President Barack Obama speaks about the situation in Ukraine, in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. The president said one American was killed on the plane over Ukraine, and the airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists
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"I want the Dutch people to know that we stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, in our grief." —President Obama on flight #MH17
Please make it stop. I’m sorry to complain about such a stupid issue in the midst of such a horrible week, but……I live in Iowa, it’s 2+ years before a presidential election and they’re b-a-a-a-a-c-c-c-k-k-k.
The stupid GOP politicians who think they will be the next President and the press that idolizes them and rewards this behavior. Yesterday it was Chris Christie in Iowa and today there are a few incredibly inane, fawning articles in the DSM Register. This weekend it’s Rick Perry, then in August Mike Huckabee and Rand Paul. ARG.
Listen, GOP and media – Iowa is **not** important in the political world!! Why are they creating this artificial audition setting here? And why so darn EARLY? If I see one more reporter standing in front of a tractor and a silo… Go away for a few years please!
Before 2008, no one paid attention to Iowa before the midterm elex. But 2008 elevated the loathsome upchuck Todd and rewarded gossip mongers like “Game Change” Halperin/Heilmann and Politico’s Jonathan Martin/Ben Smith (who have since moved on to much more lucrative gossip homes).
The MSM really should stop paying for this nonsense — there’s no reason to have huge political staffs until the actual election year. (I know that 2014 is an election year, but MSM act like it’s July 2016, not 2014.)
BTW, when your husband works to GOTV, he should take a page from the best customer service reps, who never argue with complainers. They allow callers to rant and rave and say reassuring things like “I understand why you feel that way…” etc. It’s tiring to rant and rave, so once the person is done (if they haven’t slammed the door in hubby’s face) your husband can then describe how GOP Congress contributes to whatever that person is unhappy about. Just a thought.
I feel for you, muscatingal. It’s a shame poor Iowa is singled out for the pandering parade, but suggest you find a group of like-minded people and not only try to shut it out together, but find enjoyable ways to distract yourself with parties that involve a lot of joking about politicians. Then you can all write letters to the editor saying you have taken a collective decision never to vote for any presidential hopeful who visits the state two years too early. Who knows? It might work.
How are you doing, GOB? Yesterday too its toll on all of us. All of the tension and anxiety has made me feel exhausted today. I think it’s an adrenaline crash.
Just had a chance to see the President’s speech. Thanks Nerdy.
However, I remain disappointed in POTUS’ handling of the US relationship with Israel. Standing with Israel on its right to defend itself is one thing if it is justified. However, it is not enough to support any nation blindly to the point where you overlook the innocent lives lost or the vast amount of US tax payer dollars used to destroy other countries at the whim of a right wing nut job’s (Bibi) refusal to do the right thing.
If Israel chooses to continue to fight an endless war instead of genuinely trying to solve the problem then fine but this foolishness should not be funded by the US. Having to fund your own wars would provide the opportunity for Israel’s citizens to encourage its leaders to make better decisions on where to spend their money and to finally solve the issues. I also don’t like the cover up around the situation in Gaza and Israel’s role in all that. I know Potus knows what happened. So Potus speaking out on Putin on a similar act of terrorism while not dealing with Bibi or addressing the propaganda that we know is being spewed right now is not right.
I have been writing POTUS over the years on this issue because as a mother, sister, daughter …shit…as a frakkin’ human being…. the way the US handles its relationship with Israel is just wrong. I get that some TOD’ers do not feel the way I do but we should all be able to agree that the United States of America should not be financially supporting this. It isn’t right.
Just as a point of information, PBO has been the first American President to call out Israel’s actions in many areas, including, but not limited to the settlements.
japa I am not discounting that he spoke out but he can do more. I know he has. But it isn’t enough.
Having our Congress approve dollars to Israel less than 24 hours after the brutal killing of innocent children in Gaza and then infiltrating Gaza without taking any responsibility for what they have done is immoral. Are the lives of these people worth nothing? War should be the last resort for anything so if we at least stop funding Israel’s wars with US tax payer dollars and have to use their own, then they eventually will be forced to figure it out.
This is so wrong. I can’t explain how this sickens my spirit. My heart feels like …… It’s like we are all complicit in this.
So Potus speaking out on Putin on a similar act of terrorism while not dealing with Bibi or addressing the propaganda that we know is being spewed right now is not right.
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I understand what you feel…i have an uneasiness about where all this will lead…
but i have watched our President for awhile….i do not know what is going on behind the scenes….
i am hopeful that something will develop…
this is the time when i will just say…#TrustBarack.
but i have watched our President for awhile….i do not know what is going on behind the scenes….
i am hopeful that something will develop…
Prettyfoot58 ….and there is where my hope lies.
I know POTUS understands it. I know he has always known what has to happen but how it happens, when and with this Congress… we will see. However, while we wait for that Gaza is destroyed because Bibi wants to be Billy Bad Ass. Then whoever wants to can wish him well and send him off but not with our money.
Let’s fund our own infrastructure, increase funds to support our veterans, teachers etc. Tax dollars should not be used for this. It just isn’t right.
After watching him work for the last 6 years, I have come to realize that with PBO, timing is crucial, very crucial. And he looks not at what may SOUND or FEEL morally right at the moment, but what will lead to the best outcome for ALL parties involved – and that includes the people/children of Gaza.
It may be gratifying to hear him come out on the podium this minutes and strongly rebuke Israel, or announce some harsh decisions with respect to the US’ funding of Israel – but what would be the immediate, intermediate and/or long-term consequences of doing that? Who would bear the brunt of this rebuke – Nut n Yahoo or the people of Gaza? Israel has been long accustomed to unconditional, uncritical support from the US, but that has changed since PBO took office. And it will continue to evolve over the next year. So I trust that when all is said and done and PBO finally throws down the gauntlet, Nut n Yahoo and his allies will have no room to argue or retaliate, because the foundation is being laid now as we speak…
I hear you hopefruit2 but my concern is for those people. In those boys lying on the beach, I see my own children. In the anguish of the parents, I see my grand parents who were slaves and stuck in a situation outside of their own control.
This is horrific. I just don’t think my tax dollars should go towards something like this. Not when it isn’t the only option. I get that sometimes wars have to happen but I am against self initiated wars just because I can get some ass backwards Congress to foot the bill.
So immediate, intermediate.long term consequences, less bodies of innocent kids on a beach. More homes that were not stolen or destroyed. Why, because Israel now has to foot the bill.
That’s my point nospin. And I think that’s exactly PBO’s concern too. He makes these kinds of calculations when deciding what plan of action to take. Preventing 10,000 deaths now only to have 500,000 deaths 18 months from now is not the preferred. And this is one of those situations where there is no “good” outcome.
So I think we need to see from his vantage point why he might do things that otherwise don’t make sense to us.
I agree totally Hf2. My family is not Jewish and I share a strong faith with one of my brothers. Nevertheless I had to walk away from a conversation about Israel with him because his response was so knee jerk off the chart irrational, I was momentarily stunned. Israel elicits strong emotions, i.e. “with us or against us, it’s in the Bible, God is orchestrating events”, etc… it is hard to have a rational dialogue. If PBO were to wade into this now it would be like pouring more fuel into the fire, here and around the world. This situation is not going to be talked down no matter the eloquence and righteousness of PBO or the Pope. Have you ever tried to rationalize with an armed drunk? It just makes the situation worse. This matter is enormously complicated and is one of the biggest issues confronting mankind as it involves matters of religion and faith and their attending emotions.
Imagine how much more peaceful the world would be if there were no religions, no reasons to slaughter each other, which has been the catalyst since the beginning of time.
Unfortunately Israel is the only true third rail in American politics. Social Security will be abolished before the US government stops financially supporting Israel. AIPAC owns the Congress. Any action PBO takes against Israel would lead to a Congressional revolt, both Dem and gop. Some things are bigger than the Presidency.
Eric – I am aware that our Congress is owned by AIPAC. But there has got to be something we can do to push to make sure Congress isn’t using US dollars for things like this. How is this fiscally responsible?
What is the benefit to the US? Shit, women can’t even get access to birth control, folks are no longer able to vote, veterans are getting the shaft and because some fool in another country wants to dress up, play soldiers and blow shit up, Congress writes a check?
nospin—I feel your pain. But you should take comfort in the belief that the President will do what is in the longterm best interest of the US and the world. PBO has opened the door to enormous doubt about netanyahoo. I don’t think POTUS is in any doubt about what needs to be done.
And he will do what is right as soon as he can. Trust Barack is more than a slogan. Tested and proven.
Nospin, you asked what you can do and I will say that you and all of us have a lot of power. The revulsion that you feel about the four Palestinian boys was felt by every mother and conscientious father who knew about it. So let’s all of us use that revulsion to a good end. We each have a Congressperson and senators and we can loudly and frequently proclaim our opposition to the pandering to Israel The AIPAC lobby is powerful because they never give up and they threaten to undermine candidates who don’t toe their line. Well, the people in Congress have to learn to fear us too. If you live in a majority Democratic or swing state or borderline one, get on the phones and start building pressure. When Americans like us remain passive, only the nasty, insistent ones prevail. I think we have to make accountability for Israel a requirement for the candidates we do support. Don’t let them get away with mouthing the “poor” Israel talking points. Call them out and challenge them. Eventually the wheel turns and that’s how change happens.
Thank you jackiegrumbacher. I do live in a majority democratic state (Maryland). I will do exactly what you said. My heart hurts. I will do this. I have to DO something. so thanks.
Nospin, I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between what you feel about Israel and what many of us feel. But the president is walking on a knife edge here. He cannot openly criticize Israel or it will open a storm of protest across the US and jeopardize any chances we have of negotiating a peace. But I thought his remarks were carefully measured, as though he were parsing words that did not reflect his heart. He described a very circumscribed purpose for the attacks, i.e. destroying the tunnels, and seemed to imply that Israel had better not stray beyond it. Also he was clear about cautioning Israel against a blood bath of Palestinian casualties. Having been in a position once of having to write these carefully crafted press remarks, I think he was threading through delicate wiring as he spoke.
The press secretary for Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) was arrested by Capitol Police on Friday morning for allegedly bringing a 9mm handgun to the Cannon House Office Building, Roll Call reported.
Ryan Shucard was arrested at about 9:15 a.m. at the building’s southeast entry, Capitol Police spokeswoman Lt. Kimberly Schneider told Roll Call. After a required search, a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol and magazine were reportedly found.
Marino’s chief of staff Bill Tighe told Roll Call that Shucard had been placed on unpaid leave.
Shucard was processed at Capitol Police headquarters on suspicion of carrying a pistol without a license, a felony in the District of Columbia.
The office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms confirmed the arrest. “Carrying weapons into the District of Columbia is a very serious offense,” an official told Roll Call.
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No license …..I would bet he thinks he is to important to bother with a pesky license.
This “press secretary” should not be allowed back into the Cannon Office Building. When any staff member gets that arrogant and feels that rules no longer apply to him/her, they have to go.
Thank you Mr.Bobfr, and a happy and “BEAUTIFUL” Friday to you.
This is EXCELLENCE!
Growing up, we were told to differentiate friendship in the following manner, if you really wanted to know who your friends were.
Friends will tell you what you want to hear, but “true friends” will tell you what you need to hear. If you understand the true meaning; you’ll have less “friends” but you’ll have “valuable friendships”, 2 or 3 at the most.
Have a WONDERFUL Friday afternoon and a SPLENDID weekend – ENJOY!!!
Hi TOD family!
Congratulation Ms. Chips and NW for being #1!
I mean really, you both deserve the spot. Together you make a great team.
I am so glad you were destine to meet as such a time as this.
What a difference a day makes.
Last night I went to bed bewildered and sad for all the deaths that occurred.
This morning after a nice long peaceful walk with myself and my God I can truly say that I am still in live with HOPE.
Returning from my walk to read the truth here and watching our First Lady smile at those terrific kids at the Kids State Dinner. While Our Commander-In-Chief joined them.
And then watch our President exhibits poise, calmness and patience while Putin and lovers of Putin gets exposed for who they really are in the midst of their own storm, life is still worth living and we will and must go on because as dear Paulita posted way up above on another ,”We are on the right side of history”.
Have a peaceful weekend everyone..
As the world turns just watch see how good will overcome evil.
Peace and Blessings to you all!
BTW, if you’d like to read a transcript of a Russian MIG being ground controlled in it’s attack on a UA fighter jet … http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/3427 Given the level of detail in that transcript and the level of US & NATO surveillance of the area it will not be difficult to verify the report as I know President Obama has his NS team doing regarding every aspect of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Part of what makes him an indomitable opponent is the care he takes in assembling facts.
“Terrorists are interfering in the carrying out of a joint international investigation of the crash of the Malaysian Boeing-777 airliner and are obstructing the work of Ukrainian specialists at the site of the tragedy, Andriy Lysenko, spokesperson for the National Security Council’s News & Analysis Center, reported at the Center’s evening briefing, July 18, 2014.
The work of the State Emergency Service at the site of the tragedy is taking place under the eye of militants. All material evidence is being seized by the terrorists. They have also declared their intentions to move the black boxes and bodies of victims to Russia.
In Luhansk, terrorists have moved from merely terrorizing the local population and have begun marauding and openly murdering people. According to a report from the Luhansk City Council, today some men driving by in a car opened fire at some buses that were supposed to take people away from the conflict zone to a safer place. The bandits are also shooting at ordinary passers-by. According to preliminary data, nearly 20 bodies of victims of the Russian mercenaries ended up lying on the streets of the city. The terrorists were not allowing anyone to take the bodies away until Russian television reporters show up at the scene, at which point they claimed that the victims were shot by Ukrainian soldiers.
As a reminder, ATO forces have never attacked or shot at residential areas.”
Securing the plane crash site has to be a global priority. I think the United Nations should send in a team to guard and protect the professionals on the ground. If the black box or ANY of the remains of the dead are taken away, there should be a massive, sustained outcry by the home nations of the passengers and their families. This is international looting and theft of the most obscene kind. If the separatist thugs are interfering with bodies, they are violating every sacred trust we owe to each and offending every major religion in the world. There were human beings with families on that flight including young children and infants. Violating their remains is a gross offensive to our humanity.
Could not agree with you more, Jackie. And, fact is, there’s considerable video evidence of obscene behavior from moments after the victims remains landed.
They are violating every code of decency there is and every one of these barbaric criminals needs to be rounded up and jailed. I don’t care what international barriers would be violated in doing this, but these bastards cannot be allowed to get away with it.
Yes they are jackiegrumbacher; disrespecting the dead, and inflicting more pain on the love ones who are suffering in all of this.
Deceased bodies in an open field just cuts to the core of humanity. Are they out there stealing from them; passports, luggage, and or anything they deem to be valuable? This is inhumane and outright disgraceful.
See the disrespect????!!!!??? We are not blind.
Like the “evolve, already,” bullshit on same sex marriage.
President Obama makes his moves when the timing is optimal. When in his judgement, not ours, the moment is right.
I love cats and i used to tell my impatient husband who complained that our cats didn’t respond to his commands as swiftly as our dogs did, that cats have their own time system. Cat Standard Time, whereas dogs live on human standard time.
I am not being disrespectful to Our President. What I mean to convey is that President Obama’s antenna is perhaps more finely tuned and receiving many more signals and info than we are. Patience and trust are good tools for us to rely on.
That headline is typical Huff & Puff. This is who wrote the story that he references. https://twitter.com/jbendery
She doesn’t even use that awful headline when she tweeted about her own story. The article makes no reference to “Finally” at all. This is another example of an outrageous headline that doesn’t match the story. Chalk it up to another reason why so many Obama supporters no longer read Huff & Puff.
I saw Brian Lamb interview Amanda Terkel on cspan Q&A… I think she is the political director at HP….
He asked her about the Outrageous Headlines on HP…..she said they have a ” Headline Staff ” and the writers don’t decide what the Headline will/should be.
Before AOL took over…HP used to listen to the people that commented and would call them out on their outrageous headlines.
Donna, when words and actions don’t match, you know the words are a lie. The Republican ‘love of America’ is at the bottom of a long list of hates. The only number one on their love list is money.
Every Democratic candidate should have this printed and passing it out where ever they go. It doesn’t take a lot to sum up the GOP anymore; they’re in a nut shell, “WORTHLESS.”
In fact, I am going to do it for myself, and keep it with me to combat crazy.
This is what Ed S. is asking now; where are the world leaders, and why are they not outraged over this? He said that the repukes are using this to attack President Obama on foreign policy. They are actually saying that President Obama is responsible, and old man McCain is saying that the Administration is a coward as he crisscross the networks.
The repukes are totally a group of crazies that should not be allowed to exist in any capacity of running this government.
This is their mode of operation. As a result, on Monday, the corporate masters will have a poll saying that 75% of Americans disapprove of PBO’s foreign policy….and it goes on and on…
On another note, in an earlier statement some time in late June or earlier this month, PBO did say that he would give the GOP until the end of July to do something about CIR, otherwise he would be taking Executive Action by August.
Events are happening so quickly, it’s impossible for me to remember something that happening a couple of weeks ago.
That’s just one of the reasons that TODville is so important — our collective memory is better than a single person’s (no doubt there are people here with photographic memories, so this doesn’t apply to those lucky few).
Indeed Araphoh415. Both PBO and Schumer have indicated that our President will take executive action on CIR if the GOP doesn’t act in the summer weeks before they leave for August recess.
And then earlier on June 11, the day after Eric Cantor was defeated in his primary, Chuck Schummer led a Senate Floor briefing on the same issue of Immigration Reform, and I had summarized what he said in a TOD comment and I’m linking it here.
Re-election for what. Oh I got it, re-elect those do nothing Congress so they can do nothing and blame President Obama for them doing nothing. What a sick ass bunch of racists do nothing, Tea Republicans.
The Obama Diary 
Thank you, you gem!!!!!
Thanks, Chipster!
Hi Arapaho, you seem to have freed up your life. I now get to *see* you morning, noon & evening. 😀
Thanks, GG!
Yes, I now have time to sneak a peek at TOD, my lifeblood to current events.
I’m getting closer…
I wonder if Ms. Grisham’s MTP appearance will be pre-empted for more Obama-bashing on the Urkaine and Israel crises?
Michelle is my co-worker’s sister-in-law. I guess I’ll be checking out MTP…
Really?
Please make it stop. I’m sorry to complain about such a stupid issue in the midst of such a horrible week, but……I live in Iowa, it’s 2+ years before a presidential election and they’re b-a-a-a-a-c-c-c-k-k-k.
The stupid GOP politicians who think they will be the next President and the press that idolizes them and rewards this behavior. Yesterday it was Chris Christie in Iowa and today there are a few incredibly inane, fawning articles in the DSM Register. This weekend it’s Rick Perry, then in August Mike Huckabee and Rand Paul. ARG.
Listen, GOP and media – Iowa is **not** important in the political world!! Why are they creating this artificial audition setting here? And why so darn EARLY? If I see one more reporter standing in front of a tractor and a silo… Go away for a few years please!
Let me know if you need help forming a mob so you can chase them out of Iowa. 🙂
Blame the MSM enablers.
Before 2008, no one paid attention to Iowa before the midterm elex. But 2008 elevated the loathsome upchuck Todd and rewarded gossip mongers like “Game Change” Halperin/Heilmann and Politico’s Jonathan Martin/Ben Smith (who have since moved on to much more lucrative gossip homes).
The MSM really should stop paying for this nonsense — there’s no reason to have huge political staffs until the actual election year. (I know that 2014 is an election year, but MSM act like it’s July 2016, not 2014.)
BTW, when your husband works to GOTV, he should take a page from the best customer service reps, who never argue with complainers. They allow callers to rant and rave and say reassuring things like “I understand why you feel that way…” etc. It’s tiring to rant and rave, so once the person is done (if they haven’t slammed the door in hubby’s face) your husband can then describe how GOP Congress contributes to whatever that person is unhappy about. Just a thought.
And yes, MSM, please leave I O W A aloooone.
I feel for you, muscatingal. It’s a shame poor Iowa is singled out for the pandering parade, but suggest you find a group of like-minded people and not only try to shut it out together, but find enjoyable ways to distract yourself with parties that involve a lot of joking about politicians. Then you can all write letters to the editor saying you have taken a collective decision never to vote for any presidential hopeful who visits the state two years too early. Who knows? It might work.
And we feel it!!
he said she watched him walk away, wondering if maybe her daughter, Arona, now 6, might have great things in her future too.
“She did it,” Benjamin said of Obama’s mother. “Maybe I can too.
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WOW!..feeling a bit weepy…smilin
Really got to me, too. {{{{sniffles}}}}
Gotta love those Twitter comments, though, huh? /snark
Hi, everyone!
Doin’ well?
How are you doing, GOB? Yesterday too its toll on all of us. All of the tension and anxiety has made me feel exhausted today. I think it’s an adrenaline crash.
Doing fine, Jackie. Yes, everyone is scared, frustrated and angry. It feels like the world is just crashing in.
Just had a chance to see the President’s speech. Thanks Nerdy.
However, I remain disappointed in POTUS’ handling of the US relationship with Israel. Standing with Israel on its right to defend itself is one thing if it is justified. However, it is not enough to support any nation blindly to the point where you overlook the innocent lives lost or the vast amount of US tax payer dollars used to destroy other countries at the whim of a right wing nut job’s (Bibi) refusal to do the right thing.
If Israel chooses to continue to fight an endless war instead of genuinely trying to solve the problem then fine but this foolishness should not be funded by the US. Having to fund your own wars would provide the opportunity for Israel’s citizens to encourage its leaders to make better decisions on where to spend their money and to finally solve the issues. I also don’t like the cover up around the situation in Gaza and Israel’s role in all that. I know Potus knows what happened. So Potus speaking out on Putin on a similar act of terrorism while not dealing with Bibi or addressing the propaganda that we know is being spewed right now is not right.
I have been writing POTUS over the years on this issue because as a mother, sister, daughter …shit…as a frakkin’ human being…. the way the US handles its relationship with Israel is just wrong. I get that some TOD’ers do not feel the way I do but we should all be able to agree that the United States of America should not be financially supporting this. It isn’t right.
Just as a point of information, PBO has been the first American President to call out Israel’s actions in many areas, including, but not limited to the settlements.
japa I am not discounting that he spoke out but he can do more. I know he has. But it isn’t enough.
Having our Congress approve dollars to Israel less than 24 hours after the brutal killing of innocent children in Gaza and then infiltrating Gaza without taking any responsibility for what they have done is immoral. Are the lives of these people worth nothing? War should be the last resort for anything so if we at least stop funding Israel’s wars with US tax payer dollars and have to use their own, then they eventually will be forced to figure it out.
This is so wrong. I can’t explain how this sickens my spirit. My heart feels like …… It’s like we are all complicit in this.
You’re right about that. He’s gone farther than any other U.S. President.
So Potus speaking out on Putin on a similar act of terrorism while not dealing with Bibi or addressing the propaganda that we know is being spewed right now is not right.
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I understand what you feel…i have an uneasiness about where all this will lead…
but i have watched our President for awhile….i do not know what is going on behind the scenes….
i am hopeful that something will develop…
this is the time when i will just say…#TrustBarack.
but i have watched our President for awhile….i do not know what is going on behind the scenes….
i am hopeful that something will develop…
Prettyfoot58 ….and there is where my hope lies.
I know POTUS understands it. I know he has always known what has to happen but how it happens, when and with this Congress… we will see. However, while we wait for that Gaza is destroyed because Bibi wants to be Billy Bad Ass. Then whoever wants to can wish him well and send him off but not with our money.
Let’s fund our own infrastructure, increase funds to support our veterans, teachers etc. Tax dollars should not be used for this. It just isn’t right.
After watching him work for the last 6 years, I have come to realize that with PBO, timing is crucial, very crucial. And he looks not at what may SOUND or FEEL morally right at the moment, but what will lead to the best outcome for ALL parties involved – and that includes the people/children of Gaza.
It may be gratifying to hear him come out on the podium this minutes and strongly rebuke Israel, or announce some harsh decisions with respect to the US’ funding of Israel – but what would be the immediate, intermediate and/or long-term consequences of doing that? Who would bear the brunt of this rebuke – Nut n Yahoo or the people of Gaza? Israel has been long accustomed to unconditional, uncritical support from the US, but that has changed since PBO took office. And it will continue to evolve over the next year. So I trust that when all is said and done and PBO finally throws down the gauntlet, Nut n Yahoo and his allies will have no room to argue or retaliate, because the foundation is being laid now as we speak…
I hear you hopefruit2 but my concern is for those people. In those boys lying on the beach, I see my own children. In the anguish of the parents, I see my grand parents who were slaves and stuck in a situation outside of their own control.
This is horrific. I just don’t think my tax dollars should go towards something like this. Not when it isn’t the only option. I get that sometimes wars have to happen but I am against self initiated wars just because I can get some ass backwards Congress to foot the bill.
So immediate, intermediate.long term consequences, less bodies of innocent kids on a beach. More homes that were not stolen or destroyed. Why, because Israel now has to foot the bill.
“my concern is for those people”
That’s my point nospin. And I think that’s exactly PBO’s concern too. He makes these kinds of calculations when deciding what plan of action to take. Preventing 10,000 deaths now only to have 500,000 deaths 18 months from now is not the preferred. And this is one of those situations where there is no “good” outcome.
So I think we need to see from his vantage point why he might do things that otherwise don’t make sense to us.
I agree totally Hf2. My family is not Jewish and I share a strong faith with one of my brothers. Nevertheless I had to walk away from a conversation about Israel with him because his response was so knee jerk off the chart irrational, I was momentarily stunned. Israel elicits strong emotions, i.e. “with us or against us, it’s in the Bible, God is orchestrating events”, etc… it is hard to have a rational dialogue. If PBO were to wade into this now it would be like pouring more fuel into the fire, here and around the world. This situation is not going to be talked down no matter the eloquence and righteousness of PBO or the Pope. Have you ever tried to rationalize with an armed drunk? It just makes the situation worse. This matter is enormously complicated and is one of the biggest issues confronting mankind as it involves matters of religion and faith and their attending emotions.
Imagine how much more peaceful the world would be if there were no religions, no reasons to slaughter each other, which has been the catalyst since the beginning of time.
Agree totally. Well said. Thanks.
Unfortunately Israel is the only true third rail in American politics. Social Security will be abolished before the US government stops financially supporting Israel. AIPAC owns the Congress. Any action PBO takes against Israel would lead to a Congressional revolt, both Dem and gop. Some things are bigger than the Presidency.
Exactly.
Eric – I am aware that our Congress is owned by AIPAC. But there has got to be something we can do to push to make sure Congress isn’t using US dollars for things like this. How is this fiscally responsible?
What is the benefit to the US? Shit, women can’t even get access to birth control, folks are no longer able to vote, veterans are getting the shaft and because some fool in another country wants to dress up, play soldiers and blow shit up, Congress writes a check?
Its wrong.
Again, thanks for expressing my thoughts.
nospin—I feel your pain. But you should take comfort in the belief that the President will do what is in the longterm best interest of the US and the world. PBO has opened the door to enormous doubt about netanyahoo. I don’t think POTUS is in any doubt about what needs to be done.
And he will do what is right as soon as he can. Trust Barack is more than a slogan. Tested and proven.
Nospin, you asked what you can do and I will say that you and all of us have a lot of power. The revulsion that you feel about the four Palestinian boys was felt by every mother and conscientious father who knew about it. So let’s all of us use that revulsion to a good end. We each have a Congressperson and senators and we can loudly and frequently proclaim our opposition to the pandering to Israel The AIPAC lobby is powerful because they never give up and they threaten to undermine candidates who don’t toe their line. Well, the people in Congress have to learn to fear us too. If you live in a majority Democratic or swing state or borderline one, get on the phones and start building pressure. When Americans like us remain passive, only the nasty, insistent ones prevail. I think we have to make accountability for Israel a requirement for the candidates we do support. Don’t let them get away with mouthing the “poor” Israel talking points. Call them out and challenge them. Eventually the wheel turns and that’s how change happens.
Thank you jackiegrumbacher. I do live in a majority democratic state (Maryland). I will do exactly what you said. My heart hurts. I will do this. I have to DO something. so thanks.
Nospin, I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between what you feel about Israel and what many of us feel. But the president is walking on a knife edge here. He cannot openly criticize Israel or it will open a storm of protest across the US and jeopardize any chances we have of negotiating a peace. But I thought his remarks were carefully measured, as though he were parsing words that did not reflect his heart. He described a very circumscribed purpose for the attacks, i.e. destroying the tunnels, and seemed to imply that Israel had better not stray beyond it. Also he was clear about cautioning Israel against a blood bath of Palestinian casualties. Having been in a position once of having to write these carefully crafted press remarks, I think he was threading through delicate wiring as he spoke.
jackieg. well said. I get how despairing nospin is and I hope our words will bring some comfort.
Exactly, jackie.
The press secretary for Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) was arrested by Capitol Police on Friday morning for allegedly bringing a 9mm handgun to the Cannon House Office Building, Roll Call reported.
Ryan Shucard was arrested at about 9:15 a.m. at the building’s southeast entry, Capitol Police spokeswoman Lt. Kimberly Schneider told Roll Call. After a required search, a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol and magazine were reportedly found.
Marino’s chief of staff Bill Tighe told Roll Call that Shucard had been placed on unpaid leave.
Shucard was processed at Capitol Police headquarters on suspicion of carrying a pistol without a license, a felony in the District of Columbia.
The office of the House Sergeant-at-Arms confirmed the arrest. “Carrying weapons into the District of Columbia is a very serious offense,” an official told Roll Call.
—
No license …..I would bet he thinks he is to important to bother with a pesky license.
This “press secretary” should not be allowed back into the Cannon Office Building. When any staff member gets that arrogant and feels that rules no longer apply to him/her, they have to go.
Definitely worth reading …
Thank you Mr.Bobfr, and a happy and “BEAUTIFUL” Friday to you.
This is EXCELLENCE!
Growing up, we were told to differentiate friendship in the following manner, if you really wanted to know who your friends were.
Friends will tell you what you want to hear, but “true friends” will tell you what you need to hear. If you understand the true meaning; you’ll have less “friends” but you’ll have “valuable friendships”, 2 or 3 at the most.
Have a WONDERFUL Friday afternoon and a SPLENDID weekend – ENJOY!!!
Thank you do much, Cindy, and I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Hi TOD family!
Congratulation Ms. Chips and NW for being #1!
I mean really, you both deserve the spot. Together you make a great team.
I am so glad you were destine to meet as such a time as this.
What a difference a day makes.
Last night I went to bed bewildered and sad for all the deaths that occurred.
This morning after a nice long peaceful walk with myself and my God I can truly say that I am still in live with HOPE.
Returning from my walk to read the truth here and watching our First Lady smile at those terrific kids at the Kids State Dinner. While Our Commander-In-Chief joined them.
And then watch our President exhibits poise, calmness and patience while Putin and lovers of Putin gets exposed for who they really are in the midst of their own storm, life is still worth living and we will and must go on because as dear Paulita posted way up above on another ,”We are on the right side of history”.
Have a peaceful weekend everyone..
As the world turns just watch see how good will overcome evil.
Peace and Blessings to you all!
Video Reportedly Shows SAM System With Missing Missiles
http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/3434
citizen journalism ….
BTW, if you’d like to read a transcript of a Russian MIG being ground controlled in it’s attack on a UA fighter jet … http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/3427 Given the level of detail in that transcript and the level of US & NATO surveillance of the area it will not be difficult to verify the report as I know President Obama has his NS team doing regarding every aspect of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Part of what makes him an indomitable opponent is the care he takes in assembling facts.
“Terrorists are interfering in the carrying out of a joint international investigation of the crash of the Malaysian Boeing-777 airliner and are obstructing the work of Ukrainian specialists at the site of the tragedy, Andriy Lysenko, spokesperson for the National Security Council’s News & Analysis Center, reported at the Center’s evening briefing, July 18, 2014.
The work of the State Emergency Service at the site of the tragedy is taking place under the eye of militants. All material evidence is being seized by the terrorists. They have also declared their intentions to move the black boxes and bodies of victims to Russia.
In Luhansk, terrorists have moved from merely terrorizing the local population and have begun marauding and openly murdering people. According to a report from the Luhansk City Council, today some men driving by in a car opened fire at some buses that were supposed to take people away from the conflict zone to a safer place. The bandits are also shooting at ordinary passers-by. According to preliminary data, nearly 20 bodies of victims of the Russian mercenaries ended up lying on the streets of the city. The terrorists were not allowing anyone to take the bodies away until Russian television reporters show up at the scene, at which point they claimed that the victims were shot by Ukrainian soldiers.
As a reminder, ATO forces have never attacked or shot at residential areas.”
This is dreadful, Bob. I hope the world and US media pick up this story.
Securing the plane crash site has to be a global priority. I think the United Nations should send in a team to guard and protect the professionals on the ground. If the black box or ANY of the remains of the dead are taken away, there should be a massive, sustained outcry by the home nations of the passengers and their families. This is international looting and theft of the most obscene kind. If the separatist thugs are interfering with bodies, they are violating every sacred trust we owe to each and offending every major religion in the world. There were human beings with families on that flight including young children and infants. Violating their remains is a gross offensive to our humanity.
Could not agree with you more, Jackie. And, fact is, there’s considerable video evidence of obscene behavior from moments after the victims remains landed.
Something our friends on the ground in Ukraine have been reporting for the past few weeks and it’s good to have it confirmed …
Pro-Russian Separatists’ BUK Geolocated in Torez
http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/3436
Citizen journalism …
Russian propaganda mill caught editing Wikipedia ….
The biggest news: Vox reported something current and important.
So true!!!
SBU releases more conversations implicating Russia in shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight (VIDEO, TRANSCRIPT)
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/sbu-releases-more-conversations-implicating-russia-in-shooting-down-malaysia-airlines-flight-video-transcript-2-356778.html
Corrections: “destined to meet” “still in love with HOPE”
(Sorry for the errors. Need sleep)
BOOM – take that Brian Fischer!!
I anxiously await to see what the President will do about Immigration reform…it will be a earth shaking!
We don’t have long to wait pf58 🙂
Paging Glen Greenwald and Van Jones to rant about police state….
Chuck Todd: “This is atrocious news for the Obama administration! Especially on a Friday! A major headache for the WH….”
Putin Owns It …..
1 word; DISGRACEFUL!
They are compounding their atrocity, for sure, Cindy.
Indeed they are………
They are violating every code of decency there is and every one of these barbaric criminals needs to be rounded up and jailed. I don’t care what international barriers would be violated in doing this, but these bastards cannot be allowed to get away with it.
worse and worse. Russia couldn’t be more wrong here.
OMG, that is absolutely horrific and vile. Who are these people?????
Meta, they are monsters in human clothing. Disrespecting the dead???? It’s unspeakably obscene.
Yes they are jackiegrumbacher; disrespecting the dead, and inflicting more pain on the love ones who are suffering in all of this.
Deceased bodies in an open field just cuts to the core of humanity. Are they out there stealing from them; passports, luggage, and or anything they deem to be valuable? This is inhumane and outright disgraceful.
When is the international community going to rise up Bob
See the disrespect seeping through – even while they’re supposedly reporting the good news?
Obama’s LGBT Hiring Order Will Not Include Religious Exemption.
Boom ! Let the screeching begin.
What I love about this President is that he always puts his opponents in a very awkward position. Now they have to run on discrimination.
See the disrespect????!!!!??? We are not blind.
Like the “evolve, already,” bullshit on same sex marriage.
President Obama makes his moves when the timing is optimal. When in his judgement, not ours, the moment is right.
I love cats and i used to tell my impatient husband who complained that our cats didn’t respond to his commands as swiftly as our dogs did, that cats have their own time system. Cat Standard Time, whereas dogs live on human standard time.
I am not being disrespectful to Our President. What I mean to convey is that President Obama’s antenna is perhaps more finely tuned and receiving many more signals and info than we are. Patience and trust are good tools for us to rely on.
Yep, PBO is the Master chess player while these other people are paying Snakes and Ladders!
That headline is typical Huff & Puff. This is who wrote the story that he references. https://twitter.com/jbendery
She doesn’t even use that awful headline when she tweeted about her own story. The article makes no reference to “Finally” at all. This is another example of an outrageous headline that doesn’t match the story. Chalk it up to another reason why so many Obama supporters no longer read Huff & Puff.
smh
I saw Brian Lamb interview Amanda Terkel on cspan Q&A… I think she is the political director at HP….
He asked her about the Outrageous Headlines on HP…..she said they have a ” Headline Staff ” and the writers don’t decide what the Headline will/should be.
Before AOL took over…HP used to listen to the people that commented and would call them out on their outrageous headlines.
Well this is one of the stupidest things I have heard..
Donna, when words and actions don’t match, you know the words are a lie. The Republican ‘love of America’ is at the bottom of a long list of hates. The only number one on their love list is money.
Hi donna dem 4 obama,
Every Democratic candidate should have this printed and passing it out where ever they go. It doesn’t take a lot to sum up the GOP anymore; they’re in a nut shell, “WORTHLESS.”
In fact, I am going to do it for myself, and keep it with me to combat crazy.
Good Idea!
this is just insane. turning Detroit into a third world country
I saw a quote from Cameron on MH17 but nothing from Merkel, Hollande, Xi Jinping. Where are the world leaders?
The only comment I read somewhere was from Xi; he said not to jump to conclusion re who is responsible for downing the plane.
Thanks, Layla.
Hi meta,
This is what Ed S. is asking now; where are the world leaders, and why are they not outraged over this? He said that the repukes are using this to attack President Obama on foreign policy. They are actually saying that President Obama is responsible, and old man McCain is saying that the Administration is a coward as he crisscross the networks.
The repukes are totally a group of crazies that should not be allowed to exist in any capacity of running this government.
This is their mode of operation. As a result, on Monday, the corporate masters will have a poll saying that 75% of Americans disapprove of PBO’s foreign policy….and it goes on and on…
Unbelievable. They have lost their minds, trashing the President during every crisis and on every domestic issue. Shame on every last one of them.
Just heard this on the radio. Thanks for posting, HF2.
How did Bobfr know? (“We don’t have long to wait pf58,” upthread)
LOL – I guess we just need to #TrustBob 🙂
We do hf!!!! He knows things…I will leave it at that
lol. rght hf
On another note, in an earlier statement some time in late June or earlier this month, PBO did say that he would give the GOP until the end of July to do something about CIR, otherwise he would be taking Executive Action by August.
Good catch.
Events are happening so quickly, it’s impossible for me to remember something that happening a couple of weeks ago.
That’s just one of the reasons that TODville is so important — our collective memory is better than a single person’s (no doubt there are people here with photographic memories, so this doesn’t apply to those lucky few).
Indeed Araphoh415. Both PBO and Schumer have indicated that our President will take executive action on CIR if the GOP doesn’t act in the summer weeks before they leave for August recess.
Here is PBO’s statement on June, 30th.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?320223-6/president-obama-immigration
And then earlier on June 11, the day after Eric Cantor was defeated in his primary, Chuck Schummer led a Senate Floor briefing on the same issue of Immigration Reform, and I had summarized what he said in a TOD comment and I’m linking it here.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/11/you-built-that-eric-cantor/#comment-1051223
You can get the actual 12-minute speech by Schumer here.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4500519/senator-schumer-immigration-reform
🙂
Actually, I just listen to the man and he never lets me down. He’s been very clear as to his deadline for Congress to act.
The juxtaposition of David Axelrod’s tweet and Michael Skolnik’s tweet speaks volumes.
Re-election for what. Oh I got it, re-elect those do nothing Congress so they can do nothing and blame President Obama for them doing nothing. What a sick ass bunch of racists do nothing, Tea Republicans.
Re-elect that do nothing Congress,
And this happened: https://twitter.com/Truth_Seeker59/status/490247665175650304
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/18/first-lady-michelle-obama-celebrates-kid-chefs/