President Barack Obama speaks on extending unemployment insurance benefits
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Unemployed single mother Katherine Hackett of Moodus, Ct., introduces U.S. President Barack Obama before he urged Congress to act and extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits
Thanks , UT, got back too late to see the live comments and hoped to get another chance. Looks like we’ll need to start working the phones when the UI extension gets to the House. It’s heartbreaking to think how many people would find their lives made easier if we got 17 more seats in the House this November. We can do this.
My little yorkie will boss everyone around! And to think when we adopted her, she had lived her entire 7 years of life in a cage as a puppy mill breeder. Never doubt the power of love, and the strength of a dog’s ability to ‘move forward’. She’s an absolute gem.
Kasper was mad I didn’t let him eat the FedEx driver, delivering Mr. 57’s roof rake (maybe THAT will keep him off the damn roof in snow and rain!). Kasper is also mad that he can’t go out every 20 minutes like he’s used to. We’re tired of crawling over snow drifts to pull him out when his little legs freeze up. Suffice it to say – the floor needed serious mopping anyway.
A surprising step forward for unemployment benefits
By Greg Sargent
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But nonetheless, this is a step forward, and suggests at least some Republicans sense the politics shifting on the issue.
Republicans are clearly recasting their opposition to the extension as one that’s all about fiscal responsibility, and not about ideological opposition to extending the program, one grounded in various iterations of the idea, as Paul Ryan has put it, that the safety net is a “hammock that lulls able-bodied people into lives of dependency.”
Rand Paul has already softened his opposition after claiming an extension would be a “disservice” to the long-term unemployed. And take a look at the imagery in this press release from back in October, from GOP Rep. Dave Camp, the powerful chairman of the Ways and Means Committee:
I wonder if Paul Ass Ryan remembers that exemplary document known as THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT!! I have a beautiful poster of it, maybe I should scan and send to bt’s for posting here! That might remind people it’s been since September 2010. GOP have never given it a thought. Eff’ers!
Hi MightyPamela. It was listed at AmericanJobsAct.Com. I have a copy here on my shelf. You think that might help? It is a blue and white booklet. Right? HZ
Layla, please help me, if you do not mind. I noticed while Ms. Hackett was speaking this morning about her conditions that she looked very pale and maybe lack of minerals and nutrients from certain foods. I only raise this question because I have seen my hair colour change, my bone structure change, and my skin pigment(in cold and warm weather) change drastically because I had a great break off in my appetite.
I was so upset watching Ms. Hackett speak because she said she has had to cut back in so many ways with food and heat. Please excuse my choice of words, this shit really hurts so much. I will help GOTV along with all of our family here to fight to get these evil hearts out of Congress in 2014. This is so hateful, simply because of who is in the Oval Office. So upsetting. HZ
Your concern is justified HZ! Ms Hackett does look undernourished with serious lack of restorative sleep! skin color, sunken eyes, thinning hair…also I see an excessive amount of stress on her face! It simulates the look of a person with cancer! I sincerely hope that is not the case! Hope this helps. And yes, all of this because of who is in the Oval Office! They will get theirs one day HZ, I hope sooner rather than later! THIS WILL LITTERALLY KILL SOME PEOPLE! My heart is breaking along with PBO’s!
TY, Layla. It does hurt because Ms. Hackett is one of millions. You know Layla, I have seen many hateful people get theirs even some who did their hatefulness towards me personally. I pray everyday for justice to be rendered to all of the hateful people who are acting so evil in their actions toward POB, but one thing I do know for sure; these people will get their rewards. I have been through so much of the same hellish things that POTUS and FLOTUS (in a different setting), but I saw justice to those people even as I am living today. HZ.
Oh HZ! My heart is aching! I try to always look for the positive like our President does but the hurt in his eyes really got to me today. Let’s all join the President’s beautiful soul and HOPE! God be with you HZ!
Well, speaking from my experience as a child with a single Mom, when we were in desperate straights financially and there was little or no food on the table, you get malnourished, thin, and sick.
Exactly Bill R. And those in Congress sitting in that room surely saw for themselves. It just puts me off when these people know that so many are suffering right before their eyes, and they will not work harder alongside of the president to get this done. It is just not right.HZ
The Problem With The Republican Antipoverty Agenda Is That It Doesn’t Exist
By Josh Barro
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Broadly there are two poverty problems in the United States. One is a cyclical trend: The labor market has been slack for the last five years, leaving many people involuntarily unemployed and limiting workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages. The other is secular: Labor’s share of national income is declining, wages are rising more slowly for low-skilled workers than high-skilled ones, and rises in family income at the bottom have come primarily through fiscal transfers, not wages.
These problems require different solutions, and Republican ideas don’t address either.
How Democrats Can Force Republicans to Help the Unemployed
By Jonathan Chait
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But as it happens, the Democrats have leverage because Republicans are about to pull out the credit card and pass one of the policies they care about: the farm bill. Agriculture subsidies are a huge, bloated entitlement that shouldn’t exist at all on the merits, but Republicans like them because they benefit rich white people (or, to put it more charitably, their constituents). Many of us have thought Congress has to pass a farm bill because, otherwise, milk prices will go through the roof, and all sorts of goofy things will happen. Martha White suggests that this isn’t true: “Even under a worst-case scenario in which the government paid twice as much to dairy farmers as they do now, we’d be talking about $5.25 milk, not $8.” There’s no need to pass a farm bill at all.
I was watching the View this morning and I heard that Barbara Walters say something about how the Democrats and Republicans are both to blame for the dysfunction in D.C. And I had to email her and remind her that it was the Republicans and Republicans only who said that they wanted this President to fail, it was the Republicans who was having meetings before this President walk into that Oval office, about how they were not going to compromise or work with him. So for you to sit up there saying both sides are to blame, Ms. Walters you are lying.
Thank you for responding to her foolishness.. I wish that everyone who watched her would do as you did Anniebella.
This is exactly why people are so ignorant of the facts as to why this government is dysfunctional. The old both sides do it meme allows these tv personalities (which is also what those cable TV hosts on CNN and MSNBC are) to safe face and keep them in the Republicans good graces. They all make me sick!!!
AB, it’s great you responded to BW, but as that woman is nearing retirement this spring (it’s about time!) she’s showing her true colors with all subtlety or attempts at neutral disguise forgotten. She used to be a little bit better about hiding her Republican bias so she wouldn’t limit her ability to interviews. Now that she’s letting all the ugly hang out, she’s become less relevant than ever. I look forward to the day when she rides into the sunset and takes her nasty little biases with her.
Donna, as newly minted grandmothers you and I both know how much we want this world to be a better place for the little ones. A big component of that “better place” is to restore a sense of community to our country. The GOP has done everything it can in the last 40 years to turn people against each other and to promote an “I’ve got mine” attitude. This attitude leads us to a dismal future where only those that already have, get. The single biggest contribution PBO has made to all of us is to recall us to the sense of family, community and mutual responsibility that is our only hope for a better future for our children. Any political candidate who does NOT support the building of community has to be jeered from the public stage. From now on, a politician must either stand for all of us or stand alone.
Republicans join the income inequality bandwagon with post-truth spin (updated)
by Nancy LeTourneau
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In its current form, these Republican leaders think they can talk about income inequality and reducing poverty even as they propose policies that would decimate the very programs that have worked. In other words, its the exact same agenda Mitt Romney was promoting when he so blithely dismissed 47% of us in the 2012 election. Talk about trying to put lipstick on a pig!
One way to look at this is that the Democrats have clearly won the battle over the playing field. If everyone is going to join in embracing the ultimate goal of reducing income inequality, then it becomes a disagreement over strategies. That is a very different kind of politics than what we’ve been seeing with total obstruction and a post-policy emphasis. In many ways it feeds right into the kind of conversation President Obama has been suggesting for a very long time.
More from Smartypants….
In short, Republicans have mastered post-truth politics. They’ve realized that their rhetoric doesn’t have to bear any connection to their policy agenda. They can go through different slogans, different rationales, different fights, depending on the political landscape of the moment. They need not feel bound by previous slogans, rationales, or fights.
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that is because the media does not do their job…it is as Chuck Todd said…it is not my job to call out the lies of the GOP…
AS CONGRESS DEBATES EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS……
FLASHBACK: AMERICAN JOBS ACT OVERVIEW – SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
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The American people understand that the economic crisis and the deep recession weren’t created overnight and won’t be solved overnight. The economic security of the middle class has been under attack for decades. That’s why President Obama believes we need to do more than just recover from this economic crisis – we need to rebuild the economy the American way, based on balance, fairness, and the same set of rules for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street. We can work together to create the jobs of the future by helping small business entrepreneurs, by investing in education, and by making things the world buys. The President understands that to restore an American economy that’s built to last we cannot afford to outsource American jobs and encourage reckless financial deals that put middle class security at risk.
To create jobs, the President unveiled the American Jobs Act – nearly all of which is made up of ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and that Congress should pass right away to get the economy moving now. The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit.
Heads up: WaPo has just published hit piece on PBO for lack of commitment to Afghanistan, distrust of
Military, controlling WH policies. He hates VP Biden, loves SOS Clinton.
It doesn’t have anything to do with sanity. It has to do with perception. The media drums up these stories to keep people who don’t know any better thinking negatively about this administration. This is the medias goal for 2014. It just makes our job a lot harder (not impossible) when we are constantly swatting flies instead of speaking to policy.
Anniebella, you are correct. It is BS. POB likes team players. And if those who are working for him do not show that team player action, he does not tolerate their stay. Believe me on this.
All of this crap is to take up space in the more important work that has to get done for us. POB is not one to tolerate drama. Not at all. HZ
Here is the next negative story that will fill cable for the remainder of the month. Those of you who watch cable can expect Woodward to be all over cable with this crap!
Obamacare is working so on to the next issue. This crap is endless!!!
Robert Gates issues harsh critique of Obama in new book http://t.co/VggIFmK5Am by Bob Woodward
As LL so plainly tweeted: Camel and Needle, camel and needle. Pretty sure the pearly gates (no pun!) do not swing open to those who try to enter missing their own Soul!!
I have one comment: If Gates and others wish to stay indefinitely in Afghanistan and in other countries, they should feel welcome to do so and at their own expenses. I don’t care if those warmongers want another war. It should be under their own names and paid for with their checking accounts. I applaud the President for wanting at all costs to get out of those f***ing wars. Who is really benefitting from them? Not the wounded warriors, not the dead troops, not the USA. It is a small faction that profits from these endless wars. And If the disloyal Gates wants to continue any war, he should board his own ship and sail on the Atlantic. Fool!
Perfectly said. No-one, no country is benefitting from the endless fighting.
Iraq had problems in 2002 – now they are a country decimated by 10 years of war – internal strife showing no sign of abating.
Even Russia (USSR as it was) had the sense to give up in Afghanistan – but RW supporters of the lies of GWB – they want young American men/women to go to these hell holes where all sides of the country hate them & give up their lives for the insanity of the few. And when they survive and come home – the thanks they get from the GOP is words without actions.
We quote the words of war leaders like Churchill, Roosevelt and Eisenhower – “we shall fight on, we shall never surrender” – do they think other nations feel differently about outside invaders? The ONLY reason Japan & Germany surrendered in WWII – they were flattened – and it took the horrors of the atom bomb for the Japanese leaders to face reality.
Those who speak/write about continuing these wars are looking for a single result – the protection of their own disastrous legacy while attempting to get history to blame President Obama for every failing of the Bush administration.
Ben Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser, reminded the NYT of the administration’s record of engagement and successes in the region, but noted an uncomfortable truth: “It’s not in America’s interests to have troops in the middle of every conflict in the Middle East, or to be permanently involved in open-ended wars in the Middle East.”
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But what the last several years should have made clear is that U.S. officials cannot control developments throughout the region – and when they try, the results can be catastrophic.
Indeed, one of the common threads connecting much of the recent criticism of the administration is the vague suggestion that the president should do … something. What? That’s less clear, though invasions are presumably part of the critics’ intended solution.
IF THEY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT END OUR COMBAT MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY SHOULD SAY SO.
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling 01/06/14
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Q John McCain, Lindsay Graham, and some others say that some of what is happening on the ground in Iraq is a consequence of the U.S. completely pulling out. And they say that the administration should learn a lesson from that and not go to the so-called zero option in Afghanistan. Is the President looking at what’s happening in Iraq and applying that to his decision making on Afghanistan in any way?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I would say a couple of things about that. I don’t think — I’ve heard members of Congress suggest this, but if members were suggesting that there should be American troops fighting and dying in Fallujah today, they should say so. The President doesn’t believe that. If they believe that we should not end our combat mission in Afghanistan, they should say so.
Now, the President, when it comes to Afghanistan, has made clear that he believes we should and can have a continuing mission there focused solely on training Afghan troops and counterterrorism. But being able to do that and fulfill that requires the Afghan government to sign the bilateral security agreement and they have not done so. And as each day passes, it becomes harder to plan with our NATO allies for a post-2014 mission because we can’t do that without a BSA that’s signed after it’s been negotiated. And as you know, there were commitments by the Afghan government to complete that by the end of the year.
This looks to me like Woodward, as is his habit, is going out of his way to slant this review as anti-PBO. I see he was forced to also admit that Gates also had praise for Obama’s Afghanistan policies, which Woodward called “surprising”. He included the Gates quote, “I believe Obama was right in each of his (Afghanistan) decisions.”
And some of the other stuff that Woodward concentrated on, that Gates saying his outward pleasant demeanor was misleading, that he was often “seething” underneath——that’s just Gates getting right with his buds in the Pentagon, who were probably criticizing him for what appeared to be a good relationship with Obama——they wanted more war stuff!—–and for all those visuals of Gates looking at PBO in what was obviously admiration.
And by the way, I think a huge majority of the public agree with PBO on Afghanistan as it was described in this book. He was “all about getting out.” Yes please.
Glates should have resigned early on if he found the situation so untenable. He obviously wasn’t valuable, and obviously the president’s decisions were the right ones, not his. Another SOD who thinks he should have been president, and chafes under the civilian control of the military. This kind of thing just Isn’t done. Shows what he is…….Obama thought he was doing a good thing by keeping him on for continuity, then this guy stabs him in the back. Shameful! No honor, whatsoever.
Gates hated Biden, PBO didn’t. In fact, Gates sounds like a bitter old man from the excerpt I read. Basically, he was mad that the White House controlled policy, and he didn’t. He wanted to be like Rumsfeld and control policy.
Well said, Carolyn. “I want to wind down this horrible war in Iraq, start pulling out of Afghanistan, and by the way I want you, Bob, to know how much I hate Joe Biden.” Yeah, I’m sure he chose him to confide in.
There really is no honor among Republicans. From Jon Huntsman to Robert Gates. As I said in a post a while back: There are no moderate Republicans. Obama has made them all deranged.
“But Gates says he did not speak his mind when the committee chairman listed the problems he would face as secretary. “I remember sitting at the witness table listening to this litany of woe and thinking, “What the hell am I doing here? I have walked right into the middle of a category-five shitstorm. It was the first of many, many times I would sit at the witness table thinking something very different from what I was saying.” The man is either two-face, or had multiple personalities. I simply hope he is not a mole.
He should have spoken his mind then, and not taken the job. And if it was so awful, he should have resigned a few months into PBO’s term. Not honorable at all!!!
He would have never resigned! How on Earth would he find the material for his book? He needed to be on the “inside” so that he can speak as someone with insight. With these people, it is all about self-promotion, ego, and making money.
NCLB, it seems in this statement that Gates is a coward. If you don’t agree with something, say so and resign if need be. Don’t go trying to smear your employer after you leave. The military brass would like nothing more than continual warfare. It makes for bloated budgets and for continued self-importance. Our constitution puts the control of the military under the civilian Commander in Chief for a reason–so that we don’t have an out-control military presence that threatens our democracy. If Gates doesn’t like that, he can join Snowden in a more military focused society. As for the BS about Biden, that is a blatant attempt to undermine our VP in 2016 and promote Hillary. Gates sounds like a nasty specimen.
So on point, jaciegrumbacher. I liked Gates at one point until I realized that he needed something to write any book about his time with this administration, so there goes the unpleasant words flying. But look who is still there as VP with President Barack Obama. VP Biden is still there, and where are the other guys speaking out so. Gavel down.HZ
As I stated above, Gates criticisms in the book were all about getting right with his fellow military peeps, those who love war and the war money, with all the conservative rt. wing with whom he will now be doing biz-ness.
They are trying so hard to take the Bush legacy of 2 wars that should never have been & make it PBO’s legacy – this is all about attempting to deny the part they played in the aftermath of 9/11. Rewriting history has never worked – it will not ever work.
Look up thread I have warned all that watch cable to be prepared for him to be there spewing his hate and it will probably start first thing in the morning with that Joke that comes on that so-called “lean-forward” cable station MSNBC at 6:00 am everyday.
Bottom line: outside of the beltway, probably one in one hundred people know who Gates is and there is NO national appetite for war–not in Iraq and not in Afghanistan. Our president is on the right side of history, the warmongers are not.
I still trust President Obama more then I trust someone like Bob Gates. Gates is just part of the Republican attempt to tear down this President, won’t work.
Here’s another poem I wrote sorry for the delay lots of stuff to do.
Love Triangle
Bound in a prison of her devising.
Used as a means to get her man riled.
Discarded as a piece of trash now
that I am no longer needed.
Flattery and empty words as well as deeds as she
leaves me with nothing but empty promises.
How she coldly discarded my emotions for that other guy she
claims to love, nothing but a mirror of her desire.
Setting myself up to be used at her whim that
is as cold as the ice maidens caress.
Visiting this game on me because of those who
visited pain on her once upon a time.
Some of the games my own fault, always vulnerable
for acceptance and hungering compassion.
Sick passion in the corner of my heart that lingers
like a widows subtle poison.
A knife freshly sharpened in an edge with mortal intent.
Looking down upon a blue vein running long and
true with a life gracious as a rising sun.
Her embrace never for me but always for him.
Pain like a kiss from the poppy as I try to cut these strands away.
Liquid ruby tears dripping upon the ground.
Silence reigning upon a throne of night,
coiling in an endless loop.
Floating high above, never to be seen again.
I am unhappily resigned to the fact that President Obama will be attacked mercilessly until January 2017.
It sucks.
Bob Gates? Next Petraeus and McChrystal.
There is an endless market for bashing the President and many people eager to get something for themselves will be loud.
Meanwhile the genuine accomplishments of this Administration are ignored.
People like us, who value PBO are the lucky ones. We appreciate the great leader we have.
The haters don’t realize it but they are on a down elevator. Maybe the fast descent is exciting but soon enough they will realize they wound up in the basement.
I just read the article and what I feel is sad for Gates. He is miserable and stewing in it. I am not sure what his expectations were but Robert Gates is a very disapointed man.
Wasn’t it last year when Bob Woodward said something incredibly nasty and incorrect about PBO? Cannot remember what he said, but remember it was a total miss. Anyone remember what that was?
Imo, this Gates thingy only makes him look bad, not PBO nor VPJoe. Even those real ‘muricans, full of patriotism and flag pins would denounce a warrior who comes across as a two-faced, sap sucker; who was too much a coward to stand up for what he believed in; who would serve under that Marxist Kenyan, socialist, free market abolisher, self-declared king of the USA in the first place.
[This was such an LOL! moment for me! Dick’s popularity, huh?]:
[…..] “Most of all, though, Ms. Cheney miscalculated the degree to which her father’s popularity among conservatives was transferable to her own race.”
However, according to the Washington Post, Gates also notes his support for the president’s Afghanistan policies, describing Obama as a “man of personal integrity.”
“I believe Obama was right in each of these decisions,” Gates writes, according to the Post.
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I would think that this book had to be vetted by the Pentagon just like all others written by former employees and soldiers.
Woodward is salivating at what he sees as an opportunity to slant this as anti-PBO as possible. He’s in hyper mode in his review, reluctantly and unhappily having to include Gates’ statements of praise of Obama.
Bob Woodward will not go off into the sunset and disappear will he? I remember the good things Bob Gates said about POTUS, now was he lying then or is he lying now. Doesn’t make him look to good if you ask me.
I think it was all Bush’s “listen to the generals.” Yes, the CIC listens to the generals and then makes an informed decision. Who knows who made Bush’s decisions … he could barely hold a fork. Or a pretzel, without choking.
Ever notice how all the GOP Presidential candidates and even Hillary says they would listen to their commanders and decide from what they say? McCain even criticized Obama due to his not doing what his commanders said. People are not used to the President actually being incharge. PBO majored in International Affairs in college and has been a student of history besides law. He is capable to be the CIC.
Yes, and there is a CIVILIAN head of the Department of Defense for a reason. The military know that. Whenever top brass go against the chain of command, it’s usually for one of two reasons: (1) ego; (2) politics. On the latter, it’s the CIC who can fire or demote the military leader – not the other way around. We The People put the Commander in Chief in his seat, and we certainly put our entire faith and trust in this capable President!
PBO was always looking for the Exit Door in both Iraq and Afghanistan. That “surge” manouever was done with a wink and a nod as far as I could tell.
If we are lucky all our troops will be out of A in a few months.
Wow. Very disappointed in Bob Gates. He always came off as so calm and respectful of the Pres. but clearly he was dealing with a lot of anger issues. Without having read the whole book, it might be interesting to hear what Gates has to say for himself and not just Woodward’s interpretation. Also makes me wonder how many other wolves in sheep’s clothing are currently surrounding PBO.
On a positive note Bill de Blasio held another Press conference today to introduce his Press team.
He has the Press Corps in deep check! Before the Mayor took the first question he reminded the corps that first all questions “on topic” will be answered before other issues (attacks) will be taken.
And the journalists in front of him obeyed. They asked topical questions and waited for their time to harass the Mayor to come.
TOD will be interested to hear that one of the team worked for FLOTUS as assistant press sect’y, another worked in New Hampshire 2007-8 and then went on to Treasury committee that got us out of the recession. Another gave a shoutout to John delCecato—-that’s the man who did the Dante ad and the 2012″ 2 best ads.
You get the picture. Very impressive mostly very young folks.
Once again, here comes another person trashing pres Obama. Note, not once was one of the departed Obama former Team member…..be it Axelrod, Plouffe, Favreau, Gibbs, Mensina, etc left the Obama team and went and wrote books attacking Huntsman, Penetta, Daley, etc.
Gates was Not forced to stay. He could have left. No…..McChrystal never said anything bad about pres Obama……personally or otherwise.
Gates made sure that he heaped loads of praises for Hillary Clinton as he attacked VP Biden. Hmm?
Gates said POTUS has Integrity…..yet he was not for the Afghan war? Did this ever paid attention to what POTUS has said over the years? I suppose the DC/NY Pundits and their extreme schemes to decimate pres Obama continues.
The Obama team……would be best serve to start defending their boss, for 2014 this election midterm cycle, Folks want a fight for POTUS, Middle Classers and all Americans, period. Folks want Dems to start taking TBGOPers and the Media toe to toe.
As we pray for those affected by the current extreme cold, we are also disturbed by national media coverage of this story. Constant reports of frigid sports stadiums and delayed or canceled flights. Where is the daily national coverage of the misery of homeless people and families in substandard housing with poor heating? And is Congress actually seeing this suffering as they heartlessly vote to cut funding for human needs programs? We will continue to remind them…
Jan 7th, 2014……..at the WH Podium…….Jay “Clark Kent” Carney still sporting his new hairy Face at the White House presser today. He had a Visual Graph on the TV Monitor screen.
Paul O’Neil, GW Bush’s Budget guy wrote a book about Bush and the media hardly paid attention to him. Heck the few times he was on…..he was questioned as the enemy by the press.
But Gates will be Feasted on by the Media all week to avoid talking about UI or income inequality.
I like Gates but I’ve seen this movie before. The military brass is not good at foreign policy. Never have been regardless of the administration. Even a military man like Eisenhower knew you couldn’t really trust them.
Exactly. They’re not supposed to set policy. The military role is tactics and strategies. The President sets the policy. It’s insubordination if they publicly go against that policy. They know that – and we know that. Any military leaders who think they’re bigger than the President can go home and live off their pensions. Bye bye.
A few weeks before the Inauguration Bill de Blasio was asked if there would be Repubs on his team.
“I only want people who share my values, so No.” he said
The Obama Diary 
🙂
Congrats, MP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi MP – heart congrats on first!
GOP are loathsome!
Woot !
Thank yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooou UT!!!
You’re welcome, Mrs. Rooney.
Thanks , UT, got back too late to see the live comments and hoped to get another chance. Looks like we’ll need to start working the phones when the UI extension gets to the House. It’s heartbreaking to think how many people would find their lives made easier if we got 17 more seats in the House this November. We can do this.
YES We CAN!
It’s 1 degree above zero in my back yard! Get out your swim suits! It’s downright balmy in Chicago!
We finally past single digits here in DC. I am happy to announce that it is now a “sunny” 10 degrees. Geesh!!!!!!!!! 🙄
passed not past although I want this cold blast to be in the past!!!!
I heard somewhere that we’re in for another cold blast AGAIN next week!!!
Oh dear, visit WY, it’s 30F!
I’m packing up the pups for a road trip!
😉 I’ll clean house!
Seriously. Not necessary.
We have a huge yard! I know you have small dogs, but our dogs love any dogs to play with. We’ll never get the rid of per hair.
My little yorkie will boss everyone around! And to think when we adopted her, she had lived her entire 7 years of life in a cage as a puppy mill breeder. Never doubt the power of love, and the strength of a dog’s ability to ‘move forward’. She’s an absolute gem.
You are so wonderful to have saved her and vice versa. 😉
She’s repaid us a million-fold. We love her so much. But mark my words, she’d run circles around your big guys!
We’ll see about that! 😉 😉 😉
Kasper was mad I didn’t let him eat the FedEx driver, delivering Mr. 57’s roof rake (maybe THAT will keep him off the damn roof in snow and rain!). Kasper is also mad that he can’t go out every 20 minutes like he’s used to. We’re tired of crawling over snow drifts to pull him out when his little legs freeze up. Suffice it to say – the floor needed serious mopping anyway.
A surprising step forward for unemployment benefits
By Greg Sargent
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But nonetheless, this is a step forward, and suggests at least some Republicans sense the politics shifting on the issue.
Republicans are clearly recasting their opposition to the extension as one that’s all about fiscal responsibility, and not about ideological opposition to extending the program, one grounded in various iterations of the idea, as Paul Ryan has put it, that the safety net is a “hammock that lulls able-bodied people into lives of dependency.”
Rand Paul has already softened his opposition after claiming an extension would be a “disservice” to the long-term unemployed. And take a look at the imagery in this press release from back in October, from GOP Rep. Dave Camp, the powerful chairman of the Ways and Means Committee:
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/01/07/a-surprising-step-forward-for-unemployment-benefits/
I wonder if Paul Ass Ryan remembers that exemplary document known as THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT!! I have a beautiful poster of it, maybe I should scan and send to bt’s for posting here! That might remind people it’s been since September 2010. GOP have never given it a thought. Eff’ers!
Hi MightyPamela. It was listed at AmericanJobsAct.Com. I have a copy here on my shelf. You think that might help? It is a blue and white booklet. Right? HZ
Layla, please help me, if you do not mind. I noticed while Ms. Hackett was speaking this morning about her conditions that she looked very pale and maybe lack of minerals and nutrients from certain foods. I only raise this question because I have seen my hair colour change, my bone structure change, and my skin pigment(in cold and warm weather) change drastically because I had a great break off in my appetite.
I was so upset watching Ms. Hackett speak because she said she has had to cut back in so many ways with food and heat. Please excuse my choice of words, this shit really hurts so much. I will help GOTV along with all of our family here to fight to get these evil hearts out of Congress in 2014. This is so hateful, simply because of who is in the Oval Office. So upsetting. HZ
Your concern is justified HZ! Ms Hackett does look undernourished with serious lack of restorative sleep! skin color, sunken eyes, thinning hair…also I see an excessive amount of stress on her face! It simulates the look of a person with cancer! I sincerely hope that is not the case! Hope this helps. And yes, all of this because of who is in the Oval Office! They will get theirs one day HZ, I hope sooner rather than later! THIS WILL LITTERALLY KILL SOME PEOPLE! My heart is breaking along with PBO’s!
TY, Layla. It does hurt because Ms. Hackett is one of millions. You know Layla, I have seen many hateful people get theirs even some who did their hatefulness towards me personally. I pray everyday for justice to be rendered to all of the hateful people who are acting so evil in their actions toward POB, but one thing I do know for sure; these people will get their rewards. I have been through so much of the same hellish things that POTUS and FLOTUS (in a different setting), but I saw justice to those people even as I am living today. HZ.
Oh HZ! My heart is aching! I try to always look for the positive like our President does but the hurt in his eyes really got to me today. Let’s all join the President’s beautiful soul and HOPE! God be with you HZ!
Agree on every point, HZ! Love and Light to you! {{{{{HZ}}}}}
(((((((((((((((((((( Love you also dear beautiful soul))))))))))))))))))))) I hope you are relaxing and enjoying your new place. HZ
Well, speaking from my experience as a child with a single Mom, when we were in desperate straights financially and there was little or no food on the table, you get malnourished, thin, and sick.
Exactly Bill R. And those in Congress sitting in that room surely saw for themselves. It just puts me off when these people know that so many are suffering right before their eyes, and they will not work harder alongside of the president to get this done. It is just not right.HZ
The Problem With The Republican Antipoverty Agenda Is That It Doesn’t Exist
By Josh Barro
—————————————
Broadly there are two poverty problems in the United States. One is a cyclical trend: The labor market has been slack for the last five years, leaving many people involuntarily unemployed and limiting workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages. The other is secular: Labor’s share of national income is declining, wages are rising more slowly for low-skilled workers than high-skilled ones, and rises in family income at the bottom have come primarily through fiscal transfers, not wages.
These problems require different solutions, and Republican ideas don’t address either.
——————————————————-
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-problem-with-the-republican-antipoverty-agenda-is-that-it-doesnt-exist-2014-1#ixzz2pk9Yqde7
How Democrats Can Force Republicans to Help the Unemployed
By Jonathan Chait
————————–
But as it happens, the Democrats have leverage because Republicans are about to pull out the credit card and pass one of the policies they care about: the farm bill. Agriculture subsidies are a huge, bloated entitlement that shouldn’t exist at all on the merits, but Republicans like them because they benefit rich white people (or, to put it more charitably, their constituents). Many of us have thought Congress has to pass a farm bill because, otherwise, milk prices will go through the roof, and all sorts of goofy things will happen. Martha White suggests that this isn’t true: “Even under a worst-case scenario in which the government paid twice as much to dairy farmers as they do now, we’d be talking about $5.25 milk, not $8.” There’s no need to pass a farm bill at all.
——————————-
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/01/how-democrats-can-pass-unemployment-benefits.html
The House Dems have signed a statement they won’t vote for the farm bill until UI is passed with it.
Excellent!!! Thanks for the update Bill.
I was watching the View this morning and I heard that Barbara Walters say something about how the Democrats and Republicans are both to blame for the dysfunction in D.C. And I had to email her and remind her that it was the Republicans and Republicans only who said that they wanted this President to fail, it was the Republicans who was having meetings before this President walk into that Oval office, about how they were not going to compromise or work with him. So for you to sit up there saying both sides are to blame, Ms. Walters you are lying.
Thank you for responding to her foolishness.. I wish that everyone who watched her would do as you did Anniebella.
This is exactly why people are so ignorant of the facts as to why this government is dysfunctional. The old both sides do it meme allows these tv personalities (which is also what those cable TV hosts on CNN and MSNBC are) to safe face and keep them in the Republicans good graces. They all make me sick!!!
AB, it’s great you responded to BW, but as that woman is nearing retirement this spring (it’s about time!) she’s showing her true colors with all subtlety or attempts at neutral disguise forgotten. She used to be a little bit better about hiding her Republican bias so she wouldn’t limit her ability to interviews. Now that she’s letting all the ugly hang out, she’s become less relevant than ever. I look forward to the day when she rides into the sunset and takes her nasty little biases with her.
Donna, as newly minted grandmothers you and I both know how much we want this world to be a better place for the little ones. A big component of that “better place” is to restore a sense of community to our country. The GOP has done everything it can in the last 40 years to turn people against each other and to promote an “I’ve got mine” attitude. This attitude leads us to a dismal future where only those that already have, get. The single biggest contribution PBO has made to all of us is to recall us to the sense of family, community and mutual responsibility that is our only hope for a better future for our children. Any political candidate who does NOT support the building of community has to be jeered from the public stage. From now on, a politician must either stand for all of us or stand alone.
Well said JackieG
Republicans join the income inequality bandwagon with post-truth spin (updated)
by Nancy LeTourneau
—————————
In its current form, these Republican leaders think they can talk about income inequality and reducing poverty even as they propose policies that would decimate the very programs that have worked. In other words, its the exact same agenda Mitt Romney was promoting when he so blithely dismissed 47% of us in the 2012 election. Talk about trying to put lipstick on a pig!
One way to look at this is that the Democrats have clearly won the battle over the playing field. If everyone is going to join in embracing the ultimate goal of reducing income inequality, then it becomes a disagreement over strategies. That is a very different kind of politics than what we’ve been seeing with total obstruction and a post-policy emphasis. In many ways it feeds right into the kind of conversation President Obama has been suggesting for a very long time.
————–
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/01/republicans-join-in-on-income.html
More from Smartypants….
In short, Republicans have mastered post-truth politics. They’ve realized that their rhetoric doesn’t have to bear any connection to their policy agenda. They can go through different slogans, different rationales, different fights, depending on the political landscape of the moment. They need not feel bound by previous slogans, rationales, or fights.
*****************************
that is because the media does not do their job…it is as Chuck Todd said…it is not my job to call out the lies of the GOP…
AS CONGRESS DEBATES EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS……
FLASHBACK: AMERICAN JOBS ACT OVERVIEW – SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
———————————————
The American people understand that the economic crisis and the deep recession weren’t created overnight and won’t be solved overnight. The economic security of the middle class has been under attack for decades. That’s why President Obama believes we need to do more than just recover from this economic crisis – we need to rebuild the economy the American way, based on balance, fairness, and the same set of rules for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street. We can work together to create the jobs of the future by helping small business entrepreneurs, by investing in education, and by making things the world buys. The President understands that to restore an American economy that’s built to last we cannot afford to outsource American jobs and encourage reckless financial deals that put middle class security at risk.
To create jobs, the President unveiled the American Jobs Act – nearly all of which is made up of ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and that Congress should pass right away to get the economy moving now. The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit.
————————————————-
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/fact-sheet-american-jobs-act
🙂
High five MP, we were on the same page.
LIVE NOW: Sec. Of State Kerry/South Korean Foreign Minister Press Conference – http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
Heads up: WaPo has just published hit piece on PBO for lack of commitment to Afghanistan, distrust of
Military, controlling WH policies. He hates VP Biden, loves SOS Clinton.
Who cares anymore! A sane person will dismiss them.. Just another Koch script!
It doesn’t have anything to do with sanity. It has to do with perception. The media drums up these stories to keep people who don’t know any better thinking negatively about this administration. This is the medias goal for 2014. It just makes our job a lot harder (not impossible) when we are constantly swatting flies instead of speaking to policy.
I still think people are becoming wise to the media’s antics
Bottom line is the rwnj’s are doing anything they can to discourage/preventive dems from voting. If we stay home they win. Simple as that.
I do not believe this bull shit. I do not believe President Obama hate VP Biden. This is alot of as I said before, B.S.
Anniebella, you are correct. It is BS. POB likes team players. And if those who are working for him do not show that team player action, he does not tolerate their stay. Believe me on this.
All of this crap is to take up space in the more important work that has to get done for us. POB is not one to tolerate drama. Not at all. HZ
Here is the next negative story that will fill cable for the remainder of the month. Those of you who watch cable can expect Woodward to be all over cable with this crap!
Obamacare is working so on to the next issue. This crap is endless!!!
I thought Bob Gates was a bigger man than this. I’ll say no more.
Me too. I’m extremely disappointed but folks will sell their soul to the devil for the almighty dollar.
As LL so plainly tweeted: Camel and Needle, camel and needle. Pretty sure the pearly gates (no pun!) do not swing open to those who try to enter missing their own Soul!!
Bob Gates is a Republican, that’s all need to be said as far as I am concern.
And you know Bob Woodward were just eager for something like this.
I’m glad POTUS got us out of Iraq and it’s time to come home from Afghanistan. And we don’t need another war with Iran.
Wells theres a shocker, another backstabbing Republican that POTUS was good enough to employ, see —-> John Huntsman
You’re so right!
I have one comment: If Gates and others wish to stay indefinitely in Afghanistan and in other countries, they should feel welcome to do so and at their own expenses. I don’t care if those warmongers want another war. It should be under their own names and paid for with their checking accounts. I applaud the President for wanting at all costs to get out of those f***ing wars. Who is really benefitting from them? Not the wounded warriors, not the dead troops, not the USA. It is a small faction that profits from these endless wars. And If the disloyal Gates wants to continue any war, he should board his own ship and sail on the Atlantic. Fool!
Perfectly said. No-one, no country is benefitting from the endless fighting.
Iraq had problems in 2002 – now they are a country decimated by 10 years of war – internal strife showing no sign of abating.
Even Russia (USSR as it was) had the sense to give up in Afghanistan – but RW supporters of the lies of GWB – they want young American men/women to go to these hell holes where all sides of the country hate them & give up their lives for the insanity of the few. And when they survive and come home – the thanks they get from the GOP is words without actions.
We quote the words of war leaders like Churchill, Roosevelt and Eisenhower – “we shall fight on, we shall never surrender” – do they think other nations feel differently about outside invaders? The ONLY reason Japan & Germany surrendered in WWII – they were flattened – and it took the horrors of the atom bomb for the Japanese leaders to face reality.
Those who speak/write about continuing these wars are looking for a single result – the protection of their own disastrous legacy while attempting to get history to blame President Obama for every failing of the Bush administration.
Obama can’t control events in the Middle East
By Steve Benen
———————————
Ben Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser, reminded the NYT of the administration’s record of engagement and successes in the region, but noted an uncomfortable truth: “It’s not in America’s interests to have troops in the middle of every conflict in the Middle East, or to be permanently involved in open-ended wars in the Middle East.”
.
.
But what the last several years should have made clear is that U.S. officials cannot control developments throughout the region – and when they try, the results can be catastrophic.
Indeed, one of the common threads connecting much of the recent criticism of the administration is the vague suggestion that the president should do … something. What? That’s less clear, though invasions are presumably part of the critics’ intended solution.
———————————————–
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-cant-control-events-the-middle-east
Written by Blob Woodward ? Ugh…..
I also am disappointed is Sec Gates…..since he praised PBO in public.
IF THEY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT END OUR COMBAT MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY SHOULD SAY SO.
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling 01/06/14
—————————————-
Q John McCain, Lindsay Graham, and some others say that some of what is happening on the ground in Iraq is a consequence of the U.S. completely pulling out. And they say that the administration should learn a lesson from that and not go to the so-called zero option in Afghanistan. Is the President looking at what’s happening in Iraq and applying that to his decision making on Afghanistan in any way?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I would say a couple of things about that. I don’t think — I’ve heard members of Congress suggest this, but if members were suggesting that there should be American troops fighting and dying in Fallujah today, they should say so. The President doesn’t believe that. If they believe that we should not end our combat mission in Afghanistan, they should say so.
Now, the President, when it comes to Afghanistan, has made clear that he believes we should and can have a continuing mission there focused solely on training Afghan troops and counterterrorism. But being able to do that and fulfill that requires the Afghan government to sign the bilateral security agreement and they have not done so. And as each day passes, it becomes harder to plan with our NATO allies for a post-2014 mission because we can’t do that without a BSA that’s signed after it’s been negotiated. And as you know, there were commitments by the Afghan government to complete that by the end of the year.
—————————————————-
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/06/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-and-director-national-economic
This looks to me like Woodward, as is his habit, is going out of his way to slant this review as anti-PBO. I see he was forced to also admit that Gates also had praise for Obama’s Afghanistan policies, which Woodward called “surprising”. He included the Gates quote, “I believe Obama was right in each of his (Afghanistan) decisions.”
And some of the other stuff that Woodward concentrated on, that Gates saying his outward pleasant demeanor was misleading, that he was often “seething” underneath——that’s just Gates getting right with his buds in the Pentagon, who were probably criticizing him for what appeared to be a good relationship with Obama——they wanted more war stuff!—–and for all those visuals of Gates looking at PBO in what was obviously admiration.
And by the way, I think a huge majority of the public agree with PBO on Afghanistan as it was described in this book. He was “all about getting out.” Yes please.
Glates should have resigned early on if he found the situation so untenable. He obviously wasn’t valuable, and obviously the president’s decisions were the right ones, not his. Another SOD who thinks he should have been president, and chafes under the civilian control of the military. This kind of thing just Isn’t done. Shows what he is…….Obama thought he was doing a good thing by keeping him on for continuity, then this guy stabs him in the back. Shameful! No honor, whatsoever.
Gates hated Biden, PBO didn’t. In fact, Gates sounds like a bitter old man from the excerpt I read. Basically, he was mad that the White House controlled policy, and he didn’t. He wanted to be like Rumsfeld and control policy.
I know POTUS didn’t hate VP Biden.
He was all for “civilian control of the military”, as long as he was that civilian.
Well said, Carolyn. “I want to wind down this horrible war in Iraq, start pulling out of Afghanistan, and by the way I want you, Bob, to know how much I hate Joe Biden.” Yeah, I’m sure he chose him to confide in.
There really is no honor among Republicans. From Jon Huntsman to Robert Gates. As I said in a post a while back: There are no moderate Republicans. Obama has made them all deranged.
Obama hasn’t made them all deranged. Their own hate has made them all deranged. That’s where all the problems originate, within them.
“But Gates says he did not speak his mind when the committee chairman listed the problems he would face as secretary. “I remember sitting at the witness table listening to this litany of woe and thinking, “What the hell am I doing here? I have walked right into the middle of a category-five shitstorm. It was the first of many, many times I would sit at the witness table thinking something very different from what I was saying.” The man is either two-face, or had multiple personalities. I simply hope he is not a mole.
He should have spoken his mind then, and not taken the job. And if it was so awful, he should have resigned a few months into PBO’s term. Not honorable at all!!!
Carolyn,
He would have never resigned! How on Earth would he find the material for his book? He needed to be on the “inside” so that he can speak as someone with insight. With these people, it is all about self-promotion, ego, and making money.
No Child Left Behind, Gollum came to mind! 😉
NCLB, it seems in this statement that Gates is a coward. If you don’t agree with something, say so and resign if need be. Don’t go trying to smear your employer after you leave. The military brass would like nothing more than continual warfare. It makes for bloated budgets and for continued self-importance. Our constitution puts the control of the military under the civilian Commander in Chief for a reason–so that we don’t have an out-control military presence that threatens our democracy. If Gates doesn’t like that, he can join Snowden in a more military focused society. As for the BS about Biden, that is a blatant attempt to undermine our VP in 2016 and promote Hillary. Gates sounds like a nasty specimen.
So on point, jaciegrumbacher. I liked Gates at one point until I realized that he needed something to write any book about his time with this administration, so there goes the unpleasant words flying. But look who is still there as VP with President Barack Obama. VP Biden is still there, and where are the other guys speaking out so. Gavel down.HZ
And here you have it. It all makes some sort of warped sense. Money talks.
Exactly UT!!!!!!!
Hee hee hee:
As I stated above, Gates criticisms in the book were all about getting right with his fellow military peeps, those who love war and the war money, with all the conservative rt. wing with whom he will now be doing biz-ness.
They are trying so hard to take the Bush legacy of 2 wars that should never have been & make it PBO’s legacy – this is all about attempting to deny the part they played in the aftermath of 9/11. Rewriting history has never worked – it will not ever work.
I give this book one month. Then I will see it in the bargin bin with all of Palin’s books.
Sounds to me like Gates and the others have big ego’s and personality conflicts…….
They all love power….
Will Bob Woodward be all over the tv tomorrow ?
Look up thread I have warned all that watch cable to be prepared for him to be there spewing his hate and it will probably start first thing in the morning with that Joke that comes on that so-called “lean-forward” cable station MSNBC at 6:00 am everyday.
Bottom line: outside of the beltway, probably one in one hundred people know who Gates is and there is NO national appetite for war–not in Iraq and not in Afghanistan. Our president is on the right side of history, the warmongers are not.
BooM!
I still trust President Obama more then I trust someone like Bob Gates. Gates is just part of the Republican attempt to tear down this President, won’t work.
I trust the President period. He is not a warmonger. The Generals always want war. Then some among them believe they should be presidents.
Here’s another poem I wrote sorry for the delay lots of stuff to do.
Love Triangle
Bound in a prison of her devising.
Used as a means to get her man riled.
Discarded as a piece of trash now
that I am no longer needed.
Flattery and empty words as well as deeds as she
leaves me with nothing but empty promises.
How she coldly discarded my emotions for that other guy she
claims to love, nothing but a mirror of her desire.
Setting myself up to be used at her whim that
is as cold as the ice maidens caress.
Visiting this game on me because of those who
visited pain on her once upon a time.
Some of the games my own fault, always vulnerable
for acceptance and hungering compassion.
Sick passion in the corner of my heart that lingers
like a widows subtle poison.
A knife freshly sharpened in an edge with mortal intent.
Looking down upon a blue vein running long and
true with a life gracious as a rising sun.
Her embrace never for me but always for him.
Pain like a kiss from the poppy as I try to cut these strands away.
Liquid ruby tears dripping upon the ground.
Silence reigning upon a throne of night,
coiling in an endless loop.
Floating high above, never to be seen again.
-Jeff Bunting-
I am unhappily resigned to the fact that President Obama will be attacked mercilessly until January 2017.
It sucks.
Bob Gates? Next Petraeus and McChrystal.
There is an endless market for bashing the President and many people eager to get something for themselves will be loud.
Meanwhile the genuine accomplishments of this Administration are ignored.
People like us, who value PBO are the lucky ones. We appreciate the great leader we have.
The haters don’t realize it but they are on a down elevator. Maybe the fast descent is exciting but soon enough they will realize they wound up in the basement.
Vicki,
Correction: they are already in the basement. They’ve been there for some time.
No argument, nclb.
That’s it. Gates was missing his disgraced buddies. Now he is down there in the basement with them. One more man with no honor.
Just read the Woodward – Gates piece and if Woodward thought this was a hit piece, he must be smoking some strong stuff.
Robert Gates came off petty and the article only reaffirmed why President Obama won two terms.
I just read the article and what I feel is sad for Gates. He is miserable and stewing in it. I am not sure what his expectations were but Robert Gates is a very disapointed man.
Thanks for the “Executive Summary” – sounds like something I don’t have to read, now. I’ll just endorse what you wrote.
I don’t trust Woodward’s interpretation of the book…..
Bob Woodward is a bitter old man, who still is living off of Watergate. Time for him to ride off into the sunset and disappear.
Wasn’t it last year when Bob Woodward said something incredibly nasty and incorrect about PBO? Cannot remember what he said, but remember it was a total miss. Anyone remember what that was?
Imo, this Gates thingy only makes him look bad, not PBO nor VPJoe. Even those real ‘muricans, full of patriotism and flag pins would denounce a warrior who comes across as a two-faced, sap sucker; who was too much a coward to stand up for what he believed in; who would serve under that Marxist Kenyan, socialist, free market abolisher, self-declared king of the USA in the first place.
I like your assessment, once again!
Moving on from the has-been-wannabe types …
[This was such an LOL! moment for me! Dick’s popularity, huh?]:
[…..] “Most of all, though, Ms. Cheney miscalculated the degree to which her father’s popularity among conservatives was transferable to her own race.”
.
Rest here: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/01/07/cheneys_miscalculation.html
Only thing the GOP has done correctly in the past 5 years – no mention of Bush or Cheney. Makes me realize they are not 100% insane.
However, according to the Washington Post, Gates also notes his support for the president’s Afghanistan policies, describing Obama as a “man of personal integrity.”
“I believe Obama was right in each of these decisions,” Gates writes, according to the Post.
——
I would think that this book had to be vetted by the Pentagon just like all others written by former employees and soldiers.
Woodward is salivating at what he sees as an opportunity to slant this as anti-PBO as possible. He’s in hyper mode in his review, reluctantly and unhappily having to include Gates’ statements of praise of Obama.
Bob Woodward will not go off into the sunset and disappear will he? I remember the good things Bob Gates said about POTUS, now was he lying then or is he lying now. Doesn’t make him look to good if you ask me.
President Obama was right not to trust Patraeus or McChrystal……
Guess what….he fired them both….
Guess what … that makes me laugh! They thought the chain of command ended with them … NOT.
There was and is only one Commander in Chief: President Barack Obama!
Right. One CIC. What burns the military is that they think they are in charge. Maybe they were during Bush.
I think it was all Bush’s “listen to the generals.” Yes, the CIC listens to the generals and then makes an informed decision. Who knows who made Bush’s decisions … he could barely hold a fork. Or a pretzel, without choking.
Ever notice how all the GOP Presidential candidates and even Hillary says they would listen to their commanders and decide from what they say? McCain even criticized Obama due to his not doing what his commanders said. People are not used to the President actually being incharge. PBO majored in International Affairs in college and has been a student of history besides law. He is capable to be the CIC.
Yes, and there is a CIVILIAN head of the Department of Defense for a reason. The military know that. Whenever top brass go against the chain of command, it’s usually for one of two reasons: (1) ego; (2) politics. On the latter, it’s the CIC who can fire or demote the military leader – not the other way around. We The People put the Commander in Chief in his seat, and we certainly put our entire faith and trust in this capable President!
PBO was always looking for the Exit Door in both Iraq and Afghanistan. That “surge” manouever was done with a wink and a nod as far as I could tell.
If we are lucky all our troops will be out of A in a few months.
Wow. Very disappointed in Bob Gates. He always came off as so calm and respectful of the Pres. but clearly he was dealing with a lot of anger issues. Without having read the whole book, it might be interesting to hear what Gates has to say for himself and not just Woodward’s interpretation. Also makes me wonder how many other wolves in sheep’s clothing are currently surrounding PBO.
Not just anger issues – but a personal lack of integrity and a willingness to chase the almighty dollar.
On a positive note Bill de Blasio held another Press conference today to introduce his Press team.
He has the Press Corps in deep check! Before the Mayor took the first question he reminded the corps that first all questions “on topic” will be answered before other issues (attacks) will be taken.
And the journalists in front of him obeyed. They asked topical questions and waited for their time to harass the Mayor to come.
TOD will be interested to hear that one of the team worked for FLOTUS as assistant press sect’y, another worked in New Hampshire 2007-8 and then went on to Treasury committee that got us out of the recession. Another gave a shoutout to John delCecato—-that’s the man who did the Dante ad and the 2012″ 2 best ads.
You get the picture. Very impressive mostly very young folks.
Well…that didn’t take long……..
All of them have skeletons in their closets I guess.
This is it. Always has been.
Agree!
Gates-gate ……..over at TeaNN
OMB…..Now Wolf it talking to McBitter……..
Good afternoon TODable TODbots community.
Once again, here comes another person trashing pres Obama. Note, not once was one of the departed Obama former Team member…..be it Axelrod, Plouffe, Favreau, Gibbs, Mensina, etc left the Obama team and went and wrote books attacking Huntsman, Penetta, Daley, etc.
Gates was Not forced to stay. He could have left. No…..McChrystal never said anything bad about pres Obama……personally or otherwise.
Gates made sure that he heaped loads of praises for Hillary Clinton as he attacked VP Biden. Hmm?
Gates said POTUS has Integrity…..yet he was not for the Afghan war? Did this ever paid attention to what POTUS has said over the years? I suppose the DC/NY Pundits and their extreme schemes to decimate pres Obama continues.
The Obama team……would be best serve to start defending their boss, for 2014 this election midterm cycle, Folks want a fight for POTUS, Middle Classers and all Americans, period. Folks want Dems to start taking TBGOPers and the Media toe to toe.
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkLobby?hc_location=timeline
FB page of the Nuns on the Bus
As we pray for those affected by the current extreme cold, we are also disturbed by national media coverage of this story. Constant reports of frigid sports stadiums and delayed or canceled flights. Where is the daily national coverage of the misery of homeless people and families in substandard housing with poor heating? And is Congress actually seeing this suffering as they heartlessly vote to cut funding for human needs programs? We will continue to remind them…
“How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”
“Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a “throw away” culture which is now spreading.”
Pope Francis
Have a heart or reap a profit for personal gain? Two sides to modern life – or ancient life. Man’s inhumanity to man never ends, but we can curb it.
Jan 7th, 2014……..at the WH Podium…….Jay “Clark Kent” Carney still sporting his new hairy Face at the White House presser today. He had a Visual Graph on the TV Monitor screen.
Paul O’Neil, GW Bush’s Budget guy wrote a book about Bush and the media hardly paid attention to him. Heck the few times he was on…..he was questioned as the enemy by the press.
But Gates will be Feasted on by the Media all week to avoid talking about UI or income inequality.
Ask that lady who introduce President Obama today at the WH if she gives a dam what Woodward or Gates is saying?
Exactly. Good point.
That should be tweeted annieb!!!!!
I like Gates but I’ve seen this movie before. The military brass is not good at foreign policy. Never have been regardless of the administration. Even a military man like Eisenhower knew you couldn’t really trust them.
Exactly. They’re not supposed to set policy. The military role is tactics and strategies. The President sets the policy. It’s insubordination if they publicly go against that policy. They know that – and we know that. Any military leaders who think they’re bigger than the President can go home and live off their pensions. Bye bye.
WHPC asked Jay about Rodman? Seriously?
Wouldn’t have been the first time, unfortunately.
What did the idiots WHPC want to know? Was POTUS paying for Rodman trip back to the U.S. or is the taxpayer paying for it.
Republicans debate whether to have a poverty agenda
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/01/07/republicans-debate-whether-to-have-a-poverty-agenda/
Yes: How to create more poverty agenda!
A few weeks before the Inauguration Bill de Blasio was asked if there would be Repubs on his team.
“I only want people who share my values, so No.” he said
The good news is at de Blasio can afford to be brazenly partisan because he only has to worry about NYC – which is deep blue. 🙂
Exactly.
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/01/07/make-your-voices-heard-2/
https://twitter.com/askido351/status/420687346283974657
Yes, and that “something” is called Obama Derangement Syndrome…
Or as plainly as Pigmentation Blind Spot.