USA Today: Obama selection of Billie Jean King for Sochi ‘genius’
President Obama’s selection of Billie Jean King for the official U.S. delegation to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games is a stroke of genius.
What better way to show the nation’s disgust for President Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay propaganda law than for Obama to send an American cultural icon and sports legend who also happens to be openly gay?
More here
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Snowdenski’s boss hears President Obama is sending Billie Jean King to Sochi pic.twitter.com/ltG1lslNIP
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) December 18, 2013
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WH.gov: President Obama Announces Presidential Delegations to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games
President Barack Obama today announced the designation of Presidential Delegations to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russian Federation.
Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
The Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russian Federation will be held on February 7, 2014.
The delegation will attend athletic events, meet with U.S. athletes, and attend the Opening Ceremony.
The Honorable Janet A. Napolitano, President of the University of California, will lead the delegation.
The Honorable Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
The Honorable Robert L. Nabors, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
The Honorable Billie Jean King, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mr. Brian A. Boitano, Olympic gold medalist, figure skating.
Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
The Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russian Federation will be held on February 23, 2014.
The delegation will attend athletic events, meet with U.S. athletes, and attend the Closing Ceremony.
The Honorable William J. Burns, Deputy Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.
The Honorable Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Ms. Bonnie Blair, five-time Olympic gold medalist and one-time bronze medalist, speed skating.
Ms. Caitlin Cahow, Olympic silver medalist and bronze medalist, women’s ice hockey.
Dr. Eric Heiden, five-time Olympic gold medalist, speed skating.
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No, PBO sending Billie Jean King to Sochi isn’t “genius”, it’s OFF THE SCALE MAGNIFICENT! http://t.co/6ag3iEnW5a pic.twitter.com/p68LX4z62A
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) December 18, 2013
The Obama Diary 
Hello Chips and TOD Fam!!
Helloooooooo Allison and COS – and everyone!
Hey Chips and Danny.
hay cos
Total genius.
great move, mr. president!
I will cherish this particular delicious decision of our President for just how profoundly deep he stuck the knife into Putin!!
I hope that he manages to twist that knife, too:) Often.
For Putin. H/T BJ….I hope the USA kicks ass and takes names!
😀 I’ll give it a twist or two of my own, df, just to be helpful 😉
https://twitter.com/Our4thEstate/status/413141170156339200
Corrected the Putin address …
https://twitter.com/Our4thEstate/status/413142235589271552
typo corrected …. I clearly need some food and rest 😀 😀
*cult of self-loathing twerps & traitors*
More brilliance!
Thank you Jacqueline!! Very kind of you.
#FORWARD Together
Very brilliant of you, Bob!
President Obama is always a step ahead of the haters!!! #ChessMove
this totally cracks me up. look at the grin on this puppy! 😀
LOL! I love this.
People just will Never learn what President Barack Obama is made of. President Obama is always a whole highway ahead of these people. Remember that, Mr. Putin. I love my president.HZ
This!!!
I used to say “10 steps ahead” but you rocked it with “a whole highway ahead,” HZ!!!!! He’s been a whole highway ahead since he first started to get involved in benefiting the community ~ whether it was a local, state, national or global community. I love my president, too.
COS and jaacquelineoboomer, I think we can take our gospel on the road for these late get to know this president.! Love you all.HZ
So freaking true!
You rock HZ, you are so totally right about our fabulous president!
I am so happy that bridge gate has gotten legs in the press. 🙂 Christie is a bully.
Agree that Boitano and King are excellent ambassadors to Sochi.
Boitano’s father was a Vice President at the company I worked for back in the 1980s when Brian was winning all sorts of medals and awards. Still remember loving the Olympic competition between the “two Brians — Boitano and Orser” back then, loved Orser’s routine to the TMBG’s Constantinople.
Love that Napolitano is getting a perk for for putting up with so much crap from the RWNJs while she was DHS Secretary.
Feeling ignored on the last thread, so I’ll repeat myself.
1) Barbara Walters needs to be called out and raked over the coals for calling our President a failure on Piers Morgan (didn’t see her, just going by @JeffersonObama’s tweet, posted by HF2). She cooed how the MOST INTERESTING President was some vacuous response from Reagan from one of her many interviews. (This on a program that was sold as an “exclusive” interview with the President and First Lady, where she attacked POTUS for not being trustworthy — how he handles his answers with aplomb is beyond me).
2) Am I the only one who thinks Marissa Mayer looks like Scarlett Johansson? When I glimpse her photo on a web page, at first I think it’s Scarlett. Admittedly, I walked out of The Usual Suspects because I couldn’t tell the white men talking (which was pretty much the whole movie) apart.
My message to Ms Greenspan ….
https://twitter.com/Our4thEstate/status/413134813285994499
#FORWARD
I’m confused…Ms Greenspan is Andrea Mitchell. The OTHER cackling idiot.
just noticed as I was leaving to prepare dinner, df … more evidence of why you shouldn’t tweet when exhausted and hungry … though I do find the two of them interchangeable vile hacks …
They are very similar indeed.
He screwed Babs and married Andrea…
Ms. Walters and Mrs. Greenspan need to go sit in a corner and STHU. Their speech toward this president is long passed their bedtime. Ghost stories. King Ronnie needs to rest. Let him be. HZ
*Ghost stories*
Never saw it put that way before, especially about King Ronnie’s acclaim, but you are so very correct!!!!!!!!!! And this month, they’re like the ghosts of Christmas past. Eek.
Love you, jacquelineoboomer!HZ
Love you back, HZ!
Barbara Walters is the PERFECT embodiment of the snobbish, white privileged republicans who have nothing but contempt for people who are not “like them”.
Folks, I have to tell you, the past five years have been a real eye opener for me. I didn’t know the level of moral and intellectual corruption in the media was so high.
Hearing about Barbara Walters’s comments, it reminds me of what Andrew Sullivan wrote about Ron Fournier and the Village today:
“Like many other veterans of the Village, the former McCain supporter, Ron Fournier, has never liked the Obama era. Its implicit repudiation of so much that came before still rankles many in the capital’s permanent chattering and political class. And so Fournier’s dogged and constant attempts to drag this presidency to the low levels of its predecessor are not exactly surprising. But the latest is a classic, down to its melodramatic title: “This Is The End Of The Presidency.” The thesis is that Bush and Obama are essentially the same failures in the same way and for the same reasons. And when the analogies are laid out as an analogy as far as it can … well, it’s so preposterous and lazy an argument it beggars belief.”
(the whole article: http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/12/17/fournier-digs-in/)
So, we now know what’s the latest delusional idea circulating among republican salons these days. No question where Barbara Walters takes her “idea” from.
Republicans have a pathological desire to see President Obama “fail” in a big way. It’s in part the usual crap: we’ve observed in the last decades that republicans are much more vicious partisans than democrats and always root for the failure of a democratic president. the other part ? In my opinion, their eagerness to declare the Obama presidency a failure is also rooted in the total humiliation they endured with the Bush presidency. “THEIR” guy will go down as one of the worst presidents in history. And now, Bush’s successor isn’t only a democrat, but a BRILLIANT one; someone who is LOVED and RESPECTED all over the world. Someone who is making positive changes, despite all the obstacles thrown in his way.
Republicans just can’t cope with that. And they’re becoming pathetic with their delusions.
Amk, apparently, Sarah Palin never read Article VI, paragraph 3, of the United States Constitution, which is “the Supreme Law of the land.” Here is what it explicitly says:
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath, or affirmation to support this Constitution; BUT NO RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER BE REQUIRED AS A QUALIFICATION TO ANY OFFICE OR PUBLIC TRUST UNDER THE UNITED STATES.”
It’s really sad that this uninformed woman is taken seriously by the media and the so called political pundits.
Nath, remember this witch cannot even remember what magazines she reads. Lord, please do not allow her to even try to find the United States Constitution.HZ
tundra twit never studied anything in her life, nath. She is just a racist rabble rouser. mccain’s permanent shame mark.
Please sign and pass along Senator Warren’s petition for the Equal Employment Act for All. Pass it on!
http://my.elizabethwarren.com/page/s/creditreportbill#.UrEVR9JDtKI
************************PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE SIGN AND PASS ALONG************************
HZ and DF had a conversation earlier about a couple of House GOP Reps who said they will not seek re-election next year.
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HZ:
Has anyone heard that Tom Latham of Iowa (R) is retiring and will not run in 2014? Also Frank Wolf of VA? Both these districts POB won. That will be two House Republican seats in play for Dems. This can be of great importance. I received an email today.HZ
desertflower:
Evening, HZ…I posted about Wolf this morning…had no idea about Latham. Could be a twofer!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/17/obamacare-working-as-promised/#comment-910421
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Back in Feb, the National Journal published an article “Vulnerable [House] Republicans Side With Dems to Reauthorize VAWA.”
Here are the 16 House Republicans from districts Obama carried in 2012:
CA Jeff Denham, David Valadao, and Gary Miller
CO Mike Coffman
FL Bill Young and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
IA Tom Latham
MN John Kline and Erik Paulsen
NV Joe Heck
NJ Frank LoBiondo Jon Runyan
NY Michael Grimm, Christopher Gibson
VA Scott Rigell
WA Dave Reichert
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Also vulnerable are 2 House Republicans who represent the two districts Romney won most narrowly, also voted for the VAWA reauthorization.
NY Peter King
PA Mike Fitzpatrick
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I’m not sure about Frank Wolf in VA (never heard of him until today), but as we move forward into 2014 that the 18 GOP reps listed above are looking over their shoulders, concerned about potential Dem challengers.
P.S. Apparently Ron Fournier is doing a purge to the website (joke), because it’s no longer available (at least to me, the least techie person around). The URL in Feb was http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2013/02/vulnerable-republicans-side-with-dems-to-reauthorize-vawa-28
Jon Runyuan is, also, not running. The Co-leader of my OFA group is going to be leading the campaign for her friend that is going to run for his seat.
Any news on the confirmation of the other two DC circuit court judges?
Amk, as far as I know, Patricia Millett and Cornelia both were confirmed by the Senate. I am not sure about Mr. Wilkins.HZ
Thanks HZ.
Fair warning … you need to be prepared when you watch this … prepared meaning plenty of tissues and aware of those around you …
Love all of you, TOD.
bbl … time to prepare some dinner …
Yes We Can
I’ve soured in my opinion about Apple and their products over the years due to the declining quality and longevity of their ipod/iphones. Not to mention they’ve lost the “exclusivity” that made them such a hot commodity because of how their products are sold any and everywhere now (i.e Walmart, Virgin Mobile, etc). This is huge for me because before I would not ponder getting ANY other brand but Apple. Now, not so much
But I will say they have maintained their ability to make excellent commercials. You get the sense that iPods/iPhones bring people together and it gives you a good feeling.
Brilliant.
Thanks for the laughs, amk!
Do you know why the dog’s nose is cold? The dog’s nose is cold because once upon a time, a very long, long time ago, Dog and Cat got into a fight and cat put a flask of meat filled with ice to trap dog. Dog stuck his head into the flask but a bit of hard ice got stuck on his nose and he couldn’t remove it. And that’s why the dog’s nose is cold.
🙂 🙂 🙂
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I tweeted in one of my lucid moments:
I read on the last thread you have an upper respiratory infection. Hope you feel better soon.
Damn Neanderthals treated their own better than Republicans treat people!!
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/12/17/neanderthals-caredforelderlyburieddeadevidenceshows.html
Go, Neanderthals! Oh, I guess they did go. 🙂
Night all….if I told you about my day, you would think I was making it up….seriously.
G’nite df. Sleep tite! Don’t let Barbara Walters bite!
Well, I can see the anti-cat part of amk is in full swing tonight.
For those in the southern hemisphere, you get to look forward to a blazing summer just getting underway.
“Almost every region was warmer than usual, with a few exceptions: The central and eastern portions of North America, the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, northern Australia and southwestern Greenland were cooler than average. Meanwhile, Russia had its warmest November since 1880, with some areas seeing temperatures 14 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) above average, according to NOAA.”
Heh !!!
Hmmm….oh dear — since I don’t watch MSNBC, I didn’t see Lawrence’s segment. But I’m reading from others about it”
I sent Barbara Walters a email. I sent it to the View. Now I want to email Piers Morgan.
Thank you. Call ’em out.
I told her that this President has done a dam good job for this country, considering all the racism he has had to put up with. This country is in better shape then it was when Barack Obama took over the disaster G.W. Bush left him, and it would be alot better if it wasn’t for the racists obstruction of the tea Republican Party. So for anyone to call this President a failure, it makes you wonder about the person calling him a failure. Like you Barbara, one thing is clear you Ms. Walters have hung around long past your time. It is past time for you to retire. Neither President Obama or First Lady Obama are failures. And when history is written no one will remember who the hell Duck Dynasty is. Make you wonder about someone calling them fascinating.
I said more, but I won’t tell all I did say. I tried to be respect to the old senile woman.
It is time for her to go! Failure? He save the American automobile industry, ended 2 wars, prevented another, passed healthcare legislation, 2 women placed on the Supreme Court, ended DADT, DOMA, threw support to gay marriage, supports women’s rights, opened talks with Iran, has turned the economy around, new gas milage standards with the USA now importing less oil than ever ..and oh yea…had that guy Osama Bin laden taken out. Where is the failure? She is a failure and needs to retire.
Brilliant, anniebella!
Annibella, she is such a failure. Her affair with the late Sen. Edwards is proof who is “trustworthy”. She knew he was married. I wish somebody would interview her old ass before she leaves and ask her about that.
Why is she still here, anyway? I cannot stand to hear her voice. They should arrest her for stealing WH property. She has to retire soon before she runs out of people to interview which is mostly being nosy and personal.
YES!!!!!
You got that right!
Simply the best.
Better than all the rest.
At least the title of this, I dedicate to President Obama! The rest of it I dedicate to everybody who knows they’re simply the best, in whatever fashion!
jacquel, that is also my song that i use for FLOTUS, She’s Simply the Best by Tina Turner. 🙂
Yes, our beautiful FLOTUS certainly is SIMPLY THE BEST!
Great piece! Thanks for sharing it, JER.
Ha ha… let’s send this to Ron Fournier, Barbara Walters and Co.
Alert the WHPC, especially Ed ‘Cheshire Cat’ Henry who yesterday said to Jay Carney that President Obama’s poll numbers were worst than Nixon and GWB at this time in their presidencies. Imagine that. Meanwhile, President Obama has a list of accomplishments as long as my arm that the media constantly ignores. It’s pathetic that the facts just don’t fit the narrative they want to portray. Let’s see how many Democrats show up on the cable shows to crow about this article.
Ladyhawke – I’m so nauseated by the WHPC and the rest of the cable “news” media … you should see me dive-bomb for the remote every time one of them starts up with that “unpopular President” meme. I cannot stand them!!!!
As far as Democrats who will show up to crow about this positive article? I won’t hold my breath.
Other than that, enjoy your day! 🙂
Sandra is still going strong. Love that.
Okay, this is amazing. I often wonder how the ancient ones grappled with some of these natural phenomena, without having Twitter around to explain what the lights are!
In a past trip to Alaska I’ve seen lights like that. Seems like it was in Nov. near the town of Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula.
Fabulous, Bill R! That’s quite the sight to see.
Will post this again sometime tomorrow, 18 Dec 2013, and may post the message many more times in the days and weeks ahead ….
#EmpathyOverGreed is the ONLY way America can be the “Promise” it aspires to be and the ONLY way our species has any chance of persistence. That is fact, not kumbaya goody hyperbole. Just hard, cold fact.
By my calculation it’s almost 7am in the Eastern parts of the USA – hope it is a great get up and go day in your world. We were out and about doing Christmassy things with daughter and grandbabe – ignoring the doom and gloom being preached by the politicians – and our life is much better for these happenings.
While attempting to keep the little one in place when waiting for lunch (I do understand why fast food & children go together) – she headed off out of my reach and almost collided with elderly gentleman carrying 2 large drinks. He was not amused, I was full of unaccepted apologies and the little one was full of life and laughs – oh dear.
Ha. Luckily, you were with the “full of life” granddaughter and not the grumpy gus with the 2 large drinks! Most people will excuse the little ones, but too bad he didn’t.
I think he was imagining the disaster if he had lost them – I was just thankful to catch her before she bowled him over. I thought it was a child friendly restaurant and was surprised that this was not the case.
As you say – most people are accepting that little ones won’t sit quietly for very long. Anyhow – all was OK & we had a great day
Excellent!
Mooooooorning Early Birds!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/18/early-bird-chat-106/