02
May
13

Rise and Shine

stupidity

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Brian Beutler: The least surprising news of the week is that getting dressed down at the White House correspondents dinner did nothing to persuade Maureen Dowd and other opinion makers that their fantastical depictions of presidential power are actually puerile and lazy. Less than a month after Republicans rejected Obama’s budget — Chained CPI and all — gauzy platitudes about leadership are back in vogue.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Jake Sherman reports that the very people Obama’s supposed to “lead” to a budget deal (or a deal on anything) are perhaps more dysfunctional and reactionary than at any point since they came to power.

More here

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Pritzker-Froman-split-cropped-proto-custom_28

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TPM: President Obama is set to nominate Penny Pritzker as his administration’s next commerce secretary and Michael Froman as U.S. trade representative, according to a White House official. Obama is scheduled to announce the nominations at 10 a.m. ET Thursday at the White House before leaving for Mexico.

More here and 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.

More here

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Political Wire: Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) told the Times Herald that some Republicans opposed his amendment to expand gun background checks because they didn’t want to “be seen helping the president.”

Said Toomey: “In the end it didn’t pass because we’re so politicized. There were some on my side who did not want to be seen helping the president do something he wanted to get done, just because the president wanted to do it.”

More here

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egg-face-flickr

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Matthew Yglesias: Time for a bit of a mea culpa as, scanning the news, I see a lot more progressive enthusiasm for Mel Watt at the FHFA than I thought we’d see. Greg Sargent has your enthusiastic statements from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Keith Ellison. Combine those two with Barack Obama and you’ve basically got the left flank of the party sewn up. On the right flank of the Democratic Party, Erskine Bowles is also a big Watt fan

More here

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 Steve Benen: If you like the status quo in U.S. monetary policy, you’ll enjoy Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s latest announcement. The key takeaway from the Fed’s policy statement, at least to me, came in these six words: “Fiscal policy is restraining economic growth.” Let’s translate that: government spending cuts are hurting the economy.

To reiterate a point we last discussed in December, Bernanke has, over the last few years, occasionally abandoned subtlety and explicitly pleaded with Congress to consider fiscal stimulus, but Republicans have always refused. (Indeed, GOP lawmakers haven’t just been content to ignore the need for fiscal remedies, they’ve also demanded that Bernanke stoptrying to improve the economy through monetary measures.)

More here

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Greg Sargent: President Obama is getting widely mocked by commentators and Republicans for using the phrase “permission structure” at his presser yesterday in the course of claiming that Republican officials are constrained from cooperating with him because their base would see it as a “betrayal.” So it’s good to have a Republican Senator on record confirming that Obama is right about this.

I’m talking about Pat Toomey. The Senator from Pennsylvania didn’t directly address Obama’s remarks, but something he said in another context perfectly confirms the President’s diagnosis of the GOP.

According to Toomey, what doomed Manchin-Toomey is that Repulicans across the country opposed it only because the president supported it. Having a Republican on record confirming this is useful. As Steve Benen notes, it makes all the suggestions that Obama needs to “lead” and “twist arms” look pretty silly.

More here

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Steve Benen: So why did GOP senators put aside common sense and popular will? According to Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who co-authored the bipartisan measure, it wasn’t just about the gun lobby — some of his Republican colleagues didn’t want to “be seen helping the president.”

I think the senator’s candor is important for a couple of key reasons. The first, of course, is that it puts the debate over gun reforms in a fresh light. You’ll recall that two weeks ago, much of the political commentary surrounding the Senate vote focused on holding President Obama responsible — he didn’t “twist arms” enough; he didn’t “lead” enough; he didn’t act like an Aaron Sorkin character enough. Blame the White House, we were told, for Republican intransigence.

According to Toomey — who presumably has a pretty good sense of the motivations of his own colleagues in his own party — the media’s blame game had it backwards. No amount of presidential arm-twisting can overcome the will of lawmakers who want to defeat the president’s agenda because it’s the president’s agenda.

More here

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Dylan Matthews: In what’s becoming a biennial tradition, another House Republican wants to cut the Census down to size. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) is rolling out the Census Reform Act this week, having formally introduced it April 18.

The bill, as Michael McAuliff of the Huffington Post notes, would abolish the Current Population Survey, which is used to compute the unemployment rate and labor force participation rate. We wouldn’t have an unemployment rate if Duncan and his cosponsors — who include GOP House libertarian-leaners like Jason Chaffetz, Raul Labrador, Thomas Massie, Steve Stockman and Walter Jones — get their way.

It’s hard to overstate the loss of knowledge that this bill would bring about. We wouldn’t know the unemployment rate or how many people are working. We wouldn’t know how many people are in the workforce, or enrolled in school, or retired. We wouldn’t know how much people are earning, or how many are in poverty. We wouldn’t know how many people are robbed or assaulted each year.

More here

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Presidential Daily Schedule (All Times Eastern)

10:15AM: Pres. Obama makes a personnel announcement

10:45AM: Pres. Obama departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews

11:00AM: Pres. Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route Mexico City, Mexico

1:00PM: VP Biden meets with law enforcement officials at the White House to discuss gun safety

3:15PM: Pres. Obama arrives in Mexico City, Mexico

4:05PM: Pres. Obama and Pres. Peña Nieto of Mexico hold a bilateral meeting

5:10PM: Pres. Obama and Pres. Nieto hold a press conference

6:35PM: Pres. Obama meets and greets with United States Embassy personnel

8:15PM: Pres. Obama and Pres. Nieto meet for a working dinner

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Links to watch Pres. Obama’s Personnel Announcement

White House

C-SPAN

CBS

CNN

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On this day last year: President Barack Obama celebrates the birthday of Bloomberg White House correspondent Julianna Goldman aboard Air Force One during the flight from Ramstein, Germany, to Joint Base Andrews, Md., May 2, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Have A Great Day! 😀


146 Responses to “Rise and Shine”


  1. 1 andogriff
    May 2, 2013 at 9:24 am

    Wow, great R & S today, thanks UT!

  2. 7 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:25 am

    GM folks.

  3. 10 andogriff
    May 2, 2013 at 9:25 am

    Morning amk!

  4. 13 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 9:27 am

    A hearty G’morning to UT, Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone. Congratulation andogriff on #1 🙂

    Great roundup of news/info – thanks UT!

  5. 15 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:29 am

    God’s tweets are hilarious. Whoever thought to get that handle first is a frigging genius.

  6. 20 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Sadly, I will miss PBO’s arrival in mexico. Stuck in meetings during early afternoon. 😦

  7. 21 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Another great R&S UT, as usual. I hope Chips is utilizing all her free time given her by you and the other mini bliog tyrants to fill up on cheesy puffs.

  8. 22 utaustinliberal
    May 2, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Morning everyone.

    HEADS UP: I’ve updated the post with links to Pres. Obama’s personnel announcement at 10:15AM ET / 9:15AM CT.

  9. 23 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:33 am

  10. May 2, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Great early morning roundup. Thanks UT

  11. 25 Jovie
    May 2, 2013 at 9:34 am

  12. 26 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 9:36 am

  13. 28 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:37 am

    saif gaddafi in libyan court. Hope they lock his ass off for life.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22378116

  14. 29 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 9:40 am

    I’m looking forward to LL’s Central & South American-themed music night! 🙂

  15. 31 AJ
    May 2, 2013 at 9:43 am

    Amen to that tweet from pourmecoffee re: UMass Dartmouth pals of the bomber. Mr AJ is a UMass Amherst grad, and he’s always careful to reiterate the “Amherst” part (“It’s the flagship!” he informs out-of-staters.) The past few days has lead to many loud “Amherst!!” ennunciations on his part.

    Is pourmecoffee one of us here? If so, high fives to you! If not, please send high fives his/her way.

  16. 32 desertflower
    May 2, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Morning:)!! Congrats, Griff on being first this morning….thanks UT for the great R/S:)

  17. 33 Jovie
    May 2, 2013 at 9:45 am

  18. 35 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 9:46 am

    SO Pope Francis sent out a tweet that said “My thoughts turn to all who are unemployed, often as a result of a self-centred mindset bent on profit at any cost.” Many replies supported what he said. Unfortunately, some of the responses were downright disgusting. I may have disagreements with my Church on some things, but this sentiment is right on.

  19. 36 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:49 am

    China’s Ye Wocheng, 12, has become the youngest player in European Tour history, making a seven-over-par 79 in the first round of the China Open.

    The Dongguan schoolboy, who had to qualify for the event, emulates compatriots Andy Zhang and Guan Tianlang by playing at the top level.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22379633

  20. 37 donna dem 4 obama
    May 2, 2013 at 9:54 am

    Good Morning TOD

    Outstanding Rise and Shine UT

    I miss having FLOTUS with the President on these trips. I loved seeing how well she is received in other countries and I know this is lame but I loved the opportunity to admire her fashions which are always superb when she travels.

    Safe travels Mr President and may your trip have all the success that you desire.

    • 38 hopefruit2
      May 2, 2013 at 9:56 am

      G’morning donna 🙂

      Hopefully we will get a chance to see FLOTUS travel with PBO soon (I’m hoping!)

      • 39 donna dem 4 obama
        May 2, 2013 at 10:13 am

        Good Morning HF2

        Did you see the exchange between LiberalPhenom and Ron Fournier this morning? It was priceless.

        Go back and look at the entire exchange he ends it with this:

        Is that pathetic or what!!!!

        • 40 hopefruit2
          May 2, 2013 at 10:25 am

          WOW–how could I have missed this? Liberalphenom (ProudofObama) absolutely nailed that fool, and he couldn’t refute her spot-on assessment of his tripe.

  21. 41 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 10:03 am

    I watch what is happening in my former home state of Wisconsin, which is still first in my heart, and weep. Pierce continues to watch what Walker and the Koch run GOP in that state are doing. As he puts it, ”
    I’m telling you, don’t sleep on this place. Wisconsin is the lab rat for what they want to do everywhere. That they are also screw-ups is comforting, but it’s not a real defense.”

    Of course, I just love his desrciption of Walker as a “google eyed homunculus.”

    http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/scott-walkers-jobs-problem-050213

  22. May 2, 2013 at 10:06 am

    UT, you are the Robin van Persie of blog tyrants – and there is NO higher praise.

    Thank you 59 x a gazillion for this, just getting some work done and then I’ll read every delicious word.

    You’re mega-fab.

    Morning everyone!

  23. May 2, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Good morning TOD. Safe travel Mr. President.

  24. 50 dotster3
    May 2, 2013 at 10:09 am

    I thought this was an interesting and shocking legal case in Iowa—–a $240 million verdict for damages suffered by employees of a turkey processing plant. Employer brought mentally disabled men from Tx., forced them into slave labor—–mistreated physically, housed in a “house of horrors” converted school bunk house, infested with cockroaches, paid 41 cents/hour. Thoroughly disgusting.

    http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130502/NEWS/305020065/-240-million-verdict-for-Atalissa-workers?Frontpage

    • 51 57andfemale
      May 2, 2013 at 10:22 am

      holy s***…….

    • May 2, 2013 at 10:54 am

      How could anything like this go on for 40 yrs? Where were the family members? Why would they allow their loved ones stay at this place? There is a serious breakdown in American justice that NO ONE is going to jail? I agree with the one family member who wants the operators of this facility to be tried for abuse.

  25. 53 desertflower
    May 2, 2013 at 10:13 am

    http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/05/02/1953261/fix-the-debt-millions-tax-loophole/

    During that three-year period, CEOs and the next three top executives at each of the 90 Fix the Debt corporations were paid a total of $6.3 billion, 75 percent of which was in fully deductible performance pay, equaling $2.7 billion. Depending on how everything was calculated (which is hard to know with current disclosure rules), that comes to about $1.5 million in taxpayer subsidy per executive or $18 million per company.
    The group has previously pushed for tax reform that would result in even bigger windfalls for the corporations they represent, potentially netting them $134 billion. Members have also been vocal in calling for cuts to Social Security while themselves enjoying millions of dollars saved in their personal retirement accounts.

  26. 54 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 10:16 am

  27. 55 Jovie
    May 2, 2013 at 10:19 am

  28. 56 kathryn kivett
    May 2, 2013 at 10:30 am

    Good Morning to all….really enjoyed the rise/shine roundup…y’all are so talented…..thank everyone who puts so much time and heart into bringing us all the news……something we can’t get anywhere else…..You know, I’ve been thinking again(uh oh!) and I don’t care what the polling says….a R is not going to vote against another R, no matter how they voted on any issue….I don’t even think abortion, lgbt, or minorities would make them change their vote….they would just blame it on PBO…whom they hate more than any other issue…not b/c he is a Dem but b/c of the color of his skin……and on to Dems…the mealy mouthed, politically correct, let’s not hurt anyone’s feelings, UNLOYAL, protect MY ass first band led by Harry Reid….to you I say…I’m outta here just as soon as PBO is no longer MY President…..Here being the D party…I’m so PO with them right now…………………………and on that note something positive……..the iris in my yard are glorious and the yellow finches darting about are mesmerizing…..

  29. 58 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 10:30 am

    What a change from ratzi, the nazi.

    • May 2, 2013 at 10:40 am

      I might have to revise my feelings about this fella, this on top of his condemnation of the treatment of those Bangladeshi workers …. he’s beginning to sound, well, almost Christian.

      • 60 japa21
        May 2, 2013 at 11:07 am

        You don’t want to read the replies.

        • May 2, 2013 at 11:11 am

          Needless to say, I couldn’t resist after your warning …… oh my.

          This one made me smile, though:

          I often read this fella in the UK Independent, although he makes me feel old because he looks about 12.

          • 62 japa21
            May 2, 2013 at 11:21 am

            Yes, there were some. Also like the one that described the Pope as a RINO. Some of the others just disgusted me and shouldn’t be addressed to anybody.

        • May 2, 2013 at 12:05 pm

          Somehow I think that Pope Francis gives not a fig for vile comments.

  30. 64 Linda
    May 2, 2013 at 10:44 am

    The CBS link is now focused on AF1 waiting for our President.

    http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews

  31. 65 MightyPamela
    May 2, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Good morning everyone. For Light and prayer all around our President during his travels. http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO

  32. 66 JER
    May 2, 2013 at 10:44 am

    LIVE NOW: President Obama Departs for Mexico City – http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml

  33. 67 jacquelineoboomer
    May 2, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Ha! Even though I’m up way too early and can barely process words and stuff, and need more coffee, I am happy to report that our assistant blog tyrants have been at it so long, helping Chips, that ya can sometimes tell who’s presenting a post – even reading upthread and looking at their names, last. How’s that for a nice big chunky sentence I just dropped on ya? Anyway, UT, I knew this was your post before seeing your name. Y’all have your own distinct style, always, always appreciated! Interesting stuff here, for our wake up call.

    Mornin’.

    • 68 daisydem
      May 2, 2013 at 11:04 am

      Mornin’ jacque … going for my third cup, shall I pour one for you? I am so excited that our President is going to Mexico today. I can’t wait to see pictures. I too wish Michelle were going as I know she would look lovely and the people would love her tambien. I love Spanish, and Mexico, and all things Mexican (especially the food) and I have always wished we had an even closer relationship with our neighbor to the South and with Cuba.

      • 69 jacquelineoboomer
        May 2, 2013 at 12:45 pm

        Sorry I missed the cup of coffee you offered! Before I was even awake, my son rolled by to ask if I wanted to go “to the scrap yard.” (Oh, sure, son, I felt like sayin’, been dreamin’ about that all night.) When we got there, he said to the workers, “Watch out now. I’ve got my mother with me. No b**b jokes.” Ah, boys will be boys! Sorry to cramp your style, guys. 🙂

  34. May 2, 2013 at 10:50 am

    GM Chips, TOD. Another fine R&S UT……

  35. May 2, 2013 at 10:51 am

  36. May 2, 2013 at 10:52 am

  37. May 2, 2013 at 10:55 am

  38. 74 Ladyhawke
    May 2, 2013 at 11:02 am

    LET’S FACE IT, THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE PROBLEM. (Highly Recommended)

    Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann Explain Why Congress is Failing Us

    By Bill Moyers (April 26, 2013)

    ——————————

    Political scholars Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann tell Bill that Congress’ failure to make progress on gun control last week — despite support for background checks from 90% of the American public — is symptomatic of a legislative branch reduced to dysfunction, partisan ravings and obstruction.
    .
    .
    What’s more, Ornstein and Mann say, the mainstream media and media fact-checkers add to the problem by indulging in “false equivalency” — pretending both parties are equally to blame.

    “Sadly, divided party government, which we have because of the Republican House, in a time of extreme partisan polarization, is a formula for inaction and absolutist opposition politics, not for problem solving,” Mann tells Bill.

    —————————————-

    http://billmoyers.com/segment/norman-ornstein-and-thomas-mann-explain-why-congress-is-failing-us/

  39. 75 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 11:13 am

  40. 82 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 11:16 am

    • 83 Ladyhawke
      May 2, 2013 at 11:35 am

      Japa21, thanks for giving me another opportunity to post this important link again.

      PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM

      ———————————————

      1. JOURNALISM’S FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO THE TRUTH

      Democracy depends on citizens having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. Journalism does not pursue truth in an absolute or philosophical sense, but it can–and must–pursue it in a practical sense. This “journalistic truth” is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid for now, subject to further investigation. Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, accuracy is the foundation upon which everything else is built–context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The truth, over time, emerges from this forum. As citizens encounter an ever greater flow of data, they have more need–not less–for identifiable sources dedicated to verifying that information and putting it in context.

      2. ITS FIRST LOYALTY IS TO CITIZENS

      While news organizations answer to many constituencies, including advertisers and shareholders, the journalists in those organizations must maintain allegiance to citizens and the larger public interest above any other if they are to provide the news without fear or favor. This commitment to citizens first is the basis of a news organization’s credibility, the implied covenant that tells the audience the coverage is not slanted for friends or advertisers. Commitment to citizens also means journalism should present a representative picture of all constituent groups in society. Ignoring certain citizens has the effect of disenfranchising them. The theory underlying the modern news industry has been the belief that credibility builds a broad and loyal audience, and that economic success follows in turn. In that regard, the business people in a news organization also must nurture–not exploit–their allegiance to the audience ahead of other considerations.

      ————————————————————

      More principles here…..

      http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles

      • 84 57andfemale
        May 2, 2013 at 11:37 am

        I remember with a shudder the publisher (or was it the omsbudman) at the NYT who actually said – in print- that he questioned whether the truth was important in reporting. The ‘dems say/repubs say’ was enough. It was absolutely chilling.

        • 85 japa21
          May 2, 2013 at 11:42 am

          Chilling and dispiriting to those of us interested in “truth, justice and the American way.” For GOP and media, the last has nothing to do with the first two. Clark Kent would not be happy.

          • 86 japa21
            May 2, 2013 at 11:46 am

            In case you can’t tell, my theme for the day is “The Media Sucks”

            • May 2, 2013 at 12:04 pm

              The five corporate owned SCOTUS said that the truth does not matter, you do as your employer says or be fired. Faux reporters refused to lie and they were fired, they sued, it went to the corporate justices who said the public is not entitled to the truth.

              • 88 japa21
                May 2, 2013 at 12:12 pm

                Which, long term, may well have a more damaging impact on this country, along with CU, then their giving Bush the election in 2000.

            • 89 jacquelineoboomer
              May 2, 2013 at 12:39 pm

              Knock ’em all down, japa aka clark kent. We’ll help shovel away those pieces of rubbish.

        • 90 Sara
          May 2, 2013 at 4:21 pm

          Does anyone have a source for this statement. I would like to send it to friends who drink the false-equivalency Kool-Aid. TIA

  41. 92 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 11:20 am

  42. 93 anniebella
    May 2, 2013 at 11:24 am

    We have a Republican Senator to come out and say what we here knew all along, that the Republicans voted against the bi-partisan back ground check bill because they didn’t want to give this “Black” President a victory. How sick and how disgusting. They couldn’t get pass their hatred to do what was right for those 20 kids from Newtown.

    • 94 debz
      May 2, 2013 at 11:39 am

      They are disgusting. To even think of protecting our children as a “victory’ for the President is just sickening.

  43. 95 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 11:32 am

  44. 98 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 11:36 am

  45. 101 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 11:37 am

  46. May 2, 2013 at 11:41 am

    Ta Daaaaah all you O’s!!!!!!! I just popped in to say that once again it’s a great getting up day in TODville!!!! I’ve been tuned out for awhile doing my spring daydreaming thing. Did I miss anything? Any new and earth shattering news from our beloved MSM? I know PBO is still at the till, so all is well.

    See yous later, gotta go see a man about a horse. Ha, ha that’s the answer cookeman would give #1 and #2 as he left the house when they’d ask him, ‘where are you going dad?’

  47. 103 57andfemale
    May 2, 2013 at 11:50 am

  48. 104 hopefruit2
    May 2, 2013 at 11:53 am

  49. 105 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 11:55 am

    • 106 susanne
      May 2, 2013 at 3:54 pm

      this is such an important point–the gop and the media are on the same side because they are both beholden to corporate interests. not a coincidence, though. it’s fully planned and implemented by the moneybags.

  50. 107 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    To break away from the serious for a moment. And then away for a while.

  51. 110 Ladyhawke
    May 2, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    CHANGE THE WAY REALITY IS PORTRAYED TO THE PUBLIC

    Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.

    By Norm Ornstein and Thomas Mann

    ——————————————–

    We understand the values of mainstream journalists, including the effort to report both sides of a story. But a balanced treatment of an unbalanced phenomenon distorts reality. If the political dynamics of Washington are unlikely to change anytime soon, at least we should change the way that reality is portrayed to the public.

    Our advice to the press: Don’t seek professional safety through the even-handed, unfiltered presentation of opposing views. Which politician is telling the truth? Who is taking hostages, at what risks and to what ends?

    Also, stop lending legitimacy to Senate filibusters by treating a 60-vote hurdle as routine. The framers certainly didn’t intend it to be. Report individual senators’ abusive use of holds and identify every time the minority party uses a filibuster to kill a bill or nomination with majority support.

    —————————————-

    http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-27/opinions/35453898_1_republican-party-party-moves-democratic-party

  52. May 2, 2013 at 12:09 pm

  53. May 2, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    • 113 anniebella
      May 2, 2013 at 12:27 pm

      I am not trying to be mean. I can have compassion for a parent who loses a child, but I don’t have a bit of compassion for these parents, because they should have known better. Who is responsible for that 2 year old being dead, the parents who let that 5 year old have that rifle.

      • 114 99ts
        May 2, 2013 at 1:39 pm

        The parents are pawns in the “guns are people too” love affair. Giving a child a gun is how you have the last laugh against the President – cause he wants to take away your guns. The parents are like those who give all their money to a “financial adviser” who is going to make them 50% p.a. – and then cry that the government should have regulated the finance industry. These parents put all their trust in the NRA and in all likelihood will never understand that individuals are responsible for their own actions. The government should stop people selling guns to children – see – it’s always the government’s fault.

    • 115 4morefor44
      May 2, 2013 at 12:32 pm

      so apparently guns don’t kill people, 5 year olds kill people! so sorry for those kids…they didn’t stand a chance with such idiotic parents.

    • 116 donna dem 4 obama
      May 2, 2013 at 12:50 pm

      These pictures make me sick to my stomach!

    • May 2, 2013 at 12:55 pm

      These are evil people and unsuited parents who expose this madness to little children.

  54. May 2, 2013 at 12:13 pm

    • 119 Jovie
      May 2, 2013 at 12:21 pm

      With the housing market recovering, debt situation stabilized, and Car industry healed, how is it that our jobs market is only expecting 119k jobs Friday?
      They’re holding back, that’s how. Assisting the Republicans.
      🙂
      Lets hope for a better number than 119k. It’s getting to a point where I am not shocked if it is lower.

  55. May 2, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    • 121 jacquelineoboomer
      May 2, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      Congratulations, Maryland! Job well done, Gov. O’Malley.

      • 122 donna dem 4 obama
        May 2, 2013 at 12:47 pm

        Thank You, Thank You Very Much 😉

        And there is more good news for my state

        • 123 jacquelineoboomer
          May 2, 2013 at 12:56 pm

          Great news, Maryland Promoter Lady!

          My friend’s originally from Baltimore, and I shall share this good news.

  56. 124 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    ratzi returns to vatican.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22385252

    what’s he up to ?

    • May 2, 2013 at 12:29 pm

      I refer to him as Pope Palpatine. Perhaps he’s there to use the Dark Side of the Force against Francis?

      • 126 amk for obama
        May 2, 2013 at 12:31 pm

        beebs – His arrival heralds an unprecedented era of a former pope living close to his successor at the Vatican.

        I think the old preeks don’t like the new guy, who seems sensible and caring. papal politics would be my guess.

        • May 2, 2013 at 12:39 pm

          Well, the great thing about being Pope is that you have sole authority to appoint cardinals. Benedict appointed most of the cardinals who wound up electing Francis. I’m sure Francis will appoint most of the cardinals who will elect his successor.

    • May 2, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      The new fella speaking out for the poor and the unemployed was probably the last straw, I’d say it’s a Ratzi coup.

  57. 133 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Gunnite folks.

  58. 142 amk for obama
    May 2, 2013 at 12:45 pm

    One last thing before I zzzzz

  59. 143 Jovie
    May 2, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    House Republicans next week will look to pass legislation allowing the government to continue borrowing money above the debt ceiling, but only to pay interest on the debt or make Social Security payments.

    Members will take up the Full Faith and Credit Act, H.R. 807, from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). But the bill that the House will consider will look very different from McClintock’s original bill.
    McClintock’s original language did not allow any new borrowing by the government. Instead, it said that if the debt ceiling were reached, the government would have to prioritize payments for interest on the debt before making other payments.

    Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/297401-gop-to-move-new-version-of-debt-ceiling-contingency-bill-next-week#ixzz2S9enMbzV

    This is what the liberal media should focus on!

  60. 144 japa21
    May 2, 2013 at 12:55 pm

  61. 146 jacquelineoboomer
    May 2, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    A close liberal friend of mine, who is usually much farther to the left than I and yet still appreciates President Obama 100% and never says anything negative about him (to the contrary – we cried together on the phone after both of his elections to the White House), surprised me last night.

    She’s usually more on board with the PL crowd about some topics, and agrees with more of their points of view than I. Last night, however, my friend told me, “I can’t even bear to watch anything on MSNBC at this point.” I was kinda shocked. We’re all getting a good deal of our news now from sources other than the corporate cable news pukes. There’s hope, methinks.


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