lol…they aren’t slow Chips. I would not have been first if I was actually doing my work instead of reading TOD. Auditing files today. I can’t seem to focus.
Chips, I was in the middle of a conversation with LL on the last thread, when I was whisked into cyberspace onto this new thread. Mid-sentence I tell ya’. To LL, I didn’t mean to leave you hangin!
Polls not too amazing for Cammy! (LOVE the nickname LL) Labour won big in the local elections held earlier this month but we don’t have a general election for another 3 years. (It’s every 5 years here.) It’s way too early to tell who will be the winner in 2015 but if the elections were held today Labour have an eight point lead according to a Guardian poll. The budget, austerity and his perceived lack of ability to connect has hurt him badly and the proposed changes to disability allowance have caused the Tories some problems too.
For my family the elections can not come quickly enough as my husband is on disability allowance and is worried sick about the proposed changes. As much as I try to re-assure him that as far as I can work out he will not be affected, he is far more cynical than I am and due to his meds does not think clearly. It is just a little stressful!!
We have our work cut out for us. This issues of folks having to jump thru hoops to vote is happening in many states (mostly those with Republican governors and legislatures.) Here is the story of Ms. Viviette Applewhite, 93, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Isonprize, I’ve heard the first decision about “staying” the PA voter ID laws comes before the PA Commonwealth Court in June. Though loaded with Republicans, this court doesn’t always support Republicans, so it’s an open question about what the decision will be. No matter what, the case will immediately be appealed to the PA Supreme Court, which is always weighted to the right and then the US Supreme Court. So our only hope is at the “Commonwealth” level because a “stay” there will make a stronger case going forward. The biggest immediate issue is that these laws were rushed into operation without enough time or consideration given to how difficult the requirements would be for some people. Viviette Applewhite is the primary plaintiff in the PA case.
VP Joe said, “Yo mama AND yo daddy!!!” Then he said, ” My mama and dad had dreams, you imbecile. The difference is they instilled the need for compassion and caring as we sought to become anything we wanted to be!” do you still need the vid?
I see a tweet from Jonathan Alter saying he’s not sure CNN’s Castellanos is right but he’s a really smart guy and his analysis is worth a look. So I read this biggest piece of Obama-slamming trash, every word. Obama’s no good any more, he’s just a lowly politician who divides us, Romney is at peace with himself and is going to win. Alter is recommending people read this? What in the world? What is wrong with people?
I’ll tell ya what’s wrong with these people, dotster: Village Brain Rot. Besides Alter, there’s Joe Klein, Howard Fineman…and please feel free to add to the list. These folks are friggin’ dinosaurs who have been inside the beltway for so many decades that their understanding of America beyond has been erased.
Of course Castellanos would write that. It was he who said in 2010 that the Republicans are going to win the White House on “White hot” hate. that they would use race and anything at their disposal to destroy the President. he said it on CNN and I filed it at the back of my mind. his piece is part of the master plan. He’s venal, despicable and outright evil.
Cha, I thought that Alter had more brain cells than what he has been displaying lately. I have been tell this low-battery people to kiss my behind, but I thought about that long and hard, and decided that my behind is too decent and too elegant for these “crap heads “to even get close to it. My behind is too classy for these idiots. That is too much respect to give to such you all know what.
Excuse me TOD family, but I am calm and peaceful, but this crap is shameful especially coming from Alter. I hope that POB will not give Alter Not one more sit down book interview EVER. Alter does not deserves to be even in the same room with such a decent man as POB. That is it for me tonight. I need to get ready for my meeting tomorrow for a group that are willing to discuss the issues of why they want to come and vote for POB this time around.
Alter can go and lock himself up in an “out house.” Good night TOD family. HZ
Wow, Mary Ahern from Chicago Tribune also just said that the report could not have come at a worse time. Why? Cuz Rahm Emanuel was trying to get funding & public support for Wriggley Stadium where the Cubs play, and now this. According to her, calls are going off from angry constituents asking Rahm to suspend the effort for the stadium. Ha! Don’t mess with PBO
also if you do business with TDAmeritrade, think about moving your account elsewhere. He founded it, and reports say the company are floundering trying to answer a deluge of calls from clients angry about the NYT report. Serves them all right. These wingnuts think PBO has no supporters? They’ll have another think coming.
“Joe Ricketts is a registered independent, a fiscal conservative, and an outspoken critic of the Obama Administration, but he is neither the author nor the funder of the so-called “Ricketts Plan” to defeat Mr. Obama that The New York Times wrote about this morning. Not only was this plan merely a proposal – one of several submitted to the Ending Spending Action Fund by third-party vendors — but it reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take.
“Mr. Ricketts intends to work hard to help elect a President this fall who shares his commitment to economic responsibility, but his efforts are and will continue to be focused entirely on questions of fiscal policy, not attacks that seek to divide us socially or culturally.”
Although this statement suggests that using Wright “reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects,” MSNBC’s Mark Murray noted that the actual proposal, published by the NYT, contains this line: “Joe Ricketts said it himself: ‘If the nation had seen that [Jeremiah Wright] ad, they’d never have elected Barack Obama.’”
Lotsa Chicago Northsiders not happy about this. Especially since Ricketts is trying to get the beleagered Chicago taxpayer to buy up land in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and otherwise fix his privately owned ballpark at taxpayer expense.
I’m sick to death of these asshole Republicans who expect the taxpayer to pay for their pet projects and sports arenas and screw us at every turn. Okay, I know Tally and Chips will not be happy with me, but I have no use for professional sports. Not when the arts are not just neglected in this country but actively demeaned. A kid would learn a whole lot more about being a citizen if the arts were incorporated in his education than supporting sports and nothing else.
57andfemale. I LOVE sports (Go Phillies!!!) and agree with your concern that “A kid would learn a whole lot more about being a citizen if the arts were incorporated in his education than supporting sports and nothing else.”
Even with my love of my Philadelphia Phillies, I agree wholeheartedly that as citizens, we should not be bankrolling stadiums and private ventures at the expense of public education. (Philadelphia public schools are in a WORLD of hurt right now. But, yes, we built a brand new baseball stadium and separate football stadium. I think footballs stadiums are particularly wasteful, with only 1 game per week, and then, not every week. At least baseball plays 2-3 home games in a week.)
But yes, your comment sums it up. It’s the ‘nothing else’ that’s key. I had what folks might call a “well rounded” high school education. Great academics, but also tennis, track & field and cheerleading. I also had orchestra, marching band and concert band. I sang in my church choir. We had a theater program, so our orchestra and/or concert band played for their musicals. The Art department made the program covers and advertisement as well as collaborated in making the sets. ALL of those activities were learning opportunities.
My sentiments exactly (sans the loving sports part). No one needs to apologize for loving sports. But the arts are at best an afterthought, and I see schools and cities pour money into sports programs and nothing in the arts.
Music is math and could help children learn.
Theatre is history — an integrated approach, using theatre to understand a different era.
A kid not interested in his social studies project may be very interested if his art is incorporated. My 13 year old goddaughter didn’t want to do her project on the Salem witch trials when her mother said, “use some art.” She drew a picture of a young girl going to the gallows that would make your heart break, and made us so proud of her. She loves to draw, and the chance to exhibit the personal toll of what could have been a dry history lesson, made all the difference in her understanding and empathy of the subject, and encouraged her to do more research.
When the Penn State thing blew up, I kept thinking that if it was a teacher who headed a theatre program, that teacher would have been fired in a flurry of outrage and the entire program eliminated. But when it’s sports, the good ol’ boy network protects the program.
Proud of my Mayor Emmanuel today, who didn’t mince words at all at how outraged he was by this jackass expecting Chicago to give him $150,000,000 for effing Wrigley field while insulting our President. It’s ridiculous here: doesn’t matter how bad the Cubs are, they still pack in the fans. He can stop paying insane salaries to awful ballplayers and fix his own damned field.
I agree that a good arts education should be an essential part of the school experience for kids. We used to have great music, painting, and theater programs in my school and I learned so much that helped me in my life. Sure there were sports and lots of competitive teams, but in my day these were always balanced. Losing the arts part of the balance shortchanges children and diminishes their whole experience in school. It always irritates me when people complain about school taxes. This is our country and it’s in all our interests not to have generations of insensitive dummies running the country.
Oh, and a “fiscal conservative.” What does that mean?! For example, was he an outspoken critic during the Bush administration and their credit card wars? Bet not! Why should taxpayers foot the bill for Wrigley Field. Fiscal conservative when it comes to his own money, huh? All who dare label themselves as a “fiscal conservative” better be prepared to substantiate WTF they mean. They give themselves these labels and the 4th un-Estate, MSM just nods away as if they were those nodding toy dogs of yesteryear. Well, they are not going to slink back to their cesspools that easily!
Precisely, xtine! “Fiscal conservative” is CODE for Lying, Spending on DUMB WARS! iT’S ALSO HOLLOW TO TALK ABOUT PBO’S “SPENDING” WHEN HE’S TRYING TO FIX “FISCAL CONSERVATIVES’” SPENDING!
Chgo Trib reporting on Rahm’s response to questions about the Rickett’s rumor——said it’s an insult to President Obama, an insult to the country. Reported this came to light as Cubs were asking for $150 million for Wrigley Field renovation. Also includes the denial from the Ricketts family and a statement from Joe Rickett’s lesbian daughter who is an ardent, active supporter of President Obama. Problematic family dynamic going on there, as her dad funds teabaggers and super-pacs who are out to defeat him. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-emanuel-antiobama-ads-would-be-insult-to-nation-20120517,0,1128323.story?track=rss
Why are they calling it the “Rickett’s rumor” the man said it was true but he changed his mind and wouldn’t follow through. It was one of many proposals so how is that a rumor?
Well, another example of a Republican legislator, in Missouri this time, looking after the well being of his constituents. And this guy is a doctor. I guess he took the Hypocrisy Oath rather than the Hippocratic Oath. http://www.joepaduda.com/archives/002330.html
Is it a new style to wear a dress white shirt and a tie with one’s jeans?
Last week I had a button permanently checked, and now I have no button at all to check to see if anyone out there responds to my style question. I’ll check in later I guess.
I’ll foolishly wade into a style question. Personally, I like a white shirt with Great Fitting Jeans on a guy (not borrowed from wife), sleeves rolled up, NO TIE. But the most important thing is who is in the jeans and white shirt. Stiff awkward Willard—-that’s a no. Metrosexual, beautiful long and lean black Abe—-that’s a HUGE YES.
I agree…….A hottie in sexy jeans and a white shirt with sleeves rolled up is to die for……….PBO definitely fits that bill. Those Mom jeans should be outlawed……then burnt.
I’m always liked jeans, white shirt, and a tie on a guy. Not willard, of course, he looks stupid in anything.
I’m interested in that “button” overseasgranny was referring to about finding out if you have a response to your comments. I have not heard of such a thing..where is it?!
Frankly, if a man can’t pull off wearing 501s or Bull riding jeans, I don’t want to even hear about it. Mom jeans should be banned for both genders. Period.
Outragious that #DNC putting $0 into #WisconsinRecall. Are they in the same country? Repercussions likely. #p2 #tlot #dems #p2b #Obama2012
I don’t even know what to think now…..Walker has to go but I’m getting tired of this……repercussions likely? meaning what? If they lose, the DNC will be blamed, President Obama as well……come on.
From the polls I saw this morning, 4 out of 10 union households are for Walker and 51% of the population approve of his actions…
I think Ed Schultz is a nitwit on a good day, but he’s been nothing but supportive of the WI recall.
A new poll today was devastating: Barrett down by 6 I think.
The crowing from the RW if we lose this recall is going to be AWFUL. It will also embolden other Republican governors that there will be no consequences for their actions. That’s why this recall is a national issue.
The Ricketts rejection of Wright is noted, but don't miss Pg. 46 of document: “With your preliminary approval at the New York meeting…"— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) May 17, 2012
If WI union households don’t know the difference between the GOP and the Dem party, then they really deserve the fate they are choosing. If WI is a state that belongs to the Koch brothers, maybe it needs to just sign it over, and all their rights and income with it. This failure is not the fault of our President. If they couldn’t win this recall, why the hell did they ask for it. Ed Shults can go straight to hell as far as I am concerned. I never watch his show anyway. If he has so much damn influence, why doesn’t he turn this recall vote around? If I were PBO, I wouldn’t sign on to this failure. It’s not his to own,
If the vote had been right then and there, they woudl have won it weasily. My suspicion is, since just before the primary Barrett was the one Dem ahead of Walker in the polls, that right now you are seeing some of the disappointment in some voters that their candidate didnt’ win. I expect this to fade away. Plus, there is more and more negativity coming out about Walker and his aides, etc. It will be close and will definitely depend on turnout. When something drags on this long, there can be a tendency for some of the initial enthusiasm to burn out, or at least weaken.
On the other hand, Walker, in an attempt to swing people back to him has made a lot of promises, very concrete promises. We will see if enough people fall for that. And I do think the DNC is makng a mistake not pouring some money into Barrett’s campaign.
If Walker wins based on false promises, which someone pointed out last week is how he won the first time, then what incentive will he have to keep any of those false promises? Can people really get fooled again? He, and the entire GOP will be emboldened.
I was born and raised in WI and have lived in Chicago since 1972. I still obviously have ties to WI. I don’t understand this insane RWNJ passion in my home state. WI has a long history of progressive Republicans, union ties. This is just insane.
Now Walker has been raising money all over the country for the last year and half and has pummeled the airwaves with his lies. But I didn’t think he’d actually be this successful. Wisconsinites have been mounting this campaign truly as grass roots. I think there was even an issue of getting state Democratic support initially. I had hoped they could hit the ground running. I don’t see any missteps from Barrett, there just doesn’t seem to be enough money to be as aggressive as they need to be.
That being said, Walker was completely dishonest about what he intended to do to the state and I am appalled that Wisconsinites are buying into his b.s.
Well we were pummelled with Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina ads in 2010 here in California. I rarely saw a ad for Gov Jerry Brown. It was all get out the vote, going door to door, getting our message out with OFA and CA Democratic Party. The President came to town a few times just like he did in WI, OH, MI, IN, FL….don’t give them back the keys. Only after two years people were mad at the president and democrats because they focused on healthcare, stopping the job loss, getting a stimulus, getting a handle on the wars, putting in motion to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice, saving the auto industry, on and on…..so what did the people do, they stayed home, voted Republican, and ushered in the teabaggery.
I am sorry, The Democratic party needs to regain the house, keep the majority in the Senate, and re-elect THIS President, that is where their sole focus should be because if we lose the house, senate and WH and Walker is defeated,,,,,the rest of us are screwed.
It was not a contentious primary, as had been predicted. There was quibbling on which candidate was more pro-union but the animosity never seemed to have spilled over and all the candidates were united the day after the primary. You may be right about some licking of wounds, but if you voted for any of the Democrats, it’s time to pull together. There just isn’t enough time.
What is puzzling and disturbing is that this has turned into polling points for Walker. Even a cooled Democrat shouldn’t translate to a vote for Walker. So I’m really puzzled.
I’m not getting too much help from my friends in WI because they’re wild-eyed liberals anyway and don’t necessarily know what’s being discussed at the blue collar dinner tables on the South side of Milwaukee. I don’t know if there are issues with the polling. Just don’t know, but I’d really like the Good Guys to win this one.
Although born in Chicago, like you I was raised in WI and am now back in the subs of Chicago. Of course, a good part of my upbringing was in the Fox River Valley, once considered the most conservative area in the country. I was standing on the street watching McCarthy’s funeral procession. All that being said, I have friends and relatives up there (including a brother that will definitely vote for Walker) but most are on the side of Barrett. A few reconize that this will come out to turnout and are pushing everybbody they know to get to the polls.
It’s all about turnout. Some good analysis of the recent WI polls at dKos which I found encouraging. Both polls, even the better pollster, way underestimated Democratic turnout and votes in the primary.
I admit that growing up in a liberal household in Milwaukee may have skewed my image of my state. There is a conservatism, but that’s when conservatism meant cautious, not crazy. I remember when Milwaukee finally opened about 5 miles of expressway. Don’t want to jump in too fast to those new-fangled ideas. That being said, I thought everyone who went to public school had equal doses of the arts and sports. I thought all kids learned how to read music in school, and could get free music lessons through public school. I thought all high schools supported their school plays and muscials. And it was my conservative high school principal who let me direct a play as a junior that was considered quite shocking for its time, about being unconventional and the horrors of mindless conventionality (Shirley Jackson’s, The Lottery). We held an assembly to present it to the school and the principal was so impressed that we scheduled performances at other area schools and had question and answer sessions. I took my good public school education for granted in the 50′s and 60′s.
Is Schultz blaming the President for this?!?!?! Is he back to the b.s. that if the President would walk the picket line like it’s a god damned movie, everything would be dandy? He is an IDIOT.
Ed is a double agent. Never forget that he is the one who told democrats to not vote in 2010 to “send a message” to PBO. Ed one of the real reasons there is a Gov. Walker. Also remember that Ed “used” to be a Republican (which is the case with an alarming number of the “progressive” pundits the MSM shoves down our throats).
Ya gotta luv this epic failure of the Wright smear. The author and funder is now running away from it, and the brand of the Cubs is forever stained, and the owner of the Cubs is hated in his own town. A similar fate awaits future smears like this one. And it’s a huge reminder of the racist and misogynist religion of Mitt Romney with all of its bizarre teachings.
His daughter is co-owner of the Cubs and she is an avid Obama supporter. Her daddy is just an ass.
“Laura Ricketts, a major fundraiser for Obama and Cubs co-owner, issued a statement today:
“”My own personal view is that President Obama has been a great leader in very difficult times. He has been leading us to an economic recovery; served with great honor as commander-in-chief during a time of war; been a strong proponent on issues important to women and just last week he exhibited great courage in endorsing the freedom to marry for Gay and Lesbian Americans.
“I am doing all that I can to help President Obama get re-elected because it is what I believe is best for America.”
In talk of national debt, @MittRomney leaves out own record of raising debt by $2.6B in MA, leaving w/largest per capita debt in nation— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) May 17, 2012
I actually did join that Twit machine and I’ve been confused every since….too many moving parts. I still have no clue on what to do over there. I don’t know if I’m followiing or leading.
Re-tweet. Follow people from TOD, and add people to follow as you see re-tweets from the Good Guys. I’ll see a re-tweet from Bobfr or BWD, look at the profile of that person and follow them. I look at the site once or twice a day, but mainly retweet from here. I’ve found some really good information, links and some good people. I did that for a long time before I composed any tweets, and as I’m sure a lot of you will agree, 140 characters does not actually suit my long windedness. But I’ll think of a pithy phrase once in awhile and think, “I’ll tweet that. Can’t hurt.”
It’s about spreading the word. I use it exclusively for politics and helping PBO get reelected.
Twitter has become a very, very important element in our democracy. I was very skeptical when it first launched but the Arab Spring convinced me otherwise. It’s a great political organizing tool that I think has proven itself over the last year. Please join the TOD twitter brigade. We’re fierce!! And effective.
Yup, I use TweetDeck – makes it much easier to follow, organize my tweets and respond. It made me much more active on Twitter – the original screen is too much like a big bucket for me. Hard to follow.
LL, I was not interested in twitter for such a long time, but a few months ago I made the plunge. I now I must say I love it! I pretty much never write anything of my own, but I retweet what others write all the time or I post links to PBO reelection ads or that sort of thing. Anyway, I think you will love it too. Feel free to check out who I follow or the retweets I have made to get an idea of what happens over there. I am @awonderouslife. I don’t focus on who is following me at all, but I feel like on twitter I am helping to get PBO’s message out there. My interest on twitter is 99% political and to get PBO re-elected. I like how on twitter you can choose any topic that interests. I love the political humor on twitter. There is so much of it. Earlier today people were coming up with names for Romney’s yatch. Just incredibly funny, but poignant as well. Please check twitter out LL!
I remember reading last week on twitter and other places on the web that Hannity was apparently setting the “groundwork” by peddling this Rev. Wright mess. So apparently he knew this was coming.
Well Sean….Not.This.Time. This junk isn’t gonna work. People have had over three years to watch this President in action and no amount of trying to paint him as a boogie man is going to sway the publics opinion of him.
This was indeed an EPIC FAIL and I hope Chicago cancels whatever plans they had to renovate that stadium. It will serve him Wright! Pun intended.
I think it’s time for me to revive a piece I was working on a couple of months ago for TPV. It was called “Tales of Socialism”, and contrasted how sports venues are funded in the US and in Europe, and what that meant for the broader culture.
It works for his vieweship, at 9 pm, on FOX! That is about it!
They wanted to shift focus off of Bidens comments about Robney. That is all this is about, to shift focus. Check.
I don’t even think they seriously are trying to sway opinions with the Rev Wright nonsense, because it’s old news. I think they just want to make the environment really toxic. Get people to turn off and stop paying attention. When you think about the Romney meeting with the media, the refusal of the media to call Romney on his lies, the constant projection from the right, and these coordinated attacks that have nothing to do with policy – all the while claiming that President Obama is running from his record and launching character attacks. They’re trying to compose an alternate reality, full of toxic spew, that will turn people away from the election. I hope people don’t fall for it.
And Tamron can barely catch her breath, talking about Wright.
Why?
As it turns out, that was her Church, she attended, and knows Wright personally.
She needs a paper bag! LOL!
Most people who took the time to listen to Rev Wright and understood where he was coming from in his many, many sermons and not just a few seconds of video loop, couldn’t help but be entranced by his message. His church was and still is a very popular mainstay and many people, especially young professionals like Tamron (when she was in Chicago), are members. They offer much needed services to the community.
There was a biblical reference to what he said, and he stated that at the time. Get the entire sermon before falling into the right wing trap. I heard the sermon on the day he spoke it. It was said by a man who served his country, was given an award by LBJ, and has an excellent record of patriotism. So, if that 20 second clip could sway you, then imagine what it did to PBO’s haters.
I took time out to listen to the entire lecture from Rev Wright on Youtube shortly after the election. I’d only ever heard the excerpted segments that were continuously looped, and had formed my opinions off of that. Hearing the segments in full context opened my eyes. Yes, he’s controversial, but the entire speech was actually quite profound, and talked about a variety of things – not all of which I agreed with, but a majority of which made a lot of sense when in context.
who said there was no national Dem support in the Wisc recall effort?
“We’ve gotten a lot of questions about the upcoming Wisconsin election. Here’s the answer: our Wisconsin team is in.
If Republicans are going to launch an assault on worker’s rights and the middle class, we’re going to stand up and fight them every step of the way from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. We already have field organizers on the ground in key districts — but we have to get going quickly.
Will you help us reach 5,000 donations today to show Democrats are united and have what it takes to win?
Please contribute $3 or more right now to make sure we get out every Democratic vote we can.
The polls are neck-and-neck so it’s going to come down to which side can turn out more voters on Election Day.
Let’s stand together on this:
Yep and I have gotten requests for donations from the Democratic Governers Assoc for this recall as well. I guess they specifically want the DNC to pony up funds directly. I know that OFA is on the ground working to GOTV but I guess they need/want more.
They basically are asking for $50 million from the DNC. Barrett is being outspent 10-1 by Walker and the Koch brothers. $50 million, heck, even half of that would go a long way. This about more than just getting Walker out of the governor’s office. A win by Walker will give a big shot in the arm to Dems countrywide in close races. A loss will not only be negative for Wisconsin but will give a shot in the arm to the other side.
Charley James:
The truly ıncredıble thıng ıs that a man who has spent most of the past – what? – sıx or seven years runnıng for presıdent ıs so dıslıked by so many people. It’s really the “beer questıon” ın that no one really wants to spend a few hours wıth thıs guy havıng a beer. And ıt’s not just because he looks lıke the man who fıred you; ıt ıs because he ıs truly an unlıkeable human beıng.
There’s the Seamus stuff, the terrorızıng a kıd ın the dorm, the forced laugh, the ınabılıty to connect, the ten grand bet offered at a debate, how he made hıs mıllıons, how he keeps changıng hıs basıc posıtıons. Add ıt all together and there are very few redeemıng features to Mıtt Romney. Maybe none.
Qme2:
Mr. James you have earned my respect as a direct writer of significant fact about a man yet to be fully understood by me beyond the points you have made and you have made them well. When I think of the points you make and attribute to one person, I think you write about a sociopath.
Now, Robney camp is holding a press conference on the Wright incident.
This only gives him all the attention to go after The President on Jobs, Debt and paint the President as a negative Campaign.
No questions allowed, just a statement.
Gross!
Okay, meantime PBO is meeting with the G8 at Camp David and going to Chicago to meeting with leaders from around the world. There will be major press conferences, joint announcements, and big decisions made. I’m not worried about Mitt Romney making a press announcement about an ad campaign. Our president is an adult and he isn’t playing petty games.
I say give him all the air time possible, especially when he has to speak off the cuff and/or answer questions. He can not think on his feet and the more exposure, the more likely he’ll explode his own head.
Tom Donilon is an amazing NSA. I’m so grateful he is a close confidant to PBO. This will be a very interesting series of events that I’m really looking forward to over the next several days.
Shmitt says PBO did and continues to do the character assassination. He thinks the verifiable ad about his time at Bain equates to character assassination. Shmitt should repudiate his own character.
Now as I type this, when asked about a previous statement he made, he replied, ” I don’t remember what I said, but I stand by whatever I said, but I have to go and look up whatever it was that I must have said.”
Forget Facebook stock, buy something in pharmacy, whatever soothes face palm smacks to the head.
This is not bad news. Remember, we are firmly entrenched in PBO’s camp. Wing-nuts are firmly entrenched in the ‘pub camp (even though they despise MoMoney). When the Indies and those folks in swing states hear about this kinda stuff, it works to PBO’s advantage. They are turned off by the personal attacks on PBO, they want results. As long as Drudge and the other batshit crazies are out there with this crap, it continues to turn off the folks who are going to matter in Nov. I say shine the spotlight on these cretins.
I have never moved on or gotten over the ad by the McCain campaign villifying PBO because he was popular, and comparing him to Paris Hilton. Everytime I see Schmidt, I see that ad. I notice that Schmidt has changed his tune somewhat since Robney became the presumptive nominee. He is a repug and will always be a repug.
Yeah. Because he admits Palin was an idiot. I’ve always been shocked at people forgetting that he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Repub who would stoop to nothing to elect Repubs.
Let’s be clear: if he could have been able to gloss over Palin’s idiocy, he wouldn’t have given a damn if she would have been the most disastrous VP in American history, a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Schmitt is a miserable, dangerous hack like all of them.
Linda, I’m referring to Mitt rhymes with shit, but I didn’t want to seem unladylike in my description of him. See, now you made me go and sound all smut mouth.
After running for Pres most of his adult life and thinking he’s entitled to the office, if this man loses the election, he’ll probably strap himself to the top of a car and drive himself over a cliff.
I’m not fimiliar with what I said,but I stand by whatever I said. This lying fool knows exactly what it is he said. Republicans you are welcome to Mitt Romney, if I was a Republican I would be so ashame that this man is my candidate. That this is the best we could do.
Robme is like the male version of Sarah Palin…..I can’t believe he can’t keep a lucid thought in his head. Maybe he has early stages of Alzheimers like Reagan since he tries so hard imitating him.
The historical fact of Bibi Netanyahu’s and Mitt Romney’s crossed paths at the Boston Consulting Group decades ago has been covered more extensively this cycle than it was in the 2008 presidential race, because of the implications of what a prior friendship could mean should the Republican become president after a term of strained relations between the Israeli leader and President Obama.
Romney had described their relationship as almost speaking “in shorthand” after years of knowing each other, and Netanyahu had seemed to bolster that through aides. But in an exclusive interview with Time magazine, Netanyahu seemed to tamp down the level of closeness:
“We did not know each other that well. He was the whiz kid. I was just in the back of the room.” Netanyahu tells Stengel he has seen Romney only a handful of times over the years and only once this year. They spoke for 10 minutes in March during his visit to Washington, mainly about Iran.
This has to be tweeted like mad. The Republicans undermining the foreign policy of President Obama and undermining the work of the INTERNATIONAL COALITION !!!
Jesus, this is a new low.
Journalists have to stop being cowards and being afraid of appearing biased. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. The Gop is downright treasonous.
It was a video clip of VP Joe saying c’mon man, after Mitt or other folks said something. It’s hard to describe, but it was really a good montage. Then Bashir says to his panel, Mitt has more positions than a porn convention. Now he’s taking a guy from Koch Industries to task. He interrupts him repeatedly to make him tell the truth. He’s lying about something Karen Finney said. He said to Bahsir, “Let me continue to lie, then you can correct me.” When he finally finished lying, Bashir corrected him in his calm manner of killing you softly.
I stand by what I said even if I don’t remember what I said. This man has two freakin Harvard degrees? SMH. I can’t wait for the debates with PBO because he will remind him all the crap he said in the primaries.
I'm buying stock in Depends 4 the Presidential Debates. Dems will be peeing w/ laughter & Repubs will be crapping their pants. #p2#Forward— April (@ReignOfApril) May 17, 2012
PBO will clean Robme’s clock with that debt clock….Robme will wish he’d never mentioned the word debt especially if there’s another debt ceiling fight.
The President should have a tax return clock behind him at every event, counting the days that Romney didn’t disclose his tax returns for the last 10 years at least, what is he hiding?….if McCain campaign saw his tax returns of 20 years and chose Palin instead..it says it all,….
GO Rahm. I guess Ricketts will think twice before putting out the type of lies then go hat in hand to the mayor who just happens to be the ex-chief of staff of the president. I am glad it all came out BEFORE the money was promised for the ball park. If these bastards can shell out that amount of money on lies to win an ellection, they can improve their own fucking ball park.
How stupid does Rickets have to be not to have figured this out. He’s asking for big support from a Democratic mayor who’s devoted to the president and he decides to spend millions on attack ads. This takes moron to a whole new level.
He was gloriously PISSED. Can you imagine what language was used in the Mayor’s Office today?
Frankly, I would fight tooth and nail about giving the Cubs ANY more taxpayer money anyway. We have issues in this town, and remodeling Wrigley Field ain’t one of them. Let’s be clear: they pack in the lemmings no matter how awful the team is. There is no economic advantage AT ALL to Chicago to take money we desperately need elsewhere.
How about more theatre programs, art instructors and music in the public schools rather than lining the pockets of someone who then uses his millions to defeat decent Democrats and our President?
I don’t know how to put up videos, I can barely link on the webz, but if you get a chance watch Bashir take down the Koch brother’s general council Mark Holden.
I just saw the interview and I don’t think Martin got anything from him. He corrected Karen Finney’s position with the DNC but the rest was “I don’t know.” He didn’t get any concessions or admissions from him that most people don’t already know.
You know what is funny? Dylan will now come on tv, and describe this while ,Wright-Gate as a huge problem for the President.
And in a way, that nobody understands. He tries to shape his questions in the most bizarre fashion.
His questions are the most strange set of nonsense, I have ever heard.
In the end, his Face gets red, and nobody understands what he is talking about.
He just says the Presidents Name 500x per Show!
I think most people have recognized RATigan for the fraud that he is. He gets no respect on Twitter,and most people seem to think that he’s on “something.”
I think he’s really talking to himself in his own head. He hasn’t realized that there’s a camera in front of him. He seems surprised many times when he gets a response from his guests. It’s like he says, ‘knock, knock…. who’s there?…. Dylan..Dylan who? knock, knock….who’s there?…..Dylan again…Dylan who again?…Dylan Rat again’ whomp, whomp… dada bing, dada boom.
As sign of warming relations with Myanmar/Burma, Pres Obama announced nomination of first US Ambassador there in 22 years: Derek Mitchell.— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 17, 2012
For once Mark has a semi-positive report – without any snarky undertones.
He probably spent an hour constructing that Tweet trying to find some way to spin it as negative or put a gossipy angle to it. In the end he probably just gave up and reported the actual news.
A rarity, that’s for sure.
Okay, a quick glance at the side bar tells me I have a LOT of catching up to do, so other than saying ‘in the house’, I’ve gone to investigate what I’ve missed.
hey guys how is everyone? popping in for a brief minute before I gotta go again. It’s been super busy here in minnesota – we’re having our first canvassing event. I think I have 76 people signed up to come to my house and get packets and go out and canvass….that’s going to be interesting……hope it doesn’t rain.
HEADLINE: Rahm Emanuel ‘livid,’ not returning calls from Ricketts family.
// Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not returning calls from the Ricketts family and is “livid” over a New York Times report that Joe Ricketts commissioned a proposal for a multimillion-dollar ad campaign linking President Obama to the president’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, according to an Emanuel aide. Joe Ricketts’s children, which include Obama bundler Laura Ricketts, bought the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and have been in talks with the city about renovating the team’s 98-year-old stadium, Wrigley Field.
The aide also said Emanuel, who is Obama’s former chief of staff, has cut off communication with the family.
“The Ricketts have tried to contact the mayor, but he’s said that he does not want to talk with them today, tomorrow or anytime soon,” the aide said.
This is a tricky one – the daughter seems to have her head screwed on straight, and her father seems to have screwed over the family business (i.e. the Cubs). I wonder how this will end up.
There are some good TweetDeck videos available on Google, too – quick tutorial. They’ve upgraded the tool a few times since I started using it, but it’s essentially just minor differences.
No worries. Will play around there over the weekend. Too busy now trying to keep up with Twitter AND keep an eye out for Chips return so I can storm the TOD posting gate.
Crucial tool, LL, totally crucial. Along with multiple tabs in modern browsers it’s amazing how much stuff can be flowing while one actually does their ‘day job’
Aha! Here’s the other teacher (along with Theo) who sold me the goods but didn’t follow up with step by step info for this computer dummy! Not to worry, I’ll actually try to connect the dots on the weekend
Haven’t had a chance to read all comments yet so don’t know if anyone pointed out the odd tidbit that I caught and Tweety just mentioned—–that Willard said he read about the Ricketts proposal while he was on “the aircraft”. As Tweety said, who says “aircraft”? Answer: no one. Willard is one weird dude. I’m starting to think he may have been crafted in a lab, for real.
I swear I don’t make it a policy to read comments on open forums but that nasty article about what they planned to try and do to the President compelled me to read one of the comments. We just recieved an email from Jim Messina about that article and this one caught me eye because it was the very first one listed:
..I have no money and am still trying to pay off bills from a family illness last year. My job is not secure. I have a kid in college and a mortgage to pay each month. I am over 55, meaning that my job prospects if I lose my current job are nil.
Nonetheless, after reading this article, I have donated $250 to the Obama campaign. I’ll give more next month and, whatever else I may have on my schedule, I am going to Pennsylvania on weekends to volunteer.
A pox on these Republicans. Enough is enough. Really. They are not merely dishonest, unscrupulous and irresponsible; they’re gross.
That brought a big ole smile to my face. Keep on firing up our base you crazy Repubs…
There are still lots of good people out there. And the basic goodness in humanity is what will propel PBO’s re-election in 2012. That’s it. Enough is enough. Kudos to that older citizen.
Hey Tally, I figure you are partying wherever you are, hence you are not here with us! I don’t want the day to go by without saying ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’, and may many, many moreBDs come your way! {{{TALLY the BD bardgirl)
Yup.He’s a man of color. ’nuff said? There are still a few fire houses that are not ah, er, post racial in their thought processes. Even here in Chicago. It’s especially so in some small towns that have volunteer firefighters.
Haha—-the Letterman clip of their re-enactment of that sparkly W endorsement of Willard. W is standing in the elevator as the doors start to close as he says in his pre-school teacher style, “I stand strong with Mitt Rom…..”—.as the doors close and his tie is caught in the door, hanging out and the tie starts to ascend. That was quite an endorsement, like someone had a gun to his head.
I am wondering why this Zimmerman character didn’t have blood on him, if he shot Trayvon while Trayvon was apparently straddling him. And why there were reports that Zimmerman was sitting on top of Trayvon after he shot him?
The parents of this poor child are very strong. I’d have freaked out by now. Especially after that hateful target practice nonsense.
On Randi’s show they played the call from the neighbor talking to 911. In the background you could hear someone crying for help. Sounded like a kid. Broke my heart.
Don’t forget arugula and orange juice—–those set off a firestorm too
Next thing GOP will rehash from 2008, Flag pins, Obama's hand over heart, Obama's threat to our white women, Obama's bowling….God Help Us— Claude Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) May 17, 2012
Karma…karma…now let’s see them go endorse Romney – which is really what they want to do anyway.
A STATEMENT FROM AMERICANS ELECT:
// There is a desire among Delegates and millions of Americans who have supported Americans Elect to see a credible candidate emerge from this process. However, the rules, as developed in consultation with the Americans Elect Delegates, are clear. As of this week, no candidate achieved the national support threshold required to enter the Americans Elect Online Convention in June. The primary process for the Americans Elect nomination has come to an end. //
This is priceless! All those who were supporting this group, thinking that they really were non-partisan, will be surprised when they turn up behind Romney and the Conservatives. There was never anything non-partisan about this group to begin with. Wasn’t Buddy Roemer, a GOP outsider, trying to get these people behind him when he was refused entry into the debates? His platform was exactly the same as every other Conservative, except he was anti-big money, because he didn’t have any. Karma, indeed.
With nearly six months left before Election Day, national party committees have already reserved more than $72 million in television airtime for a fall campaign that’s shaping up as a Super Bowl-like spectacle of political advertising.
Given that the 2012 cycle may go down in history as the most cluttered and expensive in history, committees and super PACs are maneuvering to get the most bang for their buck. For many, that means buying their ads unusually early.
I’m here,vc:) Just got home from work and trying to catch up…have to go pick my daughter up in a little bit…suffering with this cold/ allergies? I don’t know…I’d like to cut off my head right now. How about you? Where is everyone????
A couple of months ago in Arizona, Mitt Romney attacked the president on this topic with a whopper lie: “He said he’d cut the deficit in half. He’s doubled it. He’s doubled it.”
Mitt Romney actually said that. Well, no, the president didn’t cut the deficit in half. And he hasn’t doubled it. Obviously. Romney lied again. Actually, the president is on course to erasing the entire deficit by 2017, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 2017 budget deficit, which will reflect President Obama’s final spending requests (a similar dynamic to Bush’s last deficit of 2009), could end up being zero.
Conversely, the Tax Policy Center reported that the Romney tax plan would explode the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over ten years. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the reversal of the president’s deficit cutting policies like the Affordable Care Act, or another recession, or whatever Romney decides to do in Iran.
Don’t let the Republicans get away with their ignorant lies about the deficit and the debt. Feel free to steal the above charts or to repeat what I’ve written here.
Um, where is everyone? Still on the last thread?
I think dear Chips is coming down with a case of ADD.
Busier than a one-armed paper hanger with crabs!
Most excellent graphic, Chips ….
#PRESSON
Good Tweet Bobfr!
Hey Symmetry – yes, the last thread didn’t last very long.
Oh – and congratulations!
Yep! But you are 1st so congrats!
lol I think so….I was
Traumatized from Mitt in Mom Jeans.
Yes – I keep looking at that picture. It’s not natural.
I’m telling you, that’s Anne’s bottom half on that pic. How else do you get a female, had 5 boys pouch as a man?
Even if it was Anne on the bottom – still not pretty…
It’s butt ugly!!!!!! Literally.
Ha!
They’re a bunch of slow coaches Symmetry.
lol…they aren’t slow Chips. I would not have been first if I was actually doing my work instead of reading TOD. Auditing files today. I can’t seem to focus.
It’s Willard’s jeans that have harmed your concentration, Symmetry. Focus, FOCUS!
scatterbugscatterbrain.Yeah….and when I clicked on new thread, my clock said 1:26. Something is “rotten in Denmark.”
Hello TOD friends. I worked in my yard all morning. Back is screaming now.
hi
EXCELLENT!
Which will pass when Nancy Smash regains the gavel next year.
hf, I see that you’re still the unique champion of twitter copy & paste.
That’s right.
I was late..I had to sign in..
Chips, I was in the middle of a conversation with LL on the last thread, when I was whisked into cyberspace onto this new thread. Mid-sentence I tell ya’. To LL, I didn’t mean to leave you hangin!
BuzzFeed annoys me most of the time, but this is hysterical!
Black Metrosexual Abe Lincoln Being Awesome
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/black-metrosexual-abe-lincoln-being-awesome
Hysterically laughing…now to regain composure and get back to work!
Hi I know I’m late to the party but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALLY!!!! Hope you have a wonderful day.
Hey Sam, how do the polls look in the UK? And when does Cammy have to call the next elections?
Polls not too amazing for Cammy! (LOVE the nickname LL) Labour won big in the local elections held earlier this month but we don’t have a general election for another 3 years. (It’s every 5 years here.) It’s way too early to tell who will be the winner in 2015 but if the elections were held today Labour have an eight point lead according to a Guardian poll. The budget, austerity and his perceived lack of ability to connect has hurt him badly and the proposed changes to disability allowance have caused the Tories some problems too.
For my family the elections can not come quickly enough as my husband is on disability allowance and is worried sick about the proposed changes. As much as I try to re-assure him that as far as I can work out he will not be affected, he is far more cynical than I am and due to his meds does not think clearly. It is just a little stressful!!
We have our work cut out for us. This issues of folks having to jump thru hoops to vote is happening in many states (mostly those with Republican governors and legislatures.) Here is the story of Ms. Viviette Applewhite, 93, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Isonprize, I’ve heard the first decision about “staying” the PA voter ID laws comes before the PA Commonwealth Court in June. Though loaded with Republicans, this court doesn’t always support Republicans, so it’s an open question about what the decision will be. No matter what, the case will immediately be appealed to the PA Supreme Court, which is always weighted to the right and then the US Supreme Court. So our only hope is at the “Commonwealth” level because a “stay” there will make a stronger case going forward. The biggest immediate issue is that these laws were rushed into operation without enough time or consideration given to how difficult the requirements would be for some people. Viviette Applewhite is the primary plaintiff in the PA case.
Can someone be so kind as to link joe biden speeches yesterday and today in ohio for me. Thanks a bunch!
VP Joe said, “Yo mama AND yo daddy!!!” Then he said, ” My mama and dad had dreams, you imbecile. The difference is they instilled the need for compassion and caring as we sought to become anything we wanted to be!” do you still need the vid?
I see a tweet from Jonathan Alter saying he’s not sure CNN’s Castellanos is right but he’s a really smart guy and his analysis is worth a look. So I read this biggest piece of Obama-slamming trash, every word. Obama’s no good any more, he’s just a lowly politician who divides us, Romney is at peace with himself and is going to win. Alter is recommending people read this? What in the world? What is wrong with people?
Yea he looked really smart on MTP insulting Rachel Maddow………It’s not the first time Alter does something like this,….
pundtwits gotta stick up for each other. Otherwise, how are they get invited for all those bw partays?
Reserve psychology on full display. Romney is at peace with himself when he loses.
I’ll tell ya what’s wrong with these people, dotster: Village Brain Rot. Besides Alter, there’s Joe Klein, Howard Fineman…and please feel free to add to the list. These folks are friggin’ dinosaurs who have been inside the beltway for so many decades that their understanding of America beyond has been erased.
Of course Castellanos would write that. It was he who said in 2010 that the Republicans are going to win the White House on “White hot” hate. that they would use race and anything at their disposal to destroy the President. he said it on CNN and I filed it at the back of my mind. his piece is part of the master plan. He’s venal, despicable and outright evil.
Didn’t Alter use to have brain cells? “romeny is at peace with himself”?! Yeah, he’s a sociopathic, pathological LIAR..F**king A At Peace with that.
AFAIC Alter is has been on a downward slide into the abyss…See ya.
Cha, I thought that Alter had more brain cells than what he has been displaying lately. I have been tell this low-battery people to kiss my behind, but I thought about that long and hard, and decided that my behind is too decent and too elegant for these “crap heads “to even get close to it. My behind is too classy for these idiots. That is too much respect to give to such you all know what.
Excuse me TOD family, but I am calm and peaceful, but this crap is shameful especially coming from Alter. I hope that POB will not give Alter Not one more sit down book interview EVER. Alter does not deserves to be even in the same room with such a decent man as POB. That is it for me tonight. I need to get ready for my meeting tomorrow for a group that are willing to discuss the issues of why they want to come and vote for POB this time around.
Alter can go and lock himself up in an “out house.” Good night TOD family. HZ
yes! fracking scares the crap outta me.
Bravo.
Ricketts needs to feel significant pain. Time to boycott the Cubs and their sponsors.
Can you believe that his daughter Laura also co-owns the Chicago cubs AND is a Lesbian supporter and fundraising bundler for PBO?!?!?
What kind of awkward family dynamic is this?!?!?
Wow, Mary Ahern from Chicago Tribune also just said that the report could not have come at a worse time. Why? Cuz Rahm Emanuel was trying to get funding & public support for Wriggley Stadium where the Cubs play, and now this. According to her, calls are going off from angry constituents asking Rahm to suspend the effort for the stadium. Ha! Don’t mess with PBO
I guess she took her own lessons and made her own life. Must make for an interesting Thanksgiving dinner though!
Right. lol I know she wants to kick her father’s *ss
also if you do business with TDAmeritrade, think about moving your account elsewhere. He founded it, and reports say the company are floundering trying to answer a deluge of calls from clients angry about the NYT report. Serves them all right. These wingnuts think PBO has no supporters? They’ll have another think coming.
Now that made me smile! Clog their lines! Bravo to the deluge!
Well, well, not fooled one bit. Benen:
“Joe Ricketts is a registered independent, a fiscal conservative, and an outspoken critic of the Obama Administration, but he is neither the author nor the funder of the so-called “Ricketts Plan” to defeat Mr. Obama that The New York Times wrote about this morning. Not only was this plan merely a proposal – one of several submitted to the Ending Spending Action Fund by third-party vendors — but it reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take.
“Mr. Ricketts intends to work hard to help elect a President this fall who shares his commitment to economic responsibility, but his efforts are and will continue to be focused entirely on questions of fiscal policy, not attacks that seek to divide us socially or culturally.”
Although this statement suggests that using Wright “reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects,” MSNBC’s Mark Murray noted that the actual proposal, published by the NYT, contains this line: “Joe Ricketts said it himself: ‘If the nation had seen that [Jeremiah Wright] ad, they’d never have elected Barack Obama.’”
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/17/11746174-the-ricketts-plan-goes-back-to-the-drawing-board?lite
Lotsa Chicago Northsiders not happy about this. Especially since Ricketts is trying to get the beleagered Chicago taxpayer to buy up land in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and otherwise fix his privately owned ballpark at taxpayer expense.
I’m sick to death of these asshole Republicans who expect the taxpayer to pay for their pet projects and sports arenas and screw us at every turn. Okay, I know Tally and Chips will not be happy with me, but I have no use for professional sports. Not when the arts are not just neglected in this country but actively demeaned. A kid would learn a whole lot more about being a citizen if the arts were incorporated in his education than supporting sports and nothing else.
57andfemale. I LOVE sports (Go Phillies!!!) and agree with your concern that “A kid would learn a whole lot more about being a citizen if the arts were incorporated in his education than supporting sports and nothing else.”
Even with my love of my Philadelphia Phillies, I agree wholeheartedly that as citizens, we should not be bankrolling stadiums and private ventures at the expense of public education. (Philadelphia public schools are in a WORLD of hurt right now. But, yes, we built a brand new baseball stadium and separate football stadium. I think footballs stadiums are particularly wasteful, with only 1 game per week, and then, not every week. At least baseball plays 2-3 home games in a week.)
But yes, your comment sums it up. It’s the ‘nothing else’ that’s key. I had what folks might call a “well rounded” high school education. Great academics, but also tennis, track & field and cheerleading. I also had orchestra, marching band and concert band. I sang in my church choir. We had a theater program, so our orchestra and/or concert band played for their musicals. The Art department made the program covers and advertisement as well as collaborated in making the sets. ALL of those activities were learning opportunities.
My sentiments exactly (sans the loving sports part). No one needs to apologize for loving sports. But the arts are at best an afterthought, and I see schools and cities pour money into sports programs and nothing in the arts.
Music is math and could help children learn.
Theatre is history — an integrated approach, using theatre to understand a different era.
A kid not interested in his social studies project may be very interested if his art is incorporated. My 13 year old goddaughter didn’t want to do her project on the Salem witch trials when her mother said, “use some art.” She drew a picture of a young girl going to the gallows that would make your heart break, and made us so proud of her. She loves to draw, and the chance to exhibit the personal toll of what could have been a dry history lesson, made all the difference in her understanding and empathy of the subject, and encouraged her to do more research.
When the Penn State thing blew up, I kept thinking that if it was a teacher who headed a theatre program, that teacher would have been fired in a flurry of outrage and the entire program eliminated. But when it’s sports, the good ol’ boy network protects the program.
If Cricket, I mean Ricketts have all that dam money, then pay for Wriggley field being fixed up himself, don’t dump it on the taxpayers.
Proud of my Mayor Emmanuel today, who didn’t mince words at all at how outraged he was by this jackass expecting Chicago to give him $150,000,000 for effing Wrigley field while insulting our President. It’s ridiculous here: doesn’t matter how bad the Cubs are, they still pack in the fans. He can stop paying insane salaries to awful ballplayers and fix his own damned field.
I agree that a good arts education should be an essential part of the school experience for kids. We used to have great music, painting, and theater programs in my school and I learned so much that helped me in my life. Sure there were sports and lots of competitive teams, but in my day these were always balanced. Losing the arts part of the balance shortchanges children and diminishes their whole experience in school. It always irritates me when people complain about school taxes. This is our country and it’s in all our interests not to have generations of insensitive dummies running the country.
Lawd hab mercy, these fools think we’re as dumb as their own low-information, willfully ignorant wing-nut, tinfoil followers?
Oh, and a “fiscal conservative.” What does that mean?! For example, was he an outspoken critic during the Bush administration and their credit card wars? Bet not! Why should taxpayers foot the bill for Wrigley Field. Fiscal conservative when it comes to his own money, huh? All who dare label themselves as a “fiscal conservative” better be prepared to substantiate WTF they mean. They give themselves these labels and the 4th un-Estate, MSM just nods away as if they were those nodding toy dogs of yesteryear. Well, they are not going to slink back to their cesspools that easily!
Precisely, xtine! “Fiscal conservative” is CODE for Lying, Spending on DUMB WARS! iT’S ALSO HOLLOW TO TALK ABOUT PBO’S “SPENDING” WHEN HE’S TRYING TO FIX “FISCAL CONSERVATIVES’” SPENDING!
Happy Birthday Tally. Good day everyone, Chips.
Chgo Trib reporting on Rahm’s response to questions about the Rickett’s rumor——said it’s an insult to President Obama, an insult to the country. Reported this came to light as Cubs were asking for $150 million for Wrigley Field renovation. Also includes the denial from the Ricketts family and a statement from Joe Rickett’s lesbian daughter who is an ardent, active supporter of President Obama. Problematic family dynamic going on there, as her dad funds teabaggers and super-pacs who are out to defeat him.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-emanuel-antiobama-ads-would-be-insult-to-nation-20120517,0,1128323.story?track=rss
Why are they calling it the “Rickett’s rumor” the man said it was true but he changed his mind and wouldn’t follow through. It was one of many proposals so how is that a rumor?
Well, another example of a Republican legislator, in Missouri this time, looking after the well being of his constituents. And this guy is a doctor. I guess he took the Hypocrisy Oath rather than the Hippocratic Oath.
http://www.joepaduda.com/archives/002330.html
Is it a new style to wear a dress white shirt and a tie with one’s jeans?
Last week I had a button permanently checked, and now I have no button at all to check to see if anyone out there responds to my style question. I’ll check in later I guess.
I’ll foolishly wade into a style question. Personally, I like a white shirt with Great Fitting Jeans on a guy (not borrowed from wife), sleeves rolled up, NO TIE. But the most important thing is who is in the jeans and white shirt. Stiff awkward Willard—-that’s a no. Metrosexual, beautiful long and lean black Abe—-that’s a HUGE YES.
I wear a white shirt with jeans, shirt untucked, jeans form fitting. NOT the way Willard wears them.
I am with you LL. Willard sucks all the cool out of the blue jean
I agree…….A hottie in sexy jeans and a white shirt with sleeves rolled up is to die for……….PBO definitely fits that bill. Those Mom jeans should be outlawed……then burnt.
I’m always liked jeans, white shirt, and a tie on a guy. Not willard, of course, he looks stupid in anything.
I’m interested in that “button” overseasgranny was referring to about finding out if you have a response to your comments. I have not heard of such a thing..where is it?!
Mahalos, TODS!
Frankly, if a man can’t pull off wearing 501s or Bull riding jeans, I don’t want to even hear about it. Mom jeans should be banned for both genders. Period.
Bob Krause @KrauseForIowa
Outragious that #DNC putting $0 into #WisconsinRecall. Are they in the same country? Repercussions likely. #p2 #tlot #dems #p2b #Obama2012
I don’t even know what to think now…..Walker has to go but I’m getting tired of this……repercussions likely? meaning what? If they lose, the DNC will be blamed, President Obama as well……come on.
From the polls I saw this morning, 4 out of 10 union households are for Walker and 51% of the population approve of his actions…
Ed Shultz is not helping.
I think Ed Schultz is a nitwit on a good day, but he’s been nothing but supportive of the WI recall.
A new poll today was devastating: Barrett down by 6 I think.
The crowing from the RW if we lose this recall is going to be AWFUL. It will also embolden other Republican governors that there will be no consequences for their actions. That’s why this recall is a national issue.
Totally agree about Ed on this issue. I, too, wonder WHERE is the DNC. don’t get it.
overseasgranny–that jeans things is only for the severely out of touch!
Heads up for Jay Carney’s press briefing:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-and-national-security-advisor-tom-donilon
If WI union households don’t know the difference between the GOP and the Dem party, then they really deserve the fate they are choosing. If WI is a state that belongs to the Koch brothers, maybe it needs to just sign it over, and all their rights and income with it. This failure is not the fault of our President. If they couldn’t win this recall, why the hell did they ask for it. Ed Shults can go straight to hell as far as I am concerned. I never watch his show anyway. If he has so much damn influence, why doesn’t he turn this recall vote around? If I were PBO, I wouldn’t sign on to this failure. It’s not his to own,
Good question.
If they couldn’t win this recall, why the hell did they ask for it.
If the vote had been right then and there, they woudl have won it weasily. My suspicion is, since just before the primary Barrett was the one Dem ahead of Walker in the polls, that right now you are seeing some of the disappointment in some voters that their candidate didnt’ win. I expect this to fade away. Plus, there is more and more negativity coming out about Walker and his aides, etc. It will be close and will definitely depend on turnout. When something drags on this long, there can be a tendency for some of the initial enthusiasm to burn out, or at least weaken.
On the other hand, Walker, in an attempt to swing people back to him has made a lot of promises, very concrete promises. We will see if enough people fall for that. And I do think the DNC is makng a mistake not pouring some money into Barrett’s campaign.
If Walker wins based on false promises, which someone pointed out last week is how he won the first time, then what incentive will he have to keep any of those false promises? Can people really get fooled again? He, and the entire GOP will be emboldened.
I was born and raised in WI and have lived in Chicago since 1972. I still obviously have ties to WI. I don’t understand this insane RWNJ passion in my home state. WI has a long history of progressive Republicans, union ties. This is just insane.
Now Walker has been raising money all over the country for the last year and half and has pummeled the airwaves with his lies. But I didn’t think he’d actually be this successful. Wisconsinites have been mounting this campaign truly as grass roots. I think there was even an issue of getting state Democratic support initially. I had hoped they could hit the ground running. I don’t see any missteps from Barrett, there just doesn’t seem to be enough money to be as aggressive as they need to be.
That being said, Walker was completely dishonest about what he intended to do to the state and I am appalled that Wisconsinites are buying into his b.s.
Well we were pummelled with Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina ads in 2010 here in California. I rarely saw a ad for Gov Jerry Brown. It was all get out the vote, going door to door, getting our message out with OFA and CA Democratic Party. The President came to town a few times just like he did in WI, OH, MI, IN, FL….don’t give them back the keys. Only after two years people were mad at the president and democrats because they focused on healthcare, stopping the job loss, getting a stimulus, getting a handle on the wars, putting in motion to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice, saving the auto industry, on and on…..so what did the people do, they stayed home, voted Republican, and ushered in the teabaggery.
I am sorry, The Democratic party needs to regain the house, keep the majority in the Senate, and re-elect THIS President, that is where their sole focus should be because if we lose the house, senate and WH and Walker is defeated,,,,,the rest of us are screwed.
It was not a contentious primary, as had been predicted. There was quibbling on which candidate was more pro-union but the animosity never seemed to have spilled over and all the candidates were united the day after the primary. You may be right about some licking of wounds, but if you voted for any of the Democrats, it’s time to pull together. There just isn’t enough time.
What is puzzling and disturbing is that this has turned into polling points for Walker. Even a cooled Democrat shouldn’t translate to a vote for Walker. So I’m really puzzled.
I’m not getting too much help from my friends in WI because they’re wild-eyed liberals anyway and don’t necessarily know what’s being discussed at the blue collar dinner tables on the South side of Milwaukee. I don’t know if there are issues with the polling. Just don’t know, but I’d really like the Good Guys to win this one.
Although born in Chicago, like you I was raised in WI and am now back in the subs of Chicago. Of course, a good part of my upbringing was in the Fox River Valley, once considered the most conservative area in the country. I was standing on the street watching McCarthy’s funeral procession. All that being said, I have friends and relatives up there (including a brother that will definitely vote for Walker) but most are on the side of Barrett. A few reconize that this will come out to turnout and are pushing everybbody they know to get to the polls.
It’s all about turnout. Some good analysis of the recent WI polls at dKos which I found encouraging. Both polls, even the better pollster, way underestimated Democratic turnout and votes in the primary.
I admit that growing up in a liberal household in Milwaukee may have skewed my image of my state. There is a conservatism, but that’s when conservatism meant cautious, not crazy. I remember when Milwaukee finally opened about 5 miles of expressway. Don’t want to jump in too fast to those new-fangled ideas. That being said, I thought everyone who went to public school had equal doses of the arts and sports. I thought all kids learned how to read music in school, and could get free music lessons through public school. I thought all high schools supported their school plays and muscials. And it was my conservative high school principal who let me direct a play as a junior that was considered quite shocking for its time, about being unconventional and the horrors of mindless conventionality (Shirley Jackson’s, The Lottery). We held an assembly to present it to the school and the principal was so impressed that we scheduled performances at other area schools and had question and answer sessions. I took my good public school education for granted in the 50′s and 60′s.
We elected Republicans that were sane.
Those were the days…….
Is Schultz blaming the President for this?!?!?! Is he back to the b.s. that if the President would walk the picket line like it’s a god damned movie, everything would be dandy? He is an IDIOT.
Ed is a double agent. Never forget that he is the one who told democrats to not vote in 2010 to “send a message” to PBO. Ed one of the real reasons there is a Gov. Walker. Also remember that Ed “used” to be a Republican (which is the case with an alarming number of the “progressive” pundits the MSM shoves down our throats).
he was one of the ones leading the charge saying folks should not vote in 2010. Ed can go sit down somewhere.
Ya gotta luv this epic failure of the Wright smear. The author and funder is now running away from it, and the brand of the Cubs is forever stained, and the owner of the Cubs is hated in his own town. A similar fate awaits future smears like this one. And it’s a huge reminder of the racist and misogynist religion of Mitt Romney with all of its bizarre teachings.
Folks aren’t all the crazy about TD Ameritrade either…
His daughter is co-owner of the Cubs and she is an avid Obama supporter. Her daddy is just an ass.
“Laura Ricketts, a major fundraiser for Obama and Cubs co-owner, issued a statement today:
“”My own personal view is that President Obama has been a great leader in very difficult times. He has been leading us to an economic recovery; served with great honor as commander-in-chief during a time of war; been a strong proponent on issues important to women and just last week he exhibited great courage in endorsing the freedom to marry for Gay and Lesbian Americans.
“I am doing all that I can to help President Obama get re-elected because it is what I believe is best for America.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-emanuel-antiobama-ads-would-be-insult-to-nation-20120517,0,1128323.story
EPIC FAIL. Bravo to all Obamabots who pushed back RE:Wright. Epic, Epic, FAIL. I will rethink my decision to quit twitter, I want my voice heard.
No quitting twitter, we must remain vigilant.
I’ve actually been thinking about joining twitter. Maybe it’s time to finally take the plunge.
I actually did join that Twit machine and I’ve been confused every since….too many moving parts. I still have no clue on what to do over there. I don’t know if I’m followiing or leading.
Re-tweet. Follow people from TOD, and add people to follow as you see re-tweets from the Good Guys. I’ll see a re-tweet from Bobfr or BWD, look at the profile of that person and follow them. I look at the site once or twice a day, but mainly retweet from here. I’ve found some really good information, links and some good people. I did that for a long time before I composed any tweets, and as I’m sure a lot of you will agree, 140 characters does not actually suit my long windedness. But I’ll think of a pithy phrase once in awhile and think, “I’ll tweet that. Can’t hurt.”
It’s about spreading the word. I use it exclusively for politics and helping PBO get reelected.
Seriously, I appreciate that advice, but I only really understood this in the whole post ‘PBO get reelected’.
Twitter has become a very, very important element in our democracy. I was very skeptical when it first launched but the Arab Spring convinced me otherwise. It’s a great political organizing tool that I think has proven itself over the last year. Please join the TOD twitter brigade. We’re fierce!! And effective.
I know I’m joining very soon!
I highly recommend TweetDeck. It has an easy learning curve and makes it easy to watch multiple columns.
I hadn’t heard about that. I admit I don’t know a trend from a petunia, but I try to keep spreading the word.
Yup, I use TweetDeck – makes it much easier to follow, organize my tweets and respond. It made me much more active on Twitter – the original screen is too much like a big bucket for me. Hard to follow.
Please join Twitter – we need your voice!!
LL, I was not interested in twitter for such a long time, but a few months ago I made the plunge. I now I must say I love it! I pretty much never write anything of my own, but I retweet what others write all the time or I post links to PBO reelection ads or that sort of thing. Anyway, I think you will love it too. Feel free to check out who I follow or the retweets I have made to get an idea of what happens over there. I am @awonderouslife. I don’t focus on who is following me at all, but I feel like on twitter I am helping to get PBO’s message out there. My interest on twitter is 99% political and to get PBO re-elected. I like how on twitter you can choose any topic that interests. I love the political humor on twitter. There is so much of it. Earlier today people were coming up with names for Romney’s yatch. Just incredibly funny, but poignant as well. Please check twitter out LL!
I remember reading last week on twitter and other places on the web that Hannity was apparently setting the “groundwork” by peddling this Rev. Wright mess. So apparently he knew this was coming.
Well Sean….Not.This.Time. This junk isn’t gonna work. People have had over three years to watch this President in action and no amount of trying to paint him as a boogie man is going to sway the publics opinion of him.
This was indeed an EPIC FAIL and I hope Chicago cancels whatever plans they had to renovate that stadium. It will serve him Wright! Pun intended.
I think it’s time for me to revive a piece I was working on a couple of months ago for TPV. It was called “Tales of Socialism”, and contrasted how sports venues are funded in the US and in Europe, and what that meant for the broader culture.
It works for his vieweship, at 9 pm, on FOX! That is about it!
They wanted to shift focus off of Bidens comments about Robney. That is all this is about, to shift focus. Check.
I don’t even think they seriously are trying to sway opinions with the Rev Wright nonsense, because it’s old news. I think they just want to make the environment really toxic. Get people to turn off and stop paying attention. When you think about the Romney meeting with the media, the refusal of the media to call Romney on his lies, the constant projection from the right, and these coordinated attacks that have nothing to do with policy – all the while claiming that President Obama is running from his record and launching character attacks. They’re trying to compose an alternate reality, full of toxic spew, that will turn people away from the election. I hope people don’t fall for it.
And Tamron can barely catch her breath, talking about Wright.
Why?
As it turns out, that was her Church, she attended, and knows Wright personally.
She needs a paper bag! LOL!
Most people who took the time to listen to Rev Wright and understood where he was coming from in his many, many sermons and not just a few seconds of video loop, couldn’t help but be entranced by his message. His church was and still is a very popular mainstay and many people, especially young professionals like Tamron (when she was in Chicago), are members. They offer much needed services to the community.
Agreed! But he should not have said the stuff about America. That was over the top!
There was a biblical reference to what he said, and he stated that at the time. Get the entire sermon before falling into the right wing trap. I heard the sermon on the day he spoke it. It was said by a man who served his country, was given an award by LBJ, and has an excellent record of patriotism. So, if that 20 second clip could sway you, then imagine what it did to PBO’s haters.
He spoke the truth and history backs up his statements.
I took time out to listen to the entire lecture from Rev Wright on Youtube shortly after the election. I’d only ever heard the excerpted segments that were continuously looped, and had formed my opinions off of that. Hearing the segments in full context opened my eyes. Yes, he’s controversial, but the entire speech was actually quite profound, and talked about a variety of things – not all of which I agreed with, but a majority of which made a lot of sense when in context.
who said there was no national Dem support in the Wisc recall effort?
“We’ve gotten a lot of questions about the upcoming Wisconsin election. Here’s the answer: our Wisconsin team is in.
If Republicans are going to launch an assault on worker’s rights and the middle class, we’re going to stand up and fight them every step of the way from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. We already have field organizers on the ground in key districts — but we have to get going quickly.
Will you help us reach 5,000 donations today to show Democrats are united and have what it takes to win?
Please contribute $3 or more right now to make sure we get out every Democratic vote we can.
The polls are neck-and-neck so it’s going to come down to which side can turn out more voters on Election Day.
Let’s stand together on this:
http://dccc.org/Get-Out-The-Vote”
Thank you,
Brynne
Brynne Craig
DCCC Field Director
Yep and I have gotten requests for donations from the Democratic Governers Assoc for this recall as well. I guess they specifically want the DNC to pony up funds directly. I know that OFA is on the ground working to GOTV but I guess they need/want more.
They basically are asking for $50 million from the DNC. Barrett is being outspent 10-1 by Walker and the Koch brothers. $50 million, heck, even half of that would go a long way. This about more than just getting Walker out of the governor’s office. A win by Walker will give a big shot in the arm to Dems countrywide in close races. A loss will not only be negative for Wisconsin but will give a shot in the arm to the other side.
50 MILLION!!!! Good Lord the last number I saw was 500K. My Goodness that’s a lot of money for a Governor’s race !!!
Donna, you are correct. Conflating two different stories. One obviously had nothing to do with the other. Still 500K would make a big difference.
Lawd knows I’ve got my hands full in MI. But i sent out a ck yesterday. I’m still with you WI !!!
The haters want to get rid of this black man anyway they can, steal, cheat, whatever, it is a disgrace how much they hate this black man.
These 2 comments made me smile, especially the last sentence in the 2nd. To Benen’s post on Willard & MA: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/17/11745798-over-before-it-starts-in-massachusetts
Charley James:
The truly ıncredıble thıng ıs that a man who has spent most of the past – what? – sıx or seven years runnıng for presıdent ıs so dıslıked by so many people. It’s really the “beer questıon” ın that no one really wants to spend a few hours wıth thıs guy havıng a beer. And ıt’s not just because he looks lıke the man who fıred you; ıt ıs because he ıs truly an unlıkeable human beıng.
There’s the Seamus stuff, the terrorızıng a kıd ın the dorm, the forced laugh, the ınabılıty to connect, the ten grand bet offered at a debate, how he made hıs mıllıons, how he keeps changıng hıs basıc posıtıons. Add ıt all together and there are very few redeemıng features to Mıtt Romney. Maybe none.
Qme2:
Mr. James you have earned my respect as a direct writer of significant fact about a man yet to be fully understood by me beyond the points you have made and you have made them well. When I think of the points you make and attribute to one person, I think you write about a sociopath.
There’s NO question that willard mitt romney is a sociopath thrust on us by the gop.
Now, Robney camp is holding a press conference on the Wright incident.
This only gives him all the attention to go after The President on Jobs, Debt and paint the President as a negative Campaign.
No questions allowed, just a statement.
Gross!
God almighty! How did he get all the attention on this?
A press conference???
This will be talked about for weeks.
What an utter weakling Romney is. If there are no questions, it’s not a press conference.
3 questions? And then, out of there!
He’s like a scared little mouse. GEEZE.
And there you have it, Meta. It’s a press statement, not a press conference. He’s scared witless of a press conference.
Okay, meantime PBO is meeting with the G8 at Camp David and going to Chicago to meeting with leaders from around the world. There will be major press conferences, joint announcements, and big decisions made. I’m not worried about Mitt Romney making a press announcement about an ad campaign. Our president is an adult and he isn’t playing petty games.
Willard has to answer for the HATRED in his Party.
I don’t like him getting all the attention. This is bullshit!
I say give him all the air time possible, especially when he has to speak off the cuff and/or answer questions. He can not think on his feet and the more exposure, the more likely he’ll explode his own head.
He played victim! Jeesh. Him, a victim?
He is coming across as very WEAK. Playing victim is not a leadership trait. He is like a male version of Palin.
Tom Donilon is an amazing NSA. I’m so grateful he is a close confidant to PBO. This will be a very interesting series of events that I’m really looking forward to over the next several days.
Mitt just said he doe not remember what he said on Hannity….but he stands by it .
Huh?
Shmitt says PBO did and continues to do the character assassination. He thinks the verifiable ad about his time at Bain equates to character assassination. Shmitt should repudiate his own character.
Now as I type this, when asked about a previous statement he made, he replied, ” I don’t remember what I said, but I stand by whatever I said, but I have to go and look up whatever it was that I must have said.”
Forget Facebook stock, buy something in pharmacy, whatever soothes face palm smacks to the head.
Why in the world was Martin quoting an idiotic headline from “Drudge”? Better yet, why do these folks even read Drudge?
This is not bad news. Remember, we are firmly entrenched in PBO’s camp. Wing-nuts are firmly entrenched in the ‘pub camp (even though they despise MoMoney). When the Indies and those folks in swing states hear about this kinda stuff, it works to PBO’s advantage. They are turned off by the personal attacks on PBO, they want results. As long as Drudge and the other batshit crazies are out there with this crap, it continues to turn off the folks who are going to matter in Nov. I say shine the spotlight on these cretins.
Are you referring to Steve Schmidt from the McCain campaign ? If so….How does he explain them going after Bill Ayers ?
And a lot of you guys like Schmidt??? Smh!
I have never moved on or gotten over the ad by the McCain campaign villifying PBO because he was popular, and comparing him to Paris Hilton. Everytime I see Schmidt, I see that ad. I notice that Schmidt has changed his tune somewhat since Robney became the presumptive nominee. He is a repug and will always be a repug.
Exactly! Schmidt is an asshole!
Yeah. Because he admits Palin was an idiot. I’ve always been shocked at people forgetting that he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Repub who would stoop to nothing to elect Repubs.
Let’s be clear: if he could have been able to gloss over Palin’s idiocy, he wouldn’t have given a damn if she would have been the most disastrous VP in American history, a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Schmitt is a miserable, dangerous hack like all of them.
Linda, I’m referring to Mitt rhymes with shit, but I didn’t want to seem unladylike in my description of him. See, now you made me go and sound all smut mouth.
Oh sorry…
That’s ok, it felt good.
Romney thinks Bain Capital is a person.
Corpses are people too, my friend!
Then Bain should be jail for theft of people’s pensions.
The coreless idiot speaks….
Let’s go to the videotape.
After running for Pres most of his adult life and thinking he’s entitled to the office, if this man loses the election, he’ll probably strap himself to the top of a car and drive himself over a cliff.
“IT’S OUR TURN” says Ann Romney.
Now way he’s beating Metro Abe. No bloody way.
Metro Abe. lol You know I’m liking this new nickname for BHO.
I’m not fimiliar with what I said,but I stand by whatever I said. This lying fool knows exactly what it is he said. Republicans you are welcome to Mitt Romney, if I was a Republican I would be so ashame that this man is my candidate. That this is the best we could do.
Robme is like the male version of Sarah Palin…..I can’t believe he can’t keep a lucid thought in his head. Maybe he has early stages of Alzheimers like Reagan since he tries so hard imitating him.
Noooo, Donna! He’s eyebrows & eyes, then his whole face gave my computer the Heebie-jeebies!
He is so stupid. McCain was/is senile. Palin is stupid. I am sick of stupid. I think we need to defeat a new terrorist … stupid!
GOP blocks Futther Iran sanctions bill, siting, wait for it…, that America is ready to bomb Iran instead.
Not kidding, this is a true story…
They’re trying to undermine PBO at G-8 and NATO summits. Pigs.
But they are working…….Gawd….I cannot stand them
Yup. And now for Bibi, if only Bibi would launch a uni lateral attack on Iran, we would have ourselves WWIII.
Meh!
Did you see this Jovie? Hilarious:
The historical fact of Bibi Netanyahu’s and Mitt Romney’s crossed paths at the Boston Consulting Group decades ago has been covered more extensively this cycle than it was in the 2008 presidential race, because of the implications of what a prior friendship could mean should the Republican become president after a term of strained relations between the Israeli leader and President Obama.
Romney had described their relationship as almost speaking “in shorthand” after years of knowing each other, and Netanyahu had seemed to bolster that through aides. But in an exclusive interview with Time magazine, Netanyahu seemed to tamp down the level of closeness:
“We did not know each other that well. He was the whiz kid. I was just in the back of the room.” Netanyahu tells Stengel he has seen Romney only a handful of times over the years and only once this year. They spoke for 10 minutes in March during his visit to Washington, mainly about Iran.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/bibi-on-romney-we-did-not-know-each-other-that-well-123725.html
Lol! Best of Friends.? Now let’s get Iran? Yeah, get the Iotolah too! Yeah yeah, that’s the ticket.
That’s shorthand for, NO THANKS, BOZO.
This has to be tweeted like mad. The Republicans undermining the foreign policy of President Obama and undermining the work of the INTERNATIONAL COALITION !!!
Jesus, this is a new low.
Journalists have to stop being cowards and being afraid of appearing biased. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. The Gop is downright treasonous.
This Voter ID BS makes me so angry. We cannot let this be the thing that stops us.. make sure everyone we know gets what they need to vote.
The good thing about it is, MSNBC has been informing us on this issue, for awhile.
just so we’re out there informing others Jovie.. but I’m glad the “news” is actually doing something helpful
sherijr, As I have said it’s all about stealing this election.
I agree anniebella- they will try.
Love me some Bashir. The ‘C’mon Man’ segment was a real hoot.
Break it down for us, Cookemom! What was said?
It was a video clip of VP Joe saying c’mon man, after Mitt or other folks said something. It’s hard to describe, but it was really a good montage. Then Bashir says to his panel, Mitt has more positions than a porn convention. Now he’s taking a guy from Koch Industries to task. He interrupts him repeatedly to make him tell the truth. He’s lying about something Karen Finney said. He said to Bahsir, “Let me continue to lie, then you can correct me.” When he finally finished lying, Bashir corrected him in his calm manner of killing you softly.
Oh fun! Thanks, Cookemom!
Happy Birthday, Tally! Make it the best ever!
I stand by what I said even if I don’t remember what I said. This man has two freakin Harvard degrees? SMH. I can’t wait for the debates with PBO because he will remind him all the crap he said in the primaries.
that was funny as heck
So, every event Robney does, he has the Debt clock behind Him? That is their slogan? The debt clock? Really???
I can’t wait for PBO to respond to that debt clock at his next campaign speech. Do we know when PBO’s next campaign speech is scheduled?
PBO will clean Robme’s clock with that debt clock….Robme will wish he’d never mentioned the word debt especially if there’s another debt ceiling fight.
Probably not until next week, since the President is focused on the NATO summit this weekend.
The President should have a tax return clock behind him at every event, counting the days that Romney didn’t disclose his tax returns for the last 10 years at least, what is he hiding?….if McCain campaign saw his tax returns of 20 years and chose Palin instead..it says it all,….
Typical republican hypocrisy
GOOD.
Don’t mess with Rahm.
Don’t phuck with Rahm.
GO Rahm. I guess Ricketts will think twice before putting out the type of lies then go hat in hand to the mayor who just happens to be the ex-chief of staff of the president. I am glad it all came out BEFORE the money was promised for the ball park. If these bastards can shell out that amount of money on lies to win an ellection, they can improve their own fucking ball park.
How stupid does Rickets have to be not to have figured this out. He’s asking for big support from a Democratic mayor who’s devoted to the president and he decides to spend millions on attack ads. This takes moron to a whole new level.
He was gloriously PISSED. Can you imagine what language was used in the Mayor’s Office today?
Frankly, I would fight tooth and nail about giving the Cubs ANY more taxpayer money anyway. We have issues in this town, and remodeling Wrigley Field ain’t one of them. Let’s be clear: they pack in the lemmings no matter how awful the team is. There is no economic advantage AT ALL to Chicago to take money we desperately need elsewhere.
How about more theatre programs, art instructors and music in the public schools rather than lining the pockets of someone who then uses his millions to defeat decent Democrats and our President?
Yep, call it the “Instead of Giving Money to Millionaires Program to Improve Inner City Public Schools” initiative.
That has a very nice ring to it.
I don’t know how to put up videos, I can barely link on the webz, but if you get a chance watch Bashir take down the Koch brother’s general council Mark Holden.
I just saw the interview and I don’t think Martin got anything from him. He corrected Karen Finney’s position with the DNC but the rest was “I don’t know.” He didn’t get any concessions or admissions from him that most people don’t already know.
This Koch lawyer is one nasty piece of work!
This is why Mitt Romney doesn’t want to have an interview with a real journalist. Mitt Romney can dish it, but he can’t take it.
You know what is funny? Dylan will now come on tv, and describe this while ,Wright-Gate as a huge problem for the President.
And in a way, that nobody understands. He tries to shape his questions in the most bizarre fashion.
His questions are the most strange set of nonsense, I have ever heard.
In the end, his Face gets red, and nobody understands what he is talking about.
He just says the Presidents Name 500x per Show!
I think most people have recognized RATigan for the fraud that he is. He gets no respect on Twitter,and most people seem to think that he’s on “something.”
Yep….he is “on” an ego trip…….especially that phoney ” Jobs Tour ” that was really a Book selling tour…
He is a phoney baloney…..
I think he’s really talking to himself in his own head. He hasn’t realized that there’s a camera in front of him. He seems surprised many times when he gets a response from his guests. It’s like he says, ‘knock, knock…. who’s there?…. Dylan..Dylan who? knock, knock….who’s there?…..Dylan again…Dylan who again?…Dylan Rat again’ whomp, whomp… dada bing, dada boom.
For once Mark has a semi-positive report – without any snarky undertones.
Maybe Snark Knoller has made him see the light? Or should we just wait five minutes?
He probably spent an hour constructing that Tweet trying to find some way to spin it as negative or put a gossipy angle to it. In the end he probably just gave up and reported the actual news.
A rarity, that’s for sure.
Okay, a quick glance at the side bar tells me I have a LOT of catching up to do, so other than saying ‘in the house’, I’ve gone to investigate what I’ve missed.
hey guys how is everyone? popping in for a brief minute before I gotta go again. It’s been super busy here in minnesota – we’re having our first canvassing event. I think I have 76 people signed up to come to my house and get packets and go out and canvass….that’s going to be interesting……hope it doesn’t rain.
Hope everyone’s doing well!
Happy Birthday Tally!
Hi a4A, I’m adding my hope to yours that it won’t rain and your teams will have a very good session canvassing.
Appears that there are some issues with the polling data in Wi (color me surprised):
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/17/1092538/-Wisconsin-Polling-PPP-vs-Marquette
HEADLINE: Rahm Emanuel ‘livid,’ not returning calls from Ricketts family.
// Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not returning calls from the Ricketts family and is “livid” over a New York Times report that Joe Ricketts commissioned a proposal for a multimillion-dollar ad campaign linking President Obama to the president’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, according to an Emanuel aide. Joe Ricketts’s children, which include Obama bundler Laura Ricketts, bought the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and have been in talks with the city about renovating the team’s 98-year-old stadium, Wrigley Field.
The aide also said Emanuel, who is Obama’s former chief of staff, has cut off communication with the family.
“The Ricketts have tried to contact the mayor, but he’s said that he does not want to talk with them today, tomorrow or anytime soon,” the aide said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/rahm-emanuel-not-returning-calls-from-ricketts-family/2012/05/17/gIQAb8WcWU_blog.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost
That’s my mayor!
Go, Rahm! I’ll take him for a friend over those money pukes, any day.
This is a tricky one – the daughter seems to have her head screwed on straight, and her father seems to have screwed over the family business (i.e. the Cubs). I wonder how this will end up.
HAHAHA! UpChuck Todd seems got a taste of his own medicine when someone tweeted him about his “ugly wife” and he was PIZZZZZZZZED.
HA! There it is. Comedic Gold. He was bound to get confused by whiplash from all that flip flopping. He is a human after all and not a fish.
I will have to watch Letterman tonight. He will probably jump on this. If not tonight, tomorrow.
Mitt doesn’t know what he said, but he stand by whatever he said. Mitt is lying his freaking head off, he knows exactly what he said.
Good west coast afternoon Chipsticks & TOD.
Today has been chock full of surprises – this one taking the cake…
http://news.yahoo.com/billionaire-wont-air-obama-wright-campaign-ads-165806842.html
Happy Birthday Tally
Thanks Chipsticks!
Go VP Joe GO!
You tell ‘em Rahm!
YES.WE.CAN!!!!!
Time to cash in the change jars… The President is doing a fundraiser in Philly on June 12. I’m so there!
Ok everyone, I’ve plunged into Tweetdom. My handle is @Lib_Librarian. Dr. Rusty Venture will smile down at you from my profile.
Alright Lib, congratulations – and off to follow you on Twitter!
Your handle came up as:
@@Lib_Librarian
Look at that…I was your first
Blushes boyishly.
Done.
YAY! I’ll follow you. You’re going to have a lot of fun!
There are tons of great people to follow but make sure you start with at least these:
@BarackObama
@MichlleObama
@VPBiden
@Obama2012
@Messina2012
@davidaxelrod
@BenLaBolt
@woodhouseb
@stefcutter
@MelanieDNC
@dccc
Also:
@WpnsGradeStupid
@LOLGOP
@AmbassadorRice
@rootless_e
@MiltShook
@BorowitzReport
@elizabethforma (Elizabeth Warren)
@GovernorOMalley
@ThePlumLineGS (Greg Sargent)
@ExtremeLiberal
@theonlyadult
@ZandarVTS (Zandar Versus the Stupid)(Funniest tweets ever)
@lis_smith – she’s the quick response person for the Obama campaign. Easy to retweet.
Oh, yes. Thanks, Theo67!
AND, OF COURSE:
@TheObamaDiary
Welcome! I’m following U!
Follow ya.
Followed you back!
Done! Oh and if you like you can follow me back. I’m @NoShock
Just followed you as @Mscharizmaa. I thought you were already on twitter so this is a welcome surprise.
alrighty.
my twitter handle is” psddluva4evah
So glad you’re on Twitter – I’m following you.
((((Tally)))) – Almost missed wishing you a happy and Blessed birthday!
photo/1
Anyone watching Hardball ?
He just had a split screen showing Romney and the AA woman that seems to travel with him. Who is she ?
His Condi Rice.
I think it is the Lt. Governor of Florida, where Willard is today.
Is she the one that stated the president should be charged with treason? Note that they did not show her face at the time. Just wondering…
Major Garrett is tripping all over himself…….the look on his face is priceless…
Ha! Chris smacked him down. Priceless.
He’s an ass hole tryin’ to justify Mitt’s sneaky ass. Free enterprise = lie, cheat, and steal!
Ok, I can TOTALLY see how twitter is frakkin addictive.
And you’re already tweeting like a pro!!
Welcome to the twitterverse!
And TweetDeck? Oh my, nice piece of programming there.
Yes – TweetDeck helped me become a twitter person.
Hey, you still haven’t responded to me how to really use TweetDeck. I downloaded it and stuck it on my desktop and there it has remained!
Oh dear – I’m not the best person to ask. I started with this guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-TweetDeck
There are some good TweetDeck videos available on Google, too – quick tutorial. They’ve upgraded the tool a few times since I started using it, but it’s essentially just minor differences.
No worries. Will play around there over the weekend. Too busy now trying to keep up with Twitter AND keep an eye out for Chips return so I can storm the TOD posting gate.
Now that I’ve had a taste for first – you’ve got competition!
On your mark…….!
Crucial tool, LL, totally crucial. Along with multiple tabs in modern browsers it’s amazing how much stuff can be flowing while one actually does their ‘day job’
#PRESSON
Aha! Here’s the other teacher (along with Theo) who sold me the goods but didn’t follow up with step by step info for this computer dummy! Not to worry, I’ll actually try to connect the dots on the weekend
SEEEEE????!!!!
I’m following you on twitter @mummylal
Followed you as well!
Oh, now I see you joined, awesome!
Somebody hold me back. I’m about to shoot the Todd Harris ass hole on my tv. Sheesh I’ve destroyed too many already.
I am holding you back. Take five and do some leisurely boating on the calm waters
Aye hopefruit if I could only find them waters.
I laughed when he quoted Politico as a reliable source.
Ball up some Kleenex and throw it at the screen. It helps. And no damage to the TV!
Naw, that’s too quiet. I like noise.
Haven’t had a chance to read all comments yet so don’t know if anyone pointed out the odd tidbit that I caught and Tweety just mentioned—–that Willard said he read about the Ricketts proposal while he was on “the aircraft”. As Tweety said, who says “aircraft”? Answer: no one. Willard is one weird dude. I’m starting to think he may have been crafted in a lab, for real.
Stepford anyone? Maybe those ladies need some company, eh?
Maybe he was in a spaceship?
I swear I don’t make it a policy to read comments on open forums but that nasty article about what they planned to try and do to the President compelled me to read one of the comments. We just recieved an email from Jim Messina about that article and this one caught me eye because it was the very first one listed:
..I have no money and am still trying to pay off bills from a family illness last year. My job is not secure. I have a kid in college and a mortgage to pay each month. I am over 55, meaning that my job prospects if I lose my current job are nil.
Nonetheless, after reading this article, I have donated $250 to the Obama campaign. I’ll give more next month and, whatever else I may have on my schedule, I am going to Pennsylvania on weekends to volunteer.
A pox on these Republicans. Enough is enough. Really. They are not merely dishonest, unscrupulous and irresponsible; they’re gross.
That brought a big ole smile to my face. Keep on firing up our base you crazy Repubs…
This lifts my spirits – thanks for posting it here!
There are still lots of good people out there. And the basic goodness in humanity is what will propel PBO’s re-election in 2012. That’s it. Enough is enough. Kudos to that older citizen.
Hey Tally, I figure you are partying wherever you are, hence you are not here with us! I don’t want the day to go by without saying ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’, and may many, many moreBDs come your way! {{{TALLY the BD bardgirl)
Second every word of that. Happy Birthday, Tally!!
Yes, Happy Birthday Tally (fellow Taurus person). Hope you’re having a lovely day!
Chips and TODlanders. After tonight, I’ll be off line a coupla days. Going up to Walker land to check out the “Cheeseheads”.
Safe travels yardarm!
We will miss you – but we will keep looking out our windows for you as you travel to WI! Bon voyage shipmate
Batten the hatches, raise the sails, keep the North Star in view.
Thanks matey. It’ll be okay if I don’t get any ground fog.
If you see Ed Schulz tell him to shut his big mouth……
HAHAHAHA! Tell him I said so too.
Ed ain’t the problem. It’s those pro Walker fire fighters that concern me.
Still ? After that Divide and Conquer video came out last week?
Pro-Walker firefighters? Isn’t one of the firefighters running for LtGov on the Dem ticket?
Yup.He’s a man of color. ’nuff said? There are still a few fire houses that are not ah, er, post racial in their thought processes. Even here in Chicago. It’s especially so in some small towns that have volunteer firefighters.
Straighten them out! Be safe and hurry back. We’ll keep the deck clear until then.
Go get em sailor.
Haha—-the Letterman clip of their re-enactment of that sparkly W endorsement of Willard. W is standing in the elevator as the doors start to close as he says in his pre-school teacher style, “I stand strong with Mitt Rom…..”—.as the doors close and his tie is caught in the door, hanging out and the tie starts to ascend. That was quite an endorsement, like someone had a gun to his head.
This wasn’t a gun that accidentally discharged – it was pointed at a target to kill.
OMG…..this is horrible…..
I am wondering why this Zimmerman character didn’t have blood on him, if he shot Trayvon while Trayvon was apparently straddling him. And why there were reports that Zimmerman was sitting on top of Trayvon after he shot him?
The parents of this poor child are very strong. I’d have freaked out by now. Especially after that hateful target practice nonsense.
On Randi’s show they played the call from the neighbor talking to 911. In the background you could hear someone crying for help. Sounded like a kid. Broke my heart.
Yeah – I heard that. It’s heartbreaking every time, especially after not hearing it for a while.
Of Couirse It Was and all of the zimmermans’ weasley on It Is Not Going to Change THAT!
Thanks hopefruit!
http://www.thenation.com/blog/167949/tea-party-boxes-boehner-again?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Don’t forget arugula and orange juice—–those set off a firestorm too
Karma…karma…now let’s see them go endorse Romney – which is really what they want to do anyway.
A STATEMENT FROM AMERICANS ELECT:
// There is a desire among Delegates and millions of Americans who have supported Americans Elect to see a credible candidate emerge from this process. However, the rules, as developed in consultation with the Americans Elect Delegates, are clear. As of this week, no candidate achieved the national support threshold required to enter the Americans Elect Online Convention in June. The primary process for the Americans Elect nomination has come to an end. //
http://www.americanselect.org/news/5-2012/release
This is priceless! All those who were supporting this group, thinking that they really were non-partisan, will be surprised when they turn up behind Romney and the Conservatives. There was never anything non-partisan about this group to begin with. Wasn’t Buddy Roemer, a GOP outsider, trying to get these people behind him when he was refused entry into the debates? His platform was exactly the same as every other Conservative, except he was anti-big money, because he didn’t have any. Karma, indeed.
Joe Klein, Moaning Jerk and Buddy Roemer…
Americans Elect is ending it’s bid-
http://thepage.time.com/2012/05/17/americans-elect-comes-up-empty/
LOL!
With nearly six months left before Election Day, national party committees have already reserved more than $72 million in television airtime for a fall campaign that’s shaping up as a Super Bowl-like spectacle of political advertising.
Given that the 2012 cycle may go down in history as the most cluttered and expensive in history, committees and super PACs are maneuvering to get the most bang for their buck. For many, that means buying their ads unusually early.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76461.html
I thought it would be worse than 72 million?
That’s just early buy.
This is exactly why the chump media entertainers have to keep it a horserace. They are making a fortune.
Chiiips! Where are you? ‘m getting tired of standing out in the cool evening breeze without food or sweater!
WHERE is everybody? Why is the thread silent for 15 minutes? What game are you guys playing with my mind?
Love this
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/05/17/whitehouse-gov-presidents-page-features-a-couple-of-special-fun-facts-about-ronald-reagan/
AH, there you are Df? What’s going on?
I’m here,vc:) Just got home from work and trying to catch up…have to go pick my daughter up in a little bit…suffering with this cold/ allergies? I don’t know…I’d like to cut off my head right now. How about you? Where is everyone????
New post, at last. Df See you over there.
Oh…they’re desperate!!
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/05/17/video-glenn-beck-offers-150k-to-rev-jeremiah-wright-for-obama-dirt/
Much goodness here:)
http://www.thedailybanter.com/2012/05/the-truth-about-the-president-and-the-deficit/
A couple of months ago in Arizona, Mitt Romney attacked the president on this topic with a whopper lie: “He said he’d cut the deficit in half. He’s doubled it. He’s doubled it.”
Mitt Romney actually said that. Well, no, the president didn’t cut the deficit in half. And he hasn’t doubled it. Obviously. Romney lied again. Actually, the president is on course to erasing the entire deficit by 2017, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 2017 budget deficit, which will reflect President Obama’s final spending requests (a similar dynamic to Bush’s last deficit of 2009), could end up being zero.
Conversely, the Tax Policy Center reported that the Romney tax plan would explode the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over ten years. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the reversal of the president’s deficit cutting policies like the Affordable Care Act, or another recession, or whatever Romney decides to do in Iran.
Don’t let the Republicans get away with their ignorant lies about the deficit and the debt. Feel free to steal the above charts or to repeat what I’ve written here.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/05/17/mitt-mania/