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19
Oct
13
101 Responses to “Any Questions?”
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The People’s View
- Follow me at my new venture: Reclaim the Fight Spandan Chakrabarti
- Ignore the bait: Why it’s the right strategy for Democrats to focus SCOTUS fight on health care Spandan Chakrabarti
- BIG: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to shortcut the census Spandan Chakrabarti
- Trump doesn't want peaceful transition of power. Legally, it doesn’t matter. Spandan Chakrabarti
- Fauci goes off on Rand Paul Spandan Chakrabarti
Smartypants
- The Lie Embedded in Carlson's Great Replacement Theory
- Can Democrats Work With the "New Right" on Anti-Trust Issues?
- Alito's Embrace of Junk Science Will Make Several Forms of Contraception Illegal
- Biden: "This Is No Longer Your Father's Republican Party"
- The Only Way to Fight Back Against a Radicalized Supreme Court
Steve Benen
- President Biden arrives in South Korea for Asia trip
- Tom Nichols: Three signs Putin may be reassessing his plans
- Steve Rattner: I'm not predicting an immediate recession but road ahead doesn't look great
- Joe: Trump still has sway in the party, but it's nothing like it was in '20
- Petraeus: Ukraine has won by keeping Russia from achieving its main objective
The Obama Diary 
Good morning.
A Tie, congrats COS on sharing the honor. Just came from TPV. getting caught up.
HI, UTA
*Ahem*
BREAKING NEWS: I would just like to point out that Chelsea crushed Cardiff City 4 -1. Let me repeat that: 4-1!!!!!!!!!!!! Manchester United drew 1-1 at home with Southampton and have dropped two points. Let me repeat that: DROPPED TWO POINTS!!!!!
Chelsea’s going up, up, up, up (welcome back Jose Mourinho!!!!!!) and Manchester United is going down, down, down. Hug Danny tight Chiparoo, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Goooooooo BLUES!
Even though I detest bananas, this is me right now.
With Oscar’s wonderstrike!
A little Family Guy:
I watched the whole video….I am not sure that I get it totally.
Wind Turbines? Is that it? Is that his expertise? Or was it showing the effects of wind and clean energy?
I guess the irritating man is actually wind in human form. Everything he did to irritate people is also caused by wind. It’s a German made film. 😉
Good Afternoon, TOD!
Welcome, Danny!
GB, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I’m glad they found your blood clot early. I’m, also, glad that you are happily settled in Miami.
RICHMOND, Va. — The federal government is again open for business, and Republicans in Washington are licking their wounds from the failed Tea Party attempt to derail President Obama’s health care overhaul. But here in Virginia’s capital, conservative activists are pursuing a hardball campaign as they chart an alternative path to undoing “Obamacare” — through the states.
One leading target is Emmett W. Hanger Jr., a Republican state senator from the deeply conservative Shenandoah Valley, who prides himself on “going against the grain.” As chairman of a commission weighing one of the thorniest issues in Virginia politics, whether to expand Medicaid under Mr. Obama’s Affordable Care Act, he is feeling heat from the Republican right. His openness to expansion has aroused the ire of Americans for Prosperity, the conservative advocacy group backed by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch. Dressed in emerald green T-shirts bearing the slogan “Economic Freedom in Action!” its members are waging what the senator calls “an attempt to intimidate me” in Richmond and at home. They have phoned his constituents, distributed leaflets and knocked on 2,000 doors in his rural district. When the Republican town committee met Monday night in Mr. Hanger’s home county, Augusta, Americans for Prosperity was there.
“This has been one of those trench warfare kind of efforts for a year now, and I think it is one of those hidden stories of the whole fight against Obamacare,” said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity. “It’s not flashy; it’s just in a whole bunch of state capitals and in the districts of a whole lot of state legislators, but it’s such a crucial aspect of the overall long-term effort to roll back Obamacare.”
This is one reason why voting for McCauliff in November is crucial. A governor can’t stop these kinds of anti Obamacare forces, but he can put as many executive brakes on them as he can, rather than actively promote them like Cuccinelli.
BBC World has a documentary on right now about the New Dehli rape case. I’m learning details that I hadn’t known before. She wasn’t just raped, but tortured in the most horrible fashion.
I’m not following the details. It’s all very sad. One has to wonder what suffering has gone before these crimes provoked public outcry. The whole world should be outraged whenever we hear these stories – no matter were they occur. Acknowledge that these rapists are pariahs.
The documentary was about the plight of women in India. It’s amazing.What’s most disturbing is that among the upper classes aborting based on sex is becoming more prevalent. And my reaction is: how do they think the next generation will even get born if there aren’t enough women? The marriage deficit in China is going to cause untold problems over the next decades. The idea that the world’s two biggest countries are going to have the same problems should give everyone pause.
I am coming to the conclusion that the more the races are mixed the less racism we will see. I am White/Native American with enough NA to be on the roles and am living on the Reservation. Early on I was not even aware of my ethnicity since my tribe was terminated when I was 7 and not restored until I was 38.
I have come to learn more about bigotry firsthand later in my life. After teaching in public schools most of my life upon retiring and moving here I served for six years on the tribal education committee also for a short time representing the tribe on the school board for the local school district. The later position taught me a lot about racial perceptions and outcomes.
I was always a proponate of treating everyone the same regardless of their race, gender, religion, or station in life. Being a Widow, Native American, and Irish Catholic with four grown kids I have luckily added a Black daughter-in-law and Jewish son-in-law to our family. My thoughts are that this diversity affected those around me in a positive manner especially my own late parents. Another belief I have is diversified classrooms help children learn to be more tolerant and open minded. I had a program within my classroom that incorporated the mentally and physically challenged within the normal program. I saw firsthand how significant it was in shaping children’s kindness and caring.
OG, what a fascinating story. {{{OG}}}
Thank you for sharing your story, Obama Grandmama, and for being a great teacher! I agree with you about a diversified classroom leads to more tolerance. I believe that hatred for others, in most cases, has to be learned in the home.
Love your story, OG, and – obviously – you will always be a teacher.
DITTOOOO on this
Thanks UT for the terrific R&S and new thread.
Congrats COS and Roberta in MN for your Gold Medals.
Morning all you O’s!!! What a great getting up day in TODville eh??
So Reince Priebus call for Kathleen Sebelius to resign because of the roll out of online healthcare. I’m like huh? Does that mean he’s upset because the very thing they objected to so much that they shut the government down is not working at 100%. Lawdy smh.
That’s a preview of what’s to come at the hearings next week. The emphasis will be to go after Sebelius, not the tech/IT issues, nor the magnitude of such an undertaking with bare minimum funding. Gird your loins, it’s gonna be ugly. The good news is that OCare is law, and millions who otherwise would remain uninsured will be covered, regardless of the ‘how’ it happens.
The website is not the entirety of the law. Reince and his cohorts want people to conflate the two. The law is working as designed. One tool of the law had some understandable issues on roll-out – partly due to increased and unexpected interest, but also because of obstructive action from the GOP. Benefits of the law have been rolled out for quite some time now – where were Reince, Ezra & company to praise those: kids staying on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26, elimination of pre-existing conditions as a barrier for getting insurance, elimination of co-pays for regular annual checkups, assurances that insurers have to spend 80% of premiums actually providing healthcare? Where were these people to talk about how well those roll-outs went?
Healthcare.gov is just a tool. The law is something bigger, and it’s working as designed.
Reince Priebus should resign for what his party stands for….racism, for the Republicans shutting down the Government and costing the economy 24 billion dollars and trying to destroy the United States credit.
I would be ashame to call myself a Republican.
I wish I can like this comment 1000 x.
Preibus can rant and rave and throw a temper tantrum and hearings can be held from now until eternity and the president will still remain committed to Sebelius, who works for him and has earned his trust. As more and more people sign up for health care and the glitches get addressed, the hearings will seem more and more like witch hunts and the losers will go back to Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi.
They are incapable of learning and demonstrate that every single day.
That racist, bigot, Larry Klayman thought he could spew his hatred for President Obama to Martin Bashir…… start at around 3:30 mark….
I saw that last night. I DVR Bashir. 1st I was mad Martin B had invited the Scum. Then after the take down….I was pleasantly pleased 😉
and what’s with the professor suggesting that president obama’s middle eastern policy is close to “or the same” as bush/cheney?!?! nobody said a word about that. what planet are these people on?!? supposed supporters of president obama. “the news” is a giant propaganda machine for republicans. you’re either with that program, or you’re not allowed on. simple as that.
These Liberal elites are alway…..well, mostly equating W with pres Obama on foreign policy…..just bat poop crazy folks. My praise is mostly for MBashir than to the prof.
Yeah I didn’t get that. President Obama’s foreign policy has been very pragmatic and strong, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same as Bush. Larry Klansman is a crazy far right lunatic who has a history of coming up with lies and conspiracies.
I think President Obama’s approach to foreign policy is similar to George HW Bush, Eisenhower, and Clinton.
Bullshit!
Agree! He’s just cleaning up after them.
I think what the professor meant was that President Obama had to take his time getting all the troops out of Iraq in an orderly fashion, and also getting the troops on their way home, stage by stage, from Afghanistan. Think he meant they weren’t called home on “done one,” mostly because PBO had to clean up the mess bush/cheney left in those two countries. I don’t think he meant it as a mark against the President, just that PBO didn’t get any credit for any of his direction to the military. My take.
*day one*
Good Lord!
My only question is where is our picture of Danny in his new home?
Can’t wait! I’m thinking that Chips is probably very busy with the little guy today with no time for anything else, so hopefully by Monday she will have a pic or two, and an update on how she & Danny spent their fabulous first weekend together! 🙂
CNN Reporter Corrects Anchor for Calling Tea Partiers ‘Radicals’ http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnn-reporter-corrects-anchor-for-calling-tea-partiers-radicals/ ……….Micheal Holmes of CNNi, Calls TP what they are Radicals, and Jim Acosta(who was love-tapping the Romney Campaign during 2012 election) gets promoted to CNN’s Chief WH Correspondent, and feels the need to lecture the anchor about calling TP radicals. What a joke!
They expose themselves every day. I haven’t watched CNN for ages. I feel better informed.
Dan Lothian a 10 yrs plus of CNN just left the network……while Jim Acosta was promoted. Note when they hear the right disparage the POTUS and Dems….these idiots Mute their tongues.
Mr.Big and the newly elected Gov. of Illinois replacing Patt Quinn in the “Good Wife” doesn’t hold back….
Noth called today’s legislative branch “the worst Congress since right before the Civil War” and explained why he sees “racist” undertones in the government shutdown and Birther claims and views the Tea Party as “un-American.”
Another reason to love Chris Noth.
Mr. Big!!!!!!!!!! Love his bad mouthing of the GOP!
The moneybags trying to take back the GOP: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/19/desperate-donors-tighten-purse-strings-on-right-wing-groups-and-self-immolating-gop/
Gee, who thought that funding Brownshirts would backfire? I mean, it worked so well in Germany in the 1920s/1930s.
He’s been warned ….
#FORWARD
Bobfr,
Do you know if there is a hashtag for what we could have done with the 24 billion lost during the REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN? You know like food stamps, head start, cancer treatment, etc. The American people should be reminded everyday about the lost 24 billion that we can’t get back and what it could have done.
I saw a segment on Up With Chris Kornacki this morning where panelist Christina Bellantoni said it would be smart of the Democrats to start talking about what could have been done with the 24 billion lost during the shutdown. Actually President Obama, Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi have already been making this salient point in their press conferences and speeches. Of course, the ads that the Democrats will be able to run against the REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN will be brutal.
Agree Lh that the 24B is a big deal and have no doubt the Dems will continue highlighting it. Have not seen a hashtag, as yet. Am sure creative folk will come up with something cool.
#FORWARD
#Boehners24BTab
#GOPs24BTab
#Boehners24BFarce
#GOPs24BFarce
#GOPs24BforNothing
I think it’s important to go after the #GOP and Boehner rather than focus on the #Teabaggers.
Agree, boner is the delinquent here, with his experience as a ‘legislator’, the length of time he has been in the House, and his level of responsibility as SINO, HE is the one who ought to have been telling the newbies to sit down and come to order from the day they took their oath of office, demanding that they learn the magnitude of the task before them. He is to be held accountable. It is impossible to fathom what kind of power they hold over him. He effed up right out of the gate. Now they are all drunk and reckless. They need to be removed as soon as possible, earlier if we can!
I agree Bob (I usually agree with you 🙂 ) – Folks like Boehner, Cantor, McCain want the democrats to blame the tea party – so the public at large thinks it is only a small section of the GOP that is causing all the grief. The blame lies with ALL of the GOP.
I don’t think he will have many republicans going down that slippery slope with him the next time. Cruz has a mental problem.
Cruz is Never going to be POTUS and he is Not running for one. I will emphatically repeat that again. He is in it for his own personal gain….Power and more Money. That is it.
yep
GOPshutdown has clarified to me the political leanings of Robert costa – I did not pay attention to him before
Me, neither. Not impressed.
https://twitter.com/DaRiverZkind/status/391630358363402240
What are all those strange links within this description? They don’t sound very nice. I’m not going to click on them.
Didn’t see those when I cropped the article……this has no links….straight from AP website.
This is a bit of a weirdly contradicting story. The President has spoken passionately about his spiritual faith on many occasions. He uses scripture in nearly every big speech he’s given – from the State of the Union addresses, to his inaugural addresses to the times he speaks to grieving families after every gun massacre or terrorist attack. He’s told us time and again that he relies on his faith to see him through hard times. He seems to have found his faith well before he ever came to the presidency.
This exact story is in our paper today. Agree there’s some contradiction, but I was glad to see it in this very red Southern Baptist area. Of course, I realize that the hard core haters will not believe a word in the story. They’ll say it’s made up in an attempt to change his image blah blah blah blah………
That photo was taken in Chicago before the election in 2008. Some of the people in the photo are personal friends of mine. As a matter of fact, one of the gents (top center) is deceased.
And I’m not sure why so much media scrutiny and focus on his “faith.” Even if he were a non-believer – SO WHAT!?!?!?
Indeed. Seems to buy into the right wing cries of this being a “Christian Nation”, despite evidence to the contrary. Are they putting up a sign saying “Non-Christians need not apply”?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/19/bill-russell-arrested-gun-seattle-airport_n_4126432.html
SEATAC, Wash. — SEATAC, Wash. (AP) — Hall of Fame center Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.
Russell was arrested Wednesday night as he attempted to go through security. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper confirmed Friday night that Russell was cited for having a weapon in a prohibited area. Russell’s gun was confiscated and he was released.
//
So sorry to hear this story.
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbcnews.com/53321363
McAuLiffe’s Live event rally
Gov’t Reaches a $13B settlement against JP Morgan
JUST IN:
http://online.wsj.com/home-page
https://twitter.com/intent/user?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2F2013%2F10%2F19%2Fjpmorgan-settlement_n_4128994.html&screen_name=JohnJHarwood&tw_i=391633594600669185&tw_p=tweetembed
Great news!!!!
#TrustBarack
Yes We Can
The Incredible Passionate TOD Twitter Doc Bobfr, at it again…..doing what he does best……Inform and deliver.
Thank You so much, Bobfr.
Very kind of you, Nena!! Thank you!
It bothers me that Hillary supporters are spending so much time and energy focusing on a fantasy campaign just nine months after the inauguration of President Obama, three years before the next presidential election. They’re effectively trying to make the next three years a lame duck period, in my opinion. What is the point of winning a presidency if not to achieve something during that presidency?
Over the next year – at least – we have an opportunity to support this President and the Democratic party to pass healthcare reform, improve education standards, make investments in infrastructure, pass climate change legislation – and so many other things. Why exactly do these Inevitable Hillary folks want the presidency? To make history? We’re living history right now! Why aren’t they making the remainder of this presidency so successful and focusing on winning in 2014? Wouldn’t more Democratic successes pave the way for the next Democratic president? Wouldn’t more Democratic successes convince Americans that they are better off in the hands of a Democrat than a Republican.
I’m confused by their strategy; their agenda. This President is working his butt off for this country, but these people would rather cheerlead for a fictitious campaign, without even knowing what that platform is going to be, than support the current living & breathing President. They’re also cutting off opportunities to fill the bench with viable candidates who will work for this country and build off of President Obama’s legacy. And they are trying to neuter VP Biden’s chances to be President – if he chooses to run.
These Hillary folks appear to be self-defeating – and they’re driving me crazy. *end rand*
I hear ya theo. Hillary is supposedly stumping for McCauliffe in VA, yet they seem to want make it about her and not him. As cookemom indicated below, it’s the cable TV folks (GOP supporters) who are pushing this Hillary nonsense. They want to instigate in-fighting about Dems, in particular, they want to make it a Hillary vs PBO fight AGAIN…to take the focus off the GOP.
They are also using Hillary as a weapon to disrespect PBO, so all this premature hype is not really about Hillary, it’s about the media’s never-ending and insatiable obsession with PBO.
I think they also want to neutralize any other contenders for the Democratic nomination. I actually caught a snippet yesterday on Stephanie Miller’s show where they were celebrating that Hillary has no Democratic challengers. First, she hasn’t announced her candidacy. Second, why would anyone have announced three years before the next election, when there’s plenty of work to do right now? Three – what will Hillary stand for, if she does announce? Don’t we get to choose who the nominee will be? Republicans must be rubbing their hands with glee.
Agreed HF, and Theo, if they don’t back off, everyone is going to be very very tired of Hillary long before any real campaigns begin. But I would expect her to tell them all just to chill, so ultimately she must be willing to play that visibility card. I predict it will backfire, and I too am tired of it. PBO deserves better from those in his own party, especially from those who should know better. It is always about the money, the freaking ugly money.
I have no problem with Hillary wining the nomination after a well-fought battle. I hate the inevitability of it. And I hate the distraction when there’s so much work to do. What is the point of winning the presidency if you don’t fight to achieve good things when we win?! Is it all about the chase?
Not only that, but I don’t think even she is completely decided on running. She’s at the point in her life where I can see her wanting to spend more time with Bill and Chelsea. She knows she can do a lot of good for her causes working in her husband’s Foundation without all of the stress, public scrutiny and with regular hours.
Yes, they want to discourage other highly qualified Dems from running. I believe the GOP and by extension, the MSM, WANT Hillary to be the nominee because they think that Christie could easily beat her. Notice the media HARDLY ever compares Hillary to Christie…They compare her to Cruz, Rubio, even PBO (who will not be her opponent if she decides to run). And the so-called Dems pimping Hillary probably will be fine with a Christie Presidency.
I decided I’m not going to pay any attention to the 2016 PresidentIal Race. I’m going to focus on getting out the vote for Buono next month, and the midterm election in 2014. The 2016 talk is a distraction from focusing on getting President Obama’s agenda pased.
Passed!!!!
If the opposite of PRO is CON, what is the opposite of PROgress?
Clever 🙂
I usually won’t tell that joke because it is too anti-government. I will make an exception for this congress.
😉
There are no Hillary folks, it is the cable networks who are pushing this. Remember, they need this type coverage to remain relevant. We tune in daily to see the next shiny object that they put in front of us. Then we get depressed or despair when we listen to it. Sure, Hillary has a race to win, but she isn’t the one who is putting herself in the limelight. The media is chasing down her every move. They are ginning a made-up rivalry between VP Biden and Hillary as we speak. Neither Joe, nor Hillary have declared their candidacy, and neither one has said or done anything that would leave us to believe they’re adversaries. So it’s not yet the campaigns who are causing this, it’s the media.
They always will have the next controversy waiting in the wings. After the shutdown, they shifted immediately to the roll out. Once that is no longer an issue, they will need to focus on something else. Short of an international or domestic real news occurrence, we’re going to have to be subjected to their nontroversies. Why else would political cable channels exist? They serve no other purpose, but to feed the emotions of political junkies.
this^^^^ was in reply to theo67 comment above. I don’t know why it showed up as a stand alone comment. Hmmmm, could it be that I didn’t hit the reply button?
Agree with your assessment. That’s why, other than a few video clips posted here and on a couple other sites, I would have no idea what any of those #NEWSTAINERS had to say – haven’t watched TV or had cable for more than 2 decades. From the comments I read here and elsewhere it’s obvious that most of what flows through the cable from these folk would be more suitable flowing in a sewer 😉
#FORWARD
Absolutely, which is why I say that for those who choose to watch it, don’t despair, gnash your teeth, wring your hands, or throw objects, when you hear something you don’t like. It’s their job, they do it well, or they wouldn’t be there. It’s a numbers game for them. The bottom line is ratings which means ad sponsors, no more, no less.
With the exception of a few (Rev Al), most of these pundits show up for work like everyone else. They punch in, then punch out, go home, do what most of us do after work, then get up the next morning and go to work. If you don’t see or hear them doing anything outside of the time they spend in front of the camera, then why should we expect anything from them? It’s not like they are activists or anything.
Couldn’t agree more,Bob. It has also been decades since I watched television news of any sort and would rather submit to root canal than watch cable TV pundits. When someone posts a clip they say is particularly good, I often watch it, but have NEVER been tempted to tune in to whatever show is being discussed. Every day is precious and we have to live it with as much peace in our hearts as possible Willfully subjecting myself to lies and spin is not consistent with a peaceful heart or a healthy body. The irony is that in most meetings I attend, I generally know more of what’s going on than the tv watchers.
Should we not just be boycotting their sponsors…after all it IS just about money!
I think we should put them on ignore, or press our snooze buttons when we hear them. It’s up to us to filter what we want to hear and how we want to process the info. I come to TOD to hear like minded people talk about things and views common to mine. That’s not to say that I don’t welcome opposing viewpoints, but at least the delivery isn’t one of animosity, rather disagreements and opinions that we are all entitled to.
Political cable channels purpose is to present opposing views in a manner that causes division, even among those who would otherwise agree with each other. They have focus grouped and analyzed the psyche of their viewer and they know the buttons to push for the human reaction they seek. What saddens me is that it works and many times those on the same side end up at odds with each other.
Every time you turn to their station, you are giving them your tacit support. Ratings do not discriminate between who watches in agreement, or otherwise. I sometimes wonder if a fair percentage of their hits are from people who don’t really like them or agree with them, but haven’t yet learned to detach themselves from the discord. Your mind, brain and nervous system will soon settle down, and perhaps even thank you, if you were to experiment with just not watching.
yes, exactly as I was pointing out in my comment above yours.
O/T but I have to share my happiness with my family here. The Tennessee VOLS defeated South Carolina/Steve Spurrier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rocky top, you’ll always be home sweet home to me…….good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Congratulations! Enjoy the party for your team. 🙂
I can’t remember if I have checked in yet today, but want to say Hey, and now am checking out again. Trying to maintain some balance and use my wisdom to avoid overdoing things and becoming worn out too soon! Have a wonderful day, and DF, by the time the moon cleared the trees on the East side of my property, the eclipse was well and truly over. A lot of folks saw it tho, and have seen some fantastic vids and pics.
Bye y’all, will be back later when I am too tired to do anything else, then I shall sit here lurking while my head rolls around on my shoulders and trying to stay awake! 😆
Danny’s debut? I pray I haven’t missed it. Sweet little chap! {{{{DannyO’C}}}}
Hey MightyPamela – good to see you. We are still waiting for pics of little Danny – we’re just celebrating early… 🙂
New post, to welcome Danny: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/10/19/in-honor-of-danny-the-new-tod-pup/