I don’t really have a dog in the fight, but I wouldn’t mind if Cleveland the city had a sports victory to celebrate after waiting 50 years for the Browns, Indians or Cavs…..on the other hand I’m a big fan of Curry, Harrison Barnes and Iguodala and don’t think the Warriors will have such an easy time making it back to the finals after some of the bofo Western Conf. teams are healthy next year with Aldrige in Portland and Durant in OKC….long story short I want a good, fun 7 game series….is that too much to ask for 🙂
Cleveland is 6-1 on the road in the playoffs, but I ultimately think due to Kyrie’s knee problems and Draymond Greene’s ability to check Lebron….it will be Warriors in 6.
I would be extemely happy with your guess than mine. I worry a bit about Iguadola’s free throw thing. Probably not a big deal, overall. Just that, in the last Warrior game the 0 for 4 at the end threw me a little.
Basketball, right? You all make it sound so interesting I may have to start watching. (I can’t believe I just typed that. I must be in a very good mood). My sports are tennis, soccer, and stuff like track and field. However I hardly ever just watch because you can’t do anything else except watch – no paper grading, knitting, chatting, cat wrangling, etc.
I’m a fair weather sports watcher. If a local team is in the match, I may tune in. I do like basketball and the series starts this Thursday. Steph Curry is a wonder.
I love going to games and long ago when Detroit had a soccer team my family would go to all the games. Now things are so expensive I don’t go to anything. Watching on TV has always been second best. I used to watch all the big tennis tournaments. That was before kids. After that I did not have all weekend for tennis watching. Or even 5 minutes. And I have to admit there was a certain amount of resentment toward my husband for still being able to do that! But now I find it hard to just sit and watch without doing something else. And if I’m doing something else, I miss all the exciting bits of the game!
Thanks for the heads-up Chips. I know our President will provide the words of comfort & healing that his dear friend, our Dear VP Joe (and the Biden family) needs at this moment. I know our allergies will be acting up; I’m stocking up on tissues for everyone.
No one expected a resignation from Corrupt Sepp, hence, John Oliver’s plea with FIFA Company sponsors…..including Budweiser……promising to drink their disgusting lime beer…….while loving it and pronouncing that it tested like champagne.
No one expected Sepp Blatter would resign days after being reelected as FIFA's president http://t.co/jGtpRQhvww
“The Nevada Legislature adjourned Monday night without voting on a measure that would change the state’s presidential nominating process to a primary from a caucus, a blow to Jeb Bush, who was hoping for the switch to a more inclusive way of voting. There was support among some Nevada Republicans for making the change, but the party’s leaders in the Assembly did not think there were enough votes for passage and never called the roll. That was in part because Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, intervened to help torpedo the change to a primary. Mr. Reid called Harvey Munford, the lone Democratic member of the Assembly who had supported the switch in committee, and persuaded him to drop his support. Nevada has only recently become one of the states that is granted coveted status near the beginning of the presidential nominating calendar, and right now is slated to be the fourth state to cast votes.
Harry!
REID deals blow to Jeb, intervenes to kill NV caucus-to-primary switch at 11th hour.
http://t.co/s9JwVyXKVy
“When Nevada was moved up in the process as an early state it was contingent on Nevada as a caucus state, not a primary,” wrote Kristen Orthman, a spokeswoman for Mr. Reid, in an email. “With this bill we (Nevada Democrats) felt it jeopardized that status because it created uncertainty.” Ms. Orthman confirmed Mr. Reid’s lobbying of Mr. Munford, which was first reported by Jon Ralston, a longtime Nevada political analyst. Mr. Reid’s involvement has raised the suspicions of Republicans that the Nevada Democrat, who is known for his backstage maneuvering in his state’s politics, was trying to undermine Mr. Bush and perhaps Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, both of whom are looking to Nevada as a place to score an early victory….continued”
Repeating my post which landed last on the previous thread. Naturally.
OMG! Loretta Lynch bagged Blatter. No New Yorker is all that surprised. We knew who this remarkable woman is.
Also, according to The Count, PBO has had 19 Medal of Honor ceremonies and bestowed 45 Medals.
No empty screeching of “Support The Troops.” Action and respect from POTUS and FLOTUS for all our military, past and present.
Legacy building achievement, in my opinion.
Meta and Vicki: I just want to say that the FIFA investigation had begun under Eric Holder. Glad that it is Loretta Lynch that is putting the finishing touch.
UH-OH…She’s going to have to cancel it ASAP. Otherwise it will come off as clueless and/or insensitive on her part and the part of her planners. Not to mention it will most definitely create tons of fodder for the MSM, GOP, and exacerbate the obvious tension between the Obama/Biden-crats and PUMA groups..
I imagine since HRC worked with VP Biden for 4 years, she will attend the funeral with President Clinton. I don’t see her holding a rally at the same time as the funeral.
Clinton officially jumped into the 2016 presidential field on April 12. Since then, she has focused on small events like roundtable discussions with voters in the four early primary states.
June 13 will mark Clinton’s first big event, which will be open to the public. The campaign has not yet announced where it will be held, but is expected to do so in the next few days. Campaign officials said former President Bill Clinton and the couple’s daughter, Chelsea, will be in attendance, although they won’t be deeply involved in the campaign for months.
Yes, I’ve ridden French trains……they are great! They are ON TIME…..they are fast, they are smooth, they are clean, they are easily accessible…….so are Italian trains, and German trains, and Austrian trains…….don’t know about British…..but the continent trains are great. Understand Japanese trains are too, in fact my husband said they were great by 1951 when he was in Japan………Republicans…hate them. We are SO behind!!!!
President Obama wants fast track authorization in order to proceed with the negotiations from a position of power – in order to receive the best possible set of concessions from nations with interests which conflict with our interests. The only way to know if he succeeds or not is to look at the final negotiated deal – and then judge it on its entire impact – not on some leaked, out-of-context pieces of the puzzle. After a final deal is reached, there will be an opportunity for public debate. Fast track authority doesn’t mean that Congress is going to support whatever deal is reached. It just means that politics won’t undermine a deal before it can be reached.
Uganda’s adoption ‘racket’
June 2 2015 at 01:03pm
By Reuters
Kampala – Ugandan families have been bribed, tricked or coerced into giving up their children to US citizens and other foreigners for adoption, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has found.
Leaked documents, court data and a series of exclusive interviews with officials, whistleblowers, victims and prospective adoptive parents have revealed:
* A culture of corruption in which children’s birth histories are at times manipulated to make them appear as orphans when they are not.
* A lucrative industry in which lawyers acting on behalf of foreign applicants receive large payments.
* A mushrooming network of unregistered childcare institutions through which children are primed for adoption.
* An absence of reliable court data to counteract allegations of negligence or fraud by probation officers involved in the adoption process.
Across Uganda, church-backed orphanages and private child care institutions are springing up. “Fifteen years ago there were just two dozen orphanages, now there are as many as 400 such institutions,” said Stella Ayo-Odongo, executive director of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network.
I agree. They are simply terrorists, just like the bikers in texas. But of course when I read this i was thinking about the Patriot Act and the provisions that have expired which probably helped LE be able to surveil the lone wolf types and others who operate as very small isolated groups but linked to larger groups. i was going to visit my sister but have decided to avoid public transportation until I read the reauthorization bill – I mean that passes in both houses.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Even casual Israeli basketball fans begin their day with an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the newfound obsession with the NBA franchise has little to do with superstar LeBron James. Rookie head coach David Blatt is one of their own, making his name professionally in Israel and raising a family there. Nearly all of Cleveland’s games are broadcast live on Israeli sports channels, and the national morning radio broadcast almost always delivers the score of the previous night’s games. Radio shows feature a daily update segment, and local newspapers have begun to resemble Ohio dailies in their blanket coverage of the drama surrounding Blatt’s talented yet underachieving team. “It’s beyond surreal. It feels almost alien-like,” said Gil Barak, who broadcasts Cleveland’s games for the Sport 5 TV channel. “This is a guy we’re used to seeing around here as his everyday self. Now he’s got LeBron and directing the most high-profile team in the world.”And as Cleveland fans worry that Blatt isn’t using his roster properly, Israelis are proudly sticking behind him. Boston-born Blatt, 55, remains one of the country’s most beloved figures, thanks to his winning history as a coach in his adopted homeland and national pride in his making it big time…continued”
I think Howard Dean just said on MSNBC that Bill Clinton is the most extraordinary politician of his lifetime, even back as far as Franklin Roosevelt. That’ll be the last time I listen to Dean again, unless it’s accidental. Doofus then, doofus now.
Everything Clinton did seems to have needed a trouncing or a thumping by President Obama. But he still has these wannabe-hasbeens around to bow to him. Yuck.
JOB, Howard Dean has become enamored of his own voice. I stopped listening to him a long time ago. He was a decent DNC Chair and that’s about all you can say about him.
I will be in the air on my way to family in St. Louis. Hopefully, I will get to watch at least some of it when I land. Doubtful, though. Wheels up 11:30 EST and landing 2 hours later. Hopefully most or all of it will be on YouTube. I will be with TOD in spirit as this very sad days unfolds.
This has been an amazing thread chock full of news, much of which I’ve shared with fellow Dems. So much good stuff is happening and, as usual, it’s coming from the super extraordinary administration of our President.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Good Afternoon, TODers!
swbluega!!!!!
Congratulations swbluega!
Good Afternoon, Judith! Thanks. 🙂
Congrats, Swbluega. GA TOD!
😆 😆 😆
Howdy, LP! Who ya rootin’ for?
Don’t know about lp but I am all in for the Warriors. Rooting, that is. My prediction, sadly, is Cleveland in 6.
Cool! Warriors are favored, though.
I’m right there with you. A total WARRIORS’ fan
Hey, Meta!
I don’t really have a dog in the fight, but I wouldn’t mind if Cleveland the city had a sports victory to celebrate after waiting 50 years for the Browns, Indians or Cavs…..on the other hand I’m a big fan of Curry, Harrison Barnes and Iguodala and don’t think the Warriors will have such an easy time making it back to the finals after some of the bofo Western Conf. teams are healthy next year with Aldrige in Portland and Durant in OKC….long story short I want a good, fun 7 game series….is that too much to ask for 🙂
No. Surely the series will go at least 5.
Cleveland is 6-1 on the road in the playoffs, but I ultimately think due to Kyrie’s knee problems and Draymond Greene’s ability to check Lebron….it will be Warriors in 6.
I would be extemely happy with your guess than mine. I worry a bit about Iguadola’s free throw thing. Probably not a big deal, overall. Just that, in the last Warrior game the 0 for 4 at the end threw me a little.
With no injuries!
Basketball, right? You all make it sound so interesting I may have to start watching. (I can’t believe I just typed that. I must be in a very good mood). My sports are tennis, soccer, and stuff like track and field. However I hardly ever just watch because you can’t do anything else except watch – no paper grading, knitting, chatting, cat wrangling, etc.
I’m a fair weather sports watcher. If a local team is in the match, I may tune in. I do like basketball and the series starts this Thursday. Steph Curry is a wonder.
I love going to games and long ago when Detroit had a soccer team my family would go to all the games. Now things are so expensive I don’t go to anything. Watching on TV has always been second best. I used to watch all the big tennis tournaments. That was before kids. After that I did not have all weekend for tennis watching. Or even 5 minutes. And I have to admit there was a certain amount of resentment toward my husband for still being able to do that! But now I find it hard to just sit and watch without doing something else. And if I’m doing something else, I miss all the exciting bits of the game!
Looks like I messed up posting my reply to you. It turned up further down. 😳
I ❤ ❤ ❤ this Post.
Hello Swbluega and Congrats on your Solid Au ⭐
Hello Nena! Thanks 🙂
Good Afternoon, Everyone 🙂
And to think, he was talking smack about the AG just this past weekend.
Thanks for the heads-up Chips. I know our President will provide the words of comfort & healing that his dear friend, our Dear VP Joe (and the Biden family) needs at this moment. I know our allergies will be acting up; I’m stocking up on tissues for everyone.
Chips, the cover of this Post is simply the best!
Her expression is just perfect!! 🙂
Her expression is saying “I told you not to mess with me, I am not the one”!
Thanks, lovelyplains.
😀
John Oliver in 2014……1st rant
Sorry, didn’t see yours.
I am sorry CarolMae.
My 1st post was from 2014.
It was my 2nd post that duplicated your post. So sorry.
No problem, I feel like a newbie. . .
John Oliver’s 2nd rant om 5-31-15
I am sure this coming Sunday, there will be a Celebratory 3rd version 😉
Can’t help myself.
No one expected a resignation from Corrupt Sepp, hence, John Oliver’s plea with FIFA Company sponsors…..including Budweiser……promising to drink their disgusting lime beer…….while loving it and pronouncing that it tested like champagne.
That is what made it so funny. John Oliver is funny.
I’m going to miss, Harry!
“The Nevada Legislature adjourned Monday night without voting on a measure that would change the state’s presidential nominating process to a primary from a caucus, a blow to Jeb Bush, who was hoping for the switch to a more inclusive way of voting. There was support among some Nevada Republicans for making the change, but the party’s leaders in the Assembly did not think there were enough votes for passage and never called the roll. That was in part because Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, intervened to help torpedo the change to a primary. Mr. Reid called Harvey Munford, the lone Democratic member of the Assembly who had supported the switch in committee, and persuaded him to drop his support. Nevada has only recently become one of the states that is granted coveted status near the beginning of the presidential nominating calendar, and right now is slated to be the fourth state to cast votes.
“When Nevada was moved up in the process as an early state it was contingent on Nevada as a caucus state, not a primary,” wrote Kristen Orthman, a spokeswoman for Mr. Reid, in an email. “With this bill we (Nevada Democrats) felt it jeopardized that status because it created uncertainty.” Ms. Orthman confirmed Mr. Reid’s lobbying of Mr. Munford, which was first reported by Jon Ralston, a longtime Nevada political analyst. Mr. Reid’s involvement has raised the suspicions of Republicans that the Nevada Democrat, who is known for his backstage maneuvering in his state’s politics, was trying to undermine Mr. Bush and perhaps Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, both of whom are looking to Nevada as a place to score an early victory….continued”
Repeating my post which landed last on the previous thread. Naturally.
OMG! Loretta Lynch bagged Blatter. No New Yorker is all that surprised. We knew who this remarkable woman is.
Also, according to The Count, PBO has had 19 Medal of Honor ceremonies and bestowed 45 Medals.
No empty screeching of “Support The Troops.” Action and respect from POTUS and FLOTUS for all our military, past and present.
Legacy building achievement, in my opinion.
Thanks for that count. I was wondering about this as I was watching this morning.
Meta and Vicki: I just want to say that the FIFA investigation had begun under Eric Holder. Glad that it is Loretta Lynch that is putting the finishing touch.
Oh. Well, then, props due there too. Both Attorney Generals selected by President Obama make us proud.
Oooops! Sorry for the duplicate but it is hilarious and if he drinks Bud Light Lime next show will be even funnier. 🙂
So, uhhh, Beau Biden’s funeral will be on Saturday. So will HRC’s rally on Roosevelt Island. Unfortunate timing.
UH-OH…She’s going to have to cancel it ASAP. Otherwise it will come off as clueless and/or insensitive on her part and the part of her planners. Not to mention it will most definitely create tons of fodder for the MSM, GOP, and exacerbate the obvious tension between the Obama/Biden-crats and PUMA groups..
I imagine since HRC worked with VP Biden for 4 years, she will attend the funeral with President Clinton. I don’t see her holding a rally at the same time as the funeral.
I thought that I had heard this AM that HRC’s Rally will be on June 13th or the 14th. It is Not this weekend.
I hope you’re right Nena.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/29/hillary-clinton-campaign-rally_n_7464266.html
Clinton officially jumped into the 2016 presidential field on April 12. Since then, she has focused on small events like roundtable discussions with voters in the four early primary states.
June 13 will mark Clinton’s first big event, which will be open to the public. The campaign has not yet announced where it will be held, but is expected to do so in the next few days. Campaign officials said former President Bill Clinton and the couple’s daughter, Chelsea, will be in attendance, although they won’t be deeply involved in the campaign for months.
Nena, I think you’re right. My mistake.
Hillary rally is June 13th
HAHaha…Chips you certainly have a creative & effective way with captions! I LOVE it 🙂
If you’ve ever ridden a French train, you would know that our system is a complete embarrassment.
Embedded tweet:
Not the “Soul Train,” but “The SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOooooOooooooooOooooooooooooooooooooooow TRAIN!
LOLz!!
Yes, I’ve ridden French trains……they are great! They are ON TIME…..they are fast, they are smooth, they are clean, they are easily accessible…….so are Italian trains, and German trains, and Austrian trains…….don’t know about British…..but the continent trains are great. Understand Japanese trains are too, in fact my husband said they were great by 1951 when he was in Japan………Republicans…hate them. We are SO behind!!!!
Ha!
🙂 🙂 🙂 😀 😀 😀
Nice pic 🙂
President Obama wants fast track authorization in order to proceed with the negotiations from a position of power – in order to receive the best possible set of concessions from nations with interests which conflict with our interests. The only way to know if he succeeds or not is to look at the final negotiated deal – and then judge it on its entire impact – not on some leaked, out-of-context pieces of the puzzle. After a final deal is reached, there will be an opportunity for public debate. Fast track authority doesn’t mean that Congress is going to support whatever deal is reached. It just means that politics won’t undermine a deal before it can be reached.
That is too funny – Ha!
Congrats swbluega!! 🙂
h/t to Nena & CarolMae
Never mess with Team Obama ….
bbl ….
Here’s our Beloved Doc Bobfr 🙂 with an awesome Tweet 😉
Good Afternoon, Bobfr!!! 🙂
From @POTUS now at 2.56M
Do not read any comments on any @POTUS tweets. I forgot and was sorry. Damn those anonymous scumbags.
the question is…
WHAT DO THEY WANT WITH THESE CHILDREN?
WHY ARE THEY SO INTERESTED IN AFRICAN CHILDREN?
…………………..
Uganda’s adoption ‘racket’
June 2 2015 at 01:03pm
By Reuters
Kampala – Ugandan families have been bribed, tricked or coerced into giving up their children to US citizens and other foreigners for adoption, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has found.
Leaked documents, court data and a series of exclusive interviews with officials, whistleblowers, victims and prospective adoptive parents have revealed:
* A culture of corruption in which children’s birth histories are at times manipulated to make them appear as orphans when they are not.
* A lucrative industry in which lawyers acting on behalf of foreign applicants receive large payments.
* A mushrooming network of unregistered childcare institutions through which children are primed for adoption.
* An absence of reliable court data to counteract allegations of negligence or fraud by probation officers involved in the adoption process.
Across Uganda, church-backed orphanages and private child care institutions are springing up. “Fifteen years ago there were just two dozen orphanages, now there are as many as 400 such institutions,” said Stella Ayo-Odongo, executive director of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/uganda-s-adoption-racket-1.1866592#.VW33Gl50y71
Sadly my guess is cheep labor or sex. 😦
Sorry, Amk
Hilarious Charlie Pierce headline about Lindsey Graham: “Graham Crackers – Fear strikes out on the campaign trail”
what if we stopped using the term ..”Islamic” Extremists” we did not call the “bikers” Christian Extremists….perhaps we should
I agree. They are simply terrorists, just like the bikers in texas. But of course when I read this i was thinking about the Patriot Act and the provisions that have expired which probably helped LE be able to surveil the lone wolf types and others who operate as very small isolated groups but linked to larger groups. i was going to visit my sister but have decided to avoid public transportation until I read the reauthorization bill – I mean that passes in both houses.
Ahem.
Those repositioning for the FIFA lucrative Post are bubbling up quick
Unfathomable from Politico, but this is a MUST READ on our beloved Biden Family:
Lovely, touching article.
Beautiful statement. Thank you so much for bringing it here, meta.
For those not familiar with Coach Blatt http://www.nba.com/2015/news/01/20/israel-beloved-blatt.ap/
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Even casual Israeli basketball fans begin their day with an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the newfound obsession with the NBA franchise has little to do with superstar LeBron James. Rookie head coach David Blatt is one of their own, making his name professionally in Israel and raising a family there. Nearly all of Cleveland’s games are broadcast live on Israeli sports channels, and the national morning radio broadcast almost always delivers the score of the previous night’s games. Radio shows feature a daily update segment, and local newspapers have begun to resemble Ohio dailies in their blanket coverage of the drama surrounding Blatt’s talented yet underachieving team. “It’s beyond surreal. It feels almost alien-like,” said Gil Barak, who broadcasts Cleveland’s games for the Sport 5 TV channel. “This is a guy we’re used to seeing around here as his everyday self. Now he’s got LeBron and directing the most high-profile team in the world.”And as Cleveland fans worry that Blatt isn’t using his roster properly, Israelis are proudly sticking behind him. Boston-born Blatt, 55, remains one of the country’s most beloved figures, thanks to his winning history as a coach in his adopted homeland and national pride in his making it big time…continued”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to David Blatt: “All of Israel is behind the Cavaliers” (This will probably cost any TOD allegiance to LBJ 😀 ) http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/05/david_blatt_benjamin_netanyahu.html
Netanyahu will rue the day he defied our President. You do not go up against President Barack Obama and win.
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/02/obama-drops-veto-bomb-gop-threatening-veto-bill-sequester-cuts.html
Not playing.
I think Howard Dean just said on MSNBC that Bill Clinton is the most extraordinary politician of his lifetime, even back as far as Franklin Roosevelt. That’ll be the last time I listen to Dean again, unless it’s accidental. Doofus then, doofus now.
He proved himself to be a total ass during the healthcare debate. IMO, Clinton did just about ZERO of positive distinction while in office.
You mean when Dean didn’t bother to disclose that he was lobbying for the health insurance industry while badmouthing ACA?
Yeah, stuff like that. AHEM.
Everything Clinton did seems to have needed a trouncing or a thumping by President Obama. But he still has these wannabe-hasbeens around to bow to him. Yuck.
JOB, Howard Dean has become enamored of his own voice. I stopped listening to him a long time ago. He was a decent DNC Chair and that’s about all you can say about him.
Agree. More recently, I only spotted him here and there, and at that point there was always some issue under discussion. Now? Forget it!
Drats! I have an 8:30am hair appt on Saturday. I hope I can get the shop to show it or I’ll have to watch it with you guys on my iphone.
Thanks meta for providing the Saturday start time.
I will be in the air on my way to family in St. Louis. Hopefully, I will get to watch at least some of it when I land. Doubtful, though. Wheels up 11:30 EST and landing 2 hours later. Hopefully most or all of it will be on YouTube. I will be with TOD in spirit as this very sad days unfolds.
Here’s John Oliver’s reaction to the resignation of one Joseph Sepp Blatter, the soon to be former head of FIFA 🙂
Just saw the news. POTUS will take on his Consoler-in-Chief role once again to deliver a moving and fitting tribute to Beau.
USA Freedom Act has passed.
So no amendments? The House compromise bill?
Yes…no amendments…..this is the House Bill.
Tammy Baldwin voted NO for some reason…..
Thanks, Linda.
This has been an amazing thread chock full of news, much of which I’ve shared with fellow Dems. So much good stuff is happening and, as usual, it’s coming from the super extraordinary administration of our President.
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/06/02/a-tweet-or-two-294/