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Full video soon
177 Responses to “Heads Up: President Obama makes a personnel announcement (1:05 ET)”
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The People’s View
- Follow me at my new venture: Reclaim the Fight Spandan Chakrabarti
- Ignore the bait: Why it’s the right strategy for Democrats to focus SCOTUS fight on health care Spandan Chakrabarti
- BIG: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to shortcut the census Spandan Chakrabarti
- Trump doesn't want peaceful transition of power. Legally, it doesn’t matter. Spandan Chakrabarti
- Fauci goes off on Rand Paul Spandan Chakrabarti
Smartypants
- McCarthy is threatening to hold our economy hostage for spending cuts that he won't identify
- Courts Are the Cornerstone of Our Fight for Democracy
- Fighting to Reverse the Civil Rights Gains of the Last 50 Years is the Core of the GOP Agenda
- What would happen if we paid as much attention to rural schools and hospitals as we have to the so-called "border crisis?"
- Why Republicans Are Afraid of Rep. Adam Schiff
Steve Benen
- United States sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
- 'Boys in Blue' follows police and student athletes in Minneapolis
- Congress at stalemate on debt ceiling legislation
- Cross-generational 30/50 Summit headed to Abu Dhabi
- Suze Orman: How to shield finances amid a recession
The Obama Diary 
Snuck in!
Pretty sneaky LL! 🙂
Would ya look who it is? Waking up just in time for a first – hopefully Chelsea won’t do the same this season.
The Blues are the sleeping giant awakening!
(The Lakers, on the other hand, are the geriatrics who need constant napping 😦 )
Are you sure you haven’t confused the Lakers with Chelsea??
Hey Chica! I wanted to thank you for the monthly video PBO series. Very cool!!
My pleasure Isonprize, thank you – August is 73.6% done 😕
Good Morning/Evening/Night, EVERYone, including Ms Chips! It’s Monday and ‘2012 August’s Image or Two’ is IMMINENT, so life has got to be good. right? 😆
Oh hush. RVP had to salvage a last-minute draw in the FA Cup.
And on matters footballish, can we get PBO to push Sepp Blatter out of his fiefdom? The man is an embarrassment to multi-celled organisms.
Blatter is a contemptible turd LL, he makes my skin crawl.
His latest screed is that Boateng and AC Milan shouldn’t have walked off the pitch when he was being showered with racist abuse. He’s repulsive.
Saw that LL, but had to laugh when Berlusconi criticised him …. him being one of life’s worst bigots. I’m just surprised Blatter didn’t call for Boateng to be punished for leaving the pitch – I bet he was tempted. Oh God, I hate the man.
Guess I’m a geriatric. 😉
The Blues are killing it. You’d do well to focus on your failing Man U losers.
And you’re a good sneak! 😉
It’s not even 12:50 in WY? How can you be first? 😉
Back in action
did you ever LL Congrats.
Hey, number 1!
4th?
Sorry, Pamela you are the other #4. Rhymes with 5!
Hee! Looks like I’m #7 now! Oh well, gotta go watch PBO!
Good morning, afternoon, evening. Must have tied one on in my sleep. Just woke up!
Will be patiently waiting for tha President to announce his choices and then revel in the GOP’rs implode over it.
congrats LL…. Forgot to say good morning/afternoon to you Chips and TOD multi-tasking…… shampooing my carpet!
They really should stop making us laugh trying to outwit this President of ours. It is getting really boring now.
“No weapons formed shall prosper”
They just don’t get it.
I was thinking that exact same thing, President Obama always seem to have the upper hand on them.
Hello?
Yeah, now I can see the full page and actually read what I wrote and what others have written. Now it’s a great day! ! ! !
Congrats LL. I see there’s a bunch of mates on deck today. Shouldn’t be a problem mustering a working party out of this bunch.
Work? You expect us to work?
Yup. There’s plenty to do on the local level and prep for 2014.
oh, THAT kind of work. I thought you were going to make me clean barnicles off the boat.
Naw. We’ll just keel haul some rwnj’s to get that done. 😀
That’s one pretty image!
My 7-year-old just asked what I was watching and I told her PBO would be speaking. She stopped what she was doing an came to watch. That’s my girl! 🙂
Reminds me a cute story: my good friend takes her kids to the voting booth with her at an early age. She took her 6 year old for the 2012 election, and she danced around the voting location, “I’m voting for O-ba MA! I’m voting for O-ba-MA” We train them young around here.
That’s great! 😉 We’re watching now and my daughter is here with me, asking questions.
her older sister was 10 years old when PBO was first elected. She has always been obsessed with oceanography and the environment. She was ‘voting’ for Obama because he would help the oceans and ocean wildlife. “That other guy wouldn’t do ANYTHING”, she said of McCain.
She was right! Good for her!
And she votes in 2016. She’s so excited.
I watched another friend’s 18 year old daughter buck her Opus Dei, batshit Catholic crazy father and go “vote for my rights” with such pride. I’m seeing a lot of good things in this upcoming generation. It is no accident that RWNJ’s want to end public education and push home schooling and religious schools. They’re going to get nowhere if these kids actually know something.
Tom Donilon and Jack Lew just walked in likes BAWSES.
*like*
Uh, oh. I think I lost my TV connection. I will probably miss live announcements. Lost almost two hours. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck. 😦 Kay sir rah, sir rah, whatever shall be, shall be!
Can you get YouTube Carol?
No one is talking yet. Are we still waiting or did I miss it?
It’s started Carol
Thanks Chips. It was choppy coverage for some reason. I’ll have to catch a re-run. Thanks for all you do!
Am listening to MSNBC as we wait for the President to speak. Can it be true that the Secy of State’s 757 can’t even fly to Europe w/out refueling?
Mrs. Greenspan needs to inform us where it refuels over the Atlantic.
She is a no nothing! Too snarky?
Yay, HRC!
I don’t remember seeing SOS Clinton in glasses.
I like her hair very much!
Don’t know how to post tweets. Here’s a copy of one.
RT @ByronTau: How dangerous is Chuck Hagel for America? So dangerous that the state and national GOP spent $2.6M to elect him in 1996.”
Afternoon O’s!!! A great getting up day again in TOD land! Listening to our guy and what a mighty fine guy indeed. Nothing like that Hawaiian sun and water to rejuvenate the soul. I still thinks he could use a hamburger though.
So my kitchen is still kitchenless. I’m still trying to finalize cabinet and appliance purchases. Thought I had it all figured out financially and had the plumber and carpenter both on the same page. Well yesterday I go to do take clothes from the wash to put in the dryer, only to be greeted by ankle deep water on the basement floor and water backed up into the washing machine. AAAAARRRRRAAAGHHHHH!!!!!! (fists to the heavens)
Yuck!
So sorry. And I’m feeling sorry for myself for computer and YV problems. Ten times worse to have water problems. Hope your day goes better.
Oh dear, – The Ongoing Case of Cookemom’s Kitchen and Laundry! I wonder if our workers are related, though to be honest, I am responsible for a bit of the delay on my end. Take this morning of the day he was supposed to come in and finally finish off the remodelled bath – I got called in to work and since I booked off two weeks in December as the time to complete the bath and he didn’t come every day I decided I’d better go in. I texted him when I got back home but he now has to pick up his daughter from school at day’s end and bring her with him. He’s apparently in a shared custody situation with his ex – she took the younger child and he has the older (8-10ish). So, I have a beautiful looking 3/4 finished new bath with functional sinks and toilet and a useless but looking-good jacuzzi. /roll/ Seriously, part of the reason I’m so laid back about this is that his price and workmanship are good AND it’s really my offspring’s bathroom that’s been disrupted. There’s no way I’d be comfortable without the use of my own for so long; I’m ticked enough having to share shower/bath space with offspring. I’m awful I know, but my idea of sharing has generally been to get you your own so that we each can have our own. Hope things get back to normal soon at Casa Cookemom, CM. Think of how happy you’ll be once everything is ‘new’ again.
Well thanks vcprezofan2 for the commentary on our shared experience. I was ok with the inconvenience of not having a kitchen. Not having a washing machine and water backup in the basement is another matter. I can’t remember the last time I did a laundry mat. I don’t even know how to operate the machines. Never mind the whole publicness of it. That is, subjecting the public to my laundry. So the saga continues. Now I have to get the plumber back out to take a look. Hmmm, mighty odd that the basement problem happened after his last visit, before the new kitchen sink goes in.
You won’t have to pay him for coming back to check his work, I hope. Also is it said plumber who will be installing the kitchen sink? 😕 Don’t worry though, CM, eventually…soon, it will ALL be in the wash; just hang in there. My guy phoned sometime after my comment. He really couldn’t make it after all, as by the time he picked up and fed his daughter etc, it would be pointless coming as not much could be accomplished. So, in case I’m called in to work again tomorrow, I’ve agreed to leave my side door open so he can work all day, although I’m be much easier in mind if I’m not called at all and can be on hand. He ‘s said he’ll come early but to date our ideas of early haven’t coincided. His early has only twice fallen before 10am. Anyway, I’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Unprecedented statement ….
…. take that #NEOCONSTERS, #ChickenHawks, #MIC blood thirsty weapons profiteers
Powerful words….
Words for the guys in the engine room too.
Most definitely, sailor!!!
I think Chuck Hagel looked so emotional when PBO was talking about his service to our country. I really like Hagel, and I love this choice.
I love PBO cause he don’t mess around…..
Howdy, Pamela! 😆 Your comment reminded me of this ‘old’ but true video clip.
Love this VC, just saw it. The current thread is way beyond my capacity to stay on, so am going back over stuff I’ve missed, hoping for a new thread soon. If not, I’ll just go to bed early. Nothing wrong with that, eh?
I remember that your iPad doesn’t like a ‘crowd’. Smart! BTW, did you get back on the treadmill today, and if you did, how was it?
IF you end up going to bed early , ‘sweet dreams’, and we’ll catch you tomorrow..
After all of these years it is wonderful to see Purple Heart veterans of Vietnam heading State and Defense. It took a community organizer to make it possible
Bill, I stole your comment and tweeted it out. There were not enough characters left to give your credit. I am replying to my own tweet to give you credit as credit is due.
When music was music, and stage choreography was their own! #NoNeedForLaserLightsOrFireworksThankYou
You’re welcome. Did you listen to the words?
Yes. When lyrics were lyrics, and made you stop and think. I always try to look up the words, because they are 50 percent of songs to me! (Unfortunately, I looked up the date, thinking I must have been a teenager then … uh, no … in my 30s with a 10-y/o son at the time. Gulp.)
This one speaks to ya, eh?
The President nominates Chuck Hagel as the “first person of enlisted rank to serve as Secretary of Defense; one of the few who have been wounded in war, and the first Vietnam veteran to lead the department.” That, alone, would work for me. But I also take the advantage of knowing that if I ever were to have insomnia (which I won’t), I could just replay the video of Chuck’s takedown of Petraeus and others, one day while he served in the Senate, especially the parts where he repeated to them, “For what?!” – over and over until I fell asleep knowing our country’s in good hands, once again, thanks to this great selection process PBO leads. If y’all followed that. I’m good. Oh, and, also John Brennan, because I just learned he’s from New Jersey, my home state. Ha!
I really could not love Pres. Obama any more, for the decent man he is, as I do right now. Sometimes I feel as though I’ll burst with pride that he’s in charge of our country. He makes me glad to be an American.
Oh, JO’B, I’m pretty sure you will find a way to love him more! 😆
You’re reading my heart again, Pamela! 🙂
I love reading people’s hearts JO’B, I’m just so good at it! I guess that’s why I love to work with the elderly and the dying ~ for them it’s all about what they have done with their heart center in this lifetime! 🙂 {{{{JO’B}}}}
I just read your heart. And I liked what I read! 🙂
JO! You are not alone! I am so proud of President Obama. His appointments clearly reflect his commitment for a better America.
I love these choices. John Brennan always looks like he is ready for the next battle to keep America safe. Secretary Hagel will definitely use his experience to maintain our dominance in the world today and in the future.
Hmm, enough of ‘dominance’, that’s resulted in too much spilt blood – peaceful co-existence would be nice.
Hello Chips, hello Lorraine, hello TOD. I am with you, Chips. Lorraine, I do not wish to be a part of anything “dominating” the world. It puts down every body else on earth. None is greater than another- just interestingly different. Can I get an amen ? 😀
With all my heart: Amen edp4bho!
Amen.
10000000000000000000000000s Amens …
Amen, edp4bho! I am not sure that Chuck Hagel is interested in maintaining “our dominance in the world….” I think he shares Obama’s vision of maintaining a powerful United States that is respected throughout the world for its values and its respect for other countries.
A~Men!
Very outstanding couple of nominations. Very moving segment.
Agreed. Again, the President will make the obstructionists look small.
PBO is looking pretty pleased. 🙂
Colin Powell and Bob Gates are two Republicans that people respect, unlike those crazy ass Republicans in the Senate and House.
The WH was unprepared for a fight? Ha! If our President wan’t to confirm the color of the sky was blue…heck there would be a fight. The GOP don’t care if these men are right for their jobs, they only care about the fight.
Damn…my grammar above sucks!!! I need to slow down when I type…
And there we have it ~ Way to go Mr. President, I for one totally trust your judgement.
and as a previously ‘enlisted person’ I like that Chuck Hagel is the first non-com to be nominated for the position of SoD… although not terribly fond of Republicans as a species… as I stated above, I absolutely trust President Obama’s judgement.
I think the President hit a home run on this one. Hagel isn’t a “yes man,” which I think the President knows and that’s part of the reason he picked him.
Yep, the President always chooses well in my opinion.
Agree, totally! He chooses well, and – if something goes wrong – he quickly and graciously accepts their resignations! He moves on, so we can move on. So our government can move on.
Sherijr, like you, I trust PBO’s judgement! That’s why I worked so hard to re-elect him. I did not work for re-electing him as President so I can tell him what do or who to pick for his Cabinet. If I thought I knew better than him, I would have run for the presidency.
Agree with you completely nath.. we hired him.. I’ll leave it in his hands to hire who he sees fit to do the best possible job.
Second and third that. Have always liked and respected Hagel.
It’s on now. Like ole Lindsey said, “In your face.” Love it.
Yeah, in little Lindsey’s face!!! Get used to it Lindsey!!!! You are NOT running this show!
WORD!
Well TODibits, I did a day’s work in 2/3rds of a day and sneaked back in just in time to catch the tail end of the presentations for new appointments. 😎 I’m happy though I have to now go back and see what happened in Rise and Shine. A TOD wummin’s work is never done! 🙄
I will be joining you soon in catching up.
One thing is clear, all the men on that stage have a deep level of respect for each other.
Senate Democrats have now released statements supporting the choice of Hagel as Sec. of Defense.
McCain as usual is whining about Hagel and Brennan. It’s a good day.
Both Robert Gates and Colin Powell have released statements of strong endorsement as well, as has Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D), and 5 former US Ambassadors to Israel.
No UT……It is indeed a BFD GREAT Day……….just my take.
It is always better to do what is right that what is expediant. Bravo Mr. President!
https://twitter.com/MJayRosenberg/status/288353372493455361
https://twitter.com/MJayRosenberg/status/288351887831465984
Funny how doing what one thinks is right in today’s political climate is considered a “fuck you” to one group or another. I smile at that!
I thought that was curious too, JO’B so I passed it along.
Love it. Thanks!
😉
What a FOOL believe…….You see…..the wise man has the Power…..
And so it has always been.
Some are born great. Some achieve greatness and some try…………
And so it always been.
Those who do and those who talk and pretend to do.
And so it has always been.
It takes a lot for me to say what I’m about to say: The Republicans carrying on about Hagel look more foolish than I’ve ever seen them. McCain looks absolutely idiotic.
And the log cabin Republicans today: unbelievable. All of a sudden they’re concerned about gay rights, and their benchmark is a Republican not being more pro-gay over a decade ago? Seriously? you endorsed Romney, you morons.
Panetta cracked me up with that line.
A gem!!!! 🙂
THIS INDEED WILL GO VIRAL…I’M STILL LAUGHING!….WELL DONE MR. PRESIDENT…TWO GREAT ADDITIONS COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO THEIR COUNTRY!!!!! PRESS ON!
Panetta has said in the past his father asked him when he first went into politics why did he want to deal with those nuts instead of the ones on the family farm. He has gone full circle.
Ah, love it Bill – never heard that before!
The eloquence of President Obama’s statement on each nominee was terrific. I am bursting with pride. I am thrilled about each of the nominees. They all exude competence and integrity. Their skills and backgrounds are perfectly matched for their nominated posts. I shudder to think about rampant cronyism and incompetence during the eight years of the GWB administration. In their heart of hearts, the GOP knows that these nominations stand out for their excellence and qualifications for the job. That’s why they are having a cow today.
VERY WELL SAID LADYHAWKE…MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!
POTUS has made 2 great choices, but I will miss not seeing Leon Panetta anymore. I love him, and remember 4 or 5 years ago a C-Span show with former WH cheifs of staff, he was one of them, and had me rolling with laughter.
This is how it’s done. I looooooooove my POTUS. The GOP is going to be sorry that they’re picking this fight. Former Ambassadors to Israel, Sen. Democrats, Policy wonks, have also released statements of endorsement.
Good to see so many influential people coming out to support Hagel. Someone needs to tell McGrummy and miss Lindsay to shut up.
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is concerned about Chuck Hagel’s gay comment 14 years ago and his treatment of women in the military.
Isn’t she a House member? Thankfully, she’s not going to be voting on confirmation.
She was elected Senator in November replacing Herb Kolh. She came across as being very self important.
Oh that’s right – I was thinking of Tammy Duckworth.
I suspect Baldwin will fall in line – now that she has voiced her “concerns.”
I agree. She’s the first openly gay Senator and there’s nothing wrong with her asking for clarification.
She is the new Senator. Sorry she would dismiss the man’s entire history due to some comment he made 14 years ago.
I regret things I said this morning.
Tell her to pipe down…..
I am sick of these one liner drive by comments from self important newbees..
These people should zip it until the hearings. Once they’ve read the files, asked their questions and have been informed by the testimony, then they can express their support or “concern.” Otherwise, it’s just obnoxious preening for the cameras.
These are questions that should rightly come up in the hearings. I’m not scared by that. Hagel will answer just fine, I’m sure. We’ve made a lot of progress since PBO was elected and it’s okay to expect the SoD to reassure Congress and the country.
I was offended by the log cabin Republicans taking this line since they’ve done nothing to hold their party accountable, until our Democratic President nominated Hagel. They endorsed Romney for God’s sake.
Gay + Republican = OXYMORON
……and not welcome nor recognized as a human being in the GOP.
Uber-moron? Ultra-moron? Super-moron?
They all fit.
And here we go.
Maybe I’ve been lulled into submission, but I have a good feeling on this one.
STFU Cantor.
Poor bitter McCain. He’s threatened by a real maverick.
More love for Hagel from me, on that one.
Thank you Pres. Obama.
I experienced the same the last time I was at the Dr’s office. It was surely a pleasant surprise. They did not tell me why, but I surmised that it was due to PBO’s healthcare law. 🙂
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR 2013 STRUGGLE WITH THE IRRESPONSIBLE REPUBLICANS…BUT…OUR ENERGIZER BUNNY PRESIDENT IS WAY AHEAD OF THEM!
Tears were in my eyes when President Obama introduced Chuck Hagel. I didn’t know he was serving with his brother. He’s not that much older than my hubby and me. I really feel a kinship with men and women who served in Vietnam. My hubby was in Navy between ’70-74 and we married in ’71. He was stationed at Camp LeJuene as a Corpsman (doc) in the Naval Hospital. We got to know several marines who served in combat. I have have a great respect for them. I always cry when thinking about that war. Oh, how I wanted Senator George McGovern to be President. It was my first vote for a President.
I loved PBO’s entire nomination process this morning. Since when does a President discuss policies of a nominee during a nomination? These reporters never fail to disappoint with stupid questions.
Stupid is as stupid does!
My favorite White House photo of 2013, and the year’s young! Thanks, Chips!
Love it too Jacqueline!
OT but good read by Milt Shook
http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/2013/01/ten-truths-progressives-must-carry-to-2014-and-beyond.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PleaseCutTheCrap+%28Please+Cut+the+Crap!%29
Critics have “completely distorted” his record, the former Nebraska senator said in his first interview as President Barack Obama’s designated choice to be secretary of defense. While he has been “hanging out there in no-man’s land unable to respond to charges, falsehoods and distortions,” Hagel said, a negative assessment of his record by critics and opponents “took on a life of its own.” But the fact is that there is “not one shred of evidence that I’m anti-Israeli, not one (Senate) vote that matters that hurt Israel.” “I didn’t sign on to certain resolutions and letters because they were counter-productive and didn’t solve a problem,” Hagel said.
Critics have hammered Hagel for not joining most of his Senate colleagues in signing on to a number of policy pronouncements that sometimes were sought by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the influential pro-Israel lobbying organization in Washington.
More here: http://journalstar.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_c4f3da0a-af78-5496-b62f-a89ca28c4bac.html#.UOse0DdWBHc.twitter
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/07/and-the-nominees-are/
Was that Julie Pace, who took Ben Feller’s place in the WHPC representing AP? She thinks POTUS should have addressed concerns about Hagel and Israel in the nomination process? Seriously? GAH.
Today shows why it was so important for PBO to be re-elected. This is legacy building and long-term viewing at it’s best.
Appointing (nominating) well-qualified, sane, intelligent individuals to posts like Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State further cements PBO’s legacy and further ensures that these agencies will be led and staffed by excellent public servants, unlike Dubya’s parade of idiots and ne’er do wells.
So proud of my President!
love the cartoon. It really is looney tunes the way the GOP is against pretty much everything the President proposes. We, as voters who elected these clowns, need to coalesce and inform them they are going to be out on their chinny chin chins if they don’t stop listening to the lobbyists and start listening to their true constituents and, as Cable Guy likes to say “GET ‘ER DONE!”