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White House live
Greg Sargent: The President is set to hold another event today urging the House GOP to support the Senate payroll tax extension compromise…. A White House official emails that Obama today “will be joined by Americans who would see their taxes go up if the House Republicans fail to act”.
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Washington Post: House Republicans faced mounting pressure Wednesday from critics inside and outside Congress who worry that their standoff with President Obama over whether to extend a payroll tax cut could do lasting damage to the GOP.
… The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board captured the frustration among Republicans in the paper’s Wednesday editions, asking whether the GOP’s handling of the tax debate “might end up re-electing the President before the 2012 campaign even begins in earnest.”
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said the House GOP must get past the issue. “Are Republicans getting killed now in public opinion? There’s no question,” he said Wednesday on CNBC. “Both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that this is going to happen, and probably the best thing to happen now is just to get it over with.”
More here
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Marketwatch: The number of Americans filing initial claims for regular state unemployment-insurance benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 364,000 in the week ended Dec. 17, reaching the lowest level since April 2008, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected that claims would rise to 375,000, while remaining at levels historically associated with an improving labor market.
The four-week average of initial claims - a smoother gauge than the weekly data - fell 8,000 to 380,250, the lowest level since June 2008.
More here
Steve Benen: It’s generally wise to avoid sweeping conclusions about week-to-week changes in data like this, but when these jobless claims fall below the 400,000 threshold, it’s evidence of an improving jobs landscape. When the number drops below 370,000, it suggests jobs are actually being created rather quickly.
More here
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Michael Tomasky: President Obama has had an awful year. But thanks to the politically asinine miscalculations of House Republicans, he’s ending 2011 with a bang.
For a bunch of people who don’t believe that Barack Obama celebrates Christmas, Republicans sure are going out of their way to make sure the president has a merry one. The short-sighted stupidity of the House Republicans is hardly to be believed. The presidential nomination contest is as unsettled as ever and still features a bunch of candidates who are about as appealing to most Americans as Aunt Gladys’s fruitcake.
…. It’s all a reminder that Obama won’t be running just against a Republican candidate. He’ll be running, as he has been, against a Republican Congress. And the public is finally getting the message that they are breathing a different kind of air from the rest of us.
More here
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Paul Krugman: David Roberts reports on the EPA’s decision, finally, to regulate mercury from coal plants … it will save tens of thousands of lives every year and prevent birth defects, learning disabilities, and respiratory diseases. This is actually a much bigger issue, when it comes to saving American lives, than terrorism.
…. The point that strikes me most, however, is that this shows that it matters who holds the White House. You can complain about Obama’s lack of a strong progressive agenda, which I sometimes do, or wonder what good it is to hold the White House when the other side blocks every attempt to do good through legislation. But mercury regulation would not have happened if John McCain were president.
Elections have consequences, and this is one delayed consequence of 2008 that will make a big difference.
Full post here
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Morning everyone 
White House.gov
First!!
LOL. Cheater.
Well earned placement for you, too! How ever did you manage it! HiHo HiHo….. Off to help PBO grow the economy, I go, I go! Y’all have a fantastic day, keep fighting the good fight, we are needed!
Awesome Chips!! Good Morning TOD Fam!!
Chips, I was just wondering, will you be announcing any kind of ‘leave’ from TOD over the holidays between certain dates? or will you be posting during the holidays? It saves me from checking TOD everyday to see when you are back from celebrating Christmas/News Years
Since I live almost 24hrs ahead of the United States, I wanted to have it scheduled in my diary so I’m here when TOD resumes from all the festivities
Thank You!!!
On the exact day when there was going to be $1000 prize too! Hmmmmmmm.
I think we’re all in on “the fix”!
Morning, TODville!
LOL!!!
Okay: Best. First. Ever. giggle.
Hahaha. Cheater. I demand a do over!
Yay, Chips!!
Hey, why am I “awaiting moderation”?
Ahem…I meant… “congratulations, Chips!”
Oh AJ, these moderation glitches are driving me CRAZY!!!! I checked your comment that went in to moderation and it had EXACTLY the same email address as the one that went straight through - GRRRRR!!!!!
Any way, thank you for your congratulations on my ‘first’
Good Morning, Chips and TOD
Good morning folks. PBO will kick ass like usual in his presser
Maybe he’ll slam the podium, too!
Good morning Chips & TOD fam.
Anyone heard from Fred??
It’s been a couple of days. She’s having to do quite a lot these days to care for her recovering mother and family. Hope she pops in sometime soon to let us know how she’s doing.
Yes … wishing them the best!
Good morning TOD family. My daughter and family are traveling today (from Chesapeake, VA). Prayers appreciated. Let’s all pray for each other and especially for our President. Blessed day to all!!!
GM Chips and TOD family,
I love this video! People are taking the long route to convincing family members who aren’t as enthusiastic about PBO as we are. Using accomplishments to buttress their arguments while not being argumentative, goes a long way to convincing those who don’t see what we see.
Remember, we own this Social Media; we must continue to counter all the lies that the #mediarazzi carries for the #GOP. There are so many good resources and people on Twitter, which we must use and pass on this information.
Thanks all!! @Thuddyt
Booman:
The president went shopping at PetSmart today with his dog. He got him a chew toy. He didn’t get one for himself because John Boehner is already serving that purpose. The administration is putting Boehner through the wood-chipper.
Here’s the goal.
1. Make it clear to as many people as possible that the Republicans are so radical that they can’t govern their own caucus, let alone the country.
2. Destroy the Republicans strongest and only remaining brand advantage: tax cuts.
3. Split the Republicans into factions so that Mitt Romney doesn’t know how to answer simple questions about where he stands because there is no longer one talking point he can rely on.
4. Make the Republicans’ most powerful politician look like a fool and set him up to be cannibalized by his own backbenchers during the heat of a campaign.
It’s all going quite well at the moment.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2011/12/21/213049/93
Another boner press conference on cspan, hoyer and the democrats up next.
Ringling, Barnum and Bailey.
I don’t think PBO has had an awful year at all. It seems when folks in the media or anywhere are frustrated by Republican obstruction and sabotage of PBO and the economy, they blame PBO instead of placing the blame squarely where it belongs which is on the Republicans. He is not the boss of Congress which is an equal branch of government, a fact that seems to escape a lot of people.
That’s what I’m understanding from a lot of emoprogs, they’re simply repeating the talking points from the emoleft talking heads about how right wing President Obama has been and how he is worse than Bush. Nevermind that President Obama has gotten more meaningful accomplishments done in three years than Bush did in his eight years, and it really angers me the level of disrespect Obama has gotten from the hard left and hard right.
I figured that out pretty early on in my online political education (LOL). Emoprogs and PL types are among the MOST susceptible to right-wing talking points and intimidation. Instead of being strong in the face of political bullying and propoganda, and placing the blame where it belongs, they turn on other liberals, Democrats, or moderates. Last folks you would want to be in a foxhole with — they have no fight.
Right. They should say they had a bad year because in their minds PBO did not perform the way they wanted. But in reality PBO had a good year. He averted a govt. shutdown, handled the debt ceiling debacle as well as possible considering he had to negotiate with terrorists, got Bin Laden, decimated Al Quaeda, deposed Ghadafi without any loss of American life, presided over an improving economy despite the Repugs best efforts to destroy it, signed Trade Deals, continued to improve our relations internationally, ended the war in Iraq and watched as many of his policies from the first 2 years like Health Reform and the Recovery Act continued to show positive results.
I forgot to add the Auto industry bailout, repayment of their loans and their current resurgence.
That’s a great list, L3. And here we were worried that when the economy improved the Republicans would try to take credit for it. I know there are those who still feel the DNC messaging is insufficient, but the very fact that the Republicans have been completely boxed out of any hope of taking credit for the economy speaks volumes about just how well the Democrats have held strong on the message front.
I love the fact that Ron Paul is finally getting media exposure, now his followers will truly understand how loopy the man is.
I mean, he has been a Washington insider for 30 years, hasn’t gotten any meaningful legislation nor accomplishments to his name, and yet his followers figure “Yeah, let’s promote the guy, he’s going to end the Fed, make weed legal, close down ALL military bases around the world, AND take on Wall Street and the banks!” And when his actual (non)record is pointed out, they rant about corporations, Zionist shills… it’s pretty much a cross between big brother government paranoia and conspiracy theories of a New World Order.
Nin I often wondered how could his son, Rand be so racist and you never heard of this type of ugly behavior from him; Ron Paul has been incognito until now.
I want him exposed because I want his supporters to have an honest look at their own selves. Why do they give Paul a pass and not Pres.Obama on the issues they claim to care so much about? they are hypocrites and I want them more than Ron Paul to be exposed as such.
Bravo! It’s just not Ron Paul’s hypocrisy, but his supporters as well.
Pimco just came out with a GDP forecast for 2012. They said 0%.
that is the weakest forecast ever.
I thought the US economy was gaining steam?
Jim Cramer says that is way to low.
You mean Pimco that sell money for living? Yea I will take it will a grain of salt.
♥ ♥ ♥ Good Morning Chips! Good Morning TOD Family! ♥ ♥ ♥
Barack Obama Quote O’ The Day
Have a great day, everyone!
” … I will crush them.”
Love it. We’ll help crush them, Mr. President!
Mornin’, PJ!
Morning, JOB! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Yes!
Hi alice!
Ok, on how many different levels is this guy offensive? I am so disgusted that I can barely type…
In today’s edition of Outrageous And Unfounded Insults, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has decided to question Michelle Obama’s body shape.
MediaBistro reports that Sensenbrenner was overheard talking on the phone, retelling an incident in which he said about Michelle Obama:
“She lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself.”
The most bothersome issue here is the conflation of two entirely separate matters: the First Lady’s (natural) physique and her campaign for healthy eating and physical fitness.
Michelle has traveled the country for her “Let’s Move!” campaign for over a year, talking about healthy eating, promoting a more user-friendly pyramid graphic, getting stores like Walmart to stock their shelves with nutritious items and playing sports with kids.
Although she has been called out for indulging in the occasional hamburger and fries, Michelle Obama has practiced what she preaches: she stays fit (those arms are still toned after all these years) and maintains an enviably healthy body, both inside and out.
Yet some conservative critics don’t see it that way. Before Representative Sensenbrenner spoke out, Rush Limbaugh was on the case, disparaging Michelle Obama’s body as a way to critique her healthy eating campaign. The radio host said in February:
“The problem is, and dare I say this, it doesn’t look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice…I’m trying to say that our First Lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you.”
With comments like these, Limbaugh and Sensenbrenner not only blatantly insult the first lady. They also invoke the specious notion that skinny equals healthy, that women with shapely curves can’t possibly lead active, mindful lifestyles.
In fact, Michelle Obama and her fabulous physique are an ideal example for women — and men — of what an active, balanced, healthy lifestyle looks like. Posterior and all.
Read more about Rep. Sensenbrenner’s comments at Mediabistro.com.
UPDATE: Rep. Sensenbrenner’s spokesperson has responded to the Daily Mail’s report on the subject, saying:
“Mr. Sensenbrenner was referring to the First Lady’s healthy food initiative. He doesn’t think the government should be telling Americans what to eat. While he may not agree with all of her initiatives, he plans to contact the First Lady’s office to apologize for his comments.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/jim-sensenbrenner-michelle-obama_n_1163711.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D122259
Obviously Sesenbrenner has been taking his orders from Jabba the Rush.
Yeah ….he will apologize to an answering machine…..I guess he missed the backsides of the previous 3 first ladies. Republicans are just plain mean….
Obviously he wants her.
An overweight, wheezy pig commenting on other people’s figures. Teh irony.
I would expect this from a republican, they never notice a good thing when they see it. You know how many people pay to get a “posterior ” like the First Lady’s! As long as her husband likes it, who care what his ugly ass thinks. And I say he should keep his old tired ass apology!
I went to see who this man (Jim Sensenbrenner) was and he doesn’t even have a damn NECK!!
I saw another picture of him and HIS wife……*DeaD* 
AJ
Rep. Sensenbrenner is a Liar, a freak, jealous; and probably wishes his lady had as much grace, sophistication, and success as our First Lady. I forgot one. He also has Obama Derangement Syndrome (ODS)
Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays to you, too, relellit!
It’s only news if it keeps getting repeated. I choose to refrain
Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin Are Now Parents Of Baby Boy, Jordan Zane Weiner
Congrats to them, hopefully Anthony worked out his personality issues from the summer (tweeting his wiener over Twitter and all) and has been brought back to reality.
He will always have that personality issue. He had it before they got married. He just needs to know that he can get caught.
I hope Mr. Weiner has his act together, so he can go ahead and be a good father to that child and a good husband who stood by his side through that whole mess.
A guest column in S.C. paper by the gem that is Stephen Colbert——using humor to make clear the ugly influence of unlimited corp. money in our political campaigns:
http://www.thestate.com/2011/12/22/2088020/op-ed-naming-rights-state-mottos.html
dotster, thank you so much for bringing this over! Stephen Colbert is a genius, and will go down in history as being one of America’s greatest political satirists.
Colbert is way better and smarter than stewart.
THIS!!
amk for obama
I’ve always thought the same. I just wish he’d play the role of liberal. He can rap too. I remember him making Micheal Steele look utterly ridiculous when Steele tried to give him retarded some ghetto rap as a right wing talking point. Colbert retorted back with a rap that was smooth it gave me a chill up my spine.
I will say since Steele started hanging out with Rachel he started genuinely smiling. On Fox’s KKKlannity show his smiles seemed forced and subservient. Now that he has a job on MSNBC he does seem to be a bit more liberated.
I so agree. Haven’t listened to Stewart since the big rally and had been sparodic before that. But Colbert I like play while getting ready for work in the morning. He always gets me starting my day with a smile
‘sporadic’
Colbert makes you think and laugh.
Hoyer news conference on cspan.
http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN/
Good morning Chips & TOD Family!
I have today off as well as tomorrow and Monday. Yipppee! Hubby is giving talk today on the the importance of family history. I’ll have to catch up with the President’s presser later. Have a great day everyone!
Good news..
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/22/394265/auto-industry-2011/
Good morning Chips and TOD family.
Will be 80 today in my part of Florida. We are wearing sleeveless tops and flip flops ( the original ones before Romney). Have a great day everyone.
South FLA, Ceb? I’m in Miami and it is glorious!!! Have a wonderful day everyone, where ever you are
. VIVA OBAMA 2012
When I post as “Olivia” I have no problem getting through. I sign in through my FB account, and now my comment is in moderation purgatory
Happy Birthday Ceb
May you have a 100 more. Happy Holidays
Happy Birthday Ceb!!!
Chips, could you please roll out the pic of the Happy-Birthday-Wisher-In-Chief to put some cheer in Ceb’s special day? Cheers Ceb!!!
Steny Hoyer just called out Rush Limbaugh and Grover Norquist, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh boy, shit’s about to go down!
Yesterday Karen Finney claimed that Keystone is a client of Norquist…. I would love to see some solid proof of that.
I am happy to see that the Dems are allowed to respond to the repug’s nonsense.
Krugman said smething that is alarming, however!
He said, what does it matter having a democratic President, if the republicans block all progressive legislation?
Krugman should stop lying. We have passed more legislation than lbj did, and he has ended one war and winding down the other.
Krugman must be a Purist?
Krugman wanted Hillary as President.
Ohhh!
Yep, Krugman’s part of the bitter PUMA crowd. He will never be on PBO’s side so I pay no attention to him at all.
so what this grumbler want ? That americans ‘cave’ in on the presidency and vote for willard ?
I think he needs anti-depressants.
Photo that I am waiting to see soon: PBO and Bo bounding up the steps to AF1 on their way to Hawaii.
Yes, me too!
Good News for Potus. http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/BUSINESS0104/111222012/Auto-industry-closing-out-2011-with-brisk-December-sales-pace?odyssey=tab|to
McConnell: The ‘House Should Pass An Extension’ Of Payroll Tax Cut
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the House should pass an extension of the payroll tax cut. Here’s his full statement:
“The House and Senate have both passed bipartisan bills to require the President to quickly make a decision on whether to support thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs through the Keystone XL pipeline, and to extend unemployment insurance, the temporary payroll tax cut and seniors’ access to medical care. There is no reason why Congress and the President cannot accomplish all of these things before the end of the year. House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both. Working Americans have suffered enough from the President’s failed economic policies and shouldn’t face the uncertainty of a New Year’s Day tax hike. Leader Reid should appoint conferees on the long-term bill and the House should pass an extension that locks in the thousands of Keystone XL pipeline jobs, prevents any disruption in the payroll tax holiday or other expiring provisions, and allows Congress to work on a solution for the longer extensions.”
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/3072
This is what you call a blink. And, if they think they are going to continue to put poision pills in a longer extension without a discussion with the American people by POTUS they are crazy.
Just what has Mitch McConnell accomplished for the American people besides failure? RepubliCONs kill with those buzz words ” President Obama failed __________ fill in the blank. They really do need to pay attention.
Around the country, people of different backgrounds, incomes and political leanings say they’re angry and downright disgusted by the posturing in Washington after the House rejected a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut passed by the Senate, then both chambers adjourned for the holidays.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2102986,00.html
Well, they call him a turtle I guess he should be slow.
I think the best thing POTUS did was to start ignoring the GOP Congress. Take it straight to the American people and make Congress do its job, which is to legislate. Tell them what you want and then let them figure out how to get it done. Now it’s up to us to give him a Congress that will work with him and not against him.
AND THAT MEANS REPLACING SOME OF THOSE OLD .TIRED .NO GOOD. DEMS TOO….GETTING DEMS WHO WILL WORK ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT AND NOT AGAINST HIM!!!!
Where was Nancy Pelosi ?
The republicans have demonized Nancy Pelosi so much that she has to be careful with her public statements; her simple presence enflames the opposition. President Obama has to navigate the same problem. Jay Carney mentionned this some time ago.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the House should pass an extension of the payroll tax cut. Here’s his full statement:
“The House and Senate have both passed bipartisan bills to require the President to quickly make a decision on whether to support thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs through the Keystone XL pipeline, and to extend unemployment insurance, the temporary payroll tax cut and seniors’ access to medical care. There is no reason why Congress and the President cannot accomplish all of these things before the end of the year. House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both. Working Americans have suffered enough from the President’s failed economic policies and shouldn’t face the uncertainty of a New Year’s Day tax hike. Leader Reid should appoint conferees on the long-term bill and the House should pass an extension that locks in the thousands of Keystone XL pipeline jobs, prevents any disruption in the payroll tax holiday or other expiring provisions, and allows Congress to work on a solution for the longer extensions.”
Hahaha. That’s funny. “from the President’s failed economic policies…” Very funny. Shorter McConnell: Pass the damn extension b/c he’s killing us.
December 22, 2025 10:45 AM
Those who got the rescue wrong
By Steve Benen
It’s pretty entertaining to look back at Republican quotes in 2009, responding to President Obama’s rescue of the American automotive industry.
Dozens of prominent Republican officials, including most of the GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate, were absolutely certain the rescue would be a disaster. In the midst of an economic crisis, Republicans saw the American automotive industry — one of the central backbones of the nation’s manufacturing sector — teetering on the brink of collapse. The GOP was prepared to simply let it fail, forcing hundreds of thousands of workers into unemployment during an already-severe jobs crisis.
What’s more, they were equally certain Obama’s rescue plan was hopeless. It was a foregone conclusion, they said, since government intervention in the marketplace is always a disaster. Mitt Romney, in particular, said policymakers should “let Detroit go bankrupt,” and called the administration’s plan “tragic.”
Except they were wrong — about literally every aspect of the debate. The policy they assured us was doomed to fail actually succeeded, and every GOP prediction about the rescue has proven false. McClatchy reports this week that the industry is now starting to hum.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/those_who_got_the_rescue_wrong034263.php
ha ha ha. He knows it’s really Cantor and his lemmings that are controlling the stalemate. Is he trying to help Cantor get rid of Boehner? McConnell’s views are certainly more in line with Can’tor in wanting to make sure PBO is a one termer. Throughout the debt crisis et al, Boehner was the one trying working with Reid and PBO and Can’tor and McConnell kept sabotaging things, such as walking out when agreement was close and moving the goal post. Or is his motive here to protect the GOP brand at all costs and he’s ready to throw Boehner under the bus to do it?
One can only wonder…
“Weatlth should serve humanity, not vice versa.” @DalaiLama 12.21.11
That just became my new email sig. Thanks. Who knew the Dalai Lama had a twitter account? How cool is that?
More Good news President Obama is slamming republicans across the board. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/12/22/arizonas-sheriff-joe-arpaios-officers-turn-in-badges/
They didn’t turn in. They were made to by the Justice dept. Trust pox news to have misleading headline.
Arpaio should resign and just go work temporarily for Gingrich’s campaign, since now Newt has said that Spanish is the “language of the ghetto.” Yeah, they’d work well together.
Can’t wait until Arpaio and others are in federal prison; it’s just a matter of time.
Only issue with that, Arpaio endorsed Perry.
Barbara Walters just aired a tease clip of her interview w/Obamas tomorrow night. She asked them what are their biggest peeves with each other. The President said he doesn’t have any (big smile), and Michelle said her list is too long. Then talked about how moms need to put themselves first. And of course Bo was a big part of it—-and Walters said she has never seen the WH so beautiful and will show all that too. Again repeated that they are different when they are together, cute together.
I may hold my nose and watch it….Walters kind of makes me sick.
same here.
Look what one of our local blogs in AZ has done! This is the kind of thing that our local/ state groups should encourage in ALL states that WiW has listed….
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2011/12/we-are-listening-in-2012.html#comment-6a00d8341bf80c53ef0162fe345f5f970d
a little off topic - just wanted to say Thank You to The Obama Diary, probably my favorite website of all. Thank you for the gorgeous photos and uplifting news when most else is so negative. I appreciate and support the President and First Family (ok i totally love em). Thank you for providing a sanctuary site as I head home for the holidays to face and play nice with my skeptical and rightwing family members. Bless you and please keep up the good work.
I WILL BE WATCHING…GO BLESS OUR PERSEVERING PBO!
THAT’S GOD BLESS…:)
Check out this moron’s hideous twitter timeline:
http://twitter.com/#!/RpSensenbrenner
This is what the GOP is all about.
so in September I started working with this guy i thought was a democrat. Though he had voted for PBO in 2008, he later told me it was only because the thought of Sarah Palin anywhere close to the presidency of the United States scared the cranial outta him. He identifies as a libertarian,so does his father and his mother is a soft-core republican. I didn’t know this until one day we were having a conversation about 2012 and he said: “I have no problem with a president Romney.” I almost dropped dead I was so shocked and revolted. If he had told me he’d had indiscriminate sex with our whole school and some of our gross, pervy and unnatural(and I do mean unnatural— where the hell do they get these people from??!!) professors and faculty members, I wouldn’t have been half as revolted as I was by his Romney comment. Since then, I have been unsubtle in my quest to work him over to our side once again. Every Romney ad or article posted on this site somehow made its way indeed his preview. We talked politics nonstop. Then, before leaving for his ski trip, I asked him if he saw the last repug debate, he said to me: “no, I didn’t even know there been one.” I told him there had been and talked about the $10k bet. He shook his head, rolled his eyes and said: ‘I don’t even see any of them as viable.” folks, I almost screamed with joy! I didn’t of course. He’s 23 and at that stage where he
thinks he knows everything and I didn’t want to bait the tiger. the work is half done. The second phase which I’ve already begun is turning him on to Barack Obama. I started last week by playing PBO’s speech at the Reform Judaism event at high volume(school is out so not many people on campus.) So my idea is that this phase will be more subtle. I watch PBO’s events and speeches at work, so instead of using headphones,I’ll just up the volume. It’s not like he’s going to voluntarily go to c-span to watch them,
soooooo……….since I’ll already be there listening and he’ll already be there and he never cares if I want to play something out loud………..this might work. Maybe he will become an Obot or Obamacrat by osmosis.
Gah! That’s beautiful Lisa! Man that takes perseverance. Now, here’s the thing - our young friend sees the Obama light and then convinces his parents - there’s 3 total for PBO! That’s exciting! Way to go
Nice work, lisa
You go girl
I admire your patience and energy as you turn this guy around. You are an inspiration
Rev Al Sharpton did a good job on Morning Joke, he was strong on his support for PBO, and shut down Joe Scarborough on the whole ‘Obama taking $$ from Wall Street’ nonsense
Apparently MorningSchmoe decides to ignore how much more Wall Street loves and donates to Willard than to PBO.
December 22, 2025 11:10 AM
McConnell sides with Dems over Boehner
By Steve Benen
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been awfully quiet the last few days, as House Republicans rebel against the bipartisan payroll-tax-cut compromise he negotiated and helped pass last weekend. This morning that changed.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says the House and Senate should meet in Washington to extend the payroll tax set to expire Dec. 31.
With the clock ticking, McConnell says the House should pass a short-term extension that gives 160 million Americans certainty that their taxes will not rise Jan. 1. The Kentucky Republican also called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to convene negotiators on the longer-term extension that House Republicans are demanding.
In a statement, the Senate Minority Leader argued, “House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both.”
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/mcconnell_sides_with_dems_over034264.php
Obama Tells Boehner No Negotiations, Vote On The Senate Bill
By: Jason Easley| December 21, 2025
President Obama phoned Speaker John Boehner today and informed him that there will be no negotiations on a longer payroll tax cut extension until after he passes the Senate bill. The President urged the Speaker to take up the bipartisan compromise passed in the Senate with overwhelming Democratic and Republican support that would prevent 160 million working Americans from being hit with a holiday tax hike on January 1st.
The President also spoke with Leader Reid and again applauded him for the work he conducted with Minority Leader McConnell to achieve a successful bipartisan compromise that passed overwhelmingly in the Senate on Saturday, and Senator Reid reaffirmed his commitment to secure a bipartisan year long tax cut after the House passes the two month extension.
Obama made it clear to Boehner and the tea party that the Senate is not coming back, there will be no negotiations, and there won’t be a longer extension until the House passes the Senate bill.
http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-boehner-payroll-tax
President speaking on Payroll tax cut at 12:15 Eastern
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Matt Damon Is Angry Because the President Isn’t Really Bagger Vance
Matt Damon, Harvard dropout (read: epic fail) and son of a stockbroker (read: one percent) is throwing a temper tantrum.
Matt Damon is a successful Hollywood actor, which means he’s actually probably the top one percent of the one percent. His films rake in millions of dollars and earn him millions of dollars too.
Matt Damon lives the ultimate fantasy life. He’s the danger-dodging hero in action films. He’s the soldier who always wins the war, the athelete who always triumphs in the most adverse competitons, he’s the embodiment of nobility and goodness. In films, a body can do anything, even play golf with and as well as Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, even though that body had to have the help from someone who was, effectively, a Magic Negro.
Maybe Matt Damon came to believe in a mystical Magic Negro figure - much the same way Linus believes in the Great Pumpkin. Maybe he believed, in 2008, that Barack Obama was Bagger Vance incarnate, the Magic Negro, himself.
http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com/2011/12/matt-damon-is-angry-because-president.html
I read this and it was spot on regarding Matt Damon in particular and EMPROG specifically. Loved it and shared it with friends and family.
This is not in defense of Matt Damon’s recent, or past, statements about the President, which by the way I do happen to disagree with. My question is: where do we draw the line between disagreeing with someone’s opinion and engaging in character assassination? Wouldn’t it be better to use facts to prove our point rather than engaging in personal attacks? We’re better than that, at least I hope that we are….
That said, FACTS indicate Matt Damon’s parents divorced when he was very young. He was raised by his mother, a single parent. She is a well-respected Boston professor who has taught about early childhood education for years, which is probably why he is passionate about issues related to education (whether you agree with his views or not). In addition, he attended a “public” high school in Cambridge which had a very large and diverse student population. In past interviews, he’s expressed gratitude to his mother for ensuring that he was educated in an environment where he was surrounded by students from various multi-ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. So, it’s not exactly the lifestyle you would expect of the “son of a stockbrocker,” is it?
I just think we should be a little more careful about making assumptions about people’s lives. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you have the right to be mad at whatever it is that’s pissed you off…but be honest too because anything less is counterproductive.~
Explosions Rock Baghdad Amid Iraqi Political Crisis
By JACK HEALY, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT AND TIM ARANGO
Published: December 22, 2025
BAGHDAD — A wave of coordinated explosions ripped across Baghdad early on Thursday, killing at least 63 people, wounding more than 180 and jolting a country already unsettled by a deepening political crisis and the absence of American troops. Using car bombs and improvised explosives, insurgents attacked markets, grocery stores, schools and government buildings in a dozen neighborhoods in the central and eastern parts of the capital. The attacks were the most significant violence in Iraq since the last American troops pulled out of the country earlier this week. So far, the withdrawal and the bitter fighting between Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a Shiite, and his political foes in Parliament have not been accompanied by a rise in violence. But Thursday’s attacks raised the specter that the crisis inside the government could spill into the streets.
~snip~
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/world/middleeast/explosions-rock-baghdad-amid-iraqi-political-crisis.html?_r=1&hp
Democracy is very messy…..
Hi everyone, new post here:
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/22/beautiful-smart-and-funny/
Two former party leaders sentenced to life for Rwanda genocide
Lynn LaDecember 21, 2011 13:23
Two former officials of the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND), the ruling political party during the 1994 Rwanda genocide, have been sentenced to life in prison, BBC News reported. The president of NRMD, Matthieu Ngirumpatse, and vice president, Edouard Karemera, were convicted of genocide by the UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. During the genocide, at least 800,000 people were tortured and murdered over the course of 100 days.
~snip~
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/111221/two-former-party-leaders-sentenced-life-over-rwanda-genocide
So Palin has issues with the President Christmas card. John McCain I will never forgive you for unleashing that thing on us. For that you deserve to rot , I start to say hell, but I won’t.
Exclusive: American Airlines’ $30 million London town house
By Rhys Jones and Chris Wickham
LONDON | Wed Dec 14, 2025 3:56pm EST
Buried deep in American Airlines’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is a striking asset — a town house in one of London’s most expensive residential streets that property experts say could be worth up to $30 million. UK regulatory filings show the house has been used as a residence for senior executives, including the current chairman and chief executive Thomas Horton, since the airline bought it in the early 1990s.
~snip~
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/14/us-american-airlines-house-idUSTRE7BD14L20111214
New York Times Gives CEO $4.5M Golden Parachute, Asks Union Workforce to Take 26% Pay Cut
Steve Cooper
In another sign that our major institutions are out of touch, journalistic sentinel The New York Times is giving its CEO Janet Robinson a $4.5 million dollar “golden parachute” while demanding a 26 percent pay decrease from the union workforce that assembles the paper. Comically, this comes at a time when the NYT editorial board is calling for restraint in CEO pay.
Nothing says 2011 quite like demanding a pay cut from the 99% while dumping easy money on an executive. Arthur DeIanni, President of the Allied Printing Trades Council of NY and of New York Mailers’ Union Local 6 issued the following statement:
~snip~
http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2011/12/20/new-york-times-gives-ceo-4-5m-golden-parachute-asks-union-workforce-to-take-26-pay-cut/