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Forward to 1 hr 59 for the President’s remarks – text of remarks here
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Caskets and pictures of firefighters are seen as President Obama speaks during a memorial service at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for the firefighters who were killed in a huge blast at a Texas fertilizer plant last week
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The Texas fertilizer facility did not have sprinklers, shut-off valves, fire alarms or legally required blast walls wapo.st/14f7p36
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 25, 2013
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Anybody give Miranda to the businessman/murderer who blew up a town? Oh right, he’ll never be arrested. #WestTexas
— Steve Weinstein (@steveweinstein) April 25, 2013
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An honor guards stand next to twelve caskets at the West Memorial Service in Waco, Texas
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Dr. Jill Biden signs a pair of her running shoes during a flight to Boston, Mass., April 24, 2013. Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Biden attended a memorial service for Massachusetts Institute of Technology Officer Sean Collier in Cambridge, Mass. Dr. Biden also visited Copley Square in Boston, where she placed her running shoes and a bouquet of flowers at a memorial honoring victims in last week’s bombings. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
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The President had been scheduled to speak at the Planned Parenthood National Conference in Washington on Thursday evening. This was rescheduled for Friday morning in order to allow him to spend more time with those injured and the loved ones of those lost in the deadly explosion in West Texas
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Optimism fuels US economic recovery bbc.in/12pyUCW
— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) April 25, 2013
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White House ready to take a smarter, healthier approach to the “war on drugs” on.msnbc.com/Y6WqWW It’s about time
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) April 25, 2013
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Obama got us in2 a pointless war. He doubled debt & quintupled deficit. The economy had its worst collapse in 80 yrs. Oh wait. That was Bush
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) April 25, 2013
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Hope you’re having a miiiiiiiiiiiighty fine day, shipmate!
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I’m sure glad they had each other today.
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Leaving Dallas:
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Will catch up with newsie stuff in the morning – and, hopefully, those emails I keep promising to reply to 😕
HuuuuuUUUUUUuuuuge thanks to UT and LL for today’s posts
The Obama Diary 
hey
I LOVE my POTUS and FLOTUS!!! 😀
Helloooooo Isonsprize, evening/afternoon/morning everyone – and happy birthday again Yardarm!
Congrats ison!!
Happy Birthday Sailor!!!
Yo yo yo!
LL, thanks a million for the toon post, I had to go out and about for a bit so you saved the day!
Well, I’m in a much better mood than I was a few hours ago, so my night owl post, due to popular demand, will be ABBA-centric.
Yaaaaaaaaaay!!!!! I’ll get my dancing queen shoes ready!
Time is on our side.
I hope it fails – how about ending what those less fortunate have to endure – the US congress is all for …. the US congress
I felt sickened by the W horror show this morning and missed this service this afternoon but the photos are leaving me feeling sad about all the death and destruction this nation and our POTUS & FLOTUS are dealing with on nearly a constant basis. I hope there is some reprieve soon.
Lol, those toons are hilariously funy and spot on. GWB Lie-Bury is takes the cake.
Happy Birthday Yardarm!
cute! Yes – Happy Birthday Yardarm! 😀
Awww! You guys shouldn’t have. All these cakes and stuff plus that beaut up above are gonna wreck my blood sugar levels. 😀
Have a terrific day and year ahead, Yardarm!
Now this is a cave
So the travelling public will have to wait longer to fly – but the millionaires on their private planes take off as they will – pffffft
No, it stops the furloughs of collers as well. But poor priorities. See my tweet below.
If there is going to be a sequester – the “real” people have to see the impact – then 2014 will see the GOP depart. I don’t see that allowing one group of government employees to circumvent what the congress demanded will do for the 99%
I have long-held as well as current mixed feelings about this. Reagan went after the Air Traffic Controllers during his reign of conservative terror. The sequester targets hit the current ATCs, all of whom work for a living just like the rest of us do or did. So, to spare any of them their furloughs is a good thing.
To separate them out because of inconvenience and delays is a first start, if there are other actions. It did prove that the inaction of the Republicans in Congress came back to bite them. To totally ignore all of the other suffering people, including any of us affected, is still “on” Republicans in Congress, and there must be payback. And if there isn’t, then it’s all hands on deck to GOTV in 2014, and send those bastards flying, pun intended.
Well, wha’doyaknow!!! 😯 Baker Chips has made tremendous mouth-watering progress – see, I told you Hopefruit and Bobfr! ‘Practice makes perfect.’ Take a look at Yardarm’s cake! Ms Chips, you have left me speechless – ENJOY it (while it lasts), YA.
VC, I’ll grant you it’s a very blue cake 😉 …. actually, quite lovely. Now, let’s see the kitchen 😀 😀 😀 😀
#FORWARD Together
No. No. No. Shame on your Bobfr! Some things are best left in the dark – the mystery and all that, you know.
😉
Never mind the kitchen. Somebody tell me this flavor of the blue icing. It don’t taste like chicken. 😀
Is it cream cheese? I want carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. 😉
I dunno. Ask Chips.
She never gives up a secret, does she?
Not to my knowledge, eh!
Yes, indeed vc! I had to do a double take there for a while. Couldn’t believe my eyes. 🙂
Well, ahem… I had every confidence in Chips Chica. Ahem,,….it’s the reason I kept asking her to try her hand at it year after year. Some of us just need a little more time than
mostothers to get things right. YA will have a delightful time enjoying and sharing his BD cake and will have no need to blush (especially if Bobfr stops making a ruckus about a kitchen,smitchen, or whatever irrelevant venue.)I’ve already cut myself a large slice of Yardarm’s cake. Thanks!
‘Scuse me? What’s with the crossed out most???
It is my understanding that baking is a relatively simple task not generally requiring years to master. OTH, you couldn’t prove that by
youme, so IMO we are both in ‘good’ company. [See, I’m on your side.]😎 See VC? I’m perfecting my art!
Did you see Joan Shaw came back today, best news EVER!
‘Did you see Joan Shaw came back today, best news EVER!’
😀 😀 😀 😀 No, I didn’t! Yes, it is the best news EVER!! {{{{Chips Chica}}}} THANKS EVER, EVER SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION, CC!!!! You truly do understand what this means to me. Your bringing this to my attention makes up somewhat for my having to miss so much. I am tremendously happy and relieved. Thanks! I really do love you, CC. I’ll go backwards and try and find what she said. 😀 😀 😀 Thanks!
I felt like hugging the screen VC, what a blissful surprise!
Do you remember in which thread, CC? I’m still backtracking trying to spot her comment.
Here you go VC:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/25/president-obama-speaks-at-memorial-service-for-west-tx-victims/#comment-703870
XXX OOO 😆
It’s certainly a good feeling to know Joan is on the mend. Thanks again for the heads-up, CC. I know you will do the same when Dudette surfaces.
‘Sadly’ I have to continue out of the O-loop Mon to Wed of next week, but I’m going to be glued online this weekend in a desperate attempt to understand what’s been happening in TOD village. Indeed I can hardly wait for the lady I’m replacing to return, and then I plan to block myself off from calls for at least a full week to ‘recover’ from the withdrawal symptoms I’ve been experiencing. 😛
You’re a busy bee, VC!
Still hoping to hear from Dudette, if anyone gets a message from here will you let us know?
One good consequence is that I won’t have to worry about summer spending. 😆
Happy Birthday yardarm
Sorry, but this really pisses me off.
The sequester will NEVER stop while the dems agree to this this sort of sh!t
My only hope is that a grand budget deal is struck this summer. My patience with the Republicans is sooooooo done. I have none left.
Happy Birthday Yardarm and all the other Tauraus’s coming up.
POTUS and FLOTUS holding on tough to each other and onto us as well…
on Syria….
I pray that the Creator grants PBO wisdom in his decision making and guides his steps as leads the Nation thru these turbulent and dangerous waters…
President Obama certainly needs our prayers, because there are NO good options on Syria. Whatever the decision he makes, there will be bad things happening.
Our only recourse is if he cannot not find DEFINITIVE evidence that biological weapons have been used…
Not even the sea is as blue as that cake – I am feeling slightly sea sick – but no doubt the good sailor can manage
😆
Ohhh Happy Happy Birthday Yardarm ~ I hope your day has been perfecto!
This President has been to his share of funerals hasn’t he. My condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones I just hope the people in Texas get tired of living in “Libertarianstan” and elect people who can run a state and take care of it’s people.
Don’t hold your breath, thinking our rural folk will change any time soon:
There is no cure for Stupidity….
although losing a loved one …may be a hard price to pay
It’s not necessarily stupidity.
Rural folk don’t have contact with the wide variety of people that non-rural people do.
They’ve been taught that the individual is king, and facts that prove them wrong don’t sway their beliefs.
That’s why Limbaugh and Fox are so dangerous. Their audience is so desperate to refute facts that contradict the beliefs they were raised with.
The fertilizer plant owner is one of them, and they were brought up to distrust regulation (resulting in the Bangladesh building collapse horror).
It’s extremely frustrating that so many people are happy to live their lives in such close-minded ways.
Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, wit, or sense. It may be innate, assumed, or reactive….
that sign says it all to me….if you still abide by that sign after the horrific events…..then…what is there to say..
arrrrggghh People voting against their own best interest. I know it’s true yet it’s hard to believe.
Bringing this over from dotster’s post on previous thread, if I may:
True words. P.S. Saw your reply in the other thread about the candle. POTUS/FLOTUS are almost home. Yay!
Thank you. So glad! Did you happen to notice what time they land? Doesn’t matter – as long as they’re on their way!
Here they are leaving Dallas, J:
Glad to see them smiling because I know that memorial service was sad.
Oh, Chips, thank you so, so much. For some of us older folks – and all of us to some measure, I’m sure – “Dallas” brought cold chills and sad reminders.
Now we can think happier thoughts that the Obamas will be back where they belong tonight: in the White House! I am so proud of this couple, it’s as though they are my family members. Well, of course, they are because they have allowed themselves to be.
Jacqueline, I was thinking the same all day, just wanted them out of there. Apologies to any Texans here, but you understand.
Yes, we know there are lots of great Texan folks, some of them in my own family! It’s just the old memories and other current stuff that get stuck in our minds.
I’m with you Jacqueline, it’s just impossible to shake that fear and those memories.
I understand were you are coming from Jacquelineoboomer.
I’m sure we were all trying not to think about it, until they got back home.
You’re welcome. Didn’t notice, but we assume they are safe and sound in the comfort of their own beds. 🙂
In case you can’t tell, folks, I am really upset.
Who in Congress advocates for the Working Class and those struggling to get into the Middle Class….who speaks for the least of our brethren…
Sad pf – they all speak for themselves
I agree that this FAA deal isn’t ideal, but think long term (like POTUS).
FAA is juggling funds within its agency, not taking even more from sustenance programs like meals on wheels, etc.
Sorry, it is not close to ideal. This is a sop to business executives under the cover of taking care of average American travelers. The poor don’t get more money transferred to their programs. And if the DOT takes this money from elsewhere, it will probably stop some construction projects resulting in real loss of jobs. There is no long term here. People will die because of this sequester while the rich don’t feel any pain.I don’t think I have been this upset in a long time. Probably not since the Congress kept PBO from closing Gitmo. If this was done by unanimous consent, that means not one progressive Senator had the cojones to do anything about it.
If it turns out I am overreacting, I will be the first to apologize, but the way it is being presented just plain sucks.
This day started sucky with freaking Bush being praised all over the place and ends this way. April 25, 2013 is not a good day.
You’re right.
agree japa – still one rule for the rich – and another for everyone else – this has ZERO to do with holiday travellers
I don’t have any expertise on military or the Middle East, and appreciate input from sources OTHER than the treacherous MSM.
Check out the Syria that @JeffersonObama’s sent tonight.
You’ll be keeping company with Nancy Pelosi’s daughter:
This is beyond belief Japa.
Congressional leaders have predicted they will have a deal in place by Friday, to exempt air traffic controllers from sequester cuts that are causing thousands of plane delays across the US. Republican and Democratic leaders are working on draft legislation that would protect aviation from the estimated $87bn across-the-board spending cuts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/25/senators-deal-aviation-control-sequester
Yeah, as you can tell, my feathers are really ruffled. My keyboard may not handle the stress.
Didn’t these corrupt critters suddenly find that bipartisanship and unanimously voted to end their insider trading act last week ?
I am sorry, one PBO is not enough to change the corrupt dc culture. And worse, in future, there won’t be any more PBO’s willing to go out on a limb like he did. Evah.
Only “bipartisan” is when the dems agree with the rotten to the core ideas from the GOP.
They only care about getting re elected. That’s it, whatever threatens that, they make a new law immediately .
。☆。*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
HAPPY B’DAY
YARD ARM
★。／｜＼。★
。☆。*。☆。
Ah, sweet!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY YARDARM!!! Taurans run this motha!!!!! HELL YEAH!!!
I think you and amk have hit on something. This is the way it’s done ya’ll.
Oh President Obama and First Lady Obama–two wonderful people who are occupying the highest office in this nation. They are the most honorable people in this position. They went to Texas as a team to console the bereaved people in that blast. In spite of some obvious hatred and stupidity they clung tightly to one another-gaining and keeping their strength and courage and love and compassion and sharing it with those who will receive it. They exude love. They make me proud. I am honored to live during this time and knowing that they are where and who they are. Then they continued on to honor former President Bush and President Obama gave the most complimentary speech. He is a diplomat, consoler, speechmaker and leader all rolled into one. He is history brought to life.
Jeeze that was quick Senate passes bill easing airport delays and Faa Furloughs.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/aviation/296325-senators-passes-measure-to-end-airport-delays
Well look who’s sharing a birthday with a legend! ((YardMan)) Happy Birthday ….and many many more:-)
This is for you:-)
Should have said YardArm..my bad..Sailor:-)
It’s okay princess. It was a beautiful day and Ella is always smokin’.
So I am about to ask that question we all ask when FLOTUS and POTUS make a trip some where. Are FLOTUS and POTUS back home yet?
Soon
The Gillibrand bill would have provided money to pay for ending the air traffic controllers furloughs by raising taxes on corporate jet owners, making it a likely non-starter with Republicans.
-/
That one failed! 😦
Yup, that was the most sensible proposal and of course, the thugs voted it down.
Okay – I think some of us need to take a step back before jumping to attack PBO for signing the FAA bill. We are only given part of the story from the media – which is focusing on “long lines” as if that’s the only issue of concern. The sequester impacts not just lines, but issues of safety, and national security. When national security is compromised, it’s not just “wealthy traveling Republicans” who are affected, as we know from experience. Airports are not just playgrounds for rich people – they are ports of entry into and exit from the country and the different states, cities, towns, etc. Airports are used to deliver raw materials, medical supplies, mail, all kinds of things that we take for granted. To only focus on one aspect of airport is very short-sighted, but that’s what the media wants.
We have to be very careful when taking stories from the media – especially when MSM tries to make PBO seem callous (which he is not) and indifferent to the plight of programs for the vulnerable. The media will LIE when it suits them, provide disinformation and misinformation on purpose to get people upset and distracted from issues. IF people are upset and mad at PBO for signing an FAA bill – thinking that he did it out of disregard, they are not going to want to push for things like gun legislation or immigration reform. And that’s EXACTLY what the media wants.
A couple months ago, the media put out a story that PBO signed a bill authorizing the slaughter of horses and a few folks posted here quite upset about it. I warned them to be careful when pulling stories from the media – I had no reason to believe that PBO would just sign a bill to slaughter animals – there had to a back story that we were not being given. Sure enough, it turned out that the opposite was actually true. The WH signed legislation prohibiting the slaughter of horses.
I think by now we need to understand that NOTHING the media puts out there should be without scrutiny. The media will LIE when it suits them. And we know our President by now, so let’s not react to every damn thing the media puts out there. The media is NOT an honest broker. I don’t have to tell you that – you KNOW it.
When considering the reduction in FAA control tower staff, I do think that airline safety is paramount in PBO’s thinking. What if there were a major tragedy as a result? He would be blamed for the whole fiasco.
I understand why people are upset about priorities, etc, but this fix is going to be signed.
You’re right meta. There is a HUGE safety issue, both in terms of airlines and national security, which is probably why Nancy Pelosi and all the other Dems voted for this.
Sorry hopefruit, I understand what you are saying, but I can’t agree with you. Yes, all those things are part of it, but there are just as many important programs that have been cut that nothing is being done about. People are dying because of this sequester. And people don’t give a damn.
The President will have a wonderful opportunity tomorrow to let the country know just what is really happening, although I think he will let the teaching moment pass by. And you know I am nowhere near being a firebagger.
But I am angriest at those in the Senate that didn’t even raise a voice against this.
I do not claim to know exactly which cuts have affected what – all I’ve gotten so far are reports from the MSM, and at this point, I just cannot trust anything coming from the media anymore without serious scrutiny of the source, the timeline, and other forms of validation.
Having said that, I don’t find the pre-emptive reactions helpful, and they’re basically feeding into the MSM’s desire to have us demoralized and dispirited and most importantly, MAD at the President for all the wrong reasons. On twitter I’m already seeing the pre-emptive threats – I caution forbearance particularly in this situation.
If he vetoes the bill, then we know this was a poison pill, but if he doesn’t, then we should consider the likelihood that this was not a frivolous decision – but one that weighed all the factors, and took into account the other programs’ needs as well.
As I ‘read’ it, they are just window dressing moving funds from airports maintenance to atc. Gillibrand bill would have taxed those corporate jet owners and of course, it had to fail.
One more comment then I am out of here. I am not mad at the President and I will not be mad at him. I am mad at Congress for putting him in this situation. As usual, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
Now, as amk would say, gunnite folks.
G’nite Japa. Sleep tite. Don’t let Congress bite.
The GOP should have thought of this before passing the sequester into law. They should repeal the COMPLETE sequester – not just the parts that impact their own life style. Sorry I don’t believe it is for “security” Congress did this because they like to fly – as do their millionaire friends
So if PBO signs the bill, you will also accuse him of doing it for “lifestyle” reasons? For his rich friends who like to fly? Is that how you view this President?
You know full well that is not true hopefruit. I would hope we can disagree on something without suggestions that I do not support PBO. The President does not legislate – the congress does – it is very rare for a bill not to be signed & I would think it likely PBO would sign this bill. It doesn’t stop me not liking the reasons the congress has for bringing it forward – they care about themselves – PBO cares about the country and its people.
No I’m not suggesting that you do not support PBO – I’m asking you if you would think differently of him were he to sign this bill, that you say is nothing but a bill of convenience for rich people in congress to fly at the expense of of more urgent needy programs.
If PBO cares about the country and its people why then would he sign a bill that recklessly takes from poor people who are “dying and starving” just so that rich people can fly with convenience? PBO has vetoed bills before, and surely, he can veto this one.
Think about this.
Too funny…….
I’m enjoying the pink socks. 🙂
OMG for a second I thought that was real. 😆
They even put the shadow in! I wonder if he was tempted…
Someone will SAY it is! I think it’s PERFECT!
well friends thanks to all who watched the library opening you brave souls. nite! 🙂
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Well, I am out of here and off the intertubes for a while. Gotta let myself cool down. I may be back tomorrow, maybe not.
Hey japa – hang in there – never forget PBO is in the White House
There’s an endless supply of paint, japa, even if you have to throw it on a bunch of people to get your message across. Hang in there.
ETA to ABBA: 20 minutes.
I’m not going to argue this issue, but present a very simple scenario – and one that is of sufficient risk probability, in the real world, to fall way outside idle speculation:
PBO vetoes lifting FAA furloughs;
1 mid-air collision or any other catastrophic event remotely related to control tower failure;
People die.
Who among you want that to be part of PBO’s legacy?
Who among you, if you had to take that risk, would do so?
This isn’t a ‘life style’ issue; this isn’t about waiting in line a bit longer; this is a RISKING LIVES issue.
#TrustBarack
My ABBA post was going to be completely frivolous. It still mostly is, but I’ve planted the seeds for an essay on which I’m working. I’m not happy with the amazing alacrity with which the Senate found common cause to rescind this part of the sequester. But I do #TrustBarack.
I’m feeling the frustration isn’t so much with PBO, but the absolute radical RW that is only beholden to the wealthy of this country. Seems as though his hands are tied. Many people depend on safe air travel, but the RW REASON WHY, is the despicable thing about this entire thing. They think only of themselves. Always.
Thank you Bob for being a voice of reason and a steadfast supporter of PBO – even when the going gets rough. When I see some Obama supporters on Twitter issuing angry ultimatums to PBO left right and center, it’s just so disheartening – and very much playing into the GOP and MSM’s hands.
I don’t doubt that the President will sign the bill Bob – he does not legislate – and outside of something very rare – all bills get signed. It does not stop me disliking what the congress is doing – it does not reflect at all on what the President has to do.
It wouldn’t matter if he did/did not sign the bill – any security problems the GOP blames the President. The congress refused money for overseas security & then Benghazi – who do the GOP blame? Not the congress. The sequester causes problems – the President explained that VERY clearly before it took effect – who does the GOP blame – the President.
It is the hatred for PBO that has caused the sequester – and now because they don’t like the impact on their style and freedom to travel – anywhere – anytime – that the GOP suddenly think of the “safety” angle.
Because people have different viewpoints, it does not mean they want the President to act irrationally – he never does that – never will – As always he will make the decisions based on what the congress allows him to do.
I’ll join japa off line for awhile. I understand how he feels
Been a busy day, but I just wanted to make sure that Yardarm knew that I wished him a very Happy Birthday:) I made my wish this morning, but don’t know if he saw that….Yardarm, if you’re still here and haven’t succumbed to the rhum….very happy day to you:)
New post: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/25/almost-completely-frivolous-night-owl-chat-with-abba/
japa was saying above that PBO should veto the faa exemption and use it as a teaching moment. I am sorry but, all his past teaching moments just prove that most americans are not teachable.
Yep. And, in this case, the ‘teachable moment’ could be directly correlated with a catastrophe – people dying because of an air traffic control failure.
#TrustBarack He’s Earned It (countless times, at this point)
Good morning all!