As for this weekend, I’ll give you just one guess which film was
number one… Of course it was yet again “Rogue One”. Though the film’s box office fell almost 56% from last weekend, it did well enough to stay on top for another week with $21.9 million, for almost
half-a-billion-dollars domestically to date, aiming for a billion
worldwide with $914.4 million so far.
But in a very close second was “Hidden Figures” which earned a solid $21.8 million. In fact, the film actually beat “Rogue One” on Friday out-grossing it by $1.5 million. But those “Star Wars” geeks had their say and “Rogue One” beat “Hidden Figures” on Saturday and won the weekend, but just by a whisker. Although “Figures” had the highest per-screen average for any film in the top 20 this weekend, and was made on a very modest production budget of $25 million (though it looks like it cost twice that amount on the screen); the extremely positive word of mouth that it’s getting should help it become a very successful and profitable film for Fox.
Maybe I’m crazy (don’t dwell on that), but I swear I heard the other woman interviewer say that as I was thinking about turning away from the whole show. For a second I thought to myself that “Hidden Fences” doesn’t sound right. Didn’t recall it was Jenna. 😦
I saw Hidden Figures last night along with my SoCal Peeps, jojothecat and purpleshoesla. The Arclight Pasadena theatre was packed – full house of people from all walks of life. The movie is fantastic and received resounding applause at the end and again when the real women were shown on the screen.
I highly recommend it.
Of course, it beat Rogue One simply because Hidden Figures is playing in thousands less theaters than Rogue One and even less theaters than Sing, which it also beat in box office figures. 🙂 🙂
Very seldom watch Golden Globes, but thought I might give it a try. Until I just spotted Jenna Bush interviewing people on the red carpet. No, thanks. Enough nepotism around for my tastes.
Bernie Sanders/RoseAnn DeMoro intend to undermine Democrats fight to save the ACA by making their own push to replace it with single payer. https://t.co/qd4h5xF2N3
I’m so excited about Presidential Obama’s Farewell address. I will be there from beginning until his mike drop with “Obama Out” I’m going silent on 1/20/2017 to mourn the loss mourn of our democracy, i.e. Representative Republic. I will not watch any pre or post coverage of the first ever coup ceremony in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Tracee Ellis Ross during her speech after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy pic.twitter.com/oOhItBtAP5
Good evening TOD. If the state of our country as of January 20 weren’t so scary it would be hilarious. All of these idiots nominated by Trump with no policy or government experience seem to think it is going to be a piece of cake. While Tillerson may have done well in his chosen field with one company, what does he know about the state of the world other than oil and gas experience? Nothing. Each and every one of them is going to look like a fool when they come up against their contemporaries who have vast knowledge that they are lacking. Think of PBO’s two SoS, Clinton and Kerry. Both had a lifetimes of foreign affairs knowledge and STILL found the job incredibly difficult. And when the first Deepwater Horizon or ebola crisis hits, will it be Rick Perry who figures out how to cap that well or Tom Price who figures out how to control a potential worldwide epidemic? As we’ve all been saying for months, the scariest people are the ones who don’t know what they don’t know, and that is true across the board for the cabinet but together by DT. Heaven help us all. After watching the depth of knowledge by PBO as demonstrated in that interview, and knowing the experts he surrounded himself with, it is incomprehensible that the fool that is Trump will be running this country. I suspect it is going to be much worse over the next couple of years than we are even anticipating at this point. But I doubt that even that will change the minds of his crazy supporters who just want to burn the government down. Just wait until it hits home for them.
Today I was sworn-in to the U.S. Senate. I am humbled and honored to serve you and the people of California. Let’s get to work. pic.twitter.com/LRScLiYgsS
ALL OF THE DEMS in my tweets have movie-star looks, so I HAVE NO IDEA what “study” @BostonGlobe referenced, but like I said in tweet #1, not worth clicking on to find out.
Unless it can be proven that there was direct collusion between Putin and Trump ….there is nothing really that we can do… ..it is either the DOJ or Congress that would have the power to remove Trump now…i am not sure if there is anything other than impeachment that can change this…
While a “legitimate” news publication like the Boston Globe is trying to normalize evil as handsome and attractive, listen to what Meryl Streep had to say tonight at the Golden Globes….. powerful.
The news of Rafsanjani’s death is unsettling to me — more turmoil in the world, on the cusp of a deranged madman taking the helm in the US — although from what I hear, Iran and Russia are allies now, and we’re now in allegiance with Russia (but what about Israel?)…
For the 1st time since 1979, US state department sends condolences for demise of a senior Iranian official. #Rafsanjanihttps://t.co/LosGgxM1KU
"Rouhani now faces a crucial presidential election in May which will serve as a referendum on the deal and thawing relations with the West." https://t.co/rJr5H4Ocqu
I believe that people of good will have to as Deval Patrick says…grow a pair…we will all be tested….Americans did not meet their challenge…so now we have to play defense…i hope the Iranian people learn from our mistakes and step up for the challenge
Monopoly is a main driver of inequality, as super-fat profits concentrate more wealth in the hands of the few. The effects of monopoly enrage voters in their day-to-day lives, as they face the sky-high prices set by drug company cartels and the abuses of cable providers, health insurers and airlines. Monopoly provides much of the funds the wealthy use to distort American politics.
For these and other reasons, the Clinton campaign, along with the White House and the Democratic Party, made a huge mistake by failing to flesh out their anti-monopoly message. Yet the full dimensions of the missed opportunity are greater yet. Properly understood, the anti-monopoly frame doesn’t just offer a way to talk to Americans about their material needs; it’s also a way to connect to deeply and broadly held American ideals, like the freedom to be one’s own boss and the liberty to choose one’s own course.
For most of the 20th century these values were hallmarks of the Democratic Party. This tradition, which dates to the time of Thomas Jefferson, found expression in anti-monopoly policies designed to protect Americans not just as consumers, but also as citizens and producers, from domination by the powerful. Yet today most Americans associate terms like “freedom” and “liberty” with Republicans, even as that party appears to be preparing to deliver something more like autocracy.
This is a tragedy. Going forward, Democrats should make anti-monopoly — in the name of liberty, democracy, community, family and innovation — the foundation of their economic thinking and the leading idea of their economic messaging. If they do, Democrats will be attacking what’s actually wrong with America. They will also swiftly begin to split the Trump vote and to rebuild their own shattered party.
One of the things Bill Clinton condoned and signed into law was Title 3 of The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed for media cross-ownership and deregulation of the converging broadcasting and telecommunications markets.
All our media outlets are now monopolized by a handful of the wealthiest RWNJs who actively mangle and distort our news and information across all platforms. We all know the rest of that story and feel its impact every single day.
Yes. It talked about that….but rather than re litigate the past, a road map for going forward. I think it’s a strong, easily understandable (people are not that bright…not everyone is a policy wonk:) I also think that Tom Perez would be a fine person to carry this message to the party. IMO
The Russian embassy to the UK just used a white supremacist symbol to troll critics of Trump's Russia ties. That's where we are now. https://t.co/YXzZU5YBUR
Russian Embassy uses Trump's MAGA white supremacist image to communicate their position, denigrate the Unites States. Any questions? https://t.co/ioOZ5f2yng
This has led to the usual allegations from those who apparently favor Ellison that Perez is little more than a hack who is not a true warrior for progressive change. This is, as you might imagine, a complete smear of Perez:
[F]or an establishment candidate, Perez would still be a pretty bold choice for a party that just selected the cautious, centrist Clinton/Kaine ticket: As his DNC campaign website highlights, he’s a former Department of Justice civil rights lawyer whose work as Labor Secretary has impressed progressive Democratic activists. His platform and website—much like Ellison’s—is one that’s aimed squarely at the grass roots and working class, highlighting issues like voting rights and small-donor fundraising while emphasizing his history of work on issues like collective bargaining rights and police accountability. Both Ellison and Perez seem to be aiming to win over lefty Bernie Sanders voters while at the same time drawing in the nonwhite members of the Democratic coalition that Sanders has sometimes been tone-deaf in discussing.
The knocks against Perez, the son of Dominican immigrants who was raised in Buffalo and lives in Maryland, are that he’s never himself run for an office higher than Maryland county council and that, for all the good his civil rights and labor work has done, it’s kept him in Washington, D.C. rather than out in the field. Meanwhile, Ellison has already locked in endorsements from high-profile labor leaders, outgoing Senate majority leader Harry Reid, and centrist New Yorker senator Chuck Schumer; he’s not exactly a long-shot insurgent at this point.
Ellison, Perez, Buckley, Harrison and Brown are all competent, high-quality candidates for the DNC gig; this will certainly not be the clusterscrew that was the race for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee after John McCain’s loss (the chairmanship race that Michael Steele infamously won). So we can we please knock it off with the suggestion that certain candidates are too “establishment” for their own good? Shouldn’t the most important criteria for this job be who can score the most victories over Republicans in 2018 and 2020, not who’s the least “establishment”?
The Task Before Us
by D.R. Tucker January 8, 2017 3:00 PM
POLITICAL ANIMAL BLOG
Was he appreciated in his time?
When Barack Obama leaves the Oval Office in twelve days, he would be well within his rights to depart from the White House as a bitter man–bitter over the level of unjustified hatred he received from the right, bitter over the mainstream media’s refusal to comprehensively cover his successes for fear that right-wingers would complain, bitter that his achievements weren’t always appreciated by some progressives. Yet, in all likelihood, he will not leave bitter.
He’ll be relieved that his work is over, and concerned that the new president will try to destroy almost all of it. He will leave cautiously optimistic that this country will survive.
It will be up to the rest of us to defend Obama’s legacy, and make permanent his achievements in the face of withering opposition. The unifying goal of the American progressive movement should be to complete Obama’s unfinished work: to ensure that every single resident of this country has full access to high-quality, affordable health care, that every child receives a high-quality education, that every woman makes one dollar for every dollar a man earns, that every human being on this earth enjoys a stable, pollution-free atmosphere. These goals can be achieved if progressives are unified. Donald Trump and the Republicans can’t defeat the left if the left doesn’t defeat itself.
Think about all the hatred the right wing directed at Obama from the moment he stepped off the podium at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. They’ve attacked him as incompetent and ignorant, someone who’s not even a citizen of the United States, an effete elitist, an uppity you-know-what. They say success is the best revenge…so if progressives managed to secure Obama’s achievements, would that not be the most successful way to stick it to those who have abused Obama and his family all these years?
Right-wingers have been trying to make permanent Ronald Reagan’s agenda ever since the 40th President left office 28 years ago. Why shouldn’t progressives try to do the same with Obama’s agenda?
For all my skepticism about the effort by young climate activists in Oregon to have the federal courts effectively shut down the fossil-fuel industry, I have to admit this is a clever idea:
Lawyers for teenagers claiming the US government failed to protect the environment from global warming plan to question under oath President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state on his knowledge of climate change.
Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive Rex Tillerson’s testimony, set for the day before the Jan. 20 inauguration, is being sought by lawyers representing 21 children and teenagers seeking to prove that oil and gas industry groups “have known about the dangers of climate change since the 1960s and have successfully worked to prevent the government” from taking action.
The groups, whose members include Exxon, joined the lawsuit [Juliana, et. al. v. United States] on the side of the government to oppose the teens.
The youths from across the country claim that by perpetuating the use of fossil fuels, the government has trampled their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. They won a shot at pursuing their claims in November when an Oregon federal judge rejected the government’s request to throw out their lawsuit.
Tillerson, who was a director and recent chairman-elect of the American Petroleum Institute, would be asked about his company and industry contributing to global environmental damage, lawyers for the teenagers said Thursday in a statement.
There that disgusting Trump is again, he can fine something negative to say about everyone but Vladimir Putin. Why is that? I have to wonder what do Putin have on Trump?
This is why Republicans love to run huge deficits so that they can force a supposed crisis that requires cutting social program spending https://t.co/SKp7eS4VCL
“Why is the incoming Trump administration playing political games, refusing to acknowledge the consensus of the intelligence community and pointing fingers at their fellow Americans instead of taking this threat seriously so we can prevent future attacks? We can all appreciate why Donald Trump would be embarrassed at how he won the presidency, but if Trump is going to be president, he cannot let his personal insecurities jeopardize our national security.
“It’s time for the incoming Trump Administration to face what has happened and put our national security first. We need a thorough, independent, and bipartisan congressional investigation – modeled on the 9/11 Commission – as a critical first step toward making sure this never happens again.”
Trevor LaFauci January 8, 2017
This is the piece I’ve been afraid to write.
To be expected to put into words how much someone means to you is never easy. Whether at a wedding, a retirement party, a momentous birthday or even a funeral, words often fail to do justice with the gravity and importance of the occasion. There are certain events in life that go beyond words and when presented with these situations the best one can hope for is to at least try to convey the intended meaning as best as possible. In the end, people often receive high praise for their words of tribute but for the perfectionists among us, there remains a persistent nagging that we could have done something more. Unrealistic as it may be, it is a feeling that one can’t help but internalize. When speaking so positively of someone else, one is inevitably made to compare this person to themselves and this comparison often leads to a feeling of inadequacy. It may seem unfair, but it is human nature to place yourself in that other person’s shoes and reflect on their life as if it were your own. It is this reflective part of the writing process that can bring out a person’s humbleness and humility, especially when the subject of one’s writing is a person of tremendous character.
And that is why for me, it is so hard to write about President Barack Obama.
……………………………………………………………
And yet, over these last two months, I’ve never been prouder to call Barack Obama my president. Despite the possibility of his legacy being undermined by the incoming administration, President Obama has handled himself with the same dignity and grace as the very first day he came into office. His words still ring on high on hope at a time when many people are feeling hopeless. His reverence for the constitution has been on full display and, like always, he has continued to be the adult in the room. Along with his wife, Michelle, President Obama has left large shoes to fill that clearly won’t be filled by the incoming administration but that may not be filled for a generation or more. His work in the White House may be nearing an end, but his work on behalf of social justice issues will continue for years to come. He will recruit and train a new generation to follow in his footsteps.
And I, for one, will be there. Fired up and ready to go. Because we, as a nation, have come too far to turn back now. There has been too much progress made to stop now and there is work left to do. President Obama is fond of reciting Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous phrase that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Right now, we are facing an upshot of the arc that seems to be bending away. But it will bend back. Maybe not today. Maybe not these next four years. But it will right itself. If there is one thing, just one thing, that President Barack Obama has meant to me it has been his unwavering hope in the American people. He has believed in me through thick and thin and I have come to feel the same way about him. Wherever life takes President Barack Obama, I will be there fighting with him. For a man who has meant so much to me, I owe it to him to help in any way possible.
I didn’t use this script. Wrote my own. Just called Corker’s office. Covered no ethics investigation, no vetting in other ways, that nearly all of the appointees have either zero or little experience for position…..so…….what could possibly go wrong? Said that Karma IS a bitch and when it does come, the blood will be on their (GOP) hands. Then went to defunding of PP. Have tried three times to get through to Alexander. Busy! Will keep trying.
Finally got through to Alexander’s office. Was trying both local and DC. I take that as a good sign that I had such a problem getting through. I could tell the guy was harried and stressed.
Congrats to all the nominees! Loved the handful of winners who used their podium time to inspire us. Especially, this dynamo! #GoldenGlobespic.twitter.com/xkDduKrdN2
I accept Jenna’s apology and understand how it has happened to her and to Michael Keaton.
Dammit, it’s Hollywood’s fault. They put out two major block buster movies back to back that have black actors in major leads in stories about positive black people. Our subconscious minds combine the two movies. Why? Because it is so rare to have “two” major films out at the same time with leading black actors. Our minds just aren’t used to it. We become confused. Our brain is saying, “what’s the name of the movie?” “It must be Hidden Fences because Hollywood would never make and release at the same time “two” movies with black leading actors about black people. So it has to be Hidden Fences.
The Obama Diary 
Hello, dahlings!
Congratulations, Jacqueline. I have not yet listened to the above interview. Hope Stephanopoulos was respectful.
Thanks, Judith. Much as I’d like to hear the Prez, I do not like George S.
ABC News Verified account
@ABC
Black college band’s plan to march at inaugural spurs opposition: “Our ancestors are jumping out of their graves”
Thank you Nerdy for keeping the lights on. Don’t know if you realize how essential you and this place are, for the sanity of so many good people.
yes yes yes
Weekend Box Office January 6-8: A Solid Opening for ‘Hidden Figures’ (Continued Strong Word of Mouth Should Give It Legs)
January 8, 2017
Sergio Mims
As for this weekend, I’ll give you just one guess which film was
number one… Of course it was yet again “Rogue One”. Though the film’s box office fell almost 56% from last weekend, it did well enough to stay on top for another week with $21.9 million, for almost
half-a-billion-dollars domestically to date, aiming for a billion
worldwide with $914.4 million so far.
But in a very close second was “Hidden Figures” which earned a solid $21.8 million. In fact, the film actually beat “Rogue One” on Friday out-grossing it by $1.5 million. But those “Star Wars” geeks had their say and “Rogue One” beat “Hidden Figures” on Saturday and won the weekend, but just by a whisker. Although “Figures” had the highest per-screen average for any film in the top 20 this weekend, and was made on a very modest production budget of $25 million (though it looks like it cost twice that amount on the screen); the extremely positive word of mouth that it’s getting should help it become a very successful and profitable film for Fox.
Or as Jenna Bush stupidly said to Pharrell, “Hidden Fences” !
Maybe I’m crazy (don’t dwell on that), but I swear I heard the other woman interviewer say that as I was thinking about turning away from the whole show. For a second I thought to myself that “Hidden Fences” doesn’t sound right. Didn’t recall it was Jenna. 😦
I saw Hidden Figures last night along with my SoCal Peeps, jojothecat and purpleshoesla. The Arclight Pasadena theatre was packed – full house of people from all walks of life. The movie is fantastic and received resounding applause at the end and again when the real women were shown on the screen.
I highly recommend it.
Of course, it beat Rogue One simply because Hidden Figures is playing in thousands less theaters than Rogue One and even less theaters than Sing, which it also beat in box office figures. 🙂 🙂
I can’t wait to see this too. I will highly recommend the book “Hidden Figures”. I just finished it.
That guy’s a hot mess.
yep he is. Surprised Trump hasn’t hired him… yet.
Good point!
Very seldom watch Golden Globes, but thought I might give it a try. Until I just spotted Jenna Bush interviewing people on the red carpet. No, thanks. Enough nepotism around for my tastes.
never expected anything different from sanders and the unicorn crew….Dems still continue to embrace the backstabber in their midst
Great exchange between Sen Booker and pundit….
GE PF58.
Speaking of Cory Booker, this just popped up on my Twitter timeline (Booker sent last Monday):
I’ve changed mine since yesterday! 🙂
Great idea. Done
done
I’m so excited about Presidential Obama’s Farewell address. I will be there from beginning until his mike drop with “Obama Out” I’m going silent on 1/20/2017 to mourn the loss mourn of our democracy, i.e. Representative Republic. I will not watch any pre or post coverage of the first ever coup ceremony in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
So, so beautiful.
But the Boston Globe wants you to know Republicans are cuter….
But IOKIYAWRR (white, rich, republican)
Mitch McConnell is one disgusting man. He is no better then Putin.
LOL:)
uh-oh…waiting for the the nasty reactive Trump tweet sometime between tonight and tomorrow morning… LOL
🙂 🙂
Yep.
You can buy the book Hidden Figures on Amazon Kindle today for $1.99
Michael Keaton also said “HIdden Fences” – geez!
Read all of it. Seems to be closing in on more mess from the idiot trump
https://twitter.com/Khanoisseur
Good evening TOD. If the state of our country as of January 20 weren’t so scary it would be hilarious. All of these idiots nominated by Trump with no policy or government experience seem to think it is going to be a piece of cake. While Tillerson may have done well in his chosen field with one company, what does he know about the state of the world other than oil and gas experience? Nothing. Each and every one of them is going to look like a fool when they come up against their contemporaries who have vast knowledge that they are lacking. Think of PBO’s two SoS, Clinton and Kerry. Both had a lifetimes of foreign affairs knowledge and STILL found the job incredibly difficult. And when the first Deepwater Horizon or ebola crisis hits, will it be Rick Perry who figures out how to cap that well or Tom Price who figures out how to control a potential worldwide epidemic? As we’ve all been saying for months, the scariest people are the ones who don’t know what they don’t know, and that is true across the board for the cabinet but together by DT. Heaven help us all. After watching the depth of knowledge by PBO as demonstrated in that interview, and knowing the experts he surrounded himself with, it is incomprehensible that the fool that is Trump will be running this country. I suspect it is going to be much worse over the next couple of years than we are even anticipating at this point. But I doubt that even that will change the minds of his crazy supporters who just want to burn the government down. Just wait until it hits home for them.
NerdyW’s response to @BostonGlobe #WhatWereTheyThinking, so I started a Twitter thread that I would welcome suggestions to add to:
more…
Oh, yuck, didn’t realize @BostonGlobe’s tweet would have such a ginormous photo of the granny-starver (yuck):
Starting in New Mexico, for those who haven’t seen their Jr. Senator in action (he’s not given much speaking time):
Or if New Mexico is too insignificant for @BostonGlobe, how about California’s Jr. Senator?
more…
I measure good looks by more than superficial outer physical looks. What is inside, how a person thinks, and what they do is far more important.
How about the mayor of this nation’s second-largest city (take that, Boston)?
IMO, it’s hard to beat an Italian-Irish combination with genes from a continent other than Europe (in Garcetti’s case, a Mexican grandmother):
And I threw in Minnesota (special delivery to Nena, a4Alice, other Minnesotans):
ALL OF THE DEMS in my tweets have movie-star looks, so I HAVE NO IDEA what “study” @BostonGlobe referenced, but like I said in tweet #1, not worth clicking on to find out.
Good job on all those tweets, Arapaho!
this was my reply…
Another version of the list.
Unless it can be proven that there was direct collusion between Putin and Trump ….there is nothing really that we can do… ..it is either the DOJ or Congress that would have the power to remove Trump now…i am not sure if there is anything other than impeachment that can change this…
Tweet of the night!
Shows how stupid Trump supporters are.
She was awesome! Said what I was feeling, to be sure
While a “legitimate” news publication like the Boston Globe is trying to normalize evil as handsome and attractive, listen to what Meryl Streep had to say tonight at the Golden Globes….. powerful.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/watch-meryl-streep-accept-cecil-b-demille-award-golden-globes-2017-961510
The news of Rafsanjani’s death is unsettling to me — more turmoil in the world, on the cusp of a deranged madman taking the helm in the US — although from what I hear, Iran and Russia are allies now, and we’re now in allegiance with Russia (but what about Israel?)…
Rouhani will face reelection in May:
I believe that people of good will have to as Deval Patrick says…grow a pair…we will all be tested….Americans did not meet their challenge…so now we have to play defense…i hope the Iranian people learn from our mistakes and step up for the challenge
Ultimately, I am SO in denial. ❤🌹🙏🏻🌹❤ {{{ TOD ❤ PBO }}}
I’m more in a lasting state of disbelief. Love ya, MightyPamela!
And goodnight, TODville – thanks for everything, Nerdy darlin’!
Goodnight TOD …
Someday I’ll learn to spell things correctly the first time I tweet something….. 😛
Morning everyone. RESIST! Call your Senators today and EVERY DAY…tell them NO to DT’s nominations!!
Good morning, TODville.
If you’ve been following Keepin’ it 1600, some important news:
Great news:)
wow…we need these voices…
Because we really ARE the Party of Freedom! We need to reclaim this.
http://billmoyers.com/story/democrats-must-become-party-freedom/
Monopoly is a main driver of inequality, as super-fat profits concentrate more wealth in the hands of the few. The effects of monopoly enrage voters in their day-to-day lives, as they face the sky-high prices set by drug company cartels and the abuses of cable providers, health insurers and airlines. Monopoly provides much of the funds the wealthy use to distort American politics.
For these and other reasons, the Clinton campaign, along with the White House and the Democratic Party, made a huge mistake by failing to flesh out their anti-monopoly message. Yet the full dimensions of the missed opportunity are greater yet. Properly understood, the anti-monopoly frame doesn’t just offer a way to talk to Americans about their material needs; it’s also a way to connect to deeply and broadly held American ideals, like the freedom to be one’s own boss and the liberty to choose one’s own course.
For most of the 20th century these values were hallmarks of the Democratic Party. This tradition, which dates to the time of Thomas Jefferson, found expression in anti-monopoly policies designed to protect Americans not just as consumers, but also as citizens and producers, from domination by the powerful. Yet today most Americans associate terms like “freedom” and “liberty” with Republicans, even as that party appears to be preparing to deliver something more like autocracy.
This is a tragedy. Going forward, Democrats should make anti-monopoly — in the name of liberty, democracy, community, family and innovation — the foundation of their economic thinking and the leading idea of their economic messaging. If they do, Democrats will be attacking what’s actually wrong with America. They will also swiftly begin to split the Trump vote and to rebuild their own shattered party.
Actually, this is a MUST READ and SHARE.
One of the things Bill Clinton condoned and signed into law was Title 3 of The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed for media cross-ownership and deregulation of the converging broadcasting and telecommunications markets.
All our media outlets are now monopolized by a handful of the wealthiest RWNJs who actively mangle and distort our news and information across all platforms. We all know the rest of that story and feel its impact every single day.
Yes. It talked about that….but rather than re litigate the past, a road map for going forward. I think it’s a strong, easily understandable (people are not that bright…not everyone is a policy wonk:) I also think that Tom Perez would be a fine person to carry this message to the party. IMO
BAM!
WTF!
I saw that and literally had to read it about ten times to fathom how utterly and totally SCREWED we are.
Good Morning Everybody.
[MAGA – Make America Great Again]
Not This Nonsense Again
by D.R. Tucker
January 8, 2017 7:00 AM
……………………..
This has led to the usual allegations from those who apparently favor Ellison that Perez is little more than a hack who is not a true warrior for progressive change. This is, as you might imagine, a complete smear of Perez:
Ellison, Perez, Buckley, Harrison and Brown are all competent, high-quality candidates for the DNC gig; this will certainly not be the clusterscrew that was the race for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee after John McCain’s loss (the chairmanship race that Michael Steele infamously won). So we can we please knock it off with the suggestion that certain candidates are too “establishment” for their own good? Shouldn’t the most important criteria for this job be who can score the most victories over Republicans in 2018 and 2020, not who’s the least “establishment”?
Good West Coast morning NW & TOD family.
We’ve got rain, rain & more RAIN ☔️
Massive flooding and damage up here in the North. Hope you get some good rain but no emergencies!
I read about this tree falling.
Dry ground, dry roots, too much rain, can’t absorb fast enough.
Tragedy
The Task Before Us
by D.R. Tucker January 8, 2017 3:00 PM
POLITICAL ANIMAL BLOG
Was he appreciated in his time?
When Barack Obama leaves the Oval Office in twelve days, he would be well within his rights to depart from the White House as a bitter man–bitter over the level of unjustified hatred he received from the right, bitter over the mainstream media’s refusal to comprehensively cover his successes for fear that right-wingers would complain, bitter that his achievements weren’t always appreciated by some progressives. Yet, in all likelihood, he will not leave bitter.
He’ll be relieved that his work is over, and concerned that the new president will try to destroy almost all of it. He will leave cautiously optimistic that this country will survive.
It will be up to the rest of us to defend Obama’s legacy, and make permanent his achievements in the face of withering opposition. The unifying goal of the American progressive movement should be to complete Obama’s unfinished work: to ensure that every single resident of this country has full access to high-quality, affordable health care, that every child receives a high-quality education, that every woman makes one dollar for every dollar a man earns, that every human being on this earth enjoys a stable, pollution-free atmosphere. These goals can be achieved if progressives are unified. Donald Trump and the Republicans can’t defeat the left if the left doesn’t defeat itself.
Think about all the hatred the right wing directed at Obama from the moment he stepped off the podium at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. They’ve attacked him as incompetent and ignorant, someone who’s not even a citizen of the United States, an effete elitist, an uppity you-know-what. They say success is the best revenge…so if progressives managed to secure Obama’s achievements, would that not be the most successful way to stick it to those who have abused Obama and his family all these years?
Right-wingers have been trying to make permanent Ronald Reagan’s agenda ever since the 40th President left office 28 years ago. Why shouldn’t progressives try to do the same with Obama’s agenda?
You Know the Drill
by D.R. Tucker
January 8, 2017 11:00 AM
What will he say during the deposition? “My bad”?
For all my skepticism about the effort by young climate activists in Oregon to have the federal courts effectively shut down the fossil-fuel industry, I have to admit this is a clever idea:
🙂 Good for them! AND us:)
President Obama’s Reflections Ahead of His Farewell Address
Good morning, JER, and thank you.
Good morning JER. Thanks, I needed a little sunshine in the midst of rain this morning 😘
Good Morning GGail. I will take the rain. Can I send you 14 degrees and left over snow?
Ummm, No. 🙂
There that disgusting Trump is again, he can fine something negative to say about everyone but Vladimir Putin. Why is that? I have to wonder what do Putin have on Trump?
https://www.democrats.org/post/dnc-statement-on-gop-failure-to-acknowledge-russian-motives-for-coordinated
“Why is the incoming Trump administration playing political games, refusing to acknowledge the consensus of the intelligence community and pointing fingers at their fellow Americans instead of taking this threat seriously so we can prevent future attacks? We can all appreciate why Donald Trump would be embarrassed at how he won the presidency, but if Trump is going to be president, he cannot let his personal insecurities jeopardize our national security.
“It’s time for the incoming Trump Administration to face what has happened and put our national security first. We need a thorough, independent, and bipartisan congressional investigation – modeled on the 9/11 Commission – as a critical first step toward making sure this never happens again.”
The Children of Barack: Thoughts and Reflections on Becoming Political in the Age of Obama
Trevor LaFauci January 8, 2017
This is the piece I’ve been afraid to write.
To be expected to put into words how much someone means to you is never easy. Whether at a wedding, a retirement party, a momentous birthday or even a funeral, words often fail to do justice with the gravity and importance of the occasion. There are certain events in life that go beyond words and when presented with these situations the best one can hope for is to at least try to convey the intended meaning as best as possible. In the end, people often receive high praise for their words of tribute but for the perfectionists among us, there remains a persistent nagging that we could have done something more. Unrealistic as it may be, it is a feeling that one can’t help but internalize. When speaking so positively of someone else, one is inevitably made to compare this person to themselves and this comparison often leads to a feeling of inadequacy. It may seem unfair, but it is human nature to place yourself in that other person’s shoes and reflect on their life as if it were your own. It is this reflective part of the writing process that can bring out a person’s humbleness and humility, especially when the subject of one’s writing is a person of tremendous character.
And that is why for me, it is so hard to write about President Barack Obama.
……………………………………………………………
And yet, over these last two months, I’ve never been prouder to call Barack Obama my president. Despite the possibility of his legacy being undermined by the incoming administration, President Obama has handled himself with the same dignity and grace as the very first day he came into office. His words still ring on high on hope at a time when many people are feeling hopeless. His reverence for the constitution has been on full display and, like always, he has continued to be the adult in the room. Along with his wife, Michelle, President Obama has left large shoes to fill that clearly won’t be filled by the incoming administration but that may not be filled for a generation or more. His work in the White House may be nearing an end, but his work on behalf of social justice issues will continue for years to come. He will recruit and train a new generation to follow in his footsteps.
And I, for one, will be there. Fired up and ready to go. Because we, as a nation, have come too far to turn back now. There has been too much progress made to stop now and there is work left to do. President Obama is fond of reciting Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous phrase that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Right now, we are facing an upshot of the arc that seems to be bending away. But it will bend back. Maybe not today. Maybe not these next four years. But it will right itself. If there is one thing, just one thing, that President Barack Obama has meant to me it has been his unwavering hope in the American people. He has believed in me through thick and thin and I have come to feel the same way about him. Wherever life takes President Barack Obama, I will be there fighting with him. For a man who has meant so much to me, I owe it to him to help in any way possible.
It’s the least I can do.
From BJ:
For an action item today, here’s background on the GOP’s attempt to have Cabinet nominees bypass the standard ethical vetting procedures and a script for calling your Senators to ask that all Trump’s picks be vetted by the Office of Government Ethics.
Oh, and also oppose Jeff Sessions as Attorney General.
I didn’t use this script. Wrote my own. Just called Corker’s office. Covered no ethics investigation, no vetting in other ways, that nearly all of the appointees have either zero or little experience for position…..so…….what could possibly go wrong? Said that Karma IS a bitch and when it does come, the blood will be on their (GOP) hands. Then went to defunding of PP. Have tried three times to get through to Alexander. Busy! Will keep trying.
I want to do this. How do I subscribe?
Final Box Office: ‘Hidden Figures’ Beats ‘Rogue One’ With $22.8M
BOOYAH! 🙂
BOOM! Oh, yeah!
Finally got through to Alexander’s office. Was trying both local and DC. I take that as a good sign that I had such a problem getting through. I could tell the guy was harried and stressed.
Hi everyone ….
back to work …..
Jenna Bush Hager Offers Teary-Eyed Apology for ‘Hidden Fences’ Flub: “I’m Not Perfect”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-2017-jenna-bush-hager-apologizes-hidden-fences-flub-962556
I accept Jenna’s apology and understand how it has happened to her and to Michael Keaton.
Dammit, it’s Hollywood’s fault. They put out two major block buster movies back to back that have black actors in major leads in stories about positive black people. Our subconscious minds combine the two movies. Why? Because it is so rare to have “two” major films out at the same time with leading black actors. Our minds just aren’t used to it. We become confused. Our brain is saying, “what’s the name of the movie?” “It must be Hidden Fences because Hollywood would never make and release at the same time “two” movies with black leading actors about black people. So it has to be Hidden Fences.
Just an aside: Moonlight is also a tremendous film about black people starring black people. Happy for them that they received Best Film award.
Yes meta, you are correct. I’m so happy that all three did so very well ! 🙂
Good (late) Morning TODVille!
How is everyone doing?
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2017/01/09/the-president-reflects/