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Jonathan Cohn: How Obama, Reid, And Pelosi Stopped Republican Extortion. Three Reasons The Democrats Won
It’s over. The Senate voted yes. The House voted yes. President Obama signed the bill and, on Thursday, the federal government is open for business again. But in a narrower political sense, this was one of those (relatively) rare Washington battles in which one side clearly prevailed. It was the Democrats. When this episode started, they said they were determined not to make major concessions simply because Republicans were threatening shutdown and default.
Sure enough, here we are—with a new continuing resolution, a higher debt limit, and no major changes in law. Democrats achieved the policy outcome they had sought, while establishing a precedent for the future: No more negotiating while under such threats. So what did Democrats do right? How did they hold it together? Among the many factors, three come quickly to mind.
More here
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What the MSM taught us this week about #Obamacare: website glitches are more important than, say, this ----> http://t.co/aqgsWBAKTe
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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) October 18, 2013****
Jonathan Cohn: The Truth About The ObamaCare Rollout
Administration officials have said they never expected so many initial visitors and that the high demand is a good sign. Both claims are true. In fairness, federal officials operated under tremendous political and logistical constraints, the kind few outsiders can grasp. Private developers don’t have the same stringent standards for privacy and security, for instance. And given the enormous challenges of trying to integrate so many systems—some new, some old—nobody seriously expected the launch of Obamacare’s federal websites to take place without glitches
People trying to get insurance have been remarkably patient, which tells you something important about how dysfunctional and frustrating the old insurance market was. Obamacare’s architects assumed that most states would opt to run their own marketplaces with federal officials running only a few. The assumption proved wrong: Pretty much any state with a Republican governor or Republican legislative control said no, adding to the administrative burden on HHS. But 14 states plus the District of Columbia are managing their own markets.Mostly it’s places you would expect—progressive outposts like California, Washington, and New York—where Obama and his policies are most popular. But Kentucky, where a Democratic governor and group of dedicated officials have worked diligently to deliver the law’s benefits, is also on the list.
More here
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Greg Sargent: How The GOP Can Save Itself From The Tea Party
Now that the government shutdown crisis is over, leaving the GOP brand in tatters, the news is filled with chatter about Republicans “reassessing” for the battles that come. As Karen Tumulty’s piece asks: “What will it take to save the Republicans from the self-destructive impulses of the tea party movement?” If Republicans do want to enter into the normal give and take of governing — a big “if,” to be sure – it will require a willingness to rely on an alliance of non-Tea Party Republicans and Democrats to get things done.
Republicans didn’t lose the shutdown fight because Obama is trying to destroy their party. They lost it because the Tea Party fantasy outcome was never going to happen. It was rooted in a deeply unhinged view of how governing should work that Dems were never, ever, ever going to accept. It took GOP leaders too long to accept this and act accordingly.
More here
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In fact, one of the most insightful analyses of Obamacare’s federal site came from John Green, co-producer of Vlogbrothers—who tried applying for insurance via an Obamacare exchange (one the federal government is running for Indiana) and then compared the experience to applying for insurance the old way, via an insurance company website. Even with the delays and server errors, he found, Obamacare was quicker and easier—mostly because, under the old system, he had to reconstruct several years of his medical history down to every exam and test.
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This is the video
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Steve Benen: GOP Already Balking At New Immigration Push
President Obama spoke briefly yesterday, announcing the re-opening of the federal government, and sharing some thoughts on how to help the country get moving in the right direction again. Specifically, the president stressed the importance of immigration reform – four times. The push came on the heels from similar remarks from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who said, “I look forward to the next venture, which is making sure we do immigration reform.” As it turns out, congressional Republicans don’t quite see it that way.
A prominent House Republican intends to help destroy the legislation because, he claims, Obama is “trying to destroy the Republican Party.” Presumably, then, that’s an outcome Republicans prefer to inflict on themselves? Stepping back, here’s my question for congressional Republicans: what is it, exactly, you intend to run on in 2014? I don’t mean that in some kind of obnoxious, snarky, way; I genuinely want to know.
More here
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Framed through the windows of the spare limousine, President Barack Obama walks from the Oval Office to the motorcade with Trip Director Marvin Nicholson and personal aide Reggie Love, Oct. 19, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Think Progress: New Jersey Supreme Court: Same-Sex Couples Can Begin Marrying Monday
The New Jersey Supreme Court issued an arguably unprecedented decision Friday: though they still plan to hear out a case challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, they are going to allow same-sex couples to begin marrying in the state in the meantime. The lower court’s decision will take effect at 12:01 AM Monday morning. In an order denying the Christie administration a stay of the lower court’s marriage equality ruling, the Court posited that the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act so “changed the landscape” that the harm to same-sex couples being denied federal benefits was too blatant to ignore
this outcome is not a final guarantee that the right to marry is a permanent fixture for same-sex couples in New Jersey, but it is incredibly encouraging. Though the Court reserved its right to nullify any marriages that take place until they rule, they have explicitly stated their expectation that the state will lose and marriage equality will prevail.
More here
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On This Day:
President Barack Obama waves from the Colonnade to visitors as they tour the White House grounds during the 2012 White House Fall Garden Tour, Oct. 19, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, with veteran James Sperry and his daughter, Hannah, pause for the national anthem prior to Game 1 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 19, 2011. The First Lady and Dr. Biden attended the game as part of their Joining Forces initiative. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
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President Barack Obama listens to the University of Texas Pan American Mariachi Aztlan band in the Grand Foyer before signing the Executive Order for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Barack Obama talks with third and fourth grade students during a surprise visit to Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md., Oct. 19, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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The Obama Diary 
GM!
Was signing out after leaving my quick message! Good timing Ms. Chips!
😳 Ms Utal – good timing. Have yourself a good day! Will read your post when I get back – don’t want to be late for my appointment.
Nice to see you at the podium, VC!
G’morning UT, Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone, and congrats VC on #1 🙂
Wonderful, info-packed R& S round-up UT! Thanks!!
Thank you hopefruit! 😀
And Luis Guitterez response to The Presidents push for Immigration reform?
Pick up the phone and make a deal with the a Republicans.
I am not kidding that’s what he said…
He doesn’t get it!
By the way Gutierrez is not particularly well-respected in the Hispanic community. He has always been jealous and resentful of PBO’s rise to prominence as a fellow-Chicagoan. His empty words in the media carry ZERO weight where PBO is concerned. Despite his constant “attacks” on PBO in his first term, Hispanics came out to vote for PBO to give him a second term.
In other words: Gutierrez can GO TO HELL!!!
🙂
Get him!
Other than the attacks on President Obama, I did not know how Gutierrez was perceived in Chicago.
I don’t know how he’s perceived in Chicago, but he’s not particularly well-respected in the Hispanic community in a broader, national sense. He’s similar to how many AA’s perceive the CBC – self-serving, jealous of PBO, more posturing rather than actually doing anything from community he claims to represent, can only get elected in narrow district, etc..
This guy has always had a bug up his ass about President Obama and Immigration reform, and not in a good way. When President Obama mentioned Immigration Reform during his speech after the debt ceiling deal was made I knew this guy would come crawling out from under whatever rock he lives under when any issue that doesn’t have to do with Immigration is in the news. In the coming weeks watch as this guy grandstand like there’s no tomorrow.
Isn’t he from Chicago? Maybe a little jealous?
It’s either Chicago, or the town of “let’s bitch and moan because President Obama hasn’t fixed the world just yet.”
he is a fraud.
how many times do I have to tell people this?
I just thought the guy was your run of the mill loudmouth.
I live in this opportunist’s district. He’s horrible. I live in the middle of the North side of Chicago and two of my national representatives out of three are AWFUL.
Guttierez cares about undocumented immigrants and that’s all he cares about. Understand, this is a United Nations middle class neighborhood – he is ready to throw his Hispanic citizens under the bus at the drop of a hat. He threatened to not vote for ACA unless it included undocumented immigrants. Let me tell you, my good Hispanic neighbors were PISSED as all hell. He couldn’t care less about jobs or education in this district.
I was gerrymandered into his district. I had the best representative ever in Mike Quigley. Now the district line runs down the middle of my street and I’m on the wrong side.
guttierez cares about the cameras and his own sorry ass. He’s a terrible Congressman.
Makes his stunts of handcuffing himself to the White House gates look more like self-promotion, more than any real attempt to make progress on immigration reform.
The feed is jumping up and down crazily, but here’s my carry-over…..
Good Morning, TODobots!
GooOOOood MooOOOoorrrning, Mama Chips!
I was doing a quick peek now to catch my first CLEAR glimpse of Danny, but that’s not to be, I see. I’m heading out for my appointment with an eye specialist, and they are sure to put all kinds of gunk into my eyes so *they* can see better! 🙄
No time to read what’s here, but I’ll be back late………….r all bleary-eyed, I’m sure.
Oh! Don’t want Danny to think I didn’t welcome him right away. Want to start off on the right foot.
.
“WELCOME, Danny O’Cheesy! I feel sure you’ll settle in quickly with your new mama.”
/waving fingers/ BBL, TODobots.
Have there been pictures yet?? I missed them…
Ooops….
Good Morning!
I got back one result from my last appointment. They found a blood clot (pulmonary embolism) in my lung. I had to go in yesterday to get an injection and I was a given a prescription so that I can do the injections myself at home for the next 30 days. I did some reading on blood clots on Mayo Clinic’s website and it appears that the drug I’m taking to treat the cancer is the culprit. I didn’t have any of the symptoms associated with pulmonary embolism so I’m guessing they caught it early.
I also had an MRI yesterday and another appointment next Tuesday. So more tests, more results to wait on. sigh.
I’m going back to bed now. Will come back later.
Have a great day.
(((((gobrooklyn)))). Hope the clot gets dissolved soon GB, and your other tests turn out okay!
It’s good that they found the blood clot early, gobrooklyn, what is even better is that they let you go home. Although I don’t know you personally, I hope you return to good health. God bless you.
GB, from a medical perspective, you were extremely lucky they found the clot before it did it’s damage! I know this might not help you but many many people give themselves these injections at home to resolve this type of issue. GOD is keeping an eye on you! Hope for good results from your tests.
So sorry, gb, but what a relief the clot was found early. Have a good rest and may God’s blessings on you!
Always happy when you check in.
thank you tnmt!
Thank goodness they caught the clot early and you can fight it and continue on the road to recovery. Wishing you even more strength and fight as you continue to heal. Thanks for updating us and I hope you have a good day.
Thanks, UT
{{{{gobrooklyn}}}} Glad that is getting sorted – rest well. I’m going to bed too – its nearly 1am in my world 🙂
🙂
Thanks for keeping us updated, gb. Lots of peeps here care about you and how you’re progressing. Good news that the blood clot was caught early and your injections should finish it off—-good riddance dumb blood clot. Sending continuing positive vibes for some more encouraging news. Take care and treat yourself. Keep us posted.
Thanks, Dot
((((((GoBrooklyn))))) Have a good rest.. I’m so glad they caught the clot. Sending sweet dreams and positive wishes out to you.
Thank you, Sheri
You are completely welcome and I will be thinking positive, happy & hopeful thoughts with you in mind gb. take good care of yourself.
Dear GoBrooklyn…don’t be discouraged. Keep Fighting and praying. Just a note of encouragement, I had to to the exact thing some years ago and it all turned out well. Blessings to you. (((GB))).
That’s good to know. Thanks!
GM, GB. You may be asleep now, but I am so glad they found that blood clot. Take care of yourself and always know you have a TOD family here supporting through and through.
Thanks, lovely.
Keeping you in my prayers GB. Stay down and rest.
Thanks, Jackie.
Wow, GB you dodged a bullet (blood clot)! Be well soon!
I’ll try.
Out of lurking to let you know I’m keeping you in my thoughts. Knowing you will emerge from all of this stronger. {{{{GB}}}}
Thanks, Lunar
I will br praying for you that your lung clears up and that your cancer goes away permanently GoB!
Thanks, Betsy. Unfortunately I can’t be cured at my stage. It can be treated, but not cured.
Gobrooklyn, I am also so grateful that they caught all of this is good timing. You are going through a lot, but you have all of us here at your TOD family lifting you up in out prayers, meditational thoughts and putting you in our goodness of space daily. I keep my candles lit to remind me of my TOD family members who are going through their healing moments at this time.
((((((((((((((( You have my loving hugs, Gobrooklyn))))))))))))))) Keep resting and keep taking good care of your space as you heal. Lots of love and prayers from HZ’s home to yours. God will provide you with your needs with all of the angels of compassion, knowledge, and goodness of heart. Now get some rest. Love you, Gobrooklyn.HZ
XOXOXO – That was very nice. Thanks, HZ!
😦 😦 {{{gobrooklyn}}} I didn’t know that. I am so sorry. I admire your spirit and wish you many, many wonderful, blessed moments, in the time that you have.
It’s okay Betsy. 🙂
GB, so glad they caught the clot early and are helping you to deal with it. Balancing drug side effects is a tough job and I’m glad your doctors are on it. Please let us know about the other tests. Bless you.
I will Jackie. Thanks!
Also, everybody has to talk about the “glitches” as in, everybody must know- or else.
Or else what ? They get fired, shit canned, suspended, written up?
Msnbc gotta love it ? Not!
Congrats VC and thanks UT for the thread. It’s nice to see the First and second Lady out again. It was so nerve-wracking for me and I would have liked to have seen photos on the families and the dogs. I’m sure we’ll now see more dog and puppy photos. 😀
I swear I went back and capitalized Second. It must have been spell checker.
When I was in high school I played the tuba in the marching and concert band, and whenever I messed up on a piece of music I would look at my horn as if it made the mistake. As my band director would always say, “It’s never the horn.”
😉
GM TOD…. Wonderful R&S, UT! ……..In for a morning chuckle? Check out this Boehner insult generator straight from his Facebook Wall!
Audiences to Hollywood: We Don’t Care About WikiLeaks
// WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be one of the most controversial figures in the world yet moviegoers don’t seem all that interested.
“The Fifth Estate,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, looks unlikely to breach the $4 million mark this weekend, which would make it one of the worst DreamWorks debuts of all-time and the second WikiLeaks project to come and go this year without much ado.
Earlier this year, Alex Gibney’s documentary “We Steal Secrets: The WikiLeaks Story” was hailed by critics after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and is expected to compete in the Oscar race. But the look at Assange’s rise and fall opened quietly in May, earning a modest $158,000 at the box office — not the end of the world for a documentary except that Universal Pictures reportedly spent $2 million to produce it.
As for Bill Condon’s “Fifth Estate,” the forecast is downright abysmal. It’s currently riding a 38% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes, and weak ticket pre-sales suggest the film is headed for a disappointing bow. “It’s pretty scary at this point,” one analyst said of the pic’s financial course. Produced for $30 million, the WikiLeaks drama barely cracked sixth place in the U.K. last week ($800,000) and could face difficulties elsewhere. //
http://variety.com/2013/film/news/audiences-to-hollywood-we-dont-care-about-wikileaks-1200735420/
My god! “Pootie Tang” had a bigger opening.
ROTFLMAO! Indeed.
Benedict Cumberbatch wasted his talents on this turkey which the critics say glosses over Assange’s sexual assault charges in Sweden which is why he is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Did Condon think we would accept Assange as a hero is he sanitized his record?
Every time I see the commercial, I get mad. And it’s such a shame, because I really like the actor playing Assange – but he looks absolutely horrific as Assange… Dream works fell for the media and emoprog fascination with Assange’s exploits, and thought the rest of us were equally obsessed.
Will they blame the ACA website for this too?
No – they’ll blame PBO for encouraging people to go to college
Good for him: “As Harvey Milk said, we must give them hope. I go to give them hope”
I think we need to let John Green talk to jack “A” Ezra Klein. I heard that some Republicans are asking for Kathleen Sebelius to resign. And I have to ask myself are these darn people crazy? They just close down the Government, cost the economy 24 billion dollars, billion dollars, almost destroy the United States credit by not paying it’s bills, many Americans suffer because of the Republicans shutdown and you have the darn nerve to ask for Sebelius resignation. All she has done was try to make it possible so millions of people can get health insurance. Dear Republicans, I want to ask for every single one of the Republicans responsible for this shutdown to resign. Now.
Kathleen Sebelius isn’t going anywhere. The GOP and PL/Emoprog/Libertarian contingent tried that “must-resign” crap with Tim Geithner, Eric Holder, Susan Rice, Joe Biden, in other words, anyone who they deem to be competent, and a THREAT to their nefarious agenda. That’s what this ACA stuff is all about, and Sebellius has done a grade-A job of getting the ACA implemented and working.
Sebelius isn’t going anywhere until SHE decides she’s ready to resign.
I know hopefruit2. I know. As long as POTUS have trust in her, she will stay right there.
Hear hear, Anniebella! They also owe us that $24 billion.
Maybe the GOP related campaign fund generators should tell their public contributors that the first $24 billion raised is going to pay back the US government due to the loss from the strategy to shut the government down and take it to the brink.
Good morning TOD family, especially the soccer fans among us! something amazing happened to us, here in Montserrat yesterday. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour to Brazil stopped by us for about five hours. The trophy and its travelling party came from Antigua by boat. It was truly a festive occasion.
The trophy is absolutely beautiful. When it was revealed during the welcoming ceremony, the entire audience gasped loudly. It was my first experience of seeing so much gold in one object – stunning. You can imagine the heavy security that surrounded it.
To our surprise, we were allowed to take photographs standing right next to the trophy on its display stand. So, of course, I had mine taken. So, next year, if the Lord will, when the winning team in Brazil hoists the trophy into the air, I will have my picture in my hand.
We felt truly honoured that FIFA and Coco Cola included us in this 9 month and 89 country tour. Montserrat is 189th on FIFA’s ranking list and the football officials (both FIFA and local) are hoping that seeing the trophy up close will inspire our athletes to excellence.
Just wanted to share our joy with you.
🙂 Congrats to you, PrayerWarriorforObama!! I can only imagine that trophy…all that gold must have been blinding in the Caribbean sunshine.
What a thrilling experience that must have been for you Prayer Warrior. Thanks for sharing the experience.
I thought for sure Baby Danny would welcome us to rise and shine today. New human mom must be busy with her new bundle of “joy”.
The approaching end of the U.S. war in Afghanistan could help President Obama move toward what he has said he wanted to do since his first day in office: close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Blocked by Congress from releasing or transferring many of the remaining 164 detainees and able to try only a small number of them, administration officials are examining whether the withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of 2014 could open the door for some to challenge the legal authority of the United States to continue to imprison them.
I love the changed setting of this weekly address from indoors to the colonnade. Perfect backdrop. I also love it when POTUS does these at different locations or event sites while on the road.
By the way is Chips’ Danny boy here yet?
Morning!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s Danny O’Chips Day!!! 🙂 Puppy breath all around….little feet scampering…..and the sounds of : No! No! No! can be heard around the world:) But we mustn’t forget the snuggles and love and heart melting that Chips will have today…..congrats on the new baby, Chips!
Here’s something for the rest of us.. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/opinion/blow-the-presidents-pivot.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1&
“Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”
That quote, from Sun Tzu’s ancient Chinese treatise “The Art of War,” perfectly captures President Obama’s strategic victory over Tea Party members of Congress on the government shutdown and the debt ceiling debate. It also explains his immediate pivot to another topic that Tea Partyers hate and over which their obstinacy is likely to get the party hammered again: comprehensive immigration reform.
This is a brilliant tactical move on the president’s part. And Republicans know it.
O/T Weekend long read for Jay-z fans…..
I like John Fugelsang and Hal Sparks(sp)
They narrow it down and name the problem simply.
me too, Nena:)
me three! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I really like Hal Sparks. Sometimes John Fugelsang can and will go too far to the left.
Let me join the TOD welcoming cmte….and say WELCOME DANNY ‘O and congratulations on your new arrival Miss Chips.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/10/18-0 The Abject Failure of Reaganomics
If a large segment of the American public continues to buy into the Tea Party’s fake reality, then it is likely that both the political damage and the economic decline will continue apace, with fewer good-paying jobs, a shrinking middle class and more of the bitter alienation that has fed the Tea Party’s growth in the first place. In other words, the United States will remain in a vicious circle that is also a downward spiral.
The pattern can only be reversed if American voters come to understand how and why their economic well-being is getting flushed down the drain.
The first point to understand is that the current $16.7 trillion federal debt is about $11 trillion more than it was when George W. Bush took office. Not only did Bush’s tax-cut-and-war-spending policies send the debt soaring over the next dozen years but it was those policies that eliminated the federal surpluses of Bill Clinton’s final years and reversed a downward trend in the debt that had “threatened” to eliminate the debt entirely over the ensuing decade.
Important Read….should be digested by ALL AMERICANS!
Great R&S Post UT.
Congrats VC for your Gold. Good Luck with your eye Doc.
GB…..Love+Prayers and Loads of {{{{HUGS}}}}
Oh Puppy Danny is with Ma Chips 😉
Happy Saturday to all TODers across the Globe 🙂
Wonder strike by Oscar!!!! Chelsea up 3-1!!!!
Oh, good morning, Obots!
Oh dear, I hope Danny brings Chips much joy today; she won’t be much pleased with Man U’s performance.
I don’t enjoy posting this. But here this goes again by the same Person when was disorderly on a plane many months ago.
Rand Paul’s son…..now 20 ys old.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/19/william-hilton-paul-drinking_n_4128201.html?ref=topbar
Cohn makes some excellent points in the essay posted at top. The Dem troublemakers are gone. The ones that caused Dems the most frustration earlier. I hadn’t thought about the extent to which that affected Dem unity.
Excellent Rise and Shine! As usual……
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/19/walmart-attack-job-back_n_4125537.html?utm_hp_ref=ap
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Kristopher Oswald said he did the right thing when he interrupted the assault of a woman in a Michigan Wal-Mart parking lot, even though it violated the national retailer’s policies for employees.
And after firing Oswald from the Hartland Township store, northwest of Detroit, Wal-Mart has decided to give him his job back.
“We looked into the situation, reviewed the facts, talked to witnesses,” Brooke Buchanan, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said Friday. “While Mr. Oswald broke a policy of ours — a policy put in place to protect our associates and our customers … we realize Mr. Oswald’s intentions were good.”
????
PR mess. Now they want to do the right thing…….idjits….. as our Amk would say.
There is always so much talk about the Middle Class…who is the Middle Class…what is the salary range for this group…
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/10/19/any-questions-4/