Did you add it to your archival list too, Zizi? I get a real kick out of these vintage (sounds so much more classy to my ears 😉 ) video clips, primarily because they always have a piece that underlines how consistent this man has been AND there is always some irony, mostly on the part of the reporters.
Yes, ma’m. It surely does! Apart from his awesome personality 😉 , THAT is one reason PBO sticks for me without any doubting. PBO has specific goals, at the centre of which are ‘the middle class’, and a determination to meet them. The fact that he has had these goals for years and years, and the fact that he is an extremely intelligent and focused person with demonstrable integrity makes me feel secure that no matter how many times he may have to reroute, or how many fences he might have to climb over or under, he will get where he wants to go to the best of his ability. I won’t ask for more than that. He’ll be sure to take us as close as possible to his goal, using legal means.
A comment I read:
Washington has lost its moral compass and the T-Party and the NRA have formed a circular firing squad. Well, all I have to say to this bunch of subversives is:
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. – A prosecutor says a shooting along a rural road in central Pennsylvania has left four people dead, including the gunman. Three state troopers were injured.
Blair County District Attorney Rich Consiglio says the shooting scene on Friday morning “extended over several miles” in Frankstown Township, about 70 miles west of Harrisburg.
Consiglio says the dead were three men and one woman.
State police say one trooper was struck by gunfire but escaped serious injury because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Consiglio says a second trooper was hit by shattered glass and a third was in a crash involving the gunman.
He says the public isn’t at risk. Township supervisor Mark Schroyer says nearby schools weren’t placed on lockdown.
The identities of the victims and gunman weren’t immediately released.
Great. I have family in that area, and a little great niece and great nephew who live near Harrisburg. No one is safe, no matter whether you live in an urban or rural setting.
The MSM for some reason wishes to turn rwnj Rep. Chaffetz (R-UT) into a media star. Mrs. Greenspan just interviewed him and concluded by saying she was looking forward to seeing him on MTP. What is the attraction, he has no leadership position?
Yes, they’re saying that the “Mormon taboo” has been broken by Romney, and they want to see Chaffetz get more popular. He’s an idiot. During the “Baltimore Massacre” a few years ago, he asked some silly questions using an obviously prepared set of statements, nonsense about televising the Healthcare debates on C-Span, etc. President Obama told him that he’s a first year congressman and he’s perfectly capable of making thinks happen himself. I suspected back then that he’d get puffed up – and his head seems a couple of sizes bigger.
Yeah Chips, it is funny that Sen. Kerry gave Pres. Obama a spotlight on a huge stage – then Pres. Obama taps Sen. Kerry to help him in debate preps – then Sen. Kerry becomes a fantastic surrogate for Pres. Obama during the campaign – then Pres. Obama picks him as SoS.
And the President and future SOS look as comfortable together – almost – as PBO and Joey Biden. Now, the only thing we have to “worry” about is whether or not Teresa Kerry will tell another reporter in the future, perhaps an international reporter, to “shove it,” as she did in another campaign. LOVE THAT WOMAN! Give me a feisty truthteller any day.
So right – seeing them all on the stage like that was surreal. President Obama is now their boss, when eight short years ago, he was just bursting onto the national stage, and a handful of years ago, he was the junior senator on the Foreign Relations committee to all three: Biden, Clinton, Kerry. Life is funny, sometimes, but it’s exactly the way it should be.
Senator Kerry is a TALL man. President Obama is what… Six feet one? And Kerry looked like a giant besides him. It was bizarre, because President Obama is always the tallest one when he’s at the podium with a few people surrounding him.
The NRA guy is going to be on MTP so David Gregory can let him continue his insane rant unchallenged. I don’t watch MTP and people should boycott that show and call in to MSNBC to not let this lunatic go on the air while people in Sandy Hook are still burying their children.
AWESOME…I JUST CAUGHT THE END OF PBO’S ANNOUNCEMENT…CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN KERRY! HE’S A GREAT PIC!…WE NEED A SUPERB CIRCLE AROUND THIS PRESIDENT. KERRY WILL DO A SUPERB JOB! I JUST RETURNED FROM OUR ANNUAL AND BEAUTIFUL HOMELESS MEMORIAL SERVICE ON THE CIRCLE IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS….WE LOST 45 OF OUR BELOVED HOMELESS THIS PAST YEAR. THEY AREN’T HOMELESS ANYMORE BECAUSE GOD’S HOUSE IS THE MOST COMFORTING AND LOVING HOME YOU CAN FIND! GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND I ALWAYS PRAY FOR STRENGTH FOR OUR AMAZING PRESIDENT!…:)
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Sue, you always give my spirit a reason to () pray for your hands, heart, and soul of so much goodness. You speak, do, and give as an instruments of His love. ))))))))))))))))))HZ
Thanks Chips for that wonderful video, It was amazing to see the rise of then State Senator Barack Obama to President Barack Obama. On a side note he did have that swag thang going on back then.
It speaks to how great Vice President Joe Biden and soon to be Secretary of State John Kerry treated then Senator Barack Obama when he first came to Washington. You would think that both these men with their legacies already secured would still show this young Illinois Senator the respect and honor of treating him as an equal.
Seen together, the three videos provide an interesting perspective on Barack Obama and what he has achieved. Clearly his position today was inevitable but not without a lot of hard work and personal charisma.
There was something in Chips video that I noticed, President Obama seems to love those tan pants and that dark blue short sleeve shirt because I have seen him wear it on more than one occasion. I seem to recall President Obama saying that he doesn’t like to occupy his mind with a lot of clutter and one of his examples was clothing, he didn’t like debating with himself about what to wear in the morning.
Don, I believe that POB’s favorites colours are in the browns and blues. Notice how he is surrounded in the Oval Office with the browns and blues. Wallpaper, lamps, sofa, chairs, pillows. Just saying.HZ
House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) held a news conference to discuss the status of the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
She, along with other Democratic leaders, discussed the withdrawl of GOP legislation on tax cuts Thursday night, and the negotiations between Congress and the White House on preventing tax increases and automatic spending cuts beginning January 1.
Leaders also responded to remarks made by the NRA this morning.
Thanks guys/gals, for some reason I thought she would be on at 1:30pm, then assumed it would be after PBO once he had the 1:30 slot. I’m off to see if I can get a rerun at the link LH supplied above.
I remember turning to my husband and asking “who is that guy?? He’s fantastic.” And I took particular note of his name which wasn’t hard to do because it was so unusual. So happy that I now wake up each morning and he’s my President.
Hello, BG. It is indeed a joy to wake up and know that the President is fantastic, focused, and someone we can all respect…… and that we were smart enough to be an active part of his support team.
When I heard that speech in 2004, I was spellbound. I swear that speech lifted me up out of my seat and had me flying. I told my son, we may be seeing/hearing a future President of the United States. My son said no way, not anytime soon anyway. Neither he nor I had any dream at all that it WOULD happen and that it would be only FOUR years later. Hallelujah is all I can say!!!
I was out doing my part to stimulate the economy and missed the announcement, rats! Will it video be posted here later dear Chips? In the meantime, off to whitehouse.gov. and youtube to see if I can find it. Thanks.
One thing that I have long admired about Senator Kerry is that he did not become bitter when he lost his run for the presidency. Nor did he take his toys (his talents and service) and go home to pout or to become a well-paid pundit. He continued to serve the country he so clearly loves and to be of aid to the one that he had mentored and given a national platform. I have so much respect for him (McCain should take notes from Kerry) and am so pleased that he will be SOS.
Well said, CEB. I’m thrilled that he’ll be Sec of State. He’s served the President (especially during the START treaty), helped him tremendously during debate prep and I’ve never known him to be disrespectful of the President, even when disagreeing with him. I’m glad he’s not afraid to speak his mind, and I think he’ll do a fantastic job as Secretary of State. John McCain could definitely take lessons from Senator Kerry.
good hawaii morning chips and tods. such strong feelings in hawaii today: sad to see our great danny inouye leaving the nation’s capitol, honored and proud at the tributes being paid him. thank you all for recognizing this good man’s lifelong devotion to the country he loved. aloha danny~
I think John Kerry is an excellent pick and is very deserving of being SOS; however, I think Susan Rice was also well-serving and highly qualified. It just infuriates me to no end how the MSM/pundits, high-profile Republican legislators, and some Democrats tried to ostracize her and nullify her nomination before President Obama officially ever publicly considered her as a potential nominee. The way things went down on Capitol Hill in regards to Susan Rice makes Kerry’s nomination somewhat bitter-sweet for me. 😦
I have admired Senator Kerry for many years. I knew little about Susan Rice, but what I knew was admirable. I’m very proud to have John Kerry our SOS……he is extremely knowledgeable, and yes, well connected around the world.
The NRA’s ‘Meaningful Contribution’ To The Gun Conversation Sparks Outrage
By LOLGOP
————————–
So when NRA president Wayne LaPierre took the stage in Newtown a week after the massacre to offer what the organization promised would be a “meaningful conversation,” many had hopes that the NRA would break from its pattern and support some of the measures the public widely supports — including banning assault weapons, limiting the number of bullets in a magazine and universal background checks.
But LaPierre instead put on a performance that shocked and disappointed with its unhinged contradictions that began with his introduction, when the reporters in attendance were told, “This is the beginning of a serious conversation. We won’t be taking any questions.”
LaPierre’s statement has already been denounced by Democrats including Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-CT) who called it “the most tone-deaf statement” he’d ever seen. Twice interrupted by protesters blaming the NRA for “killing kids,” LaPierre trudged on, unashamed and determined to reshape the narrative.
One thing we can always be grateful for is John Kerry’s pivotal role in elevating then Sen. Obama to keynote speaker at the 2004 convention where he gave the speech that really began his path to the presidency. I remember that speech well and thought to myself when I was watching it, “This man is going to be our president.”
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
First
Yes, you are, SP! Congrats.
Who is it?
It’d be kind of a hoot if it was Susan Rice….
We think alike, you and I. Well, …sometimes.
😯
😆 😆 😆 😆
Yes bout time
What else is going to happen today
Well, it’s still the 12-21-12. 😉 😉
Thanks Vcprez
YVW, SP. 😉 😉
David Plouffe is absolutely EMPHATIC that POTUS will not engage in a debt ceiling hostage scenario.
Hi Chips and all my TOD peeps, I am still here. Too bad I have to try to retrieve all my stuff I gave away before today!!!!!!
😆 Congratulations on surviving the apocalypse Ourmanflint!!!
By the skin of my teeth baby!!!!
😆 Mind you, when I looked at my messy desk in my messy office this morning, I thought the apocalyse had arrived 😳
ha ha ha 😆 😆 😆
Nice that you are still here, OMF, but I ain’t giving’ nuthin’ back. Nuthin’!
nuthin’!!!!! you crack me up VC
Never seen the second video. Very amazing
Did you add it to your archival list too, Zizi? I get a real kick out of these vintage (sounds so much more classy to my ears 😉 ) video clips, primarily because they always have a piece that underlines how consistent this man has been AND there is always some irony, mostly on the part of the reporters.
That’s exactly it VC, the consistency is always what stands out, every single time, no matter the issue.
Yes, ma’m. It surely does! Apart from his awesome personality 😉 , THAT is one reason PBO sticks for me without any doubting. PBO has specific goals, at the centre of which are ‘the middle class’, and a determination to meet them. The fact that he has had these goals for years and years, and the fact that he is an extremely intelligent and focused person with demonstrable integrity makes me feel secure that no matter how many times he may have to reroute, or how many fences he might have to climb over or under, he will get where he wants to go to the best of his ability. I won’t ask for more than that. He’ll be sure to take us as close as possible to his goal, using legal means.
A comment I read:
Washington has lost its moral compass and the T-Party and the NRA have formed a circular firing squad. Well, all I have to say to this bunch of subversives is:
“Fire!”
Thanks Chips I finally made it! Getting ready SOS Kerry
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. – A prosecutor says a shooting along a rural road in central Pennsylvania has left four people dead, including the gunman. Three state troopers were injured.
Blair County District Attorney Rich Consiglio says the shooting scene on Friday morning “extended over several miles” in Frankstown Township, about 70 miles west of Harrisburg.
Consiglio says the dead were three men and one woman.
State police say one trooper was struck by gunfire but escaped serious injury because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Consiglio says a second trooper was hit by shattered glass and a third was in a crash involving the gunman.
He says the public isn’t at risk. Township supervisor Mark Schroyer says nearby schools weren’t placed on lockdown.
The identities of the victims and gunman weren’t immediately released.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/21/4-dead-including-gunman-in-rural-pennsylvania-shooting/#ixzz2FiEi2J9F
Great. I have family in that area, and a little great niece and great nephew who live near Harrisburg. No one is safe, no matter whether you live in an urban or rural setting.
That message is so meaningful to be coming from Mrs. Brady.
The MSM for some reason wishes to turn rwnj Rep. Chaffetz (R-UT) into a media star. Mrs. Greenspan just interviewed him and concluded by saying she was looking forward to seeing him on MTP. What is the attraction, he has no leadership position?
Yes, they’re saying that the “Mormon taboo” has been broken by Romney, and they want to see Chaffetz get more popular. He’s an idiot. During the “Baltimore Massacre” a few years ago, he asked some silly questions using an obviously prepared set of statements, nonsense about televising the Healthcare debates on C-Span, etc. President Obama told him that he’s a first year congressman and he’s perfectly capable of making thinks happen himself. I suspected back then that he’d get puffed up – and his head seems a couple of sizes bigger.
He always mentions he has a concealed weapon permit. He is replacing Bachmann,West, and Walsh as the go to guy for a rwnj interview.
Um, the Mormon taboo would only be broken if he had ACTUALLY gotten elected President. “shudder”
Yeah Chips, it is funny that Sen. Kerry gave Pres. Obama a spotlight on a huge stage – then Pres. Obama taps Sen. Kerry to help him in debate preps – then Sen. Kerry becomes a fantastic surrogate for Pres. Obama during the campaign – then Pres. Obama picks him as SoS.
Life is one funny and awesome circle.
Absolutely UT, an amazingly awesome circle!
And the President and future SOS look as comfortable together – almost – as PBO and Joey Biden. Now, the only thing we have to “worry” about is whether or not Teresa Kerry will tell another reporter in the future, perhaps an international reporter, to “shove it,” as she did in another campaign. LOVE THAT WOMAN! Give me a feisty truthteller any day.
🙂 Remind me never to annoy Teresa!!
You can handle your own, darlin’ Chips. I think she’d like you (and that’s a BFD compliment!) …
So right – seeing them all on the stage like that was surreal. President Obama is now their boss, when eight short years ago, he was just bursting onto the national stage, and a handful of years ago, he was the junior senator on the Foreign Relations committee to all three: Biden, Clinton, Kerry. Life is funny, sometimes, but it’s exactly the way it should be.
Senator Kerry is a TALL man. President Obama is what… Six feet one? And Kerry looked like a giant besides him. It was bizarre, because President Obama is always the tallest one when he’s at the podium with a few people surrounding him.
Sen. Kerry is 6’4”.
Love the way VP Biden just looks at the #NEWSTAINERS shouting their ‘fiscal cliff’ – smiles, turns and gently closes the door …
Makes ya wonder what he’s holdin’ up on the other side of the door at ’em. (Oops.)
Ha, yeah Bob, I ADORE the man!!! 🙂
The NRA guy is going to be on MTP so David Gregory can let him continue his insane rant unchallenged. I don’t watch MTP and people should boycott that show and call in to MSNBC to not let this lunatic go on the air while people in Sandy Hook are still burying their children.
I AM VERY THRILLED WITH THIS!….:)
AWESOME…I JUST CAUGHT THE END OF PBO’S ANNOUNCEMENT…CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN KERRY! HE’S A GREAT PIC!…WE NEED A SUPERB CIRCLE AROUND THIS PRESIDENT. KERRY WILL DO A SUPERB JOB! I JUST RETURNED FROM OUR ANNUAL AND BEAUTIFUL HOMELESS MEMORIAL SERVICE ON THE CIRCLE IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS….WE LOST 45 OF OUR BELOVED HOMELESS THIS PAST YEAR. THEY AREN’T HOMELESS ANYMORE BECAUSE GOD’S HOUSE IS THE MOST COMFORTING AND LOVING HOME YOU CAN FIND! GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND I ALWAYS PRAY FOR STRENGTH FOR OUR AMAZING PRESIDENT!…:)
Sue, I am always impressed with your faith and your tremendous compassion. I’m humbled with all the work you do for the homeless.
Bless You.
BLESS YOU JACKIE…IT’S NOT ME…GOD IS A GREAT ‘ENERGIZER’…:)
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Sue, you always give my spirit a reason to () pray for your hands, heart, and soul of so much goodness. You speak, do, and give as an instruments of His love. ))))))))))))))))))HZ
Thanks Chips for that wonderful video, It was amazing to see the rise of then State Senator Barack Obama to President Barack Obama. On a side note he did have that swag thang going on back then.
He’s just ALWAYS been terrific, it seems. What a man!!
He did Don!!! I’d forgotten I had that clip until the John Kerry announcement earlier today, love the archive footage. Thanks Don.
Pres. Obama cracked me up with this line about Sen. Kerry: “Of course, nothing brings two people closer than weeks of debate prep.”
Former Speaker of the House from TX Jim Wright did a great op-ed in our local paper regarding the second amendment. Please see below link.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/20/4500358/framers-didnt-envision-americans.html
OH that is going to be sweeet. Love it when lawrence tells fools off.
Yes, he’s getting lots of practice. Many, many more “conservatives” and “teabaggers” to go!
It speaks to how great Vice President Joe Biden and soon to be Secretary of State John Kerry treated then Senator Barack Obama when he first came to Washington. You would think that both these men with their legacies already secured would still show this young Illinois Senator the respect and honor of treating him as an equal.
This is true.
Seen together, the three videos provide an interesting perspective on Barack Obama and what he has achieved. Clearly his position today was inevitable but not without a lot of hard work and personal charisma.
There was something in Chips video that I noticed, President Obama seems to love those tan pants and that dark blue short sleeve shirt because I have seen him wear it on more than one occasion. I seem to recall President Obama saying that he doesn’t like to occupy his mind with a lot of clutter and one of his examples was clothing, he didn’t like debating with himself about what to wear in the morning.
Don, I believe that POB’s favorites colours are in the browns and blues. Notice how he is surrounded in the Oval Office with the browns and blues. Wallpaper, lamps, sofa, chairs, pillows. Just saying.HZ
What happened to Nancy Smash’s news ‘do’? Anyone has the new time or was it cancelled outright?
She’s already had it but only CSPAN carried it. I watched it live and they had to break away to carry PBO’s announcement of Kerry SOS pick
Grrr. slow again. What was the gist, zizi?
Rep. Pelosi News Briefing
—————————————–
Washington, DC
Friday, December 21, 2012
House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) held a news conference to discuss the status of the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
She, along with other Democratic leaders, discussed the withdrawl of GOP legislation on tax cuts Thursday night, and the negotiations between Congress and the White House on preventing tax increases and automatic spending cuts beginning January 1.
Leaders also responded to remarks made by the NRA this morning.
————————————————-
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Rep-Pelosi-News-Briefing/10737436824/
vcp, if you are referring to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, it was held just before PBO’s SoS announcement.
Thanks guys/gals, for some reason I thought she would be on at 1:30pm, then assumed it would be after PBO once he had the 1:30 slot. I’m off to see if I can get a rerun at the link LH supplied above.
I remember turning to my husband and asking “who is that guy?? He’s fantastic.” And I took particular note of his name which wasn’t hard to do because it was so unusual. So happy that I now wake up each morning and he’s my President.
Hello, BG. It is indeed a joy to wake up and know that the President is fantastic, focused, and someone we can all respect…… and that we were smart enough to be an active part of his support team.
Every time I watch that 2004 Dem’s convention speech from then State Senator Barack Obama, I am still overcome with joyful emotions. Wow.
When I heard that speech in 2004, I was spellbound. I swear that speech lifted me up out of my seat and had me flying. I told my son, we may be seeing/hearing a future President of the United States. My son said no way, not anytime soon anyway. Neither he nor I had any dream at all that it WOULD happen and that it would be only FOUR years later. Hallelujah is all I can say!!!
I was out doing my part to stimulate the economy and missed the announcement, rats! Will it video be posted here later dear Chips? In the meantime, off to whitehouse.gov. and youtube to see if I can find it. Thanks.
Posted Ceb!
Thanks Chips, you are a Goddess!
Off to enjoy! Our team is awesome (and handsome, but who cares about this, right?).
Did I get thrown off TOD and no one told me? The first video is marked “private” when I try to view it. 😉
Just replaced it Blondegrrl, those live streaming YouTube videos always turn to private after the event is over.
One thing that I have long admired about Senator Kerry is that he did not become bitter when he lost his run for the presidency. Nor did he take his toys (his talents and service) and go home to pout or to become a well-paid pundit. He continued to serve the country he so clearly loves and to be of aid to the one that he had mentored and given a national platform. I have so much respect for him (McCain should take notes from Kerry) and am so pleased that he will be SOS.
Well said, CEB. I’m thrilled that he’ll be Sec of State. He’s served the President (especially during the START treaty), helped him tremendously during debate prep and I’ve never known him to be disrespectful of the President, even when disagreeing with him. I’m glad he’s not afraid to speak his mind, and I think he’ll do a fantastic job as Secretary of State. John McCain could definitely take lessons from Senator Kerry.
good hawaii morning chips and tods. such strong feelings in hawaii today: sad to see our great danny inouye leaving the nation’s capitol, honored and proud at the tributes being paid him. thank you all for recognizing this good man’s lifelong devotion to the country he loved. aloha danny~
John Kerry deserves this position. Susan Rice is young and will have her time to shine.
I think John Kerry is an excellent pick and is very deserving of being SOS; however, I think Susan Rice was also well-serving and highly qualified. It just infuriates me to no end how the MSM/pundits, high-profile Republican legislators, and some Democrats tried to ostracize her and nullify her nomination before President Obama officially ever publicly considered her as a potential nominee. The way things went down on Capitol Hill in regards to Susan Rice makes Kerry’s nomination somewhat bitter-sweet for me. 😦
well-serving=well-deserving
I have admired Senator Kerry for many years. I knew little about Susan Rice, but what I knew was admirable. I’m very proud to have John Kerry our SOS……he is extremely knowledgeable, and yes, well connected around the world.
I share your sentiments!
WE WON’T BE TAKING ANY QUESTIONS.
The NRA’s ‘Meaningful Contribution’ To The Gun Conversation Sparks Outrage
By LOLGOP
————————–
So when NRA president Wayne LaPierre took the stage in Newtown a week after the massacre to offer what the organization promised would be a “meaningful conversation,” many had hopes that the NRA would break from its pattern and support some of the measures the public widely supports — including banning assault weapons, limiting the number of bullets in a magazine and universal background checks.
But LaPierre instead put on a performance that shocked and disappointed with its unhinged contradictions that began with his introduction, when the reporters in attendance were told, “This is the beginning of a serious conversation. We won’t be taking any questions.”
LaPierre’s statement has already been denounced by Democrats including Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-CT) who called it “the most tone-deaf statement” he’d ever seen. Twice interrupted by protesters blaming the NRA for “killing kids,” LaPierre trudged on, unashamed and determined to reshape the narrative.
—————————
http://www.nationalmemo.com/the-nras-meaningful-contribution-to-the-gun-conversation-sparks-outrage/2/
One thing we can always be grateful for is John Kerry’s pivotal role in elevating then Sen. Obama to keynote speaker at the 2004 convention where he gave the speech that really began his path to the presidency. I remember that speech well and thought to myself when I was watching it, “This man is going to be our president.”
Just heard that President Obama will be making a statement about the fiscal cliff at 5pm EST. Goodness, this is a busy Friday!
My gawd! He is running from one thing to the next! Unbelievable energy and involvement.
President Obama to make statement at 5 on budget impasse.
best depiction of the christmas story ever!!!
You are SO right, susanne. This gave me a much needed smile and lots of inner warmth. :-))))
I loved it, thanks!
Heads up:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/21/heads-up-the-president-delivers-a-statement-on-the-fiscal-cliff-50-et/