Tonight, geeks in Brooklyn will take part in what can now fairly be called a mini-trend in political fundraising: the Obama campaign enlisting its technology staffers to serve as the draw at low-to-mid-dollar events, offering would-be donors not only a chance to rub elbows with those at the forefront of political technology but also a glimpse at what the campaign has in the works when it comes to the Internet, mobile, and more in its competition against Mitt Romney.
Tapping campaign aides to headline fundraisers isn’t a technique invented by the Obama campaign. But the organization is using its tech staffers more, and reaching more deeply into its bench, than has been past practice. As the general election nears, these “tech fundraisers” are one more return on the considerable investment in technology and technologists that the Obama campaign has been making since its own start-up phase in 2007.
Hosted at the sparely gorgeous bookstore and event space PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo, the fundraiser is billed as “The Obama Campaign’s Digital Strategy: An Inside Perspective.” Featured are Teddy Goff, Obama for America’s digital director, and Joe Rospars, the campaign’s chief digital strategist and architect of the 2008 campaign’s online operation. Tickets start at $75 a person with access to a cash bar; $1,500 gets you a pre-event reception, rights to an open bar, and your name on the event invitation. For those who closely follow presidential politics, Rospars’ name is reasonably well-known, if Goff’s slightly less so, and both serve in roles that the Obama operation has famously treated as part of the campaign’s senior management. But the Obama campaign has also, in recent months, included in the fundraising mix aides serving in jobs that traditionally had lower public profiles, if any profile at all, like chief technology officer Harper Reed and Catherine Bracy, the lead on Obama’s San Francisco field office, which is geared towards volunteers with coding, design, and other technology skills.
Awesome. Love how they’re trying to appeal to various fundraising segments. You like celebrities? Ok….donate some money and you could hang with Clooney. You’re a tech geek…ok, donate some money and you could hang with tech geniuses like Goff and Rospars, you like fashion….ok, donate some money and you could hang with fashion icons like Anna Wintour, Prabal Gurung, Tory Burch, Donna Karan, Jason Wu, Vera Wang etc. or you could go to the store and buy some of their gear.
i’m sayin’ this country is blessed, BLESSED, to have a president like Pres. Barack Obama. How smart is this??!!?? Though I am far, far from a chef, I’d pay for a session with the White House chefs. I know, I know, probably couldn’t do it, because they aren’t campaign staffers, but it would be scrumptious!!
It’s a new day and we are moving FORWARD. I just want to take a moment and tell you all how much I appreciate your knowledge, your humor and your passion for this President. Life would not be the same without this supportive space (ya hear that Chips!).
WASHINGTON – New voter ID and registration rules are on the books in 17 states and more are in the pipeline, so the Obama campaign is giving volunteer organizers and voters a crash course on the new election laws.
Experts say these new rules could diminish participation among young and minority voters — two groups that are key to President Obama’s re-election strategy.
In Florida, where a new law requires political parties to certify organizers registering voters and turn over signed forms within 48 hours or face steep fines, the campaign has begun training volunteers on the details. In Wisconsin, where — barring a successful legal challenge — a new photo ID rule will be in effect, Obama volunteers have hosted talks over sandwiches at private homes and public libraries about the new requirements.
Good morning TOD family; from London. I cannot keep away from this site not that I would want to. Chipsticks is doing a great work on this site. Nothing or no-one is going to get me to change my stance; President Obama will have a Second Term. I told my daughter the he will be president after I heard of the grand-mother died she asked how do I know this; I said “she died knowing that he’d president; she leaves through the back door and he entered through the front door”.
CHICAGO (CBS) – When world leaders come to Chicago in just 12 days for the NATO summit, their spouses will get a very special tour given by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Jovie, I hope you really are invested in Apple. Years ago when shares were at $11, a techie friend tried to convince me to load up. I didn’t take her advice.
Vice President Joe Biden touched down in Nashville for the second time in six months Monday to rev up a few dozen Democratic Party stalwarts and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for President Barack Obama’s re-election bid.
30,000 folks gathered almost a million signatures….they have come too far to turn back…i pray that the Creator grants them the courage and the muster to see it thru….to do what they must do to be successful….
it is not that it is the same people…i find that in many areas…in my fam…on my job…everywhere….
The story of Fired UP Ready to go…..of how that small gathering of folks had so much energy and guts….
The People of Wisconsin….have done what folks said could not be done….it was a herculean effort….
i believe that they will not drop the ball…i believe that they have WILL to see it thru…..that they will be successful and Inspire the rest us….
We are engaged in a Hercuclean effort — and we have no guarantee of victory.We might not win this one, even though we struggle mightily. Those from outside don’t seem to have a clue what we’re up against. And who we’re up against. And how very brilliant (unfortunately) much of the propaganda has been. And how much virulent anger we face from many sides from own family, friends, employers, etc. in our communities. We’re fighting a civil war in Wisconain. The populations of the two sides are quite equivalelnt.
I live in Sean Duffy’s district (formerly held by the great David Obey). Since Duffy was elected two years ago, we have received at least two very professional (and lying) mailings EVERY WEEK along with regular phone calls, robo calls, push polls, invitations to events, etc., etc. The brainwashing (and, as I mentioned, it has been done incredibly well) has been incessant. And has fueled resentment against opponents and “the least among us.” These regular mailings are not just for Duffy. They’re for Walker as well. Regular television ads compleent the mailings. The 2010 election campaign never ended!!!!
I often feel we are ground zero for a much larger battle. No one should underestimate the forces aligned against us.
Puck signs iron-clad confidentiality agreement…
Los Angeles-based celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will cook for President Obama’s glam fundraising dinner at George Clooney’s house this Thursday, May 10th, TMZ.com has exclusively reported. The $40,000/person dinner was the subject of a big fundraising push with the Obama, Clooney & You sweepstakes, which offered the chance for two donors and their guests to join the President, the movie star, and Southern California’s richest presidential supporters. (Above: The President and Clooney at the White House)
First Lady will welcome leaders’ spouses to the White House & to her hometown…
First Lady Michelle Obama will host two luncheons and a dinner for the spouses of the foreign leaders who will meet next week with President Obama for the back-to-back G-8 and NATO Summits, the East Wing has announced. Acclaimed chefs José Andrés of Washington, DC and Paul Kahan of Chicago, Ill. have been invited to separately cook the luncheons for Mrs. Obama and her guests. Both have visited the White House before, and are intimates of Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. (Above: Andrés, l, with Kass and Mrs. Obama during a 2010 summer harvest in the Kitchen Garden)
This article was excellent. I had grown so tired of the unprepared to be President meme when everything I had read showed me that this may have been the best prepared ever President we have had. Having the same job for numerous years does not constitute experience. Some can fast track experience by doing more with the time they have there. I especially liked that the author highlighted his majors and concentrations in college, awards, and his legislative heavyweight accomplishments in a short period of time in the US Senate and that he had 8 years of state Senate experience. I think the telling comparisons during the Primary of ’08 for me between BO and HC was the legislative authoring and coauthoring significance of bills. It was like one was going the safe expected noncontroversial route of ushering in special awards and naming of buildings and holidays and our guy was taking on big important issues like Nuclear Proliferation.
So the claim here is that Obama turned his back on the Clintonian “New Democrat” heritage and went back to the bad old liberal ways of the distant past.
Who do you think is the most reliable interpreter of the Clinton legacy? Bill Clinton, or perhaps his wife? Or Mitt Romney? And who do you think is the better judge of whether Obama is going back to the “tired old liberalism” Clinton sometimes derided? This time I’ll give your three options: (a) Again, Clinton; (b) the liberals who disagreed with Clinton’s course for the party, and who disagree with Obama’s just as vociferously, or (c) Mitt Romney?
I take this a bit personally, having been a “New Democrat” myself back in the day, but there are really only two ways to deal with this passage of Romney’s speech: either he (or his speechwriter) hasn’t the slightest clue what he’s talking about, or he’s lying. It’s not real hard to figure out which is the case.
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Sorry for the rant, but I am beside myself on this one, in part because I fear that a lot of reporters will blandly report on Romney’s speech and not bother to point out that Mitt is making a laughable mischaracterization of political history so recent that even someone right out of journalism school would know it.
LH, Mitt does not now nor has he ever known what he’s talking about. He hasn’t the foggiest idea what tired old liberalism means but his speech writers thought it sounded good. The person proposing tired old stuff is Robney himself. All he’s got is old and failed Republican policies that brought us near a major depression. He can spout all he likes, but PBO will smack him down when the time comes.
Va. Co. GOP calls for a coup d’etat —-an armed revolution—-if PBO wins a 2nd term. (when he does) Ball is correct that we are numb to this kind of crazy talk, but I think some of this is an attempt to scare people into voting for Willard the Liar:
How u know GOP is now fringe party: Greene Co GOP calls 4 armed revolution & we R not shocked or rlly even surprised. huff.to/IBvzGt— Krystal Ball (@KrystalBall1) May 09, 2012
How u know GOP is now fringe party: Greene Co GOP calls 4 armed revolution & we R not shocked or rlly even surprised. huff.to/IBvzGt— Krystal Ball (@KrystalBall1) May 09, 2012
I hope the VA GOP finds themselves called on by the SS and the FBI. Threatening the overthrow of the US government? That’s treason no matter how much you try to whitewash it.
But let’s get to the big lie: all this talk about newness.
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I don’t know about you, but the only specific Bush administration policy I’ve heard Romney reject on the campaign trail this year is comprehensive immigration reform. Is encouraging undocumented workers to “self-deport” the secret to all this exciting economic activity Mitt is projecting as the payoff for supporting his policies? And has he ever specifically repudiated the recent comment of an RNC spokesperson that his economic policies are just an “updated version” of W.’s?
It’s a long way to November, and there ought to be some opportunity for enterprising reporters to ask Romney point-blank: “What economic policies of the George W. Bush administration would you not wish to reimpose?” It’s not like this was going to come up during the GOP primaries, since hhis rivals were as complicit as he is in the big lie that somehow Bush had nothing to do with the financial crash or the recession, and/or that it was his ill-defined “big government” heresies that were the problem. Mitt needs to be challenged on this regularly, until he finally comes up with something genuinely new or shuts up about it or just admits his campaign is a straight-up Restoration.
“We should prioritize programs that serve ‘the least of these,’ not eliminate them” -Bishop Blaire on The Ryan Budget bit.ly/JeNljI— Patti (@Floridaline) May 09, 2012
As Lugar himself said in a statement last night, “He and I share many positions, but his embrace of an unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience of what brings results for Hoosiers in the Senate. In effect, what he has promised in this campaign is reflexive votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. His answer to the inevitable roadblocks he will encounter in Congress is merely to campaign for more Republicans who embrace the same partisan outlook. He has pledged his support to groups whose prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party of those who stray from orthodoxy as they see it.”
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The Mann/Ornstein thesis tells us the extremism that’s come to define the contemporary GOP is principally responsible for the breakdown of American governance. Yesterday’s primary sends an unmistakable signal: Republicans only intend to make matters worse.
I also want to know what votes Lugar cast in the last three years that show how bipartisan he was. Yes he was always good on nuclear proliferation. But he might as well have been tea party, consistently voting in lockstep. What difference does it make if these Republicans still vote like all the other crazies? He did NOTHING to save this country, highlight filibuster abuse. Same for Olympia Snowe. Eff them all.
+1. Fuck’em all. When you are the senior in your party, you’re supposed to lead them back to sanity. The whole rethug caucus danced to the tunes of the teabaggers and are getting nothing to show for it.
If you stay with a party that has gone this batshit crazy, then that is what you believe. I was done with Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins ages ago for this very reason. Now, there is no way that Dick Lugar doesn’t know that PBO is the most competent President in generations, and that the country is is dire danger under the last administration and, God forbid, Romney. Yet he blocks judicial appointments with his filibuster vote, student loans, debt ceiling and everything else. It really borders on treason to not speak out. What the fuck does it matter? You lost your seat anyway. Wouldn’t it have been better to be the alleged statesman that everyone says you are? You certainly weren’t when the chips were down and things got tough. You’re a coward, Richard Lugar.
Okay now that most or all of the NC votes have been reported- here is a report of the counties with the most turn (40% or higher), their breakdown by race, candidate voted for in 2008, and how they voted on Amendment 1. Don’t allow the media to push false narratives about PBO and “black voters” when 100% of the blame goes to Republican/conservative voters who supported McCain in 2008 and will probably vote for Romney in 2012.
1. First, there were 15 counties with turnout of 40% or higher. 10 of them went for John McCain in 08; 5 for Obama. Of the ten that went for McCain in ’08, ALL of them voted FOR the ban. All of them were heavily white, ranging from 85%-98% white, with 9 of the 10 counties being 90% or higher white. Incidentally, the county with the highest turnout by proportion in the entire state was Mitchell county – (50-60% turnout), which is 98% white and went HEAVILY for John McCain (71%) in 08
2. Of the five “high” turnout counties that went for Obama in ’08, THREE of them voted AGAINST the ban. They ranged from 14-21% black. The two Obama ’08 counties that voted FOR the ban were 35% and 36% percent black. They were Bladen and Hyde counties.
3. Total number of votes cast in entire state was 2,135,740. Of that total, 1,303,952 or ~ 61% were FOR the ban. Of the votes that were FOR the ban, 909 came from Hyde county, and 7412 came from Bladen county. Assuming ALL the black people in both counties showed up and voted for the ban, that would yield 318 “black” votes from Hyde county and 2,668 from Bladen county. So the heaviest black turnout in these two counties would yield a total of 2,986 votes (which is an overestimate, since I’m assuming that 100% blacks showed up).
4. Now if all black voters from these counties were to vote AGAINST the ban, shifting these 2,986 votes out of the “FOR” column and to the “AGAINST” column, we would still have an enormous deficit in the “AGAINST” and the ban would have still passed as it did – and by the SAME margin! So the black voters in these two counties would have made absolutely NO difference in outcome – whether they voted for or against because their numbers are simply too small!!!
5. The county with the highest population in NC is Wake county – went for Obama in ’08 and is ~21% black. Wake county voted AGAINST (57%) the ban.
Thanks ut – I retweeted your comment! I saw this MSM “PBO+Blacks=anti-gay” narrative a mile away. From the moment they ran away with VP Biden’s comments, I knew exactly where and why this thing seemed to be the MSM’s focus. But we will not allow them to scapegoat Black voters in NC, nor will we allow them to swiftboat PBO with lies. This is NOT 2000 or 2004.
And if Twitter tries to censor my tweets, I will expose them for so doing so.
Excellent stuff hf. Is there a linky for that ? This morning, I have got a troll on my tail on twitter and there is a back and forth going on whether I am a racist or not.
Oops, I just posted the links above – I had forgotten them on the original post.
I’m pushing back agressively against that Josh Kraushaar (@hotlinejosh) from the National Journal. This guy is a rabid racist. Can’t spin it any differently.
Actually, the journalist in question is Josh Kraushaar. This guy is VILE, to put it nicely. His racist reports about the NC votes and his obsession with reporting bad news for Obama are off the charts. Makes Chuck Todd seem like an O’bot in comparison!!!
It’s a DC insider mag. It’s supposed to be non-partisan but Ron Fournier is the editor, which tells you a lot right there. He headed AP and also considered taking a position with McCain’s campaign. In my opinion, he’s really the one responsible for trashing the AP, moving it toward more opinion-based writing. He was also the major player in the leaked email to Rove scandal about the Pat Tilman inquest.
Former President George W. Bush is budgeted to receive the most money from taxpayers of all the living ex-presidents.
Bush, the most recent former president, is requesting more than $1.3 million in taxpayer dollars for fiscal year 2013, according to a budget proposal document prepared by the General Services Administration.
Those funds go towards an office staff, travel and postage. The former presidents Act of 1958 guarantees taxpayer funding for ex-presidents.
Former President Bill Clinton is requesting more than $1 million. Former President George H.W. Bush is requesting $879,000 and former President Jimmy Carter is requesting $518,000.
Is that on top of the secret service duty they get? I remember the gop congress voted to limit secret service to ten years instead of lifetime. Most of these ex-presidents are millionaires and can pay for their own staff, travel and postage. The next time someone complains about President Obama’s and his family travel, we need to tell them that we’re paying for travel of all the living ex-presidents.
Does Twitter censor certain tweets? All my tweets to @hotline josh pushing back against his “Black voter” claim do not appear in my TL, although I see them when I click on my profile. I’m sure Josh has blocked me but that shouldn’t prevent the tweets from being seen by my followers or from my TL. Does Twitter not want this information disseminated?
I went down a few pages on my twitline and not seeing your posts. But clicking your profile, does show them ? I’ll retweet them and see if they appear.
Good morning, Chips and family: it is raining, cloudy here in the Village of Harlem, NYC. But I feel warm and full of joy inside knowing that we are together more than ever before and moving FORWARD. I signed up to volunteer in N.C. for the convention. Any suggestions for hotel accomdendations I would appreciate. If not family will have to make some room for a week. If you are able and have a desire, please sign up.
Robin Roberts, co-host of Good Morning America, will conduct an “exclusive, wide-ranging interview” with President Barack Obama at the White House today.
A source at ABC confirms to POLITICO that Roberts will ask Obama about his views on same-sex marriage, an issue that has dogged his campaign this week.
…A portion of ABC’s interview will air tonight on “World News with Diane Sawyer”; the full interview will on “Good Morning America” tomorrow morning, per the ABC News press release.
"@thinkprogress: BREAKING: Senior Obama adviser says President Obama will endorse same-sex marriage soon thkpr.gs/JeWKb6"— Jared Johnson (@derajmnosnhoj) May 09, 2012
Well, I think it’s better politically to just get out there and do it then to keep the quenstion lingering all season long. I really don’t know how many people would change their minds and vote for Willard just because of the President’s opinion on this. It’s not like he can force the U.S. to legalize it in all 50 states or something–although i’m sure the GOP will start robocalling people telling them that he’s going to do that.
rest assured that PBO has seen this coming and will have his response ready. he has handled everything they’ve thrown so far with grace. it ‘s good to handle itnow
I sure wish the MSM would give similar attention to the actions or non-actions of opposition members. It’s a dream of mine on days when I’m feeling optimistic.
@RobinRoberts:We missed your 'wide-ranging interview' with the GOP leaders who gathered 20/1/09 2 plot against the legally elected President— Vick C. (@sonamie) May 09, 2012
Here’s the thing. If he does come out I know one thing, all those who just needed to have it better have his back on this. All those youth voters who care so much about this who didn’t come out yesterday in NC better have his back (personally, if youth cared about this issue like some seem to care about pot legalization, they would have come out in force yesterday and for Prop 8 in Cali. If you really believe in an issue, then get your but out there to that polling place, don’t matter what Obama says). All those gay donors who have claimed they are holding back monetary support sure betta open up their wallets….
But I suspect as has always been the case that if POTUS comes out for it the goal post will be moved AGAIN.
Having said all that, I don’t think he will come out for “gay marriage”, but he will re-iterate his support of civil unions which is the same as Hilary Clinton, and Bill Clinton and other Dems loved by certain groups. Or am I wrong when I say that neither HRC or Bill Clinton have said “I support gay marriage”?
I think the replayed comment from candidate Obama on the Ellen show that was here yesterday is where he is and has always been on this issue. Anyobody could have tracked it down.
Robin Roberts seems to be as much an ambulance chaser as Anderson Cooper. I hope he rattles off the 75 items he’s passed in support of gay causes, and asks her whether she’s going to hound Romney for his stance on marriage equality, and if he has decided to flip-flop on his plan to amend the Constitution to outlaw the idea of gays getting married and if he plans to reinstate DADT? Even if the President came out and said he supports marriage equality, what would that do to move the ball forward on this issue? Aarrrggghhh!
didn’t our President go on record with his stance on same sex marriage already? I could have sworn some of the msm played clips of him giving said statements.
A Very Good Morning, Chips & TODville! Wishing everyone a Wonderful Wednesday filled with meaning, good health, joy, and fun. Off to see what’s on hand for today.
Did you catch that segment Chuck Cod had that AA on?
The Tom foolery is at a high level, he agreed with Chuck that this could divide the AA vote and the Gay Community, siting a lot of Southern AA are Evangelicals.
If that is the case, then why did the President lose the Evangelical vote in 08…, 85-15?
Maybe, in some States this will be an issue, but 1 of many and certainly Not the overwhelming issue.
Jeesh!
The media is sure going to bat on this issue, clinging to it, think they have something which will divide Dems and hurt PBO. I’m surprised about Robin Roberts, who I’d bet supports Obama but is playing into GOP hands by pressing on this.
Jovie – black folk will vote for President Obama regardless of where he falls on this one issue. Willard is not an option.
I agree. Not sure why people are pushing this idea that Black people will run to Romney because of ONE issue. Blacks have had too many setbacks to allow something like this make them suddenly turn on the president. The idea that they would abandon him over this is patently ridiculous.
Media fed bullshit. Yet another “Obama having trouble with ______” meme. I knew it was just a matter of time.
Actually – I don’t think it’s a matter of getting people to vote for Romney. It’s about getting people NOT to vote – period. There’s a young pundit, Alicia Menendez (her Dad is Senator Menendez). She’s usually pretty awesome. Last night, she mentioned that Romney’s camp has no positive message for Latino voters, so their strategy is to depress Latino votes. There’s no way for them to recover what they’ve said about Latinos, immigration, etc. They will use the same strategy for black voters, gay voters, senior voters, middle class voters, etc. They have gone too far to flip it now – so they will just attack President Obama and get people so demoralized that they just won’t even bother to vote.They only need about 6% of the people to feel this way to sway the election. They’ve got a base of about 43% of racists, bigots, ignorant people, delusional people who just want to see the black man get out of the White House – no matter the consequences to themselves, their children and their country. So, if they can sway 6% of the rest of the people to just sit at home – they win.
that is my point theo67. Willard is NOT an option which is why my gut says minorities and sane Americans of all stripes will vote in droves come November.
This hatred and vitriol is an incentive to get out the vote. If only to make a statement. Obama will be elected President again in November. I will also predict he will win in a landslide. In order to get our voices heard in a way that makes a strong statement we will CRUSH them at the polls.
So I hope the media keeps it up. They are ensuring that we are not complacent. They will not win. Not this time.
Didn’t someone here say, a few days ago, that the Biden/Duncan endorsement of marriage equality was sort of just to “test the waters?” And that maybe PBO would do it soon after them?
I’m beginning to think there’s some sort of strategy to this. I could be wrong. We’ll see.
Honestly, I’ve had it up to here with this same sex marriage, and people telling the President what he should say. Yesterday I voted against that amendment here in North Carolina.
The 1st person I heard mentioning that “trial balloon” theory was a Rep. strategist, think her name is Alice Stewart. She is vicious BTW. Anyway Donna Brazille and Wolf Blitzer shot her down immediately. Because it was so clumsy and awkwardly done I seriously doubt that it was said on purpose. I think PBO had his own timeline in mind to express his feelings. Why would Axelrod have pushed back so quickly after Biden made those remarks. He knew the shitstorm it would cause which is what the WH is currently going though. They were not prepared for this. It is a distraction and has taken them off message. Not at all surprised at the RRoberts interview tonight. PBO can no longer unfortunately avoid this thanks to Biden.
I think the media took what Biden was trying to say which was to reiterate Obama’s current position, even tho he kinda sorta wasn’t clear on it—-we love Joe at our house but we always picture the Obama team crossing their fingers when he speaks—–and the media took it and ran with it, making it something which it was never intended to be. Of course, I could be wrong—-shocking, I know—-and it was all a plan. I just doubt it, as Joe was joking yesterday that he always means what he says, the prob is he always says what he means—-or something—-that he was aware he set off a firestorm.
thanks to @lolgop on twitter, i see that an inmate in texas got almost as many votes as rmoney did yesterday in west virginia. funny that’s not how the msm is telling the story though (sarcasm).
Thanks DF, I just twitted this. By the way, I just found out all the emails i have tried to send from my laptop are still there. Not sure what is wrong. I’ll email you from my other computer. Have a great day!
MOURDOCK IS CREEPY…BUT BECAUSE OF LUGAR’S RESIDENCY ISSUES…I KNEW THIS WAS COMING. SO MANY PEOPLE IN INDIANA ARE FILLED WITH HATE,RACISM AND SELF-CONSUMPTION…THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE!
morecrock also said this today, “To me, the highlight of politics, frankly, is to inflict my opinion on someone else with a microphone or in front of a camera.”
looking at the dictionary – “inflict: to impose as something that must be borne or suffered; something unwelcome.” yep, pretty much sums up morecrock and his republican voters and friends. no doubt about it! first time he’s probably ever said anything accurate.
There’s a lot of good people in Indiana too—-such as those who voted for Obama in 08 and gave him the win there. In Indy and Bloomington and nw In. and even South Bend and Evansville too—-lots of Obama voters.
OF COURSE THERE ARE DOTSTER..OUR TEAM REALLY HELPED TO TURN INDY IN 2008…WE SPENT 8 MTHS. IN LAFAYETTESQ. MALL…NOW THEY WON’T ALLOW US IN THERE…IT IS CRIME RIDDEN AND THEY DON’T WANT ANY GOVERNMENT REPS. ON THE PROPERTY…GO FIGURE…I WONDER WHY…HMMMMMMMMMMMM. WE WILL STILL FIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS PRESIDENT…HOWEVER…THERE ARE 1,145 HATE GOUPS NOW IN THIS STATE AND WE CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. TO BE SURE…HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL AND WE ARE FEARLESS….WE MOVE FORWARD!
The counties that voted "FOR" Amendment One were heavily white counties & the counties that voted "AGAINST" were minority counties. #NC— (@utaustinliberal) May 09, 2012
Don't let the media fool you. Counties that voted "FOR" Amend.1 were counties that went for McCain in 08 & #GOP in 2010. #NC— (@utaustinliberal) May 09, 2012
An RNC tool tweeted that AP reported Manchin refusing to say who he voted for yesterday but I can’t find anything in the Google machine about it. Wouldn’t be surprised if he voted for the inmate. He’s already voiced his opinion that he may not support PBO. Detest that Lieberman wanna-be.
I can neither explain nor understand my fellow West Virginians. There are none so blind as those who will not see. The very people who have already benefited from the Presiden’t policies and will do so in the future are the ones who refuse to support him. Most voters didn’t know the other name on the Dem. ballot was an inmate–he was just “anybody but Obama”. Some of it might be racial but that’s not the only reason. The Democrats here are definitely conservative I will admit and many would rather believe wild Tea Party stories and Rush-rants. I have tried to set the record straight, to no success. The truth doesn’t matter to them. My life-long Republican parents did vote for PBO in 2008, however, so I suppose I did some good. As for Manchin, he comes from a long line of Democrats in WV. I really believe he supports PBO more than he can say. If he came out and endorsed PBO, he would lose his reelection bid here by a huge margin. I have mixed feelings about him but as long as he has that “D” after his name, I will vote for him. We can’t let his GOP challenger win. Sometimes I feel so alone here in my support of PBO–that’s why I come to this site everyday to be with like-minded people.
I understand what you’re saying and have a great deal of sympathy for Democrats who live in hideously red states. But Manchin is more often than not actually working against the Democratic Party, so I just have absolutely no respect for him.
He does exactly what these crazy Dems here in WV want him to do–they’re wild about him. As I said, I have never been able to understand working and voting against one’s own best interests, but it happens here all the time.
I haven’t seen any lately—-but all are saying we have a better chance now than we did for the senate pick up and maybe another chance at In. PBO spent a lot of time there last time. I think he was at a manufacturing facility there once in the last few months, but that’s all I remember.
We stand a chance that we would not have had had Lugar won the primary. I think it’s a slim chance but it’s something. And I’m about to barf if I hear how bipartisan Dick Lugar is. He certainly hasn’t been through PBO’s entire term. He’s a conservative asshole, now replaced by a true RWNJ (read my quote below). But IN is full of RWNJ’s.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE ‘THINLY BLUE’ AS RECENTLY QUOTED BY AN OBAMA FELLOW! IT’S GOING TO BE A FIGHT THIS TIME…BUT…WE CAN DO IT…YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE! I LOVE MY PRESIDENT! I ALSO LIVE IN KKK COUNTRY…I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. 2 DAYS AGO I WENT TO THE STORE AND 3 WHITE GUYS WERE YELLING PIG NOISES AT MY ‘O’ VAN…I STOPPED…AND SAID ..I WOULDN’T!’ I WILL GET IN THEIR FACE!
15 counties w/40% turnout. 10 went for McCain & 5 for Obama in 08. Those McCain counties voted "FOR" Amend.1 Blacks voted "AGAINST"— (@utaustinliberal) May 09, 2012
Could be putting people back to work, instead they are planning to spend billions on missles defense on east coast. Listen up America, you see that people being out of jobs is not important to the Republicans
Don't be fooled by the media. Of the 5 minority counties Obama won in 08, three had high turnout. Blacks voted "AGAINST" Amend.1 #NC— (@utaustinliberal) May 09, 2012
RT @woodhouseb: So in an actual battleground state, you know the ones that determine who becomes president, Obama crushed Romney in NC b …— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) May 09, 2012
and that was with a lot of votes going to the inmate scam. who was pumping that inmate’s name beforehand anyway? some sort of rush limpbaugh-led thing?
Over 40% of Dems voted for a criminal so that means PBO got close to 60% of the vote……Robme only got a little over 50% of the GOP vote so that means close to 50% of the GOP voted for who? Is this an open primary that both sides can vote R or D? This story really does tell us anything except the way the media wants to spin it. I was watching this on teevee this morning and thought WTF that’s why I don’t watch national news shows in the morning. It is part of the MSM spin to discredit the President.
The GOP ballot here in WV still had Buddy Roemer, Ron Paul, Gingrich and Santorum on it, as well as Romney. I can only surmise the GOP vote was split between them.
Here’s how it broke down here in WV: (I hope this copies OK):
President D — 1,846 of 1,846 precincts reporting (100%)
Barack Obama [I] 105,833 59% (X)
Keith Judd 72,459 41%
President R — 1,846 of 1,846 precincts reporting (100%)
Mitt Romney 77,477 70% (X)
Rick Santorum 13,408 12%
Ron Paul 12,263 11%
Newt Gingrich 6,986 6%
Buddy Roemer 1,129 1%
No Votes Uncommitted 0 0%
I read that in 2007 the Democratic party opened up the Primary to Independents and others who are not affiliated with a specific party. I would be curious who this Keith Judd guy is and why he is on the Democratic party’s ticket in the first place.
Independents can request either a Dem. or Rep. ballot in the primary. All I know about Judd is what was in our local newspaper. I don’t know who “recruited” him for the Dem ballot. Here’s what was printed in the paper: “Keith Judd is incarcerated in the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution for making threats at the Univ. of New Mexico in 1999. He was able to get on the state ballot by paying a $2,500 filing fee and filing a form known as a notarized certification of announcement, said Jake Glance, a spokesman for the Sec. of State’s office. By receiving over 15 percent of the vote, he will qualify to receive delegates to the national Dem. convention. But State Dem. Party executive director Derek Scarbro said no one has filed to be a delegate for Judd, and the state party was unaware that Judd has actually filed the required paperwork”
That would get Tapper attention, but when Mitt Romney lies, that doesn’t get his attention does it. I’m going to say it like it need to be said, any time you would vote for a man in prison, over the sitting President, something is behind that beside the economy. Could it be the President is Black? Let’s not kid ourselves, there is still alot of racism out there in this country.
A new study provides the best evidence to date that higher levels of income inequality in the United States actually lead to more deaths in the country over a period of years.
The findings suggest that income inequality at any one point doesn’t work instantaneously – it begins increasing mortality rates 5 years later, and its influence peaks after 7 years, before fading after 12 years.”…
Other scholars have hypothesized why income inequality may lead to higher death rates. One reason may be that, in countries with rising income inequality, the interests of the wealthy tend to diverge from the rest of society. The wealthiest people may push government for more services for themselves, rather than invest in public goods like education or affordable medical services – services that can affect health for the majority of people.”
Cumulus Media, which owns several radio stations that broadcast Rush Limbaugh’s radio program, told financial analysts that the boycott of Limbaugh’s advertisers cost them millions of dollars in revenue through the first two quarters of the year. “It hit us pretty hard,” an executive said.
Good morning, TODers. Apologies in advance for this looong rant, but I had to get some things off my chest. And I probably won’t address this again.
Back in my ‘QuietObserver’ days on Daily Kos, I wrote a diary about the importance of keeping focus of legal and social progress without the constant need for validation or concession from the president or anyone else. Instead of being angry that not everyone agrees with you, I argued, why not recognize allies that work to expand and protect your rights, even if it’s not without fanfare? Why not let yourselves shine without waiting for cover from the president?
I think in retrospect that I missed part of what was driving the outright slander of PBO from the left at that point- the sense of entitlement and superiority over anyone who thinks differently, and the un-admitted prejudice against /distrust of a Black man in power and the influence he has on other Blacks throughout the nation. Yep, there it is. And as a result, African Americans continue to be slandered as the ignorant, monolithic, “bigoted” blockers of gay rights. All 13% of us. The irony is that the left is using the very play book that the anti-gay groups laid out for victory!: Using gay marriage as a wedge issue to divide people of color and LGBT groups, and people of faith and LGBT groups, tearing apart the Democrats’ broad coalition. Like most of my diaries having to do with Obama, it was generally scoffed at as “apologist”. Of course, that crowd completely missed the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement while also trying to co-opt it AND rebrand Blacks as “the New Jim Crow” (Yes, that phrase was promoted at Daily Kos in 2010.)
Ultimately, the reason that voter-backed social amendments fail is because they are based on emotion and social prejudice, and the assumption that people will educate themselves on YOUR issues. Not true. You have to educate them! You have to organize and do the work! And you can’t expect a population (ie, The South) that you constantly dismiss as unworthy to turn around and evolve into the open minded people you want them to be without outreach.
But in the end, you cannot force change into a person’s heart. You cannot force change into a person’s mind. And legal changes should not be based on what makes people “comfortable.” Such laws should always be based on constitutional civil rights.
^^^The preacher was 100% right. Why are groups trying to make this into a referendum on the idea of the institution of gay marriage? Why, for the 30th time (in NC), is a legal amendment that directly affects people’s rights as citizens, being handed over to the general public who may or may not be versed in constitutional rights, and may or may not care either way? This is what the legislative branch is for. The state fails for putting this on the ballot. They also failed in my home state of California.
But back to the president. Most important fact: The Obama Administration has been working consistently, often quietly, to advance the rights of the LBGT community since DAY ONE. THAT is what should be important, not whether Barack Obama likes the idea of gay marriage. Actions, not words- that’s what we keep hearing. Well, look at the actions.
People trying to paint President Obama as a personal homophobe are either ignorant or lying. And frankly, anyone who believes he doesn’t support gay marriage because he hasn’t come out and said the magic words, in this order: “I personally believe in gay marriage,” doesn’t want to look at the facts behind the cryptic words coming from the WH. No, I don’t believe that President Obama “struggles” with this issue, at least not on an ethical level. I’m not arrogant enough to claim to be able to read someone else’s heart or thoughts, but there’s just no logical reason to believe it, based on his OWN actions. Let’s forget for a moment that Barack Obama “unequivocally” supported gay marriage in 1996, in a hand-typed letter, at the dawn of his political career, at a time when he was already married and had already accepted his particular path of Faith. We cannot forget that in his first press conference as PRESDIDENT-ELECT, he says boldly that anyone that knows him knows that he has always been a “fierce advocate” for gay rights, and that he has consistently shown and proved since then.
I don’t think the president is afraid of consequences that may come if he makes clear what has been apparent to anyone paying attention. He doesn’t need anyone to explain away why he “can’t” do something because republicans will react. (Some tried to explain away why he hadn’t talked about Trayvon, because at the time he didn’t do it when THEY wanted him to. Yet he eventually offered one of the most poignant and true statements on the subject). I don’t even think it’s about playing politics or being concerned about losing votes. I think he is trying to gracefully back out of an awkward situation. I think that while he was running for national office, he painted himself into a philosophical corner, yes, for the sake of voters. Now, he’s maneuvering back into the middle of the room in a way where he won’t risk being called a flip-flopper or a man of wavering values (hence the “evolving”). Like so many issues we’ve seen in this presidency, to blindly attack him as he moves is like screaming at a man trying to diffuse a bomb, yelling out at him what cord he should cut, and telling him that the place is about to blow up and it will be all his fault (because everyone is a genius bomb expert in their own mind).
And THAT all being said…
I predict PBO will eventually come out in full support of same-sex Marriage. It may very well be this term, before the election. If/when that day comes, his formal announcement of his support for gay marriage, as president, on a national level, may offer the opportunity to bring aboard a lot of people who do support him- or at least, respect him- who may be holding out support for a number of reasons. And this will happen not because they blindly follow PBO, but because they see in him as a respectable and loving model for marriage and family. Regardless if the disinformation that pervades conservativism and the media, Obama is a model of moderation and critical thinking. Could this highly-telegraphed dance be a way to gently guide more people toward the idea of marriage equality? We’ll see.
Whether you recognize it or not, President Obama and his administration are laying the groundwork to make SSM a reality. Give him the room to maneuver, and do your part to move the agenda forward.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and insightful and level-headed post. I think the most important point is that we can’t go around insulting and dismissing people’s concerns and then expect them to listen to us. I think many of the GOP leaders are using this issue cynically, but they can do that because for many people it is a deeply troubling issue. We have to accept that and speak to those concerns in language that can be heard and accepted if we want to change minds on this issue. And that should not delay the process of bringing civil rights to any group in this country.
I don’t even want to read anything concerning that idiot Allen West, unless it’s saying someone kick his sorry ass. West is a poor excuse for a human being.Kick his ass out of the Congress is what I mean, I am not talking about violence.
Sorry JamilaJP, I’ve been away from the blog for a while and just found your comment in pending when I came back – I’ve no idea why it didn’t go straight through, sorry about that, I’ve now freed it! Looking forward to reading it, thank you.
7:15 Tonight the President and First Lady host a concert honoring songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David as part of “In Performance at the White House” series. Should be livestreamed at the WH although not listed yet.
When the same sex marriage issue was introduced for discussion on The View today, I thought “oh no”——–and of course Elizabeth jumped in whole hog—–’everything is Obama’s fault!’—–everything! Going off on it, yelling 100 miles an hour. Obama-bad, bad, bad! And then Joy said that this next election is so critical, that PBO has to be re-elected or we’re in a lot of trouble!——audience applauded in agreement!—-as she made the point that many of the battleground states that he has to win have not yet “evolved” to where we want them to be—–so this awareness is key.
I was thinking about this the other day. They really are crazy, aren’t they? I was so tickled when PBO joked about this at the WHCD when he said blaming your predecessor began with W. so STFU GOP. I added that last part.
A national group opposed to same-sex marriage aimed to fight it by driving “a wedge between gays and blacks” and identifying “glamorous” Latino artists and athletes to advocate traditional marriage, according to newly released confidential memos.
The strategies were among several pursued by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which has actively campaigned against same-sex marriage efforts.
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, said it obtained the documents, part of a civil action in Maine, on Monday and published them on its website.
white press corps must have received the same memo, since that’s why, in unison, to them this became the most important issue in the world!! answer the question 20 times over jay carney, you jerk. meanie. (paraphrasing chuck todd, noral mcdonnell, jake yapper, and so on)
Interesting how the media pushed the meme of Blacks being against gay marriage and how they tied it to the president.
And many of the progressives played right along.
omg. just when i thought coward whineman couldn’t get anymore ridiculous after his “as we hangout together here at the kentucky derby i must say, mitch mcconnell is the nicest man in the world…” (i’m not exaggerating), i see this picture today:
No laughing here. I’ve never seen Fineman as objective – especially after him going to HuffPo.
He’s whatever will gain him access and I question the validity of his “sources”.
Wasn’t Richard Wolfe suspended from MSNBC on Keith Olbermann due to a “conflict of interest” being a paid reporter and being an unpaid analyst appearing occasionally on KO’s show? I am sure HuffPo is paying HF as a regular contributor.
Okay TOD (Pennsylvania Branch) will any of you be attending? Sessions will be held in Philly, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. Hope to meet some of you in Philly.
Hmmmmmm. A former Obama speechwriter, Jon Lovett, has sold a sitcom to NBC called “1600 Penn” about a fictious, dysfunctional first family, which will begin airing in the fall. Writer said this has nothing to do with the current occupants as they are as far away from dysfunctional as you can get, but——not sure this is needed right now—–looks like there’s a black president and a white first lady with a couple of troublemaking kids. http://www.mediaite.com/online/nbc-orders-former-obama-speechwriters-white-house-sitcom-1600-penn/
Oh my effing God. I don’t have time to read all the comments to see if this got covered yet, but Oh. My. God:
“CHUCK TODD: You have said that there needs to be more partisanship in Washington. How do you square that with being a legislator?
RICHARD MOURDOCK: Well, what I’ve said is that I certainly think bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view. [...] Bipartisanship means they have to come our way [...] To me, the highlight of politics, frankly, is to inflict my opinion on someone else with a microphone or in front of a camera. [...] Even those Republicans who more often than not vote the right way aren’t coming back into their states or their districts and getting in front of the unfriendly crowds and unfriendly microphones to make the point as to why our point of view is good. [...] I feel I can defend the purpose of conservatism, and more Republicans should be doing it just as I want to”
My impression from the headline was that Dem’s are THRILLED to hear this guy talk this way. He is the RWNJ to top all RWNJ. I don’t think they meant that Dem’s agreed with what he was saying.
If this were a Democratic congress person and not Michele Bachmann, the 24X7coverage would have made the Reverend Wright coverage look like “Mister Rogers”. Just image the heads exploding if the roles were reversed. The right wing would be beside themselves. We would never hear the end of it. But fortunately for the GOP, it’s one of their own so – never mind. Move along, nothing to see here.
Michele Bachmann, Swiss citizen
By Steve Benen
————————————
Doug Mataconis noted, “Perhaps it has happened before, and I don’t necessarily have a problem with it, but one has to wonder how Bachmann and her fellow Republicans would react if a Democrat did something like this.”
I had the same thought. I can only imagine the breathless Fox News reports about the nefarious Democratic lawmaker who “wasn’t satisfied with her American citizenship,” so she picked up dual citizenship for her and her children from a “liberal European country” — probably because of Switzerland’s universal health care system and generous, anti-freedom welfare state.
Yep my entire twitter timeline is dems/libs and progressives at one another’s throats on this issue~ the media has done a fine fine job.. and once again folks allow themselves to be manipulated into attacking/pressuring Pres Obama rather than the republicans/Romney/Media. Pathetic.
This gay marriage thing got me shittin bricks. I honestly want him to come out for it (bc he knows it will be a weight off his chest and conscious) but I’m just afraid he will lose. I’m being 100% honest right now.
President Obama is already in full support of marriage equality. Marriage = civil union. The same rights, legal protections and benefits for same-sex civil unions as for opposite-sex civil unions.
It’s not having a wedding in church that makes a marriage what it is – it’s the legal process and documents that make it what it is.
I’ve unfollowed some folks today too. My goal is to get President Obama elected. My goal is to not have anymore Bachmanns, Cantors, Mcconnels or other teaparty/repubs pushing the BS they’re pushing on this country. My goal is to have equal rights for every single one of us; and not to have the clock rolled back on women, gays, people of color; my goal is with my President to move forward.. and the one thing I’m certain of is that electing any republican will not move us forward.
I’m with you 1000%. This election is crucial, the impact will be felt for generations. The Supreme Court weighs heavily upon us. There are some folks in every camp who will never vote for POTUS regardless of where he stands on the issues. But I’m going to fight tooth and nail for his – our – victory.
Me too. I’ve unfollowed a lot of folks this morning. I may have to shut my computer down for the next week as well. Truly sad how we turn into a bunch of reactionary tools. Allowing the MSM and GOP to control the narrative over and over again. Unbelievable.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney will not hold a press briefing today. President Obama is scheduled to sit down with ABC News for an interview at the White House this afternoon. Obama is likely to be questioned about his views on gay marriage, the New York Times reports.
I have googled about this new meme the media has now, Keith Judd got 41% of the Democratic votes and he beat PBO in many counties. This guy who is in prison for stealing to some of the white democratic voters is better than a sitting Democratic president that is trying to make their lives better. These folks should just register Republican then. I understand that the Democratic party opened it’s primary to Independents or other unaffiliated voters in 2007 however it doesn’t matter because I believe racism is obviously the reason for the 41% who voted for the criminal. It appears that Americans have no shame in openly admitting they would rather vote for a known criminal than an AA President. No matter what PBO does he will not be accepted in part of this country.
We drove through there once on the way home from an east coast trip. We wanted to check out the famous Greenbrier Resort there, which was impressive as advertised, but so far removed from where it sits. People were walking around mid-day as if from another era—-guys in sport coats, gals in fancy summer dresses, many with hats, manicured golf course and grounds, beautiful buildings. And then you drive out of there and within blocks we saw the worst poverty-stricken areas we’ve ever seen—–miles and miles of just shacks, old abandoned coal mining towns. There is beautiful geography there, beautiful mountain scenery, but better access to quality education there would seem to be key. Someone, or lots of someones, have failed a large chunk of the populace there.
And in this inmate voting case, I suspect any name that wasn’t Barack Obama looked good, and most probably had no idea they were voting for someone in the slammer.
Whatever the President has to say about gay marriage this afternoon, I stand by him 100 percent. Whether he is for it or against it does not matter. What matters are his policies. And his policies have done more than any president in history to advance the rights of and support LGBT Americans.
I feel about this the same way I felt about him releasing his long form bert cert. There’s nothing wrong with him stating his opinion, but I don’t like the fact that he may feel forced to do so before he wants to. Whether or not he believes in SSM, is his own personal opinion. He has never discriminated against the LGBT community and he has done everything in his power to preserve, protect and expand those rights. That should be enough. Like UT said, he shouldn’t have to cut himself open just so we can crowd around like vultures to see if he really bleeds blue. I don’t see the Rethug base carving up Willard and that creature is the most vile, insincere and reprehensible thing in existence.
Almost all the vile tweets I get are from folks who have tweeted 1000s of times & have very few followers: #nothinginterestingtosay— Jim Messina (@Messina2012) May 09, 2012
WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled House has made clear that it’s unhappy with how long the Justice Department is taking to hand over documents regarding a U.S. gun-tracking operation in Mexico.
By a voice vote, the House agreed to a symbolic $1 million cut in money for salaries at the department. That move was orchestrated by South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy during action Tuesday on the Justice Department spending bill. Gowdy says Congress has been too patient with the department.
In Operation Fast and Furious, U.S. agents hoping to track weapons allowed hundreds of guns to flow from U.S. gun shops in Arizona into Mexico. Two of the guns were later discovered at the scene of the killing of a U.S. border agent.
What, please is a symbolic cut in salaries. If it is a real cut, seems a lot of people will have grounds for a lawsuit against the government if they had nothing to do with Fast & Furious.
Half the USA has gone bat-shite crazy – an observation from over here.
Andrea Mitchell opens her show by saying President Obama is about to make a “big change” on his stance on gay marriage, mentioning his interview with Robin Roberts. Did PBO call Andrea this morning?
That seems to be the expectation, altho most of this speculation seems to be coming from Halperin, so……. They see that Carney cancelled the WH press briefing for today, after he’s been bombarded with only gay marriage questions the last couple of days——-and the newly scheduled interview with Robin Roberts this afternoon—–arranged just yesterday afternoon. We shall see what we shall see. There are certainly positives if this is the case, but I agree with those that fear that there are political risks also.
Here is Andrew Sullivan’s take on President Obama’s upcoming interview. It is very short, so I have used only two sentences:
“[...] Some are saying he will make news. I doubt it, and I don’t much care. The Congress and the states are the players here – not the president. [...]”
According to him, some in the gay community are looking for affirmation President Obama. Andrew considers this “sad”.
I have long believed that he should be left alone on this issue, but when he used the word “evolved”, the floodgates were opened.
I am praying hard about this one. ( I’m sort of miffed with VP Joe. I wish he would think before he speaks.)
Instead of a “time-out room”, I think a padded room is the better suggestion.
Sorry if someone else has posted this. I noticed that North Carolina was trending on twitter, so I went to see what the stream was like. If you need a good laugh, check it out: https://twitter.com/#!/search/%22North%20Carolina%22
LOTS of great tweets from open hearted folks. And great snark: e.g. link to new sommee card – Congratulations to John Edwards and the Charlotte Bobcats for no longer being the most embarrassing thing about North Carolina.
I’ve been trying to find time between yesterday and today to catch up on all of the postings, so forgive me if someone has already posted the Bryan Fischer back-handed apology to Mitt Romney regarding the Richard Grenell firing. But I believe it’s definitely worth sharing again since this is a conservative saying that Romney has no core values and principles (which of course we already knew.) But the salient point in Fischer comments is exactly what Lis Smith has challenged Romney on: his leadership capabilities and being able to stand up to foreign countries. Fischer mocks Romney and says “having caved on this issue to a yokel like me,” showed that he could be “pushed around, intimidated, coerced, co-opted by a conservative radio talk show host in Middle America.”
While my focus is not to spend time on what conservatives will or will not be in Romney’s camp this November, it think this just gives us PBO supporters further argument as to why Mitt is such a weak candidate.
Me too, CK. But I believe that if anyone can think through this and respond rationally and reasonably, it’s President Obama.
I am praying hard for him on this, as hard as I prayed for the Rev.Wright issue.
I simply don’t believe the good Lord has brought him this far to leave him.
Now Andrea Mitchell is saying that President Obama will endorse gay marriage within the hour, as close to stating it as fact as possible. I’m not sure how she knows. Fineman’s sources?
When I left the house, it was Halperin who was reporting this on Andrea Mitchell’s show! However, there are now more sources than that.
Here’s what scared me: Halperin thought it was a good idea for PBO! However, the context was that this puts the issue away and that the administration is ready to put Romney and the Republicans in a box on this. I think I heard that Romney said [today?] that he against even civil unions if it will afford the same rights as marriage! Do remember that the Mormons have invested a boatload of money and manpower to do this damage to the rights of Americans.
I am expecting my President to thread the needle so deftly as to confound the stupid out there. My heart has always wanted this, but I do not want it to hurt his chances of reelection. I am confident that if PBO is ready to make this statement, then he knows that it has political, as well as moral and human, advantages.
Yup. Romney said yesterday that he’s against civil unions if they actually afford any rights to gay Americans. Okay, okay, it’s a bit of a spin but that’s the gist. It’s on Steve Benen’s blog today.
Howdy to a;; my O peeps!!!! Another great getting up day here in TODville!! I expect PBO to calm the swirling waters around the current shiny object. I don’t think he will come out and state that he is in favor of gay marriage, but rather signal as he’s always done, that he isn’t against the civil rights of all gay marriages where allowed, nor civil unions where not yet allowed. However, should he make a definitive statement, I hope we can respect that decision without too much angst.
I just got good news from, my #2 daughter, who just launched her website “Eighties Babies for Obama”. She decided to do this after hearing from friends that they were not as enthusiastic about the 2012 election as they were in ’08. So she came up with this site as a way to enlighten her peers while fundraising for the campaign. She and a friend, both Howard Univ alums, designed contemporary t-shirts that appeal to the younger set. Part of the proceeds will go to the Obama campaign. I’d like to post a link to her site here for your perusal to take a look at the site, click around on the tabs, hopefully place an order, then pass it along to your friends, especially the younger set.
I don’t remember who brought this topic up on this site about wanting something that a younger set could relate to. Chips is it possible for me to post the link here?
Good on your friend. And I’m sorry but anyone who claims that they are not as “enthusiastic about 2012″ as they were in 2008 needs to grow the fuck up. This is not an entertainment concert – even though the media presents it that way. This is an election – with a lot at stake. 2008 was historic, yes, but we need to move past that.
Yeah my daughter couldn’t believe it. These are college grads she was talking to. The same folks who benefit from student loan, Pell Grant changes, and even PBO donating some of his Nobel Peace prize money to HBCUs. She recently moved to LA and just couldn’t believe how non-political her age group is. They have no opinion at all, or are repeating ‘Pub talking points without knowing why. She was so frustrated that she felt she needed to do something.
This is wonderful. Send our collective love and appreciation to your daughter. Give us the link as soon as possible. I will pass it along. For an old broad, I have a lot of young friends who could use this.
I should wait to hear PBO’s definitive statements on this issue before getting too far ahead of the parade. But if as expected Obama endorses , I just worry about the acceptance of the older generation on this issue. They vote in huge numbers, and young people who will support Obama overwhelmingly on this issue, are not as dependable. I already hear some rumblings in my midst, some of whom I convinced to vote for President Obama, the first time voting for a Dem, or one of the rare times. They will have trouble with this acceptance. Now whether it is a deciding factor or not, especially if there will be enough education during the campaign on the Repubs plans for Medicare and social security—–and all their other radical plans to feed the wealthy and starve the middle class——-I do not know. I will worry though, especially in the key states. I just want President Obama re-elected—-and agree that this election is so critical to the whole future of this country. Hopefully, good will prevail.
If he comes out in support of SSM today, some of the states he won in 2008 might not go his way in November. However, this is what many wanted. They wanted him to come out before the election, instead of waiting until after the election, which would have been a much better time.
Joe B., and I do not believe it was part of a plan—–I don’t think he meant to say it the way it was taken—- released the flood gates and forced the timing on this issue.
I think the negative political consequences of his “evolution,” should it happen, would be temporary. The people that make gay marriage a huge issue did not vote for Obama in 2008, and they weren’t going to this time. Blue-collar voters in states like Ohio or North Carolina might feel alienated at first, since many of them are not comfortable for whatever reason with gay marriage. This will probably be fleeting, though. The economy will be issue #1 in November for them, so they’ll side with the candidate they feel has a better vision for bringing us back to prosperity (probably PBO )
Meanwhile, LGBT supporters and donors, along with young people, will be fired up and that momentum at this point will be huge. Now is when we need to get the ground game going, and they’re the ones to do it.
IMO, PBO has very little to lose by coming out and endorsing the legalization of same-sex marriage. We’ll see what happens.
AZ Governor Brewer has signed a law banning funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that was backed by Mrs. Barry Goldwater in Arizona many years ago.
If we lose the House AND the Senate, then this is going to be the Mother of all scorched earth mania. Congress will defund every freakin’ thing they can get their hands on – ACA, departments and cabinet positions, Wall St. Reform, etc., etc., etc. They will thwart any and all foreign policy decisions and actions. They will never approve of PBO’s Supreme Court nominees. They will decimate women’s rights. In short, we are so very royally SCREWED. Please keep this in mind as we work to re-elect POTUS and on down the ticket in every crucial state.
Yet another reason why we must re-elect President Obama. If, God forbid, the GOP would gain control of all of Congress, the president could at least be there to veto their craziness.
You're the arsonist. Shut up! RT @RyanLizza Expectations so out of control that Obama may need to endorse polygamy to make news.— Pnthrgrlgail (@Mama4Obama1) May 09, 2012
I was clicking from link to link yesterday and stumbled on a story that the Sister Wives family feels that they must be open-minded and tolerant if they expect people to treat them with open-mindedness and tolerance. They really were okay with SSM and wanted to raise their 17 (!) children to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs. It was a hoot.
I remember a Utah Mormon in 2008, I believe, who believed that everyone’s right to privacy and his/her own conscience was at risk if a woman was denied the right to choose. I can picture her, but have no recollection of her name. She would not choose to have an abortion, but she felt that her religious freedom, as a matter of common sense and logic, had to include her extending that freedom to everyone else.
Smart women and Morman woman in Utah…..it should be done of anyones business whether two adults of the same or opposite sex get married. The states and federal government should only care if they are of age and that there are no fraudulent multiple marriages. Just like the constitution does not say only MEN should hold a political office although for years it had been men. What would NC or these other states do it there was a constitutional amendment that only men can hold office or women can’t vote? Who would stop these states from doing that? I bet you would get a significant number of men and women that would vote for that?
Obama insider tells me this was not a WH orchestrated effort re gay marriage. Biden opened his mouth and……https://twitter.com/#— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) May 09, 2012
I’m so God damned sick of anyone in the press who DOES NOT LISTEN to what is actually said. I watched Biden, I watched it twice. He was eloquent AND CLEAR that he was expressing his personal belief and the President and the administration were wholeheartedly in support of rights for all Americans, as evidenced by the administration’s record. He didn’t put his foot in it, unless he was going to lie about his personal beliefs in answer to a direct question. And believe me, if he had done that there still would have been a shitstorm to contend with.
Maybe the press will stop screaming Evolving towards the President and concentrate on Romney who believes we should be living in 1950s! #p2— Claude Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) May 09, 2012
David Gregory, Chuck Todd and Halperin have one thing in common, they are Romney apologist. Just remember that. They want Romney in the White House. This all started on Meet The Press (Tim Russert would be sickened). Toad ran with it and Gregory backed him up. As quite as it’s keep folks let’s be honest, if President Obama comes out for homosexual marriage he will lose States he won in 2008. There is no way around it.
I hope this awakens the campaign to the fact that they are not running against Romney. They are running against the media. Romney is a joke candidate with third rate campaign apparatus. They’re pathetic. No, the reason Romney is even in the running is because the media is running for him. It’s that simple.
Good for Tamryn Hall, she shut done that false equivalency argument when her guest Amy B tried to say both parties are guilty of not wanting bi-partisianship. Tamryn said, ‘name one, just one Democrat who has said this”. Of course the guest couldn’t. More of this please.
.@Lawrence Given Obama's RECORD on LGBT, hope those pushing for him to *come out* today — not 11/07 — are committed to #VoterReg & #GOTV!— (@Only4RM) May 09, 2012
From the White House: “On May 16, President Barack Obama will award Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Specialist Sabo will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on May 10, 1970, while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia.”
Ok so PBO has endorsed same sex marriage. Let’s hope all the whiny emoprogs who’ve been freaking out on twitter have his back because the next 6 months are going to be loooooooooong.
Good morning!
G’morning & congrats on #1!
Morning Chips and all.
Good morning Chips. Good morning fam.
good morning all
Tonight, geeks in Brooklyn will take part in what can now fairly be called a mini-trend in political fundraising: the Obama campaign enlisting its technology staffers to serve as the draw at low-to-mid-dollar events, offering would-be donors not only a chance to rub elbows with those at the forefront of political technology but also a glimpse at what the campaign has in the works when it comes to the Internet, mobile, and more in its competition against Mitt Romney.
Tapping campaign aides to headline fundraisers isn’t a technique invented by the Obama campaign. But the organization is using its tech staffers more, and reaching more deeply into its bench, than has been past practice. As the general election nears, these “tech fundraisers” are one more return on the considerable investment in technology and technologists that the Obama campaign has been making since its own start-up phase in 2007.
Hosted at the sparely gorgeous bookstore and event space PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo, the fundraiser is billed as “The Obama Campaign’s Digital Strategy: An Inside Perspective.” Featured are Teddy Goff, Obama for America’s digital director, and Joe Rospars, the campaign’s chief digital strategist and architect of the 2008 campaign’s online operation. Tickets start at $75 a person with access to a cash bar; $1,500 gets you a pre-event reception, rights to an open bar, and your name on the event invitation. For those who closely follow presidential politics, Rospars’ name is reasonably well-known, if Goff’s slightly less so, and both serve in roles that the Obama operation has famously treated as part of the campaign’s senior management. But the Obama campaign has also, in recent months, included in the fundraising mix aides serving in jobs that traditionally had lower public profiles, if any profile at all, like chief technology officer Harper Reed and Catherine Bracy, the lead on Obama’s San Francisco field office, which is geared towards volunteers with coding, design, and other technology skills.
http://m.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/at-campaign-fundraisers-obamas-tech-staffers-are-the-stars/256882/
Awesome. Love how they’re trying to appeal to various fundraising segments. You like celebrities? Ok….donate some money and you could hang with Clooney. You’re a tech geek…ok, donate some money and you could hang with tech geniuses like Goff and Rospars, you like fashion….ok, donate some money and you could hang with fashion icons like Anna Wintour, Prabal Gurung, Tory Burch, Donna Karan, Jason Wu, Vera Wang etc. or you could go to the store and buy some of their gear.
Very smart move.
Yes very innovate indeed. Always one step ahead of everyone else.
i’m sayin’ this country is blessed, BLESSED, to have a president like Pres. Barack Obama. How smart is this??!!?? Though I am far, far from a chef, I’d pay for a session with the White House chefs. I know, I know, probably couldn’t do it, because they aren’t campaign staffers, but it would be scrumptious!!
GM…Chips….GM Isonnnnnn…GM TOD Fam….
Isonnnnnnnn…….
that is a great idea….
perhaps you could send that idea to the campaign….
Not sure if that would work since they are government employees. But a session with Wolfgang Puck? I’d be there.
Good Morning Chips and TOD
It’s a new day and we are moving FORWARD. I just want to take a moment and tell you all how much I appreciate your knowledge, your humor and your passion for this President. Life would not be the same without this supportive space (ya hear that Chips!).
Take a listen to why Ohio (and America) is Ready to Go! http://bit.ly/IZSObw
Have a great productive O’Day everyone!
I second all that you said Donna.. and a great O’Day back to you
WASHINGTON – New voter ID and registration rules are on the books in 17 states and more are in the pipeline, so the Obama campaign is giving volunteer organizers and voters a crash course on the new election laws.
Experts say these new rules could diminish participation among young and minority voters — two groups that are key to President Obama’s re-election strategy.
In Florida, where a new law requires political parties to certify organizers registering voters and turn over signed forms within 48 hours or face steep fines, the campaign has begun training volunteers on the details. In Wisconsin, where — barring a successful legal challenge — a new photo ID rule will be in effect, Obama volunteers have hosted talks over sandwiches at private homes and public libraries about the new requirements.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05-08/obama-new-voter-laws/54844900/1
Good morning TOD family; from London. I cannot keep away from this site not that I would want to. Chipsticks is doing a great work on this site. Nothing or no-one is going to get me to change my stance; President Obama will have a Second Term. I told my daughter the he will be president after I heard of the grand-mother died she asked how do I know this; I said “she died knowing that he’d president; she leaves through the back door and he entered through the front door”.
CHICAGO (CBS) – When world leaders come to Chicago in just 12 days for the NATO summit, their spouses will get a very special tour given by First Lady Michelle Obama.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/08/michelle-obama-to-take-nato-spouses-on-tour-of-south-side-youth-center/
Congrats Maryl1, have a good one all!
GM folks.
jovie, I don’t know how you find all those interesting nuggets. You got your own google ?
Forest Gump- Lt Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit Company named Apple!
Jovie, I hope you really are invested in Apple. Years ago when shares were at $11, a techie friend tried to convince me to load up. I didn’t take her advice.
Vice President Joe Biden touched down in Nashville for the second time in six months Monday to rev up a few dozen Democratic Party stalwarts and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for President Barack Obama’s re-election bid.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120508/NEWS02/305070063/Fundraiser-brings-Vice-President-Joe-Biden-back-to-Nashville
I wish that I could go.
ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Good morning everyone!
Good morning all.
Happy Teacher’s Day (if this is celebrated in your country today)
In India, it is on Sept 5th, the birthday of our first Teacher President.
Apparently, the dem turnout was just 25K more than the repub turnout in WI. Will more dems turnout on the day that really counts ?
If they want to get rid of that Gov.Scott Walker they will show up.
That’s not good enough at all.
30,000 folks gathered almost a million signatures….they have come too far to turn back…i pray that the Creator grants them the courage and the muster to see it thru….to do what they must do to be successful….
the people united can never be defeated….
See that’s what pisses me off. 30000 people worked their asses off to collect those 1 million signatures and only about 60% show up ?
why do we always see things as half empty
And always the same people. Interesting.
it is not that it is the same people…i find that in many areas…in my fam…on my job…everywhere….
The story of Fired UP Ready to go…..of how that small gathering of folks had so much energy and guts….
The People of Wisconsin….have done what folks said could not be done….it was a herculean effort….
i believe that they will not drop the ball…i believe that they have WILL to see it thru…..that they will be successful and Inspire the rest us….
Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We are engaged in a Hercuclean effort — and we have no guarantee of victory.We might not win this one, even though we struggle mightily. Those from outside don’t seem to have a clue what we’re up against. And who we’re up against. And how very brilliant (unfortunately) much of the propaganda has been. And how much virulent anger we face from many sides from own family, friends, employers, etc. in our communities. We’re fighting a civil war in Wisconain. The populations of the two sides are quite equivalelnt.
I live in Sean Duffy’s district (formerly held by the great David Obey). Since Duffy was elected two years ago, we have received at least two very professional (and lying) mailings EVERY WEEK along with regular phone calls, robo calls, push polls, invitations to events, etc., etc. The brainwashing (and, as I mentioned, it has been done incredibly well) has been incessant. And has fueled resentment against opponents and “the least among us.” These regular mailings are not just for Duffy. They’re for Walker as well. Regular television ads compleent the mailings. The 2010 election campaign never ended!!!!
I often feel we are ground zero for a much larger battle. No one should underestimate the forces aligned against us.
No one should underestimate the forces aligned against us………..
AMEN
Good morning, everyone. Have a blessed and peaceful day.
That suit that President Obama is wearing is quite extra nice. Loving the material.
G’day, y’all! Oh dear, it is very early……
Puck signs iron-clad confidentiality agreement…
Los Angeles-based celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will cook for President Obama’s glam fundraising dinner at George Clooney’s house this Thursday, May 10th, TMZ.com has exclusively reported. The $40,000/person dinner was the subject of a big fundraising push with the Obama, Clooney & You sweepstakes, which offered the chance for two donors and their guests to join the President, the movie star, and Southern California’s richest presidential supporters. (Above: The President and Clooney at the White House)
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/05/celebrity-chef-wolfgang-puck-will-cook.html
Did they announce the winners already?
First Lady will welcome leaders’ spouses to the White House & to her hometown…
First Lady Michelle Obama will host two luncheons and a dinner for the spouses of the foreign leaders who will meet next week with President Obama for the back-to-back G-8 and NATO Summits, the East Wing has announced. Acclaimed chefs José Andrés of Washington, DC and Paul Kahan of Chicago, Ill. have been invited to separately cook the luncheons for Mrs. Obama and her guests. Both have visited the White House before, and are intimates of Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. (Above: Andrés, l, with Kass and Mrs. Obama during a 2010 summer harvest in the Kitchen Garden)
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/05/chefs-jose-andres-paul-kahan-invited-to.html
Jose Andres is a very good soul. Mrs. O will be so proud to show off her hometown.
This is excellent. Writer shreds Morning Joke’s frequent premise that Marco Rubio is no less prepared than was Barack Obama:
http://www.broadwaycarl.com/2012/05/take-that-joe-scarborough.html
Thanks, I tweeted this
GM Dotster and TOD. This piece is excellent. Thank you!
great write and a great read. Thanks for the link
This article was excellent. I had grown so tired of the unprepared to be President meme when everything I had read showed me that this may have been the best prepared ever President we have had. Having the same job for numerous years does not constitute experience. Some can fast track experience by doing more with the time they have there. I especially liked that the author highlighted his majors and concentrations in college, awards, and his legislative heavyweight accomplishments in a short period of time in the US Senate and that he had 8 years of state Senate experience. I think the telling comparisons during the Primary of ’08 for me between BO and HC was the legislative authoring and coauthoring significance of bills. It was like one was going the safe expected noncontroversial route of ushering in special awards and naming of buildings and holidays and our guy was taking on big important issues like Nuclear Proliferation.
Wow! Thanks dotster3 for sharing this excellent piece.
Have you guys seen the “Change” mug?
http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-obama-foodie-swag-change-is-mug.html
Latest “Big Speech:” Big Lie #1
By Ed Kilgore
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So the claim here is that Obama turned his back on the Clintonian “New Democrat” heritage and went back to the bad old liberal ways of the distant past.
Who do you think is the most reliable interpreter of the Clinton legacy? Bill Clinton, or perhaps his wife? Or Mitt Romney? And who do you think is the better judge of whether Obama is going back to the “tired old liberalism” Clinton sometimes derided? This time I’ll give your three options: (a) Again, Clinton; (b) the liberals who disagreed with Clinton’s course for the party, and who disagree with Obama’s just as vociferously, or (c) Mitt Romney?
I take this a bit personally, having been a “New Democrat” myself back in the day, but there are really only two ways to deal with this passage of Romney’s speech: either he (or his speechwriter) hasn’t the slightest clue what he’s talking about, or he’s lying. It’s not real hard to figure out which is the case.
.
.
Sorry for the rant, but I am beside myself on this one, in part because I fear that a lot of reporters will blandly report on Romney’s speech and not bother to point out that Mitt is making a laughable mischaracterization of political history so recent that even someone right out of journalism school would know it.
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http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_05/mitts_latest_big_speech_big_li037217.php#more
LH, Mitt does not now nor has he ever known what he’s talking about. He hasn’t the foggiest idea what tired old liberalism means but his speech writers thought it sounded good. The person proposing tired old stuff is Robney himself. All he’s got is old and failed Republican policies that brought us near a major depression. He can spout all he likes, but PBO will smack him down when the time comes.
Va. Co. GOP calls for a coup d’etat —-an armed revolution—-if PBO wins a 2nd term. (when he does) Ball is correct that we are numb to this kind of crazy talk, but I think some of this is an attempt to scare people into voting for Willard the Liar:
I hope the VA GOP finds themselves called on by the SS and the FBI. Threatening the overthrow of the US government? That’s treason no matter how much you try to whitewash it.
Mitt’s Latest Big Speech: Big Lie #2
By Ed Kilgore
——————————
But let’s get to the big lie: all this talk about newness.
.
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I don’t know about you, but the only specific Bush administration policy I’ve heard Romney reject on the campaign trail this year is comprehensive immigration reform. Is encouraging undocumented workers to “self-deport” the secret to all this exciting economic activity Mitt is projecting as the payoff for supporting his policies? And has he ever specifically repudiated the recent comment of an RNC spokesperson that his economic policies are just an “updated version” of W.’s?
It’s a long way to November, and there ought to be some opportunity for enterprising reporters to ask Romney point-blank: “What economic policies of the George W. Bush administration would you not wish to reimpose?” It’s not like this was going to come up during the GOP primaries, since hhis rivals were as complicit as he is in the big lie that somehow Bush had nothing to do with the financial crash or the recession, and/or that it was his ill-defined “big government” heresies that were the problem. Mitt needs to be challenged on this regularly, until he finally comes up with something genuinely new or shuts up about it or just admits his campaign is a straight-up Restoration.
—————————————-
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_05/mitts_latest_big_speech_big_li_1037218.php
I’ll take the bishops more seriously once they hog the cameras for social justice as they did over controlling women’s lady parts.
Lugar defeat plays into Obama campaign narrative about what has become of the Repub Party. (a bunch of rt. wing crazies)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-lugar-defeat-obama-campaign-20120508,0,7809174.story
EVIDENCE OF A PARTY “BEYOND REDEMPTION”
By Steve Benen
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As Lugar himself said in a statement last night, “He and I share many positions, but his embrace of an unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience of what brings results for Hoosiers in the Senate. In effect, what he has promised in this campaign is reflexive votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. His answer to the inevitable roadblocks he will encounter in Congress is merely to campaign for more Republicans who embrace the same partisan outlook. He has pledged his support to groups whose prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party of those who stray from orthodoxy as they see it.”
.
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The Mann/Ornstein thesis tells us the extremism that’s come to define the contemporary GOP is principally responsible for the breakdown of American governance. Yesterday’s primary sends an unmistakable signal: Republicans only intend to make matters worse.
——————————–
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/09/11615238-evidence-of-a-party-beyond-redemption?lite
I also want to know what votes Lugar cast in the last three years that show how bipartisan he was. Yes he was always good on nuclear proliferation. But he might as well have been tea party, consistently voting in lockstep. What difference does it make if these Republicans still vote like all the other crazies? He did NOTHING to save this country, highlight filibuster abuse. Same for Olympia Snowe. Eff them all.
+1. Fuck’em all. When you are the senior in your party, you’re supposed to lead them back to sanity. The whole rethug caucus danced to the tunes of the teabaggers and are getting nothing to show for it.
If you stay with a party that has gone this batshit crazy, then that is what you believe. I was done with Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins ages ago for this very reason. Now, there is no way that Dick Lugar doesn’t know that PBO is the most competent President in generations, and that the country is is dire danger under the last administration and, God forbid, Romney. Yet he blocks judicial appointments with his filibuster vote, student loans, debt ceiling and everything else. It really borders on treason to not speak out. What the fuck does it matter? You lost your seat anyway. Wouldn’t it have been better to be the alleged statesman that everyone says you are? You certainly weren’t when the chips were down and things got tough. You’re a coward, Richard Lugar.
THIS!!!!!!!!!
It’s like Bob Bennett in Utah. One compromise is too much.
Except it’s not a “narrative”. It’s the truth.
Okay now that most or all of the NC votes have been reported- here is a report of the counties with the most turn (40% or higher), their breakdown by race, candidate voted for in 2008, and how they voted on Amendment 1. Don’t allow the media to push false narratives about PBO and “black voters” when 100% of the blame goes to Republican/conservative voters who supported McCain in 2008 and will probably vote for Romney in 2012.
1. First, there were 15 counties with turnout of 40% or higher. 10 of them went for John McCain in 08; 5 for Obama. Of the ten that went for McCain in ’08, ALL of them voted FOR the ban. All of them were heavily white, ranging from 85%-98% white, with 9 of the 10 counties being 90% or higher white. Incidentally, the county with the highest turnout by proportion in the entire state was Mitchell county – (50-60% turnout), which is 98% white and went HEAVILY for John McCain (71%) in 08
2. Of the five “high” turnout counties that went for Obama in ’08, THREE of them voted AGAINST the ban. They ranged from 14-21% black. The two Obama ’08 counties that voted FOR the ban were 35% and 36% percent black. They were Bladen and Hyde counties.
3. Total number of votes cast in entire state was 2,135,740. Of that total, 1,303,952 or ~ 61% were FOR the ban. Of the votes that were FOR the ban, 909 came from Hyde county, and 7412 came from Bladen county. Assuming ALL the black people in both counties showed up and voted for the ban, that would yield 318 “black” votes from Hyde county and 2,668 from Bladen county. So the heaviest black turnout in these two counties would yield a total of 2,986 votes (which is an overestimate, since I’m assuming that 100% blacks showed up).
4. Now if all black voters from these counties were to vote AGAINST the ban, shifting these 2,986 votes out of the “FOR” column and to the “AGAINST” column, we would still have an enormous deficit in the “AGAINST” and the ban would have still passed as it did – and by the SAME margin! So the black voters in these two counties would have made absolutely NO difference in outcome – whether they voted for or against because their numbers are simply too small!!!
5. The county with the highest population in NC is Wake county – went for Obama in ’08 and is ~21% black. Wake county voted AGAINST (57%) the ban.
thanks for this info. will spread it around
Thanks – copy and paste wherever you can; this needs to get out.
Here are the links from which I’ve gotten my data:
http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/36596/80741/en/md.html?cid=425000010
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/nc.htm
Thanks for this. I’m tweeting. The media is already trying to build a narrative that the black vote supported Amendment One.
Thanks ut – I retweeted your comment! I saw this MSM “PBO+Blacks=anti-gay” narrative a mile away. From the moment they ran away with VP Biden’s comments, I knew exactly where and why this thing seemed to be the MSM’s focus. But we will not allow them to scapegoat Black voters in NC, nor will we allow them to swiftboat PBO with lies. This is NOT 2000 or 2004.
And if Twitter tries to censor my tweets, I will expose them for so doing so.
Tweet this inf to RM, they need to tell us the truth!!!!!! and send the inf to tweety as well.
Excellent stuff hf. Is there a linky for that ? This morning, I have got a troll on my tail on twitter and there is a back and forth going on whether I am a racist or not.
Oops, I just posted the links above – I had forgotten them on the original post.
I’m pushing back agressively against that Josh Kraushaar (@hotlinejosh) from the National Journal. This guy is a rabid racist. Can’t spin it any differently.
Thanks hf.
Great analysis, Hopefruit!
Does anyone know if the National Journal is Repub or Dem, or non-partisan? Thanks!
Well, it employs the likes of Major Garett, so…
Actually, the journalist in question is Josh Kraushaar. This guy is VILE, to put it nicely. His racist reports about the NC votes and his obsession with reporting bad news for Obama are off the charts. Makes Chuck Todd seem like an O’bot in comparison!!!
I believe he is former POLITICO
Yes, I’ve read the same thing.
It’s a DC insider mag. It’s supposed to be non-partisan but Ron Fournier is the editor, which tells you a lot right there. He headed AP and also considered taking a position with McCain’s campaign. In my opinion, he’s really the one responsible for trashing the AP, moving it toward more opinion-based writing. He was also the major player in the leaked email to Rove scandal about the Pat Tilman inquest.
Hmm..good to know this. Thanks meta.
good morning, everyone
Good morning all in Todville & chips
Remember–Money does not vote; people do.
Lugar defeat fits Obama campaign narrative on GOP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-lugar-defeat-obama-campaign-20120508,0,7809174.story
Former President George W. Bush is budgeted to receive the most money from taxpayers of all the living ex-presidents.
Bush, the most recent former president, is requesting more than $1.3 million in taxpayer dollars for fiscal year 2013, according to a budget proposal document prepared by the General Services Administration.
Those funds go towards an office staff, travel and postage. The former presidents Act of 1958 guarantees taxpayer funding for ex-presidents.
Former President Bill Clinton is requesting more than $1 million. Former President George H.W. Bush is requesting $879,000 and former President Jimmy Carter is requesting $518,000.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/09/george-w-bush-requests-the-most-taxpayer-dollars-of-ex-presidents/#ixzz1uNWxk3Rs
Fiscal conservatives are something aren’t they ?
I learned something new today! I had no idea they could keep us paying for their “stuff” after they left office…
Is that on top of the secret service duty they get? I remember the gop congress voted to limit secret service to ten years instead of lifetime. Most of these ex-presidents are millionaires and can pay for their own staff, travel and postage. The next time someone complains about President Obama’s and his family travel, we need to tell them that we’re paying for travel of all the living ex-presidents.
Does Twitter censor certain tweets? All my tweets to @hotline josh pushing back against his “Black voter” claim do not appear in my TL, although I see them when I click on my profile. I’m sure Josh has blocked me but that shouldn’t prevent the tweets from being seen by my followers or from my TL. Does Twitter not want this information disseminated?
I went down a few pages on my twitline and not seeing your posts. But clicking your profile, does show them ? I’ll retweet them and see if they appear.
Yup, my retweets are seen in my TL.
Thanks amk!
It’s a very good analysis, hf. Should be spread around.
Good morning, Chips and family: it is raining, cloudy here in the Village of Harlem, NYC. But I feel warm and full of joy inside knowing that we are together more than ever before and moving FORWARD. I signed up to volunteer in N.C. for the convention. Any suggestions for hotel accomdendations I would appreciate. If not family will have to make some room for a week. If you are able and have a desire, please sign up.
We will never be exceptional if we still have these issues….anyone that thinks so, is lying to themselves.
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2012/05/were-number-one-3.html
Oh, here we Go-
Robin Roberts, co-host of Good Morning America, will conduct an “exclusive, wide-ranging interview” with President Barack Obama at the White House today.
A source at ABC confirms to POLITICO that Roberts will ask Obama about his views on same-sex marriage, an issue that has dogged his campaign this week.
…A portion of ABC’s interview will air tonight on “World News with Diane Sawyer”; the full interview will on “Good Morning America” tomorrow morning, per the ABC News press release.
uh oh….
wow, can’t wait to see the interview
He might! We knew he might! Let’s wait and see! In other news…
That statement was made a month ago and it includes the proviso that he’s also likely do it after the election, so it’s not BREAKING.
Okay – thanks for the correction! I will let the tweeter know what’s up!
Well, I think it’s better politically to just get out there and do it then to keep the quenstion lingering all season long. I really don’t know how many people would change their minds and vote for Willard just because of the President’s opinion on this. It’s not like he can force the U.S. to legalize it in all 50 states or something–although i’m sure the GOP will start robocalling people telling them that he’s going to do that.
This makes me nervous.
rest assured that PBO has seen this coming and will have his response ready. he has handled everything they’ve thrown so far with grace. it ‘s good to handle itnow
I sure wish the MSM would give similar attention to the actions or non-actions of opposition members. It’s a dream of mine on days when I’m feeling optimistic.
Here’s the thing. If he does come out I know one thing, all those who just needed to have it better have his back on this. All those youth voters who care so much about this who didn’t come out yesterday in NC better have his back (personally, if youth cared about this issue like some seem to care about pot legalization, they would have come out in force yesterday and for Prop 8 in Cali. If you really believe in an issue, then get your but out there to that polling place, don’t matter what Obama says). All those gay donors who have claimed they are holding back monetary support sure betta open up their wallets….
But I suspect as has always been the case that if POTUS comes out for it the goal post will be moved AGAIN.
Having said all that, I don’t think he will come out for “gay marriage”, but he will re-iterate his support of civil unions which is the same as Hilary Clinton, and Bill Clinton and other Dems loved by certain groups. Or am I wrong when I say that neither HRC or Bill Clinton have said “I support gay marriage”?
I will of course wait until the interview occurs.
I think the replayed comment from candidate Obama on the Ellen show that was here yesterday is where he is and has always been on this issue. Anyobody could have tracked it down.
Robin Roberts seems to be as much an ambulance chaser as Anderson Cooper. I hope he rattles off the 75 items he’s passed in support of gay causes, and asks her whether she’s going to hound Romney for his stance on marriage equality, and if he has decided to flip-flop on his plan to amend the Constitution to outlaw the idea of gays getting married and if he plans to reinstate DADT? Even if the President came out and said he supports marriage equality, what would that do to move the ball forward on this issue? Aarrrggghhh!
didn’t our President go on record with his stance on same sex marriage already? I could have sworn some of the msm played clips of him giving said statements.
silly season.
photo/1
I don’t know if it is before or during the event.
That is actually Pretty! Colorado is a Hot State! Love that State!
A Very Good Morning, Chips & TODville!
Wishing everyone a Wonderful Wednesday filled with meaning, good health, joy, and fun. Off to see what’s on hand for today.
Did you catch that segment Chuck Cod had that AA on?
The Tom foolery is at a high level, he agreed with Chuck that this could divide the AA vote and the Gay Community, siting a lot of Southern AA are Evangelicals.
If that is the case, then why did the President lose the Evangelical vote in 08…, 85-15?
Maybe, in some States this will be an issue, but 1 of many and certainly Not the overwhelming issue.
Jeesh!
The media is sure going to bat on this issue, clinging to it, think they have something which will divide Dems and hurt PBO. I’m surprised about Robin Roberts, who I’d bet supports Obama but is playing into GOP hands by pressing on this.
I’m tweeting this diary as well as posting it for folks to get their facts and be prepared for the MSM’s attempt at swiftboating PBO with this.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/09/1090039/-The-Media-s-Scapegoating-of-Black-Voters-President-Obama-in-NC-Amendment-1-Vote
Robin Roberts is a republican.
of course she is.
Roberts is a Republican, are you sure? I don’t know why, but that surprises me.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
“he agreed with Chuck that this could divide the AA vote and the Gay Community”
Nonsense.
Jovie – black folk will vote for President Obama regardless of where he falls on this one issue. Willard is not an option.
I agree. Not sure why people are pushing this idea that Black people will run to Romney because of ONE issue. Blacks have had too many setbacks to allow something like this make them suddenly turn on the president. The idea that they would abandon him over this is patently ridiculous.
Media fed bullshit. Yet another “Obama having trouble with ______” meme. I knew it was just a matter of time.
Actually – I don’t think it’s a matter of getting people to vote for Romney. It’s about getting people NOT to vote – period. There’s a young pundit, Alicia Menendez (her Dad is Senator Menendez). She’s usually pretty awesome. Last night, she mentioned that Romney’s camp has no positive message for Latino voters, so their strategy is to depress Latino votes. There’s no way for them to recover what they’ve said about Latinos, immigration, etc. They will use the same strategy for black voters, gay voters, senior voters, middle class voters, etc. They have gone too far to flip it now – so they will just attack President Obama and get people so demoralized that they just won’t even bother to vote.They only need about 6% of the people to feel this way to sway the election. They’ve got a base of about 43% of racists, bigots, ignorant people, delusional people who just want to see the black man get out of the White House – no matter the consequences to themselves, their children and their country. So, if they can sway 6% of the rest of the people to just sit at home – they win.
We have to prevent that from happening.
that is my point theo67. Willard is NOT an option which is why my gut says minorities and sane Americans of all stripes will vote in droves come November.
This hatred and vitriol is an incentive to get out the vote. If only to make a statement. Obama will be elected President again in November. I will also predict he will win in a landslide. In order to get our voices heard in a way that makes a strong statement we will CRUSH them at the polls.
So I hope the media keeps it up. They are ensuring that we are not complacent. They will not win. Not this time.
Here, here!
Remember the claim Mitt made last week that we should be creating 500,000-600,000 jobs? Well finally found some analysis and of course it turns out that only 9 times in the last 700+ months have we created that many jobs. Would love to see the Obama campaign and media really go in on this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romneys-new-normal-for-job-creation/2012/05/08/gIQAybrABU_blog.html?hpid=z3
Tweeted Melanie.
Question-
Didn’t someone here say, a few days ago, that the Biden/Duncan endorsement of marriage equality was sort of just to “test the waters?” And that maybe PBO would do it soon after them?
I’m beginning to think there’s some sort of strategy to this. I could be wrong. We’ll see.
Or…, maybe he has to do some damage control. NC just banned Marriage between a MAN/Man… You follow?
At any rate, I support him whatever he chooses!
Honestly, I’ve had it up to here with this same sex marriage, and people telling the President what he should say. Yesterday I voted against that amendment here in North Carolina.
Let’s calm sown please I am sure PBO will handle the interview just fine he always does, PBO
has never disapointed us.
The 1st person I heard mentioning that “trial balloon” theory was a Rep. strategist, think her name is Alice Stewart. She is vicious BTW. Anyway Donna Brazille and Wolf Blitzer shot her down immediately. Because it was so clumsy and awkwardly done I seriously doubt that it was said on purpose. I think PBO had his own timeline in mind to express his feelings. Why would Axelrod have pushed back so quickly after Biden made those remarks. He knew the shitstorm it would cause which is what the WH is currently going though. They were not prepared for this. It is a distraction and has taken them off message. Not at all surprised at the RRoberts interview tonight. PBO can no longer unfortunately avoid this thanks to Biden.
Precisely!
Makes sense!
I think the media took what Biden was trying to say which was to reiterate Obama’s current position, even tho he kinda sorta wasn’t clear on it—-we love Joe at our house but we always picture the Obama team crossing their fingers when he speaks—–and the media took it and ran with it, making it something which it was never intended to be. Of course, I could be wrong—-shocking, I know—-and it was all a plan. I just doubt it, as Joe was joking yesterday that he always means what he says, the prob is he always says what he means—-or something—-that he was aware he set off a firestorm.
Chuck thinks not but anyone who has followed this president and his ability to be on top of issues, will know that he is in control.
thanks to @lolgop on twitter, i see that an inmate in texas got almost as many votes as rmoney did yesterday in west virginia. funny that’s not how the msm is telling the story though (sarcasm).
Good morning everyone! Here’s to hoping that all of us from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and everywhere all over the world have wonderful day!
Scott Brown was on the wrong side of that student loan vote yesterday…in MA! The bastion of college education!
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/scott-brown-student-loans-8694981
He doesn’t really want the job. Elizabeth Warren is who Mass needs for their Senator.
View from the sewer….the guy that beat Lugar has something to say about bipartisanship….
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/05/09/quote_of_the_day.html
“I have a mindset that says bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view.”
– Indiana U.S. Senate nominee Richard Mourdock (R), quoted by Politico.
When HELL FREEZES OVER< BUDDY!
More..http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/05/09/480770/richard-mourdoch-hates-bipartisanship/
Thanks DF, I just twitted this. By the way, I just found out all the emails i have tried to send from my laptop are still there. Not sure what is wrong. I’ll email you from my other computer. Have a great day!
MOURDOCK IS CREEPY…BUT BECAUSE OF LUGAR’S RESIDENCY ISSUES…I KNEW THIS WAS COMING. SO MANY PEOPLE IN INDIANA ARE FILLED WITH HATE,RACISM AND SELF-CONSUMPTION…THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE!
morecrock also said this today, “To me, the highlight of politics, frankly, is to inflict my opinion on someone else with a microphone or in front of a camera.”
looking at the dictionary – “inflict: to impose as something that must be borne or suffered; something unwelcome.” yep, pretty much sums up morecrock and his republican voters and friends. no doubt about it! first time he’s probably ever said anything accurate.
Sounds like another Christine ODonnell, Sharron Angle and that weirdo in Alaska (forgot his name).
We need to keep this guy talking.
If you read the ThinkProgress piece…he wants MORE partisanship in Washington! This HAS to be an ad for his Dem rival!!!!!
There’s a lot of good people in Indiana too—-such as those who voted for Obama in 08 and gave him the win there. In Indy and Bloomington and nw In. and even South Bend and Evansville too—-lots of Obama voters.
OF COURSE THERE ARE DOTSTER..OUR TEAM REALLY HELPED TO TURN INDY IN 2008…WE SPENT 8 MTHS. IN LAFAYETTESQ. MALL…NOW THEY WON’T ALLOW US IN THERE…IT IS CRIME RIDDEN AND THEY DON’T WANT ANY GOVERNMENT REPS. ON THE PROPERTY…GO FIGURE…I WONDER WHY…HMMMMMMMMMMMM. WE WILL STILL FIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS PRESIDENT…HOWEVER…THERE ARE 1,145 HATE GOUPS NOW IN THIS STATE AND WE CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. TO BE SURE…HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL AND WE ARE FEARLESS….WE MOVE FORWARD!
An RNC tool tweeted that AP reported Manchin refusing to say who he voted for yesterday but I can’t find anything in the Google machine about it. Wouldn’t be surprised if he voted for the inmate. He’s already voiced his opinion that he may not support PBO. Detest that Lieberman wanna-be.
He probably did vote for the inmate. He & the current Gov have refused to endorse PBO at this time.
He’s terrible.
I can neither explain nor understand my fellow West Virginians. There are none so blind as those who will not see. The very people who have already benefited from the Presiden’t policies and will do so in the future are the ones who refuse to support him. Most voters didn’t know the other name on the Dem. ballot was an inmate–he was just “anybody but Obama”. Some of it might be racial but that’s not the only reason. The Democrats here are definitely conservative I will admit and many would rather believe wild Tea Party stories and Rush-rants. I have tried to set the record straight, to no success. The truth doesn’t matter to them. My life-long Republican parents did vote for PBO in 2008, however, so I suppose I did some good. As for Manchin, he comes from a long line of Democrats in WV. I really believe he supports PBO more than he can say. If he came out and endorsed PBO, he would lose his reelection bid here by a huge margin. I have mixed feelings about him but as long as he has that “D” after his name, I will vote for him. We can’t let his GOP challenger win. Sometimes I feel so alone here in my support of PBO–that’s why I come to this site everyday to be with like-minded people.
I understand what you’re saying and have a great deal of sympathy for Democrats who live in hideously red states. But Manchin is more often than not actually working against the Democratic Party, so I just have absolutely no respect for him.
He does exactly what these crazy Dems here in WV want him to do–they’re wild about him. As I said, I have never been able to understand working and voting against one’s own best interests, but it happens here all the time.
Will Indiana stay with us this time ? Any polls out there on this ?
I haven’t seen any lately—-but all are saying we have a better chance now than we did for the senate pick up and maybe another chance at In. PBO spent a lot of time there last time. I think he was at a manufacturing facility there once in the last few months, but that’s all I remember.
IF PBO COMES HERE HE WILL HAVE TO BE WELL GUARDED…THE PRESENCE OF MILITIA HERE IS HUGE AND DANGEROUS!
We stand a chance that we would not have had had Lugar won the primary. I think it’s a slim chance but it’s something. And I’m about to barf if I hear how bipartisan Dick Lugar is. He certainly hasn’t been through PBO’s entire term. He’s a conservative asshole, now replaced by a true RWNJ (read my quote below). But IN is full of RWNJ’s.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE ‘THINLY BLUE’ AS RECENTLY QUOTED BY AN OBAMA FELLOW! IT’S GOING TO BE A FIGHT THIS TIME…BUT…WE CAN DO IT…YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE! I LOVE MY PRESIDENT! I ALSO LIVE IN KKK COUNTRY…I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. 2 DAYS AGO I WENT TO THE STORE AND 3 WHITE GUYS WERE YELLING PIG NOISES AT MY ‘O’ VAN…I STOPPED…AND SAID ..I WOULDN’T!’ I WILL GET IN THEIR FACE!
I just love you, Fiesty Sue, for holding it down in Indiana! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Hey, Sue, read my quote below on what Mourdock said this morning to Chuck Todd. This may be the RWNJ to top all RWNJ’s.
GOP big jobs plan?
Planning a East Coast missle defense, to counter Iran!
Can you imagine, Patriot 3 missles and Radar, up and down the East Coast?
WTF are these Clowns talking about?
This is about fear. They’ve won elections with it. They’ll try again. Because they have nothing else.
And about tricking Dems into voting “against national security”…..
Could be putting people back to work, instead they are planning to spend billions on missles defense on east coast. Listen up America, you see that people being out of jobs is not important to the Republicans
Thanks UT for helping to get the FACTS out while pushing back against the MSM’s divisive attempts at swiftboating.
But but but…
That’s the story the media doesn’t want to talk about. And no matter how Tapper tries to spin it the same thing happened in West Virginia
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/prison-inmate-wins-more-than-40-of-democratic-vote-over-president-obama-in-wv-primary/
PBO beat Romney by over 16K votes. In West Virginia!
and that was with a lot of votes going to the inmate scam. who was pumping that inmate’s name beforehand anyway? some sort of rush limpbaugh-led thing?
Yeah it got the headlines but that’s little comfort to the Romney camp. He got thumped yesterday in 2 states he has to win.
Over 40% of Dems voted for a criminal so that means PBO got close to 60% of the vote……Robme only got a little over 50% of the GOP vote so that means close to 50% of the GOP voted for who? Is this an open primary that both sides can vote R or D? This story really does tell us anything except the way the media wants to spin it. I was watching this on teevee this morning and thought WTF that’s why I don’t watch national news shows in the morning. It is part of the MSM spin to discredit the President.
The GOP ballot here in WV still had Buddy Roemer, Ron Paul, Gingrich and Santorum on it, as well as Romney. I can only surmise the GOP vote was split between them.
Here’s how it broke down here in WV: (I hope this copies OK):
President D — 1,846 of 1,846 precincts reporting (100%)
Barack Obama [I] 105,833 59% (X)
Keith Judd 72,459 41%
President R — 1,846 of 1,846 precincts reporting (100%)
Mitt Romney 77,477 70% (X)
Rick Santorum 13,408 12%
Ron Paul 12,263 11%
Newt Gingrich 6,986 6%
Buddy Roemer 1,129 1%
No Votes Uncommitted 0 0%
Thanks Pam S. in WV,
I read that in 2007 the Democratic party opened up the Primary to Independents and others who are not affiliated with a specific party. I would be curious who this Keith Judd guy is and why he is on the Democratic party’s ticket in the first place.
Independents can request either a Dem. or Rep. ballot in the primary. All I know about Judd is what was in our local newspaper. I don’t know who “recruited” him for the Dem ballot. Here’s what was printed in the paper: “Keith Judd is incarcerated in the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution for making threats at the Univ. of New Mexico in 1999. He was able to get on the state ballot by paying a $2,500 filing fee and filing a form known as a notarized certification of announcement, said Jake Glance, a spokesman for the Sec. of State’s office. By receiving over 15 percent of the vote, he will qualify to receive delegates to the national Dem. convention. But State Dem. Party executive director Derek Scarbro said no one has filed to be a delegate for Judd, and the state party was unaware that Judd has actually filed the required paperwork”
That would get Tapper attention, but when Mitt Romney lies, that doesn’t get his attention does it. I’m going to say it like it need to be said, any time you would vote for a man in prison, over the sitting President, something is behind that beside the economy. Could it be the President is Black? Let’s not kid ourselves, there is still alot of racism out there in this country.
A new study provides the best evidence to date that higher levels of income inequality in the United States actually lead to more deaths in the country over a period of years.
The findings suggest that income inequality at any one point doesn’t work instantaneously – it begins increasing mortality rates 5 years later, and its influence peaks after 7 years, before fading after 12 years.”…
Other scholars have hypothesized why income inequality may lead to higher death rates. One reason may be that, in countries with rising income inequality, the interests of the wealthy tend to diverge from the rest of society. The wealthiest people may push government for more services for themselves, rather than invest in public goods like education or affordable medical services – services that can affect health for the majority of people.”
http://scienceblog.com/54218/income-inequality-killing-americans/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scienceblogrssfeed+%28ScienceBlog.com%29
just twitted this. When will people wake up!!!
Cumulus Media, which owns several radio stations that broadcast Rush Limbaugh’s radio program, told financial analysts that the boycott of Limbaugh’s advertisers cost them millions of dollars in revenue through the first two quarters of the year. “It hit us pretty hard,” an executive said.
Good morning, TODers. Apologies in advance for this looong rant, but I had to get some things off my chest. And I probably won’t address this again.
Back in my ‘QuietObserver’ days on Daily Kos, I wrote a diary about the importance of keeping focus of legal and social progress without the constant need for validation or concession from the president or anyone else. Instead of being angry that not everyone agrees with you, I argued, why not recognize allies that work to expand and protect your rights, even if it’s not without fanfare? Why not let yourselves shine without waiting for cover from the president?
I think in retrospect that I missed part of what was driving the outright slander of PBO from the left at that point- the sense of entitlement and superiority over anyone who thinks differently, and the un-admitted prejudice against /distrust of a Black man in power and the influence he has on other Blacks throughout the nation. Yep, there it is. And as a result, African Americans continue to be slandered as the ignorant, monolithic, “bigoted” blockers of gay rights. All 13% of us. The irony is that the left is using the very play book that the anti-gay groups laid out for victory!: Using gay marriage as a wedge issue to divide people of color and LGBT groups, and people of faith and LGBT groups, tearing apart the Democrats’ broad coalition. Like most of my diaries having to do with Obama, it was generally scoffed at as “apologist”. Of course, that crowd completely missed the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement while also trying to co-opt it AND rebrand Blacks as “the New Jim Crow” (Yes, that phrase was promoted at Daily Kos in 2010.)
Ultimately, the reason that voter-backed social amendments fail is because they are based on emotion and social prejudice, and the assumption that people will educate themselves on YOUR issues. Not true. You have to educate them! You have to organize and do the work! And you can’t expect a population (ie, The South) that you constantly dismiss as unworthy to turn around and evolve into the open minded people you want them to be without outreach.
But in the end, you cannot force change into a person’s heart. You cannot force change into a person’s mind. And legal changes should not be based on what makes people “comfortable.” Such laws should always be based on constitutional civil rights.
^^^The preacher was 100% right. Why are groups trying to make this into a referendum on the idea of the institution of gay marriage? Why, for the 30th time (in NC), is a legal amendment that directly affects people’s rights as citizens, being handed over to the general public who may or may not be versed in constitutional rights, and may or may not care either way? This is what the legislative branch is for. The state fails for putting this on the ballot. They also failed in my home state of California.
But back to the president. Most important fact: The Obama Administration has been working consistently, often quietly, to advance the rights of the LBGT community since DAY ONE. THAT is what should be important, not whether Barack Obama likes the idea of gay marriage. Actions, not words- that’s what we keep hearing. Well, look at the actions.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights
https://my.barackobama.com/page/share/progress-for-lgbt-americans?source=ProgressForLgbtAmericans-02-20120423
That all being said…
People trying to paint President Obama as a personal homophobe are either ignorant or lying. And frankly, anyone who believes he doesn’t support gay marriage because he hasn’t come out and said the magic words, in this order: “I personally believe in gay marriage,” doesn’t want to look at the facts behind the cryptic words coming from the WH. No, I don’t believe that President Obama “struggles” with this issue, at least not on an ethical level. I’m not arrogant enough to claim to be able to read someone else’s heart or thoughts, but there’s just no logical reason to believe it, based on his OWN actions. Let’s forget for a moment that Barack Obama “unequivocally” supported gay marriage in 1996, in a hand-typed letter, at the dawn of his political career, at a time when he was already married and had already accepted his particular path of Faith. We cannot forget that in his first press conference as PRESDIDENT-ELECT, he says boldly that anyone that knows him knows that he has always been a “fierce advocate” for gay rights, and that he has consistently shown and proved since then.
I don’t think the president is afraid of consequences that may come if he makes clear what has been apparent to anyone paying attention. He doesn’t need anyone to explain away why he “can’t” do something because republicans will react. (Some tried to explain away why he hadn’t talked about Trayvon, because at the time he didn’t do it when THEY wanted him to. Yet he eventually offered one of the most poignant and true statements on the subject). I don’t even think it’s about playing politics or being concerned about losing votes. I think he is trying to gracefully back out of an awkward situation. I think that while he was running for national office, he painted himself into a philosophical corner, yes, for the sake of voters. Now, he’s maneuvering back into the middle of the room in a way where he won’t risk being called a flip-flopper or a man of wavering values (hence the “evolving”). Like so many issues we’ve seen in this presidency, to blindly attack him as he moves is like screaming at a man trying to diffuse a bomb, yelling out at him what cord he should cut, and telling him that the place is about to blow up and it will be all his fault (because everyone is a genius bomb expert in their own mind).
And THAT all being said…
I predict PBO will eventually come out in full support of same-sex Marriage. It may very well be this term, before the election. If/when that day comes, his formal announcement of his support for gay marriage, as president, on a national level, may offer the opportunity to bring aboard a lot of people who do support him- or at least, respect him- who may be holding out support for a number of reasons. And this will happen not because they blindly follow PBO, but because they see in him as a respectable and loving model for marriage and family. Regardless if the disinformation that pervades conservativism and the media, Obama is a model of moderation and critical thinking. Could this highly-telegraphed dance be a way to gently guide more people toward the idea of marriage equality? We’ll see.
Whether you recognize it or not, President Obama and his administration are laying the groundwork to make SSM a reality. Give him the room to maneuver, and do your part to move the agenda forward.
thank you
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and insightful and level-headed post. I think the most important point is that we can’t go around insulting and dismissing people’s concerns and then expect them to listen to us. I think many of the GOP leaders are using this issue cynically, but they can do that because for many people it is a deeply troubling issue. We have to accept that and speak to those concerns in language that can be heard and accepted if we want to change minds on this issue. And that should not delay the process of bringing civil rights to any group in this country.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/05/09/480699/gop-have-a-press-conference-now-to-congratulate-the-administration-for-decreasing-gas-prices/
Arrogant.
Another one that needs to go!
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/05/09/480515/allen-west-food-stamps-enslave/
I don’t even want to read anything concerning that idiot Allen West, unless it’s saying someone kick his sorry ass. West is a poor excuse for a human being.Kick his ass out of the Congress is what I mean, I am not talking about violence.
Didn’t we pay for this guys meals when he was in the military?
Allen West = Yawn
Uh oh. My comment/essay got lost. Did I “talk” too much?
Sorry JamilaJP, I’ve been away from the blog for a while and just found your comment in pending when I came back – I’ve no idea why it didn’t go straight through, sorry about that, I’ve now freed it! Looking forward to reading it, thank you.
A reminder:
7:15 Tonight the President and First Lady host a concert honoring songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David as part of “In Performance at the White House” series. Should be livestreamed at the WH although not listed yet.
When the same sex marriage issue was introduced for discussion on The View today, I thought “oh no”——–and of course Elizabeth jumped in whole hog—–’everything is Obama’s fault!’—–everything! Going off on it, yelling 100 miles an hour. Obama-bad, bad, bad! And then Joy said that this next election is so critical, that PBO has to be re-elected or we’re in a lot of trouble!——audience applauded in agreement!—-as she made the point that many of the battleground states that he has to win have not yet “evolved” to where we want them to be—–so this awareness is key.
REPUBLICAN PARTY LOGIC
- Even though 9/11 happened on President George W. Bush’s watch, It was really President Bill Clinton’s fault.
- Even though President Barack Obama ordered the raid that brought OBL to justice, President George W. Bush should get recognition.
I was thinking about this the other day. They really are crazy, aren’t they? I was so tickled when PBO joked about this at the WHCD when he said blaming your predecessor began with W. so STFU GOP. I added that last part.
And, even though G W Bush destroyed our economy, it’s really Barack Obama’s fault.
Exactly, Robert Gibbs stated the Republican Party message to voters beautifully and succinctly in one sentence. Paraphrasing…..
GOP: President Obama does not deserve a second term because he didn’t clean up our mess fast enough.
FYI
A national group opposed to same-sex marriage aimed to fight it by driving “a wedge between gays and blacks” and identifying “glamorous” Latino artists and athletes to advocate traditional marriage, according to newly released confidential memos.
The strategies were among several pursued by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which has actively campaigned against same-sex marriage efforts.
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, said it obtained the documents, part of a civil action in Maine, on Monday and published them on its website.
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-27/politics/politics_marriage-group-memos_1_gay-marriage-memos-human-rights-campaign?_s=PM:POLITICS
white press corps must have received the same memo, since that’s why, in unison, to them this became the most important issue in the world!! answer the question 20 times over jay carney, you jerk. meanie. (paraphrasing chuck todd, noral mcdonnell, jake yapper, and so on)
oops. missed the word “house” in there (white house press corps), but works either, sadly enough.
Interesting how the media pushed the meme of Blacks being against gay marriage and how they tied it to the president.
And many of the progressives played right along.
omg. just when i thought coward whineman couldn’t get anymore ridiculous after his “as we hangout together here at the kentucky derby i must say, mitch mcconnell is the nicest man in the world…” (i’m not exaggerating), i see this picture today:
photo/1
and this man gets unlimited airtime in “the news.” crazy!!
Ugh !…I just gagged
Now if MSNBC would can his ass……
LOL! Would love to see that.
I did not think it was possible that I could dislike Mr Sources Fineman anymore than i already did. That tweet just proved me wrong.
It’s funny when RW analyst are seen promoting GOP candidates it’s OK….but if left leaning analyst do it, they are not considered objective.
No laughing here. I’ve never seen Fineman as objective – especially after him going to HuffPo.
He’s whatever will gain him access and I question the validity of his “sources”.
Wasn’t Richard Wolfe suspended from MSNBC on Keith Olbermann due to a “conflict of interest” being a paid reporter and being an unpaid analyst appearing occasionally on KO’s show? I am sure HuffPo is paying HF as a regular contributor.
Okay TOD (Pennsylvania Branch) will any of you be attending? Sessions will be held in Philly, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. Hope to meet some of you in Philly.
Okay, here’s what I posted here a while ago. Almost forgot I had a wordpress account: http://yetanothertake.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/why-are-people-blaming-president-obama-for-same-sex-marriage-hurdles/
GOP: ‘You Think We’re Going To Have A Press Conference Now To Congratulate The Administration For Decreasing Gas Prices?’
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/05/09/480699/gop-have-a-press-conference-now-to-congratulate-the-administration-for-decreasing-gas-prices/
Hmmmmmm. A former Obama speechwriter, Jon Lovett, has sold a sitcom to NBC called “1600 Penn” about a fictious, dysfunctional first family, which will begin airing in the fall. Writer said this has nothing to do with the current occupants as they are as far away from dysfunctional as you can get, but——not sure this is needed right now—–looks like there’s a black president and a white first lady with a couple of troublemaking kids.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/nbc-orders-former-obama-speechwriters-white-house-sitcom-1600-penn/
Oh my effing God. I don’t have time to read all the comments to see if this got covered yet, but Oh. My. God:
“CHUCK TODD: You have said that there needs to be more partisanship in Washington. How do you square that with being a legislator?
RICHARD MOURDOCK: Well, what I’ve said is that I certainly think bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view. [...] Bipartisanship means they have to come our way [...] To me, the highlight of politics, frankly, is to inflict my opinion on someone else with a microphone or in front of a camera. [...] Even those Republicans who more often than not vote the right way aren’t coming back into their states or their districts and getting in front of the unfriendly crowds and unfriendly microphones to make the point as to why our point of view is good. [...] I feel I can defend the purpose of conservatism, and more Republicans should be doing it just as I want to”
They covered that at TPM with a stupid headline that said {And Democrats Agree”.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/05/and_many_democrats_agree.php?ref=fpblg
I guess I should not be surprised; they say they are not a progressive blog.
My impression from the headline was that Dem’s are THRILLED to hear this guy talk this way. He is the RWNJ to top all RWNJ. I don’t think they meant that Dem’s agreed with what he was saying.
ANOTHER CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF “IOKIYAR”
If this were a Democratic congress person and not Michele Bachmann, the 24X7coverage would have made the Reverend Wright coverage look like “Mister Rogers”. Just image the heads exploding if the roles were reversed. The right wing would be beside themselves. We would never hear the end of it. But fortunately for the GOP, it’s one of their own so – never mind. Move along, nothing to see here.
Michele Bachmann, Swiss citizen
By Steve Benen
————————————
Doug Mataconis noted, “Perhaps it has happened before, and I don’t necessarily have a problem with it, but one has to wonder how Bachmann and her fellow Republicans would react if a Democrat did something like this.”
I had the same thought. I can only imagine the breathless Fox News reports about the nefarious Democratic lawmaker who “wasn’t satisfied with her American citizenship,” so she picked up dual citizenship for her and her children from a “liberal European country” — probably because of Switzerland’s universal health care system and generous, anti-freedom welfare state.
————————————–
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/09/11617122-michele-bachmann-swiss-citizen?lite
Yep my entire twitter timeline is dems/libs and progressives at one another’s throats on this issue~ the media has done a fine fine job.. and once again folks allow themselves to be manipulated into attacking/pressuring Pres Obama rather than the republicans/Romney/Media. Pathetic.
This gay marriage thing got me shittin bricks. I honestly want him to come out for it (bc he knows it will be a weight off his chest and conscious) but I’m just afraid he will lose. I’m being 100% honest right now.
President Obama is already in full support of marriage equality. Marriage = civil union. The same rights, legal protections and benefits for same-sex civil unions as for opposite-sex civil unions.
It’s not having a wedding in church that makes a marriage what it is – it’s the legal process and documents that make it what it is.
What is so difficult to understand about this?!?
This.
I’m getting off twitter for now and unfollowing a couple. It’s just hideous. Emoprogs make me sick.
I’ve unfollowed some folks today too. My goal is to get President Obama elected. My goal is to not have anymore Bachmanns, Cantors, Mcconnels or other teaparty/repubs pushing the BS they’re pushing on this country. My goal is to have equal rights for every single one of us; and not to have the clock rolled back on women, gays, people of color; my goal is with my President to move forward.. and the one thing I’m certain of is that electing any republican will not move us forward.
I’m with you 1000%. This election is crucial, the impact will be felt for generations. The Supreme Court weighs heavily upon us. There are some folks in every camp who will never vote for POTUS regardless of where he stands on the issues. But I’m going to fight tooth and nail for his – our – victory.
right there with you.. an never forget the media’s fingers stirring the pot. They are loving themselves today.
Me too. I’ve unfollowed a lot of folks this morning. I may have to shut my computer down for the next week as well. Truly sad how we turn into a bunch of reactionary tools. Allowing the MSM and GOP to control the narrative over and over again. Unbelievable.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney will not hold a press briefing today. President Obama is scheduled to sit down with ABC News for an interview at the White House this afternoon. Obama is likely to be questioned about his views on gay marriage, the New York Times reports.
I have googled about this new meme the media has now, Keith Judd got 41% of the Democratic votes and he beat PBO in many counties. This guy who is in prison for stealing to some of the white democratic voters is better than a sitting Democratic president that is trying to make their lives better. These folks should just register Republican then. I understand that the Democratic party opened it’s primary to Independents or other unaffiliated voters in 2007 however it doesn’t matter because I believe racism is obviously the reason for the 41% who voted for the criminal. It appears that Americans have no shame in openly admitting they would rather vote for a known criminal than an AA President. No matter what PBO does he will not be accepted in part of this country.
I went to WV on business once…..Yikes….
We drove through there once on the way home from an east coast trip. We wanted to check out the famous Greenbrier Resort there, which was impressive as advertised, but so far removed from where it sits. People were walking around mid-day as if from another era—-guys in sport coats, gals in fancy summer dresses, many with hats, manicured golf course and grounds, beautiful buildings. And then you drive out of there and within blocks we saw the worst poverty-stricken areas we’ve ever seen—–miles and miles of just shacks, old abandoned coal mining towns. There is beautiful geography there, beautiful mountain scenery, but better access to quality education there would seem to be key. Someone, or lots of someones, have failed a large chunk of the populace there.
And in this inmate voting case, I suspect any name that wasn’t Barack Obama looked good, and most probably had no idea they were voting for someone in the slammer.
seriously? this goon got 41% of the votes?
there is truly something wrong with this country.
Whatever the President has to say about gay marriage this afternoon, I stand by him 100 percent. Whether he is for it or against it does not matter. What matters are his policies. And his policies have done more than any president in history to advance the rights of and support LGBT Americans.
I’m with you itgurl_29. I think the President knows how to handle this, and I trust him. My main concern is winning this election.
re: PBO possibly speaking about SSM on ABC:
I feel about this the same way I felt about him releasing his long form bert cert. There’s nothing wrong with him stating his opinion, but I don’t like the fact that he may feel forced to do so before he wants to. Whether or not he believes in SSM, is his own personal opinion. He has never discriminated against the LGBT community and he has done everything in his power to preserve, protect and expand those rights. That should be enough. Like UT said, he shouldn’t have to cut himself open just so we can crowd around like vultures to see if he really bleeds blue. I don’t see the Rethug base carving up Willard and that creature is the most vile, insincere and reprehensible thing in existence.
Trolls.
WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled House has made clear that it’s unhappy with how long the Justice Department is taking to hand over documents regarding a U.S. gun-tracking operation in Mexico.
By a voice vote, the House agreed to a symbolic $1 million cut in money for salaries at the department. That move was orchestrated by South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy during action Tuesday on the Justice Department spending bill. Gowdy says Congress has been too patient with the department.
In Operation Fast and Furious, U.S. agents hoping to track weapons allowed hundreds of guns to flow from U.S. gun shops in Arizona into Mexico. Two of the guns were later discovered at the scene of the killing of a U.S. border agent.
What, please is a symbolic cut in salaries. If it is a real cut, seems a lot of people will have grounds for a lawsuit against the government if they had nothing to do with Fast & Furious.
Half the USA has gone bat-shite crazy – an observation from over here.
Andrea Mutchel says breaking news about the President evolving.
Andrea Mitchell opens her show by saying President Obama is about to make a “big change” on his stance on gay marriage, mentioning his interview with Robin Roberts. Did PBO call Andrea this morning?
Yeah, she thinks they hangout! One thing is for sure, Chris Lizard and Howard CryingMan are real good buddies!
So is the President going to say he supports gay marriage?
That seems to be the expectation, altho most of this speculation seems to be coming from Halperin, so……. They see that Carney cancelled the WH press briefing for today, after he’s been bombarded with only gay marriage questions the last couple of days——-and the newly scheduled interview with Robin Roberts this afternoon—–arranged just yesterday afternoon. We shall see what we shall see. There are certainly positives if this is the case, but I agree with those that fear that there are political risks also.
So Dame Andrea Mitchell is scooping an interview on ABC? I guess this is all she will talk about for the hour today.
Chris Cilliza plays Devils advocate, everything is bad for the President! I mean everything!
Chris Cilliza is a tool.
Here is Andrew Sullivan’s take on President Obama’s upcoming interview. It is very short, so I have used only two sentences:
“[...] Some are saying he will make news. I doubt it, and I don’t much care. The Congress and the states are the players here – not the president. [...]”
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/05/will-obama-evolve-in-a-few-hours.html
If this is true what Andrew Sullivan says, then why don’t people leave the president alone about this issue. I am sick of it, really.
I have already said I trust the President whatever decision he makes.
According to him, some in the gay community are looking for affirmation President Obama. Andrew considers this “sad”.
I have long believed that he should be left alone on this issue, but when he used the word “evolved”, the floodgates were opened.
I am praying hard about this one. ( I’m sort of miffed with VP Joe. I wish he would think before he speaks.)
Instead of a “time-out room”, I think a padded room is the better suggestion.
That’s affirmation FROM President Obama.
Words of wisdom from Sully.
Sorry if someone else has posted this. I noticed that North Carolina was trending on twitter, so I went to see what the stream was like. If you need a good laugh, check it out: https://twitter.com/#!/search/%22North%20Carolina%22
LOTS of great tweets from open hearted folks. And great snark: e.g. link to new sommee card – Congratulations to John Edwards and the Charlotte Bobcats for no longer being the most embarrassing thing about North Carolina.
Hello TOD family.
I’ve been trying to find time between yesterday and today to catch up on all of the postings, so forgive me if someone has already posted the Bryan Fischer back-handed apology to Mitt Romney regarding the Richard Grenell firing. But I believe it’s definitely worth sharing again since this is a conservative saying that Romney has no core values and principles (which of course we already knew.) But the salient point in Fischer comments is exactly what Lis Smith has challenged Romney on: his leadership capabilities and being able to stand up to foreign countries. Fischer mocks Romney and says “having caved on this issue to a yokel like me,” showed that he could be “pushed around, intimidated, coerced, co-opted by a conservative radio talk show host in Middle America.”
While my focus is not to spend time on what conservatives will or will not be in Romney’s camp this November, it think this just gives us PBO supporters further argument as to why Mitt is such a weak candidate.
Here is the link:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/
This makes me nervous honestly.
Me too, CK. But I believe that if anyone can think through this and respond rationally and reasonably, it’s President Obama.
I am praying hard for him on this, as hard as I prayed for the Rev.Wright issue.
I simply don’t believe the good Lord has brought him this far to leave him.
Now Andrea Mitchell is saying that President Obama will endorse gay marriage within the hour, as close to stating it as fact as possible. I’m not sure how she knows. Fineman’s sources?
That doesn’t sound like an ABC interview to me – that sounds like a press conference.
When I left the house, it was Halperin who was reporting this on Andrea Mitchell’s show! However, there are now more sources than that.
Here’s what scared me: Halperin thought it was a good idea for PBO! However, the context was that this puts the issue away and that the administration is ready to put Romney and the Republicans in a box on this. I think I heard that Romney said [today?] that he against even civil unions if it will afford the same rights as marriage! Do remember that the Mormons have invested a boatload of money and manpower to do this damage to the rights of Americans.
I am expecting my President to thread the needle so deftly as to confound the stupid out there. My heart has always wanted this, but I do not want it to hurt his chances of reelection. I am confident that if PBO is ready to make this statement, then he knows that it has political, as well as moral and human, advantages.
Yup. Romney said yesterday that he’s against civil unions if they actually afford any rights to gay Americans. Okay, okay, it’s a bit of a spin but that’s the gist. It’s on Steve Benen’s blog today.
It’s irrelevant whether or the President says he supports same sex marriage. Here’s what matters:
1. Romney is still a loser that MUST be defeated in November.
2. The media is still enemy #1 and
3. we need to work our hardest to get PBO re-elected.
Yes hopefruit. I just want to get this behind us.
Howdy to a;; my O peeps!!!! Another great getting up day here in TODville!! I expect PBO to calm the swirling waters around the current shiny object. I don’t think he will come out and state that he is in favor of gay marriage, but rather signal as he’s always done, that he isn’t against the civil rights of all gay marriages where allowed, nor civil unions where not yet allowed. However, should he make a definitive statement, I hope we can respect that decision without too much angst.
I fully expect PBO shutting down all the stupid feeding frenzy for the past two days. I will check in tomorrow.
What happened in North Carolina yesterday may have been the breaking point….That new law affects more than gay marriage…..
Do tell…what do you mean, Linda? What else does the law do?
Here is some information
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gELEJxgOSerhj-3NtIYzErqBqSQg?docId=c10f566fba8c4bfab4beed2158588a1c
Thanks!
I read somewhere that common law marriages are no longer recognized. there are many such marriages in that state.
I just got good news from, my #2 daughter, who just launched her website “Eighties Babies for Obama”. She decided to do this after hearing from friends that they were not as enthusiastic about the 2012 election as they were in ’08. So she came up with this site as a way to enlighten her peers while fundraising for the campaign. She and a friend, both Howard Univ alums, designed contemporary t-shirts that appeal to the younger set. Part of the proceeds will go to the Obama campaign. I’d like to post a link to her site here for your perusal to take a look at the site, click around on the tabs, hopefully place an order, then pass it along to your friends, especially the younger set.
I don’t remember who brought this topic up on this site about wanting something that a younger set could relate to. Chips is it possible for me to post the link here?
Good on your friend. And I’m sorry but anyone who claims that they are not as “enthusiastic about 2012″ as they were in 2008 needs to grow the fuck up. This is not an entertainment concert – even though the media presents it that way. This is an election – with a lot at stake. 2008 was historic, yes, but we need to move past that.
Yeah my daughter couldn’t believe it. These are college grads she was talking to. The same folks who benefit from student loan, Pell Grant changes, and even PBO donating some of his Nobel Peace prize money to HBCUs. She recently moved to LA and just couldn’t believe how non-political her age group is. They have no opinion at all, or are repeating ‘Pub talking points without knowing why. She was so frustrated that she felt she needed to do something.
Cookemom, I’d love you to post the link – and I’ll VERY happily add it to the blogroll! Thank you.
Sorry for the lack of updates today everyone, I’ve just been tied up with work, will catch up later.
Thanks Chip, here it is. She’ll open the blog tab for comments, once she figures out how to monitor them.
http://www.zenfulrevolutionapparel.com/
This is wonderful. Send our collective love and appreciation to your daughter. Give us the link as soon as possible. I will pass it along. For an old broad, I have a lot of young friends who could use this.
I should wait to hear PBO’s definitive statements on this issue before getting too far ahead of the parade. But if as expected Obama endorses , I just worry about the acceptance of the older generation on this issue. They vote in huge numbers, and young people who will support Obama overwhelmingly on this issue, are not as dependable. I already hear some rumblings in my midst, some of whom I convinced to vote for President Obama, the first time voting for a Dem, or one of the rare times. They will have trouble with this acceptance. Now whether it is a deciding factor or not, especially if there will be enough education during the campaign on the Repubs plans for Medicare and social security—–and all their other radical plans to feed the wealthy and starve the middle class——-I do not know. I will worry though, especially in the key states. I just want President Obama re-elected—-and agree that this election is so critical to the whole future of this country. Hopefully, good will prevail.
If he comes out in support of SSM today, some of the states he won in 2008 might not go his way in November. However, this is what many wanted. They wanted him to come out before the election, instead of waiting until after the election, which would have been a much better time.
Joe B., and I do not believe it was part of a plan—–I don’t think he meant to say it the way it was taken—- released the flood gates and forced the timing on this issue.
I think the negative political consequences of his “evolution,” should it happen, would be temporary. The people that make gay marriage a huge issue did not vote for Obama in 2008, and they weren’t going to this time. Blue-collar voters in states like Ohio or North Carolina might feel alienated at first, since many of them are not comfortable for whatever reason with gay marriage. This will probably be fleeting, though. The economy will be issue #1 in November for them, so they’ll side with the candidate they feel has a better vision for bringing us back to prosperity (probably PBO
)
Meanwhile, LGBT supporters and donors, along with young people, will be fired up and that momentum at this point will be huge. Now is when we need to get the ground game going, and they’re the ones to do it.
IMO, PBO has very little to lose by coming out and endorsing the legalization of same-sex marriage. We’ll see what happens.
AZ Governor Brewer has signed a law banning funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that was backed by Mrs. Barry Goldwater in Arizona many years ago.
FOCUS:
If we lose the House AND the Senate, then this is going to be the Mother of all scorched earth mania. Congress will defund every freakin’ thing they can get their hands on – ACA, departments and cabinet positions, Wall St. Reform, etc., etc., etc. They will thwart any and all foreign policy decisions and actions. They will never approve of PBO’s Supreme Court nominees. They will decimate women’s rights. In short, we are so very royally SCREWED. Please keep this in mind as we work to re-elect POTUS and on down the ticket in every crucial state.
Yet another reason why we must re-elect President Obama. If, God forbid, the GOP would gain control of all of Congress, the president could at least be there to veto their craziness.
I was clicking from link to link yesterday and stumbled on a story that the Sister Wives family feels that they must be open-minded and tolerant if they expect people to treat them with open-mindedness and tolerance. They really were okay with SSM and wanted to raise their 17 (!) children to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs. It was a hoot.
I remember a Utah Mormon in 2008, I believe, who believed that everyone’s right to privacy and his/her own conscience was at risk if a woman was denied the right to choose. I can picture her, but have no recollection of her name. She would not choose to have an abortion, but she felt that her religious freedom, as a matter of common sense and logic, had to include her extending that freedom to everyone else.
Smart women and Morman woman in Utah…..it should be done of anyones business whether two adults of the same or opposite sex get married. The states and federal government should only care if they are of age and that there are no fraudulent multiple marriages. Just like the constitution does not say only MEN should hold a political office although for years it had been men. What would NC or these other states do it there was a constitutional amendment that only men can hold office or women can’t vote? Who would stop these states from doing that? I bet you would get a significant number of men and women that would vote for that?
How come ” Insiders ” never have names…
This is getting silly
I’m so God damned sick of anyone in the press who DOES NOT LISTEN to what is actually said. I watched Biden, I watched it twice. He was eloquent AND CLEAR that he was expressing his personal belief and the President and the administration were wholeheartedly in support of rights for all Americans, as evidenced by the administration’s record. He didn’t put his foot in it, unless he was going to lie about his personal beliefs in answer to a direct question. And believe me, if he had done that there still would have been a shitstorm to contend with.
David Gregory, Chuck Todd and Halperin have one thing in common, they are Romney apologist. Just remember that. They want Romney in the White House. This all started on Meet The Press (Tim Russert would be sickened). Toad ran with it and Gregory backed him up. As quite as it’s keep folks let’s be honest, if President Obama comes out for homosexual marriage he will lose States he won in 2008. There is no way around it.
I hope this awakens the campaign to the fact that they are not running against Romney. They are running against the media. Romney is a joke candidate with third rate campaign apparatus. They’re pathetic. No, the reason Romney is even in the running is because the media is running for him. It’s that simple.
You’re on the money. He has already shown his colors by his actions. His deeds speak volumes!
this is what I worry about—–the crazies show up for their social issues
Good for Tamryn Hall, she shut done that false equivalency argument when her guest Amy B tried to say both parties are guilty of not wanting bi-partisianship. Tamryn said, ‘name one, just one Democrat who has said this”. Of course the guest couldn’t. More of this please.
Clips of THE INTERVIEW to be released at 3:00
Amen. They are willing to risk another Dark Ages in America.
Howard Fineman sitting at Romney’s desk. Looks like he’s enjoying himself.
https://p.twimg.com/AsdopVeCMAERv-9.jpg
Sitting at ROmney’s desk, being responsible for the cesspool at HuffPo. Why, exactly, does MSNBC have him on 12 hours/day?
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/05/09/a-very-quick-word/
From the White House: “On May 16, President Barack Obama will award Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Specialist Sabo will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on May 10, 1970, while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia.”
Pool-
Ok so PBO has endorsed same sex marriage. Let’s hope all the whiny emoprogs who’ve been freaking out on twitter have his back because the next 6 months are going to be loooooooooong.