I’ve got to give props to Soledad O’Brien on CNN. She called out Sununu and Pawlenty on their lies about President Obama gutting Medicare by $176 Billion. I’m going to tweet a thank you to her. If we don’t push back on this lie they will turn it into another “death panel”. They already have a TV ad saying that PBO gutted Medicare.
The kids in that picture are quite a diverse bunch – fabulous! I also like that the people of that town have a good attitude, and aren’t griping about the inconveniences associated with a Presidential visit (like the California news always does), but rather, they are recognizing the rarity of the occasion. Like, Gail Allard, who is enjoying the day instead of griping about lost customers. that beer merchant from the fair could take a lesson or two from Gail Allard!
‘Is there rehab for that?’ Sure there is! Our most effective rehab treatment to date = talking with other addicts on site and realizing that you are not alone. 😆 😆
Forgive me if someone has already pointed this out, but I’m laughing at the irony of GOP politicians taunting black voters for many years, stating that we need to leave the “Democratic plantation” yet Biden telling a *mixed race crowd* that an unregulated Wall Street would leave everyone in chains is “throwing the race card” and “hate.” I’d love for us to stop being the laughingstock of the world anytime soon, national media…
I smell desperation. At this point, I think they will grab any and everything that might take the spotlight off Mitt’s taxes and Ryan’s budget that kills Medicare along with most programs for the middle class and poor people. It’s funny though, because try as they might, Ann Romney from the conversation right back to taxes when she just said in her latest interview that Mitt’s not releasing any more tax returns.
She just couldn’t help but to answer the tax return question in the haughtiest manner possible. The PBO campaign will absolutely never call her out (they never challenge candidates’ families, even where family members are blatantly politicking), but I hope that the public sees for themselves that the Romneys’ haughty “you people” stance re: MItt’s tax returns make it appear that they’re hiding something rather than inspire confidence.
It’s racist for them to associate chains with black people. The fact is, the Republican policies ARE going to put the entire middle class in chains – and move us all down the food chain. They are appealing to their base by implying that the $716 billion dollars they keep talking about being moved to Obamacare is “not for you”, yet Obamacare makes EVERYBODY’s health insurance more secure, all kids under 26 are now eligible to stay on their parents’ insurance, every senior gets help out of the donut hole and is eligible for free preventive care, every single American benefits from having 85% of their premiums go to health care versus executive bonuses, every single American has more security that if they lose their job, they won’t go bankrupt or have no affordable option for health insurance. Of course it’s “for you” – who else is it for?
Medicare’s trustees and the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) beg to differ with Romney/Ryan:
Health Reform Strengthens Medicare, Doesn’t “Rob” It
The 2010 health reform law (the Affordable Care Act, or ACA) has significantly improved Medicare’s long-term financial outlook, as we have previously pointed out. Recent claims that health reform “robs Medicare” and does not “shore up Medicare’s finances” are flatly false, as the recent report of the program’s trustees shows.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the ACA will reduce Medicare’s projected spending by $716 billion over the 2013-2023 period. As John McDonough of Harvard’s School of Public Health explains: “None of these reductions were financed by cuts to Medicare enrollees’ eligibility or benefits; benefits were improved in the ACA. Cuts were focused on hospitals, health insurers, home health, and other providers.”
Medicare’s trustees confirm that health reform has improved the program’s finances: “The financial status of the HI [Hospital Insurance] trust fund was substantially improved by the lower expenditures and additional tax revenues instituted by the Affordable Care Act.”
Either the nonpartisan, independent entities (Medicare’s trustees and the CBO) are lying, or Mittens is lying. One or the other. We all know the answer to that of course!
Okay, TODers, after much resistance, I’m finally thinking of getting a twitter account. I already have a tumblr blog, where I curate and write posts to support PBO mainly (http://con-tem-plate.tumblr.com/ – come and stop by 🙂 ), and I use my FB account to promote information about PBO). I am also very active with OFA, hosting phone banks, calling through predictive dialer every evening and fundraising (this is a new addition!). But I’ve been resisting twitter because I think I’ve become “too wired,” if you know what I mean 😉 Sometimes I find it hard to stay focused on the job that pays my bills 🙂 . But I do think that, at least up until the elections, I need to get on twitter as well. Use all avenues!
So… question to all you wonderful and experienced twitter users, any tips/tricks? I’ll check out the “TOD on Twitter” link as well and add my account once I figure out what handle to use 🙂
And to Chips… I’ve said this several times, but it bears repeating. You’ve created a wonderful community of PBO supporters and I will always be thankful for that. I’ve been with you since day 1. I may not post that often, but do know that I come here every day, several times 🙂 And, when things seem bleak, this space always lifts my spirits. So thanks also to all the TODers!!
I signed up a long time ago, but when I did, it allowed the option of trying out different handles (to see if the one you want is already taken). The best monikers are short (allows you to retweet longer messages).
You can start by following people on TOD’s twitter list; if you let them know you’re a fellow TOD-ite, they’ll follow you back, so they’ll be able to see your tweets. I like to follow reporters who don’t tweet too much (i.e., inane drivel that clogs up my Twitter timeline).
I’d ignore or block/report for spam unsolicited responses with just a URL (avatar is usually sexy woman or generic egg).
I switched to Twitter cuz my Facebook is limited to immediate family and frankly they could care less about Politics. They’ll all show up to vote for Obama. So Twitter is where I have fun with like minded people. Plus I follow all the pollsters and the newspeople and all my favorite blogs. SO COME ON DOWN follow me @avd911
I know right? They’re setting a very very high bar for the single people. They’re so deeply head over heels in love with each other. It’s a beautiful sight to witness.
1. POTUS and FLOTUS have been separated for a couple of days and they can’t keep their hands off each other!
2. The ever-wise pundits say that Mittens can’t win unless he completely sews up the white vote. Looking at the pix of PBO’s crowds, I can only say “look on and despair, you jackass.”
I think this was noted earlier, but I cannot believe all these new voter suppression laws, including this one upheld by a Pa. judge. Dems estimate 758,000 voters affected, the number of voters who do not have photo drivers’ licenses. I keep thinking of that Pa. politician chuckling about this law winning the state for Repubs. I think this is beyond disgusting, undemocratic, unAmerican. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-nn-pennsylvania-voter-id-20120815,0,5515415.story
Fortunately it’s mid August and not the last week of October. I think we will see massive responses from the Justice Dept beginning shortly after Labor Day and major push from Labor Unions, ACLU, League of Women Voters, etc to rally folk throughout the Nation. The backlash to these suppression efforts will be large, imho.
Voting rights advocates plan to appeal the case to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which will likely issue its own ruling before the November election. There is currently an even 3-3 split between Democrats and Republicans on the Court; the 7th Justice, Republican Joan Orie Melvin, is under suspension because of an unrelated corruption scandal.
Since Simpson ruled to uphold the law, Democrats will need one crossover vote to win a majority and strike down the law. Chief Justice Ronald Castille, a moderate Republican from Philadelphia, is most likely to side with the Democrats.
The federal Justice Department is also looking into whether Pennsylvania’s voter ID complies with federal law.
DF, this won’t happen. The PA Supreme Court will deadlock and the lower court ruling will stand. We’re stuck with this idiotic and unjust law so we have to do three things: 1) make sure people are fighting mad that their vote is being taken away from them so they do not simply give up and decide not to vote. That is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION; 2) do everything in our power to make sure people get their IDs if they can: and 3) make sure we put absentee ballots in people’s hands (you only need your SS# for this once you register). Registering to vote in PA only requires a SS#. It’s appearing at the polls that requires a photo ID. People will tell you it’s hard to vote absentee in the state. It’s not. You fill out an application and request an absentee ballot. You say you will be away from your precinct for business reasons or family reasons. Or, if you are an older voter, you say you can’t stand in line, etc. No one is in a position to contradict you and you will receive the absentee ballot. Believe me, Republicans do this ALL the time. You submit your ballot a couple of days before election day and IT IS COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY!!!! This is unlike provisional ballots, which may or may not be counted depending on your ability to show ID in six days that you did not have before and by that time the election is decided anyway.
If you have a delicate conscience, you can leave your precinct for the day and do whatever you like.
Once again the absentee ballot provision was written into the law by Republicans for their own voters to bypass the photo ID. They will be putting one in every voter’s hands. This is how the game is played.
here’s a great piece evaluating paul ryan’s history, given the country he grew up in.
“The social safety net did not waft down from somewhere; roads and airports did not simply emerge from the earth; public universities did not simply coalesce. They were all built, and fought for, piece by piece, because we wanted a certain kind of country.”
This was likely the key moment in PBO’s speech today—–when he sets the record straight on Medicare. Willard & Co. are running around telling outright lies about this, hoping to confuse voters. This clip needs to be tweeted and retweeted.
We need a TV ad to counter the one I see every single day from the lying Repubs and I live in MD – a blue state.I can only imagine how often it’s running in swing states. The ad makes the claim that President Obama has gutted Medicare and stolen $716 billion to give to “Obamacare”.
Obama wasn’t “angry and hateful”; he wasn’t engaged in “personal attacks”; in fact he seemed almost amused by the whole story. The president simply set the record straight.
The contrast is rather amazing, when you think about. Mitt Romney can hardly deliver a sentence on Medicare without telling a blatant lie, but Obama’s comments in Iowa today happened to be 100% accurate. The only thing he didn’t mention is that Republicans have endorsed the same Medicare savings Romney is now condemning.
But aside from the misleading use of the term “cuts” in describing ObamaCare’s impact on Medicare, there’s a much bigger problem for Romney and Ryan: at least one version of Ryan’s own budget resolution that passed the House pocketed the exact same Medicare savings. Now Romney’s claiming he’ll put the money back, though it appears this may simply mean life will get so much better in a Romney administration that Medicare’s solvency will magically be extended.
So on top of the little problem of these “cuts” not being “cuts” and the hypocrisy of attacking “cuts” you have yourself endorsed, Romney and Ryan are also ignoring improvements in Medicare services and costs established by ACA, as noted by TNR’s Jonathan Cohn:
A smaller, but still significant, portion of the money is for seniors. It helps them pay for prescription drugs, by filling the “donut hole” in Medicare Par D coverage. It also eliminates out-of-pocket costs for annual wellness visits, some cancer screenings, and other preventative services. Those benefits have actually started already: In the first six months of this year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 16 million seniors took advantage of the free preventative care provision. All that goes away if ACA is repealed.
Kilgore’s done a pretty good job taking over for Steve Benen. He’s also been fantastic calling out Romney-Ryan’s Medicare lies as it relates to Pres. Obama.
That last picture with the lady in the blue dress next to an older gent! Hope those were tears of joy? I’d love to hear about that conversation. Wonder if that’s her dad. Such great pics of POTUS/FLOTUS, love how they’re always connecting by touch!
Thanks Japa – I didn’t want to go there, but there is a line I hope I can use if ever I meet President Barack Hussein Obama:
“Sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you – and thank you for all you’ve done for us” (that’s in Europe, of course).
Why is that important to me ?
Because, some 30 years ago, I bought a book by a certain Martin Luther King Jr.., about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It has this little gem in it (before the main narrative starts off):
Apparently, his father and him were driving around in their native city, when they were stopped by a police officeer (in an – now obvious – attempt to accuse him for “driving while black” ).
POLICE OFFICER: Boy, get out of the car.
[ Both MLK Sr. and MLK Jr. get out of the car ]
MLK Sr.: Sir, I am not a boy – this is a boy (points at the six year old MLK Jr.)
I might never understand (the ultimate effects of) slavery, but this one removed the shells from mine eyes.
Great piece by a retired teacher who was one of the protesters at Ryan’s Ia. State fair appearance, one of those who Ryan chided for not sitting back, shutting up and taking it—–
Dotster I love this woman. This piece is so full of fire and truth. Would love to meet her and hear her life story. This is what real courage is. Shame, shame shame on Ryan for insulting her and having her dragged from his phony little gathering. He is the cold-hearted, self-absorbed mirror image of Willard–two frightful creatures you would hope not to meet on a dark street.
Thanks Doster. Great article. Yes, Jackiegrumbacher, I would love to have tea with this beautiful teacher. She spoke what is in our hearts. She brought back so many memories of my days in those classrooms. #Thank a teacher. #Thank a POTUS who Supports Teachers.HZ
Economists to Romney campaign: That’s not what our research says
Posted by Ezra Klein on August 8, 2012 at 11:58 am
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On Tuesday, the Romney campaign responded to the fire it’s taking from economic analysts by unleashing some artillery of their own. They released a paper by four decorated economists associated with the campaign — Glenn Hubbard, Greg Mankiw, John Taylor, and Kevin Hassett — that tried to lend some empirical backing to “The Romney Program for Economic Recovery, Growth, and Jobs.”
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Each of these sections include supporting documents from independent economists. And so I contacted some of the named economists to ask what they thought of the Romney campaign’s interpretation of their research. In every case, they responded with a polite version of Marshall McLuhan’s famous riposte. The Romney campaign, they said, knows little of their work. Or of their policy proposals.
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So even the studies that the Romney campaign’s economists handpicked to bolster their case don’t prove what the Romney campaign says they prove. And some of the key policy recommendations that flow from those studies are anathema to the Romney campaign. And in perhaps the key policy area highlighted by these studies, the Romney campaign doesn’t have a formal policy. If this is the best they can do in support of their economic plan, well, it’s not likely to quiet the critics.
FACTS TO MITT ROMNEY AND PAUL RYAN ARE LIKE GARLIC TO A VAMPIRE
What does it tell you that Romney/Ryan have to run a campaign on lies?
By Smartypants
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You have to wonder what motivates a campaign to base its whole message on lies, don’t you? The simple answer is that when voters know the truth, they reject their candidacy. Also notice that their lies and campaign themes are all distortions of what President Obama has done/said. They seldom talk about their own ideas/policies. The interesting thing about that is that they obviously know that when voters are truthfully informed about their choices, Obama wins. Think about that for a moment…they KNOW that. Why else would they lie?
On the other hand, when President Obama talks about our choices, he points to the fact that they:
Anyone wants to bet me 10,000 1/2 cents that we will see lying Willard and entitled Ann trying to behave like POTUS and FLOTUS and failing miserably looking as false as ever in 5,4,3,2,1 ? Yuk.
I was in and out all Day, busy office at OFA, lots of Volunteers. I phone banked today, lots of questions on Medicate, and after explaining it, we send them to the Presidents website…
So…, How did POTUS do?
If the administration, Obamas or the official photographer would put together a nice coffee table book with big glossy colored photos of President Obama with children I certainly would rush out to buy it. Maybe it could be like Michelle’s garden book with profits going to kids. They could even add cute thought bubbles to the photos because the kids’ expressions are priceless.
Yes, Mr. Ryan, I’m from Iowa
The Republican V.P. rudely dismissed me when I asked him whether he planned to cut Medicare
“Attention, Congressman Ryan: I am one of the women you said must not be from Iowa or Wisconsin because we did not sit back quietly, respectfully, and smile and say nothing while you lied to us during your first solo stump speech as a vice-presidential candidate at the Iowa State Fair earlier this week. Actually, I am from Iowa. I grew up here. My parents are from here. I have taught school here, in Des Moines, for 40 years.
I asked you if you were going to cut Medicare. You didn’t answer. The truth is, Congressman, I already know the answer.”
Dear Obots, I hope someone can help out in one of two ways.
I’d like to give some love to Soledad O’Brien, but I can’t tweet because I can’t be partisan, so if you could send her some virtual love…or find an email address for me (I looked and couldn’t find.
I just read her profile on IMDB and learned Soledad and I share the same birthday (although not the same year). I knew there was a reason I liked her. 🙂
She did a great job yesterday not being intimidated by bully-boy, talking-point-spouting repub Sununu – on Twitter there was a lot of negative feedback, found more positive on her FB page, but I can’t use either because of my position. Linda’s link to the CNN show page was a blessing.
OMG what an insulting, twit. One thing these repugs all have in common is their disdain for other people. So glad our POTUS, VPOTUS et al are very respectful of all.
Unless the House of Representatives takes action before January 1, 2013, taxes will go up on 114 million middle-class families. Nearly everyone in Washington agrees that’s a bad idea. That’s why President Obama is calling for — and the Senate has already passed — legislation that will keep the middle class from paying thousands of extra dollars next year.
Republicans in the House of Representatives, however, are refusing to extend middle-class tax cuts without also giving massive tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. In fact, House Republicans have proposed their own tax plan that would actually raise taxes on 25 million families making less than $250,000, while giving families making more than $1 million an average tax cut of $160,000 next year.
Here are 11 facts about the two plans and what’s at stake for middle-class families.
So the letter written by one of the women Ryan basically told to sit down and shut up because she did not sound like she was from WI or Iowa, printed in Salon, do you think she sent the letter to him? Because if not, it is there for us to read, but he is the one who needs to see it and address it. Therefore, I copied it and printed it out; found fax numbers for all his offices and tried to send it to him. None of the fax numbers (including the one in his D.C. office) responded. So I called the D.C. office for Congressman Paul Ryan and I get a message that says they are expieriencing a high volume of calls at this time and for ME to leave MY information and they would return my call. Sure.
Once in 2010 when this happened to me trying to send a congressman or senator a fax, I just gave up and sent it by mail. And that is what I am going to do now. I was told in an email from the DNC when we were pushing for healthcare reform to be passed, that a piece of paper that shows up in a government office becomes a part of the record. That’s when I jumped on my bike and rode downtown to take a letter to my congressman’s office, though I knew it was to no avail being in the red state that I am. But it made me feel good that apparently they have to keep that letter so I go on record voicing my opinion.
The guy in the blue hat, Bill Wundram, is my dad’s absolute favorite columnist in the QC Times. I’m always getting quotes and/or newspaper clippings about something he wrote. So – I have high hopes for his being at this event!
Apologies if this has already been linked to by someone, but I’m back at the grind and only get to peek in here on occasion, and I just thought it so cool! It’s a remake of the Les Miserables song “One Day More” to “One Term More.” The lyrics are killer! http://youtu.be/0WHw32bv9BQ
CNN’A milking the Biden “chains” comment to a T. Says that they have some interview coming up that they say is going to be shocking.
The republicans probably paid off the station for the week to do their dirty work.
when you think about it donna, what effect will this faux poutrage have?
My take —
Absolutely none. Personally I stepped back when Biden made the comment because I knew it would be twisted BUT he didn’t say anything wrong. Why unchain Wall Street and then turn on the Middle Class?
VP Biden to me is family. So he is welcome to come into my house and say things that no one outside family would be permitted or would hesitate to say. I know his heart and I know he HAS President Obama’s back. That to me says it all. So the msm and Willard and Co. can miss me with that fauxrage bullshyte.
I love PO and VPOTUS and NOTHING will change that. That is why most black commentators aren’t following that BS. We know what time it is. They can all kiss our collective asses. Until they get as outraged about voter suppression and addressing these “stand your ground” laws and the like, they can all take a seat and sit down with that nonsense.
. . . . and where the hell is Mitt Romney’s taxes? Right? Why isn’t the media slamming him for that crap? If it weren’t for regular voters, blowing up Twitter pushing for transparency and for that fake ass tax dodging ignant mofo’s taxes, the msm would have been moved on. So VP Biden saying “chains” is the least of my concerns.
I say, give them hell Joe. They damn sure deserve it every once in a while. So no apologies are necessary. He did NOTHING wrong. He (like Senator Reid and POTUS) is fighting for us. I can hardly wait until November. I hope voters are feeling like I do, so pissed off with this bullshyte, they are chomping at the bit to get into the voting booth and vote these @#$%^&@* out. I am sick of this nonsense.
Ok, gotta delurk again. I just love this stuff going on here.
Remember in 2008 with the “Lipstick on a Pig flack where the media tried to insinuate that he was talking about Sarah Palin instead of using a phrase that had been used by McCain? The “chains” remark is the exact same thing. Then, you have the Obama campaign calling Mitt Romney “unhinged” the same way that they called John McCain “erratic” in 2008. This campaign is starting to feel like déjà vu all over again.
Mitt Romney is someone who for the sixty five years that he has lived on this earth, has been a product of privilege. Every job he had was a secured job where he would lose nothing if the job failed. He was born with a silver spoon full of the best caviar in his mouth. He has never known a challenge to be hard for him so now he is in a situation where he thought he would assuredly vanquish President Obama.
I mean, come on. Why you wouldn’t believe that if you were Mitt Romney. Citizens United raining money down for superpac ads. The Republican Legislatures and Governors passing voter laws aimed at tamping down Obama voters. The insane belief that people would think that things were worse off than they were at 11:59 A.M. January 20, 2009. That people wouldn’t hold Republicans accountable for anything that has happened prior to the President getting inaugurated or anything that happened since. The belief that people would just forget the eight years of Bush/Cheney Republican dogma and how they could just skate by without telling us what they would do differently or better than that team. The odious belief that nothing in his past would come back to bite him and that it was all about the incumbent and nothing else. His shortcomings could be overcome and the political gifts and prowess of Barack Obama and Joe Biden would be deemed ineffectual. That the media would shield him as best they could and that the Democratic campaign would be so demoralized that they wouldn’t even fight. I think that he believed all of that. Hell, I know he believed all of that. He and his team of yes men thought that all of this would be enough. The deck is stacked for him, and yet he’s still losing.
Mitt Romney and in full scale, the Republican party keep falling in this trap because they keep underestimating President Barack Obama and his team. This campaign for me has gone way smoother than in 2008, because I trust President Obama fully now. I really know him now. In 2008, I was excited and hopeful yet doubtful that this country would grow up enough to elect him. Now, I know they would and we see it every day in those bustling crowds of people, cheering four more years and smiling joyfully. I know it, and Mitt Romney knows it, which is why he is acting in such an exorbitantly unhinged manor.
He is in a fight which he cannot buy love, trust, or admiration. There is no story he could tell which would captivate the people like the Obama/Biden story. They tried to throw out Ryan to offset the deficiency, but with learning that he has been on the Government payroll longer than President Obama and that he is no Jack Kennedy on the speaking or looks scale (no matter what our sex deprived borderline closeted media says) it has not even produced an uptick in the polls. THIS. HAS. HIM. PANICKED. The one job he has wanted for so long, since his father failed in even garnering the nomination in 1968, is starting to fall out of reach for him. He thought that John McCain failed to do what he should have done and that he would do the opposite and yet, it’s not working. He sees those internal polls and those electoral polls and he is losing his nerve. That’s why you are seeing those untrained interviews now. He knows he is sinking and he doesn’t know what to do.
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS ENABLING MITT ROMNEY’S CONSTANT LYING
Blatant dishonesty matters more than who’s ‘mean’
By Steve Benen
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Quite right. Romney’s lying — he knows it, his staff knows it; Democrats know it, and every journalist covering the race knows it. But voters remain in the dark. The folks in Beallsville didn’t know the candidate was treating them suckers because Romney lacks a basic respect for them, and many voters watching at home were probably fooled too — in part because so many of them are uninformed, in part because they don’t realize Romney is deceiving them and playing on their resentments, and in part because many in media are uncomfortable running headlines that read, “Romney Caught Lying About Welfare,” even when that’s exactly what happened.
It is, to be sure, Romney’s responsibility to uphold political norms and tell American voters the truth — a responsibility the Republican treats with disdain. But when news organizations treat this as routine, and fail to hold Romney accountable for his near-constant dishonesty, they enable and encourage him.
This is infinitely more serious and consequential than whether one candidate hurt another candidate’s feelings in a spate of rhetorical excesses. Millions of people will elect a president in 12 weeks based on faulty understandings of basic truths because they ended up falling for a con — a con made possible because media professionals let it happen.
Fantastic. These people are not playing! They want to see and hear their President and FLOTUS doggone it! Thanks Chips! CSPAN One will be carrying it live on TV also.
I absolutely love that they love each other and let the rest of us see some of that. Brings a smile and tears as well. It’s just a wonderful thing to see.
Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced stop on the Virginia Tech campus to pay tribute to the students killed there in a mass shooting in 2007.
Asked by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin what the memorial meant to him, Biden seemed to recall the death of his first wife Neilia Hunter and one-year old daughter.
“It means,” Biden said, pausing. “I’ll tell you what it means. It means to me that – it reminds you how precious life is. And that – you know I think of those kids, but I also think of their parents. No child should predecease their parents. I remember what it’s like.”
“It brings back … It brings back memories. Whether it’s that call, out of the blue that you get, and it’s like how could this happen,” Biden said.
Asked by reporters about the more spate of high-profile recent shootings, Biden declined to weigh in.
Biden was on the Virginia Tech campus for a speech when he stopped at the memorial — 32 individual stones with the name of the victims, and a plaque that reads “We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech.”
You know what LH, they don’t know what ugly is. Ugly is when you’re deprived of the right to vote by stinking, partisan politicians who decide you’re too unworthy to cast a ballot if you’re not white and Republican. Ugly is the endless lies and smug mugs of empty carcasses like Rmoney and his Bobsey twin Ryan. Ugly is when you decide that lining your own bulging pocket is more important than feeding people who are hungry, helping people who are sick ,or lending a hand to those who face insurmountable obstacles to living without government help. Ugly is when you say, let them die, let them go hungry, let them grovel, let them lick my boots so I can get richer and richer and richer. Ugly is the corrupt troll Adelson and the evil Koches. Ugly is the face of every smirking tv pundit, who thinks the money in his bank account entitles him to denigrate the greatest president of the United States since FDR. Ugly is every hate-spewing Republican politician who stands up and brays on the floor of the US House that everything he has himself failed to vote on is the president’s fault. Ugly is the disgusting racist comments we have all been subjected to since Barack H Obama decided to run for president. And real ugly is how I am feeling today after a right wing judge decided to tell the disenfranchised to Pennsylvania that they can go to hell because he was too damned timid to upset the GOP rotten apple cart.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The attorneys general of New York and Connecticut have issued subpoenas to seven banks over the possible manipulation of a global interest rate, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Subpoenas were issued, mostly last month and this month, to Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS, the person said.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
American and British regulators have already fined Barclays, based in Britain, $453 million for submitting false information between 2005 and 2009 to keep the interest rate, known as LIBOR, low.
LIBOR, short for London interbank offered rate, is used to set the interest rates on trillions of dollars in contracts around the world, including mortgages and credit cards.
It is a self-policing system and relies on information that global banks submit to a British banking authority.
The New York and Connecticut attorneys general issued the subpoenas because LIBOR is also used to determine the rates for the bonds issued by city and county governments, the person with knowledge of the matter told AP.
bloomberg news rakes lyin’ ryan and robmey over the coals:
“What Romney and Ryan are up to is simple: They want to have it both ways on Medicare. They are for Medicare cuts, because Medicare is expensive and the federal budget needs to be controlled. And they are against Medicare cuts, because Medicare cuts are unpopular.
The political impulses behind this strategy are clear. Why any policy experts would try to offer a substantive defense of it is not.”
Sad that it comes as a shock that there are any journalists left in the US. If I hear of a graduating senior wanting to go into journalism, my first feeling is one of sadness and a hope that it won’t lead to prostituting their integrity. If a few of them actually get to hold up a few lamps of truth in their careers then they are heroes in my opinion.
love how the washington post guy with no examples to back it up suggests it could have leading questions, as if the usual polling doesn’t! and the explicit admission that as people get more educated they become more liberal, so unwittingly the “reporter” is saying republicans aren’t as smart as democrats. hilarious.
I just wish we could get back to the basic principles of journalism. Maybe the mainstream media could start with principle number one.
PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM
1. JOURNALISM’S FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO THE TRUTH
Democracy depends on citizens having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. Journalism does not pursue truth in an absolute or philosophical sense, but it can–and must–pursue it in a practical sense. This “journalistic truth” is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid for now, subject to further investigation. Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, accuracy is the foundation upon which everything else is built–context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The truth, over time, emerges from this forum. As citizens encounter an ever greater flow of data, they have more need–not less–for identifiable sources dedicated to verifying that information and putting it in context.
LOL.! This is funny. Alex Costellanos polling firm(mr Hatd Right lobbyist), purple Insight has Robney leading in Ohio, Florida and Virginia.
LOL!
Ummmm…
Hello- who is this? It’s Patty Hearst, can I speak to Jovie? NO!!
The Obama Diary 
good day!
Congratulations, Carol! Yeah!
Way to go, Carol!!
And, the “media” Consistently doesn’t call them out on their LIES or Brickwalling.
I’ve got to give props to Soledad O’Brien on CNN. She called out Sununu and Pawlenty on their lies about President Obama gutting Medicare by $176 Billion. I’m going to tweet a thank you to her. If we don’t push back on this lie they will turn it into another “death panel”. They already have a TV ad saying that PBO gutted Medicare.
Ooops! That should be $716 billion
Congrats Carol!
Next up: Quad Cities—-cute!
http://qctimes.com/news/local/people-visit-spot-in-davenport-where-obama-will-speak-today/article_8e96ac3e-e685-11e1-8e31-0019bb2963f4.html
The kids in that picture are quite a diverse bunch – fabulous! I also like that the people of that town have a good attitude, and aren’t griping about the inconveniences associated with a Presidential visit (like the California news always does), but rather, they are recognizing the rarity of the occasion. Like, Gail Allard, who is enjoying the day instead of griping about lost customers. that beer merchant from the fair could take a lesson or two from Gail Allard!
A resident of the Twin Cities griped to me about the infrastructure works – after a bridge had collapsed that took several lives.
You can never satisfy those “independents”.
‘cuse me but where the hell are the ppl? What happened to the base?(snark)
He’s with momma and all is right with the world.
Ty Spend way too much time here. Is there rehab for that? lol
It’s incurable. 🙂
‘Is there rehab for that?’ Sure there is! Our most effective rehab treatment to date = talking with other addicts on site and realizing that you are not alone. 😆 😆
Love it when POTUS and FLOTUS campaign together or do events together. They’re both so warm and charming.
1st?
Hellooo, Pamela! 😀 Yes, you are first…….. after the person above you. It’s all in one’s chosen viewpoint. 😉
I love them they are awesome.
Forgive me if someone has already pointed this out, but I’m laughing at the irony of GOP politicians taunting black voters for many years, stating that we need to leave the “Democratic plantation” yet Biden telling a *mixed race crowd* that an unregulated Wall Street would leave everyone in chains is “throwing the race card” and “hate.” I’d love for us to stop being the laughingstock of the world anytime soon, national media…
and h/t eclecticbrotha for noting the “Democratic plantation” ironies.
I smell desperation. At this point, I think they will grab any and everything that might take the spotlight off Mitt’s taxes and Ryan’s budget that kills Medicare along with most programs for the middle class and poor people. It’s funny though, because try as they might, Ann Romney from the conversation right back to taxes when she just said in her latest interview that Mitt’s not releasing any more tax returns.
She just couldn’t help but to answer the tax return question in the haughtiest manner possible. The PBO campaign will absolutely never call her out (they never challenge candidates’ families, even where family members are blatantly politicking), but I hope that the public sees for themselves that the Romneys’ haughty “you people” stance re: MItt’s tax returns make it appear that they’re hiding something rather than inspire confidence.
It’s racist for them to associate chains with black people. The fact is, the Republican policies ARE going to put the entire middle class in chains – and move us all down the food chain. They are appealing to their base by implying that the $716 billion dollars they keep talking about being moved to Obamacare is “not for you”, yet Obamacare makes EVERYBODY’s health insurance more secure, all kids under 26 are now eligible to stay on their parents’ insurance, every senior gets help out of the donut hole and is eligible for free preventive care, every single American benefits from having 85% of their premiums go to health care versus executive bonuses, every single American has more security that if they lose their job, they won’t go bankrupt or have no affordable option for health insurance. Of course it’s “for you” – who else is it for?
Medicare’s trustees and the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) beg to differ with Romney/Ryan:
http://www.offthechartsblog.org/health-reform-strengthens-medicare-doesnt-rob-it/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=TWITTER&utm_campaign=CBPPTwitter
Either the nonpartisan, independent entities (Medicare’s trustees and the CBO) are lying, or Mittens is lying. One or the other. We all know the answer to that of course!
Answer: Nope, not at all.
🙂
We–eell, Alaina. You probably shouldn’t voice such a thought in this climate. It might be construed as ‘playing the race card’ 😉
Thank you Chips. I wasn’t able to see the President and First Lady. Very enjoyable!
Love FLOTUS’s outfit!!! So chic as always! 🙂
#InaugurationInsurgency
#ADollarADayToOFA
Okay, TODers, after much resistance, I’m finally thinking of getting a twitter account. I already have a tumblr blog, where I curate and write posts to support PBO mainly (http://con-tem-plate.tumblr.com/ – come and stop by 🙂 ), and I use my FB account to promote information about PBO). I am also very active with OFA, hosting phone banks, calling through predictive dialer every evening and fundraising (this is a new addition!). But I’ve been resisting twitter because I think I’ve become “too wired,” if you know what I mean 😉 Sometimes I find it hard to stay focused on the job that pays my bills 🙂 . But I do think that, at least up until the elections, I need to get on twitter as well. Use all avenues!
So… question to all you wonderful and experienced twitter users, any tips/tricks? I’ll check out the “TOD on Twitter” link as well and add my account once I figure out what handle to use 🙂
And to Chips… I’ve said this several times, but it bears repeating. You’ve created a wonderful community of PBO supporters and I will always be thankful for that. I’ve been with you since day 1. I may not post that often, but do know that I come here every day, several times 🙂 And, when things seem bleak, this space always lifts my spirits. So thanks also to all the TODers!!
Twitter is great as a source of info.
I signed up a long time ago, but when I did, it allowed the option of trying out different handles (to see if the one you want is already taken). The best monikers are short (allows you to retweet longer messages).
You can start by following people on TOD’s twitter list; if you let them know you’re a fellow TOD-ite, they’ll follow you back, so they’ll be able to see your tweets. I like to follow reporters who don’t tweet too much (i.e., inane drivel that clogs up my Twitter timeline).
I’d ignore or block/report for spam unsolicited responses with just a URL (avatar is usually sexy woman or generic egg).
Good luck!
I switched to Twitter cuz my Facebook is limited to immediate family and frankly they could care less about Politics. They’ll all show up to vote for Obama. So Twitter is where I have fun with like minded people. Plus I follow all the pollsters and the newspeople and all my favorite blogs. SO COME ON DOWN follow me @avd911
Yes, I had to do the same! Especially as I also had business friends. And I didn’t want to get into any political arguments on facebook! 😦
@pinkbunny70
Thanks, both!
Chips – link to CSPAN video:
http://www.c-span.org/Campaign2012/Events/President-and-Michelle-Obama-Campaign-in-Iowa/10737433143/
Love ya Bob, thank you!
Happy to help 🙂
BBL 🙂
WHY DO THEY HAVE TO BE SO COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY CUTE TOGETHER!?!? :-p
I know right? They’re setting a very very high bar for the single people. They’re so deeply head over heels in love with each other. It’s a beautiful sight to witness.
He just lights up when she is with him. He is still soooo in to her after almost 20 years together; love seeing their interaction.
PS not sure how I feel about the new look of the site; guess it will grow on me.
Two points:
1. POTUS and FLOTUS have been separated for a couple of days and they can’t keep their hands off each other!
2. The ever-wise pundits say that Mittens can’t win unless he completely sews up the white vote. Looking at the pix of PBO’s crowds, I can only say “look on and despair, you jackass.”
I think this was noted earlier, but I cannot believe all these new voter suppression laws, including this one upheld by a Pa. judge. Dems estimate 758,000 voters affected, the number of voters who do not have photo drivers’ licenses. I keep thinking of that Pa. politician chuckling about this law winning the state for Repubs. I think this is beyond disgusting, undemocratic, unAmerican.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-nn-pennsylvania-voter-id-20120815,0,5515415.story
Fortunately it’s mid August and not the last week of October. I think we will see massive responses from the Justice Dept beginning shortly after Labor Day and major push from Labor Unions, ACLU, League of Women Voters, etc to rally folk throughout the Nation. The backlash to these suppression efforts will be large, imho.
#PRESSON
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/15/692521/pennsylvania-voter-id-upheld/
Voting rights advocates plan to appeal the case to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which will likely issue its own ruling before the November election. There is currently an even 3-3 split between Democrats and Republicans on the Court; the 7th Justice, Republican Joan Orie Melvin, is under suspension because of an unrelated corruption scandal.
Since Simpson ruled to uphold the law, Democrats will need one crossover vote to win a majority and strike down the law. Chief Justice Ronald Castille, a moderate Republican from Philadelphia, is most likely to side with the Democrats.
The federal Justice Department is also looking into whether Pennsylvania’s voter ID complies with federal law.
DF, this won’t happen. The PA Supreme Court will deadlock and the lower court ruling will stand. We’re stuck with this idiotic and unjust law so we have to do three things: 1) make sure people are fighting mad that their vote is being taken away from them so they do not simply give up and decide not to vote. That is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION; 2) do everything in our power to make sure people get their IDs if they can: and 3) make sure we put absentee ballots in people’s hands (you only need your SS# for this once you register). Registering to vote in PA only requires a SS#. It’s appearing at the polls that requires a photo ID. People will tell you it’s hard to vote absentee in the state. It’s not. You fill out an application and request an absentee ballot. You say you will be away from your precinct for business reasons or family reasons. Or, if you are an older voter, you say you can’t stand in line, etc. No one is in a position to contradict you and you will receive the absentee ballot. Believe me, Republicans do this ALL the time. You submit your ballot a couple of days before election day and IT IS COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY!!!! This is unlike provisional ballots, which may or may not be counted depending on your ability to show ID in six days that you did not have before and by that time the election is decided anyway.
If you have a delicate conscience, you can leave your precinct for the day and do whatever you like.
Once again the absentee ballot provision was written into the law by Republicans for their own voters to bypass the photo ID. They will be putting one in every voter’s hands. This is how the game is played.
I hope OFA PA is on this. It really saddens me.
Bobfr, you are on point. I will leave it there. Trust me. DOJ is working very hard on the law of these issues. They are wide awake, trust me.HZ
Methinks you can remove the “up” in the title of this thread 🙂 🙂
:grin; 😀 I had to go back and look.
2 Funny comments in post by Steve Benen: “Cutting PBS and the NEA won’t do it”
JanH:
I’ll bet Paul Ryan learned his ABCs on Sesame Street!
– Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:24 PM EDT
Pretzelogic in Philly, PA:
Well, he does look a bit like “the Count”… 😉
– Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:43 PM EDT
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/15/13298558-cutting-pbs-and-the-nea-wont-do-it
LOL!
here’s a great piece evaluating paul ryan’s history, given the country he grew up in.
“The social safety net did not waft down from somewhere; roads and airports did not simply emerge from the earth; public universities did not simply coalesce. They were all built, and fought for, piece by piece, because we wanted a certain kind of country.”
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/08/paul-ryans-father-and-al-smiths.html#ixzz23e97FAR4
Yeah, we wanted a “certain kind of country”. Unfortunately “we ” didn’t plan on there being any black/brown/ferminist/disabled/gay/poor people in it.
oops–i don’t think you read the article. the ‘certain kind of country’ it’s referencing is the one pbo is trying to save from the paul ryan budget.
This was likely the key moment in PBO’s speech today—–when he sets the record straight on Medicare. Willard & Co. are running around telling outright lies about this, hoping to confuse voters. This clip needs to be tweeted and retweeted.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/15/13300632-thats-the-difference-between-our-plans-on-medicare?lite
We need a TV ad to counter the one I see every single day from the lying Repubs and I live in MD – a blue state.I can only imagine how often it’s running in swing states. The ad makes the claim that President Obama has gutted Medicare and stolen $716 billion to give to “Obamacare”.
Steve Benen on POTUS Dubuque Speech:
Obama wasn’t “angry and hateful”; he wasn’t engaged in “personal attacks”; in fact he seemed almost amused by the whole story. The president simply set the record straight.
The contrast is rather amazing, when you think about. Mitt Romney can hardly deliver a sentence on Medicare without telling a blatant lie, but Obama’s comments in Iowa today happened to be 100% accurate. The only thing he didn’t mention is that Republicans have endorsed the same Medicare savings Romney is now condemning.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/15/13300632-thats-the-difference-between-our-plans-on-medicare?lite
About Those Medicare “Cuts”
By Ed Kilgore
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But aside from the misleading use of the term “cuts” in describing ObamaCare’s impact on Medicare, there’s a much bigger problem for Romney and Ryan: at least one version of Ryan’s own budget resolution that passed the House pocketed the exact same Medicare savings. Now Romney’s claiming he’ll put the money back, though it appears this may simply mean life will get so much better in a Romney administration that Medicare’s solvency will magically be extended.
So on top of the little problem of these “cuts” not being “cuts” and the hypocrisy of attacking “cuts” you have yourself endorsed, Romney and Ryan are also ignoring improvements in Medicare services and costs established by ACA, as noted by TNR’s Jonathan Cohn:
A smaller, but still significant, portion of the money is for seniors. It helps them pay for prescription drugs, by filling the “donut hole” in Medicare Par D coverage. It also eliminates out-of-pocket costs for annual wellness visits, some cancer screenings, and other preventative services. Those benefits have actually started already: In the first six months of this year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 16 million seniors took advantage of the free preventative care provision. All that goes away if ACA is repealed.
—————————————
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_08/about_those_medicare_cuts039240.php
Kilgore’s done a pretty good job taking over for Steve Benen. He’s also been fantastic calling out Romney-Ryan’s Medicare lies as it relates to Pres. Obama.
That last picture with the lady in the blue dress next to an older gent! Hope those were tears of joy? I’d love to hear about that conversation. Wonder if that’s her dad. Such great pics of POTUS/FLOTUS, love how they’re always connecting by touch!
Obviously, PBO still has difficulty connecting with us white people. Do you see all the frowns and looks of disgust on those white faces?
Thanks Japa – I didn’t want to go there, but there is a line I hope I can use if ever I meet President Barack Hussein Obama:
“Sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you – and thank you for all you’ve done for us” (that’s in Europe, of course).
Why is that important to me ?
Because, some 30 years ago, I bought a book by a certain Martin Luther King Jr.., about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It has this little gem in it (before the main narrative starts off):
Apparently, his father and him were driving around in their native city, when they were stopped by a police officeer (in an – now obvious – attempt to accuse him for “driving while black” ).
POLICE OFFICER: Boy, get out of the car.
[ Both MLK Sr. and MLK Jr. get out of the car ]
MLK Sr.: Sir, I am not a boy – this is a boy (points at the six year old MLK Jr.)
I might never understand (the ultimate effects of) slavery, but this one removed the shells from mine eyes.
Great piece by a retired teacher who was one of the protesters at Ryan’s Ia. State fair appearance, one of those who Ryan chided for not sitting back, shutting up and taking it—–
http://www.salon.com/2012/08/15/ryans_policies_arent_iowa_nice/
@Dotster
This is one heck of a knock-out article. Thanks for the link.
Dotster I love this woman. This piece is so full of fire and truth. Would love to meet her and hear her life story. This is what real courage is. Shame, shame shame on Ryan for insulting her and having her dragged from his phony little gathering. He is the cold-hearted, self-absorbed mirror image of Willard–two frightful creatures you would hope not to meet on a dark street.
Thanks Doster. Great article. Yes, Jackiegrumbacher, I would love to have tea with this beautiful teacher. She spoke what is in our hearts. She brought back so many memories of my days in those classrooms. #Thank a teacher. #Thank a POTUS who Supports Teachers.HZ
Economists to Romney campaign: That’s not what our research says
Posted by Ezra Klein on August 8, 2012 at 11:58 am
——————————–
On Tuesday, the Romney campaign responded to the fire it’s taking from economic analysts by unleashing some artillery of their own. They released a paper by four decorated economists associated with the campaign — Glenn Hubbard, Greg Mankiw, John Taylor, and Kevin Hassett — that tried to lend some empirical backing to “The Romney Program for Economic Recovery, Growth, and Jobs.”
.
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Each of these sections include supporting documents from independent economists. And so I contacted some of the named economists to ask what they thought of the Romney campaign’s interpretation of their research. In every case, they responded with a polite version of Marshall McLuhan’s famous riposte. The Romney campaign, they said, knows little of their work. Or of their policy proposals.
.
.
So even the studies that the Romney campaign’s economists handpicked to bolster their case don’t prove what the Romney campaign says they prove. And some of the key policy recommendations that flow from those studies are anathema to the Romney campaign. And in perhaps the key policy area highlighted by these studies, the Romney campaign doesn’t have a formal policy. If this is the best they can do in support of their economic plan, well, it’s not likely to quiet the critics.
———————————–
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/08/economists-to-romney-campaign-thats-not-what-our-research-says/
It’s a safe bet that if willard puts out something that further research will prove the LIE.
THANK YOU< PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/08/15/today-is-the-day-for-dreamers/
FACTS TO MITT ROMNEY AND PAUL RYAN ARE LIKE GARLIC TO A VAMPIRE
What does it tell you that Romney/Ryan have to run a campaign on lies?
By Smartypants
—————————————
You have to wonder what motivates a campaign to base its whole message on lies, don’t you? The simple answer is that when voters know the truth, they reject their candidacy. Also notice that their lies and campaign themes are all distortions of what President Obama has done/said. They seldom talk about their own ideas/policies. The interesting thing about that is that they obviously know that when voters are truthfully informed about their choices, Obama wins. Think about that for a moment…they KNOW that. Why else would they lie?
On the other hand, when President Obama talks about our choices, he points to the fact that they:
——————————————–
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-does-it-tell-you-that-romneyryan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FlpjFg+%28Smartypants%29
Details of Kids’ State Dinner on August 20, w/ list of all kids + their dishes. Very impressive & looks like they’ll have a grand time:
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/08/big-time-rush-will-perform-at-first.html#more
Anyone wants to bet me 10,000 1/2 cents that we will see lying Willard and entitled Ann trying to behave like POTUS and FLOTUS and failing miserably looking as false as ever in 5,4,3,2,1 ? Yuk.
Lots of new photos added to the post, will try and find higher-res ones later, they’re stunners!
You do such an amazing and speedy job with these pictures/videos. Thank you!
Love the photo of the Catholic sisters and the young men (teens?) you added recently.
Ryan has long since sold his soul to the almighty dollar (he has a brother in private equity, a former Bain Capital manager).
From The National Catholic Reporter:
Ryan’s brother:
Really beautiful photos. TY!
Dog grooming salon in Village of East Davenport ready for PBO visit – I hope it works out that POTUS and FLOTUS can visit them:
http://wqad.com/2012/08/15/dog-groomers-hope-for-visit-from-president-barack-obama/
I was in and out all Day, busy office at OFA, lots of Volunteers. I phone banked today, lots of questions on Medicate, and after explaining it, we send them to the Presidents website…
So…, How did POTUS do?
Now it just doesn’t get any cuter than that!
Love, love, love… that picture is pure joy
OMG, big TOOTHACHE!!
🙂 Me too meta!
Caption.
Baby: “No really, that is what Mitt Romney said”
If the administration, Obamas or the official photographer would put together a nice coffee table book with big glossy colored photos of President Obama with children I certainly would rush out to buy it. Maybe it could be like Michelle’s garden book with profits going to kids. They could even add cute thought bubbles to the photos because the kids’ expressions are priceless.
Yes, Mr. Ryan, I’m from Iowa
The Republican V.P. rudely dismissed me when I asked him whether he planned to cut Medicare
“Attention, Congressman Ryan: I am one of the women you said must not be from Iowa or Wisconsin because we did not sit back quietly, respectfully, and smile and say nothing while you lied to us during your first solo stump speech as a vice-presidential candidate at the Iowa State Fair earlier this week. Actually, I am from Iowa. I grew up here. My parents are from here. I have taught school here, in Des Moines, for 40 years.
I asked you if you were going to cut Medicare. You didn’t answer. The truth is, Congressman, I already know the answer.”
http://www.salon.com/2012/08/15/ryans_policies_arent_iowa_nice//
Dear Obots, I hope someone can help out in one of two ways.
I’d like to give some love to Soledad O’Brien, but I can’t tweet because I can’t be partisan, so if you could send her some virtual love…or find an email address for me (I looked and couldn’t find.
So appreciative for any help!
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/show/?s=startingpoint&hdln=2
Direct to her show. 🙂
Linda, you’re a gem. Thanks!
I just read her profile on IMDB and learned Soledad and I share the same birthday (although not the same year). I knew there was a reason I liked her. 🙂
That’s pretty cool, Dudette!
She did a great job yesterday not being intimidated by bully-boy, talking-point-spouting repub Sununu – on Twitter there was a lot of negative feedback, found more positive on her FB page, but I can’t use either because of my position. Linda’s link to the CNN show page was a blessing.
I hope all of her sorority sisters do the same thing. I also hope the Deltas fire off some nasty messages to pawlenty.
Pawlenty??? Did something else happen today? Off to look (I’ve been in meetings ’til now) Thanks, Claire.
OMG what an insulting, twit. One thing these repugs all have in common is their disdain for other people. So glad our POTUS, VPOTUS et al are very respectful of all.
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/15/heads-up-president-obama-the-first-lady-in-dubuque-iowa/#comment-453684
I’m sorry. I’m just seeing your message. I see you got the scoop. Here’s the link to the story. pawlenty makes me ill.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/15/pawlenty-suggests-that-soledad-obrien-doesnt-understand-english/
11 Facts About the Tax Debate
From The White House
————————————
Unless the House of Representatives takes action before January 1, 2013, taxes will go up on 114 million middle-class families. Nearly everyone in Washington agrees that’s a bad idea. That’s why President Obama is calling for — and the Senate has already passed — legislation that will keep the middle class from paying thousands of extra dollars next year.
Republicans in the House of Representatives, however, are refusing to extend middle-class tax cuts without also giving massive tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. In fact, House Republicans have proposed their own tax plan that would actually raise taxes on 25 million families making less than $250,000, while giving families making more than $1 million an average tax cut of $160,000 next year.
Here are 11 facts about the two plans and what’s at stake for middle-class families.
(INFOGRAPHIC)
—————————————————————-
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/15/11-facts-about-tax-debate
So the letter written by one of the women Ryan basically told to sit down and shut up because she did not sound like she was from WI or Iowa, printed in Salon, do you think she sent the letter to him? Because if not, it is there for us to read, but he is the one who needs to see it and address it. Therefore, I copied it and printed it out; found fax numbers for all his offices and tried to send it to him. None of the fax numbers (including the one in his D.C. office) responded. So I called the D.C. office for Congressman Paul Ryan and I get a message that says they are expieriencing a high volume of calls at this time and for ME to leave MY information and they would return my call. Sure.
Once in 2010 when this happened to me trying to send a congressman or senator a fax, I just gave up and sent it by mail. And that is what I am going to do now. I was told in an email from the DNC when we were pushing for healthcare reform to be passed, that a piece of paper that shows up in a government office becomes a part of the record. That’s when I jumped on my bike and rode downtown to take a letter to my congressman’s office, though I knew it was to no avail being in the red state that I am. But it made me feel good that apparently they have to keep that letter so I go on record voicing my opinion.
four more beers!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/08/15/158875907/president-obamas-tour-bus-rolls-with-white-house-home-brew
Updates on the crowd gathering in the Village of East Davenport to see POTUS and FLOTUS: http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/live-updates-from-obama-s-iowa-trip/html_ccb35d0a-e590-11e1-b2f6-0019bb2963f4.html
The guy in the blue hat, Bill Wundram, is my dad’s absolute favorite columnist in the QC Times. I’m always getting quotes and/or newspaper clippings about something he wrote. So – I have high hopes for his being at this event!
Wow… That kid in the glasses looks just like Jay Carney.
Apologies if this has already been linked to by someone, but I’m back at the grind and only get to peek in here on occasion, and I just thought it so cool! It’s a remake of the Les Miserables song “One Day More” to “One Term More.” The lyrics are killer! http://youtu.be/0WHw32bv9BQ
Also want to give a hat tip to the source I found it at, Joe My God (who also has another clip from the ’08 campaign with a Obama campaign office singing the original song). http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/08/broadway-for-obama-one-term-more.html
CNN’A milking the Biden “chains” comment to a T. Says that they have some interview coming up that they say is going to be shocking.
The republicans probably paid off the station for the week to do their dirty work.
when you think about it donna, what effect will this faux poutrage have?
My take —
Absolutely none. Personally I stepped back when Biden made the comment because I knew it would be twisted BUT he didn’t say anything wrong. Why unchain Wall Street and then turn on the Middle Class?
VP Biden to me is family. So he is welcome to come into my house and say things that no one outside family would be permitted or would hesitate to say. I know his heart and I know he HAS President Obama’s back. That to me says it all. So the msm and Willard and Co. can miss me with that fauxrage bullshyte.
I love PO and VPOTUS and NOTHING will change that. That is why most black commentators aren’t following that BS. We know what time it is. They can all kiss our collective asses. Until they get as outraged about voter suppression and addressing these “stand your ground” laws and the like, they can all take a seat and sit down with that nonsense.
. . . . and where the hell is Mitt Romney’s taxes? Right? Why isn’t the media slamming him for that crap? If it weren’t for regular voters, blowing up Twitter pushing for transparency and for that fake ass tax dodging ignant mofo’s taxes, the msm would have been moved on. So VP Biden saying “chains” is the least of my concerns.
I say, give them hell Joe. They damn sure deserve it every once in a while. So no apologies are necessary. He did NOTHING wrong. He (like Senator Reid and POTUS) is fighting for us. I can hardly wait until November. I hope voters are feeling like I do, so pissed off with this bullshyte, they are chomping at the bit to get into the voting booth and vote these @#$%^&@* out. I am sick of this nonsense.
Ok, gotta delurk again. I just love this stuff going on here.
Remember in 2008 with the “Lipstick on a Pig flack where the media tried to insinuate that he was talking about Sarah Palin instead of using a phrase that had been used by McCain? The “chains” remark is the exact same thing. Then, you have the Obama campaign calling Mitt Romney “unhinged” the same way that they called John McCain “erratic” in 2008. This campaign is starting to feel like déjà vu all over again.
Mitt Romney is someone who for the sixty five years that he has lived on this earth, has been a product of privilege. Every job he had was a secured job where he would lose nothing if the job failed. He was born with a silver spoon full of the best caviar in his mouth. He has never known a challenge to be hard for him so now he is in a situation where he thought he would assuredly vanquish President Obama.
I mean, come on. Why you wouldn’t believe that if you were Mitt Romney. Citizens United raining money down for superpac ads. The Republican Legislatures and Governors passing voter laws aimed at tamping down Obama voters. The insane belief that people would think that things were worse off than they were at 11:59 A.M. January 20, 2009. That people wouldn’t hold Republicans accountable for anything that has happened prior to the President getting inaugurated or anything that happened since. The belief that people would just forget the eight years of Bush/Cheney Republican dogma and how they could just skate by without telling us what they would do differently or better than that team. The odious belief that nothing in his past would come back to bite him and that it was all about the incumbent and nothing else. His shortcomings could be overcome and the political gifts and prowess of Barack Obama and Joe Biden would be deemed ineffectual. That the media would shield him as best they could and that the Democratic campaign would be so demoralized that they wouldn’t even fight. I think that he believed all of that. Hell, I know he believed all of that. He and his team of yes men thought that all of this would be enough. The deck is stacked for him, and yet he’s still losing.
Mitt Romney and in full scale, the Republican party keep falling in this trap because they keep underestimating President Barack Obama and his team. This campaign for me has gone way smoother than in 2008, because I trust President Obama fully now. I really know him now. In 2008, I was excited and hopeful yet doubtful that this country would grow up enough to elect him. Now, I know they would and we see it every day in those bustling crowds of people, cheering four more years and smiling joyfully. I know it, and Mitt Romney knows it, which is why he is acting in such an exorbitantly unhinged manor.
He is in a fight which he cannot buy love, trust, or admiration. There is no story he could tell which would captivate the people like the Obama/Biden story. They tried to throw out Ryan to offset the deficiency, but with learning that he has been on the Government payroll longer than President Obama and that he is no Jack Kennedy on the speaking or looks scale (no matter what our sex deprived borderline closeted media says) it has not even produced an uptick in the polls. THIS. HAS. HIM. PANICKED. The one job he has wanted for so long, since his father failed in even garnering the nomination in 1968, is starting to fall out of reach for him. He thought that John McCain failed to do what he should have done and that he would do the opposite and yet, it’s not working. He sees those internal polls and those electoral polls and he is losing his nerve. That’s why you are seeing those untrained interviews now. He knows he is sinking and he doesn’t know what to do.
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS ENABLING MITT ROMNEY’S CONSTANT LYING
Blatant dishonesty matters more than who’s ‘mean’
By Steve Benen
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Quite right. Romney’s lying — he knows it, his staff knows it; Democrats know it, and every journalist covering the race knows it. But voters remain in the dark. The folks in Beallsville didn’t know the candidate was treating them suckers because Romney lacks a basic respect for them, and many voters watching at home were probably fooled too — in part because so many of them are uninformed, in part because they don’t realize Romney is deceiving them and playing on their resentments, and in part because many in media are uncomfortable running headlines that read, “Romney Caught Lying About Welfare,” even when that’s exactly what happened.
It is, to be sure, Romney’s responsibility to uphold political norms and tell American voters the truth — a responsibility the Republican treats with disdain. But when news organizations treat this as routine, and fail to hold Romney accountable for his near-constant dishonesty, they enable and encourage him.
This is infinitely more serious and consequential than whether one candidate hurt another candidate’s feelings in a spate of rhetorical excesses. Millions of people will elect a president in 12 weeks based on faulty understandings of basic truths because they ended up falling for a con — a con made possible because media professionals let it happen.
——————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/15/13301203-blatant-dishonesty-matters-more-than-whos-mean
Fantastic. These people are not playing! They want to see and hear their President and FLOTUS doggone it! Thanks Chips! CSPAN One will be carrying it live on TV also.
WOW
I absolutely love that they love each other and let the rest of us see some of that. Brings a smile and tears as well. It’s just a wonderful thing to see.
Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced stop on the Virginia Tech campus to pay tribute to the students killed there in a mass shooting in 2007.
Asked by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin what the memorial meant to him, Biden seemed to recall the death of his first wife Neilia Hunter and one-year old daughter.
“It means,” Biden said, pausing. “I’ll tell you what it means. It means to me that – it reminds you how precious life is. And that – you know I think of those kids, but I also think of their parents. No child should predecease their parents. I remember what it’s like.”
“It brings back … It brings back memories. Whether it’s that call, out of the blue that you get, and it’s like how could this happen,” Biden said.
Asked by reporters about the more spate of high-profile recent shootings, Biden declined to weigh in.
Biden was on the Virginia Tech campus for a speech when he stopped at the memorial — 32 individual stones with the name of the victims, and a plaque that reads “We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech.”
I didn’t know if anyone has seen this video of the President blowing out his birthday cake prepared by Chef Art Smith:
http://atlanta.eater.com/archives/2012/08/13/watch-art-smith-present-the-president-with-his-birthday-cake.php
Sweeeeeeet!
Love it Janelle, thank you!
Eric Boehlert @EricBoehlert
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notice Dan Baltz in hand-wringing piece about “ugly” campaign doesn’t mention GOP’s 10:1 neg-to-pos ad ratio this yr; http://wapo.st/Pl7E2Z
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Eric Boehlert @EricBoehlert
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oh look, Romney whines that campaign is “ugly” so DC pundits type of stories about how “ugly” campaign is; http://wapo.st/Pl7E2Z
———————————–
You know what LH, they don’t know what ugly is. Ugly is when you’re deprived of the right to vote by stinking, partisan politicians who decide you’re too unworthy to cast a ballot if you’re not white and Republican. Ugly is the endless lies and smug mugs of empty carcasses like Rmoney and his Bobsey twin Ryan. Ugly is when you decide that lining your own bulging pocket is more important than feeding people who are hungry, helping people who are sick ,or lending a hand to those who face insurmountable obstacles to living without government help. Ugly is when you say, let them die, let them go hungry, let them grovel, let them lick my boots so I can get richer and richer and richer. Ugly is the corrupt troll Adelson and the evil Koches. Ugly is the face of every smirking tv pundit, who thinks the money in his bank account entitles him to denigrate the greatest president of the United States since FDR. Ugly is every hate-spewing Republican politician who stands up and brays on the floor of the US House that everything he has himself failed to vote on is the president’s fault. Ugly is the disgusting racist comments we have all been subjected to since Barack H Obama decided to run for president. And real ugly is how I am feeling today after a right wing judge decided to tell the disenfranchised to Pennsylvania that they can go to hell because he was too damned timid to upset the GOP rotten apple cart.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The attorneys general of New York and Connecticut have issued subpoenas to seven banks over the possible manipulation of a global interest rate, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Subpoenas were issued, mostly last month and this month, to Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS, the person said.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
American and British regulators have already fined Barclays, based in Britain, $453 million for submitting false information between 2005 and 2009 to keep the interest rate, known as LIBOR, low.
LIBOR, short for London interbank offered rate, is used to set the interest rates on trillions of dollars in contracts around the world, including mortgages and credit cards.
It is a self-policing system and relies on information that global banks submit to a British banking authority.
The New York and Connecticut attorneys general issued the subpoenas because LIBOR is also used to determine the rates for the bonds issued by city and county governments, the person with knowledge of the matter told AP.
Hi Chips..once again thanks for that you do!
Hiya SueBee, thank you, my pleasure!
all*
bloomberg news rakes lyin’ ryan and robmey over the coals:
“What Romney and Ryan are up to is simple: They want to have it both ways on Medicare. They are for Medicare cuts, because Medicare is expensive and the federal budget needs to be controlled. And they are against Medicare cuts, because Medicare cuts are unpopular.
The political impulses behind this strategy are clear. Why any policy experts would try to offer a substantive defense of it is not.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-15/romney-ryan-want-it-both-ways-on-medicare.html
There are still a few who are practicing journalism. It has been surprising to me that they come from Bloomberg news. Thanks for the link, Susanne!
Sad that it comes as a shock that there are any journalists left in the US. If I hear of a graduating senior wanting to go into journalism, my first feeling is one of sadness and a hope that it won’t lead to prostituting their integrity. If a few of them actually get to hold up a few lamps of truth in their careers then they are heroes in my opinion.
thanks susanne. that was a terrific write-up. good to see.
The pictures of POTUS and FLOTUS is just wonderful.
bloomberg also had that poll not too long ago showing PBO with a 13% lead. of course the mainstream media/republican propaganda mill ignored it or tried to discredit it, even though it was done by the most accurate pollster, proven over and over, Ann Selzer, and she was having nothing of the critiques:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-up-by-13-explaining-the-bloomberg-poll/2012/06/21/gJQAxJPwsV_blog.html
love how the washington post guy with no examples to back it up suggests it could have leading questions, as if the usual polling doesn’t! and the explicit admission that as people get more educated they become more liberal, so unwittingly the “reporter” is saying republicans aren’t as smart as democrats. hilarious.
I just wish we could get back to the basic principles of journalism. Maybe the mainstream media could start with principle number one.
PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM
1. JOURNALISM’S FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO THE TRUTH
Democracy depends on citizens having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. Journalism does not pursue truth in an absolute or philosophical sense, but it can–and must–pursue it in a practical sense. This “journalistic truth” is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid for now, subject to further investigation. Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, accuracy is the foundation upon which everything else is built–context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The truth, over time, emerges from this forum. As citizens encounter an ever greater flow of data, they have more need–not less–for identifiable sources dedicated to verifying that information and putting it in context.
http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles
Thanks LL. I really appreciate that. I am so angry about this double standard right now that I could spit nails.
Well said, LL!
LOL.! This is funny. Alex Costellanos polling firm(mr Hatd Right lobbyist), purple Insight has Robney leading in Ohio, Florida and Virginia.
LOL!
Ummmm…
Hello- who is this? It’s Patty Hearst, can I speak to Jovie? NO!!
HAHAHAHA!
Cape Wind gets final FAA approval-
http://mobile.boston.com/art/35/metrodesk/2012/08/15/faa-rules-cape-wind-project-poses-hazard-planes/wrds6gRVgtGkk7HlekpZ4O/story
Issa was fighting this, saying the President was pressuring the FAA.
Heads up everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/15/heads-up-president-obama-michelle-in-davenport-iowa/
Still 35 minutes to go, but CNN streaming has started so we should – hopefully – be able to hear the introductory speeches.
Complete video of the Dubuque rally
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Dubuqu