NerdyW, thank you for that smooch-y pic. They both look so happy. Er… btw… do you think you could give me a special tap on the shoulder a second or two before you upload a new post? Just asking… in the spirit of Christmas, you understand.
Thank you for this VC. One of my favorites, if not my favorite of the newer Christmas songs out there. I hadn’t even know abiout this group until recently. This is a beautiful rendition.
New in the sense within the last 20 years. It was originally recorded in 1991, but didn’t have any popular market until 1996. At my age, I still consider this new.
Republicans welcome a flood of lobbyists to Capitol Hill
The revolving door between lobbying and government work has been set to spinning by the Republican takeover of the Senate. Lobbyists are taking big pay cuts to staff senators working on the issues they’ve been lobbying on; this work on the Hill will then set them up to go back to lobbying later on with their influence and networks solidified:
Nearly a dozen veteran K Streeters have been named as top staffers to GOP leaders or on key committees as lawmakers prepare to take the gavel in January.
For instance, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell named Hazen Marshall policy director earlier this week. Marshall, a former staff director for the Senate Budget Committee, has spent the last 10 years as a lobbyist at the Nickles Group representing dozens of clients like AT&T, Comcast and energy company Exelon.
Marshall in McConnell’s office is hardly alone. Mark Isakowitz, who has been downtown since the mid-1990s first at the National Federation of Independent Business and then at the boutique firm Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, is also making the transition to Capitol Hill. The Ohio native will be chief of staff to Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). Appropriations guru Jeff Shockey is taking another swing through the revolving door — he has done two previous stints working in the House — will this time be leaving S3 Group to become staff director to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on the House Intelligence Committee.
It’s noticeable from your excerpt that the Repubs rarely introduce new/young blood when they get the reins. Not that it’s surprising, but we’re in for more of the same; they don’t handle change well at all.
A very well timed bonus has just been announced here at The Dorkery! Our output and quality have been very good and demand as well as out stock price have shot up. Yay!!!
Between the car breaking and my overspending on presents for my young ‘uns, I was beginning to worry about the budget for my wedding anniversary in May (we’ve been together, exclusive, and living together for 16 years, but it’ll be 10 years married). The 10th sort of deserves a large budget.
Companies still give out bonuses? Can’t remember the last time I worked for a company that did. Usually they tell us that our bonus is we still have jobs.
I work for Intel. The demand for our processors has recently shot way up, but our head count still reflects the pre-surge conditions. I suspect the bonus is an attempt to avert the pitch forks and torches. They’ve run us ragged for a few months now.
Good morning all of TODville. I am praying nothing happens today to interfere with the First Family leaving for Hawaii. For once it would be wonderful for them to have a quiet holiday. I wish that for all of us.
Just on twitter I read this article about Sony and Michael Jackson and the song “They don’t care about us”. I don’t remember anything about all of this. I wasn’t aware back then. I just listened to the song and it is very powerful. I encourage you to read the article and listen to the song.
Amy Pascal's husband quashed the distribution of Michael Jackson's "They Don't Care About Us". No coincidence. http://t.co/llOvejihie#Sony
Thanks for sharing the Brazil version. There is so much that has happened that I am ignorant about and I have tried to be aware. This corporate hold on everything has got to stop. I believe these next 2 years are going to be an awakening. I pray it is so. We as caring humans cannot continue to treat other humans as we have.
That is why I am so thankful for this community and for this President.
Thanks for sharing! I’d never heard of the “Prison” video; will watch later. Was well aware of the controversy; the negative reviews sent me to Circuit City to buy the CD on release day!
Here is my guess at one of the first questions PBO gets today.
—
Mr President ….do you think it is appropriate to take a 17 day vacation during this crisis of North Korea hacking into Sony Pictures ? Shouldn;t you stay in Washington to monitor this terrorist attack on America ??
For all the complaints about TARP from the RWNJ’s, the US actually made a profit. But that was only due to the way PBO changed it after he came into office. If it had been left the way Bush had set it up, the US would never have been repaid.
The U.S. government essentially closed the books on TARP with a $15.3 billion profit.
Treasury sold its remaining shares Friday in Ally Financial, its last remaining major stake from the $426 billion bailout of banks and the U.S. auto industry.
Overall, the auto bailout was the one big money loser for TARP. Even with the Ally sale, taxpayers lost about $9.2 billion.
But opting not to bail out the auto industry likely would have proven far more costly, since GM, Chrysler and many car dealers likely would have gone out of business without the government’s help.
If GM and Chrysler had gone under, it would have cost an estimated $39 billion to $105 billion in lost tax revenues as well as assistance to the unemployed, according to a study from the Center for Auto Research. And the government also would have been on the hook for billions in promised pension payments to autoworkers.
Saving the auto industry is already proving to be one of the wisest investment decisions our Federal Government has ever made. Thank you, John, for the update on TARP.
“Community organizer” has turned into “World Unity organizer.”
Also, “American Economic Recovery organizer.”
And so on.
There has never been a President like this one. And, unlike when Marco Rubio says “in my lifetime” I have been alive and highly conscious for long enough for the phrase “in my lifetime” to mean something.
Rand Paul Slams Marco Rubio Over Cuba As Feud Escalates
The disagreement between Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rand Paul (R-KY) over America’s changing relationship with Cuba is escalating quickly.
Rubio was among the loudest opponents to President Barack Obama’s announcement that the United States would begin normalizing relations with its Caribbean neighbor. After Paul said he supported the change, Rubio lashed out, saying Paul “has no idea what he’s talking about.”
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
GM NW, Yardarm and TOD.
Good Morning, COS.
Congrats on being furst yardarm!
It’s starting to feel like Xmas…. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks jojo. Hopefully this will put some pep in a step or two. 🙂
Congrats sailor 🙂
State of the Union is January 20th. Boehner did the invite for date and it was accepted by PBO.
So Boehner didn’t listen to the idiots in his caucus – that’s a pleasant change.
NerdyW, thank you for that smooch-y pic. They both look so happy. Er… btw… do you think you could give me a special tap on the shoulder a second or two before you upload a new post? Just asking… in the spirit of Christmas, you understand.
Okay, YA, since you are already heavy into the Xmas mood, ( a wee bit too early I think, but hey!) I’ll drop this here for you. 😉
Thank you for this VC. One of my favorites, if not my favorite of the newer Christmas songs out there. I hadn’t even know abiout this group until recently. This is a beautiful rendition.
YVW, Japa. I don’t think the carol is ‘new’ though, and yes I love their rendition! My offspring introduced me to the group recently too.
New in the sense within the last 20 years. It was originally recorded in 1991, but didn’t have any popular market until 1996. At my age, I still consider this new.
I like the way you look at this age thing, Japa. Helps me feel heaps ‘newer’ than I previously thought I was. 😀
Would be nice if i posted the link…
Greetings Japa…
this is my favorite rendition
Thanks vc. My fondest memories are around Christmas and the anticipation of those days before it.
EXCELLENT!
Stunningly beautiful harmonies…
Love it, Yardarm. Thanks for all this beauty.
You’re welcome.
Republicans welcome a flood of lobbyists to Capitol Hill
The revolving door between lobbying and government work has been set to spinning by the Republican takeover of the Senate. Lobbyists are taking big pay cuts to staff senators working on the issues they’ve been lobbying on; this work on the Hill will then set them up to go back to lobbying later on with their influence and networks solidified:
Nearly a dozen veteran K Streeters have been named as top staffers to GOP leaders or on key committees as lawmakers prepare to take the gavel in January.
For instance, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell named Hazen Marshall policy director earlier this week. Marshall, a former staff director for the Senate Budget Committee, has spent the last 10 years as a lobbyist at the Nickles Group representing dozens of clients like AT&T, Comcast and energy company Exelon.
Marshall in McConnell’s office is hardly alone. Mark Isakowitz, who has been downtown since the mid-1990s first at the National Federation of Independent Business and then at the boutique firm Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, is also making the transition to Capitol Hill. The Ohio native will be chief of staff to Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). Appropriations guru Jeff Shockey is taking another swing through the revolving door — he has done two previous stints working in the House — will this time be leaving S3 Group to become staff director to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on the House Intelligence Committee.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/19/1352914/-Republicans-welcome-a-flood-of-lobbyists-to-Capitol-Hill
It’s noticeable from your excerpt that the Repubs rarely introduce new/young blood when they get the reins. Not that it’s surprising, but we’re in for more of the same; they don’t handle change well at all.
The only “Special Interest” groups are the one represented by PBO, the middle class, poor and the disenfranchised.
Former Anonymous Hacktivist Turned FBI Snitch “Sabu” Breaks Silence
Wonder why we have not seen him on the media yet. This interview was on Dec.- 9
A very well timed bonus has just been announced here at The Dorkery! Our output and quality have been very good and demand as well as out stock price have shot up. Yay!!!
Between the car breaking and my overspending on presents for my young ‘uns, I was beginning to worry about the budget for my wedding anniversary in May (we’ve been together, exclusive, and living together for 16 years, but it’ll be 10 years married). The 10th sort of deserves a large budget.
Companies still give out bonuses? Can’t remember the last time I worked for a company that did. Usually they tell us that our bonus is we still have jobs.
I work for Intel. The demand for our processors has recently shot way up, but our head count still reflects the pre-surge conditions. I suspect the bonus is an attempt to avert the pitch forks and torches. They’ve run us ragged for a few months now.
Good morning all of TODville. I am praying nothing happens today to interfere with the First Family leaving for Hawaii. For once it would be wonderful for them to have a quiet holiday. I wish that for all of us.
Just on twitter I read this article about Sony and Michael Jackson and the song “They don’t care about us”. I don’t remember anything about all of this. I wasn’t aware back then. I just listened to the song and it is very powerful. I encourage you to read the article and listen to the song.
There are different versions of that song.
Prison version
Thanks for sharing the Brazil version. There is so much that has happened that I am ignorant about and I have tried to be aware. This corporate hold on everything has got to stop. I believe these next 2 years are going to be an awakening. I pray it is so. We as caring humans cannot continue to treat other humans as we have.
That is why I am so thankful for this community and for this President.
Thanks for sharing! I’d never heard of the “Prison” video; will watch later. Was well aware of the controversy; the negative reviews sent me to Circuit City to buy the CD on release day!
I remember all of this, I remember when MJ talk to Rev. Al over how he felt Sony was mistreating him.
MJ said Sony was racists.
Good afternoon, TOD! Hope everyone has a joyous day!
You folks are too good to me.
Yawn. Morning, everyone.
Here is my guess at one of the first questions PBO gets today.
—
Mr President ….do you think it is appropriate to take a 17 day vacation during this crisis of North Korea hacking into Sony Pictures ? Shouldn;t you stay in Washington to monitor this terrorist attack on America ??
Most likely from Jon Karl or Ed Henry.
I hope President Obama ignores them and takes questions from the Journos in the back of the room!
For all the complaints about TARP from the RWNJ’s, the US actually made a profit. But that was only due to the way PBO changed it after he came into office. If it had been left the way Bush had set it up, the US would never have been repaid.
The U.S. government essentially closed the books on TARP with a $15.3 billion profit.
Treasury sold its remaining shares Friday in Ally Financial, its last remaining major stake from the $426 billion bailout of banks and the U.S. auto industry.
Overall, the auto bailout was the one big money loser for TARP. Even with the Ally sale, taxpayers lost about $9.2 billion.
But opting not to bail out the auto industry likely would have proven far more costly, since GM, Chrysler and many car dealers likely would have gone out of business without the government’s help.
If GM and Chrysler had gone under, it would have cost an estimated $39 billion to $105 billion in lost tax revenues as well as assistance to the unemployed, according to a study from the Center for Auto Research. And the government also would have been on the hook for billions in promised pension payments to autoworkers.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/19/news/companies/government-bailouts-end/index.html
That part about the auto bailout is huge. Although technically it cost money, looking at what would have happened without it, we saved money.
Saving the auto industry is already proving to be one of the wisest investment decisions our Federal Government has ever made. Thank you, John, for the update on TARP.
A bit of friendly advice: don’t try to install a glass screen protector to your new phone after the office Christmas party.
Just sayin’.
A lot of people would have been killed ….
#NewRule
There is something powerfully healing and consoling to me to witness the love of the First Couple.
Yeah. It’s beautiful to witness.
Wonder if Boehner reflected on the significance of the date … in any event …
bbl ….
“Community organizer” has turned into “World Unity organizer.”
Also, “American Economic Recovery organizer.”
And so on.
There has never been a President like this one. And, unlike when Marco Rubio says “in my lifetime” I have been alive and highly conscious for long enough for the phrase “in my lifetime” to mean something.
Good Afternoon TOD.
Congratulations to all Gold ⭐ winners…….starting with this thread and 4/5 back.
a grifter is gonna grift
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/19/president-obama-holds-a-news-conference-2/
So Very Proud of George Clooney.
🍸 Bravo!
Is it wrong that I’m smiling ?
Rand Paul Slams Marco Rubio Over Cuba As Feud Escalates
The disagreement between Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rand Paul (R-KY) over America’s changing relationship with Cuba is escalating quickly.
Rubio was among the loudest opponents to President Barack Obama’s announcement that the United States would begin normalizing relations with its Caribbean neighbor. After Paul said he supported the change, Rubio lashed out, saying Paul “has no idea what he’s talking about.”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rand-paul-slams-marco-rubio-cuba
Rand Paul is going after Rubio on Twitter and Facebook.
Does Marco even know what they are ?