[More chess pieces being revealed, follow-up to my comments in yesterday's threads. PBO knows what he's doing.]:
Israel on Friday announced that it will build 3,000 new settler homes including in a sensitive zone of East Jerusalem, a day after the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to upgrade Palestine’s status in the world body.
[....] “Revenge time,” Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn wrote on Twitter, explaining that in the Israeli leadership’s view, the Obama administration apparently did not do enough to dissuade Europe from voting for the Palestinian UN measure. So, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting settlement building in “E1, the most controversial settlement project.”
[....] “Make no mistake – building in E1 would do more than punish the Palestinians,” liberal J Street wrote on Twitter . “It would devastate prospects for a 2-state solution.”
Just Nutinyahoo w/ obvious ODS! Unfortunately, “revenge time” is as common there as sneezing and folks are caught up in it’s midst. The whole shit stinks!
“Netanyahu also announced Friday that he would travel to Germany, to express unhappiness with Germany’s decision to abstain on the UN vote, rather than vote against it.”
[Why not include UK and Australia in his hissy tour?]:
In the final vote tally, 138 nations voted in favor of upgrading Palestine’s status at the UN to that of a non-member observer state, a status shared with the Vatican; 41 nations abstained, including the UK, Germany, and Australia; while only 9 nations voted against the measure. They were the United States, Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Panama.
As I mentioned on my post yesterday the UN vote gives the Left Bank Palestinians—-not the rocket-launching Hamas of Gaza—-the LB Fatah the right to protest in the Un International Criminal Court.
Israel’s right wing Likud Netanyahoo government is furious that their expansion policies will have to face a challenge.
And on a happier note, PBO looks younger and more refreshed this morning. Ah Victory!
Netanyahu reminds me so much of the Tea Party folks in Congress. Same delusion, same immaturity, same inability to deal with a changing world. It’s dangerous to have such people in power. I’m sure President Obama and his team are working hard behind the scenes but they’re not miracle workers. The Israeli people will have to recognize that they need another kind of leader.
I agree LP2008. Greed drives them both (teaParty/Likud) and they use fear to manipulate credulous people.America has wised up and sooner or later Israel will, too.
I agree with you, but feel that there is a big difference between the Tea Partyists and the Israelis (many of them). The Tea Party people are furious and fearful of a completely imaginary enemy. The people of Israel have been the targets of extermination within living memory and are surrounded by countries who want them gone. I am not nearly an expert in this area. I realize the roots of this go back at least to the state of Israel being established by colonial powers after the war. There is resentment, fear and bad actions on both sides, and peace will probably only come when both parties draw a line through the past and start over maybe along the lines of South Africa. This is not an “Israel can do no wrong” argument. I just think that in comparison to the extremists in our country, they have actual very recent history of an existential threat.
Maryl1—I don’t think we have a disagreement.
Israel’s enemy is real and terrible. Tea Party’s is imaginary.
What is similar is the set of political techniques used by our RW and the Israeli RW.
I would never minimize Israel’s danger and their need to protect themselves. That is different from wanting Israel to be able to smother any voice but theirs.
Netanyahu wants to be reelected in January. He needs the hardliner votes. He already gave in with the cease fire. The vote last night doesn´t let him look good either. So he has to show strength….and for Abbas it´s politics as well… he needed a success because he didn´t have anything to do with all these cease fire negotiations..that was done by Mursi and Hamas . So I thought a lot about this topic last night…in the end: Obama is just right. There is no shortcut to peace. They need bilateral negotiations ..and of course palestinians have to recognise Israel. I hope (though probably unrealistic) that Netanyahu looses the election, because I think with these two old man – Netanyahu and Abbas – you will never get two States … and in fact, that (two States) is what the whole world wants – including Obama of course. This UN vote hurts more than it helps. … And another aspect: (my opinion) no US President can ever afford to step away only a little bit from Israel´s side, because then there might be missiles coming directly from Iran. And Iran´s (and Hamas´) declared goal is to extinguish Israel. So this is all not very encouriging, but I´m completely fine with Obamas decision in the UN. Not only because I trust him….which I do of course 100 %.
“Bladder surgery went well. Used breathing tube for two and a half hours as lungs were troubling me. Home for 2 days now and feel sick as a dog. Enough strength to log on to say I am okay. Will go back to bed now … thank everyone for me … Talk to you when I feel stronger. I send my love and thanks to everyone, Fred”
Look after yourself Fred, hoping you get your strength back very soon.
Thank you for the up date Chips. You are always so thoughtful – it’s lovely. For Fred – happy to hear the good news. take care and look forward to seeing you post again soon. Thinking of you.
You’re welcome Cluny, it was wonderful to hear from Fred. It sounds like she’s still going through a rough time, but it’s such a relief the surgery went well.
Wonderful news, Chips about Fred. Oh, my heart is playing a full score of “Thank You, Thank You, Sweet Energies of Goodness.”
We will continue to lift Fred up to the “healing powers that be” which will give Fred all that is needed for a wonderful recovery. My heart will still sing with thanksgiving for this report.
Take good care of yourself, Fred, and (((((((((((((( We Love You, Fred)))))))))))))))HZ
It is turning out to be such. The witch hunt against Amb. Rice has been extreme to say the least. They haven’t stopped at Benghazi, they’ve gone after her character in a despicable manner.
I hope that poor man gets into a shelter soon. It is very cold in NYC. And I also hope when he is sleeping someone doesn’t take his socks and boots off. I see them sleeping with their shoes being used as pillows. The rationale is that if someone tries to take them they will wake up. What a hard road to travel for these folks. I wish I could help them all. God bless the officer though. Kudos to his parents for raisiing a super human being.
#GroverIsOver And, Any elected official who takes a Pledge other than their Oath of Office should be subjected to immediate censure. @dccc— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 30, 2012
The Israeli Right thinks it has a trump card in the American Israel lobby. And its strongest supporters in that lobby are, oddly or not, right-wing Christian evangelicals. Unfortunately for Israeli Jews, Christian Zionists aren’t so because of a sincere belief in the right of Jews to have their own state after 2,000 years of Christian persecution. No. The creation of the State of Israel is just another eschatological milestone on the journey to the Second Coming. They would like to see nothing less than a radical Israeli government demolish the Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount and build the Third Jewish Temple; at that point Jesus would return in power and glory, and Jews would either accept him as Messiah, or be cast into hell with most of the rest of humanity. These “friends of Israel” would precipitate a global catastrophe in pursuit of their religious aims. Of course Jesus won’t return; but, more importantly, the world would very well be a wasteland.
Brilliant. I know this American Christian evangelical mindset very well. They know nothing about history or reason. All they know about is what some twisted, nutty radical like John Hagee or Pat Robertson tells them. Religious fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.
To clarify: I should have inserted the phrase “end-time preoccupied” before the word evangelical. I painted with too broad a brush. I know lots of wonderful evangelicals who are not obsessed with the fantastical scenarios presented in works like “Left Behind” or “Late Great Planet Earth” by hucksters like Tim LaHaye.
I don’t think they even know the Bible well, because I have not read a part that says we have to help bring about Armgeddon. I think God can probably do that on his own if he wants to. It seems like they have a lack of faith in God’s ability to carry out his own plan without their meddling.
President Obama has stated forcefully that he has Israel’s back; Obama went out and negotiated a cease fire between Israel and Palestine. President Obama also voted the same way with Israel regarding Statehood for Palestine. But now Netanyahu is going to Europe to stir up trouble and once again President Obama will pull Netanyahu’s ass out of the fire. In my opinion President Obama is giving Netanyahu just enough rope to hang himself with. At the end of the day President Obama advised Israel to abide by the 1967 boarder deal, but Netanyahu refused, now look where his ass has ended up.
Last year at this time Speaker Boehner was crowing that he got 98% of what he wanted out the debt reduction bill that President Obama was supposedly forced to sign, and Netanyahu supposedly forced President Obama into some sort of situation he didn’t want to be in. I must tell you if these actions by President Obama are supposed to convey failure I’m just not seeing it. President Obama has seem to have walked these two fools right into a trap that they can’t and don’t know how to get out of.
President Obama walked the Emoprogs into the same trap. They so desperately want to be disappointed, but can’t figure out how to be disappointed when President Obama seems to be on the winning side. Especially after all their hand-wringing and accusations of him “caving” and “being weak” when he apparently gave Boehner 98% of what he wanted in the first go-round. Some people will just never learn.
The Look of Love: There'll be a K'nex rollercoaster in the Oval Office by this evening (Hatfield, PA, Nov 30) http://t.co/SnObyFdM— The Obama Diary (@TheObamaDiary) November 30, 2012
“Folks at the Pentagon would love to see him stick around, but they also realize that he might be tapped for any number of roles in the second term. He’s on anybody’s short list for attorney general, for starters,” a senior administration official told the E-Ring. “The sky is basically the limit for someone with his experience and reputation. He’s the consummate straight shooter and everyone loves working with — and for — him. That’s not exactly a mix of skills and traits that a lot of people have in Washington these days.”
This bit is sexy too:
“He is a virtual legend in the building by now, having steered the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.”
Yes, meta and UT. He would do a great job in so many capacities. He comes from a long line of great men and women in his family. Brilliant man. He is known in beautiful circles as a beautiful soul and a brilliant mind. HZ
It’s infuriating. I can’t believe these jerks make such good money and perks, have a fleet of staff and they can’t be bothered to do anything except pose for the cameras.
Took a look & if I even thought about working those number of days in a year, I’d be unemployable. Actually counted them & it’s 126! That’s right, they’re in session ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-SIX days in 2013. 239 days vacation! They’re in session 2 days in August. Who’s a moocher now?!
Senate 2013 Calendar – 113th Congress, First Session:
Convene – 113th Congress – Thursday, January 3
Inauguration – Monday, January 21 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
February 18 – 22 State Work Period (Presidents’ Day February 18)
March 25 – April 5 State Work Period (Passover March 26-27; Good Friday March 29; Easter
March 31)
April 29 – May 3 State Work Period
May 27 – May 31 State Work Period (Memorial Day May 27)
July 1 – July 5 State Work Period (Independence Day July 4)
August 5 – September 6 State Work Period (Labor Day September 2, Rosh Hashanah
September 5-6)
Yom Kippur September 14
October 14 – October 18 State Work Period (Columbus Day October 14)
November 11 – Veterans’ Day
Target adjournment – TBD
And, if you want to go beyond FDR, you have to go back 184 years…..to Andrew Jackson(!), to find the only other Democrat to win 2 terms with over 50% of he vote!
Obama is already one of the greatest Democratic Presidents in history, and he hasn’t even started his 2nd term! Wow.
[From Steve Benen, quoting from Reuters in first 2 paragraphs]:
“Another senior Republican lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that a Democratic bill, which passed the Senate in July and would raise income taxes on families with net incomes above $250,000, could pass his chamber if it got to the floor.
“Another conservative House Republican, Representative Tim Scott, a first-term congressman, said that such a measure “could pass the House,” according to Scott’s spokesman.”
Ordinarily, Boehner’s problem is finding ways to get the House to pass a bill Obama will sign. In this case, the House is ready to pass a bill Obama would sign, but Boehner doesn’t want to bring it to the floor.
If/when push comes to shove in a few weeks, the Speaker’s position is likely to prove untenable.
Enjoyed that so much LL, especially how you placed it all in historical context.
“When the world’s three most powerful faiths declare a piece of real estate “holy”, that causes problems of a sort not found anywhere else.”
Truly, when you consider that, it’s little wonder it all seems so impossible to ‘solve’.
I always had a notion that PBO would make some form of resolution in this his ultimate foreign policy goal in his second term, it was always too tender to touch in his first term, but the players on all sides seem so extreme, I’m not sure it will be remotely possible.
And I’m not even sure the involvement of a US President in such a process, unless he confined himself to working purely behind the scenes, would even be acceptable to the Arab world, the lack of trust deepens every day. And although really only symbolic, I know, yesterday’s UN vote just made it worse.
There are, of course, huge differences between this situation and the one in Ireland, but, ultimately, it was the ‘extremists’ in Ireland who made peace possible in the end, people like Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on one side and David Trimble and Ian Paisley on the other. To me, Netanyahu is an unreconstructed Paisley, and I haven’t much hope that he’ll follow his path. We’ll see.
Thank you LL, love your writing – and I always feel way more informed after reading anything you write.
The thing about Northern Ireland is that, even though it was a terrible conflict, it didn’t have the foundational history that the Middle East does. Really, Israel-Palestine is at the foundation of both European and Arab culture. All of our myths emanate from that area. No other religions aside from the Abrahamic faiths attach so much meaning to so small an area.
I despair as well. There was and is a knot in my throat as I wrote the piece. Like I said in it, I’m fully prepared for peace to elude Obama as it has every other US president. But if anyone is going to forge a peace, it will be him.
I was reluctant even to mention Ireland, to be honest, so many make the comparison when, I think, the differences far outweigh the similiarities. The Northern Ireland conflict really had its roots in the early 1600s, when the plantation of Ulster began, which made it a fairly ancient ‘war’ – but compared to the Middle East, it was but an infant. The one lesson, I think, is that it took the moderates to kick-start the peace process in Ireland, but it needed the ‘extremists’ to complete it. But that probably holds true for most conflicts – if you leave the extremists outside the door, there’ll never be peace.
My pie in the sky sentiment would have been for a bi-national state for Jews and Arabs in Palestine.
The question is: would that have been possible in a post-war setting? Sadly, I have to admit that it would not have. And if it wouldn’t have worked then, then it certainly will not work now after 60 years of bloodshed. I would love for a bi-national state to be forged now, as it more or less has been in Northern Ireland; it won’t happen. Sacredness is exclusivist.
brilliant analysis!! And indeed I think with the Arab spring there might be more opportunities. This cease fire f.e. could only be negotiated with Egypt´s Mursi (although I don´t know yet what to think of him). Palestinians see that they have support from other countries in the region and are maybe more willing to negotiate…at least I hope…but it´s exactly described: it´s a dance on a broken glass. And if someone gets this handled …it´s Obama.
Morsi will get in line, if not he will suffer the same fate as Mubarik. Morsi tried a power grab and it blew up in his face, he quickly had to retreat. President Obama also warned Netanyahu long ago to agree to a boarder deal with Palestine and he refused, so now Netanyahu is running to Europe trying to figure out what happened at the U.N., Netanyahu has effectively run out of friends. If Netanyahu has any sense left he would call President Obama and ask him for help.
Obama and Netanyahu don´t like each other. And it´s election time in Israel. I just hope, things don´t heat up to much in te next couple of weeks. If the cease fire stays stable till after the election, maybe things can change.
I hear a lot of people here complaining about the number of days that the house is not in session, obviously you think it is easy to bounce back the next day after selling your soul and to go against everything you know is right just to push an agenda that every fiber of your being tells you not to push. These people don’t sleep at night; at best they close their eyes and sometimes pray that when they leave office that can find something to validate their lives.
Please tweet her to express your support for this action. It will force Rs effectively to vote twice against the middle class – those Rs unwilling to sign, and because I’m sure she’ll get the necessary 218 signatures, then those Rs who will vote against the bill when it comes to the floor.
Yep, I just saw the same thing Bob. I said a couple of days ago that there are Republicans ready to jump ship and sign the bill. Boehner can’t hold on much longer.
Agree, Don. And, no matter how Cantor’s power play to remove Boehner as Speaker unfolds, a sufficient number of Republicans who actually want to be re-elected in 2014, knowing full well how impotent the tea party will be by then, are likely to be cooperative with Leader Pelosi and the President during the next two years. The President holds all the cards and his actions over the past few days reveal that, in his always dignified and humorous way, he knows it.
Cantor can’t do anything now but just sit back and hope there is something left to salvage after President Obama and Nancy Pelosi get through with their remodel.
Dear @Pfeiffer44 please consider asking @BarackObama's 23.9+M Tweeps to urge Leader Pelosi to file a discharge petition on the tax cut bill.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 30, 2012
If Speaker Boehner isn’t careful, the next caucus meeting he has with his fellow Republicans will end up with him being overthrown. Already you have many Republicans chomping at the bit to sign anything President Obama puts in front of them; Speaker Boehner is on the clock.
DOE TO PLACE BATTERY HUB AT ARGONNE: The Energy Department is expected today to announce an “advanced battery hub” (plus millions of dollars) will be assigned to the Argonne National Laboratory’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research near Chicago, as well as satellite hubs in Holland and Ann Arbor, Mich. “The centers will bring university and private sector research together to develop new battery technologies that will reduce the size, weight and cost of batteries for electric cars, and ultimately commercialize new technologies to help advance the industry,” The Detroit News reports: http://bit.ly/Yb9ryr
Obama's message to GOP in PA today: We don't need to play on your turf. You need to play on ours: wapo.st/Tr8ZF2— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) November 30, 2012
While the GOP spent four years complaining about President Obama’s affinity for golf and basketball, they didn’t take note of his fierce sportsmanship. They ignored the many warnings that you can’t trash-talk President Obama, and that if you let him win after trash-talking him, he will make you pay. They ignored his warnings from many years ago that if you take advantage of his generosity, he will crush you. And now they’re going to learn the hard way.
Referencing your tweet Chips. Looks like Pres. Obama will indeed be building a roller coaster using K’nex.
Obama brought bags of K'NEX back to the White House. For Biden? Or for him to build a rollercoaster around the Oval?— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) November 30, 2012
Over 235,000 Americans have spoken out on extending middle-class tax cuts. Keep the #My2k stories coming: http://t.co/R7ZuEz8Z— The White House (@whitehouse) November 30, 2012
I’m pleased to see PBO at the K’nex factory. There were many, many, many K’nex pieces around my house in every nook and cranny. You haven’t danced until you’ve stepped barefoot on one of those little pointy edged, hard ass plastic, %^*%^**%^ torpedos.
The Supreme Court, after taking most of the day to prepare new orders, took no action Friday on the ten same-sex marriage cases now on the docket. It did agree to rule on whether taking a human gene out of the body is a process that can be patented. It also agreed to rule on legal protection for makers of generic drugs.
The next opportunity for the Court to issue orders will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Nothing has ruled out the possibility that some actions on same-sex marriage could be announced at that time, although there is no indation that that will occur. It may be that the Court needs more time to decide what it wants to do next on any of the cases.
please be for real
?
I get excited when I think I may be first…:)
NICE!! Thanks Ms. Chips! I like the lighter suits now that his hair is graying….makes him look so “distinguished”
Lighter suit…darker suit…swim suit… birthday suit…I’m not proud. I’ll take PBO anyway I can get him!
I chuckle whenever I see Pres. Obama in this suit.
It’s for real — you’re first. Congrats!
Congrats, Robin!
seems my luck is good when I check during lunch!….can’t wait to hear our President!
Nice picture Robin! Very calming for this Friday Chips!
Looking forward to seeing my President in action outside of D.C. today. Can’t wait!
[More chess pieces being revealed, follow-up to my comments in yesterday's threads. PBO knows what he's doing.]:
Israel on Friday announced that it will build 3,000 new settler homes including in a sensitive zone of East Jerusalem, a day after the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to upgrade Palestine’s status in the world body.
[....] “Revenge time,” Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn wrote on Twitter, explaining that in the Israeli leadership’s view, the Obama administration apparently did not do enough to dissuade Europe from voting for the Palestinian UN measure. So, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting settlement building in “E1, the most controversial settlement project.”
[....] “Make no mistake – building in E1 would do more than punish the Palestinians,” liberal J Street wrote on Twitter . “It would devastate prospects for a 2-state solution.”
Lots more here: http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/11/3342/israel-rattled-by-un-vote-announces-new-settlement-building/#more-3342
“Revenge time.” Oh really? Seems like Obama Derangement Syndrome has no borders.
Just Nutinyahoo w/ obvious ODS! Unfortunately, “revenge time” is as common there as sneezing and folks are caught up in it’s midst. The whole shit stinks!
[Dood has a syndrome!]:
“Netanyahu also announced Friday that he would travel to Germany, to express unhappiness with Germany’s decision to abstain on the UN vote, rather than vote against it.”
[Why not include UK and Australia in his hissy tour?]:
In the final vote tally, 138 nations voted in favor of upgrading Palestine’s status at the UN to that of a non-member observer state, a status shared with the Vatican; 41 nations abstained, including the UK, Germany, and Australia; while only 9 nations voted against the measure. They were the United States, Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Panama.
http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/11/3342/israel-rattled-by-un-vote-announces-new-settlement-building/#more-3342
Read more: http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/11/3342/israel-rattled-by-un-vote-announces-new-settlement-building/#ixzz2DjB5nAdz
As I mentioned on my post yesterday the UN vote gives the Left Bank Palestinians—-not the rocket-launching Hamas of Gaza—-the LB Fatah the right to protest in the Un International Criminal Court.
Israel’s right wing Likud Netanyahoo government is furious that their expansion policies will have to face a challenge.
And on a happier note, PBO looks younger and more refreshed this morning. Ah Victory!
Netanyahu reminds me so much of the Tea Party folks in Congress. Same delusion, same immaturity, same inability to deal with a changing world. It’s dangerous to have such people in power. I’m sure President Obama and his team are working hard behind the scenes but they’re not miracle workers. The Israeli people will have to recognize that they need another kind of leader.
I agree LP2008. Greed drives them both (teaParty/Likud) and they use fear to manipulate credulous people.America has wised up and sooner or later Israel will, too.
Yes! I think that’s around the corner.
I agree with you, but feel that there is a big difference between the Tea Partyists and the Israelis (many of them). The Tea Party people are furious and fearful of a completely imaginary enemy. The people of Israel have been the targets of extermination within living memory and are surrounded by countries who want them gone. I am not nearly an expert in this area. I realize the roots of this go back at least to the state of Israel being established by colonial powers after the war. There is resentment, fear and bad actions on both sides, and peace will probably only come when both parties draw a line through the past and start over maybe along the lines of South Africa. This is not an “Israel can do no wrong” argument. I just think that in comparison to the extremists in our country, they have actual very recent history of an existential threat.
Maryl1—I don’t think we have a disagreement.
Israel’s enemy is real and terrible. Tea Party’s is imaginary.
What is similar is the set of political techniques used by our RW and the Israeli RW.
I would never minimize Israel’s danger and their need to protect themselves. That is different from wanting Israel to be able to smother any voice but theirs.
Absolutely – We are in agreement there!
Netanyahu wants to be reelected in January. He needs the hardliner votes. He already gave in with the cease fire. The vote last night doesn´t let him look good either. So he has to show strength….and for Abbas it´s politics as well… he needed a success because he didn´t have anything to do with all these cease fire negotiations..that was done by Mursi and Hamas . So I thought a lot about this topic last night…in the end: Obama is just right. There is no shortcut to peace. They need bilateral negotiations ..and of course palestinians have to recognise Israel. I hope (though probably unrealistic) that Netanyahu looses the election, because I think with these two old man – Netanyahu and Abbas – you will never get two States … and in fact, that (two States) is what the whole world wants – including Obama of course. This UN vote hurts more than it helps. … And another aspect: (my opinion) no US President can ever afford to step away only a little bit from Israel´s side, because then there might be missiles coming directly from Iran. And Iran´s (and Hamas´) declared goal is to extinguish Israel. So this is all not very encouriging, but I´m completely fine with Obamas decision in the UN. Not only because I trust him….which I do of course 100 %.
Not one pictorial post is hard to look at.
Love the Height off the Trees……LOL….
I meant to say, Love the Color of the trees. In my neck of the wood, the trees are Naked, all stems nothing more.
A preacher announced to his congregation:
“I have good news and bad news.
The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program.
The bad news is, it’s still out there in your pockets.”
Gunnite folks
Good one!
Nice pics, nice president, nice folliage…Good morning all!
I’m watching the news conference now and I noticed The President’s hair is much more grey on the right side vs the left.
Hi everyone, just heard from Fred:
“Bladder surgery went well. Used breathing tube for two and a half hours as lungs were troubling me. Home for 2 days now and feel sick as a dog. Enough strength to log on to say I am okay. Will go back to bed now … thank everyone for me … Talk to you when I feel stronger. I send my love and thanks to everyone, Fred”
Look after yourself Fred, hoping you get your strength back very soon.
All the best, Fred! Glad your surgery went well, and have a quick recovery. (Thanks, Chips!)
Good news. Thanks Chips.
Thank you for the report, Chips. Stay strong, Fred!! Time will be bring full healing.
You’re welcome Meta!
Thank you so much for the updated news on Fred, Chips.
Fred, wishing you a speedy and healthy recovery. Come play with us when you’re better.
amen!
Thank you for the news, Chips. Fred, we’re all rooting for you!!!
You’re welcome Bob – and I echo your good wishes to Fred!
Thank you for the up date Chips. You are always so thoughtful – it’s lovely. For Fred – happy to hear the good news. take care and look forward to seeing you post again soon. Thinking of you.
You’re welcome Cluny, it was wonderful to hear from Fred. It sounds like she’s still going through a rough time, but it’s such a relief the surgery went well.
Best Wishes Fred!
Great to hear. Speedy recovery Fred.
Good news. Thanks Chips. Fred, take it slow and easy and just get better. Healing thoughts coming your way.
Wonderful news, Chips about Fred. Oh, my heart is playing a full score of “Thank You, Thank You, Sweet Energies of Goodness.”
We will continue to lift Fred up to the “healing powers that be” which will give Fred all that is needed for a wonderful recovery. My heart will still sing with thanksgiving for this report.
Take good care of yourself, Fred, and (((((((((((((( We Love You, Fred)))))))))))))))HZ
Glad to hear the news on Fred – hope you have a complete and full recovery. All hugs continued to be sent to you.
Prayers to you Fred.
get well.
Catching up and so happy to hear about Fred.
Fred, get all the rest you can because soon you will be well and able! Praying for a speedy recovery.
It is turning out to be such. The witch hunt against Amb. Rice has been extreme to say the least. They haven’t stopped at Benghazi, they’ve gone after her character in a despicable manner.
darn I don’t get this one — is there some back story?
Officer giving boots to a homeless person with no shoes, I think is the image, forus ….
Hiya Forus, you can read about it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/nyregion/photo-of-officer-giving-boots-to-barefoot-man-warms-hearts-online.html
oh thanks so much Chips – I had missed this. What a beautiful image.
Isn’t it just a heartwarming story Forus?
I hope that poor man gets into a shelter soon. It is very cold in NYC. And I also hope when he is sleeping someone doesn’t take his socks and boots off. I see them sleeping with their shoes being used as pillows. The rationale is that if someone tries to take them they will wake up. What a hard road to travel for these folks. I wish I could help them all. God bless the officer though. Kudos to his parents for raisiing a super human being.
Oh I hope so too Pat, I can’t even begin to imagine how cold it must be for men and women like him late at night. What a fate in life.
Hi all.
I’m branching out of my comfort zone and am writing a piece for TPV on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Will let you know when it’s up.
Thanks LL, looking forward to it.
Here’s a little taste:
So they are not much different from Ahmadinedschad and Hamas…fortunately none of them has atomic bombs
Brilliant. I know this American Christian evangelical mindset very well. They know nothing about history or reason. All they know about is what some twisted, nutty radical like John Hagee or Pat Robertson tells them. Religious fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.
To clarify: I should have inserted the phrase “end-time preoccupied” before the word evangelical. I painted with too broad a brush. I know lots of wonderful evangelicals who are not obsessed with the fantastical scenarios presented in works like “Left Behind” or “Late Great Planet Earth” by hucksters like Tim LaHaye.
I don’t think they even know the Bible well, because I have not read a part that says we have to help bring about Armgeddon. I think God can probably do that on his own if he wants to. It seems like they have a lack of faith in God’s ability to carry out his own plan without their meddling.
President Obama has stated forcefully that he has Israel’s back; Obama went out and negotiated a cease fire between Israel and Palestine. President Obama also voted the same way with Israel regarding Statehood for Palestine. But now Netanyahu is going to Europe to stir up trouble and once again President Obama will pull Netanyahu’s ass out of the fire. In my opinion President Obama is giving Netanyahu just enough rope to hang himself with. At the end of the day President Obama advised Israel to abide by the 1967 boarder deal, but Netanyahu refused, now look where his ass has ended up.
“President Obama is giving Netanyahu just enough rope to hang himself with.”
Egg.sack.lee
Last year at this time Speaker Boehner was crowing that he got 98% of what he wanted out the debt reduction bill that President Obama was supposedly forced to sign, and Netanyahu supposedly forced President Obama into some sort of situation he didn’t want to be in. I must tell you if these actions by President Obama are supposed to convey failure I’m just not seeing it. President Obama has seem to have walked these two fools right into a trap that they can’t and don’t know how to get out of.
President Obama walked the Emoprogs into the same trap. They so desperately want to be disappointed, but can’t figure out how to be disappointed when President Obama seems to be on the winning side. Especially after all their hand-wringing and accusations of him “caving” and “being weak” when he apparently gave Boehner 98% of what he wanted in the first go-round. Some people will just never learn.
I ♥ my nerdy president.
Nerdy, intelligent, astute, kind, compassionate, considerate
and so damn SEXY
GO POTUS.
Could Jeh Johnson be the next attorney general?
http://e-ring.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/11/29/attorney_general_jeh_johnson
You might remember him from the DADT discussion.
Damn, Meta, his brain’s sexy!
“Folks at the Pentagon would love to see him stick around, but they also realize that he might be tapped for any number of roles in the second term. He’s on anybody’s short list for attorney general, for starters,” a senior administration official told the E-Ring. “The sky is basically the limit for someone with his experience and reputation. He’s the consummate straight shooter and everyone loves working with — and for — him. That’s not exactly a mix of skills and traits that a lot of people have in Washington these days.”
This bit is sexy too:
“He is a virtual legend in the building by now, having steered the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.”
Ooooooh…thanks for this tidbit Meta. I’ve got my eye on him too.
Yes, meta and UT. He would do a great job in so many capacities. He comes from a long line of great men and women in his family. Brilliant man. He is known in beautiful circles as a beautiful soul and a brilliant mind. HZ
That’s so funny, Meta! Hit it too & was yelling just below! Feeling better now!
It’s infuriating. I can’t believe these jerks make such good money and perks, have a fleet of staff and they can’t be bothered to do anything except pose for the cameras.
And they have the nerve to call half of the country moochers, takers, etc. Projecting much?
Yes!
113th Congress, First Session
HOUSE CALENDAR
Took a look & if I even thought about working those number of days in a year, I’d be unemployable. Actually counted them & it’s 126! That’s right, they’re in session ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-SIX days in 2013. 239 days vacation! They’re in session 2 days in August. Who’s a moocher now?!
Compare that to Senate:
Senate 2013 Calendar – 113th Congress, First Session:
Convene – 113th Congress – Thursday, January 3
Inauguration – Monday, January 21 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
February 18 – 22 State Work Period (Presidents’ Day February 18)
March 25 – April 5 State Work Period (Passover March 26-27; Good Friday March 29; Easter
March 31)
April 29 – May 3 State Work Period
May 27 – May 31 State Work Period (Memorial Day May 27)
July 1 – July 5 State Work Period (Independence Day July 4)
August 5 – September 6 State Work Period (Labor Day September 2, Rosh Hashanah
September 5-6)
Yom Kippur September 14
October 14 – October 18 State Work Period (Columbus Day October 14)
November 11 – Veterans’ Day
Target adjournment – TBD
Spread this:
– Barack Obama is the first Democratic President to win 2 terms with over 50% of the vote since FDR!
– And, he is the first President of either party to win 2 terms with at least 51% of the vote since Dwight Eisenhower!
Historic Presidency, indeed.
And, if you want to go beyond FDR, you have to go back 184 years…..to Andrew Jackson(!), to find the only other Democrat to win 2 terms with over 50% of he vote!
Obama is already one of the greatest Democratic Presidents in history, and he hasn’t even started his 2nd term! Wow.
[From Steve Benen, quoting from Reuters in first 2 paragraphs]:
“Another senior Republican lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that a Democratic bill, which passed the Senate in July and would raise income taxes on families with net incomes above $250,000, could pass his chamber if it got to the floor.
“Another conservative House Republican, Representative Tim Scott, a first-term congressman, said that such a measure “could pass the House,” according to Scott’s spokesman.”
Ordinarily, Boehner’s problem is finding ways to get the House to pass a bill Obama will sign. In this case, the House is ready to pass a bill Obama would sign, but Boehner doesn’t want to bring it to the floor.
If/when push comes to shove in a few weeks, the Speaker’s position is likely to prove untenable.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/11/30/15574591-tom-cole-and-his-four-friends-and-counting?lite
Ok, my new piece on Israel and Palestine is up: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/11/the-gordian-knot.html
Take a gander if you can.
Enjoyed that so much LL, especially how you placed it all in historical context.
“When the world’s three most powerful faiths declare a piece of real estate “holy”, that causes problems of a sort not found anywhere else.”
Truly, when you consider that, it’s little wonder it all seems so impossible to ‘solve’.
I always had a notion that PBO would make some form of resolution in this his ultimate foreign policy goal in his second term, it was always too tender to touch in his first term, but the players on all sides seem so extreme, I’m not sure it will be remotely possible.
And I’m not even sure the involvement of a US President in such a process, unless he confined himself to working purely behind the scenes, would even be acceptable to the Arab world, the lack of trust deepens every day. And although really only symbolic, I know, yesterday’s UN vote just made it worse.
There are, of course, huge differences between this situation and the one in Ireland, but, ultimately, it was the ‘extremists’ in Ireland who made peace possible in the end, people like Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on one side and David Trimble and Ian Paisley on the other. To me, Netanyahu is an unreconstructed Paisley, and I haven’t much hope that he’ll follow his path. We’ll see.
Thank you LL, love your writing – and I always feel way more informed after reading anything you write.
The thing about Northern Ireland is that, even though it was a terrible conflict, it didn’t have the foundational history that the Middle East does. Really, Israel-Palestine is at the foundation of both European and Arab culture. All of our myths emanate from that area. No other religions aside from the Abrahamic faiths attach so much meaning to so small an area.
I despair as well. There was and is a knot in my throat as I wrote the piece. Like I said in it, I’m fully prepared for peace to elude Obama as it has every other US president. But if anyone is going to forge a peace, it will be him.
I was reluctant even to mention Ireland, to be honest, so many make the comparison when, I think, the differences far outweigh the similiarities. The Northern Ireland conflict really had its roots in the early 1600s, when the plantation of Ulster began, which made it a fairly ancient ‘war’ – but compared to the Middle East, it was but an infant. The one lesson, I think, is that it took the moderates to kick-start the peace process in Ireland, but it needed the ‘extremists’ to complete it. But that probably holds true for most conflicts – if you leave the extremists outside the door, there’ll never be peace.
You are right! You have to negotiate with Hamas…I hope things go well in Egypt. This will be crucial.
Agree Peti, the situation in Egypt now is critical in all of this.
My pie in the sky sentiment would have been for a bi-national state for Jews and Arabs in Palestine.
The question is: would that have been possible in a post-war setting? Sadly, I have to admit that it would not have. And if it wouldn’t have worked then, then it certainly will not work now after 60 years of bloodshed. I would love for a bi-national state to be forged now, as it more or less has been in Northern Ireland; it won’t happen. Sacredness is exclusivist.
brilliant analysis!! And indeed I think with the Arab spring there might be more opportunities. This cease fire f.e. could only be negotiated with Egypt´s Mursi (although I don´t know yet what to think of him). Palestinians see that they have support from other countries in the region and are maybe more willing to negotiate…at least I hope…but it´s exactly described: it´s a dance on a broken glass. And if someone gets this handled …it´s Obama.
Morsi will get in line, if not he will suffer the same fate as Mubarik. Morsi tried a power grab and it blew up in his face, he quickly had to retreat. President Obama also warned Netanyahu long ago to agree to a boarder deal with Palestine and he refused, so now Netanyahu is running to Europe trying to figure out what happened at the U.N., Netanyahu has effectively run out of friends. If Netanyahu has any sense left he would call President Obama and ask him for help.
Obama and Netanyahu don´t like each other. And it´s election time in Israel. I just hope, things don´t heat up to much in te next couple of weeks. If the cease fire stays stable till after the election, maybe things can change.
FDR, Andrew Jackson, …..and Barack Obama. The only 3 Democrats in history to win 2 terms with over 50% of the vote.
Suck it, Mitch McConnell.
I hear a lot of people here complaining about the number of days that the house is not in session, obviously you think it is easy to bounce back the next day after selling your soul and to go against everything you know is right just to push an agenda that every fiber of your being tells you not to push. These people don’t sleep at night; at best they close their eyes and sometimes pray that when they leave office that can find something to validate their lives.
You have a point.
Yup – I pity the fools…
[Wow, Karl make $$millions$$ with this gig? Volunteer? Someone direct him to a dictionary!]:
“He also called his Crossroads group the “worst volunteer job” he’s had his entire life.”
[Between the House & Karl, I'm going to need to buy a super paddle! Nevermind, methinks they're going to need lawyers very soon! That's the paddle!
]
Dr. Susan Rice heading the State Department and Jeh Johnson possibly the next Attorney General, my goodness, what is President Obama up to?
Only two other Presidents received more votes than President Obama, and they aren’t even finish counting the votes. Close election my ass!
Please tweet her to express your support for this action. It will force Rs effectively to vote twice against the middle class – those Rs unwilling to sign, and because I’m sure she’ll get the necessary 218 signatures, then those Rs who will vote against the bill when it comes to the floor.
#FORWARD
Yep, I just saw the same thing Bob. I said a couple of days ago that there are Republicans ready to jump ship and sign the bill. Boehner can’t hold on much longer.
Agree, Don. And, no matter how Cantor’s power play to remove Boehner as Speaker unfolds, a sufficient number of Republicans who actually want to be re-elected in 2014, knowing full well how impotent the tea party will be by then, are likely to be cooperative with Leader Pelosi and the President during the next two years. The President holds all the cards and his actions over the past few days reveal that, in his always dignified and humorous way, he knows it.
#TrustBarack
Cantor can’t do anything now but just sit back and hope there is something left to salvage after President Obama and Nancy Pelosi get through with their remodel.
If Speaker Boehner isn’t careful, the next caucus meeting he has with his fellow Republicans will end up with him being overthrown. Already you have many Republicans chomping at the bit to sign anything President Obama puts in front of them; Speaker Boehner is on the clock.
DOE TO PLACE BATTERY HUB AT ARGONNE: The Energy Department is expected today to announce an “advanced battery hub” (plus millions of dollars) will be assigned to the Argonne National Laboratory’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research near Chicago, as well as satellite hubs in Holland and Ann Arbor, Mich. “The centers will bring university and private sector research together to develop new battery technologies that will reduce the size, weight and cost of batteries for electric cars, and ultimately commercialize new technologies to help advance the industry,” The Detroit News reports: http://bit.ly/Yb9ryr
Oh dear!
While the GOP spent four years complaining about President Obama’s affinity for golf and basketball, they didn’t take note of his fierce sportsmanship. They ignored the many warnings that you can’t trash-talk President Obama, and that if you let him win after trash-talking him, he will make you pay. They ignored his warnings from many years ago that if you take advantage of his generosity, he will crush you. And now they’re going to learn the hard way.
Referencing your tweet Chips. Looks like Pres. Obama will indeed be building a roller coaster using K’nex.
Speaker Boehner just lost his Deflector Shields and his Photon Torpedoes are useless. Set your Phaseres for stun!
I’m pleased to see PBO at the K’nex factory. There were many, many, many K’nex pieces around my house in every nook and cranny. You haven’t danced until you’ve stepped barefoot on one of those little pointy edged, hard ass plastic, %^*%^**%^ torpedos.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/11/30/now-you-know-what-the-president-wants-for-christmas/
The Supreme Court, after taking most of the day to prepare new orders, took no action Friday on the ten same-sex marriage cases now on the docket. It did agree to rule on whether taking a human gene out of the body is a process that can be patented. It also agreed to rule on legal protection for makers of generic drugs.
The next opportunity for the Court to issue orders will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Nothing has ruled out the possibility that some actions on same-sex marriage could be announced at that time, although there is no indation that that will occur. It may be that the Court needs more time to decide what it wants to do next on any of the cases.