I think it has less to do with Senator Reid and more to do with the an insurrection in his caucus–specifically Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Joe Manchin (West. Va.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.).
I think their motivation is fear. They fear the day when Democrats will not have the majority in the Senate and would not be able to stop the full brunt of a GOP legislative agenda.
The current composition of the House, with its representatives from gerrymandered districts, will guarantee a dysfunctional House for possibly years to come. So the only thing keeping us from total backwardness, are the Democrats in the Senate and the current power they have.
Yes, that is apparently the ‘reasoning’ of Baucus and others – but the fact is that if the GOP, in its current status as the party of lunatics, ever gets control of the Senate, the first thing they will do is eliminate any barrier the filibuster or other Senate rule provides to the minority Party.
My hope is that all of the progressive Senators will begin a sustained effort to drive the Constitutional Option to success – procedure for doing so is quoted, down thread, in a comment I made to Yardarm.
I think there reasoning is outdated. The country is moving on. Not only that, but should they vote their conscious and what is best for the country vs. losing their job to GOP? I hate when Dems do this. Your district is purple for a reason.
Fear is never a good motivation, but I at least understand that fear. However, not doing what’s right today will not help anybody do what’s right in the future, on this issue. They need to find courage now, and use their current power, as you said.
And that’s why Reid is a lousy leader. Can you imagine Repubs putting up with a leader like this?
I’m not going to let him off the hook for this. This party needs to look like it gets it and it’s willing to fight. Meaningful filibuster reform was a no-brainer. The games being played in Republican-held state houses to steal the next election are proof that Harry should have twisted some arms to get this through. And yes — he could have NOT been so nice to McTurtle who broke a handshake deal last time and abused any and all respect Harry thinks he should show him.
I think the talking filibuster is much less important than the left made it out to be. But putting the burden on the minority — that should have been something that Harry demanded.
This Tea Party Senator Ron Johnson is a nasty man. I have no respect for these people speaking with political talking points, especially when time is so important to get deep and decent questions to Sen. Kerry’s confirmation for our country.HZ
“Senator, if you’re trying to get some daylight between me and SOSH, that’s not going to happen”, Kerry addresses the not-ready-for-prime-time Sen Ron Johnson.
I actually glad he is on and embarrassing himself – the more the TeeVee shows him being incoherent, the more voters in my state can reject him the next time around. He is unbelievably stupid and smug.
Wisconsin. They turned out Russ Feingold to get this loon.
I have my problems with Feingold (part of which is the dismal way he ran his campaign) but at least he wants the right things and has more than two brain cells knocking around in his head.
Cookemom, thanks for commenting so elegant on what I was trying to write. Beautifully stated. I love Sen. Kerry and have followed him for many years, and when he made that statement to “not ready for prime time” Senator Johnson put a punch in my tea. Loved it.HZ
That was my favorite part, so far, cookemom! “Senator” (and I use that title loosely) Johnson needs to get over his fixation over Hillary Clinton. He’s already quoting himself, thinking he’s on FOX spews, where, of course, he’ll be after the hearing.
Oh, Chips, “Snow White”! As Mae West (some of you will have to look her up) once said, “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
Didn’t realize y’all were on a new thread, when I posted this on the last one (just tryin’ to make ya laugh):
My synopsis of my “early” morning as a political junkie. Maybe I’m gettin’ a little jaded.
First, I flip on the Senate committee hearing and see Teresa Heinz Kerry in the audience, and I’m remembering when she once cursed at a reporter during a previous campaign – and I can’t wait until she does the same to some international reporter, after John Kerry becomes SOS and they’re both traveling. Ha!
Second, some of these easy, pro forma questions for John Kerry – so unlike, so far, the questions of Hillary Clinton – are cracking me up. As a Catholic, I’m imagining they’re sounding to Kerry (also a Catholic) so much like the “baptismal promises” we make when we receive our confirmations: “Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises?” I mean, there’s only one answer.
That is, until we got to Marco Rubio, whose questions sounded as though they were right outta the textbook, “Green Eggs and Ham.” Ol’ Marco says he doesn’t understand President Obama’s vision. I guess because it wasn’t covered in “Green Eggs and Ham.” Yuck.
Well stated jacquelineboomer. IMO, Marco Rubio is a mental slacker and a dim-wit that is 2-watts brighter than Sarah Palin. He’s a beltway media creation like Lying Paul Ryan.
It’s a shame we have to watch these slackers in action, but at the very least we can celebrate the fact that most Democrats in Congress actually have brains which they actually use. Not all, but most.
GM blondegirl. Thank you for posting your comment. I wanted to comment on that but could not get my words together. Great!!! We have such a brilliant TOD family here. Makes my heart proud. ((((Thank you)))))HZ
Yep, when Kerry pointed out that there had been a meeting where the tapes were reviewed, Ron Johnson said, ‘Wah, wah, why wasn’t I invited?” Kerry answered, “No chumps allowed”
When I was growing up, our next door neighbors were a young couple and they were Republican. JFK came to the Jefferson/Jackson day dinner in Milwaukee, and my Republican neighbors got tickets to ‘see the President’. They were still Republican, but it was an honor to see him, to acknowledge his rhetorical skill, his obvious compassion. It seems so long ago that such a thing was possible, and that there was no question that you show respect for your President.
I’m not sure, but I think somebody (Meta?) said if you remove the “s” from “https” after you drop the tweet URL here and before posting, it’ll work. Don’t quote me!
“The nuclear option is a potential response to a filibuster or other dilatory tactic. A senator makes a point of order calling for an immediate vote on the measure before the body, outlining what circumstances allow for this. The presiding officer of the Senate, usually the vice president of the United States or the president pro tempore, makes a parliamentary ruling upholding the senator’s point of order. The Constitution is cited at this point, since otherwise the presiding officer is bound by precedent. A supporter of the filibuster may challenge the ruling by asking, “Is the decision of the Chair to stand as the judgment of the Senate?” This is referred to as “appealing from the Chair.” An opponent of the filibuster will then move to table the appeal. As tabling is non-debatable, a vote is held immediately. A simple majority decides the issue. If the appeal is successfully tabled, then the presiding officer’s ruling that the filibuster is unconstitutional is thereby upheld. Thus a simple majority is able to cut off debate, and the Senate moves to a vote on the substantive issue under consideration. The effect of the nuclear option is not limited to the single question under consideration, as it would be in a cloture vote. Rather, the nuclear option effects a change in the operational rules of the Senate, so that the filibuster or dilatory tactic would thereafter be barred by the new precedent.”
I think that PBO should call McBitterOldFool everyday, and when he comes to the phone, simply say, ‘Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, I’m the Prez and you still aren’t!” To which, McWoeIsMe will reply, “Am too the Prez”
I also thought of how God just graciously opened up much loving mercy and gracious favor of “a storehouse of the deep, deep breaths” of beautifulness to surround Presiden Obama with grace and mercy through this scene. The heavens are singing with each breath of God’s lovely morning.HZ
I cannot allow myself to listen to or grasp the interchange between McCain and Kerry. Kerry’s calm tone is perfect, but is he pushing back on McCain’s hatred of all things Obama and Clinton and Rice?
No need to push back, we won. The country voted for the guy who appointed Kerry to the position. No one is more cognizant of that little irony, than McTightBite. You just don’t try and lasso those old dogies. You just let them run around all crazy on their own.
Dick Durbin is killing McCain with niceness. It’s hilarious. He’s using that syrupy sweet voice one uses when trying to point out that the other person is full of crap.
Love it Ut. I think Sen. Durbin was making sure he was going on the record to use his “syrupy sweetness” to keep the confirmation moving with more than saltine crackers. McBitter needs to go sit in his office and adjust his depends and chew on some saltines. HZ
(((((Love you back sherijr.)))))))) I always eat them to settle my stomach, but most of all they remind me of giving a little child something to chew on when he/she is restless in church. I think McBitter will continue to stir around in his seat in the pew and try to boo the pastor in the pulpit.
The man sitting in the Oval Office, that picture in McBitter’s mind must give him constipation everyday of his life. Sad. Sad. The young people are tired of these tired old men sitting in a seat just keeping it warm with hate. We need to move on with a beautiful world view.HZ
Carney’s funny. I would have messed with the reporters and told them that yes, after training from Master Yoda, Pres. Obama now has the skills to annihilate the GOP.
Carney on Boehner saying o wants to annihilate GOP: “Well, I haven’t spoken to the President about that, but I know it’s not his goal”
Yes, and Jay “hasn’t spoken to the President about that” because it’s all hogwash, and – I can only guess – they don’t spend much time having serious discussions about hogwash.
“But Obama would not object if somehow the GOP were destroyed, right?
“I think he would object,” Carney insisted. “He believes that the two-party system is part of the foundation of our democracy and that it is a healthy aspect of our democracy even if it’s contentious.”
Democracy thrives largely through the dialectic of a ‘two party system’ but that requires both parties to have as part of their vision actually preserving democracy and governing accordingly. The GOP only serves a few plutocrats who are demonstrating daily that not only do they despise democracy, they are suppressing voters and gerrymandering districts with the explicit intention of preventing democracy in America to persist.
@PressSec Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, McConnell etc are doing a masterful job destroying the GOP; best to just allow them to proceed.
We gave up a lot. The minor silver lining is that McConnell gave up a little, but the bottom line is that they can still eff up the agenda. A bit more movement on appointees, etc. It’s a baby step. There’s some talk that filibuster reform the last time it happened took 22 years, trying to put a silver lining on the baby steps today. However, that was before there was out and out treasonous obstruction and total abuse of the system. The unprecedented use of the filibuster by McConnell, his breaking his handshake deal with Reid in 2011, should have rendered him irrelevant.
For once, just once, I would have loved to have seen Harry Reid do a little of what they do (except of course we have ‘right’ on our side) and invite him to the table but draw a line in the sand that would STOP the abuse of the filibuster. He didn’t do that. He invited McConnell to the table and, although we got some steps in the right direction, this outrageous, damn near treasonous misuse of power was not stopped.
Ok, so presidential nominations wouldn’t be blocked, – that could work in Richard Cordray’s favor – it would limit the GOP’s use of the filibuster but still allow them to bring forth two amendments to bills but if the amendments were not relevant to the bill, then it would need a 60 vote majority to kill or accept it and then Reid could block further amendments from taking place. When it comes to non-controversial bills, votes to overcome filibusters would happen the day after Reid files a motion and debate could immediately proceed.
There’s some good stuff in the deal but it is somewhat complicated because a “non-controversial bill” means different things to Democrats and Republicans and you would still need 60 votes to overcome amendments. I’ll wait and see if their respective caucuses are fine with the deal.
I know that Harry is dealing with some awful DINO’s (seriously, what is up with Feinstein and Levin? I understand the red state Dem’s, but CA and MI?!?), but I would have loved to have seen them actually vote against decent filibuster reform. Put their internal obstruction out there, for all the world to see. Reid does not use leverage against these guys.
This treasonous use of the filibuster by McConnell demanded that Reid stand up strong. If they were short a few votes, I cannot believe there wasn’t some kind of strongarming that could happen. It sucks. The ‘non-controversial’ b.s.loophole will NEVER work. Is Harry Reid ‘new’? Does he not know how these guys think and work?
Be sure of one thing: Republicans would NEVER keep a leader like this. If he can’t take his significant majority and stop the Republicans from ruining our future with a filibuster, then what kind of leader is he?
One quick one on Sen. Barrasso … didn’t somebody say Rev. Al “accidentally” mispronounced his name last night, with heavy emphasis on “ASS”? One more reason to love Rev. Al.
That would be me. The guy whines when he talks. The dumbest rock in WY. Casper is glad he is no longer a physician in their town. He is always photo bombing. Don’t think he’s done a darn thing. Is he on this committee? I lost coverage.
Someone should tell Rand Paul to stop reading the right wing blogs for his questions, and tell him that he is an IDIOT. I detest him as much as I do John McCain.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index traded above 1,500 for the first time since December 12, 2007 following a sudden drop in claims for unemployment benefits, another sign that the labor market is healing.
Funny. Two weeks ago, Harry Reid was “Dirty Harry”, and everyone loved him. Now he’s a weak, spineless fool. I think I’m going to stay off my TL for today.
Well, in this case he didn’t follow through with his Dirty Harry routine. He gave the ammo back to the bad guys, and took a few crumbs in return. He blew it this time. If he was loved a few weeks ago, that’s because we thought he’d actually do something meaningful with filibuster reform.
I am by no means in the all-or-nothing camp on this. The talking filibuster would have been nice, but I’m sick of whiny liberals wasting all their energy on stuff like this. But the 41-vote burden: that would have stopped a lot of the abuse. He could have invited Turtle to the table, but in the fact of the obstruction and filibuster abuse that McConnell used, Harry had every right to say that a deal would include enough teeth to actually bring back a functional Senate.
I thought this was a good letter to a Senator.
Today’s letter to my Oklahoma Senator: “I don’t think you should have restrictions on clips,” said Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who has said he welcomes a Senate debate on guns. “The Second Amendment wasn’t written so you can go hunting, it was to create a force to balance a tyrannical force here.”
Do we have a tyrannical government, Senator Coburn? And are you part of a tyrannical government? Am I as an Oklahoman suppose to fear my government and build up an arsenal that is greater than my country’s military? Or is my government just afraid of gun manufacturers?
Did we learn nothing about how to NOT create our own home-grown terrorists like Timothy McVeigh–how to NOT fire-up the individuals who hate and despise LAW that limits their freedom to do as they please whenever they please to whoever they please?
Words of tyranny can foster violence with already people boasting of preparing to draw blood. How are your words commons sense towards reducing gun violence in America?
Gun safety is not a second amendment fight. Why make it so in the eyes of the few?
Gun safety is not just a bi-partisan issue; it is an American issue that stands before the entire world to see how we handle our problems–with violence or with common sense. Do we have good leadership for the common good of every American or just to keep business good for the gun manufacturer?
Senator Coburn, in Oklahoma I am very aware that the one with the gun likes to shout down and shut up common sense. Just because the voices of the peaceful aren’t beckoning at your door doesn’t mean that Oklahoma wants a bloody fight with our government. Oklahomans would like to think they have good government, but keep it up and see how many Oklahomans will start to believe their local and state and national government is nothing more than tyrants. Is that who you want to be known as? Is that going to be your legacy? Is that when you might find it rewarding to retire from public life and leave the ugliness being created to the next government? Please stop the craziness while you can by choosing to be on the side of common sense, not on the side of rhetoric that fosters anger in the hearts of Americans. Please tell the truth to Oklahomans. Our government is not coming after our guns. They didn’t in 1994 and they won’t be in the future. Can you at least say that without fostering hatred towards my beloved American government?
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Bobfr, what’s going on with Senator Reid? What do you think?
I think it has less to do with Senator Reid and more to do with the an insurrection in his caucus–specifically Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Joe Manchin (West. Va.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.).
I think their motivation is fear. They fear the day when Democrats will not have the majority in the Senate and would not be able to stop the full brunt of a GOP legislative agenda.
The current composition of the House, with its representatives from gerrymandered districts, will guarantee a dysfunctional House for possibly years to come. So the only thing keeping us from total backwardness, are the Democrats in the Senate and the current power they have.
Yes, that is apparently the ‘reasoning’ of Baucus and others – but the fact is that if the GOP, in its current status as the party of lunatics, ever gets control of the Senate, the first thing they will do is eliminate any barrier the filibuster or other Senate rule provides to the minority Party.
My hope is that all of the progressive Senators will begin a sustained effort to drive the Constitutional Option to success – procedure for doing so is quoted, down thread, in a comment I made to Yardarm.
Yes We Can
I think there reasoning is outdated. The country is moving on. Not only that, but should they vote their conscious and what is best for the country vs. losing their job to GOP? I hate when Dems do this. Your district is purple for a reason.
Not sure it’s about losing there jobs. My impression is that they don’t want to completely take away the minority voice.
Thank you, Bobfr. Looking down thread for your comment to Yardarm. thanks
Fear is never a good motivation, but I at least understand that fear. However, not doing what’s right today will not help anybody do what’s right in the future, on this issue. They need to find courage now, and use their current power, as you said.
Exactly Jacqueline
And that’s why Reid is a lousy leader. Can you imagine Repubs putting up with a leader like this?
I’m not going to let him off the hook for this. This party needs to look like it gets it and it’s willing to fight. Meaningful filibuster reform was a no-brainer. The games being played in Republican-held state houses to steal the next election are proof that Harry should have twisted some arms to get this through. And yes — he could have NOT been so nice to McTurtle who broke a handshake deal last time and abused any and all respect Harry thinks he should show him.
I think the talking filibuster is much less important than the left made it out to be. But putting the burden on the minority — that should have been something that Harry demanded.
I’m pissed. (Obviously).
Hi Sara – my responses are down thread. Thank you.
#FORWARD
I’m tracking on you, Bobfr. thanks
Hooray for our side Lootenant. Way to go.
Freezing our butt here in Montreal. -21C
This Tea Party Senator Ron Johnson is a nasty man. I have no respect for these people speaking with political talking points, especially when time is so important to get deep and decent questions to Sen. Kerry’s confirmation for our country.HZ
And Russ Feingold lost to him because he wanted to run a ‘clean campaign’. God.
Stay warm in that ultra-romantic city, Carol!
Not nice…-22C here in Southern Ontario but the sun is shining and there isn’t much snow.
Good Morning again!
Well that was quick – just when I was reading all the lovely posts on Rise and Shine – a new post! Hello all. It’s a lovely rainy day in LA,
Keeping up is hard to do.
Looks like the whole country is in the blahs. 😉
Lost all respect for McCain has disappeared. Why is he next SOS Clinton? Kerry still looks good. You look like wax.
“Senator, if you’re trying to get some daylight between me and SOSH, that’s not going to happen”, Kerry addresses the not-ready-for-prime-time Sen Ron Johnson.
Senator Ron Johnson is embarrassing to watch. There is something wrong with him.
I actually glad he is on and embarrassing himself – the more the TeeVee shows him being incoherent, the more voters in my state can reject him the next time around. He is unbelievably stupid and smug.
I forget were the creeps from. Sorry for his state.
Wisconsin. They turned out Russ Feingold to get this loon.
I have my problems with Feingold (part of which is the dismal way he ran his campaign) but at least he wants the right things and has more than two brain cells knocking around in his head.
Sorry.
Cookemom, thanks for commenting so elegant on what I was trying to write. Beautifully stated. I love Sen. Kerry and have followed him for many years, and when he made that statement to “not ready for prime time” Senator Johnson put a punch in my tea. Loved it.HZ
That was my favorite part, so far, cookemom! “Senator” (and I use that title loosely) Johnson needs to get over his fixation over Hillary Clinton. He’s already quoting himself, thinking he’s on FOX spews, where, of course, he’ll be after the hearing.
Hello all.
Love that snow pic!
Indeed lovingandlaughing. A beautiful scene surrounding our wonderful President. Blessings be with him and his Administration.HZ
HZ, I am always impressed by how beautifully you express everything! When I grow up….joking since I am 41 already…I want to be able to write like you!
Oh, Chips, “Snow White”! As Mae West (some of you will have to look her up) once said, “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
Didn’t realize y’all were on a new thread, when I posted this on the last one (just tryin’ to make ya laugh):
My synopsis of my “early” morning as a political junkie. Maybe I’m gettin’ a little jaded.
First, I flip on the Senate committee hearing and see Teresa Heinz Kerry in the audience, and I’m remembering when she once cursed at a reporter during a previous campaign – and I can’t wait until she does the same to some international reporter, after John Kerry becomes SOS and they’re both traveling. Ha!
Second, some of these easy, pro forma questions for John Kerry – so unlike, so far, the questions of Hillary Clinton – are cracking me up. As a Catholic, I’m imagining they’re sounding to Kerry (also a Catholic) so much like the “baptismal promises” we make when we receive our confirmations: “Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises?” I mean, there’s only one answer.
That is, until we got to Marco Rubio, whose questions sounded as though they were right outta the textbook, “Green Eggs and Ham.” Ol’ Marco says he doesn’t understand President Obama’s vision. I guess because it wasn’t covered in “Green Eggs and Ham.” Yuck.
GM jacquelineboomer. I love you. Stated so beautifully of little mr. jr. rubio. HZ
Love you back, HZ!
((((((Thank you luv)))))))HZ
Well stated jacquelineboomer. IMO, Marco Rubio is a mental slacker and a dim-wit that is 2-watts brighter than Sarah Palin. He’s a beltway media creation like Lying Paul Ryan.
It’s a shame we have to watch these slackers in action, but at the very least we can celebrate the fact that most Democrats in Congress actually have brains which they actually use. Not all, but most.
Hear hear.
LOL! Love the Mae West quote!
I think I heard it decades ago in an old film of hers, but it still works!
She had a lot of those zingers! My aunt loved her and I’ve seen a few of her flicks on T.V. Very “raunchy” for her era.
Yes, and I’m proud to know who she is. Notice the Mae in my name!
ditto!
Love the beginning interaction with Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Kerry and Mrs. Kerry. Beautiful. Love it.HZ
Even just the “Obama’s lack of a woman problem” statement is enough for me!
That was my lead jacquelineboomer! For some reason the awesome iconograph is not showing up , gotta click on twitter link.
GM blondegirl. Thank you for posting your comment. I wanted to comment on that but could not get my words together. Great!!! We have such a brilliant TOD family here. Makes my heart proud. ((((Thank you)))))HZ
Yep, when Kerry pointed out that there had been a meeting where the tapes were reviewed, Ron Johnson said, ‘Wah, wah, why wasn’t I invited?” Kerry answered, “No chumps allowed”
I heard that, too. We must have the same headsets. Yay!
What has happened to Wisc. That’s where one of my looney cousins live.
I grew up there. Imagine how I feel.
😦
Same thing happened to SD. I grew up loving McGovern. Even had privalage of seeing Sen. Kennedy campaign there. I was little, but I won’t forget it.
When I was growing up, our next door neighbors were a young couple and they were Republican. JFK came to the Jefferson/Jackson day dinner in Milwaukee, and my Republican neighbors got tickets to ‘see the President’. They were still Republican, but it was an honor to see him, to acknowledge his rhetorical skill, his obvious compassion. It seems so long ago that such a thing was possible, and that there was no question that you show respect for your President.
Have to move it back into the purple column – teapartiers took over in 2010.
Good luck!
It looks like there’s some bad vibes between Twitter and Word Press.
I’m not sure, but I think somebody (Meta?) said if you remove the “s” from “https” after you drop the tweet URL here and before posting, it’ll work. Don’t quote me!
That’s only for YouTubes, my deah!!
Good thing nobody quoted me! Ha! (Sorry I quoted you wrong, my deah!)
Not to worrahhh!!
Okahhh! (Don’t know why are we overusin’ the h’s, but I’m game for anything.)
Uhm …
Time to fight …
Relevant procedural information:
“The nuclear option is a potential response to a filibuster or other dilatory tactic. A senator makes a point of order calling for an immediate vote on the measure before the body, outlining what circumstances allow for this. The presiding officer of the Senate, usually the vice president of the United States or the president pro tempore, makes a parliamentary ruling upholding the senator’s point of order. The Constitution is cited at this point, since otherwise the presiding officer is bound by precedent. A supporter of the filibuster may challenge the ruling by asking, “Is the decision of the Chair to stand as the judgment of the Senate?” This is referred to as “appealing from the Chair.” An opponent of the filibuster will then move to table the appeal. As tabling is non-debatable, a vote is held immediately. A simple majority decides the issue. If the appeal is successfully tabled, then the presiding officer’s ruling that the filibuster is unconstitutional is thereby upheld. Thus a simple majority is able to cut off debate, and the Senate moves to a vote on the substantive issue under consideration. The effect of the nuclear option is not limited to the single question under consideration, as it would be in a cloture vote. Rather, the nuclear option effects a change in the operational rules of the Senate, so that the filibuster or dilatory tactic would thereafter be barred by the new precedent.”
Judging by this, it’s a step in the right direction. At least it should move things along a bit.
We can hope so, sailor. Thank you.
All ahead standard.
I think that PBO should call McBitterOldFool everyday, and when he comes to the phone, simply say, ‘Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, I’m the Prez and you still aren’t!” To which, McWoeIsMe will reply, “Am too the Prez”
Love it, cookemom. Kerry is gracefully trying to school ole McBitter.HZ
Hahahahahahahahaha.
And also remind him about the “community organizer” thingy working out.
Love it Bill.HZ
yep, especially now that his little community group he organized on the south side of Chicago, just went national.
I know Mrs. Kerry had a bout with cancer–glad to see her looking well.
If anyone has a doubt that God looks with favor on President Obama, just look at the weather. Snow held off until after the celebration.
No doubts here.
I also thought of how God just graciously opened up much loving mercy and gracious favor of “a storehouse of the deep, deep breaths” of beautifulness to surround Presiden Obama with grace and mercy through this scene. The heavens are singing with each breath of God’s lovely morning.HZ
Sigh. Oh, and: Ahhh. Good thoughts to brighten a freezing cold day in Central Illinois!
I cannot allow myself to listen to or grasp the interchange between McCain and Kerry. Kerry’s calm tone is perfect, but is he pushing back on McCain’s hatred of all things Obama and Clinton and Rice?
No need to push back, we won. The country voted for the guy who appointed Kerry to the position. No one is more cognizant of that little irony, than McTightBite. You just don’t try and lasso those old dogies. You just let them run around all crazy on their own.
Good points! I’m usually “there” with ya, but his face was right in front of me, and I went off track!
Dick Durbin is killing McCain with niceness. It’s hilarious. He’s using that syrupy sweet voice one uses when trying to point out that the other person is full of crap.
thanks for that ut, I had to turn it off when McCain got going… sosososo sick of that disgusting man.
Love it Ut. I think Sen. Durbin was making sure he was going on the record to use his “syrupy sweetness” to keep the confirmation moving with more than saltine crackers. McBitter needs to go sit in his office and adjust his depends and chew on some saltines. HZ
ohhh HZ- the way you talk … I like! ((((((HZ))))))
(((((Love you back sherijr.)))))))) I always eat them to settle my stomach, but most of all they remind me of giving a little child something to chew on when he/she is restless in church. I think McBitter will continue to stir around in his seat in the pew and try to boo the pastor in the pulpit.
The man sitting in the Oval Office, that picture in McBitter’s mind must give him constipation everyday of his life. Sad. Sad. The young people are tired of these tired old men sitting in a seat just keeping it warm with hate. We need to move on with a beautiful world view.HZ
very nicely stated HZ.. agree wholeheartedly with you 🙂
Carney’s funny. I would have messed with the reporters and told them that yes, after training from Master Yoda, Pres. Obama now has the skills to annihilate the GOP.
Yes, and Jay “hasn’t spoken to the President about that” because it’s all hogwash, and – I can only guess – they don’t spend much time having serious discussions about hogwash.
“But Obama would not object if somehow the GOP were destroyed, right?
“I think he would object,” Carney insisted. “He believes that the two-party system is part of the foundation of our democracy and that it is a healthy aspect of our democracy even if it’s contentious.”
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-object-annihilation-republican-party-163707723–politics.html
I love how he just says “I think he would object.”
Democracy thrives largely through the dialectic of a ‘two party system’ but that requires both parties to have as part of their vision actually preserving democracy and governing accordingly. The GOP only serves a few plutocrats who are demonstrating daily that not only do they despise democracy, they are suppressing voters and gerrymandering districts with the explicit intention of preventing democracy in America to persist.
They must be stopped.
TAKE MY ASS TO JAIL
A Virginia State trooper pulled a car over on I-64 about 2 miles south of the Virginia/West Virginia Stateline.
When the trooper asked the driver why he was speeding, the driver said he was a Magician and Juggler
and was on his way to Beckley, WV to do a show at the Shrine Circus. He didn’t want to be late.
The trooper told the driver he was fascinated by juggling and said if the driver would do a little juggling for
him then he wouldn’t give him a ticket. He told the trooper he had sent his equipment ahead and didn’t have
anything to juggle.
The trooper said he had some flares in the trunk and asked if he could juggle them. The juggler said he
could, so the trooper got 5 flares, lit them and handed them to him.
While the man was juggling, a car pulled in behind the patrol car. A drunken good old boy from West Virginia
got out, watched the performance, then went over to the patrol car, opened the rear door and got in. The
trooper observed him and went over to the patrol car, opened the door asking the drunk what he thought he
was doing.
The drunk replied, “You might as well take my ass to jail, cause there ain’t no way I can pass that test.
😉
Hahahahahahah ROFL
Love it!
Sounds complicated, said to be a step in the right direction, but …..
I’m not sure I understand it… folks on twitter are not happy though, so wondering if this is a give-in.. or if its a worthwhile compromise??
We gave up a lot. The minor silver lining is that McConnell gave up a little, but the bottom line is that they can still eff up the agenda. A bit more movement on appointees, etc. It’s a baby step. There’s some talk that filibuster reform the last time it happened took 22 years, trying to put a silver lining on the baby steps today. However, that was before there was out and out treasonous obstruction and total abuse of the system. The unprecedented use of the filibuster by McConnell, his breaking his handshake deal with Reid in 2011, should have rendered him irrelevant.
For once, just once, I would have loved to have seen Harry Reid do a little of what they do (except of course we have ‘right’ on our side) and invite him to the table but draw a line in the sand that would STOP the abuse of the filibuster. He didn’t do that. He invited McConnell to the table and, although we got some steps in the right direction, this outrageous, damn near treasonous misuse of power was not stopped.
I’m pretty upset.
Ok, so presidential nominations wouldn’t be blocked, – that could work in Richard Cordray’s favor – it would limit the GOP’s use of the filibuster but still allow them to bring forth two amendments to bills but if the amendments were not relevant to the bill, then it would need a 60 vote majority to kill or accept it and then Reid could block further amendments from taking place. When it comes to non-controversial bills, votes to overcome filibusters would happen the day after Reid files a motion and debate could immediately proceed.
There’s some good stuff in the deal but it is somewhat complicated because a “non-controversial bill” means different things to Democrats and Republicans and you would still need 60 votes to overcome amendments. I’ll wait and see if their respective caucuses are fine with the deal.
I know that Harry is dealing with some awful DINO’s (seriously, what is up with Feinstein and Levin? I understand the red state Dem’s, but CA and MI?!?), but I would have loved to have seen them actually vote against decent filibuster reform. Put their internal obstruction out there, for all the world to see. Reid does not use leverage against these guys.
This treasonous use of the filibuster by McConnell demanded that Reid stand up strong. If they were short a few votes, I cannot believe there wasn’t some kind of strongarming that could happen. It sucks. The ‘non-controversial’ b.s.loophole will NEVER work. Is Harry Reid ‘new’? Does he not know how these guys think and work?
Be sure of one thing: Republicans would NEVER keep a leader like this. If he can’t take his significant majority and stop the Republicans from ruining our future with a filibuster, then what kind of leader is he?
One quick one on Sen. Barrasso … didn’t somebody say Rev. Al “accidentally” mispronounced his name last night, with heavy emphasis on “ASS”? One more reason to love Rev. Al.
It was very poetic, jacquelineoboomer. Luv Rev. Al.HZ
Dr. Nasty Rand Paul is being schooled by Sen. Kerry. I think that Sen. Paul is a danger to this country.HZ
Yes, he is. We should not be giving Rand Paul any traveling funds to visit other countries on our behalf, either.
🙂
That would be me. The guy whines when he talks. The dumbest rock in WY. Casper is glad he is no longer a physician in their town. He is always photo bombing. Don’t think he’s done a darn thing. Is he on this committee? I lost coverage.
Someone should tell Rand Paul to stop reading the right wing blogs for his questions, and tell him that he is an IDIOT. I detest him as much as I do John McCain.
He wouldn’t listen. They have rocks for brains.
Completely off topic – apologies. But I just have to share AWESOME with my TOD family when I run across it.
Sitting alone laughing out loud. This is, indeed, AWESOME, Tally.
Isn’t that GREAT??? 😀
Very cool indeed. I can’t get enough of hobbits and dragons and hunky dwarf men!! Love this!
*Hunky dwarf men* FTW.
Morning Obots!
Just a heads up:
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index traded above 1,500 for the first time since December 12, 2007 following a sudden drop in claims for unemployment benefits, another sign that the labor market is healing.
The index has not closed at 1,500 since Dec. 10, 2007, just months before the implosion of big Wall Street banks would send the major averages crashing to decade lows. http://www.nbcnews.com/business/sp-500-tops-1-500-where-does-it-go-here-1C8099234
Heads Up: VP Biden
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/24/heads-up-a-fireside-hangout-with-vp-biden/
Funny. Two weeks ago, Harry Reid was “Dirty Harry”, and everyone loved him. Now he’s a weak, spineless fool. I think I’m going to stay off my TL for today.
Well, in this case he didn’t follow through with his Dirty Harry routine. He gave the ammo back to the bad guys, and took a few crumbs in return. He blew it this time. If he was loved a few weeks ago, that’s because we thought he’d actually do something meaningful with filibuster reform.
I am by no means in the all-or-nothing camp on this. The talking filibuster would have been nice, but I’m sick of whiny liberals wasting all their energy on stuff like this. But the 41-vote burden: that would have stopped a lot of the abuse. He could have invited Turtle to the table, but in the fact of the obstruction and filibuster abuse that McConnell used, Harry had every right to say that a deal would include enough teeth to actually bring back a functional Senate.
you are right about that LL. I say it is all BS. Same folks who will turn on PO in a dime. Nothing different.
I thought this was a good letter to a Senator.
Today’s letter to my Oklahoma Senator: “I don’t think you should have restrictions on clips,” said Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who has said he welcomes a Senate debate on guns. “The Second Amendment wasn’t written so you can go hunting, it was to create a force to balance a tyrannical force here.”
Do we have a tyrannical government, Senator Coburn? And are you part of a tyrannical government? Am I as an Oklahoman suppose to fear my government and build up an arsenal that is greater than my country’s military? Or is my government just afraid of gun manufacturers?
Did we learn nothing about how to NOT create our own home-grown terrorists like Timothy McVeigh–how to NOT fire-up the individuals who hate and despise LAW that limits their freedom to do as they please whenever they please to whoever they please?
Words of tyranny can foster violence with already people boasting of preparing to draw blood. How are your words commons sense towards reducing gun violence in America?
Gun safety is not a second amendment fight. Why make it so in the eyes of the few?
Gun safety is not just a bi-partisan issue; it is an American issue that stands before the entire world to see how we handle our problems–with violence or with common sense. Do we have good leadership for the common good of every American or just to keep business good for the gun manufacturer?
Senator Coburn, in Oklahoma I am very aware that the one with the gun likes to shout down and shut up common sense. Just because the voices of the peaceful aren’t beckoning at your door doesn’t mean that Oklahoma wants a bloody fight with our government. Oklahomans would like to think they have good government, but keep it up and see how many Oklahomans will start to believe their local and state and national government is nothing more than tyrants. Is that who you want to be known as? Is that going to be your legacy? Is that when you might find it rewarding to retire from public life and leave the ugliness being created to the next government? Please stop the craziness while you can by choosing to be on the side of common sense, not on the side of rhetoric that fosters anger in the hearts of Americans. Please tell the truth to Oklahomans. Our government is not coming after our guns. They didn’t in 1994 and they won’t be in the future. Can you at least say that without fostering hatred towards my beloved American government?
Excellent letter carolmaewy.
Thanks, I just posted someone else’s because she said I could and I thought it was great too! 🙂