****
Today (all times Eastern)
10:30: The President meets with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
12:0: With PM Enda Kenny attends a St Patrick’s Day lunch at the U.S. Capitol
5:10: Hosts a St Patrick’s Day reception, East Room
****
Very lovely Patrick’s Day greetings from King Henry to the TOD gang:
@TheObamaDiary Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh, Happy St Patrick's Day from all your friends in Moneygall! http://t.co/WMoPFcl066
—
Henry Healy (@henryhealy) March 17, 2015****
Happy Ireesh Day!
The Obama Diary 
GM
Moooooorning No Child, mooooooorning everyone!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
Thank you Betsy, the same to you!
Good morning, Chips, and may your day be filled with sunshine and all good things. Love the green masthead!!!
🙂 Mooooooorning Jackie, Happy Master Race Day!!
Uuuhhh…..Chips are you reading Nietzsche this early in the day?
🙂 My favorite author Jackie, Paddy O’Nietzsche.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Chips and Danny,
May the spirit of Irish good cheer extend to voters in Israel today. And may this be a lovely and happy day for our President.
From your lips to God’s ears! Please may Bibi be thrown out of office by the good people of Israel. May they choose peace instead of war.
Top ‘o the morning to everyone and Good morning TOD folks!
To Chips, Danny-The-Boy, and TODVille!
(I believe stuff are disappearing this morning.)
🙂 Thank you No Child, have a perfect Patrick’s day yourself!!
Love you, Cousin Henry!!
good god, green?
Whatcha expect today, pink? Moooooorning Mister!
😆
HOPE
Hope there’s a lot of ‘luck o’ the Irish” floating around today. Yesterday, I got really sick, scrambled around to get a doctor’s appointment, got medicine, then felt groggy and queasy. This morning, I got up spilled coffee on a light carpet, grabbed the cleaner and idiotically aimed the spray at my eye. So I’m ready for all the four leaf clovers luck I can get. I only hope that being Irish is not a requirement.
Oh flippin’ heck Jackie, that’s a whole bunch of bad luck in a short space of time – I will confess, though, I kind of snorted when I read you sprayed the cleaner in your eye, so now I feel bad. But I hope things get decidedly better for ya!
Don’t feel too bad–my husband snorted, too, then left the room very quickly. I think the traitor was actually chuckling.
I love Mr Jackie!!!!
Beyond DISGUSTING:
Netanyahu is scum–pure and simple. If Israelis vote for him today, that country will deserve all the misery it gets. He’s a disgusting racist and undermines all of the potential and hope that Israel once represented.
GREAT news!!! Israeli turnout is huge. As big as it was in 1999 which was the last time Labor won over the right wing.
GM Vicki,
Yesss.
Crossing fingers for egg on Boehner and Bibi’s faces.
to bibi? or not bibi? (yes, I thought of that all by myself) . 😎
😆 That’s actually not bad – for you.
We’re going to have to start calling you “Shakes”
though I am pear shaped? 😎
Let’s Move
way ahead. see below.
Well, in St. Patrick’s time a t-shirt with that kind of lettering and spelling would be a miracle, so there is that.
you mean ireesh were/are bad ‘spellers’ ?
Yes, I thought of that too all myself.
Not at all, but at that time, the Irish all spoke Gaelic – “English” was still under development (actually, it looked a lot like Norwegian then).
lol. you gotta laugh.
HHhahhaaaaa!!
Clintons’ Carville says President Obama has damaged the Democratic Party.
Please proceed, Hillary.
Is he still hanging around clintons? /smh
Carville passed his ‘sell by’ date so long ago, he’s like a piece of rotten cheese at the back the refrigerator. Anytime I see his name, I cringe. When his name comes on an e-mail, I delete it as fast as my fingers can fly.
I haven’t seen this “Clinton but kisser” in a long time. Never liked him or his wife.
I started to say something really mean, but I change my mind. Please someone tell me how have President Obama damaged the Democratic Party? Is he trying to say that only the Clintons can fix it. What a dam joke.
Bingo.
As I am in an all-seeing mood, I’ll say Carville is right, even though I cannot stand him. If you think of it, Pres O *has damaged* the brand of the Dem party that Carville, Clinton and the like fostered. He has shown instead what the party should be – a party that encourages grassroots participation and one that is caring of all Americans, doing all in its power to make their lives better. If PBO had fostered the old party spirit of giving in to the Repubs we would not now have the ACA. If he had subscribes to the Carvill-Clinton approach to party politics, he wouldn’t have been cleaning up after Bill, etc.
Indeed. By finally achieving so many of the things that Democrats have stood for over so many years of trying (or at least talking about it), he’s made them actually work for Americans and be what they say they are: liberals. I’m still waiting to see what Hillary is planning to offer Americans if she wins? To take them back, like the GOP? What are all those who are “ready for Hillary” actually ready to see her do? Be President while female? That’s not enough.
My dear Theo, I’m still waiting to see WHAT Hillary is planning to offer Americans IN ORDER TO WIN. This stupidity that some keep perpetuating about it being time for a woman to be president simply annoys everything in me! IMO, it’s time for a woman president when a woman comes on the scene with decided ideas on how to build ‘a more perfect union’ for every American. This approach some have been trying to pump up is so insulting to my way of thinking, and it would really bother me if we ended up with a president in 2016 solely on the basis of someone’s femininity.
I am on the exact same page with you. It’s not time for any woman – it’s time for the right candidate to take over from President Obama to further the plight of Americans. And if that person is a competent man or woman, then I’m all for them. I certainly wouldn’t just vote for someone because they are the “right” gender – that’s not progress. Let each candidate present their positions, and the best person will win out – man OR woman. That’s real equality.
x2 …. Amen!
In addition to her impeccable style and her easy charm, the United States First Lady Michelle Obama also has rhythm in her veins and she ain’t afraid to show it.
In fact, she doesn’t shy away from showing off her funny, fancy moves during her many appearances.
Here’s some of her fancy footwork on display. Happy dancing to you…
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-groovy-michelle-really-likes-to-move-it/20150317.htm
She has charmed the friggin’ indians too. / smh
Afternoon to you, Amk! I’m told this one’s for you – ‘There are only two kinds of people in the world – the Irish and those who wish they were.’
thank god for small mercies. #notireesh
Cough.
also. too. good evening.
🙂
Happy St. Paddy’s day everyone.
This is my schizophrenic day.I am 50% Irish, but it is Orange Irish. Some of my ancestors were treated rather badly by some of their RC neighbors, tarred and feathered and other assorted “pranks”. But now I am RC myself.
In my youth I wore orange, now I wear green, but with a bit of guilt as if I am betraying those that came before me.
“I am 50% Irish, but it is Orange Irish.”
😯 Well then, not being prejudiced or anything, I’m only marrying the other 50% of you.
Our Italian buddy is coming to the WH!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
WAKE UP, America.
So the GOP will spend their time tinkering with successful programs, knowing that anything they do will be vetoed by the President. They will not, of course, do anything productive, like pass a clean anti-human trafficking bill, or an infrastructure bill, or a highway bill, or a budget, or confirm Loretta Lynch. In other words, they are bound and determined to waste time and taxpayer money. We MUST take back the Senate in 2016 and the House, no matter how high the hurdle and we MUST retain the White House. I think we need 28 or 29 seats to take back the House, so we all need to get busy and find good candidates who can overcome the gerrymandering. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. In the immortal words of FLOTUS, “let’s move.”
so the
Good Morning, Chips and TOD. Top of the morning to you. Happy St. Patrick’s day to all.
In keeping with my one-track mind today it is worth noting that Israel Herzog’s grandfather hails from Ireland and in fact was the Chief rabbi there.
Good morning to you Vicki, wouldn’t it be sweet if Patrick’s Day brought Herzog some luck – please let it be!
Morning everyone:) Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! The green masthead woke me up…and the greeting from cousin Henry was so nice to see this morning….Henry, please tell your cousin thank you and that he really IS loved and appreciated:) So glad you made the trip across the pond to spend some time here.
jackieg…no words:) The day HAS to get better!
bibi…I hope you fall in a spectacular mass of flames, never to be seen or heard from again…nor to hold sway or influence over Israel ever again. Oh, and FUCK YOU, you arrogant and dangerous prick. Bye, Felicia!
Amen!
bbc – Israel: By 12:00 voter turnout stood at 26.5%, roughly the same as the figure for last election in 2013, the Central Elections Committee reported.
piss poor voting.
If Israeli’s allow Bibi another term, they have basically surrendered their democracy and abased their standing in the world. I hope there are then quiet, but multiple, behind the scenes efforts to disengage the US from Israel. I will work for the candidate who has the nerve to say that unconditional support for Israel is no longer warranted.
x 100%
Good West Coast St Paddy’s morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
So nice of cousin Henry to send us greetings 😊
Moooooooooooooooorning GGail!!!!
🍀
Gooooood Morning People of TOD!
Thanks for the great article, amk. FLOTUS is quite the charmer! 😉
http://www.juancole.com/2015/03/apartheid-palestinian-citizenship.html
The Palestinians are the last major stateless population. Stateless people do not have rights as most people understand the term. Their situation in some ways resembles slavery, since slaves also were denied the rights of citizenship. Stateless people’s property is insecure, since people with citizenship rights have better access to courts and to ruling authorities. Palestinians never really know what they own, and Israeli squatters routinely steal their property with impunity. Squatters dig tube wells deeper than those of the Palestinian villagers, lowering aquifers and causing Palestinian wells to dry up. Squatters go on wilding attacks, chopping down entire olive orchards (a prime source of Palestinian income) or beating up Palestinians. If Palestinians assemble peacefully to protest the loss of their farms to ever-expanding squatter settlements, the Israel army arrests them, including, often, children, who are taken away from their families and put in jail. Palestinians can be held for long periods without being charged. The prisoners are sometimes tortured.
Netanyahu and the Israeli right-of-center say they want to keep Palestinians homeless and without citizenship rights in a state because they fear a Palestinian state will make claims on Israel and present a security challenge. Netanyahu said Sunday that if Israel relinquished the West Bank it would become a bastion of Muslim radicalism (but West Bankers are substantially more secular than the Jewish population of West Jerusalem).
He has got to go.
Please tell me how we continue to support Israel if it adopts a policy of apartheid. Continuing to give Israel billions of dollars and supporting them in international forums is no longer justified in the face of such moral depravity. If Israeli’s choose Netanyahu, they CHOOSE apartheid and they then must bear the consequences. Republicans will side with Israel AGAINST the US, but we have learned to expect treason from the right wing and we must fight against them.
http://media.theweek.com/img/dir_0061/30720_cartoon_main/netanyahu-springs-into-action.jpg?200
Have a Magically Delicious St. Patrick’s Day, Everybody!
Image from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zzvoMHthUk/T2P0fRuflKI/AAAAAAAADKI/1Nt7gQgErvg/s1600/charm1.jpg.
bbc news moved the israeli elections from the furst item to somewhere 4th with even a story of some guys insulting buddha in myanmar and getting arrested preceding it.
wonder writing is on the wall for nut n yahoo.
and their reporter in jerusalem is now ‘interviewing’ nut n yahoo’s rw coalition partner. literally 5 minutes of free campaign without any interruption for the scare mongering wingnut party. way to go, beebs.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day BFF, Cousin Henry, and TOD.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to Chips and TOD.
Thank yooooooooooou BFF!!!!!
HOPE
Happy St. Paddy’s Day TODers!!
Heeeeeeeeya Chips
Happy St. Paddy’s to everyone ! And to make it a perfect day – hopefully the world can say good-bye to Netanyahu today~
The Count is always thinking of food.
Oh, look! The “pro life” party wants to take food away from families…
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/03/17/3634319/food-stamps-attack-revisited/
“The Republican Plan To Sabotage The Food Stamp Program”
Top o’ the morning to everyone! May we all have a Terrific ‘Irish’ Tuesday!
Irish Saying
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn’t drink when he’s living,
How in the hell can he drink when he’s dead?
😆 Greatest saying EVER – mooooooorning VC!
So you were up here responding to me while I was busy running around the web trying to find you an appropriate greeting. I explained the offering I left below – the accents of the speaker just didn’t seem ‘right’. 😀 😀
LIVE now:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?324846-1/secret-service-director-joseph-clancy-testimony-fiscal-year-2016-budget
Alert the media Mark…they are reporting this as a ” grilling ” about the latest fake scandal.
aj reporting the voter turnout could be as high as 80%. good news?
WOW, yes.
Yes. The turnout matching that of 2013—Important to recall that Labor NOT Bibi won in 2013. Then they were unable to form a gov’t so Bibi ultimately won.
That is why the narrative in recent weeks was about Labor—now called the Zionist list—might win the votes but will ultimately lose.
That narrative is not accurate this time because 2 of the parties the RW claim might go with Bibi are both firmly with Herzog—Kulano led by Kachlon and including Michael Oren
and The Arab List led by Ayman Odeh who has already said he will be meetiing with Herzog.
So to re-cap: My optimistic view now is that the turnout is good and will give Herzog a win as to more seats in the Knesset and then he will be able to form a gov’t.
If Herzog wins by 4 or more seats he will certainly get the first shot at forming a gov’t . If the margin is smaller or Bibi somehow is given first shot, then the landscape is dicier.
Good Morning TOD!!
Vicki, Thank you for keeping us abreast of the situation in Israel. I’ve been reading your informative posts and very much appreciate your updates. I hope your prediction is correct. Bibi has to go!
fingers crossed.
It appears the GOP and the media are losing their minds over the Secret Service hearing, pretending they hauled Joe Clancy in to ” grill ” him about the latest mishap.
Well, don’t let the facts get in the way….This is the regular Secret Service Budget Hearing that is done every year. All Departments have been up on the Hill to discuss their budgets for next fiscal year.
Media Fail !!!!!!
Isn’t it exhausting sometimes? It is so sad how their hatred continually fuels their energy to lie, cheat and steal from the American people. #mediafail indeed.
❤
President Obama ” Blasts ” , ” Slams ” GOP over Senator’s Iran Letter ? Wow… it is amazing , what a meany…and to think, he was Laughing while Blasting and Slamming the GOP…..
His talents are never ending …what a great man.
PS…. Secret Service Director is on the Hill for a hearing on his budget……reporting that a a ” Grilling ” of the latest fake scandal is a journalistic failure…. Shame on CNN
Marinade or BBQ Sauce for this ” grilling ” ?
Chips Chica, I was looking for a nice ‘Lá Fhéile Páhdraig Sona Duit!’ video clip but none of them sounded authentic to me [ 😉 bear in mind I don’t speak the language and you won’t teach me], so I’m sharing this with you instead. 😀
🙂 VC, I probably only have marginally more Irish words than you – and I can’t Riverdance either!!
Yea, I know about the dancing part. I was thinking of that as i was watching the dancers. 😀 Actually I was thinking that Irish girls needn’t worry about gaining weight with the potential to burn off pounds that’s at their finger (foot) tips.
Chat away
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/17/chat-away-550/
Good morning all…….thought I’d give a progress report on my husband’s pneumonia. I know many important events have taken place and are taking place in the world, but those of you whose lives have had illness in them know that when this happens, your world becomes pretty much fenced in by that illness.
However, I do have good news to report today. Yesterday we returned to the doctor to see how the medicine was working on his infection. When the pneumonia was first diagnosed, Friday, March 7, his white cell count was over 14,000 (normal is 10,000). After being on the antibiotics three days, the following Monday it had gone down to 13,800. The doctor prescribed an additional heavy duty antibiotic, and by yesterday his cell count was down to 10,600. That was good news. He is now on an antibiotic for another week, and we will check his blood next Monday. So, the therapy is working. The doctor said we have to knock this infection out completely, or it will come back…..with a vengeance. Other good news is that he is eating better. Eating has been a problem for him, but he is getting an appetite back, and eating will strengthen him. The doctor also told him to start walking to build up strength. We got a walker for him last week, and he is walking well with that, because he feels secure. I can tell his walking is also improving. I am so thankful for this improvement. He has a heart condition which affects everything, but he feels confident he will beat this and be back to a fairly normal life. I am praying so.