This is long. Go get a beverage.
I had a conversation with some friends of mine who are so angry at the John Edwards mistrial, they can hardly see. They personally hate him with the passion of a thousand suns, and believe that no matter how much good someone has done, it’s all negated by the bad.
It made me really think about how misled we all are as a country, thanks largely to our broken Media/Press, and how misplaced our anger and outage is.
First let me say that I’m BEYOND angry with John and Elizabeth Edwards. I’ll get to that later, but first:
– How many people out there have thought this trial has been about misuse of campaign funds?
– How many people are aware of the six specific charges brought against John Edwards?
– How many people wondered WHY Edwards is being charged when so many others seem to do the same thing or worse, with not only full impunity, but encouragement?
Now think about the source you got your information from.
For those of you unsure, here are the six charges:
Read the full post here
The Obama Diary 
hi everyone
Thanks Tally, Good word. It is time to demand truth from our media. Agreed 100000000000 times
No! The Republicans ate lucky, so to speak, that Europe has slipped inti a Depression.
That is why our Economy has stalled.
We can all thank that Jerk Merkel!
I also blame Harry Reid for not changing the filibuster rules four years ago and at least the beginning of this year. Now six months later he finds he can’t trust the leader of the GOP and the fact that we are all of sudden hearing from the asshole media that McConnell and all the GOP systematically planned to bring this President down even if it takes down the entire country.
True!
There we go again blaming one of our own despite all he did to pass most of President Obama’s agenda in the first two years. I hate the filibuster and ideally I wish it had not existed. But then my pragmatic side makes me pose: What if the tea party takes over the presidency and the majority of Congress, but not the super majority in the Senate, and the only way to stop their insane agenda is through the use of the filibuster? Would you be so quick to call for eliminating the filibuster? I may be alone here, but I think Harry Reid is a shrewd leader who knows fully well that if the tables were turned, it would be suicidal for Democrats to give up the power to block obnoxious GOP agenda. Obviously the Republicans have gone overboard in abusing the filibuster; but I would not be quick to eliminate it altogether. just my two cents.
Who says they WON’T do this? The Senate can make up their own rules at the beginning of each session….what’s gonna stop them from doing just that? Yes, I do blame OUR OWN because their WON’T be another President Obama or another opportunity like we’ve had to waste it trusting the GOP will do the right thing when they have proven they have only one thing on their minds and that’s destroying our democracy and punishing the middle class, working class, poor and elderly.
I am sorry, jojothecat, but nothing I said in my comment suggests or implies that I trust the “GOP will do the right thing….” Absolutely nothing! Let me make it plain, In politics you have to think about the short term goals and the long term goals. For example, speaking for myself, my short term goal is to make sure that President Obama is re-elected along with a Congress controlled by majority Democrats. My long term goal, however, is to make sure that all that he has accomplished would not go up in smoke, once the right wingers take over Congress and the presidency. I don’t want to see the ACA, financial reforms, DADT and others repealed without a fight. So my caution about not eliminating a filibuster is purely based on my desire, if the occasion does arise, to give the right wingers their own medicine.
Now you are right that once the GOP takes over Congress it may decide to do away with the filibuster. In my judgement I don’t think the GOP would do that because it can never guarantee thatRepublicans would always be in the majority. This precisely why the filibuster has been so hard to get rid of because it benefits the party in a minority in the Senate. In any case, I just don’t want to make it easy for them. As far as I am concerned, I think that we would be better off if our number one focus right now was on re-electing President Obama, and electing majority Democratic members of Congress. After the elections we can all sit down and strategize about long term goals.
Good rant and education of the facts that the GOP run media won’t bother to tell the masses. This is exactly what I was telling my mother last night. That John Edwards did nothing different than what $arah money grubbing grifer Palin is doing and has been doing ever since the teabaggery queen was exposed to us by John McCain and his thuggery political teamn (don’t get me started on those assholes). Christine O’Donnell paid her rent and other god knows whatever else with her campaign funds, WTHF? What all the unemployeed people need to do is put up a website, call themselves tea party patriots and ask for campaign money.
Thank you Tally, I am so glad you posted this, if it’s alright with you I’d like to use this to send to the douchebags that send me stupid emails about how Democrats are cheaters and give Clinton and John Edwards as examples.
Hell yeah JoJo!!!
Marco Rubio is another who has lived off his campaign contributions for years——-was under investigation for using campaign money and Repub credit card for all kinds of personal reasons——family vacations, condo purchases, car payments, groceries, wine, new carpet etc. etc. etc. He is a grifter in the Palin mode.
GOP OBSTRUCTS & DEMANDS SPENDING CUTS. MAINSTREAM MEDIA BLAMES PRESIDENT OBAMA
Though Experts Agree Spending Cuts Hurt The Economy, Media Amplify GOP Attacks On Obama’s Policies
——————————–
Economic experts agree that spending cuts in a weak economy hurt the creation of jobs and economic growth. Though Republicans in Congress spent much of 2011 demanding spending cuts, the media are amplifying their attacks on President Obama’s economic record.
——————————–
http://mediamatters.org/research/201206010011
SPEAKER BOEHNER’S HOUSE MAJORITY “WORK” SCHEDULE (Two weeks on, One week off)
==================================================
1) Two weeks on, one week off in shorter 2011 House schedule
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/132629-house-gop-releases-schedule-with-fewer-weeks-of-work
2) 2012 House calendar keeps GOP two-weeks on, one-week off plan
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/2012-house-calendar-keeps-gop-two-weeks-on-one-week-off-plan/2011/10/27/gIQAfhB8LM_blog.html
I listened to Randi Rhoads this afternoon and she said the House is only working, wait for it, THIRTEEN (13) DAYS THIS MONTH! WE NEED TO CALL THEM AND SAY GET BACK TO FUCK TO WORK YOU LAZY BASTARDS! WE PAY YOUR FUCKING SALARIES NOW SEND THE PRESIDENT A JOBS BILL OR GET VOTED OUT!
YES! And they do their disgusting dog whistle – “Obama is always on vacation/golfing/campaigning…” insanity. STFU!!!!!!
We need a call to action. What can we do here to send a strong message to Congress especially the house to stop BS and
get to work. We should start a movement here. I just don’t know how to go about it. Any ideas?
Instructions/Ideas at the bottom of my rant.
REPUBLICAN JOB CREATION
============================
During the 2010 mid-terms the GOP ran mainly on the platform of job creation and, as a result of such promises, the GOP gained the majority in the House of Representatives. As the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner made the welcome claim that the primary goal of the Republican Party was to increase employment in the U.S.
His exact words were: “We’re going to have a relentless focus on creating jobs.”
The following, therefore, is a chronological list of legislation by the GOP beginning 2-10-2011 that I created for my own amusement. That it has reached its current imposing length, without one anecdotal citation of new employment as a result of Republican legislation, is simply shocking. Shame on these useless hypocrites.
There are those who choose to place the blame for high unemployment on Mr. Obama’s shoulders, but keep in mind that it’s the House that enacts legislation and controls the governmental purse-strings, not the President. The Stimulus package passed by the Democrats in 2009 helped the economy but would have been more effective if the GOP hadn’t limited it to little more than a package of more useless tax breaks for the rich.
5-14-2012: Last Thursday the House passed the Sequestration Replacement Act, designed to fatten the Pentagon coffers at the expense of the elderly and the poor. It is destined to die in the Senate. No Jobs were created.
5-16-2012: The House was not in session on Monday, but on Tuesday the legislators busied themselves passing noncontroversial suspension bills. Ho-hum. No jobs were created, but you already knew that.
5-18-2012: The House passed a watered-down Violence Against Women Act. Basically, if you’re an immigrant or a native American woman, you’re fair game for any sadist. They’ll pass a major defense funding bill tomorrow and then will take the next week off. No jobs were created.
5-21-2012: On Friday the House passed a bloated defense spending bill, even though they were obligated to cut defense spending as part of the Super Committee agreement. Not only did the new bill include discriminitory language it also included an amendment allowing the government to institute propaganda against the American people. The president has vowed to veto this bill. No jobs were created unless you count the military contractors rolling in effluent streams of your tax dollars.
5-23-2012: Say it with me now: “The House is in recess until the 30th of May. Must be nice to have so many vacations. Oh, how I hate those indolent GOP swine.”
6-1-2012: Another day, another abortion bill. This time the “Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act.” Which was designed to stop abortions based on sex or race. Seriously. It failed. Apart from that bit of nonsense the day was one long last-minute rush to pass bills that pay the bills. No jobs were created.
============================
http://republicanjobcreation.com/
Newspaper Runs Ad Suggesting President Obama And Democrats Want To Murder Christians
The Daily Advertiser, a Gannett-owned paper serving central Louisiana, is standing by its decision to run an advertisement today in which a far-right extremist group suggests that President Obama and Democrats are conspiring to murder Catholics and Christians.
The ad shows a photograph of a Catholic priest who was shot and killed in Mexico in the 1920s, and suggests that President Obama and Democrats would do the same. It was posted by a user on Reddit this morning.
The ad copy is no better:
“AMERICA is under siege by the same evil (obama and democrats) as history shows over and over…We must learn from it or we are doomed to repeat it. We must be triumphant over terror.”
As with most newspapers, The Daily Advertiser says it does screen advertisements to ensure that blatantly false, overly offensive or otherwise inappropriate content is kept out of the paper. But the paper’s president and publisher Karen J. Lincoln told ThinkProgress that the newspaper stood by its decision to run the ad. “We look at all of the ads, and the decision is made by each market,” she said. “This ad did meet our standards. The decision to run it was approved.” Lincoln also says that another ad from the same organization will run in tomorrow’s paper.
—–
I cannot take much more of this…
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/06/01/493980/gannett-owned-newspaper-runs-ad-suggesting-president-obama-and-democrats-want-to-murder-christians/
Can things get any worse? Really! This newspaper advertisers should be contacted immediately and demand that they call the newspaper or be boycotted!
I went to their website and saw our Tally was on the J. O. B. posting their website and under Tally’s comments someone posted this”
I went to there website, they hide behind no contact. chicken Sht
Here is their website.
http://acadianapatriots.ning.com/
If you don’t want to give them your info, here is there address: The Advertiser/P.O. Box 5310/Lafayette, LA 70502 and their phone number is (337) 289-6300. Light up there phones people!
That contact link thingie is also very broken…. I hope from too many people using it.
CALL THEM! EMAIL THEM!
I’ve never seen this video…President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughter Sasha made a Friday night visit to the International Spy Museum in downtown Washington. Afterwards the couple shared a tender moment under the canopy by the White House driveway. (July 30
Tweety is back on his “Obama needs to DO SOMETHING!” kick. I guess he wants him to DO SOMETHING to ensure everyone has a job and the U.S. and world economy begins to kick it in high gear—-NOW. Wonder why PBO hasn’t thought of this? Why is he refusing to take his magic wand out of his back pocket? That kind of rant, oblivious or ignorant of the Jobs Act which has been collecting dust since last Sept.and not recognizing the unprecedented obstruction to anything and everything by congressional Repubs is just plain stupid and a big waste of air time. Our news personalities are shameful and damaging to our democracy as they continue to refuse to tell the American people the truth.
Exactly what I was telling my Mother, she was screaming the same thing.
Just take it to him ….
#PRESSON
#FORWARD
FUCKING Congress needs to do something! Why the hell isn’t he yelling at the Lazy Boner Do Nothing House!
Tell it dotster3. I just put the mute on Tweety’s “Let Me Finish” segment. Another gasbag pulling the “armchair campaign manager” routine. Tweety knows better than David Plouffe and David Axelrod how things should be handled. Spare me. I can’t keep up with Tweety’s violent swings back and forth. I wonder if he listened to the speech President Obama gave today. The speech was very specific about what needs to be done by congress. The Republican Party saboteurs in congress are the problem.
The other gasbag armchair campaign manager is Ed Schultz. The last couple of nights he has been obsessing about President Obama going to Wisconsin. My guess is that President Clinton being there today still won’t be enough for him. As I recall, President Obama held at least two rallies in Wisconsin in 2010 before the midterms. And he told them then not to give the keys back to the Republicans. On top of that, I think FLOTUS did a rally for Russ Feingold. After the Scott Walker bait and switch, why does Wisconsin need President Obama to pull them over the finish line? There should be enough righteous indignation to get the job done yesterday. Giving the keys to Walker has been a disaster. How much more motivation do they need to complete the recall process?
Totally agree. They did this to themselves. I have zero concept how the polls can be tied.
The WI Scott Walker recall is so important, yet I have thought about whether Prez Obama should speak out about it for quite awhile. I think it would be interpreted as his overstepping his role since he’d be interfering in state law whereas he is in the Federal executive branch of government not WI state government. I know some things cross over but PBO is versed in law and I am sure he knows where the line is better than many do.
I like Ed, but he has gotten on my last nerve with his ‘Obama needs to go to Wisconsin’ nonsense. He’s done this before, and people in Wisconsin said they didn’t want the President to get involved. His involvement would allow the repugs to use him as a distraction. Ed and the rest need to train their large egos on those in the media who WILL NOT report on Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, voter suppression, republican obstruction. They demand so much from our President, as if he can do it all by himself. They need to start naming names, Wolf, Anderson, Erin, and all the rest of the creeps who continue to push the ‘only Obama is responsible for the economy’ meme. I have some serious ‘hate’ issues in me right now, and I DON’T want to be a hater. I want to be calm, like my Prez.
Exactly! The unions have said they don’t want the POTUS, because unions have members of every party. You just KNOW that the GOP have a minimum of three ads, ready to run, screaming about the POTUS overstepping, “He’s making it all about him!” blah blah blah….
You’re on today Zekke! 😀
All over twitter I saw this, ” DO SOMETHING NOW! GO GANGSTA!” – Sigh.
Very few people were complaining about Pres.Obama’s campaign strategy before the jobs report. Now they are screaming for him to do something as if it would make the jobs reports better. The O camp has a strategy and if they see a change needs to be made, they will do it. All this ranting and screaming is not helpful. We should be hitting the dimwits on the other side instead.
I believe we are in the midst of a real revolution regarding news outlets and the “media.” Increasingly the Net has made it possible for media to be decentralized and democratized. This forum is just one example. What I see more and more is people are getting tired of wringing their hands at the stupidity and corporate interest at work with the television based media. And the print media is about gone now, or dying. In todays world anyone can be a journalist, a reporter, a writer. It makes for some quality control issues but it also makes for opportunity. The media is broken and we can fix it, by becoming the media. I look for my news on Twitter, or constructing my own newscast on the net. As PBO says, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” I have pretty much given up on tv news or commentary.
THIS x ∞ !!!
Good point!
Bravo, Bill R! I think this is the answer to all our frustration with the unethical media. Obviously, I have very high regard for people who still read/ watch the MSM and then push back. While I still read some papers (mine is atrociously right wing) I’ve completely turned off t.v. news. My BP can’t deal with the media pundits.
GOP Congressman: Women Who Undergo Abortions Should Face Criminal Charges
These people are INSANE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That should kill the women vote for the GOP. What about women who are told to abort because if they go to full term the Mother and the Child might not survive the pregnancy and if the Mother does survive, she might not be able to bear children? My friend, who was married and a christian, had to make that awful decision. Her christian OB/GYN told her this and although he would not perform the abortion, he recommended someone who did (makes no sense but to each his own). This is just another example of the WAR ON WOMEN.
COMMON CAUSE: Why We’re Suing the Senate Over the Filibuster
“FIX THE FILIBUSTER”
——————————
Here’s how the obstructionists work. To begin debate on a bill, senators must first adopt a “motion to proceed.” But debate on that motion, as on most everything else that comes before the Senate, is unlimited unless at least 60 senators vote to end it. That means a minority of as few as 41 can block any action simply by refusing to permit a vote on the motion to proceed.
Thus the filibuster does not extend debate, which is its supposed purpose. Instead, it stops debate.
——————————–
http://www.commonblog.com/2012/05/14/why-were-suing-the-senate/
Because Harry Reid did not listen to his party and trusted “No Lips” McConnell.
Thank you for this information. I will spread the word.
Hi everyone – I just looked at all those pictures from today – talk about the excitement – the love and the happiness created by your President – from the lass with her photo, the young woman with that AMAZING expression and the workers at Honeywell – Mitt really should save his money – cause he has no chance – absolutely none.
Well stated as always, Tally.
Credit where credit is due and in this case I urge all of you to view Martin Bashir’s statement and spread it.
If you check my TL you’ll see that I do before I ask 🙂
Chips, if you can feature the video in the tweet, it’ll be a good for all those that visit TOD to see, for sure.
#PRESSON
#FORWARD
it’s a great video, and martin calls them out: cowards!
Thanks babe!
Tally, thanks for breaking it down for us. I hope John Edwards finds his better angels if he decides on some kind of public life, but they did not appear yesterday. I hope this result of his trial didn’t make him think he can now try to run for public office. I don’t care about his cheating on his wife, per se, what bothered me was that he was trying to do this while he was running for the highest office — twice. I cringe when I think: what if he had made it through and all his mess came out in September or that damn “October Suprise” shit. I feel strongly that he would have tried to lie all the way until Maury came along & said, “You are the father!” Which is basically what happened. His presser yesterday bothered me on so many levels! And I’ll never forget how hard he was pushing to be the VP to our POTUS. From what I heard it was not pretty. One day, someone with authority will give us the scoop of that period.
Addendum: Maury didn’t come out & say to him, “You are the father!” But the National Enquirer sure played Maury’s role.
The video of John Edwards after the trial announcement yesterday showed how damaging someone’s actions can be to their family. I felt so sorry for Edwards father. Watching his father’s face behind John Edwards showed his fathers concern and sadness. It broke my heart to see his feelings so visibly displayed even though it seemed he was trying to be stoic. John Edwards owes his family so much and should stay busy trying to repair the damage he caused them now.
Thank you Tally for saying what I feel. I am so thankful there are people here who can put into words what needs to be said! Keep up your wonderful work!
OT: It’s raining hard, tornado warnings, etc., here in the DC Metro area, including Baltimore and other outer areas. TODers in the area, please be careful and get home safely. Watch those creeks & flash floods. Do not try to drive through our many little bridges because you think you see a little water over that little bridge. It takes seconds to be carried away.
yikes! my son and his new wife live there, and they’re determined bicycle commuters. also, they never tell me when there’s bad weather or any danger, so i won’t worry–but that’s my job! i’m the mom! anyway, stay safe xtine, and if you see anyone riding their bike, please give them a smile and wave. and yes, they rode their bikes through ‘snowmageddon’.
Don’t worry, Susanne, I’ll invite them in to my place, dry off, warm up, etc.! Darn, I’m going to think every guy on a bike is your son — lot’s of bikers in DC! 🙂
OK, I’ve sorted it out, I’ll yell at bikers out in bad weather: “Are you TOD Susanne’s son/daughter-in-law?!”
P.S. And I’ll do it too! 🙂
Great post Tally,
I copied this from your post ”It should be illegal here for the News to lie to the public, just like it is in Canada.”
I’m really worry about that with our right-winger Prime Minister Harper putting pressure on the CRTC, the agency that regulates and supervises Canadian Broadcasting and Telecom”
Fox News was rejected in Canada because Canadians were outraged and made their voices heard….”resulted in a tidal wave of angry responses from Canadians who said they feared such a move would open the door to Fox TV-style news and reduce their ability to determine what is true and what is false.”
This was about 2 years ago…..”Canadian regulators announced last week they would reject efforts by Canada’s right-wing Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to repeal a law that forbids lying on broadcast news”
Canada’s Radio Act requires that “a licenser may not broadcast … any false or misleading news.”
I read not too long ago that Stephen Harper and Pierre Karl Peladeau (small media mogul) had 2 meetings in New York with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes!
I was sick to my stomach.
Far right ideology has no place in a civilized society, the only way they can stay in power is by controlling the media like in the States,….
Heads up everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/06/01/heads-up-president-obama-at-the-chicago-cultural-center-710-et/
Mitt Romney is a COWARD and a LIAR.
I tweet this every day. My Anger toward those in the media who support and help diseminate LIES and MISINFORMATION grows exponentially with the passing of each news cycle. I no longer watch CNN during the week. I blame them more than FOX. FOX is propaganda. Some people still believe CNN is ‘real’ news.
The network/Mainstream media has ignored what is happening in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Florida and other states where REPUBLICAN governors and legislatures continue to slam unions, cut government jobs, suppress the vote, steal democracy. They do not, WILL NOT put the blame for our continuing economic problems on REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTION, where it belongs. I have NEVER seen such rank hypocrisy and deliberate undermining of a country. This cannot continue.
Today, I am crafting (3) letters to congress. To Democrats: I will express my appreciation for their attempts to do the right thing, and ask them to start a ruckus and start naming names. To formerly ‘moderate’ Republicans: I will express my disappointment and shame them for their selfishness and unpatriotic actions. To Radical Republicans: I will express my contempt. I will snail mail, email, tweet and facebook.
I live in California. I am not on the front lines against republican efforts to crap on Democracy. I am an Obama volunteer, so I must get more involved.
WE are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
I don’t hate John Edwards, I feel sorry for him. He is not evil and his actions do not affect my life. He is a distraction.
You are a ROCK STAR.
Excellent post Tally! I just love your passion. Like you, I think it should be illegal for any one seeking public office, or any one in the business of News, to lie to the people. Sadly, given the structure of our government, the obscene money poured into elections, and the law information voters who are the target of that money, I doubt the United States will ever enact such a law.
I concur.
They would if the people demanded it.
TY Tally. I took your advice and got a beverage. Since it’s Friday night I grabbed a beer. I have been avoiding the media for a couple of years now. I seldom see the news unless I happen to be passing through the room where my husband is watching. I have even taken to plugging my ears while I exercise in the morning so I can get into a tranquil state for the day (literally – earplugs). I find myself getting way too upset if I start the day listening to the morning news shows. They are all just a little too hyper for me so early in the day.
John Edwards: I have a pretty good instinct for spotting when there’s something phoney about a person. When Edwards was running and I watched him speak, there was something weird about the way he looked. A gleam in his eye like you see in some of the TV evangelists. Like he was drunk on his own ego or something. He looked different than the guy I saw when he was running as VP for Kerry. I just had a gut feeling something was a little “off” about him when he was running for President. I’d already fallen under the Obama spell so I was pleased when he dropped out and many of his supporters switched to Obama. I don’t really understand why we have to have all this attention on John Edwards now. I have not followed any of this so your “word” today is the most information I have had on the subject. I’m not angry at him at this point. I’m just ready to move on.
Confession: I am almost entirely dependent on twitter and the Obama Diary for information. I do sometimes miss information that might have been interesting, related to science, nature and other things that interest me. I have made it a goal to try not to watch any of the horrible political ads that attack the President. I just can’t bear it. So I hardly watch any TV at all. My blood pressure is low, but I do feel a little out of touch. I think I will probably go back to watching some TV after the election. I just can’t stand the constant stream of hair on fire – hyperactive on steroids – screechy nastiness that passes for political commentary. When I do go back to the TV it will be in small doses of C-Span and Public TV, unless it’s comedy shows. My goal for this summer is to avoid all of it as much as possible.
Allow me to recommend Stephanie Miller on Current (if you have it.) She’s on live from 6am – 9am Pacific Time, M-F. DVR it and watch it later. She’s HILARIOUS. It’s a really fun way to get great info, and they LOVE THEM SOME PBO!! 😀
TY Tally. Just found this. I can listen to Stephanie on my drive to work. You are right. I’ve heard her before and she’s very funny and a big supporter of the President. Thanks!
http://www.am950radio.com/schedule
Lovely piece of writing and so relevant. The media industry is gutted with irrelevant journalists all looking for a job or that one piece of news for which they will always be famous. They need to create news not report it so as to increase their own importance. Look at all the titles that have to be listed each time a so called expert comes to give a commentary. It’s nothing but ‘blowing in the wind’ media.
Thank you Almablanca! And I totally agree!
Tally, you are a good writer. I always enjoy your posts. I think you should work for the President when he wins again, Maybe write some of his speeches, follow him around and let us know what is really happening.
.
ZOMG – how awesome would THAT BE???
okay. Tell them to hire me. 🙂