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Today (all times Eastern)
11:10: The President delivers remarks to the National Governors Association, State Dining Room
12:0: White House Press Briefing
2:05: The President delivers remarks to the AARP
5:15: Participates in an ambassador credentialing ceremony
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MoooOOOooorning – Chat On!
The Obama Diary 
Morning. Concerned about Rikyrah today. I will be gone all day, but hope we get some news.
Morning Jackie – what’s happened with Rikyrah??
There was a tweet last night that she was taken to the hospital. It said “tears” so it sounded serious. No one at the end of the last thread knew why, but we’re all sending positive thoughts her way.
I was just catching up from the weekend and posted it below.
Oh God, thanks Jackie, hoping everything is okay.
Good Morning TOD
Sending healing thoughts and prayers for Rikyrah this morning who apparently was hospitalized yesterday.
Good morning Donna and thank for reposting news about Rikyrah.sending thoughts and prayers her way.
Sending healing thoughts to Rikyrah.
{{{{Prayer+ ❤ + Hugs}}}}
Sorry to hear about Rikyrah’s hospitalization. I wish her a speedy recovery.
Good morning everyone. My thoughts are with Rikyrah as well. {{{Rikyrah}}}
If you have AJ, try to catch a piece called Empire. It’s all about how the 1%ers have actually their power after 2008 fiasco.
proof?
Odd numbers=Oddities?
No more Bushes spreading their political DNA on 318.9M Americans.
…increased their power…
The game is rigged in favor of the 1%, so they always increase their power. Morning AMK.
yup, ‘democracy’ has become corruptocracy everywhere.
Happy Monday TODers!!
Heeeeeya Chips.
I will be praying for Rikyrah. Blessings everyone.
All my healing thoughts and wishes to ((((((((Rikyrah)))))))) today. So sorry to hear of this, but grateful we were notified here, thank you.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind has been suspended from the Conservative Party in Parliament after being secretly filmed apparently offering his services to a private company for cash.
Sir Malcolm and another former foreign secretary, Jack Straw, who was also filmed, say they have broken no rules.
Reporters for the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4’s Dispatches posed as staff of a fake Chinese firm.
….
It is claimed that Mr Straw was recorded describing how he operated “under the radar” and had used his influence to change EU rules on behalf of a firm which paid him £60,000 a year.
On the subject of payment, Mr Straw is heard saying: “So normally, if I’m doing a speech or something, it’s £5,000 a day, that’s what I charge.”
Sir Malcolm is reported to have claimed he could arrange “useful access” to every British ambassador in the world.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-31589202
They are effing pimps.
Wby do people who already have more than enough STILL want much more?
Because “more” is not enough.
All or nothing, baby! Go big or go home!
Ha!
Good Morning Chips & TOD Family, am sadden to hear about ((((((( Rikyrah ))))))) I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers & wish her a speedy recovery. Hope you all have a Marvelous Monday ;-))
Morning Terri! I just saw 3Chics tweet about Rikyrah, hoping the update will have good news.
May the Creator watch over Rikyrah…Amen
I love to see our President among the people…they love him so….as we do…
In a matter of days we could both reach a nuclear deal with Iran and have the DHS shut down due to a lack of funding.
Don, as usual, the great stride FORWARD in history comes from President Obama; the walk BACKWARDS in shutting down Homeland Security comes from Republicans. Twas ever thus and ever will be. Wake up America.
I didn’t see the Oscars last night, why was there such pushback on Patricia Arquette’s comments re pay equality?
Ah, found a link:
http://fusion.net/story/53148/oscars-patricia-arquette-follows-call-for-wage-equality-with-tone-deaf-comment-on-race/
Twitter is like truth serum, it makes you reveal who and what you are whether you intend to or not.
Healing thoughts and prayers for Rikyrah.
Amk your daughter is awesome. You must be so proud of her accomplishments. I am so happy for you and your wife.
Thank you, we are.
The Shikhar Dhawan interview: Opener keeps vow made to wife.
For Shikhar Dhawan, Melbourne is his home ground. Well, almost, because his wife Ayesha is a resident of Melbourne.
Ayesha was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with their one-year-old son Zoravar. She then waited outside the team hotel, The Langham, for the Indian squad to return. When they finally came back, Dhawan met his family and had a brief private moment with them.
Before the World Cup started, Dhawan had assured his wife that he will get a hundred in the first three matches. He came good on that promise.
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/icc-world-cup-pix-the-shikhar-dhawan-interview-opener-keeps-vow-made-to-wife/20150223.htm
I toldja.
Patricia Arquette’s backstage comments completely ruined her speech. The ignorance. UGH.
Plus, Neil Patrick Harris’s race jokes and schtick with Octavia Spencer as the butt of the joke was insulting.
Oh so Arquette was/is out fighting for equal pay, POC, and LGBT, thanks Tric!
I think this is but a little preview of the PUMA message coming to you in 2016. Buckle up.
UGH. It reeks of privilege. As though others suffering and fights should be discarded and not advocated for alongside other important issues.
Exactly. This has been a failing of the feminist movement since way back when. I remember going to conferences full of privileged white women to hash this stuff out. Women of Color have ALWAYS been in the fight for justice!
THIS.
That’s what the mainstream feminist movement doesn’t get. That’s why I can’t get with Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’ movement. One can go as far back as Sojourner Truth and find white women pushing Women of Color aside while demanding we fight for them.
WOC make even less than white women. Affirmative action helps more white women than POC. Yet, we still fight for and with them; while being marginalized from the feminist movement. They don’t want us at the table, or they ignore us, then bristle when we demand to be heard and are pointing out why they remain stuck and can’t connect with minorities.
That’s what has people reeling and feeling disgusted by Arquette’s comments. To think that POC and LGBT have to bow down to others for fighting for them and now the fight is over, so whatever. As though POC and LGBT weren’t front and center in their own fights. As though the fights aren’t still continuing. It’s casually dismissive and ignorant.
Precisely. It’s their own self-serving brand of tokenism writ large. I’m not playing.
http://www.stonekettle.com/2015/02/the-telltale-heart-of-history-beats-for.html
As always, well worth the read.
And this idea, that “they” can’t love the way we do, is such an accepted idea Rudy Giuliani is comfortable saying so, out loud, in public, on the record.
Thanks to the media for mainstreaming xenophobia, racism and hatred. Perils of unlimited 1st amendment.
we’re talking about the complex evolution of civilization, shaped by wars and conflicts, by environmental pressures, by millennia of time, across the breadth of the world, restricted or advanced by the availability or scarcity of resources, by famine and plague, by religion, by economies many and varied, by love and hate and apathy, by adventure and discovery, by greed and fear and altruism and fad. We’re talking about the emergence of nations here, about the rise and fall of empires, about the migration of entire populations, voluntary and forced. We’re talking about the freedom and enslavement of endless billions over centuries, across oceans and continents, and the interaction of civilizations over time and how they shape the present.
When you say, “Obama’s views are shaped by anti-colonialism” that’s what you’re talking about. All of that. All of it and far, far more. Vastly more.
There’s a name for that.
There’s a name for how the past shapes our present.
It’s called history.
There’s an old saying, it comes in many variations and it goes like this: Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
There’s another saying: the past repeats, always.
Jim nails it.
Such a great writer. Always on point, IMO. Glad you liked the piece.
I was the one who referred Jim furst here. 😎
He is so much better than john cole whose blog I rarely read now.
Agreed
AMK, I think Jim Wright is one of the best and most astute writers of the day. He never fails to shine light into darkness and call out ignorance and hypocrisy. If you are an enlightened, informed human being alive in the 21rst century, you are anti-colonialism. The idea of one country dominating and yes, enslaving, another is beyond despicable. Only the most ignorant and hideously cruel would think “pro-colonialism” a virtue. And there, I just described Rudy G.
After bringing Africans to this country to be slaves, and after lynching him and degrading him, it is impossible for a black President to love this country. That is what Rudy Giuliani was saying.
But but, we lynched your great grandparents. How can you claim to love this country?
Great piece! As always, Jim nailed it! Thanks DF for sharing it with us.
Good morning, Obots!!
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/02/23/257449/obama-to-announce-retirement-account.html
President Barack Obama will head to the AARP Monday afternoon to announce a change in policies affecting retirement accounts — part of a series of moves the White House says is aimed at boosting the middle class.
Obama will call on the Department of Labor to develop a rule that would require retirement advisers to abide by a “fiduciary” standard — mandating that they put their clients’ interest ahead of making a profit.
Unlike doctors or lawyers, financial advisers are not obligated to look out for their clients’ best interests, said Labor Secretary Tom Perez. He said the change would modernize a 40-year-old rule.
Accountability? Financial advisors can’t make off with other people’s money? How will they spin and scream about this?
Another example of moving forward toward justice with our president. And retirees will still overwhelmingly vote Republican because they’ve been so conditioned by propaganda they literally can’t see straight.
This. They support the very people that would gladly rob them blind and not blink an eye. Screwed up
Jeh Johnson news conference today at 2 PM
While you were sleeping…….
Good Morning BFF and TOD.
Vice President Biden Speaks to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference
I am loving the roll out of the veep presidency run. 🙂
Me, too. He’s getting more exposure, building support and no doubt acquiring a war chest–all under the radar. I’m with him 100 percent.
#RunBidenRun
Me tooooooooooooo….Making my heart sing!!!!!!! 😀
Where do I send my donation?
Let’s go with Joe!
I love it, JER. I am ready to do whatever it takes to get him elected
Yep 🙂
Sickening, isn’t it? Thanks africa for calling them out.
You can’t really blame the MSM, because if you don’t have the intellect to discern what PBO and John Kerry are trying to do for this country then you are left with nothing to analyze but the boogers you pull for your nose.
I hear you! GAWD, another damn day wasted talking about Giuliani.
I will miss all the day’s excitement, as I’m off to visit MIL, who’s have some confusing times these days. See you all later.
BEST moment.
OMG, they CRUSHED on every level and in every way. BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO
AWESomeeee…simply Awesomeee…..touched me
Thank you Nerdy for posting this. Really magnificent performance and acceptance speech. tears and cheers for two great artists.
I have very little interest in the Oscars. A few minutes of Neil Patrick Harris was a few minutes wasted. Click.
The Walking Dead, on the other hand, had a great new episode. If you are interested in humanity and equality there is no better show on television exploring what these words mean.
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone! Sending positive, healing thoughts to rikyrah – wishing her a smooth and speedy recovery.
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
Prayers for Rikyrah.
Morning TOD family and BD girl Gail. Prayers to Rikyrah for a full recovery. KO
Morning JoJothecat 😊
Sending out love and healing to Rikyrah from all of TODville.
Good morning from the middle of the country, where we are now having some snow. We need moisture so badly.
Thinking of, and praying for Rikyrah. Will be anxious to hear how she is doing.
THIS THIS THIS!!!! NOBODY like POTUS and FLOTUS!!!!
Honey, where’s my blue tie? Can these two people be any more lovable. NO.
hahahahahahaha. I love this.
You always come up with the best. I love it!
Good Morning TODVille!
I think from this moment going forward I’m going to electronically sign all of my emails with “that’s soft btw”.
I Love My FLOTUS… Let’s Move.
Come on TOD get ya FUNK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome! I’m with you!
I’m pissed as all hell at DWS for so many reasons, but I never thought she was a bad person. I hope this isn’t true: I read yesterday that PBO intended to replace her as DNC chair after 2014 and she pulled the “anti-woman, anti-Semitic” threat if he did so. That is despicable.
I hope this isn’t true. Doesn’t sound true to me
I hope so too.
In addition to Republican-lite Jon Tester for the DSCC, she has chosen Cherie Bustos of IL for the DCCC. Some of her votes – she might as well be McConnell. And she begged me for money every damned day of the 2014 cycle. DWS is going out of her way to distance the party from PBO, his successes and thinks if the party is Ryan-esque they are going to win. Un-freakin’-believable.
DWS refused to do anything for Quinn here in IL, as did the real Dem leader in IL, Mike Madigan. If they had helped, we may have actually beaten Rauner.
How’s the pup?
It has been reported widely enough that I believe it is true.
I believe that PBO has had very little use for DWS for quite some time. At the recent DNC gathering, for example, he mentioned the “outstanding” leader of the DNC and then ignored her for the rest of the time.
Donna Brazile, on the other hand, not only got a shoutout but was included in PBO’s remarks and then hugged kissed warmly at the end said a few words to her as well.
DWS got a perfunctory hug with PBO looking past her.
doesn’t sound true to me.
Heads up:
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/02/23/the-president-delivers-remarks-to-the-national-governors-association/