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Today:
12:15: President Obama signs H.R. 6156 (see here)
12:30: Jay Carney briefs the press
2:15: Michelle Obama visits the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
3:30: President Obama meets with Ambassador Susan Rice
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Susan Rice (Washington Post): On Thursday I asked that President Obama no longer consider me for the job of secretary of state. I made this decision because it is the right step for this country I love. I have never shied away from a fight for a cause I believe in. But, as it became clear that my potential nomination would spark an enduring partisan battle, I concluded that it would be wrong to allow this debate to continue distracting from urgent national priorities — creating jobs, growing our economy, addressing our deficit, reforming our immigration system and protecting our national security.
These are the issues that deserve our focus, not a controversy about me….
Full piece here
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Jonathan Bernstein: Don’t jump to conclusions about Susan Rice …. I’d caution everyone to wait a bit before drawing any firm conclusions about what happened here. We don’t know she was Barack Obama’s first choice. We don’t know, if she was the top choice, why she didn’t wind up the pick…..
…. We’ll hear those claims the loudest from whoever has the loudest megaphone (and the Republican partisan press is an awfully loud megaphone). Doesn’t make it more likely that those who take credit the loudest were those responsible. If anyone was responsible.
….. All that said: if Obama backed off of Rice purely because he was afraid of a fight with Republicans, it’s probably a poor choice… although it depends, a bit, on whether he had counted the votes and knew she couldn’t get confirmed, as opposed to simply wanting to avoid a messy but successful confirmation.
More here
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ABC: President Obama says recreational users of marijuana in states that have legalized the substance should not be a “top priority” of federal law enforcement officials prosecuting the war on drugs.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington during an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Barbara Walters.
“It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal,” he said, invoking the same approach taken toward users of medicinal marijuana in 18 states where it’s legal.
More of Barbara Walters’ exclusive first joint, post-election interview with President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama airs tonight on “20/20” at 10 p.m. ET on ABC stations.
More here
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President Barack Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office, Dec. 13, 2012. Pictured, clockwise from the President, are: Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett; Pete Rouse, Counselor to the President; Senior Advisor David Plouffe; Rob Nabors, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs; Chief of Staff Jack Lew; and Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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From Cagle
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Paul Krugman: We are not having a debt crisis.
It’s important to make this point, because I keep seeing articles about the “fiscal cliff” that do, in fact, describe it — often in the headline — as a debt crisis. But it isn’t. The U.S. government is having no trouble borrowing to cover its deficit. In fact, its borrowing costs are near historic lows. And even the confrontation over the debt ceiling that looms a few months from now if we do somehow manage to avoid going over the fiscal cliff isn’t really about debt.
No, what we’re having is a political crisis, born of the fact that one of our two great political parties has reached the end of a 30-year road. The modern Republican Party’s grand, radical agenda lies in ruins — but the party doesn’t know how to deal with that failure, and it retains enough power to do immense damage as it strikes out in frustration.
Full article here
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From McClatchy
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President Obama and First Lady Michele Obama speak with Rabbi Larry Bazer, the Joint Forces Chaplain for the Massachusetts National Guard, at the end of the Hanukkah reception at the White House, December 13
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Morning everyone.
The Obama Diary 
Good Morning All….Hope today will be much better
Morning Allison, it couldn’t be worse – surely?!
Morning everyone.
LOL! G’morning TOD & Chips! 🙂 🙂 The 24-hr period following PBO’s first presidential debate was worse than this, remember?. In retrospect it may not seem that bad – But.It.Was.Terrible. I know because I wrote a diary on Old Orange in an attempt to calm folks down from the mass hysteria.
Happy Friday to all and congrats Allison on #1.
Ah, true Hopefruit, that post-first-debate spell wasn’t pretty, I’m still recovering from my own meltdown 😕
Yes, but we all picked ourselves up and worked harder after that debate. A friend in the Chicago OFA said that they were getting just a little bit complacent after Romney’s lousy summer. He said the first debate energized them and they were never complacent again. Said he wanted to ask the president if he did it on purpose to make his team work harder. This last fiasco with McBitter and his fellow snakes has certainly energized me to work harder to get new voters registered and keep other voters informed. We got people out to vote in November. Now people have to see voting as a habit so they never, ever miss a chance to cast their ballots. Revenge at the voting booth is our best strategy from this day on.
“Revenge at the voting booth is our best strategy”
+ 1,000,000,000.
I’d love to think the people who stayed home in 2010 now understand how costly a decision that was.
What I think about if all these people had got out to vote in 2010, there would be no speaker John Boehner, it still would have been Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Hey, it’s Friday for real! Where’s CTGirl! 🙂
I actually don’t think the reactions I’ve read are anywhere near first debate meltdown! Now that was nooklar material! Had to duck & cover! LOL!
Dr. Rice is going to continue doing a fab job & enjoy her life. McC is going to turn into a fossil prune and his ignorant cohorts will find their careers grinding to an absolute halt.
Have a Fabulous Friday! “Life is a song worth singing …” Teddy Pendergrass.
CTGirl!’s here Xtine, celebrating the arrival of Friday!!! Have a GREAT day!
Found CTGirl down thread! Thanks, Chips! I have this little bubbling excitement going on & I have no clue why, so I’m going to enjoy it and pass it on! Something great is coming …! 🙂
You’re gonna win the Lottery?!?! 😆
Congrats on 1st, Allison!
I like this, from Dr. Rice’s own words: “These are the issues that deserve our focus, not a controversy about me … ” What a woman! So glad she’s still part of the Obama administration, and landed on her feet. She’s another one with a steely determination to see our President succeed. And they both will.
Good morning, TOD! Looks as though I underslept a bit. Gotta be the sunshine pouring in!
Morning all
Gm peeps
In important news today.
President Obama says the federal government will not target recreational users of marijuana in states that have now legalized pot.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Obama told Barbara Walters of ABC News, in his first public comments on the topic since Colorado and Washington voter to legalize marijuana on Nov. 6 referendums.
“It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal,” Obama said.
The government takes a similar approach in the 18 states where medicinal marijuana is legal.
Walters’ interview of Obama airs Friday night on ABC’s 20/20.
Obama also told Walters he does not “at this point” support widespread legalization of marijuana.
“This is a tough problem, because Congress has not yet changed the law,” Obama said. “I head up the executive branch; we’re supposed to be carrying out laws. And so what we’re going to need to have is a conversation about, how do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it’s legal?”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/12/14/obama-marijuana-pot-users-colorado-washington/1769013/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=206567
Thanks UT for the info. Yet a week ago, someone at old Orange penned a diary bases on a highly speculative and unsourced piece from the NYT that PBO was going to sue the states that legalized pot! Again, it generated hysteria and accusations of “betrayal” on Old Orange, Twitter and elsewhere.
I guess I should be used to it by now, but there always seems to be so many on “the left” who are ready to explode at a moment’s notice——–they’re off and hyperventilating and ready to jump at the slightest perceived injustice. And, as it turns out, almost every time it is all for naught—–lots of wasted huffing and puffing. And again, I am seeing some of the most preposterous accusations in connection with Susan Rice withdrawing. And again, I see those who do not have President Obama’s best interests at heart trying to stir up animosity toward him because of this development. And again, I see those who should know better falling into the trap.
I agree with you dotster3 100%.
Whiny Kos is not the authority. Majority are Firebaggers.
Hysteria and outrage bring hits, HF, and that’s all anyone needs to know about that place.
So are you telling me that President Obama isn’t out to crack-down on nickle-baggers?
Good morning Chips and TOD family. Happy TGIF. Congrats Allison on being first this lovely Friday morning.
Oh, yes, it’s Friday. Friday’s good.
Morning everyone. Good piece from Krugman
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/opinion/krugman-the-gops-existential-crisis.html?_r=0
Thanks DF, enjoyed that, added it to the post.
Thanks. I don’t always agree with him, but I thought this was pretty spot on.
Yeah, he drives me nuts sometimes, but I don’t think many write better about the GOP, his contempt for them just oozes from the screen!
Yeah, well…they deserve it. They repulse me. More and more everyday.
We need to find a stronger word than “repulse.” In the meantime, good morning, df!
I read the piece this am as I always read Professor Krugman. 99 times out of 100 I agree with his view.
Like him or don’t like him the remarkable thing about PK, very much like PBO, is that he does not cater to current fashionable ideas but has a consistent longterm view of things.
If you look at or read something the President has said as far back as 1991 you will recognize the same themes as today: inclusiveness is good. Fairness essential. Value diversity .
PK knows the economic universe and explains it to us over and over again. Definitely one of the good guys.
Always with the doom and gloom with this guy. Is he genetically incapable of experiencing hope? Of positivity? Does he have even ONE idea on how to deal with this scenario he paints. No.
Good Morning All! Today is Family Friday….enjoy your Family today!
At this point in time we should only focus on those that want to be saved. Every goddamn election cycle the voters shoot themselves in the foot and then complain that it hurts. There is no goddamn way that the people in these right-to-work states didn’t know that their governors weren’t going to bend them over.
Good one! Morning Amk.
Morning chips. I was about to post this.
Ooooooooooooh, I’m in love!!!!!
Oh yeah?
😆 This is a doggy-cuteness-overload, more please.
Yeah, well that laugh that was gurgling in my throat just let loose. So funny and cute.
Does anyone know what happened?
Deaniac? What happened ? LL, you know anything?
I assume Deaniac runs that Twitter account?? I thought at first he was referring to the Susan Rice news, but I don’t think he is, it seems to be something else pre-dating that. Just hope he’s okay.
It’s not clear whether it’s related to the whole Rice issue or something else. But if it, then I think people need to take a deep breath and step back from the MSM, and politics. The MSM is agitating PBO’s supporters by claiming that PBO/Rice gave in to McCain & Graham. The media does not have the best interests of PBO or his supporters and they will do whatever is necessary to keep controversy alive and maintain DEM in-fighting.
Hi Hopefruit, we posted at much the same time. I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s about Susan Rice, he seemed to be explaining why he hasn’t been writing a lot lately, ie before yesterday.
Yes I noticed a long gap of no posts between Dec 3 and Dec 11. I hope whatever it is doesn’t keep him down for too long.
That’s true, there was a gap, it never occurred to me something was wrong. Hope he’s okay.
HF, he hadn’t written in a while and I was concerned that he was sick. Then he wrote a brilliant post the other day. Personal stuff can really drag you down and I hope, whatever it is, he can work it through. He’s one of the sharpest, most insightful people writing today. I love Deaniac’s posts.
He’s one of the sharpest, most insightful people writing today.
I fully agree.
hey Chips, it sounds personal. Like something not so great happened in his personal life so right now he’s not in a good place to write about politics, i.e; in his tweets he talks about “heartbreak” and “breach of trust.”
It does Lisa, it sounds like something really devastating for him – as you say, something personal. Initially I just thought he was responding to yesterday’s events, but then realized it wasn’t that. I just hope he’ll be okay soon and looks after himself. He’s a voice of reason for us all.
I saw an update on Twitter from Marabout (Hachiko) that the surgery went well and she’s now at home resting.
Just read that now, great to hear.
wonderful news!
That’s terrific news. I’ve been so worried about her. Thanks for the update, hf.
Very happy to hear! I pray for her speedy recovery!
Thanks, good to hear.
Excellent news! Thanks for updating all of us.
Goooood morning! Looky there, it’s Friday! I am optimistic today will be a great day! 🙂
Chips!!! Thanks for holding it together for us yesterday – I know it must have been draining to deal with all the venting, and such :-(.
A tough day for everyone CTGirl, but Friday’s finally here so all is good! 🙂
Brutal! Let’s not forget that we are warriors and warrioresses (love ya Sue) :-). They may knock us down, confuse us for a moment, but you bet we are gonna get up and kick ass! That’s what we do! 🙂
Thats what WE do!….
_____________________
Thissssssss!
I agree. Thank you, Chips, for allowing the two-way banter.
There you are CTGirl! Friday for realz! No more petitions till Monday, eh? 🙂
:-). No way! Here’s hoping for a looooooong weekend 🙂
Love this pic! 🙂
Give me a second to decide which one is more adorable. Okay, for me, it’s Joey, but she’s adorable, too!
I fell in love with Debbie Wasserman Schultz back in ’08. for me, she proved to be the true deal – fierce supporter of HRC but when it came time to get behind BO, she was a star! I love them both 🙂
I do, as well! She’s a remarkable person. 🙂
Yes – her ability to get behind then Senator Obama is what inspired me to wish Hillary well and get behind him, too.
*** The importance of picking your fights: To explain why U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice pulled out of consideration for the secretary of state post, it’s important to remember this: A president only gets a finite number of fights with Congress, especially in the first year of a second term (which may be the last BIG year a president can win fights with Congress). And appointing Rice as secretary of state was going to be a fight, no doubt about it. So if you’re a White House with a big upcoming agenda (resolving the fiscal-cliff situation, passing comprehensive immigration reform, maybe tackling energy or education) and if you’re split on the top choice on the secretary of state (our reporting indicates that Rice was never the clear-cut favorite), sometimes the path of least resistance is the smart play. And Rice made that very point in her interview on “Rock Center” with NBC’s Brian Williams: “I didn’t want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged — very politicized, very distracting, and very disruptive. Because there are so many things we need to get done as a country.” Remember, Obama and his team have always been pragmatists, though that pragmatism also brings criticism like this Buzzfeed piece entitled, “Obama Shows Weakness, Again.” But make no mistake: Rice isn’t going away, and she likely gets the next big foreign-policy opening. She took one for Team Obama, and he’ll remember that down that road. And Obama meets with Rice at the White House later today…
http://firstread.msnbc.com
Well said, CT Girl. Ambassador Rice will continue to have a stellar career. And Buzzfeed can go to hell.
Excellent sentiment, Jackie. Buzzfeed shows why they’re not credible.
Obama agenda: Cabinet shuffle coming soon
A slew of appointments coming? Next week could see appointments for State (Kerry), Defense (Hagel), and the CIA (Donilon), as well as Energy, which could come later (Ashton Carter).
Of Rice, the Boston Globe writes: “Now she can still be a player and possibly get another top post in his second term — such as national security adviser, which does not require Senate confirmation. ‘It was good way to get out of this box that was getting tighter and tighter,’ said an administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Several officials also said the announcement signals that the president will make a decision in the coming days. Two government officials who have spoken with the White House but were not authorized to speak publicly said the announcement could come in the next few days and include several nominations.”
Obama will meet with Rice today. He will also sign a Russian trade bill.
John Kerry’s the obvious choice to be Secretary of State, as NBC’s Carrie Dann reports. If he’s nominated it would set off a special election in Massachusetts. How would it work? Gov. Deval Patrick (D) would pick someone to fill the seat and a date for a special election. The special general election is required by state law to take place 145 to 160 days after a vacancy occurs. So if Kerry steps down Wednesday of next week, a special would have to take place between Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 28. The primary is required to be six weeks before the general. That would put it be between Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 16.
If, however, Kerry steps down, Monday, Jan. 21st, the date President Obama would be sworn in for a second term, the special election primary would have to take place between Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 18. The special general would then have to take place between Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 29.
The AP: “During the 2010 special election – prompted by the death of longtime Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy from brain cancer – Gov. Deval Patrick said he would only appoint someone as interim senator if they agreed not to run in the special election, and he appointed former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk. Under current law, if Kerry resigns Patrick would appoint an interim senator to serve until a special election could be held. Asked recently if he would seek the same promise if Kerry stepped down, Patrick said it was too soon say. Patrick has said he would prefer a system where he could appoint someone to serve until the next statewide election in 2014, but said there’s no appetite on Beacon Hill to change the law. Even if there is a special Senate election in 2013, the state still faces another regularly scheduled Senate election in 2014, which would be the end of Kerry’s current term. That would be the fourth Senate election in Massachusetts in five years.”
Back in November, Patrick said he’s sign a bill that would eliminate the need for a special election. “But,” he added, “I don’t think it’s going to come to me. I don’t think anybody is interested in that.”
http://firstread.msnbc.com
Other than for name recognition is that a good idea?
Better idea than Scott Brown.
Deval Patrick would never appoint Scott Brown.
Name recognition for ONE. Ability to raise Money for TWO. She is not a newbie for THREE. She understands politics and she is No Body’s Fool for FOUR. She is not the fatuous bat poop, Coakley for FIVE. Etc, etc, etc…..as Yul Bryunner(sp) would have said.
She’s accomplished in her own right – a lawyer from Tulane, having practiced banking and bankruptcy law over several years. She’s also an advocate against gun rights. She seems to have an excellent head on her shoulders, and I think she’d make an excellent Senator.
This is a good thing if she isn’t ruling it out. I know MA is a blue state but they have this quirky liking of putting in republicans (few as they may be) to provide a mix. They’ve done it at the local and state level. I need MA to realize that they cannot decrease the number of Democrats in the senate if they want a senate that works with Pres. Obama. The republican party is not the republican party of yesterday. Scott Brown wasn’t an independent republican, he was lock-step with McConnell in voting against VAWA, contraceptives for women, equal pay for women, decreasing funds for healthcare etc. MA needs to realize that no republican will have their back and no republican will fight for the middle-class over the 1%.
WOOOOOT!! I’m so encouraged to see she has softened her position on this. It must be painful for her to watch how much MA has gone through since Teddy’s death. She is a smart and very capable women and I believe she may find such a career very engaging and satisfying. Thank you, Gov. Patrick!!
why is the frigging msm deciding PBO’s SOS? Fuck’em.
Punditry is their art. Pres Obama is Not anybody’s fool. Hilary Clinton was not expected nor were people truly supportive of the SoS selection initially. The only thing that I found truly despicable about the Amb Rice’s current predicament is the way Many on the left are reacting. Some attacking SoS Clinton and Sen Kerry and a few attacking pres Obama. David Corn or someone said the left wants to kill themselves and the right go after the pollsters or dismiss the polls when things didn’t go their way. Their is some truth to that in this event.
Like Bobfr would say: Trust PBO for he has earned it.
PBO says: ignore the Cable chatters.
I really like David Corn, who is sometimes one of the few voices of reason out there. Don’t think I’ve ever heard him be anything but supportive of PBO’s agenda, because he “gets it.”
Hmmmm! So does that splinter Nutinyahoo’s coalition? Could they lose? Please. 🙂
Gosh, that is a blessing for Israel and the Middle East! That guy was a racist hater from the get go.
Chips! Did you forget our Friday video? 🙂
Huh, of course not CTGirl!
😳
Lol 🙂
Roaring!!!!! It took me a second to spot Max!! 😆
amk, that is hilarious. ROFL =D
Great good Friday morning, TODville!!
I saw Lincoln yesterday and all I can say is:
DDL is a GOD.
WOW, a stunning performance from start to finish. His rugged face, his voice, his posture, his gait – absolutely mesmerizing. I loved the interesting portrayal of the man and his family, the reality of both his emotional and political battles. I loved the soft muted palette and the music was beautiful and not intrusive. BRAVO, Daniel Day Lewis.
That’s on my to-do list, so I’m happy to read your review, Meta!
Yeah, meta, I couldn’t agree more about DDL. He’s truly among the best actors in the world.
AP
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and co-owner Dan Rooney is stepping down as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, a post he assumed after backing President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign despite being a lifelong Republican.
The embassy in Dublin says the 80-year-old Rooney resigned Friday and returned to the United States. Press officer John Murphy says Rooney met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and President Michael Higgins during a final round of engagements this week.
Rooney, the grandson of an Irish immigrant, supported Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary and then campaigned for him.
In an op-ed published Friday in The Irish Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rooney says the relationship between the U.S. and Ireland is as strong as ever. He says the countries’ common heritage and values creates a ‘‘shared kinship.’’
Omg Obama caved again. LOL!
Oh wow, I hadn’t heard that – although, because of his age, I think it was anticipated. Wonder who’ll replace him? Hey, Hillary loves Ireland! (Kidding).
Well, her husband does, doesn’t he, and where he goes, she’ll follow. (Dreams are meant to be encouraged. 😉 )
I think they both do VC, but I’d imagine they’d be bored senseless. Although you do get a very nice house with the job:
And it’s white! Hmmmmm. Looking more and more like a possibility. Maybe I’ll suggest it to PBO. 😉 [Mean, VC, just mean! – Couldn’t resist.]
Wow. That’s a beaut.
Built by the British, needless to say 🙄
This beautiful home surrounded by sixty two acres of ground was completed in 1776. Built by Col. John Blaquiere, Chief Secretary of the British government and Bailiff of the Phoenix Park.
The Phoenix Park, embracing 1,760 acres, is reputed to be the largest municipal park in the world within a city’s limits. While it is popularly assumed that it was named after the mythical bird, most Irish experts believe the name may be derived from “Fion Uisce which means “clear water”.
The house of Col. Blaquiere, purchased by the British Government in 1782,was made the official residence of the Chief Secretary, and remained so until 1922 when Sir Homer Greenwood, the last holder left office. Among the prominent Chief Secretaries who had occupied this residence were Sir Arthur Wellesley, later to become the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Castlereagh. Lord Bryce, later British Ambassador to the United States, W.FI. Smith. When the Duke of Marlborough was appointed Viceroy in 1878, Lord Randolph Churchill joined him as private secretary. Young Winston as a small boy, roamed the gardens and woods and took great delight in riding up and down the paths in his donkey and cart. Sixty nine Chief Secretaries lived here from 1776 until 1922 when Ireland gained its independence.
http://dublin.usembassy.gov/index/embassy-news/ambassador/ambassadors-residence2.html
I want one just like that.
Me too, but only if staff came with it – how would you keep it clean and the grass cut?
Gotta have cows, goats and sheep to go with it, I guess. I am not mowing that mofo lawn. No way.
😆 😆 😆
Personally, I think Chips should be named. I hear she has connections there. Of course the lodging would be a step down for her.
😆 The only problem Japa is you have to be a diplomatic sort for these jobs, and, well…..
Hey, how did you get a photo of my country house? 🙂
You’re all invited, BTW! 🙂
Ah, I thought I spotted you in the garden. Hey, nice pad Xtine!!!
I’d heard a while back that he was going to resign. Most ambassadorships are one-term. Total DC rumormill: whispers that Bill C. would get that post. That didn’t make sense to me.
I’d be amazed Xtine, I think Bill still wants to fry bigger fish!
Indeed! He’s got his global initiative thingy, so Amb. to Ireland? That doesn’t fly, unless I’m missing something. Any ambassadorship doesn’t fit. Or cabinet post. Maybe short-term Middle East “Special Envoy” so he could try to find some kind of solution for Israeli/Palestinian impasse? Or he goes on his merry way.
Xtine, my memory for events is so bad I’m not sure how Bill’s involvement in the Israel/Palestine conflict would be greeted by both sides, whether there would be enough trust there, but if there was and he could contribute in any way (like he did in Ireland – and again, I know there are enormous differences), it would be wonderful.
A family of monkeys has moved into our homestead. They are naughty and creating havoc all around. So, I shot the kid.
Don’t do that to me!!!!!!!!!!! I was afraid to click – you are a monster!!! 😆
Amk armed with a camera is dangerous….. I can hear your family now…”come on dad take the picture (eyeroll) 🙂 🙂
😆 😆 I’m guessing you’ve very accurately described the scene!!!
Just wait till you see my dogs pictures. Yes, I said dogs.
Oh God.
Heh !!! In my defense, I am running out of jokes.
Huh? I thought you had a bottomless pit, so to speak? Come on chuckles, try harder.
Do ya really wanna go there ? I mean the real bottom? I will if you want to.
Ah, actually, it’s okay, avoid the jokey bottom, stay middle-ish and up and we’ll be grand. Gulp.
It’ll be on your head. They’re all doozies. In a manner of speaking.
A very ‘good morning’ to you Allison! ‘Happy Friday’ Ms Chips, CTGirl and all other family members and aspiring family members! I know it’s Friday because Chips asked me to post the Friday video as she was so busy.
Moooooorning VC! Fixed the link for ya. I did finally post it after a gentle reminder from CTGirl, but there’s no harm in two!
Oh! So you didn’t ‘trust’ me to get it done? 😥 /hurt look – whatever that looks like/
[When I glanced over the thread I didn’t see it, so I went looking and finding anything always takes me a little while – even though I’d used it a bit earlier on twitter!]
A gift for you VC:
🙂
Thanks! You are so thoughtful! {Chips} …Wait! Is that a double/thick lens I see? 😯 My eyes are not THAT bad, in fact it’s my fingers (yeah, Amk, brains would be the more honest word choice :roll:) that are slow.
I didn’t say a word….
A beautiful Goooood Friday morning to you VC!
Shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, CT … CNN looking for details. There are no words.
Just saw the breaking news J, good grief, not again.
Oh no oh no—–I can’t take this any more. And I have 2 grand kids in 2 elementary schools in Ct.—-not that specific school—-but not far away. This is out of control now in this country—–almost daily horrific shootings now. I think it’s this country’s biggest problem. Something——something!!!—-needs to be done about this!!! It’s insane that nothing is being done about this gun problem——every nut in the country seems to have access to a gun. And is willing to use it. It’s uncivilized.
It’s incredibly depressing Dotster, there is just no end to this madness.
In CT? Lord Have Mercy. Oh no.
And the story in South Africa on Hon Nelson Mandela is not too good either….per HP.
Sad news on both counts. However, Honorable Nelson Mandela has lived to a ripe old age and will die of natural causes. We will miss him as a fellow human, and as a global inspirational figure and it’s always sad when a person dies. But his passing is not tragic.
But a 5-year old being murdered by random gun violence at their elementary school is simply inconceivable and a real tragedy, not just for the victims and their loved ones, but for this entire country.
Crazy! I see on HuffPost that a teacher was hurt, I also heard that at least 1 police officer was injured – maybe a child was hurt??? Everything is sketchy of course!
State police are responding to multiple shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning, according to reports.
All schools in town are locked down.
The Newtown Bee is reporting one child was carried out by a police officer and apparently was wounded.
Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Shootings-reported-at-Newtown-school-4118505.php#ixzz2F2gbfVgv
More info –
One of the suspected shooters has been reported dead, while another remains at large. The police confirmed the shooting to BNO News shortly after, though other details have yet to be verified.
http://rt.com/usa/news/shooting-reported-connecticut-school-085/
NEWTOWN—
State police are responding to a report of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dickinson Drive, school officials said.
Police are reporting a number of injured parties. The nature of their injuries is not clear.
State police sources said one shooter is dead. Earlier reports of a second shooter are unconfirmed.
Shortly after 9:40 a.m., police reported that a shooter was in the main office of the school. A person in one room had “numerous gunshot wounds,” police said.
Groups of students — some crying, some holding hands — were being escorted away from the school by their teachers. Some students were still in the school at 10:30 a.m., parents said.
Dozens of state troopers are on the scene assisting local police. Heavily armed police gathered in front of the school around 10:45 a.m., and a number of stretchers were set up.
A staging area has been set up for students and their parents near the school. Area hospitals have been alerted.
.
http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-police-responding-to-incident-in-newtown-20121214,0,3969911.story
Jesus. Your founding fathers were idiots.
Surely it is the misinterpretation of that “right to bear arms” – and I have to admit to being so glad that I live in a world where the population is largely unarmed.
No AMK it’s the majority of the people in our country who are too afraid and stupid to stand up to the NRA. A crazed man can kill children everyday and nothing will force the majority of the people to vote for gun control.
Nope, it’s a stupid and cowardly amendment by idiot ‘founding fathers’. It enshrines violence as a part of democracy.
Reporting that the principal of the school was shot and killed. 3 more in hospital.
Oh my….
Well, offspring decided he prefers my shower head to the one I bought for his bathroom and the contractor/plumber is here, so I’d better go exchange it AND pick up a few other bits and pieces. Catch you all later.
“offspring decided he prefers my shower head to the one I bought for his bathroom”
Does that mean you’ll be left without a showerhead, VC? 😕
Good Morning Everyone. Have a lovely Friday, and treat yourself to something sweet. HZ
Look at these poor kids—-having to flee their school—-crying and scared—-this should not be happening to our kids. Horrific.
http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-police-responding-to-incident-in-newtown-20121214,0,3969911.story
Little Johnny’s new baby brother was screaming up a storm. He asks his mom, “Where did we get him?”
His mother replies, “He came from heaven, Johnny.”
Johnny says, “Yeah ! I can see why they threw him out!”
😆 And happily, not from the bottom!!
Oh, yeah ?
The bus driver announces that smoking is prohibited and punishable by a fine of several hundred dollars.
Suddenly, a baby starts crying.
“Come on kid,” the bus driver said “you’re only 6 months old, you can make it without a cigarette.”
I hate to admit it, but I love it!! 😆
Good morning Chips, you have a couple of DMs 🙂
Oh, thanks Bob!
A New York Divorce Lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. Saint Peter asks him “What have you done to merit entrance into Heaven?”
The Lawyer thought a moment, then said, “A week ago, I gave a quarter to a homeless person on the street.”
Saint Peter asked Gabriel to check this out in the record, and after a moment Gabriel affirmed that this was true.
Saint Peter said, “Well, that’s fine, but it’s not really quite enough to get you into Heaven.”
The Lawyer said, “Wait Wait! There’s more! Three years ago I also gave a homeless person a quarter.”
Saint Peter nodded to Gabriel, who after a moment nodded back, affirming this, too, had been verified.
Saint Peter then whispered to Gabriel, “Well, what do you suggest we do with this feller?”
Gabriel gave the Lawyer a sidelong glance, then said to Saint Peter, “Let’s give him back his 50 cents and tell him to go to Hell.”
LOL! 🙂
Gooood morning all. Not much to smile about today. Maybe this will help.
Two hours into my first day of work as a Wal-Mart greeter, an ugly woman came in with her two kids.
Hearing her swear at them, I said, ‘Good morning, welcome to Wal-Mart. Nice kids, are they twins?’ The mom answered, ‘Hell no, they ain’t twins. The oldest one’s 9, and the other one’s 7. Why would you think they’re twins? Are you blind or stupid?’
I replied, ‘I’m not blind or stupid. I just couldn’t believe someone slept with you twice. Have a good day, and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.’ My supervisor said I probably wasn’t cut out for this line of work!
Ouuuuuuuuuuuuch!!!!!!!!!! 😆 Morning Yardarm!!!
Hiya Admiral. It’s been a rough coupla days. It looks like the seas are gonna be a bit choppy for a few more days, eh?
Ah, the sailing is never smooth Yardarm, but we always get there in the end.
Aye, ’tis the truth in that. 🙂
Good morning Chips and TOD family! Yesterday was a very long working day for me and I am exhausted so today I am able to stay home and recoup. I am so mad that Susan Rice had to write that letter. Today I am going to call McCain, Lindsey, and Ayotte’s office.
Also this shooting in CT makes me sick. I can just hear the NRA saying if only the children and the teachers had guns they would all be safe. I am tired of regular people not having the right NOT TO BE SHOT!!!!! This is going far enough. I live in MT. We do have several guns but they are all for hunting. I don’t see that anyone need all these guns that are only meant to kill people. We will see what happens next.
*I am tired of regular people not having the right NOT TO BE SHOT*
Well said, mtmarilyn. God bless the children, and the lawmakers who need to step up and get some damn meaningful gun control laws on the books.
We must start speaking out more and not being to afraid of the NRA, etc. I am tired of all these right wing talking points winning the day on the msm. We all must stand up now.
Don’t forget to call Susan Collins, too, and remind her how hypocritical her comments were after her meeting with Ambassador Rice. She should be ashamed.
mtmarilyn, i’m late to the party, but have to comment: you’ve just given america the words we need to get the gun laws fixed. people have the right to not be shot! thank you so much!
Was just reading BBC and they have posted a picture of a line of crying kids in that CT school. Now my whole mood is out.
I am out.
Hartford Courant reporting there are multiple victims from the Ct. shooting, some children, gunman dead. Horrific scene seeing little kids—-as young as kindergarten—-just clinging to their parent’s necks, as parents carry them away from the scene.
Not sure if this will work, but here’s a short news video update report on Madiba, seems like he’ll be released from the hospital soon:
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=90962&sitesection=csmonitorfp_nws_wld_sty&VID=23985118
US to send 400 troops and Patriot missiles to the Syrian border
By Jeremy Herb
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed a deployment order Friday to defend against missiles coming into Turkey.
The news reports coming from the elementary school shooting in Newtown, CT are horrific. The sight of children running out of the school and crying is painful. No one should be afraid to go to the mall, to attend a congressional meet and greet, to go to their place of worship, to go to college, to go to the movies, to go to a day spa and most definitely an elementary school. Something has to be done. I don’t know what, but something has to be done. This is almost an everyday occurrence and it is a horror.
Hay NRA, the blood of these people, these kids are on your hands. Of course they don’t care.
Where any kids harm?
Simplyu because it is just a great line, I want to repeat what mtmarily said upthread”
*I am tired of regular people not having the right NOT TO BE SHOT*
Which is more important, the right to get guns easily or the right not to be shot?
Let’s try to make this a major meme. We, as Americans, believe in the right not to get shot. Twitter folks, do your stuff.
Those who Tweet should Hash-tag that…….Right not be shot at.
In this year alone, so many multiple shootings.
good job, japa. i was thinking that when i read mtmarilyn’s comment. this is a major reframe of the the issue, turns it on its head. really an excellent meme to promote now and until this country’s crazy gun laws are reformed.
Jay Carney starting at 12:30
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
CNN reporting that principal and school psychologist dead. Multiple local media reports of children also victims. When is this horror one time too many? Isn’t time to take on the NRA? This insanity cannot continue. We cannot live in this type of country where one has to be fearful at all times, in all places, including when sending kids off to elementary school. CNN now reporting at least one child confirmed dead. This is nuts—–told kids to cover their eyes and run—–as they had to run past dead bodies in hall lying in pools of blood. 5 year olds! Will be scarred for life from this experience.
The solution now would be what? Fortifying the Kindergarten and Elementary schools?
This is Not the wild wild west. Fear is what makes people carry concealed weapons. The propaganda and the media that are afraid to address the issue. The discussion is always twisted in a fashion that makes civil discussion impossible.
When a nation annually is losing 10K of her citizens and 30K or more are injured, there is something wrong.
It took the 1960s many killings that led to some gun control laws. Then when Dems lost badly because of the NRA propaganda…..now this is what we have.
So the rights of those who don’t want to be be shot, harmed or killed need to be the focus discussion.
What is interesting is that in the “Wild, wild West” there were stricter gun control laws in many western towns than there have ever been elsewhere. Many cities did not allow guns within the boundaries and when people came into town they had to relinquish their guns to the authorities until they left.
Yes indeed…..but look at what we have now?
CBS reporting shooter was father of a student—-that shooting started at a mtg. about a 2nd grader. One child shot in face.
Nothing mysterious about how to solve the problem.
#FORWARD
I hope this is not true but ABC reporting more than a dozen killed.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/northern_suburbs&id=8920181
I’m seeing reports of that too and the local CT news is also reporting this. My heart breaks for these innocent victims.
Sadly, it’s being confirmed by more than one source ….
And it just keeps getting worse. Now I heard a reporter ask the hospital spokesman about reports that 14 children dead. MSNBC just reported that 20 kids shot.
CBS Boston is reporting 27 killed …
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/12/14/police-responding-to-reports-of-shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/
I have a plea for PBO. If now is not the time to speak up about the gun problem in this country and doing something about it, when is the time? Screw the fiscal cliff, screw the debt ceiling, screw the GOP talking about the debts we will leave our children. At this rate, we won’t have any children to leave the debt to.
I am in total agreement. I join your plea. There is nothing—–nothing—–of greater importance. This is just crying out for attention, some action of some kind. We cannot allow this to continue unabated.
I am convinced that this incident will do it for him. These are babies, my God. Nothing more important than our babies. Tears.
Terrible…just heart wrenching. I find words.
I *can’t* find words…
If these latest reports are true, this is an unimaginable horror.
Worst school shooting in U.S. history
I AM SO HEARTBROKEN TODAY OVER THIS SCHOOL SHOOTING…PLEASE ALL PRAY FOR THESE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES!
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/14/not-again/