08
Feb
12

catching up

By Chipsticks 241 Comments
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Steve Benen: …. The Romney camp will very likely spin the results as a momentary setback, little more than a speed bump on the road to Tampa. That may even prove to be true. But given Santorum’s clean sweep yesterday, Romney will now be forced to confront something he’d desperately hoped to avoid: doubt.

Romney’s been able to convince party officials and activists to overlook his weaknesses as a candidate – his flip-flops, his layoff-driven riches, his out-of-touch gaffes – because he was their inevitable nominee. But after Santorum’s hat trick, Republicans are likely to pause and consider just how strong a candidate Romney really is. Those aren’t the kind of questions the former governor wanted to hear at this stage in the process, and he may not like the answers.

The road to the GOP nomination just got a little longer.

Full post here

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Greg Sargent: They don’t like him. They really don’t like him.

…. The loss of Colorado, which should have been a lock for Romney, is particularly interesting: The state will be key in the general election…

…. I continue to wonder whether Romney’s weaknesses as a general election candidate have been papered over by the far more glaring weaknesses of his rivals. Republicans may look at yesterday’s results and see that paper peeling back a bit.

More here

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TPM

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Kevin Drum: President Obama has publicly condemned the Citizens United decision and has publicly opposed the role of Super PACs in campaign finance. Recently, though, he signed off on a plan to actively support Priorities USA Action….

Is this hypocritical of Obama? For the thousandth time, no, no, no. The playing field is the playing field, and once a public policy has been legally put in place you’d be a sap not to play by the same rules as everyone else….

More here

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The Week

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Charles Pierce: Yesterday on the blog, we discussed the appearance on my man Chuck Todd’s Daily Rundown program of a certain George Weigel, alleged Catholic public intellectual and full-time fluffer of the Clan of The Red Beanie.

…. In arguing for the existence of some mythical “Catholic backlash” to the Obama administration’s decision to require that contraception be included in any health plans sanctioned under the Affordable Care Act, Weigel said the following:

“This has struck a tribal nerve in Catholicism. The Catholic Church has been beaten up over the last 10 or 11 years and I think Catholics are tired of the government and others beating up on the church.”

Holy mother of god, to coin a phrase …. The Church has been “beaten up” over the last 10 or 12 years because, at its highest possible echelons, it functioned as an international conspiracy to obstruct justice regarding the crime of sexual assault … Most Catholics I know don’t believe the Church has taken a beating over the last decade; in fact, they believe a lot of ermined layabouts haven’t gotten half of what they deserve.

More here

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;-)

241 Responses to “catching up”

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  1. 1 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 11:54 am

    First?

  2. 7 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Yes!!!

  4. 9 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 11:58 am

    Where is everybody?!?

  5. 18 Liberal Librarian
    February 8, 2012 at 11:58 am

    Excuse my French, but *smacking my fucking head*!!!!

    Headline on TPM: “Is The White House Caving On Contraception?”

    Buried in the article:

    It was a surprise for observers of the process, who expected the Obama administration to hold its ground. But one prominent group of women’s reproductive health advocates suggested the reports from the White House — which essentially centered on public statements from the White House Press Secretary and Obama campaign advisers on TV Tuesday — were being overblown, and were really just focused on the one-year implementation period that had already been agreed to.

    The White House “stood strong,” the group said, “because it’s good health policy.” They noted the line from the ABC News story that any deal between the White House and religious groups “would ensure that women have health insurance that fully covers contraception while also allaying concerns of religious organizations that oppose birth control.”

    It’s groups like these that Obama would risk criticism from if a real deal to undo the edict was on the table. But with them still on board — at least with news about a compromise still trickling out — the White House may be able to avoid the ire of the left while trying to allay the concerns among religious groups.

    Jesus! They could’ve gone any number of ways with that headline. I know eyeballs to the site are key for advertisers — not for me, since I use Adblock — but dammit, stop with the glaring headlines that have nothing to do with the meat of the piece!! Ok, off my soapbox. I’ll post something positive in a bit.

    • 19 Don
      February 8, 2012 at 12:04 pm

      It’s what they do LL, no controversy can be complete without the “Obama Caves” narrative.

    • 20 utaustinliberal
      February 8, 2012 at 12:06 pm

      Sometimes TPM is just as fucked up and full of troll baggery like Huff Po. If one wasn’t inclined to appreciate facts, one might just look at the headline and run with the meme that PBO and his administration is caving on their mandate. CNN has been repeating this crap through the latter part of the morning news drive. The journalism in this country has gone to hell in a hand basket; mercifully a few journalists are trying to rescue us from the abyss.

    • 21 pamelabrown53
      February 8, 2012 at 1:55 pm

      Another great comment, LL. (Sorry, I’m posting this so late but my internet connection went down and I had to transcribe my comment on paper so I wouldn’t lose it).

      What IS pissing me off is that the WH isn’t getting much support from dems or women’s’ groups. As important as the Komen debacle is, this phony “Catholic contraceptive controversy” is not being debunked or railed against with equal fervor. Can’t we walk and chew gum at the same time?

      Again, it’s another example where the PL doesn’t have his back and lets “the cheese stand alone”. Yesterday was a prime example when MSNBC (sans Rachel) lined up old Catholic “liberal white men to aid abet this false outrage. It just makes me furious.

  6. 22 Don
    February 8, 2012 at 11:58 am

    I was robbed!

  7. 25 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 11:59 am

    Hey, Don. It’s lonely at the top, ain’t it?

  8. 26 Obama Grandmama
    February 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    Happy Birthday to me!!!! I will be back later as I have plans for the first part of my day, but plan to end my special day with all of you who give me hope for our future by support of our best President ever.

  9. 54 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    @LL, TPM is getting to be a lot like HuffPo with their mis-leading titles. I hate that.

    • 55 Don
      February 8, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      Yes but after a while people get tired of the bait and switch. I remeber being a die-hard daily kos reader, then almost overnight they became the biggest President Obama critics in the world, the nail in the coffin for me was when BWD was disrespected because of her support of President Obama. I followed BWD to her own site and it was like nirvana for supportors of President Obama. A person can only hide their true intent for so long.

  10. 58 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Thanks, Sherijr.

  11. 60 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    February 08, 2012
    Agent ‘Mongo’ Romney

    Politico headlines it, “Rick Santorum roars back,” and Bill Kristol is characteristically agog with vast strategic visions for neocon Rick and the latter’s adviser John Brabender tells “NBC’s John Harwood that Missouri proved Romney can be beaten in a one-on-one fight” and the Washington Post declares that “Santorum proved three things:”

    1) That Romney can lose
    2) That he can beat Romney head-to-head under the right set of circumstances
    3) That this race isn’t yet over

    Horse manure. Rick Santorum merely failed to heed Gene Wilder’s advice to Cleavon Little: “No, don’t do that, don’t do that, if you shoot him, you’ll just make him mad.”

    Or think of Mitt Romney as the FBI’s organized crime unit, or as some defense agency with a fleet of drone predators. Both detect emerging threats and rising stars — second-tier hooligans out to make a name for themselves, to become a “Somebody”; they see their bad selves as tomorrow’s newest and hippest crime boss, or as Osama’s replacement; they commit the fatal error of making a splash, of being noticed. Radar sceeens light up with that singular blip and Agent Mongo moves in. Kaboom. The carpet bombing commences. Another decapitation.

    http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2012/02/agent-mongo-romney.html

  12. 63 Cindy Sweatt
    February 8, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    I was surprised when I woke up here in Colorado and Santorum had won the caucus. During the late news (and I use that term loosely) we had reporters who were interviewing people at the caucuses (all old grouchy people). All except one were voting for Mitt. All of them said the reason was because he could beat President Obama( of course they just said “Obama” no respectful “President”) It makes me question why they kept reporting that it was still too soon to tell even when Santorum was ahead at the time. It was as if they had some type of agenda. They push Romney all night, yet Santorum wins. When will America get their journalist back.
    Another question: how come they are not all on the ballot in each state? Just seems stupid. In Colorado they were all on the ballot-Bachman, Huntsman, all of them? Were talking about the election of the President Of The United States Of America!!! I have seen more organization for prom king and queen at our high school.

  13. 64 eveingeorgia
    February 8, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    Ah, thanks Chips for that gorgeous smile!!!

  14. 65 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    February 08, 2012
    The unmistakable trend

    It is prudent to dismiss single swing-state polls, such as Quinnipiac’s this morning, “showing Barack Obama with his first lead of the 2012 campaign over Mitt Romney in Virginia,” just as it is prudent to dismiss single national polls, such as the Washington Post-ABC News’s this week, which revealed that “President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.”

    It would be foolish, however, to dismiss what these polls are saying in the aggregate, especially given the additional, suggestive evidence of lower turnout in Republican primaries, an indication of a pronounced dispiritedness among the most piously cantankerous, get-off-my-lawn party faithful. And what this suggestive convergence is beginning to scream is: They’re going down.

    Earlier this morning I heard the National Journal’s Major Garrett, speaking on MSNBC, say he couldn’t really account for this primary season’s overall diminished turnout. Well, I can’t say with any epistemological precision that I in fact know, but I would say that hazarding the above guess is becoming less and less hazardous.

    http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2012/02/the-unmistakable-trend.html

  15. 68 Cindy Sweatt
    February 8, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    Dear TOD family. I have two big team meetings tonight and tomorrow. We should have 50 new team members. We are doing some message training. This month it is on the debt/deficit. The team member who was in charge of preparing the handout for the training now won’t be there. Could anyone who has some good graphs and information to use as talking points point me quickly in that direction. My time is limited-I have still more to do. I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks

  16. 76 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Posted at 04:14 PM ET, 02/07/2012
    On gay marriage, Mitt Romney veers hard to the right
    By Greg Sargent

    Mitt Romney, in a statement just now blasting the court’s ruling of Proposition 8 as unconstitutional:


    Today, unelected judges cast aside the will of the people of California who voted to protect traditional marriage. This decision does not end this fight, and I expect it to go to the Supreme Court. That prospect underscores the vital importance of this election and the movement to preserve our values. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and, as president, I will protect traditional marriage and appoint judges who interpret the Constitution as it is written and not according to their own politics and prejudices.”

    That note about judges who interpret the Constitution according to their own “prejudices” — is that a reference to the fact that the judge on the case was gay, which was cited by Prop 8 supporters as proof of his bias? Naah, probably not. A major party presidential candidate would never go there.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/on-gay-marriage-mitt-romney-veers-hard-to-the-right/2012/02/07/gIQALE48wQ_blog.html

    • 77 jacquelineoboomer
      February 8, 2012 at 1:59 pm

      *unelected judges*

      Such a stupid phrase, more than overused by Republicans from their list of tired and overused, stupid phrases.

      Reminds me of a quote from a film my friend likes to repeat, on how Democrats see them (I don’t personally hate anyone – just sayin’):

      They hate us because they think we hate them because they’re stupid. And we hate them because they’re stupid.

      • 78 carla4obama
        February 8, 2012 at 2:20 pm

        Unelected Judges….err robney aren’t those in the Supreme Court too?! Those unelected judges gave Florida to Bush in 2000.

        • 79 jacquelineoboomer
          February 8, 2012 at 3:24 pm

          Exactly. They’re only “unelected” and “activist” if they don’t swing far right, according to people like Romney.

      • 80 susanne
        February 8, 2012 at 9:14 pm

        actually, i don’t think we hate them because they’re stupid. we hate that they are stupid and they won’t sit down and shut up and let the grown ups figure out how to fix things and run things and clean up their mess.

  17. 81 Liberal Librarian
    February 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    A few things gathered from the Interwebs in the past few days.

    WASHINGTON — At a private three-day retreat in California last weekend, conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch and about 250 to 300 other individuals pledged approximately $100 million to defeat President Obama in the 2012 elections.

    [...]

    The fact that the wealthy conservative donors pledged $100 million for the 2012 elections shows how intent they are on trying to get Obama out of office — and previews how intense, and likely nasty, the general election will be.

    This, from Karl Rove:

    “Saw another @BarackObama fund appeal for $3 gift. Good mktg or forced by low enthusiasm? Bet many upset 08 donors are taking pass this year.”

    And from Brother Ralph Reed, on President Obama’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast this past week:

    Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition said that for the president to tie his tax policy to Jesus’s teachings “is theologically threadbare and straining credulity.”

    All par for the course, obviously. Ever since its Pyrrhic victory in the Scopes trial, and its utter relegation to the sidelines of American political life by the New Deal coalition, the strain of conservatism now dominant in the modern right wing movement has plotted to gain power by any means it deemed necessary. This crypto-fascist strain of conservatism has a very Darwinian view of economic, political, and social life. From the “Prosperity Gospel” which posits that God wants the faithful to get as filthy rich as they so desire, to the more modern idea of “job creators” and that they should be burdened with little if any taxes so that the fruit of their wealth can flow down to the peasantry, we’ve entered into an almost feudalistic society. Power and wealth accrue to those who are worthy—whether they’re favored by the Divinity, or are Randian ubermenschen who, through caring only for their own needs and desires, and not a whit for the broader society, fulfill their own ultimate bliss. This strain of conservatism has created a very selfish age in the life of the Republic, on a par with that of the Robber Barons in the late 19th Century. If that age, and that of the Roaring 20s, were more selfish, it is only because the ghost of the New Deal lives on, however weakly, reminding that there is another path to take.

    The Right as it exists today sees nothing remiss in the Gilded Age tycoon, or the 1920s speculator. It sees those eras as the best of America, when government was small and kept to its place, which was out of the nose of business, allowing it to amass as much wealth as possible. If only we could be rid of onerous regulation, of the social safety net, of the idea that everyone should have the same shot at success, then those who do succeed could do so with alacrity, and their success would benefit those of us less fortunate—whether through employment for a wage determined by the owner of capital, or through philanthropy for those of us who just don’t quite make the cut. The latter part is evident in the previous President’s creation of the Office for Faith Based Initiatives. The government shouldn’t be in the business of ensuring at least basic survival for the poorest citizen; it should just make it easier for private charities to take on the workload, regardless of whatever strings these charities may attach to the aid they give, or whether these charities are even capable of meeting the need engendered by right-wing economic policies. And the government shouldn’t be in the business of giving the tools for success to the broadest possible spectrum of the citizenry; it should just get out of the way, and allow those who are already advantaged press that advantage; those who succeed, out of enlightened self-interest, will throw something the way of those who don’t quite have the right stuff.

    This conservatism has had a pretty good run as of late. It seemed to have been beaten back in 1964 as it went to crashing defeat in that year’s elections; yet a scant four years later, with the New Deal coalition in tatters over civil rights and the war in Vietnam, it came roaring back, its grass-roots organizational work beginning to pay off. It’s first champion’s scandal in Watergate seemed to doom it again; it was only a minor setback. After Jimmy Carter’s brief interregnum—and again, after another defeat presided over by a Democratic president in the Iran hostage crisis—the Right firmly established itself as the motive force in American politics and economics with the victory of Ronald Reagan. Even President Obama acknowledged Reagan’s changing of the national conversation (much to the dismay of the Professional Left, with its lack of nuance in failing to discern that Obama’s admiration of Reagan was in his impact, not his policies). Even with Bill Clinton in the Oval Office for eight years, the conservative direction of government and economics has merely grown stronger year from year. That liberal Clinton would have been a moderate conservative in most other Western democracies.

    And then, the disastrous George W. Bush Administration inflicted itself upon the country. In Catholic theology, there is the idea of the “fortunate fall”: yes, it was a “bad thing” when Adam and Eve sinned and God expelled them from the Garden; however, without that first sin, mankind would never have had a need to receive a Redeemer in Jesus Christ. Former President Bush is no Adam, and, aspersions cast by his adversaries aside, President Obama is not Christ. However, a parallel does hold. The Bush Administration was the culmination of two generations of political effort to achieve a government that catered to every whim of the conservative movement. Militarism was amped; religiosity in government became the norm; and corporations were allowed to run the economy with neither let nor hindrance. The Bush Administration instituted every wish of the conservative coalition.

    And it failed, spectacularly so. Its political, economic, and social nostrums did not deliver what their proponents promised—not because of imperfect application, but because the goal was never to better the lives of the majority of citizens, but to bring the greatest benefit to the members of the coalition, regardless of the policies’ effects on the average person. Enough voters bought into the Big Lie that the crypto-fascist conservative program would make their lives better, and then were bitterly disappointed when the promises proved illusory. For possibly the first time since the first Reagan inauguration, a majority of Americans realized that not only did the Emperor have no clothes, but that the Emperor was a doddering, senile old man mouthing platitudes remembered from youth, not the virile man of action that the conservative movement always portrayed itself as.

    This led to the crushing Democratic victories in 2006 and 2008. And, yes, 2010 was a tough pill, but that was merely a rear-guard victory, the last “normal” mid-term election in a political landscape that was changing, reorganizing itself into something that hadn’t been seen since the Reagan Revolution. If polling is to be believed—and if the Democrats hold firm behind Mr. Obama—2012 will out-do 2008, and maybe even repeat 1964 in political impact. The Obama Revolution promises to be every bit as far-reaching as the Reagan Revolution, and for the same reasons: he’s taken the taint of un-Americanism from liberalism; liberalism is no longer something to be disdained, derided as soft, coddling, untrue to traditional American values. It is, in fact, where most people live: they want to be able to afford to send their children to university, they don’t want to be bankrupted by medical bills, they want their investments in their homes to remain secure and not be traded off in some unfathomable, inscrutable financial instrument. They don’t mind paying their fair share into the system, but want those better off to do the same, and not use their wealth and position to hide their wealth. One can call it liberalism, or progressivism; most of us call it basic fairness.

    And thus to the desperation of the desperate. The leaders of the conservative movement—the ones who benefit the most from conservative ideology, know that their time is coming to a quickening end. Oh, they’ll still have wealth, but it won’t be sacrosanct. And their influence will continue to wane as the Union is made more perfect. Thus the increasingly fevered and vicious attacks against Obama and the Democrats, painting them as alien, Other, almost inhuman. But, even with $500 million possibly to be spent in attack ads this coming election season, the old tactics just don’t have the same bite. There are too many sources of information available, and word does get around.

    The conservative movement isn’t a wounded animal; it is, in fact, a dying animal, and every time it lashes out it grows weaker and weaker, less to be feared. One must be wary of a dying animal’s death throes; but the most humane, and smartest, thing to do is to speed it to its end. It’s safer for everyone.

    • 82 gloria
      February 8, 2012 at 1:14 pm

      What a treasure you are LL. I am thankful every day that you are moved to comment here. Chipsticks, you attract the best of the best!

    • 83 Tien Le
      February 8, 2012 at 1:22 pm

      Gawd, was THAT fun to read. Thank you so much for sharing your brilliance with us. I agree with a previous poster after your first essay that you would be a great addition to The People’s View. You totally need your own space to breathe. This is so eloquent and lyrical. Who knew politics could be so poetic?

      Yes, the last battle is always the bloodiest. The other side has everything, and yet nothing left to lose.

      Ed. Were it me, I’d shy away from the term crypto-fascist–it requires too much prior knowledge and understanding on the part of the reader.

      • 84 Liberal Librarian
        February 8, 2012 at 1:34 pm

        If I were writing for a newspaper, I’d lay off the “fascist” thing, after the word was so degraded by the Tea Poopers. But for you guys? You guys *know* what fascism really is. I’m writing to my audience’s level of intellect. :)

        • 85 Tien Le
          February 8, 2012 at 1:41 pm

          Actually, I *don’t* know what fascism really is other than how it relates to someone like Franco. I certainly don’t know what crypto-fascism is. I really don’t know what it is in context with American politics. And I’ve always thought of it as an epithet hurled by the far left at anything that smacked government interference. Usually, the minute I see the word in a sentence, I stop reading, but for you, I overlooked my aversion to the overuse of that term because I knew you were saying something really good.

          • 86 Liberal Librarian
            February 8, 2012 at 1:46 pm

            Point taken. And you’re right: it *is* overused, both by the left and, more ridiculously, by the modern right, which would fit right in in Franco’s Spain or Mussolini’s Italy. (Nazi Germany was fascism on steroids, and I would like to think that even the Koch Bros. would think twice before throwing their lot in with that group.) I will curb my propensity to use the “f” word, as overuse does lessen its impact.

      • 87 57andFemale
        February 8, 2012 at 1:40 pm

        This!

      • 88 isonprize
        February 8, 2012 at 1:43 pm

        Damn, Tien Le, how’d you know I had to look it up?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

        LL, fabulous as usual. You bring truth to what I have always known. Librarians ROCK!!!!

    • 89 collegekay
      February 8, 2012 at 1:41 pm

      This is excellent.

    • 90 What is Working
      February 8, 2012 at 2:04 pm

      So, at the risk of repeating myself

      Send this to Deanniac at the Peoples View. They need these type of articles. Go become a famous blogger already……..

    • 93 jacquelineoboomer
      February 8, 2012 at 2:10 pm

      LL – I’m going to print that, grab a lounge chair, and read it later, as a form of Obama Relaxation Therapy. Of the part I’ve read so far, may I just say it’s beautiful prose. Make that poetry!

      I’ll just add one comment to the early part about Reed. Although I’m no biblical scholar, I think I recall that Jesus cast the money-changers out of the temple! I don’t remember hearing that the words “filthy rich” are part of the Bible, Ralphie.

    • 94 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:15 pm

      I had to make myself sit down and actually read this, slowly and deliberately. I’m glad I did. Yes, I might not know what crypto-fascism is, but I like learning new things. This was excellent and it gives me hope. Thank you.

    • 97 sjterrid
      February 8, 2012 at 2:54 pm

      Your comment LL is brilliant as usual.

    • 98 Jackie Grumbacher
      February 8, 2012 at 3:59 pm

      Beautifully, beautifully stated LL. You hit it out of the park again. Americans tend to fall asleep from time to time and fail to understand the danger that conservative ideology means to their lives. Conservatives bank on this passivity, which is why they work so hard to undermine the school system and to fill our 24 hour news cycles with lies and faux outrages. If people wake up they can fight anything and do anything, but they do have to see the danger first. I hope that this is the year they finally open up sleep-clogged minds and act for their welfare not against it. The primaries have done us a huge favor as have the unspeakable behavior of the GOP governors. They lifted the veil and it was ugly.

    • 99 yfoot58
      February 8, 2012 at 4:16 pm

      And it failed, spectacularly so. Its political, economic, and social nostrums did not deliver what their proponents promised—not because of imperfect application, but because the goal was never to better the lives of the majority of citizens, but to bring the greatest benefit to the members of the coalition, regardless of the policies’ effects on the average person….

      ************************************************************************8

      and i would add that this conservative coaltion uses racism…sexism…and all kinds of isms…along with the FEAR….to keep the rest of us divided…

      What an awsome commentary…LL….

      i am sooooo pleased to read this…it adds so much clarity….

      Presssssssssssssss ON!!!

  18. 100 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    awe, Greenwald and his ilk has a sad:

    …………………………………….

    Posted at 10:39 AM ET, 02/08/2012
    Liberals, Dems approve of drone strikes on American citizens abroad
    By Greg Sargent
    The Post has just released some new polling that demonstrates very strong support for Obama’s counterterrorism policies, including 83 percent of Americans approving of his use of drone strikes against terror suspects overseas.

    This finding, however, is particularly startling:


    What if those suspected terrorists are American citizens living in other countries? In that case do you approve or disapprove of the use of drones?
    Approve: 65
    Disapprove: 26

    The number of those who approve of the drone strikes drops nearly 20 percent when respondents are told that the targets are American citizens. But that 65 percent is still a very big number, given that these policies really should be controversial.

    And get this: Depressingly, Democrats approve of the drone strikes on American citizens by 58-33, and even liberals approve of them, 55-35. Those numbers were provided to me by the Post polling team.
    .

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/liberals-dems-approve-of-drone-strikes-on-american-citizens-abroad/2012/02/08/gIQAIqCzyQ_blog.html

  19. 101 MK
    February 8, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    If you are a woman and you are passionate about women’s health as I am, please join me in telling the White House that you support their principled decision insisting that birth control should be allowed to be covered without co-pays in health insurance policies. This discussion is being hijacked by a group of older, white male pundits and the Catholic Bishops. It is unfair to the vast majority of WOMEN who would benefit from this decision. I used to work for Catholic Charities in the distant past and I am not Catholic. I am actually Muslim. I should be able to be covered by insurance provided by Catholic Charities. Full Stop. I am religious but I believe that we really have to separate church and state in these matters. Catholic Charities benefits from millions of PUBLIC dollars through local, state, and federal grants. I don’t begrudge them this because they do important work that I support. However on this matter, the Church is stepping into something that it should NOT. So please raise your voices and call, write, and e-mail the White House to say that you have women’s back on this matter. Ask them to please stand firm because they have the support of so-many of us on this. http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

    Sorry for the sermon. After never having posted here before, I have now posted twice in a week. I might have to rename myself something other than a “lurker” now.

    • 102 anniebella
      February 8, 2012 at 12:37 pm

      I will send a email to the White House today.

    • 103 pam3815@yahoo.com
      February 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm

      Thanks MK
      I was just coming here to suggest the same thing. It is women who are being silent! Where is NARAL, NOW et al. All women should be standing up! Tell these men…until they get a uterus, sit down and STFU! I think I am more angry with all of these silent women. We allow me to do this all the time.

      When repugs were trying to close the govt down re: Planned Paenthood, where were the women in the streets. Why should federal funds be used for abortion? Abortion is a women choice and aren’t these same women paying taxes.

      I just read someting the other day about poor women having more 2nd trimester abortions because they have to wait until they save up the money. Wow, and this is America!

      The RW & men who are so concerned with abortions should be on every street corner with contraception. And lets not forget that birth control pills are used to treat other medical conditions for women. I am sick up to here with this nonsense! I want the WH to get 2 million phone calls–do not back down!
      Sorry for the rant! I am mad!

      • 104 Debz
        February 8, 2012 at 1:44 pm

        Agreed, pam. I have been wondering since the gop took over the house and so many states, why are women so quiet. There has been a non-stop assault on women, yet the women’s groups have been silent. Why aren’t college women marching in the streets?

    • 105 edwina
      February 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm

      thanks, I just emailed the WH.

      • 106 What is Working
        February 8, 2012 at 2:12 pm

        Just filled out the form at the WH and offered my support. It takes like 2 minutes.

        • 107 theo67
          February 8, 2012 at 2:23 pm

          And yet, that two minutes probably means a great deal to them as they fight these political battles on matters that should be common sense. That quiet word of support that will never make it to the evening news probably means a lot.

    • 108 a4alice
      February 8, 2012 at 2:39 pm

      sent thanks MK. Will tweet too.

      • 109 MK
        February 8, 2012 at 3:31 pm

        Thanks to all of you for making your voices heard. We simply have to say NO to this social control and sexism against women. Honestly. if I see one more old white man on TV talking about women’s birth control. I will scream. We have to rise up as women and say NO MORE. You don’t get to talk about our bodies like this. Not the men in our churches, not the men in our mosques or in our synagogues or our politicians. ENOUGH.

    • 110 Walking_on_ Sunshine
      February 8, 2012 at 11:25 pm

      Thanks MK I just emailed and thanked the President.

  20. 111 SUE DUVALL SMITH
    February 8, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    RUNNING ERRANDS..HAVE A BUSY 2 DAYS COMING UP…WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT MSNBC HAS BEEN RUNNING FLOTUS/FALLON AND THE MARSHMALLOW TRIPLE THREAT!…AWESOME AND ADORABLE…THEN AGAIN…WE HAVE THE VERY BEST!..BBL…:)

  21. 112 Zekke LyDonna
    February 8, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    This Blog is a MUST READ. It is hilarious. Last night was God’s way of telling every sane person in this country to ‘Wake the F—up. The Ghost of Jefferson Davis is in the house.

    The Politics Blog- with Charles P. Pierce: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics

    Rick the Dick’s Delegate-Deprived Embrace by the Base

    Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/#ixzz1loU8MgZn

    Voter-ID Insanity: Headed All the Way to the Big Court?

    Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/#ixzz1loU1Kgnb

    No, This Is Why We’ve Been Beating Up on the Church

    Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/#ixzz1loTwXWZQ

  22. 113 Bobfr (aka Our4thEstate)
    February 8, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Will likely be a bit repetitious on this theme:

    Please forgive ;)

    #PRESSON #YesWeMust

  23. 115 LOL
    February 8, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    Paging Boston…Paging Boston

    “As Massachusetts governor, Romney had an unremarkable record on jobs”

    A core argument of Romney’s presidential campaign is that he knows how to create jobs based on his career in finance. As governor, Romney faced his first test in applying his business background to a slow-growing economy — and data show that the results were unremarkable.

    Massachusetts was one of just four states that by the time of the financial crisis still had not recovered all the jobs they had lost during the 2001 recession. And, as Romney’s opponents have pointed out, the state ranked 47th in job creation during his term.

    As governor he confronted an economy very similar to Obama’s economy: high unemployment and no job creation,” Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement. “Under his leadership and economic reforms the Massachusetts unemployment rate went from 5.6 percent to 4.7 percent and the state had a positive record of nearly 50,000 new jobs created.”

    But Andrew Sum, a professor of economics at Northeastern University, says the unemployment rate fell only because people were leaving the workforce in droves during Romney’s term. Just one state had a bigger drop in its labor force during the same period, according to Sum — that was Louisiana, which was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

    Source http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/as-massachusetts-governor-romneys-record-on-jobs-was-unremarkable/2012/02/06/gIQABzEfxQ_story.html?hpid=z4

  26. 121 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Still no Democrats Like Boxer, Cantwell, on tv defending the administrarion, on the issue that they sponsored, contraception availability.
    Yes, Mcconell and Boner are promising Hearings and possibly…
    Still, no Democrat will defend the President.
    That is why the Presidents messaging is doubtful, he gets no help from his allies in Congress, None!
    Update- Jen Psaki was just on tv defending the Presidents position. She was an deputy Communications director under Dan Pfeifer.

  27. 130 Don
    February 8, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    Bad boy, bad boy
    whatcha gonna do
    whatcha goona do
    when they come for you?

  28. 131 Linda
    February 8, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Santorum says the President is ” Hostile”

    Translation: Get the “blah” man out of the Whites only House ?

    • 132 Liberal Librarian
      February 8, 2012 at 1:37 pm

      He *is* hostile. Hostile to lies. Hostile to meanness. Hostile to pettiness. Hostile to a vision of America that excludes a large chunk of its citizens. Hostile to the idea that the burdens of the Republic should fall solely on those with fewer means, while those with wealth enjoy “socialism for the rich”. So, yeah, I’ll go with that, as long as we get the definition correct.

    • 135 MsKitty (@michelec64)
      February 8, 2012 at 1:53 pm

      Ah, that old chestnut the “Angry” Black Man. Not doubt with “uppity” to follow.

    • 137 Jackie Grumbacher
      February 8, 2012 at 4:19 pm

      Of course the fact that Ricky himself is consistently disrespectful, snide and given to routine lying about the president’s achievements, makes him the soul of charity (cough) and not hostile at all. I’m sure that PBO doesn’t give a moment’s thought to Rick Santorum and wouldn’t consider his idiocy worthy of hostility if he did. He would just flick Ricky and his hateful comments off his shoulders and move on to more important people and topics.

  29. 138 defytheodds
    February 8, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    Cornel West Calls Melissa Harris-Perry A “Fraud”

    Professor Cornel West still has issues with Melissa Harris-Perry, a commentator for MSNBC. In a recent issue in Diverse Issues in Higher Education, West referred to Harris-Perry as a “fake” and a “fraud” for her attacks on him when he worked to highlight the plight of poor and working class Americans.

    “I have a love for the sister, but she is a liar, and I hate lying,’ says West. . . . She’s become the momentary darling of the liberals, but I pray for her because she’s in over her head. She’s a fake and a fraud. I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was,” said West.

    Harris Perry was recruited to Princeton by Professor West. She later turned against West and a fellow scholar, Eddie Glaude, referring to them as “hypocritical leftists.” Harris-Perry has been accused of working with feminists and liberals to deviate political attention away from the African American community.

    • 139 ChristiMTL
      February 8, 2012 at 1:44 pm

      He lost his mind with his insane jealously. Insulting anyone who doesn’t worship him. Btw for him to call someone a liar is the height of hypocrisy.

    • 140 isonprize
      February 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      Cornel West is a FRAUD. And he’s bordering on misogyny with his continued disrespect of women, particularly Melissa Harris-Perry.

      He refers to her as a ‘sister.’ He can miss me with his ‘brotherly affections.’ He’s pissed that his recruit doesn’t kiss his ass.

      Cornel West is FULL OF SHIT.

    • 141 MsKitty (@michelec64)
      February 8, 2012 at 1:55 pm

      Yeah there’s a fraud in the room alright, but it ain’t Melissa Harris-Perry.

      • 142 Pamela
        February 8, 2012 at 2:12 pm

        Amen, she saw through those idiots long long ago, they just can’t keep up with her so will try to take her down with them. Fools, to choose the wrong side of history.

    • 143 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      How does he say he’s got “love for the sister” and then call her a liar – in the same breath? This man is simply vile.

    • 144 pam3815@yahoo.com
      February 8, 2012 at 3:03 pm

      I tweeted Melissa to ignore West! I really hope she does not respond! First, he is jealous she got her own show. Second, he is starving for some media attention and he knows the cable shows will eat this stuff up. Watch he will be on CNN, FOX, etc. lying his wretched heart out! I hope she does not dignify him by responding.

    • 145 defytheodds
      February 8, 2012 at 3:05 pm

      This also part of a larger fight. West, Smiley and all of that bunch, are upset with the President and at Rev. Al for supporting both the President & Melissa Harris-Perry. Rev. Al said on his radio program today that he’s not going to allow them to just attack her…

      As Rev. Al said before, “We are not looking for better slave-masters; we are looking for freedom.” :)

    • 146 57andFemale
      February 8, 2012 at 4:17 pm

      What a childish, petty, little tantrum-throwing bastard he is.

    • 147 TiMT
      February 8, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      That asshole is nothing but an egotistic bastard. Please tweet this article to him that shows the list of things the Obama Administration had done to improve those struggling today —> http://timtpost.com/2012/02/05/mitt-romney-i-wont-bribe-voters-with-a-handout-president-obamas-comprehensive-accomplishments-in-helping-the-poor/

      I am sick of this man!

  30. 148 ChristiMTL
    February 8, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Nation’s Largest Catholic University: We Offer ‘A Prescription Contraceptive Benefit’

    The largest Catholic university in the nation has admitted to providing contraception coverage as part of its health care benefit package, further undermining the GOP’s claims that Obama’s regulation requiring insurers and employers to offer reproductive health benefits represents and “unprecedented” war against religion.

    http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/08/421242/nations-largest-catholic-university-we-offer-a-prescription-contraceptive-benefit/

    • 149 Bill
      February 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      The white males of the MSM that are covering this have not done their homework. It makes one wonder if they are so ignorant when pontificating on other subjects.

      • 150 isonprize
        February 8, 2012 at 1:54 pm

        um, yup. The stupid is showing…

      • 151 Lovepolitics2008
        February 8, 2012 at 2:18 pm

        Oh I think they are.

        They come to work in the morning, take a look at the AP clips, read the NYT, Washington Post, go read Politico and Drudge, maybe a bit of HuffyPost.

        They mostly talk among themselves.

      • 153 57andFemale
        February 8, 2012 at 4:22 pm

        Oh my God — Mark Shields was insufferable on LOD last night. What a sanctimonious, little jerk. Hey, I don’t mind that the senior citizen guy feels strongly about something that has nothing to do with his everyday life. But to ascribe to it ‘cataclysmic’ effects on Obama’s reelection is irresponsible and outrageously biased.

        franklly, MSNBC evening hosts — do you guys have to tell the same stories from the same point of view on the same night? Is there a reason why women of stature who could counteract this b.s. weren’t on your shows?

    • 154 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:41 pm

      I sent it to Lawrence O’Donnell for his vile show last night, as well as Santorum and Mitt. Probably won’t help, but it makes me feel better.

  31. 155 defytheodds
    February 8, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    This Black History Month, we honor the GAME CHANGERS:

    John W. Boyd Jr.
    Age: 46
    Place of Residence: Mecklenburg County, Va.

    Why he is a local hero: Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, fought for years to secure a settlement for Black farmers who were discriminated against by the federal government.

    When President Barack Obama signed a $1.25-billion bill that would fund a settlement between the Agriculture Department and Black farmers who were discriminated against in December of 2010, Boyd knew the battle had reached an important milestone, but was not over.

    “I had the privilege of representing the nation’s African-American farmers in the room the day he signed the bill. And when the President embraced me,” Boyd says, “I felt like he was embracing all those who were affected by the unjust policies of the USDA, Boyd wrote in a letter to supporters.”…….

    “My goal is to not leave anyone out. Now is the time for the farmers to reach out and say, ‘This is what happened to me and I can tell my story,’” Boyd said after the settlement was approved.

    Boyd is himself a farmer who was discriminated against. When he went to his county office seeking a USDA loan to help save his farm, he says a white farmer spit on him…..

    Boyd has also used the settlement as one reason why President Obama deserves to be elected. Boyd first approached Obama about the settlement when he was a new U.S. Senator.

    “When I think about the day I met then Senator Barack Obama, I realize that he could have ignored us like so many other senators and presidents before him, but he did the right thing, both as a senator and as president, and helped end 30 years of injustice for our nations’ Black farmers,” says Boyd. “This is a clear example of how the President is committed to resolving injustices and moving our country in the right direction.”

    SEE ALL OUR GAME CHANGERS HERE:
    http://newsone.com/category/nation/black-history-month/game-changers/

  32. 161 57andFemale
    February 8, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    Well, I tried to hold out and not make an eye appt for my husband. He hasn’t had his eyes checked in three years, a year ago the nosepad broke off his glasses and he’s been wearing them with a ball of metal against the side of his nose. However with the spectre of his driving the car into a tree, I broke down. I made the appt.

    So I checked his Medicare Advantage plan, the one that Thom Hartman tells his listeners that virtually denies you care, shoveling money to the insurance companies, yada yada. In the large Chicago market, we don’t pay an extra dime over Medicare and by law these plans must offer MORE than Medicare offers. My husband has had excellent care.

    Well, they’re afraid that with President Obama and ACA making Medicare better, they’d better sweeten the pot to keep customers. My husband got his regular eye exam for free (one a year), 30% of prescription glasses. At a name brand place. And he can see again.

    The technician at Lenscrafters said, “This is some great insurance you have. What is this plan?”

    Trust me, I know that this was a Republican plan to keep insurance companies doing well off Medicare recipients. We have a great network to choose from, great primary care, at a lower cost to us than Medicare. It may not be true in all markets but for us it’s been a Godsend. And now it’s even better, because the insurance company has to compete with a better Medicare benefit.

  33. 163 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Boulder City, Nevada is best known as the home of Hoover Dam, once the largest hydroelectric power plant in the country. But the rapid expansion of solar power projects is quickly making a name for the city as the first solar-financed town in America.

    A solar power building boom is happening in the community, located about 25 miles south of Las Vegas. This boom will soon generate enough revenue to eliminate Boulder City’s municipal debt and stabilize its financial needs for years to come, according to Mayor Roger Tobler.

    The city is already home to Copper Mountain Solar 1, the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the U.S. at 58 megawatts (MW), and Nevada Solar 1, a 65-MW concentrated solar power facility. But local officials, sensing a unique opportunity to expand renewable energy in their community, set aside 8,000 acres to develop an “energy zone.”

    http://cleantechnica.com/2012/02/08/solar-power-to-pay-nevada-citys-debt-government-costs-for-decades/

  34. 164 Pamela
    February 8, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Brilliantly written article, hope it goes viral.

  35. 165 Bobfr (aka Our4thEstate)
    February 8, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    #PRESSON

  36. 167 amk for obama
    February 8, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    US to cut Baghdad embassy staff

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-middle-east-16946414

    That monstrosity was a boondoggle from shrub’s neocon admin for its war-profiteering contractors.

  37. 168 ObamaBuilt2LastNZ (@NZ4Obama)
    February 8, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Happy Born Day O.G Hope you have a wonderful week! Many blessings your way!!!

    Hi Chipsticks :)

    • 169 isonprize
      February 8, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      Hey OB2. Please forgive my ignorance. I have noticed alot of folks saying “Happy Born Day” instead of “Happy Birthday.” What’s the deal? Is it just slang or is there something that goes with it? Just wondering…

      • 170 theo67
        February 8, 2012 at 2:45 pm

        I was wondering, too! Thanks for asking.

      • 171 ObamaBuilt2LastNZ (@NZ4Obama)
        February 8, 2012 at 3:45 pm

        hi ison… sorry for the late reply… the “Happy Born Day” has been something that has stuck with me since I was a teen, my father has English as his second language (although he immigrated and lived in NZ for over 30 years, his English is not THAT strong, even for someone who is mixed German/Danish/Samoan lol)…… and instead of him saying “Happy Birth Day”… he would say “Happy Born Day”……… and so no matter whose birthday it is….. I’ve always just held onto that tradition because it is “odd and peculiar” to see/hear it.. but the meaning is the same :lol:

  38. 173 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    The depths of Hannity’s imagination
    By Steve Benen – Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:16 PM EST.

    On his program last night, Fox News’ Sean Hannity talked with Republican pollster Frank Luntz about President Obama’s re-election prospects, and as part of the discussion, the host shared a unique insight into the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last May.

    “I think they have a foreign policy that has shown a lot of weakness,” Hannity said. “I know the president will say, ‘We got Bin Laden,’ putting that aside. The public does give him credit for it, but it wouldn’t have happened if he had his way and I think that could be proven as well on tape.”

    Hannity didn’t elaborate about this taped evidence, which is a shame. It’s quite a provocative charge and I’m sure many Americans would love to hear about it.

    The argument seems to be that if Obama “had his way,” the strike on the al Qaeda leader “wouldn’t have happened.” Reality suggests Hannity has no idea what he’s talking about.

    Whereas the Bush/Cheney administration made a conscious, deliberate decision to deemphasize capturing the al Qaeda leader, Obama chose to shift the emphasis back

    http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/08/10352639-the-depths-of-hannitys-imagination

    • 174 sherijr
      February 8, 2012 at 2:27 pm

      Funny how VP Biden.. the other guy in the room.. states that POTUS is the one who was for it.. while others not so much.. and ultimately POTUS had his way. Lying Hannity lies. Today I’m rather intolerant of all the nonsense.

    • 175 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:46 pm

      All they have left is innuendo. We, on the other hand, have former Pres Bush very cavalierly stating that he couldn’t be bothered to look for OBL. I’m proud to say that I’ve never watched even one split second of Hannity, and hope to never accidentally do so.

    • 176 JoJothecat
      February 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm

      If I had my own teevee show, I would show and endless loop of GWB saying ” I don’t know where he is, I don’t spend time thinking about him” next to President Obama announcing OBL is dead (another endless loop) and with Hannity speaking his garbage.

      • 177 theo67
        February 8, 2012 at 4:08 pm

        Plus, all the people celebrating before the announcement. Although it seemed weird for people to “celebrate” over the death of another person, I took that as more of a sense of relief that they didn’t need to be slaves to the 9/11-terror threat that the GOP used against this country for so long. For most of those kids that were out there “celebrating” that night, they’d lived under that fear their whole lives, and now they were free.

  39. 178 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Romney’s Rockier Than You Might Think
    by BooMan
    Wed Feb 8th, 2012 at 09:49:47 AM EST

    Nate Silver has some details on just how spectacularly badly Mitt Romney performed in last night’s primary and caucuses. He’s following Hillary Clinton’s trajectory, with wins in New Hampshire, Florida, and Nevada, and losses everywhere else. (I believe Obama actually netted one more delegate out of Nevada, but he lost on the percentages). The take away from last night is less that Romney lost than the thoroughness with which he lost in both Missouri and Minnesota, failing to win a single county in either state. Even when Obama was losing states badly to Clinton, he was winning in the cities and college towns. Romney is weak across the board.

    Romney has now lost in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri, and his performance in the Midwest is getting worse, not better. He’s banking on winning Michigan, which is where he grew up and where his father served as a fairly popular governor. But I see no signs in the polling data that should give Romney encouragement. You’d think a man nicknamed ‘Mittens’ would be a lock to win the Mitten State, but he’s polling behind Gingrich in Ohio, and he’ll probably be in third place there when the next survey comes out. I think Santorum will focus all his energy on winning over the largely Catholic Reagan Democrats in the Detroit suburbs and leave Arizona for Gingrich to mine.

    The assumption is that Romney can overwhelm his opponents with superior organization and saturation advertising, but that hasn’t worked so far and it might be counterproductive considering that the more people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him.

    http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/2/8/94947/81995

    • 179 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm

      My take: If Romney’s current competition is the extremist Santorum, then he’s in even bigger trouble. Newt is so outrageous that Mitt could get away with appearing more moderate and sane, but still spouting some new-age conservative nonsense. Who can compete with a moon colony, really? But, with Santorum, he’s got to get to the right of Santorum with the crazy religious fanatics, who want to control people’s lives – plus, many of them are plain racists. And to get those extremists, he’s got to abandon the moderate religious people who would probably be more open to the moderate conservative views. The negativity is starting to wear on people, so his options are fairly limited, especially if he unleashes his wealthy benefactors to pound on poor, penniless Santorum. I think Mitt’s (and the GOP establishment’s) strengths are now his weaknesses.

      • 180 Jackie Grumbacher
        February 8, 2012 at 4:33 pm

        Theo, I loved your line..”he’s got to get to the right of Santorum” because it blew my mind. If you get more to the right than Ricky S you have lost any semblance to reality and are for all intents and purposes on the moon. Ricky is several centuries behind the times and wears his racism and misogyny like a badge of honor. Mttens could not recover from a lurch farther to the right than this.

  40. 181 aamom
    February 8, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    After watching Jay Carney’s press conference here’s the sense I get…PBO ain’t backing down on the birth control thing cuz his base is and will always be women of all colors and stripes. The only folks yelling are men. And if the GOP wants to go to war over Birth Control what happened to Komen and Handel will seem like a hand slap.

    • 182 Liberal Librarian
      February 8, 2012 at 2:39 pm

      This!!! Screw TPM and their hair on fire headlines.

    • 183 nospin
      February 8, 2012 at 3:41 pm

      They already said they weren’t. The administration said something to the effect that they were willing to address all concerns and to work with the agencies to implement the guidelines over the next year. :-) that was a totally different thing.

      What that meant was, I hear you, I feel your pain, I will answer all your questions, address all your concerns but at the end of the day women deserve the right to make their own decisions and deserve equal access to medical care.

  41. 184 sherijr
    February 8, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    I just unfollowed the Liz Warren campaign on twitter. Tired of the too often tweets about what “Obama can learn from her campaign” how his SOTU sounded like Ms. Warren… other patronizing and condescending tweets… geared imo to somehow one up POTUS as being inferior to Warren. I tweeted that I support her and wish her well. If I lived in her state I’d definitely vote for her.. but will no longer folllow the campaign on twitter. Theres no point in those tweets of theirs.

    needed to get that off my chest~

    • 185 aamom
      February 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      lol so I wasn’t the only one!

    • 187 Debz
      February 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm

      I heard a little “Obama can learn from her” nonsense, but didn’t realize it was so prevalent. How many times has Elizabeth Warren won an election? 0? She wouldn’t even be on the radar if it weren’t for POTUS. While I wish her well and have no doubt she will win her election, this condescending bs towards our President sounds like the PUMAs. The black man is too stupid to think of anything himself, the black man who wrote 2 books needs the Warren campaign to write his speeches. It never occured to anyone that the language from Liz Warren and PBO is coordinated?r

    • 189 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 2:56 pm

      One catty comment: if she’s all that, then why couldn’t she manage to get herself into a position of leadership of the CFPB, an organization that her followers claim she created? Making people choose between President Obama, an inclusive, proven entity – and Elizabeth Warren, an enigma with no record – that’s a big mistake. I wish I hadn’t ‘heard about this. Democrats need more people rowing the boat in one direction – not this nonsense. I hope they get the message.

      • 190 57andFemale
        February 8, 2012 at 4:34 pm

        I don’t blame Warren for her problems with CFPB — that was Republican-created. She has always personally supported the President in every way, at least in the interviews that I’ve heard.

        I wouldn’t blame her personally and I didn’t follow her campaign on twitter. Are these tweets coming directly from the campaign or from other followers?

        If indeed her campaign is doing this, then I have a problem with her. If it’s her followers, I don’t blame her.

        I am, however, sick to death of all of these ‘progressives’ who think Obama only does something right because they tell him to. Let’s be clear on one thing: if they had supported him in the first half of his term the way Republicans support their officials, 2010 would not have been a bloodbath, more Democrats would have voted, we wouldn’t have Mark Kirk as a senator in IL or any of the repulsive Republican governors who are taking away voting and union rights and crashing economies, left and right.

        When they take responsibility for the chaos they helped create, then they can speak. Until then, STFU.

        • 191 sherijr
          February 8, 2012 at 4:45 pm

          yeah I don’t hold it against her, as I’ve only seen her publicly support President Obama.

        • 192 susanne
          February 8, 2012 at 9:31 pm

          ‘when they take responsibility for the chaos they helped create, then they can speak. until then, stfu.’

          thank you 57 for putting that exactly right!

    • 193 nospin
      February 8, 2012 at 3:44 pm

      sherijr, did she make those statements or were the tweets coming from the folks supporting her campaign?

      Just asking because every one on one interview with Elizabeth Warren, she has steadfastly supported the President and has never tried to one up the President.

      • 194 sherijr
        February 8, 2012 at 4:44 pm

        hey nospin.. the tweets are from @Eliz4Senate it appears to be her official campaign twitter. after I wrote my comment, they rt & favorited my comment, which was weird as I wrote I wished her well & supported her but to think their campaign had anything to teach the Obama campaign was silly and patronizing. Anyway, I unfollowed them… not interested in those ridiculous comparisons.

    • 198 Cha
      February 8, 2012 at 4:42 pm

      That’s too bad..they’re dividing. They forget Elizabeth Warren SUPPORTS PRESIDENT OBAMA!

  42. 199 edwina
    February 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    This is so refreshing. Bill O’ Reilly stands up for Ellen against the conservative group that is protesting Ellen’s role as spokesperson for JCPenney.

    http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/02/08/bill-oreilly-ellen-degeneres/

    • 200 derbingle
      February 8, 2012 at 2:44 pm

      The loudmouth does this from time to time.

    • 201 lovingandlaughing
      February 8, 2012 at 2:45 pm

      Bill O had something good to say? Really? I still can’t bring myself to watch this clip/him right now.

    • 202 Linda
      February 8, 2012 at 2:50 pm

      The city of Homs is on Fire !

    • 205 Ladyhawke
      February 8, 2012 at 2:53 pm

      Ellen Responds To ‘One Million Moms’ Boycott Of JC Penney: ‘My Haters Are My Motivators

      ==========

      Ellen DeGeneres confronted the ‘One Million Moms’ boycott of her partnership with J.C. Penney on her daytime talk show yesterday with trademark humor quipping, “normally I don’t like to pay attention to my haters, but this time I’d like to talk about it because my haters are my motivators.” The anti-gay group, part of the American Family Association, is claiming that the store is undermining “traditional families” by selecting DeGeneres as its spokesperson.
      On the show, DeGeneres read some of the supportive comments her fans left on the the group’s Facebook page and then explained her values:

      I usually don’t talk about stuff like this on my show. But I really want to thank everyone who is supporting me. And if you don’t know me very well, if you’re just watching maybe for the the first time or you’re just getting to know me I want to be clear. And here are the values that I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me those are traditional values, that’s what I stand for.

      ============

      http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/08/421085/ellen-responds-to-one-million-moms-boycott-of-jc-penney-my-haters-are-my-motivators/

    • 206 Linda
      February 8, 2012 at 2:53 pm

      Yeah…. but he lost his mind over the Prop 8 decision yesterday and both the lawyers at the table also got it wrong.

  43. 207 L3
    February 8, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Check this out. It’s very funny and is an example of PBO’s universal appeal.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUn3Wuf4QsY

  44. 211 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Why jobs may be Romney’s weakest issue
    By Steve Benen – Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:18 PM EST.

    From the outset, Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign has said it’s his experience as a “job creator” that makes him a strong candidate. In many ways, the spin has it backwards: jobs are arguably Romney’s weakest issue.

    In recent months, thanks in large part to his Republican rivals, Romney’s private sector background has become a major point of contention. He did, after all, become extremely rich orchestrating leveraged buyouts and laying off thousands of American workers at a “vulture capitalist” firm.

    But that’s not Romney’s only experience; he also served one term as governor of Massachusetts, where he was able to put his job-creating ideas into practice. How’d that turn out? As Jia Lynn Yang reports today, not especially well.

    http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/08/10353021-why-jobs-may-be-romneys-weakest-issue

  45. 212 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Somebody leaked info to bllomberg.

    Is Bill daley Catholic?

  46. 217 meta
    February 8, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    OT, but I know there are a lot of Adele fans here. She’ll be profiled on 60 MInutes this Sunday:

    http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7397981n

    • 218 SUE DUVALL SMITH
      February 8, 2012 at 2:54 pm

      THANKS FOR THE INFO META…THAT SURGERY WOULDN’T WORK ON ME…I TALK CONSTANTLY…EVEN TO MYSELF…AND I ANSWER! INDEED…I AM VELCRO WRAP-AROUND JACKET QUALIFIED!

  47. 219 rikyrah
    February 8, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 05:00 AM PST.

    Wisconsin GOP’s vow of omerta on redistricting busted wide open
    by David Nir

    Leading Off:
    • WI Redistricting: Wow. Remember those documents related to redistricting that Wisconsin Republicans had bitterly resisted sharing with plaintiffs in the pending lawsuit against the new legislative maps? You’ll recall that last month, the three-judge federal panel hearing the case sanctioned the GOP’s attorneys for failing to produce the materials, and excoriated them in the harshest of terms. Well, since any further resistance probably would have meant jail time (I mean, I don’t even really know, but if you’re held in contempt, that’s certainly a possible punishment), Republicans finally caved and forked over the goods.

    And ho-lee sh*t. I’m not even sure I can do justice trying to summarize what they produced, but it all describes a remarkable conspiracy to draw the new maps in utter secrecy and try to protect the process from public scrutiny by covering it with a bogus cloak of attorney-client privilege. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tasked no fewer than three reporters to come to grips with this document dump, and here’s how they lead off:


    As legislative leaders secretly developed new election maps last year to strengthen their majority, Republican lawmakers were told to ignore public comments and instead focus on what was said in private strategy sessions, according to a GOP memo that became public Monday.
    Other newly released documents also show almost all Republican lawmakers signed legal agreements promising not to discuss the new maps while they were being developed. [...]

    “Public comments on this map may be different than what you hear in this room. Ignore the public comments,” the talking points also say.

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/08/1062726/-Daily-Kos-Elections-Morning-Digest-Wisconsin-GOP-s-vow-of-omerta-on-redistricting-busted-wide-open?via=blog_1

  48. 220 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    Greece looks to be getting its sheet together.

    This election may not be on the Econony.

  49. 221 Linda
    February 8, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    TeaNN has suspended Roland Martin……

    Why have they not suspended Dana Loesch or Ari Fleischer ?

    • 222 Jovie
      February 8, 2012 at 3:07 pm

      For what? Being an obama supporter?

      Next up- Donna Brazil?

    • 224 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 3:08 pm

      I don’t agree with any homophobic statements, and Roland should have known better.

      However, I am surprised that CNN states, “Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated” when they’ve got EW Erickson on their staff, and they had Lou Dobbs there forever.

      If they want to have that position, then they should treat all bigots ad offensive people the same. Period. Same goes with MSNBC, who still allow Halperin on their network.

      • 225 Linda
        February 8, 2012 at 3:12 pm

        Yes…and Dana Loesch said she would also urinate on dead Afghani’s

      • 227 sherijr
        February 8, 2012 at 4:37 pm

        As far as I can tell in regards to tv media, homophobia is not acceptable (as well it shouldn’t be) but racism is- racism sells and all of the networks engage in. Its disgusting. Personally I’m sick to death of media people giving their opinions on anything. I don’t care how Chris Matthews feels about anything and I don’t give a darn about Rolond Martin’s opinions on anything either. The most foolish thing we’ve allowed is for these pundits/opinionators to believe in their own ‘specialness’. I stopped listening to their nonsense 3 years ago, but today i’ve read about it nonstop on Twitter.. and I just want to yell at people to tell these pundits to stfu and quit telling us their values.. and making up bs for folks to become inflamed over. Do we even realize that much of whats being argued about all dang day is something some pundit pontificated over on the morning ‘news’ show… bringing their newest, bestest (self-supporting) expert in to make us all believers.

    • 229 Liberal Librarian
      February 8, 2012 at 3:13 pm

      Ok, I completely missed it. What did Roland Martin tweet?

      • 230 theo67
        February 8, 2012 at 3:17 pm

        Apparently he was making offensive, homophobic statements during the Superbowl, specifically about the David Beckham ads and what to do with any man who was excited by those ads at people’s Superbowl parties. He claims that he was talking about soccer. If you google it, a couple of articles come up explaining what happened. I’d rather not link.

      • 231 donna dem 4 obama
        February 8, 2012 at 3:23 pm

        It had to do with the Beckman underwear ad during the super bowl. He said something demeaning (I can’t remember the actual quote) about men if they enjoyed the ad. I read the tweet in real time and it came off as more “macho” than homophobic IMO but the moment people said they were offended by it Roland should have apologized and tweeted his regrets. He didn’t. He tried to justify it to make it seem like he was referring to soccer.

        I’ll see if I can find the actual tweet.

        • 232 donna dem 4 obama
          February 8, 2012 at 3:57 pm

          This was the one that I saw in real time:

          “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl”

      • 233 symmetry11
        February 8, 2012 at 3:29 pm

        He wrote that “real bruhs” would not purchase underwear advertised by Beckham, and that people should “smack the ish out” of a male supporter of the ad.

  50. 234 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    New polling confirms Republicans are facing an enthusiasm gap over the 2012 elections. Can you blame them? http://t.co/SLfm63Nn

  51. 235 desertflower
    February 8, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Seriously? Why not just make people work 8 hours with NO break? Is that what’s next?

    TPEconomy New Hampshire GOP proposes bill to eliminate workers’ lunch breaks bit.ly/yAniRN #wiunion
    5 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

    • 236 theo67
      February 8, 2012 at 3:15 pm

      This proposal comes from the same GOP who work one week a month (and only 3.5 days in that week), have produced no real legislation in over a year and yet earn six figure salaries?

      Most of the people who will be impacted by this make minimum wage, and are likely working more than one job to make ends meet. This is ridiculous!

    • 237 Jackie Grumbacher
      February 8, 2012 at 4:40 pm

      That takes you right back to the sweat shop days in the early 1900′s. Lousy conditions, no breaks, no lunchtime, slave wages. What’s the matter with these people?

  54. 240 Jovie
    February 8, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Just in-
    The House will be voting on repealing the Cintraceptive rule, probabky this week.

    Whatever!

  55. 241 Mae who love our CIC
    February 8, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    To all of our family here. God’s blessing, healing, deliverance, joy, strength, peace, love, grace, mercy, power, and faith to each of you. Just know He cares for each of us. Press on!


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