are.
Go Montana!
thanks Marilyn for all you do in support of PBO. I have be through Montana and it reminded me so about the African Savannah (execpt for the weather of course) and some MT ranching communities are like the nomadic areas of E. Africa.
I do hope you re-elect Senator Tester and that Dems capture the governor’s mansion
Thank you for your words. I love thinking that part of MT looks like Africa! I will keep the colder weather. I am not a hot climate person. I truly believe the good people of MT and the US will wake up and see the difference between Dems and Repubs. That is what we are all working for!
Yes that is pretty amazing.. I love that picture & I really hope POTUS sees it.
yes, very good photo. I do hope President Obama gets to see it. Sometimes I wonder if PBO really knows how much he is very much loved and appreciated by so many especially when the loudest voices in the media and punditry are those filled with anger, hate, disrespect and racism
I’m sure he’s made aware of the punditry, because he always seems so spot on in his response to them.. but from what he’s stated in the past- he doesn’t watch cable news 🙂 so smart. As to knowing we love him.. I believe both he and Michelle realize how loved and respected they are by the majority of us.. but I also believe they are so tuned in to our needs that that is what they concentrate and focus on- making our lives better. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better human being in power in my lifetime.. and by the time he’s finished on this earth, I believe also that he’ll go down in history as one of the world’s greatest humanitarians & leaders.. if not THE Greatest.
I have to get a faster processor!
morning taiping1
Chips had it on twitter so followed the link!
1st brings snacks…. 😆
Sneaky.
Just looked at twitter and saw the post (9 seconds old). Great way to start the day. How about Hey! To honor FLOTUS for Mother’s Day?
Seconded.
was just catching up on last night’s posts. right place, right time.
Re Harry Ried comments on previous thread, he was begged to vote out the tax breaks for millionaires before the end of 111th congress, when the wolves eere at the door and didn’t. I never understood that decision and will never forgive him for that as well as fixing the filibuster rule.
I hate when they put politics over policy. It really burns me!
s/b ‘as well as failing to fix the filibuster rule’
Morning TOD. This AP article is FLAWED in a lot of ways…but the meme that African Americans will not vote for Pres. Obama is beginning to get debunked.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_BLACKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-05-11-17-08-19
Most of us ( I am AA) are not one issue voters; furthermore, we never expected this president or any we supported to be perfect before voting for him. We still make up less than 12 percent of the total population of the U S and we are still a minority in the electorate. Like others have noted, I am getting tired of others speaking for us ( they do not know us and they did not come from us) to further their own careers, to be decisive, or for whatever other God-forsaken reason they are giving their half-assed opinions about who we are or what we may do. We Re not to blame for what happened with Prop 8 or for Bush winning over Kerry in 2004. It is time to stop this per-occupation with lies and damned lies and to get on with the business of re-electing the best president, for all of the people, that we have ever had.
Disgust and IPad typing make for many errors. Next time I will edit before submitting, but frankly, I was too pissed off to bother.
Ceb, the typing errors don’t matter. What you said is important and you said it beautifully. I’m a senior white woman and I,too, get very angry when pundits try to lump us all together as conservative and afraid of change. To hell with that. This country needs change and there’s only one person who can deliver it and his name is Barack Obama.
This! and to Ceb’s post as well.
It’s how the other side divides and conquers us. They’ve tried putting wedges between every group that supported PBO in ’08 and will continue if they see they have a winning strategy. Our frustration with each other is sending a signal that their strategy is working.
The better course is to continue to provide facts and truth because sunlight is the best disinfectant. Imagine if we stop talking with each other to try and spread the truth, the only thing left to fill the void that is our silence among each other, will be more of their lies and deception.
Where do you think that will lead? To more fracturing and more division.
God, I hate to see their tactics work!
President Obama is leading the way to CHANGE, HOPING others will follow. As he recently said, his campaign and his presidency is still about HOPE and CHANGE.
To have an opinion about them is not an indication that they are working. Like everyone else here, those of us who have been silent, are simply letting our views known. We have watched the games being played for many generations and we know that they will continue, but AA s have long been more aware of the realities of political tricks and maneuvering than many seem willing to give us credit for. You should listen to the people of my mother’s generation talk about past elected officials on the national, state and local stages and how they have all tried to us.
“tried to use us.”
Well it also helps when we can share our conservative values in spaces like TOD and open our minds to the larger issue that helps to put things in perspective. It is a valid point that AAs do have conservative views BUT when we can openly discuss those views and put it in the larger context, it helps.
That is one of the main reasons I shared my views openly on this blog even though I knew it would be unpopular. I knew it was important because there were others who shared the same views and visited TOD. To get from the point where I was to understanding that it wasn’t about my personal faith but had everything to do with the Constitution and our laws, then it was easy to let go. Eveingeorgia helped me and I shared that same perspective with folks on my facebook page, responded to emails and phone calls in the same way. Those folks then shared that same perspective with their contacts and so we were able to quickly diffuse the situation by highlighting the core issue which was in the most basic form — Do we believe in discrimination or not? Do we stand for the Constitution or not? That made a huge difference.
So I know it probably sounds corny but this site really is a medium to effect positive change. (Go Chips)
Have a good day everybody and Happy Mother’s Day just in case I can’t drop in tomorrow.
Happy Mother’s Day nospin! Did you see Erik Dyson’s segment on the Ed Show yesterday? It was excellent. He drew a clear distinction between having a faith-based ideology versus using faith to enforce discrimination/oppression of other fellow humans. I really liked that segment because his words could be applied to any situation, not just homophobia and the Black Church, but also things like contraception, Birth Control and Christianity, etc.
I missed that segment but you are right that is the approach in which to take the discussion. If you do, most will see that it is absolutely the right thing to do.
Black folks don’t give 2 shyts about SSM.
even those who don’t approve of SSM.
if you are Black, and ask get a random group of Black folks and ask them the top 10 problems for Black folk, I bet serious money that SSM doesn’t make the top 20 list.
This is really the MEDIA’s problem. Our media is seriously dysfunctional and the root of the vast majority of this country’s current ills – and the sooner people get that, the better off we all be.
That’s the absolute TRUTH!
“Black folks don’t give 2 shyts about SSM. ”
Well Rikyrah – some do. But not enough where after serious consideration it would affect their vote.
There were a large number of people who this week said they would not vote for a Republican ticket but could not in good conscience vote for PO. After getting over the initial shock and getting down to the root of it all that SSM is based on politics and not religion, then they were able quickly move on.
So I wouldn’t just blow this off. Although it is not a wide spread issue, it is an issue and if you hear it then you can certainly take steps to diffuse it.
UT,
one of the things we have to continue doing is exactly what you have been doing which is to push back on the lie that we black people are the ones leading the anti-gay crusade. we should use these days when the issue is in the headlines to send a critical message to all MSN outlets that we report that crap. Maybe we should ask someone from Team Obama to get the date together and put out one of their graphics,
Good morning everyone and an early Happy Mothers Day to all who have filled that role in any capacity.
Best quote from the R. Shrum article: “What the president just did powerfully proves that there’s too much at stake to indulge the psychic satisfaction of empty sermonizing on the sideline.” Are you listening, FDL et al?
Tweed those words to that emoprog chris hayes.
Amen . He has a lot to learn. Maybe next week in his “What do we know now we didn’t know before ” he will know.
Dear TOD and BWD
I can no longer stay silent
Like Lamh and so many others I’ve been struggling with myself and how to deal with what has happened on this site regarding BWD. I once admired BWD, I simply cannot anymore.
To start with that incredibly condescending and offensive letter she wrote to the President, a grown man. A Harvard Educated Lawyer and President of the United States. BWD had the gall to write to that man like he was a five year old. That letter was so offensive to me as a Person of Color. I remember our History where White men spoke to Grown Black men like that. I remember our History where White woman spoke to Black women like that. The only thing missing was the “Boy” at the end of all her sentences. It was so incredibly disrespectful. To see this sort of thing coming from a person I respected and from a site I respected gave me food for thought. To see that our concerns, which many expressed was simply pushed aside, gave me food for thought.
Not a single apology over her insensitivity came from BWD or the site. Not one. In fact she continued with a tweet a few days after, blaming a whole community for something we had absolutely no control over. How dare you BWD, how dare you.
Chipsticks you do good work here, and I appreciate all the time and energy you put into this site, from what is obviously a hectic life, but what happened here a few days ago was so very wrong
I’m not saying this to make you want to pack up and discontinue the site, absolutely not. I’m saying this because this issue Imo has become the incredibly giant elephant in the room. I believe it has caused many people including myself to lose that sense of happiness we use to get coming here, to lose that “sense of family’’, not to get too mushy.
So when I see BWD coming here and posting like she has not done and not said anything offensive, to a group of people, she obviously knows absolutely nothing about, well I struggle. I have had to really look deep as to whether I want to continue coming to a site where I am invisible. Where a whole community is invisible: where our thoughts and feelings are shrugged off like it’s nothing.
This whole mess has been a revelation and such a colossal disappointment, and I simply cannot as a person of color stay silent any longer. I am fed up with the AA community taking the blame for everything. Enough is Enough, and in the case of that letter that was written. When you speak to one AA that way, you speak to ALL African Americans that way. We have to take a stand
We all say things that cause others grief without that being our intent. ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone’ and all that. I in no way mean to judge or demean your feelings anymore than I care to do that for BWD. I would prefer that you just keep posting the facts that debunk the lies so everyone can see the truth. This is how WE WIN.
I just hope you realize that the fight ahead is only just now getting started. It’s going to get tougher. The other side would love nothing more than to divide us, because That is how THEY WIN!
We dems have a way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. While I will be sad to see you go, (tho I will be sure to still catch you on PragmaticObots) everyone must make their own decisions on how they move forward. My hope is whereever you land, you keep up the good fight.
Well said LunarSea, especially in regards to the right hoping we are divided. Heck, it’s been Scott Walker of Wisconsin that got caught revealing his divide and conquer strategy to pit unions against each other, and he makes money watching them go after each other.
We have to stay united if we are to keep President Obama in office, and that includes disagreeing without being disagreeable and not getting worked up over the silliest things. It’s going to get hella ugly these next few months leading up to November.
And KKKarl Rove said if they just peel 10% of black voters off, they can win!
Wow. I read the same letter BWD wrote I replied that I thought it was beautiful. It was a letter that expressed love. It was a plea to the president to stand for the love she had seen in a gay couple who adopted a terminally ill child, and gave this child great love until the child died. How is that in any way offensive?
As to the personal things written about BWD, I think you are trying to cause trouble on this site.
“I think you are trying to cause trouble on this site.”
Diane – You just proved Artisac’s point.
But outside of that, Artisac – you can’t help everybody but you can reach a few.
Keep on participating.
nospin, I am not going there–I gave my opinion and you have given yours. If you have a problem with my opinion I respect that. I have not proven anything other than the fact that I also feel what I have to say is equally important as anyone else. Peace and love to you.
WTF??? Starting all these fights & arguments won’t lead to anything. BWD is entitled to speak to President Obama because he is her President TOO. Peace & Love everyone.
Let us not give the dividers to unfurl that scummy mission accomplished banner.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings aristac. It gets out of control around here sometimes and if it bothers you then you should feel free to say something.
Your letter is heartfelt. We all have issues which touch us deeply and sometimes hurt the core of who we are but being able to express them and accept both the praise and criticism is part of a democracy. What I felt in BWD’s letter was an entreaty for help. We all process differently. Keep of good faith and know that this special place should give all of us both joy and food for thought but like LS says the focus should be re-electing the finest man in recent history to come back for another four years.
Everyone has a right to express their opinions aristac. And I appreciate your thoughts very much. In order to heal, people must be able to put ourselves in one another’s shoes in order to move on. If we don’t recognize people’s pain, it festers and does become like an elephant in the room. My heart has been very heavy and I still am not able to express it well verbally.
artisac, Bless you. We can still count on your support for President Obama, can’t we.
Aristac~ I hope very much you’ll not let one person’s opinion weigh you down.. or influence your feelings about this site. I know the tweet of which you speak and I too disagreed vehemently and responded to it. So please hang in here with us and help us remember to keep our eyes on the prize.. all of us must work at this… and do our best not to hurt or offend one another in the process.
Hi Aristac, I’m not a person of color so I have no right to argue with you about how you interpreted that letter. Needless to say, I read it as a heartfelt appeal from a supporter of PBO for him to back equality on this issue, and I didn’t see a single line in it that was aimed at the AA community as a whole or was, in my view, remotely condescending towards him. But again, I’m not AA, so I can’t dispute how you felt about it.
I’ll leave it to BWD to respond to you if she wishes, that’s not my place.
I’d like you to carry on commenting here Aristac, it’s important that we have plenty of opinions on issues like these, but I understand completely if you’d prefer not.
Just one last thing. To my knowledge we have only two openly gay people who comment at the site – I’m not sure much consideration was given to their feelings this week by those who felt angered by the letter. It can’t have been too pleasant constantly reading that their rights are a “wedge issue”. I’d hate to think any of our gay friends will leave this site after all that, but I really wouldn’t blame them if they did.
Well you can add at least on more openly, out, loud, and proud lesbian to that tally. That said, my own life’s craziness kept me from reading the comments during the whole dust-up.
As someone who has been an activist in the feminist and queer communities since the 70s, I have witnessed first hand the problems of the left with difference, whether it’s sexism among the “old left,” racism and classism among the feminists, or misogyny among gay men, the ability to emphasize difference and ignore our own oppressive behavior is great. May I recommend to all a review of Patricia Hill Collins and her concepts of intersectionality and the matrix of dominance (here’s a place to start http://mindthegapuk.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/feminism-101-patricia-hill-collins-black-feminist-thought-in-the-matrix-of-domination/). As others have said, they win when we fight among ourselves. We must keep or eyes on the prize, own our own privilege, and ability to oppress, find our
commonalities and respect and celebrate our differences.
Then we and our nation win, and the hate filled disrupters loose – not only the debate but their grip on power.
Thanks, perfectly sums how I feel. BWD’s letter and all that followed is disturbing and revealing.
Aristac, I appreciate your expressing your concerns and sharing your feelings about this issue with us. I sense that you may have a historical perspective as someone who’s probably older than me and has lived in this country for a longer period than I have, and your view of BWD’s letter has been shaped by your experiences in that regard.
However, I honestly don’t believe for a second that BWD’s letter to PBO came from a place of disrespect, but rather from a place of fearful frustration and the feeling that he’s truly this country’s only hope for any kind of meaningful progress on issues of equality. I think that her letter was out of a fear that his Presidency might be swiftboated if he didn’t do or say something. Often times those we most care about are treated in this manner – not because we disrespect them but because we trust them to have our back even when we act in emotionally vulnerable ways.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t correct her or anyone else when we think they are making claims that are not factually correct. I have been doing a lot of that over the last several days, both on Twitter, and on TOD. In fact I always make it a point to provide the (what I believe to be) correct info when I think someone, be it BWD or anyone else, might be posting inaccurate or misleading info – anyone who’s been on this blog and knows me as a TOD regular can attest to that!! (Jovie I’m looking at you) 🙂 I also appreciate when people take the time to correct me if I provide false or misleading info.
It seems that the MSM/GOP/PL has decided that the SSM issue would be a good route to helping Romney win the WH. Get white liberals, LGBT and AA community fighting each other to depress enthusiasm and get people to stay home out of anger or frustration or vote for Romney out of spite on Nov 6. That is true of the “liberal media” as well as the “conservative media.” Therefore, I think our focus needs to be the MSM, not on so much on BWD or other TODers. The heterosexual pundits on TV (e.g., Chris Hayes) will be fine with a Romney Presidency, which is why they take the liberties to cowardly scapegoat the AA community (which they perceive to be the weakest group with the least economic and social power). Unfortunately, it’s AAs and LGBT who have the most to lose with a Romney Presidency.
That’s why we should swiftly and aggressively call out the MSM whenever we see them trying to instigate in-fighting among PBO supporters. Call them out for the COWARD HYPOCRITES that they are. We should let them know that their nasty and corrupt strategies at Rove’s behest aren’t going to work this time. We should also put some profound guilt trips on their consciences (if they have consciences at all) – and tell them that we are aware of history and how DEMS have been swiftboated in the past to help Republicans, so we dont’ have time for their hypocrisy about war, SSM or any issue, because it means NOTHING to them. We know they are only concerned about their damn pockets and WE KNOW that they don’t give a rat’s arse about gays, AAs, women’s rights, jobs, etc. And we will keep pressuring them to tell the truth by exposing them when they lie promptly and aggressively.
Thanks for speaking up ( I believe it has caused many people including myself to lose that sense of happiness we use to get coming here, to lose that “sense of family’’, not to get too mushy.) I love this site come here everyday 10 time a day or more, but don’t post much because I’m AA and sometime I can’t connect with some of the statement here. (like BWD letter) call it what you may.
Love your site Chip keep up the good work. 99.9 percent of the people who post here are wonderful when it come to race. For the 1% try
My race test. Before making a statement concerning white people I ask myself (if i was white how would I feel about this statement.) This helps me to think about others feeling not just my own. I still post my believe but with more care.
That goes for anyone other than how we identify: Latinos, Native American, Asian, and on and on.
I am Latina, born and raised in northern California. I love this President more than I can every say. I work hard to understand this nation we live in. I live in a city that is fully diverse. I also live in a country that has deeply embedded institutional racism. I do everything I can to be respectful of people who are different from me. We all have a great deal to learn from each other. And in this regard, President Barack Hussein Obama is my most cherished teacher.
That is perfect advice for all of us: before discussing any group, run it by the Golden Rule.
bravo bravo bravo
atistac – I hear you. I came to the conclusion that you cannot help a blind man to see. So outside of that, I let things go unless it is way out of line and then disregard the rest.
For others, I do believe that our voices are heard and can make a difference so I hope you will continue to participate in the dialogue. You can’t reach everybody but one heart, one mind, can have an impact.
Aristac……
thank you for your cmments
This is an invaluable site in terms of a wharehouse for information …links ….and other like minded folks…..but i got broadsided….but then this is the 2nd time…
first time around the issue contraception and the Health care Law…
so ,,,my sis…i have come to accept…that the struggle continues…even here…and that is ok ….
I will continue to come here because this site continues to be an incredible source filled with incredible people….
but i will skip over certain posts….
and move on…
Tiptoeing in—–I certainly don’t agree with every opinion here, and I imagine no one else does either. Personally, I have a huge problem with people who cannot post a comment on a political blog, such as this, without a religious reference. That is just so beyond the realm for me because I think that kind of thinking is at the heart of many of our disputes and divides in this country and beyond. I try to just move along, but I am not always successful and chime in. I am also very uncomfortable with the increasing number of racially divisive comments. I think that trend is destructive and unproductive for the task at hand. What I think we all need to remember, including myself, is we all come from different backgrounds and have very differing opinions on almost every subject—–but one—–and that is the determination and shared goal of re-electing this most gifted and talented president. That’s where we meet, and that should be the focus.
i find that issues of race are often construed as divisive/so we often do not talk about them or we circumvent them..perhaps this is not the venue to talk about them…..
“i find that issues of race are often construed as divisive/so we often do not talk about them or we circumvent them”
I think this is absolutely the venue to talk about it. We care about and respect each other so that serves as a buffer to allow discussions but in a more sensitive way. Some may want to ignore it or pretend it isn’t there but why? We should have the hard conversations when the situation presents itself, we can share our thoughts and experiences and then move on. Unfortunately or fortunately for Chips, her site has evolved to a place where it is a meeting of minds, cultures, different age groups, life experiences and backgrounds.
I think it is a good thing. I have grown tremendously through this site over the years. This is an amazing space. I don’t think we should shy away from the hard things. I think we should take a page from President Obama and face them. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
Using this forum as a means to re-elect Barack Obama is fine but what happens after? Is that really all we get from being here at TOD? This space has opened a whole new world for me, when Chips takes us to the places that PO and FLOTUS visits, raises tough issues like the ones highlighted by Bobfr and others, it is meant to make us uncomfortable at times and really look within ourselves and ask what can we do to make a difference and does this information change my view?
That is what I get from TOD. If that is too much for some well . . .they are missing out.
good points prettyfoot58
‘This is an amazing space. I don’t think we should shy away from the hard things. I think we should take a page from President Obama and face them. We can disagree without being disagreeable.’
Well said.
Struggle, discussion, opposing views — used to be that that was considered healthy discourse. We should be able to discuss, as long as we listen and respect others’ views, try to understand each other and the motives from our hearts. We have become accustomed since Newt Gingrich single-handedly changed how opposing parties should talk to each other — that disagreement means destruction. In civilized discourse disagreement and the sharing of ideas should lead to solutions. At my age of 62, it recently has occurred to me that I chat regularly with people here who have no memory of that kind of discourse between the political parties. PBO’s vision of that kind of discourse and compromise is completely foreign to an entire generation. That is so deeply sad.
It is a strange circumstance but i always believe that most everyone here is quite young. Words, by themselves have no colour or gender or age. I am surprised when someone reveals themselves as a man when all the time i was thinking it was a woman. Says a lot about interpretation. We are a similar age and i don’t remember having the same kind of open discourse. My generation I thought was quite uptight. Still, we evolve and change and like a lot of others here, I am learning.
Thank you for posting. What makes the community of supporters strong is the ability to comment, to share different perspectives, and to call attention to ways in which we may have been insensitive. I am grateful for the diversity on this site and the willingness of people to call us out when necessary. I do believe we share common goals: reelecting our president and working, fighting, organizing, speaking out with him to create a more perfect union.
as a black person, i know that sometimes things said casually may really hurt. what I usally do is to find a way to communicate my feelings to the person who may have said this carelessly or viciously. if I am too angry sometimes I just log off for an extended period and try to find my inner peace again.
I also know I sometimes say things that hurt others who are of a different race, sexual orientation,religion socio-economic class etc. when I think I have hurt others, I find a way to apologize.
But in terms of politics these last few years, I try to Keep My Eyes on the Prize which is to defend PBO and his family and staff and to see that I join other supporters to work hard for PBO’s re-election and repeatedly defend him against the eternal bigots and President Obama-haters.
Chips, BWD and so many others on TOD have repeatedly fought to defend PBO even when he was being attacked by others in the AA community. I greatly value the immense contribution that each one has made (especially Chips and BWD who have constantly led through the highs and lows). there are many times when I have been angry at PBO-attacks from the extreme right and left and those who have led the fight for PBO have often been Chips and BWD. So even when I see a comment I disagree with that is written by these two and other staunch PBO supporters, I know it is just a difference of opinion or a desire to see that PBO keeps excelling as the great President and human being we know he is and will continue to be.
One thing I know that people might be angry with PBO for one reason or another but I have no doubt about their love for him and his family. All disagreements are what make us a very diverse and intresting Obama-Family
+1,000,000,000
Very well-said, globalcitizen.
Thank you gcl…..that was so beautifully expressed.
Yes!!!
Excellent comment, globalcitizenlinda! Personally, I think it’s ok to disagree with people here, but for people who have stood by President Obama, like BWD and Chips have, it’s not fair to judge them based on one letter or one comment.
Well wouldn’t you after that little public serenade… 😆
That was pretty sweet! :-).
I don’t remember that? Can you remind me, please?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-44th-president-was-his-mothers-son/2012/05/11/gIQA6NV1IU_story.html
maryl1 we both posted two separate articles about PBO’s mom at roughly the same time 🙂 🙂
Shall we see articles about Willard’s mom?
Probably not. Although now I think of it, if President Obama’s mother starts getting attention again, he may try to do the same: blue check shirt, my wfie’s better than your wife, my mom’s better than your mom…
And when his dad was governor I liked and respected both Romneys so I don’t know how they ended up with such a son.
Five Unordinary Facts about President Obama’s Mothers:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/unordinary-facts-president-obamas-mother/story?id=16330771#.T65iy-tYtPI
I posted this on the last thread. I think Betty White will gladly join some people here on the naughty mat!
Ha! I have never seen this, ooh, she IS naughty! She’d fit in well over here, eh? With all o’ y’all, I mean!
Conservatives preach Freedom! Their idea of Freedom is as Pale as their Skin!
HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOM’S!!! (Seriously, all of them, green, red, blue, biological, non-biological………………..ok, anneromney too but just tomorrow.)
Ezra Klein: [T]he point of the Volcker rule — and of financial regulation more generally — isn’t to punish banks for being evil. It’s to protect the rest of us from banks being stupid.
Bingo. Now the banks have to own their shite.
http://mobile.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/05/11/the_search_for_the_elusive_exploding_cigar.html thus short pice by Dave Weigel in Slate has a video of the interview with Coretta, the only other black in PBO’s class his first year at Punaho. The right tries to counter every negative about Romney with something from PBO’s past. However, in this case, BO recalls the incident with chagrin, remorse, grace, and sensitivity. The contrast with Romney’s laughing non-apology is striking. Why anyone would think of voting for such a mean person who is so lacking in core principles is a mystery. Unfortunately racism and hatred of liberals overpowers sense.
that’s a great little clip. “coretta” and the interviewer are really good (that guy is 20 times better than any msm pundit as a commentator and interviewer). notice how weigel takes the one little quote that can be used out of context where it sounds a little negative toward PBO, but the entire time for many minutes coretta is heaping praise upon PBO back then and now. she literally gets a little choked up at some points by how “amazing, amazing, amazing” PBO is, so the republican msm will have to keep that part quiet. here’s the straight video clip without having weigel’s words around it:
highly recommended video for any obama fan!!
Thanks for embedding it: such a contrast with the memories of Romney’s classmates. PBO reflects on his distancing himself from Joella in his Dreams with great regret. He shows a grace and sensitivity that marks him as a person of compassion, courage, honesty.
I’m glad I’m not watching Up with Chris because from what I can see on Twitter….it’s the same as every week….a lot of people are angry. I see that Sirota is on the panel…how great…
This tweet says it all really:
Regster26 @thuddyt
Ya know, people were wondering how @ChrisHayes was going unspin the great week PBO had, well, now you know. I’m not even upset or angry.
——
For me Chris Hayes is no different than Jane Hamsher…..it’s not because he can give credit to PO once in a while that he’s not toxic….an emoprog with strong libertarian leaning…he admires Glenn Greenwald afteral…
I’m glad he gets push back on twitter but frankly…he just doesn’t care……it’s obvious, week after week after week…it’s 2010 all over again.
Sad little man really to no care about having the right wing extremists in power.
He also only focuses on this President!
I don’t watch Chris Hayes because I think like many of these pundits (including MHP) they’re for the money and fame, not for anything else. Their words are as empty as their soul, and we can see right through that. No amount of intelligence or education can make up for a psyche that is emotionally and morally bankrupt.
hey Christi, good to see you 🙂 I hope all is well with you today.
sherijr!! nice to see you as well…..yes everything is well today , I hope it’s the same for you!….:)
yes! doing okay.. we’ll have to chat again soon 🙂
Yes! most definitely……btw Happy Mother’s day in advance!
well happy Mother’s day to you.. I hope you & your sons will get to spend some time together and enjoy the day~
This fucking guy, Jose Antonio Vargas, not satisfied that President Obama has been the most Progressive President when it comes to the LGBT community which Mr. Vargas is a part of, now Mr. Vargas is upset with President Obama for deporting undocumented immigrants. This argument always bothers me because no matter what President Obama does to work through the immigration issue, he will run up against a brick wall of obstruction called the Republican Party. It is as though President Obama can snap his fingers and the immigration issue is solved, but nobody says a goddamn thing about the obstructionist. Maybe Mr. Vargas should vote Republican if he believes it is in his best interest.
It’s pathetic! They have no interest in Politics, it’s their time on Tv, so they want to express their ideology, however illogical it may be!
I hear you jovie, but you would think that they would be able to think through their illogical logic.
Can you believe he called the president an ” Anchor Baby” ?
That’s when you ignore the man and see his stunt for what it is.
what did he mean by that…i did not understand
Because the presidents was Kenyan. He also called him first generation american forgetting about his mother
ok…i feel you….for some reason…that went right over my head….duhhhhhhhh
Yeah that Anchor Baby comment was a low blow and I did not appreciate it. It was also obviously factually incorrect. He was clearly in jerk mode today.
remember that during the last few years, the gop used what I assume to be a poll-tested phrase “anchor baby” to describe the situation in which illegal or legal immigrants come to the US and have babies who because of the constitution, become automatic American citizens?? the gop even had legislators who tried to have this provision of the constitution repeealed because their main fear was that racial minorities where going to “take over” the US
Next week, is going to also be News Making. We have the NATO conference at end of week.
Expect more details on Afghanistan.
I live in Chicago. I’m not looking forward to it.
Really Mrs. Harris-Perry, Arlen Specter, he’s here to talk to you about moderation? A Republican that switched parties just to save his ass is your guest to talk about moderation?
In short, suddenly right-wing bloggers are strongly opposed to vetting.
This represents a curious turn, because as we’ve been noting this week, the established mantra from Obama’s media critics is that the press has repeatedly refused to delve into Obama’s past in search of clues about his true self, and has refused to paint a detailed portrait of Obama’s history.
Those allegations are false. Nonetheless, it’s baffling that critics are attacking the Post for doing to Romney what they want the Post, (and the press) to do to Obama; report out detailed articles about his past.
LOL! I’ve already seen two detailed articles about PBO’s mom – which is fine, because Mother’s Day is just around the corner. But what about Willard’s mother? Any articles? Where are they?
Tha ABC page that carried one of the articles has a link to one on Willard’s mom beneath the article about PBO’s.
Okay – glad to see that.
Why won’t the emails stop
amk I’m not surprised that now vetting might be an awful idea. Romney is the one that has not been vetted, the scab is going to be torn off of that diseased wound soon enough.
Chips – Can we haz a new thread on mother’s day honoring you know who ?
FLOTUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But wouldn’t that be more appropriate for tomorrow – on the actual day?
Call it h’orderves. 🙂
I need a mood lifter. Can’t stand people losing sight of who is the real enemy here.
Yup! The real enemy is the MEDIA. I will say it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
But back to our topic: After I’m done with my errands and other work for today, I’m going to scour the Internets for nice articles about FLOTUS as Mom-In-Chief, and bring them here.
Thank you hf. I need to see our uniter in chief.
Good idea; we all need to clean our palates. Please add some that show our First Hot Couple. Thanks.
I vote for Hey!
hopefruit2, I am with you 100%! We cannot let the media off the hook. They are poisoning the minds of people with tabloid journalism. Their whole purpose is to manufacture controversies.
You know you just want more pics of FLOTUS 🙂
Wouldn’t everyone want a classy feast to the sore and tired eyes ?
amk, this is for you. Lots of color surrounding Mrs. O.
You’re welcome.
Tease.
not losing sight….but this is a journey….
and there are many things to be dealt with along the way…it is not a straight path towards freedom…it zigs and zags………
You’re right. I just hope and pray those zig-zags don’t tear us apart along the way. There are too many people invested in getting this good man re-elected to be disappointed when there is 24×7 media assault on him and we fail to have his back.
I feel you AMK…..when you are a minority in a coalition you learn to put some things in your back pocket to further the movement but then there things that must be fought thru now…the genius is to be able to decide which things your fight for now…and which yru fight on another day…..((huggs))
Spot on. Thanks prettyfoot. I needed that pep talk.
like
Happy Saturday! As I was perusing, I came across a couple of things. You need to look at both of these to get the full effect. Who’s stupid????
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/05/goldberg-young-people-are-so-frickin.html
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/05/11/when-did-equality-for-all-get-redefined-as-equality-for-some-video/
I’m with the “stupid” kid.
Good Morning TOD family
A story from creole child
New SEC Rules Thwart Romney’s Wall Street Donors
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/new-sec-rules-thwart-romneys-wall-street-donors
That is so true 🙂
https://twitter.com/#!/PiratesForObama/status/201314279138410498
A sunny story for this sunny day
Think solar power can’t compete with big utilities? Think again
http://www.whatisworking.com/2012/05/think-solar-power-cant-compete-with-big.html
Poor Joe Watkins, he looks like a fool.
I could not figure out what he was trying to say…..Who is he ?
Rovian Politics 101:
Station bloggers on every progressive site for every voting block from the disabled to women, to environmental, to national security, ethnic to social issues, to fiscal issues, etc, etc.
Whenever a negative comment or story is posted, POUNCE! Start talking up the negative. Argue against any rebuttal for the positive. Put out the call to the rest of your group to have addition Rovian infiltrators appear and agree with negative post.
Continue pulling back the scab on sensitive issues so those who feel strongly about that issue begin to agree. Bring out people’s fear and magnify it. Have other operatives jump into the fray and further magnify the sensitive issue until the site’s regulars start agreeing.
Appeal to their sense of moral outrage and magnify, magnify, magnify. Plead indignation and get others to go along until there is a sizable group of regulars assisting in the division and discord.
The key is not to stay in the fray, the key is to get these communities fighting among themselves. Make it personal. We want to reach down and grab them by their core!
Rinse, lather and repeat.
Encourage those site regulars that are upset to voice their discontent and anger on other social sites so they get more people agreeing with their stance.
Make sure to accentuate the ‘us vs them’ ness of the issue and work it to death.
Eventually the anger takes on a life of it’s own and they start going after each other. That is when you can sit back and pat yourself on the back.
Oh, and don’t forget to file a report. This is how you will get paid for all your hard work and dedication to the cause; Anyone but Bam
Exactly. And let’s send Rove a nicely wrapped present in the form of a message: NOT THIS TIME.
‘NOT THIS TIME’ -I’m in all the way
Yup. Not this time. No more 2010’s.
Yes indeed!I hope we learn a lesson and pledge to never again allow Rove to divide us.
10 Facts You Need to Know About Immigrant Women:They Contribute More than You Realize and Face Dangers You May Be Unaware Of
http://www.whatisworking.com/2012/05/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about.html
Here is Mitt’s cousin…that just wrote a book discussing him on Jennifer Granholm last night.
The both have the same great great grandfather but different grandmother’s
http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/ronald-b-scott-on-bullygate-memory-problem-or-honesty-problem
He does not care for cousin Mitt .
Well it’s a glorious day in the north east. Father Sky and Mother Earth have blessed us with new life all around. The sky is deep blue and the air smells of life giving energy. I’m going to go enjoy the gifts, rejuvenate and rejoyce at the wonder that is ‘life’.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Shalom, Peace, Paz, Vrede, Page, CBET, 和平, kapayapaan, paix, friður, amani, ความสงบสุข etc etc 😆
Same to you, LunarSea!!
The fog is beginning to lift here and it will be a sunny spring day.
Adeboye Oriade @AdeboyeOriade
As Mitt Romney takes the stage at Liberty University graduation, plane circles w/ banner “GOP: Higher School Debt” –
If this is for real, it is uber great! hahaha I love Dems even with all their baggage, we are creative without being mean.
lol I know….I think it is so cool.
LOL. Love it. Would love to see the vid.
FLOTUS speaking now at North Carolina A&T University’s graduation : http://www.digtriad.com/video/breakingvideo.aspx
Oh thank YOU JER .. tuned in just in time 🙂
I read the two articles about PBO’s mother…..she was quite her own person, and had to be brilliant! She knew about 6 languages! One line stuck out in Maraniss’s article “that PBO was better off without his father who was an abusive alcoholic. ”
That flies in the face of all the publicity from the far right, but is true. One good parent is better than an abusive parent in the place. His mother was strong in ways that he and his sister saw and felt, and her love was unconditional, the best gift I think parents can give…….not money.
I believe that the mettle and character of a man can be seen by the woman he marries. A narcissist will marry a “barbie”, one who will nod, smile, and enjoy what money can buy, but sit by and not think nor act for herself. Balanced, strong men will marry a woman who is strong herself, and who will challenge him in all the right ways. It is easy to see which candidate married which kind of woman. I remember in 2008 when Mitt referred to his wife as a “babe”…..can you imagine PBO referring to Michelle like that? She is gorgeous, but she is so much more than what is seen on the outside, to call her a babe would demean her, not compliment her, and he would NEVER do that!
Romney is a classic narcissist, as someone on an earlier thread detailed. He was never challenged growing up, he never had to think for himself, or sort out his beliefs and principles, he just accepted the privileged status so long he thinks he deserves it.
And what we see now is a man totally without principles, as so many have said, no core, who just thinks he “should” be president, as his wife said, “It’s their turn now.”
I’m reminded of something I heard Tweety say several years ago. At one time he was planning a run for Senator from PA. A friend asked him, “What do you plan to DO as Senator for the state?” Tweety, in a rare moment of honesty said, “I don’t know. I just want to BE a Senator.” That is Mitt……he just wants to BE president…..he has no earthly idea why or what he would do constructively for the country. He is blown about by every wind that comes.
BRILLIANT.
great twitt AMK – loved the inclusion of the hair among the list of things mitt the entitled liar would cut
Romney is currently giving the commencement address at Liberty University aka Bigots Are Us. And he said that Chik-Fil-A – a fast food joint ike McDonalds – got him through the “horrors” of the GOP primaries. Hahahahahaha……Romney has eaten at Chik-Fil-A? Romney knows what a Chik-Fil-A is? Romney has dined with regular folks? Suuuuuure…..just like he always does his laundry himself per the picture his son tweeted. 😆
I think Chik-Fil-A is gross…….
HEY!
I’ll have you know their chicken strips and waffle fries are very tasty.
could you please make a tweet out of your first sentence – you are very creative and it get right to the point.
The mention of Chik Fil A is talking in code to these folks. They are religious and totally AGAINST equality for gays. They will never get my business. They are even closed on Sunday.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/03/01/435395/chick-fil-a-tries-to-mask-anti-gay-record-as-northeastern-university-rejects-contract/
I am devastated. I had no idea that was the case. Thanks for the link desertflower
We drove thru chik-fil-a once on a trip because an acquaintance who had moved to our area in Illinois from the south kept lamenting about how she missed chik-fil-a and we wanted to see what we were missing. Not much, as it turns out. But the big surprise was we got a bible verse in our carry out bag as a special little bonus. I responded with, “What in the world???” And that was the end of our patronage. I later learned who they were and that the causes supported by the owners were detrimental to my progressive mindset and priorities. I heard from someone recently that they are no longer including their biblical messages with their chick sands, but it’s like giving money to the Koch Bros or hitting yourself on the head with a hammer or voting Repub against your interests by buying their food.
chik-fil-a and in-n-out burger are such great examples of how insidious marketing can be. i have so many friends that go nuts for these places even both are owned by crazy, crazy fundamentalists, and i beg anyone here to do some research on how they get their chicken “meat” and the in-n-out pink slime (most any fast food place for that matter). i’ve been able to wean a few friends off the marketing of those two places, but many i know still go there “religiously” (pun intended). mittbot as definitely giving a shout-out with that chik-fil-amen comment. they all know what that means.
The founder of Chik-Fil-A is an influential right winger evangelical. I think it’s a ploy for the right wing vote.
FLOTUS speaking now too. http://www.digtriad.com/video/breakingvideo.aspx
Oh dang FLOTUS has me in tears.
She told the graduating class “I love you all” and I swear everyone of them yelled back they love her too 🙂
sherijr, wasn’t FLOTUS wonderful. I was shedding afew myself.
Yes she is always so wonderful.. and so heartfelt.
I only just did begin to learn about Romney’s mother. I was trying to figure out how he ended up as a sociopath (I’m not yet convinced he’s a narcissist). On first glance, she actually seems like she was a pretty interesting woman: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/facts-mitt-romneys-mom/story?id=16323279#.T65517SfXEU
LIvestream for PBO and VPB event honoring TOP COPS is open at http://live.cnn.com/
Only place I’ve found the Rose Garden event for this morning is the Washington Post. Streaming now:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/live/video-1?tid=sm_twitter_postpolitics
For him to be speaking on right wing home turf, that crowd was incredibly unenthusiastic. Romney totally bombed with the college bigots and it was hilarious.
I don’t recall POTUS wearing a suit that color before. He might have, but I don’t recall it. He still looks handsome.
Ouch!!
Is Willard speaking now UT? Is there a link?
found it for those who are curious. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2
UT,
you posted this comment a few minutes above and I believe it would make a great tweet. here you go as I quote you back to your self:
” Romney is currently giving the commencement address at Liberty University aka Bigots Are Us”
I am watching the Liberty University graduation but I don’t see any views of graduate class nor are they counting the amount of students participating. But they showed that 17,000 attended the graduation event for FLOTUS and all seats were filled.
Just curious to see if any students opted out of the Liberty graduation as they said they would.
Wondering about that myself, nospin. Haven’t heard one word about the group that was upset since the day it came out. Crickets…….
I’ve noticed that to be true of Romney’s events. Either people are too ashamed and don’t want their faces being shown on camera at his events, or the Romney campaign is being secretive about the kinds or numbers of people who attend their events. On the other hand, at POTUS’s and FLOTUS’s events, the cameras are free to scan the diverse crowds of happy, enthusiastic and fired-up people.