President Obama greets supporters upon arrival at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, March 21
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10:55: PBO delivers remarks at Pipe Yard Outside Cushing, Oklahoma
1:15: Departs Cushing, Oklahoma en route Columbus, Ohio
3:05: Arrives Columbus, Ohio
3:35: Tours the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University
4:25: Delivers remarks
5:20: Departs Columbus, Ohio en route Washington, DC
6:45: Arrives at the White House
6:55: Hosts a reception for Greek Independence Day
All times Eastern
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President Obama boards Air Force One in Roswell, N.M., March 21. (Photo by Pete Souza)
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Steve Benen: The general trend on initial unemployment claims over the last few months has been largely encouraging, despite occasional setbacks, but today’s report is the best we’ve seen in quite a while.
About a month ago, initial jobless claims matched a four-year low, and as of today, they managed to get even better, exceeding expectations by dropping to the lowest level since February 2008:
The number of Americans who filed requests for jobless benefits fell by 5,000 last week to 348,000, the lowest level since February 2008, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday…..
More here
Weekly unemployment claims:
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Greg Sargent: How Romney used to respond to high gas prices: An important scoop from Alex MacGillis, who discovers that Romney (who is now bashing Obama over high gas prices) responded to them when he was Governor of Massachusetts just as Obama has been:
Befitting his profile as a moderate Republican who cared about the environment, Governor Romney responded to price spikes by describing them as the natural result of global market pressures and by calling for increases in fuel efficiency - the same approach that he now derides Obama for taking as president.
Key Romney quote from 2006: “I don’t think that now is the time, and I’m not sure there will be the right time, for us to encourage the use of more gasoline. I’m very much in favor of people recognizing that these high gasoline prices are probably here to stay.”
More here
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Steve Benen: When Eric Fehrnstrom, the communications director for Mitt Romney’s campaign, appeared on CNN, he couldn’t possibly have predicted how much trouble he was about to cause for his boss.
…..Tabitha Hale tweeted this afternoon, “This Etch-A-Sketch situation is not going to go away… maybe ever.”
I’m very much inclined to agree. The knock on Romney since Day One has been that he’s a shallow, unprincipled politician, willing to say anything to anyone to win. “Etch A Sketch” is so perfect a metaphor, it’s extraordinary that it came from the candidate’s own communications director.
More here
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Cagle
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Howard Kurtz: ….. In a phrase so potentially damaging it might have been hatched in a laboratory by James Carville, Romney communications director Eric Fehrnstrom bobbled a routine question on CNN….
….. His response: “Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-a-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.”
The unmistakable image: Romney has no fixed principles. Forget about what he’s saying in the primaries, all we have to do is hit the reset button. His positions are no more firmly held than the leaden particles that form those boxy images on the screen and then dissolve with a mere shake.
More here
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The Week
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ThinkProgress: During an interview with Public Radio International’s Marketplace, President Obama defended the individual health insurance mandate and reiterated that likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney enacted a very similar policy as governor of Massachusetts. “[W]e designed a program that actually previously had support of Republicans,” Obama told host Kai Ryssdal, “including the person who may end up being the Republican standard bearer and is now pretending like he came up with something different.”
More here (including audio of interview)
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A blast from the past….
Ebony Magazine (1990) - BuzzFeed
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:???:
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Morning everyone ;-)
White House.gov
G morning
Winner!
Now, THAT’S why I wanted to be first….holy cow, could anyone be better than this lovely man? ;)
Morning!
Nice one, Elle, I so wanted to be first! But let me be first to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VCPREZOFAN! ;) ;) ;)
Moooooooooooooorning Pamela! Did I need a reminder that it was VC’s birthday?! Of course not! :oops:
Oh, yes, I imagine so…. And still doing a FANTASTIC job keeping all of us fed, we would be lost without YOU! ((((((;)))))
UhOh, boy, did this reply land in the wrong place..yardarm, I may need some help here, if Chipsticks thinks I imagined she needed my help to remember a birthday, I am off the blog for sure… Chips, you see that is so, yes?
Hang in Pamela. The Admirals got this. She may get a bit pre-occupied with the long glass but she knows where her vessel is.
G’morn to TOD land and Happy Birthday vcprez. May all your party flags fly high on their halyards.
Time to go forth and see what the day brings. I know one thing, PBO is in front of a tough crowd in OK.
Looks like a tie Pamela, I think the President is looking at both of us and thinking what great supporters he has here at TOD. :-)
Thank you, Elle, for your generosity, but the time stamp begs to differ…the only tie is that elegant one at our President’s elegant throat!
Morning TOD.
I see Jeb Bush thinks Mittens should put Rubio as VP, BUT the question no one seems to have an answer for is why exactly would Rubio want to be on a Romney ticket? He can stay in Senate, maybe be re-elected again and then come back at the top of the ticket in either 2016, if POTUS or 2020 if God forbid the GOP wins.
At least with Bob McDonnell of VA, he is term-limited as governor of VA. With Chris Christie he may not believe he will be re-elected as governor of NJ even though I would bet that NJ like him just fine, no matter what they say, it’s have to be Bruce Sprinsteen himself to run agiainst Christie for him to lose, IMHO.
Seriously all those saying he will choose Rubio, what is in it for Rubio?
Rubio would do absolutely nothing for the ticket. The Cuban-American voting bloc isn’t huge. The Latino voting bloc is mostly Mexican-American and more often than not they swing Democratic. Rubio comes with some disadvantages. He co-sponsored the Blunt-Rubio Amendment which is 100% anti-women’s rights in terms of healthcare and the Latino voting population cares a lot about healthcare. Rubio is 100% anti-Dream Act and that does not play well with the Latino voting bloc because they don’t appreciate the fact that his Cuban family - and ultimately him - benefited from the wet foot dry foot policy while they are treated as inferior beings. He voted against the American Jobs Act that would have put money into construction, manufacturing, education, and creation of middle class jobs. So yeah Willard, carry on with the Rubio idea. :roll:
There is no one that Mittens is going to choose who doesn’t have this kind of record. You think he’s going to pick a moderate?
What moderate Republicans are left anyway? Jeb Bush, who now owns the stand your ground law? Huntsman? Come on. They’re ot moderate anyway. Just because Huntsman actually believes in 5th grade science doesn’t make him moderate, just a trifle less dumb than the rest of them.
Which choice puts a major swing state in play. FL is the prize. No matter how ridiculous it is, Rovian Republican politics thinks that brown people are interchangeable, women are interchangeable. They’re all puppets and cardboard cut-outs.
Thanks to the Republican administration in FL, there may be nothing that can put that state into play for the GOP. The Republican brand is so tarnishedthat I think PBO wins FL fairly eaily,no matter who the VP nominee is. Again, confident does not mean complacent. And as LL will tell you, the Cuban-American community is not as solidly GOP as it once was.
That’s encouraging.
I so agree japa about whoever the GOP nominee is. Yes, we have to get out the vote in high numbers no matter what, but even if they pick a VP that is a Mexican-American woman, after the initial bump in the polls, it will level down again once their positions are revealed and how they will have to tow the line of the rabid right wing—no moderate Repug dare show their face this election cycle. There will probably be that initial bump in the polls after the announcement but it will wear down. The GOP is going through some major craziness right now and any VP will be lumped into no matter what.
They have no one to choose from. Maybe ask Rush or Rove or Hannity to jump in. Might as well.
I think Rubio also supported the “Stand Your Ground” law. As I stated earlier, Rubio will push Hispanics toward the GOP in the same way Herman Cain pushed blacks toward the GOP.
Hopefully, they will push back against such stupidity.
He drank the whole glass of Kool-aid. Bush is all in the GOP circus tent.
I think the stupid GOP will go for broke and select maybe Jeb Bush, they seem to select what most people don’t think they will do. In their minds they just want to win, they don’t care what the rw teabaggers want, they care about getting the independents. I don’t see them selecting a woman this time again.
Good Morning TOD. Chips, you are fantastic.
jojo, do you really think the country would vote for another Bush??? If so, heaven help us!!!
sabreen60, I never thought this country would vote for Ronald Reagan, twice! I did not think the american people would vote for GWB the 2nd time with TWO wars, even when it was shown that Iraq had no WMD, people voted for him anyway. So, unfortunately I think independents WOULD vote for another Bush even this soon.
Goooood Mooorrrnnniiinnnggg! to you, Chipsticks, fantastic photos.. The one of AF1 in the sunset blows my mind! Thank you, back in a while, I was almost first…..
Congrats for being almost first. I like to celebrate all victories. That way we can practice for election day 2012. Yee-haw!
Me, too! Thanks JO’B!
Did anyone hear President Obama on NPR’s Marketplace last night? I thought Kai Ryssdal was a bit of an a**hat, but the President was masterful of course! Apologies if this was discussed already - just checking in briefly before I get back to work…
I listened to the interview yesterday and I felt the same way that the interviewer was condescending and at times disrespectful towards the president. But what else is new? President Obama has been dealing with these idiots acting disrespectful towards him since he was sworn in as President. I don’t mind them asking the President some tough questions, but what upsets me is when they act like the PBO has committed a crime for having the foresight, intelligence, and dedication to run and eventually becoming the President of the United States. The interviewer was not interested in informing the listeners on the issues at all; all he was focus on was gotcha journalism and seeing if he could make a name for himself. He acted like PBO hasn’t done anything or signed any legislation in the 3 years since he’s been in the WH. Has this guy been living in a cage? The thing that gets me about this so called ” journalist” is that they never had the guts to speak to Bush (a president that almost destroyed this country and took us to an illegal war) like that in interviews or any other setting.
You are so correct. Everybody in so-called media was afraid of Dick Cheney and his minions. I’ve been of the mind that when PBO supporters fire back at them for trying to diminish his record, in any event, then tweeters and such should call them out on that same lack of fortitude they displayed. We all need to call them as they are- punk asses. By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to VC !!
Yes, I heard the interview - even sat in the car after parking to hear the full interview. The President was fantastic as usual - it’s so hard to get all that information in, especially when you are countering a pack of lies and also trying to educate people who refuse to be educated. I thought Kai Ryssdal was way too casual, and a bit confrontational - and I was shaking my fist at the radio, shouting “he’s the President, grow up and show some respect”! At least he said “sir”.
Peggysticks, nice work on that cake, plenty to go around too! ;)
Thank you Pamela, I’m exhausted from baking :lol:
Great baking job Chips. Btw how do you get animated smiling face?
Thank you ourmanflint, it’s one of my finer creations. :???:
For a smilie face, type
:
then
lol
then
:
You’ll see the instructions here:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/smilies/
Please see courteous and supportive reply which was meant to be here, but landed up there… Oh dear..:(
Good Morning Everyone! Thank you Chips for yet another excellent “rise & shine” round-up of fantastic news :)
I wanted to repost this from the earlier thread. The affordable Care Act now has two really neat tools that folks like you and me can use to obtain information, from how the Act can benefit YOU personally,
http://www.barackobama.com/health-care?source=20120321_sc_misc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=obama&utm_campaign=20120321_sc_misc
to the numerous policies which have been implemented since the bill was first signed and other benefits which will be enacted in the remaining months and years.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/
Looking at those two links you can see why Republicans are terrified of Obamacare. Once it gets established there is no way Americans are going to give it up. The poll numbers we see now don’t mean anything. As more and more of the law gets implemented it’s going to become wildly popular to the point people will wonder how they ever lived without it.
Part of the problem is that American’s have short attention spans and short memories. Because these positive changes are taking place over time, when they happen people don’t necessarily connect them to “Obamacare”. That is whyu two things have to happen:
1. Go the Obamacare because Obama Cares route big time
2. Emphasize big time what woudl be lost if the GOP wins and repeals ACA
a: no copy for preventive care
b: prexisting conditions come into play
c: Insurance companies will be able to drop you if you gt sick
d: No coverage for the 21-25 year old set
e: Insurance companies being able to charge more as there will be no control over how much of your premium dollar goes into actual care.
People will talk about their premiums still going up, but it has to be emphasized how much more they would have gone up without ACA. It has to be aggressive and all Dems need to play a role. Unfortunately, since the GOP will continue to make repeal of the ACA a priority, not strongly defending it is, to some people, tantamount to saying it can’t be defended.
Well, we all have our issues that personally matter to us and ACA is that for me.
Internet tools are wonderful, but after three years of acrimony concerning this law and the 2010 fiasco that was pretty much built on ACA, the administration better get into nursing homes and retirement communities and explain this law low tech. We need the seniors back and I still don’t see any effort on the part of the administration.
My husband is 72. We get nothing in the mail — nothing from the administration, the campaign or the DNC - that makes this a priority.
All the information on the changes for Seniors is in the Medicare book you get every year and the supplemental if you have it.
Yes. The book that came out 5 days before the 2010 election, after record numbers of seniors had voted early.
It does give credit to ACA but this is no way is a narrative about how vital and groundbreaking this law is. It’s a laundry list. An effective laundry list but when it comes in your medicare booklet, it’s part of the system, not part of the larger story about how important it is.
It’s just “medicare” changes, it’s not “ACA made this possible”. I talk to Democratic seniors all the time who still don’t get it. the booklet is not enough to send seniors to the polls to vote for it.
Maybe VP Joe needs to go the rounds and talk to the seniors about health care. And maybe they can get Mrs. Robinson (First Grandma) to help out with some of the seniors centers. I agree - there are some seniors who need some hand-holding on the benefits they’re getting from the ACA, and what will be taken away from them if the GOP get their way.
Mrs. Robinson is an inspired idea, but can you imagine the blowback from the blowhards? I can fully understand if the First Family doesn’t want to subject her to that.
You’re on Twitter… Tweet ’em about your concerns. You can compliment ’em, too: ;)
@obama2012 (the official #Obama2012 destination for news, views, and answers to your questions)
@messina2012 (Campaign Manager, Obama for America (OFA))
@stefcutter (Deputy Campaign Manager, Obama 2012)
@davidaxelrod
@barackobama
@woodhouseb (Communications Director, Democratic National Committee (DNC))
@MayorRTRybak (Co-chair, DNC)
@dwstweets (Chair, DNC)
@thedemocrats
@hhsgov
@whitehouse
You can call ’em, email ’em, etc about ’em:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
And, there’s this:
@joncarson44 (Director of Public Engagement)
How to Engage with the White House… http://www.whitehouse.gov/engage
YES.WE.CAN…DO.(Much)More, Together - WE MUST!
PRESS ON!
Thanks for some of th Twitter links that I did not have. And yes, they get complimented on today’s videos.
My pleasure…
Great, it’s always a good thing!
And, as of several months ago, we’re in the same age group.
Stay positive, things will “work out fine” for you and yours! (((Faith))) ;)
Thanks!
By the way, even though I’m “57andFemale”, the name I chose when Hillary’s campaign assumed all women would support her over PBO, I will be 62 in May. I kept the name because it was my launch into the blogosphere so it’s kind of a ‘birthday’ for me anyway.
A very Good Morning, everyone! ;)
Cough. Cough. See bottom of post - HAPPY BIRTHDAY VC!!!!!!!!!!
Morning Chips!
I now realize that my phone is linked to your posting button! All was clear when I checked in first, and as soon as I settle in, the phone rings and ..ta da! I return and there you are! :lol:
Blimey VC, that’s frighteningly high tech!!!! Hope you have a completely LOVELY day!
Especially for techie-challenged souls!
As for the ‘completely LOVELY day’ you (and Pamela with her reminder) have already made sure of that! ;) ;) Merci ‘buckets’!
HiYa, Birthday Girl! You make me laugh with that merci buckets, my brother used to say that, he was always so funny! We all know you will be having a marvelous day celebrating YOU… how did you do that thing with your phone, btw? ;) ;) ;)
Happy Birthday VC! Wishing you a wonderful Obama filled day!
Happy Birthday VC!!!!!
A most wonderful Birthday to you VC!
THANK YOU, ALL! :razz: :lol: :lol:
I am grinning, and chuckling, and smiling, and generally feeling terrific! I am a whole year older in one day! Well, I won’t be celebrating the ‘older’ part, just celebrating the part that today belongs to ME! :lol:
Thanks so much for your hard work Chips Chica! Homemade cake has ALWAYS been my favourite because I don’t like filling and icing and all that other stuff. Pamela and Hf you can jump right in and help yourselves. So can the rest of the family as they arrive.
I am indeed off to a PERFECT start! I blocked myself off from work, and apart from an orthodontic appointment (for offspring) will be hanging out in cyber space today - the best way I’ve found to chill out!
THANKS, again TODville! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Thrilled you like the cake VC. I thought I might have to start again after dropping it on the floor, but it cleaned up pretty well. I can’t find my wooden spoon anywhere, though, so just in case: be careful when you’re biting in to the cake.
Yes it did clean up nicely, Chips. You’ve surprised me, and you’ve camouflaged the breaks quite well, you artisan you! ;) Thanks for the warning, but don’t worry, I’m known for not eating chocolate cake. Generally I just share it around. I’ll keep my eyes open as I make the slices and if necessary proudly commend your ‘creativity’ in hiding my ‘gift’ inside.
VC - Happy Birthday! And go ahead and celebrate the “older” part, too, no matter how old or young you are. It’s just a number! It’s how old we are in our little heads and hearts that matters. For instance, I’m 15 (having knocked off … er … 50 years … gulp). Enjoy your chill-out day!
Happy Birthday VC!!! Grins, Chuckles and Smiles all day for you!!!
Had my piece, oops, forgot to wait for your invite….my bad!
VC, Happy birthday. Hope the perfect start stays with you through the day and especially the year. Have fun, enjoy every minute and indulge yourself. That’s what birthdays are for!
Thanks for contributing to the ‘wonderfulness’, Hf.
Happiest of birthdays, vc!! Hope your day is as special as you are! :)
Thanks, AJ. :lol:
Happy Happy Birthday…VC…..have a great day…..
Happy Birthday VC!
I wish you a wonderfully joyous day!
Happy Birthday VC, Have a beautiful Day!
Happy Birthday,VC! Wishing you a very happy year ahead. :)
Well vc - Thursday finally arrived and it’s YOUR Birthday!!!!!
whoop whoop Happy Birthday vc :-)
Good west coast morning Chipsticks!!
I LOVE that cake you toiled over for vc :-)
Good west coast morning TOD family!
Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy BIRTHDAY, VC!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VC!!
Oh my gosh, you remembered, Symmetry!!! **I** am MENTALLY* jumping around in typical girlish delight with the requisite screams! I can’t believe you remembered my long ago request for a ‘creative’ message! {{{Symmetry11}}} Oh, I AM SO BLESSED! Thank you, S. I have already listened more than once :lol: :lol: :lol: and plan to return to it throughout the evening. I is happy, and sense my new allergy, somewhat like Ison’s, getting ready to act up. ;) THANK YOU SO MUCH!
ps. *’mentally’ because a) I was never a screamer, and b) jumping doesn’t work for me the way it used to. Now the brain sends the message, the mind visualizes it, but the body has developed *attitude*! ;)
YW, VC! Blessings to you! Here’s to many more birthday’s. {{{hugs}}}
:lol:
GM folks.
Happy b’day vc. Have a blast. It will be fun watching that cake of chip’s. (a devious woman, ain’t she ?)
Amk, would you like a similarly delicious cake for your birthday?
Mine is on 5th Nov. I’ll be celebrating like in 2008 (though this time I’ll be celebrating a day later).
Can you make a cake purely out of gin and vodka ?
I don’t know if you want to go that route, amk. As you can tell by her question to you (delicious cake), Chips TASTES her work upon completion! (Wonder if she took a piece from the bottom of the cake?) Plus, you have only to look back in Tuesday’s comments to see how ‘involved’ she gets in the preparation stage. Just saying.
yeah, I saw that prep photo. Reminds me of my wifey’s cooking
messprep. :)You’re bad. :-)
Not a problem amk - I actually make a rather fine gin/vodka/chocolate cake, many have gushed that it tastes like nothing they’d ever eaten before. I’ll have it ready for you on Nov 5, that’s a promise.
Just make sure I can slough off the chocolate part cleanly. :)
Lol, :-)
Chips, mark May 7 for me, when I turn 62.
I may forget by then myself………..
May 7 was the day that PBO clinched the nomination in 2008. I will forever remember it as the best birthday present ever!
Mille fois ‘MERCI’ / a thousand THANKS to Yardarm, EDP4HO, CTGirl, Sabreen60, JO’B, Dakota, JackieG, PF58, MtM. DD4O, GGail, Tien, & Amk.
I never before realized how much fun it is to be part of a VERY LARGE family! Most especially on your birthday! :lol: :lol: Hope you have all helped yourselves to a slice of my birthday cake. If you happen to be the one to find my gift from CC, please set it carefully aside. Thanks. :razz: :lol: :lol: :lol: This is a sweet celebration for me. VC
Air Force 1 looks happy in the picture- she’s saying to herself, “hmm…I love my current Passenger-in-Chief, and I’m hoping for another FOUR awesome years!”
GW only used AF-1 to go down to Centeal Command in Tampa Florida. He was down there almost monthly, during the start of the Iraq war. I know, because I used to see that awesome plane parked Macdill AFB hanger. And I used to work at CENT COM and SOCCENT. He hee!
Jay Carney called Reporters Knuckleheads.
Nuff said…
Morning! And Happy Birthday, vc !!! Does birthday cake go with coffee??? PBO at OSU today :) MY school!!!
Happy Birthday vcprezofan2 have a happy, fun day.
Romney himself gave us all the information we need yesterday: In answer to the etch a sketch fiasco, he said that he means everything he’s saidon the primary campaign trail. He’s a blood red conservative and ‘governed as a [blood red] conservative as governor.”
So here’s your choice, America: Mittens either is a meaningless blank slate that all his donors can write on (according to Grover Norquist) and an abject,pathological liar; or
He’s effing John Birch.
take your pick, America.
Well said.
This American picks President Obama and cute Vice President Biden for a second term.
Romney can go run for dog catcher. Oh, never mind …
Ha!
Thank you for rethinking that thought. I am too much of a dog lover to subject them to his treatmenmt.
Mittens, you stay away from my puppies!
He’s not smart enough or fast enough to be dog catcher…dogs run from him, hope America will too!
He was a blood red conservative as governor. Except those times when he was blood red moderate.
This guy is something else. He’s so craven that he really believes there is no record of him as governor. This is the guy Mitch NoConnell was willing to sacrifice the entire Republican party for? Works for me.
He thinks people are stupid, and they’ll swallow whatever he spews out ad nauseum. It’s insulting and cynical.
willard is EFFIN’ John Birch on a Severely Lying Stick.
It’s too bad nobody in the military likes their Commander-in-Chief, as evidenced by that tepid response the President got at Tinker AFB.
Ha!
They love him!
Jeb wants Marco ?
Does he not know about the Blunt/Rubio Amendment ?
Such arrogance from the Bush’s….
Which is why Jeb can never run for President, himself. He was perhaps the best of the litter, but the family sent the dad and the brother out to prey on all of us first - so old Jeb can just stay home, and quit speaking out. And Marco can go fly a kite.
Shit, even I forgot that Rubio was part of that amendment!
Can they find no brown people that hate all brown people in order to get the vote of brown people?
What a cunundrum for poor Mittens.
So I guess mehmney will now accuse Obama of creating of too many jobs ?
Quit giving Etcher-Sketcher Helter-Skelter boy ideas.
:)
In the United States, yes. what will that do to the poor billionaires?
On the Malia story, don’t be surprised that the Romney campaign or the RNC had nothing to do with that story. We should know that some of Romney’s backers and campaign team probably have kids, grand kids, nieces/nephews etc go to Sidwell & Friends. They probably knew all about the trip and even probably have some of their own kids going as well. The campaign wanted this to be a case of an Obama using taxpayer money for frivolity story, so they removed “School Field Trip” and put in “Spring Break Vacation with over 22 Secret Service agents”. We all know that 1.) Michelle wouldn’t send her alone without her, Grandmother, etc and 2.) Wouldn’t keep Sasha at home and let the other daughter go because she’s older. I get a sense of fairness from Michelle in raising her kids and knew what was up. Republican smear people, get hip, they are sleazy enough to use the girls, old rules of campaigning be damned. They want to win by any means necessary.
It will backfire on them, like all the crap they try to sling.
Chips, you should add benen’s telling jobless claims graf here.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/22/10809050-jobless-claims-figures-just-keep-getting-better
Done, thanks Amk.
Good morning, Chips and TOD ohana.
When and where is the PBO’s next foreign trip?
Happy B’day VC. Enjoy the day and the cake.
The President is off to South Korea and the demilitarized zone next week.
Have a wonderful birthday, vc and don’t eat to much Chipscake.
Good morning TOD family. Boy our brave president will go anywhere and he’s loved everywhere. He’s gorgeous and brilliant.
On election night he said to those that did not vote for him that he would be their president,too. He has more than lived up to this; visiting and serving those who look at him and treat him with disdain. GWB visited only those places where he was assured of a favorable crowd. Our president will go any where to talk to anyone, confronting their skepticism, out-right lies and misconceptions. He has true courage.
Yes, he has. Why I love and admire him so much.
Happy Birthday to you VC!!!! (In native Maori language here in NZ we say: Ra Whanau Ki A Koe VC!!! I also posted a video of a woman singing the Happy Birthday song) :)
p.s - Seeing the cake Chipsticks posted for you has made me hungry for a piece at 03:05am on a Friday morning lmao :lol:
HAPPY,HAPPY BIRTHDAY VC!!!
That was nice!
Nice one, nz4obama!
Good Morning TOD :-) Morning Chipsticks!!! Morning President Obama ;-)
IS MY PBO GOING TO BE ON ANYPLACE ELSE AT 10:55??????…SAY YES!
It is now streaming here: http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
THANK YOU…:)
A very Happy Birthday to you, vcprezofan2! Who knew our very talented Chips is also quite a cake baker?! Congrats and hope you have a fabulous birthday and new year!
I’m a baking genius, Meta. And if you happen to find a similar looking cake in Google Images it’ll just be a coincidence, I completely promise.
Dahling, you totally OWN Google images!!
:lol:
HAD THE TREEMAN CALL MY LANDLADY ON VACATION…YEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAH…SUE IS FINALLY GETTING ROTTEN TREES CUT DOWN TODAY!
THE REPUBLICAN “LIARS R US” PARTY
================================
Let’s face it gang, what is the thread that runs through the discourse from the majority of the members of the Republican Party, right-wing talk radio and Fox?? That’s right - LIES, DISTORTIONS, INNUENDO AND MAKING STUFF UP. That is the Republican Party stock-in-trade. Media Matters does an excellent job of documenting their constant disinformation. Mitt Romney is the perfect candidate to head this breathtakingly dishonest party. He lies with ease all the time at press conferences, town halls, interviews and speeches.
As Rachel Maddow said in that magnificent report last night about Mitt’s mendacity, he has been lying profusely from the beginning. It is shocking that it has taken this long for Romney’s lying to catch up with him. The feckless mainstream media has been tiptoeing around Romney’s lying for too long. I am sick and tired of hearing his lies called spin, campaign talk and fibs. Instead of reporting the facts and letting the chips fall where they may, the media is more interested in carrying water for the GOP and creating their own narrative. The American people deserve better.
Help?
Barb is the latest person to get in touch about not being able to comment here since WordPress made those beeping changes.
“For the last week I have been trying to post and it won’t accept my email. I initially signed up with WordPress and have only used it when I post.
This is the response that I received when I tried to post”
That email address is associated with an existing WordPress.com (or Gravatar.com) account. Please click the back button in your browser and then log in to use it.
I did all that and it still doesn’t work for me.”
Can anyone help me advise Barb, I’m hopelessly confused over all of this. Thanks!
I had to go to wordpress, make sure I had the correct login info. I had been ’57 and Female’ but you can’t use a capital letter so I changed that. I think I had to change my password, too.
Once I did all of that, I log in using the word press logo on TOD. I’m logged in continually at home but I log out at work and have to log in every time I sign in. I haven’t had any problems since. And I rather like the tool that shows replies to my comments. I feel that I’m maintaining a better dialogue with the TOD family.
I tell ya something that does bother me: I don’t want to use my FB page for everything I do (you can use FB login I think). I like to maintain some semblance of privacy. I post plenty of political stuff on my FB page and the vast majority of my ‘friends’ are liberals like me, but not all and not all of my family. So I choose carefully what I post because I’d rather they read it than just dismiss it all.
maneauvering through this maze of social media is exhausting.
Thanks 57andfemale, I’ll email that to Barb in case she doesn’t see it here.
I had to use an old twitter account instead of wordpress. It wouldn’t take just an email address anymore. I don’t mind using my real name from word press but it seems like an ad for my own work. I have been on here as Almablanca and wanted to stay that way, just commenting on the president and his family and enjoying the excitement everyone here generates with their enthusiasm.
I just backed off, but other than a sometimes long delay while posting a reply, have no trouble logging in the way I have done all along. The first day the WP change was initiated was weird, I felt blocked, but was not the only one having problems, that has all passed, except I still don’t have the high class little boxy box which tells you someone has replied to you.. I have to use email comments for that and it gets too hectic in my inbox… So, still I scroll, but it’s worth it when I hear all this other stuff going on. Must get outta here, have fun today, will check in if I can!
Thanks Almablanca, the thread complaining about this mess is now up to 251 comments at WordPress support, the longest I’ve ever seen - and still no one from WP has appeared to answer - clearly - people’s questions.
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-must-be-logged-in-to-comment?replies=251
I’m going to re-post something I posted late last night. It’s important I think:
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/03/20/guest-post-a-doctor-on-transvaginal-ultrasounds/
I’m glad that you reposted this…MUST READ
I think so, too. it was forwarded to me from my goddaughter, the surgeon, who says that the fear of retaliation that doctors feel - real or imaginary — is chilling.
This is McCarthyism, pure and simple.
Norah O’Donnell and Bob Schieffer (CBS) are “shocked” when Newt Gingrich calls Mitt Romney a liar.
Gingrich: Romney Is a Liar, But I Could Support Him
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In an interview Tuesday morning, CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked Gingrich if he was calling Romney a “liar.”
“Yes,” Gingrich replied.
“You’re calling Mitt Romney a liar?” O’Donnell pressed. “Why are you saying he is a liar?”
“Because this is a man whose staff created the PAC, his millionaire friends fund the PAC, he pretends he has nothing to do with the PAC - it’s baloney,” Gingrich said. “He’s not telling the American people the truth.”
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http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/gingrich-romney-liar-i-could-support-him
I wish they would stop with this fake shock when Romney gets called out as a liar. The media knows he’s a liar.
The only time willard told the truth in his stupid campaign was when he said the Economy was getting better. Yep, America needs more real reporters and less mediawhores.
The Silver Foot In His Mouth: How Romney’s Gaffes Keep The Primaries Going
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/romneys-gaffes-keep-campaign-going.php?ref=fpb
Now, David Corn has a positive, inside the WH look about the President.
This is the FIRST positive Book being written about POTUS.
Will it sell? I hope so!
Sounds really good. He gave some promising highlites on morning Joe yesterday and again this morning on chuck or Chris and Co but he is a real supporter of PBO
I purchased my copy, it’s actually VERY good!
I downloaded it on kindle but won’t get to reading it until the weekend.
If there had been anything really negative in it, we would have heard about it. From what I can tell there are some assessments that question a few things but that in general it’s about how this president effectively had to deal with the unprecedented obstruction.
Hey to all my O’s!!!!! What a great getting up day in TODville! Happy, happy, joy, joy to VC!!! A big congrats to baker in chief, Chips for a wunnerful cybercake. The weather’s been so nice here in Chi-town area, that my spring fever has kicked into overdrive. So off I go to clean out some brush in the lower forty (that’s forty paces, not acres).
Oh, I did wanna mention this last weekend, but it just came to me again today.
While seeing “21 Jump Street”, one of the trailers was for Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn’s new comedy also starring Jonah Hill called…wait for it….
“Neighborhood Watch“.
My friend and I looked at each other and said, that’s definitely NOT good karma for a movie on this subject at this time.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-22/index-of-u-s-leading-economic-indicators-rose-0-7-in-february.html
Index of U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Climbs 0.7%
The index of U.S. leading indicators rose in February by the most in 11 months, signaling the world’s largest economy will strengthen.
The Conference Board’s gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months increased 0.7 percent after a revised 0.2 percent gain in January that was less than initially reported, the New York-based group said today. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 0.6 percent rise.
More hiring and a jobless rate that held at a three-year low last month may encourage Americans to boost their spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy. Strengthening demand may also drive production gains at factories, helping to sustain the expansion and allowing the U.S. to withstand higher oil costs.
“The general picture will be gradually improving,” Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, said before the report. “We’re clearly getting good signals from the labor market.”
i love that the etch-a-sketch comment came from a simple, fair question from john fugelsang. He was a favorite of mine when i would hear him on stephanie miller’s radio show when I could still listen to it regularly. i didn’t know he did anything on TeeNN now, and he seemed great in the role!! being the robots they are, i assume republicans will try to say it was a “gotcha question” even though it was a basic question, just like “what do you read.” way to go john!!
It didn’t have to be a GOTCHA but silly republicon didn’t realize now was not the time to start telling the truth! Brawawawaaaa
Heads up for PBO:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
That etch-a-sketch is the gift that will keep on giving. Incredible that it came from one of his own staffers on national tv. This is a Freudian avalanche, forget slip!
Cannot wait to see what SNL and Funny or Die will do with this
Should be “etch-a-sketch analogy.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) denounced the Republican-controlled House on Thursday for its vote to drop the Senate’s highway funding bill — legislation which took Reid nearly five-weeks to shepherd through the upper chamber.
“They are so disorganized, in such a state of disrepair, the House of Representatives, that they can’t even extend the highway the bill,” said Reid. “I don’t know what’s in their minds.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/217551-reid-tea-party-dominated-house-a-dark-and-disorganized-legislation-hole
I could have told you, that it would not pass the House. Doh!
A very very Happy Birthday to you vcprezofan~ have a wonderful day :)
I’m still thinking about this Trayvon Martin case. I hope it stays hot in the press until Zimmerman is arrested and the Police chief is held accountable for his handling of the case. Period. I know the Obamas prayed for the Martin family and I hope they wrote them a letter. To hear that boy screaming in those 911 tapes is so heartbreaking.
Yup and I read on Twitter this morning that the DOJ has actually met with Trayvon’s family.
Looks cold:)
The lies and the liars that tell them.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/karl-rove-bin-laden-killing-was-no-biggie/2012/03/22/gIQAMtjeTS_blog.html
WE. NEED. TO. CURBSTOMP. ROVE. This is what they always do, turn any of our strengths into weaknesses and turn all of Romney’s shitty experiences and turn them into relatable all American strengths. They did that supurb remodeling job with Dubya and Etch-A-Sketch will get that same shit. We have to keep watch and bludgeon them on this,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BWoqxzR5mo&feature=player_embedded Etch a Sketch Romney….
@TheRevAl —
“My mother, Ada Sharpton passed in the early hours of this morning. She was my all. I hope God will give her now, PEACE.I love you, Mom.”
“I am on the flight to Florida and will move forward with our plans to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin. My MOM would have wanted me to.”
My condolences to the Sharpton family and as they grieve the passing of their family matriarch.
Oh, poor Rev Al, what a beautiful message from him. Thanks Cookemom.
My Prayers goes to Rev Al and his family.
I hope that those attending bring their own food, snacks, and beverages. This shouldn’t turn into an economic boost for that town.
The University of North Carolina Athletics Department has asked for a change in the way Rush Limbaugh’s radio show is promoted on stations that air the Tar Heel Sports Network.
The department has asked radio stations not to promote Carolina sports during Limbaugh’s show and vice versa, Chancellor Holden Thorp said to reesenews affiliate Carolina Connection Wednesday.
http://reesenews.org/2012/03/21/unc-asks-for-separation-of-limbaugh-radio-show-and-tar-heel-sports-broadcasts/38611/
That is such great news. I tweeted. We can’t let up on this!!!
Isn’t it great MtMarilyn? It would raise the spirits.
This is amaz-ing news..thanks Chips! And, thank you, Sandra Fluke!
In case anyone missed the heads up:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/22/us-jdpower-usmarket-idUSBRE82L0OJ20120322
New-vehicle sales in March are expected to rise 6 percent from last year due to strong demand in the retail market, according to J.D. Power and Associates and LMC Automotive.
Total sales in March are projected to finish at 1,372,400 cars and light trucks, compared with 1,244,009 vehicles in the same month last year, research firms J.D. Power and LMC said.
That estimate would translate to an annual sales rate in the month of 14.1 million vehicles, compared with 15 million in February and 13 million in March 2011, the research companies said.
“Each month of strong sales brings with it increased optimism that the pace of growth represents a true recovery for the sector,” John Humphrey, senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power, said in a statement.
“Barring any future shock related to geopolitical issues in the Gulf region and further upward pressure on the price of oil, we believe sales will continue on a solid pace for the balance of the year,” he added.
John Edwards named in the ” Millionaire Madam ” case….
oops
How much lower can this man go?
There is something so soul-satisfying to me that we dodged that bullet. I will have zero compunction about rubbing this in to any and all Edwards’ supporters I encounter for the next, like, ever.
Good morning Chips and TODville. Still waiting for the President. Hope he is getting a great tour.
Here he comes
GOP Congressman Featured In Paul Ryan’s Budget Video Votes Against Paul Ryan’s Budget
On Monday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a video introducing his budget proposal. In it, Ryan narrates his plan as the video cuts to various shots of Americana, as well as members of Congress examining the budget. At 2:12 in the video, Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) discusses the plan with Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), who nods approvingly:
Last night, Huelskamp had a chance to vote on Ryan’s proposal as a member of the House Budget Committee. Apparently, the Kansas Republican did not like what he saw. The Tea Partier broke ranks with all but one other Republican on the committee and voted against Ryan’s budget. Democrats were unanimous in their opposition.
Huelskamp explained his opposition to the budget during a panel on Tuesday. “It’s not good enough,” the Tea Party freshman said. “Its just another promise that I’m afraid will be broken.”
Though just a few days old, cracks are already emerging in the Republican dam. Despite a 22-16 advantage on the Budget Committee, the bill eked out of the Budget Committee by just a single vote (19-18) after Huelskamp and fellow freshman Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) voted with the Democrats. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) missed the vote. Another freshman, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), backed the budget last night and ensured it would not die in committee, but told The Hill that he may vote against it once it comes to the floor.
http://thinkprogress.org/?mobile=nc
Just as our President concludes his speech, a woman in the audience yelled, “Pres Obama you bring great energy to Oklahoma! Pres Obama you bring sunshine to Oklahoma!”
Loved that Hopefruit!
WOW- that was fast -Chips you are phenomenally A-MAZING!!!
THANK YOU!!!!
I love that she was saying you bring sunshine to Oklahoma. I got chills listening to that. Our President is really loved. I just want him to get out of OK safe.
Our Prez brings Sunshine wherever he goes.. Bless her heart for recognizing that. Thanks Chips~
hopefruit2, I heard that lady when she said that, what a nice thing to say.
OUR PBO IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO PRECIOUS….ALWAYS THINKING PRIOR TO ACTING. IF THE OIL MONGERS HAD PRACTICED THIS KIND OF COMMON SENSE RELATIVE TO OUR ENVIRONMENT…WE WOULDN’T HAVE HALF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE 2DAY! YOU ARE LOVED MR. PRESIDENT! EAT YOUR WHEATIES!…BBL…ERRANDS TO RUN…:)
OMAHA, Neb. — A judge has ruled that former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey will appear on Nebraska’s Democratic primary ballot in May.
Lancaster County District Judge Steven Burns’ decision came Wednesday, a day after the Nebraska Republican Party filed a legal challenge to try to keep Kerrey off the ballot.
The state GOP challenged Secretary of State John Gale’s opinion last week that said Kerrey would appear on the May 15 primary ballot. Gale said in his opinion that he believed Kerrey had violated a state law that requires candidates to be residents of the county in which they register to vote. However, Gale said the U.S. Constitution requires only that Senate candidates be a resident of the state they serve by the time they’re elected.
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Republicans never read the Constitution?
No. They just pick and choose the parts they like…which aren’t very many.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/marine-sergeant-critical-president-obama.html He (Marine) should have known this!
Good riddance.
Gary Stein is Shocked Shocked that he’s such an idiot!
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/david-axelrod-slams-karl-rove-for-misleading-on
KARL ROVE = MORE LIES AND DISTORTIONS FROM THE GOP
Karl Rove tries to trivialize the OBL operation and purposely distorts comments made by President Clinton. On the heels of the devastating segment by Rachel Maddow on Mitt Romney’s penchant for lying last night, this just fits in with the “Liars Are Us” party. They are all prolific liars. They just can’t handle the truth.
———————————-
Rove picks the wrong fight over OBL killing
By Steve Benen
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/22/10811275-rove-picks-the-wrong-fight-over-obl-killing
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/03/22/the-story-of-the-affordable-care-act/