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Greg Sargent: Top liberals throw their weight behind Obama’s housing pick
The news that Obama has nominated Congressman Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Administration, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is potentially a huge deal, with possible long term consequences for untold numbers of struggling homeowners — and, by extension, the health of the economy. There are two key questions to be asked about Watt, who would replace the Bush-appointed Ed DeMarco, who has been widely pilloried by liberals for refusing administration requests to allow Fannie and Freddie to offer debt relief to distressed home borrowers.
More here
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President Obama congratulates U.S. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) after nominating him to be the next director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
…. with Tom Wheeler, the President’s nominee to replace the outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman
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The single most under-reported story of the last 4 years is the Republican Party’s unhinged hatred of Barack Obama: washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-lin…
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 1, 2013
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Charles Pierce: Noted sprawler-across-staircases Maureen Dowd has fashioned herself another Chronic Ward of a newspaper column today on her now-regular theme of what a wimpety-wimp-wimp Barry Obama is, and why she never should have let him take her to prom instead of the hunky Andrew Shepherd from The American President who, while admittedly fictional, never would take this guff from actual human beings like John Boehner and Eric Cantor …
…. Dowd once again seems to be writing from an assisted-living facility on the far side of a world Beyond The Planet Of The Ultra-Vixens.
…. It is the president’s job to get Congress to behave? Where in Article I does that part of the job description appear? It is the job of the voters not to elect morons. It is the job of the non-morons in the congressional leadership to keep the morons from driving the entire train over a cliff. When those two checks fail, as they obviously have, it still is not the job of the president to be the country’s chief moron-wrangler. I think we are heading into the endless thicket of Dowdian Daddy Issues here again…..
Full majestic post here
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Michael Tomasky: Should a New York Times Columnist Know What She’s Talking About?
Apparently not. Dowd, apparently miffed by Obama’s remarks about Aaron Sorkin’s liberal fantasy at the correspondents’ dinner, which were obviously aimed at her, is at it again today, riffing on some of Obama’s remarks at the press conference yesterday:
“But, Jonathan,” he lectured Karl, “you seem to suggest that somehow, these folks over there have no responsibilities and that my job is to somehow get them to behave. That’s their job. They are elected, members of Congress are elected in order to do what’s right for their constituencies and for the American people.”
Actually, it is his job to get them to behave. The job of the former community organizer and self-styled uniter is to somehow get this dunderheaded Congress, which is mind-bendingly awful, to do the stuff he wants them to do. It’s called leadership.
Full post here
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Michael Tomasky: I don’t mind being called an Obamabot. I mean, I’ve written a few columns about the guy that were brutal, toughing than anything Dowd’s written, especially at the time of the debt ceiling fiasco. But I understand the game, and it doesn’t bother me.
I have something I wish to make crystal clear, however. If it seems to you (I mean you, pumpkinface!) that I’m always excusing Obama, you’re misreading me. I am instead seeking to cast blame where it properly belongs. And that is almost always the Republican Party. I’ve said all this a jillion times before, but it is simply not a mainstream political party in the traditional American sense. It is a radical oppositionalist faction, way beyond the normal American parameters both in terms of ideology and tactics. And that needs to be pointed out, unfortunately, again and again and again.
Full post here
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Obama’s fault —-> ‘US auto sales surge on truck and SUV demand’ nbcnews.com/business/us-au…
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) May 1, 2013
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Steve Benen: When purported conservative health care wonks are reduced to complaining about fonts, it suggests the right’s concerns about the Affordable Care Act are not quite as substantive as they probably should be….
New #Obamacare subsidy application form (bit.ly/ZjjhtG) uses the official Obama campaign typeface (Gotham): bit.ly/cSIXZO
— Avik Roy (@avik) April 30, 2013
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Okay, this made me howl……
The Obama Diary 
Hello, everyone.
Congrats to you!
Thanks.
Hi there Arnie
Hello, Chipsticks. Thanks for the links and articles in this new thread.
Hi Arnei!! Congrats!!
Hi, Dudette. Thanks.
Hello, lovely people!
Hellooooooo lovely Beth!
Thank you, Chips, for all the wonderful news, cartoons, and various goodies–a day without the Obama Diary is an empty one indeed.
And thanks to all the helper blog tyrants who continually amaze and delight!
They’re the awesomest Beth!!!
Hi Beth!!
Hi! You’re back–hurrah!
Sometimes this country frightens me.
Very disturbing. And the percentage of Republicans who believe that is 44%. UGH.
And 18 percent of Democrats!
Good Lord!
1300 talk hate radio, Fox and lots of rightie websites flame these hate 24/7. The TBGOPer apparatus have done nothing to condemn or totally dismiss those who harbor bigotry, hatred, false information or flat out lies. They welcomed them all and mainstream their absurdity, unfortunately.
Yep, the evil empire isn’t “out there somewhere”, it’s in our midst.
I left you a Welcome back song on the last thread, Lady Dudette.
This time…..I don’t know why…..but Da Do Run 😉 Run is the tune in my head for You…..to celebrate your recovery.
Hi Nena! Thanks so much! I’m very glad to be back with the Fam! 🙂
I’ll just say this: Maureen Down is an ASS!
There, that felt good! [sigh!]
I canceled my subscription to the NYT today, in fact. Yes, because of her. I wanted to make a statement, no matter how tiny and feeble.
Not tiny or feeble. Publicize it. One drop starts a ripple, one ripple starts a wave.
Ah, I see our Dudette is back to her old self! 🙂
Haven’t done any good cussin’ in a while. Good to get the juices flowing again! 🙂
I find cussin’ is extremely good for the soul Dudette, which is why I do it most of the day. Some might disagree with me, though. 😕
I agree wholeheartedly. 😎
Maureen Dowd has a problem, and I’m glad to see that some of the media are starting to see that too.
Hi, Dudette! It’s nice to see you. 😀 😀
And even nicer to hear you. 😉
{{{{{{{vc}}}}}}} Thank you Friend! Lovely to be back and to see you!! 🙂
My goodness, but President Obama could be a fashion model! I know that he is much more than that but my goodness. He doesn’t even have to try!
I known… the man is one big SWOON-pie!
I know… [okay, I’ve started with the crappy typing already] Definitely back to my old self. 😀
Indeed!
Sweet, sweet, sweet brilliance from Lawrence.
Our man, Lawrence. I have been fantasizing about him lately.
I’m sure it’s the drugs though . He’ll piss me off again sometime soon. 🙂
Sometimes his know it allness can piss me off, but other times his brilliance is just so mother-bloody H-O-T that he makes one want to do naughty, naughty, naughty things to him.
p.s. Welcome back Chica!!!! It’s good to have you around once again. 😀
Eggg-zactly! That’s what I’m saying.
Thanks UT! Glad to be back!
Glad to have you back with us Dudette -we missed you!
Hope you’re feeling much, much better and continue to heal 🙂
{{{{{{hopefruit}}}}} Hiya Darlin! Sooooo, sooooo, glad to be back. Missed you too! Thank you!
🙂 🙂
Glad to see you back, Dudette. Hope you’re getting better and better-er.
Thanks Betsey! Better everyday! 🙂
Good evening Chips, TOD. Congrats #1 Arnie…..and a hearty welcome back to our dear Dudette!
Thank you dear Lovely! 🙂
The Aron Sorkin, false flag of PBO is beginning to crumble…..Parts 1,2,3
POTUS is One man and the Hatred of the TBGOPer for pres Obama is much greater than keeping 315.9M safer? All in the name of what exactly, his pigmentation?
I wonder if MoDo, Scarborough, Politico, DC/NY Pundits, Media type….Dana…the Man columnist at WashPo, etc would make one comment about Toomey’s comments? Nope…..they will not. They see, hear and read about the Obstructionists that are today’s TBGOPers and the press look the other way.
They protect their kind.
Most surprisingly NBC’s political unit is backtracking from their stand yesterday…
General Motors Co. is signing onto a joint statement from a slew of big companies that calls for bolder federal action to confront climate change.
GM on Wednesday became the first automaker to sign the “climate declaration” that was initially unveiled in mid-April and is organized through Ceres, a sustainable business and investing group.
“Everywhere you look there are opportunities to seize the high ground on climate and energy,” said Michael J. Robinson, GM’s vice president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs, in a statement.
“Indeed, our leaders have been presented with an historic opportunity to create a national energy policy from a position of strength and abundance, while also emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and renewables,” he said.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/297303-general-motors-signs-onto-climate-declaration-#ixzz2S5F1wFnV
😎
A plus about Mel Watt’s nomination: If confirmed, he’d be leaving a solidly Dem congressional seat — won against his last Repug opponent 2-1.
awww Mel……but will shock me if he is confirmed…wrong color, wrong party, wrong state…and he is smart too….lethal combination when dealing with GOP
I just hope he fights for it! They have no legitimate reason not to confirm him. None.
Agree but we shall see, they don’t want him in there b/c he will be replacing a Bush man…Mel’s smart and has been around DC a long time and knows how it works…What we thought was going to happen was Mel would be Transportation and Anthony Foxx would go for Mel’s seat….this was a surprise.
Can someone explain what “false flag” means? I’m just not understanding the phrase. Thanks.
Hiya Isponrize, From Wiki:
False flag (or black flag) describes covert military or paramilitary operations designed to deceive in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities, groups or nations than those who actually planned and executed them.
In RWNJ terms, everything under PBO has been a ‘false flag’ – bin Laden, Boston, etc. Yawn.
Plots by the gov’t to cover…..say an act of terror….upon the citizenry.
Eg…..9-11, Boston Bombings, Waco…….etc…..some misguided people thinking that our gov’t did that……on Us. That would be my understanding of the False Flag.
False flag (or black flag) describes covert military or paramilitary operations designed to deceive in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities, groups or nations than those who actually planned and executed them.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/25/boston-bombing-conspiracies-and-what-s-behind-the-false-flag-crazies.html
It is a covert operation where one carries out an attack, but makes it appear that someone else did it. If I recall correctly, it is a maritime war term. Country “A” Warship (while flying the flag of country “Z”), would launch an attack on Country “D”; country “D” would naturally blame country “Z” for the attack
Thanks, all! Sounds much more like Scandal than PBO!! 😆 😆
Yes, absolutely!
This little girl is priceless. 😀
Indeed! This is one of my favorite oval pics, along w/ the one where the girl from Make-A-Wish is covering her eyes standing right under the same Lincoln portrait.
Yes she is. A priceless treasure!
Bless her little darling heart. I would like to get her a hamburger with some French fries . She is so in awe!
Look at that little sweetheart. That would be me, only less cute, as I would be a grown woman blubbering all kinds of foolishness and with the ugliest cry this side of Glenbeckistan.
Hey there Dudette!!! I see you’re back, and in in the rarest of form I might add. ^^^^too funny!!
Hiya CM! Thanks hun! Glad to BE back! 😀
Indeed!
Lovely; but why does my sick sense of humor hope that this post is continuation of mocking MoDo and the WHPC… 😉
Okay, finished my essay. I’ll have it up tomorrow.
Excellent, LL – thank you SO much. If you want you can post it after this one, but if you’d prefer to wait until tomorrow that’s perfect. Whatever suits you. Thanks again.
I think I’ll do it tomorrow, noonish blog time.
Perfect, thanks again LL.
Although, if this thread gets too long, I might just post my essay in an hour. That way my night owl thread will actually be true to its billing.
Entirely up to yourself, kind sir – either is perfect!
Lord that Charles Pierce does know how to turn a phrase… “Beyond The Planet Of The Ultra-Vixens” Perfecto!
Bill Clinton was asked if he was still relevant in the 1990s. Yesterday Karl of ABC asked if PBO has still some Juice? I don’t ever remember ever GW Bush being asked such question, even after 2 shoes were thrown at him in Iraq in Dec of 2008. His Mission was Not Accomplished, yet he was never asked.
Dragging this over from the previous thread. Nathkatun7 speaking truth:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/01/two-years-ago-2/#comment-709646
“The GOP’s well coordinated obstruction of President Obama, aided and abated by the media, is really nothing new for some of us who are old enough to remember what happened to Mayor Harold Washington, the first and the only Black Mayor of Chicago. In my humble opinion what the GOP and the media are doing to President Obama is aimed at sending a message to future non-whites, and especially African Americans, who may want to run for President. The only non-whites who are tolerated by powerful interests in this country are those who do as they are told. Any non-white who is serious, intelligent, independent, and self-confident is an absolute no, no! This is why it’s possible to attack President Obama as an arrogant tyrant who has already taken away, or plans on taking away, the rights and freedom of God-fearing American citizens; but at the same time attack him for being a weak, effeminate, incapable leader who does not measure up to what it takes to be President. Surely both of these characterization of President Obama can’t be true. Yet, they are routinely voiced by both the people on the right and the left, in what appears to me to be a deliberate effort to make sure that the first African American elected President, who by any objective standards is an exceptional leader, is not allowed to succeed. The Powerful interests did everything they can to deny President Obama a second term and failed. But that doesn’t mean that they gave up. This is round two. Since they couldn’t manipulate the majority of Americans to vote against him they are now doing everything to stop him from governing effectively. The way I see it, It’s now up to us, the majority of people who voted for the President, to make sure that they don’t succeed. That’s why I believe we must do everything in our power to defeat Republicans in the 2014 Congressional elections.”
Well done, Dudette. Nath’s ‘word’ is superb!! Thank you and good to see you 🙂
Has anyone received info on GoBrooklyn? Hope the operation went well, yesterday.
#FORWARD Together
Thanks Bob! Good to see you too! Missed ya!
Saw that last night — GLORIOUS!!
Did you guys hear about a 5 year old who kill his 2 year old sister with a shot gun he was given as a gift. I am not trying to be mean or heartless, but the parents should be blame for this, because what kind of adult is going to give a 5 year old a shot gun. They sorry asses ought to be thrown in prison. I am so fed up with these people who worship guns.
If justice is being served, the parents should be charged with child neglect and have all their remaining kids removed from their custody at a minimum.
The 5 yr. old said to have received the gift rifle a year ago, presumably when he was 4. It came with a book, “My First Rifle”.
It’s a sickness with these gun people. Remember when Obama was lampooned when he said there are people who cling to their guns?
Unspeakably awful. I agree. These people should no longer be allowed to parent or walk free.
Could I love this man more? Unh-unh, no way!
A) Welcome back.
and B) Star Trek in 3D, baby!!!
A) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
B) PFawk Yeeeaaah!! 😎
I think I will break my rule and go watch my FIRST 3D movie.
Don’t bother with 3D unless it’s Star Trek (‘cuz like, DUH!), Tim Burton or James Cameron.
Maybe some Marvel Universe – but not all of them. I kinda wished I’d seen Amazing Spider Man in the theatre in 3D.
LMAO! This is just wrong… 🙂 🙂
Maureen Dowd is acting like a woman scorned, she is behaving as if she wanted the President to “hit dat” but he refused. Dowd needs to take some medication or better yet she needs to go back to the mad house she escaped from
I’d totally forgotten about this story: Before Jason Collins, there was Justin Fashanu.
Forgot about that too LL. The worst aspect of the story was how his truly horrible brother John as good as rejected him, the article barely mentions that. Even more depressing, I suspect it’s still impossible for a Premier League footballer to come out, the abuse they would receive would, I think, be grim. When Sol Campbell was even ‘suspected’ of being gay, he got endless abuse. A long, long way to go.
Well, when you have coaches saying that “real” footballers can never be gay, yeah, the sport has a long way to go.
Just days ago….Rogers came out as a Gay man…….25 yrs old. He retired. But yesterday, I saw him on TV saying that he still wants to compete and would like to go back playing football. I hope he can. But only time will tell.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279479/Robbie-Rogers-US-Olympic-soccer-player-comes-gay-announces-retirement-sport-aged-just-25.html
So sad and so true.
What a great This and That, and a great R & S this morning, and it’s been link heaven in the comments today! Don’t forget to save your links so you can add them to the Sunday Lynx. If you missed the intro, here it is: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/28/join-the-team-the-sunday-lynx.
Bless His Golden Heart. Totally selfless.
On the Lawrence video about the whpc.. I feel like even he missed the point.. which is that it should be about Us. We should be able to tune in to our President speaking and not hear a bunch of BS fake journalists play word games.
Yes I was mildly disappointed in the segment – especially when he tried to “big-up” Chuck Todd, who in my opinion exemplifies the dysfunction that is the WHPC.
exactly hf.. it was disappointing.
True — that part was a big fat dud.
What is the real story with these two? Jason Collins broke up his engagement in 2009. Hello Kurtz, this 2013. Obviously, he could not go on with the nuptials. HKurtz is truly wicked.
wow thats just two very smarmy people. ick.
Another media ASS! Wow, we’re on a roll tonight!
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/01/repeat-after-me-andrew-shepherd-is-a-fantasy/