Marine One lands at the White House as President Barack Obama returns from a day trip to Michigan, Dec 10
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Today:
9:45: The President and Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
1:00: Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney
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NYT: The decline of the middle class in this country has paralleled that of the labor movement, which has been battered by the relentless efforts of business groups and Republicans to drive down wages, boost corporate profits and inflate executive salaries and bonuses. Now that campaign is on the verge of a devastating victory in Michigan, home of the modern labor movement, which could transform the state’s economy for the worse.
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Legislature is expected to pass a law that would allow workers to avoid paying dues to a union that represents their shop. Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, has reversed an earlier position and said he would sign the law….
….. As President Obama said on Monday, “These so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws, they don’t have to do with economics, they have everything to do with politics. What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.”
Mr. Snyder’s turnabout shocked workers in his state, and Democratic officials have spent the last few days urging him to reconsider and prevent a needless drive to the bottom. By withholding his signature, he can ensure that Michigan remains both the birthplace and the economic foundation of middle-class security.
Full editorial here
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Link: Mike Thompson
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Greg Sargent: If anyone had doubts that President Obama would speak out against Michigan’s new “right to work” initiative, he set them to rest during an event in that state ….
…. [he] hit all the right notes. He pointed out that “right to work” laws are not about boosting the economy, but about crippling the political opposition; that they are not about freedom, but about weakening workers’ ability to organize for better pay; that unions have long played a critical role in providing a path to the middle class; and that investing in a trained, well represented work force is the way to produce a broadly shared prosperity – rather than a “race to the bottom” – that is better for the country as a whole….
Full post here
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Market Watch: Some bad news for Republicans trying to hold back tax increases on the wealthy as part of a fiscal cliff deal: A Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll finds that 60% of likely American voters favor raising taxes on households making more than $250,000 a year.
That support dovetails neatly with President Barack Obama’s position – a stance that some Republicans are grudgingly coming around to….
The poll found that only 38% believe the Republicans’ argument that raising taxes on households earning more than $250,000 would hurt the economy, whereas 58% don’t buy it…..
More here
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Link: Twitter
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Random old pic:
June 11, 2011: “The top photograph shows the President having a water gun fight with his daughter Sasha on her birthday weekend at Camp David. Unbeknownst to me, David Lienemann captured a similar photo of the Vice President on the very same day.” (Official White House Photos by Pete Souza and David Lienemann)
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MoooOOooooOOOooooOOoorning!
The Obama Diary 
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, and everyone! 🙂
Moooooooorning Hopefruit, morning JER, mooooooorning everyone 😉
Now that’s the way to start my day. What a cutie-pie! Thank YOU Chips 🙂
I’m protesting. I got first yesterday and got nothing. NUTHING.
I ajopolise UT, it was one of those days! Here’s a double pic to make up for it:
Thank you. My mommy will now release you from time out.
Phew!
Good day all ya’ll. Admiral, I’m still waiting for mine and I’m still waiting for some SNOW!
Hey, I was first on the weekend, same thing, but I just let it go as Chips is a very busy lady. I do admit to childish feelings about it though 😀
All 3 ladies are beauts.
Good morning to you! Thanks for the photo and congratulations on first. You must be very good at this to be able to post a photo. 😉
Good morning all. Hi Hopefruit, Chips.
Hello JER! Happy Tuesday.
Congratulations, Hopefruit and Jer. Good morning Chips and everyone at TOD.
Thank you Eve!
Gooood morning! Sadly, I don’t think Americans really understand the importance of unions!
Ha, trust you to love that!!!:-)
Come on, it’s brilliant word play. Philistine.
I actually had to read it twice before it clicked. 😆 And I agree with you that’s it great word play.
Hahahahahahahahahaha…that’s funny.
GM everyone. Great roundup, Chips
Morning COS! A bit of a rush job, will catch up with more news later. How are ya doing?
via bj
Flippin’ hilarious!!!!!!!
Really nice pictures.
But here’s a freaky one that Pamela sent me:
I’ll have nightmares!
WTF?!?!?!?!? Is this Mitch McConnell’s offshore dream residence?
😆 😆 It freaks me out!!!! Huh, thanks Pamela.
Solar Rooftop boom in US last year-
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-11/u-s-solar-surges-44-in-third-quarter-driven-by-rooftops.html
This is good news. Progress.
Love to hear news like this, #Forward! Thanks Jovie.
Good morning TODville. At least I made the top 1,000. Beautiful day in Chicago area. PBO is firing on all engines and people are listening. I think that we will see a lot of differences this next 4 years. Without needing to worry about reelection, PBO is going to turn into PBO unleashed, which should cause the Republicnas to shake in their boots. Unfortunately for them, they are too stupid and greedy to see the fate that awaits them unless they start cooperating.
They think that with the gerrymandering 2014 is going to be like 2010. It won’t be. The ground forces will be out in force, the Dems are actually, amazingly, looking like a united party. The next four years may not be pretty, but it will be fun to watch.
I think all this talk of the 2016 election is the MSM/GOP’s attempt to distract people from the fact that there is a very important and consequential election coming up in 2014.
Morning Japa! “The Dems are actually, amazingly, looking like a united party” – seriously. It’s weird!
I do pray that you’re right about the gerrymandering, Japa. In my area, we got seriously screwed with this redistricting nonsense and lost a solid Democrat. Now we have a far right Republican nutjob and have absolutely no voice in Congress. In this area, the guy would have to commit some kind of crime to ever be voted out, which means we’re stuck with him for good unless he sticks his fingers in a till or leaves his wife for another man. It enrages me that we’re all victims of political shenanigans when it comes to our districts. We can win statewide elections and federal ones, but getting good local representation is tough, which is why we’re stuck with the those lunkheads in Congress. I hope other areas have better luck.
*At least I made the top 1,000*
Ha! Me, too! Mornin’.
Love this Amk! So true.
Dogs are my kinda people! 😀
TAX POLICY CALCULATOR
Last updated Dec. 4, 2012 5:38 PM EST
This calculator allows you to compare your federal tax burden under two scenarios – what you paid when you filed this year (2011 tax law), and what you’ll pay in 2013 assuming the country goes over the “Fiscal Cliff” – that is, all Bush-era and Obama tax cuts expire, the payroll tax holiday expires, and AMT is not patched. http://interactive.taxfoundation.org/taxcalc/#calculator
CHECK IT OUT. THEN CONTACT YOUR CONGRESS PERSON. The Tax Foundation is a non-partisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C.
Thank you Jer….used it and I cannot afford what I pay now and what I will pay if we slide down the fiscal hill. I will save 600.00 under PBOS’s plan!!
Yes – Under the President’s plan, I’ll only pay an extra $250. But, if the fiscal cliff happens, I’ll owe an extra $7000. The thing is, I’d rather go over the cliff. Just let the cuts happen to defense, address social programs separately after the fact, and let the top 2% pay more. Get it over and done with. Enough with the hostage taking.
Don’t forget, if you share the URL, be careful to pick the one that doesn’t show all your salary info. There’s a warning on the page about this.
FLOTUS was on Steve Harvey this morning…thanking everyone for coming out to vote …and reminding us that the fight isn’t over. It’s just begun.
Thanks Rikyrah, hopefully we’ll be able to hear it here soon:
http://www.steveharvey.com/
Thank you so much for this. It hasn’t come on yet in my area, so whoooohoooo!
Michelle Obama’s hair looks like black satin in that photo. I wish I could get mine to look that good. She is spectacular.
Mornin’ everyone.
😆 Was that a pic of you in your studenty days??
That would be a picture of me right now. It pays to marry into the gullible wifey class.
“That would be a picture of me right now.”
And that was me in the polka dot skirt.
“gullible wifey class.” I hope your wife reads TOD.
Speaking of men who cannot be left to their own devices—–no one in my fam can believe what happened in my house recently. Mr. dotster picked up a couple salads, 2 cream of broccoli soups and some crusty bread for our dining pleasure the other day. I tossed the salads which we enjoyed, and then mr. dotster went to warm up his soup in the microwave before me, a task I assumed he could handle. And as he’s slurping it down, he keeps saying things like “this is more spicy, more tart, than I thought it would be” etc. So I warm up mine and tho it’s tasty it’s semi-bland and I ask what in the world he was talking about. Come to find out, he had warmed up the ranch dressing!!!!!!! and ate it all, not recognizing it was not his soup. I was astounded. I kept asking, “Did this really happen?” “How can this be?”—- the soup and dressing were in the same kind of cardboard containers but you would think after the first taste, at least, the mixup would have been obvious. Oh my oh my oh my. Mr. dotster cannot be trusted to operate on his own. He’s going to kill himself. 🙂 Fam is really having a blast with this story. Son in law said he is giving mr. dotster a soup can for xmas with the label “Cream of ranch dressing soup”.
LOL. that could SO easily have happened at my house. Husband helpless in kitchen. Don’t know how he manages on the trail (hiking).
Totally love this story! Thanks.
Thank you. I laughed until my stomach ached and the tears rolled down my face.
OMG, this is too funny! I cannot stop laughing!!
That is so funny. Makes him all the more lovable.
Dotster…………You really need to write a blog Titled The Adventures of Mr.Dotster…..He is quite a Character. Your Stories always make me chuckle.
One night my husband dished out vanilla ice cream for himself and put chocolate syrup on it. He started eating it, and said, this chocolate sure is weird…..I tasted it, he had put barbecue sauce on his ice cream. I understand do well!
I have a sneaking suspicion we’re married to the same man. But we’re all married to the Same Man, aren’t we?
This is why the Republucans want to privatize Amyrak(it makes a lot of money)-
As House Republicans press to privatize Amtrak service in the Northeast US, the company said Monday that it set a new ridership record over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Amtrak said it carried 737,537 passengers from Nov. 20-26, which encompassed the Thanksgiving holiday. The total was a 1.9 percent increase from the Thanksgiving 2011 ridership, which Amtrak said was the previous record for holiday travel on its railways.
The record ridership brought in $56.1 million to Amtrak, the company said, an 8.4 percent increase over 2011.
This is the bottom line reason FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO! Profit over people. Always.
Colbert at his finest——FOX News’ “soul searching” and Petraeus presidential appointment
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/422044/december-10-2012/fox-news–secret-presidential-recruit
Kristof is a sick person.
Kristof: Some young people here don’t join the military (a traditional escape route for poor, rural Americans) because.
it’s easier to rely on food stamps and disability payments.”
Wow. The absolute nerve of poor young people not joining the military! We hard working taxpayers provide this excellent opportunity for them to escape poverty (and quite possibly their lives) and see the world (!) and they turn up their dependent noses at it.
Yeah. I saw some of his appearance on Morning Joe as I was flipping through channels and my jaw dropped. His article and his comments were simultaneously insulting. Limousine liberals who walk hand in hand with the GOP to perpetuate the disgusting stereotype that people who use social programs are lazy, no good scum makes me so mad. Nick Kristof has never walked a day in a poor person’s shoes. He’s never walked a day in the life of the hardworking people he so callously dismisses.
His comments today were sick. His thinking is sick and he’s a sick man for brutally disparaging people who are just trying to make it through each day.
Well said, UT!
In other words, we need people to be poor and needy or we don’t get our needed military to protect us due to anyone that has food, housing and essentials does not want to protect their country or DIE in unnecessary wars.
Another generality is the rich never serve. I do know in the days of the draft many wealthy connected rich SONS (in those days) were able to get out of the military. That fits but arguing in generalities is always done and always wrong. Too many exceptions and it’s unfair to place labels on people.
I’m surprised at him. At first I wondered if you meant Bill Kristol, but evidently not.
From my Twitter TL I see that Chuck Todd got bitch-slapped about being in the tank for the GOP. Nice.
HF, What did they say? Don’t have Twitter.
Here are a couple of tweets. I guess it happened this morning on Chuck Todd’s show on MSNBC, around 9:40ish.
Thanks, HF! Hah-ha! Love the 2nd one too! 🙂
But but but the fiscal cliff the debt ceiling and the Obama lizard and…
You can spot the difference between the true progressives who genuinely respect our President while advocating for the causes they believe in, versus the fake-ass ones who just want their names in print and faces on TV, while issuing ultimatum after ultimatum, and engaging in threats and poutrage.
See the contrast between and examples of the former (progressive) – Eclectablog, and the latter (fauxgressive) – MMFlint, in regards to the issue of the President’s response to the “Right to work” law in MI.
BEFORE PBO’s SPEECH:
MMFlint posted an order to the President yesterday:
In contrast, Eclectablog also expressed his wishes (note the lack of threats, ultimatums, demands, etc).
DURING/AFTER PBO’s SPEECH:
Crickets from MMFlint. Not one tweet about the speech.
In contrast, numerous tweets from Eclectablog; livetweeting PBO’s speech along with his own commentary – including this comment:
mm has always been an attention seeking pig.
Agreed…..That is One Person…I’d punch in the Mouth if I had a chance…..Just Saying!
“Crickets from MMFlint. Not one tweet about the speech.”
Great stuff Hopefruit, so pathetically predictable from Moore. To think I used to actually admire the guy.
Also. To. This punk was one of the reasons the MI went red despite the president’s great success in saving their sorry asses.
Yes, that’s true.
They keep screaming demands of President Obama and then shamelessly take all credit for the President’s efforts and actions – never again to acknowledge him or the role he played once they get what they want…
Take Dan Savage the biggest most off-putting asshole out there who was relentless and so disrespectful of President Obama – using the fight for repeal of DADT as his cover to endlessly attack the President…
Once that passed and President Obama spoke in support of equality, that was it…
Not even a passing mention or acknowledgement of President Obama or what was supposed to be his strongly impacting and all important role according to the activists who hounded him previously to speak in support…
Now Dan Savage takes all the credit. All of it…
All of it that Dan Choi doesn’t take. There are few people that are more odious to me than that lying, slandering, attention-seeking fraud.
Where’s Dan Choi been…
Haven’t seen or heard of him lately…
Michael Moore and his ilk should take credit for contributing to the MI disaster, and the rest of the disasters of 2010. They’re the ones who denigrated PBO and encouraged people to ‘send a message’ and not vote. Now we are stuck with egregious gerrymandering for another 8 years and Walker, Scott, Kasich, Snyder……. They want mea culpas all the time, and are too chicken shit to admit their culpability in this outrageous mess.
Also, MM didn’t act to support PBO until late in the game, right before the election. I was disgusted by his behavior and tweets. I support PBO 100% of the time because I realize how difficult his job is, and I realize that no one gets everything he/she wants. People like Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, and Michael Moore pitch fits if they don’t get their special little ponies. That’s not how politics works, and it’s not how you win political offices for your candidates. I’ve have gotten to the place where when one of them opens his/her mouth, I ignore him/her. I have no use for part time supporters of PBO because they always piss me off.
For some of these folks like West, Smiley etc., it’s personal Maj…
There’s no good President Obama could do ever do policy wise that’ll please them…
They are torn between hating him out out of envy and smarting from being ignored…
I’m super pissed that Tavis Smiley and Cornel West now have radio time on progressive radio in Chicago.
At one time when the GOP had people up in arms about ACA, I believe PBO did not speak out against these state issues due to his unpopular polls could be more influential in causing people to have the opposite opinion from what he was saying. I believe he has always had the common persons needs at heart and has acted or not acted politically in whatever the situation called for to help us attain our best results. In the beginning of his first term he did not know how the opposition would act as it was not in any historical context and proceeded in a sensible way only to find that backfired. He certainly has evolved and learned to be flexible unlike the media who only acts upon past behaviors.
I live in Oregon and have been hearing that 2 renegade Washington State Democrats are joining with the GOP legislators to give them a voting majority block there. That is scary to me.
chris Savage is hands down one of my favorite bloggers.
Good morning Chips and TOD family. It is going to be a white Christmas here in MT. We have snow on the ground and I think it is going to stay around. I am happy. Sure loved hearing the President speak yesterday. I miss the big rallies. This think in Michigan is very scary. The repubs are winning in states I never dreamed they would. I do think they will pay for it in 2014. We must win.
You’ve met my husband, I see.
Ugh! I know the big sister’s pain. Thanks for bringing up that unpleasant memory, buddy!
So you were a meanie then and are a meanie now ?
Would ya look at what woke up?!
It woke up a long time back, then re-slept and then re-woke. Never ending cycle of nightmares.
Well…….. 🙂
gotta click the pic
It is amazing how long her reign has been.
A lot of hard work, amk. But I must say, that I enjoyed it. It seems like with certain POTUS’, The Queen was Not too happy, shall I assume? Lovely.
Yeh, but look at how she’s looking at JFK — “what a dreamboat!” 😀
Ha ~ I was listening to the top video of POTUS’ remarks to the Dubai Summit.. and said outloud “you go Mr. President with that “her” in regards to entrepreneurs… and my wise-mouth 13 yr old son pipes up with: “don’t encourage him”(POTUS)
Happy Tuesday TOD family ~ have a good’un
but that’s the thing…the republicans do not have any actual, detailed plan, and these public relations fluff pieces they do put out don’t even balance the budget anyway. so sessions is not even “balancing the budget.” he and all republicans simply want to enrich their country club friends from taking more from the poor. pure, raw greed is all the republican party represents now.
Disgusting!! 😦
Sick-e-ning. Let’s R/T the hell outta that. Grrrr.
The president looks tired in his video. Hope he gets a good rest over the holidays. The pace of his life has been so hectic. I wonder how he does it all and still smiles.
He does look tired…
Even though he sometimes looks tired, I think he probably sleeps well. Anybody who “tries to do the right thing” on a daily basis for his fellow man (and woman and child) can’t help but have peace of mind.
Morning Jacquelineoboomer. I read your comments, and my heart was so filled with joy that you made such a distinct statement that is so much the core of who POB is as a man, and as our POTUS. “tries to do the right thing.” This is the key. The physical body can show signs of stress when we work it to a limit that is normal for some situation. Knowing POB like many dear and very close friends in my circle of friends who know him, will tell you that POB is a very, very , very hard working man. He is so focus on what is on his plate, and he will give every possible ounce of his being to try to bring a solution to that problem, especially concerning peoples lives, their children lives, and so many who are hurting during this very difficult time in our nation and our world. He does not rest until he sees a good and reasonable fair solution to those things on his desk. Our president works very, very, very hard.
However, POB knows that when he sleeps at night his core is in place and his heart and mind is at peace with the work that he has put in for the day in the Oval Office. POB is a president who takes his responsibilities as our President and CIC very very close to his heart and his decisions are the results of very hard work.
Being that he knows that the opposition is coming from All sides against him, he will Not stop working hard for the American people. The tirdness we may see in his eyes will show now and many more days to come, as it has been seen for other presidents, but with everyone focused on this particular president, we tend to see it stand out so much. However, trust me, POB will always be renewed in his being because he knows that that tired look will only last for a night, because joy will come for him in the morning and for all those he is constantly working so hard for during his presidency. President Obama is a man who takes his duties very close to his heart, and uses his brilliant mind to give him much direction in making those decision, but not with much serious and long thoughts of “how will this affect the middle class and their families who really need a lift up. That is who President Barack Obama really is, and he will get his job done no matter how others may try to put stumbling blocks in his path. “He may stumble, but he will not fall.” Scripture. Plus, there are a very dedicated group of millions of “Prayer Warriors” praying for POB each and and everyday.
“Evem though he someimes looks tired, I think he probably sleeps well.” JO. I so much agree with you, Jacqueline. When you work so hard and that work comes from a pure and honest and caring heart, the body
will show you your reward in the form of tiredness, but your soul and heart are at complete peace.HZ
AMEN!
The eyes tell the story. His eyes say he is having a hard time of it even after a hard fought and deserved victory.
I have grown to HATE Republicans. I used to be one so that is hard to come to grips with. I see people around me acting like they know it all based on listening to Rush Limbaugh and FOX and being totally uninformed. When given facts they just think you have been misinformed since ALL politicians lie. When I was a registered Republican I almost never voted for them I just didn’t want to be an independent since you never got to vote for any people in the Primaries and I just stayed the same party I had originally registered with when I first registered.
It actually takes a lot of work to be up on issues enough to understand what is happening. Barack Obama woke me up on the need to stay engaged and make time in your life to call politicians. Also the media has changed so much as you used to be able to count on news for presenting both sides in an unbiased manner. Editorials were for expounding on partisan matters. Some people engage as if that is still the playbook and are unaware that the media is now more like a propoganda machine of Corporate America.
I like this- looks like Boehner is not getting any traction in talks:
And the WH responds:
Back in 2008, the GOP did not ever think the President would make it beyond the primaries let alone win the Presidency. They didn’t know how to run against him because they were so certain Hillary would win.
Then they were so sure that they would make him a one-term President and now they don’t know what to do since he was handily re-elected with a mandate and is acting like he won with a mandate.
Here’s an idea: They could acknowledge they lost, that their pro-2% policies were rejected by the majority of Democrats, Independents and Republicans and they could do this thing that all the cool kids are doing nowadays: govern.
That’s code for “Whaaah, the President isn’t negotiating with himself this time.”
Is that Hopefruit I spotted at the top of the village green as I made my way into TODville? Fantastic! You go, Hopefruit, ma Gurl! 😆 😆
😳 Forgot me manners. Howdy TODville occupants and all those looking in over the fences! To those on the outside, you are welcome inside, you know, if your allegiance is on the O side of the ledger. 😉
Glad to see you recognized that Hopefruit isn’t the only person that counts around here.
That’s what happens when you only glance in quickly. Apologies again, Japa! I do appreciate all TODobots, the ones that ‘count’ (to use your word) and the ones that don’t count 1, 2, 3 😉 When I’m rushing in and out I don’t always get it right, but I do try. Right now I’m trying to read the post before reading my way down the board, and I’m trying to do it quickly so I can catch up, but the truth is I’m a slow reader. 🙄 Off I go again!
Well, whether a person can count or not, all are welcome here. You happen to be one of those specially welcome.
Ta, Japa. I’ll try not to tarnish my welcome by not forgetting my manners too often. 😉
LOL! I count. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Up to which number? 😉 😆
Is there any reason why some Tweets are not appearing as usual…..in a sort of rectangular box format? Or could it be my doing?
https ://twitter.com/AriMelber/status/278547328053415936
WordPress works in mysterious ways when it comes to tweets but using the link above as an example if you remove the ‘s’ after ‘http’ it usually posts correctly with the white rectangle background. Doesn’t always work, but it usually does.
After doing that sometimes I need to refresh my page to actually see the rectangle appear.
Thanks. I am not sure why some show and others don’t. Bob and Amk tweets are showing. There are a few others….but the rest are doing their thing.
JER and Bills show OK.
This is disgusting—-beyond disgusting. Appeals ct. overrules Illinois ban on concealed carry. NRA rules, wins again, won’t be happy until all citizens are walking around with guns in their pants. Guns at the ready at all times, all places. Idiocy.
Let one of their own get killed by a concealed gun — I don’t wish bad on anyone, but sometimes that’s the only way certain people learn empathy.
God DAMN it.
Zero Dark Thirty’
As CNN’s Peter Bergen notes, the president himself makes only one cameo.
“The one time the president does appear in ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ is in a clip from a ‘60 Minutes’ interview in which he criticizes the use of ‘torture.’ By this point in the film, the audience has already seen that the CIA has employed coercive interrogation techniques on an al Qaeda detainee that produced a key lead in the hunt for bin Laden. In the film, Obama’s opposition to torture comes off as wrongheaded and prissy.”
what going on with this movie, are they working for dick and bush. Something is not right with this, if Obama only made one cameo. ObAMA IS THE MAIN REASON BIN LADEN IS DEAD
They got significant pushback from republicans in congress and was hedging their bets that this President would lose the election.
The Writers/Directors and producers got intimidated and punked by the liked of Peter King.
I won’t be paying any money to see this. Sounds like the documentary on TV was better than this. I would only want to see this for PBO’s role. FLOTUS and PBO does not get the credit they deserve for a lot of things. FLOTUS and Dr Biden should have been in the news a lot more for their work with the military. Kate and William can stump their toe and all of the networks spend tons of minutes discussing it. It is really upsetting.
Some others, notably Spencer Ackerman writing in Wired, has a different take on the torture issue.Film Director Kathryn “Bigelow is being presented as a torture apologist, and it’s a bum rap…. Zero Dark Thirty does not present torture as a silver bullet that led to bin Laden; it presents torture as the ignorant alternative to that silver bullet.”
So who do we believe.
BTW, even John McCain is on record as saying torture did not perovide any info that lead to bin Laden, it was normal interrogation techniques.
I’m reserving judgment until the reviews come out.
This movie is actually getting great buzz and the movie was done before the election, but held off release because of the election. I’m glad the President doesn’t appear in the film too often (neither did he in the NationalGeo version only about three clip scenes). This story is powerful and everyone is fully aware of decisions Obama had to make.
I can hardly wait to see this movie. Kathy Bigelow is turning out to be a great director and will surely be considered for another Oscar for this work. If she can win over Spielberg’s Lincoln (which I loved) would be an awesome accomplished for women directors.
Well, I would hold my horses on the oscars, anyway. This Les Miserables looks good.
‘…Kate and William can stump their toe and all of the networks spend tons of minutes discussing it…’
Finally, someone says out loud what has most smart people going wtf…
I have no idea why these two are important and why they take up so much space in the news especially here in America where serious issues that do matter to its citizens are completely blacked out by the media…
They represent all that many loud Americans claim to despise…
No different really from Donald Trump without the silly and obnoxious public displays…
Born into wealth and advantage but stuck on the dole…
Is Bergen defending or criticizing PBO with his comment? It is not clear to me.
Suggest you all watch this ….
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12686
Someone on NPR yesterday was talking about this movie yesterday, and mentioned that the video focuses on tactics used by the CIA to gather intelligence, and they show the torture segments. The fact that doesn’t seem to come across is that it’s been proven that no actionable intelligence was gathered using torture tactics. And the other fact that doesn’t seem to come across is that torture does not work – and is a violation of international law. The makers of the movie said that they weren’t trying to make a statement about torture, but by glamorizing it and not highlighting these known facts, then they do make a statement about torture that just serves to inspire more hate around the world. If torture led to bin Ladin, and the use of torture was stopped by Bush back in the mid-2000’s, then why didn’t Bush capture or kill bin Ladin during his term?
The person speaking mentioned that this is more of a movie that Dick Cheney would like. That was all I needed to hear.
Dexter Filkins interviewed the Bigalow and the screenwriter and they admit that ” the movie is not a documentary its a movie, and the info about Al-Kuwati did not come from torture!”
What a shame Theo…
And shame on Kathleyn Bigelow if this is what she reduced a precious opportunity to…
More evidence that Boehner is in a position of weakness and losing on fiscal curb.
All that froth & bluster, and they’re on their knees. Well, PBO did say, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Talking to you Boehner, et. al!
He needs to click over to the Mandate News Network to get the latest updates.
Space plane launches-
http://www.universetoday.com/98937/air-forces-secret-x-37b-space-plane-launches-on-third-mission/
wow- this is an amazing step up from the shuttle. very cool, and runs on solar power!
(from the article):
‘ The X-37B is launched like a satellite and rides inside the fairing of the Atlas rocket. The X-37B can operate at in low Earth orbit for extended periods of time – the previous mission stayed in orbit for 469 days – and can re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and land on autopilot, landing just like a plane on a runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
While looking much like the space shuttle, the X-37B is about 1/4 the size of NASA’s space shuttle’s and is built using composites lighter than aluminum, and it uses a new type of leading wing tiles, called Tough Rock, instead of the shuttle’s carbon-carbon tiles. It runs on solar power allowing for longer missions. ‘
[A comment over @ Washington Monthly in response to post]:
Joe Friday on December 11, 2012 11:02 AM:
“Salon’s Josh Eidelson links to a video where a national GOP leader from Michigan tells a Tea Party audience just a few months ago that conservatives are determined to enact right-to-work in Michigan by ballot initiative if Snyder and legislators don’t get it done legislatively.”
If Michigan has a ballot initiative like Ohio, this will likely be overturned.
That was the problem in Wisconsin, without the ballot initiative, they resorted to a recall of the Governor, and even though a sizable majority disagreed with his agenda, enough thought that was the wrong way to go about it for it not to succeed.
[Here the video]: http://youtu.be/DChq01XfG5c
[Article here]: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_12/ancient_battle041710.php#comments
The spending cuts Boehner chooses not to see
———————————————
It’s disconcerting, in a way, that Boehner still doesn’t seem to understand the larger debate he’s currently engaged in, but so long as the Speaker is confused, let’s try to give him a hand.
First, if the Republican leader wants to know where President Obama’s spending cuts are, he can start with the more than $1 trillion in spending cuts Obama already accepted as part of the resolution to last year’s debt-ceiling crisis.
Second, Obama’s debt-reduction plan, like Obama’s most recent budget plan, already includes additional spending cuts, on top of the cuts the president agreed to in 2011.
And third — this is the part Boehner really doesn’t seem to understand — Obama has no incentive to negotiate with himself. The House Speaker is saying, in effect, “We’re demanding spending cuts, so Obama should propose some, and we’ll let him know when we’re satisfied.”
—————————————————-
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/11/15844438-the-spending-cuts-boehner-chooses-not-to-see?lite
good hawaii morning chips and tods! 🙂 happy to be living in a beautiful world, with president barack obama and his wonderful family counting down to their hawaii vacation.
[Jenny Sanford might just get to smile sweetly @ the “Appalachian Trail” hiker!]:
It’s not every day a governor gets to place someone in the United States Senate, so I guess you can forgive Nikki Haley for milking as much publicity as she can from choice of a replacement for Jim DeMint.
But the “short list” she’s now put out simply draws more attention to the fact that she hasn’t already made the choice national conservatives are begging for, reportedly reflecting DeMint’s own wishes: Rep. Tim Scott, the African-American right-winger from Charleston.
Scott’s on the list, to be sure, but so, too are two women who sort of muddy the diversity waters: Jenny Sanford, the aggrieved former wife of the adulterous former Gov. Mark Sanford; and Catherine Templeton, the union-baiting former head of the state labor department who now runs the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
More here: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_12/haley_muddies_the_waters041721.php
Sounds like all of those choices are bad for the people. They clearly don’t understand the role of government, or who pays their salaries and whom they’re supposed to serve.
It’s all about Haley & how she gets her next thing. People, who are those little people? They don’t a hoot.
Tweet this Lady that info-
http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2012/12/actress-ashley-judd-may-challenge-mcconnell.html
She is one of us.
This is erroneous-
She’s also said she might wait until 2016, when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is up for re-election and might also be waging a run for the Republican presidential nomination, according to Politico.
This is a must watch. Had a smile on my face viewing this.
Thanks ut for the video – I read about it on Twitter but didn’t see the segment.
so beautiful: ‘ your job is to tell the truth, even if it embarrasses you because you may seem to be favoring one party.’ and how interesting, that toad says, activists are telling people, don’t go to media for news, come to us, and that’s terrible. well, toad, you created this environment where nobody can trust what you say, so of course we’ll find someone else to listen to. you’ve become entertainment, not a source for true information, and frankly, you’re not that pretty.
mindmeld. That whine stuck me the most. We are getting to these corrupt bastids, people. Let’s double down in calling out their shameless shilling for rw.
psych
but then, it is the best part, except maybe for when they tell him to tell the truth. that was pretty awesome, too!
Did you see the phuck toad’s whine towards the end about how the ‘some activists are now legitimizing the press’?. It’s not “activists” you asshole. It’s common people, who are seeing through your shilling for radical rw thugs under the guise of ‘fair & balanced’ and for whom you have complete contempt for. Good of Mann to call out this fucker’s fail as a journo.
Yes, I saw what he tried to do at the end. WoodChuck got schooled and that segment was so gratifying.
It doesn’t look like Chuck Todd took it as a beating, since his last comment is that “activists” are trying to de-legitimize the media and make the activist network the first place to go to for news, and he said this isn’t a good thing. Chuck Todd doesn’t get it – the only people de-legitimizing the media are the media themselves. I don’t think Chuck Todd even understands the role of the media and what it means “to inform”.
Wow, that short article nailed it, sorry to say. Very poignant.
Sure is toots. 🙂
The state of the middle class is desperately sad – “desperate” being the operative word. There will come a point where people won’t put up with it.
You bet!
ABL: “Anti-Choice Message on Wire Hangers? Dude, naw.”
“… a dry-cleaner outfit in Cincinnati, Ohio is splashing its Forced Birther message on wire hangers, either blissfully unaware or blissfully not giving a fuck about the optics of putting a Forced Birth message on a goddamn wire hanger …”
More here: http://angryblackladychronicles.com/2012/12/10/anti-choice-message-on-wire-hangers-dude-naw/
Un-freakin’-believable. Who would not know that old reference?
I had to read ABL’s post twice! Still shaking my head!
this just makes me sick–literally, my stomach turns.
[I hope they collect tons of signatures!]:
The bill is expected to advance to Gov. Rick Snyder’s (R) desk soon, however, the Detroit Free Press says he’s not likely to sign the legislation today.
Greg Sargent: “But union operatives think there is another mechanism by which the law can be challenged. According to one good government group’s analysis of the state constitution, there exists the option of the ‘statutory initiative,’ which would be forced by the collecting of signatures equal to at least eight percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.”
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/12/11/michigan_passes_right-to-work_legislation.html
This is interesting. In the Seattle Metro area Credit Unions have surpassed BofA: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2012/12/11/have-you-dumped-chase-or-bank-of-america/
our town recently saw the only bank close, leaving our magnificent credit union as the sole banking institution within 30 miles.
4:12PM EST December 11. 2012 – Babies and pets have been named in honor of President Obama — and now a dinosaur.
Researchers at Yale University have dubbed a newly discovered species of dinosaur ‘Obamadon gracilis,” citing the president’s broad smile, Reuters reports.
In modified Latin, “Obamadon” stands for “Obama’s teeth,” while “gracilis” means “slender.”
“The lizard has these very tall, straight teeth and Obama has these tall, straight incisors and a great smile,” said Nick Longrich, a paleontologist at Yale.
More here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/12/11/obama-dinosaur-yale-obamadon-gracilis/1761793/
Obamadon. I like that:))
[“Congress Whisperer” 🙂 ]
3:24PM EST December 11. 2012 – White House officials aren’t saying much publicly about their “fiscal cliff” talks with congressional Republicans, and one of the reasons is a guy named Rob Nabors.
Nabors, who is President Obama’s top congressional liaison, is one of those officials who “prizes discretion and despises leaks, which is why Republicans say they can trust this Democrat,” says the Washington Post in a profile.
Behind the scenes, however, Nabors — only 41, but a White House and Capitol Hill veteran — is playing a major role in efforts by the president to strike a budget deal with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
White House senior adviser David Plouffe describes Nabors as the administration’s “Congress whisperer.”
“Rob’s got a great instinct for where the deal lies, what Democrats are willing to do, what Republicans are willing to do,” Plouffe told the Post. “He’ll say, ‘here’s what’s going on, here are what the odds are of success.’ He doesn’t ever paint a rosier picture than exists.”
Nabors, by the way, didn’t comment for the Post profile.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/12/11/obama-rob-nabors-fiscal-cliff/1761477/#
I like Rob Nabors – he just does the work.
Agree theo. Here is the full wapo article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/rob-nabors-is-man-behind-many-political-deals/2012/12/10/2a039878-4264-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html
Thanks Melanie!
good article. pbo has great people working with him. cannot wait to see his new supremes choices!
nancy smash school the repukes:
http://thehill.com/video/house/272229-pelosi-throws-it-back-at-boehner-asks-gop-to-clarify-tax-hikes
BREAKING: Americans for Prosperity stages phony altercation at Michigan Right to Work rally
There’s a video on heavy rotation at Fox News, being massively retweeted by conservatives and Americans for Prosperity, where they talk about the “brutality” and “violence” of union members at today’s rally in Lansing, Michigan to protest Right to Work legislation. The video shows an Americans for Prosperity tent coming down on the front lawn of the Capitol Building.
As it turns out, American for Prosperity (AFP) themselves were responsible for at least one of the tents coming down. Tom Duckworth watched one of the folks that had been in the AFP tent go around and loosen the straps on the tent. According to Duckworth, “the tent came down from the INSIDE.”
More here: http://www.eclectablog.com/2012/12/breaking-americans-for-prosperity-stages-phony-altercation-at-michigan-right-to-work-rally.html
America Needs Unions!
Sebelius: Expansion of Medicaid is All or Nothing:
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reiterated today that a half-hearted or inconsequential expansion of Medicaid is unacceptable and that if states want to receive matching funds from the federal government, they must fully comply with the law.
“Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote a letter to governors saying the administration “continue[s] to encourage all states to fully expand their Medicaid programs.”
“In an accompanying blog post, she declared that “the law does not create an option for enhanced match for a partial or phased-in Medicaid expansion to 133 percent of poverty.”
“In other words, the states must take all or nothing. That sets up a dilemma for Republican governors, who have to decide whether to stonewall Obamacare or accept the generous funding to cover their low-income uninsured residents.”
More here: http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2012/12/sebelius-expansion-of-medicaid-is-all-or-nothing.html
New offers from both sides and Boner is complaining.
Well, at least Boner isn’t saying Mr President where are the jobs? Over and over and over…
But, he is now asking, ah, Mr President where are the cuts? Over and over and over…
Take this with a grain of salt because final negotiations and numbers haven’t come out.
The White House and House Speaker John Boehner have traded a second round of proposals to address the so-called “fiscal cliff,” CBS News has learned.
The latest offer from the White House included $1.4 trillion in new revenue, down from its initial request $1.6 trillion, a GOP source confirmed to CBS.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57558603/wh-boehner-trade-new-fiscal-cliff-proposals/
I will take it as nothing. Boehner is too weak to offer anything. We’re going over the curb.
Their were supposed to be no leaks! Typical Republcan gamesmanship!
That is the GOP media that’s putting out all this sketchy info to deceive the voters and get people angry at the President. This reminds me of the media’s role during the HCR debate in 2010.
They got Boners spokepersom on record. Seems like they can’t keep their traps shut!
Boehner still has not offered any specifics in terms on revenue. Boehner is not serious. Meanwhile his buying time while his friends in the media are trying to muddy the waters with their new (probably manufactured) “polling” claiming that voters don’t like either proposal.
flotus participates in toys for tots campaign:
‘ Tugging a huge red sack stuffed with toys, Michelle Obama thanked military families for inspiring her as first lady as she delivered about 900 gifts Tuesday from White House employees to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign. ‘
http://hosted2.ap.org/NMSAN/81cd4a0d30d142e589a37e5adb2ec62c/Article_2012-12-11-Michelle%20Obama-Toys/id-044e3896b2e6477fb75c5d217bc9abce
HEADLINE: First Lady Michelle Obama and Toys for Tots Spread Holiday Cheer
// First Lady Michelle Obama today stopped by a Toys for Tots service project at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling — a naval installation along the Potomac River in Washington DC — with “boxes and boxes” of gifts that were donated by White House staffers, American CEOs, and even First Daughters Malia and Sasha.
As she thanked the volunteers and donors working to make this holiday season special for those who are less fortunate, Mrs. Obama noted that it was especially meaningful to attend the event on a military base, since Toys for Tots was started by a military family — a Marine reservist and his wife who decided that they wanted to make the holiday just a little bit better for kids in need. //
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/12/11/first-lady-michelle-obama-spreads-holiday-cheer-toys-tots
Pretty lady!
Santa FLOTUS.
God evening here is a video of the Toys for Tots event. http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50166569#50166569
As Stephanie Miller would say “I has a sad!” And I’m mad at Ed Shultz all over again. Just because people didn’t get out and vote in 2010 Michigan Republicans were able to ram a Right to Work bill through and our R Governor signed it today. I am an engineer and not part of a union, but I know the quality of my work life is better because of the unions…..I hope people realize now that ALL elections have consequences and won’t be duped by the Republicans again….sad, just sad!!!
The Republicans are questioning the aide for Sandy, 60.4 billion us to much, why the rush, they say.
Unbelievable. Every single Republucan hates government now, wants it gone.
Misery is living in an area damaged by a natural disaster when the rest of the city/state/country moves on. From everyone caring to being alone looking at what used to be. The GOP prefers those devastated by disasters should go away and die some place – like the poor.
President Obama cares – it is very lucky for those impacted by Sandy that Mitt Romney lost the election.
You’re so right, 99.
Well, Christie and Bloomberg need to face the music.
What would Martin Luther King Jr. tell Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder about the so-called “right to work” bill his party is rushing into law? Here’s what he said in 1961:
“In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote.”
In fifty years, people haven’t learned, and they keep on voting for these right wingers who mean to do them hard – or worse yet, not voting at all and just passively letting their rights be taken away from them. It’s really disheartening.
Democrats and Independents who voted for a Republican governor needs to understand that they ALL Lie. If presidential candidate Robme didn’t let people know that these bastards lie just to get into office. In 2014 if any of these ass hats run for office….they will be telling even more lies to get re-elected. Arnold lied too but the folks in California said NO MORE REPUBLICANS….We are Deep Blue.
I can’t help but think of the enthusiastic response to Charlie Crist’s embrace of the Democratic party. I just hope that he doesn’t do a bait & switch like these GOP are wont to do.
Barbara Walters interviewed both Obamas for an upcoming xmas special—-not sure when it airs.
I’m feelin’ a little “optisimistic,” myself. Way to go, Mark! (Dork can’t spell.)
Hope you feel better soon. 🙂
(optisimistic is bad stuff!)
Better than being pessisimistic, I hear. There’s that. 🙂
Dec 14 10 p.m. dotster for 20/20 here is a preview http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/exclusive-president-obama-predicts-gop-cave-taxes/story?id=17937679#.UMfR7YNZV4M
Ezra Klein and Greg Sargent apparently don’t have great sources with their “inside reports.”
There is “one of us” on Twitter who is talking about President Obama killing his legacy re raising Medicare age. He has not said he is for it – only that it is one of many things on the table. I am about 2 seconds away from blocking this person from my Twitter Time Line!
Some people are highly susceptible and predisposed to MSM manipulation.
Hey, teabaggers, hands off my Medicare! So ludicrous that the lie that Medicare would be destroyed by the ACA brought out the senior crazies with the “Hands off my Medicare” chants, at the teabagger rallies, and now that would be something the Republicans would vote for as cutting “entitlements.” If that happens, we are entitled to get back the money we continue to pay into Medicare, so I’ll be looking for my refund, right quick.
Thank you, President Obama, for maintaining your thoughtful and ever-vigilant skepticism. Or, as Mark Knoller would tweet, “skeptisimism.” As he has tweeted (see above), I remain “optisimistic” about it. Ha! I just cracked myself up.
Afternoon all.
Busy busy day at Bibliotequa de LL, but I had time to fire off this piece for TPV: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/12/more-adventures-in-our-failed-media.html
Inspired by UT’s tweet of Norm Ornstein and Thomas Mann schooling Chuckie Toad. Take a gander if you can.
Great piece!!!!! We are all so horrifided at our msm it is a joke! It is nice that some people of merit are calling out the msm. Thank you as always for your great writing.
The White House made its offer on Monday, lowering its $1.6 trillion request for new tax revenues to $1.4 trillion over 10 years, according to a senior administration official.
Republicans made a counteroffer Tuesday that remained at $800 billion in new tax revenues.
-/
Republucans have moved one inch. Some counter proposal. They are waiting for the debt ceiling to blow up the whole system unless major reforms to entitlements.
At least, that is their plan. At that point, we need a REAL 99% movement rally throughout the Nation.
Need more guns
It’s the constant fear mongering from hate radio and the NRA. Like; Obama going to take your guns and take to the streets for a riot if Obama wins etc.
This is inciting some horrible behavior from some deranged individuals.
Mass shooting here in Oregon at Portland suburban mall. Two killed and one wounded by a shooter with assault rifle and body armor. I know we are all relieved his second amendment rights were not abridged, thanks to the Supreme Court.
msnbc just reported that 60 shots were fired by the man and his assault rifle, near Macy’s and Nordstrom. Suspect still on the loose. How many more tragedies like this, NRA? And lawmakers.
They don’t care. The only way to fix it is to get money out of politics.
White Dad, Black Daughter: Facebook Swoons
// News anchor Frank Somerville of Oakland, Calif.’s KTVU gave viewers a peek into his personal life earlier this week, posting an image on his Facebook page of himself removing his young daughter’s braids. It was captioned as follows:
“So for those of you who think tv can be glamorous, this is how i spent my morning, learning how to take out my daughter’s braids. It takes a long time and a lot of patience!”
But the public took more from the photo than evidence of Somerville’s mundane off-camera activities. With more than 1,400 comments and more than 2,500 shares, the moment between a white father and his black daughter sharing this tedious but intimate routine inspired an outpouring of sentiments related to colorblind love, family, nostalgia and simply the shared experience of doing little girls’ hair. //
http://www.theroot.com/buzz/white-dad-black-daughter-facebook-swoons?tid=sm_tw_button_toolbar
Wow, thanks for this. He’s been a newsman in my local area for eons. It’s nice to know he’s a great father.
Not really Hopefruit…
Frank Sommerville is a real, unadulterated racist asshole…
And advertising that he has an adopted black daughter does absolutely nothing to change that pertinent fact…
Really?!?!? Well, I will admit that I don’t know anything about him other than what was written in this article, so I’m assuming that you know more about his him, his history, background, etc. Thanks for sharing. Will try to follow up with some of my own research.
Unfortunately, bloomberg will now be getting in front of a Camera very shortly blaming the President fir waft just happened in Oregon.
At least, that is what he did the last few times.
I hope that their are only a few people shot or injured, sounds real bad.
Ugh!
Neeeeeeeeeeeeew post at last:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/11/catching-up-29/