Banquet server Kitty Casey serves First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama during the National Prayer Breakfast
05
Feb
15
114 Responses to “Chat Away”
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The People’s View
- Follow me at my new venture: Reclaim the Fight
- Ignore the bait: Why itās the right strategy for Democrats to focus SCOTUS fight on health care
- BIG: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to shortcut the census
- Trump doesn't want peaceful transition of power. Legally, it doesnāt matter.
- Fauci goes off on Rand Paul
- Rule 44: Why Obamacare is not lost even in a deadlocked Supreme Court, but only if Biden wins
- Time to suit up. This is war.
- BREAKING: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed
- Bothsidesism comes to fact-checking: CNN's āfact-checkā calling Biden ad 'misleading' proves the opposite
- Pardon me: How Donald Trump's stooges conspired with Julian Assange to exonerate Russia and undermine US Intlligence
Smartypants
- Durham to Right Wingers: "Blame Hillary"
- That Time When Refusing to Negotiate With Hostage-Takers Worked
- The Other Christian Nationalists: Leonard Leo and Opus Dei
- Hawley Demonstrates That He's an Ignorant Liar
- DeSantis Board Votes to Counter-Sue Disney Over Something...Anything
- Hunter Biden's Laptop Is a Total Nothingburger
- What DeSantis Couldn't Say in Response to Disney's Lawsuit
- Disney Skewers DeSantis With His Own Words
- Populism Without Civil Rights Is Fascism
- Glenn Greenwald gets triggered by smart competent women like Rep. Stacey Plaskett
Steve Benen
- Joe: Sometimes grown ups are in charge in D.C. and things get done
- Are the anti-Trump Republican forces starting to implode?
- Ben Platt returns to Broadway in Tony-nominated 'Parade'
- Dick Gephardt: I am hopeful Congress will get a debt deal done
- Sen. Hawley responds to column about 'petty trolling' with 'petty trolling'
- James Comey: Trump poses a near-existential threat to the rule of law
- 'A win for all Americans': Head of National Economic Council praises debt agreement
- Head of conservative think tank makes 'bizarre and dangerous' comments about FBI
- House member looks for debt ceiling bill to 'cross the finish line' this week
- As president, DeSantis said he would 'destroy leftism' and 'woke ideology'
The Obama Diary 
š Okay, back in a bit, better try to keep my job š
As long as you don’t work for Trump, we’re cool.
Congrats on furst LL. Wow are you feeling?
HOW are you feeling…..
Much better. Took alka seltzer for my stomach and cleared it up. Just had a gas bubble in there.
Glad to hear it.
Only 72 hours …. you’re a fortunate man, LL š
Congrats on 1st
furst.
Nope š
what’s 4 min between men?
being furstest and NOT being furstest……
LL has the Au ā Yes!
WH Presser LIVE with Josh “The Voice” Earnest, In a Moment.
2-5-15
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/press-briefing-press-secretary-josh-earnest-58
Florida, you did this.
I think voter suppression played a big role in his reelection.
EricFive, that is how they think they will win the White House back in 2016.
And absurdly low voter turnout. Sigh.
FL Gov Scott not only looks like a scum, he is one.
From the article:
“After his firing [ousted Florida Department of Law Enforcement head], Bailey said he had spurned attempts by the Scott campaign last year to misuse FDLE employees in the governorās re-election.”
ā¤
oh no…….
but but Ebola is going to spread across the country because of Obama…..be afraid says the MSM.
That is why it was vital for the MSM to propagate the lie that PBO was sympathetic to the anti-vaxxers (not just the GOP). That laid the groundwork for the inevitable blaming of PBO (and protecting the GOP) by the media.
Damn. These foolish and dangerous anti-vaxxers.
What I heard on the radio is that the infected children are too young to have been given the vaccination.
Children had to be potty-trained at the day care offered by one of my former employers — had no idea that Day Care centers cared for children under two years old.
It’s a tough decision to make, but it’s risky allowing young children to be exposed to so many other people. Today’s parents don’t seem to realize how risky it is — heard that one of the infected children from Disneyland was 6 months old, also too young to be vaccinated.
Which is why people should get vaccinated and also vaccinate their children when they are of age because there are vulnerable people and also children who can’t get vaccinated. I’m not going to condemn a parent for having a child at a daycare. Parents need to work to put food on the table. I condemn the asshole anti-vaxxers who are putting lives in danger.
Agree with you, NW.
Didn’t mean to sound as though people shouldn’t put their children in daycare, just surprised to hear that there are day care centers which offer that service for children younger than two years of age. Didn’t realize they existed.
Yes. Most day care facilities take children as young as three months old. My brother and his wife could afford in home care which is much better but most single people can’t afford it. Used to be grannies or older family members could help with day care. When my aunt retired she cared for children as young as six weeks when moms maternity leave expired.
Yeah, all the working women I know who had babies made arrangements other than day care for their infants after birth.
Some chose temporary job sharing, others alternated between various relatives who were available.
A lovely picture of POTUS, FLOTUS and the banquet server.
I wonder if this will hurt Disneyland CA’s attendance like it hurt the bridal shop when that nurse went there from Texas. At least NOBODY got Ebola from the bridal shop but no one wanted to take a chance of getting infected when there was no chance of that happening thanks to the media.
jojo, do you know if she finally closed her shop?
It was reported:
http://www.hlntv.com/video/2015/01/08/bridal-shop-closes-doors-ebola-amber-vinson
Thanks Nena
Republicans Unveil Bill That Would Take Health Care Away From 22.5 Million Americans
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/05/republicans-unveil-bill-health-care-22-5-million-americans.html
More…
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2015/02/the-gops-new-obamacare-alternative-is-a-pile-of-crap.html
And this: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/02/05/3619623/gop-obamacare-alternative-maternity/
3 Male Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Obamacareās Maternity Coverage
remember the other day when I said something about men keeping their ideas to themselves and to STFU when it came to women’s issues? Because, this.
Couldn’t agree with you more, DF.
Apparently the same GOP who want their women barefoot and pregnant also hope they die in childbirth so that they can get a new model without having to deal with the trade-in.
Ugh.
That picture is picture perfect for a National Prayer Breakfast.
What an honor to be able to serve a man and woman who believes in prayer and community service.
My day is made……forever!
Paul Ryan Proposes Massive Tax Cut For the Rich That Adds $100 Billion To Deficit
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/05/deficit-hawk-ryans-tax-cuts-for-rich-add-100-billion-deficit.html
That is what a face looks like with an orbital fracture……
Wasn’t there a claim that Darrin Wilson suffered the same thing ? oops
So here is the racists Republicans mindset , what did the black man do to make the saintly police beat the living crap out of him?
Young people are WAY SMARTER and compassionate than the yahoos that run the govt here. Good for them!
http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2015/02/05/3619933/pope-francis-thanks-arizona-teens-helping-immigrants-border/
It would be wonderful if this Pope went to the border and conducted mass there.
Yes:)
Not sure, but I think the Vatican announced that as part of the Pope’s visit to the U.S., he will symbolically cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Correct, JOB
Pope Francis is living proof why it is so important for a Pope to be non-European.
The Pope is a Western Hemispherian (?) through and through.
I’m glad he’s not traveling to the west coast because Cali is in an uproar now that Pope Francis appears to laying the groundwork now for Junipero Serra to become a saint.
Yes, I heard some of that. Our country’s past comes back to haunt us, even in the 21st century, as it should. If only we’d fully learn from all our mistakes.
LIVE NOW: Waiting for FLOTUS – http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/flotus-gets-children-and-up-and-moving-394569795762?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Couldn’t happen to a more revolting guy, all around. He’ll either throw everyone under the bus, or the dumbasses that support him will jump under the bus. Such fools.
NJ, you see what you voted for?
Thanks JER for this and the FLOTUS updates š
I’m gonna do the “Lean Forward” and see who shakes out of the tree.
And Bob Cesca’s take – short and sweet:
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2015/02/the-gops-new-obamacare-alternative-is-a-pile-of-crap.html
LIVE NOW: First Lady Michelle Obama is speaking now:
http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/flotus-gets-children-and-up-and-moving-394569795762?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
GOP Rep. Schock’s Spox: White House ‘Should Build A Mosque’ For Obama
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/benjamin-cole-aaron-shock-obama-mosque
And Schock, of course, never checked to see what one of his top aides may have been posting. And I’m actually Superman.
Well, you ARE Superman, so there goes THAT argument. But the notion that Schock “did not recall” is absurd. What is really absurd is that this guy won this district. Thanks again, Dems, for not bothering to effing vote.
Japa, 57F, JO’B, CookeMom, other Illini: what can you tell us about the district Schock represents?
I mentioned on an earlier thread that my first thought when I saw his “Downton Abbey” (actually I screwed the show name up and called it “Downton Alley,” LOL — pop culture is definitely not my forte) congressional digs is that it was a dog-whistle to those who hide behind supporting “Europeans” instead of dressing in their favored garb of white sheets and hoods (aka 21st Century KKK).
It’s a solid Republican district in mid and Western Illinois. It was Ray LaHood’s district. I was very proud to see LaHood stand for moderate GOP when he was an excellent Secy of Transportation under PBO; but LaHood was also part of the power structure of Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
It incompasses blue collar towns like Peoria and parts of Springfield as well as large rural areas. These are the rural voters who have been bamboozled into voting against their own economic interests. It has had a GOP rep since 1939. Voted HEAVILY for Romney but always votes GOP in Presidential elections.
There have been rumors about Schock being gay for years. No one would care, except his voting record his staunchly anti-gay rights. Some would say it’s more than a rumor and an open secret. Schock would be replaced by another GOP no matter what.
Schock is 33 years old, the third youngest Congressperson. It’s the young believers that scare me the most.
Thank you 57F.
I remember the buzzphrase that Hollywood used back in the day, “Will it play in Peoria?”
I wish that Dems in rural areas would capture PBO’s response to this 8th grader from KY last year (reposting from last year):
PBO’s response was that rural America needs to attract International investment with improved infrastructure and broadband.
What reasonable rural American would find fault with that?
P.S. Agree with you that Schock’s sexual orientation is irrelevant (although I’ve long suspected that only men who hide this part of their lives are the ones who are most “concerned” about what other consenting adults do in their own bedrooms).
I remember a caller to Norman Goldman’s show before the 2014 election. He was from a small town, most likely in Schock’s district. He was mad at Gov. Quinn because some mental health facility was closed when the economy collapsed and it cost this community a lot of jobs. So he was going to vote for Rauner!
Okay, LOTS of services were sacrificed because of Bush’s destruction of the economy. And seriously, the Scott Walker wannabe is going to reopen a mental health facility in some small Illinois town?! Teh stupid is astounding.
Eye-opening indeed.
So hard to believe that people blame the people elected after the problem began, instead of placing the blame where it belongs.
This way they can still revere Saint Ronnie, and refuse to remember the Beirut bombing and Iran Contra. Unbelievable.
The only reason I mentioned the sexual orientation was because of the gross hypocrisy that might be at play here. I totally don’t care; but I have a problem with Republicans who vote against gay rights for political gain only.
No way in bloody hell the Rep didn’t know about his Spox ideological beliefs.
Jonathon Capeheart was all giddy today when discussing the Schock decorating mess that has surfaced.
He said he remembers Schock previous office was also beautifully decorated with great attention to detail….
He also commented on Aaron Schock fashion sense…he just LOVES the way he puts outfits together…….he even mentioned the white belt that Aaron wore with some outfit.
But hay these Republicans aren’t racists, it’s just us playing the race card. Just because you disagree with Obama that does not make you a racists, no it doesn’t, but comments like this does sure does.
I meant to say comments like this, sure does.
This is good advice.
Saw an OpEd in today’s @nytimes that
“Puberty used to begin at age 10 or 11. In our study, we found that by the age of 7, 23 percent of black girls, 15 percent of Hispanic girls and 10 percent of white girls had started to develop breasts.”
and…
“according to one study, at least 20 percent of the weight gained by the population from 1977 to 2007 can be attributed to sweetened beverages. The role of sweeteners is intriguing. New research announced last week by the Harvard School of Public Health suggested that girls who drank more sodas were also more likely to reach puberty early, regardless of whether they were overweight.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/opinion/what-causes-girls-to-enter-puberty-early.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
The right wing I Hate Obama crowd, don’t care if their kids are obese, just as long as they are disagreeing with the Obamas.
LL, when the Pope comes West, sure wish he could perform Mass at the Murrieta, CA border.
See upthread, GGail.
Too much of an uproar now about possible sainthood Junipero Serra for the Pope to get the warm reception in Cali he deserves.
GAH
GA TODville,
I’m sure there are those here who disagree, but I’m glad to see her go.
The culture at Sony that she promoted was the opposite of seeking diversity and seeing beyond her own Hollywood echo-chamber. I hope the others involved in those infantile racist e-mails are also shown the door.
Bye bye. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.
The racist emails she sent and the disgusting and hostile atmosphere she promoted, that further disadvantaged minorities is appalling.
Hope Mashable continues this throughout the year, not just for BHM, the shortest of the year.
I’m glad to see them include a Japanese-American woman in their recognition.
Let’s get the ball rolling:
Three House Dems To Skip Netanyahu Speech To Congress
Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon said they won’t attend Netanyahu’s March 3 speech.
The White House also hinted Thursday that Vice President Joe Biden may not attend Netanyahu’s speech, which is expected to focus on Iran. Spokesman Josh Earnest said Biden takes “very seriously” his responsibilities as Senate president, including his ceremonial duty to attend joint sessions of Congress. However, Earnest noted that Biden missed a joint session in 2011 because he was traveling abroad.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/democrats-boycott-netanyah-speech
The tepid response of Democrats to this is driving me crazy, meta.
Same as it ever was.
Arizona Attorney General’s Office Wants Lawsuit Of Teacher Raped By Prison Inmate Dismissed
In a Monday hearing, Deputy Attorney General Jonathan Weisbard requested that U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton drop the teacher’s case on the grounds that, having worked in prisons before, the teacher should have known that being assaulted was a possibility.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/04/arizona-prison-teacher-rape-lawsuit_n_6613758.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Didn’t read the article, but WTH?
Can’t remember now who it was (sorry, faulty memory), but someone at TOD has a relative who visits prisons regularly.
Some of these inmates have no family, and they are grateful for her attention and caring.
Let’s sic this caring woman on that AZ deputy AG.
Autism Science Foundation:
A decade ago most researchers agreed that we needed to study vaccines in relation to autism. We had to reconcile the fact that the number of vaccines children were receiving was increasing, and at the same time, the number of children who were being diagnosed with autism also was on the rise. Fortunately this was a question that could be studied ā and answered ā by science. We looked at children who received vaccines and those who didnāt, or who received them on a different, slower schedule. There was no difference in their neurological outcomes. Multiple studies have been completed which investigated the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in relation to autism. Researchers have also studied thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, to see if it had any relation to autism. The results of studies are very clear; the data show no relationship between vaccines and autism.
I’ve believe that the numbers on autism, ADD, and the rest are because we now have the medical space to actually pay attention to these things. When hundreds of children were dying of measles and diptheria, little research was going to be done on non-fatal “quality of life” diseases in children who may not make it to adulthood.
I think I may have had measles and chickenpox. It was so long ago, and just before the vaccines were widely available. I don’t remember them being fun, especially since I was a kid who was getting colds and such every year anyway.
I had a bad case of the measles when I was about five years old. I was sick for almost two weeks, and the fever was dangerously high. I am so old, our pediatrician made house calls to monitor my fever! Everyone was well aware that measles could cause vision problems and deafness. Childhood diseases were expected as rites of passage, but no one treated them as minor illnesses.
When I was 20 years old and student teaching, I got chicken pox. You cannot imagine how horrible it is to get chicken pox as an adult. I thought I would lose my mind. This was decades before there was a chicken pox vaccine.
I remember getting vaccinated at school in the 1950’s. We all lined up and went to the gymnasium and received them.
If I recall, the Red Cross provided them and we all got little badges with the Red Cross on them to wear.
I remember those lines too. Might have been for the small pox vaccination. Don’t remember who administered them, but they were free, which is how public health should work, not health only for those who can afford it.
Democrats In Full Revolt As Republican Netanyahu Speech Scheme Completely Backfires
below is from the comment section
This is being punctuated by the fact that John Lewis (D-GA), civil rights icon and an elder statesman in the Democratic caucus, has now publicly pledged to skip Netanyahuās speech. As of this writing, he is the fifth Democratic representative to do so, with the others being Jim McGovern (D-MA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jim McDermott (D-WA), and head of the Congressional Black Caucus, G.K. Butterfield (D-NC).
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/05/democrats-full-revolt-republican-netanyahu-speech-scheme-completely-backfires.html
I recently saw a clip of Jeb saying that saving the auto industry as PBO did in 2009 was a mistake.
On the other hand, Jeb made the case for shoveling money to the Banks as necessary.
If he is the nominee i would expect this clip to be made into ads.
oops…. I guess he miss-remembered this:
Bush announces $17.4 billion auto bailout
President George W. Bush stepped in Friday to keep America’s auto industry afloat, announcing a $17.4 billion bailout for GM and Chrysler, with the terms of the loans requiring that the firms radically restructure and show they can become profitable soon.
“If we were to allow the free market to take its course now, it would almost certainly lead to disorderly bankruptcy,” Bush said at the White House, in remarks carried live by the national broadcast networks. “In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action. The question is how we can best give it a chance to succeed.”
Bush said that “bankruptcy now would lead to a disorderly liquidation of American auto companies.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16740.html
Unemployment applications Stayed below 300,000 again this week.
Media is framing this sensational news as “Unemployment apps rose 11,000 this week.” Anything to convince Americans that the Obama Economy is bad.
Nerdy’s tweets!
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/02/05/a-tweet-or-two-230/
111,000 sounds close to that “seasonally adjusted thing”. It’s winter, and I suspect a lot of construction jobs are having layoffs now, especially in areas that have had a lot of snow lately.
Chris Christie doesn’t want to admit it yet, but his campaign just tanked. Few donors want to give to a campaign where the “shoe could drop” at any time. Even if he’s exonerated eventually, it could come too late to help. They will just move on to someone they think is more viable.