Jan. 1, 2012 – Pete Souza: “A nice way to celebrate the New Year for the President was to jump in the ocean in his native state of Hawaii. He was on his annual Christmas vacation with family and friends, and went swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay.” (White House Photo by Pete Souza
****
MoooOOOoooOOOooorning everyone! Sorry I wasn’t able to update yesterday evening …. that last thread got very long. 😕
Just have to go out for an hour or two, then I’ll catch up with everything (ish). See ya then.
The Obama Diary 
Wow
GREAT PIC. OF OUR ENERGIZER BUNNY PBO GETTING HIS BATTERIES CHARGED!…:)
Nice photo Chips!!
I’ll repost the story from previous thread. Have a great day everyone.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-s-chafetz/shaking-hands-with-obama-_b_2395462.html
Good man morning. That was a great read!
Sorry about the crazy word. Not awake yet.
Yes, it was Melanie. Thanks for sharing.
that was a great story. PBO’s memory is AMAZING! (coming from a person who can’t remember you-know-what) 😀 thx!
Melanie, thanks for the repost. I would have missed this good read otherwise. I always love the stories that show the personal character of the Obamas (partly because they re-affirm my good sense in aligning myself 120% with the right, and only, world leaders for such a time as this) ;).
loved that….absolutely loved that story…
Morning all. On this cold bleak PA morning that beach looks like heaven.
GM Jackieeeeee…cold indeed…but as long as there is no snow…i can cope…
home today…sipping my coffee……
I am all in chips. Half awake but all in
Good morning, TOD family! I’d also like to repost something I shared on the prior post. I had this song playing while working in my studio last night, and it made me think of all me new TOD friends and all the love and support for PBO here. So, enjoy!
It’s beautiful, Rain. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Susan. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Love that, Rain. Here’s another soothing version, followed by the lyrics:
http://easylyrics.org/index_Main.php?artist=Emmylou+Harris&title=If+I+Needed+You
Loved it! I love Emmylou Harris, there is also a really lovely studio version, a duet with her and Don Williams. That was the first version I’d ever heard. I stumbled on the Townes version accidently on YouTube about a year ago.
Thanks for bringing it back!
what’s with all the water motif?
I am at a loss for words. How cool is this?
Link to all the wonderful pictures from the last thread
GM everyone – some wonderful pictures
Good morning Chips and everyone. Did you see the front page of the New York Daily News? Knife in the back http://www.businessinsider.com/the-daily-news-goes-with-gruesome-stabbed-in-the-back-cover-2013-1
Brought over from last night’s thread. Awesome photos from Pete Souza – many new!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157632418300447/
Thanks for posting…lovely way to start the day!
We’re so lucky to have Pete chronicling our beloved POTUS
I agree Susan. Pete is very talented.
I’ve decided to leave this blog.
There’s been a gross misunderstanding, I don’t know how it started but for some reason whenever I post something, I get attacked for no reason. I am not, nor have I ever been anything but an obama supporter. Am I perfect? No. But this has always been my favorite blog because I can’t stand places like DU and Daily Kos. I’m very sad about having to do this but what choice do I have now?
For the sake of peace, I’ve decided to bow out.
Squarepeg. there are thousands of people on this site and we all have our ups and downs, our good days and our frustrated ones. Please reconsider your decision. If you support the president, you’ll get the best news here and PBO needs all hands on deck for the coming battles. This isn’t about any one of us. It’s about the titanic struggle to save American democracy from those who would turn it into a plutocracy run only for the gratification of the very rich. Think about it in terms of the larger effort and then roll your sleeves up and jump in and then let’s all work together to get the job done.
Why would you let anybody chase you away from what you just said, “this has always been my favorite blog”? Don’t give the folks who attacked you the satisfaction of silencing you. If Chips is OK with what you post, then too bad that a few hand wringers can’t consider even the slightest difference of opinion about PBO. He said he wasn’t perfect, and he acknowledges that everyone won’t agree with him. Some folks think they have to babysit him, a grown man, leader of the free world, from the baddies who would dare voice an opinion about him. Do what he does, brush your shoulder off and keep on keepin’ on.
My job and agenda here is not to “silence” anyone. Furthermore, I soundly reject the false insinuation that my defense of PBO is all about silencing people who just happen to “disagree” with him. That argument is spurious and frequently used by the same hair-on-fire left who hide behind it while throwing all kinds of nasty insults (spineless, needing to grow a pair, wimp), demeaning and inflammatory rhetoric (betrayal, wimp), and racist narratives (stupid, lazy, scared, etc). to boot.
If anyone has read and understood my posts not just on TOD, but on Twitter, Old Orange and elsewhere, they should know and understand exactly what my objections to certain media personalities are. And they should not feel attacked or threatened when I call them out (as I will continue to do).
Why would you think anyone was referring to you? I don’t see your name anywhere regarding this issue. Seems to me you might want to assure squarepeg that you’d love for her to stay with us. I’m not going to comment on the rest of your post. I find it self serving.
Maybe you need to ask yourself why YOU are so quick to defend these media personalities’ while being royally upset at those who are quick to defend PBO.
If I had a choice, I’d much rather be jumping to defend PBO – who actually works on my behalf than those media personalities who don’t give a rat’s arse about how 98% of Americans fare.
First, as I’ve explained to you before, I DON’T CARE what a person on a TV box has to say about PBO to the point that I get my panties in a knot over it. I neither defend them, nor get upset at folks whose lives seem to revolve around them. My only objection is how folks will read or hear something, bring it here without any links or context, just drive-by one-sentence over the top post. Then several folks jump in with unfounded negative hair on fire about something that they don’t even know what was said to begin with. You had a problem with Joy Reid of all people. My goodness. I have a life outside of politics and when I put my blessings in perspective, this doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.
You said, “If I had a choice, I’d much rather be jumping to defend PBO” I say, it doesn’t give you a right to make anyone feel bullied because they don’t hold your views. That is, if you are the person in question.
Now me, I have a choice and I’d much rather make folks feel comfortable and wanted. I don’t have a PBO litmus test that they have to pass.
You DO care – enough to read what people post, and then post reactionary comments defending the media personalities.
And stop misrepresenting my objection to Joy Ann Reid – I (and many others ) objected to her use of the word “cave” in her description of DEMS negotiations of the bill. I have always objected to that word because it seems to be almost exclusively reserved for PBO and Democrats when negotiations are taking place. It is not coming from a healthy or neutral place and is rooted in the idea that PBO is weak and a poor negotiator.
Do I summarily reject Joy Ann Reid? No. I simply objected to her that one time based on her use of a particular word. And if you are honest, you will note that many others on this blog and elsewhere strongly object to that word being used – regardless of who’s using it. Heck some people (including some regular TODers) have even threatened to “unfollow” anyone on Twitter who uses the word “cave” regardless of who it is!!!
Lawd hopefruit! I’ll pay you to stop.
Asking price: $250K, sent same-day Fed-Ex
Thanks.
you got it. that’s a small price to pay. we good.
Good. Off to shop!
Morning CookeM. Let me preface what I’m going to say by pointing out that I hate friction as I’m just too lazy to follow up, so I usually step around. I have no intention to drag this out, or to encourage any side-taking, yet I feel the need to say one thing. I remember an instance when you decided to no longer acknowledge a regular on the blog because s/he was unbelievably rude to another regular. In fact, if I remember correctly, you asked the person involved not to respond to any of your comments. From my perspective this confrontation between the two parties here (excl. you) is somewhat similar. I have seen some really uncalled for, personal, and rather rude (IMO) language used in response to a challenging comment put forward by one party. Not having reached the Pres’ level of conciliatory skills and being very averse to swearing, particularly if addressed directly to me, I admit I would find it hard to stretch out an open hand to someone who treated me with such disrespect. Just saying.
Thanks for this. I didn’t know about whatever caused this. I just know that I don’t think anyone should feel dumped on, or unwelcome among us. I may have gotten too involved, since I wasn’t a party to it. I just feel so bad that squarepeg would leave under these circumstances. I forgot to use my own mantra. Breathe in, peace out.
Breathing in, peace out! Nice note on which *I* will step aside. 😉 😉
I agree with you, hopefruit2
sometimes people react to quickly are anxious and therefore write stuff which the would not do if they had waited a few minutes to hit send. I am guilt of this often.
sorry for the hurt; but please re-consider and stay. Eyes on the Prize which is to support PBO
Squarepeg, I have always found your comments insightful, honest, and supportive of PBO. There are some who believe their opinion is the only and final word. Ignore them.
Squarepeg, if there is something you can learn from this experience, go ahead and do that.
You have created an opportunity to grow. You have choices: do not get lost in any drama.
This is a place where I personally learn to grow my “opinions” responsibly,
to ask questions rather than make a lot of declarations. I’m not trying to be right all the time,
and while I don’t like looking [ignorant, stupid, etc.], sometimes I do. That’s all it is, and
even when you are perhaps “misunderstood”,
this is a very forgiving place. And for sure, it’s the best we got going for us.
It’s a slippery world,
requires intelligence and humility and flexibility, and a willingness to . . . ~grow~ . .
and own whatever you see is there for you to own. Nobody on this blog is perfect.
My request is that you consider that, whatever you do, it ~is~ your choice.
Nobody here on TOD is making you do anything.
excellent response. I wish I could have said it like that.
Great comment, Sara!
Square – hang in. If Chips is ok with what you submit, you’re cool. And, Sara wise recommendation is worthy of your consideration.
#FORWARD
I find this to be a double standard! You want to ignore people whose opinion you don’t agree with but you want your opinion to be taken seriously.
Isn’t that something Nath…
And then they pretend they are the ones taking the highroad…
You can’t make this up…
Simply amazing!, Chi!
One more thing….you have every right to visit other sites and not feel like you’ve done something wrong. The very people who give you grief about posting from those sites, are active on them; reading and commenting often. If Chips agree, you have every right to link to something from another site to point out a different view point. You don’t need to apologize, nor defend having read or even enjoyed, yes ENJOYED something from another site. OK, I’ll have to stop now, cause this really irks me. It’s a shame that you would feel bullied by another O supporter on the TOD porch.
I’ve only lurked and looked here since it was known that I also frequent DK, for which I was roundly condemned. “How could you?” etc. Even as a constant supporter of PBO and follower of BWD, I was condemned for that and felt like I had to sign out so I did.
Please consider returning as an active and vocal contributor on the TOD stoop. You shouldn’t have to feel ostracized just because you frequent other sites and share insights of others. No TODder is more valuable than any other. We are all supporters. ps: love your moniker.
Thank you, cookemom! I appreciate your words as much as I appreciate the fantastic pix of our First Family.
Maybe give it a day or two rest. Things will be better! Esp. if this is your fave blog (and why wouldn’t it be -this is where all the fun people are – bah ha!). I don’t know what happened, but don’t let anyone drive you away, OK?
Squarepeg don’t let the thought police and the PBO babysitters that cookemom referenced run you off. Just ignore them and let them know your mind is your own. As long as Chips is cool with it and you haven’t been banished, don’t leave.
Well, this blog is called “The OBAMA Diary” whether you care to note that or not. The title alone should tell you that it will have elements of “PBO babysitting” or whatever damn name you want to call it. Whose picture is at the top of this thread? It’s PBO having fun in Hawaii. That’s right. It’s not the Ezra Klein diary or the MSNBC chronicles.
So yes, I will continue to defend PBO and push back on the disingenuous media as I see fit.
Have a nice day! 🙂 🙂
And I completely second that Hope…
I too wear the badge of ‘thought police and PBO babysitter’ with much pride…
A-men! 🙂
Hopefruit there are some of us who deeply appreciate your fearlessness in defending the President and pushing back against the unethical media or any one defending them. Calling you or others “PBO babysitters” is, in my humble opinion, an indication that people cannot truthfully respond to your well reasoned critiques.
Thanks nathkatun for your kind words, and your unwavering support of our President!
You are welcome, hopefruit. I respect your vigorous defense of the President.
“Squarepeg don’t let the thought police and the PBO babysitters that cookemom referenced run you off.”
Wow! So any one who now dares to disagree with you and cookemom, or dares to question people who defend media pundits who denigrate the President is a “thought police and PBO babysitter?” I suppose calling someone a “PBO babysitter” is clear evidence that you are tolerant of different opinions. May be it’s me but being labeled a “PBO babysitter” is not much different from being labeled an “Obamabot.” I for one think that there is nothing wrong with challenging people who defend media pundits who denigrate President Obama.
The idea that defending the President on a blog dedicated to him is somehow something to be ashamed of, or deserving of derision and scorn is headscratchingly nuts and frankly insane…
Indeed. And that’s my point exactly. Thanks Chi.
I am asking you to reconsider your decision. Everyone on this blog has different opinions and those opiinions should be respected…If there is one thing that PBO has taught me it is that you learn from different opinions and you don’t disrespect someone by hummiliating them for those opinions. We all come from different places in our lives and have different life experiences but one thing we all have in common is our respect for PBO. ALL OF US…some express our opinions passionately, some more pragmatic but if we don’t try to see merit in different opinions we become a very boring, unproductive blog. Respectful debate is good….calling people names is not…….soooooo my final thoughts….Before anyone posts think…”What would PBO do”…..that man doesn’t have a hateful bone in his body….sooooooo even though I slipped yesterday and allowed “hate” to enter my space, I will work very hard this next year not to say those /’#@!$%^&*^$ing “Teabagging” Rs……
nawwww….
square…we all have diverse opinions and perhaps for some of us we need to be more tolerant….but i urge you to not leave….the battle to keep the Prez’s back is never more urgent than now….
stay!
Ah, I missed all of this – what happened???
Good Morning everyone.
I am happy to see President Obama finally relaxing in the water he loves so much.
Have a great day.
One more reason Pres. Obama was right in fighting for a fiscal cliff deal.
The wild swings on the market will continue while the GOP attempts to blackmail the country with fiscal cliffs and debt ceilings. Last minute decision making does not make for market stability or sensible economic progress. The dow is still to return to the levels of Oct 2007 – although it is now very close to that level. The markets are just returning to where they were 5 years ago – despite the republicans best efforts to stop any growth – and in this regard the US markets are well ahead of the rest of the world – with the Obama administration largely responsible for same.
Some interesting graphs here – the Clinton years growth was amazing – I don’t understand the economics of same to understand why – perhaps it was simply the markets being open to so many more people than previously? I find it interesting – need to do some study.
http://stockcharts.com/freecharts/historical/djia1900.html
As you said, 99ts, we wouldn’t have wild swings if the GOP weren’t so determined to undermine the president that they would destroy the
economy to do it. Imagine the growth we would have if Congress had passed the American Jobs Act or invested in rebuilding our roads, bridges and electrical grids, not to mention more green energy as well as high speed transportation and broadband. It makes you weep sometimes to think how hard the Repubs in Congress have worked to destroy the country. Plus PBO had to bring these deadweight R’s kicking and screaming into the reality of raising taxes on the wealthy. Even one more two-year term with Nancy Pelosi in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate and this country would be rocking and rolling again—jobs growing, housing moving and the markets rising. We have to work as hard as we did last year to make this happen in 2014.
Fingers crossed for those last 2 years jackie – it seems the GOP may talk themselves into becoming a very small minority if they keep up the recent actions.
GM TOD
Good News to start the day.
According to ADP Employer Services, the U.S. economy created 215,000 new private sector jobs in December. Analysts expected 140,000 new jobs.
http://www.businessinsider.com/december-adp-jobs-report-2013-1
Morning GF, I was busy posting this on the last thread, while everyone was over here splashing in the ocean with PBO.
Woot!
awesome Donna – and UT that’s great news RT’d you both. 🙂
I have come to disregard the ADP figures. They are unofficial and have no real meaning in the real world. Plus, they usually are too high. Nonetheless, I hope they are correct this time.
I know I used to think that also and its more complicated than this but actually the ADP figures are taken from actual payroll reports. It’s the BLS that is sort of an “actual/estimate” and this is why it gets adjusted up or down after the fact all the time.
Someone smarter than me could probably explain it better but the media puts all the emphasis on the BLS and rarely goes back and discusses the adjustments after the fact.
they have been pretty on point the last few months. I saw a chart somewhere that they have gotten back on track and match pretty closely with the regular job reports. I think things were too crazy up in the air for them to get it right during the recession for them to capture the real picture. I just heard that if their numbers are even close the market will explode, businesses will not only hire, but will start to invest in their plants and inventory. #winwin
They are using a new formula as of November, I believe, and their numbers are supposed to be more in line with BLS. However, seasonal hiring could have an inflated effect. Don’t know if they seasonally adjust or not.
Holy smokes, the water looks incredible.
Good morning TOD!
I am adding my most heartfelt, joyful GOOD RIDDANCE FOREVER to this sad bunch
don’t let the door hit yez in the keister on the way out! (on second thought…….) 🙂
Ron Paul was NOT re-elected???…did not know….wow
He didn’t run.
ohhh …thanks Japa…HNY to you and your fam
That’s a pretty good clean sweep right there. Adios, Holy Joe and Mean Jean!
How did I miss Jean Schmitt? that’s great news. And the rest of them — good riddance.
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, and congrats PFWI on #1! 🙂
Wassup all you O’s!!!! Another great getting up day, right!?!?!? So now we have to hear about the dooming, ever looming spending cut cliff for the next couple of months. I think though that with the job numbers steadily improving, and the housing market and other indicators getting better, the whole hair-on-fire, must-have spending cuts or else meme will lose its momentum. That’s why PBO was ok separating out the spending from the tax issue. He gives the country time to settle down after the election, engage in the inaugural, and hear his State of the Union address. He will point to all those improvements, while painting the ‘pubs as scofflaws ducking out on paying the country’s debts.
The ‘pubs will walk right back into the trap of tying spending cuts with paying ones debt, while folks see that the country is on the mend. Folks won’t see the need to push grandma out of her wheelchair.
Cookemom your continual optimism is a joy (especially to this sometimes pessimist). May you have a wonderful day
aww shucks 99ts….thanks
Grandmama here..not quite in wheelchair yet but loved what you said….perked me up this morning!
amen to that, amk . . . . jeeze!! We don’t have to look at Joe Lieberman any more.
Everytime I see his face I think of that R convention in 2008, which brings visions of Palin, which brings nightmares, which brings unproductive mornings, which brings always being behind, which brings depression, and which brings always being tired…..thank heavens that is out of my life now…..same with Hoe Walsh…..IT’S A GOOD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh how I wish Lieberman was taking McCain with him.
Yes, now there’s a fine idea. McCain. You have stayed toooooo long. Go.
Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening TODville. Hope everyone (celebrating and non-celebrating TODvillers and TODlurkers) has had a most wonderful holiday season/vacation. Wishing you and the great Mayoress Chips, a most prosperous 2013. Cheers, from a fervent resident lurker.
So nice to see your face, CJ. 😆 Best of 2013 to you!
The year in photographs released by Pete Souza is amazing and the backstories of some of them are quite funny.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157632418300447/
Oh my..this is awesome. Thanks UT!!
Thanks UT, the photos are wonderful. Thanks to TOD most of them have been posted here but there are a few surprises, both funny and heartfelt. Pete Souza is a genius.
Good morning Chips and TOD family. I wish everyone one a great day today. Congrats PFWI on being first this lovely Thursday morning.
read that. tweeted.
Michael Tomasky has been behind the President all the way – he also has the knowledge and skill to explain reality. This is a wonderful explanation as to what the President can, and does, do. Just a snippit
“As a matter of fact, think of this. If Obama had done what these liberals wanted and sent any signals as the New Year approached that he was ready to go over the cliff, the House Republicans would have publicized that, and then, if we had gone over the cliff, Obama would have shared the blame. It was Obama’s strict, good-faith adherence to the deadline that helped shift all the blame to the Republicans, and that is what made them play ball.”
BOOM!
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
A good rant from roger simon of gopolitico.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/fools-on-the-hill-85697.html?hp=l3
TOO FUNNY…ONE OF OUR INDIANA ASSAULT WEAPON ENTHUSIASTS…AKA…BULLETS MINUS BRAINS…RAN AN ARTICLE ON FACEBOOK ABOUT CONSERVATIVES WANTING TO FIRE BOEHNER AND REPLACE HIM W/ PALIN!…I’M STILL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING…TOLD HIM THEY AT LEAST NEEDED SOMEONE WHO KNEW THEIR ‘ABC’S!
They are serious. It’s been all over the RWNJ sites. Somebody read to them out loud that anyone can be Speaker per the Constitution. So now these scholars are on a mission to draft her for the spot. sheesh
ROFL….that’s just great…I can tell it’s gonna be a good day. 🙂
They are quite convinced she will run for President in 2016 – the fact that she has done nothing except have face lifts, diet, do reality shows and say ” I hate the President” whenever she is let loose on Fox – for the past 4 years seems to be not a problem. It is still a concern as to how she was elected Governor! Then again, alot of similar red state governors around.
batshit crazy bachmann, goehmart, west are the rwnj’s wet dreams. Idjits.
LOL amk….and I thought I was the only person who used the word Idgits…. 🙂
Heh, I have © & ® on idjits, tundra twit, egg.sack.lee, gunnite etc.
Any chance of pictures of all the new women Senators being sworn in today? That will be historic!
ABC’s Diane Sawyer is interviewing them….19 of them on ABC News Tonight. They showed a picture of them on Wed News program. Tune in tonight to hear more.
Is the new year already THREE days old? I suppose I’d better start giving some thought to whether or not I will need resolutions for 2013. Hmmmm.
Good Morning, all TODobots! It’s always a good morning for me when I see our President has been getting some relaxed breathing time.
Ms Chips Chica – A very Good Morning/Afternoon to you! Nice to see you up and running.{Do you think I’ll get an invite to the wedding, or maybe the godmother rights to the first little chips?
VC, are you implying that Chips has a new man and that’s why she’s been “busy” these past days? If so, then I say, DO THE DAMN THANG CHIPS!!!!!!:smile: 🙂
Yes I am, LadyT, WITH NO BASIS FOR THE IMPLICATION other than past experience of coworkers always thinking a man was in the picture if I changed my routine, look, or manner of dress in any way. 😉 😉 😉 I mean to say, you couldn’t be doing anything for yourself. A man had to be involved. 🙄 🙄
Nice to see you. Happy New Year! I haven’t talked to you since way back when last year! 😆
LOL, I feel you! I mean, it’s not ALWAYS a new man having you act different. Walk different maybe, but not act different. LOL, naughty mat alert. Sorry VC!! And I can’t blame it on you because you are as innocent as they come or at least that’s what you tell us!!
Happy New Year to you honey!!! I might not comment everyday, but I’m here everyday and you are a ray of sunshine. I probably would go through withdrawals if you ever decided to take a hiatus, LOL!!
As Ms Chips might say ‘innocent’ is my middle name. 😉 😉 Lady T, I am on hiatus, ever since the election; haven’t you noticed? 😯 😆 😆 😆 I guess this means I shall have to try harder.
“As Ms Chips might say ‘innocent’ is my middle name.”
Link?
😆
LOL!! :laugh:
oops!!! (must go and learn how to make the different faces)
: lol : with no space between the colons and the ‘lol’ 😆 or : grin : using the same instruction 😀
thanks vc!!
Aw, don’t you trust me, CC? Good thing I protected myself legally by using the word ‘might’. (Would you believe the delayed response was because I was discussing my position with my lawyer? 😕
OK okokok I really gotta get to work. people are peering into my window like “what are you doing in there?” gotta go!
Have a good day everyone. Square – you stay put!
LOL.
I love it! 🙂 🙂
I love it too – and I loved the video they made for the easter egg roll – this is the perfect dog for the perfect family – Real family values.
amk, Bo agree to do that, only if he could be the star at Christmas, a smart dog. You notice Bo was the star at Christmas, he had his video, he was on the WH Christmas card, he stole the show when FLOTUS was reading the Christmas story to the kids, he spent Christmas in Hawaii, smart dog.
Bo made a very good decision when he decided to become First Dog. He will go down in dog history as one of the greatest dogs of all time.
‘Bo agree to do that, only if he could be the star at Christmas, a smart dog.’
And a smart negotiator
Now this is what I call ‘shared sacrifice’.
On forests and trees by Liberal Librarian
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/01/on-forests-and-trees.html
Between now and 2016, there will be many battles waged both nationally and on a state level. We have to win the state battles; statehouses are the GOP’s power base; they have to be deprived of them. The tragedy of 2010 wasn’t solely that Democrats lost the House; we also lost many states, where national politics are affected. The forecast looks good for retaking many of those states, but complacency is not allowed. The 2014 elections have to be fought both in Congressional districts and in the states. States that Obama won in November have to be retaken; otherwise, the political battle nationally will drag out for several election cycles………….
.
__________________________________________________________
BOOMMMMMMMM!!!!……Extraordinary Piece…
Sen.-elect Jeff Flake (R-AZ) came out on Wednesday against the National Rifle Association’s proposal to have Congress require someone to be armed at every public school in the nation following last month’s massacre in Newtown, Conn.
“I was troubled by that proposal, greatly troubled by that kind of Washington mandate, federal involvement in local schools,” Flake told Phoenix television station KTVK.
A six-term congressman who won a nasty Senate race this year against Democratic former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, Flake was endorsed by the NRA, which spent more than $320,000 to get him elected. The group’s executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, even went to Arizona to stump for Flake during the campaign, and the organization gave the congressman its “A” rating.
Seems like not against the guns – just against the Feds legislating.
You are no doubt correct. After all, he is a “paid” U.S. Senator, and the NRA owns him. (At first, I enjoyed the thought they were in-fighting, but, alas.)
While I appreciate that he’s against this NRA plan to arm America, he did it for the wrong reasons. He didn’t do it because of the lunacy of it, or that research shows that this is a BAD IDEA. The NRA is part of the federal govt. now???????? WTF! Don’t let this snake fool you. He’s a Teabagger through and through. Once again, AZ made the wrong choice.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) is complaining about PBO not offering any changes to Medicare. The MSM never questions the Republicans about their suggested changes. Willard ran against the imaginary cuts in Medicare by PBO and was never questioned by the MSM. The Republicans are offering nothing except asking PBO for cuts.
That’s how the sorry MSM works. Why didn’t they askl Sen. Corker if the President haven’t offer any change, what kind of change would you offer? I think they like all of us know what Corker would offer, we Republicans want to offer to end Medicare. You remember Paul Ryan plan.
It has been discussed somewhere – the GOP want those “entitlements” removed – but they want to force the President to suggest the changes – so the President is blamed for what then happens. The media helps the GOP in this regard – all the time.
I’m always mesmerized by the President’s hands.
He is rather mesmerizing afterall.
Thank you so much for this. Fantastic and full of logic.
Oh my…the good news just keeps pouring in!
that’s great AMK!
That’s wonderful!
Mike Grunwald nails it again.
So true. Rinse, wash, repeat…
Yes it sounds familiar.
I saw that Tweet go by on my timeline and chuckled. it’s too true!
Michael Grunwald is one of a few journalists who still take the journalist profession seriously. He refuses to engage in rumor mongering and group think as the basis for attacking the President. Sadly, there are some people on this site who get bent out of shape if any one dares to call out some of these so called journalists who seem to be in the business of inflaming people against the President based on rumors and manufactured memes, e.g. this blatantly false meme that President Obama “caves” to the Republican party all the time.
Good morning TOD.
Does anybody else have this problem? When comments on a thread number more than 250 or so , my computer will not show any of the comments at all.
Consequently, when there is a lenghty thread llike the last one I miss what everyone has been saying. Totally sucks.
If anyone can offer a solution to this I am all ears(eyes.)
Firefox
Some people have had similar complaints, particularly when a lot of videos have been posted. It may have something to do with your Browser, or the computer’s memory or internet speed. It seems to vary for different people. Hope you are able to get it resolved. 🙂
What kind of computer are you using and which browser?
lenovo computer
browser? aoL 9.7, If that’s the browser
Vicki, you may want to consider using Firefox as your browser. It’s more efficient and is built to make browsing a fairly maximum experience.
Here’s more info: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
Good Morning, I loved those pictures Chips/TOD & also the “handshake” story. I cannot imagine meeting PBO without passing out. Have a great day everyone 🙂
I was so taken with this, that I had to share with all of you.
http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/wrights-law-unique-teacher-imparts-rea#comments
OK now I’m really going back to work. thx DF!
Thanks, alice. Yes…waterworks. I teach kids like this, so I REALLY sprung a leak!
extraordinary
Good morning, TODville!! How much do we love Pete Souza? Another amazing deck.
Indeed. He already has his place in history.
One of my favorites of our beloved First Couple:
meta, I haven’t seen all the pictures yet, but I did see this picture of POTUS and FLOTUS and that was one of my favorite so far. FLOTUS look like she might be remembering her and POTUS wedding day.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!!
No matter who she’s looking at, he is almost always looking at her. What a lovely, loving couple.
Pure joy and serenity.
Beautiful picture…
My absolute favorite in the series…
Bo = Best.First.Dog.Evah.
Fun Trivia Fact: After First Family were given Bo, the sale of Portuguese Water dogs skyrocketed in the US, but particularly in parts of the UK, and they were declared “sold out” in Germany.
Now how cool is that? 🙂
Also, the reason the Republicans vilify Obamacare is because it’s fully paid for and brings down the debt by 1 trillion over 20 years. And it adds up to 31 million to the rolls of helacare for the first time.
So, when all said and done, Obamacare might be the best Healthcare option out of all of them.
I’m not sure the republicans even know what the ACA does for the debt jovie. I tend to think they vilify it because it was introduced by the black guy, and per your post adds 31million who were previously unemployed (The GOP don’t like to share – especially with poorer folks). They vilify everything and anything PBO has done. I have memories of McCain in 2008 saying he would introduce universal health care – if he had won would the democrats have fought against it – or would McCain have forgotten about it?
That and they demonize all government programs, as if this President is King George from Great Britain.
Congratulation Senator Warren.
Just got this email from Elizabeth. Can’t wait to see photos.
Susan —
In just a few minutes, I’m heading down to the Senate chamber to take the oath of office to represent the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This day is not mine alone.
It belongs to the hundreds of thousands of people who waited in line to vote because they believed that our future matters.
It belongs to the more than 20,000 people who volunteered on Election Day to get out the vote.
And it belongs to you. You made an investment in this campaign every time you talked to your friends on Facebook and Twitter, contributed to our campaign, and yes, read email after email at sometimes never-ending pace asking for your help.
I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as your Senator.
I am grateful for your hard work and your support.
I am deeply touched by the trust and faith that you have put in me.
And I pledge today that I will never stop fighting for you.
Thank you for being a part of this,
Elizabeth
No African American.
It will come to be anniebella – the tide is changing – and not so slowly any more.
Indeed….
hard to get folks of color into the Senate male or female…need a plan….
but i am glad to see more women in the Senate….esp Claire McKaskill
We have such a long way to go. Here we are celebrating 20% of the Senate. It must get better.
There’s only ever been one AA female Sen (Carol Mosely-Braun), and now with the Teanut from So Carolina, 3 AA men in the Senate ever. I call it the cheerleader/quarterback/firefighter syndrome. Those are the last strongholds that AAs will penetrate in schools, sports, and public works in the country. The Senate is the same thing.
Cookemom,
Well, not ‘ever’ just post “Reconstruction” i.e. after the Civil War. There were 4 AA men and 1 AA woman. There were 2 black senators during “Reconstruction”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans_in_the_United_States_Congress
I stand corrected. I thought there was only 1 AA during reconstruction
Serious question: Did any African American women run for Senate in 2012?
Theo, no AA women run for the U.S. Senate in 2012! It’s still tough for AA (men or women) to win statewide elections. Post Reconstruction only two states have elected AA to U.S. Senate: Illinois (Carol Mosely-Braun and Barack Obama) and Massachusetts (Edward Brooke). During Reconstruction only one State, Mississippi,sent two AA to the U.S. Senate (Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce). By the way, after the swearing in of Scott from S.C., nominated to replace DeMint, 7 AA (6 males one female) would have Served in the United States Senate since 1789. 3 from Illinois, 2 from Mississippi, 1 from Massachusetts and now 1 from South Carolina. Of the Seven AA senators (elected and appointed) 4 are Republicans and 3 Democrats.
We can’t win if nobody runs. I’m sure if a qualified AA woman was to put her name in the hat, she’d stand a good chance of winning. There’s an AA man who put his name in the ring in statewide, and then nationwide races – and he’s currently awaiting his inauguration into a second term as President of the United States.
Also, too, there’s an AA woman who ran on the Republican ticket (and a Mormon, to boot), and although she lost, she seemed to gain some momentum during her campaign (regardless of the fact that her policies were a disaster).
You are right Theo about putting names in the hat. I wish time permitted me to mention AAs who put their names in the hats in statewide elections and came up empty, including Carol Mosley-Braun who was unable to win re-election to the Senate. That of course does not mean they should give up trying. I think if Sen. Boxer decides not to run for re-election, our current AG, who is black and female might be able to capture that Senate seat if she decides to go for it. There is also a chance the Mayor of Newark may successfully run for the NJ U.S. Senate Seat. At the moment, I am not aware of any other AA ( both females and males) who have a chance at winning statewide offices, unless, of course the Gov. of MA decides to run for the Senate seat to replace John Kerry.
Whether we like it or not, PBO is a phenomena! Let’s hope the country has changed enough where his election does not end up being a very rare exception but opens more opportunities for African Americans to be elected for Statewide and National offices.
Pres. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama campaigning together = One of the best campaign memories.
Thanks UT. I hadn’t seen this before and loved watching the interaction between them while FLOTUS spoke. So classy, funny and loving.
Another Fun Trivia Fact:
Monday Jan 21st , MLK Day and PBO’s 2nd inauguration is also Attorney General Eric Holder’s birthday!! (He was born Jan 21st, 1951).
Nice.
Thanks for sharing this, hp. AG Holder looks good! I didn’t know he he had already hit 60. Glad to have him in my 60’s club along with SoS Clinton and the marvelous VP, Joe Biden.
A Briton, a Frenchman and a Russian are viewing a painting of Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden.
“Look at their reserve, their calm,” muses the Briton “They must be British.”
“Nonsense,” the Frenchman disagrees. “They’re naked, and so beautiful. Clearly, they are French.”
No clothes, no shelter,” the Russian points out, “they have only an apple to eat, and they’re being told this is paradise. They are Russian.”
Gunnite folks
LOL! G’nite amk. Sleep tite. Don’t let Boehner bite.
I just called Harry Reids office, asked him to please change filibuster rules today.
Maybe we all should call?
Do you know why he postponed the vote – I thought it was supposed to take place this week?
Democrats don’t want to give up their power/turf.
They are part of the problem!
It seems they are going to do the watered down McCain proposal.
Ugh!
Before we condemn the Democrats, let’s ask ourself this question: What if the country had decided to elect Mitt Romney and also flipped the Senate in favor of the Republicans with a very slim majority? Would we be so strongly in favor of giving up the filibuster? May be I am wrong, but I certainly would not be in favor of doing so and thus making it easy for the GOP to roll back all the President’s accomplishments. There is absolutely no doubt that the McConnell led Senate Republicans have abused the filibuster. But the filibuster can still serve a purpose in the future to prevent radical right wing policies being imposed on the country. So it’s short-sighted to think that those Democrats who have some reservations about doing away with a filibuster rule are all about “power/turf.” Some may be looking at at the big picture. Having said that, I prefer going back to the old filibuster practice where the senator/senators filibustering had to stay on the floor for hours and hours so that the country can see what the filibuster was all about.
Gimme some of that surf. Wow it looks like a great restful vacation, finally, for PBO.
Oh, and this happened:
Popped up in my TL. UGH.
So, not interested enough to do any digging, but old Joe Manchin is serving the double master, again? Strange bedfellows these racists have, eh?
Hahahahahahahahaha…and they call themselves non-partisan characters just looking to make sure the country progresses in the right direction? Hahahahahahahaha
Moves in the “right” direction. No pun intended!
Bloomberg and Arianna Huffington are both involved in this shindig – I was suspicious from the very beginning. Just more right wingers undercover.
Huntsman, Manchin, Arianna, Bloomberg…
All part of the lead squad for Mark McKinnon’s sham front…
Sounds about right…
PBO’s favourite picture is of him and mini spiderman! I love that photo too – it’s just perfect – the angle of PBO’s body and the perfect line of spiderman’s extended arm. The fact that spiderman is so mini and deliciously chunky is perfectly juxtaposed against the president’s long, lean angular body. it really looks like something out of a cartoon.
chips – just setting up a new computer but it’s me – regular cluny
Awww — my President looks so happy in his natural habitat. 😀
That water looks glorious and I’m so glad that the Prez headed straight to the beach when he got to Hawaii to enjoy it. He sure deserves some sun, sand and waves — I hope it washed the idiotic GOP right out of his hair….and mind. I hope he feels refreshed and restored as he spends time with his family and friends in paradise.
I’m hoping he is enjoying the Hawaiian surf this year too, but the photo above was from last year’s trip—-Jan.1, 2012—-and sadly he was in D.C. on Jan. 1, 2013—–because cliff.
So, Harry Reids staff member says that he wants to bring filibuster reform to the floor, but it does not look like he will be able to.
Not enough votes?
Wwwwwhhhhaaattt?
Please call, this is important!
Thanks.
Lines busy…
Good job! Schumer is co sponsor with McCain on a watered down version that they ate going with.
Harry got steam rolled by schumer.
There are still negotiations going on. Things are moving foward. The McCain Schumer plan is better than what currently exists and is now the minimum that will be achieved. reid’s plan is to install the new members today and then, instead of adjourning until 1/22 go into recess until then so it is all considered the first day. It looks like he is actually close to having enough for the full nuclear option which then becomes leverage to get more concessions.
It is important to know who are the senators that are holding out. Will research further and see what I come up with.
It appears that Reid has postponed the vote because he’s trying to build on McCain-Levin proposal to come up with a bipartisan plan that is acceptable to both sides. The two plans – the Merkely-Udall plan which was the original plan, the the McCain-Levin plan which is a watered down version. Levin(D) won’t vote for the Merkely plan and many Dems won’t vote the Levin-McCain plan which, though backed by Dems like Schumer (NY) and Cardin (MD) is considered GOP-friendly.
Details of the Merkely-Udall plan here: http://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/in_the_news/article/?id=D2F4EF04-0BA1-CE24-CF06-BB246FA19977
Details of the McCain-Levin plan here: http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/FilibusterProposal122812.pdf
The fact that they’re taking guidance from McCain’s proposal doesn’t auger well for the filibuster reform. McCain – who has an embarrassing legacy of failure and bad judgement, is also one of those who has voted “no” for nearly every measure that would help the middle class and first responders since 2009. Not good.
Sometimes Democrats are their own worst enemies…
How anyone can expect President Obama to reason with a warped crowd that includes questionable Democrats who will even collaborate with the opposition to obstruct him and any progress on behalf of the American people, beats me…
And the progressive left don’t hesitate to screech that the President has “caved”, completely disregarding that he can’t perform miracles when he’s working with the likes of these people.
Islamabad (CNN) – Two suspected U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan’s volatile tribal region left 15 people dead — including a Taliban commander — on Thursday, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
Among the 11 killed in one strike in the province of South Waziristan was a Taliban commander named Mullah Nazir, also known as Maulvi Nazir Wazir, the officials said.
The drone fired two missiles in the Sarkanda area of Birmil, killing Nazir, the officials said.
Nazir was at odds with the Pakistani Taliban over a peace agreement he signed with the Pakistani government in 2007. As part of the deal, he refused to attack Pakistani government or military targets, though he was believed to be behind a number of attacks that targeted the U.S. military.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/03/world/asia/pakistan-drone-strikes/index.html
But but but, according to Beltway Liberals these People being killed by drones are their Best Friends forever and…
No- they will probably blame him for Global warming.
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie defended N.J. Transit’s pre-super storm Sandy preparations today when asked about a report that warned that northern New Jersey rail yards were at risk of flooding.
Christie, who disputed media interpretations of the report prepared by a Boonton-based environmental company, said that he “absolutely” supports N.J. Transit leadership.
“They made the best judgment they could under the circumstances,’’ Christie said during a press conference today in which he railed against congressional inaction on the multibillion-dollar aid package for Sandy recovery.
He said that if N.J. Transit officials had known for sure that rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken were going to be flooded by Sandy they would have moved the trains.
Sandy-caused flooding caused millions of dollars in damage.
“Sometimes people make wrong decisions,’’ Christie said. “They are not hanging offenses.”
http://www.politickernj.com/62073/christie-defends-nj-transit-decision-regarding-flooded-rail-yards
Christie gets that wildly cutting Government is hurting his citizens. He admits he was wrong. Amazing!
Christie Infrastructure Flashback:
“The difference between me and the president is what we define as the big things,” Christie said, saying Obama’s emphasis on expanding high-speed rail and wireless internet is misplaced.
“That’s the candy in life,” he said. “The little stuff, candidly, bores me. And I can’t be bothered wasting time on the little things until we get the big things fixed.”
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_gov_christie_criticizes_pre.html
Gov. Christie. A perfect example of when Republican ideology leads to idiotic decisions for your state.
I am glad he’s coming around but you know if he had read up on a little history, he would know that Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower saw building the interstate highway system as a big thing, not candy.
Christie can’t see the future – he’s not a visionary, like President Obama. He thinks that fixing transportation and making sure everyone has access to information is “candy”. He clearly doesn’t see that these two things are going to be pivotal for competitiveness in the future – especially given that borders are disappearing when it comes to communication, work, knowledge sharing.
This is what happens to politicians with NO VISION for the future…..just what needs to be done NOW to make THEIR lives easier and of course punish the poor, teachers, schools, and students who don’t have big lobby’s and fund the GOP.
Kudos to Gore & Co for sparing us this BS:
Glenn Beck tried to buy Current TV
Yikes.
Had to 🙂 http://i.imgur.com/oNG3r.gif
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/03/chat-away-96/