Pamela – you’re on a roll. Chipsticks – yes, here’s to the next four years. I hope the Obama family can really enjoy the time and savor the experience along with the rest of us.
You know, Theo, I have been thinking about the Obama Family a lot today. For second term, they don’t have to be thinking about ‘the next election’, they can have quiet dinners together; Dad might not have to travel so far, so often, for so long. There is so much work to do to balance the dark forces which have railed against his work over these years, but now he is tempered steel. He has shown us what can be done with the power of Goodness and Compassion, made even greater by our numbers. He has proven to us what high caliber we really are, and in our gratitude we will Stand by his side, we will work tirelessly, we will rest when we must, and take up the path again in the morning. Now, they will all sleep under the same roof, held and strengthened by their own bonds. They are loved, we know it, they know it. Goodnight, my friends, and thank you.
Lovely sentiment. I’m actually hoping that they travel together a lot more, since Michelle loves travelling and I think the President loves travelling with all of them. The girls deserve to see the world from this angle. I also hope that they slow down their pace a little, but I know that’s probably unreasonable, as the clock winds down in this second term and they scramble to finish everything they’d like to accomplish. I just want them to really enjoy this second term. They’ve worked hard for it, and they deserve it.
Oh – I think he’ll definitely be doing that if warranted. Remember, he gives people room to do the right thing, and then he crushes them. And I think because he’s working a clock that’s winding down, he’s not going to have a lot of time for game-playing and waiting people out. He’s been telling us all along that “he’s got this” – and while we need to be prepared to do our part to help – I think he knows exactly what he’s got to do to complete his checklist of things left to do.
Is there a better word for Legend, cuz if there is, it needs to be reserved for you, Chips. Thank you for everything you do to keep this community afloat and happy.
We did pretty good, didn’t we ? I was just watching Nate Silver on cbs election results and he predicted that with WA and OR coming in (they are delayed because of counting of postal ballots), PBO could even get up to +5 PV. Woohoo.
What I love is that all the idiotic talking points about PBO not having a mandate have been obliterated. They are impotent whiners who have lost BIG TIME. They have been REJECTED. So what I expect from them in very near future is a lot of macho overcompensating and foolish posturing because they are HUMILIATED once again. They refuse to confront their own truth. They are irrelevant and we are going to remind them of this every chance we get.
I think you may be right. And based on the action I saw on twitter today (many tweets demanding Boehner work with President Obama and do the job for the people that they were hired to do), I think people are prepared to be more active in support of the President, and applying pressure to Congress to act.
PBO is in many ways liberated from a lot of baggage. He doesn’t have to prove himself and he doesn’t have to pretend to suffer any of these fools. But I do believe he wants to honor the hard work of all of his volunteers and the people who voted their faith in him. We saw that in his voice and in his tears today. So what I expect of him going forward is to reach for the highest having and engage us to work in support of even more historic gains for our people and the long-term good of our country. He will be able to express his brilliance unfettered by the noise of both the RW and the press.
I received Rudyard Kipling `If` poem from my mother back in 1980 when I graduated from college and it really changed my approach to life. Of all the gifts I received on graduation day, that Rudyard Kipling poem was the absolute best.
Love that story. I gave my niece The Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost, when she got her college degree, eons ago, and she still has it in a frame on her desk. Good words for those “crossroads” moments in life.
Ok, in the last thread I recommended Young the Giant for your listening pleasure. Now I’m recommending Mumford & Sons. Great way to spend a couple of peaceful hours.
And Chips, I have a post percolating in my brainpan about the emotions of the past 2 days. I might want to post it both here and at TPV. You rock, lass.
Mumford and Sons are one of the truest bands in the world. Truest in the form that their music has so much meaning and depth. If you (and anyone on TOD) haven’t heard their songs called “White Blank Page” and “Liar” you MUST. The first time I heard both those songs, they brought to my knees with their truth. They are bloody brilliant!
Just watched the video of the President at his headquarters….thanks Chips for posting the entire clip. What I know from this clip, is that we shall never see his likes again. He is unique, he is a once in history person…..I just am so BLESSED to be living in the age of Obama..
Yes, I’m crying as I write this, tears of absolute joy that he is once again our leader. I have total confidence in him, and now, I have regained confidence in the American people, and that is a wonderful thing.
Thank you, President Obama. Like many of you, I am going to write him to express my feelings.
Carolyn – many of us shed tears watching that video, because we’ve likely never seen a “politician” who actually believes that he’s working for the people who elected him, and he takes that responsibility so seriously and cares so profoundly. He also believes in leaving the next generation more equipped than he found them, and you could see that he really appreciated those who worked themselves ragged to give him the opportunity to do good. It just makes every phone call, every weekend on a street corner, every dollar donated seem like such an investment well made for the future of this country and the chance for this awesome man to fulfill his potential and his destiny.
Yes, blackwater, he was definitely emotional and crying in this video. Made me cry as well. He’s got a very soft heart, and I know his Michelle is helping him so much to handle all that he has been through. What a support team he has behind him!
Obama tearfully thanked staffers for their work. Mitt cancelled staffers credit cards on Election Night. Any questions? forbes.com/sites/helaineo…— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) November 09, 2012
so true. i had been looking forward to never having to see his photo, hear his voice, or see his name in print. thought the election would be the end of that. i know, i’m impatient and it’s just been 2 days, but still—-the stench!!!
by the way, when you type ‘the stench’ into google, this article comes up second, after some band (whose members obviously like to see their mothers cry):
‘ “I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him,” Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, told The New York Times on Sunday. ‘
You should watch the vid. Hilarious. The whole set was laughing at the wingnutz. Watch the end where he stresses the name of place in canada where nutjobs would eventually land up.
hahaha, yer funny amk…dammit, we got enuff dimwit wing nut, bible thumping assholes up here in Canada, we don’t need anymore.
But seriously, if Canada was a part of the U.S. Our wingnut provinces would be Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba…these provinces line up on the map of North America with all the red states of the U.S. Go figure.
And they are the most ugly provinces in Canada. Prairie’s galore.
Mind you, we aren’t quite as right wing concervatives here as the new republicans/tea partier’s as the U.S. have.
Hey there, easy now, Albertan here. Not denying rednecks,bible thumpers BUT they’re not in your face like the US or as rabid. My province is beautiful, and yes there are prairies. To the east yes prairies, South towards Montana! Prairies, Lakes.
To he North, OIL, and lakes, prairies, pristine land. To the West, mountains , lakes. So you see, not at all ugly.
Yeah, I’m sorry smoothscotch. Southern Alberta is beautiful. And I agree, our bible thumpers are not in your face here in Canada like the U.S. republicans. I think the worst we deal with in Canada are Jehovah Witness’s and Mormon”s. You can be sure when the door bell rings it’s going to be one or the other of these cults trying to tell you some kind of unbelievable shit that just makes you want to throw the door in their face. Pretty much the rest of the religions keep to themselves.
No worries my friend, must admit we were known to be redneck country, city is very multi-cultural now. 2010 elected a non white as mayor, very popular. Who woulda thunk it, shocked the hell out of some people here though. Of note were the young people who were all in. The world is changing and those who do not accept and learn to live with these Changes better go find a cave.
@AnneOnymous670 Simply, will be forever grateful for your courage, persistence and dedication to preserving the promise of America. #FORWARD— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 09, 2012
@Lawrence 2012 RGA&G0P legislatures SHOULD have PROVEN to everyone is the import of voting in EVERY ELECTION including school board. VOTE— Americassoul 47% USA (@Americassoul) November 09, 2012
THIS. You want change, then fucking vote every time and every level of election.
I just spent a whole half hour trying to compose a whole thesis on how genius Chips’ horse picture and the symbolism in it, when I freaking hit a wrong button and lost everything gottdamm thing I typed (expletive deleted, then re-inserted):
The plan was to rattle on in a pseudo-intellectual drively tone about:
- the blue line to the left of the subjects representing “the way forward” and the left-leaning politics of the incoming President
- the barren gray to the right of the center line symbolizing the failed policies of the previous administration taking the country backward
- the rider representing on of America’s First Nations recalling PBO’s adoption by the Crow Nation during 2008 campaign
- prominent blue color in the horse blanket connecting rider and horse
- literary symbolsm that horse represents beauty, grace, nobility, strength, & freedom
- two laborers, civil servants, foundation of the middle class, working together, providing necessary work in service to the community
- recycling the natural material – maybe for a composte heap or to fertilize the WH garden
- the white shovel …
- the angle from above the subjects…
Oh blah, blah, blah – fuck it… I was gonna finish it off with a poop joke, but I can’t fucking remember my punch line.
The picture was funny, okay? Well done Chips. Glad you got kudos from your idol. Now can I have a prize or something? I’m exhausted!
Gay men don’t threaten his manhood yet he’ll go toe to toe when dealing with those who wish to do him harm or worse to cause pain to the weakest amongst us (see bin laden and BP ‘shakedown’ et al).
Doesn’t like foo foo dog names or little ‘yappy dogs’ (his quote) but is sweet and gentle with his over sized family dog. Will tell you when you are wrong but doesn’t belittle you just to build himself up.
He’s probably the biggest jock pres I’ve seen, jive talking on the court yet coaches his daughters’ teams. He knows the power he wields as leader -not just of the free world but of the greatest military on earth- yet uses that power not for material gain but to protect the masses FROM genocide.
While everyone defers to him, he makes sure all voices are heard from the highest brass to the guy who carries the suitcases. He can walk with world leaders yet take the time to acknowledge the door man.
We praise him for his great achievements and he thanks us with his tears for being the force that makes it all happen. We marvel at how far he’s come and he expresses faith in our potential.
Time and again he’s shown he has a spine of steel yet he’s not afraid to shed a tear for our common humanity.
“We praise him for his great achievements and he thanks us with his tears for being the force that makes it all happen. We marvel at how far he’s come and he expresses faith in our potential.” Favorite lines. I can’t wait to read all the books that are going to be written abou him.
huh–just checked votevets and they haven’t updated their site since the election. i know that wasn’t your question, but interesting to see how vets voted, as well as active duty.
So far from opponents and supporters (not here), I have heard Mitt lost because he screwed up, he wasn’t moderate enough, he wasn’t extreme enough, Obama had the ground game, demographics, Hurricane Sandy, great team, lots of different things. What I haven’t heard enough people say is Barack Obama won because of Barack Obama. it seems that even liberal commentators don’t think to actually credit the man himself. Why did he have such a good ground game? Because he built a strong team, listened to all ideas and chose the best, because he is incredibly intelligent, because he has spent his life analyzing and refining his core beliefs and basing his actions and decisions on them. Because he has integrity, and values all people. Because he came to this job, not for what he could get out of it, but for the opportunity to serve his country. And because he spoke to the country of values that Americans believe in. He presented a vision of the America we want to live in. Because his character shows through in his love for his children and his glowing love and respect for the strong woman who is his wife, his respect for veterans, his fight for the middle-class, It shows when he holds a baby so tenderly, squats down to look a child in the eyes, even his treatment of his enemies in Congress. You see it in the faces of the people at the rallies, and in the devotion of his campaign team, and his gratitude for all the worker bees willing to devote countless hours to calling, knocking, and tabulating. Without this innate decency, the demographics and the conservative blunders would not have mattered. This is where the Republican Party went wrong – they judged him by their own standards and so could not and can not still conceive of a man of principle. But I think some liberals may also be missing the point. This is the man Dr. King saw who would be judged, not by the color of his skin (or the strength of his ground game, or the stupidity of his enemies), but by the content of his character. (Sorry, this is long and a bit of a rant. This definitely does NOT apply to anyone at this site!)
Thanks, AMK. I feel so strongly that many people on either side are not looking past the statistics to the man. I realize that’s probably not true, but I wish more people would put him at the center of their commentary, and not sound as if just any could have been the candidate and all the other forces would have worked their magic.
This is beautiful and eloquent, Mary. You are so right. Wow! History will record who this man was, and with our help, it will be recorded accurately.
“This is the man Dr. King saw who would be judged, not by the color of his skin (or the strength of his ground game, or the stupidity of his enemies), but by the content of his character”.
Thank you Mary, this needs to be told to everyone who asks, why do you support or voted for President Obama. He ran because he saw up close as a community organizer so many forgotten americans who worked hard and lost their jobs, their health insurance, kids in poor neighborhoods with substandard schools, he wants to change all this or at least start the ground work to make this country great after 30 years of trickle down that is never designed to birng the folks up at the bottom.
Dear Republicans – Isn't time that you dumped karl rove, rupert murdoch, roger ailes and pox news, who have been taking you for a ride?— (@amk4obama) November 09, 2012
Dear @NancyPelosi Any member of Congress who took an oath to Norquist has violated their Oath of Office & should be censured. Period. TY— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 09, 2012
If you look at the donors to both the camps, the PBO supporters put their money where their mouth is and raised millions for him, while the wingnutz let their sugar daddies bankroll mittbot. So who are the real moochers and freeloaders ?
And when it came to the real hard work on the ground, it’s not even worth comparing. Yet the wingnutz whine incessantly about hard work, taking responsibility, blah, blah. Fucking hypocrites.
It seems like Virgina is becoming more and and more blue and will be less red as time goes on. Even though I am not from Virgina, from Washington State it kinda makes me happy at the ideal that NOT all Southern States are completely lost.
Oh, I expect both AZ and TX to flip in the next few years. Just a question of demographics and the dems playing it smartly there. And FL will go full wingnut.
I wanna see GA go back blue too. It can be done. It was blue when I moved here, we can flip it back.
Might even be soon, since there’s now a Rethug super majority in State House. They’ll screw up the State and then get summarily kicked in their keisters in the next election.
Shows what you know, and not much. Why you so hateful towards FL? You might say that I am thin skinned. Dang gon right I am.
Because folk did not vote in 2010 and we have a criminal for a governor who won by a very narrow margin against Alex Sink; don’t lump us all together.
The Southern States are not totally to blame. The last time I looked at a map there are some States out west as well.
Folk vote with what is in their heart. President Obama is the greatest organizer in the world and he is telling the people put away your hate to help yourself. Folk still believing nonsense about people who do not look like them. If they continue to live in a hole, soon they will suffocate in that hole.
In Blue States, there is enough rightful thinking people to overcome the others. Every vote for President Obama is the right vote and thank God there were more than enough to give him a second term. Thank God President Obama still believed in the people in FL. We might have been late with the count, but we came through. He is for every AMERICAN.. The ones who voted for him and especially the ones who did not vote for him.
We have to vote every election. When we don’t vote we allow other people to make decisions for us.
Cut out the nonsense and stop feeling smug about where people live. The election is over until the next time. We Won. Stop rehashing, shoulda, coulda, woulda. Thank you.
One interesting item: One reason the Republicans thought the polls were skewed by more Democratic voters – people who formerly identified as Republicans were self-identifying as Independents. So the reason Republicans were “undercounted” was because there were actual fewer people identifying as Republicans!
Yes. Of all the Republicans I know, none of them wanted to acknowledge their, in many cases long-time, affiliation with the GOP. That’s how bad it’s getting and I assure you several of the folk I’m referencing are very wealthy.
No President (on any other political leader) has had nearly 23 million, instantly and constantly connected and communicating, passionately supportive individuals committed to improving the quality of life for everyone. President Obama does.
Dear @BarackObama it is time to leverage maximally your nearly 23 Million Twitter followers. We are your FORCE for CHANGE. Let's Get It Done— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 09, 2012
It is essential we all do what we can to encourage and support the leaders of the BarackObama/OFA to coordinate closely with us to become an ever more potent force. The lobbyist on K Street pale in comparison to our power.
Before getting a bit of rest, wanted to send President Obama a letter and express to him my appreciation for how profoundly kind and good a person he is. So, made some adaptations of a comment shared with all of you earlier today.
Dear President Obama,
When I read Adam Gopnik’s article in The New Yorker, earlier today it was like, that’s not Barack Obama, that’s not the person, that’s not the President I’ve ever seen or heard.
When listening to you over all these years, I hear not just the words, the phrases, but I hear the modulations in your voice, and a deeply passionate, caring person always emerges. Maybe that’s just me, and that’s fine. I’ve been wrong about a lot of stuff in my life.
But, the reason why I’m writing to you is the temporal juxtaposition of that article and the video of you with your team in Chicago that appeared on YouTube within hours, today.
The person in that video is the Barack Obama that hugged a maligned Harvard Professor and has exhibited so many profound emotions, and most importantly, has placed himself in profoundly emotional settings – settings that Bush and Cheney avoided like the plague and would not allow Americans to see (e.g., our fallen returning home for the last time at Dover AFB).
Those tears streaming down the left side of your face in Iowa on Monday, those were the real deal, the only Barack Obama I’ve had the privilege to inhabit this planet at the same time.
So, just because someone is capable of being calm when faced with enormous challenges doesn’t mean they are any less passionate, doesn’t mean they live in some alternate reality, doesn’t mean they do not comprehend how divided America is, not just in its politics but in its core values.
At least from my perspective, it means that they have the strength of character and burning commitment to LEAD, to place themselves at the front, take the hits, absorb the disappointments, and never whine. That’s not being ‘cool,’ detached, removed, whatever. That’s just being a expansively compassionate, marvelous Leader.
The Barack Obama in that video is the only Barack Obama I’ve ever heard, or seen.
Just wanted you to know that, Mr. President.
Will continue to be shoulder to shoulder with you as we build a better America, Together.
Beautiful. There have been some profoundly beautiful things written on this blog in the past two days that top even the best of the last few years. It is worth reading them all.
Our President recognizes that the people are counting on him to make it right. He knows that we trust him,love him and are confident in his ablilities to lead us to higher heights. He was so moved that we supported him in his re-election.
An amazing comment from “Randy” that I feel compelled to share here – I hope he doesn’t mind me copying it over here:
Randy Abraham posted a comment in Obama Cries As He Thanks Campaign Staff After Victory (VIDEO) · 8 hours ago
Through his accomplishments and his example, this man has already left his mark as one of the great American presidents, and he will leave a legacy that will last throughout this nation’s history. When I remember the massive crowds he drew, the reception he received by world leaders when he was first elected president, and all the children who get up in their Sunday finest when the President pays a visit to their school, I begin to see the impact he will have on generations of people, as a gentle, caring, brilliant and determined man who sought to fulfill the promise of America, widen the circle of opportunity for all people, keep hope alive among the disaffected and downtrodden, inspire others to work for meaningful and lasting change, and truly help form a “more perfect union.”
In this time of enormous crisis in this nation, and this world, we are extremely fortunate that this man chose to put himself in the breach, and to be a champion against the spirit of cynicism, hopelessness and despair, and to withstand the pettiness, the unthinking opposition, and the virulent hatred of his detractors and opponents with such grace and good will as he set about to repair a nation whose soul had been broken.
In the coming years, we will see statues erected in his likeness, streets and government buildings named after him, and I envision 100,000 children around the world being named “Barack Obama” in the next generation, but I want to remember him like this — as a man of modest background and generous spirit who, despite the immense power and authority of his office and the historic nature of his mission, could be vulnerable enough to be moved to tears of humility, gratitude and affection for those who saw in him what we all see.
In the tempestuous rush of time, it is easy for us to sometimes miss those small fleeting moments — full of clarity and awesome in their beauty and unnameable stillness — when we suddenly understand what it means to be here on this earth if for a fleeting instant, to dare to burn brightly with a passion to leave behind a world better than the one you found, and be alive in, and to share in, the uplifting and exhilarating possibilities of what could yet be amid this constant, titanic struggle between chaos and community.
To share a laugh and a tear is the only way to communicate that moment for one man who, ultimately, faces an almost impossible task before him, and who faces it essentially alone.
“I want to remember him like this — as a man of modest background and generous spirit who, despite the immense power and authority of his office and the historic nature of his mission, could be vulnerable enough to be moved to tears of humility, gratitude and affection for those who saw in him what we all see.” Beautiful. Thank you.
Can’t say it enough. I am so thankful for The Obama Diary. Ms Chips I don’t know how you do it, but I am so thankful that you do. Excellent job. Well done.
Have a quick minute this morning before heading out to work and just have to comment on all the wonderful comments, articles and blogs on the ethernets thanking, praising and highlighting the achievements of this incredible President.
What has struck me is how most of these reference his character and moral compass. How many express their support in passionate terms.
This president is loved. And loved the world over.
We dodged a bullet with this election folks. We would never hear these comments or sentiments leveled at a **cough cough** president robme.
Dear TOD family, thank you. We did it. Our president is the epitome of humanity and humility. I am so very blessed and privileged to have been a part of this most amazing piece of history.
Even in the confines of my car, when I am all alone, I find myself talking out loud about the marvel that is President Barack Hussein Obama. Just amazing.
In a statement provided to the Louisville Courier-Journal on Thursday, actress Ashley Judd did not rule out a potential challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in 2014. Speculation is rife that Judd, a Kentucky native, could be the Democratic nominee against the vulnerable Minority Leader.
Oh if she has a chance I pray she will run. Mitch McConnell need to go, where I don’t give a darn, but out of the Senate. McConnell is a disgrace. Haven’t heard a word from that I haven’t got over you kicking my ass in 08 John McCain, since the election. Hope he is okay.
.@AshleyJudd – Thank you for all your work for the re-election of President Obama. Next up, a KY senate run to unseat mcconnell in 2014?— (@amk4obama) November 09, 2012
PBO still ahead by 0.6%, 3 counties still counting absentee ballots. They have to get it done by tomorrow anyway and didn’t the Romney campaign concede Florida yesterday?
Well, although they STILL haven’t finished counting the ballots, some good things have happened in Florida this election:
Bloomberg: Florida’s Scott, Not on Ballot, Still Suffers Setback
President Barack Obama is poised to become the first Democrat in 68 years to twice win the state, which still hasn’t finished counting votes. Scott’s party lost seats in both the state House and Senate. Voters also rejected Scott’s $20 million tax cut for small businesses and a constitutional amendment that would have made it tougher to implement Obama’s health-care overhaul.
One of the biggest ratfuckery by floridians was electing that fraudster felon in 2010 as their govnor. And this season, they gave the white guy for senate a 7 point margin while barely electing the black guy from the same party and that too with an opponent team that was intending to ratfuck them royally in medicare & ss. Fuck’em. Dems would be better off trying to convert TX and AZ blue given the changing demographics there.
Here’s a letter from President Obama’s sister Maya –
Dear friends, it has been an incredible journey. When we learned that the American people elected my brother for a second term, I hugged him. I wept with joy. I was filled with peace. I was humbled by the work of so many people across the country. I am not naive about the challenges we face as a nation nor am I naive about the easiness of cynicism’s appeal But I feel very hopeful about the future.
She’s such a gracious soul. Thank YOU Maya for being so supportive of your brother and for being an essential part of his efforts in moving this country forward!
I knew it. Every day since election day, Fl. officials say they will have the final vote results “tomorrow”. But tomorrow never comes. Yesterday when they said they would finally have the results tomorrow, I didn’t believe it. And I was right. Today, yesterday’s tomorrow, they say they will have the final tally “tomorrow”.
What a dysfunctional state. The total Repub rule there has made the state “a laughingstock” as even their newspapers are calling it. That PBO was able to pull out 2 successive wins there is pretty amazing, in light of all the voter suppression efforts and partisan political shenanigans there. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article1260665.ece
Today the President will speak to the nation about his economic vision and the way Forward ….i am very excited ….it is my sincere hope that the structure for change that the President has built is not dismantled..because as the President says…we still have a lot of work to do….
i know that here in PA we won a victory over the Voter ID law…but it is still on the books and will be in effect for future elections…Nothing has changed…. there will still be citizens who will be disenfranchised…
in addition there is a move to privatize the schools here in Philadelphia..
it matters not….who speaks first,,,it is about the content…The President will lay out a plan…
but let me ask you….there are some that think that PBO should not negotiate and allow everything to expire….how do you think that will go over with the American people….another question…the President said that one of the lessons that he learned was that you have to tell the American people a story about what is happening…. to talk to them about what needs to happen…do you think that means that PBO will be on the road more,,,holding rallies…Press conferences and the like…
I think that PBO will try to make a deal and if that doesn’t happen yes, he will let everything expire. They can still get this done by sometime in January and things will be retroactive. I think that PBO will try to mobilize the American ppl and the deal he makes will be based on how we respond.
Yes…i agree with you…Thinking back to his comment about things changing from the outside….i took that to mean …taking it to the citizens …to the people…one other thing,,,symmetry it will be huge in 2014 when the insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to adults for pre-existing conditions…perhaps this will change the minds of many repubs
Then their is that thing about leverage. The president loses his leverage if he let’s it all run out.
Especially with the debt ceiling and funding the government running out in march, it negligee the president to get this done now, while he has the leverage.
Not to mention, wall street will go into negative GDP growth. Because they love their tax cuts.
It’s more complicated than the left imagines!
It is not complicated and he will not lose leverage.
Prettyfoot, I think he can let them expire and actually gain some political capital since that is what 60% of the electorate wants. That is what he campaigned on and would be just the thing to keep everyone fired up and engaged.
i don’t know what universe you are operating from, but Wall St. does not control the narrative. PBO is in charge of the facts. And won the election over the wealthy paying the taxes. The President is in the driver’s seat. When the tax cuts expire, the GOP will be exposed for holding the middle class hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy.
The debt ceiling, if the House tries the hostage crap again…..pres Obama will use the 14 amendment, section 4 (I hope I got that right) to over pass them and have them challenge him constitutionally. He will Not do the song and dance of 2011. It Not only cost him personally……It was very costly to the USA.
that’s the opposite of a lot of people’s thinking: he will have more leverage if we ‘reset’ to before the Bush era tax cuts. Sure, it’s perilous but it’s more perilous for Repubs than for us. Besides, we’d have a much upgraded Senate in quality and numbers, and a slightly smaller House majority of idiots.
Exactly….. and what’s more when the law expires, it takes a majority agreement between both houses of Congres and the President to enact a new tax law. And guess what, Repugs only have the House. And they will have the choice to enact a tax cut for middle class or nothing. End of story.
Need. Sleep.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Chipsticks, you wonder!
And now to bed, this clock change is wearyng. Thank you, everyone, sweet dreams!
Sweet dreams to you too, Pamela!
Pamela – you’re on a roll. Chipsticks – yes, here’s to the next four years. I hope the Obama family can really enjoy the time and savor the experience along with the rest of us.
You know, Theo, I have been thinking about the Obama Family a lot today. For second term, they don’t have to be thinking about ‘the next election’, they can have quiet dinners together; Dad might not have to travel so far, so often, for so long. There is so much work to do to balance the dark forces which have railed against his work over these years, but now he is tempered steel. He has shown us what can be done with the power of Goodness and Compassion, made even greater by our numbers. He has proven to us what high caliber we really are, and in our gratitude we will Stand by his side, we will work tirelessly, we will rest when we must, and take up the path again in the morning. Now, they will all sleep under the same roof, held and strengthened by their own bonds. They are loved, we know it, they know it. Goodnight, my friends, and thank you.
Lovely sentiment. I’m actually hoping that they travel together a lot more, since Michelle loves travelling and I think the President loves travelling with all of them. The girls deserve to see the world from this angle. I also hope that they slow down their pace a little, but I know that’s probably unreasonable, as the clock winds down in this second term and they scramble to finish everything they’d like to accomplish. I just want them to really enjoy this second term. They’ve worked hard for it, and they deserve it.
In addition to that theo67, I’d love to see him bust some chops like he did when he first came in at that rwnj luncheon.
Oh – I think he’ll definitely be doing that if warranted. Remember, he gives people room to do the right thing, and then he crushes them. And I think because he’s working a clock that’s winding down, he’s not going to have a lot of time for game-playing and waiting people out. He’s been telling us all along that “he’s got this” – and while we need to be prepared to do our part to help – I think he knows exactly what he’s got to do to complete his checklist of things left to do.
I can hardly wait.
Completely agree.
POTUS and FLOTUS have said that 6:30pm regardless what is going on the family sit down and have dinner together, unless POTUS is out of town.
Just beautiful, Pamela.
Among the firsts…:)
VICTORY -OBAMA 2012
Oh, boy! A world tour!
Is there a better word for Legend, cuz if there is, it needs to be reserved for you, Chips. Thank you for everything you do to keep this community afloat and happy.
Yup. She is the best in this business.
There really needs to be political blog award or something. They should give it to Chips, then rename the thing after her.
Thank you Chips! What a day…what a week….Thank you Chips!!!!!
Hi guys, late night again. How’s everyone doing?
Happy, emotional, thrilled. The transition to the second term is starting to hit me in different ways. I believe we are going to have our minds blown.
We did pretty good, didn’t we ? I was just watching Nate Silver on cbs election results and he predicted that with WA and OR coming in (they are delayed because of counting of postal ballots), PBO could even get up to +5 PV. Woohoo.
What I love is that all the idiotic talking points about PBO not having a mandate have been obliterated. They are impotent whiners who have lost BIG TIME. They have been REJECTED. So what I expect from them in very near future is a lot of macho overcompensating and foolish posturing because they are HUMILIATED once again. They refuse to confront their own truth. They are irrelevant and we are going to remind them of this every chance we get.
I think you may be right. And based on the action I saw on twitter today (many tweets demanding Boehner work with President Obama and do the job for the people that they were hired to do), I think people are prepared to be more active in support of the President, and applying pressure to Congress to act.
PBO is in many ways liberated from a lot of baggage. He doesn’t have to prove himself and he doesn’t have to pretend to suffer any of these fools. But I do believe he wants to honor the hard work of all of his volunteers and the people who voted their faith in him. We saw that in his voice and in his tears today. So what I expect of him going forward is to reach for the highest having and engage us to work in support of even more historic gains for our people and the long-term good of our country. He will be able to express his brilliance unfettered by the noise of both the RW and the press.
I like the sounds of that, meta! And he’ll have MORE of the country behind him this time, I’m thinkin’. In any event, we’ll march forward with him.
Again, I’m reminded of “If” by ol’ Rudyard Kipling, especially this first line, which I dedicate to our President:
“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you … ”
And he did, and he does, and he will! Joey, too!
“If” is perfect for President Obama. Describes him perfectly!
“If” by Rudyard Kipling is one of the best poems of all time.
I concur.
I totally agree with y’all. Used to have it framed for my son’s bedroom, when he was a young guy. (He’s a grandpa now! I must be old!)
I received Rudyard Kipling `If` poem from my mother back in 1980 when I graduated from college and it really changed my approach to life. Of all the gifts I received on graduation day, that Rudyard Kipling poem was the absolute best.
Love that story. I gave my niece The Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost, when she got her college degree, eons ago, and she still has it in a frame on her desk. Good words for those “crossroads” moments in life.
I am of the sand mind also I am wallowing in glory will come back to earth soon. Next week.
I haven’t come down from the “re-election” high.
Great pics Chips, thks.
Ok, in the last thread I recommended Young the Giant for your listening pleasure. Now I’m recommending Mumford & Sons. Great way to spend a couple of peaceful hours.
And Chips, I have a post percolating in my brainpan about the emotions of the past 2 days. I might want to post it both here and at TPV. You rock, lass.
You rock yerself mister, love ya:
That was great! But, I’m still squinting at all the straw flying into their faces. Great band.
Mumford and Sons are one of the truest bands in the world. Truest in the form that their music has so much meaning and depth. If you (and anyone on TOD) haven’t heard their songs called “White Blank Page” and “Liar” you MUST. The first time I heard both those songs, they brought to my knees with their truth. They are bloody brilliant!
Just watched the video of the President at his headquarters….thanks Chips for posting the entire clip. What I know from this clip, is that we shall never see his likes again. He is unique, he is a once in history person…..I just am so BLESSED to be living in the age of Obama..
Yes, I’m crying as I write this, tears of absolute joy that he is once again our leader. I have total confidence in him, and now, I have regained confidence in the American people, and that is a wonderful thing.
Thank you, President Obama. Like many of you, I am going to write him to express my feelings.
Carolyn – many of us shed tears watching that video, because we’ve likely never seen a “politician” who actually believes that he’s working for the people who elected him, and he takes that responsibility so seriously and cares so profoundly. He also believes in leaving the next generation more equipped than he found them, and you could see that he really appreciated those who worked themselves ragged to give him the opportunity to do good. It just makes every phone call, every weekend on a street corner, every dollar donated seem like such an investment well made for the future of this country and the chance for this awesome man to fulfill his potential and his destiny.
5 times, still crying. I almost can’t handle this video. This man is too much and I hate him more and more.
BWD – if we’re like this now, what’s going to happen to us in 2016?
Terrible, terrible thought.
Let’s not think about it yet. I shiver at the thought and start hyperventilating.
BWD we’re all are gonna really really really really really miss him, Michelle and the girls.
Yes, blackwater, he was definitely emotional and crying in this video. Made me cry as well. He’s got a very soft heart, and I know his Michelle is helping him so much to handle all that he has been through. What a support team he has behind him!
LOL PBO and BC pic
It will take many showers to wash the stench of that creep off for good.
so true. i had been looking forward to never having to see his photo, hear his voice, or see his name in print. thought the election would be the end of that. i know, i’m impatient and it’s just been 2 days, but still—-the stench!!!
by the way, when you type ‘the stench’ into google, this article comes up second, after some band (whose members obviously like to see their mothers cry):
‘ “I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him,” Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, told The New York Times on Sunday. ‘
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81618.html#ixzz2BhXsnnoc
Unbelievable!!!!! He could have given his staff a bonus out of his Cayman Island funds and not missed it at all. He is a greedy cheap piece of crap.
wow. finally caught up with you guys. /pant pant pant pant pant -
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(nite TOD thanks again Chips!)
Seriously alice, the woman is a machine. No one can keep up with Chips. I’ve resigned myself to just relaxing and rolling with the tide.
I know, right? bah ha
You should watch the vid. Hilarious. The whole set was laughing at the wingnutz. Watch the end where he stresses the name of place in canada where nutjobs would eventually land up.
hahaha, yer funny amk…dammit, we got enuff dimwit wing nut, bible thumping assholes up here in Canada, we don’t need anymore.
But seriously, if Canada was a part of the U.S. Our wingnut provinces would be Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba…these provinces line up on the map of North America with all the red states of the U.S. Go figure.
And they are the most ugly provinces in Canada. Prairie’s galore.
Mind you, we aren’t quite as right wing concervatives here as the new republicans/tea partier’s as the U.S. have.
Hey there, easy now, Albertan here. Not denying rednecks,bible thumpers BUT they’re not in your face like the US or as rabid. My province is beautiful, and yes there are prairies. To the east yes prairies, South towards Montana! Prairies, Lakes.
To he North, OIL, and lakes, prairies, pristine land. To the West, mountains , lakes. So you see, not at all ugly.
Yeah, I’m sorry smoothscotch. Southern Alberta is beautiful. And I agree, our bible thumpers are not in your face here in Canada like the U.S. republicans. I think the worst we deal with in Canada are Jehovah Witness’s and Mormon”s. You can be sure when the door bell rings it’s going to be one or the other of these cults trying to tell you some kind of unbelievable shit that just makes you want to throw the door in their face. Pretty much the rest of the religions keep to themselves.
No worries my friend, must admit we were known to be redneck country, city is very multi-cultural now. 2010 elected a non white as mayor, very popular. Who woulda thunk it, shocked the hell out of some people here though. Of note were the young people who were all in. The world is changing and those who do not accept and learn to live with these Changes better go find a cave.
THIS. You want change, then fucking vote every time and every level of election.
I just spent a whole half hour trying to compose a whole thesis on how genius Chips’ horse picture and the symbolism in it, when I freaking hit a wrong button and lost everything gottdamm thing I typed (expletive deleted, then re-inserted):
The plan was to rattle on in a pseudo-intellectual drively tone about:
- the blue line to the left of the subjects representing “the way forward” and the left-leaning politics of the incoming President
- the barren gray to the right of the center line symbolizing the failed policies of the previous administration taking the country backward
- the rider representing on of America’s First Nations recalling PBO’s adoption by the Crow Nation during 2008 campaign
- prominent blue color in the horse blanket connecting rider and horse
- literary symbolsm that horse represents beauty, grace, nobility, strength, & freedom
- two laborers, civil servants, foundation of the middle class, working together, providing necessary work in service to the community
- recycling the natural material – maybe for a composte heap or to fertilize the WH garden
- the white shovel …
- the angle from above the subjects…
Oh blah, blah, blah – fuck it… I was gonna finish it off with a poop joke, but I can’t fucking remember my punch line.
The picture was funny, okay? Well done Chips. Glad you got kudos from your idol. Now can I have a prize or something? I’m exhausted!
i’m laughing so hard here!!! blahblahblah fuckit can’t remember the punch line of my poop joke! just beeeoooootiful till that part.
He’s a true renaissance man.
Gay men don’t threaten his manhood yet he’ll go toe to toe when dealing with those who wish to do him harm or worse to cause pain to the weakest amongst us (see bin laden and BP ‘shakedown’ et al).
Doesn’t like foo foo dog names or little ‘yappy dogs’ (his quote) but is sweet and gentle with his over sized family dog. Will tell you when you are wrong but doesn’t belittle you just to build himself up.
He’s probably the biggest jock pres I’ve seen, jive talking on the court yet coaches his daughters’ teams. He knows the power he wields as leader -not just of the free world but of the greatest military on earth- yet uses that power not for material gain but to protect the masses FROM genocide.
While everyone defers to him, he makes sure all voices are heard from the highest brass to the guy who carries the suitcases. He can walk with world leaders yet take the time to acknowledge the door man.
We praise him for his great achievements and he thanks us with his tears for being the force that makes it all happen. We marvel at how far he’s come and he expresses faith in our potential.
Time and again he’s shown he has a spine of steel yet he’s not afraid to shed a tear for our common humanity.
He sees people.
He. Is. An. Incredible. Human. Being.
Bravo!
The Renaissance President — I like that!!
The REAL Most Interesting Man In The World!
Bravo x2 !! PBO is indeed the best.
“We praise him for his great achievements and he thanks us with his tears for being the force that makes it all happen. We marvel at how far he’s come and he expresses faith in our potential.” Favorite lines. I can’t wait to read all the books that are going to be written abou him.
Does anyone know what percentage of the military voted for PBO? I am just curious. I haven’t seen it anywhere.
huh–just checked votevets and they haven’t updated their site since the election. i know that wasn’t your question, but interesting to see how vets voted, as well as active duty.
I was wondering the same thing yesterday…would love to know this.
So far from opponents and supporters (not here), I have heard Mitt lost because he screwed up, he wasn’t moderate enough, he wasn’t extreme enough, Obama had the ground game, demographics, Hurricane Sandy, great team, lots of different things. What I haven’t heard enough people say is Barack Obama won because of Barack Obama. it seems that even liberal commentators don’t think to actually credit the man himself. Why did he have such a good ground game? Because he built a strong team, listened to all ideas and chose the best, because he is incredibly intelligent, because he has spent his life analyzing and refining his core beliefs and basing his actions and decisions on them. Because he has integrity, and values all people. Because he came to this job, not for what he could get out of it, but for the opportunity to serve his country. And because he spoke to the country of values that Americans believe in. He presented a vision of the America we want to live in. Because his character shows through in his love for his children and his glowing love and respect for the strong woman who is his wife, his respect for veterans, his fight for the middle-class, It shows when he holds a baby so tenderly, squats down to look a child in the eyes, even his treatment of his enemies in Congress. You see it in the faces of the people at the rallies, and in the devotion of his campaign team, and his gratitude for all the worker bees willing to devote countless hours to calling, knocking, and tabulating. Without this innate decency, the demographics and the conservative blunders would not have mattered. This is where the Republican Party went wrong – they judged him by their own standards and so could not and can not still conceive of a man of principle. But I think some liberals may also be missing the point. This is the man Dr. King saw who would be judged, not by the color of his skin (or the strength of his ground game, or the stupidity of his enemies), but by the content of his character. (Sorry, this is long and a bit of a rant. This definitely does NOT apply to anyone at this site!)
Excellent post maryl. It’s what his pollster said too.
Thanks, AMK. I feel so strongly that many people on either side are not looking past the statistics to the man. I realize that’s probably not true, but I wish more people would put him at the center of their commentary, and not sound as if just any could have been the candidate and all the other forces would have worked their magic.
This is beautiful and eloquent, Mary. You are so right. Wow! History will record who this man was, and with our help, it will be recorded accurately.
“This is the man Dr. King saw who would be judged, not by the color of his skin (or the strength of his ground game, or the stupidity of his enemies), but by the content of his character”.
Absolutely wonderful comment, Mary.
Thank you Mary, this needs to be told to everyone who asks, why do you support or voted for President Obama. He ran because he saw up close as a community organizer so many forgotten americans who worked hard and lost their jobs, their health insurance, kids in poor neighborhoods with substandard schools, he wants to change all this or at least start the ground work to make this country great after 30 years of trickle down that is never designed to birng the folks up at the bottom.
Beautiful and true comment. Thank you.
And Limbaugh.
and rasmussen polling.
and Gallup polling.
No one will respect Gallup any more, not like they use too.
Of course. The main culprit.
I swear, if Adolph HItler was running for president in a republican party, these idiots would vote for him. So many un-educated red state nut jobs .
If Jesus Christ ran as a Democrat and the Devil ran as a republican, the republican party would vote against Jesus Christ.
also too, your tailor and the person who cuts your hair.
and grover norquist
Indeed.
WOW!!!
Figures.
This is very telling but no surprise. Randi Rhodes has been talking about the south on her show and how they vote against their interest.
Great chart. Thanks. It tells a great deal about the blue / red divide in our country.
Don’t see PA there…not surprised at this graph!
Is it any wonder that all the worst educated except for one, Nevada, voted for Mitt Romney. The South.
If you look at the donors to both the camps, the PBO supporters put their money where their mouth is and raised millions for him, while the wingnutz let their sugar daddies bankroll mittbot. So who are the real moochers and freeloaders ?
And when it came to the real hard work on the ground, it’s not even worth comparing. Yet the wingnutz whine incessantly about hard work, taking responsibility, blah, blah. Fucking hypocrites.
You are so spot on!
absolutely correct!
The top 10 best and worst educated states, and how they voted.
http://t.co/Ud8jYhXl
It seems like Virgina is becoming more and and more blue and will be less red as time goes on. Even though I am not from Virgina, from Washington State it kinda makes me happy at the ideal that NOT all Southern States are completely lost.
Oh, I expect both AZ and TX to flip in the next few years. Just a question of demographics and the dems playing it smartly there. And FL will go full wingnut.
FL will not be allowed to participate in anymore elections…..we really no longer need them since they can’t count anyway.
I wanna see GA go back blue too. It can be done. It was blue when I moved here, we can flip it back.
Might even be soon, since there’s now a Rethug super majority in State House. They’ll screw up the State and then get summarily kicked in their keisters in the next election.
Shows what you know, and not much. Why you so hateful towards FL? You might say that I am thin skinned. Dang gon right I am.
Because folk did not vote in 2010 and we have a criminal for a governor who won by a very narrow margin against Alex Sink; don’t lump us all together.
The Southern States are not totally to blame. The last time I looked at a map there are some States out west as well.
Folk vote with what is in their heart. President Obama is the greatest organizer in the world and he is telling the people put away your hate to help yourself. Folk still believing nonsense about people who do not look like them. If they continue to live in a hole, soon they will suffocate in that hole.
In Blue States, there is enough rightful thinking people to overcome the others. Every vote for President Obama is the right vote and thank God there were more than enough to give him a second term. Thank God President Obama still believed in the people in FL. We might have been late with the count, but we came through. He is for every AMERICAN.. The ones who voted for him and especially the ones who did not vote for him.
We have to vote every election. When we don’t vote we allow other people to make decisions for us.
Cut out the nonsense and stop feeling smug about where people live. The election is over until the next time. We Won. Stop rehashing, shoulda, coulda, woulda. Thank you.
One interesting item: One reason the Republicans thought the polls were skewed by more Democratic voters – people who formerly identified as Republicans were self-identifying as Independents. So the reason Republicans were “undercounted” was because there were actual fewer people identifying as Republicans!
Yes. Of all the Republicans I know, none of them wanted to acknowledge their, in many cases long-time, affiliation with the GOP. That’s how bad it’s getting and I assure you several of the folk I’m referencing are very wealthy.
Dear TOD friends,
No President (on any other political leader) has had nearly 23 million, instantly and constantly connected and communicating, passionately supportive individuals committed to improving the quality of life for everyone. President Obama does.
It is essential we all do what we can to encourage and support the leaders of the BarackObama/OFA to coordinate closely with us to become an ever more potent force. The lobbyist on K Street pale in comparison to our power.
#TrustBarack
Yes We Did
Did I miss Florida decision?
Sounds like the Professional Whiny Left ended up doing us a favor; they convinced Republicans that we were disaffected and wouldn’t turn out to vote.
Silver lining
Before getting a bit of rest, wanted to send President Obama a letter and express to him my appreciation for how profoundly kind and good a person he is. So, made some adaptations of a comment shared with all of you earlier today.
Dear President Obama,
When I read Adam Gopnik’s article in The New Yorker, earlier today it was like, that’s not Barack Obama, that’s not the person, that’s not the President I’ve ever seen or heard.
When listening to you over all these years, I hear not just the words, the phrases, but I hear the modulations in your voice, and a deeply passionate, caring person always emerges. Maybe that’s just me, and that’s fine. I’ve been wrong about a lot of stuff in my life.
But, the reason why I’m writing to you is the temporal juxtaposition of that article and the video of you with your team in Chicago that appeared on YouTube within hours, today.
The person in that video is the Barack Obama that hugged a maligned Harvard Professor and has exhibited so many profound emotions, and most importantly, has placed himself in profoundly emotional settings – settings that Bush and Cheney avoided like the plague and would not allow Americans to see (e.g., our fallen returning home for the last time at Dover AFB).
Those tears streaming down the left side of your face in Iowa on Monday, those were the real deal, the only Barack Obama I’ve had the privilege to inhabit this planet at the same time.
So, just because someone is capable of being calm when faced with enormous challenges doesn’t mean they are any less passionate, doesn’t mean they live in some alternate reality, doesn’t mean they do not comprehend how divided America is, not just in its politics but in its core values.
At least from my perspective, it means that they have the strength of character and burning commitment to LEAD, to place themselves at the front, take the hits, absorb the disappointments, and never whine. That’s not being ‘cool,’ detached, removed, whatever. That’s just being a expansively compassionate, marvelous Leader.
The Barack Obama in that video is the only Barack Obama I’ve ever heard, or seen.
Just wanted you to know that, Mr. President.
Will continue to be shoulder to shoulder with you as we build a better America, Together.
#FORWARD,
Bob
———
Until tomorrow ….
#TrustBarack
Yes We Did
Beautiful. There have been some profoundly beautiful things written on this blog in the past two days that top even the best of the last few years. It is worth reading them all.
Beautiful words!
Our President recognizes that the people are counting on him to make it right. He knows that we trust him,love him and are confident in his ablilities to lead us to higher heights. He was so moved that we supported him in his re-election.
Thanks Bob.
Powerful!
A Florida exit poll showed that Cuban Americans went for President Obama by 49 percent to 47 percent.
Amazing!
The younger Cuban-American is trending blue.
That is just wow! Team Obama is a dynamo.
An amazing comment from “Randy” that I feel compelled to share here – I hope he doesn’t mind me copying it over here:
Randy Abraham posted a comment in Obama Cries As He Thanks Campaign Staff After Victory (VIDEO) · 8 hours ago
Through his accomplishments and his example, this man has already left his mark as one of the great American presidents, and he will leave a legacy that will last throughout this nation’s history. When I remember the massive crowds he drew, the reception he received by world leaders when he was first elected president, and all the children who get up in their Sunday finest when the President pays a visit to their school, I begin to see the impact he will have on generations of people, as a gentle, caring, brilliant and determined man who sought to fulfill the promise of America, widen the circle of opportunity for all people, keep hope alive among the disaffected and downtrodden, inspire others to work for meaningful and lasting change, and truly help form a “more perfect union.”
In this time of enormous crisis in this nation, and this world, we are extremely fortunate that this man chose to put himself in the breach, and to be a champion against the spirit of cynicism, hopelessness and despair, and to withstand the pettiness, the unthinking opposition, and the virulent hatred of his detractors and opponents with such grace and good will as he set about to repair a nation whose soul had been broken.
In the coming years, we will see statues erected in his likeness, streets and government buildings named after him, and I envision 100,000 children around the world being named “Barack Obama” in the next generation, but I want to remember him like this — as a man of modest background and generous spirit who, despite the immense power and authority of his office and the historic nature of his mission, could be vulnerable enough to be moved to tears of humility, gratitude and affection for those who saw in him what we all see.
In the tempestuous rush of time, it is easy for us to sometimes miss those small fleeting moments — full of clarity and awesome in their beauty and unnameable stillness — when we suddenly understand what it means to be here on this earth if for a fleeting instant, to dare to burn brightly with a passion to leave behind a world better than the one you found, and be alive in, and to share in, the uplifting and exhilarating possibilities of what could yet be amid this constant, titanic struggle between chaos and community.
To share a laugh and a tear is the only way to communicate that moment for one man who, ultimately, faces an almost impossible task before him, and who faces it essentially alone.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-cries-as-he-thanks-campaign-staff-after
“I want to remember him like this — as a man of modest background and generous spirit who, despite the immense power and authority of his office and the historic nature of his mission, could be vulnerable enough to be moved to tears of humility, gratitude and affection for those who saw in him what we all see.” Beautiful. Thank you.
yes it is …brings me to tears as well…what an awesome commentary to the man known as Barack Obama….Our President….i love him so…
that is great. I take that with me today.
Thank you for this. What a wonderful comment to read today.
Yes, am so glad I saw it as I usually avoid the comments on blogs. Randy is a beautiful thinker and writer, so eloquent…
States prepare for healthcare law-
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/health/states-face-tight-health-care-deadlines.html?hp&_r=0
Can’t say it enough. I am so thankful for The Obama Diary. Ms Chips I don’t know how you do it, but I am so thankful that you do. Excellent job. Well done.
Wish I could watch these videos, but most of them don´t work for me here because of some rights reserved on the background music
Have a quick minute this morning before heading out to work and just have to comment on all the wonderful comments, articles and blogs on the ethernets thanking, praising and highlighting the achievements of this incredible President.
What has struck me is how most of these reference his character and moral compass. How many express their support in passionate terms.
This president is loved. And loved the world over.
We dodged a bullet with this election folks. We would never hear these comments or sentiments leveled at a **cough cough** president robme.
Have a great day all. May the force be with you!
Great comment Lunarsea. I am proud of our President and I am proud to be a supporter. If Robme had won I was seriously looking to leave the country!
Dear Chips, Congratulations!!
And thank you for this oasis.
Dear TOD family, thank you. We did it. Our president is the epitome of humanity and humility. I am so very blessed and privileged to have been a part of this most amazing piece of history.
Even in the confines of my car, when I am all alone, I find myself talking out loud about the marvel that is President Barack Hussein Obama. Just amazing.
In a statement provided to the Louisville Courier-Journal on Thursday, actress Ashley Judd did not rule out a potential challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in 2014. Speculation is rife that Judd, a Kentucky native, could be the Democratic nominee against the vulnerable Minority Leader.
Let’s twitter bomb her.
Oh if she has a chance I pray she will run. Mitch McConnell need to go, where I don’t give a darn, but out of the Senate. McConnell is a disgrace. Haven’t heard a word from that I haven’t got over you kicking my ass in 08 John McCain, since the election. Hope he is okay.
AWsomeeeeeeeee
RT’d, Replied and Faved!!
PBO’s popular lead is now over 3M votes. FL still counting ballots.
Yup. And still about 1.8 to 2 mil votes in CA/WA/OR yet to be counted as per google election map
And this piece sez that mittbot has already conceded FL.
http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/12609/20121108/florida-election-results-2012-mitt-romney-concedes.htm
Yes, that’s still a lot of votes – most of which PBO is expected to get!!
How long will Florida be counting, till 2016.? Or that sorry Governor try to fix the vote count for Mitt.
PBO still ahead by 0.6%, 3 counties still counting absentee ballots. They have to get it done by tomorrow anyway and didn’t the Romney campaign concede Florida yesterday?
They must know where the absentees are coming from, because .5% will trigger a recount.
Heh. We won the Cuban-American vote for the first time in over 50 years.
Well, although they STILL haven’t finished counting the ballots, some good things have happened in Florida this election:
Bloomberg: Florida’s Scott, Not on Ballot, Still Suffers Setback
President Barack Obama is poised to become the first Democrat in 68 years to twice win the state, which still hasn’t finished counting votes. Scott’s party lost seats in both the state House and Senate. Voters also rejected Scott’s $20 million tax cut for small businesses and a constitutional amendment that would have made it tougher to implement Obama’s health-care overhaul.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-09/florida-s-scott-not-on-ballot-still-suffers-setback.html
One of the biggest ratfuckery by floridians was electing that fraudster felon in 2010 as their govnor. And this season, they gave the white guy for senate a 7 point margin while barely electing the black guy from the same party and that too with an opponent team that was intending to ratfuck them royally in medicare & ss. Fuck’em. Dems would be better off trying to convert TX and AZ blue given the changing demographics there.
Here’s a letter from President Obama’s sister Maya –
Dear friends, it has been an incredible journey. When we learned that the American people elected my brother for a second term, I hugged him. I wept with joy. I was filled with peace. I was humbled by the work of so many people across the country. I am not naive about the challenges we face as a nation nor am I naive about the easiness of cynicism’s appeal But I feel very hopeful about the future.
Mahalo and love to everyone. ~ Maya Soetoro-Ng
Beautiful!
She’s such a gracious soul.
Thank YOU Maya for being so supportive of your brother and for being an essential part of his efforts in moving this country forward!
I just love the President and his whole family!!!
I knew it. Every day since election day, Fl. officials say they will have the final vote results “tomorrow”. But tomorrow never comes. Yesterday when they said they would finally have the results tomorrow, I didn’t believe it. And I was right. Today, yesterday’s tomorrow, they say they will have the final tally “tomorrow”.
What a dysfunctional state. The total Repub rule there has made the state “a laughingstock” as even their newspapers are calling it. That PBO was able to pull out 2 successive wins there is pretty amazing, in light of all the voter suppression efforts and partisan political shenanigans there.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article1260665.ece
I believe they have to report by Saturday. So it will be Saturday at the last possible moment.
Goooooood Morning MsChipsssssss…GM everyonee….
Today the President will speak to the nation about his economic vision and the way Forward ….i am very excited ….it is my sincere hope that the structure for change that the President has built is not dismantled..because as the President says…we still have a lot of work to do….
i know that here in PA we won a victory over the Voter ID law…but it is still on the books and will be in effect for future elections…Nothing has changed…. there will still be citizens who will be disenfranchised…
in addition there is a move to privatize the schools here in Philadelphia..
The Struggle Continuessssssss>>>>>>
Mark Knoller just tweeted Boehner has “beaten the President to the punch” by speaking before PBO at 11:15.
it matters not….who speaks first,,,it is about the content…The President will lay out a plan…
but let me ask you….there are some that think that PBO should not negotiate and allow everything to expire….how do you think that will go over with the American people….another question…the President said that one of the lessons that he learned was that you have to tell the American people a story about what is happening…. to talk to them about what needs to happen…do you think that means that PBO will be on the road more,,,holding rallies…Press conferences and the like…
I think that PBO will try to make a deal and if that doesn’t happen yes, he will let everything expire. They can still get this done by sometime in January and things will be retroactive. I think that PBO will try to mobilize the American ppl and the deal he makes will be based on how we respond.
Yes…i agree with you…Thinking back to his comment about things changing from the outside….i took that to mean …taking it to the citizens …to the people…one other thing,,,symmetry it will be huge in 2014 when the insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to adults for pre-existing conditions…perhaps this will change the minds of many repubs
Then their is that thing about leverage. The president loses his leverage if he let’s it all run out.
Especially with the debt ceiling and funding the government running out in march, it negligee the president to get this done now, while he has the leverage.
Not to mention, wall street will go into negative GDP growth. Because they love their tax cuts.
It’s more complicated than the left imagines!
It is not complicated and he will not lose leverage.
Prettyfoot, I think he can let them expire and actually gain some political capital since that is what 60% of the electorate wants. That is what he campaigned on and would be just the thing to keep everyone fired up and engaged.
i don’t know what universe you are operating from, but Wall St. does not control the narrative. PBO is in charge of the facts. And won the election over the wealthy paying the taxes. The President is in the driver’s seat. When the tax cuts expire, the GOP will be exposed for holding the middle class hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy.
The debt ceiling, if the House tries the hostage crap again…..pres Obama will use the 14 amendment, section 4 (I hope I got that right) to over pass them and have them challenge him constitutionally. He will Not do the song and dance of 2011. It Not only cost him personally……It was very costly to the USA.
that’s the opposite of a lot of people’s thinking: he will have more leverage if we ‘reset’ to before the Bush era tax cuts. Sure, it’s perilous but it’s more perilous for Repubs than for us. Besides, we’d have a much upgraded Senate in quality and numbers, and a slightly smaller House majority of idiots.
Exactly….. and what’s more when the law expires, it takes a majority agreement between both houses of Congres and the President to enact a new tax law. And guess what, Repugs only have the House. And they will have the choice to enact a tax cut for middle class or nothing. End of story.
That was really well stated, Bill R. Thanks.