On This Day: President Barack Obama runs down the East Colonnade with family dog, Bo, on the dog’s initial visit to the White House, March 15, 2009. Bo came back to live at the White House in April (Photo by Pete Souza)
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Today
10:30: The President holds a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Ireland
12:0: Attends the Friends of Ireland Luncheon, U.S. Capitol
4:35: Delivers remarks at a reception for St. Patrick’s Day, East Room
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The Obama Diary 
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Tuesday morning.
To all, I hope that you have an energetic, lively, and zippy spirit today to successfully accomplish your goals. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Morning RanMan!
Morning Chips.
BTW, I thought I’ll check the feed before I left to go vote and Bingo!
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
MooooooOOOOOoooooooooorning GGail!
GM TOD – congrats on 1st RanMan. Hope everyone is voting like your life depends on it – cause come November it will might be the situation.
Morning all, some sobering thoughts about the world we are in…99ts hope this if true is just an isolated case, a bit long but worth the read
Teachers in Australia are fed up
This the message that the Maroochydore High School, Queensland, Australia, staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine. This is the actual answering machine message for the school.
This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children’s absences and missing homework.
The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children’s failing grades changed to passing grades – even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes.
*RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG*
*CLICK* Hello, you have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting you to the right staff member, Please listen to all the options before making a selection.
To lie about why your child is absent Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do his homework Press 2
To complain about what we do Press 3
To swear at staff members Press 4
To ask why you didn’t get information that has already been enclosed in your newsletter and several fliers that have been mailed to you Press 5
If you want us to raise your child Press 6
If you want to reach out and touch, slap, or hit someone Press 7
To request another teacher, for the third time this year Press 8
To complain about bus transportation Press 9
To complain about school lunches Press 0
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his or her behavior, classwork and homework and it’s not the teachers fault for your child’s lack of effort
Please hang up and have a nice day
If you want this in another language. Move to a country that speaks it.
Thank You for your interest in public education
This is an actual message at a school in Australia
I love it, Anjo. I’ll bet every school in the US would love to run this message, but wouldn’t dare to do it.
They wouldn’t dare to in Australia either jackie – not true – but no doubt what teachers sometimes would like to say.
I’ve not seen it anjo – but very much doubt it is true – and then I googled
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/school-phone-message-hoax/359923/
MAROOCHYDORE High School is gaining a massive international publicity boost after several people placed a hoax answering machine message on YouTube.
Well I am glad its all a hoax however lots of schools need some strong medicine for unruly parents and their bratty kids
Even if it’s a hoax, I bet that’s exactly how a lot of teachers feel.
Morning all. WP, combined with my new Windows 10, has been giving me endless headaches. Yesterday I actually had to reboot each time I commented using WP, so I finally gave up. Things seem to be looking better this morning. I truly hope this Super Tuesday ends well because Bernie and his cohorts have gotten on my last nerve. In the meantime, my oldest sister turns 80 today and she is literally freaking out. This isn’t a birthday for her, it’s doomsday.
Oh heck Jackie, between your malfunctioning computer and freaking-out sister, you are not having a good time of it.
Wishing her as happy a birthday as it can be!
Hey everyone, anyone else having WP trouble??
What irks me the most, Chips, is that I didn’t ask for Windows 10. I went downstairs for coffee the other day and when I came back the windows 10 installation had magically started and took two long hours to complete. Then everything was messed up and I couldn’t find my bookmarks or anything else I was familiar with. I would have cheerfully remained with the old Windows version and didn’t appreciate having the choice taken away from me. It really stinks when you get bullied by your own darned computer.
I ***hate*** automatic updates like that, I’ve lost so many older versions of programs that were trouble-free, but were flippin’ unusable once updated. Grr.
It’s all for your good. trust us.
/sd apple
🙂 I’m beginning not to trust Apple…. finally!
too much profits for unohoo, too lil for ya. #lessons
That’s exactly the paternalistic, ‘we know what’s best’ attitude that I hated about my Windows 10 invasion. Did they ask me if it was convenient at that time? NO. Did they ask if I wanted or needed to be updated? No. I was so furious I was ready to call Microsoft and tell them where they could stuff their updates, but I knew that would involve me in endless frustrating hours on the phone. And then they had the nerve to send the message “Thank you for CHOOSING Microsoft.”
you don’t know the half of it. w10 invades your privacy ‘like the gobinment’. google w10 privacy issues. you have got more work to do, courtesy m$. But let’s rant on how the gobinment is out to get ya.
Oh, AMK, you’re scaring me with the “you have a lot more work to do.” I have no natural intuition when it comes to technology, so this is like saying I have another Mt. Everest to climb. Yikes!
https://fix10.isleaked.com/
Not sure what you mean, Chips. The Mac never auto-updates anything. In fact, they will pester you with endless reminders to make a choice!
I think Microsoft is no longer supporting my beloved Windows 7, but I’ve put off the upgrade. You don’t give me a whole lot of confidence that it will go well!
GM 57F.
So grateful for Windows 10 info from ((( JackieG ))) and ((( amk ))). Am backing up computer stuff today!
If my old computer with Windows XP were still alive and well, I’d still be on Windows XP (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it) — still struggling with Windows 8 (designed by a sadist?)
Also, THANK YOU so much on your response to my question Sunday night about Bernie’s Midwest appeal — was offline most of yesterday (and the stuff I saw about Campaign2016 pretty much appalled me), but when you said trade and manufacturing, that hit the nail on the head for me.
So aside from bashing the best President in at least 50 years (and the first truly strategic President during that time period — though Carter did his best), Bernie is a two-issue candidate (revenge against bankers and off-shorers — gosh, which other candidate’s platform is based on revenge?).
It’s pathetic. And of course yesterday’s news where Bernie flat out said he only became a Democrat to get media coverage, and that he didn’t even want to do that but was forced to by his advisors.
2008 was so rancorous; but to Hillary’s credit, she supported PBO from then on, with a strong symbolic gesture of giving him the nomination through New York at the convention.
What is Bernie going to do? Tell these kids not to vote? He is a disgrace and is putting the country in peril. But then again, he likes chaos and destruction. He can go home and live a comfortable life, while putting the entire country at risk. Despicable.
Why is PBO looking for concensus candidate when no matter who he chooses Rs will say no, choose who you want, don’t pander to them, you have nothing to lose. I hope this is just Pundit speculation
Anjo, I think PBO is being scrupulous about doing his job. He’s not looking for an ideologue, he’s looking for a first class jurist. Whatever the Republicans do, he knows he will have done his own job to the best of his ability.
I agree. The world speculates and he is constant and competent. Thank God for his nature, his ability and his time in office.
Just me rushing to judgement with one of the rwnj headlines, I do trust Barack
The only question is, who would be willing to put up with the headache that will obviously come for any person who is nominate…especially if it is almost a given that their nomination will be blocked.
GM Anjo.
All of us at TODville have learned never to underestimate or doubt PBO, especially when he has the luxury of time to make a truly consequential decision. (This is something GOP, emoprogs and MSM still haven’t learned, and PBO is a Chessmaster).
Though skeptical (and pretty much don’t pay attention to political “consultants) of partisan spin, this makes so much sense (may be repeating another TOD commenter, but bears repeating on this delegate-rich primary day):
Matthew J Dowd, chief strategist of Bush/Cheney 04, said on Sunday:
US Senators “are paid by the US Treasury… US Senate should do their job… they show up day after day. They get a paycheck and they should vote it up or down.
I think as of Wednesday morning the GOP position is going to change on this.
If Trump does well in the primaries on Tuesday night, they’re gonna figure out that maybe a nominee by Obama is better than a nominee if Donald Trump is the nominee.”
talk about white privilege.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35807961
Using Nazi symbols for whatever reason is despicable. I hope that fool gesture gets him nowhere.
nazi salute is not the worst of it.
Thailand’s overweight monks are put on a diet.
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-35812339
Need to ship jtp to thailand.
Some enterprising person is going to come out with a “Thailand Monk’s Diet” and try to make a fortune.
Buon giorno TOD!
Chips, are you going to be attending that Friends of Ireland Luncheon with the President today? 🙂 Will Danny have a playdate with Bo and Sunny while you are lunching with PBO?
I have not seen Cousin Henry in a while. Is he expected today?
❤
G’morning Chips & TOD!! Congrats RanMan on #1! Happy Tuesday everyone 🙂
LOL
Hey there Chips and all TODers…..how’ve y’all been?. Hope everyone has voted – and ready to vote.
Good Morning Chips and TOD.
LOL – this trend is too funny! 🙂 Haha….
I’m a nervous wreck about the election today. Literally, my office-ful of Republicans are voting for Bernie just to make mischief.
Relax….Delegate count in Dem primaries are even weightier than winning the primary. Same shenanigan is going on in the R primaries….many Ds voting for Trump for similar reasons.
many Ds voting for Trump for similar reasons.
stupidity that will come back to bite.
PAYBACKS ARE HELL DARLIN’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wasn’t it determined that that stupidity was what made the difference in a win for Hillary in MI? It’s not a “sure thing” if someone else is on the ballot.
GM 57F.
Would be unsettling for Illinois to go for Bernie, but some perspective on states HRC carried in 2008 against PBO [i.e., lots of big states like CA, FL, NY, OH]:
According to pundits, FL should go to HRC today, but the Midwest is on their radar:
FL is the only closed primary. There’s the big difference – indies allowed to pick a party’s nominee, and LOTS of shenanigans with GOP crossover votes. Perception will be brutal if she doesn’t carry either IL or OH, even if it’s close and she extends her delegate lead. I’d like some wind at her back.
There was a time in my twenty somethings I took a petition around to get signatures for an Open Primary on the ballot. I had difficulty getting signatures as everyone was saying how important it was to have a candidate representing their party’s choice chosen by their own party. I was thinking that Independents did not get to vote for candidates in the Primary. Some bigger picture ideas only evolve through age and experience as today I see the point of those people who would not sign my Open Primary petition. I compare this with the mischief making in the Open Primary states and the younger voters not seeing past what Bernie says.
Morning everyone…Bernie seems to be in PHX today…..No. Not going:)
Good Tuesday, Chipsticks…TOD Family!!!
Compare and Contrast: How a *REAL* Leader deals with adversity:
TRYING TO GET THIS TO FB….
DONE…LOVE MY ‘O’ FAMILY…WE ARE ALL ONE AMERICAN FAMILY…………………………….PI IN THE SKY!
swbluega, Trump is a classless racists bully. And those people supporting him are no better then he is.
There are some things, bella, that you don’t joke about and if you don’t mean it, you don’t say it or do it. Donald Trump is making light of the antics at his rallies and is unwilling to take responsibility or even see the role he has played in what has come about. Qualities of a leader. NO, except as leader of those supporters who are just like him. The person we would trust in the position of POTUS/Commander-in-Chief?!?!?!? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Just saw where Bruce Willis is a big time Trump supporter. Guess maybe all of those tough guy roles went to his head.
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/03/say-it-with-me-voters-arent-any-angrier-year-usual
America isn’t in worse shape than usual, and voters aren’t angrier than usual. We need to stop saying this. The difference—the only difference— is that we have a candidate willing to cynically mine the anger that’s always out there waiting to be tapped, consequences be damned. That’s it.
But hey! Not his fault.
GM DF.
The biggest problem American voters have is that the MSM (like an alcoholic) refuse to admit they have a white bias problem, allowing white resentment to fester and to escalate into seeking revenge against the world as it is today.
MSM’s POV is that White Privilege is the norm in America, that White Privilege is the way things should be (has always been, should continue to be).
This rings so true — from white people who would block you on Twitter for suggesting they’re racist, but who harbor deep-seated resentment that their White Privilege is slipping away, and has been since the Beatles arrived on this shore.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/15/us/politics/in-reversal-us-plan-on-drilling-to-be-pulled.html?_r=0
Forget the drilling. Make a wind farm.
This is good:)
The Obama administration is loosening economic and travel restrictions on Cuba ahead of President Barack Obama’s landmark trip to Havana next week.
The actions are the most substantive steps the Departments of Treasury and Commerce have taken to implement the normalization that Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba announced in December 2014.
New regulations announced by the Commerce and Treasury departments would allow “people to people” travel to Cuba for educational purposes, simplify licensing rules for cargo ships passing through Cuba, expand the entities allowed to maintain a presence on the island to include those involved in humanitarian projects, and allow payments to Cuban nationals to pass through U.S. banks. The regulations are set to take effect Wednesday.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/cuba-travel-restrictions-220768
Good morning, Chips and TODers.
This is beyond awesome!
I LOVE THIS……………………………..ON MY FB……………………….HOPE ALL ARE WELL..THIS GIRL IS HAULING LIKE A CAMEL….ANOTHER DAY…PRESSING ON..BLESSINGS EVERYONE!
Could get interesting……
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/03/15/anonymous-just-declared-total-war-on-trump-threatens-to-expose-embarrassing-information-video/
evangelical ratfuckers – indian version
http://www.rediff.com/business/report/pix-babas-follow-ramdevs-footsteps-to-mint-a-fortune-from-fmcg/20160315.htm
the world is full of fools and idjits.
MORE good news!
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article66108852.html
The Latest on Illinois’ Republican and Democratic primaries (all times local):
8:15 a.m.
For the first time, Illinois residents can register to vote and cast ballots on the same day at all polling sites. Election Day registration allows unregistered voters or those who have moved and need to update their information to get registered and vote all at once.
Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office is reminding unregistered voters to bring two forms of identification, including one with a current address.
Orr says Election Day registration was a key part of voter reforms that he and others fought for in Illinois.
He adds, “In our highly mobile society, we realize that there are times when people are just not registered when they go to vote.”
State lawmakers have also presented a plan that would automatically register people to vote when they get a driver’s license or state ID.
and not to forget 3rd rate 4th estate.
Let me just put this here one more time. You know what to do.
Mr. 57 and I early voted in Chicago on Saturday. I did not ask him who he voted for, until last night. He started out a Bernie supporter, and we’ve been having “substantive” conversations.
He started to turn away from Bernie a little while ago, as did his other friends who are seniors. Comments about his thin skin. His repetition of only 3 sentences to answer everything, like our senile neighbor. His demeanor. So I did ask him last night who he voted for, but he didn’t have to tell me if he didn’t want to.
“Clinton, of course. Who else would I vote for?”
Good job, 57! I have a couple of friends who were pro Bernie but are now horrified that he is doing so well. I guess “in theory” he seemed like a good choice. Now watching him campaign has woken them up.
He doesn’t wear well over time, unless you’re zealot. Unfortunately, there are enough zealots to make this nerve-wracking.
🙂
Well done Mr 57! And Mrs 57! 🙂
Chips, I know you won’t believe this, but I can be quite the bitch sometimes. I can VERY emotional about politics. But I was VERY careful with Mr. 57 on this. I kept my tone down, I listened to his reasons and concerns, and I answered them. I kept the door open saying I thought BS was a decent guy, I believed in 90% of what he said, but here is why I think he’d be a terrible POTUS………. So Mr. 57 started to watch debates and town halls differently, seeing the flaws I saw. It was the wife of a friend who was a big Bernie supporter who showed him the poison coming from his supporters (things always get through easier if I’m not the one saying them!). In fact, that’s why she and her husband flipped to Hillary. This has been quite a process.
Yay!!!!!!!! Any impressions on how things are going for the Clinton campaign in Chicago?
Frankly, I’m not hopeful. There are many GOP crossing over to vote for Bernie because he will be easier to beat. Bernie has made a pitch to tie Hillary to Rahm, going so far as to print up signs as if that’s the GE ticket. That will peel off some votes. The Bernie people are very motivated here. That being said, IL is usually pragmatic in voting. But frankly I’m expecting a win for BS in IL. Enough with open primaries!
BS’ ads have been effective, but so are Hillary’s. Hillary’s are 100% positive, Bernie’s had a lot of ads that don’t directly criticize her but the dog whistles are there. BS has been all over our local progressive radio station, Hillary not at all. Although this crowd is very pro-Bernie anyway.
Thanks for the update. Hoping for the best.
Here’s hoping…….
We also have some heated local races – Cook County States Attorney, and of course the Dem primary for Senate. Evil Rauner has poured money into fake Dems in the hopes of controlling the state legislature. Lots of interest in this election, for a primary.
Bill, I told Mr. 57 to just watch Hillary with an open mind, put aside the 2008 prejudices. That no one was more surprised than I that she won me over. And on his own, he started to cringe at Sanders’ performances.
I’m thinking this asshole’s behavior was a selling point for DT.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/03/15/trump-aide-has-history-of-rough-behavior.html
Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s campaign manager who is accused of assaulting a female reporter, has a history of inappropriately aggressive or sexist behavior, a Politico investigation revealed. In the aftermath of the accusation that Lewandowski grabbed and bruised former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields, he called her “delusional” and an “attention seeker.” But in interviews the magazine conducted with 20 sources close to Lewandowski during his time with Trump and at his previous job, a pattern of complaints showed a history of being “rough with reporters” and “sexually suggestive with female journalists,”
Called a fellow employee a c**t?? Another guy with tiny hands, I see.
Making it plain.
THIS! He DOES NOT speak for me!
& you don’t get to hijack my party for personal gain & burn it down. With today’s GOP, that is treasonous.
Trump is far from the exception in terms of the low life slugs the @GOP has ’embraced’ since Ike …
I just got back; thanks for the updates on Cousin Henry.
Donald trump 24/7 on the news… Doesn’t matter what channel you put on or when, it starts with the Donald and ends with the Donald.
Never seen anything like it.👎👎👎👎👎👎😡
https://twitter.com/AdrienneMWeil/status/709769517832929281
Chat away
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/03/15/chat-away-794/
LIVE on #Periscope: Michelle Obama talking about her personal passion and the #letsmove campaign. @cafemom
https://www.periscope.tv/w/1YpKkaLkbOAJj
Trump just won the same amount of delegates Rubio/Cruz won in Idaho this morning and crossed a convention threshold of having to win a majority of delegates in 5 states to be on the ballot at the GOP convention