You might recall the genius that is Scout Tufankjian dropping in to TOD a while back to praise one of my horse poo pics from the 2009 inauguration parade? Well, she clearly was inspired – have a look at her completely and utterly majestic ‘Four More Years: Obama 2012’ here – thank you BWD!
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Cape Cod Times: …. President Obama arrived at Nancy’s Restaurant and shook hands with a couple of dozen people waiting to place their order.
The presidential motorcade arrived at the Lake Avenue restaurant shortly after 1 p.m. and Obama hopped out of an SUV, undeterred by a steady rain. He was upbeat and made a point of chit-chatting with customers and restaurant employees as he made his way to the take-out counter.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” said Serena Creary of Natick. “I knew he was here (on the island), of course, but I never expected to see him.”
More here
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He takes too many vacations #ObamaImpeachmentReasons pic.twitter.com/1cyV0qyd58
— Leyla (@MiamiLib) August 12, 2013
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Brilliant news – thank you Dudette for letting us all know about this yesterday:
Daym right. RT: “@ajc: Hospital reverses decision, agrees to put 15-year-old on heart transplant list. http://t.co/Hz3f6mUH5F”
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) August 13, 2013
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Milt Shook: Why Do We Allow So Many Ex-GOP to be “Authorities” on “Real Progressives”
Look, folks; I peg my progressive roots to the age of 14, when I worked for the McGovern Campaign, but my actual roots probably precede that. My father was a union steelworker, and my mom was the daughter of a union worker, as well. I was royally pissed off at the Kent State massacre. I thought Abbie Hoffman was amazing. Spiro Agnew’s and Richard Nixon’s names were said with derision in my house as early as 1968, and I cried, at the age of ten, when Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed. To this day, Bobby Kennedy is still my idol.
I am just as liberal as anyone out there who claims to speak for the progressive cause, and I have been for pretty much my entire life. So, it really pisses me off when someone comes along and insinuates or says that I’m not a “real” progressive, because I don’t think exactly the way they do. Being liberal or progressive is about being tolerant, and about understanding that not everyone sees every issue the same way. There are a lot of moderates out there who are actually progressive, but they don’t know it, in part because some of the loudest elements of the liberal media scream at the top of their lungs, telling us all what we should believe on every issue. Because they don’t believe exactly that, they figure they’re not very progressive. The problem with this is, they may hate the right wing, but they also come to hate us, even though they probably agree with us on most things.
More here
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Go for it Jim!
Would it be a trademark infringement if I started a website called “The Anti-Salon” Or the “Anti-Daily Kos”?
— ExtremeLiberal (Jim) (@ExtremeLiberal) August 13, 2013
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Steve Benen is a complete hoot when he’s flummoxed by these people:
Time for a new category of conspiracy theorists: golf truthers. After photographers caught President Obama missing a putt during his vacation, Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren insisted the moment was “all staged and choreographed,” adding, “This is not spontaneous.” Help me out: presidents like to be seen missing putts? I seem to have misplaced my Fox-to-reality decoder ring.
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Via @TPJustice: 92-Year-Old Who Once Faced Literacy Tests Sues North Carolina Over New Wav… http://t.co/T14yn4m0rC | #p2 #law #justice
— joshua epstein (@thejoshuablog) August 13, 2013
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Truth:
For the record; responding with “you’re being divisive” when PoC express their concerns sounds a lot like “I don’t want to hear it”
— eclecticbrotha (@eclecticbrotha) August 13, 2013
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My fave toon again:
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Steve Benen: Maybe Obamacare critics shouldn’t talk about consumer protections
We learned overnight that another provision of the Affordable Care Act has been delayed by a year, which the New York Times said is “likely to fuel continuing Republican efforts this fall to discredit the president’s health care law.”
Well, maybe, but before anyone pounces on this as proof of “Obamacare” trouble, consider some of the relevant details.
First, let’s consider what exactly has happened here. The health care law limits how much consumers can be expected to cover in out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-pays, but officials “have granted a one-year grace period to some insurers.” … it’s a minor provision that applies to a fairly small number of people.
…. Republicans don’t get to complain about delays in Obamacare consumer protections because Republicans are trying to eliminate all Obamacare consumer protections.
Full post here
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Sorry, Obamacare is still not a trainwreck: http://t.co/YWI7gwzitf
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 13, 2013
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Jonathan Cohn: The Latest Right-Wing Freakout Over Obamacare
The headline was splashed across the top of the Drudge Report this morning: “Obamacare Cost Caps Delayed Until 2015.” The link went to a New York Times story about another Obamacare regulatory decision—in this case, a ruling that some employers have one more year before they must comply with one of the law’s key consumer protections.
The ruling itself isn’t supposed to be such a surprise. The Administration signaled its intentions in February….. Everybody needs to breathe — and to put the story in its proper, rather different context.
…. The essential truth of Obamacare remains what it has always been: It’s an imperfect law, being introduced under imperfect circumstances. But it’s still going to make life better for millions of people — even if some of that helps takes an extra year to arrive.
Full post here
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Irony is how Jesus is too Liberal for most of his own Fan Clubs
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) August 13, 2013
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Reuters: U.S. retail sales data points to improving economy
U.S. retail sales rose in July, pointing to an acceleration in consumer spending that could bolster the case at the U.S. Federal Reserve for winding down a major economic stimulus program.
…. a closely-watched category of sales that strips out cars, gasoline and building materials posted its largest gain in seven months, rising 0.5 percent.
These “core” retail sales usually mirror more comprehensive measures of consumer spending, so Tuesday’s report suggests the economy could be regaining steam after tax hikes and federal budget cuts dragged on growth in the first half of the year.
More here
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Charles Pierce: Marco Rubio, Has Been
It has been amusing to watch Marco Rubio, The Future Of The Rebranded GOP, try to struggle free of the shrink wrap while half his party flings poo at him. He was going to be the guy who led his party out of its increasingly tiny, and largely melanin-free, wilderness. He was the party’s voice of reason on Immigration Reform. Christ above, did he back the wrong horse. He discovered to his horror that his party likes being in the wilderness. You can eat with your fingers, run around shoeless, and pee behind trees. By the time he figured all of this out, the party had found Ted Cruz, who is completely nuts, but who is as Cuban as Rubio. Right now, Marco Rubio looks as relevant to Republican politics going forward as Robert Taft does.
You can tell Rubio knows it, too, because he’s begun to thrash around, trying to square his original issue with the racial paranoia of the people he needs in any primaries he still might be considering entering…..
More here
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Charles Pierce: Meet Your Wingnut Congresscritter: Blake Farenthold
With the imminent departure of Michele Bachmann from the World’s Greatest Legislative Body today, we have inaugurated a new semi-regular weekly feature in which we study the possible successor to la Bachmann as Royal Regent of the Crazy People. (Louie Gohmert is, of course, emperor for life.) They’re out there abroad in the land now, talking to their most fervent voters, and working without a net, which is producing a flock of contenders. But we had to settle on one, so let’s spend a moment with Blake Farenthold, the pride of the 27th Congressional District of Texas, who finds himself quite disappointed with how the gridlock in Washington has frustrated the true business of Washington – i.e., getting rid of that Kenyan in the White House…..
More here
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MT @linnyitssn I’m gonna say it. Given the mess he inherited, zero cooperation & all he’s achieved: Best President ever > @BarackObama
— Kennett Area Dems (@KennettDems) August 14, 2013
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Steve Benen: Hiding from town-hall hollering
About a month ago, the House Republican Conference produced “exceptionally detailed” guides for their members on how best to survive the lengthy August recess. Party officials offered some rather remarkable advice in the “planning kit,” including “planting questions” so local events remain on message.
Of course, that assumes lawmakers will actually host local events in the first place. The New York Times reports today that this summer, many members of Congress have suddenly lost their interest in town-hall forums…..
More here
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People who voted for George Bush and think earth is 6000 years old are mocking Barack Obama? I just lost kidney laughing. #mockobamaday
— BWD (@theonlyadult) August 13, 2013
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#mockobamaday Huh, all he could get from the American people was….. pic.twitter.com/PI6q2MoHCV
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) August 14, 2013
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Thank you everyone again for all the lovely good wishes today, you’re a bunch of very magnificent people!
The Obama Diary 
At last!
Waiting on you can be a time consuming task.
Congrats vc on #1 🙂
Fortunately a quick glance suggests the wait was worth it. 😉 Off to savour the goodies you brought.
Congrats you three for pushing me out of the way and landing on First. My toes are still smarting 😆
😳 It’s all the warm up we’ve had from the non-stop partying.
you, vl & even Bobfr just danced right over me – sheesh!
I’m soh-wy, GG. I wasn’t paying close attention, and after I waited patiently for you to get to the village so that we could share the last dance!
I KNOW! but I’m here and I forgive you so……let’s dance!!!
Give me a minute.
Happy to be at top with Bob abd GG and thanks for all 1st place congrats.
you are very welcome my friend
Congratulations,vc.
*waves*
Hey VC! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
{{{PJ}}} Oh it’s so good to see you! 😆 You perked me right up (was sitting here in a wee funk)!
((((((((((VC))))))))))
Nice to see this post tonight, gave me a mood boost, too! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Actually that’s partly why *I* was a wee bit ‘down’ before you rescued me, but I’ll live …. after a night’s sleep. How are you?
The main news of the day is Chips birthday.
Hi
Good for Sloane
Holla Sloane!!! Now if only we had some up and coming male tennis players.
Really? Knocking out Serena at the Australian Open 2013 in the quarters wasn’t her biggest win?
Who knew!!!
We can never see enough pics of PBO and Family. thanks Chips. Hope your birthday was all you could imagine and more.
HEY!
Hi back at you, GB. Always happy to see you peeking over the window sill. 😀
::closes window sill:: 🙂
I can still see the top of your head. 😉
LOL!!!! You crack me up!
{{{GoB}}}
Hi, gob. How are you doing?
Doing good. Trying to be patient. How are you?
Hi GoB – hope you’re stirring up some trouble — or keeping the therapist on his/her toes – either way good for the soul 🙂 🙂
I’m being a good girl. I swear. 😉
A little more about the Obama din out tonight plus hazy photo
http://mvgazette.com/president-obama-visits-marthas-vineyard
GE Chips, TOD….. one can never get sick of Happy B-day wishes….so HAPPY B-DAY…. you truly are a gem!
A letter that a group of progressive Democrats sent to federal regulators opposing new protections for millions of Americans’ retirement accounts was drafted by a financial-industry lobbyist, according to documents obtained by Mother Jones. The Department of Labor, which oversees the federal law setting minimum standards for many retirement plans, would like to require retirement investment advisers to act in the best interest of their customers, as opposed to their own best interest.
But 28 out of the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)—a group of African American members of Congress that advocates the interests of low-income people and minorities—signed onto a June 14 letter opposing the rule. So did Democratic lawmakers Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, Ed Pastor of Arizona, and Jim Costa of California. The letter’s metadata indicates it was drafted by Robert Lewis, a lobbyist who works for the Financial Services Institute (FSI), an investment industry trade group:
Money corrupts – despite thoughts to the opposite there are some countries with good ideas that the US could well copy – govt funded elections come to mind. While the major job of every congress person is to raise money – don’t see how reps voting for the finance industry will change any time soon.
Wow….those pictures. Wow!
I can’t see anything on the scout tufakjian link. It’s just a black screen.
In lieu of Dudette, and TOD’s twitter activity yesterday…..if your not a believer, check out this study and correlating video/articles re: Twitter
The findings rest on two important points: The raw number of tweets about a candidate doesn’t matter, and neither does whether the tweets are positive or negative. Rojas and his colleagues, who collected hundreds of thousands of tweets from the 2010 race, initially measured the total number of times the candidate was mentioned, but the findings failed to correlate with which candidate won. Well-known candidates, like Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., or candidates from bigger and wealthier districts would inherently receive more attention. It was then, Rojas said, they realized that what mattered was the Twitter “horse race,” or the number of tweets a candidate earns vis-à-vis his or her opponent. Just as the candidates would compete for a limited percentage of the vote, they would also compete for a limited percentage of the total Twitter traffic.
Perhaps most interesting, whether the tweet praised or criticized the recipient was irrelevant. When it comes to Twitter and politicians, apparently all publicity really is good publicity. “Are you going to talk about the guy who loses or the guy who wins?” Rojas asked. “You’re going to talk about the winner, even if you hate the winner.”
Great news of the day Chipsticks!
I want a Fox decoder ring too 🙂
Ha, I LOVED that GGail!!!!
Maybe we can order them online from Fox? 😆
Who did the family portrait of The First Family with Bo?
Chips! I got home from along day and took some time to look through all the wonderful posts and well wishes for your birthday – I’d like to add mine as well – hope you have had a simply splendid day! Happy Birthday 😀
Thanks a trabillion Alice, you’re so kind!!!
Turn Out is KEY!
Congratulations New Jersey for turning out!!!!!
Pf, that’s great news. It shows what a good candidate can do, even in August and even in a primary. Hope Cory Booker completely wipes his GOP opponent out.
This is the lesson we are learning…
I hope the people of NJ…learn from the elections in Wisconsin and Michigan…about bait and switch GOP Governors…Nothing …absolutely Nothing could compel me to vote GOP…
This is why Christie wants to waste millions on a special election. Doesn’t want all those dems voting in November
O Chips, you wound my soul! The second time today too, but I forgive you. /chin falling forward; feet dragging/ Check this out…
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/08/13/bo-the-human/#comment-802762
As you will see from the times at the link, reporter VC broke the story of Scout’s pics in TOD-village, and collaborator and co-reporter Dudette took them back to twitter for wider sharing. [D-ette’s TL backs this up] So sourcing them to another reporter kinda, sorta hurt VC’s heart. Normally she doesn’t mind this (happens to her often; accepts as part of the job) but for some reason, in this instance she can’t seem to swallow the hurt, shut up and go to bed. Prolly because it’s PBO and it’s such a ‘big’ find? She doesn’t know or understand. Anyhow, having aired it out, I suspect she will feel better tomorrow. Just saying.
“Several months ago, the communications office at the White House asked me to join Instagram as another way to show my unique, inside view of the Presidency,” Souza told TODAY.com via email. “But I waited until now because I wanted to first become comfortable with using my iPhone in a creative way.”….
“Bo is a great subject because, well, he’s Bo. Everyone loves Bo,” Souza said of the first dog. “He is challenging as a subject, mostly because of his black hair. So you really need to have optimal lighting and the right background to make pictures of him work.”…..
Besides their professional relationship, Bo and Souza share something else in common: They’re both of Portuguese descent. And while Bo may be a presidential pup, that doesn’t stop him from having a little fun in some of the White House’s most prestigious rooms. Plus, he gets something from Souza in exchange for time in front of the lens…..
Thank you Chips!
You put so much work into this end-of-birthday post. Much appreciated:
From previous post, my virtual BD present to you.
Thank you and all the amazing BTs for everything you and they do.
A pleasure Arapaho415, thank you!
Awwww, that is so special!
Those pictures rock! Scout T is awesome or epic as the young man in the video said.
Many of us really have lived a ‘lifetime’. I’m grateful I lived long enough to be part of this and everlastingly grateful for this safe haven you’ve created, Sweet Lady Chips,
There are some early signs that Netanyahu is realizing the price his country may one day pay for its settlements, in particular those near Palestinian population centers. He met recently with some of Israel’s leading manufacturers, who expressed their worry that their products may one day be boycotted in Europe, a worry he shares. Kerry, capitalizing on this anxiety, has warned Netanyahu in recent weeks that if the current peace talks bear no fruit, Israel may soon be facing an international delegitimization campaign — in his words — “on steroids.”
I don’t know how many warnings about Israel becoming isolated Netanyahu needs. Not only has the U.S. warned him about this repeatedly, but so have some European nations. He needs to understand that he can’t say he wants peace between Israel and the Palestinians and keep doing things that piss them off. Sometimes a little moderation goes a long way when one is trying to negotiate on an important issue with others unlike yourself.
Ah, Chips, to give us “news of the day” to share on YOUR special day is, well, special! Thank you!
Chipsticks, I hope you’ve had a lovely day today – you deserve nothing but the best today, love ya!
This is for tntmngirl and carolyn who had reported seeing some negative reports about ACA on CBS and NBC news earlier this evening. Always take cable news stuff with a grain of salt. Their “examples” are usually politically motivated as well…
See, this is a prime example of why we have the best people here at TOD – thank you hf for uncovering the real truth!
For those of you with a Twitter account, check out the #Discover button (on top, next to the @connect button).
They have outdone themselves on how this functions (I’m thinking that former OFA engineer designed it)
– 10 tweets at a time that wait patiently for you to to return (don’t accumulate to some unmanagable number like an uettended Twitter timeline does)
– Older tweets appear to be from previous days (ICYMI feature)
– Recommended tweets seem to be a mix of accounts that you follow or that someone you follow follows, which means no troll tweets
– Recommended tweets seem to be intuitive, and may be based on the subject of tweets you’ve RTd.
For instance, one of the tweets that appeared was from @UniteWomenWY:
“Official state twitter for @UniteWomenOrg, a grassroots non-profit working to create equality for all. Ask us how you can get involved in your community!”
I’m guessing this was recommended because of @CarolMaeWY and the profiles of other people I follow.
Here’s one I received now:
Agree Arapaho, one thing you have to make sure is…. in you settings options you check the box *Personalization* that says do you want a) Tailor Twitter based on my recent website visits b) https://twitter.com/who_to_follow/web_personalized ( leave ON) & a good explainer https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169421
A better photo
LOL! PBO, he’s only shaking FLOTUS’ hand… chillax… 🙂 🙂 🙂
Oh POTUS is not jealous, he knows who FLOTUS heart belong too. 🙂
FLOTUS told POTUS and the world that August 4th in that birthday tweet to POTUS. 🙂
Despite this #Snowdenwald related emoprog misrepresentation:
Hayes did send this tweet out today:
A stopped clock is right twice a day
President Obama liked the idea laid out in a memo from his staff: an ambitious plan to expand high-speed Internet access in schools that would allow students to use digital notebooks and teachers to customize lessons like never before. Better yet, the president would not need Congress to approve it.
White House senior advisers have described the little-known proposal, announced earlier this summer under the name ConnectEd, as one of the biggest potential achievements of Obama’s second term.
Here’s another #Discover entry:
And…
Bringing this over from the last thread.
Blue New Jersey, please wake up!
If this is true, Christie better hope this tweet doesn’t land in an Obama Administration person’s hand.
Thanks for directing us to the #discover button. I’d never clicked on it.
Sad to say, Christie is a well-known type of NJ politician. I grew up in NYC. Our politicians were, with a few exceptions, incompetent kleptocrats; but even they would turn their noses up at the depths to which NJ politicians would descend. Without coverage of NJ politics, the Daily News and the Post would be thinner by half. (We would laugh at the NY Times’ coverage of NY news; their biggest section of NY news was the marriage announcements.)
Fact ….
#FORWARD Together
word
So happy to see that the 15 year old who had been denied medical treatment will now be helped.
President Obama looks like he’s enjoying himself. It’s nice to see the people on MV so excited & happy to see him. I loved to hear them say “It’s an honor to meet you sir” So different from the nasty rodeo crowd in Missouri, which I have not gotten over yet. Shameful.
Hope Chips had a happy birthday and you all treated her like a princess. This is my first visit here today with no catching up done yet.
A Goper gets called out for who they are – “poor me” – I need protection. Look at how GG reacts to ANY criticism.
Do we need some music? I think we need some music. Night owl chat coming up soonish.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIP-A-DEE! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Party Tiiiiiimmmmmme!!!! 😀
Where my Road Dogs at? 😀 😀 😀
New post: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/08/13/night-owl-chat-musical-medley/
Go ahead kick your shoes off and loosen that belt. Let it all hang out!!!
We’re gonna dance and set the world on fire! 🙂
You are fierce!! I’m sure you know about Ms. Nichols desire to leave the Star Trek cast, but when she meet Dr.King and he explained what a transformation she had created…………
Thanks Lynn!
Yes, that’s one of many reasons why I love her! 🙂
She is quite an amazing lady. And still lovely.
Happy Birthday Chips! May the remainder of this day and the year to come be blessed and full of love and joy. You certainly have the good wishes of your world-wide TOD community. We love you and thank you for this go-to site for all things Obama.
Happy birthday, Ms. Chipsticks, and may you have many, many more!
3,2,1… New post?
Maybe?
LOL! I looked for meteor showers and saw nothing 😦