2:25 President Obama is interviewed by regional television (from Jacksonville, Fla., Norfolk, Va. and San Diego, Cal.) and a newspaper (the Virginia-Pilot, which covers the Norfolk and Hampton Roads areas)
6:15: The President and First Lady have dinner with winners of a campaign contest
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Daily Beast (August 11): Paul Ryan’s Extreme Abortion Views …. on abortion and women’s health care, there isn’t much daylight between Ryan and, say, Michele Bachmann ….. He believes ending a pregnancy should be illegal even when it results from rape or incest, or endangers a woman’s health….. More here
TPM (August 19): Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign : “Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement. A Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape”
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JSOnline: Odious remarks by GOP Missouri Senate candidate Cong. Todd Akin about how few pregnancies result from “legitimate rape” have done more than outrage people across the country and doom Akin’s bid to move up from the House.
It motivated the Romney campaign – already trailing among women voters in recent polls – to distance itself from Akin by assuring voters that Romney and Paul Ryan should they win in November, would not oppose raped women’s access to abortion.
“Governor Romney and Congressman (Paul) Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,” Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said.
You’d probably say that sounds reasonable and humane – except it was just three days ago that PolitiFact devoted a lot of space to this issue and found that while Romney backed abortions in cases of incest and rape, Ryan did not.
…. I think this will be a huge issue in the campaign. I don’t see how Romney and Ryan can sell this to the base, which will see it as a Ryan sellout or forced surrender ordered by Romney – a former moderate whom the base has never embraced.
…. Ryan’s roll out – embarrassed and side-tracked last week over his duplicity in blasting the Obama stimulus while soliciting its funds, then conceding his denials about the funding solicitations were indeed inaccurate – is unraveling more quickly than Sarah Palin’s.
Full post here
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Michael Tomasky: Todd Akin did not come up with this idea of “legitimate rape” on his own …. it’s been floating around in the mite-infested right-wing air since the 1980s….
…. If you’ve been reading about this since yesterday, you’ve probably come across the figure of 32,000 pregnancies per year in the United States that result from rape….
I have to say that number astonished and sickened me …. I read elsewhere that 1,870 women are raped every day in the land of the free. Do the math. The numbers check out. Holy crap. That’s like war. We’re living amidst a war. And what does Akin propose to do about it – and, for that matter, Paul Ryan?
…. Michelle Goldberg was on this case in January 2011, writing about HR 3, the bill that sought to make a distinction between “forcible rape” and “statutory rape” …. Two of the original cosponsors? Akin and Ryan.
Will this remark put Ryan on the spot? It damn well better. How many of those 1,870 women raped every day does he think weren’t really raped?
Full post here
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Washington Post editorial: …. Mitt Romney promises to lower everyone’s income tax rate without reducing revenue. This sounds terrific. Why didn’t we think of it sooner?
Mr. Romney says that he can achieve this seemingly magical result by “broadening the base” for income tax collection. This, too, sounds great. In principle, everyone favors “broadening the base,” also known as closing loopholes. But everyone favors closing someone else’s loopholes: those of oil companies, say, or of plutocrats who park their money in the Cayman Islands.
…. Recently the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center showed that Mr. Romney’s plan would by necessity help the rich and hurt the middle class …. Romney took strong issue with this conclusion. “They made garbage assumptions and they reached a garbage conclusion,” he said….
…. If these are “garbage assumptions,” why doesn’t Mr. Romney let us in on his own?….
In reality, his principles are mutually exclusive: You can’t simultaneously lower tax rates, take in as much money as before and protect the middle class …. It’s reasonable to assume that his cuts would, as did President Bush’s, worsen the nation’s deficit.
Until he’s willing to explain how he would avoid such a result, he has little standing to criticize Mr. Obama’s fiscal shortcomings.
Full editorial here
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Paul Krugman: Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate led to a wave of pundit accolades. Now, declared writer after writer, we’re going to have a real debate about the nation’s fiscal future. This was predictable: never mind the Tea Party, Mr. Ryan’s true constituency is the commentariat, which years ago decided that he was the Honest, Serious Conservative, whose proposals deserve respect even if you don’t like him.
But he isn’t and they don’t. Ryanomics is and always has been a con game, although to be fair, it has become even more of a con since Mr. Ryan joined the ticket.
…. The question now is whether Mr. Ryan’s undeserved reputation for honesty and fiscal responsibility can survive his participation in a deeply dishonest and irresponsible presidential campaign.
…. So will the choice of Mr. Ryan mean a serious campaign? No, because Mr. Ryan isn’t a serious man — he just plays one on TV.
Full article here
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Morning everyone 😉
GM Chips
Mooooooooooorning Roberta, morning everyone 😉
Good morning, Chips, and congrats, Roberta, and Happy Birthday, Jovie …
… and, Mr. President, we’ve got your back! Remember “If” from old Rudyard Kipling: “If you can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs, and blaming it on you … ” We love your perseverance and style, President Obama, along with your friend VP Biden’s! FORWARD!
THANK YOU Chips for the beautiful picture. I just love seeing him with the children. It makes me weep sometimes. Sigh.
Terrific post Chipsticks, thank you very much. Have a really good day!
Roberta !
Whoopi, I finally got first. I am headed home today so I can get to the Biden rally in Richester Tuesday. Have a ticket already. I can hardly wait. I will use my iphone to take pictures and see if I can send them to Chips along the way.
gm Pameal. Have a great day.
Roberta – Wonderful! Please tell Joe Biden that “Jackie from Central Illinois” said hello!
Morning Pamela! Is everything still okay with that annoying grey box, has it stayed away??
It has vamoosed, never to been seen since! Your magic wand surely working, Chips… {{{{{{{chips}}}}}}}
Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! Good news Pamela, let me know if it ever comes back and I’ll blow it up!
Will do Cap-I-Tan! Really now I gotta vamoose myself….
Good morning Roberta, Chips…
GM to you too. Suzette.
GM Everyone!
Ha ! In the video I spotted one of those homemade loop potholders…. I love those…I still have my loom from years ago ….
One year when I was out of work…I made them are gave them as gifts……
GM, Linda. Not generally observant myself, it’s always fun to see the things other people notice in the videos and pictures. It’s like having extra pairs of eyes. 😆
GM Chips and TOD. CONGRATS on first Roberta.
Thanks Jackie
Now see? Chips has Articles all over this Alin crap. Certainly not to be outdone by the Tea Bagger that jumped in the Sea of Galilee, nakid.
Are these Guys nuts?
Fact Finding Mission = Family Vacation…..
Jovie! Is your birthday today? Oh do please tell if it is! So we can sing to you! 🙂
Yes! I am 48.
Happy Birthday Jovie141.
Happy bday, Jovie—–have a fun day! Celebrate thyself!
Happy Happy Birthday Birthday, to YOU, Jovie! Have a fine day, eat cake, and ice cream! 🙂
Jovie –
Have the happiest of birthdays!
Happy Birthday Jovie!
Happy, Happy Birthday News Finder. Do something wild today!!
Man I wished I was that age again. I was having a ball. Congratulations on your BD. Have a wonderful time.
Happy Birthday, Jovie! Thank you for all the links you provide, and all the work you are doing for OFA in Florida.
🙂 Short answer: Yes. I wrote to a columnist at the local paper today, sharing that romp in the sea with him…because my rep…Ben Quayle (Asshole AZ) was part of that “ball dunking” escapade on lobbyist money…representing the United States. He’s an arrogant ass….running against another lunatic here….but at least THAT lunatic didn’t participate (as far as I know) Mr. DIrty Scottsdale himself (yes, Google that)
I hope he does a story on it in his column. I detest that swarmy bastard. Karma could be sweet.
I see there’s a new political party in your state: (Asshole AZ) ! Perfect name for it!
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone. Congrats Roberta on #1!
Today is Ben LaBolt’s birthday, and I was told that it’s also Jovie’s birthday!
The greatest of Good Monday Morning to everyone! 😆 😆 I must be more awake than usual this morning for suddenly that ‘Obama’ in our address label looks particularly bright and shining to me. ‘Top of the Morning’ to you, Chips Chica! 😀
HellllLLLLLllllllLLLlllooooOOOoooooo VC! HellllLLLLLllllllLLLlllooooOOOoooooo everyone.
{{{Chips Chica}}} 😛 😛
Romney’s Health Care Plan Freaks Out Utah Republicans
—By Stephanie Mencimer
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Aside from inadvertently embracing Obamacare, Love didn’t have much else to offer on the subject of health care policy, a problem that came into sharp relief after the meeting when a woman with multiple sclerosis, the same illness suffered by Romney’s wife Ann, came up and told her that injections she needed to combat the disease cost $46,000 a year, costs she couldn’t afford. Love looked momentarily baffled and then told the woman that the high cost of her medical treatments demanded a “free-market solution.” She then punted to an assistant, whom she directed to arrange a meeting with the woman to further discuss the issue.
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But it was clear that many people weren’t especially satisfied with Love’s or McCain’s explanations of their party’s health care plans. Kerr’s husband Nathan later told the Salt Lake Tribune, “There’s a general movement in the country right now, and I understand it, that we should cut everything. But what I’m concerned about is this sort of libertarian view that the weak should just fall off the edge of the Earth. It’s a little bit of a dangerous proposal to say government should have no role and we should cut everything.”
That loyal Utah Republicans were willing to get up and express their concerns is telling. If their party’s health-care platform is too radical for their blood, the Romney-Ryan team ought to be pretty worried about the rest of the country.
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http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/08/utah-mia-love-obamacare-romney
17 ways women victims of rape in Akin’s world would get punished when rapists so often aren’t.
http://leadingwomenblog.blogspot.com/
I heard on NPR this morning that R/R say they do not oppose abortion in the case of rape – what about incest? Why this flip-flop by Ryan? And if the congress (heaven forbid) passes more restrictions on abortion including in the cases of rape/incest would Robme veto it?
Inquiring journalists should want to know.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/19/712251/how-todd-akin-and-paul-ryan-partnered-to-redefine-rape/
They shouldn’t be splitting hairs! Rape is a crime of violence against that victim…most often, a woman! They all disgust me!
Good morning everyone! Ms Chips, thanks for this excellent roundup of events and news! I am back from the US… spent some weeks in FL with family, and my sons and I voted in the primary, and insured that we WILL be receiving our absentee ballots in the fall! Missed all of you here, have been trying to catch up!
Great to see you Andogriff, hope you had a great trip and you’re well rested!
Thanks so much, Ms Chips!!! While we were in FL we took a trip to Key West, and met Marilyn Holz (GOSAL from the OFA blog), and we had a wonderful time together. She is doing so much in FL for democrats, and for PBO.
Ah, sounds like it was a very lovely trip! The only thing I dislike about trips like that is that they end at some point 🙂
Yes, we were sad to leave, but it is always good to get back home again! : ))
I love that drive to Key West—-and everyone should go to Key West at least once—-or twice or more. It has the most eclectic, quirky, tropical atmosphere, people from all corners, everyone there to have a Good Time! —-Margarittaville all over the place.
Andogriff, isn’t Marilyn a blast! Had the pleasure of hosting her while she was traveling north to visit family in Ohio!
Yes Alycee, she is a great person… and devoted to “our” cause of re-electing the president… we had a blast together with my husband and 2 sons, and we enjoyed exploring Key West together!
RYAN NEVER OPPOSED STIMULUS; HE OPPOSED THE PRESIDENT.
LOL of the Week: Stimulating Paul Ryan’s Memory
August 20th, 2012 1:27 am Jason Sattler
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Paul Ryan’s love of stimulus began back when George W. Bush was president, which was when Ryan was still in love with everything government did. In 2002, amid a slow economy that was getting almost no help from the tax breaks on which the GOP had blown the Clinton surplus, Paul Ryan called for more stimulus. “What we’re trying to accomplish is to pass the kinds of legislation that when they’ve passed in the past have grown the economy and gotten people back to work,” he said.
Cut to seven years later, after all of the failed policies supported by Ryan resulted in the worst financial crisis in half a century: then, Ryan refused to support the President’s stimulus bill. As a member of the right-wing cabal that met with Frank Luntz and Newt Gingrich on the night of the inauguration, Ryan had agreed to oppose anything the President propose. He bashed the President’s stimulus for increasing the deficit yet voted for a $715 billion alternative. Why? Because the President didn’t support it.
Ryan never opposed stimulus; he opposed the President. And this fact became embarrassingly obvious over the past few days when Ryan was forced to admit that he’d requested stimulus funds for his district in 2009.
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http://www.nationalmemo.com/lol-of-the-week-stimulating-paul-ryans-memory/
TAX RETURNS ARE ALL ABOUT MITT ROMNEY’S CHARACTER
Mitt Romney Tells You That You Don’t Want to See His Tax Returns
By: Jason Easley
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Mr. Etch-A-Sketch was speaking for Mitt Romney, and expressing the candidate’s delusional belief that people really don’t care about his tax returns. Fehrnstrom has worked for Romney for a long time. He is close to the candidate. If he says that the American people don’t care about the tax returns, that is exactly how Mitt Romney feels.
Mitt Romney is going to ignore all of the polling that shows vast majorities of Americans want to see his tax returns. The Romney campaign views this as a distraction issue, but the tax returns are all about Mitt Romney’s character.
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http://www.politicususa.com/mitt-romney-tells-tax-returns.html
I noticed at the conclusion of Krugman’s article, in fine print, a statement that a ‘version’ of this article appears in print in the circulated paper today. I wonder how different the two versions are, and why would there be any difference. I don’t subscribe to any newspaper, but would appreciate some feedback on this. Maybe LL? Anyway, gotta fly! Blessed Be, TOD!
Niall Ferguson Has Been Wrong On Economics
Joe Weisenthal
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Bottom line: Ferguson has made some big calls about economic collapse ever since Obama took over. As he declares that Obama has been a failure, note that those own calls in recent years have been off the mark.
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Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/niall-ferguson-has-been-wrong-on-economics-2012-8#ixzz245itV7nj
I read this article last night. Simply put, Niall Ferguson gives new meaning to the word buffoon.
I choose not to read the buffoon piece of crap in that piece of crap magazine. I saw the magazine cover and that was enough for me, then to hear he voted for Sarah Palin.That’s all I need to know.
Good morning Chips and TOD. Very substantive round up Chips.
I sincerely hope that along with the Todd Akin backlash, Paul Ryan gets hit by a tidal wave of negative press. He is just as guilty as Todd Akin. He may not have used Akin’s disgusting words, but he is just as much a scumbag as Akin. To try to narrow the definition rape by using words such as “legitimate rape” and “forcible rape” is beyond the pale. These animals have grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, and wives. How do you stand there and craft legislation that tells a woman her rape has no meaning? That her rape isn’t legitimate so therefore she deserves no protection, no laws that fight for her, and then she has to be forced to carry her rapist’s child to term? Isn’t the rape itself dehumanizing enough?
Romney picked a running mate who says abortion should NEVER be legal even in terms of rape and incest. That’s not just sickening; it’s an abomination.
I think the only exception was if the life of the mother was in danger………dangerous lunatic…..but hey, it’s the party of ”small government” and ”freedom”.
Hellllllo ChristiMTL. Some of those articles have different takes on Ryan’s position re a mother’s life in danger – the Daily Beast one claims that even then he would oppose abortion. Not sure.
You’re right Chips, it’s a bit confusing, ..either way, he’s an extremist. …..
Yes, and Ryan’s mommy (the older woman he drags with him on the stump) should be so proud of her little widow-peaked extremist. NOT!
(Way too vicious for early morning blogging, but I like to think of them as The Widow and Widow’s Peak Tour … God bless all widows, but I just can’t get that out of my mind – the fact he dragged her along to lie to the “I believe in death panel” seniors or maybe she dragged him.)
Morning UT. The line that jumped out for me from the Daily Beast article:
During that campaign, Ryan also expressed his willingness to let states criminally prosecute women who have abortions. According to another Journal Sentinel article, he “would let states decide what criminal penalties would be attached to abortions. Ryan said he has never specifically advocated jailing women who have abortions or doctors who perform them, but added, ‘If it’s illegal, it’s illegal.’”
There are no words.
‘… have grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, and wives.’
UTAL, I really do think their insensitivity in this area is because they do not believe their womenfolk are in ‘danger’ of rape. Rape is a problem for ‘you people’. Of course that’s garbage, but at heart these GOP are selfish, self-centred and narrow-minded people who see no further than their own interests. People, in short, who shouldn’t be in public service and who are only there for what they can amass for themselves, their friends, AND their family.
President Obama EXPANDS THE DEFINITION OF RAPE/ Protecting the victims
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/obama-administration-expands-definition-of-rape.php
Love this, especially the last line:
JSOnline: Odious remarks by GOP Missouri Senate candidate Cong. Todd Akin about how few pregnancies result from “legitimate rape” have done more than outrage people across the country and doom Akin’s bid to move up from the House.
It motivated the Romney campaign – already trailing among women voters in recent polls – to distance itself from Akin by assuring voters that Romney and Paul Ryan should they win in November, would not oppose raped women’s access to abortion.
“Governor Romney and Congressman (Paul) Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,” Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said.
You’d probably say that sounds reasonable and humane – except it was just three days ago that PolitiFact devoted a lot of space to this issue and found that while Romney backed abortions in cases of incest and rape, Ryan did not.
…. I think this will be a huge issue in the campaign. I don’t see how Romney and Ryan can sell this to the base, which will see it as a Ryan sellout or forced surrender ordered by Romney – a former moderate whom the base has never embraced.
…. Ryan’s roll out – embarrassed and side-tracked last week over his duplicity in blasting the Obama stimulus while soliciting its funds, then conceding his denials about the funding solicitations were indeed inaccurate – is unraveling more quickly than Sarah Palin’s.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/purple-wisconsin/166725796.html
Hahahahaha…..that last line was funny. I never thought I’d see a candidate tank faster than Palin, but Ryan sure has her beat. There was a report a couple of days ago by Taegan Goddard’s ‘Political Wire’ I believe, that said that Romney eschewed all advice from his team against picking Paul Ryan and listened to Ann – because you know she’s his “secret weapon” – and then picked Ryan because Ann believes he solidifies their lead with the base, moderates, and independents. The way Romney’s campaign has been unraveling, we don’t even need Democrats to be blamed by the MSM for “destroying” him, all he has to do is look at Ann, Paul, and himself to know wherein the destruction lies.
But…, Nia Malika Henderson said the Republicans are winning the battle on Medicare and that it was a great rollout and…
Ah, so Nia Malika Henderson has moved in to comedy now? 😆
Yup. That is their new talking point, they are winning the battle on Medicare.
Define winning?
Are they keeping Republican Votes? Probably. But, I doubt the rest of the Country is so easily convinced.
Well. If Nia Malika Henderson is the new Misguided, clueless Journo…..well…the kicker was Helen Cooper, not so new, of the NY Times and her rubbish commentaries yesterday on the Chris Matthews Show…..this idiot said that pres Obama was European and driving some EU car….SAAB. Even the panel was confused on her commentaries. Now….I have read about Mr. Obama since 2004 Boston, MA Dem Convention…..and No where since that time has pres Obama owned a foreign vehicle. These people are just pathological. Now I am not trying to send anyone’s blood pressure to rise. I am just showing that DC/NY pundits….live and stew in the same buffoonery. Hating on pres Obama in OTHERing him.
I think he has a hybrid Ford …..AND the Beast:)
Oh, so Lyin’ and Ryan don’t oppose raped women’s access to abortion … so does that mean they have dropped their opposition to abortion? Anybody believing any of their contradictory b.s. ?? Well, unfortunately, lots of women and men are, even after all of this is exposed. How do any of them sleep at night?
The Danger of Laughing At Todd Akin
Ilyse Hogue on August 20, 2012 – 12:20 AM ET
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Akin was Paul Ryan’s co-sponsor on a House bill just last year banning the use of federal funds for abortion except in cases of “forcible rape.” This term seemed laughably redundant since all rape, by definition, is forced. But this redefinition of rape was deceptively sinister. Statutory rapists often use coercion but not physical force. If the measure had passed, a 13-year old emotionally manipulated into having sex with an older friend or relative would no longer be able to use Medicaid to terminate a resulting pregnancy. Nor would her parents be able to use their tax-exempt health savings fund.
While the measure was defeated, conversation around it introduced skepticism about whether all rape is created equal and what distinctions should be recognized by law. Instead of making him politically toxic, Ryan’s support of the pioneering forcible rape measure likely made him a more attractive Vice Presidential candidate to a Romney campaign needing to energize the right-wing base.
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Akin’s comments appear an awful lot like step one in the GOP’s favorite two-step tactic to redefine the world around us: first, more extreme figures voice opinions that would never fly from more politically-palatable ones. The right-wing echo chamber picks up those opinions in the guise of news coverage. Then, the more politically acceptable candidates shift their rhetoric to acknowledge the newly accepted opinion as reality.
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http://www.thenation.com/blog/169451/danger-laughing-todd-akin#
Happy Birthday Jovie! Hope you have lots of fun, eat lots of cake and dance around wearing a silly party hat! 😀
Hank you! I am going Camping with my Dog in Ashville, on Labor Day. That was my Birthday Present.
🙂
Politico reporter Dave Catanese took to Twitter to defend comments made by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) about rape.
“Poor phrasing, but if you watch the intv @ToddAkin meant to convey that there’s less chance of getting pregnant if raped,” he said.
Akin told KTVI on Sunday that victims of “legimitate rape” don’t usually get pregnant because women’s bodies have “ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” He later said he “misspoke” but did not disavow the claims.
Catanese tweeted that Akin’s comments, while poorly phrased, were worth discussing.
“So perhaps some can agree that all rapes that are reported are not actually rapes? Or are we gonna really deny that for PC sake?” he said. “So looks like he meant to say — ‘If a woman was REALLY raped, it’s statistically less likely for her to get pregnant.’ What’s the science?”
Contrary to Akin’s claims, around 32,000 women get pregnant every year after being raped.
Catanese also took issue with Democrats’ reaction to Akin’s comments.
“The left is often 1st to shut down debate as “off limits” when it deems so. Aren’t these moments supposed to open up a larger debate?”
Larger debates about what Dave Cantanese? Your body would Not be rejecting, be inserted forcibly with anything soon. So what debate is worth having…..with the victims of Rape? A violent crime?
While we are at it Cantanese, should we have a discussion about murder…..the various degrees of murder? These people are truly nuts. They ONLY talk to those they agree with and listen to those they agree with…..so when their buffoonery commentaries are profoundly rejected by the majority of people, they are mentally unaware of their idiocy.
I saw his ignorant tweets yesterday. The wave of backlash he received was whoa! He tried defending his ignorant and atrocious tweets. Rape is rape people. Stop trying to give the rapist rights over the victim.
So if a Republican says the sky is green, that person shouldn’t be dismissed as a lunatic because that means we aren’t going to debate the issue? After all, the comment is supposed to open up a larger debate. What an idiot. If something is wrong, it is wrong, there is no debate to be had.
It is the 3rd ad now about this disgusting lie.
Unbelievable
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign has released a new TV advertisement falsely claiming President Barack Obama has ended work requirements for Americans receiving welfare benefits.
Then, we shoots release ads that say, he wants to kill your grandfather.
It’s not the Obama campaign Jovie, there’s a big difference……Hey, Happy birthday to you!
Yep, and he would continue for the MSM would not confront them and their surrogates. Why? They have a well developed right wing media echo chamber that is their cuddling and protector. This is what is called propaganda. TGBOPers new how Hitler did it. They know how Mao, Stalin, did it. The media…and the medium are ways to control information and truly shape and brainwash people. That is what has made the abdication of the 4th estate really horrific. No one is the Umpire to call propaganda and lies for what they are.
So, WMUR is interviewing Robmeu/Ryan today.
We should tweet that Newspaper, questions to ask?
The larger significance of Todd Akin’s ridiculousness
By Steve Benen
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There’s a broader national significance to this, so let’s flesh this out in more detail. As Kent noted, for example, Akin issued a statement arguing that he “misspoke,” but he didn’t apologize, it’s not clear which part he didn’t intend to say, and Akin didn’t renounce any of his specific claims.
In the bigger picture, if Republicans are going to retake the U.S. Senate, they’re almost certainly going to need to defeat McCaskill in Missouri, and unless GOP officials have a plan to disenfranchise women over the next 11 weeks, Akin’s odds of victory just collapsed. Republicans are starting to panic, but under state law, Akin would have to withdraw by tomorrow, and even that would be difficult.
And what about Romney/Ryan? Akin’s scandal matters more to the Republican ticket than you might think.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/20/13375158-the-larger-significance-of-todd-akins-ridiculousness?lite
Claire McCaskill and the DNC need to work together and leverage this political goldmine ( as disgusting a way as it came about, yes) and use this to destroy Akin in the polls and in MO. Every voter, most especially women in MO should know about Akin’s disgusting comments. They should know about his views as well as they know the back of their hands. It’s up to McCaskill now, because this is not a local story in MO, it’s a bloody national hell storm.
It’s sickening to see these hypocrites say that they are embarrassed by his comments. He’s on the Science committee and Bachman on the Intelligence committee….and now they are embarrassed!….Yea right…..they’re just mad because it’s a national hell storm as you say.
There is no doubt…the senator would do that. However, there is a 24 hours window…..for the TBGOPers to force Akin to resign from congress and this race. If Akin stays put…on 8-22-12, McCaskill will go Elephant on Todd Akin, period.
11 weeks is an eternity. Today the TBGOPers would swallow anything a rightie says. Republican party is a religion and winning politically has become a crude. That is the danger in the mind-set of TBGOPers today.
MO has until 8-21-12 to replace Todd Akin. They are working feverishly to do just that. I hope rep Todd Akin…..says No. He is a wealthy man. But he was endorsed by Paul Ryan and the co-sponsored the “forcible” Rape bill…..my verbiage….in 2011.
I saw this at the end of the post…
‘Update: Akin is a member of the House Science committee. I just thought I’d mention that.’
The GOP seems to have a knack for choosing/placing their guys on committees, don’t they? Bachman on intelligence, Akin on science, Issa on integrity or whatever, and Ryan on finance. I’m sure there are more.
The asshole who apologized to BP after the oil spill and called the cleanup fund PBO forced BP to pay into extortion, is chair of energy committee or something similar. They are pathetic.
1. Willard has said he backs PERSONHOOD, which would ban ALL ABORTIONS and eliminate most BIRTH CONTROL.
2. Willard hasn’t spoken with his Vice-Presidential Nominee, who is:
a) against abortion in all cases, including RAPE AND INCEST
b) part of the group, along with Akin, that tried to REDEFINE RAPE
c) is the sponsor of the FEDERAL PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
d) is the sponsor of the FEDERAL INVASIVE ULTRASOUND for women (see Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas for reference)
So, no, Willard has no credibility.
Paul Ryan is no foot soldier in the GOP WAR ON WOMEN.
PAUL RYAN IS A GENERAL.
+ 1,000,000,000
Ultrasound was passed in Florida, as well.
“Willard has said he backs PERSONHOOD”
Which puts him to the right of Mississippi since they overwhelming rejected it 58% – 42% late last year. No doubt Romney will win the state but you’ve gone off the deep end when you’re too extreme for Mississippi.
Just added to the post – at 10:10 you can see the Kids State Dinner on White House live, and hear Michelle’s remarks
Fantastic – thanks Chips!
Wait a minute – why is a dinner being held at 10 in the morning?!?!? More like Kids State Brunch 🙂 🙂
RNC CONVENTION WILL FEATURE NATIONAL DEBT TICKING CLOCK THAT THEY HELPED CREATE.
G.O.P. Packaging Seeks to Reveal a Warm Romney
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Along with other props — including a digital clock mounted to one of the arena’s upper rings that will show the national debt ticking ever-higher — the video screens will help augment whatever messages a speaker is trying to convey, be it images of woeful-looking Americans to convey that President Obama has mismanaged the economy or pictures of the Romney children that speak to the candidate’s deep bonds with his family.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/us/politics/romney-campaign-works-feverishly-to-project-relaxed-image.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
All the gimmicks but they won’t tell what Romney-Ryan would do to make the economy better. Because we already know, it will be the same old same old…….George W. Bush policies except on steroids.
Exactly. There’s just not enough lipstick to gloss over the fact that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are empty suits selling snake oil. The RNC convention will use the sleight of hand / look at that shiny object strategy. Both Romney and Ryan have incredible shrinking resumes. I know for sure, they won’t be focusing on the two bills that boy wonder got passed. I think one had to do with a post office and the other had something to do with arrows. And my guess is they will not be focusing on sending our sons and daughters to wars as foreign policy experience. The Ryan budget is toxic. And Romney doesn’t want to talk about Romneycare, his dismal record as governor of MA. Bain and the 2002 Winter Olympics are not all they were cracked up to be. There is no real record of accomplishments to boast about. But I am sure they will just make some up out of thin air. I expect the convention to be a festival of LIES and DECEPTION.
It’s amazing to watch Republicans trying to pretend their Great Recession never happened. They’re really hoping nobody remembers.
I emailed Byron Tau that Ryan ain’t no Fiscal Hawk, he is a Partisan.
Yup! I am now blocked from sending Him emails.
I don’t think he liked that.
Happy Birthday, Jovie. It’s mine too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I share a birthday with some special people, huh? Ben Labolt too. Lucky girl me. 🙂
We are LEO!
Happy Birthday tnmtngirl. Hope you have lots of fun! 🙂
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapy birthday tnmtngirl!!!!
SWEET. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Leave me some, okay?)
Happy Birthday tnmtngirl.
Bday greetings to the Tn. Bday Girl! Celebrate!
Happy Happy Birthday Birthday to you, tnmtngirl! Lots of partay ing around today! Have a great day!
Happy Birthday, tnmtngirl!
A very happy birthday to Jovie. You were born in ’64 – Year of the Dragon!
Wasn’t Ron Paul also talking about “honest rapes” during the primaries? So were the guys back in the 1600s. We must slam these cretins back good and hard. They are disgusting and I feel horribly for the women who live in states that are subjected to their neanderthal policies and practices. ENOUGH.
Wasn’t there a big women’s march on DC last weekend? Did anyone hear about it?
They want to take us Back, to the Days of the Plymouth Plantation.
Ahh, the good old Days…
GOP desperately trying to change subject, they interviewed Herman Cain, and He is dopants by the Chains comments.
They can do better than that???
I phone says Dopants = appalled???
TODAY’S REPUBLICAN PARTY – “RADICAL, EXTREME, UNHINGED AND DERANGED”
Todd Akin Says Raped Women Do Not Get Pregnant So No Abortions
By: Hrafnkell Haraldsson
—————————————————–
Speaking of records, Emily’s List gives folks a few other reasons to fear Akin:
Akin Has Consistently Received 0% Pro-Choice Ratings From Planned Parenthood.
Akin is an avid supporter of the Paul Ryan Plan which would end Medicare as we know it, and thinks cuts should be even deeper.
Todd Akin doesn’t support Social Security, a program that is responsible for keeping millions of seniors out of poverty.
Akin is a founding member of the House Tea Party Caucus
In a debate, Akin didn’t even know the minimum wage (federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr), but still wanted to hurt working families by lowering it further.
They also came up with an FAQ on his ” tenure to date” in the House:
Cutting Social Security? Akin says it was a “terrible investment” anyway!
Ending Medicare as we know it? Akin’s on board.
Making sure Mom makes as much as Dad would at the same job? Akin’s not for that.
Changing the definition of rape so that some are legally ‘worse’ than others? Akin is totally on board.
Compelling the IRS to audit rape victims who seek to end a pregnancy? Akin thinks that’s entirely appropriate.
Defunding preventative services like cancer screenings and birth control? Check!
Increasing aid to public schools, colleges, and early childhood education? Certainly not.
Extending unemployment benefits in the middle of the recession? No way!
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http://www.politicususa.com/todd-akin-raped-women-abortion.html
So far here are speakers on the DNC Convention Roster – looks like an excellent line-up.
Keynote speaker:
Julian Castro
Prime Speakers:
Barack Obama
Michelle Obama
VP Biden
Bill Clinton
Elizabeth Warren
Additional Speakers:
Rahm Emmanuel
Kamala Harris
John Hickenlooper
Tim Kaine
John Kerry
Martin O’Malley
Deval Patrick
Ted Strickland
Speaker by videocam
Jimmy Carter
I hope that Senator Claire McCaskill reconsiders her prior decision to not attend the convention – particularly with the latest development involving her GOP opponent Todd Akin. She might actually benefit from being a visible presence at that event.
Is their anything wrong with before these men speak about women being rape, they would talk to people who know what it is like to have been rape.
Just when I think these crazy ass Republicans could not sink any lower, they prove me wrong.
Condemnation from Robney, and the media is saying this is a Sustah Soljah movement.
BS!
Ha! That’s a riot! 🙄
Are they reminding everyone that this new condemnation is contrary to his running mate’s beliefs? If Willard ever got into the WH, he’d be rubber stamping everything Ryan believes in. It would be another Bush-Cheney administration, with Ryan pulling Willard’s strings. Let them have their fake Sistuh Soljah moment. It’s what the media has been breathlessly awaiting. It won’t win Willard the WH, much like it didn’t with McBeth and Sistuh Moose the WH in 2008.
Heads up for the First Lady:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
SO FUN! These kids are an inspiration and all due to our incredible FLOTUS. xoxo
It’s terrific Meta! I love the way they’re being announced on the CNN link (and their recipes), like they’re heads of state 🙂
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
IKNOWRITE??!! Love the young girl who has her own online cooking show and started a health girls club!! This is a BRILLIANT idea from FLOTUS. And brilliant execution. This is certainly changing a generation for the better.
This state dinner for whippersnappers is absolutely “delicious” in every way. I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This is such a wonderful idea.
But Ladyhawke, it’s making me severely hungry 😦
I know. Listening to these rascals describe their recipes is just amazing. They sound so creative. Maybe someone will do a cookbook of all the recipes and fund raise for a special cause. This whole thing is just making me melt. It may even bring on some waterworks before it’s over. I’m such a softy. And Sam is such a cutey and he is doing a terrific job interviewing. You can tell he is excited too. I am in awe of this White House.
And to have Sam Kass host is quite the bonus. Love how they are getting the star treatment. Sweet how some of them are so shy!!
“Kickin’ Chicken Salad” 😆
Scarborough haz a sad this morning, likewise Halperin is worried:
Joe Scarborough all but threw his hands up in despair after Republican congressman Todd Akin’s outrageous comments about rape.
“Oh my Lord,” Scarborough said in reaction on Monday, after replaying the clip. “You actually see his lips move and those words come out.”
Scarborough said that Akin in Missouri was just the latest example of Republicans nominating the least electable candidate, citing Christine O’Donnell in Delaware and Sharron Angle in Nevada as others. “This is a Republican party that does not want to win the majority,” he lamented. “They do not want to win the majority. They want to keep shooting themselves in the foot.”
He agreed with Claire McCaskill, who called Akin’s remarks “ignorant” in a statement. Contributor Mark Halperin said that Akin’s comment was a birthday gift for Obama’s spokesman Ben LaBolt and one that “will have reverberations beyond that single race.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/joe-scarborough-todd-akin-rape-morning-joe_n_1810077.html
Birthday gift for Jovie, Ben and myself! And, yes it will have reverberations beyond that single race. Duh??
Weee are LEO!
Happy Birthday Jovie, camping in Asheville sounds great, enjoy!
Happy Birthday fellow Leo!
All Leos sing with me-
We are LEO, We are LEO, We are LEO…
😎 I’m singing loudly Jovie!
That lion looks familiar. Didn’t he used to work for MGM?
😆 He did Derbingle, but he’s retired now and living in Florida – and working for OFA 😉
Ahhh he was a party to some great movies. BTW I heard he and Louie B Mayer didn’t get along. Apparently he told Norma Shearer once that Mayer was always trying to “Romney him over”. Norma had never heard that name before but had a pretty good idea of what it meant.
ROAR ROAR ROAR—ROAR ROAR ROAR 🙂
Wow look at all these Leo’s Happy Birthday tnmtngirl and jovie!!!
Donna, methinks a whole lot of shaking was going on around December the past 80 years 😆
🙂 🙂
I was Born 9 months after Kennedy was Shot.
Me thinks mom was depressed, so she tried to cheer herself up.
🙂
LMAO! From what I understand, I think this cure has been around forever 🙂
Too much information Jovie!!!! 😆 😆
Oh Jovie, that’s great. Have a wonderful birthday. And ‘ll bet you did a great job of cheering her.
For Sure!!!
Happy Birthday!!
http://visual.ly/income-gap-unemployment-and-tax-rates
The Kids State Dinner (technically lunch) has begun. It’s live streaming now. Mr. Hottie Sam Kass is speaking now.
Do you know these kids will remember this all their lives. It is so nice.
It’s just like a State’s Dinner, introducing their name, letting them talk to the media. This is so cool.
Very nice! The kids are thrilled, and their parents are even more excited than they are!!! I don’t blame them 🙂 🙂
Kids State Dinner live here too:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/20/713411/rove-wont-condemn-akins-legitimate-rape-comments/
STFU KKKarl!
OMG,!! Sam Kass hosting the Kid’s Luncheon!! Doing a better job than Ryan Seacrest!! Sooooooo cute!!
🙂 Morning Lisa!!!!
Most appropriate and appreciated.
Morning, Chips!! How you doin’? Still watching Sam in his chef’s coat, looking Dyn-o-mite!!
The kids are fabulous – and their parents – what an amazing idea – the white house has just excelled in the last 4 years – FL Michelle Obama is just so amazing – none of these folks will ever forget. I loved the little chap in his hat – could take him home.
Have a great Birthday Jovie 🙂
Yo ho ho, O, O, O’s!!!!! Zippidee Dee Doo Dah Zippidee Aye…my oh my a great TOD getting up day!!!! PBO on CSPAN1 rebroadcast of his Saturday speech in NH. FLOTUS livestreaming with the future of our country. Jovie was born 48 years ago. What could be better for O peeps!
LOOK at how cute these kids are!! Love their creativity.
Robney Super PAC puts 10 million behind this ad, of imagining the debates-
http://www.politico.com//blogs/burns-haberman/2012/08/super-pac-imagines-romneyobama-debate-132541.html
This is stupid. But, I will say this, where are all our tv ads. Spending on grass roots works, but so does ads. Web videos are just ok.
Come on, let’s go on offense.
They are strategically placing ads where they will do the most good. It’s a given we will be outspent in ads. PBO acknowledges this in every speech. He doesn’t want us to be discouraged when we don’t see the same amount of coverage. I think nothing beats feet on the street or the sophistication of the loooong reach of social media. Those are immeasurable tools that isn’t counted in the so-called enthusiasm statistics. I disagree that we are not on offense. Mittiful has been back on his heels since he got the nomination. He has not had a day of offense and PBO is not letting up.
What did you think about the new ad?
The Obama campaign has plenty of tv ads running in swing states. I see them everyday. I am in SC, but the tv ads are clearly for the state of NC but since I am in that media market I see them. I also see Romney tv ads, and they are all dumb. I saw one last night from the Romney campaign and it was beyond silly. It does not even catch your attention. Every Obama tv ad I have seen has core facts in it from various sources, and are very effective.
Lovin’ the KidsStateDinner! THX for the links Chips et. al.
Good Morning TOD! I came out of lurker mode, just to say that it’s cuteness overload at the Kids State Dinner. And it’s just the introduction. Sam Kass is a precious gem! 🙂
Helloooooo!
Sam Kass is making me blush. OMG, what a sweet, lovable HUNK of a guy. He’s so great with the kids and love how he includes their chaperones.
ROMNEY/RYAN CAMPAIGN BUILT ENTIRELY ON FALSEHOODS. MAINSTREAM MEDIA JUST YAWNS.
The post-truth campaign continues apace
By Steve Benen
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And then there’s an even larger question: shouldn’t this be a scandal?
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the political world’s strange standards. If a super PAC puts a video online with a dubious timeline, it’s a multi-week scandal, and evidence of a campaign stuck in the gutter. If Vice President Biden uses a poorly-worded, off-the-cuff metaphor, it’s a multi-week scandal, and proof that 2012 has become excessively ugly.
But if Mitt Romney gets caught repeatedly making an unambiguous, racially-charged lie, it’s seen as somehow routine.
Why do gaffes and unaired web ads dominate the political world’s attention, while shameless lying leads to shrugged shoulders?
.
.
So why does Romney keep repeating the lie? Because he thinks voters are idiots and he’s certain political journalism isn’t equipped to deal with a campaign predicated entirely on falsehoods.
This remains, in other words, a test. The fact that Romney feels confident in his ability to lie with impunity — effectively taunting reality — suggests the American political system is failing this test badly.
————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/20/13376256-the-post-truth-campaign-continues-apace?lite
OMG, I’m in love with Logan and his giant balloon “whale” hat. Too cute. I bet he really wants to met Bo.
The whale hat! Did you see the WHALE HAT!!! So cute. 😀
UT is liveblogging the dinner on Twitter like a real media correspondent!!!
Awww…thank you.
Flip flop flip flop
During his interview with FLDemocracy, Ryan sought to reassure Cuban-Americans in South Florida that despite voting to lift the embargo against Cuba in 2001 and 2004, he has since changed his position on the issue.
Says He Would Have Backed Rubio’s Immigration Plan
Ryan, who voted against the Obama-backed DREAM Act and has opposed amnesty for most illegal immigrants, said he supported — but hadn’t endorsed — the immigration reform efforts of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Except that Rubio didn’t have a plan. He had plenty of time to present one and came up with nothing.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/sen-marco-rubios-plan-for-alternate-dream-act-lacks-details/1235174
Bunny Bisque and Secret Service Super Salad. Hells Yeah! Texas is representing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jovie, tnmtngirl!!!!!!!! And Ben LaBolt, too. Hope you have a great day and enjoy lots of your favorite things!!
Did someone say “SECRET SERVICE SALAD”?
This kid’s dinner is amazing – can’t imagine it happening anywhere else – I’m so enjoying watching – 2nd childhood has arrived
These kids are so creative. I’m hungry. Waaaaah!
I’m totally blown away at how polished and fabulous this event is!! It has the greatest vibe!!
How creepy is this?
I’m still laughing about this….it’s too weird
Everything about Mitt Romney & Ryan is creepy. EVERYTHING. This ticket is just Slimy…Gross…UGLY.
WTH is that about? It’s so weird I don’t even get it.
Paul Ryan is hitchhiking now? Or he doesn’t want to pay cab fare to the location? Or Paul Ryan’s the new deep throat? What’s next – a parking garage? Maybe we’ll see Woodward and Bernstein there.
Alternate universe.
I so love this White House- it truly is the People’s House in every way.. loving the kids state dinner & Sam Cass is really adorable.
THAT’S IT. I’M DONE. I CAN’T TAKE THIS MUCH CUTENESS. NOW WE HAVE SAM CASS AND ELMO TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY FOOD. BE STILL MY HEART. I LOVE SAM AND I AM NUTS FOR ELMO.
OMG, I’m about to bust out into tears. This is just phenomenal.
Indeed, indeed.
What the HELL is with Jonathan Capehart? Is he crushing on Ryan too? Sheesh.
Maybe Capehart gets more than a thrill looking and listening to Paul Ryan. Remember Capehart that you all said the same about Sarah Palin.
New post for the Kids’ dinner, this one’s getting long!
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/20/kids-state-dinner/
Who is campbell brown? I know campbell soup.
Well she has soup for brains.
By MAGGIE HABERMAN | 8/20/12 10:46 AM
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who is locked in a tight battle in a blue state, just called on Missouri Senate hopeful Todd Akin to resign the nomination:
Happy Birthday, Jovie! I hope you take time to enjoy yourself on your special day. You deserve some time off since you work so hard every day sharing with us all kinds of information.