That’s because he’s too busy trying to get his obnoxious hotels built. I mean really, who has time for intelligence briefings when you’ve got to pick out quartz for your hotel’s countertops?
For you, dear GGAIL:) We will never forget or take these vast accomplishments, in the face of total obstruction, for granted. Never. History will be amazed and kind to this incredible man.
Good morning all. Got back into the gym this morning after a miserable 2 weeks, but meeting with my so cal TODers last night has given me hope. I can’t wait to continue to follow President Obama as he becomes a civilian in January and support any and all his efforts to help us keep our country together during what will likely be some rough years ahead. There is no doubt in my mind that he will not rest on his laurels and so I will continue to follow him and not that other orange thing, ever.
Single parents could get a tax hike and lose their insurance and their Medicare guarantee all under Trump. Call it The Full Betrayal. https://t.co/6XWJD4flDz
Have to attack those who have little power to fight back – for centuries single parent families were shunned and left to die. We slowly learned compassion & in one moment in time – it is all reversed. They will not be the only ones harmed by having an idiot as President.
In the previous thread…both FF and Bob commented on the desire for the President to do something….about DT….i do not know what he can legally do…his interference in the outcome of the election could bring about unintended consequences…and anarchy…What i would like to know from either of you is what can our President do…what legal constitutional place is there for him to stand..but make no mistake…what ever it may be it will be vehemently opposed…
the people of the US voted earlier this month…and DT is the President and Republicans control the Congress..
they already controlled most of the statehouses…DT will nominate the same kind of judges for SCOTUS as he has for his cabinet…
the President pleaded and organized hard to convince the American people to vote in their own interests…to no avail….
for the record…the Obama coalition came thru…we knew what was at stake…because our lives are always at stake we did not have the privilege to partake in a protest vote……we certainly could not vote for Trump…
it will not just be the most vulnerable who will suffer …but the world is realigning as we speak….the time for EU to put Putin in check has come and gone….and America will not be a firewall on Russian aggression…
Once again…what can the President do…to save us when we would not save ourselves…
Well said prettyfoot. IMO, I’m not sure President Obama can do anything outside of Executive Orders, that will be immediately overturned on Jan-20-2017. It is up to concern citizens to fight like hell for our democracy and I’m sure that civilian’s Barack and Michelle Obama will be with us in this fight.
Good morning PF! Nope, not me. I was a dissenter, saying there isn’t anything PBO can do and this is NOT on him. I believe he is doing everything possible to rein his successor in behind the scenes (supposedly spoke with him for 45 min on Saturday) but there is nothing in the Constitution that gives him any power to change this. It is now on the electors and the ones folks want to change are Republicans. As far as I can tell, they haven’t cared for many years if they destroy the country in pursuit of their agendas so I can’t see that changing now.
History is being made here and not in a good way. I am afraid we are in for a very dark 4 years, even more so after the ridiculousness of what occurred yesterday, and we’re going to have to resist at every turn. And as Arapaho and I were discussing late last night, I think we are going to see a global realignment in the coming years, unlike anything we’ve seen since WWII. Putin has been working his cards for many years and is seeing results. Under DT, the US will be at its weakest point in decades and other nations are going to take advantage of that fact.
In the meantime, I am so very grateful for the fact PBO remains our president until January 20th. He will be one of the few presidents of the last 100 years who came into office with a 68% approval rating, did all he could for the American people and secured America’s place in the world, and will leave office on a very high note. And to the misfortune of the American people, he will look even better in retrospect as we endure what is to come next.
I respect that fact, pf58, that you and others here have a different opinion of the crisis and the role of the Presidency.
Let me frame my stance this way to you, pf58, and other TODers.
Had the mission to take out OBL failed, President Obama would have had 1 term, at most.
And, I have absolutely no doubt that had it failed, the efforts to impeach him would have made those to impeach President Clinton look like child’s play.
Trump is, without any exception, a far, far graver threat to America than OBL + every other ‘terrorist’ on this planet combined.
As President Obama has stated repeatedly throughout his Presidency, his most solemn duty is to National Security.
He now faces a National Security threat that only one other President – Abraham Lincoln – has ever faced.
Moreover, Trump is precisely the type of demagogue the Framers feared with one exceptionally important caveat – they feared such a demagogue actually receiving the majority of the votes. That’s why the created the Electoral College.
It is preposterous to think that they would have ever envisioned the Electoral College – in it’s singular deliberative duty – electing a demagogue who lost the vote by any margin, let alone by millions of votes. Totally Preposterous.
So, as totally ruthless as the responses and consequences might be, President Obama has a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. Not address the immediate and comprehensive threat to our National Security, as well as, the undermining of the role of the Electoral College will be an abrogation of his duties.
The battle can be fought with President Obama in Command, or not. The battle is going to happen.
I’ve summarized my position in a letter to the President. Have close to zero doubt that he’ll ever see it. I truly hope he would never have to read it to realize that, as unfair as it will be, his Presidency is going to be judged by what he does between now and 19 December.
===============
27 November 2016
Dear Mr President,
Neither the Constitution or the Framers intent in creating the Electoral College can be used to justify Trump becoming President.
Trump is absolutely every abomination that the Framers feared in the event that such a person actually received a majority of the votes.
In this case, Trump is losing by 2+ million votes.
Thus, it is entirely unreasonable to think that the Framers would ever have intended or approved of the Electoral College electing him.
Trump has not only lost the vote, he is every abomination that they feared might somehow become President.
For Trump to be President both “One Person, One Vote” and the intended role of the Electoral College will have been obliterated.
I will not only be shocked, I will be deeply saddened if the final chapter of your otherwise stunning legacy as President is that you did not publicly and privately do everything possible to prevent the literal destruction of our democracy, and the installation of a demonstrably unstable, corrupt demagogue.
Sincerely,
Bob
===============
Regret if I’ve offended anyone. That’s not my intention.
Thank you pf58. What I’ve always liked about TOD is it’s role as a forum for people to disagree, respectfully.
Firstly, I think the President has the opportunity to begin a conversation with the American People about the Electoral College. Explain in his extremely skillful way why the Framers created it and why it would be an abomination to cast aside their wisdom and explicit guidance.
Let ‘Congress’ freak out in the face of the American People being told the facts about the explicit duties of the Electoral College. Let them go on record denying the primacy of “One Person One Vote” and the debasement of the role of the Electoral College to ensure that a demagogue who WON the vote would be prevented from becoming President – because that is precisely the scenario the Framers had in mind when they created the EC.
Those are battles worth fighting now because the outcome could well be that the person the majority of Americans elected actually becomes President.
To not at least fight those battles now means the battles that will be fought are going to involve way more than words.
Secondly, regarding the military – we have a far greater risk of the military, bound by law, refusing to follow orders from a President Trump than at any time in our history. We’ve heard from many former military leaders of their grave concerns about Trump. Based on what Trump has said and the deranged behavior we have witnessed, day after day, I’d be amazed if the current Joint Chiefs of Staff are not among the most fearful of all Americans of Trump being inaugurated.
WE ARE IN NAZI…COMMI TERRITORY..DON’T FORGET TO ADDDDDDDD ALL THE OTHER CELLS! IT’S A GRANDIOSE COLLECTION OF DIABOLICAL DEMONS..VLAD PROBABLY HAS PHOTOS OF ALL OF THEM ON HIS UNDERWEAR
TWEETING HIS NEGOTIATING THREATS ON CUBA…NO WONDER HIS HANDS ARE SO SMALL..JUST LIKE HITLER..HE WEARS ELEVATED SHOES…HAS THAT HITLERESQUE FEAR OF BEING SHORT!
I agree, Bob, that TOD is a magnificent “forum for people to disagree, respectfully.” Love to hear several sides of an issue, to see where my own personal thoughts meet up! Thanks to you and all the others, we’re never at a loss for ideas – either on how to proceed or how to cope.
Hi, Bfr. I have (what I consider) a serious question and a certain uneasiness. Given that there are three branches of government (and even though I know the Republicans never do anything to aid the nation) shouldn’t you equally address your suggestion/s to *them*? In particular to McConnell and Ryan? There is no question the country is facing a serious threat and thus it ought also to be incumbent upon *them* to be doing *something* to help! At the very least they should be constantly reminded that they too have a responsibility for the future of the country. IMO, since the MSM aren’t directing attention to the lack of help from the GOP, meaningful advocates like yourself should help focus attention to the GOPs’ inactivity at this crucial time. I confess that I feel somewhat peeved that PBO (and Dem leaders) largely always get the hardest most consistent pushback channeled their way, while Republican leaders are allowed to slide under the radar without doing *their* well-paid jobs. They also were sworn in to ‘serve and protect’, weren’t they?
Appreciate your perspective, VC, very much. I’ve been persistently harsh toward McConnell and Ryan. Will definitely craft a few additional messages to both of them. Thank you!!
Hi sir, thanks for responding. Not sure if it was you who said somewhere ‘All hands on deck’, but I see no reason why we shouldn’t repeatedly call on the GOP unwilling hands, if only to bring increased attention that they are sleeping while Rome the nation may be about to burn.
[T*Y* for actively considering my suggestion.]
Trump’s infatuation with the military–which he avoided like the plague in his youth–is disconcerting. He is looking to put a retired general rather than a civilian in charge of the Pentagon, and now is looking at another retired military person for SoS. This is not good for our civilian controlled military.
And you’re spot on re: founders insisting on civilian control of military, a concept which seems beyond the grasp of so many highly paid “pundits” and “reporters.”
A person may not be appointed as Sec'yOfDefense w/in 7 yrs after relief from active duty as" an officer of a regular component armed force. https://t.co/iaXuiddbt2
I guess Congress could change this rule (not sure of the requirements), and here’s hoping some sane GOP Senators understand the threat American democracy now faces.
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Monday morning. Congrats dee, on being first this morning.
Nerdy, thanks so much for helping Ms. Chips and the sacrifices you are making for us TOD’ers. 💫🙏👌👊❤
To all, I hope you do all things efficiently, proficiently, and sufficiently today. ❤ ❤ ❤
Notwithstanding the nightmare of BuffoonTrump in the Whitehouse, I am more than ever, Thankful to God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
❤️🌹🙏🏻🌹❤️ Mornin’ y’all ~ before I become overwhelmed by all the news, I’ll set out this tidy bit of certainty:
New Moon tomorrow Tuesday 29 Nov 2016, 7.43 Sagittarius at 7:18am EST, 4:18am PST. New Moon energy often brings in a new, fresh or different perspective, perhaps unexpected twists or an illuminating characteristic we may not have anticipated! There has been no inauguration yet. Keep You The Heart. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Good morning everyone from beautiful snowy Montana. We are finally getting some snow. I am so thankful we still have PBO in office. I think he is doing everything he can. I blame many of the Democrats who didn’t follow PBO. But I really blame the media and gullible American citizens.
I will cherish everyday of this administration and know that after January 20th we will all do all we can to keep hope alive.
Here is my morning tweet with my porch tree. Haven’t decorated my house yet.
Love those first snows Marilyn! Thanks for sharing the photo. When we lived in MN, the most fun thing about the first snow was to see the dogs running and rolling in it, followed by the kids:-) It was always a treat.
The next pictures I took were of the dogs playing in the snow. They were so happy playing in the snow. The problem is it will all melt before the end of the day. Suppose to get up to 36.
So today, please join me in supporting a small business in your community — and saying thank you to all the men and women who have taken the leap of faith to realize their own entrepreneurial dreams. ~ Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
While we’re busy shopping, let’s remember the small businesses in your ‘hood. 🙂
This is part of the problem with trying to convince Republican electors to change their minds. Even if s/he won’t personally vote for DT, they remain loyal to their party.
AWESOME…………………………………….I’LL BE HAPPY WHEN THEY MOVE OUT…I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT TRUMP WILL DO WITH THE WH..HOWEVER..IT’S FAMILY HOUR SO I WON’T REPEAT IT!
Hello TOD on a Manic Monday.
It’s amazing to Lurk & then Come back & read & Catch up here at TOD.
Thanks so much, NW.
Congrats to all the Gold ⭐ winners since Nov 23rd. I hope all had a Fantastic Thanksgiving. I did.
{{{{ ❤ Chips ❤ }}}}
28Nov16
WH Presser is about TO Go LIVE with Josh "The Voice" Earnest 🙂 Shortly
HYPOCRITES……………..ALL OF THEM!..PBO WILL BE GLAD I AM NOT MOVING HIS THINGS OUT OF THE WH..BECAUSE I…MISS TROUBLEMAKER..WOULD GREASE ALL THE FAUCETS AND TOILET SEATS!
Dear Joe, Where did President Obama fail? Unlike you Republicans I remember what things were like when this President took over. It was not President Obama who fail, it was your Republican Party who refuse to put the welfare of this country they claim to love over their political party.
President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan’s 16 electoral votes, state officials say, bringing the final electoral tally to Trump 306, Hillary Clinton 232.
Clinton currently leads the popular vote by more than 2 million, and that margin is expected to grow.
———
You could wake yourself up if you would stop searching and posting things that are written to keep ones stress level high. Try focusing on all of the good that President Obama has done and post those here on this blog…which is aptly named, The Obama Diary.
I guarantee, you will smile and have a more positive belief that President Obama is doing ALL that he can to protect America and the World from a DT administration. We need to believe that he is still working on our behalf.
In the meantime, let’s do what we have done in the previous years – post our “favorite” pictures. Maybe NW will see them and allow us to vote on which will become the 2016 Picture of the Year. If she is unable, I think someone talented like maybe JER or VC could gather and post them.
This is something upbeat and positive to honor President Obama here on his blog while those smarter than us, do the heavy lifting.
Sometimes I peek in here and I swear we’ve turned TOD into one of those “Meet the Press” panels of Authoritative Speculators.
Bob’s explanations are sound and have validity – which I respect and agree that if the Constitutional Lawyer; President Barack H. Obama can arrange a means to a more positive outcome, he will !
Hear! Hear! I agree, GGail. A good friend and I texted back and forth for long time last night. She is like the rest of us, still in shock, sad, angry, scared. But, she said after the first week, she’s made herself look for things that bring her joy. Giving back to others. She did not go to her husband’s family for Thanksgiving. All R’s though not her husband!!! She has turned off MSNBC. Listens to Mowtown in her car. Discovered on YouTube the sermons of a local Knoxville pastor (African American church) and has been listening to them. Said those sermons are helping her, along with these other things. I believe we all need to purposely work on our attitude–positive, grateful and thankful. And know that PBO is doing everything possible to protect our country. As I told my husband ***who I learned last week did vote for Trump*****: We are all in this together and will ALL go down together. At least those of us who didn’t vote for him will not feel the guilt the others will. 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 Trust me, I am having a VERY difficult time dealing with that. Eventually, we WILL discuss it!!! I really thought he would never vote for Trump, but would leave it blank. Was kidding myself, obviously. He is one of those that will vote for the person with the R after the name REGARDLESS. Yes, he’s my husband, We’ve been married almost 48 years. I love him!! However, my respect for his has been lessened. That’s just a fact. We are both going to have to deal with that in our ow way.
Well, I got off topic. Sorry. Anyway, let’s try to focus on PO and Michelle and the girls and be thankful for our time with them. And, as Bob says #TrustBarack. He will do the best he can!
I understand your comment NCLB – each and every day I am hit with sheer terror about the future. I would love to bury my head under the pillows and come out in 4 years time – but that can’t be done. The stupid of those who voted for an idiot will ever be talked about in the history of time. Nothing like imploding your own society.
I love how PBO was so serious, listening intently, then Michelle did that little dance and perked him up with that devilish smile of his….just love them both.
My money is in Nancy also. During these perilous times for Democrats, we do not need to shoot ourselves in the foot any further. Sometimes change is good, and sometimes it isn’t.
Seems to me Nancy should make Tim her assistant in training for Speaker of the House to bring along younger members to build their experience for the not so distant future.
Here’s how the thought of Petraeus being part of new administration is playing in Britain:
The same General Petraeus who resigned as Director of the CIA for sharing CLASSIFIED information with his biographer and lover. https://t.co/e9QaTozUD5
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
None of these quotes necessarily belong together, but I’m in that kind of a mood!
“We should always have three friends in our lives – one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way.”
Listening to Randi Rhodes and she has a guest on talking about the recount and Jill Stein. One thing the guest is saying that JS CAN NOT get rich from these donations. Apparently she has to spend the money on the cost of recount and she will have to pay the countys, the people who owns the codes to the voting machine. He thinks there is a good chance to flip two states. MI can now we included in the recount now that it has been called for DT. Can’t undo or quantify the people who were told they can’t vote because they did not have the correct id or those that gave up and went home cause of long lines. If anyone was cross checked and removed from the voting rolls but were aware enough to ask, demanded, and got a provisional ballet these will be counted if for any reason they were not counted.
Voter Suppression has been going on since Reconstruction…There was a resurgence after the President was elected….what did the DEMS do…WHAT…many of them ran from the accomplishments of the President…There were a few groups who warned everyone about the Voter Id laws…then came SCOTUS striking down pre-clearance in the former slave states… and stilllllll the DEMS did nothing….to protect the vote of their strongest constituency…you would have thought that self preservation would have kicked it….but no…then they ran again from the President in 2014….we lost the Senate….and now here we are in 2016….and although some court battles were won against the forces that want to take the vote away…those same states either ignored the court order or found other ways to suppress the vote…
and now some in the DEM leadership think that the answer to regaining the House and the Senate is to court that white rascist vote….
Sometime it is just overwhelming for me
This loss is devastating…Progress moves so slow…it has fits and starts…takes so long…to move toward a more perfect union…so much blood sweat and tears…Progress is not promised…
This picture is from a protest that was held the same week right after the election. I recognized it because I recall zooming in on the street sign to identify the exact location when it was tweeted out then. 🙂 I guess Tomthunkit might not be aware this is an old photo.
There’s all kinds of talk about “forgiving” Petraeus, of course. One palatable twist I saw was somebody mentioned forgiving him so he could be Sec. of State, because “at least he’s not Giuliani.” I’ve found myself having similar thoughts about some of the other names up for the nod, before I remind myself it shouldn’t be that way. The whole thing’s awful. And frightening.
And since the only thing he knows besides greed is RealityTV, expect a cliffhanger whiplash-inducing daily drama. MSM and Americans are gonna get sick of the spectacle before inauguration I think.
Comey testified that David Petraeus's actions were far worse than Hillary Clinton's email serverhttps://t.co/qcaDTsF8c7
“The problem they are going to have if they put him forward is there are a lot of similarities to Hillary Clinton” -Rand Paul on Petraeus https://t.co/DF1FtCEx47
On another subject and NOT good news: Any of my prayer people: Fires in Gatlinburg are monstrous! Winds up to 40-50 mph with gusts at 75 mph. Mandatory evacuations for most communities around Gatlinburg. Little bit of rain predicted for tonight. As most of you know, this is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most visited park in the nation. Heartbreaking. Scary.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
god morning all!
Morning,dee:) I know how it is when you type really fast hoping to slide into first before Don:)
Did someone mention my name? Good Morning TOD.
Morning, Mister! I knew you’d be knocking:)
Morning, DF.
Its official, I got my tickets to see “Rogue One”. The site where I get my tickets kept crashing, but I persevered.
awesome:) Did you see the trailer I posted for you yesterday? mtmarilyn wants to see it now:)
Yes I did, thank you.
we take care of family here:)
This scares the living shit out of me. Among other things.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/offered-daily-intelligence-briefings-trump-takes-pass#break
That’s because he’s too busy trying to get his obnoxious hotels built. I mean really, who has time for intelligence briefings when you’ve got to pick out quartz for your hotel’s countertops?
And this!
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-bullying-golf-workers-resurfaced-footage-article-1.2888898
HE HAS TO PASS ON ‘INTELLIGENCE’ PERIOD!
Good morning NW. Than you for being constant in leading the TOD posts off with all things PBO.
I’m thankful that during his two terms, PBO consistently put America first.
For you, dear GGAIL:) We will never forget or take these vast accomplishments, in the face of total obstruction, for granted. Never. History will be amazed and kind to this incredible man.
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/
G’morning Nerdy & TOD! Happy Monday everyone. Congrats Dee on #1! 🙂
Also, 55% say he’s been a great or good president. 🙂
Good morning all. Got back into the gym this morning after a miserable 2 weeks, but meeting with my so cal TODers last night has given me hope. I can’t wait to continue to follow President Obama as he becomes a civilian in January and support any and all his efforts to help us keep our country together during what will likely be some rough years ahead. There is no doubt in my mind that he will not rest on his laurels and so I will continue to follow him and not that other orange thing, ever.
❤
Have to attack those who have little power to fight back – for centuries single parent families were shunned and left to die. We slowly learned compassion & in one moment in time – it is all reversed. They will not be the only ones harmed by having an idiot as President.
In the previous thread…both FF and Bob commented on the desire for the President to do something….about DT….i do not know what he can legally do…his interference in the outcome of the election could bring about unintended consequences…and anarchy…What i would like to know from either of you is what can our President do…what legal constitutional place is there for him to stand..but make no mistake…what ever it may be it will be vehemently opposed…
the people of the US voted earlier this month…and DT is the President and Republicans control the Congress..
they already controlled most of the statehouses…DT will nominate the same kind of judges for SCOTUS as he has for his cabinet…
the President pleaded and organized hard to convince the American people to vote in their own interests…to no avail….
for the record…the Obama coalition came thru…we knew what was at stake…because our lives are always at stake we did not have the privilege to partake in a protest vote……we certainly could not vote for Trump…
it will not just be the most vulnerable who will suffer …but the world is realigning as we speak….the time for EU to put Putin in check has come and gone….and America will not be a firewall on Russian aggression…
Once again…what can the President do…to save us when we would not save ourselves…
Perfection, PF. So agree ! America blew it big time. Now for the suffering. Maybe then most will learn to count their “real” blessings.
Well said prettyfoot. IMO, I’m not sure President Obama can do anything outside of Executive Orders, that will be immediately overturned on Jan-20-2017. It is up to concern citizens to fight like hell for our democracy and I’m sure that civilian’s Barack and Michelle Obama will be with us in this fight.
Good morning PF! Nope, not me. I was a dissenter, saying there isn’t anything PBO can do and this is NOT on him. I believe he is doing everything possible to rein his successor in behind the scenes (supposedly spoke with him for 45 min on Saturday) but there is nothing in the Constitution that gives him any power to change this. It is now on the electors and the ones folks want to change are Republicans. As far as I can tell, they haven’t cared for many years if they destroy the country in pursuit of their agendas so I can’t see that changing now.
History is being made here and not in a good way. I am afraid we are in for a very dark 4 years, even more so after the ridiculousness of what occurred yesterday, and we’re going to have to resist at every turn. And as Arapaho and I were discussing late last night, I think we are going to see a global realignment in the coming years, unlike anything we’ve seen since WWII. Putin has been working his cards for many years and is seeing results. Under DT, the US will be at its weakest point in decades and other nations are going to take advantage of that fact.
In the meantime, I am so very grateful for the fact PBO remains our president until January 20th. He will be one of the few presidents of the last 100 years who came into office with a 68% approval rating, did all he could for the American people and secured America’s place in the world, and will leave office on a very high note. And to the misfortune of the American people, he will look even better in retrospect as we endure what is to come next.
I respect that fact, pf58, that you and others here have a different opinion of the crisis and the role of the Presidency.
Let me frame my stance this way to you, pf58, and other TODers.
Had the mission to take out OBL failed, President Obama would have had 1 term, at most.
And, I have absolutely no doubt that had it failed, the efforts to impeach him would have made those to impeach President Clinton look like child’s play.
Trump is, without any exception, a far, far graver threat to America than OBL + every other ‘terrorist’ on this planet combined.
As President Obama has stated repeatedly throughout his Presidency, his most solemn duty is to National Security.
He now faces a National Security threat that only one other President – Abraham Lincoln – has ever faced.
Moreover, Trump is precisely the type of demagogue the Framers feared with one exceptionally important caveat – they feared such a demagogue actually receiving the majority of the votes. That’s why the created the Electoral College.
It is preposterous to think that they would have ever envisioned the Electoral College – in it’s singular deliberative duty – electing a demagogue who lost the vote by any margin, let alone by millions of votes. Totally Preposterous.
So, as totally ruthless as the responses and consequences might be, President Obama has a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. Not address the immediate and comprehensive threat to our National Security, as well as, the undermining of the role of the Electoral College will be an abrogation of his duties.
The battle can be fought with President Obama in Command, or not. The battle is going to happen.
I’ve summarized my position in a letter to the President. Have close to zero doubt that he’ll ever see it. I truly hope he would never have to read it to realize that, as unfair as it will be, his Presidency is going to be judged by what he does between now and 19 December.
===============
27 November 2016
Dear Mr President,
Neither the Constitution or the Framers intent in creating the Electoral College can be used to justify Trump becoming President.
Trump is absolutely every abomination that the Framers feared in the event that such a person actually received a majority of the votes.
In this case, Trump is losing by 2+ million votes.
Thus, it is entirely unreasonable to think that the Framers would ever have intended or approved of the Electoral College electing him.
Trump has not only lost the vote, he is every abomination that they feared might somehow become President.
For Trump to be President both “One Person, One Vote” and the intended role of the Electoral College will have been obliterated.
I will not only be shocked, I will be deeply saddened if the final chapter of your otherwise stunning legacy as President is that you did not publicly and privately do everything possible to prevent the literal destruction of our democracy, and the installation of a demonstrably unstable, corrupt demagogue.
Sincerely,
Bob
===============
Regret if I’ve offended anyone. That’s not my intention.
#TrustBarack
I am not offended…i appreciate your POV….
this is an integral point you have raised…
The battle can be fought with President Obama in Command, or not. The battle is going to happen.
I have 2 fears…
what would happen if the military intervenes….and what would Congress do if the President did step in…
as you have said…these are dangerous times….
Thank you pf58. What I’ve always liked about TOD is it’s role as a forum for people to disagree, respectfully.
Firstly, I think the President has the opportunity to begin a conversation with the American People about the Electoral College. Explain in his extremely skillful way why the Framers created it and why it would be an abomination to cast aside their wisdom and explicit guidance.
Let ‘Congress’ freak out in the face of the American People being told the facts about the explicit duties of the Electoral College. Let them go on record denying the primacy of “One Person One Vote” and the debasement of the role of the Electoral College to ensure that a demagogue who WON the vote would be prevented from becoming President – because that is precisely the scenario the Framers had in mind when they created the EC.
Those are battles worth fighting now because the outcome could well be that the person the majority of Americans elected actually becomes President.
To not at least fight those battles now means the battles that will be fought are going to involve way more than words.
Secondly, regarding the military – we have a far greater risk of the military, bound by law, refusing to follow orders from a President Trump than at any time in our history. We’ve heard from many former military leaders of their grave concerns about Trump. Based on what Trump has said and the deranged behavior we have witnessed, day after day, I’d be amazed if the current Joint Chiefs of Staff are not among the most fearful of all Americans of Trump being inaugurated.
Thank you!!
gotta get back to work … take care everyone …
WE ARE IN NAZI…COMMI TERRITORY..DON’T FORGET TO ADDDDDDDD ALL THE OTHER CELLS! IT’S A GRANDIOSE COLLECTION OF DIABOLICAL DEMONS..VLAD PROBABLY HAS PHOTOS OF ALL OF THEM ON HIS UNDERWEAR
TWEETING HIS NEGOTIATING THREATS ON CUBA…NO WONDER HIS HANDS ARE SO SMALL..JUST LIKE HITLER..HE WEARS ELEVATED SHOES…HAS THAT HITLERESQUE FEAR OF BEING SHORT!
I agree, Bob, that TOD is a magnificent “forum for people to disagree, respectfully.” Love to hear several sides of an issue, to see where my own personal thoughts meet up! Thanks to you and all the others, we’re never at a loss for ideas – either on how to proceed or how to cope.
You’re most welcome, Jacqueline!
Hi, Bfr. I have (what I consider) a serious question and a certain uneasiness. Given that there are three branches of government (and even though I know the Republicans never do anything to aid the nation) shouldn’t you equally address your suggestion/s to *them*? In particular to McConnell and Ryan? There is no question the country is facing a serious threat and thus it ought also to be incumbent upon *them* to be doing *something* to help! At the very least they should be constantly reminded that they too have a responsibility for the future of the country. IMO, since the MSM aren’t directing attention to the lack of help from the GOP, meaningful advocates like yourself should help focus attention to the GOPs’ inactivity at this crucial time. I confess that I feel somewhat peeved that PBO (and Dem leaders) largely always get the hardest most consistent pushback channeled their way, while Republican leaders are allowed to slide under the radar without doing *their* well-paid jobs. They also were sworn in to ‘serve and protect’, weren’t they?
Appreciate your perspective, VC, very much. I’ve been persistently harsh toward McConnell and Ryan. Will definitely craft a few additional messages to both of them. Thank you!!
Hi sir, thanks for responding. Not sure if it was you who said somewhere ‘All hands on deck’, but I see no reason why we shouldn’t repeatedly call on the GOP unwilling hands, if only to bring increased attention that they are sleeping while
Romethe nation may be about to burn.[T*Y* for actively considering my suggestion.]
Now I’m really heading off to read. G’night.
Because he picks the very BEST people!
Trump’s infatuation with the military–which he avoided like the plague in his youth–is disconcerting. He is looking to put a retired general rather than a civilian in charge of the Pentagon, and now is looking at another retired military person for SoS. This is not good for our civilian controlled military.
HE HASN’T ANSWERED YET ON RUSSIAN LOVING CONGRESSMAN ROHRBACHER…ANOTHER SOS CONSIDERATION..VLAD’S CONGRESSIONAL PUPPET!
I THINK PEOPLE ARE QUITE AWARE OF THE ‘FORCES OF STALL’ AT WORK HERE……………..
GA FFTX.
Have to admit that there hasn’t been a single nomination of DJT’s which hasn’t been at least “troubling,” and most are worse than that.
And you’re spot on re: founders insisting on civilian control of military, a concept which seems beyond the grasp of so many highly paid “pundits” and “reporters.”
I guess Congress could change this rule (not sure of the requirements), and here’s hoping some sane GOP Senators understand the threat American democracy now faces.
a concept which seems beyond the grasp of so many highly paid “pundits” and “reporters.”
Anything to do with the president-elect is beyond the grasp of the media – otherwise he would not be the president-elect
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Monday morning. Congrats dee, on being first this morning.
Nerdy, thanks so much for helping Ms. Chips and the sacrifices you are making for us TOD’ers. 💫🙏👌👊❤
To all, I hope you do all things efficiently, proficiently, and sufficiently today. ❤ ❤ ❤
Notwithstanding the nightmare of BuffoonTrump in the Whitehouse, I am more than ever, Thankful to God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
❤️🌹🙏🏻🌹❤️ Mornin’ y’all ~ before I become overwhelmed by all the news, I’ll set out this tidy bit of certainty:
New Moon tomorrow Tuesday 29 Nov 2016, 7.43 Sagittarius at 7:18am EST, 4:18am PST. New Moon energy often brings in a new, fresh or different perspective, perhaps unexpected twists or an illuminating characteristic we may not have anticipated! There has been no inauguration yet. Keep You The Heart. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Thank you Pamela!
JUST IN: Charleston church shooting suspect Dylann Roof will represent himself in the trial for mass murder
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dylann-roof-represent-charleston-shooting-trial-article-1.2889724?utm_content=bufferddb6e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw
My god.
Criminal Law Update: “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” Quote by Abraham Lincoln.
BREAKING: Ohio State University sends out alert about possible active shooter on campus http://cbsn.ws/2fIM2Sf
LIVE: Ohio State Searches For Active Shooter – http://cbsn.ws/2fsIDbN via @CBSNLive
http://oliverwillis.com/ny-times-washington-post-worked-trump-campaigns-bannon-clinton-stories/
Morning, Everyone 😐😐😐
Good morning everyone from beautiful snowy Montana. We are finally getting some snow. I am so thankful we still have PBO in office. I think he is doing everything he can. I blame many of the Democrats who didn’t follow PBO. But I really blame the media and gullible American citizens.
I will cherish everyday of this administration and know that after January 20th we will all do all we can to keep hope alive.
Here is my morning tweet with my porch tree. Haven’t decorated my house yet.
Love those first snows Marilyn! Thanks for sharing the photo. When we lived in MN, the most fun thing about the first snow was to see the dogs running and rolling in it, followed by the kids:-) It was always a treat.
The next pictures I took were of the dogs playing in the snow. They were so happy playing in the snow. The problem is it will all melt before the end of the day. Suppose to get up to 36.
Beautiful Marilyn.
My small contribution to keeping it All Things PBO, 100
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/11/26/lets-celebrate-our-small-businesses
So today, please join me in supporting a small business in your community — and saying thank you to all the men and women who have taken the leap of faith to realize their own entrepreneurial dreams. ~ Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
While we’re busy shopping, let’s remember the small businesses in your ‘hood. 🙂
This is part of the problem with trying to convince Republican electors to change their minds. Even if s/he won’t personally vote for DT, they remain loyal to their party.
How about being loyal to this country first.
President Obama visiting his grandmother in Kenya 1990.
Thanks, Jer, for showing a real man, real human being. My eyes thank you more….LOL !
PRECIOUS…………………………
President Obama, Michelle Obama Interview: Intimate Moments from the Campaign
JER, keep ’em coming. ❤
AWESOME…………………………………….I’LL BE HAPPY WHEN THEY MOVE OUT…I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT TRUMP WILL DO WITH THE WH..HOWEVER..IT’S FAMILY HOUR SO I WON’T REPEAT IT!
Hello TOD on a Manic Monday.
It’s amazing to Lurk & then Come back & read & Catch up here at TOD.
Thanks so much, NW.
Congrats to all the Gold ⭐ winners since Nov 23rd. I hope all had a Fantastic Thanksgiving. I did.
{{{{ ❤ Chips ❤ }}}}
28Nov16
WH Presser is about TO Go LIVE with Josh "The Voice" Earnest 🙂 Shortly
Says the guy with multiple marriages and a dead intern.
HYPOCRITES……………..ALL OF THEM!..PBO WILL BE GLAD I AM NOT MOVING HIS THINGS OUT OF THE WH..BECAUSE I…MISS TROUBLEMAKER..WOULD GREASE ALL THE FAUCETS AND TOILET SEATS!
Dear Joe, Where did President Obama fail? Unlike you Republicans I remember what things were like when this President took over. It was not President Obama who fail, it was your Republican Party who refuse to put the welfare of this country they claim to love over their political party.
HAH!…JESUS IS BLACK…………..WON’T HE BE SURPRISED!
So DT is the Orange Satan then…..
Oh, boy. The nightmare continues…
Per CNN Breaking News:
President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan’s 16 electoral votes, state officials say, bringing the final electoral tally to Trump 306, Hillary Clinton 232.
Clinton currently leads the popular vote by more than 2 million, and that margin is expected to grow.
———
I wish someone would wake me up.
You could wake yourself up if you would stop searching and posting things that are written to keep ones stress level high. Try focusing on all of the good that President Obama has done and post those here on this blog…which is aptly named, The Obama Diary.
I guarantee, you will smile and have a more positive belief that President Obama is doing ALL that he can to protect America and the World from a DT administration. We need to believe that he is still working on our behalf.
In the meantime, let’s do what we have done in the previous years – post our “favorite” pictures. Maybe NW will see them and allow us to vote on which will become the 2016 Picture of the Year. If she is unable, I think someone talented like maybe JER or VC could gather and post them.
This is something upbeat and positive to honor President Obama here on his blog while those smarter than us, do the heavy lifting.
Sometimes I peek in here and I swear we’ve turned TOD into one of those “Meet the Press” panels of Authoritative Speculators.
Bob’s explanations are sound and have validity – which I respect and agree that if the Constitutional Lawyer; President Barack H. Obama can arrange a means to a more positive outcome, he will !
Hear! Hear! I agree, GGail. A good friend and I texted back and forth for long time last night. She is like the rest of us, still in shock, sad, angry, scared. But, she said after the first week, she’s made herself look for things that bring her joy. Giving back to others. She did not go to her husband’s family for Thanksgiving. All R’s though not her husband!!! She has turned off MSNBC. Listens to Mowtown in her car. Discovered on YouTube the sermons of a local Knoxville pastor (African American church) and has been listening to them. Said those sermons are helping her, along with these other things. I believe we all need to purposely work on our attitude–positive, grateful and thankful. And know that PBO is doing everything possible to protect our country. As I told my husband ***who I learned last week did vote for Trump*****: We are all in this together and will ALL go down together. At least those of us who didn’t vote for him will not feel the guilt the others will. 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 Trust me, I am having a VERY difficult time dealing with that. Eventually, we WILL discuss it!!! I really thought he would never vote for Trump, but would leave it blank. Was kidding myself, obviously. He is one of those that will vote for the person with the R after the name REGARDLESS. Yes, he’s my husband, We’ve been married almost 48 years. I love him!! However, my respect for his has been lessened. That’s just a fact. We are both going to have to deal with that in our ow way.
Well, I got off topic. Sorry. Anyway, let’s try to focus on PO and Michelle and the girls and be thankful for our time with them. And, as Bob says #TrustBarack. He will do the best he can!
I understand your comment NCLB – each and every day I am hit with sheer terror about the future. I would love to bury my head under the pillows and come out in 4 years time – but that can’t be done. The stupid of those who voted for an idiot will ever be talked about in the history of time. Nothing like imploding your own society.
Michelle Obama’s Hula
JER, you must be reading my mind. Scroll up and read my comments. {{{{hugs}}}} ❤
Yes, GGail. I am looking for some orange repellent. 🙂
Bless you! 🙂
I love how PBO was so serious, listening intently, then Michelle did that little dance and perked him up with that devilish smile of his….just love them both.
Makes you smile too, doesn’t it jojo 🙂
🙂
At least, she is using her time efficiently… this time around.
My money is on Nancy Smash too! Thanks PF for posting this.
My money is in Nancy also. During these perilous times for Democrats, we do not need to shoot ourselves in the foot any further. Sometimes change is good, and sometimes it isn’t.
Seems to me Nancy should make Tim her assistant in training for Speaker of the House to bring along younger members to build their experience for the not so distant future.
i would not trust a back stabber
Apology to GGail…
Here’s how the thought of Petraeus being part of new administration is playing in Britain:
And latest news on Petraeus:
arapaho,
when people show you who they are – believe them. No need to apologize for being who you are.
Lest we forget …
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392
“Each path to knowledge involves different rules and these rules are not interchangeable.”
― Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
None of these quotes necessarily belong together, but I’m in that kind of a mood!
“We should always have three friends in our lives – one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way.”
― Michelle Obama
Listening to Randi Rhodes and she has a guest on talking about the recount and Jill Stein. One thing the guest is saying that JS CAN NOT get rich from these donations. Apparently she has to spend the money on the cost of recount and she will have to pay the countys, the people who owns the codes to the voting machine. He thinks there is a good chance to flip two states. MI can now we included in the recount now that it has been called for DT. Can’t undo or quantify the people who were told they can’t vote because they did not have the correct id or those that gave up and went home cause of long lines. If anyone was cross checked and removed from the voting rolls but were aware enough to ask, demanded, and got a provisional ballet these will be counted if for any reason they were not counted.
Voter Suppression has been going on since Reconstruction…There was a resurgence after the President was elected….what did the DEMS do…WHAT…many of them ran from the accomplishments of the President…There were a few groups who warned everyone about the Voter Id laws…then came SCOTUS striking down pre-clearance in the former slave states… and stilllllll the DEMS did nothing….to protect the vote of their strongest constituency…you would have thought that self preservation would have kicked it….but no…then they ran again from the President in 2014….we lost the Senate….and now here we are in 2016….and although some court battles were won against the forces that want to take the vote away…those same states either ignored the court order or found other ways to suppress the vote…
and now some in the DEM leadership think that the answer to regaining the House and the Senate is to court that white rascist vote….
Sometime it is just overwhelming for me
This loss is devastating…Progress moves so slow…it has fits and starts…takes so long…to move toward a more perfect union…so much blood sweat and tears…Progress is not promised…
God give us courage and strength
This picture is from a protest that was held the same week right after the election. I recognized it because I recall zooming in on the street sign to identify the exact location when it was tweeted out then. 🙂 I guess Tomthunkit might not be aware this is an old photo.
So sorry – should have looked around for more info. Just loved that image!
Bravo!
he is a crook, conman!
@NYDailyNews
New York politicians announce $250,000 in funding to help prevent deportations… http://nydn.us/2fYwx6j
That’s the America we want!
@businessinsider
No politician can ‘bring back coal’ – http://read.bi/2gpjcos
I would like to think that this is not just a “beer & chips hangout” but a more strategic meeting of minds and political strategizing….
With you on that! At least these three fine gentlemen don’t have to fake interest in the other’s point of view. They are on the same team – our team!
Indeed JO’B! 🙂
I love Joe.
Love him. Thanks, j’ob:)
There’s all kinds of talk about “forgiving” Petraeus, of course. One palatable twist I saw was somebody mentioned forgiving him so he could be Sec. of State, because “at least he’s not Giuliani.” I’ve found myself having similar thoughts about some of the other names up for the nod, before I remind myself it shouldn’t be that way. The whole thing’s awful. And frightening.
GE JO’B.
DJT is so clueless, it’s only gonna get worse.
And since the only thing he knows besides greed is RealityTV, expect a cliffhanger whiplash-inducing daily drama. MSM and Americans are gonna get sick of the spectacle before inauguration I think.
https://www.givingtuesday.org/whats-happening-near-me
Paging Orange tantrum for comment….
Good night & sweet dreams, gentle people.
Well finally some GOOD news.
On another subject and NOT good news: Any of my prayer people: Fires in Gatlinburg are monstrous! Winds up to 40-50 mph with gusts at 75 mph. Mandatory evacuations for most communities around Gatlinburg. Little bit of rain predicted for tonight. As most of you know, this is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most visited park in the nation. Heartbreaking. Scary.
Thank you VC. Expect more like it.
#OnePersonOneVote
This sucks ….
will anyone remember to ask him what he did to protect the CIA house and staff in Benghazi
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2016/11/28/celebrating-we-the-people/