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President Obama has no public events scheduled on Saturday. On Sunday, he and first lady Michelle Obama will attend the Kennedy Center Honors. They will host the honorees beforehand at a White House reception.
Kennedy Center: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the selection of the seven individuals who will receive the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors. Recipients to be honored at the 35th annual national celebration of the arts are: bluesman Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova, and rock band Led Zeppelin. While Led Zeppelin is being honored as a band, keyboardist/bassist John Paul Jones, guitarist Jimmy Page, and singer Robert Plant will each receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
More here
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Joe Klein (Time): The Republicans are, reportedly, outraged by President Obama’s opening bid in the fiscal cliff talks. Republicans always seem to be outraged. It’s getting boring. They need to step up and make a counter-offer.
…. It might have seemed “righteous” indignation when the GOP was deluding itself about representing a majority of Americans; now, it just seem puerile and petulant.
… What is difficult for the Fox talking heads to understand is this: We had an election. The President won. This gives him greater leverage than the last election we had, in 2010, when the President’s party lost…
…. the assorted Republican drama queens seem so two months ago, don’t they?
Full post here
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ThinkProgress: With Republicans balking at the prospect of allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for the top 2 percent of Americans, Democrats are losing patience. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Friday that the House GOP will not hold a vote on a middle-class tax bill that excludes the top income brackets, even though the Senate has already approved one.
In response, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced Friday that Democrats plan to bring the legislation to a floor vote next week no matter what. The Democrats plan to use a discharge petition, which can force a bill to the floor if it has been stuck in committee for 30 legislative days. In a new statement, Pelosi dared her Republican colleagues to reject the plan to extend tax cuts for 98 percent of the country…
More here
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Gail Collins: You undoubtedly have heard that Barack Obama invited Romney for lunch this week…. …. You’d think they could have served meat loaf. Mitt’s favorite food is meat loaf. Also, Mitt loves practical jokes, and if Obama had really wanted to get in the spirit of things, he could have had Romney arrested by the Capitol Police in the lobby.
…. The makeup meal doesn’t even have to make the loser feel better. (In 2008, Obama had John McCain over for a postelection meeting in Chicago, and you can see what a healing effect that had on McCain’s ego.) …
…. [the president] elaborated at his first postelection news conference, saying that Romney “presented some ideas during the course of the campaign that I actually agree with.”
The “actually” didn’t sound all that enthusiastic. Also, when it came time to praise his former rival, Obama said Romney “did a terrific job running the Olympics.”
Full article here
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Completely random pics:
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MoooOOooooOoooorning everyone.
The Obama Diary 
TOD GM!
good morning 🙂
Morning!
Prooooooooooud!!!
Heh ?????????????
Oi you, that pic’s a thing of beauty.
yeah, yeah. That’s all fine. Where is my pic?
Ah, I see, a jointie firstie? Missed that.
Okay:
No, not happy?
Go on then:
Now that’s what we are talking about. Dankesan.
You’re most welcome, Mister.
Thanks
Nice toons.
GM Chips. GM folks.
Morning fella!
The one with the little old bitter McCain and Palin, I like that one. Choosing Sarah Palin as his VP candidate will go down in history as one of the dumbest decision ever, and it will forever be a noose around McCain’s neck. He will never live it down.
Another beautiful morning in TOD land! Morning! Congrats Proud!
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE…HAVE A BLESSED SATURDAY…:)
Hahah. I LoOOOoOOoOOove that good moOoOooooOrning Chips! 🙂
Thank yooOOOOOoooOOOOoooooOOOOoooouuuuUUUUuuuuUUUUuuuu Collegekay!! 🙂
Morning Chips…Have a sweet Saturday !
And you Sweetpeg! Morning everyone 😉
THE MIGHTY ZEP??????? WHOOOOOOOOOOOO
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!
6:30:00 until kickoff. Beckham’s last game with LA Galaxy. Possibly Landon’s last game ever. Home field advantage. Returning Champions. Playing the same team we played last year in the final, only they’re healthier – eeek.
How are the nerves Tally? It’s the final countdown…..
ZOMFG!!!! I am sooooo nervous! Thought this post was hilarious: “Houston will take an early 1-0 lead on a good goal created by total teamwork. That goal will stand up until the 78th minute, when Robbie Keane will score a late equalizer. Unfortunately, on the ensuing goal clebration cartwhhel, Keane will slip and injure his back, rendering him unable to get up from the pitch. The Galaxy, having used all of their substitutes, will be force to leave him lying on his side in the top of the 18-yard box. In injury time, Beckham will play Donovan on to the touchline, drawing a defender. Donovan will then whip the ball in the direction of Keane, who will pivot on his hip, on the ground, and score a goal like Christy Brown in “My Left Foot” to win the game.” http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/11/who-do-you-see-winning-the-2012-mls-cup-final.html
I want Mike Magee to have a hat trick by halftime, Becks to have at least one of his moments of deflying the laws of space/time/physics, and Keane and Landon to be like GImli and Legolas at Helm’s Deep.
But if we play like we did our last game against Seattle, Houston will kick our ass. (Landon and AJ were hurt… but… we have a history of collapsing.) And I hope it’s just a 90min game. GO GALAXY!!!
Great Rise and Shine. Thank you Chips! Good morning to all at TOD. I was actually lurking and reading on last night’s post for about an hour this morning as I too fell asleep fairly early last night.
Good Morning………..December 1st……….Gonna go and support the Economy today!
The Start of My Christmas Shopping……………Did I say how much I hate shopping!
It must be done!
Grrr – organised people make me sad/mad. December 1? I won’t get started til, ooooh, Dec 24. Good luck Ber!
Thanks Chips I will need Luck….Uggggggggg.
Ber, if I gave you my list would you buy all mine too?
HA
I am going Christmas shopping too!!! I have a new knee too, so I can finally walk over an hour and a half….I am SO excited!!!
Do little bits of resting, Betsy, so you don’t overdo and regret it tomorrow.
That is a given. I have to have my Starbucks 🙂
With that good news, gunnite folks.
Nite Amk!!!
Good morning everyone; too nice a day to spend shopping. I usually do not get started until the school break begins.
Not so random thought: I love seeing my president with his head thrown back in laughter.
Morning CEB!!!!!
Thanks, Chips. This is one of my favorites!
They’re looking at Willard’s polling data.
question of the day: where should the Barack Hussein Obama Presidential Library be located??? this is a hard one. POTUS has to chose either Hawaii or Chicago! shit I know I’d chose Hawaii, but he does have ties to Illinois too where his political career got started. so which would u chose?? I hear Chicago is the front runner though. Can he have 2 libraries..lol
Two libraries, definitely! It’s the only solution!
I’m with you on that Chips – he needs two libraries. 🙂
Actually, I’d like 50 Hopefruit, one in each state, but maybe that’s greedy? Morning!
Yes, he should have a library in each state. RWNJ’s heads will explode for the rest of eternity should that happen.
I’m for that.
Surely PBO can have a First Term Library in Chicago, and a Second Term Library in Hawaii. Makes sense to me…. He has worked harder than any other president in his first, and we know he will shatter all the record books in his second. Hey, he may even need more than 2 (terms AND libraries!) 🙂
I like those ideas, Pamela! 🙂
from what I read Chips, University of Chicago is the front runner, due to the close ties of Michelle O who worked there right? and also many of their close friends and large donors are already apart of the UC circle.
Hiya Lamh, sounds like Chicago is tipped alright. There’s no doubt it makes sense because that’s where his political roots are – not sure Hawaii will see it the same way, though!
It is also more central for the American people to visit and more affordable than Hawaii. I expect it to be a very popular place if it is there, less so if it is in Hawaii.
Yes because I need one in Chicago, which I would have a hope of being able to visit! He really should give full consideration to my needs!
We’ll start a White House petition for you Mary! 🙂
And of course there will have to be The Obama Diary wing. I’ll start a petition for you too!
Excellent idea Mary!! 😆
I hope they include a naughty mat rooftop garden.
Always with the bright ideas, meta! Good mornin’ to ya. 🙂
Meta and jacquelineoboomer, why not include a steamroom with those photos(as you enter) of POTUS that have sent many of us to the “Naughty Mats.” Now that would be worth the visit to his Presidential Library. A beautiful contribution from the TOD Family. Just saying.
Morning everyone!!!! Love you Fred. And also pray that Jackie’s sister is fairing well this morning.HZ
Good morning/afternoon, HZ! Lovely ideas! 🙂
Oooooh that’s good! I’ll put that in.
No rooftop naughty mat playground in Chicago thanks, a bit too chilly for the fun…. Now, in Hawaii that could be pretty foine! Mmmmmm.. Surf, moonlight, tropical flowers scenting the air… Ah yes, I can see the popularity of this idea taking hold…
True. A Chicago location is more accessible to the largest number of people, plus it is where he has spent most of his life and it is where his political career began. On the other hand, Hawaii is home and the place where his values were mostly formed. We do indeed need a two state solution.
thank you, ceb! just noticing, you all are having this discussion while i’m still asleep here in hawaii….. ! 🙂 i know the university of chicago is a highly regarded institution, and it is located close to the nation’s largest population areas. the supposed purpose of a presidential library is for scholars to have access to presidential documents for research. however… ahem… in this modern world of internet searching and airplanes…. all that is moot. hawaii is the 50th state, and millions of people come here every year, without complaint. i say the library needs to be in honolulu, where the first president from this state was BORN. then you folks can come visit, and see the library too!
Chicago – it’s where he got started, where Michelle grew up and the kids too. When i think of PBO and politics it’s always Chicago that I associate him with. And it makes the RWNJ’s crazy – ‘the Chicago way’ ‘associations’ etc.
Definitely Chicago, I agree. And it will be different than other presidential libraries, I bet. It’ll be more about the “movement for change” than Barack Obama himself. Moreover, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has a link with Axelrod’s project, the “school of politics” he wants to establish in Chicago.
My hubby and me were just talking about this last week and concluded there will need to be several libraries. I think there should be one in Chicago, Hawaii, Indonesia, Ireland, and Kenya. I also believe since PBO is President of the Wolrd, there should be a PBO library on every continent.
Excellent.
Now we’re getting somewhere!
Very cool David Letterman being honored by the President he clearly loves.
I thought the same thing. Glad for ol’ Dave.
Good mernting TOD. I’m back in NOLA for a quick business related trip(I was just here last week for Thanksgiving) I’m heading home tonight though (only 48hr. 7pm this past Thurs to 7pm tonight). i’ve had a lot of things happening this past 48hours. It started off bad, but ended with greatness, but I may still have a less than optimal week coming up.
Anyway, I’ll fill y’all in once I get back to DFW. Hope everyone has a great day.
lamh36, travel safely!! Now, to answer your library question.
One library – The Obama presidential library in Chicago with the annex in Hawai’i, of course!! 😎 😎
ooh, that is a good idea. oh and thx for well wishes
Ah, perfect! Morning Isonprize!
Educates folks, boost the economy and tourism business all at the same time!! Thank you, thank you…
A quite excellent stimulus package!!
aloha and excuse me?! annex?
Oh, I hope he chooses Chicago, since it’s a short distance for me, but if he chooses Hawaii I would for sure go to see Morning Chips, congrats Intern & runner-up. I’ll be outdoors putting up some decorations since we are having some nice warm weather again today. Have a good day & positie thoughts out to Fred & Jackie.
Positive thoughts to Fred & Jackie
I thought of both of them before logging in, as well. All the best to them.
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone, and congrats to PFWHI #1!
The two completely random pics with PBO looking lovingly at FLOTUS & PBO with VP Biden are just driving me nutz. 🙂
Ha, I know you people’s weak spots Hopefruit! (And mine!)
The Plante cartoon would be even funnier if McCain was looking at Palin’s butt when he says “and I know qualified women.”
Bout time all you guys woke up.
😆 Morning Overseasgranny!!!!
Morning, Chips!! Not that I am obsessed with bums today, but I went back and checked out Biden’s agent’s; It’s fully packed and there is something to hang onto there. Maybe we’ll see more of him?! 🙂
OSG, purely for research purposes I went back to check:
You’re not wrong 😯
Yeeeeeaaaah
YOWZA! Come to mama! Hubba! Hubba!
OMG Chips, when I was watching this on TV I saw that and thought I wonder if Chips is watching!!! and here you have it. I love it. Naughty Maps and all
There are maps?? Can I have one??
PBO sent a text saying saying no!
Ha ha, you guys are too funny. I love this place!!!
Only in TOD land……”early Saturday morning Naughtyness”
Goodness, how did I miss this?!
A naughty mat for Naughty Granny!!
If I am headed for the naughty mat, I am going to have a LOT of company…and hopefully that agent will be there as well.
Go for it! 🙂
I love this place, Chips. I am screaming so loud, my neighbor(who hears everything) just sent a text to see if I was okay. I scream when I laugh. Hell, I could have waited later to take the meds, if I had known that this was going to take place. I did not see the photo this week.
I have a “Naughty Mat” in my office, so I can go and sit anytime. Ofcourse, the other computer is there as well. I use my old yoga mat for our naughtiness. So I pay my dues, Chips everytime I get in trouble.
I (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Love you, my TOD family))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))HZ
Morning all. Saturday’s awesome because I’m having a wonderful discussion about the series ‘Arrow’ on twitter. Nerds Unite! 😀
** Cough **
Meh. I’m in comic book nerd twitter heaven right now. Talking about Green Arrow, Huntress, Vertigo, Shado, Deathstroke, Deadshot, Black Canary, Meryln, etc. So nothing can ruin my good mood.
Maybe Rafa will sign Green Arrow, Huntress, Vertigo, Shado, Deathstroke, Deadshot, Black Canary and Meryln in January?
Meh.
PBO just sent a text saying no.
No about what?
Oops…sorry..this reply not meant for you, ut…I meant it for the naughty folks above – Overseas Granny and Chips – that photo of the agent’s cute bum….
The picture of Michelle in that white dress in the sunshine is amazing.
Yes, she is always elegant. Happy belated Birthday to you, maryl1. Continue to celebrate. Everyone is a celebration. Enjoy. ((((((( Many more)))))))))HZ
Thanks for the hugs, HZ! I am sitting here surrounded by schoolwork, but feeling pretty good and I’ll be going out to Noel Night in Detroit with some good friends tonight. “Give thanks in all circumstances!”
She looks…luminous.
The picture of FLOTUS in the white dress, what was the occasion? A state’s dinner or what. I can’t seem to remember.
Yep, Annie it was a State Dinner, but I can’t remember which one though.
I believe it was the dinner with Chancellor Merkel of Germany.
Holy shit.
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks!
It’s a beautiful day in the TOD neighborhood 🙂
While looking at the lovely pics of FLOTUS & POTUS & VP Biden, my heart filled with love…..then I saw McCain…….I’m back to looking at FLOTUS & POTUS 😆
I pick love, too, GGail!
Good morning, TODland and thank you for all of this, Chips!
Said goodbye early this morning to some dear family members who are returning to Florida, and miss them already! But I’m glad my toddler great grandson will be back in the sunshine, since he was already losing his “nature boy” tan!
Oh, and, I’m thrilled that one of the Kennedy Center honors will go to David Letterman, whom I’m sure secured many votes for President Obama in 2012 (and my adult son will be happy one is going to Led Zeppelin!). Can’t wait to see that presentation.
A wonderful Montana morning to Chips and all TOD family. It is Dec 1 and I am off to a Christmas Tea with friends. Have a great day everyone!
Enjoy your Christmas Tea!
Greetings from St Louis.
Kinda OT but I’ve been looking at old videos of PBO from 2009. Don’t you guys notice that his lips aren’t dark anymore? I’m so proud of him for getting over his smoking habit. 🙂
This is the vid I was watching
Compared to the weekly address in this post. 😉
Noticed that too. Bravo to him for quitting especially under such stressful conditions.
Did not know that smoking turned lips darker. Very cool of him to stop. I can hardly stop drinking Coke!
New Battlestar Gallactica series-
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/showbiz/bsg-online-series/
Prequel!
Hi Everyone!
Thanks Jovie, this AWESOME! I am a BSG fiend!!
#DoYourJob
Let’s convince these guys! Carl Levin is my guy and he has been there forever and I love him. I’d like to his reasons for needing persuasion on this.
Just received an email from Democracy for America with its hair on fire over Medicare “cuts”. Unsubscribed, and sent them this message: “Again with the emoprog head exploding. Sorry, don’t want it.”
LL, I received that email too. Shame on them for quoting Politico and then having the nerve to ask for Donations – ughhhh!!!!
Yep, I dropped them early on in the campaign and told them the same thing.
excellent.
Don’t forget!
// The 90th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting:
Online and On-Demand
This year, experience the magic of the National Christmas Tree Lighting any time you want without ever leaving your home. Watch the pre-show and tree lighting ceremony starting at 4:30 pm ET on Thursday, December 6. And following the live online stream, the show will be available anytime on-demand right here.
Broadcast
In partnership with WETA, Washington, D.C.’s flagship public broadcasting station, public television stations nationwide will begin airing the 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Friday, December 7 and continue throughout the holiday season. Viewers are invited to check for local airdates or check their local public station schedules for broadcast dates and times. //
http://www.thenationaltree.org/tree-lighting/
https://twitter.com/GoodGirlRoxy/status/274748547608489984
Oooh….ah….ooooh…ah…ooh…ah….0h…aw…aah….mmm….oooh…laa…yeagh…aha…
Ditto.
OK, “Go Deep” has destroyed me and neither a naughty mat nor a naughty map will help. I’m heading for the shower. You guys are on your own.
Ha!
Me too 😉
Drool!!!
Looking at POTUS with the football, I wonder how his Chicago Bears are doing? It would be nice for the Bears to win the Super Bowl and have them come to the White House.
Premiering on TNT Friday Dec 21st @ 8PM Eastern:
// Celebrating its 31st anniversary this year, Christmas in Washington is a holiday tradition benefiting the Children’s National Medical Center. The concert is attended each year by the President and First Lady, as well as many other Washington VIPs. This will mark TNT’s 14th year presenting Christmas in Washington.
Legendary performer Diana Ross, Smash star Megan Hilty, chart-topping recording star Demi Lovato, The Voice favorite Chris Mann and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery are set to ring in the holiday season as they come together in the nation’s capital for TNT’s annual Christmas in Washington special. In addition, the concert will close with a special performance by “Gangnam Style” sensation PSY. //
http://www.tntdrama.com/christmasinwashington/display/?contentId=76304
I really hope they don’t try ad force the President to do the Gangnam Style dance. He already said he’d only do it privately for Michelle. I hope they remember that he is actually the President of the United States.
LOL! I hope so too. You know they try to drag the President in every which fad that passes by.
Please, not that gangnam style B.S. I must admit I don’t get it, what’s the big deal with the whole thing. Celebrating Christmas is not the time and place for that.
I don’t get it either anniebella. But I will try to enjoy the other parts of the show.
Oh I will enjoy the other parts of the show too, just not interested in gangnam style.
Me and you, all the fuss, is this supposed to be new? Looks like a retread of some old fad….
Gonna say it again. Twitter was invented for Chuck Grassley. He’s a psycho. 😆
Um… wow… Ok, I’ve got nothing.
because to ‘assume’ makes and ‘ass’ out of ‘you’ and ‘me’, but this was a ‘deer’, so no ‘assumptions’ made.
Winner in category of Most Useless Quote Marks in Single Sentence.
The way this guy is so totally obsessed with dead deer is straight out of a David Lynch movie.
Back in a while, chat away:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/01/chat-away-88/