One of the very loveliest photos, three years old today: First Lady Michelle Obama greets children at Children’s Place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, April 13, 2010. (Photo by Samantha Appleton)
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The week ahead:
Monday: The President will welcome the BCS National Champion, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, to the White House to honor their 15th championship and their exceptional 2012-2013 season. Later, the President will participate in an ambassador credentialing ceremony at the White House.
Tuesday: The President will hold a working lunch with Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates at the White House. Later, the President will welcome Brad Keselowski to the White House to honor his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Wednesday: The President will welcome the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride to the White House in celebration of the 7th Annual Soldier Ride.
Thursday and Friday: The President will attend meetings at the White House.
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‘Dependent on Congress doing right’
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SmartyPants: …… One of my routines is to read the news summary posted every morning on Daily Kos titled Abbreviated Pundit Roundup ….. This morning’s edition was telling. It covered the first full day of punditry since President Obama released his budget. The roundup included 5 commentaries on that topic – all focused on critiquing the inclusion of chained CPI…..
….. how about linking to:
Melissa Lazarín and Sasha Post at the Center for American Progress on President Obama’s Budget Makes Historic Investments in Young Children
Erika Eichelberger at Mother Jones on Obama Wants Mitt Romney’s Favorite Tax Break to Die
Annie Lowrey at the New York Times on A Budget Focus on Inequality
Matthew Yglesias at Slate on The Class War Has Begun: Obama is waging it against the rich. The Republicans are waging it against the poor.
And another one by Derek Thompson at the Atlantic titled The Obama Budget: Tax the Rich, Spare the Poor, Remember the Young
See links to those articles and full post here
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Chat away
The Obama Diary 
Holla
Good morning LL! Congrats on 1st 🙂
#NowIsTheTime
Now: it’s all we ever really have.
Yes. Hope you are recovering, steadily, MP.
Good days and not so good days, bobfr. Nights are tricky. Thank you for the encouragement. {{{{bobfr}}}}
Hang in there, MightyPamela! Good Saturday to ya!
right back atcha, JO’B!
🙂
LL?!!!
Hey it’s LL!!!!
Congratulations on First 🙂
LL!!!!!
Okay, that’s a touch random, but it’s a day to salute unforgettable golfing images. 😕
Ugh, I’m getting dizzy and I’m sitting still
😆 It is quite a sight!!!!
Almost not worth being first, eh, LL??? 😉
Yeah, I regret it now.
Sheesh, sooooo ungrateful for such a beautiful gift 🙄
Hee..
Ye Gads!
I’m thinking of buying a pair Pamela, they’d sure make ya stand out in the crowd. Just emailed ya!
Heading over….
JOHN DALY!!!!!! Yes, he is the “Keven Costner’s Tin Cup” of the golf world… Of course he was sponsored by HOOTERS and used to smoke cigarettes walking down the green. MY HERO!
Not your typically finely-tuned athlete, it has to be said:
But did I read once he was a Democrat? If so, I doff my cap!
Oy………..vey.
Did you dress like him too? 😉
Now I can’t see, I’m blinded! Psychedelic! 🙄
😆 One of his milder outfits:
Is this Caddyshack?
😆 😆
Ty Webb
“I’m going to give you a little advice. There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.
“Remember Danny – Two wrongs don’t make a right but three rights make a left.”
Hullo, congrats, you are número uno! 😀
Hello LL, how is your wife doing? Do you have another chapter up yet for me to read?
Missus ate something she shouldn’t have eaten, so is having a bit of nausea. Generally okay, though.
I hope to have another chapter up this weekend.
I guess it will be a learning process for her. I look forward to reading it. Have a great day.
Hi everyone. Will attempt to ‘catch up’ now, whatever that means!
MP, I have been so caught up I forgot to ask how you were doing? Correct me if I am wrong but you had a Knee surgery? How are you doing….hope all is well. Have you started rehab?
Thanking you, LP, not operative surgery. Fractured patella, ortho felt using a knee immobilizing splint, crutches and no weight bearing for 6 weeks would be more effective for healing. Right knee, so no driving; needless to say, working with the elderly, no one is going to want a caregiver on crutches humping around the house! Bad for business, but unavoidable, I suppose. Physio can start anytime I can tolerate it, but have torn a rotator cuff adding insult to injury, and without transport, cannot get to therapy. Go figure. It will all sort out once I can drive again.
I tore my patella tendon, I kind of know what you are going through. Do you have any resistance bands? The yellow/green/blue/red one’s…you can do stretching and physio at your leisure at home and then ice it. Maybe look into getting an ultra-sound kit to run over your knee for deep tissue stimulation. Regardless wish you all the best in your recovery. I know how frustrating being immobilized can be, you get cabin fever w/ a capital C.
I do have a blue band, and am using it, actually always use it! I am blessed with a deeply developed 30+ years meditation practice,, which serves me all waking hours and experiences, and all through the ‘sleep’ stage as well. I embrace solitude, and am never ever bored. But, we have TOD now, and I have a marvelous support system of family and friends, as well as my caregiver network, so am getting along pretty well, considering I am so unfamiliar with limitation! A herbalist friend has provided a couple weeks of some incredibly effective power/pain patches, which I am delighted to find are very comforting and soothing. Only another few weeks now….
I am glad to hear you are coping relatively well, and have a wonderful support network. If you have any questions or just want to vent, I am open ears…wish you all the best.
{{{{{LP}}}}} You just keep on posting the incredible threads, and that is doing A LOT!! 🙂
Here in Illinois, Land of Lincoln, we call that Log Cabin Fever (okay, only I call it that, and nobody but me thinks it’s funny, and yet I keep tryin’).
It is actually VERY funny! I haven’t heard that until now! 🙂
What a good friend you are! 🙂
Tat sucks!! Wishing you a speedy healing!
Should say *that, 😦
TY, Betsy!
Now the Augusta Committee Members are have a Live Conference on their Mishaps?
Tiger Woods always rattling their cages. Hmm?
Having………Mind is faster than the fingers…… 😦
NYT: QUOTATION OF THE DAY
“I wish they would have made an example of somebody else other than a 14-year-old kid, you know?”
BRANDT SNEDEKER, a golfer, after Guan Tianlang was penalized one stroke for slow play at the Masters. 4/13/13
Congrats LL 😉
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks and TOD family.
I really like that Tax Return Chipsticks. Thanks!
Morning GGail!! Such a powerful toon, some of these people are just geniuses.
Hope all’s excellent this Saturday?
Fired Up & Ready to Go Chipsticks – how ’bout you my friend?
Feeling fab GGail, especially because Manchester United didn’t lose today – well, they didn’t actually play, but still.
Your rationale is what keeps you sane Chipsticks – 😆
Brilliant, but shattering. I had to look at that for several minutes, it was a no-brainer to FB it right away. When a message takes on a form like this one, which we all share for our entire lives, it has a way of reaching deep into the bond that brings us together as humans. Despite the IRS form itself being so institutional. It also reminds us that too many have found ways, or created ways, to evade their responsibility to democracy, thus separating themselves from the very foundation which makes us who we are. These ‘evaders’ will be the ones who lose their humanity, if they haven’t already.
Profound, Powerful, Poignant on the 1040 Tax reform Form Post. Very Touchingly Brilliant. Thank you.
I had forgotten that the FLOTUS did visit Haiti. Thanks for reminding me. Thanks.
My pleasure Nena, I always adored that photo, just beautiful.
GA Chips, TOD. LL congrats on fist….Bobfr was creeping on your tail.
Afternoon LP, thank you again for that wonderful R&S. I hope your Dad continues to get his strength back?
Thanks Chips, he is doing much better, Just a matter of natural healing due to the several operations, that will keep him in the hospital for probably another week minimum.
Great news LP, I’m sure he cannot wait to get out of that hospital, but another week will at least allow him regain some strength. An amazing man, been through so much.
I showed my dad your blog yesterday Chips, he is in awe of the technology these days. He loves all the pictures and articles….he was questioning why anybody in their right might would let his crazy son become a blog-tyrant. I concurred!
Ha, that’s great LP!! Maybe when he gets his strength back he’ll become a TOD blog tyrant too? Tell him he’s welcome, but it won’t easy matching his son’s efforts!
One step at a time my dear, first he has to learn how to record on the TV’s DVR…….talk to me in about 3 years, may have an update on that front by then!
This is nothing like your dad’s capabilities, but way back – maybe as far back as the ’80s – I saw Jay Leno give a live show in our city, and he mentioned he had bought a new teevee for his dad that had a remote control. He said he noticed when he was visiting dad that he’d get up and go over to the TV, every time he wanted to change the channel. Jay said he asked his dad, “Why not use the remote control it came with? Where is it?” And the dad said, “Oh, it’s in the drawer over there. I didn’t want to wear out the batteries.”
So, give it time. Ha!
You did an INCREDIBLE job this morning on R/S!!! Thank you sooooooooooo much for all the care and love you put into your posts…..and, so glad to hear that your dad is coming along slowly but surely. Great news!
Thanks so much desertflower! I have to thanks Chips, for allowing me the space on her wonderful blog and the autonomy to post what I deem interesting…..hoping that I’m not the only one that does!
It was not only interesting but very informative. Thanks so much. Glad to hear your dad is in the road o recovery.
TY Besty, very kind of you…
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/13/opinion/paugh-guns-suicide-irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
Thanks flower, may I call you flower? A day or two ago I posted a tweet to my local paper discussing suicide. If WY were a country, we would rank 9th in the world for suicide deaths, most by guns, but also prescription drugs. We’ve already had nine this year. In 1992 my son was a Pallbearer for a young man on his cross country track team; the whole team was. The boy had much to look forward to in his future. I worked with his father and he was a good man, a good supervisor, not my boss, but everyone seemed to like him. Other friends of my younger son have also committed suicide, but by drugs after high school. We had a big push then on how to solve Gun suicide. One guy came up with gun locks, but that didn’t seem to solve anything. Twenty-one years later we haven’t figured it out. There is a stigmatizing on mental health treatment. Where was the uproar over McConnell bringing Ashley Judd’s problems into the election? Nobody made the connection. He’s all for mental health in gun control, but still snarks about it if it’s to his advantage. We all know it’s a problem in the military too. There is a stigma. That is what we need to solve, the stigma. One young man posted on my FB page: “One by one, two by two, I’ve got ammo, what about you?” I couldn’t ignore it. I had to tell his mother. She told me it was lyrics to a song. I’m out of touch with him now, but I worry. I have no answers. But I’m glad Pres. Obama is studying the brain. I’m glad they’re focusing on mental health. But how do we stop the stigma?
Wow. Well said, Carol. Made me breathless, almost, because this is such a serious topic – and it’s getting worse, no matter where you live.
I know. It’s so sad.
“The disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition is the great and most universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments.”
–Adam Smith
Scottish political economist (1723-1790)
Nothing new under the sun, eh, DF? Hundreds of years later, still no illumination on the part of the graspers….
This is a nice piece that fits the thread….talks about PBO’s budget geared to the Obama coalition, not D.C. talking heads & emprog’s.
used to like phil mickelson the golfer, but when he showed his ugly trickle-downer attitude recently and said he was going to move his family cross country since already having hundreds of millions isn’t enough, he needs more more MORE, because he doesn’t feel he should pay state income tax, then now i couldn’t care less how he does. i did just get a little chuckle in seeing the 14 year old chinese kid is tied with him as they both near the end of the 3rd day. the kid is in 8th grade, flies to america, and is actually competing on the famous course (just saw this tweet):
“Amazing stat: 14-year-old Tianlang Guan has played 47 holes so far and hasn’t had a single three-putt. Bubba Watson has had six.”
De-lurking to say thank you to Chips and her crew for guiding this ship and ask for some advice from TODers.
My daughter decided to get married to the man she was dating for the past three years. He is in the final stages of training as a Navy Seal. I am already dreading his deployment. When I talk to my daughter, I can’t believe the calmness she expresses. She is more emotionally mature than me. I finally am beginning to understand the resolve, the courage, the sacrifices military families endure in their life without any complaints. I am already a nervous wreck and I need a distraction. I was a regular donor and a volunteer for PBO campaign because you guys inspired me. I stopped after the election. I am thinking of getting involved with OFA. Do you think it Is worthwhile? If any of you can shed some light on this it will be greatly appreciated.
Hello, chitra!
OFA volunteers are still very busy. We’re working to build our coalition and bring people out to local rallies for gun and immigration reform. We’re also holding phone banks to ask people to contact their senators. So there’s plenty to do if you care to get involved. It’s still very satisfying work and you really feel like you’re doing something to help get the voices of ordinary people heard.
Very best wishes to your daughter and her fiancé in their new life together.
Yes, chitra, definitely worthwhile and will give you a place and issues to focus on rather than worrying over the safety of your new SIL. He is a brave and strong man, your daughter is likely a brave and strong woman. They will be fine. You can help them most by backing PBO through OFA. With our thanks.
“Do you think it Is worthwhile?” Yes, yes, a thousand times, YES!
Getting PBO reelected was not the end of the journey. In some ways, this term is even more important than the last. During the first term, the rethugs were willing to cause “minor” discomfort to the American people in hopes of taking back the WH & senate; as that failed, they are now going for shock & awe. Since they failed in 2012, they are now not only willing to tank the economy — harming senior citizens, disabled veterans, the un- and under-employed, young children, college students; they are also actively trying to steal the next election via electoral gerrymandering and reducing/eliminating voting rights.
Pick an issue near and dear to your heart and channel your nervous energy into positive action.
Good for Oregon. Our Gov. Kitzhaber is an ER doc who has dedicated his public service to reforming the health care system, especially for low income people.
I just got home from my first ever Knox County Dem Convention. We elected new officers. I was, of course, a voting delegate and even agreed to be a precinct chair–no idea what that entails, but Yes, I Can! 🙂 Later this afternoon, am going to a rally sponsored by OFA for common sense gun laws.
yes! that’s how we beat the media and republicans. you’re doing it!
WAY TO GO!!!!! tnmtngirl
I am soooooo proud of you!
YES YOU CAN 😀
YES> YOU> CAN!
That’s fantastic! Way to go, tnmtngirl!! Precinct chairs are important!
OUTSTANDING! Proud of you for stepping up to the plate! YES, YOU CAN!
Tn, this is terrific. This is the best way to keep plugged into what’s happening locally and a precinct chairsmeans you get to know a whole lot of Dems in your area. You are in for a treat!
tiger birdies 1st hole. look out. i bet he’s pissed!
Great!! This is B.S. he was the one man I had faith in….
http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/political-connections/a-new-budget-for-a-new-party-20130411
a-new-budget-for-a-new-party
For Democrats, the reflexive resistance to entitlement reform is questionable not only economically but also politically. By prioritizing entitlements over discretionary spending, they are favoring the predominantly white senior population, which cast about three-fifths of its votes for Republicans in last year’s presidential and congressional elections, over the diverse millennial generation, which voted about three-fifths Democratic on both fronts. “Obama is ahead of his party on the future of the coalition,” Rosenberg says. The president’s budget could threaten congressional Democrats in the 2014 election if Republicans, obscuring their own Medicare and Medicaid plans, rally seniors against his entitlement proposals, as some GOP House leaders have already signaled. But Obama’s positioning could help Democrats deepen their grip on millennials, who will approach one-third of eligible voters by 2016.
The Coalition of the Ascendant….
This is the coalition that The DEM nominee of 2016 will have to be in sync with…
Thanks for this, prettyfoot. Tweeted.
Pf, I don’t think the president’s budget needs to “threaten” Democrats in 2014 if they stand up and remind people of Republican’s blatant efforts to completely dismantle SS and Medicare. Any Democrat running for any office in 2014 had better get his/her story straight. At our Dem dinner last night I reminded some of the candidates that many groups came to the Democratic Party because of the president and they had better not try running away from him if they want to get elected in 2014.
I agree with you on this…
Greetings TOD family
Long time no see and long time no post.
I read the blog everyday but have been busy.
I had to share some EXCITING NEWS
Jon Carson, Executive Director of OFA is coming to Santa Rosa to speak to our local OFA and the OFA leaders from the greater bay area. I am beside myself with a mixture of pride, enthusiasm, and sheer terror. I have been asked to introduce Jon. The wonderful folks at OFA will be helping me with the introduction, but still….
After Jon gives and overview of OFA, Ivan Frischberg – Climate Campaign Director will speak, and finally Brandyn Keating the Western Field Organizer.
We will be inviting local OFA members, and anyone in OFA who is willing to drive to Santa Rosa. I am hoping to get folks from Marin, Napa, SF and Oakland as well as the East Bay.
We are very fortunate to have folks in our local OFA that have been devoted supporters of PBO for many years – they were included in the planing stages of OFA and were able to ask for a visit from the folks listed above. I am still pinching myself about how lucky we are to have such a distinguished group of speakers in our sleepy little town of true blue democrats.
I know a few of you are in Nor Cal, so if you are available April 23rd from 5-7 come on up.
https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/actionplanningsession/gskvpf
I hope to see a few of you from the blog, at this event. I will post pictures after we pull it off. Fingers crossed.
WIW! You are getting it DONE! It will go beautifully, and with all the difference you have made, who knows what will open up for you, with your talent and vision!
Thanks Pamela – all the encouragement I get from folks like you really helps.
Congrats wiw. You deserve the recognition.
It is my team – not me. But thanks for the kind words…
I have been asked to introduce Jon.
It’s a BFD!!! Go get’em.
FANTASTIC!! I’m so excited for you!! I wish I could be there but I rely on public transportation. Can’t wait to hear your report. BRAVO to all in your local OFA!!
HI Meta
We will be thinking of you. Here’s a thought, depending on where you live – I could probably get you a ride with someone else who lives in your area. If you want to try and come email me whatisworking@gmail.com
OK, let me check my calendar and I’ll send you an email with my contact info. Thanks!
Congratssssssssss…..I am sure you will do a wonderful job….
Very exciting, indeed.
Looks like your hard work spreading the word via your blog is paying off. Congrats!
Did you see that @Our4thEstate (BobFR) tweeted this to @JonCarsonOFA (who is now one of our Twitter Warrior’s loyal followers):
Maybe you could put in a good word for a Seattle-area TODer who encourages everyone to “Trust Barack, he’s earned it.”
Thank you Arapaho!!!!!
Yes We Can
Absolutely – Bob – you are from Seattle- send me any ibnfo you want passed along. I can’t guarantee anything but I will try
WTG, WIW, you deserve all this praise. What you are doing is such a great help. I was in Santa Rosa in January, wish I was closer to attend. Can’t wait to see all the pictures. Best of luck.
Thanks Marilyn – hope you get to our little slice of heaven again.
Congratulations, Linda. Can’t imagine anyone more deserving to have the opportunity to introduce Jon Carson than you.
#FORWARD Together!
Linda, as you prepare your introduction, please consider how you might weave into it the insights of SP (link in tweet, below) and the necessity for OFA to bring considerable attention to the extraordinary breath of progressive policies and appropriation priorities in #PBO’s 2014 Budget. Grass roots push back against the misinformation about what CCPI is, as well as, how #PBO has insulated the vulnerable from any downside to an adjustment in the manner in which inflation is indexed, is clearly needed.
Thank you.
#TrustBarack ….. Yes We Can
Many of those Indiana guns end up in Chicago and are used in all the shootings there—-2 more killed by gunshots last night, 9 wounded.
PBO’s move to have Ms Wheeler give the weekly address is just fab. Really a people’s president.
Interesting venue……remember the Osowatamie speech in 2011? Former Gov. and HHS Sebelius may travel. Don’t know the agenda….
Am I churlish because I’m overjoyed that Mickelson shot a 5-over 77 today?
May I join you?
I’ll have to wait until I get home from work to have a celebratory drink, but sure!
I join you in ebullition over his demise….not one regret, not one.
For Alycee, PrettyFoot, and anyone else near New Jersey:
If you’re in the city, or it’s overcast, I guess viewing won’t be so good. If anyone sees the aurora tonight, let us TODers know!
Of course, Chris Christie will privatize it.
hahahahahah
I love Aurora Borealis, I have some great time lapse videos I will share sometime…. Pic from ISS
Beautiful.
You made my day!
Glad you enjoyed the pic Carol. If I get time I will dig up one of those Time Lapse videos you so enjoy a post on my blog.
Thanks. I’d love that. I have one.
Viewing conditions will be best in the mid-Atlantic, specifically for parts of Pennsylvania and the Delmarva. I wonder if the telescope at the Franklin Institute will be focused on it…I wonder if Philadelphia will be able to view it…
My daughter has telescope..i wonder if we could see it…
You surely must try, pf, it will be so exciting, and a lot of fun too, I wager!
This is way way way cool!!! Oh to see this with mine eyes….
These are very good people:
“The Obamas released their tax return Friday, which showed they continued to give a substantial amount to charity, as they have in recent years. Here’s a rundown of what groups they gave to, and how their giving compares with previous years.
This past year, the Obamas gave $150,034—or about 24.6% of their adjusted gross income—to 33 different charities, according to the tax return. The largest reported gift to charity was $103,871 to the Fisher House Foundation, a group that provides free housing to family members of injured military veterans.
The Obamas made a $5,000 donation to a foundation set up to benefit the family of a motorcycle police officer in Jupiter, Fla., who was killed while serving in the president’s motorcade in September 2012. The Obamas also gave $5,000 to the Sidwell Friends School, the private school their daughters attend.
According to the tax return, the Obamas gave $3,000 to the American Red Cross, and $2,063 to Children’s National Medical Center. They gave $2,000 to the Boys & Girls Club, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, Habitat for Humanity, and the United Negro College Fund.
The Obamas gave $1,000 to Calvary Women’s Shelter, CARE, Central Illinois Food Bank, Illinois Head Start Association, Illinois Reading Council, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Life Pieces to Masterpieces, Midtown Educational Foundation, Miriam’s Kitchen, Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, Mujeres Latinas en Accion, National AIDS Fund, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, National Congress of Black Women, National MS Society, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Rochelle Lee Fund / Boundless Readers, St. John’s Church, St. Leo’s Residence for Veterans, the Christopher House, the Harmony Project and the University of Hawaii Foundation.
The Obamas gave $100 to the American Cancer Society.”
They put action behind words. Such wonderful and generous people.
And if it was up to them, they would never say a word to the public about it. They are so true of heart, and they are so loved.
Yes We Can
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/13/chat-away-145/
How is Tiger doing so far?
Here are several Tweets from Tiger Woods, himself.
I have not gotten an update on his stats thus far.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/tiger-woods-masters-penalty-twitter-_n_3076540.html?1365870986