Text of the address here
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Today:
9:35: The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
11:0: First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts an Interactive Student Workshop with the Cast and Crew of the Film Beasts of the Southern Wild
11:10: The President arrives Asheville, North Carolina
11:35: Tours Linamar North Carolina Factory
12:0: Delivers remarks
1:25: Departs Asheville
2:55: Arrives the White House
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Steve Benen: Every State of the Union address carries its own contextual significance. President Obama’s 2011 speech was the first after his party lost the House, and observers were eager to see how he’d adapt to a changed landscape. His 2012 address came against a backdrop of his re-election campaign.
But last night was the first SOTU of Obama’s second term, and it offered the president an opportunity to present a new way forward. The address also served as something of a book-end speech – Obama delivered an ambitious inaugural address just three weeks ago, articulating a broad vision of collective action, and last night was a chance to start filling in the principled gaps with policy specifics.
So what did we learn? That the president with arguably the most consequential first term in generations doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels….
Read post here
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Greg Sargent: Obama’s Inaugural Address laid out an expansive progressive agenda that was focused heavily on civil rights and rooted in the founding values of the country. His State of the Union speech was Chapter Two of this story. It laid out a progressive economic blueprint that was focused heavily on nuts-and-bolts policy ideas and rooted in a much more basic call for economic fairness, shared sacrifice in bringing down the deficit, and aggressive government action to help struggling Americans gain access to the middle class.
Obama — having been lifted to reelection by an ascendant majority coalition of minorities, young voters, and college educated whites, mostly women — gave very little ideological ground to his opponents. His speech built on the Inaugural address in the sense that it continued to reshape the conversation around the priorities of these core groups — only with a more direct focus on the economy.
Full post here
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A word from DonnaDem4Obama
After watching that fascinating State of the Union Address last night I am more inspired than ever to help push President Obama’s agenda through this Congress.
Our very own superstar TODer CollegeKay had the honor of being at the White House last night for the WH Chat. How incredible is that???
There is so much talent on display here at TOD each and everyday. You have no idea how far your reach is to people who never post but they watch and they learn. PBO has decided with great confidence to put his faith in us. He is counting on the coalition that was built in the 2012 election to make it happen. It’s going to be up to us to pressure this congress into “having a vote” on his policies. And not just in making a phone call to Congress (although it starts with that) but by also using the social skills that each of you exhibit here everyday to spread the word and to get our friends, family and Internet associates engaged in doing the same.
Do you remember the excitement and passion you felt about voting for PBO? You couldn’t wait to share with family and friends that you were being a part of history. That same excitement will be needed in order to pass his policies. It does no good for the public to complain about the economy, jobs, climate change, gun control and immigration if they plan to sit on their hands and just “hope” that PBO and Congress get it done.
Consider picking a topic that you feel passionate about and drive it home. Beat us over the head with it each and everyday. Your leadership on the topic will influence others to become engaged and before you know it you will have an army of supporters out there helping you to push the topic. You have more power than you can imagine. Join OFA and then take it to twitter, facebook and the blogs and Lets. Get. It. Done!
Have a great O’Day Everyone!!
Donna
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Ted Widmer (NYT): The bright blue tie worn by President Obama to his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening was an accurate barometer of the weather. This was the most Democratic State of the Union in some time, not just in the range of government initiatives he proposed — the annual speech is usually a long laundry list — but because it set a new tone.
….. While there were words about compromise at the front of the speech, a gauntlet was thrown down by the president — newly empowered by his victory and an electorate that daily tilts in his direction. He was right to abandon a strategy of outreach to Republicans that was not working. Four years after he took office, the Republican party appears to finally accept that Mr. Obama is the president. So now we can get down to the real business of fighting for America’s future, one bill at a time.
Full article here
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Deaniac (The People’s View): You know what a liberal firebrand sounds like? You know what a liberal firebrand sounds like, if you heard tonight’s State of the Union address by the President. Wow, what a speech! He didn’t let Congress breathe for a second, and John Boehner looked ready to begin crying. Let’s just go through a quick list of the president’s newly invigorated agenda:
See here
This line cracked me up: “Let me be clear: if there is such a thing as libgasm, and you didn’t have one during this State of the Union address, you aren’t a liberal.”
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@jamisonfoser (Thank you Mary!)
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ThinkProgress: 6 Game-Changing Ideas In The State Of The Union
On Tuesday night, President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union and laid out an aggressive agenda that could set the nation on a more progressive course. Below are 6 of his most ambitious and far reaching proposals:
1) Executive action on climate change. 2) Investing in infrastructure and creating jobs. 3) Universal preschool. 4) A pathway to citizenship. 5) A livable wage. 6) Enhancing gun safety.
See post for details
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MooOOOooOOOOorning!
The Obama Diary 
Good morning!
Congrats on first Alycee!
Thank you
Moooooooorning Alycee, morning everyone!!
Mooooooooooooooooorning Chips! Thanks for all the great threads yesterday; you ROCK!
Hearty congratulations to Alycee on #1 and the Donna Dem for pointing out how powerful we can be together by actively participating in OFA – now Organizing for Action. Save the date of 2/22 for the first National Day of Action on gun violence prevention. Join OFA and look for an event near your zipcode or start one yourself!
BTW, for Valentine’s Day, a friend of mine is putting small gift cards to local businesses around Portland with a note of remembrance for the victims of gun violence in Newtown and across America. She hopes her random acts of kindness will honor their memories and help open some hearts and minds to the necessity of passing saner gun laws.
Congrats Alycee! 🙂
Good Morning all.
Go back to bed.
That’s exactly what I want to do; however, I have office hours this morning. I’m scheduling a nap for 1:00 pm
‘I’m scheduling a nap for 1:00 pm’
What a novel approach for an adult! I’ll have to consider it, Alycee. 😆 Good Morning, congrats, and have a great day, scheduled nap included!
1?
GM Everyone, What a wonderful, passionate speech.
{It’s so hard being a pimp! This what the House is doing today?!!]:
HOUSE: The House is expected to meet at noon to consider a bill (HR 592) that would clarify that houses of worship are eligible for disaster relief.
SENATE: The Senate will reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to begin debate on the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next Defense secretary.
Someone sent me a petition against this. He is a libertarian/repug and I told him that BUSH and the GOP have NO problem giving handouts to churches but not working people and the poor.
I thought the Republicans were going to have heart attacks at various points during the SOTU. 😆 Seriously, his “hey, this is your idea” poking at them, and giving “credit” for it 😉 was quite possibly the best slapping around he’s done to them.
They almost turned in to a party of Boehners last night Norbrook, I was expecting the tears to collectively flow!
Nor brook, I agree. Four years he offered the olive branch to those lazy, privileged, youarenotmypresident a*****holes.
So now, “kill them with kindness”. Or better yet, “swat them like flies”.
They really did look collectively deeply depressed. They have no clue. No clue whatsoever.
Good morning, congrats Alycee.
Good morning, Chips, a/k/a “Youngblood”. You are up early after hanging out late…..
Question for techies. I’m looking to buy a tablet (not IPad) — any recommendations?
I think the next best one (some techies say it’s even better than the iPad) would be a Samsung tablet or one with an Android operating system.
tweetable toon.
Great cartoon. PBO with doctors bag. Hahahah
Love that toon, AMK, especially the last frame with the calm and steady and level headed President coming to help and putting Obamacare in action! Morning everyone! I just heard bits and pieces of the SOTU last night, so I am trying to now catch up. Just watched the clip of “they deserve a vote” above. Very powerful, it made me tear up. Chip that “libgasm” line was too good as well…so funny!
Saw a tweet which described Boehner’s crabby face perfectly—–that he looked like he was at the dr.’s office awaiting a vasectomy.
Just added a word from DonnaDem to the post – woooooooooooot: “CollegeKay had the honor of being at the White House last night for the WH Chat”!!!!
I thought I saw her tweet that she was headed into the WH!!
She’s interning this semester in the House, I believe. So she’s really in the very best position to learn a lot about Congress and our political system. So proud of her initiative to make the most of her education.
She’s going to be President one day Meta, I’m convinced!!!
Well, we’re be right there behind her, helping her run her campaign.
I am calling shotgun. I will be 100 by then, but who cares?
But Amk, if she runs in 2016 you’ll only be 33 – so, you’ll be a dynamic member of the campaign team!
A member of the campaign team ? pshaw.
I am shooting for veep at the minimum.
You’ll be invited to the SOTU by that time as the oldest voter who whizzed in and voted in ten seconds – I am convinced our voting laws and waiting lines are going to be fixed.
Was CollegeKay an active participant here and in OFA. Always love to see young people involved in public service.
Good Morning Everybody! Here is a Petition to Sign:
DON’T RIG PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY CHANGING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
To be delivered to: The Pennsylvania State House, The Pennsylvania State Senate, and Governor Tom Corbett
http://signon.org/sign/dont-rig-presidential?source=mo&id=62459-24796288-wBhZxjx
‘Libgasm’ – so that was what I experienced last night 🙂 It sure felt good 🙂
Goooooooooooooood morning all!
What a great word!!!!! Morning CTGirl!!!
Totally cracking up at that last cartoon!!!!!!
I have to be honest, I didn’t watch the speech live. I was far more interested in reading how other people viewed it without developing my own biases. Then I went to watch it. Sometimes O think people here can get carried away but, after watching it, wow. The people commenting last night were right on.
As I wrote on another site this morning (sorry Chips, you are first in my heart but I go elsewhere as well), PBO warned the GOP during the approach to the fiscal cliff that they better play nice or he would let them have it. And following the “iron fist in a velvet glove” approach which is what he prefers, that is exactly what he did with the inaugural address and the SOTU. He knows they will still not play nice so everything he does now is setting up 2014. He basically told the country last night that this is what can be done and when the next elections come around and they haven’t been accomplished, there is only one place to look and assign blame.
He is going to get involved in recruiting candidates (there are several here that would be good choices) and he is going to do his best to make sure the Dems are out there pushing for what can be done and going after the GOP for exactly what they are, Luddites of the 10th degree.
I don’t think the GOP realizes yet that this man, and his followers and the fellow Dems are not the Dems of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, a party that would run scared every time the Right would throw a label on them. This is morphing into a Party that truly believes in its principles and is starting to fight for them. And, to be honest, I don’t might some of the grousing from the Left that not enough is being done. Realistically, we would all like more and they can serve to keep us from being satisfied with too little, and I think PBO agrees with that sentiment. In fact, right now he is counting on it and hoping that energy is not just directed at him or other Dems but also, and perhaps primarily, at the right target, the Right and the GOP.
And I think we are going to see more of that going forward.
It is going to be an interesting 14 months.
PLEASE PROCEED REPUBLICAN PARTY
Japa21, You totally nailed it with this sentence.
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He basically told the country last night that this is what can be done and when the next elections come around and they haven’t been accomplished, there is only one place to look and assign blame.
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that energy is not just directed at him or other Dems but also, and perhaps primarily, at the right target, the Right and the GOP.
That is the key that is missing from emoprogs.
Exactly. However, the emoprogs are being tuned out more and more; especially as younger liberals and progressives are coming of age. The emoprogs are past their expiration date.
Totally agree with you AMK!
Every victory PBO has even if small, leads to bigger and bigger victories. That’s the way change happens. When the emoprogs have the floor and the sounding board, we are going to have to guide them and use their voices to get the change that PBO is fighting for. We can do this. It’s not always going to work and we will have to pushback but we are now the movers and shakers – the middle class. We are the ones that can go #forward with our messages. I am personally working on gun control – that’s my pet (if that word can be used in a discussion on guns) project. I want meaningful gun laws to happen and happen soon. Once Gabby Giffords started her campaign the movement got a huge surge of integrity and she is the face of courage. We all have this courage, we will tap into it and make PBO’s changes happen. I was struck last night by the sameness of Mario Rubio’s words (when not laughing). The GOP put their same old words onto a new face. I think that most of the country is not stupid and can see this. I am encouraged when I read articles, see tweets and facebook postings supporting the President. I have not been this encouraged in a long, long time. It’s an exciting time for all of us and I am glad that I have the opportunity to witness it.
“We may do different jobs and wear different uniforms, and hold different views than the person beside us. But as Americans, we all share the same proud title — we are citizens. It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we’re made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations, that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter of our American story.”
—– PBO, SOTU, February 12, 2013
Thank you, Gazelle. This reminds me of a time in TOD history when we used to get the ‘O Quote” of the day. Happy times! Maybe you are re-establishing the tradition for the rest of this month? 😉 😉
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks. Great TOD last night! Thank you!!
Off to work…
Still on a high from the inspiring SOTU by Pres. Obama. Universal pre-K, more financial aid for college students, more opportunities for high school students, building our manufacturing base, the issue of gun violence, climate change, raising the minimum wage, touting ObamaCare, ending the war, touting the American Jobs Act, immigration reform, equal pay, VAWA, benefits to all military families gay and straight, caring for our veterans job wise and healthcare wise, praising the works of science, championing everyday citizens, reminding us the important role we all play in making sure our government works for everyone be you the 99% or the 1%.
Just like with the election season, I am fired up and ready to go and will not rest lest progress be cast aside for harmful ideas from the past.
Brilliant, Japa…and about time!
“I don’t think the GOP realizes yet that this man, and his followers and the fellow Dems are not the Dems of the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s, a party that would run scared every time the Right would throw a label on them. This is morphing into a Party that truly believes in its principles and is starting to fight for them.”
When you’ve got modern day conservatives who still describe all liberals and progressives as “hippies on their way to Woodstock,” Japa is correct with this statement. Shoot, even the liberals and progressives who were actually hippies at Woodstock aren’t hippies anymore.
But, hey, let them keep making that mistake. It’s good to finally see their labeling and defining of the opposition backfire on their behinds.
another rube-io movie title for the ayn rand-types: “Atlas Sipped”
Outstanding!!!! 😆
Congratulations CollegeKay ~ cannot wait to here of your experience last night! Well done Chips ~ what a night… so much inspiration.. and laughs. Everything a SOTU ought to be, I’m savoring every minute of these next four years.
ahh that should be ‘hear’. good grief.
OH DEAR, MARCO RUBIO HAS ROMNESIA.
Putting the rube in Rubio
By Steve Benen
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Forget ideology, subjectivity, and areas of opinion — the fact is Marco Rubio’s speech was filled with a series of claims with no meaningful connection to reality. The senator even thinks combating the climate crisis means asking government to “control the weather,” which is just genuinely dumb.
I know many of the folks watching Rubio’s right-wing infomercial kept asking, “What’s wrong with the guy’s mouth?” but I kept wondering, “What planet is this guy living on?”
What’s more, as someone who spent quite a bit of time studying Mitt Romney’s stump speech, I can say with great confidence that there were no real differences between Rubio’s remarks and the failed Republican presidential candidate’s pitch to voters last year. Indeed, in some cases, it seemed like a word-for-word copy-and-paste job, up and to and including, whining about “wasting more taxpayer money on so-called ‘clean energy’ companies like Solyndra.”
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/02/13/16948495-putting-the-rube-in-rubio
BTW, Boehner really, really needs to go. At SOTU, during the portion relating to gun violence, Boehner initially stood and clapped; but when he saw that most of the rethugs weren’t standing he stopped clapping, tugged on his suit coat, then sat down. Pitiful, pitiful, pitiful. We deserve better!
I don’t know maybe it’s just me but the whole SOTU address left me…thirsty.
Marco? Is that you???? 🙂
Umm no not at all. Why do you ask? The stage manager said it was okay to take a drink. But it’s still not me.
Gulp – okay! 😆
Donna Dem, thanks for always being there to fire us up. It’s going to take a lot of work to realize our agenda but we are more than up to the task. Working together, there is no stopping us.
We HAVE to secure voting rights and equal rights for all.
We HAVE to improve the quality and affordability of education at all levels.
We HAVE to fight for gun safety laws so we can stop burying our children and their mothers.
We HAVE to get moving on climate change.
We HAVE to make sure Obamacare is implemented wisely and for all.
We HAVE to fight for a future for middle class families.
I am just so amazed as ever what a great team FOTUS and POB are together. The connection is so beautiful in so many ways. The most emotional part of the speech to me was his heartfelt expression of Hadiyah’s life impact toward her friends. It made me very proud of Michelle ‘s decision to attend the Going Home Service of this gifted young lady. The President was able to blend all of those emotions as if he was personally there. All of the pain those families felt were lovingly wrapped into one heart of love, care and concern.
Thank you, Michelle for attending the services and sharing your feelings with your husband so that he was able to make it personal for all of us.
Thank you, Mrs. and Mr. Robinson for raising a daughter who loves to care and cares to love.
I was so glad the President signed an executive order for cyber security.
The nations infrastructure is under attack and Congress will not act, so the President did.
#Leadership
Larry Odonell said as long as we have Coal democrats from Wedt Virginia, very little climate change executive action will happen.
Manchin again.
😦
And there was Manchin last night, all smiles when PBO arrived, clapping and cheering. Dick.
This is one more reason why Pres. Obama’s playing a crucial role in 2014 Democratic candidates.
Huh?????
This Is the Republican Party’s Savior?
BY Josh Barro
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Republicans think putting up a spokesman like Rubio, who is Hispanic and in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, will help them make inroads with minorities. But all of the large minority groups — blacks, Hispanics and Asians — look much more favorably on government than whites do, seeing it as an entity that can and should help people get ahead rather than just getting out of the way.
In 2012, the Republican Party’s anti-government message left these groups cold, leading Romney to lose Hispanics by more than 2 to 1 and Asians by nearly 3 to 1. Immigration reform can’t overcome this message problem. As the country gets less and less white, reflexive “I Built It”-ism is only going to become more electorally costly to Republicans.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-13/this-is-the-republican-party-s-savior-.html
Jack Lew’s Treasury Sec. confirmation hearing.
http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN3/
I saw Beasts of the Southern Wild, and that little girl. Quevenzhanie (?) Wallis, gave a phenomenal performance, recognized by her Oscar nomination. It was a tough movie to watch but was utterly fascinating and Wallis, who was only 6 when she made this movie, plucked out of obscurity, was a force on screen. Hushpuppy, her movie name, did seem to be “an old soul in a young body” as others have noticed. Predict we will be seeing a lot more of this adorable, highly talented little girl. Recommend this film to those who have not seen it.
It was a great movie, dotster, I agree; it stayed with me for days afterwards. Very much in the genre of “Whale Rider”, “Eve’s Bayou”, “Pan’s Labrynith”: other great magic realism films with young, heroic, female protagonists.
[Steve Benen]:
[…..] But while it was Rubio’s dry mouth that will be remembered, I hope the political world won’t completely overlook the speech itself, because the far-right senator’s remarks helped prove that he’s quite literally not ready for prime time, for reasons that have nothing to do with his hard-to-watch presentation.
By any sensible measure, Rubio’s entire pitch was incoherent gibberish. He thinks President Obama is hostile to free enterprise and wants to increase the deficit, neither of which makes any sense. Rubio thinks the housing crisis was caused by big government, which is simply idiotic. Rubio celebrates his family’s history of dependence on government social programs like student loans and Medicare, while articulating a policy agenda that guts government social programs like student loans and Medicare.
Forget ideology, subjectivity, and areas of opinion — the fact is Marco Rubio’s speech was filled with a series of claims with no meaningful connection to reality. The senator even thinks combating the climate crisis means asking government to “control the weather,” which is just genuinely dumb. […..]
‘
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/02/13/16948495-putting-the-rube-in-rubio?lite
Benen needs to start his rubio lies series a la mittbot.
Ah, great idea – tweet him!
Whoa….Jack Lew is a grandfather. He looks so young. 😀
😯 Unbelievable!!!
He is 57 which is surprising.
Colbert being great again last night re. the civil war within Repub Party and the conservative “victory” project
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423790/february-12-2013/conservative-victory-project
FP direction & appointments:
[…..] “It may also reflect that the White House anticipates that its second term policies on Iran, Syria, arms control, etc. will involve especially intensive coordination and diplomacy with allies in Europe, NATO, Turkey, Russia and beyond …” […..]
.
http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2013/02/4407/nsc-appointments/#more-4407
6 Game-Changing Ideas In The State Of The Union
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/02/13/1587031/6-game-changing-ideas-in-the-state-of-the-union/
Oh how I love Asheville NC, my favorite city in the US. If I had the money I would buy a house there.
I Also love Annapolis Maryland, beautiful city!
What do you love about Asheville Jovie?
I fell in love with Asheville, NC when the HGTV had one of their Dream Homes there. I wanted that house so much that everyday I sent in a email to register to win. I did not know these things are fixed so I don’t participate anymore. HGTV featured the town where the dream house was and I fell in love. I don’t like the south but that’s one place I would consider living.
Fixed? How? Breaking my heart — I want this year’s “Dream House”
Have you been there? It was beautiful forty+ years ago. It is probably more populated now. The weather was nice, too. There was a small snow ski area nearby. Nothing like the Rockies, but I’m sure it’s still fun. 🙂
https://twitter.com/jenmisstx/status/301715548142723072
It’s so hard to take this guy seriously. He looks like a pudgy kid who hasn’t shed his “puppy” weight and he speaks like a high schooler. How can anyone think he’s ready for prime time, much less the WH. People who run for president don’t have to be geniuses, but they should convey a little gravitas at the right times. Plus PBO was born with a more nuanced intellect than this guy will ever have.
what an amazingly emotional SOTU. the ending was especially moving. Lets hope those that need to hear PBO’s words do and take them to heart. we have a great opportunity right now in america, lets hope we can move forward together and sieze that. Rather than let the RWNJs derail everything we have worked so hard to achieve.
President Obama joined European Union leaders on Wednesday to officially launch talks aimed at creating the $5 trillion trans-Atlantic free trade zone he announced during his State of the Union address.
“We, the leaders of the United States and the European Union, are pleased to announce that … the United States and the European Union will each initiate the internal procedures necessary to launch negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership,” Obama said in a joint statement with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
“A high-standard Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would advance trade and investment liberalization and address regulatory and other non-tariff barriers. Through this negotiation, the United States and the European Union will have the opportunity not only to expand trade and investment across the Atlantic, but also to contribute to the development of global rules that can strengthen the multilateral trading system.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/trade/282797-obama-joins-european-leaders-in-launching-trade-partnership
Wow! Pretty good Huh?
Heads up!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/02/13/heads-up-first-lady-hosts-beasts-of-the-southern-wild-workshop/
Good Morning everyone, last night was just amazing, My President is just the damn best and poor waterloo Rubio he was ust parched afterall our President set that place on fire last night.
I am surprised that Princeton waited this long to make this public. Wow. Thanks Michelle Robins. I remember We Are The World video whenever I think of the crisis then in Ethiopia.
In case you missed it:
Really good.