Happy birthday, @FLOTUS. Thank you for all that you do. pic.twitter.com/N6PNbFetaE
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 17, 2014
Fab at 50! Happy Birthday, @FLOTUS! -Jill pic.twitter.com/KvjbFEUBKn
— Dr. Biden -Archived (@DrBiden44) January 17, 2014
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Someone's turning 50 today. Happy birthday, @FLOTUS! pic.twitter.com/msxXl4h17X
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 17, 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY @FLOTUS @MichelleObama - May the joy, hope, confidence and courage you inspire in others be returned to you all year long! XO
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 17, 2014
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Happy 50th to @FLOTUS! Thx for all you do to support vets, combat obesity, and inspire mothers everywhere w/ your strength, warmth & grace.
— Samantha Power (@AmbPower44) January 17, 2014
Happy Birthday @MichelleObama, a First Lady who puts country & kids first. Here's to at least 50 more healthy, fulfilling years. Cheers!
— Rachael Ray (@rachaelray) January 17, 2014
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Welcome to the Fabulous and Fifty Club @MichelleObama! Wishing you a Happy Birthday. #DancingAtWhiteHouse
— Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts) January 17, 2014
Happy birthday, @MichelleObama! You may be 50, but your arms are 22.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) January 17, 2014
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Thank you @FLOTUS for seeing the significance of 'Mister and Pete' & raising the profile of #education in America! pic.twitter.com/0vFchs5AYk
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) January 17, 2014
Happy 50th Birthday, @FLOTUS!! You are an inspiration for so many and one of the most beautiful people I've ever met... Inside and out.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) January 17, 2014
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I understand it's @MichelleObama's birthday! Happy 29th Michelle!
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 17, 2014
Happy 50th to @FLOTUS Michelle Obama. Thanks for the great work you do with @LetsMove to help our kids get healthy.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 17, 2014
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Happy birthday @FLOTUS! Thanks for helping to make the next generation of children healthier every day! pic.twitter.com/Ual7f6M3hu
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) January 17, 2014
Happy Birthday to our fabulous @FLOTUS - Michelle Obama! –PM pic.twitter.com/bgQTLCkhBD
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 17, 2014
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It's not every day our @FLOTUS turns 50, so let's take a moment to make it special. #HappyBirthday, Michelle! Wishing you many more.
— Rep. Marc Veasey (@RepVeasey) January 17, 2014
Happy 50th birthday @FLOTUS Michelle Obama!
— Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) January 17, 2014
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https://twitter.com/AliEWentworth/status/424339510168924160
Wishing our @FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, a very happy 50th birthday today.
— Steny Hoyer (@RepStenyHoyer) January 17, 2014
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Happy birthday to our #FirstLady, @MichelleObama!
— Rep. Linda Sánchez (@RepLindaSanchez) January 17, 2014
Happy Birthday to the @FLOTUS, Michelle Obama!
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) January 17, 2014
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Happy 50th Birthday, @FLOTUS! I wish you many more years of health and happiness.
— Former Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) January 17, 2014
Wishing @FLOTUS a happy 50th birthday today!
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 17, 2014
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I have! #50andfabulous MT @TheDemocrats: Have you wished @MichelleObama happy birthday, yet? http://t.co/FdJ4GPpwS7 pic.twitter.com/nsWJl19BXI
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) January 15, 2014
Happy 50th birthday, @MichelleObama!
— Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (@RepAnnaEshoo) January 17, 2014
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First in veterans rights and first in children's health rights, we celebrate First Lady Michelle Obama. Happy Birthday! @Flotus. #celebrate
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) January 17, 2014
Happy Birthday @MichelleObama. Thank you for your service, your grace and valor. Enjoy your special day.
— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) January 17, 2014
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Happy 50th birthday to our fabulous First Lady, Michelle Obama. We love you, @FLOTUS!
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) January 17, 2014
With First Lady @MichelleObama’s birthday today, we looked back at a few of our favorite #FLOTUS style moments: http://t.co/ACmEXJwYEp
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) January 17, 2014
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Happy birthday, FLOTUS! Here's how you can get rock star arms just like hers! http://t.co/0ih5nwqG9O pic.twitter.com/In8FO0xYwQ
— Shape Magazine (@Shape_Magazine) January 17, 2014
In celebration of @FLOTUS' 50th birthday, some of our favorite, most fabulous Michelle Obama gifs: http://t.co/xVxivrzosb
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) January 17, 2014
The Obama Diary 
Thanks, Utal.
for your indefatigable efforts in the village!
Thanks, VC!
Congratulation VC!
CNN is showing MRS. OBAMA!!!!!!!!
Thanks. I just tuned in.
It’s called An Extraordinary Journey: Michelle Obama Turns 50.
UT….you have out done yourself. THANK YOU for the awesome gift “your talents (writings included)” for TOD.” : )
I was so excited to see a network honoring Mrs. Obama, I didn’t know what to call it. All I could say; CNN is showing Mrs. Obama.
You’re welcome, Cindy.
I missed the CNN special on FLOTUS. I hope someone can post the video at some point.
I watch the CNN special on Mrs. Michelle Obama.
anniebella,
I enjoyed it but it was too short….I was left wanting more. Their story is fascinating, I could watch a 6 hour documentary on the 1st family.
jesse jackson gets it just right.
Love all the tweets, and especially appreciate Jesse Jackson’s and others who named her remarkable work for our military and our children!
Mrs. OBAMA life story is on CNN….from childhood to 1st lady, please hurry…….
Just dropping in for a minute to post this – it’s wildly off topic but I thought it was a very insightful piece of writing about Frank Luntz.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/sometimes-reality-intrudes-in-spite-of.html
Gorgeous tweet Jacqueline!
Thanks, darlin’.
Monster hugs!
I’ll take ’em! And return ’em!
This CNN special – part of the birthday bash – is really good.
Love this one, JOBoomr. Happy to RT!
Thanks, Judith. FLOTUS is such an inspiration to all of us.
Did she get one from Beyonce? Cuz she been to her house n’ everything so….. 🙂 🙂
This is a BRILLIANT compilation, UT!!! Thank you!!!!
#FORWARD
Thank, Bob.
Love, love, love, love, love her!! Looks like EVERYONE loves our beautiful First Lady:)
Thank yoooooooou UT, what a fantastic set of posts from ya today, you’re PURE GOLD!!!!
Thank you so much, Chips.
It’s been a pleasure. 🙂
UT…would it be proper to put my reply to your reply here? You know…the reply to the Pinkman science thing?? 🙂
Go ahead, DF. The floor is yours. 😀
Thank you for allowing me my little bit of remembrance for the BEST SHOW EVER! Here you go…
man, I like that show so much I’m afraid to rewatch it. It’s too much great. I know that makes no sense.
It makes PERFECT sense. I feel kinda lost without it. How’s that for sad?!
Right? There wasn’t one character that they made you really like or really hate. They all had major flaws and it was so well done that you ended up liking one or more of them because you saw that they struggled against those weaknesses; always trying to overcome them.
😆 Oh, I miss the show so much. A week doesn’t go by without a memory flitting through my mind.
Truly, truly, truly, one of the BEST shows ever created.
I probably will watch it again – from beginning to end – once the final episodes come out on Netflix. I heard it might be in April.
Great tweets indeed; such a real measure of how much MO is loved. I loved the fact the emotion in each, both in visual and words, was so genuine.
*screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech*
First off, happy bday Michelle! The picture of her with her AARP card was priceless.
My day? Well, I figured the missus would be wiped out after coming home from work at 9 a.m. Hah!
“Can we go get more uniforms?” So we traweled halfway across L.A. County to Bellflower to get uniforms. Great thing? Everything she buys for work is tax deductible. Woot.
“Can we get lunch?” So we trawl back across L.A. County and go to Cozymels for Mexican, where I imbibed two very dangerous margaritas.
Then we pick up mother from work, upon which she interrogates me about my niece living in the back apartment. Upon which I tell her “I’m her uncle, not her minder. She’s an adult.”
Then I log in to my AT&T account and discover that they’re going to hike up my Internet bill because I don’t bundle. Upon which TWC has a new customer. 7 bucks more than I would’ve been charged by AT&T, but with download speeds up to 50mbps. Which, you know, is as fast as the US has for residential customers. Woot. AND I get a Samsung Tab as part of the dealio. Score!
Now I’m imbibing a rum screwdriver and settling in. How was everyone else’s day?
Happy Friday LL!!!!
I don’t think anyone can compete with your day. It was definitely adventurous and a nice drink to bring it home…can’t beat that-enjoy!!!!
Tighter than 10 toes in one sock LL. Only I stayed home in snowy weather with me Jack Daniels.
UT you keep out doing yourself with these posts. You are so good at finding the best!!! Our FLOTUS is very special.
Oh wow. Thanks, MTMarilyn.
I read the Vogue article referenced in the tweet up above. It is very good. In addition to 26 wonderful pictures of their favorite FLOTUS fashion moments, there is a two page article: Michelle Obama: A Woman of Substance. The gist is that yes, she is stylish and has opened up fashion for everyone, but what really matters is what she has done and who she is, and enumerates what she has done, and also does an excellent job of describing who she is and her character. I was pleased with the article. The writer said as she is more and more known for what she does, the style has become less and less the focus, but is taken as just an integral part of who she is.
It reflected what was said on the previous post.
My computer when backwards instead of forwards – I’ve been talking to myself about 4 hours ago – obviously time for chores
Thank you for a great Friday UT – even though its Saturday where I am.
Thanks 99ts and Happy Saturday! 😀
UT, thanks a million for all of the beautiful tweets. I a. Sure there are to many to post.
Sorry for the mistakes. My iPad has a mind of it’s own. 😄😄
Well 99ts…Happy Saturday to you!
Don’t forget to watch Steve K. episode, “As the Lies Churns” : )
Night everyone…calling it a day. See you all bright and early:) Be well and behave! Thanks, UT:)
Rest well desertflower…happy dreams.
Happy Birthday to a fabulous First Lady!
Thank you for keeping a smile on my face these eight wonderful years.
Fashion does not make you. You make the fashion.
Bill Shatner. Still the first and best Kirk.
So the NJ Governor’s office was subpoenaed today. 🙂
Ha ha ha.
On Sunday at around 11 EST, you might want to monitor the TL of @NerdyWonka, @TheObamaDiary, and @Lib_Librarian. It should be real-time elation or despair.
There will be smiles – and tears – and people being banned from speaking ever again – it will be a discussion of Chris Christie dimensions
Here is a Friday night quiz…..
Christie inauguration is going to be held on Tuesday, January 21st 2014. The location borders between New Jersey and New York.
Here’s your question; what side is he holding the inauguration on?
I googled it, so I’ll keep quiet.
Hey jacquelineoboomer….Happy Friday night or early Saturday morning : )
No fair……are you surprised by the man who claims to love Jersey?
Not at all surprised! Well, actually I’m a little surprised. I thought he might have it in Florida, or wherever he’s campaigning for 2016 next.
Still Friday night for me – so, thanks!
I thought he might have it in the back room behind all the stuff piled up for the shredding.
Can they do an inauguration from inside Trenton’s New Jersey State Prison?
OMG. I shouldn’t laugh at this but it’s funny. Oh, Forus50, you’re soooooo bad and yet sooooo good.
Hey forus50….
You’re not holding back : )
I’m not sure but who knows….if it’s in Jersey “the Christie cream is in charge” and anything is possible.
If the guests don’t mind being strip searched, first.
Knowing that Bully, it may be in Fort Lee. His way of showing face and grace. I think Forus50 idea is just great!
Yep. Wonder if you can hold an inauguration one day, and a recall or impeachment the next? Christie could just stay over in Trenton at the State House and wear the same outfit both days.
Too bad some of the inquiries don’t get into full force until February. Would save some inaugural $$$.
If Christie got recalled or impeached what would be the next step? Would there HAVE to be a new election with a new republican contender, and if so, could Buono run again?
Good question. His timing couldn’t be better. It takes the steam out of the GOP 2014 even though it’s just mid terms for them. Maddow said that Steve Koracki will have more Christie related breaking news on his MSNBC show tomorrow morning.
Okay, but would his governorship be filled by a 2nd in command, or would there have to be a new election?
I think it probably varies by each state on the recall/impeachment part, but there would definitely have to be a special election.
While governors can sometimes appoint senators until the next election cycle – as Christie didn’t do for the Cory Booker election; he held a costly special election instead – as the CEO of the state, he’s the highest official in NJ government and unless it’s some court that could appoint a governor, I think the lieutenant governor would temporarily fill in (not totally sure) … and Buono could run again
Don’t think they had an election in Alaska – Lt Gov took over and I think he appointed a new Lt Gov. until the next election. Knowing the US (as I do from all the learning on TOD 🙂 ) it’s probably different in every state.
TY, 99ts. The Alaska Barbie’s situation does give a clue 😉 though you have a point about differences in states’ laws.
Thanks, JO’B. Reading your response reminded me that I haven’t a clue, and never gave a thought to, who the Lt. Governor is in NJ – obviously someone completely overshadowed by Christie
the answer to this question is very important
GM, GCLinda. I certainly hope the answers are the ones that are best for NJ and the rest of the country!
Well, here’s the answer to our Friday night quiz.
Christie says he was born in Jersey and he will always live in Jersey; says that he loves Jersey. R.Maddow feels that this was his way of saying that he is not running in 2016 as we are all watching, “As the Lies Churns.”
He loves Jersey but the inauguration is being held……… on the New York side.
#Why Christie is holding inauguration on New York side but claims he loves Jersey?
Good night all and have a wonderful and blessed weekend-rest well and please be safe……..
I googled and it said the party was on Ellis island – is that what you mean? I assume Ellis Is is part of New York as that is where all the immigrants landed. I know nothing else about it. Tickets $500 each! And people think he will last the next 4 years?
A huge thank you to President Obama for preventing planned horse slaughter. Slaughter houses here wanted to make money by slaughtering horses and selling the meat overseas. Find something else to do, slaughter house people. And who is gobbling down horses anyway? Have an apple.
Horses were my first love——they are beautiful creatures and deserve to run free with their family and friends.
Run Spirit Run!
Great.
Bye Bye, Mississippi guy, enjoy your next 25 years in the big house——for sending ricin letters to President Obama and 2 other public officials.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-ricin-mississippi-20140117,0,6315710.story
Bonne nuit, tout le monde.
This is phenomenal.
🙂
A modest, rational proposal:
17 January 2014
Dear Mr President,
What Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and numerous other corporations do with the data they collect on the BEHAVIOR of their users (aka customers) is vastly more intrusive than the intent and actions of the NSA and other US Federal Agencies. Anyone with a clue knows that.
However, as you cogently stated, when ‘The Government’ is the observer, especially a Government committed to the ideals of individual freedom and due process under the law, trust is paramount.
Here’s my proposal:
The gathering of signal intelligence (SigInt) into a database can be accomplished by properly configured hardware and software, algorithmically, i.e., no human need participate or have any access in that process. If, for instance, a phone number, GPS location of device initiating or receiving a voice or text communication, duration of communication are deemed sufficient SigInt parameters, and the names of the account holders and contents are not accessed, then the case can be made for a fair balance between ‘network discovery’ and personal privacy.
Building, updating, and most importantly, analyzing such a database, 24/7/365 can thus be an autonomous process. Physical and cyber (network) access to the location of where the information is stored and the ongoing computational analysis of the information can be robustly secured.
The reason the database is being built is to enable people to make decisions. That should be the focus. People do not need to ‘see’ any of the details in the information, they need to ‘see’ specific ‘patterns’ that indicate a threat so they can make decisions.
My recommendation is that the raw data (signals intercepts of any kind), other relevant input data, and all the systems being used to acquire, assemble, store and computationally analyze the data reside in ONLY a Federal facility. The people responsible for maintaining the systems in that facility should have ZERO authority to access the raw data or the output of the analytics.
Those who have the authority to access, review, and issue threat warnings should be employees of a unique agency.
That agency would have ZERO operational responsibility in intelligence gathering, interdiction, investigation, covert missions, etc. That agency’s sole function would be assessing threat and issuing warnings. Only Federal employees could be appointed to that agency.
In this model, judicial oversight would be focused on ensuring that the threat warnings are valid and that no breaches of personal privacy in the process of gathering raw data and data analytics occurred. That task is tractable because the systems doing the gathering and analytics would be entirely separate from the individuals viewing the output of the analytics and issuing the threat warnings.
Moreover, all would be Federal employees. “Private” (aka corporate) enterprises should never be contracted for these National Security functions. Corporations, by their very nature, are not beholding to the public trust or service, they are ONLY beholding to shareholders who expect, rightly, profitability.
Thank you,
Bob
#TrustBarack
Yes We Can
… time for some rest …
“Moreover, all would be Federal employees. “Private” (aka corporate) enterprises should never be contracted for these National Security functions. Corporations, by their very nature, are not beholding to the public trust or service,”
Hugely important!
They don’t even have to stop watching, just employ some common sense for crissakes.
It’s an either / or option. Can’t have both at the same time.
If they used a little common sense when they watched and listened to that nonsense…they would stop. 🙂
Why Fox News has the Right to Lie to Us
In 2003 – the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling – and claimed that – as a corporation (person) – Fox News has the right to lie – and not only that – it has a right to force its reporters to lie with the threat of firing them if they don’t comply.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385×603331
How’s that for downright disgusting? Lying is a First Amendment right.
Both 1st and 2nd have been turned into parodies by the right wingers.
Good Morning
Why does Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni get to live in New York City when the NJ taxpayers have to pay for his housing ?
Winning !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge in North Carolina says a state law requiring women who want an abortion to have an ultrasound and then have a medical provider describe the image to them is a violation of constitutional free-speech rights.
U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles ruled Friday that states don’t have the power to force a health care provider to be the bearer of an ?ideological message in favor of carrying a pregnancy to term.”
Eagles had put the law on hold a few months after the Republican-led state legislature passed the law in 2011.
She said then that providers did not have to place an ultrasound image next to a pregnant woman so she can view it, describe its features and offer the patient the chance to listen to the heartbeat.
“U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles ruled Friday that states don’t have the power to force a health care provider to be the bearer of an ideological message in favor of carrying a pregnancy to term.”
I’m clear that it is a constitutional violation, but free speech? I would have thought it a fourth amendment violation. Of course, I’m happy with way.
Yes!!!!!!!!! – fight back against the war on women
The idea that women should be shamed and forced into not having an abortion is crass and ugly, just like the GOP
I agree, vetiver. But to me it has always been a bit problematic that from the liberal point of view this has always been presented as an abortion issue, as opposed to a right to privacy, dominion over one’s own body, healthcare rights, etc.
It’s Not About Abortion to Me
The debate is not about the sanctity of life, it’s about maintaining a position of superiority by white men. Why a war against women? Because as women become independent, they are less wedded to the ideas of marriage, traditional families and childbearing; self-sufficient, married women are even more likely to get a divorce. But if you restrict their opportunities, give them less pay, shred the programs that support parenting and childrearing; nutrition programs, healthcare, Head Start..suddenly, the hope is, we revert to a 1950’s dreadland when an all-American woman had a man husband, children, a stove and a soap opera.
http://thepoliticalpragmatic.blogspot.de/2013/07/its-not-about-abortion-to-me.html
Those things are included for
sure but this idea of rubbing a woman’s nose in her decision is too much like dog and master for me on this issue specifically
WASHINGTON (AP) — A nonprofit group promoting President Barack Obama’s agenda raised more $26.3 million in its first year of existence.
Organizing for Action says more than 421,000 people have contributed since the group formed in early 2013. The group raised $5.7 million in the final three months of the year.
The totals show fundraising accelerated a few months after the group was created but may be starting to level out. It had raised nearly $7.7 million between July and September.
In its first year, the group held events across the country and sought to engage supporters through social media and limited television advertising. It focused on Obama priorities like immigration, gun control, climate change and gay rights.
The group isn’t taking corporate money and is voluntarily disclosing all donations over $250.
Mooooooorning Early Birds!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/01/18/early-bird-chat-128/