President Obama embraces outgoing Defense Secretary Panetta during an Armed Forces Farewell Ceremony to honor Panetta at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Feb. 8
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Morning/afternoon/evening everyone! Was out all day, so I have no clue what’s been happening – will catch up …. tomorrow, probably.
That tells how anxious we were waiting for you, Ms. Chips to energize and excite Us all with your wonderful, tireless, beautiful 🙂 diaries. Thank you, Lady.
All 4, second to Cookemom, who took the honors of Being Numero Uno ❗ 🙂
It’s good and bad news, LP – there was no sign of the despot this morning, or when I came back. But there’s no sign of my stray cat either. 😦 I spent 10 minutes calling her (she usually answers to my, um, rather unique whistle), but she never appeared. I’ll try again in a while, I’m hoping she’s just in a huff, maybe holding me accountable for allowing the despot invade her space. Cats do do that kind of thing, don’t they? 😕
Considering you have taken care of here for seven years, I think the cat is more afraid than anything else. I would just keep putting food out there, hopefully things work out sooner than later. Loyalty is key in those furry felines. Case and point: A Cat’s 200-Mile Trek Home Leaves Scientists Guessing http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/19/one-cats-incredible-journey/
Ooooh LP, that story is spectacular, I’ve read a few similar ones over the years – about dogs too – and they usually leave me blubbing. Amazing animals.
Yeah, I’m hopeful she’ll be back tomorrow, she must be very hungry, I’ll keep looking out for her. Meanwhile, I’ll get the hose ready for the despot!
CHIPS, DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE TO JUST ADD LEMON TO THE WATER SPRAY BOTTLE? THE HISSING MAKES THEM THINK IT’S A SNAKE. ONLY NEED TO USE IT COUPLE TIMES. OOPS, JUST REALIZED HAD CAP ON; SORRY
Lots of snow here (NYC) but i am prepared for a cozy indoors weekend.
The Hagel delay and Drone Dust-up were bumming me out for a bit but now I think my perspective is clearing up. MSM/GOP need something/anything to whine about and bludgeon POTUS with.
Hagel will be confirmed if not as soon as I would like, nevertheless, soon.
Idiots calling AlAwalaki an “American” making him sound like some guy with his girlfriend at the Mall on Saturday night will understand that as a member of AQ dedicated to killing citizens of the USA he is no longer an American at all.
SOTU will clear up exactly whose sequester it is and who exactly is sabotaging our country.
stay warm, vicki– time for some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup! at least that’s what my mom gave us when we came in from the snow, and it always worked to warm us and make us feel cozy and cared for.
I’m so glad to read your comment. I thought I was the only one feeling like that. I am just totally sick of it. I just put up a piece that I think you’ll appreciate. If you get a minute, take a look and let me know. And thank you…I feel better now.
Hi Faypax Good article, thanks for the reference. I heartily agree with what was said.
Our mission here at TOD may well be to keep spreading the truth to counteract the crazy. “Obamaquester???”
POTUS will have a huge audience Tuesday night. No wonder his enemies are so worried.
Don’t even get me started with that sequester mess. Pisses me off so bad, I need a drink. 🙂 The Republicans made that stupid deal and left the entitlements off the table because it was just before the election. They were so sure President Obama was going to lose. I want the President to his offer on the table…tell them that’s it and walk away.
“Idiots calling AlAwalaki an “American” making him sound like some guy with his girlfriend at the Mall on Saturday night will understand that as a member of AQ dedicated to killing citizens of the USA he is no longer an American at all.”
Well said Vicki! AMK was spot-on about the“fucking third rate fourth estate.” I hope you stay in doors and keep warm, the same advice I gave my daughter and my nephew who are also in NYC.
Has or does rev Al ever taken a vacation? I remember one time Professor Dyson was in for him, but not for the whole show, for Rev Al was piping from another location. He has been hosting his own show for almost 2 yrs now, with Revvie Awards.
I don’t believe that he has. He is the most dependable concerning his show. I think one time Melissa Harris Perry partially filled in for him. He is so dedicated!
Ok, the date is set: the missus has her WL surgery on March 18. She’s excited/anxious, but is going through with it. She’s getting the gastric sleeve procedure, which is far less invasive and intense than the gastric bypass, but produces the same weight loss results.
Great to hear the date is set LL, although I’m sure it’s a nervous time for you both. Here’s to a new beginning and better days, and health, after it all.
I don’t know much about gastric surgery and weight loss, but hoping all works out well for your wife LL. Sending my best wishes for a great surgical outcome. These doctors know their stuff.
What a great day! It will be a wonderful day to have her surgery. That’s my daughter’s birthday…such a blessed day I had those many years ago will translate into successful and wonderful day for her:) Will be thinking of her on that day…and wishing her all the best.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, I have had my fair share of surgeries over the years, fortunately only for ligaments in my feet. One thing I would suggest though LL, is make sure you have a top notch Anesthesiologist. That ironically, can be the most dangerous part of the surgery!
LL, thanks for sharing the date with us. Please tell her that one of her TOD Family sisters has the same issue with anesthesia. I have such a very difficult coming out of it, so I get very nervous before a surgery that calls for it.
I have a long talk with my inner being and pray very hard for calmness and a great anesthetist. I always asked to have a consultation with my anesthetist before the surgery, and I have always ended up with such an understanding and wonderful anesthetist. He always gives me a hug and tells me to pray for him as well. (That is just my little story of sharing) I always thank him and tell him that I am counting on him, and he smiles and will say to me,”Do not forget to count.”
I have been blessed each time, so far. I wrote my last doctor a personal note of thanks, and his office staff were so surprised. Said that the doctor had never received a person handwritten note of thanks from a patient. I always asked who will be my anesthetist when I go in for the pre-ops., and it helps me to talk with the doctor. I know you wife is a nurse, so she knows what to do. Love to both of you.()
(((((( Putting Mrs. LL date on my personal calendar on my phone)))))))HZ
Great news, LL. I have 2 friends who have gone thru with that surgery. They are doing great and are very healthy. It is quite the change of life. Best to both of you.
Oh, and don’t forget? I will be on Rachels show tonight. As I am the only American Citizen in History to survive a Drone strike.
Here is what I told her…
Remember on that movie Predator(aptly named btw), when Arnold covered himself in cold mud to hide himself from the infra red scan of the Predator?
Well, that’s exactly what I did…, when I heard that Drone overhead, I just knew I was in trouble -because Rachel told me so. And, I then covered myself in cold mud, as the Drine whizzed by at 2k feet.
Phew!
I don’t want to give anymore of the interview away, but I can say Rachel gave me an award for being a survivalist. 🙂
Everyone has a story. One of the things that I enjoy is reading the StoryCorps articles posted each Friday at npr.org. Here are two I’d like to share with you:
Whassup TOD.
Just read this story from ABL over at Balloon Juice and I am too mad for this family.
Forget VIP Passes and $500. The “Rabbit’s” ass need to be fired and then kicked and maybe not in that order!
Isnt it amazing, how Reagen wanted the same thing as Barack Obama! But the republicans will shut their mouth about this. They are the biggest cowards on earth.
This is great news. He is really getting serious about getting his agenda done in four years. The only way to do that is to retain the Senate and give Nancy back the gavel. Let’s get it done.
Thanks so much Alycee for sharing this! Justice Sotomayor is an amazing person. Her humanity shines through in every word she utters. I am really grateful that President Obama put her on the Supreme Court because she will always look out for the interests of ordinary people. Kudos also to VP Biden for asking her to swear him in for a second term.
I love Eva Longria. It’s so rewarding to see smart young people who have not lost faith in humanity. I don’t care about what the “holier than thou progressives” say about President Obama. As far as I am concerned, having Justice Sotomayor on the U.S. Supreme Court is “Change I can Believe In.”
I would so love to see her as Chief Justice someday, instead of the mealy Roberts. That man has never seemed real to me–like a composite drawing that doesn’t seem quite human. I find it hard to imagine him having a real emotion. I think history will regard Sotomayor as one of our greatest justices.
🙂 My best friend went through OCS and SWORE she wasn’t staying! Tried everything she could think of to get kicked out…all these many years later (I knew her as an ensign assigned across the hall from me when I worked for a college on base) She is now retired. As a Commander:)
At the time I was going through Newport, the few folk fortunate enough selected to be there, including several NCOs who had already served tours of duty on subs and in-country in Vietnam, realized they were so damn lucky to be there they’d have died before quitting and that’s not a joke. Will never forget one day on the obstacle course when, probably no more than 30% into it, I consciously said to myself ‘die here before you quit’ and have never forgotten that moment. Congratulations to your friend, btw!!
🙂 She’s been retired for some time now…we seriously laugh hard when we remember the old days of her Naval career. She is the last person you would ever think would conform to the ways of the Navy…but she met wonderful people and generally enjoyed her time in service….as my husband did, even after 20 years, he would go back in a heartbeat if they’d let him.
I joke with my girlfriend about the “scrambled eggs”…quite a feat!
Yes, that part of it was rather amazing – and I was there during the ‘Ficker is Quicker’ America’s Cup defense during the summer of 1970. One of my OCS classmates was an outstanding competitive sailor and had two friends on Bill Ficker’s crew, so we were able to visit with them on Intrepid’s dock.
This seriously looks like nothing more than harassment in the work place. Why do soldiers have to go through this type of intimidation in order for them to be a good soldier? the more you are yelled at the better you are? Crazy shit! I thought they let this kind of training go years ago.
Good sweet Buddha, I just had the most pointless argument with someone over my tweeting Deaniac’s new piece and his “misuse” of the Frankenstein metaphor. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
Dorner story starts years ago. There is NO excuse for the violence that is going on but he was turning in his superior for kicking a man in in the shoulders and face AFTER he was in handcuffs. The big wigs rallied around his superior and he was fired and brought to court.
Two women were also shot at 50 times this morning as they delivered the morning papers in a truck similar to his. One 50 year old woman was shot 3 times in the back….her 82 year old mother was not injured.
I am saddened that Mr. Dorner killed so many innocent people to finally get attention. He could have gotten attention about the LAPD by going directly to the media, the only problem is it was 50/50 whether the media would have focused on what happened to him since they do not investigate stories anymore. I believe that the message is going to get muddled that Mr. Dorner is just crazy and the media will not look into what the LAPD did to make him resort to such drastic action. After Rodney King most people believe that the LAPD and Sheriffs are dirty but they won’t ever clean house and get rid of the bad apples. There is so much unfair treatment in police departments, state, county, federal governments and in private business. People are getting fed up and with the proliferation of guns we will see a growing rash of job killings again….Remember the term “going postal” when there was a rash of post office workers killing co-workers back in the 70’s and 80’s?
My mom was so upset because my older brother drives a gray Toyota, he is AA and looks alot like Dorner, he is kinda slow and does not follow simply instructions well. She was fearful that my brother would be stopped and shot by the police who kill first and ask questions later. Those poor women delivering newspapers in the early morning hours were almost executed by the police and they would have lied that these ladies pulled a gun on them. I can’t imagine the fear they must have had…thank God they were not killed.
There’s a lot to this story. Apparently, Dorner exhibited signs of rebelling against authority right from his time as a rookie. I’m just surprised that he made it through the orientation/boot camp.
and i sincerely hope they asked him politely if he would like to surrender….
‘ The FBI arrested a San Jose man as he went through the motions of detonating what he believed to be a car bomb in front of a Northern California bank, federal authorities said Friday.
FBI agents arrested Matthew Aaron Llaneza, 28, Thursday night near a Bank of America branch in Oakland as part of a sting operation.
Llaneza had minutes earlier parked an SUV in front of the bank believing the vehicle contained an explosive rigged to detonate from a cellphone command, authorities said. Llaneza was arrested as he stood nearby and tried to detonate the device with a cellphone.
The FBI says Llaneza expressed support for the Taliban and had hoped the bombing would be blamed on anti-government activists and would somehow spark a civil war after a severe government crackdown. The FBI said Llaneza expressed a desire to travel to Afghanistan to train Taliban fighters. ‘
I’m sure Rachel will sleep better tonight knowing that no drone was used in capturing this fine, upstanding American who wanted to start a civil war by ending the lives of many innocent Americans. Maybe she can send him some cookies.
So, true, theo!!! I’d tweet it to her but she clearly is so much more into herself than to have even the slightest capacity to understand how big a fool she (and others) have made of themselves over this issue.
A few weeks back, you posted here a pic of a lovely US embassy building (Ireland ?), you know the one with a huge spread of lawn in front ? Could you post it again please since I stupidly deleted that pic.
RUBIO TELLS TELEPROMPTER JOKES WHILE READING FROM TELEPROMPTERS
What the ‘cranks, haters and bigots’ believe
By Steve Benen
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Rubio doesn’t accept climate science, thinks the age of the planet is a theological question, and opposes marriage equality. Remember the Blunt Amendment that would have empowered employers to deny birth-control coverage to their employers? It was originally known as the “Blunt-Rubio Amendment.”
Rubio is part of a shrinking fringe that opposes the Violence Against Women Act, embraces strange conspiracy theories involving gun control, and thinks George W. Bush was a “fantastic” president.
Rubio tells teleprompter jokes while reading from teleprompters, has been caught lying about the basics of Republican budget policy, has suggested TARP recipients shouldn’t have to repay bailout money, and in 2011, argued programs like Medicare and Social Security have “actually weakened us as a people.”
Take care, Asher. Been through a few of these myself ( CT native) and it’s no fun. Losing power was always the biggest worry for us….we heated our house with a wood stove though, so at least we could stay warm. Hunker down and keep that Yankee “can do” attitude! Storms like this have a way of bringing people together. Be safe
Both a pain in the ass, and a savior at the same time. I always was grateful to have that baby to keep us warm during times like Asher is going through now!
Oh, yes, df – keeping it clean (and still had two chimney fires – that we halted immediately without any damage) and cutting, splitting and stacking the 3 + chords of wood we used each winter for the many years we depended on that wood stove for the majority of the heat in our home – yep – PAIN in the butt, for sure!!! 🙂
We usually got 8 cords for a winter….and now that you mention it, I think that we had a chimney fire once too! Sounded like a damn freight train! Got it cleaned every year…oh, to be a chimney sweep in New England:)
On another note, if you will indulge me, would love to know your thoughts. My son is thinking of ROTC for school. He wants to be a Dr. and thought that the trade off to have school paid for by the Navy and giving 6 years would be well worth it. Any suggestions for him? Rather like would I do this again, if I knew then what I know now:) Smart kid and I’m proud of him for giving it the thought that he seems to have done. Just wondering what your path was and if it worked out as well as it could have. Thanks.:)
I had a ‘radically’ different path from Navy Officer to medical school the details of which are beyond being anything helpful to your son.
If, today, I were planning a career in medicine – practice not research – and wanted to also serve our USA, I would seriously consider becoming a Navy Officer if I could convince the Navy to pay for Medical School as a contractual basis for my enlistment. The six years of active duty as a Navy physician can offer considerable life-enhancing and sobering experiences that it is certainly worthy of his serious consideration. Hope that helps, df.
I had a national health service scholarship which covered tuition and a stipend. I serve 6 years in the Public Health Service as a medical director at a federal women’s prison. It was great. ObamaCares includes an expansion of this program.
BTW – 8 chords!!!! WOW!!!! I know just how much wood that is!!! And, yes, both chimney fires – within seconds of starting – was like 18 wheelers roaring through our little home – very scary, for sure.
My son’s girlfriend lives in Ma. She says it is very bad and her windows in her loft are shaking and wind is howling; no power outage yet. Her family on RI. are without power. Please pray.
Very touching that SecDef Panetta had his beautiful Irish Setter ‘Bravo’ in all those high-intensity meetings. I think that may have been really calming for all the participants. And, the humor about never ‘leaking’ was typical Leon Panetta charm, for sure 🙂
Loved that one also, Bobfr. The entire ceremony was very moving to me because of Sec. Panetta’s spirit towards POB. They seem to respect each other, and I admire that in both of them. Lovely family. HZ
If you ask me, Bobfr, Amk was trying to show up Ms Chips, whom we know is math challenged. I bet he used his calculator and added carefully before posting.
Amk, along with my money, did you take a third of the page of my link o TOD? I can barely see this new thread. I swear I didn’t take my iPad with me when I swam those two half miles. 😛
You will love my car. 😎 No, it only works until I post and then I have to get touchy freely again. Works fine on other websites. I think you want to much for a half fix. 🙄
A high-school sports fan takes his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They have a great time, and their team wins. After the game, he asks his girlfriend how she enjoyed the experience. She says, “I loved it. The hot guys, the tight pants, but it made no sense to me.” Confused, her boyfriend asks, “What confused you? It’s pretty simple.” She replies, “At the beginning of the game, they flip a quarter to see who gets the ball first. Then, the whole game they’re shouting ‘Get the quarterback, get the quarterback!’ I mean, hellllooooo, it’s just 25 cents!”
That really was like ballet! At the end, when he’s dancing to Yo-Yo Ma playing behind him… incredible! I’m glad I watched it all the way to the end. And of course, Meryl Streep was in there, too – she’s awesome.
The only thing that got me past the quick shots of the horrors that were included was the knowledge, since I’m admittedly an Obamabot as we all are, that President Barack Obama was gonna be part of the story!
Here is a great gallery of PBO being featured across the GLOBE- in many different ways 🙂
// President Barack Obama has become an icon across the United States and the world. His likeness can be found all over the globe on T-shirts, banners and even lattes. Above: Obama in an advertisement for the Evening Standard newspaper in front of Big Ben on November 5, 2008, in London //
Corbett’s polling is the worst for any governor in Franklin & Marshall’s polling history–he’s not even liked by Republicans. This is a great opportunity for Democrats IF they come out and vote and please let’s get some more state Dem senators and reps so we can turn back some of the insane voter suppression and election rigging shenanigans, among other things. I’m glad Schwartz is stepping forward and I hope it encourages other candidates to do so. If she’s really serious she has to start making herself known, county by county. We’ll see.
this was posted by a friend of mine, whose husand works for Gov. (prefer not to say where)
So word is out, one day furlough for each pay period starting March! Fabulous! I guess I should look on the bright side, we’ll have a couple of long weekends per month.
I didn’t know dr. benjamin carson was a conservative. Saw an article that he was on Hannity basically bragging about what he said at the national prayer breakfast. the right is all giddy cuz he told the president off to his face – which he actually didn’t. Why do these people think the gov’t got the boot on their necks? you say something stupid, pple have the right to tell you.
The President was right on the mark! People say all the nice things during the prayer breakfast, but the minute after that they resort to their nastiness. To be honest, though I applaud his individual accomplishments, I was not impressed with Dr. Benjamin Carson speech. His focus on his individual accomplishments overlooked the fact that, no matter how good he is, he would never have gotten as far as he has, if people, like Dr King, did not struggle and sacrifice to open doors for him. I really get depressed when some accomplished Blacks are totally oblivious to the reality that racial segregation tramped individual merit. Dr. Carson would not be in a position he is in if people didn’t join together to fight against race discrimination, both in laws and in practice. Yes, it’s important to urge people to study and work hard. But it’s absolute nonsense to imply that Blacks who are not as successful as he is, or as rich as he is, did not work and study as hard as he did. Nor is it true that whites who are supposedly successful got where they are because they are smarter, or studied harder, or worked harder, than others.
That’s right! Conservatives love Blacks and other people of color who believe that their accomplishments are purely because of their individual merits. This is absolute nonsense because it suggests, for example, that before individuals like Dr Carson, there were no blacks who worked hard, or hard mothers who believed in their education and pushed them hard. While I definitely value the importance of hard work and discipline, and even more importantly in having people who believe that you can accomplish what you will, the reality is that in a race based society, it’s rare that the merits of the individuals supersede their social caste. It’s only when societal impediments, like racism are gotten rid of, that hard working individuals, like Dr. Carson and President Barack Obama, are able to maximize their potential and reap the rewards for their hard work.
The prayer breakfast is a rt. wing nut job affair. CREW has asked President Obama and Congress to stop attending because of the intolerance and extremist policies of THE FAMILY, the whackjob religious group which sponsors it.
nathankatun7 – did Dr. Carson really say all that? Because that is not something I believe he would say. I have known him for over 7 years and that just doesn’t seem right to me at all. He is a good person. Very positive.
I listened to Dr. Carson’s speech and I really didn’t come away from it with a positive vibe at all. He seemed to be lecturing the President, making light of some very complex issues, dictating policy prescriptives that ignored a lot of the obvious details – I just didn’t like it at all. I’ve never seen Dr. Carson before, so I can’t speak to his regular demeanor and messaging – I just thought he was out of line. And the President did not look amused (via the C-Span coverage). My two cents…
I had the same impression when I saw the replay on CSPAN. I couldn’t watch the whole thing, turned it off. Especially when he was talking about people being able to say whatever they want without consequence. With PBO sitting 2 seats away and know all the horrible things they’ve said about him and never once even suggesting that people should cut back on vitriol. I certainly felt he was talking to the right wingers in the audience. I almost expected him to wink at them.
I didn’t like him at all. I admit I don’t know him but that was my impression. Others may feel different.
I agree. It seemed to be directly insulting to President Obama, and little Sessions was looking pleasantly surprised by what he was hearing.
I won’t go line by line with my objections, but a flat tax – similar to the tithe – is not the answer to the country’s tax problems. And asking the rich to pay their fair share, after decades of taking everything they want – is not punishing anyone.
When the President started speaking in his sober voice full of gravitas – all my anger went away. He’s the President, and he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. You could have heard a pin drop in that room when he was speaking.
Thank you, Theo, for expressing so well how I received Dr. Carson’s speech. At least I was not alone. I was especially put off by his constant invocation of right wing BS about political correctness, the expression popularized by D’Souza.
Yes – I had to wake up my sister on the East Coast to vent to her after listening to the speech, and then listened to the President and all was right with the world again. 🙂
Indeed! You see, Theo, President Obama values hard work, individual initiative, discipline, etc.! At the same time he is fully aware that you need to remove societal impediments that constantly work to stymie individuals from accomplishing things they aspire to. More importantly, he understands that there are things, like health care, supporting education, building infrastructures, etc., that we must do together as a society.
I didn’t see the National Prayer Service that morning I had to go out, but it it sounding like to me the good old doctor was their doing some right wing dirty work in dissing our President. I don’t want to judge someone I don’t know, but I’m not liking what I’m hearing. What I think he did was just use this prayer service to try to attack the President, and then to go on FOX boasting. Sounds to me the doctor is full of that right wing B.S.
Dr. Carson’s comments made this from POTUS’s speech all the more delicious:
“I have to say this is now our fifth prayer breakfast and it is always just a wonderful event. But I do worry sometimes that as soon as we leave the prayer breakfast, everything we’ve been talking about the whole time at the prayer breakfast seems to be forgotten — on the same day of the prayer breakfast. (Laughter.) I mean, you’d like to think that the shelf life wasn’t so short. (Laughter.) But I go back to the Oval Office and I start watching the cable news networks and it’s like we didn’t pray. (Laughter.) “
“…did Dr. Carson really say all that? Because that is not something I believe he would say.”
Please check out his speech posted at TOD and then let me know how I misrepresented him. I did not know Dr. Carson before. This was my first time listening to him. So, I have to take your word that he is a good person. Please don’t get me wrong: I definitely admire his accomplishments. I especially liked what he said about his mother and the importance of hard work and valuing education. Many AA have mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, teachers, uncles, aunties, etc. who have pushed them and who believed that, in spite of all the odds, they could accomplish what they set their minds to. In other words the story of his life is not entirely unique within the AA community. My parents never finished 7th grade, yet they inspired me and my brother to get an education and we eventually graduated from College.
My problem with the doctor’s speech was his failure to properly acknowledge the role played by those who sacrificed so much to get rid of societal impediments–like racial discrimination– that would have made it impossible for him to accomplish al that he has. I admire the fact that he is a positive person. But I think it’s naive for a Black person to buy into the false notion that all our successes are purely based on our individual merit and initiative, regardless of blatant social impediments like racism. That’s all I was trying to say. I never intended to imply that the doctor was not a good person. Obviously, by virtue of the profession he chose, he is a good person. What I was hoping for is to see a highly educated doctor who understands the complexity of society that requires both individual initiatives as well as collective action.
I must also confess that the doctor’s repeated attacks, on what he called PC (political correctness), raised my antennas. Right away I suspected that his analysis, like that of Denish D’Souza, was going to be shallow when it came to the issues of race and achievements. I was not wrong. For the doctor, the only impediment to success, for any one, was primarily because of individual or family failings. Surely, the doctor must know that that is not entirely true.
“Political correctness” — that is the right wing code taken up a couple of years ago, especially by Sarah Palin, to excuse their racist, sexist and often ignorant comments.
Nathkatun7 -I did not say you misrepresented him. I asked a question because it was out of character for Dr. Carson. I logged onto TOD at almost 1 a.m to get my daily fix and saw the comment. So it was a . . . wait what? and I asked the question because it did not seem to match the man I know.
okay I watched it and I can see where you had some cause for concern.
His speech wasn’t really that bad. I don’t mind Dr. Carson’s comments on political correctness because it is true. I even understand his stance on education. I do see where I can have a substantive conversation around his proposed ideas on a solution for healthcare (HSA account from birth) and taxes (flat tax of 10%) because both ideas had conflicting statements as he raised both issues. (i.e. everyone pays the same amount in taxes 10% regardless of earnings, everyone pays into an HSA but if an individual has no money and has children, we should put money in those individuals HSA account on those individual’s behalf).
One question the fact that he was on Sean Hannity show boasting makes me wonder about him, I admit I never have heard of him before, but let me say this I have seen for four years what this President have tried to do and all he have dealt with is alot of B.S. from these right wing extreme crazy ass Republicans, so I don’t care to hear one word from some right wing conservative doctor. If there was anything to him why go on FOX tv boasting how he diss our President? It was a prayer service, not a political service.
nospin, tell me where you know this Dr. Carson from? I mean if you would, please do so. As I said I have never heard of him before. Hannity wouldn’t have had the guy on his show if he didn’t like what he said.
Fox news can twist anyone’s comments. I will listen to the clips myself because I did not hear it. It is out of character for Dr. Carson. Does not seem to be the person I know. He is very humble.
When you listen to Dr. Carson be sure to let us know what you think, okay. But I don’t see why the ones who have heard what Carson said would speak lies about what they heard. How they felt when they heard it. They didn’t come away with someone humble, and as I have said appearing on Hannity show.
anniebella – please stop putting words in my mouth. I did not say anyone spoke lies. I simply said the comments didn’t reflect the person I know. I watched Dr. Carson and I did not see anything wrong with his speech overall and although I disagreed with some of his statement he did not come off as abrasive. Just as someone with a difference of opinions in some areas.
I do see where I can have a substantive conversation on some of his views (taxes and approach to funding healthcare) and I saw where with more discussion, he could walk away with an expanded point of view.
I do hope POTUS had or will have an opportunity to sit down and maybe have a conversation with him around some of the points he raised because I believe it would make a difference.
I’ve been watching CNN because of the blizzard, and I just happened to think I haven’t heard any political news in almost an hour from them. What a relief! I notice Chris Cuomo has started showing up more on CNN, since recently being hired, and it’s also good to see a “new” face on that channel, because sometimes seeing the faces of the regulars can be unbearable.
It will be American women, with the full support of a sizable % of American men, who truly liberate our Republic from fascist greed and tyrannical misogyny. When the US Senate and House of Representatives and the State Houses and Governorships of the majority of States are populated with women on parity with the % of women in the US population America will be a place, literally, everyone will want to immigrate. No joke.
winter storm here, too. 24 foot waves, and yes, some folks who challenge this ocean will die. also, people who aren’t even trying to master the water will be swept off cliffs, snatched from canoes, and yanked into blowholes. still….. beautiful sun setting over pipeline, oahu.
I am so glad it turned out to be a happy ending for a deserving little boy and his famil and community. I hope they stand behind the president against gun violence.
I hope this little boy continues to get help. The fact that he won’t talk about what happened is not a good thing. Glad he’s with people who love him and is safe, but a traumatic situation like the one he went through doesn’t just go away in a kid’s mind.
“I have a lot of eating planned for Sunday. Hot wings. Nachos. Sausages. The inside of my stomach is going to look like a Michelle Obama nightmare.” – Jimmy Kimmel
Good morning, TOD family – it’s quite a sight this morning. I haven’t seen this much snow since the famous blizzard of ’78. When I opened the front door to let my dog out, so much snow fell off the door that I had to get shovel and broom just to be able to close the door again. My 18 year old American Eskimo dog was rolling ecstatically in the snow, making a hole in the white mountain. He’s the only one who just loves the white stuff. The cats are all under the blanket. I am so grateful that the power is still on – I can make a nice pot of coffee and check out the forecast. There may be more snow or, if we’re lucky, the storm has moved out to the ocean. It will take me the whole weekend to shovel the walkway and the sidewalk, but as long as we still have electricity, things are manageable. I hope that all our “family members” are ok. I just listened to the President’s weekly address and I will write to the newspaper and also my Congressional delegation about the need for common sense and cooperation to deal with the country’s fiscal problems. If only all of our representatives were as sincere and open-minded as our President. We could solve many problems and win the future.
Glad to see you are up and about, hgerhard. The ‘visual’ of your Eskimo dog face-diving in the snow gave me a real chuckle! Kitties, on the other hand, do like their comforts. Enjoy that coffee and don’t forget your earmuffs!!
Thinking of all in the midst of the snow storm – I have never seen such a thing – rather thankful we don’t do snow in my part of the world – do hope everyone stays safe.
The snow (out here in the country) looks like something from Currier and Ives to my housemate who used to live in Florida. But then she has a deathgrip on the woodstove!! Has that roof leak been fixed, 99ts? Between floods and fires, you folks have been having some tough times of your own.
I think the snow would be worse – we still have a leaking roof – but only when it rains – and not too much of that at the minute. I just can’t image what 2 foot of snow would be like – I would never go outside of the door to look. I’m with your housemate – wood stove sounds good.
Glad to hear the roof stopped leaking, 99ts, even if it was only because the rain stopped!! By the way, we don’t necessarily go OUT in the snow, we just LOOK at it!!
I think this is a good idea—–Fl. will begin making the most extreme abusers of orders of protection wear GPS devices. How many times do we see that some wife, ex-wife, girlfriend was killed, “even though she had an order of protection”? Continuously. This will now give the abused party warning. Hailed by domestic abuse agencies.
Now there needs to be some solution/protection for domestic abuse/murder of children which is almost always committed by a step-parent/ mother’s boyfriend.
The Obama Diary 
Yo O’s!!!! We’re over here!!
oh, so here you are! congrats cookemom!
Congrats Cookemom 🙂
Congrats Cookemom. 🙂 and to the others who tied.
GOOD Evening all.
Well, well, well – a four way tie! Hellooooooo Nena, LL, Susanne and Desertflower!!!!!
BREAKING: Wait ….. I missed Cookemom 😳 A four way tie for second, congrats Cookemom!!!!
Oh that’s quite all right, I’m just happy to be here ma’am.
That tells how anxious we were waiting for you, Ms. Chips to energize and excite Us all with your wonderful, tireless, beautiful 🙂 diaries. Thank you, Lady.
All 4, second to Cookemom, who took the honors of Being Numero Uno ❗ 🙂
Ah Nena, how lovely was that! Thank you, you bundle of kindness!!!!
The public demands an update on the Despot, before there is an uprising!
It’s good and bad news, LP – there was no sign of the despot this morning, or when I came back. But there’s no sign of my stray cat either. 😦 I spent 10 minutes calling her (she usually answers to my, um, rather unique whistle), but she never appeared. I’ll try again in a while, I’m hoping she’s just in a huff, maybe holding me accountable for allowing the despot invade her space. Cats do do that kind of thing, don’t they? 😕
Considering you have taken care of here for seven years, I think the cat is more afraid than anything else. I would just keep putting food out there, hopefully things work out sooner than later. Loyalty is key in those furry felines. Case and point: A Cat’s 200-Mile Trek Home Leaves Scientists Guessing http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/19/one-cats-incredible-journey/
Ooooh LP, that story is spectacular, I’ve read a few similar ones over the years – about dogs too – and they usually leave me blubbing. Amazing animals.
Yeah, I’m hopeful she’ll be back tomorrow, she must be very hungry, I’ll keep looking out for her. Meanwhile, I’ll get the hose ready for the despot!
Thanks LP.
Aytime Chips, I just hope the little bugger comes back soon for your peace of mind.
CHIPS, DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE TO JUST ADD LEMON TO THE WATER SPRAY BOTTLE? THE HISSING MAKES THEM THINK IT’S A SNAKE. ONLY NEED TO USE IT COUPLE TIMES. OOPS, JUST REALIZED HAD CAP ON; SORRY
2nd!
😉 Yeah, me too ;cool:
found you!
aloha chips! we’re fine here, no snow to speak of 🙂
http://oascentral.surfline.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.surfline.com/cam/bigislandhawaii/bigislandkona_hi/banyanscam/L64/1333410638/Position2/Surfline/Hurley_SL_Live_CamCompanions/300x413_Hurley_SL_Live_feb13.jpg/516c746f473145566a59304144497833?x
Oh, you are a cruel woman! Even those of us in California can be jealous of that livestream! Enjoy for the rest of us, please. 🙂
Lots of snow here (NYC) but i am prepared for a cozy indoors weekend.
The Hagel delay and Drone Dust-up were bumming me out for a bit but now I think my perspective is clearing up. MSM/GOP need something/anything to whine about and bludgeon POTUS with.
Hagel will be confirmed if not as soon as I would like, nevertheless, soon.
Idiots calling AlAwalaki an “American” making him sound like some guy with his girlfriend at the Mall on Saturday night will understand that as a member of AQ dedicated to killing citizens of the USA he is no longer an American at all.
SOTU will clear up exactly whose sequester it is and who exactly is sabotaging our country.
All will be well. Believe and trust in PBO.
stay warm, vicki– time for some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup! at least that’s what my mom gave us when we came in from the snow, and it always worked to warm us and make us feel cozy and cared for.
Absolutely!
I’m so glad to read your comment. I thought I was the only one feeling like that. I am just totally sick of it. I just put up a piece that I think you’ll appreciate. If you get a minute, take a look and let me know. And thank you…I feel better now.
http://www.thepragmaticpundit.com/2013/02/guns-and-drones-dragging-people-along.html
Hi Faypax Good article, thanks for the reference. I heartily agree with what was said.
Our mission here at TOD may well be to keep spreading the truth to counteract the crazy. “Obamaquester???”
POTUS will have a huge audience Tuesday night. No wonder his enemies are so worried.
Don’t even get me started with that sequester mess. Pisses me off so bad, I need a drink. 🙂 The Republicans made that stupid deal and left the entitlements off the table because it was just before the election. They were so sure President Obama was going to lose. I want the President to his offer on the table…tell them that’s it and walk away.
“Idiots calling AlAwalaki an “American” making him sound like some guy with his girlfriend at the Mall on Saturday night will understand that as a member of AQ dedicated to killing citizens of the USA he is no longer an American at all.”
Well said Vicki! AMK was spot-on about the“fucking third rate fourth estate.” I hope you stay in doors and keep warm, the same advice I gave my daughter and my nephew who are also in NYC.
‘Tis only me looking over the window sill at all the contenders 😕 Well done, y’all!
Oh, thank you and farewell, Mr. Panetta. May life treat you kindly.
To Dudette with love…
Just have to say that the librarian in this story did NOT act how a librarian should.
Reverend Al did power through hoarseness and all!
Has or does rev Al ever taken a vacation? I remember one time Professor Dyson was in for him, but not for the whole show, for Rev Al was piping from another location. He has been hosting his own show for almost 2 yrs now, with Revvie Awards.
I don’t believe that he has. He is the most dependable concerning his show. I think one time Melissa Harris Perry partially filled in for him. He is so dedicated!
Ok, the date is set: the missus has her WL surgery on March 18. She’s excited/anxious, but is going through with it. She’s getting the gastric sleeve procedure, which is far less invasive and intense than the gastric bypass, but produces the same weight loss results.
Great to hear the date is set LL, although I’m sure it’s a nervous time for you both. Here’s to a new beginning and better days, and health, after it all.
I don’t know much about gastric surgery and weight loss, but hoping all works out well for your wife LL. Sending my best wishes for a great surgical outcome. These doctors know their stuff.
What a great day! It will be a wonderful day to have her surgery. That’s my daughter’s birthday…such a blessed day I had those many years ago will translate into successful and wonderful day for her:) Will be thinking of her on that day…and wishing her all the best.
LL wishing Mrs LL a successful surgery, speedy recovery and desired weight loss goals 🙂
Best Wishes to her LL. Hope all goes well.
Hope the procedure and recovery are as smooth as possible. I hear the bypass especially, can be very difficult and strenuous.
Fortunately, she’s not having the bypass, but the sleeve, which is far less invasive but engenders the same results.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, I have had my fair share of surgeries over the years, fortunately only for ligaments in my feet. One thing I would suggest though LL, is make sure you have a top notch Anesthesiologist. That ironically, can be the most dangerous part of the surgery!
She is scared to death of anesthesia. When she had surgery on her ankle before we met she only had a local.
LL, thanks for sharing the date with us. Please tell her that one of her TOD Family sisters has the same issue with anesthesia. I have such a very difficult coming out of it, so I get very nervous before a surgery that calls for it.
I have a long talk with my inner being and pray very hard for calmness and a great anesthetist. I always asked to have a consultation with my anesthetist before the surgery, and I have always ended up with such an understanding and wonderful anesthetist. He always gives me a hug and tells me to pray for him as well. (That is just my little story of sharing) I always thank him and tell him that I am counting on him, and he smiles and will say to me,”Do not forget to count.”
I have been blessed each time, so far. I wrote my last doctor a personal note of thanks, and his office staff were so surprised. Said that the doctor had never received a person handwritten note of thanks from a patient. I always asked who will be my anesthetist when I go in for the pre-ops., and it helps me to talk with the doctor. I know you wife is a nurse, so she knows what to do. Love to both of you.()
(((((( Putting Mrs. LL date on my personal calendar on my phone)))))))HZ
Best Wishes and will be praying that the surgery is successful.
wishing your wife the best of luck in the surgery wish a speedy recovery.
wishing you strength and patience as a care provider.
all will be well
Best wishes, LL .
Great news, LL. I have 2 friends who have gone thru with that surgery. They are doing great and are very healthy. It is quite the change of life. Best to both of you.
Best wishess LL for you and your wife…
Best wishes for your wife’s surgery, LL. I hope she will recover from the surgery quickly. You’re both in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh, and don’t forget? I will be on Rachels show tonight. As I am the only American Citizen in History to survive a Drone strike.
Here is what I told her…
Remember on that movie Predator(aptly named btw), when Arnold covered himself in cold mud to hide himself from the infra red scan of the Predator?
Well, that’s exactly what I did…, when I heard that Drone overhead, I just knew I was in trouble -because Rachel told me so. And, I then covered myself in cold mud, as the Drine whizzed by at 2k feet.
Phew!
I don’t want to give anymore of the interview away, but I can say Rachel gave me an award for being a survivalist. 🙂
Sorry, won’t watch. 😦
:).
Everyone has a story. One of the things that I enjoy is reading the StoryCorps articles posted each Friday at npr.org. Here are two I’d like to share with you:
Rep Clyburn – http://www.npr.org/2013/02/01/170759859/relentless-despite-losses-congressmans-climb-to-the-hill
Bonnie & Myra Brown – http://www.npr.org/2013/02/08/171382156/a-life-defined-not-by-disability-but-love
Thanks for this beautiful story Alycee. They live a couple towns over from me, and right next door to you, right?
Whassup TOD.
Just read this story from ABL over at Balloon Juice and I am too mad for this family.
Forget VIP Passes and $500. The “Rabbit’s” ass need to be fired and then kicked and maybe not in that order!
“Disneyland White-Power Rabbit Makes Black Children Cry”
http://wonkette.com/500514/disneyland-white-power-rabbit-makes-black-children-cry
Reagan wasn’t the only one. Nixon said guns were an abomination. Ford, Gov. Pitaki, Bush (41) and 9/11 Guiliani were all for gun control.
Its as PBO would say #Romnesia, FayPax. The GOP has selective memory loss! Here is another doozy….
I have studied that man inside and out. He is the Republicans greatest myth. I love to remind them that he was initially a Democrat.
Raygun said one thing and did another. People were so awestruck by his grandfatherly midwest ways they did not see what a phoney he was.
Isnt it amazing, how Reagen wanted the same thing as Barack Obama! But the republicans will shut their mouth about this. They are the biggest cowards on earth.
To quote my boyfriend, Joe Biden, “This ain’t your Daddy’s Republican Party. These people are stark raving nuts.
I’m tired of having to make our points by quoting Reagan. They are valid points whether he agreed with them or not. We don’t need his blessing.
Good for Penatta, he did a great job.
Must be dinnertime:) I was getting carried away here! http://pinterest.com/tiff4/food-food-and-more-food/
😀 😀
Now I’m hungry!
https://twitter.com/givingrealness/status/300030813477679104
Good point.
This is great news. He is really getting serious about getting his agenda done in four years. The only way to do that is to retain the Senate and give Nancy back the gavel. Let’s get it done.
PBO and all of us have to do everything we can to win back the house and increase our majority in the senate. I will do my part
It is Obama-time in the country. Waaa-hooooooooooooooo!
Forward. Now.
48th! TaDa! 😆
Welcome Pamela. 😎
#Boehnerquester
John Boehner bragged about it and so did Paul Ryan. He said, “It is what many of us have been fighting for for years.” They make me ill.
You can bullshit a bullshitter, this is Boners theory.
:envy: Envious of you SoCal folks…
thanks very much for linking to this great interview between two ladies I greatly admire, respect and love.
and yes thank you for making me cry as I listened to this exchange.
More clips ———> http://www.linktv.org/programs/kcetlink-presents-sotomayor-and-longoria
Thanks so much Alycee for sharing this! Justice Sotomayor is an amazing person. Her humanity shines through in every word she utters. I am really grateful that President Obama put her on the Supreme Court because she will always look out for the interests of ordinary people. Kudos also to VP Biden for asking her to swear him in for a second term.
I love Eva Longria. It’s so rewarding to see smart young people who have not lost faith in humanity. I don’t care about what the “holier than thou progressives” say about President Obama. As far as I am concerned, having Justice Sotomayor on the U.S. Supreme Court is “Change I can Believe In.”
These are great Alcyee, her 60 minutes profile was wonderful as well.
I just love to hear her voice…it’s so velvety yet strong. She has such a commanding presence.
I would so love to see her as Chief Justice someday, instead of the mealy Roberts. That man has never seemed real to me–like a composite drawing that doesn’t seem quite human. I find it hard to imagine him having a real emotion. I think history will regard Sotomayor as one of our greatest justices.
I love and respect her very much as well, jackie G. Have you read her book? It is wonderful “My Beloved World.”
Not yet, HZ–it’s on my “to do” list. Thanks for reminding me.
She is simply a beautiful woman, there are no other words.
God I hated Basic Training lol! I will never experience anything like that again in my life.
The worst week of my life was my first week at Navy OCS, 1970. My medical internship was a cake walk in comparison 🙂
🙂 My best friend went through OCS and SWORE she wasn’t staying! Tried everything she could think of to get kicked out…all these many years later (I knew her as an ensign assigned across the hall from me when I worked for a college on base) She is now retired. As a Commander:)
At the time I was going through Newport, the few folk fortunate enough selected to be there, including several NCOs who had already served tours of duty on subs and in-country in Vietnam, realized they were so damn lucky to be there they’d have died before quitting and that’s not a joke. Will never forget one day on the obstacle course when, probably no more than 30% into it, I consciously said to myself ‘die here before you quit’ and have never forgotten that moment. Congratulations to your friend, btw!!
🙂 She’s been retired for some time now…we seriously laugh hard when we remember the old days of her Naval career. She is the last person you would ever think would conform to the ways of the Navy…but she met wonderful people and generally enjoyed her time in service….as my husband did, even after 20 years, he would go back in a heartbeat if they’d let him.
I joke with my girlfriend about the “scrambled eggs”…quite a feat!
Newport…gorgeous. And best clam chowder I ever ate was there:)
Yes, that part of it was rather amazing – and I was there during the ‘Ficker is Quicker’ America’s Cup defense during the summer of 1970. One of my OCS classmates was an outstanding competitive sailor and had two friends on Bill Ficker’s crew, so we were able to visit with them on Intrepid’s dock.
i worry about that sergeant. not a heart-healthy occupation.
aaaaaaaaaah! they’re all fucking hot. yowza!!!!! sign me up, baby! 😉
This seriously looks like nothing more than harassment in the work place. Why do soldiers have to go through this type of intimidation in order for them to be a good soldier? the more you are yelled at the better you are? Crazy shit! I thought they let this kind of training go years ago.
Dateline looks interesting—popular pastor’s wives keep dying—-read about the case. A Methodist minister from eastern Pa.
GOP. More like Russia everyday. http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2013/02/08/1564511/from-russia-no-love-for-gay-athletes/
Good sweet Buddha, I just had the most pointless argument with someone over my tweeting Deaniac’s new piece and his “misuse” of the Frankenstein metaphor. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
Dorner story starts years ago. There is NO excuse for the violence that is going on but he was turning in his superior for kicking a man in in the shoulders and face AFTER he was in handcuffs. The big wigs rallied around his superior and he was fired and brought to court.
Two women were also shot at 50 times this morning as they delivered the morning papers in a truck similar to his. One 50 year old woman was shot 3 times in the back….her 82 year old mother was not injured.
http://leaksource.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/christopher-dorner-v-lapd-case-file/
I am saddened that Mr. Dorner killed so many innocent people to finally get attention. He could have gotten attention about the LAPD by going directly to the media, the only problem is it was 50/50 whether the media would have focused on what happened to him since they do not investigate stories anymore. I believe that the message is going to get muddled that Mr. Dorner is just crazy and the media will not look into what the LAPD did to make him resort to such drastic action. After Rodney King most people believe that the LAPD and Sheriffs are dirty but they won’t ever clean house and get rid of the bad apples. There is so much unfair treatment in police departments, state, county, federal governments and in private business. People are getting fed up and with the proliferation of guns we will see a growing rash of job killings again….Remember the term “going postal” when there was a rash of post office workers killing co-workers back in the 70’s and 80’s?
My mom was so upset because my older brother drives a gray Toyota, he is AA and looks alot like Dorner, he is kinda slow and does not follow simply instructions well. She was fearful that my brother would be stopped and shot by the police who kill first and ask questions later. Those poor women delivering newspapers in the early morning hours were almost executed by the police and they would have lied that these ladies pulled a gun on them. I can’t imagine the fear they must have had…thank God they were not killed.
There’s a lot to this story. Apparently, Dorner exhibited signs of rebelling against authority right from his time as a rookie. I’m just surprised that he made it through the orientation/boot camp.
AmericaFerrera blew me away on Kate this afternoon-She is- outstanding and speaks truth-Everyone should watch interview.
and i sincerely hope they asked him politely if he would like to surrender….
‘ The FBI arrested a San Jose man as he went through the motions of detonating what he believed to be a car bomb in front of a Northern California bank, federal authorities said Friday.
FBI agents arrested Matthew Aaron Llaneza, 28, Thursday night near a Bank of America branch in Oakland as part of a sting operation.
Llaneza had minutes earlier parked an SUV in front of the bank believing the vehicle contained an explosive rigged to detonate from a cellphone command, authorities said. Llaneza was arrested as he stood nearby and tried to detonate the device with a cellphone.
The FBI says Llaneza expressed support for the Taliban and had hoped the bombing would be blamed on anti-government activists and would somehow spark a civil war after a severe government crackdown. The FBI said Llaneza expressed a desire to travel to Afghanistan to train Taliban fighters. ‘
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130208/us-oakland-bank-bombing-attempt
But, but, but, I thought Obama was droning everyone!
I’m sure Rachel will sleep better tonight knowing that no drone was used in capturing this fine, upstanding American who wanted to start a civil war by ending the lives of many innocent Americans. Maybe she can send him some cookies.
So, true, theo!!! I’d tweet it to her but she clearly is so much more into herself than to have even the slightest capacity to understand how big a fool she (and others) have made of themselves over this issue.
“The FBI said Llaneza expressed a desire to travel to Afghanistan to train Taliban fighters.”
So, why exactly shouldn’t Llaneza be treated as a traitor?
Chips.
A few weeks back, you posted here a pic of a lovely US embassy building (Ireland ?), you know the one with a huge spread of lawn in front ? Could you post it again please since I stupidly deleted that pic.
Found it.
teh google/smh
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/14/rise-and-shine-373/#comment-588505
she’s been dealing with the thug cat–hope she’s okay. 🙂
chips & cats ??? A bad mix.
/smh
aiyeeee! drone throwing practice!!
Droney outrage! (as opposed to phoney outrage..) I seriously think they all like to hear themselves talk….the rest of us….not so much.
Not so much, in_deed, df. Not one of those whiners has ever had to send troops into harms way let alone actually served in combat.
That’s what incenses me the most, I think.
RUBIO TELLS TELEPROMPTER JOKES WHILE READING FROM TELEPROMPTERS
What the ‘cranks, haters and bigots’ believe
By Steve Benen
—————————————-
Rubio doesn’t accept climate science, thinks the age of the planet is a theological question, and opposes marriage equality. Remember the Blunt Amendment that would have empowered employers to deny birth-control coverage to their employers? It was originally known as the “Blunt-Rubio Amendment.”
Rubio is part of a shrinking fringe that opposes the Violence Against Women Act, embraces strange conspiracy theories involving gun control, and thinks George W. Bush was a “fantastic” president.
Rubio tells teleprompter jokes while reading from teleprompters, has been caught lying about the basics of Republican budget policy, has suggested TARP recipients shouldn’t have to repay bailout money, and in 2011, argued programs like Medicare and Social Security have “actually weakened us as a people.”
————————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/02/07/16886649-what-the-cranks-haters-and-bigots-believe?lite
HI, guys. Its crazy here in Boston, just praying that we don’t lose power.Visibity is like zero.
Oh well, what to do. Since its friday nite, thought I would share som music from motherland that was keeping me occupied and reading all your
wonderful, informative comments. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq2__SN-1DQ
Take care, Asher. Been through a few of these myself ( CT native) and it’s no fun. Losing power was always the biggest worry for us….we heated our house with a wood stove though, so at least we could stay warm. Hunker down and keep that Yankee “can do” attitude! Storms like this have a way of bringing people together. Be safe
Can’t tell you how many times, when we lived on the East Coast, we were totally grateful for our wood stove, df!!!!!
Hope you don’t lose power, Asher!!
Both a pain in the ass, and a savior at the same time. I always was grateful to have that baby to keep us warm during times like Asher is going through now!
Oh, yes, df – keeping it clean (and still had two chimney fires – that we halted immediately without any damage) and cutting, splitting and stacking the 3 + chords of wood we used each winter for the many years we depended on that wood stove for the majority of the heat in our home – yep – PAIN in the butt, for sure!!! 🙂
We usually got 8 cords for a winter….and now that you mention it, I think that we had a chimney fire once too! Sounded like a damn freight train! Got it cleaned every year…oh, to be a chimney sweep in New England:)
On another note, if you will indulge me, would love to know your thoughts. My son is thinking of ROTC for school. He wants to be a Dr. and thought that the trade off to have school paid for by the Navy and giving 6 years would be well worth it. Any suggestions for him? Rather like would I do this again, if I knew then what I know now:) Smart kid and I’m proud of him for giving it the thought that he seems to have done. Just wondering what your path was and if it worked out as well as it could have. Thanks.:)
I had a ‘radically’ different path from Navy Officer to medical school the details of which are beyond being anything helpful to your son.
If, today, I were planning a career in medicine – practice not research – and wanted to also serve our USA, I would seriously consider becoming a Navy Officer if I could convince the Navy to pay for Medical School as a contractual basis for my enlistment. The six years of active duty as a Navy physician can offer considerable life-enhancing and sobering experiences that it is certainly worthy of his serious consideration. Hope that helps, df.
Thanks so much, Bob. This has helped immensely. He is on the right path then:) He will be a fine physician.
I had a national health service scholarship which covered tuition and a stipend. I serve 6 years in the Public Health Service as a medical director at a federal women’s prison. It was great. ObamaCares includes an expansion of this program.
BTW – 8 chords!!!! WOW!!!! I know just how much wood that is!!! And, yes, both chimney fires – within seconds of starting – was like 18 wheelers roaring through our little home – very scary, for sure.
8 cords. We just called it a shit ton of wood:)
IN_DEED!!!!! 🙂
My son’s girlfriend lives in Ma. She says it is very bad and her windows in her loft are shaking and wind is howling; no power outage yet. Her family on RI. are without power. Please pray.
Please stay safe and indoor!
A blonde, a redhead, and a brunette were seeing who could swim a whole mile straight.
The brunette swam 1/4 of the way there, got tired, and swam back
The redhead swam 1/3 of the way there, got tired, and swam back
The blonde swam 1/2 of the way there, got tired, and swam back.
Oh dear…
Very touching that SecDef Panetta had his beautiful Irish Setter ‘Bravo’ in all those high-intensity meetings. I think that may have been really calming for all the participants. And, the humor about never ‘leaking’ was typical Leon Panetta charm, for sure 🙂
Loved that one also, Bobfr. The entire ceremony was very moving to me because of Sec. Panetta’s spirit towards POB. They seem to respect each other, and I admire that in both of them. Lovely family. HZ
Yes, they do, HZ! You are an amazing grace, btw!
#FORWARD
john mccain was sitting in his porch in his rocking chair. And an old guy is walking into mccain’s lawn.
mccain yells, “hey, kid, get off my lawn”.
I always give 100 % at work.
12 % on Monday.
23 % on Tuesday.
40 % on Wednesday.
20 % on Thursday.
5 % on Friday.
At least your #Arithmetic skills are adequate and it totals to 100%, amk 😀 😀 😀 😀
If you ask me, Bobfr, Amk was trying to show up Ms Chips, whom we know is math challenged. I bet he used his calculator and added carefully before posting.
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Won’t take that bet, VC 😉
Amk, along with my money, did you take a third of the page of my link o TOD? I can barely see this new thread. I swear I didn’t take my iPad with me when I swam those two half miles. 😛
Just check with your bank again. They went bankrupt y’day night. I warned you.
No, really, only 2/3 of the Obama diary is showing on my iPad. Thought you might help. 😦
Too big a font ? Try shrinking the page with your thumb and forefinger.
I haven’t changed the font, but it worked. Thanks. 🙂
That’s the problem with the touchy-feely ipadie thingies. You
rubtouch them the wrong way, they lose their heads and go crazie.That would be another 1,000 bucks. Now, I would like to see the ownership title of your car.
You will love my car. 😎 No, it only works until I post and then I have to get touchy freely again. Works fine on other websites. I think you want to much for a half fix. 🙄
Close the browser, clean the cache and start all over again. Serves you right for splurging on apple thingies.
Ok, thanks. 😕
Sounds about right.
President seems to lean his chair a lot. One wonders if he ever falls and what the people around him says when that happens. Hmmm…
A high-school sports fan takes his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They have a great time, and their team wins. After the game, he asks his girlfriend how she enjoyed the experience. She says, “I loved it. The hot guys, the tight pants, but it made no sense to me.” Confused, her boyfriend asks, “What confused you? It’s pretty simple.” She replies, “At the beginning of the game, they flip a quarter to see who gets the ball first. Then, the whole game they’re shouting ‘Get the quarterback, get the quarterback!’ I mean, hellllooooo, it’s just 25 cents!”
blondes!
So Rachel took the night off. ……. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lil buck goes to china, for your friday evening enjoyment.
http://www.theatlantic.com/video/archive/2013/02/lil-buck-exports-jaw-dropping-memphis-street-dance-to-china/272997/
Thank you susanne, I really enjoyed that.
wasn’t that amazing?
That really was like ballet! At the end, when he’s dancing to Yo-Yo Ma playing behind him… incredible! I’m glad I watched it all the way to the end. And of course, Meryl Streep was in there, too – she’s awesome.
i was mesmerized–so much talent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=MrqqD_Tsy4Q
The history of the world in 2 minutes.
wow!
What? No argument? I didn’t see Adam and Eve. Did you? 🙂
🙂
Nice!
The only thing that got me past the quick shots of the horrors that were included was the knowledge, since I’m admittedly an Obamabot as we all are, that President Barack Obama was gonna be part of the story!
You betcha!
Here is a great gallery of PBO being featured across the GLOBE- in many different ways 🙂
// President Barack Obama has become an icon across the United States and the world. His likeness can be found all over the globe on T-shirts, banners and even lattes. Above: Obama in an advertisement for the Evening Standard newspaper in front of Big Ben on November 5, 2008, in London //
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/17/us/gallery/obamas-face/index.html?hpt=hp_bn14
More President Obama! Thank you!
I enjoyed that, thank you HF! People can be so creative.
Sometimes I wonder what must go through PBO’s mind when he sees all the iconography….must be mind-blowing.
Indeed, PJ. And I think it drives certain factions of the media/GOP crazy to see this man receiving so much (warranted) adulation across the globe!
😀 😀 😀
ROTFLMAO!
Alex Wagner on LOD reminding whose idea the sequester was including the video of Boehner saying he got 98% of what he wanted.
Apparently the juvenile orange idjit is calling it obamaquester. eyeroll. Didn’t these morons learn anything from obamacare?
that would be a no.
#Boehnerquester
dratz
Ohhhhh My Goodness…
I like Allyson Schwartz.
Corbett’s polling is the worst for any governor in Franklin & Marshall’s polling history–he’s not even liked by Republicans. This is a great opportunity for Democrats IF they come out and vote and please let’s get some more state Dem senators and reps so we can turn back some of the insane voter suppression and election rigging shenanigans, among other things. I’m glad Schwartz is stepping forward and I hope it encourages other candidates to do so. If she’s really serious she has to start making herself known, county by county. We’ll see.
this was posted by a friend of mine, whose husand works for Gov. (prefer not to say where)
So word is out, one day furlough for each pay period starting March! Fabulous! I guess I should look on the bright side, we’ll have a couple of long weekends per month.
Inga – Do you mean a state government? Just curious about whether it’s federal or state.
Sorry Federal Government
Wow. Thanks.
just a suggestion: i think ‘boehnerquester’ is backwards. how about ‘seque-boehner’ ? short for, sucks to be boehner.
How about: “Ineffectual doofus” – “Let’s fix the sequester” ? Oh, I’m not really playing the game right.
and yet your entry is definitely a winner! 🙂
afghan youth orchestra greeted by john kerry at their performance in washington d.c., from al jazeera:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/02/20132913315944254.html
I didn’t know dr. benjamin carson was a conservative. Saw an article that he was on Hannity basically bragging about what he said at the national prayer breakfast. the right is all giddy cuz he told the president off to his face – which he actually didn’t. Why do these people think the gov’t got the boot on their necks? you say something stupid, pple have the right to tell you.
The President was right on the mark! People say all the nice things during the prayer breakfast, but the minute after that they resort to their nastiness. To be honest, though I applaud his individual accomplishments, I was not impressed with Dr. Benjamin Carson speech. His focus on his individual accomplishments overlooked the fact that, no matter how good he is, he would never have gotten as far as he has, if people, like Dr King, did not struggle and sacrifice to open doors for him. I really get depressed when some accomplished Blacks are totally oblivious to the reality that racial segregation tramped individual merit. Dr. Carson would not be in a position he is in if people didn’t join together to fight against race discrimination, both in laws and in practice. Yes, it’s important to urge people to study and work hard. But it’s absolute nonsense to imply that Blacks who are not as successful as he is, or as rich as he is, did not work and study as hard as he did. Nor is it true that whites who are supposedly successful got where they are because they are smarter, or studied harder, or worked harder, than others.
No wonder conservatives love him.
That’s right! Conservatives love Blacks and other people of color who believe that their accomplishments are purely because of their individual merits. This is absolute nonsense because it suggests, for example, that before individuals like Dr Carson, there were no blacks who worked hard, or hard mothers who believed in their education and pushed them hard. While I definitely value the importance of hard work and discipline, and even more importantly in having people who believe that you can accomplish what you will, the reality is that in a race based society, it’s rare that the merits of the individuals supersede their social caste. It’s only when societal impediments, like racism are gotten rid of, that hard working individuals, like Dr. Carson and President Barack Obama, are able to maximize their potential and reap the rewards for their hard work.
Well said.
The prayer breakfast is a rt. wing nut job affair. CREW has asked President Obama and Congress to stop attending because of the intolerance and extremist policies of THE FAMILY, the whackjob religious group which sponsors it.
I hope next year President Obama and the First Lady doesn’t attend this thing.
I agree. I came to that conclusion last year.
nathankatun7 – did Dr. Carson really say all that? Because that is not something I believe he would say. I have known him for over 7 years and that just doesn’t seem right to me at all. He is a good person. Very positive.
I listened to Dr. Carson’s speech and I really didn’t come away from it with a positive vibe at all. He seemed to be lecturing the President, making light of some very complex issues, dictating policy prescriptives that ignored a lot of the obvious details – I just didn’t like it at all. I’ve never seen Dr. Carson before, so I can’t speak to his regular demeanor and messaging – I just thought he was out of line. And the President did not look amused (via the C-Span coverage). My two cents…
I had the same impression when I saw the replay on CSPAN. I couldn’t watch the whole thing, turned it off. Especially when he was talking about people being able to say whatever they want without consequence. With PBO sitting 2 seats away and know all the horrible things they’ve said about him and never once even suggesting that people should cut back on vitriol. I certainly felt he was talking to the right wingers in the audience. I almost expected him to wink at them.
I didn’t like him at all. I admit I don’t know him but that was my impression. Others may feel different.
I agree. It seemed to be directly insulting to President Obama, and little Sessions was looking pleasantly surprised by what he was hearing.
I won’t go line by line with my objections, but a flat tax – similar to the tithe – is not the answer to the country’s tax problems. And asking the rich to pay their fair share, after decades of taking everything they want – is not punishing anyone.
When the President started speaking in his sober voice full of gravitas – all my anger went away. He’s the President, and he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. You could have heard a pin drop in that room when he was speaking.
Thank you, Theo, for expressing so well how I received Dr. Carson’s speech. At least I was not alone. I was especially put off by his constant invocation of right wing BS about political correctness, the expression popularized by D’Souza.
Yes – I had to wake up my sister on the East Coast to vent to her after listening to the speech, and then listened to the President and all was right with the world again. 🙂
Indeed! You see, Theo, President Obama values hard work, individual initiative, discipline, etc.! At the same time he is fully aware that you need to remove societal impediments that constantly work to stymie individuals from accomplishing things they aspire to. More importantly, he understands that there are things, like health care, supporting education, building infrastructures, etc., that we must do together as a society.
Well said.
I didn’t see the National Prayer Service that morning I had to go out, but it it sounding like to me the good old doctor was their doing some right wing dirty work in dissing our President. I don’t want to judge someone I don’t know, but I’m not liking what I’m hearing. What I think he did was just use this prayer service to try to attack the President, and then to go on FOX boasting. Sounds to me the doctor is full of that right wing B.S.
Dr. Carson’s comments made this from POTUS’s speech all the more delicious:
“I have to say this is now our fifth prayer breakfast and it is always just a wonderful event. But I do worry sometimes that as soon as we leave the prayer breakfast, everything we’ve been talking about the whole time at the prayer breakfast seems to be forgotten — on the same day of the prayer breakfast. (Laughter.) I mean, you’d like to think that the shelf life wasn’t so short. (Laughter.) But I go back to the Oval Office and I start watching the cable news networks and it’s like we didn’t pray. (Laughter.) “
“…did Dr. Carson really say all that? Because that is not something I believe he would say.”
Please check out his speech posted at TOD and then let me know how I misrepresented him. I did not know Dr. Carson before. This was my first time listening to him. So, I have to take your word that he is a good person. Please don’t get me wrong: I definitely admire his accomplishments. I especially liked what he said about his mother and the importance of hard work and valuing education. Many AA have mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, teachers, uncles, aunties, etc. who have pushed them and who believed that, in spite of all the odds, they could accomplish what they set their minds to. In other words the story of his life is not entirely unique within the AA community. My parents never finished 7th grade, yet they inspired me and my brother to get an education and we eventually graduated from College.
My problem with the doctor’s speech was his failure to properly acknowledge the role played by those who sacrificed so much to get rid of societal impediments–like racial discrimination– that would have made it impossible for him to accomplish al that he has. I admire the fact that he is a positive person. But I think it’s naive for a Black person to buy into the false notion that all our successes are purely based on our individual merit and initiative, regardless of blatant social impediments like racism. That’s all I was trying to say. I never intended to imply that the doctor was not a good person. Obviously, by virtue of the profession he chose, he is a good person. What I was hoping for is to see a highly educated doctor who understands the complexity of society that requires both individual initiatives as well as collective action.
I must also confess that the doctor’s repeated attacks, on what he called PC (political correctness), raised my antennas. Right away I suspected that his analysis, like that of Denish D’Souza, was going to be shallow when it came to the issues of race and achievements. I was not wrong. For the doctor, the only impediment to success, for any one, was primarily because of individual or family failings. Surely, the doctor must know that that is not entirely true.
I’m glad you wrote this Nath… I too was uncomfortable listening to Dr. Carson,.
“Political correctness” — that is the right wing code taken up a couple of years ago, especially by Sarah Palin, to excuse their racist, sexist and often ignorant comments.
Nathkatun7 -I did not say you misrepresented him. I asked a question because it was out of character for Dr. Carson. I logged onto TOD at almost 1 a.m to get my daily fix and saw the comment. So it was a . . . wait what? and I asked the question because it did not seem to match the man I know.
I will listen to the speech today.
okay I watched it and I can see where you had some cause for concern.
His speech wasn’t really that bad. I don’t mind Dr. Carson’s comments on political correctness because it is true. I even understand his stance on education. I do see where I can have a substantive conversation around his proposed ideas on a solution for healthcare (HSA account from birth) and taxes (flat tax of 10%) because both ideas had conflicting statements as he raised both issues. (i.e. everyone pays the same amount in taxes 10% regardless of earnings, everyone pays into an HSA but if an individual has no money and has children, we should put money in those individuals HSA account on those individual’s behalf).
Thank you for the heads up.
I don’t believe it at all. I don’t. Dr. Carson isn’t like that at all. He is a nice guy. I call BS on that article.
Nospin, which article are you calling “BS on”?
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/conservative-doctor-tells-hannity-why-he-spoke-out-against-president-obamas-policies-to-obamas-face/
One question the fact that he was on Sean Hannity show boasting makes me wonder about him, I admit I never have heard of him before, but let me say this I have seen for four years what this President have tried to do and all he have dealt with is alot of B.S. from these right wing extreme crazy ass Republicans, so I don’t care to hear one word from some right wing conservative doctor. If there was anything to him why go on FOX tv boasting how he diss our President? It was a prayer service, not a political service.
nospin, tell me where you know this Dr. Carson from? I mean if you would, please do so. As I said I have never heard of him before. Hannity wouldn’t have had the guy on his show if he didn’t like what he said.
You don’t go on those hate fill Fox shows to praise President Obama. Maybe Carson is Fox next black conservative star.
Fox news can twist anyone’s comments. I will listen to the clips myself because I did not hear it. It is out of character for Dr. Carson. Does not seem to be the person I know. He is very humble.
When you listen to Dr. Carson be sure to let us know what you think, okay. But I don’t see why the ones who have heard what Carson said would speak lies about what they heard. How they felt when they heard it. They didn’t come away with someone humble, and as I have said appearing on Hannity show.
anniebella – please stop putting words in my mouth. I did not say anyone spoke lies. I simply said the comments didn’t reflect the person I know. I watched Dr. Carson and I did not see anything wrong with his speech overall and although I disagreed with some of his statement he did not come off as abrasive. Just as someone with a difference of opinions in some areas.
I do see where I can have a substantive conversation on some of his views (taxes and approach to funding healthcare) and I saw where with more discussion, he could walk away with an expanded point of view.
I do hope POTUS had or will have an opportunity to sit down and maybe have a conversation with him around some of the points he raised because I believe it would make a difference.
I’ve been watching CNN because of the blizzard, and I just happened to think I haven’t heard any political news in almost an hour from them. What a relief! I notice Chris Cuomo has started showing up more on CNN, since recently being hired, and it’s also good to see a “new” face on that channel, because sometimes seeing the faces of the regulars can be unbearable.
As all the fantastic women of TOD realize ….
It will be American women, with the full support of a sizable % of American men, who truly liberate our Republic from fascist greed and tyrannical misogyny. When the US Senate and House of Representatives and the State Houses and Governorships of the majority of States are populated with women on parity with the % of women in the US population America will be a place, literally, everyone will want to immigrate. No joke.
Time for dinner! bbl
#TrustBarack He’s Earned It
winter storm here, too. 24 foot waves, and yes, some folks who challenge this ocean will die. also, people who aren’t even trying to master the water will be swept off cliffs, snatched from canoes, and yanked into blowholes. still….. beautiful sun setting over pipeline, oahu.
http://www.surfline.com/live
I am so glad it turned out to be a happy ending for a deserving little boy and his famil and community. I hope they stand behind the president against gun violence.
I hope this little boy continues to get help. The fact that he won’t talk about what happened is not a good thing. Glad he’s with people who love him and is safe, but a traumatic situation like the one he went through doesn’t just go away in a kid’s mind.
yikes. over 350 thousand people have lost power in the big storm. stay safe, folks! and cuddle!
woot! love our first lady!
With all the B.S. they have to put up with, specially the out and out hate from the right, POTUS and FLOTUS need our love and sincere prayers.
“I have a lot of eating planned for Sunday. Hot wings. Nachos. Sausages. The inside of my stomach is going to look like a Michelle Obama nightmare.” – Jimmy Kimmel
Good morning, amk. Looks like we’re the only ones around at the moment. Hope all is well with you and yours this very snowy in Central NewYork day.
Hope all is well with the folks enduring the brunt of the storm. Makes me feel guilty that I’m pretty snug at the moment.
Good on the governors of Ma. and Ct. for getting out ahead of the situation and prepping for the worst.
Good morning, TOD family – it’s quite a sight this morning. I haven’t seen this much snow since the famous blizzard of ’78. When I opened the front door to let my dog out, so much snow fell off the door that I had to get shovel and broom just to be able to close the door again. My 18 year old American Eskimo dog was rolling ecstatically in the snow, making a hole in the white mountain. He’s the only one who just loves the white stuff. The cats are all under the blanket. I am so grateful that the power is still on – I can make a nice pot of coffee and check out the forecast. There may be more snow or, if we’re lucky, the storm has moved out to the ocean. It will take me the whole weekend to shovel the walkway and the sidewalk, but as long as we still have electricity, things are manageable. I hope that all our “family members” are ok. I just listened to the President’s weekly address and I will write to the newspaper and also my Congressional delegation about the need for common sense and cooperation to deal with the country’s fiscal problems. If only all of our representatives were as sincere and open-minded as our President. We could solve many problems and win the future.
Glad to see you are up and about, hgerhard. The ‘visual’ of your Eskimo dog face-diving in the snow gave me a real chuckle! Kitties, on the other hand, do like their comforts. Enjoy that coffee and don’t forget your earmuffs!!
Thinking of all in the midst of the snow storm – I have never seen such a thing – rather thankful we don’t do snow in my part of the world – do hope everyone stays safe.
The snow (out here in the country) looks like something from Currier and Ives to my housemate who used to live in Florida. But then she has a deathgrip on the woodstove!! Has that roof leak been fixed, 99ts? Between floods and fires, you folks have been having some tough times of your own.
I think the snow would be worse – we still have a leaking roof – but only when it rains – and not too much of that at the minute. I just can’t image what 2 foot of snow would be like – I would never go outside of the door to look. I’m with your housemate – wood stove sounds good.
Glad to hear the roof stopped leaking, 99ts, even if it was only because the rain stopped!! By the way, we don’t necessarily go OUT in the snow, we just LOOK at it!!
I love my President.
Stand in line hopefruit – and it’s a long line.
Hope the TOD’ers in the NE are doing ok. The snowstorm looks nasty.
Rest In Peace Hadiya Pendleton
Morning!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/02/09/rise-and-shine-425/
I think this is a good idea—–Fl. will begin making the most extreme abusers of orders of protection wear GPS devices. How many times do we see that some wife, ex-wife, girlfriend was killed, “even though she had an order of protection”? Continuously. This will now give the abused party warning. Hailed by domestic abuse agencies.
Now there needs to be some solution/protection for domestic abuse/murder of children which is almost always committed by a step-parent/ mother’s boyfriend.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-domestic-violence-gps-tracking-20130208,0,4490785.story