@petesouza: Pres Obama watches TV news coverage about the death of Nelson Mandela
****
Morning Early Birds.
155 Responses to “Early Bird Chat”
Comments are currently closed.
Obama White House.gov
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
WH Tumblr
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
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
- Prosecutors in the Chauvin Trial Have Made a Very Strong Case
- Right Wing News Consumers Are Being Fed a Constant Diet of Racism. How Should We Respond?
- Trump Supporters Are Driven by Status Anxiety. How Should Democrats Respond?
- On the Right Wing's Attempt to Cancel Wokeism
- The Two-Fer in Biden's Infrastructure Plan
Steve Benen
- Gaetz associate expected to strike plea deal in sex trafficking case
- Palace: Prince Philip dies at age 99
- President Biden takes action to address gun violence 'epidemic'
- Richard Engel investigates the January 6 Capitol insurrection
- 'A remarkable marriage': Remembering the life of Prince Philip
Good morning. All the tributes are so moving!
Congratulations, mtmarilyn:) I agree about all the tributes. So moving and inspiring.
Morning Marilyn, morning everyone – what a painful day for South Africa.
We are so fortunate to live in this time with POTUS and Mandela.
It is still very cold in MT and Dallas, TX. Read they shut off power. Ice everywhere.
Morning everyone….
Good morning, TOD.
GM DF. How are things in Phoenix
Morning! FREEZING:)
Morning DF. I had to turn the heat on for the first time this morning. I am so blessed to be able to have a home and think of the poor animals and people who don’t, especially in the parts of the country with below freezing temperatures.
Good morning, TOD! Dashing out the door to the doctor’s office; will read you later. Have a Blessed day.
Morning bt and toddy’s.
Now get your asses tweetin’.
This graph shows the trend! Yup, phucked:)
http://jimstuartnewblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/obamacare-enrollment-update.html
Incredible!
This is great news amk.
“I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set. And so long as I live I will do what I can to learn from him.”
— President Obama,
Beautiful statement from a beautiful man, df. His remarks yesterday were to moving and so perfect.
PBO’s speech was the only one that BBC FP’ed.
Morning all
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family. I hope everyone is doing well. Congrats mtmarilyn on being first this lovely Friday morning. That God that President Obama is still the President of The United States. TGIF
With this weather, I don’t know if to curse it-Wednesday the low is going to be 10 degrees, or sing “Let It Snow” several times over and over.
Chips. I sent you an e-mail with a suggested blog post.
Merry Christmas and remember: in this weather a lump of coal is a reward.
Another very busy day. Keep up the great work everyone. I’ll catch up later. You all are the best.
Congrats on #1!
I joined the fight against apartheid the moment I learned of its existence. From punching holes in South African lobster tail packages in the local Safeway, to pointedly asking where a restaurant’s lobster tails were from and refusing to order them if told they were South African, to declining to buy my future wife a diamond engagement ring because they were mined by slave labor in South Africa, to being arrested in the first mass arrest at the South African Embassy protesting apartheid, among many small but cumulatively meaningful activities, I was privileged to be a part of the world wide struggle that ended in the freedom of Nelson Mandela, the end of apartheid in South Africa, and Madiba’s ascendancy to the Presidency of South Africa.
Needless to say, I am mourning his passing. He was my hero among heroes. The world is poorer without him.
Samcdc, you followed Mandella’s message and put yourself forward courageously. He would have been proud of your contribution. I only disagree with your last line. The world is actually richer because he was and his thoughts and accomplishments will be more widely celebrated and known. School children will be able to quote him in lands that value education. He has earned a well deserved rest and accomplished all he set out to do. As PBO said, he doesn’t belong to us anymore, he belongs to the ages.
I cannot match everyone’s beautiful tributes to Nelson Mandela, but I echo them. My one little thought—-what President Obama said about him, that he “bent the moral arc of the universe toward justice” is exactly what President Obama is doing and how he will be remembered one day.
Yes he will.
Thank you Dotster. My sentiments exactly.
Good Morning Chipsticks,…TOD Early Birds!
I have been looking at many of the tributes for Nelson Mandela. Many of the tributes include quotes from Mr. Mandela. When I read these quotes, it helps to see why he is so well regarded; why he is the man that has inspired so many. He was a living example of what forgiveness, strength, perseverance, leadership, and humanity is all about. The lessons he taught through his words and especially through his actions have touched and inspired many. I pray that these lessons will continue to be passed on to future generations as his life is remembered and recounted in years to come.
Great piece with a great graphic I can’t get off…..Help!:)
http://jobsanger.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-gop-effort-to-kill-obamacare-is.html
I dunno about the 3rd rate ‘murkan msm. But BBC has a great coverage of Mandela from different perspectives and personalities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
BET’s Centric network had a good program last night that included reflections from celebrities that participated in the Free Mandela Movement.
BREAKING: Great jobs report!
https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/408951595561275392
Yep! Good things are happening all over.
Remember that perpetual motion I was talking about a while back?……It’s happening:)
This is sensational news….especially for the 200,000 households now seeing paychecks. Not to mention the stores near where 200,000 families now have increased resources.
Pass a raise to the minimum wage and see how the economy improves for millions of people. Who wouldn’t want to do that? Oh, wait,
wow. plenty of tweets on this.
“wow. plenty of tweets on this.”
As it should be; just as it should be major headlines/breaking news in the media. But as POTUS indicated, not something to expect since it is good news.
We all can imagine just how stronger this economy would be if it was not for the Republicans. Jobs and everything else would be so much better. And have anyone heard from that sorry speaker of the house this morning telling us what he think off the job numbers.
No, AB, the speaker sulks under his desk when the economic news is good and sucks his thumb. Has to wait for the Koch Brothers call to tell him how to use the good numbers to trash the president.
Thought I’d let you know what was posted on WhitHouse Instagram probably forty min. Ago now.
“As we work together to build prosperity and security across this Asia Pacific, we have to do so on a foundation of the values that we share: Freedom of speech and assembly; freedom of religion; democratic principles. These are the values that will power success for countries in the 21st century. And it’s what’s allowed my country and yours to succeed.” -Vice President
I can’t spell White House this morning. I’m crawling back under cover. Brrr.
I read somewhere were the the two million threshold was passed.
Not somewhere. Right here.
Not someone. Me.
🙂
I’m sorry amk, please forgive me. I’m all over the internet reading everything in sight, sometimes I read comments here and I’m off to the races reading something somewhere else. Please reply.
I was jus’ kiddin’. I know one gets lost in the intertubes. I often do.
Excellent tweet amk. And so true, no wonder media is left to focus on non-stories such as Sunny accidentally knocking over little girl at White House.
Yes, they most certainly are!
I think this Bitcoin thing is nothing but a ponzi scheme.
It’s all bs cooked up by some geeks.And the rw idjits are falling all over the place to get’em.
I think it was set-up by those twin brothers that hung out with the guy that started facebook.
I really don’t get the trust people have in Bitcoin. Digital files backed up by no government, traded only on trust. What can possibly go wrong with this? At least with dollars there is a tangible government to vouch for their value, and you can actually hold dollars in your hand. Digiital files can be modified or even erased with the right software and the wrong ethics. If a Bitcoin disappears, there is no replacing it. If my bank closes, the Government will replace what was in my account up to a certain point.
It’s all snake oil, carol. Losers are always born again.
Which is why I anticipate a crash when someone figures out how to game the system, convert it into dollars, and then it promply crashes, leaving everybody broke with no recourse. And the holders will have no recourse. Who do you go to?
It’s a Ponzi scheme, these guys are going for a money grab. As soon as they get enough investors to support the con, the original investors are going to jump out of the plane with a ton of money and leave all the suckers to go down in flames.
Banking with NO controls – and many times we have seen the result of that. Ponzi scheme where those in early take their money/goods and get out. Those who joined in later – lose.
Reminds me of Monopoly money. What a joke.
So many good things happening….That’s why I had to tell some folks on Twitter that when the MSM puts out concern troll articles with headlines like “Obama’s Year from Hell” they are not well-meaning at all, despite their purported agenda. Articles like that are designed to depress and demoralize PBO’s supporters, making them think that PBO has not gotten anything useful done all year. The premise of that article simply is not true. You call a historic deal in Iran “hell?” And despite the usual obstacles in passing domestic legislation like CIR, gun-control, etc., progress is being made on these fronts as well, even as we speak. GOP obstructionism is not new and was in effect since Jan 2009, so any article pretending that this just started in 2013 is transparently concern trolling!
Morning Joe used that term on his show, some hell, Presidents dream of having a “hell” like the one President Obama is having. Employment rating dropping, O’care signups going through the roof, and Speaker Jack “Boehner” Daniels has just hired an Immigration adviser.
I got it. Jack Daniels. 🙂 I am glad Boehner sign up for Obamacare cause he drinks, he smokes, and he’s head of a nutty right tea party wing and Obamacare covers all. Including mental health.
Wowsa, UT!! These are great statistics. Will Rt and post everywhere I can.
Bet it’s colder where Marilyn is.
Guess what you’re missing here. . .
Thank goodness it’s Friday! Today will be partly sunny but cold. The high temperature will be -2 with wind chill values between -11 and -21. There is a 20% chance of snow in the evening with a low around -16 degrees with wind chill values between -21 and -26. The wind will blow around 5 mph. On Saturday, there is a slight chance of snow. The high temperature will be 1 degree with wind chill values between -16 and -26 degrees. The overnight low will be -9 degrees. The wind will blow between 3 and 6 mph.
Bed and irish coffee for you.
Yes, I did go back to sleep. Don’t know what time I went to sleep. I woke up holding my iPad. 😆
By the way, were seeing a financial advisor today. No Bitcoins, whatever they are? I have googled them. 😉
Brrr. CarolMae! I know you are most used to cold weather, but in Cinci, we are looking at about a week of highs in the 20’s. It’s so cold that Santa doubled up on his long underwear and is carrying a flask of whiskey.
If I were Santa, I would too, but not whiskey, that doesn’t work like they say.
Thanks for thinking of me. In my snow skiing days I wore double silks long johns + outerwear. 😉 Having my coffee now.
Every time I see pics of snowmen like this, I remember the song “we’re walking in the air” I love that song 🙂
Glad you had a nice thought. 😆
I feel officially foolish for my whining about the “freeze” in Phoenix:) It’s freezing for US though…
You have every right to whine, when you’re cold, you’re cold. Some days you can take it better than other. 😉
Daniel Gross @grossdm 11m
————————————————————-
From 1/01 through 12/08 — the Bush years — private sector added 156,000 jobs. From 1/09 through 11.13 —
private sector added 3.86 m!
—————————————————————
From 1/01 through 12/08, had GW Bush painted those animals he has been portraying lately, the economy would have added thousand, no, millions of job. Job for anyone interested in buying then selling these chef d’oeuvres. No! He had to get into politics.
Here you go.
It is almost impossible to only add 156k jobs in 8 years in office. You would almost have to go out of your way to add such a miniscule amount.
It started with the job-killing tax cuts for the wealthy….
I love the cartoons of the Naked Pastor. This is his tribute to Mandela: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nakedpastor/2013/12/nelson-mandela-in-heaven/
I read on bj that many gop senators joined dems in vetoing punk raygun’s order on this. From that to now, wtf happened.
Why am I not surprise Grassley and Hatch names on the list. A#$holes then and now. Pardon my language
Mellesia, the only difference they are old,old A#$holes. I can’t get over that Saint Ronnie labell Mr. Mandela a terrorists.
Saint Ronnie would never do such a thing. Why Anniebella are you dragging the chosen one name through the mud. How dare you?
LOL @ “BoGate!”
Not to be outdone by “Sunnygate!”
Heh!! Actually I think he was thinking of Sunny — but used Bo to save on character space, while conveying the general idea. 🙂
hopefrut2, he left out Sunnygate. Issa said we can’t have Obama dogs attacking kids.
Anniebella you are killing me. lol
It’s gone international now.
Daniel Gross @grossdm
Awful lot of silence today from the Obamacare-is-killing-employment crowd.
16 minutes ago
That’s all I’m saying about that! Perfecto:)
Df, I’ve always appreciated this point. The weak man always has to prove how “manly” he is and can’t admit that a woman can be smarter, stronger and more talented than he is. A strong man welcomes every achievement and show of strength on the part of a woman. In the first case, the man always insists that the woman “stifle’ herself in one way or another so as not to outshine him. In the other, the woman can be fully herself and go as far as her talents will take her.
I think the word “handle” is misinterpreted in this tweet. It isn’t handle the woman but handle himself being with a strong woman. Not feeling threatened by her strength or feeling he has to prove himself, somehow, stronger than her.
Agreed:)
Yup I saw some tweets last night about Carrie Underwood’s terrible performance… while Audra was stellar as usual. As I’ve said many times before, I want Audra to play Michelle Obama (opposite Brian Mitchell Stokes who will play PBO) in the original Broadway musical version of “Obama!”
Holy Smokes HF2 she is phenomenal.
WOW donna..that was indeed amazing! I didn’t watch the show last night so I’m happy to see her perform that song here – thanks for posting!
Phenomenal! Perfect word to describe her! She truly is!
I watched and enjoyed it—–even though it was evident that the roles were selected for their vocal performance and not their acting abilities—–but I thought it was sweet and it was fun to see a remake of an old fave. Carrie carried the vocal part, but her acting was a little bit high school. And Audra’s “Climb Every Mountain” was so emotionally moving, worth the price of admission. Anyhoo——it was ambitious and I was happy to see it, more worthwhile than the usual junk. I hope they continue this same kind of quality effort.
I understand that Julie Andrews’ shoes are hard to fill by anyone, so I applaud Carrie for her courage in undertaking that role.
I watched about 20 minutes of it and was shocked at how awful Carrie Underwood was and how splenderous Audra McDonald performed. She is magnificent.
Yes, I think Carrie (and producers) probably overestimated her abilities, and when stacked against Julie Andrews of all people, oh dear…
Maybe Ms. Underwood can go back to singing jokes about Obamacare.
What a moving portrait!
Dems had better take heed…as amk indicated yesterday, McConnell’s Dem challenger is doing herself no favors by distancing herself from PBO and running away from OCare.
I listen to Kentucky Governor talking about the ACA, and I think we need folks like him to speak out more about the success they are having. And McTurtle’s Democratic challenger better be careful what she is doing.
Good Morning everybody.
I don’t like the “both sides do it” connotation of this tweet. The only thing that is small in the US congress today is the GOP opposing WHATEVER the administration does – because – black POTUS.
Good morning to all TODers. So many, many moving stories and photos about Mandiba. And so much good news on unemployment and ACA sign-ups. It’s overwhelming to take in all that is happening foreign and domestic.
I was doing some Googling to find out more about PBO’s encounter with Mandiba and was very surprised to learn the details. I found this article from last June. I didn’t know there was only one meeting that nearly didn’t happen. It really saddens me to know that PBO didn’t have more time with him. This is a very good read:
In Mandela, Obama Found a Beacon Who Inspired From Afar
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/world/africa/mandela-obama-africa.html
Great link Meta, thank you! I have something in R&S – which will be done in 17 minutes, 36 seconds – about their only meeting, but didn’t have that article – thanks again!
Oh, COOL, Chips. I look forward to it in 17ish.
Given that time call – have you been watching Mrs Bale in the UK TV series “As Time goes by” – one of my favorite series.
😆 That is definitely my clock!!!
Interesting article from the NYT…but i can’t helped but be dismayed by their need to “spank” the President…makes reading the article difficult…
“Like Mr. Mandela, who angered some black South Africans who wanted a more radical reordering of the country’s wealth, Mr. Obama has sometimes disillusioned his most ardent supporters”.
i think those who are disillusioned never were his supporters…i grow weary of this meme…
I want to know why this isn’t a bigger story to the media. Why aren’t they going out there finding people who would be cover by this Medicaid expansion and let them come on tv and tell their story. Oh, I know why. It wouldn’t be anything negative about Obamacare and they don’t give a dam about these people, just like the Republican Governors who is refusing the coverage for these people. It is all about politics. What a disgrace these Governors are and the media too.
What is the Ocare enrollments you expect by the time 2014 elections roll around?
Methinks about 10 million. Even if half of them bother to vote, gop is truly phucked. And I am not even considering gop party switchers, who got a good ACA deal.
That sounds like a reasonable number. Can I go with 10,000,001? 🙂 🙂 I have a good feeling about 2014.
Yes, You Can. Nice Palindrome. No, not the tundra twit.
Yikes. As way of apology for being a major space hog here with my 4 tweets, I wasn’t able to comment on the blog yesterday as Word Press had a good block and tackle going on me.
However, it was so nice reading all your lovely tributes to Mr. Mandela – you all are wonderful.
GM all.
I have deliberately stayed away from commenting on Mandela, not because I have no appreciation for who he was and what he did, but rather both who he was and what he did are beyond my ability to pay tribute to.
I first heard about him about the same time I was reading Patton’s Cry, The Beloved Country. Looking back, it was like it was fated the two would happen together. Here I was reading, and being deeply influenced by, a book that exposed the worse of the apartheid system while along came a person who was willing to sacrifice everything to bring it to an end.
I remember being aghast at the hatred I heard expressed whenever his name was mentioned and the open support for the system of apartheid. Remember, this was during the Civil Rights era here and I was old enough to recognize that part of the support for apartheid was a defense of this country’s segregation policies. I think many were so against Mandela because they knew that if South Africa was able to end its racist approach to existence then the US would be at the forefront of nations that deliberately and maliciously oppressed a major segment of its population.
LL made a comment last night about how in SA they were celebrating his life, not mourning his loss. And that is the way it should be. The man gave so much of himself not for his own glory, which I think matter not one whit to him, but for the welfare of his people. And by “his people” I mean the people of SA, not matter what their color or religion was. He knew that oppression impacts both the oppressed and the oppressors in negative ways. He was never into revenge for prior wrongs but rather about having all move forward. Considering all that was done to him, that may well be his greatest legacy.
japa…..I have just finished teaching (again) Cry, the Beloved Country in my Comp I class…..two students presented a powerpoint about Mandela’s life on Tuesday. The timing was wonderful to me.
I first read the book when I was a senior in high school, in the late 1950s. I was never able to escape the book, so when I taught in college, I took that opportunity to explore that book and the issues with my students. It is a rich read, written two years before the official imposition of apartheid.
I also, feel inadequate in this situation, but have appreciated everything written here and in other places. This man was truly a giant in the world.
There is a line in Cry, the Beloved Country which always startles me when I read it, and appreciate how Mandela kept the awful from happening.
Toward the end of the book, another priest, Msimangu, dedicates his life to prayer for his country, and tells Rev. Kumalo, the protagonist of the story, that his one great fear is that “When they are turned to loving, we will have turned to hating.” Mandela had a very large influence in preventing that from happening…..the power of one good, dedicated life is incalculable.
I highly recommend reading this book for anyone interested in background on Mandela’s life and apartheid. Also, the movie from 1995, starring James Earl Jones is superb, though it did not do well at the box office. I show it after we finish reading. There is hardly a dry eye in the class.
For some reaswon which I have never figured out, I was chosen to speak at our HS commencement which was mid-60’s. I spoke about things happening in the country and I closed with a quotation from the book. I will have to reread it. I just remember how much it impacted me.
Thank you, japa for your brilliant piece. I am so honored and very blessed to be in the space of so many wonderful and gifted writers, thinkers, and intellectual givers of knowledge. What a blessed time to be in all of my TOD family. You lift me up to a beautiful place as well.HZ
Look I’m still not threw with Phil Griffin about them getting rid of Martin Bashir. He has to hear from me.
The right wing haters said whatever they want, lie their freaking racists asses off about this President, but they don’t get fired or nothing.
Just a gentle ‘minder for those who are able, and need a little holiday reprieve. Tonight is the annual National Christmas Tree lighting with President Obama, First Family and many other entertainers. It won’t be carried on TV, but will be livestreamed on this site. 🙂
http://thenationaltree.org/
At a later date in the next week or two, PBS stations will carry the taped event, so check your local listings if you aren’t able to see it live tonight.
Thanks for the info hopefruit2, what time.
The livestreaming will begin at 4:30PM Eastern Time. 🙂
Here are some more details:
http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/167-december/11161-president-obama-and-first-family-to-light-the-national-christmas-tree-december-6-2013-from-presidents-park
But, but, but NBC told me that consumer confidence was very low and folks were not shopping….
Everybody bought laptops ONLINE to shop ONLINE. (Although I had a meeting out in the suburbs this week – Schaumburg_ and had to go to lunch at Woodfield Mall which was right next door. The huge damn mall was PACKED on a Tuesday afternoon with people fighting over parking spots. Not kidding. So people still go to the mall….
Indeed, forus50. There were reports all over the country of people setting up in tents in front of certain stores up to 10 days before Black Friday. And like you said, the malls were packed.
Nelson Mandela. Rest in peace.
Via BJ – I found Reagan arguing against sanctions against SA in 1986 – video on c-span
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SouthAfrica9
ANY slip in a speech by President Obama is attacked forever by the GOP. Apart from the nonsense spoken by Reagan in this speech – he started with the comment
“If South America wishes to belong to the family of Western Nations an end to apartheid is a precondition.” Simple misspeak – but I can’t help but think it described well his complete misunderstanding of the reality of South Africa – How did he get to be President?
99ts, don’t dare talk like that about Peggy Noonan Saint Ronnie.
LOL anniebella – a 2 bit actor is the one they all adore – shows up their terrible taste
Rise and Shine!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/06/rise-and-shine-689/