I just heard him on Steve Harvey Morning Show. Thought I was all out of tears, saving up for Inauguration. I was wrong. To hear the President of the United States thanking people for sticking with him and standing in lines against the odds was a lot first thing in the morning. I love me some him!
My husband keeps informed on the ‘enemy’. I, for one, can’t stomach it. But he had CNBC on the other day and I couldn’t believe it! They are completely deranged.
RT"@Getsmart4: Heard on @Smirconish radio: "Republicans think everyone has a right to own a gun, but not to vote.”// Well said!— Sue Smith (@luvsgrapes) December 04, 2012
[Is this the GOP going for window dressing or is it 2009 Insurgency Redux?]:
Beware, America! Leading Republicans are gathering in Washington tonight to honor each other at a Jack Kemp Foundation awards dinner. The inherent nature of the event, held in the name of the original “empowerment” champion Kemp, and the timing (when Republicans are hungry for “new ideas” based on the same old ideology) make this a likely occasion for the unveiling of some really bad policy proposals, probably involving tax credits christened as “pro-family” or “pro-responsibility,” and guaranteed not to unsettle any of America’s economic power relationships.
Moreover, as Politico’s VandeHei and Allen inform us, this is the first tilt in the 2016 presidential contest, with the two scheduled speakers—this year’s Jack Kemp award winner Marco Rubio, and last year’s Paul Ryan—both trying to break some new ground. Rubio needs to show some substantive chops, and get out of his Latino conservative box. And Ryan needs to start becoming something other than (to use Charles Pierce’s catchy term) a “zombie-eyed granny-starver.”
If either of these two losers was ever to become President, it would be the end of US leadership in the world. There’s no way the world would follow either of these guys. Never.
Figured. But I like to live on the edge and take my chances, if humor’s involved. Irreverence is my favorite sports position. (Plus my granddaughter visited recently and nobody was allowed to talk when that show came on, so it was the first thing that popped up in my head. There’s that.)
Oi!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just putting a post together, thought I’d check in to see what you were all up to ….. and I see Jacqueline comparing my boys to the “walking dead”?!?!?! Disappointed, very very very very disappointed.
Thank you again for the painting LL, will I have it by Xmas day?
Uh oh. Somebody told me you were out of town? (I was just kidding you, Chips – it’s a great painting, and I recognized it as such. Just feeling a little devilish today. Mea culpa. No, really.)
[From Ed Kilgore. Lawd, I think their idiocy condition is permanent!]:
Coming to a political column near you soon: a pat on the head for the Serious Adults of the House GOP for getting control of their caucus and putting conservative activists on notice that getting in the way of the ontologically essential Big Deficit Deal is unacceptable.
The pretext will be the “disciplining” of House wingnuts by their removal from key committees, most notably the dismissal of Tim Huelskamp and Justin Amash—both members of the class of 2010—from the Budget Committee.
Dave Weigel’s says conservatives are treating this phenomenon as “a purge of non-RINOs.” But what, specifically, did Huelskamp and Amash do to get sent to the principal’s office in the first place? They voted against adoption of the Ryan Budget last March on grounds that it didn’t cut spending enough.
So we are supposed to believe now that Paul Ryan defines “RINOism”? And we are supposed to give House Republicans Big Boy Merit Badges for refusing to give committee assignment perks to Class of 10ers so nutty that they believe Paul Ryan defines “RINOism”? I don’t think so.
At the same time, Reps. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) lost their spots on the House Financial Services Committee.
There’s no great mystery as to how and why this occurred — the GOP leadership did not see these four lawmakers as “team players,” and their perceived disloyalty came with a price. This also presumably sends a related message to the rest of the often-rancorous caucus that the party is keeping score and expects discipline.
There are multiple angles to a story like this. Is House Speaker John Boehner trying to lock up more power? How much were the committee chairs involved? Were some of the Republicans punished yesterday penalized for having endorsed Ron Paul’s presidential campaign? And why does the leadership see the House Science Committee as the dumping ground for members they’re upset with?
But the larger dynamic to keep an eye on is what this means for the Tea Partiers, especially those elected in 2010.
[....] Yesterday’s committee-assignment shakeups let these Tea Partiers know that recalcitrance comes with a price. Indeed, it’s notable that three of the four lawmakers affected by yesterday’s decision were freshmen elected in the 2010 wave.
The question, then, is what the far-right members intend to do about the renewed effort to establish party discipline. I suspect the answer is they’ll fall in line, fearing additional sanctions, but it’s worth watching.
Anything that gets rid of Justin Amash from anything is worthwhile and I won’t quibble. He’s on my twitter feed and he’s a self-aggrandizing idiot. I’m being restrained in my language here.
They have defeated that evil disabilities Treaty in The Senate.
Phew! God knows, people with disabilities should be on their own, no access to stairs, cant fit into elevators with wheelchairs etc.
We in America are trying to be heartless and are succeeding. Thank God for the fucking Republican Evangelucal Party.
Whatever!
House Dems just filed a discharge petition to bring the middle class tax cuts to the floor for a vote. Keep track here: 1.usa.gov/SvcxHI— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) December 04, 2012
What happened at noon is that Leader Pelosi filed the discharge petition, as she said she would. If it received 218 signatures then the Bill will be brought to a vote.
My Congressman’s name is not there yet so I called his DC office and urged him to sign it. There were lots of calls coming in when I called. Hopefully they were from other voters urging him to sign.
California’s making a strong showing, including my Rep, Janice Hahn. But, why are there only 59 names to date? All Dems should have rushed to sign this thing. Are they for or against the middle class?
I know – that’s so encouraging! In just a few hours! I think they just need 67 more tomorrow, and then it goes to the floor. Hopefully, t hose 151 names strike the fear of God into Boehner and his cabal (although, I kind of with it had soared to 218 today).
“As you ponder whether the Obama tax hike can pass the House, I bet you think something like, “All he needs is a few Republicans.” Right? I wouldn’t blame you for thinking it. Obama himself said last week: “If we can just get a few House Republicans on board, we can pass the bill in the House, it will land on my desk, and I am ready—I have got a bunch of pens ready—to sign this bill.” That’s how it works, right—218 votes? Friends, you’re hopelessly behind the times. The Republicans won’t allow measures to pass with just any 218 votes. It has to be mostly Republicans. Welcome to the little-discussed but possibly pivotal concept of the “majority of the majority.”
What does this mean? Pretty much just what it says: For Speaker John Boehner to bring any measure to the House floor, he has to see that a majority of the majority—that is, a majority of his GOP caucus—will support it. You might have in theory a bill that could pass with the support of 109 Democrats and 109 Republicans to reach the needed 218. You couldn’t ask for more bipartisanship than that. But 109 is not a majority of 241, so if Boehner and his whips were counting noses accurately in the run-up, this perfectly balanced measure would never see the light of day for a vote.”
Rita – I think this is a threshold that Boehner has imposed on himself (since so many of his bills have failed because of lack of votes). In this case, he’s being forced to bring something to the floor via a procedural rule. I don’t think that standard applies when it comes to procedural rules.
But John Boehner ISN’T bringing this to the floor, it is Nancy Pelosi. It is the right of the minority leader to file a discharge petition to bring a bill to the floor of the House if the SPeaker (Boehner) won’t do it. If she gets 218 signatures, it can be voted on in the House. If it passes, President Obama can sign it.
I don’t really understand the intricacies of the Congress rules, but what Tomasky is explaining seems to make it quite hopeless, except for the “possible wrinkle” he writes about towards the end. Whatever the case, this would be a historical move if it does come to the floor.
She also misled in her separate concluding piece with the anchor. She implied that POTUS was willing to compromise on the tax rate now but what he said was raise the rate now and the possibility of lowering may occur IF other offsets could be found that don’t hurt the middle class.
Usually when you go to a White House Christmas party, you stand in line to get your photo w/Pres. & Mrs. Obama. This year, Boehner didn't— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 04, 2012
My takeaway from the interview is that the GOP is now down to the bargaining stage of grief. OK the top tax rates will go up, Mr. President, but do they have to go up all the way to 39%? How about 37%? 37.5%?
Juliana did the best she could considering who is paying her salary. POTUS knows her and she has been part of the traveling Press as far back as the European trip when he was a candidate in 2008. If you watch PBO’e eyes when she asks something dumb you can see the same expression Malia will most likely get when she asks to stay out on a date until 2:00 AM.
You pretty much summed it up. The analysis that followed featuring Josh Barro & Matt Dowd was even dumber. All they care about is to shield the 2% form tax increases and to stiff it to the Middle Class on “Entitlements” (what I call earned benefits)
That was a fascinating interview. Bottom line, Pres. Obama says he’s not budging on raising taxes on the top 2% and the GOP had better play ball on that, Amb. Rice has done a great job and he isn’t listening to cable chatter about her. He hasn’t made a decision as to who his SoS will be, but it is his decision to make. He also said that first, we need to raise taxes on the top 2%, then address closing loopholes and deductions. He’s not going to keep asking the middle-class, young people, and seniors on Medicare to keep sacrificing while the rich don’t pay their fair share.
The reporter asked about his relationship with Boehner and implied that it was hostile. Pres. Obama told her that he doesn’t have bad feelings towards Boehner, and they keep in contact as needed regarding a number of issues. He also said that he will be working with the business community on hiring, boosting jobs in the manufacturing sector etc. He said his relationship with the business community has improved due to the recent talks they’ve been having. He also said we have national security challenges and we must shore up our fiscal problems, improve the economy, and improve things domestically, so that it does not interfere with national security.
Pres. Obama made sure to emphasize that Boehner’s plan was not balanced. It was all about cuts, cuts, cuts, and coddling the top 2%. He said we cannot cut our way into prosperity and we can not cut our way to a reduced deficit.
. . . . and truly extraordinary that the President has no bad feelings towards Boehner. I believe him about that.
I want to be like that. No bad feelings. PBO shows me it’s possible, no kidding. He operates on another
plane altogether. Most of it is not personal.
Sorry, I mean another ~plain~ altogether. These distinctions are blurring the older I get. And then,
he also operates on another plane, altogether, as in AF1.
Thanks (as always) UT – I only caught the tail end, and then listened to about give minutes of the “analysis” at the end, and switched it off in disgust. It’s like the pundits have a blind spot, and they can only see President Obama’s actions to criticize, but never have a negative thing to say about the GOP – who have obstructed all the way through the crisis and subsequent recovery.
LOL! You’re on a roll, Chips! Was this pic taken by SS when they found him trying to open the locked liquor cabinets! And he was mumbling: Precious, my precious!
@DesHaml I love that this homage to the 1st motoring President comes from the President who saved the auto industry! TY Pres #Obama!— Dudette (@Dudette9t9) December 04, 2012
Off-topic: Just good music. Tribute to Michael Jackson from Siedah Garrett. She used to collaborate with him. Also wrote & performed the Get Out the Vote song – “L.O.V.E – Let One Voice Emerge”, which I played incessantly during the campaign.
Her comments on the video:
“Keep On Lovin’ You,” is a tribute to my friend and mentor Michael Jackson and answer to our #1 world wide duet, ” I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” When Michael and I recorded and performed our duet together, it always felt as if he were singing it just for me. I wanted to write an answer, a sort of love letter back to him, that tells the story of how we first met, and how amazing it was to be in his presence and be able to interact with him creatively over the years. This new song expresses my deepest feelings for him, and appreciation for all the personal attention and unbelievable opportunities he afforded me.”
RT: Watch the official video for "Keep On Lovin' You" my tribute song to MJ buff.ly/QxixML— SIEDAH GARRETT (@SIEDAHGARRETT) December 04, 2012
Congratulations Elizabeth Warren for winning a seat on the Senate Banking Committee! http://t.co/uXLPSXFH— Maggie cordell (@maggiecordell58) December 04, 2012
Although I thought the interviewer was in over her head, the interview was excellent on POTUS’ part. Made clear w2here he stands and had the time to get his message out. Loved his four point summary at the end. I also was happy to hear that he seems to be pretty strong on wrapping up the debt ceiling issue with the fiscal cliff issue. Then perhaps our businesses will finally start spending some of the money they’ve been hoarding the last couple of years.
[Roger throws Kathleen T. McFarland, a Fox News national security analyst and former national security and Pentagon aide in three Republican administrations, under the bus]:
[Bobfr, here's another one trying to play kingmaker. What is it w/ these republican & their monarch fantasies?]:
In a telephone call confirmed by three people, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg encouraged Hillary Clinton “to consider entering the 2013 mayor’s race, trading international diplomacy for municipal management on the grandest scale,” the New York Times reports.
“Much about the call, which occurred some months ago, remains shrouded in mystery. But Mr. Bloomberg’s overture to the former first lady highlights the level of his anxiety about the current crop of candidates, his eagerness to recruit a replacement who can rival his stature and his determination to become a kingmaker in the political arena he will soon exit…”
“During their conversation, Mrs. Clinton left little room for doubt: she was not interested in seeking the mayoralty.”
And Bob Dole was there in a wheelchair as a visible reminder, & 38 nasties went right on ahead. Don’t they talk to anyone about Christianity, faith, blah-blah!
I had to go have my driver’s license renewed today because my birthday is tomorrow and the old one expires then. While standing in line, I ran into this group of RW nuts. It’s amazing how f*cked up Fox, Limbaugh, and repubs have these people. I got into a discussion with one woman who insisted that PBO is planning to take their guns. I explained to her that the president has really expanded gun rights and people can now take their guns into national parks. She didn’t believe it, of course, because Fox never told their viewers about it. Then she claimed that Obamacare would restrict the use of water or some such nonsense. I told her that wasn’t true. She followed this with talking about how long the bill was, so I asked if she had read the actual bill. Her answer was no, she watches the news. I told her that I was a retired high school social studies teacher who actually taught civics and U.S. History and keep up with current events. After this, she proceeded to hint that the president is a liar. I responded by telling her that PolitiFact and other fact-checkers had said that Romney was the real liar, and that almost everything he said during the campaign was a lie. I told her that a major reason so many Americans are confused is because of republican politicians who lie for their own benefit. She insisted that the lying came from a level “higher” than Congress. At this point in the conversation, I had plenty of back up because others waiting in line backed up everything I said. They were calling out the republicans. It made my heart glad to find so many well-informed Middle Georgians. The woman then said she didn’t “like” Romney, either. Well and good, but the rest of us let her know we are strong PBO supporters. The woman and her friend know nothing about what the president has done and their entire conversation was composed of conspiracy theories, lies, and propaganda. It was a clear “tell” that they are Fox News viewers. Fox is a very large pustule that needs to be excised from our airwaves.
Thank you for sharing that experience. You were in the middle of an example of the 60 million who voted for Willard. There is no knowledge or logic with them.
Glad a long line turned into a good thing! Do you have to show lots of ID in Georgia to renew your license? WY recently passed a law that requires a long list of ID we have to show, every four years. My husband and I think it’s excessive for long time residents. Thanks for your uplifting story.
As of July of this year, every time you get your license renewed in GA, you must show your birth certificate, Social Security card, and two pieces of mail to validate that you actually live in the state. It’s ridiculous. I’ve had a driver’s license for over 40 years, and our wingnut legislators decided that the way to keep undocumented immigrants from driving is to put drivers like myself through a whole bunch of BS. I had to show my birth certificate when I first got my license, so to me, it makes no sense that I have to show a SS card and two pieces of mail at this point just to get it renewed. I did discover that I could get my license for an 8 year period for $32, and I chose that option because there’s no way I’m going through this mess every 4 years.
WY is about the same. We don’t have an option of eight years though. But, as an added bonus, I must bring my marriage certificate because of course forty-one years ago I married my hubby. Got my SS card before that. We haven’t changed address, phone number, etc. for thirty-five years. One reason we have less than half a million in population in WY.
Boy, am I glad *I* don’t have to show my birth certificate to renew my driver’s license because I haven’t a clue where to lay my hand on it! In fact, apart from completing the form they send you by mail, I can’t remember being asked for any ID. Hmmm. Maybe they did ask but I just don’t remember. Of course, I always choose the extended renewal option so that I don’t have to think about the next renewal for a good long time.
It’s something you might want to look into. The Repugs are pushing voter ID hard. I think this was a first step for WY. You should be able to get it from the county clerk in the county you were born in or the Secretary of State. Of course there is a fee. My hubby went a month early and didn’t know the law so came home furious. He gathered all the things plus a lot of extra like hunting and fishing licenses from years ago. He was trying to make a statement! But he didn’t have the “right” birth certificate. They let that go, but I’m sure if he wasn’t white, they wouldn’t have accepted it. Don’t know if mine is the “right” one. Find out in about 16 months. Planing on making a trip early to make sure I have time to get the right one if the one my mother gave me isn’t the “right” one. What a pain.
Oh, Carolmae, I am one of those far-inners living to the north of y’all who unfortunately cannot vote, with or without my birth certificate! The only time that has truly bothered me has been in the last election, when I wished I could have gotten a temporary 4yr ‘citizen’ visa. My father and his wife are American citizens so that’s a small part of my excuse for being so nosily involved in things political and American. During the height of the elections a friend who couldn’t get my attention in real life sent me this via twitter to make a point…I guess.
No apologies necessary CM and you sound fine – we all are still, or should be, ‘on the campaign trail’ though our focus has shifted more towards helping the Pres accomplish his goals. Plus you are a newer TODville-ian and don’t yet know everyone. Happy to see you participating fully here, by the way.
thanks for this story, majir. i love that folks in line were backing you up on the facts. it was also interesting that the woman said she didn’t like myth, but apparently she was willing to vote for him and place him in charge of the government. that is a confused person, who is not using her own mind to make judgements. and we do indeed have the ‘very large pustule’ to blame.
Goodness, how are these people surviving? If they are so full of conspiracies and fear and hate and anger – how on earth are they getting up every day and reconciling reality with what they’re insisting on believing? When they realize that the check they got in the mail is because of Obamacare, or the fact that they are free to travel and go out for dinner because the country isn’t in a depression, or when they open up their 401K and see that it’s doubled in value since the recession… how do they reconcile those details with their conspiracies? It’s a very good thing that enough thinking people turned up and avoided the disaster that these delusional people were willing to bring about – all 60 million of them!
Eventually we have all have to step up like you did today and call the ignorant ones on their BS. It might not convince them, but WE THE RATIONAL ONES will benefit by sharing good arguments, by stating and reinforcing our opinions and beliefs. Good job. Thanks for sharing this story. It’s as important as flight passengers stopping a highjacking, IMO, because this highjacking of our country takes place every single day by the mindless and brainwashed ones.
Remember: The majority of Egyptians who voted #Morsi into presidency are non-Islamists. Many of them protesting him today. #Dec4— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) December 04, 2012
[This was on Benen's blog, then it was gone, found it in archives as "unpublished" and you can't read the 20 comments or continue reading it. Sorry to paste as much as I can, but I found it interesting, and made me dislike that NH woman even more]:
Almost immediately after taking office, President Obama began following through on a key campaign promise: he suspended the commissions at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and initiated a process to shutter the facility altogether. The president’s policy was backed by the Pentagon, military leaders, and prominent figures like Colin Powell and David Petraeus.
The progress, however, was short lived — craven Republicans and cowardly Democrats in Congress refused to allow Guantanamo detainees to be transferred. New prisoners aren’t being added to the facility, but by congressional mandate, the status quo remain unchanged.
That doesn’t mean that some lawmakers can’t make matters worse. Adam Serwer had this report yesterday.
One Senate Republican likes Gitmo so much she wants to build a new offshore detention center — or at least force President Obama to allow Guantanamo to accept new detainees, which it hasn’t done since he first took office and issued an executive order intended to close the facility.
The lawmaker is Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) of New Hampshire — Joe Lieberman’s replacement in the McCain/Graham “Three Amigos” — who’s pushing an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would require the Obama administration to craft “a plan for the identification or establishment of a facility outside the United States as the location for the long-term detention” of suspected members of al Qaeda.
At that point, the administration would either have to expand the prisoner population at Guantanamo Bay or open a new Gitmo somewhere else.
[LOL! My fiction take is that she was committed late last night, straight jacket & all! Staffers should be able to name what official business trip she's taking.]:
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) left her state but no one will says where she is, the Arizona Republic reports.
“The GOP governor left the state Sunday and doesn’t plan to return until Saturday, according to the notice she is required to file with the Arizona Secretary of State. But beyond that, mum’s the word from her office, other than to note that she is on official state business.”
LOL! That gives the AT a bad name and I don’t like that. As most of you know, my husband completed hiking the AT this year–quite an achievement! He is hiking today…..helping a friend complete a short section. Takes two because cars have to be dropped off, then go back and pick up the car that was left at the trailhead. Lots of logistics involved!
IMO, if she’s thinking of hooking up with Lindsay Graham, she might as well stay home and use what she already has! Has anyone ever seen Graham with a woman? Anyone? I know some people like George “Cutie” Clooney aren’t married, but you hardly ever see them single and roaming around alone for too long.
Several of us noted in August 2011 just how brilliant PBO was in achieving that budget deal – all the dimensions of the achievement – while emoprogs freaked and the media spun and Boehner pranced around with his ‘I got 98% of what I wanted’ … oh, Johnnie boy, you never, ever thought you’d face ~ 1120pm EST, 6 Nov 2012 ….
Boehner, Ryan, Cantor all voted FOR the 'sequester' & never thought they'd have to face a re-elected PBO & that reality. Ooops. @NancyPelosi— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) December 04, 2012
Charles Pierce: "Mike Huckabee, the de-bloated god-bothering whackaloon who is occasionally mistaken for a nice guy" esquire.com/blogs/politics…— The Obama Diary (@TheObamaDiary) December 04, 2012
He’s a grumpy bugger, but I serioulsy adore Charles Pierce!
he can drive me crazy, but no one can turn a phrase like Charlie Pierce. God, I miss great political writing: Molly Ivins, Mike Royko (any old Chicagoans out there who remember Mike?). Charles Pierce and P.M. Carpenter are the last of the great political writiers, IMO.
Admire Pierce, a lot … this paragraph is a gem and could very well describe exactly what many of us are striving to have become the norm in 21st Century American participatory democracy
“A lot of this falls on us. We can be better informed. We can stop believing in nonsense. We can be a more active citizenry. We can choose not to accept the limited parameters of our national debates by turning off the commentators who seek to reinforce them, and by turfing out the politicians who choose to work only within them. We can demand a better range of options. We can demand that obvious problems be confronted, and that real solutions to them be proposed. (Where is the outcry for a national policy on climate change from the drought-ravaged states of the west and the south?) We can demand a political imagination greater than the one currently evinced by our political elites, or we can tell them that we’re changing them out for better elites. And maybe then Bob Costas won’t be a hero for free speech but, rather, just another nice guy who’s making sense.”
Good late morning everyone. I’m in MST and I think TOD is Eastern. Also, a very Merry Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, and Happy Holidays to all. I just received my first Holiday card of the season signed by, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia, Sasha and Bo, plus paw print. Each one signed it separately. Happy New Year! Yes he does thank his volunteers. Those many calls to CO helped turn it blue. We’re out of reach in WY. Not to brag too much, but he also called volunteers, including me, from Air Force One, just to encourage all of us in the last few weeks of campaign and what his vision was for his second term. Relating this because so many posters on other sights and pundits say he never thanks anyone and doesn’t reach out to people. I’m as ready to help now as I was in June when I started making calls. Maybe you’ve already discussed this morning or other post about Boehners proposal to the president. I hope we’re standing firm on not raising ages on SS and Medicare. I’m getting old! I’m cramming a lot in one post because I’m a little busy and don’t know when I’ll get back. But I’m looking forward to see many good ideas on how to help move our country Forward!!!
President Barack Obama is considering nominating Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, as his next ambassador to either the U.K. or France as he looks to reward his biggest fundraisers with embassies never out of fashion, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Those are two fairly harmless ambassadorships. Given her contribution to fashion and culture, and her status as an icon in a pretty international and hefty industry, this might be a good thing, if it’s true. And the added bonus is that she clearly supports President Obama’s policies, and did a ton of work to support the President
@lamh just reading your posts about your mom. I wish you and her the best.
@Chips. Thank you so much for posting the Michael Lewis interview. He (Michael) is so appealing. What a combination, those two.
What a delightful interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The only reason there was a “bromance” in the first place was because a lying crook recognizes another lying crook when he/she sees/meets him/her. Ryan wasn’t Romney’s choice, he was Ann’s choice. Fat lot of good it did them on November 6.
"The Back Channel hears that Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter may be tapped for Secretary of Defense. Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, a top foreign policy advisor to the Obama campaign, may not be interested in the top Defense job at this time, sources close to the administration, speaking not for attribution, suggested. They also expected that UN envoy Susan Rice would probably be tapped for Secretary of State, but were not certain of it.
"Rice is close with former White House terrorism advisor Richard Clarke, for whom she used to work in the Clinton NSC. If her nomination proceeds, some of Clarke’s network are expected to advise her during the Transition, a second former senior US official told the Back Channel."
and senator warren won a poll at the “take back the american dream” conference earlier this year as the preferred candidate for 2016, beating a certain someone who the media is trying to anoint once again. have to wonder why the media, owned by republican billionaires, constantly pushes as certain someone as the dem candidate, yet hates on elizabeth warren constantly. wonder why that this…
I would offer a word of caution about Elizabeth Warren. She hasn’t even been sworn into the Senate yet. Let’s give her room to find her footing and formulate her relationships, without having the anchor around her neck about 2016. For most people, becoming a US Senator is a pretty significant accomplishment – and for many it is enough. She should be allowed to sink into that role and enjoy the accomplishment. There are 99 other people with whom she will have to partner and negotiate, and it will only make it harder if the assumption is that she’s only there as a stepping stone to an historical presidential run. And she’ll never succeed as a national candidate without some significant wins under her belt that she can use on the campaign trail, should she choose to run. She may make a formidable candidate and a remarkable President. She may not. But, maybe let her become a formidable Senator first? We already have a pretty remarkable President to enjoy.
Yes – that’s right. President Obama once said in an interview that you don’t run for office to “be” something; you run for office to “do” something. And I think that Elizabeth Warren actually does want to do something in the Senate – where the actual laws are written and passed. She worked hard for that Senate seat, and endured abuse from Scott Brown – she deserves to enjoy being a senator without pressure to pursue a higher office before she’s done anything.
Folks might want to contact their Representatives to encourage them to sign the Discharge Petition: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ the list of names is here: http://clerk.house.gov/112/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0006.xml I called my Congressman Larsen and was told he will likely sign it, but that the voting was closed for the day, so it wouldn’t show up on the list until tomorrow.
I lost my great congressman, Mike Quigley here in Chicago. The redistricting has added a ‘panhandle’ that includes a four block by 7 block area that is now in Gutierrez’ district. I have to watch his every vote now, because he can inexpicably go off the rails for any number of reasons. I never had to worry about Quigley.
He’s still a congressman. I just got re-districted out of his district. I sent him an email, but I have no doubt that he’ll do the right thing. Gutierrez likes to withhold his votes to get his way on other things, so in the next Congress I’m going to have to watch him like a hawk. It was nice with Quigley that I didn’t have to babysit him.
Yes, a lot of people are getting upset that she’s being denied a position that she hasn’t yet even been offered. And the entire fiasco serves to back the President into a corner, and to rile up the base who are just looking for an excuse to screech “Obama caved!” – which they seem ready to do over the “medicare cuts”… The President may have somebody completely different in mind for this position – I mean, how many people knew the name “Sonia Sotomayor” before the President tapped her for the Supreme Court?
The White House clarified its stance on Puerto Rico statehood Tuesday, saying that the results of a November plebiscite were clear — and that Congress should now move forward on resolving the island’s political status.
“To clarify, the results were clear, the people of Puerto Rico want the issue of status resolved, and a majority chose statehood in the second question,” White House spokesman Luis Miranda said. “Now it is time for Congress to act and the administration will work with them on that effort, so that the people of Puerto Rico can determine their own future.”
Puerto Ricans voted in November to end their current association as a self-governing U.S. commonwealth in November, 54 percent to 46 percent. In a separate question, a majority of residents choose statehood at their preferred option for resolving that status.
On Monday, asked what the Obama administration was prepared to do in the aftermath of the vote, White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the referendum results were not as “clear” as a simple majority due to the two question process.
White House officials stressed that Congress must now act to help Puerto Rico decide on its future status — and that only Congress could approve a statehood petition.
The Mexican maid asked for a pay increase.
The wife was very upset about this, and decided to talk to her about the raise.
She asked: “Now Maria, why do you want a pay increase?”
Maria: “Well, Señora, there are tree reasons why I wanna increaze.”
“The first is that I iron better than you.”
Wife: “Who said you iron better than me?”
Maria: “Jor huzban he say so.”
Wife: “Oh yeah?”
Maria: “The second reason eez that I am a better cook than you.”
Wife: “Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than me?”
Maria: “Jor hozban did.”
Wife, increasingly agitated: “Oh he did, did he?”
Maria: “The third reason is that I am better at sex than you in the bed.”
Wife, really boiling now and through gritted teeth: “And did my husband say that as well?”
I believe it’s already working. I’m watching Martin Bashir, and he mentioned the undue influence the rich GOP donors have on the way republicans vote. He said they threaten to withhold campaign donations and some of them threaten them with primary challenges. It has been quite obvious to me for the last 30+ years that the republicans’ allegiance is NOT to a majority of the American people.
“In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interests of sedition.
Typically, sedition is considered a subversive act, and the overt acts that may be prosecutable under sedition laws vary from one legal code to another. Where the history of these legal codes has been traced, there is also a record of the change in the definition of the elements constituting sedition at certain points in history. This overview has served to develop a sociological definition of sedition as well, within the study of state persecution.
The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. Sedition does not consist of levying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention).
Sedition is the stirring up of rebellion against the government in power. Treason is the violation of allegiance to one’s sovereign or state, giving aid to enemies, or levying war against one’s state. Sedition is encouraging one’s fellow citizens to rebel against their state, whereas treason is actually betraying one’s country by aiding and abetting another state. Sedition laws somewhat equate to terrorism and public order laws.”
Hello everyone, here is a photo of the congress members participating in the “first nail” ceremony of the kick off of the preparations for the Inaugaration. Boner looks sad. Lol. http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/
As usual, Nancy Smash looks great! Boehner always looks like he’s been sucking on a mixture of rotten eggs and sour lemons. The tool would have been grinning from ear to ear if the platform was being built for President-Elect Willard Romney. I am soooo glad that it will be PBO on that platform!!!
Probably, jovie, because Ed was invited also. As you know, he’s really one for “what PO should do.” I do remember the last time this group met w/PO, Ed was better for a number of months……didn’t do so much criticizing and second-guessing and ‘advising.’
Oh he still has his moments. I think I was listening last week and caught a snippet of himtalking about someone in the White ouse wanting to cut Soc Sec. benefits. And that this is why Obama or his people won’t come on his show.
Ed has passion but hes also VERY full of himself.
not sure, but he was at the wedding of julianna goldberg, who interview our president today, when she married david shuster (now divorced). do not watch this if you have a weak stomach…
Yes, he was telling Stephanie Miller a couple of months ago that he had just gotten engaged. I was confused, because I thought he was married to Juliana. He seems to be living the Hollywood life…
I think Chris gave David Schuster his first “break” on MSNBC, as he did Norah O’Donnell (she didn’t turn out well, but she was okay at first on his show). Always liked David, but then he said too much and was ousted.
Maybe they’re trying to make up for the phony investigation that was launched against her? Wasn’t that campaign found to have no merit? I do with they’d found someone more interested in working than talking, though…
Doesn’t the Jan 2009 meeting of GOP to destroy President Obama’s presidency meet this definition?
“Seditious conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2384) is a crime under United States law. It is stated as follows:
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. For a seditious conspiracy charge to be effected, a crime need only be planned, it need not be actually attempted.”
Some background:
The federal government has never won a sedition case against militia-types, white supremacists, or neo-Nazis. Since World War I, they have won numerous seditious conspiracy cases against Puerto Rican independentistas, communists and others on the left, but no one on the radical right has ever been convicted of plotting to overthrow by force of arms the government of the United State…
Tweety just said a new poll showed that 49% of Republicans think Acorn stole the 2012 election for PBO. This is what the country is dealing with as an opposition party.
These Republicans just can’t deal with the fact that a black man is President of these United States. I bet these same 49% would have slavery back if they could.
Shameful. Acorn does not exist anymore. I don’t see how the Repugs can rebrand themselves when this is the type of electorate which they have to please and get votes from these low information folks. I don’t see the party ever changing.
Fiscal Cliff | The Simpsons | Animation on FOX
Still reeling from the presidential election results, Mr. Burns takes a few minutes to explain the upcoming fiscal cliff.
Senator Brown stands his ground and calls for the President to do the same
“Bill Press recaps election results with Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Michael Tomasky of The Daily Beast. Bill jokes about the new margin of votes between the President and Mitt Romney, which is now 47 percent for Mitt Romney. Bill jokes, “47 percent should be written on Romney’s tombstone.” Bill praises Senator Brown for winning the election in Ohio. Bill says, “it shows liberals can stand their ground.” Bill and Senator Brown also speak about the President’s stance on tax cuts for the middle class. He says that President Obama should stand his ground on the issue.”
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on Tuesday lamented the death of a United Nations treaty aimed at securing rights for disabled people around the world, which failed to garner a two-thirds vote required for ratification due largely in part to Republican opposition.
“This is one of the saddest days I’ve seen in almost 28 years in the Senate and it needs to be a wakeup call about a broken institution that’s letting down the American people,” said Sen. Kerry. “We need to fix this place because what happens and doesn’t happen here affects millions of lives. Today the dysfunction hurt veterans and the disabled and that’s unacceptable. This treaty was supported by every veterans group in America and Bob Dole made an inspiring and courageous personal journey back to the Senate to fight for it. It had bipartisan support, and it had the facts on its side, and yet for one ugly vote, none of that seemed to matter.”
Good afternoon,everyone!
AJ!!!!!!
Thank you, Chips…what a happy pic!
It’s like he’s waving
TO ME
I just heard him on Steve Harvey Morning Show. Thought I was all out of tears, saving up for Inauguration. I was wrong. To hear the President of the United States thanking people for sticking with him and standing in lines against the odds was a lot first thing in the morning. I love me some him!
Damn I missed it.
But i remember when he choked up while thanking the volunteers .
Made me cry too.
thanks for heads up Chips
2nd!
Hi
Good day everyone,
Congrats on 1st AJ!
#FORWARD
Morning all!
I have a TON of weeding to do today at the library, so it’ll be mostly lurk mode for me, with a few well-timed bon mots.
Just getting back to TOD. Did I miss any bon mots? Ha!
I’ve been too busy!
I am so glad he is stiffing CNBC. CNBC has gone the way of FOX and offers little but financial gossip and rwnj economic dogma.
My husband keeps informed on the ‘enemy’. I, for one, can’t stomach it. But he had CNBC on the other day and I couldn’t believe it! They are completely deranged.
[Is this the GOP going for window dressing or is it 2009 Insurgency Redux?]:
Beware, America! Leading Republicans are gathering in Washington tonight to honor each other at a Jack Kemp Foundation awards dinner. The inherent nature of the event, held in the name of the original “empowerment” champion Kemp, and the timing (when Republicans are hungry for “new ideas” based on the same old ideology) make this a likely occasion for the unveiling of some really bad policy proposals, probably involving tax credits christened as “pro-family” or “pro-responsibility,” and guaranteed not to unsettle any of America’s economic power relationships.
Moreover, as Politico’s VandeHei and Allen inform us, this is the first tilt in the 2016 presidential contest, with the two scheduled speakers—this year’s Jack Kemp award winner Marco Rubio, and last year’s Paul Ryan—both trying to break some new ground. Rubio needs to show some substantive chops, and get out of his Latino conservative box. And Ryan needs to start becoming something other than (to use Charles Pierce’s catchy term) a “zombie-eyed granny-starver.”
More here: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_12/bad_idea_oscars041565.php
If either of these two losers was ever to become President, it would be the end of US leadership in the world. There’s no way the world would follow either of these guys. Never.
Can’t really recall and not too interested, but I think Jack Kemp was an old-fashioned, moderate Republican.
The Walking Dead? (Oh, I think I may be booted by somebody for that one. I blame the fact that I’m a lifelong member of Athletics Anonymous.)
Oh, Chips will not be happy with your characterization of one of her Man U heroes. Not one bit at all.
Figured. But I like to live on the edge and take my chances, if humor’s involved. Irreverence is my favorite sports position. (Plus my granddaughter visited recently and nobody was allowed to talk when that show came on, so it was the first thing that popped up in my head. There’s that.)
Oi!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just putting a post together, thought I’d check in to see what you were all up to ….. and I see Jacqueline comparing my boys to the “walking dead”?!?!?! Disappointed, very very very very disappointed.
Thank you again for the painting LL, will I have it by Xmas day?
Uh oh. Somebody told me you were out of town? (I was just kidding you, Chips – it’s a great painting, and I recognized it as such. Just feeling a little devilish today. Mea culpa. No, really.)
[From Ed Kilgore. Lawd, I think their idiocy condition is permanent!]:
Coming to a political column near you soon: a pat on the head for the Serious Adults of the House GOP for getting control of their caucus and putting conservative activists on notice that getting in the way of the ontologically essential Big Deficit Deal is unacceptable.
The pretext will be the “disciplining” of House wingnuts by their removal from key committees, most notably the dismissal of Tim Huelskamp and Justin Amash—both members of the class of 2010—from the Budget Committee.
Dave Weigel’s says conservatives are treating this phenomenon as “a purge of non-RINOs.” But what, specifically, did Huelskamp and Amash do to get sent to the principal’s office in the first place? They voted against adoption of the Ryan Budget last March on grounds that it didn’t cut spending enough.
So we are supposed to believe now that Paul Ryan defines “RINOism”? And we are supposed to give House Republicans Big Boy Merit Badges for refusing to give committee assignment perks to Class of 10ers so nutty that they believe Paul Ryan defines “RINOism”? I don’t think so.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_12/the_house_purge_of_true_conser041560.php
{From Steve Benen]:
At the same time, Reps. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) lost their spots on the House Financial Services Committee.
There’s no great mystery as to how and why this occurred — the GOP leadership did not see these four lawmakers as “team players,” and their perceived disloyalty came with a price. This also presumably sends a related message to the rest of the often-rancorous caucus that the party is keeping score and expects discipline.
There are multiple angles to a story like this. Is House Speaker John Boehner trying to lock up more power? How much were the committee chairs involved? Were some of the Republicans punished yesterday penalized for having endorsed Ron Paul’s presidential campaign? And why does the leadership see the House Science Committee as the dumping ground for members they’re upset with?
But the larger dynamic to keep an eye on is what this means for the Tea Partiers, especially those elected in 2010.
[....] Yesterday’s committee-assignment shakeups let these Tea Partiers know that recalcitrance comes with a price. Indeed, it’s notable that three of the four lawmakers affected by yesterday’s decision were freshmen elected in the 2010 wave.
The question, then, is what the far-right members intend to do about the renewed effort to establish party discipline. I suspect the answer is they’ll fall in line, fearing additional sanctions, but it’s worth watching.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/04/15673278-boehner-penalizes-recalcitrant-caucus-members
Anything that gets rid of Justin Amash from anything is worthwhile and I won’t quibble. He’s on my twitter feed and he’s a self-aggrandizing idiot. I’m being restrained in my language here.
They have defeated that evil disabilities Treaty in The Senate.
Phew! God knows, people with disabilities should be on their own, no access to stairs, cant fit into elevators with wheelchairs etc.
We in America are trying to be heartless and are succeeding. Thank God for the fucking Republican Evangelucal Party.
Whatever!
Leader Pelosi files discharge petition …
Thats going to leave a mark! LOL
thanks for reporting–i’d been wondering why this wasn’t making news!
Wonderful. Go, Nancy!
Thanks Chips. Watching.
What happened to the middle class tax vote in the House? It was also supposed to happen Today at 12?
What happened at noon is that Leader Pelosi filed the discharge petition, as she said she would. If it received 218 signatures then the Bill will be brought to a vote.
As noted in the tweet, above, you can follow who has signed the petition, here …
http://clerk.house.gov/112/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0006.xml
Thanks for the info, Bob! Will be following… and hoping!!
My Congressman’s name is not there yet so I called his DC office and urged him to sign it. There were lots of calls coming in when I called. Hopefully they were from other voters urging him to sign.
California’s making a strong showing, including my Rep, Janice Hahn. But, why are there only 59 names to date? All Dems should have rushed to sign this thing. Are they for or against the middle class?
151 and counting!!
I know – that’s so encouraging! In just a few hours! I think they just need 67 more tomorrow, and then it goes to the floor. Hopefully, t hose 151 names strike the fear of God into Boehner and his cabal (although, I kind of with it had soared to 218 today).
I know! Slow going…
Ughhh… Theo, Bob, did you guys see this? http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/04/republican-thugs-in-the-house-hope-to-derail-obama-s-tax-hike-bill.html
“As you ponder whether the Obama tax hike can pass the House, I bet you think something like, “All he needs is a few Republicans.” Right? I wouldn’t blame you for thinking it. Obama himself said last week: “If we can just get a few House Republicans on board, we can pass the bill in the House, it will land on my desk, and I am ready—I have got a bunch of pens ready—to sign this bill.” That’s how it works, right—218 votes? Friends, you’re hopelessly behind the times. The Republicans won’t allow measures to pass with just any 218 votes. It has to be mostly Republicans. Welcome to the little-discussed but possibly pivotal concept of the “majority of the majority.”
What does this mean? Pretty much just what it says: For Speaker John Boehner to bring any measure to the House floor, he has to see that a majority of the majority—that is, a majority of his GOP caucus—will support it. You might have in theory a bill that could pass with the support of 109 Democrats and 109 Republicans to reach the needed 218. You couldn’t ask for more bipartisanship than that. But 109 is not a majority of 241, so if Boehner and his whips were counting noses accurately in the run-up, this perfectly balanced measure would never see the light of day for a vote.”
Seems quite hopeless
Rita – I think this is a threshold that Boehner has imposed on himself (since so many of his bills have failed because of lack of votes). In this case, he’s being forced to bring something to the floor via a procedural rule. I don’t think that standard applies when it comes to procedural rules.
(I’m a girl, by the way)…
But John Boehner ISN’T bringing this to the floor, it is Nancy Pelosi. It is the right of the minority leader to file a discharge petition to bring a bill to the floor of the House if the SPeaker (Boehner) won’t do it. If she gets 218 signatures, it can be voted on in the House. If it passes, President Obama can sign it.
Sorry, Theo
Good to know!
I don’t really understand the intricacies of the Congress rules, but what Tomasky is explaining seems to make it quite hopeless, except for the “possible wrinkle” he writes about towards the end. Whatever the case, this would be a historical move if it does come to the floor.
IMO, this “Julianna” reporter is in way over her head in this interview. I can’t believe the questions…
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Yep.
She also misled in her separate concluding piece with the anchor. She implied that POTUS was willing to compromise on the tax rate now but what he said was raise the rate now and the possibility of lowering may occur IF other offsets could be found that don’t hurt the middle class.
PBO just told Bloomberg he does not spend time listening to what people say on cable in response to a question about Susan Rice.
Bip, bam, BOOM!!
Eh. He probably had to hightail it to the bar. (I once missed a photo because I was at the bar.)
Seriously, if this occurred, it’s the Weeper of the House’s way of showing he’s important, as we all know. Problem is nobody cares about him one iota.
My takeaway from the interview is that the GOP is now down to the bargaining stage of grief. OK the top tax rates will go up, Mr. President, but do they have to go up all the way to 39%? How about 37%? 37.5%?
Juliana did the best she could considering who is paying her salary. POTUS knows her and she has been part of the traveling Press as far back as the European trip when he was a candidate in 2008. If you watch PBO’e eyes when she asks something dumb you can see the same expression Malia will most likely get when she asks to stay out on a date until 2:00 AM.
You pretty much summed it up. The analysis that followed featuring Josh Barro & Matt Dowd was even dumber. All they care about is to shield the 2% form tax increases and to stiff it to the Middle Class on “Entitlements” (what I call earned benefits)
Good interview.
That was a fascinating interview. Bottom line, Pres. Obama says he’s not budging on raising taxes on the top 2% and the GOP had better play ball on that, Amb. Rice has done a great job and he isn’t listening to cable chatter about her. He hasn’t made a decision as to who his SoS will be, but it is his decision to make. He also said that first, we need to raise taxes on the top 2%, then address closing loopholes and deductions. He’s not going to keep asking the middle-class, young people, and seniors on Medicare to keep sacrificing while the rich don’t pay their fair share.
The reporter asked about his relationship with Boehner and implied that it was hostile. Pres. Obama told her that he doesn’t have bad feelings towards Boehner, and they keep in contact as needed regarding a number of issues. He also said that he will be working with the business community on hiring, boosting jobs in the manufacturing sector etc. He said his relationship with the business community has improved due to the recent talks they’ve been having. He also said we have national security challenges and we must shore up our fiscal problems, improve the economy, and improve things domestically, so that it does not interfere with national security.
Pres. Obama made sure to emphasize that Boehner’s plan was not balanced. It was all about cuts, cuts, cuts, and coddling the top 2%. He said we cannot cut our way into prosperity and we can not cut our way to a reduced deficit.
Hope this helps those who missed the interview.
Lovely, UT! Thanks, I feel like I actually watched the interview! Much appreciated!
Yes, thank you UT. Very helpful.
. . . . and truly extraordinary that the President has no bad feelings towards Boehner. I believe him about that.
I want to be like that. No bad feelings. PBO shows me it’s possible, no kidding. He operates on another
plane altogether. Most of it is not personal.
Sorry, I mean another ~plain~ altogether. These distinctions are blurring the older I get. And then,
he also operates on another plane, altogether, as in AF1.
LOL, I sympathize!
Thanks (as always) UT – I only caught the tail end, and then listened to about give minutes of the “analysis” at the end, and switched it off in disgust. It’s like the pundits have a blind spot, and they can only see President Obama’s actions to criticize, but never have a negative thing to say about the GOP – who have obstructed all the way through the crisis and subsequent recovery.
Thanks for that. I’m late for most morning thing because of the time difference. Another good reason to read posts.
{heart} UT
thank you! excellent summary.
Hey Chips, we need some photos from that Christmas party! Got it covered?
Hiya Dudette, I just have one so far, when Rusty heard no alcohol would be served:
LOL! You’re on a roll, Chips! Was this pic taken by SS when they found him trying to open the locked liquor cabinets! And he was mumbling: Precious, my precious!
LOL!
Diva – Princess of all Blogdom, I bow to you!
Yes, I agree, dudette. Isn’t she something?? xox
Eww, what a sourpuss face on the most ineffective House Speaker in history. I bet his breath stinks of alcohol and corruption.
Interesting this homage to the first motoring President comes from the President that saved the auto industry, isn’t it?
Excellent point!
If the GOP persists in making the rise to Clinton rates on the top earners their be-all and end-all what will they do when they fail?
Off-topic: Just good music. Tribute to Michael Jackson from Siedah Garrett. She used to collaborate with him. Also wrote & performed the Get Out the Vote song – “L.O.V.E – Let One Voice Emerge”, which I played incessantly during the campaign.
Her comments on the video:
“Keep On Lovin’ You,” is a tribute to my friend and mentor Michael Jackson and answer to our #1 world wide duet, ” I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” When Michael and I recorded and performed our duet together, it always felt as if he were singing it just for me. I wanted to write an answer, a sort of love letter back to him, that tells the story of how we first met, and how amazing it was to be in his presence and be able to interact with him creatively over the years. This new song expresses my deepest feelings for him, and appreciation for all the personal attention and unbelievable opportunities he afforded me.”
Thanks dudette9t9, it is a nice song from Siedah.
Can we trust Politico on this? Elizabeth Warren headed to Senate Banking Committee? I sure hope so!
http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/warren-senate-banking-committee-84561.html
Well….. HuffPo reported it first
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/elizabeth-warren-banking-committee_n_2236898.html
neither place is a news outlet. they are both propaganda mills for republicans. just some friendly advice…don’t go to either one any more. my 2 cents.
Of course I HAD to tweet this. Thanks lamh35!
I did not know this guy was a Obama supporter. He is an actor on the “American Horror Story: Asylum. It is one of my favorite shows.
Yep. He worked on the 2008 and 2012 campaigns.
Pics from Young Hollywood Meet & Greet with PBO this past summer:
http://www.justjared.com/2012/06/08/president-obama-meets-with-young-hollywood/
O Happy Day!
Although I thought the interviewer was in over her head, the interview was excellent on POTUS’ part. Made clear w2here he stands and had the time to get his message out. Loved his four point summary at the end. I also was happy to hear that he seems to be pretty strong on wrapping up the debt ceiling issue with the fiscal cliff issue. Then perhaps our businesses will finally start spending some of the money they’ve been hoarding the last couple of years.
[Roger throws Kathleen T. McFarland, a Fox News national security analyst and former national security and Pentagon aide in three Republican administrations, under the bus]:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/04/15672607-when-roger-ailes-tried-to-play-kingmaker
[Bobfr, here's another one trying to play kingmaker. What is it w/ these republican & their monarch fantasies?]:
In a telephone call confirmed by three people, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg encouraged Hillary Clinton “to consider entering the 2013 mayor’s race, trading international diplomacy for municipal management on the grandest scale,” the New York Times reports.
“Much about the call, which occurred some months ago, remains shrouded in mystery. But Mr. Bloomberg’s overture to the former first lady highlights the level of his anxiety about the current crop of candidates, his eagerness to recruit a replacement who can rival his stature and his determination to become a kingmaker in the political arena he will soon exit…”
“During their conversation, Mrs. Clinton left little room for doubt: she was not interested in seeking the mayoralty.”
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/12/04/bloomberg_urged_clinton_to_run_for_mayor.html
Perhaps a wee bit premature, but hey “likely” is good!
Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/04/elizabeth-warren-likely-get-senate-banking-committee-assignment/exjYm7HSGmKsrEBAg1dy5I/story.html
WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/official-mass-sen-elect-elizabeth-warren-likely-headed-to-senate-banking-committee/2012/12/04/a4282a02-3e3a-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html
I am hanging my head in shame on this:
Truly, they are disgusting people.
And Bob Dole was there in a wheelchair as a visible reminder, & 38 nasties went right on ahead. Don’t they talk to anyone about Christianity, faith, blah-blah!
I had to go have my driver’s license renewed today because my birthday is tomorrow and the old one expires then. While standing in line, I ran into this group of RW nuts. It’s amazing how f*cked up Fox, Limbaugh, and repubs have these people. I got into a discussion with one woman who insisted that PBO is planning to take their guns. I explained to her that the president has really expanded gun rights and people can now take their guns into national parks. She didn’t believe it, of course, because Fox never told their viewers about it. Then she claimed that Obamacare would restrict the use of water or some such nonsense. I told her that wasn’t true. She followed this with talking about how long the bill was, so I asked if she had read the actual bill. Her answer was no, she watches the news. I told her that I was a retired high school social studies teacher who actually taught civics and U.S. History and keep up with current events. After this, she proceeded to hint that the president is a liar. I responded by telling her that PolitiFact and other fact-checkers had said that Romney was the real liar, and that almost everything he said during the campaign was a lie. I told her that a major reason so many Americans are confused is because of republican politicians who lie for their own benefit. She insisted that the lying came from a level “higher” than Congress. At this point in the conversation, I had plenty of back up because others waiting in line backed up everything I said. They were calling out the republicans. It made my heart glad to find so many well-informed Middle Georgians. The woman then said she didn’t “like” Romney, either. Well and good, but the rest of us let her know we are strong PBO supporters. The woman and her friend know nothing about what the president has done and their entire conversation was composed of conspiracy theories, lies, and propaganda. It was a clear “tell” that they are Fox News viewers. Fox is a very large pustule that needs to be excised from our airwaves.
Thank you for sharing that experience. You were in the middle of an example of the 60 million who voted for Willard. There is no knowledge or logic with them.
Glad a long line turned into a good thing! Do you have to show lots of ID in Georgia to renew your license? WY recently passed a law that requires a long list of ID we have to show, every four years. My husband and I think it’s excessive for long time residents. Thanks for your uplifting story.
As of July of this year, every time you get your license renewed in GA, you must show your birth certificate, Social Security card, and two pieces of mail to validate that you actually live in the state. It’s ridiculous. I’ve had a driver’s license for over 40 years, and our wingnut legislators decided that the way to keep undocumented immigrants from driving is to put drivers like myself through a whole bunch of BS. I had to show my birth certificate when I first got my license, so to me, it makes no sense that I have to show a SS card and two pieces of mail at this point just to get it renewed. I did discover that I could get my license for an 8 year period for $32, and I chose that option because there’s no way I’m going through this mess every 4 years.
WY is about the same. We don’t have an option of eight years though. But, as an added bonus, I must bring my marriage certificate because of course forty-one years ago I married my hubby. Got my SS card before that. We haven’t changed address, phone number, etc. for thirty-five years. One reason we have less than half a million in population in WY.
Boy, am I glad *I* don’t have to show my birth certificate to renew my driver’s license because I haven’t a clue where to lay my hand on it! In fact, apart from completing the form they send you by mail, I can’t remember being asked for any ID. Hmmm. Maybe they did ask but I just don’t remember. Of course, I always choose the extended renewal option so that I don’t have to think about the next renewal for a good long time.
It’s something you might want to look into. The Repugs are pushing voter ID hard. I think this was a first step for WY. You should be able to get it from the county clerk in the county you were born in or the Secretary of State. Of course there is a fee. My hubby went a month early and didn’t know the law so came home furious. He gathered all the things plus a lot of extra like hunting and fishing licenses from years ago. He was trying to make a statement! But he didn’t have the “right” birth certificate. They let that go, but I’m sure if he wasn’t white, they wouldn’t have accepted it. Don’t know if mine is the “right” one. Find out in about 16 months. Planing on making a trip early to make sure I have time to get the right one if the one my mother gave me isn’t the “right” one. What a pain.
Oh, Carolmae, I am one of those far-inners living to the north of y’all who unfortunately cannot vote, with or without my birth certificate! The only time that has truly bothered me has been in the last election, when I wished I could have gotten a temporary 4yr ‘citizen’ visa. My father and his wife are American citizens so that’s a small part of my excuse for being so nosily involved in things political and American. During the height of the elections a friend who couldn’t get my attention in real life sent me this via twitter to make a point…I guess.
Oh, sorry to go into detail. I sound like I’m still on the campaign trail!
No apologies necessary CM and you sound fine – we all are still, or should be, ‘on the campaign trail’ though our focus has shifted more towards helping the Pres accomplish his goals. Plus you are a newer TODville-ian and don’t yet know everyone.
Happy to see you participating fully here, by the way.
Thanks again.
‘fox is a very large pustule’—
thanks for this story, majir. i love that folks in line were backing you up on the facts. it was also interesting that the woman said she didn’t like myth, but apparently she was willing to vote for him and place him in charge of the government. that is a confused person, who is not using her own mind to make judgements. and we do indeed have the ‘very large pustule’ to blame.
Way to push back on their lies. Thank you!
Goodness, how are these people surviving? If they are so full of conspiracies and fear and hate and anger – how on earth are they getting up every day and reconciling reality with what they’re insisting on believing? When they realize that the check they got in the mail is because of Obamacare, or the fact that they are free to travel and go out for dinner because the country isn’t in a depression, or when they open up their 401K and see that it’s doubled in value since the recession… how do they reconcile those details with their conspiracies? It’s a very good thing that enough thinking people turned up and avoided the disaster that these delusional people were willing to bring about – all 60 million of them!
Eventually we have all have to step up like you did today and call the ignorant ones on their BS. It might not convince them, but WE THE RATIONAL ONES will benefit by sharing good arguments, by stating and reinforcing our opinions and beliefs. Good job. Thanks for sharing this story. It’s as important as flight passengers stopping a highjacking, IMO, because this highjacking of our country takes place every single day by the mindless and brainwashed ones.
Isn’t Morsi pushing for a vote on the Constitution tomorrow?
[This was on Benen's blog, then it was gone, found it in archives as "unpublished" and you can't read the 20 comments or continue reading it. Sorry to paste as much as I can, but I found it interesting, and made me dislike that NH woman even more]:
Almost immediately after taking office, President Obama began following through on a key campaign promise: he suspended the commissions at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and initiated a process to shutter the facility altogether. The president’s policy was backed by the Pentagon, military leaders, and prominent figures like Colin Powell and David Petraeus.
The progress, however, was short lived — craven Republicans and cowardly Democrats in Congress refused to allow Guantanamo detainees to be transferred. New prisoners aren’t being added to the facility, but by congressional mandate, the status quo remain unchanged.
That doesn’t mean that some lawmakers can’t make matters worse. Adam Serwer had this report yesterday.
One Senate Republican likes Gitmo so much she wants to build a new offshore detention center — or at least force President Obama to allow Guantanamo to accept new detainees, which it hasn’t done since he first took office and issued an executive order intended to close the facility.
The lawmaker is Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) of New Hampshire — Joe Lieberman’s replacement in the McCain/Graham “Three Amigos” — who’s pushing an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would require the Obama administration to craft “a plan for the identification or establishment of a facility outside the United States as the location for the long-term detention” of suspected members of al Qaeda.
At that point, the administration would either have to expand the prisoner population at Guantanamo Bay or open a new Gitmo somewhere else.
Continue reading this entry …
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com//_more/section/archive?date=2012/12
This Ayotte seems to be shaping up to be a dangerous loose cannon. She’s a nut.
[LOL! My fiction take is that she was committed late last night, straight jacket & all!
Staffers should be able to name what official business trip she's taking.]:
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) left her state but no one will says where she is, the Arizona Republic reports.
“The GOP governor left the state Sunday and doesn’t plan to return until Saturday, according to the notice she is required to file with the Arizona Secretary of State. But beyond that, mum’s the word from her office, other than to note that she is on official state business.”
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/12/04/brewer_leaves_state_on_undisclosed_business.html
my take… cosmetic surgery!
Nip & Tuck isn’t going to be good enough for her.
Maybe she is hiking the Appalachian Trial?
LOL! That gives the AT a bad name and I don’t like that.
As most of you know, my husband completed hiking the AT this year–quite an achievement! He is hiking today…..helping a friend complete a short section. Takes two because cars have to be dropped off, then go back and pick up the car that was left at the trailhead. Lots of logistics involved!
Eeeew! That would require a lover! Not so?
Mark Sanford is available and Lindsey Graham is single.
IMO, if she’s thinking of hooking up with Lindsay Graham, she might as well stay home and use what she already has! Has anyone ever seen Graham with a woman? Anyone? I know some people like George “Cutie” Clooney aren’t married, but you hardly ever see them single and roaming around alone for too long.
My money’s on Rehab. She always looks 2 sheets to the wind.
Several of us noted in August 2011 just how brilliant PBO was in achieving that budget deal – all the dimensions of the achievement – while emoprogs freaked and the media spun and Boehner pranced around with his ‘I got 98% of what I wanted’ … oh, Johnnie boy, you never, ever thought you’d face ~ 1120pm EST, 6 Nov 2012 ….
#TrustBarack
He’s a grumpy bugger, but I serioulsy adore Charles Pierce!
he can drive me crazy, but no one can turn a phrase like Charlie Pierce. God, I miss great political writing: Molly Ivins, Mike Royko (any old Chicagoans out there who remember Mike?). Charles Pierce and P.M. Carpenter are the last of the great political writiers, IMO.
Me!—-Loved Royko!
Older Detroiter who remembers Mike Royko fondly.
Admire Pierce, a lot … this paragraph is a gem and could very well describe exactly what many of us are striving to have become the norm in 21st Century American participatory democracy
“A lot of this falls on us. We can be better informed. We can stop believing in nonsense. We can be a more active citizenry. We can choose not to accept the limited parameters of our national debates by turning off the commentators who seek to reinforce them, and by turfing out the politicians who choose to work only within them. We can demand a better range of options. We can demand that obvious problems be confronted, and that real solutions to them be proposed. (Where is the outcry for a national policy on climate change from the drought-ravaged states of the west and the south?) We can demand a political imagination greater than the one currently evinced by our political elites, or we can tell them that we’re changing them out for better elites. And maybe then Bob Costas won’t be a hero for free speech but, rather, just another nice guy who’s making sense.”
Yes, ‘a lot of this falls on us’ ….
Yes We Can
Sounds like a job description for us for the next four years, no kidding. Yes We Can. Let’s do it.
Yep!
“zombie-eyed granny-starver”!
Good late morning everyone. I’m in MST and I think TOD is Eastern. Also, a very Merry Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, and Happy Holidays to all. I just received my first Holiday card of the season signed by, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia, Sasha and Bo, plus paw print. Each one signed it separately. Happy New Year! Yes he does thank his volunteers. Those many calls to CO helped turn it blue. We’re out of reach in WY. Not to brag too much, but he also called volunteers, including me, from Air Force One, just to encourage all of us in the last few weeks of campaign and what his vision was for his second term. Relating this because so many posters on other sights and pundits say he never thanks anyone and doesn’t reach out to people. I’m as ready to help now as I was in June when I started making calls. Maybe you’ve already discussed this morning or other post about Boehners proposal to the president. I hope we’re standing firm on not raising ages on SS and Medicare. I’m getting old! I’m cramming a lot in one post because I’m a little busy and don’t know when I’ll get back. But I’m looking forward to see many good ideas on how to help move our country Forward!!!
[Ummm, really? Diplomacy?]:
President Barack Obama is considering nominating Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, as his next ambassador to either the U.K. or France as he looks to reward his biggest fundraisers with embassies never out of fashion, according to two people familiar with the matter.
More here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-03/obama-said-to-consider-vogue-editor-wintour-for-u-k-embassy.html
Those are two fairly harmless ambassadorships. Given her contribution to fashion and culture, and her status as an icon in a pretty international and hefty industry, this might be a good thing, if it’s true. And the added bonus is that she clearly supports President Obama’s policies, and did a ton of work to support the President
@lamh just reading your posts about your mom. I wish you and her the best.
@Chips. Thank you so much for posting the Michael Lewis interview. He (Michael) is so appealing. What a combination, those two.
What a delightful interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Gross.
gag.
The only reason there was a “bromance” in the first place was because a lying crook recognizes another lying crook when he/she sees/meets him/her. Ryan wasn’t Romney’s choice, he was Ann’s choice. Fat lot of good it did them on November 6.
Helped us run up the score in WI!
[DC's favorite pastime: chattering}:
"The Back Channel hears that Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter may be tapped for Secretary of Defense. Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, a top foreign policy advisor to the Obama campaign, may not be interested in the top Defense job at this time, sources close to the administration, speaking not for attribution, suggested. They also expected that UN envoy Susan Rice would probably be tapped for Secretary of State, but were not certain of it.
"Rice is close with former White House terrorism advisor Richard Clarke, for whom she used to work in the Clinton NSC. If her nomination proceeds, some of Clarke’s network are expected to advise her during the Transition, a second former senior US official told the Back Channel."
http://backchannel.al-monitor.com/index.php/2012/12/3386/latest-appointment-chatter/
Darn, I was hoping Flournoy would be offered the job. She’s terrific.
oh, no particular reason for this…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Warren-for-President-2016/104694622899318
or this.
http://www.zazzle.com/elizabeth_warren_for_president_2016_oval_sticker-217243128940833078
and senator warren won a poll at the “take back the american dream” conference earlier this year as the preferred candidate for 2016, beating a certain someone who the media is trying to anoint once again. have to wonder why the media, owned by republican billionaires, constantly pushes as certain someone as the dem candidate, yet hates on elizabeth warren constantly. wonder why that this…
I would offer a word of caution about Elizabeth Warren. She hasn’t even been sworn into the Senate yet. Let’s give her room to find her footing and formulate her relationships, without having the anchor around her neck about 2016. For most people, becoming a US Senator is a pretty significant accomplishment – and for many it is enough. She should be allowed to sink into that role and enjoy the accomplishment. There are 99 other people with whom she will have to partner and negotiate, and it will only make it harder if the assumption is that she’s only there as a stepping stone to an historical presidential run. And she’ll never succeed as a national candidate without some significant wins under her belt that she can use on the campaign trail, should she choose to run. She may make a formidable candidate and a remarkable President. She may not. But, maybe let her become a formidable Senator first? We already have a pretty remarkable President to enjoy.
Not to mention that anyone serious about 2016 has to camp out in Iowa, oh, say…now.
Yes – that’s right. President Obama once said in an interview that you don’t run for office to “be” something; you run for office to “do” something. And I think that Elizabeth Warren actually does want to do something in the Senate – where the actual laws are written and passed. She worked hard for that Senate seat, and endured abuse from Scott Brown – she deserves to enjoy being a senator without pressure to pursue a higher office before she’s done anything.
May I offer a suggestion to the headline writer? I think you meant 12:30pm ET.
I’m sorry about adding pm. I thought I saw am beside 12:30.
Folks might want to contact their Representatives to encourage them to sign the Discharge Petition: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ the list of names is here: http://clerk.house.gov/112/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0006.xml I called my Congressman Larsen and was told he will likely sign it, but that the voting was closed for the day, so it wouldn’t show up on the list until tomorrow.
thanks, tien le. can’t believe my hawaii reps didn’t jump on it.
Call them. This isn’t one of those things we can assume the Dems will do without prodding from the homefront.
I lost my great congressman, Mike Quigley here in Chicago. The redistricting has added a ‘panhandle’ that includes a four block by 7 block area that is now in Gutierrez’ district. I have to watch his every vote now, because he can inexpicably go off the rails for any number of reasons. I never had to worry about Quigley.
Is Quigley still in office for the lame duck session? If so, contact him now.
He’s still a congressman. I just got re-districted out of his district. I sent him an email, but I have no doubt that he’ll do the right thing. Gutierrez likes to withhold his votes to get his way on other things, so in the next Congress I’m going to have to watch him like a hawk. It was nice with Quigley that I didn’t have to babysit him.
I even called my former reps, from my past two addresses! (Yeah, I’ve moved three times in five years… Ugh!)
Anyone who says they know who the President is going to tap for State is talking out an orifice below the belt. The President himself hasn’t decided: http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/aides-obama-genuinely-conflicted-between-rice-and-kerry-20121204
Here is a cute picture of Ambassador Rice’s family. http://www.pressherald.com/archive/rice-family-enjoys-a-fantastic-journey_2008-12-07.html
Awww!
I love the story about her parents and how she was raised – not sure I ever read that, before. Thanks!
Yes, a lot of people are getting upset that she’s being denied a position that she hasn’t yet even been offered. And the entire fiasco serves to back the President into a corner, and to rile up the base who are just looking for an excuse to screech “Obama caved!” – which they seem ready to do over the “medicare cuts”… The President may have somebody completely different in mind for this position – I mean, how many people knew the name “Sonia Sotomayor” before the President tapped her for the Supreme Court?
I know, right? There isn’t even a vacancy yet and people have their panties all balled up in wads. It’s really sickening.
The White House clarified its stance on Puerto Rico statehood Tuesday, saying that the results of a November plebiscite were clear — and that Congress should now move forward on resolving the island’s political status.
“To clarify, the results were clear, the people of Puerto Rico want the issue of status resolved, and a majority chose statehood in the second question,” White House spokesman Luis Miranda said. “Now it is time for Congress to act and the administration will work with them on that effort, so that the people of Puerto Rico can determine their own future.”
Puerto Ricans voted in November to end their current association as a self-governing U.S. commonwealth in November, 54 percent to 46 percent. In a separate question, a majority of residents choose statehood at their preferred option for resolving that status.
On Monday, asked what the Obama administration was prepared to do in the aftermath of the vote, White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the referendum results were not as “clear” as a simple majority due to the two question process.
White House officials stressed that Congress must now act to help Puerto Rico decide on its future status — and that only Congress could approve a statehood petition.
The Mexican maid asked for a pay increase.
The wife was very upset about this, and decided to talk to her about the raise.
She asked: “Now Maria, why do you want a pay increase?”
Maria: “Well, Señora, there are tree reasons why I wanna increaze.”
“The first is that I iron better than you.”
Wife: “Who said you iron better than me?”
Maria: “Jor huzban he say so.”
Wife: “Oh yeah?”
Maria: “The second reason eez that I am a better cook than you.”
Wife: “Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than me?”
Maria: “Jor hozban did.”
Wife, increasingly agitated: “Oh he did, did he?”
Maria: “The third reason is that I am better at sex than you in the bed.”
Wife, really boiling now and through gritted teeth: “And did my husband say that as well?”
Maria: “No Señora….the gardener did.”
Wife: “So, how much do you want?”
Good one, yardarm! A little of the right kind of blackmail will sway a lot of people!
I wonder if it would work in congress?
I believe it’s already working. I’m watching Martin Bashir, and he mentioned the undue influence the rich GOP donors have on the way republicans vote. He said they threaten to withhold campaign donations and some of them threaten them with primary challenges. It has been quite obvious to me for the last 30+ years that the republicans’ allegiance is NOT to a majority of the American people.
It borders on treason imho!
Almost, but more like sedition.
From Wikipedia:
“In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interests of sedition.
Typically, sedition is considered a subversive act, and the overt acts that may be prosecutable under sedition laws vary from one legal code to another. Where the history of these legal codes has been traced, there is also a record of the change in the definition of the elements constituting sedition at certain points in history. This overview has served to develop a sociological definition of sedition as well, within the study of state persecution.
The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. Sedition does not consist of levying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention).
Sedition is the stirring up of rebellion against the government in power. Treason is the violation of allegiance to one’s sovereign or state, giving aid to enemies, or levying war against one’s state. Sedition is encouraging one’s fellow citizens to rebel against their state, whereas treason is actually betraying one’s country by aiding and abetting another state. Sedition laws somewhat equate to terrorism and public order laws.”
Why thank you counselor for the insight. Two words, Grover Norquist. His pledge against the Constitution?
Hello everyone, here is a photo of the congress members participating in the “first nail” ceremony of the kick off of the preparations for the Inaugaration. Boner looks sad. Lol. http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/
As usual, Nancy Smash looks great! Boehner always looks like he’s been sucking on a mixture of rotten eggs and sour lemons. The tool would have been grinning from ear to ear if the platform was being built for President-Elect Willard Romney. I am soooo glad that it will be PBO on that platform!!!
I hope the inspectors looked at that nail that Boehner pounded to make sure it went in the beam. We want a sturdy and safe platform.
Yes, they definitely need to check Boner and Cantor’s nails.
COS, We need to get the Secret Service to check everything because I don’t trust Cantor, Boehner or any Republican.
Looks a bit like severe acid reflux to me.
Ha! Don’t make us gag, now.
Sorry PP!
Excellent find ewok2!!! Tweeted it!
Thanks Dudette.
Great personal testimony on our POTUS and his daily work.
PBO met with MSNBC folks this afternoon: Maddow, LO’D, Rev Al.
And they has a roundtable right in front of him, describing what they would do instead.
Probably, jovie, because Ed was invited also. As you know, he’s really one for “what PO should do.” I do remember the last time this group met w/PO, Ed was better for a number of months……didn’t do so much criticizing and second-guessing and ‘advising.’
Oh he still has his moments. I think I was listening last week and caught a snippet of himtalking about someone in the White ouse wanting to cut Soc Sec. benefits. And that this is why Obama or his people won’t come on his show.
Ed has passion but hes also VERY full of himself.
So, Ed thinks the President is scared to come on his show because he “wants to cut social security benefits”? Ed is a fool.
Wow. Really? Do you have any details? I wonder if it was about anything specific.
Was Matthews there?
not sure, but he was at the wedding of julianna goldberg, who interview our president today, when she married david shuster (now divorced). do not watch this if you have a weak stomach…
creepy, creepy dude.
I AGREE.
Shuster is divorced already??? That didn’t last long! Sad……
He is already either engaged or remarried.
Yes, he was telling Stephanie Miller a couple of months ago that he had just gotten engaged. I was confused, because I thought he was married to Juliana. He seems to be living the Hollywood life…
I think Chris gave David Schuster his first “break” on MSNBC, as he did Norah O’Donnell (she didn’t turn out well, but she was okay at first on his show). Always liked David, but then he said too much and was ousted.
I think Schuster is on Current TV now, as an analyst/host fill-in.
Yes, I believe he is. Don’t get Current here, and I’m not a fan of committing to long shows on the Internet, even though I miss him!
I wish Martin had been there.
So do I.
Waters secures top Democratic spot on House Financial Services Committee
Peter Schroeder – 12/04/12 05:20 PM ET
She vowed to protect the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and pursue reform of housing finance…
Waters??? LOL LMAO Waters? Give me a break?
Is that Maxine Waters?
Yup, the Senate got Warren and the House got Waters? Okay then!
Lawd, Lawd. I hope she gets a new wig that isn’t so tight!
Maybe they’re trying to make up for the phony investigation that was launched against her? Wasn’t that campaign found to have no merit? I do with they’d found someone more interested in working than talking, though…
she’ll do an excellent job of exploding all the rethug heads. popcorn time!
Doesn’t the Jan 2009 meeting of GOP to destroy President Obama’s presidency meet this definition?
“Seditious conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2384) is a crime under United States law. It is stated as follows:
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. For a seditious conspiracy charge to be effected, a crime need only be planned, it need not be actually attempted.”
Some background:
The federal government has never won a sedition case against militia-types, white supremacists, or neo-Nazis. Since World War I, they have won numerous seditious conspiracy cases against Puerto Rican independentistas, communists and others on the left, but no one on the radical right has ever been convicted of plotting to overthrow by force of arms the government of the United State…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seditious_conspiracy
I’d say it’s about time then.
Tweety just said a new poll showed that 49% of Republicans think Acorn stole the 2012 election for PBO. This is what the country is dealing with as an opposition party.
These Republicans just can’t deal with the fact that a black man is President of these United States. I bet these same 49% would have slavery back if they could.
There are so few Republicans left. I guess they’ve forgotten their successful campaign to destroy an innocent organization.
Of course that was PEW, who has problems counting the left wing electorate, like many other polls.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/04/right-wing-misinformation-leads-half-of-republicans-to-believe-acorn-stole-2012-election/
Thanks. That is a great statistic to remember when anyone says Republicans have a clue about anything.
Shameful. Acorn does not exist anymore. I don’t see how the Repugs can rebrand themselves when this is the type of electorate which they have to please and get votes from these low information folks. I don’t see the party ever changing.
Fiscal Cliff | The Simpsons | Animation on FOX
Still reeling from the presidential election results, Mr. Burns takes a few minutes to explain the upcoming fiscal cliff.
he actually represents the rwnj point of view quite well!
Senator Brown stands his ground and calls for the President to do the same
“Bill Press recaps election results with Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Michael Tomasky of The Daily Beast. Bill jokes about the new margin of votes between the President and Mitt Romney, which is now 47 percent for Mitt Romney. Bill jokes, “47 percent should be written on Romney’s tombstone.” Bill praises Senator Brown for winning the election in Ohio. Bill says, “it shows liberals can stand their ground.” Bill and Senator Brown also speak about the President’s stance on tax cuts for the middle class. He says that President Obama should stand his ground on the issue.”
Kerry Laments Rejection Of Disabilities Treaty
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/kerry-laments-rejection-of-disabilities-treaty
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on Tuesday lamented the death of a United Nations treaty aimed at securing rights for disabled people around the world, which failed to garner a two-thirds vote required for ratification due largely in part to Republican opposition.
“This is one of the saddest days I’ve seen in almost 28 years in the Senate and it needs to be a wakeup call about a broken institution that’s letting down the American people,” said Sen. Kerry. “We need to fix this place because what happens and doesn’t happen here affects millions of lives. Today the dysfunction hurt veterans and the disabled and that’s unacceptable. This treaty was supported by every veterans group in America and Bob Dole made an inspiring and courageous personal journey back to the Senate to fight for it. It had bipartisan support, and it had the facts on its side, and yet for one ugly vote, none of that seemed to matter.”
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/04/this-and-that-53/