On This Day: First Lady Michelle Obama tours the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kan., May 16, 2014. Stephanie Kyriazis, Chief of Interpretation and Education, leads the tour. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
****
Today
11:35 AM: The President awards the Medal of Valor to thirteen public safety officers during a ceremony in the East Room (see here)
Morning all. What’s so eerie about photos from several years ago is that it seems as if the event occurred yesterday. When I see the date I think that can’t possibly be two years ago–I remember just seeing it! Thanks to TOD, we’ve followed the lives and events of the President and FLOTUS so closely, they seem to be part of us and that’s one of the two million reasons why January 2017 will be a big emotional wrench for all of us. While I support, admire and respect HRC and will work hard for her, I can’t imagine being curious about every little thing she does or says or every event she attends. I guess love makes all the difference.
We Obots will love PBO, FLOTUS, First Mother-In-Law and all members of the First Family forever.
PBO is sui generis, the person who most young people convince themselves that they will be — someone who has explored all paths and motivations to that path and identified which was correct in the context of the “arc of the moral universe.”
Without means or connections, PBO has never wavered from his streadfast beliefs, and is honest in everything he says (with the unimaginable burden of knowing that any misstatement could literally cause global chaos).
He is so truly *human,* forthright in admitting his errors or lapses of judgment (experimentation with controlled substances, indifference to scholarly pursuits as an adolescent, etc.), that critics can only base their opposition on undisguised bigotry in terms that appeal to poorly informed and emotional citizens.
It will be a long time for another politician (anywhere in the world) who will be able to meet his standard, but when he or she does emerge, there is no doubt that they will have been influenced and inspired by Barack Hussein Obama.
Our election commission (a non-partisan unit mandated by our constitution with ginormous powers, which no fucking pol dare not get into stupid fights with) did a great job of energising the voters, especially the yung’uns via social media (furst time evah). They made very clear the effing voter id is not the only one you could vote with and declared holiday for all, repeat all, entities and the yung’uns did us proud.
I walked into the voting booth about 3 hours back (3 pm ist) and was in and out in under 2 minutes. Considering there were about 57 million (yes, 57 million) eligible voters and they had around 65,000 polling stations (around 900 voters per booth), that literally was a walk in the park.
It has been a non-stop downpour (good job, effing gods/goddesses) since 7 am in all 3 southern states when the polling started and the turnout at 5 pm was 70%, 70 % and 80% ( which is a much smaller neighboring state with about a tenth of our state voters, whose ass we have been trying to kick from time immemorial for gotv, but have failed). My state could still end up with 75 to 78% since the polling has been extended by one hour up to 6 pm (due to effing unohoo) and all those in line up to 6 pm will be allowed out vote, regardless of the time. Fingers crossed.
And finally, this kick ass couple got married today in my state and still turned out to vote.
and finally (yeah, yeah, I know), about those fucking opinion fucking polls.
First of all, AMK, that’s an amazing, well organized voting process and the speed with which you were able to vote should put every American to shame. Second of all that’s a stunning photo and the bride is gorgeous! Ask how many couples would choose to vote on their wedding day in the US and the answer would probably be 0!
This is another couple from another neighboring state (I posted it in last thread) that turned out to vote before their wedding. I balme the gal, of course.
Yes, this has been an amazing experience for me too though I have been voting for over 30 years. In my state, it has always been this or that two front options and this is the furst time evah, we had really serious a four front contest. Let’s see what happens on 19th when the counting starts.
One of the enduring mysteries of Donald Trump is just how much wealth he has. Forbes pegs his net worth at $4.5 billion, while Bloomberg News puts it at $2.9 billion. The GOP front-runner himself has said he’s “really rich.”
Maybe, but Trump’s income is low enough to qualify for a New York state property-tax break that most high-rollers don’t get.
It’s called the STAR program, which stands for the New York State School Tax Relief Program and has been around since 1997. It offers an approximately $300 annual benefit for those who qualify. Hundreds of thousands of New York homeowners get it.
City says Trump should not have received tax break but won’t explain how it happened
Here’s where it gets interesting for Trump: To be eligible for STAR, a married couple must have annual income of $500,000 or less. One wouldn’t think a guy as rich as Trump claims to be would qualify, but records filed with the city’s Department of Finance show he received a $302 STAR benefit on his latest property-tax bill for his Trump Tower penthouse on Fifth Avenue.
That means whatever his annual income is, it’s less than $500,000. (The state defines income for STAR purposes as federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of total distributions from annuities or individual retirement accounts.) And Trump would have to have declared his New York apartment as his primary residence and sent the state a copy of his federal income-tax return in order to qualify for the $302 tax break.
“It’s strange that a billionaire would apply for a $302 tax benefit and, moreover, that he would take it,” said Martha Stark, a property-tax expert and former New York City finance commissioner who is now a lecturer at Baruch College.
“My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feeling,” Trump said in a December 2007 court deposition. In a filing last year with the Federal Election Commission, Trump disclosed $362 million in “income” for 2014, although Fortune reporter Shawn Tully recently observed that lofty figure is actually revenue and not income, which is what’s left over after paying staff salaries, private-jet costs and other expenses.
How does THAT happen? Can MY net worth be moved by “feelings” and “attitudes”?? WOWOWOWOWOW!!! Freaking nutcase! You really stuck your foot in it this time, Republicans….and its still only MAY!
There’s a big story in the tax returns that Donald Trump claims he cannot release because of what he describes as a routine audit. The big story is not the true size of his wealth, but about how Congress has turned the income tax into a source of massive wealth for many of the richest Americans, including Trump.
That may seem hard to believe because the income tax burdens most of us. But the riches to be mined from the tax code are well known to America’s top tax lawyers and their clients.
That’s why he keeps saying that he’s paid the least amount of taxes, thanks to tax laws. He knows how to work the system and will be embarrassed when we learn how little he pays in taxes.
Trump’s ego tells him that he’s a billionaire, handsome and fantastically successful in all he does. He sees himself as yuuuge, when in fact, he is reasonably well off compared to most of us; is an overweight, vain old man; and has a long history of failed business decisions and bankruptcies. If Trump ever really looked at his orange skinned, double chinned, pot-bellied, combed over self in the mirror and saw the truth, he would probably crack under the impact. He’s a loud-mouthed boaster who manages to con people into thinking he’s a fighter on their behalf when in fact he never in his life cared for anyone but himself. If he had lived in the age of the Bourbon kings of France, he would have been one of the despicable rich who rolled over poor children and peasants while traveling in their carriages.
NET WORTH TO GOD ARE THE ACTIONS OF THE HEART…THE WALLET WILL NEVER BUY ETERNITY! THAT’S THE KIND OF ‘CHANGE’ I WOULD RATHER PURSUE…THESE OTHER DRAMAS ARE FLY BY NIGHT FANTASIES AND GOD IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ALL OF THE DIRT WE CAN SCATTER ABOUT THE EARTH!
egg.sack.lee. I will wait for another 3 more days. Last time, every effing one of them bit the dust and yet here they are at again without any shame. Fuck’em all.
Burlington College Closing Due To Financial Woes
By TAYLOR DOBBS
Burlington College, a small alternative college in the northern end of the city, is closing its academic programs after years of financial turmoil, school officials announced Monday.
The decision comes after the college’s lender informed Burlington College that its line of credit would not be renewed.
“Since July 2014, The College has been on probation with its accrediting agency, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) due to not meeting its financial resources standard,” the Burlington College release said Monday morning.
Under the leadership of interim President Mike Smith in 2014, the college sold a significant swath of land to a local developer in an effort to reduce its debt load. Now under the leadership of Carol Moore, the college apparently wasn’t able to fully recover.
The Obama Diary 
gm Ms Chips and TOD – wishing your Mother some great days this week
Happy Monday TODers!
Heeeeeeeya Chips!!
Congrats on the gold, 99ts!!
thanks africa – enjoy your Monday
Have a great day everyone. Off to work.
But I wanted to leave you with this delicious Lame Duck Recipe. Enjoy.
LOVE IT!!!!!
Morning all. What’s so eerie about photos from several years ago is that it seems as if the event occurred yesterday. When I see the date I think that can’t possibly be two years ago–I remember just seeing it! Thanks to TOD, we’ve followed the lives and events of the President and FLOTUS so closely, they seem to be part of us and that’s one of the two million reasons why January 2017 will be a big emotional wrench for all of us. While I support, admire and respect HRC and will work hard for her, I can’t imagine being curious about every little thing she does or says or every event she attends. I guess love makes all the difference.
So true ….
Amennnnnnnnn to this
So beautifully said. You have spoken for all of us.
GM JackieG.
We Obots will love PBO, FLOTUS, First Mother-In-Law and all members of the First Family forever.
PBO is sui generis, the person who most young people convince themselves that they will be — someone who has explored all paths and motivations to that path and identified which was correct in the context of the “arc of the moral universe.”
Without means or connections, PBO has never wavered from his streadfast beliefs, and is honest in everything he says (with the unimaginable burden of knowing that any misstatement could literally cause global chaos).
He is so truly *human,* forthright in admitting his errors or lapses of judgment (experimentation with controlled substances, indifference to scholarly pursuits as an adolescent, etc.), that critics can only base their opposition on undisguised bigotry in terms that appeal to poorly informed and emotional citizens.
It will be a long time for another politician (anywhere in the world) who will be able to meet his standard, but when he or she does emerge, there is no doubt that they will have been influenced and inspired by Barack Hussein Obama.
Good morning 99, Chips, KSK & TOD 🙂
Long day ahead …. take care everyone ….
#TrustBarack
I voted today. Ha, take that you kenyan muslin usurper of a soshalist kummunist dictaytor.
I always vote – the law says we must – wonder how the GOP would cope with that.
Ok, having done that, now to more serious issues.
Our election commission (a non-partisan unit mandated by our constitution with ginormous powers, which no fucking pol dare not get into stupid fights with) did a great job of energising the voters, especially the yung’uns via social media (furst time evah). They made very clear the effing voter id is not the only one you could vote with and declared holiday for all, repeat all, entities and the yung’uns did us proud.
I walked into the voting booth about 3 hours back (3 pm ist) and was in and out in under 2 minutes. Considering there were about 57 million (yes, 57 million) eligible voters and they had around 65,000 polling stations (around 900 voters per booth), that literally was a walk in the park.
It has been a non-stop downpour (good job, effing gods/goddesses) since 7 am in all 3 southern states when the polling started and the turnout at 5 pm was 70%, 70 % and 80% ( which is a much smaller neighboring state with about a tenth of our state voters, whose ass we have been trying to kick from time immemorial for gotv, but have failed). My state could still end up with 75 to 78% since the polling has been extended by one hour up to 6 pm (due to effing unohoo) and all those in line up to 6 pm will be allowed out vote, regardless of the time. Fingers crossed.
And finally, this kick ass couple got married today in my state and still turned out to vote.
and finally (yeah, yeah, I know), about those fucking opinion fucking polls.
Guess where my fucking ‘vote’ went? 🙂
First of all, AMK, that’s an amazing, well organized voting process and the speed with which you were able to vote should put every American to shame. Second of all that’s a stunning photo and the bride is gorgeous! Ask how many couples would choose to vote on their wedding day in the US and the answer would probably be 0!
This is another couple from another neighboring state (I posted it in last thread) that turned out to vote before their wedding. I balme the gal, of course.
https://i2.wp.com/drop.ndtv.com/liveblog/live_event/images/1283862/18018_635989968032249980.jpeg?zoom=2
dratz.
I’m guessing you said “no”
yes.
Yes, you said no or no, you said yes???
Too early to be confused!
😄
#ma. 🙂
LOL!
OMG, I want to cry. Our country is so backwards when it come to voting. Thanks for sharing all this info, amk. I hope the election goes your way.
Yes, this has been an amazing experience for me too though I have been voting for over 30 years. In my state, it has always been this or that two front options and this is the furst time evah, we had really serious a four front contest. Let’s see what happens on 19th when the counting starts.
Wow, that really is remarkable. Good luck, for real.
Good for you. Hope your candidate wins!!
Morning people! Happy Monday:) Sometimes we like to call it, “WHAT! Trump’s Lyin’ AGAIN” day….(h/t TPM)
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160308/BLOGS02/160309865/how-did-trump-qualify-for-a-middle-class-tax-break
One of the enduring mysteries of Donald Trump is just how much wealth he has. Forbes pegs his net worth at $4.5 billion, while Bloomberg News puts it at $2.9 billion. The GOP front-runner himself has said he’s “really rich.”
Maybe, but Trump’s income is low enough to qualify for a New York state property-tax break that most high-rollers don’t get.
It’s called the STAR program, which stands for the New York State School Tax Relief Program and has been around since 1997. It offers an approximately $300 annual benefit for those who qualify. Hundreds of thousands of New York homeowners get it.
City says Trump should not have received tax break but won’t explain how it happened
Here’s where it gets interesting for Trump: To be eligible for STAR, a married couple must have annual income of $500,000 or less. One wouldn’t think a guy as rich as Trump claims to be would qualify, but records filed with the city’s Department of Finance show he received a $302 STAR benefit on his latest property-tax bill for his Trump Tower penthouse on Fifth Avenue.
That means whatever his annual income is, it’s less than $500,000. (The state defines income for STAR purposes as federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of total distributions from annuities or individual retirement accounts.) And Trump would have to have declared his New York apartment as his primary residence and sent the state a copy of his federal income-tax return in order to qualify for the $302 tax break.
“It’s strange that a billionaire would apply for a $302 tax benefit and, moreover, that he would take it,” said Martha Stark, a property-tax expert and former New York City finance commissioner who is now a lecturer at Baruch College.
Smoke and mirrors anyone?
PS….. (From the piece…WTF does THAT mean???)
“My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feeling,” Trump said in a December 2007 court deposition. In a filing last year with the Federal Election Commission, Trump disclosed $362 million in “income” for 2014, although Fortune reporter Shawn Tully recently observed that lofty figure is actually revenue and not income, which is what’s left over after paying staff salaries, private-jet costs and other expenses.
How does THAT happen? Can MY net worth be moved by “feelings” and “attitudes”?? WOWOWOWOWOW!!! Freaking nutcase! You really stuck your foot in it this time, Republicans….and its still only MAY!
LOL!
Mark my words. SNL skit
Stop making me laugh this early in the morning DF 😄😄
It’s good to start off your day with a laugh:) How was Tally’s birthday brunch? Hope all of you had a wonderful time:)
We had a lovely time. Tally is such a wonderful person, she makes loving her so easy 😘
I’m sure:) Glad to hear you all had fun…have a great day!
U 2 😘
Thanks, love:)
Worth the read.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/03/08/real-trump-tax-scandal-david-cay-johnston/81436212/
There’s a big story in the tax returns that Donald Trump claims he cannot release because of what he describes as a routine audit. The big story is not the true size of his wealth, but about how Congress has turned the income tax into a source of massive wealth for many of the richest Americans, including Trump.
That may seem hard to believe because the income tax burdens most of us. But the riches to be mined from the tax code are well known to America’s top tax lawyers and their clients.
That’s why he keeps saying that he’s paid the least amount of taxes, thanks to tax laws. He knows how to work the system and will be embarrassed when we learn how little he pays in taxes.
Trump’s ego tells him that he’s a billionaire, handsome and fantastically successful in all he does. He sees himself as yuuuge, when in fact, he is reasonably well off compared to most of us; is an overweight, vain old man; and has a long history of failed business decisions and bankruptcies. If Trump ever really looked at his orange skinned, double chinned, pot-bellied, combed over self in the mirror and saw the truth, he would probably crack under the impact. He’s a loud-mouthed boaster who manages to con people into thinking he’s a fighter on their behalf when in fact he never in his life cared for anyone but himself. If he had lived in the age of the Bourbon kings of France, he would have been one of the despicable rich who rolled over poor children and peasants while traveling in their carriages.
NET WORTH TO GOD ARE THE ACTIONS OF THE HEART…THE WALLET WILL NEVER BUY ETERNITY! THAT’S THE KIND OF ‘CHANGE’ I WOULD RATHER PURSUE…THESE OTHER DRAMAS ARE FLY BY NIGHT FANTASIES AND GOD IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ALL OF THE DIRT WE CAN SCATTER ABOUT THE EARTH!
Spot on description!
That’s funny. Mine does to. Sometimes it goes from zero to a whole dollar.
ANOTHER DAY…ANOTHER FUN FILLED TO DO LIST..WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE..HAVE A GOOD ONE EVERYBODY!
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family. 💕
For those of us that teach…and for the students that attend schools across America, this is important.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2016/05/16/3777271/hillary-clinton-teaching-profession/
Good Morning TOD
I’ll start your day off with my little divas showing gama (this is what they call me) the “evolution of chair dancing”. 😉
Have a great O’Day everyone!
OH….donna:) So cute:)
AAHHHHAWAWAAAAHAHAAAAAA!! They’re too much!!
Too cute 💕
Thanks Donna 😘
Aw…they are just too cute for words, and what a great way to start the day/week! 🙂 Thanks donna for sharing.
YW HF2 – They bring me such joy.
Oooh, two bundles of sweeetness
donna, Oh my aren’t they cute?
Oh they are just so adorable “gama”. You are completely lucky 🙂
Oh Donna. They are adorable.
they are so adorable, Donna Dem.
totally too cute:)
and, they’re getting so big!!
Definitely, a quicker picker upper.
Lovely young Ladies. Thanks for sharing with Us, Proud GrandMa 🙂
So adorable! time is flying. Seems like they were just born last year.
❤
ah, the shoutfest over effing ‘exit polls’ starts across all channels. sheez jeez.
Just. Say. No.
egg.sack.lee. I will wait for another 3 more days. Last time, every effing one of them bit the dust and yet here they are at again without any shame. Fuck’em all.
G’morning Chips & TOD! Congrats 99ts on #1, and Happy Monday everyone 🙂
Charles Blow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/16/opinion/trumps-asymmetric-warfare.html?smid=tw-nytopinion&smtyp=cur&_r=0
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!?????? ELECTIONS MATTER PEOPLE!!
Supreme Court rules in favor of religious employers objecting to Obamacare contraception insurance coverage compromise X
EDITION:UNITED STATES
This was Breaking News from Reuters
I don’t see anything here though…
http://www.scotusblog.com/
Trump’s damage to the US’s credibility is already being felt worldwide. Trump cannot be allowed anywhere near the White house.
http://www.startribune.com/in-trump-s-rise-allies-see-harsher-american-approach-to-foreign-policy/378358941/
NOW: Secretary of State John Kerry, Holds Joint News Conference During Talks on Libya in Vienna – http://abcnews.go.com/Live
This is FAR different than the Reuters Breaking news!!! Stupid MSM
Coming up in just a few minutes:
Lets just hope no harm comes to these courageous women. I hope Iran doesn’t do anything foolish here..
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/05/16/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iran-modeling-crackdown.html?_r=1
Burlington College Closing Due To Financial Woes
By TAYLOR DOBBS
Burlington College, a small alternative college in the northern end of the city, is closing its academic programs after years of financial turmoil, school officials announced Monday.
The decision comes after the college’s lender informed Burlington College that its line of credit would not be renewed.
“Since July 2014, The College has been on probation with its accrediting agency, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) due to not meeting its financial resources standard,” the Burlington College release said Monday morning.
Under the leadership of interim President Mike Smith in 2014, the college sold a significant swath of land to a local developer in an effort to reduce its debt load. Now under the leadership of Carol Moore, the college apparently wasn’t able to fully recover.
http://digital.vpr.net/post/burlington-college-closing-due-financial-woes