94 Responses to “Perfection!”
Comments are currently closed.
Obama White House.gov
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
WH Tumblr
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
The People’s View
- Follow me at my new venture: Reclaim the Fight
- Ignore the bait: Why it’s the right strategy for Democrats to focus SCOTUS fight on health care
- BIG: Judge halts Trump administration attempt to shortcut the census
- Trump doesn't want peaceful transition of power. Legally, it doesn’t matter.
- Fauci goes off on Rand Paul
- Rule 44: Why Obamacare is not lost even in a deadlocked Supreme Court, but only if Biden wins
- Time to suit up. This is war.
- BREAKING: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed
- Bothsidesism comes to fact-checking: CNN's “fact-check” calling Biden ad 'misleading' proves the opposite
- Pardon me: How Donald Trump's stooges conspired with Julian Assange to exonerate Russia and undermine US Intlligence
Smartypants
- Durham to Right Wingers: "Blame Hillary"
- That Time When Refusing to Negotiate With Hostage-Takers Worked
- The Other Christian Nationalists: Leonard Leo and Opus Dei
- Hawley Demonstrates That He's an Ignorant Liar
- DeSantis Board Votes to Counter-Sue Disney Over Something...Anything
- Hunter Biden's Laptop Is a Total Nothingburger
- What DeSantis Couldn't Say in Response to Disney's Lawsuit
- Disney Skewers DeSantis With His Own Words
- Populism Without Civil Rights Is Fascism
- Glenn Greenwald gets triggered by smart competent women like Rep. Stacey Plaskett
Steve Benen
- Biden has once again defied expectations from haters and his own party: Joe
- NASA administrator: The future of space is collaborative
- Washington making decisions that could prolong Ukraine war, says writer
- Alex Newell discusses the cathartic performances in 'Shucked'
- 'We have a major crisis': Mayor calls for federal funding for mental health
- 'Why not you?': Bestselling author offers her advice to dreamers
- Doris Kearns Goodwin: I think this is a moment to celebrate in Washington
- 'A blowout number': U.S. employers added 339,000 jobs in May
- Marc Morial feels like he's 'just starting' after 20 years leading National Urban League
- 'Winner': DeSantis responds to questions about pronouncing his last name
The Obama Diary 
HEADS UP: Hallmark Channel is airing the National Christmas Tree Lighting with the First Family right now.
Thank you, sugar – I am watching!
So sorry I missed that! But will see if it shows up elsewhere. Thank you so much , NW!
View at Medium.com
But the real inequality of the electoral college is created by the “winner take all” (WTA) rule for allocating electoral votes. WTA says that the person who wins the popular votes gets all the electoral college votes for that state. Every state (except Maine and Nebraska) allocates its electors based on WTA. But that system for allocating electoral votes is not mandated by the Constitution. It is created by the states. And so that raises what should be an obvious and much more fiercely contested question—why isn’t WTA being challenged by the Democrats in this election?
From the piece. I hope that Bobfr and others here take a few minutes to read and share
From Jerry Sims:
I believe that a reasonable argument can be made that the allocation of State presidential Electors on a winner-take-all basis is an unconstitutional denial of the equal protection of the law and the principal of one man one vote. The argument may be summarized as follows:
Wondering why Lessig or Dem AG’s can’t bring this to the SC..
Unfortunately you can’t file lawsuits directly with the US Supreme Court. A lawsuit on this issue would have to be initiated first in the lower courts (state level) on the issue, withstand dismissals in order to get a ruling that would then been appealed, work its way through the appellate courts and then after being granted review by SCOTUS; actually be reviewed and ruled on.
Unless ALL states adopt allocation of votes, it can work to our great disadvantage, stacking the deck in swing states. That was our argument in 2000, and yet many GOP or swing states with GOP legislatures have been pushing this.
I absolutely believe that it is not fair for a vote in South Dakota to count more than a vote in CA. Allocation by percentage across the board would solve the problem. But piecemeal – we could get seriously screwed.
Unless ALL states adopt allocation of votes, it can work to our great disadvantage, stacking the deck in swing states. That was our argument in 2000, and yet many GOP or swing states with GOP legislatures have been pushing this.
I absolutely believe that it is not fair for a vote in South Dakota to count more than a vote in CA. Allocation by percentage across the board would solve the problem. But piecemeal – we could get seriously screwed.
Lovely as always!
GE TODville.
Absolutely stunning dress FLOTUS wore last night. Think JO’B will appreciate the colors. 😀
Saw this on my Twitter timeline and had to share here…
From the article:
“Asked if he was kidding, the 74-year-old Biden paused for four seconds before saying he is ‘not committing not to run. I am not committed to anything. I learned a long time ago, fate has a strange way of intervening.’”
You know, there’s been a lot speculation by MSM as to who the Dems will offer as POTUS candidate in 2020, and my thought is: why not Barack Obama? He could be our 44th and 46th President, similar to Grover Cleveland being our 22nd and 24th President.
I’m good with that! 🙂 After the stupid gets done, Barack can simply say, ” You miss me NOW?” 🙂
GE DF.
This country (and the world) will be in a world of hurt by then, and PBO is just the right person to repair the devastation left by unhinged DJT (who hopefully will be too busy tweeting to actually get any of his catastrophes enacted).
And PBO would arrive in office after having nurtured young international and domestic (thinking specifically of Gen-I and MBK’s networks) leaders who would be raring to go and get a decade’s worth of accomplishments completed in 4 years. 😀
In 1951 the length of Presidential office was defined that no person could be elected to the office of President more than two times. If the person served two or more years of a Presidential term then they could only be elected once. Therefore PBO cannot run for President again.
GE OG, thanks for shattering my dreams.
Obviously didn’t look it up, but knew that Cleveland served non-consecutive terms.
There’s plenty of Dems who will hone their skills over the next few years — whoever gets Barack Obama’s endorsement will have mine as well (and yes, maybe more time on the campaign trail in 2018 and 2020, hopefully).
This is good!!
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/12/05/republican-electoral-college-elector-devastating-argument-trump-impeached.html
One of the key points of Republican Electoral College elector Christopher Suprun’s argument against Trump is that the president-elect refuses to acknowledge that Constitution forbids him from accepting payments and gifts from foreign governments, which could lead his impeachment.
Suprun explained why he won’t be voting for Trump in The New York Times, but it was the point below that stuck out as a problem that will dog Trump’s presidency:
Mr. Trump does not understand that the Constitution expressly forbids a president to receive payments or gifts from foreign governments. We have reports that Mr. Trump’s organization has business dealings in Argentina, Bahrain, Taiwan and elsewhere. Mr. Trump could be impeached in his first year given his dismissive responses to financial conflicts of interest. He has played fast and loose with the law for years. He may have violated the Cuban embargo, and there are reports of improprieties involving his foundation and actions he took against minority tenants in New York. Mr. Trump still seems to think that pattern of behavior can continue.
The election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country.
Suprun urged his fellow Republican electors to reject Trump, and instead cast their ballots for a person like Gov. John Kasich of Ohio.
The argument that Trump unqualified and unfit to be president have been made a million times over, but the argument that Donald Trump is corrupt that he could be impeached during his first year in office is devastating.
A member of Trump’s own party is warning his fellow electors that if they elect Trump to occupy the White House, they will be risking an impeachment scandal
Yes, I did appreciate the colors of the dress! ❤
The 22nd Amendment would prevent Barack Obama from running again.
*DEAD*
Lordt the tears!!!!
AWEEEEEEEEESOME!!!!!
I’m looking forward to seeing this. I know our lovable NW will post it when it becomes available. 🙂
This is for VC, canadabarb and others to the snowy north.
Have to admit I couldn’t suppress a chuckle watching this slow-motion mishap, the thought of driving in conditions like this terrifies this SoCal person. Love Canada and Alaska, but think I’d go into hibernation along about now…
And the perfect comment…
Here it is speeded up, accompanied by the Nutcracker Suite.
Reminds me of the time as season ski pass holders we went skiing each weekend. Just as we were turning to go up the mountain we hit a slick spot and slid into the ditch regardless that we had studded snow tires. We joined two other cars already there. Many others joined us in the ditch over the morning.
after was involved in something like this (but on a much more small scale), I decided never to drive in the snow again.
hello city bus and walking, here I come …… been doing that for a number of years now …. it is challenging on a cold black ice day, but I let someone else be responsible for my drive … yes I am a coward;
looking at the video just makes me scared for all the people involved
I hope there were no serious injuries. It must have been quite frightening for all parties involved.
GE GGail.
The buses and the snow plow joining in were scary, but according to this response, there were no injuries — otherwise, would not be something to laugh about.
I can’t even imagine — I’ve tried to walk on snow a couple of times, and it’s like trying to walk on slippery glass, impossible for me, so can’t imagine what it’s like to drive in it. Like I said, if I lived where there’s snow and ice, I’d be a hermit in the winter 😦 .
I feel better that there were no injuries;
the tow truck & cop car joining the pile-up, suspecting that they had probably come to the rescue, was the last straw
For DonnaDem (hope all’s good with you and your precious boo’s) & any TODers who’re around the DC area who might want to catch a Motown music show for $20:
For the holidays, MOTOWN & MORE: A Holiday Celebration also offers all those special tunes that bring the season in with style–The Temptations’ “Silent Night” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” and Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” —just to name a few. MOTOWN & MORE, A Holiday Celebration is a seasonal favorite that sells out venues year after year. With an ensemble of today’s most talented artists, this holiday production is not to be missed. Vocalists Gene McBride, Vic Frierson, Karen Linette, Deborah Poole-Williams and Micah Smith–each phenomenal in their own right–come together with exquisite harmonies to recreate classics and present brand new musical arrangements.
Led by Musical Director multi-instrumentalist Gerry Gillespie (keyboards), the six piece musical ensemble of Motown & More also features saxophonists Art Sherrod, Jr. and Eddie Baccus, Jr., while producing a nostalgic evening of fun and excitement. Additional band members include: Marvin Miller, Jr., (Drums), Craig Alston (bass) and Stanley Cooper (Guitar).
.
https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.event&eventID=4B197DD1-9E77-0D0B-1533EBD1B09E1071
Just a little snippet from last night Kennedy Center’s honors. – Longest ovation was for our beloved and illustrious Prez and FLOTUS. (Naturally). Hugs y’all…. ❤ ❤ ❤
I see Ms. Gayle King in the background. And Oprah will do final interview with FLOTUS. We’ve come full circle. And y’all because the 2016 election was rigged and hacked and manipulated by traitors within our gov’t, President Obama will remain my president until we have a free and fair election. Hopefully this will happen in 2020.
idon, I agree. Because that thing that stole that 2016 election is #NotMyPresident.
Stephen I know that was a joke, we love our POTUS and FLOTUS both.
I love that Colbert said he was “dignified.” What a good, strong, old-fashioned word and attribute so rare today. He is dignified, in an honest, genuine way. That word has gone out of use and favor, but is apt where PBO is concerned. He indeed brought the dignity back to the office of president, because he has an innate dignity in himself.
Thanks PSLA ❤
saw a question here on Ben Carson and what could be the reason for his being chosen for HUD.
could you be remembering an article posted here which:
– indicated that getting rid of subsidized housing through privatization is on the priorities of the group coming in after Jan/20th
– explained that key advisors (led by Banon) have had a long-term plan for “urban renewal” which involves privatization and getting rid of the Fair Housing Act” and excludes the “current residents of inner cities”.
– Report claimed that they want to treat FHA the same way as the VRA – because it just an unnecessary hindrance to development in country where special treatment for certain groups is no longer needed.
– Developers will be given an opportunity to re-develop what is frequently prime land that had been ignored as focus was placed on developing suburbs ;
– Ben Carson has also repeatedly voiced his staunch opposition to the Fair Housing Act;
it would appear that his selection is to be front face of the effort to reverse any gains that have been made on the issue of Fair Housing.
my interpretation is that his role would not be any different from that of Thomas on SCOTUS.
YES! WE! CAN!
JER, thank you so very much! ❤
I am going to miss them both so much.HZ
There’s our feisty HZ! How are you, darlin’?
And I will miss them both, as well.
There will never be another POTUS and FLOTUS for me. Only here on TOD can the joy I’ve known in these special people be recognized, acknowledged and shared. So much joy to have lived in The Age of Obama! ❤️🌹🙏🏻🌹❤️
LOVE!
So sad. This is proof that speculation and conspiracy theories, words that can have serious, sometimes deadly consequences.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/business/media/comet-ping-pong-pizza-shooting-fake-news-consequences.html?_r=0
The articles were soon exposed as false by publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post and the fact-checking website Snopes. But the debunking did not squash the conspiracy theories about Comet Ping Pong — instead, it led to the opposite.
Fake stories and conspiracy theory lovers are who DJT turns to for advice.
NSA chief (replacing Susan Rice), no Senate confirmation required:
Just a glimpse of what the next four years is gonna be like, with Steve Bannon as DJT’s chief of staff:
Bringing this down here:)
This is good!!
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/12/05/republican-electoral-college-elector-devastating-argument-trump-impeached.html
One of the key points of Republican Electoral College elector Christopher Suprun’s argument against Trump is that the president-elect refuses to acknowledge that Constitution forbids him from accepting payments and gifts from foreign governments, which could lead his impeachment.
Suprun explained why he won’t be voting for Trump in The New York Times, but it was the point below that stuck out as a problem that will dog Trump’s presidency:
Mr. Trump does not understand that the Constitution expressly forbids a president to receive payments or gifts from foreign governments. We have reports that Mr. Trump’s organization has business dealings in Argentina, Bahrain, Taiwan and elsewhere. Mr. Trump could be impeached in his first year given his dismissive responses to financial conflicts of interest. He has played fast and loose with the law for years. He may have violated the Cuban embargo, and there are reports of improprieties involving his foundation and actions he took against minority tenants in New York. Mr. Trump still seems to think that pattern of behavior can continue.
The election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country.
Suprun urged his fellow Republican electors to reject Trump, and instead cast their ballots for a person like Gov. John Kasich of Ohio.
The argument that Trump unqualified and unfit to be president have been made a million times over, but the argument that Donald Trump is corrupt that he could be impeached during his first year in office is devastating.
A member of Trump’s own party is warning his fellow electors that if they elect Trump to occupy the White House, they will be risking an impeachment scandal
Another person I am so going to miss is SoS Kerry. Another man of integrity who always put the country first, at times over his own pride and ego, to do what PBO wanted done. He has worked his heart out for the US.
Totally agree. He is now and always has been a true patriot.
He’s been amazing! Truthfully, I will not only miss him, but every single COMPETENT person in this administration!!
That old saying, “He sure can pick ’em,” has ALWAYS applied to everyone in President Obama’s administration!
Don’t feel much like watching this tonight, but sounds interesting (for tomorrow).
Goodnight, TODville, and all the ships at sea!
reading a few entries on the Twitter hashtag #IamQualified … some are pretty funny;
….. if only it was not trying to highlight the ridiculous lack of qualifications of names put forward to lead the US;
Good night TOD ….
Good Morning Everyone!
have a fantastic day
Morning everyone…
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-obama-security-idUSKBN13V166
President Barack Obama will make the case on Tuesday that his counterterrorism policies have helped protect Americans from evolving international threats as he prepares to hand over the White House to a successor who has been critical of his approach.
Obama will deliver his final major speech on national security as president at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
He will argue that his administration has been successful in building coalitions and working with local governments to take out militant leaders and disrupt Islamic State and other groups without overextending the U.S. military, the White House said.
“This represents a more sustainable approach … one where we had a limited number of U.S. forces on the ground,” White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said on a call with reporters.
In other words, rational, thoughtful common sense. Remember this. Not too long from now, we will spend out days watching the idiots try to put out the fires they started.
BROKEN MACHINES! USA!USA!USA!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/05/us-election-recount-michigan-donald-trump-hillary-clinton
Broken polling machines may have put vote counts in question in more than half of Detroit’s precincts and nearly one-third of surrounding Wayne County, possibly throwing the Michigan recount into chaos.
If the discrepancies can’t be solved by recounting every paper ballot in question by hand, a recount in those precincts simply won’t happen.
Russia probably didn’t hack US election – but we still need audits, experts say
Read more
Donald Trump’s slim margin over Hillary Clinton means any chance of the state flipping on a recount likely hinges on Wayne County, where the Democrat won by a landslide. Clinton lost by 10,704 votes in Michigan; Wayne’s population of 1,759,335 makes it the likeliest candidate to contain errors bigger than that margin.
Eighty-seven of Wayne County’s decade-old voting machines broke on election day, according to Detroit’s elections director, Daniel Baxter. He told the Detroit News, which first reported the story, that ballot scanners often jammed when polling place workers were trying to operate them. Every time a jammed ballot was removed and reinserted, he suspects the machine may have re-counted it.
Good grief. They need to figure this out NOW!
Sweet Joe.
http://shareblue.com/joe-biden-presides-over-senate-as-portion-of-cancer-initiative-is-named-after-his-son/
n his final State of the Union address, President Obama tasked Vice-President Joe Biden with leading “a new national effort to end cancer as we know it.” Known as the Cancer Moonshot, the audacious goal is “to make a decade’s worth of advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, in five years.”
Tonight, Biden presided over the Senate during a procedural vote, which passed 85-13, clearing way for the 21st Century Cures Act, including funding for the Cancer Moonshot and the National Institutes of Health Innovation Projects. The Senate also moved to name the section after his son Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in May 2015.
Please watch the video that accompanies the story. Very touching
Bookmark it
http://pressthink.org/2016/11/27/tile/cbs-news-amplifies-false-claim/
Morning MUST READ.
🙂
Already looking forward to that ray of sunshine goodness:)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/12/05/florida-voters-sue-recount/95021946/?csp=breakingnews
TALLAHASSEE — Three central Florida voters are mounting an unlikely bid to overturn the presidential election result in the Sunshine State.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in Leon Circuit Court, they assert that Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, actually won Florida. The plaintiffs, who live in Osceola and Volusia counties, say the state’s official election results were off because of hacking, malfunctioning voting machines and other problems.
They’re asking for a hand recount of every paper ballot in Florida, at the expense of defendants including Trump, Gov. Rick Scott and the 29 Republican presidential electors from Florida.
Is ANYONE here besides me???
Oh yeah…Keith’s on fire. He speaks for me.
I agree with Kieth every word. Lord help us. When I allow myself to think about it I just can NOT believe that Trump was elected. What is wrong with those people who voted for that thing.?
I’m here, df, but in a rush. I did check out all your links. Thanks loads. This is my food pantry morning so no time to listen to Keith right now. I will get back to it.
Good day wished for all. Thankful we finally have good rain here. It’s finally helping the wildfires in the Smokies. Over 1700 buildings either burned or damaged, over 17,000 acres destroyed, over 150 injured, 14 dead………… All of this on top of the election…….I am struggling BIG TIME!!!!!!!!
{{{tnmtngirl}}}
Good Morning Everybody.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141632842
Dec. 6, 2016 8:35 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON—The cost of labor in the U.S. grew more quickly than previously thought in the spring and summer, the latest sign that Americans’ wages are picking up.
The new data came in a quarterly report Tuesday on productivity. The Labor Department reaffirmed its initial estimate that nonfarm business productivity—a measure of the goods and services produced per hour worked—grew at a 3.1% seasonally adjusted annual pace in the third quarter, the biggest gain in two years. Economists had expected the revised figure to show a 3.3% increase.
But the government made big revisions to unit labor costs, a measure of the expense imposed on firms to compensate workers for their output. Such costs grew at a 0.7% rate in July through September, more than double the agency’s initial estimate of a 0.3% gain. Economists had expected the new figure to show a 0.2% increase.
Unit labor costs grew at a 6.2% pace in the second quarter, up from the prior estimate of a 3.9% increase. … The higher costs in the spring and summer mainly reflected rising hourly wages. Consistent hiring in recent years has pushed down unemployment and left the job market with fewer available workers relative to openings. Companies, in turn, are having to compete more aggressively to retain and hire workers, pushing up wages and benefits.
The Hamilton Electors have made the MSM:)
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republican-electoral-college-member-announces-opposition-trump
As much as i love Joe Biden…..we need to bring aboard new people….
Joe Biden is not really talking about a 2020 run. He’s trying to tell us something. FATE is bringing an intervention. Be vigilant.
explain please
Good morning TOD ….
#OnePersonOneVote
BTW, all this chatter about 2020 is truly “Whistling Past the Graveyard” …. truly ….. and, totally ……….
Yes, at 78, a run for the presidency is rather unrealistic. We DO need younger leaders. However, I think what our Joe is trying to do is to say to us…..”Don’t give up. This is not the end. There is light.” He can be a lightning rod for people against Trump in his own upbeat, positive, optimistic way. Joe knows what Democrats need right now, and that is light…..and a rallying cry. He can infuse enthusiasm and steel into our spines.
What the DNC…..and/or other people need to do is to find and shepherd possible leaders at EVERY level of government: city councils, state legislatures, governorships…..this is the groundwork needed. Joe knows that. If he can take the speculation off the presidential race for a couple of years, the spadework can be done.
Agree with your perspective if we were looking at another GW Bush or even a McCain Presidency, Carolyn.
But, if Trump is not stopped before 19 Dec, you will not recognize America within weeks of his Presidency and the consequences for humanity. I assure you, you are looking at Hitler with nuclear weapons in 1938.
At my age what you say is frightening, and I am afraid valid. I was born when Hitler was making his way across Europe…..I don’t remember it, but my parents sure did. I hate to think that in the span of my life, this kind of thing could happen twice.
Thanks ranman!
And it’s encouraging to see that his tweet is being re-tweeted. That means hopefully, that people are downloading his letter and sending it.
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2016/12/06/early-bird-chat-902/
AMERICA VOTED FOR ONE TRUMP AND SOMEHOW ENDED UP WITH FOUR
Is this a First Family or a mob family? … The Trumps’ “four-for-the-price-of-one” act continued yesterday as Ivanka Trump got to sit in on Al Gore’s “lengthy and very productive session” with the President-elect. …
The Gore meeting is part of a disquieting pattern of unelected Trump kids playing simultaneous roles in daddy’s business empire and serving as something of a kitchen cabinet to the inexperienced and largely uninformed future president.
…I think it’s great when families are close. But Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric and Jared weren’t on the ballot on Nov. 8. Donald was. And if he keeps getting his primary advice from the people running his business empire — or running their own operations — we won’t have a democracy, but an oligarchy.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/america-voted-trump-ended-article-1.2900298?utm_content=buffer2fa61&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw