****
Today:
10:0: President Obama departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
10:15: Departs Joint Base Andrews en route Manchester, N.H.
11:35: Arrives in Manchester
2:0: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Windham High School in Windham, N.H. (live on C-Span)
4:35: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Rochester Commons in Rochester, N.H. (live on C-Span)
6:05: Departs Manchester
7:45: Arrives at the White House
****
****
****
Charles Blow: Shady money, voter suppression, shifting positions, murky details and widespread apathy.
If there is a road map for a Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan win in November, that’s it. Distasteful all.
…. America, this is the Republican ticket. Although most smart political observers currently have Romney losing the Electoral College, Romney, following this repulsive road map, is virtually tied with Obama in national polls of likely voters.
That is, in part, because of apathy. As USA Today reported, the 90 million people who are unlikely to vote in November prefer Obama over Romney by 2 to 1, and “they could turn a too-close-to-call race into a landslide for President Obama — but by definition they probably won’t.”
If this underhanded dirty dealing by the Republican ticket doesn’t jolt some of these unlikely voters into likely ones, I don’t know what will.
Full article here
****
****
****
Share this slideshow on Facebook and Twitter to get the facts out
****
****
This is worth posting again (and again and again):
Read all about the video here – thanks Sue
****
Morning everyone 
Congrats bobfr on 1st. Have you had a busy day already on Twitter? I am just getting caught up, never will on the weeter tho. Have a great day everyone.
Thank you Roberta … A tad of Twitter today, already, but a bunch of other stuff as well … off to my next task … bbl …
#FORWARD
Good morning Chips and TODers ….
Others will be similarly informed throughout the day …
Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!
Morning Bob, morning everyone
Love that picture, Chips!!
Hope you have a great day and thank you for posting the “One More Term” video … as noted before, Mr Lauber’s story is an essential insight into the core cruelty that is Mitt Romney …
Good Morning Chips. Am I 1st?
Close, Roberta! Happy Saturday
Good Morning. CNN is tanking faster than the failed North Korean missile/rocket launch. In their own poll, Pres. Obama leads Romney in Wisconsin, yet they declared Wisconsin a “toss-up state” But if Willard were leading, they would declare WI a red state and a Willard state. The fact they don’t realize how pathetic they are makes me chuckle. There really is no difference between them and Fox. Oh wait….there is. Fox hires more fake…oh I mean “real” blondes.
They’re just abysmal UT, I’m actually beginning to have more respect for Fox because they don’t even try to hide their scumbagness, CNN keep on pretending they’re a serious, impartial news channel.
I saw a chart on CNN yesterday, said Willard paid 13.9%, Millionaires 25% and average People only 11%.
Eleven Percent???
You see what they did there?
‘Average people only 11%’
Oh. Good. Grief.
11 frickin’ percent! Sounds like I’m due a refund.
First of all, the MSM has simply run away with the figure given by Willard. No one knows what Willard paid – I would wager he probably paid FAR LESS than the 13.9% he’s claiming to have paid. Until Mitt Romney releases his tax returns, it’s irresponsible of the MSM to take him at his word in that regard.
To me the 13% is only on the money he deems necessary to pay on. He hides lots of money in offshore accounts, in IRAs that have unexplainable increases over the allowed amount that are not taxed, in gifting huge sums of money to his children and he leaves out pages of info in his tax form he did submit 2010 that give details to explain his offshore accounts. He seems to be proud of the fact that he only pays the minimum amount required. The wealthy would much rather go with the info put forward with the dollar amount they pay instead of the percentage. That is also what the flat tax is about. It reminds me of the reverse of the bible story where Jesus tells the wealthy that the woman giving coins from her need instead of her excess is more worthy of heaven or the story that says it is harder for a rich man to go to heaven … I think the problem with a man that has spent his whole life chasing the dollar is he becomes so focussed on money that he loses his caring for humanity. The rich can easily take on the sin of greed. Many have values and do not sucumb to greed but it seems to be a prevalent problem. The idea that giving the rich more and they will help others does not work due to the greed factor and loss of caring about humanity.
That’s an absolute lie.
Lol……I love the North Korean reference. They are turning into Fox-lite.
CNN 49% for PBO and 45% for the lying bishop is 4% in favor to the president. It is also a margin higher than 3% MOE CNN polled. Yet their toss up math is whopped and whooped. 4% is greater than 3% MOE, CNN.
Chris Hayes just made a good, valid point.
The Republicans are saying we want to cut Medicare and Yesterday Ryan said why didnt you bail out the Auto makers?
That was my point from yesterday, using our talking points, as their talking points. To confuse, distract Voters. They are being callous, dishonest and most of all, being Beligerent!
And then the Girl on CH said, this is what worked for the GOP in 2010.
Yeah! No kidding, I have been saying that.
This is 2012, not 2010. I’m not sure why these pundits insist on comparing a midterm with a Presidential election.
They are not, they are comparing strategy.
Past and Present.
Just like I am.
Whether or not it will work and if it’s a midterm or a Presidential election, are 2 separate issues, albeit not totally divided( which is why it is a GOP flawed argument)!
They are comparing strategy with the insinuation that it’s an EFFECTIVE strategy. It worked just fine in 2010, therefore it will work in 2012. They don’t take the time to contrast the difference between 2010 and 2012 in terms of voter demographics, who’s on the ballot, etc. I know exactly what those pundits are doing.
I do have concern tho that their underhanded Rove tactics do succeed in confusing low-info voters. They take every Obama advantage and try to make it a disadvantage. They take all Dem talking points and make them theirs. You cut Medicare! No you cut Medicare! We protect Medicare! No, we protect Medicare! You’re responsible for economic struggles! No, you are! And on and on it goes on every issue. Most people don’t have the time or inclination to learn all the details so they are left with a “both sides are the same” general feeling, aided by the non-stop Koch/billionaire funded attack ads.
Right now, I have no evidence that these tactics have worked for the Medicare issue for this election. I am almost 100% certain that the O-Team has considered this possibility and taken appropriate steps to counter it. For example PBO is going to give two speeches this afternoon (after Ryan gives his medicare speech). The O-team is probably going to dissect, splice and dice Ryan’s speech and spend the next week completely destroying it.
90M idly standing aside/by voters are 2-1 for pres Obama……but they are unlikely voters. How do we get them to go out and vote…….TBGOPers always have wanted a suppression of voters, through legislation and apathy. Yes this is 2012 not 2010. But it was OUR side that made 2010 possible. Most of Us stayed home.
2010 was NOT an anomaly for a midterm! Here is the proportion of voting age who turned out for the midterm elections from 1990 through 2010:
1994 – 38.8%
1998 – 36.4%
2002- 37%
2006- 37.1%
2010- 37.8%
Now here is the same for the Presidential election:
2010 was NOT an anomaly for a midterm! Here is the proportion of voting age who turned out for the midterm elections from 1990 through 2010:
1994 – 38.8%
1998 – 36.4%
2002- 37%
2006- 37.1%
2010- 37.8%
Now here is the same for the Presidential election:
1992 – 55.1%
1996- 49.1%
2000- 51.3%
2004 – 55.3%
2008 – 56.8%
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html
You are correct with the presidential elections. Our side is still Not out as much as we want them to come out. Adding 34 states with suppression state Voter ID laws are the difference this time. That is what were NOT present in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. So 90M million unlikely voters with a 2-1 favorable to the president…..when that many people DON’T vote……in this Voter suppression climate is TROUBLING. It is Not a death. But it is a possible huge problem.
The French elections this year had voter turn-out at 80%. As much as we blather about America and demand to have school children say the pledge every day, we do not value the most important right in our democracy.
GM Folks
Soon to be Speaker again Nancy Pelosi was wonderful last night on Jimmy Fallon. Lambasted the GOP for their obstruction, talked about Romney, his lack of principles, his shadiness, his weird secrecy, his flip-floppy nature, Pres. Obama’s strong beliefs, values, and accomplishments. She also talked about what she’s doing to make sure congress reverts back to a Democratic control. She talked about how Pres. Obama has accomplished so much but in his second term he needs more help. He needs a congress that can work with him and work for the good of the country. She made sure to impress that fact upon the young audience as they go into the voting booth.
Jimmy then played a word game with her. Every time he said someone’s name, she was supposed to think of one word that popped into her mind. Nancy Smash kinda took some poetic license and used two words for some but she was amazing.
On VP Biden she said: “Unscripted”
On Paul Ryan she said: “Medicare Killer”
On Romney she said: “Which One?” implying he’s such a flip-flopper you don’t know which Romney you get at different times of the same day.
On Pres. Obama she said: “Two-Term” and the audience erupted in LOUD cheers, chants, whistles, and whooping. Even Jimmy was startled.
She was GREAT.
Cool! Thanks for Synopsis.
Love my Nancy Smash!!
Here’s Part 1: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/nancy-pelosi-part-1-8-17-12/1413863
Here’s Part 2: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/nancy-pelosi-part-2-8-17-12/1413864
Wow……any clips…….Chips….any clips……Now I want to see this. Go, Nancy, Go Leader Nancy, Go Soon to be Speaker Nancy. Wow!! that Lady sure ROCKS!!!!
OK, OK. I should have just had a tad patience, been patient enough to get the link a couple of posts later. I am sorry.
That’s our Nancy Smash right there!! Love her and have highest hopes for her return to the Speakership.
Amen to that!
Wonderful breakdown for those of us who didn’t see it, thanks UT!
Nancy sounded Fantastico!
Blaming Obama for George W. Bush’s Policies
By BRUCE BARTLETT
——————————————-
Because of the large deficits Mr. Bush bequeathed Mr. Obama – on Jan. 8, 2009, the C.B.O. projected a deficit for the year of $1.3 trillion that didn’t include any Obama policies – Congress was deeply reluctant to enact a stimulus larger than $787 billion, even though President Obama’s economic advisers thought that one at least twice as large was necessary to turn the economy around. The opposition of every Republican to the 2009 stimulus was a major factor in its inadequate size.
By way of analogy, suppose you go to your doctor with an illness. He correctly diagnoses it and prescribes the right medicine, but for some reason you are given a dosage only half as large as required. The medicine was enough to improve your condition, but not enough to cure you. You remain sick although you feel better and will remain so until you finally get a full dosage of the proper medicine or your body is able to cure itself, which might take years.
Note that in this analogy the medicine was properly prescribed; only the dosage was wrong. It would be incorrect to blame the medicine because you are still sick.
The Republican economists nevertheless blame the medicine itself for the failure of the economy to respond to President Obama’s prescription.
————————————–
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/blaming-obama-for-george-w-bushs-policies/
This is a MUST READ, Ladyhawke!! Kind of lays it all out very plainly
I am posting this on twitter and FB. This was the best explanation I’ve read anywhere.
Thanks.
Mitt Romney’s budget is a fantasy, Part II
Posted by Ezra Klein
————————
So let me get this straight. Mitt Romney, who has refused to officially name even one offset for his tax cut, has taken the bulk of the mortgage-interest deduction off the table. In his 10-year deficit-reduction plan, he has refused to name the spending cuts necessary to hit his targets, but he has taken Social Security, Medicare and defense off the table for cuts.
Tell me again why I’m supposed to believe that this presidential candidate who is systematically ruling out cuts to the most popular spending programs and tax breaks is going to be able to make incredibly unpopular spending cuts and tax changes once in office?
As I wrote the other day: Romney’s budget plan is a fantasy, and it will never happen.
————————-
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/16/mitt-romneys-budget-is-a-fantasy-part-ii/
Wait….. I thought he was going to offset the tax cuts by defunding Planned Parenthood, PBS, NEA, and NEH.?
I found myself screaming at the TV again… can’t take Chris Haye’s show anymore. I’m switching to Mr. Bean.
Ha, good decision Dudette!
What’s a perfect breakfast for a woman?
She’s sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.
“And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.”
You’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!
I learned – a long time ago – never, ever to be eating or drinking anything when reading one of your comments, amk, and the same goes for the good sailor Yardarm
Never mind Medicare, tax returns and all that, the BIG news, that I forgot to add to Rise and Shine, is that I got a haircut yesterday and I look absolutely goregous. Just thought you all should know.
Most excellent news!!!
Thank you Bob, I have to avoid looking at mirrors at the moment, I don’t like swooning at myself.
You soooooooo want to post a picture, don’t you …
I do Bob, but I’m resisting because I don’t want you all looking at the pic and sighing jealously.
Whoooohooo!!!!! ‘People, US Weekly, and Star Magazine’ say you look like a celebrity!
I bet you look MAHHH-velous!!
I do Dudette, pretty stunning actually.
Congratulations on your new haircut Chips! This is some great breaking news
I’m guessing you sent PBO a picture.
Thank you Hopefruit, I did indeed send PBO a pic, but Secret Service sent it back.
Oh no! Don’t worry, I’m sure PBO took took a picture of the picture you sent with his Blackberry before handing it over to SS!
I look absolutely goregous.
Need proof.
No, ruiney pics won’t cut it.
That’s me on the right:
Hmmmm, not how I pictured you, dear….
LOL! Me neither….
Ok Chips, we’ll take your word for it.
Thank you for the trust GB, I felt I deserved this treat in honor of my 21st birthday.
LOL!!! The Obama Diary – “Just Trust Me”
Willard stole the motto from me, honest!
Great news!—about being gorgeous! Much better news this time than the last cut which I think you described as a Buster Brown do, or a bowl cut or something similar. You must have had a better “operator” this time. (My 95 yr. old mom always says she had a really good “beauty operator” when she talks about going to the “beauty parlor”)
“Beauty operator”
Your memory is spooky Dotster, I did indeed have a bowl-shaped cut last time, but my new beauty operator left me looking prettier than Beyonce. Well, ish.
Halperin was on the Today Show representing the Willard campaign, all talking points sealed with a kiss by the RNC. He tried to shelve the tax returns issue, saying no one cares about Willard’s tax returns. Ryan got top billing with multiple vids of his campaign appearances and a big promo for his appearance today at The Villages in Fl. with his mommy. Halperin said he will make it clear that his Medicare plan will not affect those old people, so whew, vote Repub, who cares about the rest of the population who will also be seniors one day. Tough luck to them. President Obama got a one sentence mention somewhere down the line about his appearances in N.H. today.
He’s in for a big surprise …
None of these #NEWSTAINERS are prepared for this …
“Baldwin said, “Sure, lying on federal SEC or FEC forms is a felony, but that overlooks the elephant in the room and undoubtedly hiding inside Romney’s tax returns: Through Bain, Romney bought shares in the leading immolator of aborted babies.”
Delegates to the GOP Convention began receiving a strategy memo last week entitled, “DUMP ROMNEY: Why Tampa’s Republican Delegates must Dump Romney to Defeat Obama.” It contends that no delegates are actually “bound” by law or GOP rules to vote for Romney and that, to win the White House and toss-up Senate seats, delegates must exercise their right to “conscientiously abstain” from Romney on the crucial first ballot, aiming for a stronger ticket leader in subsequent convention voting rounds. Also the title and core of a hard-hitting new 80,000 word book, the entire 9-page “DUMP ROMNEY” memo to GOP delegates can be read free online via Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader.”
http://t.co/Ha5j8Tdl
And, I’m sure the guys holding the #2 & 3 spot in the delegates list have been duly contacted, but just to be sure they’re aware
#2
#3
Even if – and it’s still the most likely outcome – #BainMitt is the nominee by the end of the RNC the more damage that can be done to him by his own ‘base’ the better because a key objective in damaging him is to damage as many ‘down ticket’ (all the way to ‘dog catcher’) GOPers as possible. We need to win as many Federal, State and local offices as possible – including as many in ‘purple’ and even ‘red’ states/districts as possible because our objective must be to #OUTPERFORM1936!!!
#PRESSON
That cracking sound you hear is the early fracturing of the GOP, to be followed in a couple weeks by the ear shattering sound of the entire party crumbling into oblivion. Yes.
Pamela, this particular aspect of #BainMitt’s greed filled career is truly the place to drive the wedge as hard as we can because the wedge is between him (and a handful of rich white guys) and the only ‘base’ he’s got (millions of white folk with Fox, bibles and guns).
Months ago, when his Stericycle role and profits became way more public than they had been, it was obvious it would inflame that ‘base.’ Though some of us tweeted about it, it was also obvious that until some of the ‘leaders’ of that ‘base’ got with the program not much would happen – certainly the corporate #NEWSTAINER networks would never make any issue of it.
Well, timing is everything and Baldwin and his gang seem to be doing the timing thing rather well.
Let’s just help plunge the wedge in as deeply as possible!
Bang ….
Bang ….
…. goes the wedge ….
I anticipate another aspect of this, which no doubt terrifies those ‘inside’: there are many more Bain investors sitting in the House and Senate, whose conflict of interests, shall we say, will eventually become glaringly public, it is only a matter of time, and timing, as you point out. The fear weighs on these people, the desperation of not being able to undo what they have done, and the exposure of their true intentions, is what underlines their desperation. Their ignorance, or denial, that Truth will ALWAYS find it’s Way to the Light, is astonishing to me. (Then again, maybe not.)
Yes!
That means it is a ” good day for John McCain “
Not to mention the severe cuts in Medicaid to seniors, but that is seen as a give away to poor people, so let’s nit talk about that!
Jeeze!
We do need to be more forceful!
Unbelievable—-
What?!! That has got to beboth criminal and unconstitutional!
Tweet to doj and Lis Smith.
From the link
“I believe that this is so critical to our freedom in America, and to individual rights to vote, that I am doing what I think is right, and I cannot vote to rescind this motion,” Lieberman said. “In 10 years, I’ve never received a threat that if I don’t do what they want me to do, I could be fired. I find this reprehensible.”
The GOP knows it can’t win without suppression of the vote
That’s the Unions hooking it up.!
Haha. Hilarious.
It’s really Pouring hear in Florida, almost like, all the Angles are taking a Shower!
So its dirty water? ewww!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…….
My aunt used to tell me snow and hail was what happens when angels flush their toilets
ugh! I would never go outside if I heard that when I was young.
…and yet deep down inside, I knew it wasn’t angel waste at all, but the effect of mankind’s reckless management of natural resources and a plot byextraterrestrial aliens disguised as Republicans to kill us all… slowly.
Team Obama gets me every time. Pres. Obama is so bloody inspiring. You feel as though he’s speaking to you as an individual not some monolithic voting bloc. He makes me fight harder, donate more, and volunteer tirelessly.
Wow….. I hope that is a TV ad……
FANTASTIC ad!! BRAVOOOOOO!! TOD brigade, let’s tweet the heck out of this one.
Should be on front of Newspaper.
Wow…. what a beautiful picture…..
Ah wow, LOVE that Jovie!!
The old guy doesn’t seem to realize that he isn’t immune from Romney-Ryan’s destruction of Medicare. Not only does their plan bankrupt Medicare within 4 years, it also reopens the donut hole for seniors, costs them $6400 in additional bills, raises the costs of their prescription drugs and screws them over ten ways till sunday.
Plus, he’s a douchebag. If it doesn’t affect him, he doesn’t give a damn. What a conscienceless prick.
He is a Tea Bagger.
It also puts health care back in the hands of the insurance companies IMO. Medicare Advantage insurers will get back their 12% increase which depletes Medicare that much sooner.
photo/1
Obviously Shushannah Walshe @shushwalshe can’t read.
Didn’t she write a book praising Sarah Palin ?
Let her ponder this for a moment …
…. maybe she’ll even ask him …
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
We already know, White Republican Seniors are going to Vote for the President, this just secures that.
Again, R&R are just shoring up their Base.
Who is Felica Sonmez and did she correct the old man?
White House corporate #NEWSTAINER – aka White House Press Corps ….
Reporters rarely, if ever, correct the “man on the street” they interview.
Because he is a Republican.
This is the equivalent of “I’ve got mine, screw you.” This are selfish morons at all ages. If this guy has children he just told them to go to hell.
Well this reception was nothing compared to the extraordinary reception that our President received when he went to the retirement community in Florida.
Hi all. Can someone here at TOD please explain to a foreigner such as myself whether Obamacare has gone into affect for seniors already? For instance has the reduction in the donut hole begun and would seniors notice a reduction in the cost of prescription drugs or does that begin in 2014? Would seniors have received any cheques from insurance companies? Thanks.
Both have already begun…reduction in prescription drug costs, AND rebate checks from companies.
thank you for that. if they’ve already received benefit why would they doubt the President more than Romney? Those seniors like the 73 year old imbecile need to have a bit of a scare I think.
I think a few of these seniors are ideological Republicans – who are probably also very well-off and don’t necessarily have anything much to lose with the Ryan plan.
Ain’t no fool like an old fool.
The reduction in the donut hole for drugs for seniors has started at 40% reduced and will be at 100% by 2014. No copays for physical exams and no fee for cancer screenings, including mammograms, colonoscopies, etc has begun in August. Some grandchildren of these seniors may be affected in ACA as they can stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26 yrs old.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/18/by-foot-and-by-car/
I agree 100%. What a boring speech already.
I guess MHP is doing a- Did he just say that segment, about Joe Biden.
I would like to do one on Her.
HIdee O folks!! It’s a great getting up day again in TODville!!! It’s the Paulie RAyn show this morning. Oh well, it’s still good to be getting up. I see he’s paraded mom across the stage in the most Republican district in Florida. I didn’t hear the enthusiasm I would have expected in such a district.
My political take today is it’ll come down to GOTV. The 3-4% undecided aren’t going to make their minds up until they get in the voting booth. The decideds aren’t changing their minds and it’ll boil down to how many actually get to the polls.
Trying to shut down their BS of “Pres. Obama is too scared to face tough questions so he avoids us.”